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Rhoda Karpatkin’s Influence Endures on Product Choice and Product Safety
It is easy to overlook lifetime contributions that have made everyday life better. Obituaries are often the repositories for such legacy contributors such as the woman who outshone Ralph Nader as the nation’s most influential consumer advocate.
Most people have probably never heard of Rhoda Karpatkin, who died recently in New York at age 93. She may have been the most influential consumer advocate in American history who thought it was equally important to educate shoppers, regulators and lawmakers.
Karpatkin, the daughter of Eastern European immigrants, attended Brooklyn College and edited the student newspaper. Her reporting convinced her she could do more important things as a lawyer than a journalist. She earned her law degree from Yale University in 1953 and became a civil rights attorney.
Her advocacy role turned to consumerism when she became outside legal counsel for the Consumers Union, an independent nonprofit that tests products and publishes Consumer Reports. In 1974, Karpatkin became the first woman to lead the highly respected organization as its executive director.
Under her leadership, Karpatkin stressed providing credible information to consumers while engaging in consumer activism with Congress and regulatory agencies. Consumer Reports maintained its independence by refusing advertising and relying instead on paid subscriptions to its print edition and digital content.
During her watch, Consumer Reports subscriptions reached 4.2 million and internet subscribers topped 475,000. By 1993, Karpatkin had earned the reputation as the “nation’s smartest shopper”, whether it was for a car, refrigerator or electric toothbrush.
Authors Stephen Brobeck and Robert N. Mayer said in their book Watchdogs and Whistleblowers that Consumer Reports “used its product safety expertise to publicize safety hazards, advise regulators and inform Congress”.
Former Consumer Reports editor Kimberly Kleman said, “Rhoda combined an unwavering passion for the little guy with smart, strategic sense of how to effect change. Working for and with Rhoda was more than a job – it was a mission”. Kleman added that Karpatkin was one of the first publishers to believe consumers would pay for content they valued.
“Where would protections against unsafe products, fraud and misleading advertising come from if consumer advocates hadn’t fought for them?”
Karpatkin, Nader and Furness
Karpatkin became executive director when the organization’s board was split over its future role. Nader, as a member of the board, pushed for scrapping consumer testing to allow full-time consumer advocacy. Karpatkin, backed by New York City consumer affairs commissioner Betty Furness, believed Consumers Union could and should do both. Nader left the board over the disagreement.
Consumers Union hit a rough spot during the Reagan administration. Karpatkin told The New York Times, “The Federal Trade Commission now takes the view that consumers are willing to risk their dollars in the marketplace to buy products that are shoddy and falsely advertised. I think there will be a field day for fraudulent advertising and shoddy products”. The FTC is currently seeking to make it illegal to sell or buy fake product reviews and to make false product claims.
She overcame rocky economic times to maintain an annual $157 million operating budget. Karpatkin also oversaw investments in an auto track and other test equipment that, for example, spun around suitcases and pounded mattresses with bowling balls cut in half to resemble human butts.
No Wall Flower
Karpatkin didn’t shy away from controversy. During the 1990s, as executive director of Consumers Union she advocated for a single-payor health care system, noting patients didn’t have the luxury of “shopping for doctors or hospitals”. She was a longtime volunteer and board member at the West Side Campaign Against Hunger in New York.
Karpatkin also served as president of the International Organization of Consumers Unions that monitored multinational corporations and the impact of globalization and trade agreements. In that role, she traveled the world and urged government and business officials to treat health care and adequate food supplies as basic human rights.
Karpatkin married in 1951 after earning her undergraduate degree. Her husband died in 1975, a year after she took the reins of Consumers Union. She had two sons, 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
When she retired in 2001, Karpatkin reflected that she was attracted to Consumers Union as a young woman because it was “one of the quintessential do-good organization. You just got the feeling they couldn’t be bought, couldn’t be seduced”.
“Consumers would be in trouble if they couldn’t get sound, independent information, and that’s our prime responsibility,” Karpatkin told Consumer Reports. “We’ve dedicated ourselves to testing and journalism of the highest quality, and we have an impact on the marketplace.”
“But that’s not enough,” she continued. “Where would protections against unsafe products, fraud, misleading advertising and other things we take for granted come from if consumer advocates hadn’t fought for them? We’re not and never have been solely about which products to buy. We’re also about helping to build the kind of society we want to be consumers in.”
Too often women pioneers are overshadowed by their male peers. If but for an obituary, many of us would not be aware of Karpatkin, her career, her impact and her legacy on the cars we drive, the appliances we depend on and the consumer products we use every day.


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Instapaper for iPad Receives a Facelift
This completely blindsided me. I had the lack of foresight to uninstall the betas after Instapaper 5 hit the market, so I had no idea a revamped iPad app was in the works until coming across the announcement in my Twitter feed late yesterday evening. Thanks iOS 7’s automatic update feature, I got to experience Betaworks’ latest revision firsthand as soon as I opened the app; and as I said on Twitter, I really like the new design. The folks over at Betaworks also implemented the much-acclaimed sorting and filtering abilities Instapaper 5 for iPhone shipped with three months ago, along with some other, more minor tweaks and updates. For a full list, head on over to the blog post: Redesigned Instapaper for iPad.

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With many businesses reopening or preparing to reopen as part of the phased easing of COVID-19 restrictions, Kerry County Council is inviting businesses in the county to register for a new online directory of shops, trades and services which are currently open and operating across Kerry.
The directory will include an online map allowing people to identify shops and businesses which are open and operating in their area and those that are either physically open or have an online service or delivery offering.
Kerry County Council’s Interagency Business Advisory Team is leading out on the initiative as a practical support for businesses in Kerry by offering an additional way to communicate with customers through the Council’s website and social media platforms.
“This is another initiative being taken by Kerry County Council and our partners as we begin the phased reopening of the local economy under the Government Roadmap for easing the COVID-19 restrictions,” said the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Niall Kelleher.
“The Council has identified a number of practical supports for businesses and enterprises in Kerry. We have launched a new freephone helpline for business who are looking for advice and support, the Local Enterprise Office is offering a range of training and financial supports, and we are now inviting businesses to register for this online directory of businesses which are open or reopening.”
Director of Economic and Community Development, Mike Scannell said that the first stage is to have businesses register using a simple online form with their opening arrangements and other basic information and would encourage businesses to register as soon as possible.
“The information provided by shops, business and service providers will be quickly collated into an easily navigable online map and an online directory on the Council’s website and will be supported by social media and other campaigns to provide the public with information on businesses which are opening and reopening over the coming weeks,” he said.
The form for businesses to register is now available on the Kerry County Council website at www.kerrycoco.ie/kerry-open-for-business-initiative/.
Therapy dog begins first day of school
By Michelle Crean A four-month-old puppy is the latest addition to school life at one local secondary school and his homework is to help students and staff. On Wednesday, there was great excitement as therapy dog Zoomer joined the school community at St Brigid’s on New Road – the second post primary school in the county […]
By Michelle Crean
A four-month-old puppy is the latest addition to school life at one local secondary school and his homework is to help students and staff.
On Wednesday, there was great excitement as therapy dog Zoomer joined the school community at St Brigid’s on New Road – the second post primary school in the county to welcome such a dog.
It’s part of the My Canine Companion (MCC) charity which has a number of therapy dogs in schools across the country.
Deirdre Horgan from MCC paid a visit to schools looking for families for the charity’s socialisation programme.
Zoomer is a mix of a sheepdog and a poodle and Deirdre’s dog Fifi is his mother.
In May Fifi had 10 puppies all named with the letter ‘z’. Just recently Fossa National School welcomed Zoomer’s sister Zazu to their classrooms, and puppy Zoro went to the CBS in Tralee.
The dogs not only provide comfort and support to pupils and students with Autism but to all in the school.
“There is an increasing body of research to support the benefit of a dog in school,” Ber O’Connor, a teacher in St Brigid’s, said.
Zoomer will be under the guidance of Ms O’Connor and some Transition Year students who will undertake a specific training programme for the therapy dog.
“The dog will be based in different rooms around the school but will have a timetable of interactions. We hope Zoomer settles in well and brings joy to many of our students lives. You can follow all the updates of Zoomer’s life on Instagram by following @zoomersbk or his TikTok account ‘zoomerthepuppy’.
Brian James secures much sought after award
A local business is celebrating receiving a very special accolade – beating off stiff competition from UK and Irish retailers – by taking home the title of ‘Menswear Independent of the Year 2021’. Brian James, whose business is located on Main Street, secured the award at the internationally acclaimed Drapers Independents Awards in London last […]
A local business is celebrating receiving a very special accolade – beating off stiff competition from UK and Irish retailers – by taking home the title of ‘Menswear Independent of the Year 2021’.
Brian James, whose business is located on Main Street, secured the award at the internationally acclaimed Drapers Independents Awards in London last week.
The highly respected and sought after Drapers Awards celebrate the very best of independent fashion retail and Brian James saw off exceptionally tough competition from other menswear stores to bring home this much coveted award.
Brian James were announced the winners at a celebratory luncheon in The Hilton London Bankside amongst fashion industry leaders and were presented with the iconic Drapers mannequin bust to much applause.
Commenting that Brian James has been a destination for fashion-conscious shoppers for more than 15 years, the judges praised Brian James’ strong “roster of brands” and said that it “offers an aspirational experience in Killarney”.
“Killarney is an incredible town to trade in – it is a brand in itself, offers the best of everything to those that are lucky to live here and an unbeatable experience for those that visit,” Brian O’Shea, who founded and runs Brian James for the last 15 years, said. “This award recognises Brian James and Killarney as a superior shopping destination town. Brian James and the other superb retailers in Killarney are an important piece of the jigsaw – the Park, the lakes and mountains, the hotels, restaurants and bars… it is the whole picture which guarantees the experience is first class.”
He added that his team are a key element of the experience at Brian James.
“My sincere thanks go to each of the team as without them we could not provide the customer experience and service we aim to ensure each and every time. Brian James’ success is also down to the partnerships we have developed over time with key international brands. On the store itself, of course we have relocated to our new super store on Main Street and more than doubled our floor space. Although it has been great to be able to design and create this stunning space to enhance the customer experience, it also allowed us to add more brands to our menswear mix. This year we will have added Hugo Boss and Eden Park to our familiar brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Gant, Barbour, Bugatti and Farah. The new space also plays host to ladies collections from Tommy Jeans, Calvin Klein, Diesel and Superdry and this is an exciting new element we are really enjoying too!”
Therapy dog begins first day of school
By Michelle Crean A four-month-old puppy is the latest addition to school life at one local secondary school and his homework...
Brian James secures much sought after award
A local business is celebrating receiving a very special accolade – beating off stiff competition from UK and Irish retailers...
Further walk-in vaccinations planned
Two more walk-in vaccination clinics are planned this week both in Tralee and Killarney. The first takes place this Thursday...
Lissivigeen pupils have the “write stuff”
Lissivigeen National School pupils enjoyed a creative treat last Friday when they were visited by children’s author Olivia Hope for...
Free creative workshop for children impacted by cancer
Cancer support charity, Recovery Haven Kerry, will host a free creative workshop for children impacted by cancer this coming Thursday (September...
Séamus Moynihan tops Kerry manager poll ahead of Jack O’Connor and Peter Keane
by Adam Moynihan Although it now appears as though he could be a selector on the Stephen Stack ticket, four-time...
Jordan’s new role with St Paul’s
By Sean Moriarty Killarney’s Paralympic hero Jordan Lee is to take on a new role with Scott’s Lakers St Paul’s...
Soccer coach licensed to one of the highest levels in Ireland
By Sean Moriarty A Killarney soccer coach has been praised by the FAI for her contribution to soccer in the...
Tobin hails Spa teammates following ‘fairytale’ final
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Late drama at exciting Celtic Golf Classic
The last team out at the Killarney Celtic Golf Classic carded 106 points to overtake all who went before at...


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Exceeded the company «Google» counterpart Microsoft, in terms of financial value for the first time in the history of the two companies, thus becoming «Google» is the second largest company specialized information technology in the world after Apple in terms of financial value.
The shares fell «Microsoft» by Al-Jazeera. Botnet by 0.8%, while shares rose «Google» almost the same percentage, which helped to overcome the Microsoft for the first time.
Has been associated with rising shares «Google» positive reports about the high profits in the online advertising market and the increasing growth in the number of smart phones that do daily Android, prompting analysts to predict that the 'Google' in its best towards more long-term growth.
On the contrary, it began by «Microsoft» retreat after concerns the PC market decline and uncertainty about its new operating system Windows 8, which the company intends to launch officially later this month


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Brand spending on sports sponsorship is continuing to rise. According to a recent report on global activity published by media analytics company Nielsen, the sponsorship market grew by 107 per cent in 2021. And with a series of major sporting events - including the European Football Championships (women) and the World Cup - scheduled for this year, the upward trend seems likely to continue. But this is a crowded market and for the all-important fans, the focus is always on the athletes and tournaments rather than the corporate sponsors. So how can brands get the most out of their partnerships with rights holders?
As Marcel Blijlevens - Manager of Brand Partnerships at Next Day Media - points out, sponsorship is, at its heart, a very straightforward proposition. "A sponsorship deal buys you the right to communicate with the rights holder's audience," he says. That audience is potentially huge. The European Football Championship is expected to attract 250 million viewers worldwide, an unprecedented number for women's football. Fast forward to the autumn, and FIFA is predicting that five billion people will tune in to the World Cup. But the execution of a sponsorship deal is far from simple. "Sponsorship is not a media buy," Blijlevens adds. "Sponsorship is a very complicated marcoms discipline. Brands need to invest in sponsorship leverage campaigns to get the most of their sponsorship investments."
But what does that mean in practice? Well, the first step is to identify a business case around the sponsorship of an event, asporting body or an individual athlete. Ishveen Jolly is CEO and co-founder of Opensponsorship.com, a platform that enables brands to identify sponsorship opportunities and secure rights. As she sees it, brands need to think carefully about their objectives. "Are you seeking to engage your existing audience, or are you looking for new customers?" She asks. "If you're looking for new customers, sponsoring an athlete might help you to reach audiences you are not currently addressing." Depending on the sport, a sponsorship deal could help you reach an audience comprised of otherwise hard-to-reach young males. Equally a particular sport might help a brand address customers in different geographies or minority groups in the home markets.
The rise of women's sports - as exemplified by the Euros - is also creating opportunities. "Women's sport offers sponsoring brands a new point of difference, '' says Lee Gibbons, MD of specialist marketing agency, Sports Unlimited. It's a space with less clutter and a proposition better suited to landing a purpose-led message - purpose being a territory which 65% of UK sports fans say they want to see more of post-COVID. Purpose is an increasingly important factor in sports sponsorship. Witness a recent deal between Mexican food brand, Old El Paso and Team GB. Announced to coincide with World Olympic Day, the deal sees the brand becoming the official meal supplier for the British Olympic team, while also providing food donations to Fareshare, a charity tackling hunger in the UK. Thus, the deal provides a high-profile platform while also reinforcing values of generosity and social connection.
And of course, an association with sport also helps brands that want to promote themselves around concepts of fitness, wellbeing and environmental concerns. Miles Rose is Commercial Director at the Sweetspot Group, owner of the Tour of Britain (cycling) and the Women's Tour. It has been working with a brand partnership agency to develop sponsorship deals and packages. He notes a trend towards his sport aligning with the corporate social responsibility of brands. "With the growth of Cycling over recent years and the popularity in CSR partnerships, we're seeing an increased interest from brands who seek to create purpose-led partnership campaigns," he says.
The objective of a sponsorship campaign may be to raise sales and there is evidence that this is effective. For instance, Nielsen notes that sponsorships generate a 10 per cent uplift in buying intent. But in the first instance, the focus could be on raising awareness by engaging fans. And an association with sport can play an important part in building trust in a company. Put simply, sporting bodies, teams and individual athletes tend to be loved and trusted by fans. A brand can validate itself by association. That could explain why there has been a rush of sponsorship deals by companies working in the cryptocurrency, blockchain and NFT space. For instance, Coinbase is sponsoring the NBA and Bybit has signed a deal with Oracle Red Bull Racing. According to Nielsen, sponsorship from companies working in this space is set to rise to $5 billion per annum by the middle of the decade. The blockchain technologies that underpin cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are new and little understood. Blijlevens says sport is helping them find a mass audience. "Sports sponsorship can help your brand go mainstream," he says. "The main asset is what we call image transfer."
So there are a lot of very good reasons why brands might choose to invest in sports sponsorship but the key to success lies in leveraging the rights to maximise the impact. The starting point is often a presence at an event. "You will typically find activation zones - such as theKFC Zone or the Coke Zone at the start and finish of events," he says. This presence on the ground provides not only opportunities for sales, giveaways, and direct engagement with customers but also hospitality for major customers, investors and other stakeholders. And according to Adam Goodman, MD of ACA Live - a company that has created live events at London's Wembley Stadium and for The Jockey Club, face-to-face interaction energies sponsorship campaigns. "Live experiences let you engage better with your audience by creating new moments that engage each sense. With the help of brand experience, you can create an ambience that cannot be imitated, recreated, or captured by mere photos or videos and provide people with an everlasting experience of your brand," he says.
So how does that work in practice? Goodman cites the example of American Express, which created a VR experience at the US Open tennis. Visitors were given a chance to return a serve from Maria Sharapova. But what about the wider audience? The fans who will be watching events via TV, phones, tablets and laptops, while also engaging in social media discussions. Ishveen Jolly says the sponsorships should align with the company's broader marketing agenda. "Traditionally sponsorship has been seen as a silo. But it is most effective when it is part of the marketing mix," she says. Thus the campaign should utilise social media, tv advertising and PR. If possible, athletes should be signed up to take part in PR campaigns to get the brand message across.
This isn't always easy to get right. Marcel Blijlevens cites a "sponsorship guru" Kim Skildum-Reid who famously said: "Don't sponsor the property, sponsor the fans." In other words, the sponsorship should be seen - primarily - to be enhancing the fan experience. But a laser focus on a group of fans might not align exactly with wider objectives. In that respect, Blijlevens says sponsorship should continue to be a specialist field, albeit one that uses all the available channels and draws on a wide range of marcoms skillsets The impact of sports sponsorship can be difficult to measure but brands do seem to benefit from an association with sporting heroes. Nielsen found that 81 per cent of respondents worldwide trusted brand sponsorship of sports. That trust factor provides a compelling reason to allocate budgets to sports partnerships.


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FLEET decision-makers’ organisation ACFO has kicked off 2019 with the launch of a refreshed website.
Accessible at www.acfo.org, the website now incorporates easier member access to seminar and webinar recordings and presentations and a new-look news section featuring a director-written blog reflecting industry topics.
Website development was managed by ACFO deputy chairman Caroline Sandall, who said: “We have reacted to members’ views in making the website easier to navigate, particularly in respect of finding information in the online library, notably in relation to seminar presentations and webinar recordings.
“As ACFO increasingly focuses on conveying information digitally, the refreshed website ensures easier access to our ‘Digital Brief’ recordings and all ACFO news and views content, which means greater usability.”
National chairman John Pryor, said: “Fleet operators were treading water in 2018 awaiting decisions on numerous issues. However, during the first half of 2019 ACFO anticipates that clarity will emerge on a number of key issues so it is essential that decision-makers adopt a pro-active forewarned is forearmed approach.
“Consequently, 2019 promises to be a year of change for fleet chiefs and ACFO will continue to support members in raising awareness of the issues and delivering context and views on available options and the impact they will have on company car and van operations.”
The first ‘Digital Brief’, on the website will highlight a number of key topics that ACFO members need to focus on during 2019. They include:
- The government’s recently announced review into the impact of the Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) on company car benefit-in-kind tax and Vehicle Excise Duty. Members, in addition to ACFO, are being encouraged to make their own responses to the review document and make the case for “a level playing field on the mobility of employees”.
- How WLTP is, and will be, impacting on employees’ travel and how the new emission regulation is affecting fleets.
- The further tightening of emission regulations and the impact of the Real Driving Emissions test rules
- The impact of Brexit with the UK destined to leave the European Union on Friday, 29 March.
- The introduction of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone on Monday, 8 April and how the future implementation of Clean Air Zones in towns and cities across the UK will affect fleet operations.
- The role plug-in vehicles have within fleets as manufacturers race to introduce a wide range of new car and van models to the market during 2019.
ACFO is planning to hold its annual spring seminar on March 27. Entitled ‘Another Year of Evolution’, the focus will be on ‘what to expect and plan for in 2019’ it will focus on a wide range of other key industry issues including:
- Cash or car, which will address the growing trend for employees to take a cash alternative instead of a company car
- Flexible car and van leasing/rental starting to gain in popularity as it replaces long-established leasing on three or four-year contracts
- An update on what manufacturers are doing following last year’s introduction of WLTP
- The latest on the introduction on Clean Air Zones by local authorities in towns and cities across the UK
- Brexit and what it means for fleets including in respect of driving licences and vehicle hire when overseas and mobility in the European Union.


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Nvidia just released a new display driver for its family of graphic cards. Bear in mind that this is meant as a hotfix, so caveat emptor.
In any event, Nvidia's beta display driver was pushed out to resolve the following issues:
Thanks to TR reader SH SOTN for the news tip.
Update: Hardware Canucks, Neoseeker, Overclockers Club, and PC Perspective have all posted their reviews of an earlier iteration of Nvidia's beta performance drivers that were released last week. Nvidia was claiming that its GeForce 337.50 Beta driver could deliver a frame rate increase of up to 71%.
To be sure, the new GeForce 337.61R Beta Hotfix driver released today supersedes the older 337.50 Beta driver, but these reviews will give you a good sense of what to expect from Nvidia's latest performance driver suite.
|New HP Chromebook combines Tegra K1, 1080p touch screen||16|
|S.T.A.L.K.E.R studio re-opens, plans new project||10|
|Friday night topic: what are you giving for Christmas?||116|
|Notes from TR's next-gen storage testing||29|
|Today's Steam deals include AC Unity, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel||32|
|Deal of the week: A Radeon R9 290X for $280, a 960GB SSD for $339, and more||2|
|RRAM breakthrough could lead to 1Tb chips built on 28-nm tech||25|
|The TR Podcast 167.5 bonus edition: You guys ask us stuff!||4|


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Dear Dcoin Traders,
CONEX COIN(CNC) will be listed, opening CNC/BTC trading pair. Please refer to the latest announcement for details.
we're not virtual money, we're a real coin that's actually available, but we're putting a stake in a number of companies and putting the value of those companies in the coin. Details


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You can expect to see the LCBO stay open longer at 360 of its stores across the province just in time for the Victoria Day long weekend.
Working for TikTok Won't Be Illegal Under Trump Order, US Says
The U.S. government said working for TikTok Inc. won’t be illegal under an executive order by President Donald Trump that will prohibit Americans from transactions with the social-media network and its Chinese parent.
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During 618 shopping week, we bring some new items.
Before knowing new items, let's see the sales first.
Not interested in sales? Now see some new items.
June 20, 2019
KPrepublic starts its holiday for Chinese New Year from 28th January to 7th February (Beijing Time).
KPrepublic.com will stop its shipping on 28th January (Beijing Time). Orders which are placed on 27th Jan (Beijing Time) will be shipped out.
KPrepublic.com will be re-cover its shipment on 7th February.


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We exclusively reported about HMD planning to resurrect the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic feature phone. We
If you remember HMD promised to resurrect a Nokia original feature phone at MWC 2020.
Nokia TA-1212 is a new Nokia feature phone and not a smartphone as earlier understood.
HMD is planning to announce its new product portfolio that may include Nokia 1.3, Nokia
HMD may be planning some new Nokia smartphone launches in near-future and we have already


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Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
OnePlus confirms new Bullets Wireless buds are coming (Update: images)
Update, April 8 2020 (7:27AM ET): OnePlus confirmed earlier today that it’s working on new Bullets Wireless earbuds (see original article below), revealing some impressive fast-charge tech too.
Serial leaker Evan Blass has quickly followed up with images on Patreon showing the new earbuds in action, giving us a better idea of what to expect. Check the shots below.
The images clearly show a similar design to the previous Bullets Wireless earphones, so those hoping for true wireless earbuds will be disappointed. We also get names for the actual colors, featuring Blue, Black, Oat, and Mint options.
Now, OnePlus has indeed confirmed that an “all-new” Bullets Wireless device is coming soon. The company revealed the news on Twitter, while also noting that a 10 minute charge will give 10 hours of playback. The tweet also links to a live-stream link for the OnePlus 8 series event on April 14, suggesting that the new earbuds will debut there.
An all-new 10/10 Bullets audio experience is coming your way soon.— OnePlus (@oneplus) April 8, 2020
The company hasn’t revealed more news about the upcoming ‘buds, but leaker Ishan Agarwal previously disclosed details. Agarwal said the new accessory is called the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z and that it won’t actually be true wireless earbuds.
Furthermore, the leaker also (now correctly) claimed that it would offer 10 hours of playback from a 10 minute charge, and that you can expect 20 hours of total playback time. Other claimed details at the time include lower Bluetooth latency (110ms) and an IP55 splash-resistant design.
Frequent tipster Evan Blass also posted an image this week showing the supposed OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z in four shades (seen above). There’s no word on pricing just yet, but hopefully it’s in line with the previous Bullets Wireless ‘buds.
The news also comes as more OnePlus 8 series specs surface online, with WinFuture revealing a ton of camera details. Furthermore, OnePlus has also just revealed that it’s offering 30W wireless charging on at least one of its phones. You can check out all the major OnePlus 8 rumors via our hub at the previous link.


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As the COVID-19 crisis evolves by the day, customer service and support leaders need quick perspectives to ensure they are taking the right actions for their organizations, employees, shareholders and themselves.
Gartner is uniquely positioned to help customer service leaders stay ahead. Gartner recently spoke with 50+ customer service and support leaders to learn the recommendations and actions they are currently taking in three areas:
- Social distancing with remote work
- Shifting volume to self-service and digital channels
- Customer service rep engagement
Download our report to learn more.


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He's sticking to that view.
"October 26 will send a message to developers, particularly consumer [app] developers, as to whether they should stay on the sideline or step up and create an app," Moorhead said, speaking of the quantity and quality of the Windows Store's inventory at launch. "All of the focus needs to be on the consumer side, because there's not enough in Windows 8 for classic laptop and desktop users to make a move."
Ballmer provided proof of his long-term strategy with Windows 8 and Windows RT apps simply by stepping in front of developers last week. "You can develop a simple app in 30 days, but you can't develop a complex app in that time," Moorhead asserted.
Microsoft will undoubtedly strut apps from major software and service providers on Oct. 25 when it hosts a launch event in New York City, ones it's saving for a splash. And the company could spin AWOL apps in a way that will make customers delay judgment, Moorhead said.
"If, for example, a Facebook app is not ready on Day 1, but they come out on stage and promise that one will be within 30 days of launch, or within a specific time, that will be acceptable," said Moorhead.
Microsoft seems sanguine about the Windows Store's app count and even the composition of its content: The company has said little about the Windows Store and its apps, and nothing specific about the goals it has for the app market.
Miller noticed that, too. "The entire Windows 8 development cycle has been largely a black box for me," he said in a Friday post to his personal blog. His comment about Microsoft's increased secrecy has been echoed by other analysts, who have criticized the company, on and off the record, for not keeping customers in the loop as it has in the past.
Microsoft's courting of developers this late in the process shows that the company knows it's not yet made the case for Windows 8, Moorhead added.
"With the hundreds of millions of seats expected on Windows 8, it's a much better value proposition than Windows Phone, which has a very low market share," Moorhead said. "But because the current crop of Windows developers work in .Net, not Metro, Microsoft knows it needs to pull in people who develop for iOS. But [those developers] are sitting on the fence."
True, others have said.
In a survey of more than 5,500 mobile app developers jointly conducted Aug. 22-28 by Appcelerator and research firm IDC, only 33% said they were "very interested" in developing for Windows 8 tablets. iOS on the iPhone and iPad, meanwhile, garnered 85% and 83%, respectively, while Android phones and tablets collected 76% and 66%.
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In continuing efforts to protect residents from scams and price-gouging related to coronavirus disease, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office contacted two related businesses demanding they stop marketing and selling fake at-home coronavirus test kits to Michigan consumers.
The Attorney General’s letter was sent to VitaStik Inc. and $tronghold Inc. – both registered in Las Vegas, Nevada, but operating in Beverly Hills, California – after a concerned Michigan consumer reported the businesses’ website promoting at-home COVID-19 test kits. The kits were marketed at $25 each and described as being 96.3 percent accurate, with results available in 15 minutes.
No such kits have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned consumers that all such promotions are scams.
A special agent from the Attorney General’s office contacted the business owner who said the test kits were going through approval processes with the FDA. When following up on those claims, the agent found them to be false as no one at the FDA had knowledge of the business owner or the kits.
Based on that, the Attorney General’s office believes the businesses to be in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act and demanded they stop selling the phony kits to Michigan consumers and provide refunds to any consumer who may have already purchased some. Federal authorities may take further enforcement action. The company responded by saying it will comply with the office’s request.
The number of COVID-19-related price-gouging complaints filed with the Attorney General’s office as of 7 a.m. today was at 2,806. That includes 1,367 complaints filed online through the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection website, and 1,439 complaints taken by phone.
Consumers can file a complaint online or by calling the Consumer Protection tip line, 877-765-8388. Hours of operation are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Attorney General’s office has received reports from business owners who have been subjects of the office’s efforts to rein in price-gouging. Those business owners have been receiving threats from members of the public.
Price-gouging is a civil violation under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The Attorney General’s office finds residents who call out price-gouging on social media helpful, as are those who tell the office about it. But responding to price-gouging by threatening violence is a crime. It will not be tolerated, and it can be prosecuted. ■


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Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) and First Orion have provided immediate and direct access to free victim assistance should a fraud or identity theft attempt occur to users of the PrivacyStar app and applications powered by the PrivacyStar service, the company said.
PrivacyStar includes ScamBlock, real-time caller ID and call blocking as well as the ability to report abusive calls directly to federal agencies. By partnering with the ITRC, app users now have a second line of defense against fraud attempts.
The company will automatically block all known scammers and identify suspicious callers, but consumers also need a trusted resource to help ensure that they are able to protect their identity and personal information should they provide personal information to an unknown caller.
The ITRC–a nonprofit that supports victims of identity theft in resolving their cases and broadens public awareness of scams, fraud and privacy issues–will stand by to assist PrivacyStar users who may have inadvertently provided their personal information due to a fraud attempt by scam caller.
Identity Theft Resource Center is a non-profit organization established to support victims of identity theft in resolving their cases, and to broaden public education and awareness in the understanding of identity theft, data breaches, cyber security, scams/fraud and privacy issues.
PrivacyStar blocks millions of calls and files hundreds of thousands of call complaints on behalf of customers directly with the Federal Trade Commission for Do Not Call and Fair Debt Collections Practices Act violations.


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Porsche has stopped accepting orders for new carsMay 19, 2018
Porsche temporarily stopped accepting orders for the entire model range in Europe and increased the stock of cars in warehouses. The decision is connected with the preparation for the entry into force of a new cycle of measurements of emissions of harmful substances WLTP, Autocar reports.
According to the representative of Porsche, the increase in the number of standard models in the warehouse allows to minimize the negative effect of the transition to the WLTP cycle. However, those customers who want to get a car on an individual order, will have to wait until the release of the machines certified under the new regulations.
The WLTP cycle, or the “World Harmonized Test Cycle for Passenger Cars,” will replace the already obsolete NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), which was approved back in 1970. WLTP will take into account modern realities: the distance will increase, which must be passed to the test car, the number of dispersals will increase, but the stopping time will be shortened.
In the winter, information appeared that due to a lack of compliance with the new requirements, BMW prematurely stopped production of the “charged” M3 sedan. The model was to be equipped with a Otto particulate filter, but it turned out that this would have to reconsider the location of the exhaust path.
Also, the German manufacturer suspended the production of the sports modification of the 5-Series – M550i – and refused to release the top version of the 7-Series M760Li xDrive with the V12 engine at the next model update.


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On May 17, countries around the world celebrated the International Recycling Day as some sort of call to action to remind people about the 3R's strategy: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We have also challenged you to share your #recycling story through photography on our weekly Instagram Challenge and we are ready to announce the finalist photo: congratulations Kate Berrisford!
Take a look at the original caption:
These are some bread tags I've been collecting. They are made from high density polystyrene which can be recycled. There's a great initiative in South Africa that collects bread tags and uses the money from recycling them to donate wheelchairs to people in need.#photo4climate #recycling #breadtags#trashtotreasure
Photo Credit: Kate Berrisford
#Photo4Climate's new theme
We do really appreciate all photos submitted, so they are featured on Connect4Climate Facebook album. We challenge you to continue to raise awareness and share your Climate Change story with us: this week's theme is #BiologicalDiversity. Don't forget to follow @Connect4Climate on Instagram, using the hashtag #Photo4Climate and this week's theme #BiologicalDiversity. You have until May 30 to share your captions.
More details here.


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IGN is going to be premiering the gameplay reveal of an unannounced Platinum game during our E3 2015 live show.
Tune into IGN at 3pm PT (6pm EST/10pm GMT) on Tuesday, June 16 for an extended look at gameplay from a new game from the Japanese studio that brought us Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
Last year, Platinum released Bayonetta 2 on Wii U. We loved the game, giving it a 9.5 and nominating it for Game of the Year. We also spent time with Platinum's Hideki Kamiya and explored his secret arcade. Platinum also revealed Scalebound during the Microsoft conference during last year's E3
Marty Sliva is a Senior Editor at IGN. He once ate a whole blueberry. Follow him on Twitter @McBiggitty.


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Dr. Mac racked his brain for useful things your technology can do for you while you’re not going out much in Dr. Mac’s Rants & Raves Episode #376.
Siobhan O’Flynn writes about all the ways that companies like Google collect data from kids in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. It starts when schools increasingly turn to Google services in education.
Alphabet Inc. dominates child-directed and child-featured content online through YouTube Kids and has now colonized online educational spaces through Google Docs, G-Suite, Chromebooks and the associated Gmail accounts for children that are required for use. This means that Google’s access to children’s data spans entertainment (YouTube and YouTube Kids), search and purchase histories (via associated parental accounts), and educational sectors.
Almost 50,000 teachers and students in Scotland will be getting free iPads as part of a deal Glasgow City Council and Canadian IT firm CGI.
Teachers that join Apple’s Teacher Coding Academies have been making a difference with the apps that they create.
Apple is partnering with Tennessee State University to promote diversity in programming in HBCU C2 Presidential Academy.
A spate of Netflix preschool programming has been announced and geared towards kids aged 2 to 6 with educational content.
The 2019 Back to School sales are starting with Apple. The MacBook Air price has been lowered to US$1,099 and updated with True Tone.
Jamf is a mobile device management company for Apple devices. Today it announced the launch of Jamf School.
Jamf School is an Apple education technology solution purpose-built for educators. It wasn’t designed for the expert IT user; instead it was designed with an intuitive interface and workflows to empower teachers to seamlessly manage and use their Apple devices for creating an active learning environment. It joins Jamf Pro to offer schools a solution choice that best fits their needs. With the launch of Jamf School also comes powerful apps.
Jamf is partnering with Google Cloud to make it easier for schools and businesses to authenticate Apple devices.
With Jamf Connect, users can unbox their Apple device, power it on and access their corporate and learning applications after signing on with Cloud Identity (or G Suite) credentials. Additionally, IT admins are more easily able to manage Mac accounts while knowing their hardware and information is secure.
Students at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland can now add their campus ID card to Apple Wallet.
Apple and Microsoft team up to provide a federated authentication solution for Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AD).
Apple is supporting the News Literacy Project (NLP) and Common Sense in the U.S., and Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori in Italy.
Roundups of educational apps usually involve apps for students. But this is a list of five educational apps for teachers.
Apple is partnering with Oakland-based Dream Corps as part of the company’s Community Education Initiative.
Tim Cook, along with Ivanka Trump, visited the schools to see how they were using the technology.
Host Kelly Guimont talks to Andrew Orr and John Martellaro about how Apple’s AI can help college students, and Facebook’s latest PR problems.
College is fundamentally different from secondary school. Students are more on their own. This is where Apple could make a difference with an education AI.
The MacBook, introduced in 2015, appeared to leapfrog the venerable MacBook Air. It sported a Retina display and USB-C. Now, it may be a dying breed.
Apple’s Everyone Can Create educational coding program is now more accessible to everyone because now it’s available through Apple Books.
Sphero announced its newest robot, Sphero BOLT, on Monday. The sphere-shaped robot is targeted at the education market, but is available to everyone. It packs an array of infrared and ambient light sensors, LEDs, and a digital compass in its clear body. You can program it from a wide range of devices including iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, Kindle, Macs, and PCs. Sphero BOLT is priced at US$149.99 and is available at the Sphere website.


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26 Mar Walmart Debuts Futuristic Truck
Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience Showcases Cutting Edge Innovations
LOUISVILLE, Ky. March 26, 2014 – Walmart showcased its futuristic truck today at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Ky. The Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience is a tractor-trailer combination that features leading edge aerodynamics, an advanced turbine-powered range extending series hybrid powertrain, electrified auxiliary components, and sophisticated control systems all in one package, developed in support of the company’s industry-leading sustainability program.
In 2005, Walmart, one of the nation’s largest private fleet operators, announced its goal to double fleet efficiency by 2015. Walmart trucks log millions of miles every year, so when it comes to sustainability and fleet efficiency, the goal is simple: deliver more merchandise while driving fewer miles on the most efficient equipment. As of last year, the company had achieved an 84 percent improvement in fleet efficiency over its 2005 baseline…Read Full Article


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The birth of bitcoin in 2009 opened the door for investment opportunities in a completely new type of asset class – cryptocurrency. A lot went into space early.
Interested in the enormous potential of these young but promising assets, they bought the cryptophone at cheap prices. So in 2017, they became millionaires / billionaires. Even those who did little reaped a decent income.
After three years, cryptocurrencies still remain profitable, and the market remains here. Maybe you are already an investor / trader or maybe you are thinking of trying your luck. In both cases, it makes sense to know the benefits of investing in cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrencies have a bright future
According to the “Imagine 2030” report published by Deutsche Bank, credit and debit cards will become obsolete. They will be replaced by smartphones and other electronic devices.
Cryptocurrencies will no longer be seen as outcasts, but as an alternative to existing monetary systems. Their benefits, such as security, speed, minimum transaction fees, ease of storage and relevance in the digital age, will be recognized.
Specific regulations promote cryptocurrencies and increase their use. The report predicts that by 2030 there will be 200 million users of cryptocurrency wallets, and by 2035 – almost 350 million.
The opportunity to be part of a growing community
#IndiaWantsCrypto from WazirX the campaign recently ended 600 days. It has become a mass movement that supports the adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain in India.
In addition, a recent Supreme Court ruling that lifted RBI’s ban on crypto banking from 2018 has instilled a new surge of confidence among Indian investors in bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.
The Edelman Trust Barometer 2020 report also notes the growing people’s faith in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. According to the results, 73% of Indians trust cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. 60% note that the impact of the cryptocurrency / blockchain will be positive.
As an investor in cryptocurrency, you remain part of a thriving and fast-growing community.
Increase profit potential
Diversification is an important investment rule. Especially at a time when most assets have suffered heavy losses due to economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While investing in bitcoin has yielded 26% return since the beginning of the year to date, gold has returned 16%. Many other cryptocurrencies have a three-digit ROI. Stock markets, as we all know, have published horrible results. In April, crude oil prices are known to have fallen below 0.
Inclusion in your portfolio of bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency will protect the value of your fund in such uncertain situations in the global market. This fact also impressed billionaire macro hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones when a month ago he announced plans to invest in bitcoin.
Cryptocurrency markets operate 24X7X365
Unlike conventional markets, cryptocurrency markets operate around the clock, all days of the year without fatigue. This is because digital currency systems are essentially designed using software code that is provided with cryptography.
The operational plan does not provide for human intervention. This way, you are free to trade cryptocurrencies or invest in digital assets if you wish. This is a great benefit! Cryptocurrency markets are very efficient.
For example, since its inception in 2009, Bitcoin has successfully processed 99.98% uptime transactions.
No documents or formalities are required
You can invest in bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency anywhere and anytime without any unnecessary conditions.
Unlike conventional investment options, where an absurdly large amount of documentation is required to prove yourself as an “accredited investor,” crypto-investments are free for everyone. In fact, this was the goal behind the creation of cryptocurrencies. Democratization of finance / money.
To buy any cryptocurrency on WazirX, you need to open an account for which you just need to provide some basic data including your bank account details. Once they are checked, within hours, you are ready to go.
The sole ownership of the investment
By buying bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency, you become the sole owner of this digital asset. The transaction is peer-to-peer.
Unlike bonds, mutual funds, stockbrokers, no one “manages your investments” for you. You call for a sale whenever you want.
User autonomy is the biggest advantage of cryptocurrency systems, which provides incredible opportunities for self-investment and building a fixed capital.
These were some of the benefits of investing in cryptocurrencies. We hope you find them useful and compelling enough to begin your crypto-investment journey.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Futures are rising a day after the nominee to head the Federal Reserve signaled that the country's accommodative economic policy could go on longer than many had expected.
Dow Jones industrial futures are up 28 points to 15,867. S&P futures have gained 3.5 points to 1,791.30. Nasdaq futures are up 5 points to 3,415.50.
During a confirmation hearing, Janet Yellen said that, "It's important not to remove support, especially when the recovery is fragile."
Many Americans seem to agree that the economy is not in full recovery mode, based on earnings from retailers this week.
Wal-Mart cut its annual outlook for the second time in three months, profit plunged at Kohl's and net income at Nordstrom's slumped 7 percent.
The U.S. releases data on industrial production and wholesale inventories Friday.


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BIR audit on big-time online sellers resumes
August 21, 2022 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will soon resume its monitoring of “big-time” online sellers to eventually collect taxes from them.
BIR commissioner Lilia Guillermo told reporters the agency would meet with Shopee and Lazada next month.
“As of now, they are still quite hesitant to provide us data due to privacy as they say. But for us, there’s nothing on that (privacy) that we are violating,” Guillermo said.
As to online influencers, particularly those earning huge amounts on YouTube, Guillermo said they would await the passage of the law on digital service providers, which is…


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COLUMBUS, OH — Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) released their monthly TRENDS report, showing average sales for HARDI distributor members increased 9.4 percent in November 2014.
The annualized growth through November is now 6.9 percent and at the upper edge of the 6-percent to 7-percent range where it has been throughout 2014.
HARDI Senior Economist Danielle Marceau said, “The continuously improving health of the U.S. consumer is supporting growth in the retail industry, as well as residential construction.”
“November was the third strong month in a row for average sales,” said HARDI Market Research and Benchmarking analyst Brian Loftus, adding, “November 2013 showed low single-digit growth but November 2014 had one less billing day than last year. The high single-digit performance this year was widely dispersed.”
Marceau offered another factor contributing to the recent performance. “Oil prices are contributing to low gasoline and heating fuel costs as we head into the winter season. That is great for the U.S. consumer who will spend less on these necessities and have more money in their pocket for home improvements,” she said.
The Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), a measure of how quickly customers pay their bills, is now at 46.1 days, the shortest collection time we have seen for this time of year. The typical seasonal increase has been slow to develop. Given the strong top-line report, we believe the DSO reflects healthier customers paying their bills more quickly instead of stricter credit standards.
HARDI members do not receive financial compensation in exchange for their monthly sales data and can discontinue their participation without prior notice or penalty. Participation is voluntary, and the depth of market coverage varies from region to region. An independent entity collects and compiles the data that can include products not directly associated with the HVACR industry.


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Farmers’ unions have warned that animal welfare standards should not be put at risk as a result of any future trade deal with the US after Britain leaves the European Union.
The NFU and FUW also expressed concern that any lowering of standards could put Welsh farmers at a competitive disadvantage.
They were responding to the reports this week that the Government might not maintain the ban on chlorinated chicken in a future trade agreement.
Cabinet colleagues Liam Fox and Michael Gove appear to be split on the issue, with the Environment Secretary insisting that the UK’s high standards would be maintained under any trade deal with the US.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 Today yesterday Mr Gove said: “I have made it perfectly clear we are not going to dilute our high environmental standards or our animal welfare standards in the pursuit of a trade deal.
“We need to ensure that we do not compromise those standards. And we need to be in a position as we leave the European Union to be leaders in environmental and in animal welfare standards.”
Earlier this week Trade Secretary Liam Fox played down concerns about chlorinated chicken and said that the issue would only be considered towards the end of negotiations with the US over a new trade deal.
“There is no health issue with that - the European Union has said that it is perfectly safe,” he said.
“The issue lies around some of the secondary issues of animal welfare and it’s perfectly reasonable for people to raise that, but it will come much further down the road.”
What the unions say
NFU Cymru pointed to a new House of Lords report published on Tuesday which warns that imported food could threaten farm animal welfare standards after the UK leaves the EU and could leave farmers at a competitive disadvantage.
NFU Cymru deputy president John Davies said: “The House of Lords report resonates with many of our serious concerns around the potential for imported food, produced to standards that are different to our own, undermining the hard work of Welsh farmers.
“Investing in high welfare systems does incur additional production costs and NFU Cymru has always stressed the need to recognise these alongside the more ethical or moral animal welfare demands.
“The public values and trusts the food that is produced here in Britain to the highest standards in animal health and welfare, traceability and safety and they repeatedly tell us they back Welsh farming – the bedrock of the Welsh food and drink sector.”
He added: “During any international trade negotiations, it is essential that Government is mindful of the production methods of potential imported foods. We need to ensure that farmers here are not left trying to compete with cheap imported food produced at lower standards with different levels of traceability, animal welfare and environmental care.
“This would not be a good outcome for British farming, British food production or the British public.”
FUW deputy president Brian Thomas said: “This issue highlights how one small area relating to trade can cause huge problems in terms of negotiating trade deals and under no circumstances should such differing standards be allowed to undermine British producers or their access to existing markets.
“The priority needs to be the protection of established markets and these should not be jeopardised.”
What the public think
Among visitors to the Royal Welsh Show yesterday there appeared to support for the UK maintaining the EU’s current ban on chlorinated chicken after Brexit.
Jenny Gregory, from Guilsfield near Welshpool, said: “It should be banned. It can’t be very good if you consume the food.
“I know the Americans put growth hormones into their animals as well, and that passes on into the bloodstream and can affect you and has been banned in this country.”
Malcolm Wilson, from Bromyard in Herefordshire, said: “Just because you can eat it does not mean it’s food. If it needs chlorinating it’s not fit to eat in the first place.”
But Anthony Kleinberg from Llanddarog in Carmarthenshire said he wouldn’t be concerned about buying chlorinated chicken as long as it was properly regulated.
He said: “People need to look into it to make sure it is OK. I’m sure it’s a good idea because they need to kill off salmonella and that sort of thing.
“It’s just one of those things that needs to be regulated properly. But we need to do trade deals with America, that’s for sure.”
What is chlorinated chicken?
In the US chicken carcases are bathed in a rinse of water mixed with chlorine. It’s claimed that this cuts the risk of infection from campylobacter and salmonella in the chicken.
Such chlorine washes are banned in the EU, which argues that the practice allows producers and abbatoirs to be more lax about hygiene and welfare standards. Abbatoirs in the EU are only allowed to wash chicken carcases in water and cold air.
The EU says its farm to fork approach is safer as it’s designed to ensure the highest hygiene and welfare standards at every point along the supply chain.
There’s no evidence of any health risk to consumers from the chlorine, or that the chlorine causes any chemical changes in the chicken. Regulators in the US say it’s safe and regulators in the EU do not claim that the chlorine itself poses any direct risk.
But the EU, and UK farmers, are concerned that lower standards in US abbatoirs will allow the US to undercut European producers with cheaper chicken. US chlorinated chicken is around 20% cheaper than UK chicken.
The concerns over chlorinated chicken could complicate any future trade deal between Britain and the EU. The EU has warned that if US chlorinated chicken is allowed into the UK, there would have to be strict controls to ensure it wasn’t re-exported to the EU.
This could be a particular problem in Northern Ireland, where hopes for an open border with the Irish Republic would be dashed.


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Brands are using emotionally intelligent services to enhance their understanding of consumers.
This month, Apple acquired Emotient, a start-up that uses artificial intelligence to read emotions through facial expression. Although the company told the Wall Street Journal that it does not “discuss our purpose or plans” when buying smaller companies, it seems likely Apple will use the technology to better understand the relationship between consumers’ emotions and its advertising and products.
Industries already using similar technology include advertising, healthcare, and retail. Affectiva is a facial recognition service that focuses on emotional analysis, using technology to help advertisers understand viewers’ emotional connection with campaigns. The information gathered can help pinpoint when users become captivated or disengaged, and further analysis can help advertisers work out why.
Neuro-Insight is a company that operates in a similar way, using neuroscience to quantify subconscious and emotional responses. The company measures responses by reading brain activity, analyzing reactions to advertisements or products.
Wearable tech companies are also trying to sell individual consumers on the benefits of using technology to monitor their own emotions. Sentio Solutions launched a new wearable emotion tracker called Feel at CES this year. Feel claims to be the first wristband that measures and tracks emotions throughout the day, and then suggest ways to elevate or alleviate those emotions.
At the end of 2015, household air freshener brand Glade launched The Museum of Feelings in New York City. The museum stimulated visitors’ senses in order to create emotional responses. These responses were then turned into data that influenced the museum’s installations and projections. Ultimately, the journey helped generate individual mood profiles that allowed Glade to recommend specific fragrances.
Neuromarketing is one of 10 branding and advertising trends we identified in our Future 100 report.


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- 2 min read
Facebook floats new entity to acquire 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms
The two companies told CCI the proposed transaction does not alter the competitive landscape & they would continue to operate independently.
Social media giant Facebook has floated a new entity -- Jaadhu Holdings LLC – incorporated in Delaware in the United States, which will acquire 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms Ltd.
The two companies disclosed this in a submission to India’s competition watchdog, seeking clearance for the $5.7 billion deal that was announced in April.
The Facebook entity will acquire a minority, non-controlling share in Jio Platforms, according to the submission to the Competition Commission of India.
Jio Platforms, Facebook-owned instant messaging service WhatsApp Inc and Reliance Retail Ltd will also enter into a separate commercial agreement, it added.
“Jaadhu is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Facebook. Jaadhu is a newly incorporated company formed in March 2020... As on the date of the Notification Form, Jaadhu is not engaged in any business in India or anywhere in the world,” it said.
Read: How Facebook is logging into the Reliance Jio ecosystem
The Reliance Industries company and Facebook told the Commission that the proposed transaction does not alter the competitive landscape and that Facebook and Jio Platforms would continue to operate independently.
“The Proposed Transaction and the Proposed Commercial Arrangement are pro-competitive, benefits consumers, Kirana (corner) stores and other small and micro local Indian businesses, and take forward the vision of digital India,” the filing read.
There is also no significant overlap between the two business segments that Facebook and Jio Platforms operate in - advertising services and consumer communication applications, respectively, it said.
Since the announcement of Facebook's investment in Jio Platforms, the subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has raised a further Rs 34,988 crore from PE firms KKR, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic and Silver Lake, at an equity value of Rs 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore.
Read: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in talks to invest in Jio platforms


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Samsung has announced that it will hold its next unpacked event on August 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the company will launch the Galaxy Note 10 and new S Pen, according to a report. This is the same venue where Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 9 in 2018.
The Galaxy Note 10 is one of the highly anticipated flagship smartphones of this year, and this is going to be the biggest introduction in the Galaxy Note family. According to some rumors and leaks the Galaxy Note 10 will feature a hole-punch camera at the top center, in-screen fingerprint reader. The company may launch two Note variants this year, a 6.3-inch base Note 10 and a nearly 6.8-inch Note 10+, which will likely be a 5G variant. You could expect upgrades to the pen experience, the camera and likely other traits.
Rumors also claim that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will have a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD slot. Note 10 will also have three cameras at the back, the set up is expected to be the same as the Samsung Galaxy S10 series, and the Infinity-O display, which has a cutout or hole for the front camera is also expected to continue on the Galaxy Note 10 series.


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US: PepsiCo board backs CEO, rejects Trian split call
Board backs Nooyi in Trian spat
PepsiCo's board of directors has thrown its weight behind CEO Indra Nooyi and once again rejected calls from Trian Partners to split into two companies.
In a letter to Nelson Peltz, the activist investor behind Trian, PepsiCo director Ian Cook said the board has revisited the suggestion but again concluded it was not the most appropriate course for PepsiCo or its investors. Cook said what he called the "financial engineering" of a break-up would erode value for shareholders, not create it.
"PepsiCo's value is maximised as an integrated food and beverage company," Cook insisted. "The board and management have concluded that the financial engineering you propose erodes value for shareholders rather than creates value."
Peltz first called for a split of PepsiCo into a fast-growth snacks business and a slow-growth beverages unit last year. He suggested the snacks arm should be merged with Mondelez International. He dropped the call for a merger with Mondelez in January when the Cadbury maker offered him a board seat.
However, Trian has continued to push for PepsiCo to be broken up. Earlier this month, Peltz said he would take his arguments to shareholders in a bid to gain support.
Peltz believes PepsiCo's low-growth drinks and high-growth snacks businesses are fundamentally different models and would operate better independently. PepsiCo management has repeatedly rebuffed this suggestion.
Earlier this month, Nooyi announced the completion of a strategic review that would see PepsiCo retain its drinks business. At the time, the company also unveiled an increase in annual profits, a share buyback plan and the extension of its cost-cutting initiative to 2019.
Speaking at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference last week, management detailed how it is leveraging the benefits of holding mega brands in both the drinks and snacks categories.
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BlackLine, an account automation software firm has acquired AI-based cloud platform Rimilia to expand BlackLine’s capabilities into AR automation, a new area for the company. The acquisition will move BlackLine closer to its goal of modernising accounting.
Rimilia, a client of 360Leaders, provides accounts receivable automation, to help companies control cash flow and collection in real-time. Rimilia simplifies the order-to-cash process using machine learning and artificial intelligence. Same-day cash can reduce the number of days sales are outstanding, boost cash flow and drive savings.
“With most companies using legacy, repetitive and manual processes to manage their order-to-cash, our customers and partners have long been asking for a solution that will enable better cash and liquidity management. This is especially critical now in these difficult economic times.”
Marc added that accounts receivable is “the single largest asset for most businesses,” and that Rimilia’s ability “to unlock working capital and reduce risk is top of mind for today’s controllers and CFOs.”
360leaders supported Rimilia’s with two key hires before the acquisition
As Rimilia’s Executive Search partner, 360Leaders helped hire two key leaders in the business before the acquisition took place.
In 2019, Rimilia needed a CPO to drive growth and customer success through new product based innovative solutions. 360Leaders hired Andy Lilley from Bottomline Technologies, where he helped grow the company in EMEA from 150 to 1000 employees, and increase revenue from £25m to £100m. In less than a year, Andy built out Rimlia’s product roadmap and helped shape product across the organisation.
Andy said he was “hugely excited to be joining the Blackline family and embarking on this next step in Rimilia’s and our customer’s journey together! The shared values, passion for customer success and market-leading technology makes this a huge step forward for innovation in finance”.
After their first successful hire, Rimilia partnered again with 360Leaders when they needed a CTO to upscale and grow their technology capability. Before joining Rimilia, Steven Robertson was the CTO of HighQ before their successful exit to Thomas Reuters. Steven had previously worked with brands such as Websense ( Forcepoint exit) and Cisco Systems, demonstrating his ability to lead and build healthy, high-performing, and motivated teams. Since joining in March, Steven has been able to help steer the company through the pandemic as the Technology leader.


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By Bryan Smith on February 23, 2016 at 8:02pm
After Xbox Spain accidentally leaked the Games with Gold's March lineup (no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!), Major Nelson revealed the Games with Gold lineup.
For the Xbox One, the games include "Sherlock Holmes: Crime and Punishment" for the month of March and "Lords of the Fallen" from March 16 to April 15.
For the Xbox 360, the games include "Supreme Commander 2" from March 1 to March 15 and "Borderlands" from March 16 to March 31.


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The new FreshQ® cultures offer an alternative to even more chemicals and artificial preservatives than the first generation
With Chr. Hansen’s second generation FreshQ®, more dairies can rely on natural freshness and contribute to reducing food waste
Since global bioscience company Chr. Hansen first launched its FreshQ® portfolio some five years ago, it has swept across the global dairy industry and gained recognition for its outstanding protective properties against yeast and mold in an all-natural way – well in line with strong consumer preference for clean label.
Now the Chr. Hansen innovation and science teams have done it again: Developed a series of new second-to-none FreshQ® cultures, even more powerful than the first generation, and ready to expand its global reach.
Helping customers go natural
“We are happy and proud to launch more than 10 new cultures, which will most certainly open the door to new markets and customers,” says Peter Thoeysen, Marketing Director, Dairy Bioprotection.
“It is a new generation that offers improved solutions. The new FreshQ® cultures are applicable and optimized to significantly more products and applications (in addition to yogurt, also fresh cheese, kefir, quark and numerous other fermented milk products). They also have stronger protective properties that make them well-suited in regions where the cold chain is under pressure. Last but not least, they offer an alternative to even more chemicals and artificial preservatives than the first generation and thus we can help more customers go natural,” he emphasizes.
Reducing food waste through longer shelf life
FreshQ® works by inhibiting or postponing the growth of yeast and mold in the fresh dairy product. An externally validated study has shown that by extending shelf life, FreshQ® can help reduce food waste.
Today 17% of the European yogurt production goes to waste – in 80% of the cases because the use-by-date expires somewhere in the supply chain. An extension of shelf life by 7 days, which is a conservative estimate of the possible impact by FreshQ®, would translate into a potential of reducing yogurt waste by 30% in Europe alone.
Reduction of food waste has not only been identified by the UN as a Global Goal for Sustainable Development – it is also high on consumers’ agenda. A modest extension of shelf life does not conflict with their preference for freshness. As long as it is brought about by natural ingredients, and if it can contribute to reducing waste.
Keep it great!
“The second generation of FreshQ® has overcome some of the limitations we have identified in the first generation. In the development of the cultures we have also focused on selecting strains that have a minimum impact on the process and help obtain the desired flavor,” explains Thoyesen.
“What we offer to dairy manufacturers around the world is a competitive edge without compromising their product label; we provide them with a chance to keep their products fresh and safe longer by using nature’s own resources. That not only helps food manufacturers create a great brand experience – it helps them to Keep it great! ” concludes Thoeysen, referring to the umbrella under which Chr. Hansen gathers all its bioprotective solutions for dairy, meat, salmon and fresh salad.
Bioprotection is a strategic lighthouse in Chr. Hansen’s overall Nature’s no. 1 strategy. Last year the product area saw 30% growth and expectations continue to be high.


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More and more logistics companies are using electric trucks. The electric models tested in the first pilot projects are mostly designed for use in urban areas since large ranges with a fully electric drive still entail technical challenges and high costs. DPD Switzerland recently started using an electric long-haul truck with what the company says has the highest capacity vehicle battery available in Europe.
The electric vehicle introduced by DPDgroup Switzerland comes from the Swiss electric-truck brand Futuricum. The Futuricum Logistics 18E model was delivered in mid-March and will initially be used on a route between a DPD depot in Möhlin in the canton of Aargau and the distribution centre in Buchs in the canton of Zurich, Germany.
The electric truck is based on a Volvo chassis and it has a 680 kWh battery, the largest currently available on an electric truck in Europe. The battery that weighs 4.5 tons allows the electric truck a range of up to 760 km with a charge. Thanks to the recovery of braking energy, the vehicle is highly efficient, according to Futuricum.
The electric drive with 500 kW (680 hp) consists of four electric motors. The battery also has the advantage that it is 91% recyclable, and the cell materials can be recovered.
With its equipment, the e-truck can completely replace a truck with a combustion engine and provide its service without restrictions on all routes. It is therefore the first electric long-distance truck that will not roll in a test environment.
The Futuricum Logistics 18E should drive at least 80,000 kilometres per year. According to the manufacturer, it saves 90 kilograms of CO2 per hundred kilometres. In the DPD Switzerland depots, it is charged exclusively with local green electricity.
Last summer, DPD Switzerland ordered a Futuricum Logistics 18E electric truck from local manufacturer Designwerk Products AG.
By 2025, the DPDgroup wants to reduce its CO2 emissions from parcel transport by 30% compared to 2013 levels.
DPD Switzerland has ordered a purely electrically powered Futuricum Logistics 18E truck from the Swiss company Designwerk Products AG in Winterthur. The Logistics 18E electric truck from Designwerk has a range of up to 760 kilometres.… Continue reading
Daimler Trucks has unveiled the new Mercedes-Benz eActros, the brand's first series-production electric truck. It comes with the latest Mercedes-Benz technology at all levels and a range of up to 400 kilometres in real-life… Continue reading
The city of Stockholm is known for its commitment to environmental and social responsibility, as well as its innovative approach to urban planning and mobility. One of the latest examples of this is the introduction of the… Continue reading


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updated 11:20 am EDT, Mon May 9, 2011
SoftBank rises in Q1 2011 through iPhone sales
SoftBank on Monday posted banner results that it directly credited to the iPhone and iPad. A rise in smartphones, led mostly by Apple on the Japanese carrier, was a "huge factor" in pumping profit for the early winter to $588.4 million. The figure was over 25 times larger than a year ago, although SoftBank was quick to note that dropping its 2G network cut into its profits a year ago.
The network was also the only one to see its average revenue per person go up to $52.20 from $50.47 as more people adopted smartphones. Other major carriers KDDI and NTT DoCoMo, which have Android but no iPhone, saw their average user revenue go down.
The company posted a special loss for its fiscal year equivalent to $178.8 million owed solely to dramatic earthquake relief efforts that included guaranteed jobs, living expenses, and free iPhones for those who lost theirs in the Japanese disaster. SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son personally donated $120 million and waived his salary.
NTT DoCoMo has had some success with phones like the Samsung Galaxy S and Sony Ericsson's Xperia line, but SoftBank has still typically been adding more subscribers and growing faster as a whole. Apple has faced a tough fight in North America and Europe due to Android but has been very successful in Asia in recent quarters.


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Earnings results for Revlon (NYSE:REV)
Revlon, Inc. is estimated to report earnings on 11/13/2020. The upcoming earnings date is derived from an algorithm based on a company’s historical reporting dates. Our vendor, Zacks Investment Research, might revise this date in the future, once the company announces the actual earnings date. According to Zacks Investment Research, based on 1 analysts’ forecasts, the consensus EPS forecast for the quarter is $-0.61. The reported EPS for the same quarter last year was $-0.71.
Revlon last issued its quarterly earnings results on August 6th, 2020. The reported ($1.56) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.04) by $0.52. The firm earned $347.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $426.10 million. Revlon has generated ($2.45) earnings per share over the last year. Revlon has not formally confirmed its next earnings publication date, but the company’s estimated earnings date is Friday, November 13th, 2020 based off prior year’s report dates.
Analyst Opinion on Revlon (NYSE:REV)
Dividend Strength: Revlon (NYSE:REV)
Revlon does not currently pay a dividend. Revlon does not have a long track record of dividend growth.
Insiders buying/selling: Revlon (NYSE:REV)
In the past three months, Revlon insiders have not sold or bought any company stock. 87.40% of the stock of Revlon is held by insiders. A high percentage of insider ownership can be a sign of company health. Only 10.60% of the stock of Revlon is held by institutions.
Earnings and Valuation of Revlon (NYSE:REV
Earnings for Revlon are expected to grow in the coming year, from ($3.24) to ($2.32) per share. The P/E ratio of Revlon is -1.78, which means that its earnings are negative and its P/E ratio cannot be compared to companies with positive earnings. The P/E ratio of Revlon is -1.78, which means that its earnings are negative and its P/E ratio cannot be compared to companies with positive earnings.
More latest stories: here


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Say goodbye to driver downloads, software install and even wireless printing. If you can email it, HP can print it with their ePrint printers. HP recently held a regional launch introducing their new ePrint printers for businesses.
The coming of the Windows Phone 7 mobile OS is an important milestone in the industry and for Microsoft. To show their commitment to this new development, Microsoft Singapore marked this occasion by setting up a special HardwareZone members only session to give these enthusiasts a detailed rundown of the Windows Phone 7 platform. Hit the jump for our full coverage, including video.
AMD releases their next generation "Northern Islands" graphics cards, and as luck would have it, the Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 have washed up on our shores and into our labs. How can we resist benching them? Check out the full details!
Samsung has armed the Series 8 with a dazzling load of features such as a 3D-ready panel, entertainment portal and LED backlights with local dimming. Is this 3D TV's performance worthy of its polished looks? Let's find out!
With Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 fully ready, the newly deployed OS makes its way onto devices such as the LG Optimus 7. We share some of our findings and thoughts on this new LG mobile phone in our first of many Windows Phone 7 related reviews to come.
At the AMD Technical Forum & Exhibition 2010, we were treated to more AMD Fusion demos as well as more information leading up to the availability of the Fusion ecosystem. If you're looking for the definite AMD Fusion guide and the latest updates, look no further. Plus, peer into the future of the Fusion.
Having laid our hands on 3D LCD TVs, it's about time we gave Panasonic's stereoscopic PDP a shot. Armed to the teeth with a reborn NeoPDP panel and VIERA Cast suite, we wasted little time in getting up to speed with the Infinite Black knight.
If you are looking for a worthy Android 2.2 device with a large 4.3-inch screen, the HTC Desire HD is definitely the place to start. One of the two, alongside the HTC Desire Z, that will be launched under the Desire bandwagon, the high-end smartphone has enough horsepower and mobile security (HTCSense.com) for those looking for an empowering device. Hit the jump for more details.
Opera Software hosted their very first global press event at the Norwegian Center for Design and Architecture in Oslo, Norway to talk about their latest web innovations for the Opera family of browsers as well as the developments in HTML5 and CSS3.
It's been a month since the launch of the GeForce GTS 450 and NVIDIA's partners have come up with more custom editions. Today, we take a look at the five newest to hit the market from ECS, EVGA, Gigabyte, Leadtek and last but not least, Palit's ultra-compact card.


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After a long day of classes, Macon State College senior Kristina Whitaker does not always have time to prepare a big, healthy meal. For at least two or three nights a week, her go-to food is Ramen noodles.
“As a full-time college student, money and time are major issues that you have to deal with and buying packages of noodles are cheap,” Whitaker said. “They fill you up and are great when you are constantly on the go and have deadlines to meet.”
And she is not alone.
Ramen noodles are often a popular choice for those on a strict budget, and students tend to be among those top consumers who want a cheap meal that can easily be prepared with just one ingredient.
But few people know what happens after consuming this budget-friendly meal… until now.
Stefani Bardin, teacher at Parsons The New School for Design in N.Y. and education director at 3rd Ward in Brooklyn, came up with the idea to “blend an artistic conception grounded in scientific experiment.”
Two trial studies were conducted by Bardin and Dr. Braden Kuo, director of the GI motility laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University.
Volunteers were given Ramen noodles, Gatorade and gummy bears on June 25 last year. On September 10, they ate homemade noodles and gummy bears and drank hibiscus tea. After consumption of each meal, subjects swallowed a tiny capsule with video recording capabilities to capture the inside of the gastrointestinal tract.
“One of the things I was really interested in was using this technology to do a project around what processed or homemade foods look like going through the body,” Bardin said. “It [Ramen noodles] is a food readily available that would be interesting to look at from the inside of the tract.”
While the preliminary study only tested a few subjects, there were noticeable differences in the breakdown of the homemade noodles versus the processed Ramen noodles.
“The most striking thing during the time intervals of two, four and six hours was the degree of breakdown of Ramen noodles,” Kuo said. “At two and four hours, the particular size of the Ramen noodle was much larger or formed than the homemade Ramen noodle at each of those time points, suggesting Ramen noodles were difficult to break down into extremely infinite particulate matter during the process of digestion.”
A video released on the study at TEDxManhattan’s “Changing the Way We Eat” has since gone viral and prompted discussion among researchers, nutritionists, physicians and Ramen noodle consumers.
“After seeing this video I will definitely change how often I eat Ramen noodles,” Whitaker said. “I will try to eat them once a week or I might just stop eating them all together unless I have no other choice.”
Georgia State University graduate student Brandi Reese said, “The video was really gross, and hopefully, this will prompt the company to consider ways on improving the product.” Reese added, “I have never been much of a Ramen noodle eater. However, after seeing that video, I definitely won’t be eating them anytime soon.”
Whitaker also said after eating noodles she sometimes experiences stomachaches and nausea but associated the complications with “eating the noodles too fast.”
Sheena Quizon Gregg, assistant director of nutrition education and health promotion at The University of Alabama, said, “Processed foods such as Ramen noodles contain significant amounts of sodium, saturated and trans fats, as well as additives that can lead to chronic disease states such as Type II Diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease if consumed in excessive amounts.”
Despite the reaction to the video, Kuo insisted not enough subjects were tested to form conclusive results.
We don’t understand the impact to a degree of digestion, but what we do have is a striking visual image to begin the discussion,” Kuo said. “But I can’t say for certain at this point whether they [Ramen noodles] will have an impact on health or nutrition or absorption.
Bardin echoed Kuo’s statement suggesting it was not about choosing one thing over the over but “looking at things in terms of moderation.”
“This is about taking into consideration what’s in your food, what’s available to you and being able to allow the public to make more informed choices, which is something our current labeling system and our food system doesn’t make readily accessible,” Bardin said.
“Many consumers can add vegetables and lean proteins to the noodles for more balance to the meal,” Gregg said. “Vegetables added to the noodles that are fresh, frozen or canned (low/no sodium) can provide additional vitamin and mineral content to the meal. Lean proteins such as fish or chicken prepared with as little added fat as possible using olive oil in preparation can add nutrient benefit.”
Whitaker said, “I do not try to incorporate healthier ingredients when eating them, but it does seem like a great idea.” She added, “To make them healthier, I could prepare the noodles with vegetables and avoid adding fatty ingredients like butter and salt.”
Kuo and his team are in the process of obtaining funding to test more research subjects to form more definitive results.
Until then, students can continue to eat the noodles, keeping moderation and proportions in mind.
“One important thing is spending a little bit more money on food ends up benefiting you down the road in terms of overall health, not just for yourself but the environment,” Bardin said.
“It is important for consumers to remember, regardless of age, that though we most definitely eat for pleasure and enjoyment, our number one goal when eating is to nourish our bodies, Gregg said. “If we only eat foods that have had the health providing components such as vitamins, minerals and fiber removed, we are doing ourselves an injustice.”


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It's been 25 years since M.A.C. started its fight against HIV and AIDS with the launch of the iconic Viva Glam Lipstick. In 1994, the brand collaborated with RuPaul on the legendary campaign, and announced it would give 100 percent of the lipstick's proceeds to the M.A.C. AIDS Fund — a charity founded by the brand.
To celebrate this monumental moment in M.A.C. history and pay homage to its debut Viva Glam lipstick, the brand is bringing back the original Viva Glam shade — an opaque brownish-blue-red — but this time in a sparkly, crimson-colored tube made for collectors. Additionally, M.A.C. tapped model Winnie Harlow to re-create the first Viva Glam campaign image, from 1994, which originally starred RuPaul.
Through these efforts, M.A.C. has raised an impressive $500 million for 1,800 organizations that support the 19 million people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. But this year it gets even better: For the first time in 25 years, the brand is broadening its mission to help those impacted by HIV and AIDS and will also support charities specific to women and girls and the LGBTQ+ community under the newly named VIVA GLAM Fund. The organizations include Planned Parenthood, GLAAD, and Girls, Inc.
As if one lipstick isn't enough, M.A.C. will also be selling its Viva Glam II (a creamy muted mauve) and III (a rich brown-plum) lipsticks, too, with all proceeds donated to the VIVA GLAM Fund. Each lipstick retails for $18.50 and can be purchased at any M.A.C. counter or store, and on maccosmetics.com.
Congratulations to M.A.C. on its amazing work and 25 years of helping those affected by HIV and AIDS.
Now read more about M.A.C. and Viva Glam
- A M.A.C. x Sia Viva Glam Lipstick Is Coming
- M.A.C.'s Taraji P. Henson Viva Glam 2 Collection Is Launching Next Month
- A Review of M.A.C.'s Tinted Lipglass in Viva Glam
Done reading? Now watch Lizzo try nine things she's never done before:


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Food prices to rise as Sysco invokes 'Act of God' clause for food supply
Americans can expect food prices to rise massively over the next few weeks to months as the harsh weather effectively destroyed the Mexican winter crops.
In a report from the USDA late last week, crated tomatoes alone have risen 3.5 times their normal cost, going from $6.95 per crate to $22.95.
On Feb. 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported prices of $22.95-24.95 for two-layer cartons of 4×4, 5×5 and 5×6 vine-ripe field-grown tomatoes from Mexico, up from $6.95-9.95 the week before and $5.95-7.95 the year before.
Also in a report from February 4th, the publication The Packer.com reported that from 80 to 100% of produce in the Mexican fields was destroyed.
“The early reports are still coming in but most are showing losses of crops in the range of 80 to 100%. Even shade house product was hit by the extremely cold temps. It will take 7-10 days to have a clearer picture from growers and field supervisors, but these growing regions haven’t had cold like this in over half a century.”
Sysco, which is one of the largest companies that purchases and supplies Mexican winter produce to restaurants and grocery chains through the country, wrote a letter this last week specifying that suppliers are invoking the 'act of God' clause in their contracts, and will be raising the prices on whatever can be harvested from their fields.
The bottom line to all of this is, food supplies, as well as this year's harvests, will be down to critical levels, if not dire ones. Last week we discussed the destruction of sugar and banana crops in Australia due to the cyclone that tore through that continent, and previously we spoke on corn and cotton shortages. Less than a week later we got another act of God, or act of nature, which did the same to produce on the North American continent.
Corn futures skyrocket as supply dwindles and the UN reports shortages
Banana prices set to skyrocket as cyclone destroys Australian crops
Sugar shortage leads to renewal of GMO Beet planting in the US
The revolts we just saw in Tunisia and Egypt by starving people could occur quickly all around the world, including in the United States, as food becomes scarce, and harvests become meager. Prepare now in any way you can, otherwise the recent price hikes in the futures market and on your grocery shelves will simply be a prelude to the prices yet to come very soon.
Missing from most of the rising food prices is a discussion of the devastation occurring to farmers throughout the world.
Most dairy farmers in the U.S. as facing massive rises in input costs with little or no access to credit.


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BUFFALO, NY ( Business First ) More Americans than ever are expected to celebrate the Super Bowl and the cost is going up! The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association estimates that 173 million people will watch the big game on Sunday, that's the most in the survey's eight-year history. And it's two million more than last year.
Researchers say consumer spending for the Super Bowl will reach an all-time high. The average consumer will spend about $64 on related merchandise, apparel and snacks, up from about $59 last year. Total Super Bowl spending is expected to reach $11 billion.
The Super Bowl comes off a solid holiday season so retailers will try to keep the buying trend going with big promotions.
Here's a look at what people are buying. 71% of sports fans will buy food and beverages. Almost 9% will buy team apparel or accessories. About 6% will buy decorations. And two percent will splurge on furniture or a new entertainment center. The survey says sales of new TVs are on the rise this year too.