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Samsung has been the leading tablet maker in the market for a long time. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab series is considered to be one of the latest in the market. But in the recent time, the tabs have been left a bit behind because Samsung did not upgrade the processor of any of its tabs to 64-bit. 64-bit processors have been on people’s mind for a long time now because of all the rumors going on about all the latest flagship phones getting 64-bit upgrades.
Well, those rumors have now spread out and Galaxy Tab is the latest device about which it’s being said that it will get a 64-bit processor. According to the rumors, it was being said that the 8-Inch Tab 4 will get a Snapdragon-410 processor upgrade.
As we all know that Snapdragon has made great 64-bit processors but earlier on, they had some problems because the processors were heating up – due to which Galaxy S6 is getting an Exynos processor instead of Snapdragon. Let’s hope it all goes well for the Galaxy Tab 4 and it gets a redesigned perfect working 64-bit processor.


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Issue 10 | Dec. 15, 2015
By John Breyault (@jammingecono, firstname.lastname@example.org)
NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud
Editor’s Note: Welcome to the final #DataInsecurity Digest of 2015. It’s hard to believe that we’ve already knocked out 10 issues! This year we’ve followed the fallout from mega-breaches at Ashley Madison, VTech, and numerous retailers. We’ve also helped keep you up-to-date on progress (and lack thereof) of moving meaningful data security reform in Congress and beyond. This week, we look at how the FTC’s settlement of a long-running case against Wyndham Hotels upholds the Commission’s data security mandate. We also provide an update on HR 2205, the Data Security Act of 2015, which passed the House Financial Services Committee last week. The bill, which NCL opposes, would establish a national data security standard. Sounds good on its face, but, unfortunately, the devil’s in the details, as a letter from more than a dozen consumer groups makes clear (see below). In other policy news, conferees are getting closer to agreement on the Cyber Information Sharing Act (CISA), which worries many in the privacy and civil liberties community (including NCL). We also take a look at data security worries surrounding two types of gifts consumers are sure to find under the tree this year: wearable devices and connected toys. Finally, it wouldn’t be a year-end edition without a look back at the biggest data breaches of 2015 and a look ahead to the looming data security policy fights in 2016.
And now, on to the clips!
FTC settles with Wyndham, affirms role as data security cop. The Federal Trade Commission’s long-running fight with Wyndham Hotels over the FTC’s authority to hold companies accountable for data security lapses ended this week when a settlement was reached. In addition to holding Wyndham to a 20-year security audit regime, the agreement–for the first time–effectively gives the FTC’s stamp of approval to the PCI DSS payment card security standard. Analysis from a trio of experts at @kslaw is the best deep dive for folks interested in how the settlement will affect the FTC’s data security plans going forward. (Source: Lexology)
Neugebauer/Carney data security bill advances despite opposition. HR 2205, the Data Security Act of 2015, last week advanced out of the House Financial Services Committee by a 46-9 margin despite opposition from consumer and privacy groups who cited the bill’s failure to improve on existing state data breach notification, data security standards, and its impact on Communications Act protections for telecommunications, cable, and satellite records. NCL joined with 17 leading consumer and privacy groups to oppose the bill. Rep. Brad Sherman joined retailers who expressed concern about the bill’s impact on small businesses. “The best way to stop data breaches is to hold responsible the entities that hold the data,” said Sherman. “Those who want us to target Home Depot. They’re not focused on very small businesses, and this bill could achieve 99% of its purposes if it exempted 90% of the businesses in this country.” (Source: Credit Union Times; Consumer/privacy groups letter)
US PIRG: HR 2205 a “Trojan Horse assault on state privacy laws.” @edmpirg of USPIRG spoke for many in the public interest community by describing HR 2205 as a veiled attempt undermine existing state data security and privacy laws. “Hidden inside a seemingly modest proposal to establish federal data breach notice and data security requirements is a Trojan Horse provision designed to to take state consumer cops off the privacy beat, completely and forever,” said Mierzwinski. (Source: US PIRG)
Retailers: HR 2205 is “red tape masquerading as security.” @RILATweets joined opposition to the Neugebauer/Carner Data Security Act with a letter signed by 13 retailer trade groups. The associations complained that data security rules based on the financial industry’s requirements under the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act are incompatible with retailers’ business models. “Haphazardly slapping rules that were written 15 years ago for the financial industry on retailers, restaurants and thousands of small businesses is not the kind of data security legislation that will safeguard our economy. This is red tape masquerading as security,” said the retailers. (Source: RILA)
Civil liberties groups push for last-minute changes to CISA conference report. A coalition of 19 civil liberties organizations sent a letter last week to the Obama Administration and Congress, pushing for Members to oppose the final version of CISA expected to move out of conference committee. “The final version of this bill is an insult to the public and puts all of us in greater danger of cyber attacks and government surveillance,” said @evan_greer, campaign director of @fightfortheftr, who organized the letter. “This was already a fundamentally flawed piece of legislation, and now even the meager privacy protections it provided have been gutted, exposing it for what it really is: a bill to dramatically expand abusive government spying.” (Source: Fight for the Future)
2016 cyber legislation crystal ball: movement unlikely in an election year. The @dcexaminer took a look at coming 2016 policy fights, finding movement on significant data breach bills unlikely until 2017. “Data-breach bills have now passed the House Energy and Commerce and Financial Services committees, but here’s the rub: competing industry coalitions support one version and adamantly oppose the other. The retail sector backs the Energy and Commerce bill; the financial community supports the Financial Services panel’s version.
In the Senate, the issue stalled in the Banking, Commerce and Judiciary committees. An effort to add a breach-notification measure to the big Senate cyberinfo-sharing bill was turned aside last summer. … ‘The business community is so divided, it’s hard to see this issue getting legs,’ said an industry source who is unaligned with either banking or retail. ‘But it’s the kind of issue that could be worked on through the year with an eye on 2017.’” (Source: Washington Examiner)
Yahoo gets rid of email passwords. Yahoo has begun offering its Yahoo Mail users the ability to eliminate the use of passwords altogether in favor of smartphone-based security keys. @dmac1 has the story for the Wall Street Journal: “Starting this week, users who sign up for a Yahoo “account key,” will receive a push notification on their smartphone when they try to log in to their email account from a desktop. The mobile notification will tell them the location of the computer requesting access to their account. By clicking yes, they will give that computer password-free access to the account in perpetuity–or until Yahoo detects any unusual behavior that might indicate a different user.” (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Krebs: IRS, states have better defenses but fewer resources to go after ID thieves. With the start of a new year, tax ID thieves are sure to be getting ready for their busiest scamming season. @briankrebs takes a deep dive into how the IRS and state tax agencies are preparing for the onslaught. “The good news is that the states and Uncle Sam have got a whole new bag of technological tricks up their sleeves this coming tax season. The bad news is ID thieves are already testing those defenses, and will be working against a financially strapped federal agency that’s been forced to cede much of its ability to investigate and prosecute such crimes.” (Source: KrebsonSecurity.com)
The price of the wearable craze: Less data security. CNBC’s @maggieoverfelt takes a much-needed look at the growing security vulnerability of health-related wearables. “While devices powered by legacy tech firms like Medtronic and IBM have robust security practices in place, upstarts may have more trouble balancing the risk-reward ratio of spending the time and money it takes to build a strong security backbone into their device with the speed at which they want to roll things out. … There’s another reason why hackers could be exploiting flaws in medical devices: They want the information contained in your health records, which according to Dell SecureWorks, is about 10 times as valuable than a stolen credit card number on the black market.” (Source: CNBC)
Hackable toys raise data breach risk for children. The massive breach at VTech, along with concerns about the hackability of Mattel’s “Hello Barbie” doll are raising concerns about the level of data security at providers of the new generation of connected toys. George Washington University Fellow @kalevleetaru took on this topic in @Forbes recently. “From identity theft to inadvertent spying, toys are the latest frontier in the cybersecurity battle. … Children are also likely to be extremely open with their toys, telling them secrets about themselves or their parents that they would not share with anyone else. When these secrets are stored in third party commercial web servers it places them at risk.” (Source: Forbes)
More 2016 prognosticating: Experian data breach industry forecast. @Experian_DBR is out with its annual Data Breach Industry Forecast (free registration required), which includes a look in the 2016 data breach future. Among the highlights: EMV liability shift won’t halt payment breaches; healthcare hacks will continue to make headlines but small breaches will cause the most damage; consumers and businesses will be collateral damage of state-based hacks; POTUS campaigns will be attractive hacking targets; and hacktivism will make a comeback. (Source: Experian Data Breach Resolution)
Quick hit: Looking back at the biggest breaches of 2015. As we near the end of 2015, it’s an opportunity to take stock of the biggest breaches that made news this year. Network World editor @Tim_Greene looks back at VTech, Anthem, Ashley Madison, OPM, and Experian, among others. (Source: Network World)
Take two: Target reaches new settlement with MasterCard over 2013 breach. @Target and a class of issuing banks and credit unions affiliated with MasterCard have filed a new $39.4 million settlement agreement with the courts to resolve claims related to its 2013 data breach. The agreement is the parties’ second attempt at a settlement after an earlier version was rejected by the courts. (Source: Reuters)
Infographic du jour: 49 percent of consumers would not shop with businesses whose breach compromised personal information. Digital security company @Gemalto is out with a new survey of consumers in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and US. Unsurprisingly, the report finds that customer loyalty suffers greatly when a business suffers a data breach. Also, the report highlights consumers’ continued failure to protect their own data. Fifty-four percent of survey respondents said they haven’t taken basic security precautions, and 47 percent said they have not yet enabled two-factor authentication on their social media accounts. 27 percent said that they have been a victim of fraudulent use of their financial or personally identifiable information. (Source: Gemalto)
Today, 2 pm Eastern – Gartner: Data Security in the Age of the Road Warrior – Webcast
Data Loss Prevention experts, Heidi Shey, senior analyst at Forrester Research, and Dave Bull, content security solutions product director at Intel Security will discuss data breaches and data protection concerns. Key takeaways include: The current state of sensitive data access, use, and loss; The changing requirements for protecting this data—from privacy laws to threats that employees face as they travel for work; and what you need to do to when architecting your protection strategy to defend against today’s threats.
Jan. 14, 2016 – PrivacyCon – Washington, DC
The FTC will hold a conference on January 14, 2016 to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including whitehat researchers, academics, industry representatives, consumer advocates, academics, and a range of government regulators, to discuss the latest research and trends related to consumer privacy and data security.
Feb. 9, 2016 – Start with Security: Seattle – Seattle, WA
The FTC’s third “Start With Security” event will take place on February 9, 2016, in Seattle, Washington, and will be co-sponsored by the University of Washington Tech Policy Lab and the University of Washington School of Law Technology Law & Public Policy Clinic. This one-day conference will continue the FTC’s work to provide companies with practical tips and strategies for implementing effective data security. This event will bring together experts to provide insights on how small companies can secure their applications and products, and how important it is to do so.

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For Immediate Release: April 3, 2018, 10:30 AM
Nancy A. Cowles
Children’s Product Recalls Jump in 2017, While Incidents and Injuries Decrease: New Report from KID
(CHICAGO) Despite a rise in the number of recalls, other trends surrounding children’s product recalls in 2017 appear positive in comparison to the anomalous 2016 data; however, these numbers do not show adequate progress when compared to decade averages. A new report by Kids In Danger (KID) assesses the lackluster progress in children’s product safety and the opacity of the recall system.
KID has released A KID Report: 2017 Children Product Recalls and 2016 Recall Effectiveness. The report reviews recall data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for 2017 and outlines challenges in assessing recall effectiveness for 2016 recalls. There were 93 children’s product recalls in 2017, a 22% increase from 2016. However, those 93 recalls represented 11.8 million total units, a significant decrease from the previous year. The 2016 numbers were inflated due to two high-profile recalls from IKEA and McDonald’s, both with 29 million units recalled. This year marked the second year in a row since the passing of the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in which no cribs were recalled. Furthermore, there has been an increase in companies using social media to publicize recalls.
Unfortunately, companies that recalled products in 2016 did not provide full and accurate reports of their effectiveness, obscuring further evaluation of the recall process. Many of the reports included mathematical impossibilities and discrepancies; others were incomplete or key information was redacted. Since KID began examining recall effectiveness through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), it has been impossible to establish trends in the progress or lack thereof within the recall process.
Additional findings of the report include:
- The number of children’s product recalls (93) increased 22% from 2016.
- There were 11,854,605 total units of children’s products recalled.
- Incidents, injuries and deaths declined from 2016 with a total of 1,630 incidents, 153 injuries and zero deaths reported before recalls were issued in 2017.
- Clothing products led recalls with 29% of children’s product recalls. For the second year in a row, no cribs were recalled.
- Sixty-nine percent of companies with a Facebook page used it to publicize the recall – continuing the upward trend from 2016. The CPSC posted about 75% of recalls on their new Facebook page.
- With full reports from only eight percent of recalls – and those did not all contain a full year’s worth of data – it is impossible to state how companies are doing in retrieving or repairing recalled products.
“KID has been reporting on children’s product recalls since 2002. As we approach our 20th anniversary this year it is disheartening we don’t appear to be much closer to effective recalls now despite enormous leaps in communication resources to reach consumers,” stated Nancy Cowles, Executive Director of KID. “We need better data to evaluate recalls, more transparency to get relevant information to consumers, and a commitment from CPSC and industry that 100% return rate is their goal.”
“It’s clear that manufacturers have to do more to make sure people are alerted to recalls because we still see far too many preventable injuries and tragedies,” Attorney General Lisa Madigan said. “I encourage families and caregivers in Illinois to look to Kids In Danger to keep their kids safe because there are always dangers and plenty of things in your home that could put your child at risk.”
“KID’s latest recalls report shows the importance of a strong CPSC,” said Hannah Kim , Illinois PIRG Advocate. “Also, the transparency of recall disclosures and CPSC’s public SaferProducts.gov database help keep us safer and both must be protected.”
KID demands that the CPSC do more to promote recall effectiveness by holding manufacturers accountable for reporting accurate data, preventing malicious use of Section 6(b) to hide data, and digitizing their reporting process. KID recommends that parents check SaferProducts.gov for recalls and injury reports and sign up for safety updates at KidsInDanger.org. In addition, parents should report problems with a product both to the manufacturer and to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, and urge elected representatives to make strong standards and recall effectiveness a priority. CPSC and industry must devote resources to adequate tracking and conduct effective recalls.
Visit KidsInDanger.org for more information.


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I've worked for just about every department on the news and editorial side of The Oregonian, leaving a trail of broken editors behind me.
(Except for the times when I've been an editor and made it my business to torment reporters.)
A long-running argument about the Roseburg VA hospital's decision to operate without an intensive care unit burst into public view again last week. And now the hospital is through talking about it. Full story »
In the Northwest, Tillamook is a five-category dairy brand -- cheese, yogurt, butter, ice cream and sour cream. Elsewhere, it's known strictly for its cheddar cheese. Now the co-operative is pushing into new categories and new markets. Full story »
Powell's chief executive Miriam Sontz said the two concourse locations were profitable and the bookseller wanted to stay, but the Port has another vision for its airport retail operations. The Port is crafting a Request for Proposals for retail/restaurant tenants who would take occupancy in 2015. Full story »
Democratic and Republican budget negotiators reached agreement on a $1.1 trillion budget, and it includes some items dear to members like Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Full story »


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Expect modest increases in North America; Latin America, Asia Pacific will see significant price hikes
Expect to pay more for business travel this year. So, what else is new? Well, the good news is that domestically, those price hikes won’t feel too bad. But if you regularly travel to Latin America or Asia, expect to pay more, especially for hotels, in 2012.
In North America, business airfares are projected to increase between 3 percent and 7 percent, with the biggest increase coming on short haul trips, according to the American Express Global Business Travel Forecast.
And once your flight lands, expect to see mild increases in hotel pricing—for mid-range hotels between 2 and 6 percent and anywhere from 1 to 5 percent for upper-range properties.
“To mitigate price increases in hotels in 2012, travel managers could benefit from benchmarking rates by property tier and city as supply pipelines and travel
demand vary by location,” says Christa Degnan Manning, director of Expert Insights Research, American Express Global Business Travel.
Meanwhile, Carlson Wagonlit’s 2012 Travel Price Forecast echoes those North American numbers put forth by Amex. CWT forecasts airline pricing to increase around 4 percent in 2012, due to suppliers’ disciplined efforts to manage capacity even in the face of increased demand, ultimately resulting in fuller planes
and rising prices overall, according to Nick Vournakis, vice president, CWT Solutions Group.


text: Is Your Pizza Safe: Thoughts On Ergot and Food SafetyOne of the best pizzas I've ever experience was hand-made in a HUGE, central, wood-fire oven. The flavor was like nothing I'd experience before. It made me want one of those brick ovens, decorated with those same colorful ceramic tiles - in my house... and that pizza recipe. Did you know that North Dakota is the top growing U.S. state of spring wheat, a high-protein variety milled into flour for pizza dough as well as specialty breads and bagels? But, the wheat in North Dakota is taking a bitter hit these days. According to a Reuters online article on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, "elevated levels of the grain fungus ergot are showing up in spring wheat being harvested in south-central North Dakota, prompting grain elevators to impose discounts and even turn some truckloads away." What is "ergot"? It's a black or purple kernel-sized body, or sclerotia, that replaces the normal kernel in a head of wheat. This ergot is a fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that infects the plant and is toxic to animals and humans. Elevators do not accept grain that has levels of ergot over 0.05 without discounting it. In 2014, issues with ergot were also a concern. Farm Forum, at that time, shared this information: "Once a wheat crop is infected with ergot, there is not much a producer can do other than have it cleaned in hopes of being able to market the grain. There is expense involved, particularly if a second cleaning is needed, but that is better than having a crop you can't sell." For our producers up north, the news of ergot is, at the very least, a frustration. Along with that comes added expense and headaches to make sure it's cleaned and safe to sell. On the flip side, consumers can be thankful for the fact that America has checks and balances in place to keep our foods and feed safe. Buying American food has its benefits. Whether it's the wheat, meat, cheese, tomato sauce or anything else needed for pizza, it's worth sticking with American Made.


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Total sales for the 25 weeks to October 22 slipped by 6.2 per cent, despite a 2.4 per cent increase in Carpetright sales space. Like-for-like sales also fell by 6.7 per cent.
Carpetright chairman and chief executive Lord Harris (pictured) said: 'The UK business has continued to trade aggressively in a tough retail environment. The comparatives for the second half are weaker than those in the first half but it is still too soon to predict a turn in the market.'
The group added that the European business is making progress, with sales increasing by 7.1 per cent in local currency, while in the UK gross margin has declined.
Numis retail analyst Steve Davies said: 'The main negative in today's announcement is that gross margins in H1 were down.' Carpetright will post its interim results on December 13.


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National Health Commission: carry out TCM intervention activities in adolescent myopia, obesity and scoliosis
Byuantang: annual report 2022
Bit Yuantang: announcement of annual results for the year ended March 31, 2022
Wei Yuantang: notice of board meeting
Wai Yuen Tong Predicts Lower FY22 Loss
01:56 AM EDT, 06/13/2022 (MT Newswires) -- Wai Yuen Tong Medicine (HKG:0897) projects its fiscal year 2022 loss to have narrowed to HK$140.0 million ($17.8 million) from a loss of HK$376.0 million in
Wei Yuantang: inside news-positive profit forecast
China Agricultural products Trading (00149.HK): termination of Agricultural products E-commerce contract arrangement
Hongan Group (01222.HK), together with its listed subsidiaries 00897.HK and China Agricultural products Trading (00149.HK), jointly announced that the removal and termination of the Chinese e-commerce platform that provides agricultural products online to China Agricultural products Group will be in the overall interests of China Agricultural products, Bitang and Hongan Group and their respective shareholders. Yesterday (20th), Shenzhen Zhibo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Agricultural products, exercised the subscription right to acquire all shares in Shenzhen Gudeng at a nominal consideration of 100 yuan. After the completion of the transfer of all the shares in Shenzhen Gudeng, Chinese agricultural products based on contractual arrangements
Wai Yuen Tong Medicine Turns to Profit in Fiscal H1 on Higher Revenue; Shares Jump 4%
09:42 PM EST, 11/23/2021 (MT Newswires) -- Wai Yuen Tong Medicine (HKG:0897) swung to profit in the fiscal six months ended Sept. 30 owing to higher revenue and the absence of impairment losses on it
"Corporate performance" 00897.HK 's medium-term net profit turned from a loss of 14.11 million yuan to a profit.
00897.HK reported interim results for the six months ended September, with revenue of 656 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 28.8%. Recorded a net profit of 14.11 million yuan! compared with the same period last year, the loss turned to profit, and the profit per share was 1.15 cents. No interim interest.
The profit attributable to shareholders in the medium term of Ji Yuantang (00897) is HK $14.1 million.
Phoenix New Media Hong Kong Stock | bit Yuan Tang (00897) announced that for the interim results for the six months ended September 30, 2021, the profit attributable to the owners of the parent company was HK $14.1 million, compared with a loss of about HK $227 million in the same period last year. During the period, revenue was about HK $656 million, up 28.8% from a year earlier, and gross profit was HK $275 million, up 59.4% from a year earlier. According to the announcement, the profit is mainly attributable to the combined impact of the following: it did not achieve an impairment of about HK $209 million in the group's investment in the company's former associate, Yi Yi Financial Group Limited, in the same period last year; and the group's income.


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Sarah A. Westby ’11 has won the 2009-2010 University of Iowa School of Law Trandafir International Business Writing Competition with her article, “Associations to the Rescue: Reviving the Consumer Class Action in the United States and Italy.” It will be published in the Iowa Journal of Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems and she will receive a $2,000 prize.
The article surveys the inadequacies in the consumer protection regimes of Italy and the United States, as well as the aggregate litigation devices that can address the problem of negative-value consumer claims. Unscrupulous business practices, such as predatory lending, have exposed the deficiencies in the United States consumer protection regime, Westby explained. Similarly, mass consumer fraud at the hands of large Italian-based food companies exposed flaws in the Italian system.
“Civil procedure in both countries allows for two collective action devices with similar benefits: the class action for damages and associational standing,” Westby said. Two important goals are advanced by these collective actions: access to justice, through ensuring that injured consumers will be compensated for the harm caused, and deterrence, providing an incentive for corporate entities to avoid future harms. In her paper she argues that, rather than utilizing each device separately, they should be harmonized. “Applying associational standing and class action devices to a single lawsuit maximizes the deterrence and access potential of that suit. Therefore, ensuring the integrity and proper functioning of these devices, as well as encouraging their combined use, should be the focus of the legislative solution to inadequate consumer protection,” she wrote.
The idea for the article, Westby said, occurred to her when she read that Italy recently enacted a law which, for the first time in its history, allows class actions for damages. The concepts crystallized further at a BLS symposium she attended in fall 2009 that examined financial regulation reform in the U.S. and the E.U. Westby is the incoming Executive Notes and Comments Editor on the Brooklyn Journal of International Law, which co-sponsored the symposium. “Finding my topic was an evolving process,” she said. “I am especially grateful to Professor Robin Effron, who is an expert in international civil procedure, for all her help.”
A graduate of the University of Delaware, at BLS Westby is a Prince Merit Scholar, Dean’s Merit Scholar Academic Achievement Award Centennial Grant winner and recipient of a 2009 Brooklyn Law Students for the Public Interest Summer (BLSPI) Fellowship, which supported her internship at Connecticut Legal Services, Waterbury, CT. She has been a Research Assistant to Professor Aaron Twerski, and also interned at the New York City Law Department. She will be working at the United States Department of Justice in the Civil Rights Division this summer.


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The chief executive of Philip Morris International (PMI) says the company will stop selling cigarettes in Britain in the next decade.
“Our objective is to fully leave smoking combustible cigarettes behind and become, one day, a smoke-free company,” said Jacek Olczak in a video from The Daily Mail.
“I think in the UK, ten years from now maximum, you can completely solve the problem of smoking,” he said.
The Daily Mail notes that “those who want to continue smoking will be encouraged to switch to modern alternatives such as e-cigarettes or heated tobacco devices, which are considered less harmful.”
In July of 2019, the British government announced its intention to make the nation smoke-free by 2030. This included “an ultimatum for [the] industry to make smoked tobacco obsolete” by that time. In a green paper marking the announcement, the Department of Health and Social Care noted that smoking rates “remain stubbornly high in certain groups,” such as Blackpool pregnant women, manual laborers, people who identify as LGBT, and people with a mental health condition.
The government estimated in 2015 that care for smoking-related health issues cost the British National Health Service £2.6 billion.
Philip Morris International, a Swiss-American tobacco company that split from the American corporation Altria in 2008, “already sees smoke-free products accounting for nearly 30% of total net revenue, up from nearly 0% six years ago. The company believes it can make smoke-free products 50% of total net revenue by 2025,” reports Fox Business.
The iconic Marlboro cigarette may be the most well-known PMI product. Philip Morris and the advertising agency Leo Burnett Worldwide revamped the cigarette brand with ‘Marlboro Man’ advertisements beginning in 1955.
“Marlboro was founded as a women’s cigarette brand before it was repositioned as a masculine product with a rugged cowboy feel and personality,” notes The Irish Times.
By 1972, Marlboro was the world’s leading cigarette brand. But soon, according to Olczak, “it will disappear.”
PMI came under fire last week after it purchased the British pharmaceutical company Vectura Group for $1.2 billion. Critics, including anti-smoking groups and the government, believed “a tie-up between a tobacco company and a company specializing in inhaled medicines for conditions such as asthma to be unfit,” says CNBC.
Addressing the controversy on ‘Closing Bell,’ Olczak said “Nothing and nobody will stop us in our transformations to leave smoking behind.”
For corrections, please email [email protected]


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, YOKOHAMA, Japan
Nissan Raises Full-Year Profit Forecast
Nissan Motor announced first-half results showing net income at $2.3 billion, and an operating margin of 7.1%.
The income figure was limited by the strong yen and the lingering impact of the natural disasters that struck Japan in March.
From April to September, Nissan sold over 2.22 million vehicles worldwide, a jump of 10.7% on year.
Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said the company is on track for a strong yearly performance.
“As we look forward to the second half of this fiscal year, we remain confident in Nissan’s ability to deliver improved retail volumes and solid revenues despite challenging market conditions,” Shiga said.
“We will deliver significant profits reflecting continued operational momentum and financial discipline, although the impact of the strong yen will continue to impact our full-year fiscal 2011 forecasts.”
Nissan revised up its full-year forecast seeing net income to $3.63 billion, based on average exchange rates of 80 yen to the dollar, and 110 yen to the euro, for the second half of the year.
COO Shiga said the strong yen remains a factor, despite recent Japanese currency intervention.
“Clearly Nissan faces a number of risks in the second half, but we also see significant opportunities ahead. The risks are derived mainly from continued foreign exchange difficulties, the flooding in Thailand and general signs of global economic slowing,” he said.
Earlier, Nissan North America announced another record for October sales, jumping 22.1% on year to over 75,000 units.


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As far as selling ad space goes, the top social sites are turning into media companies. Facebook, Google, and Twitter are in a race to boost social data acquisition and advertising revenues, and each company is enjoying great success in those areas. Google reportedly earns $30 billion per year on search ads and Facebook makes millions from its own advertising program. Is it really surprising that Twitter is rolling out advertising programs as well?
The surprising part is that the company is moving so slowly. As a private company, Twitter still has the luxury of making decisions for the benefit of its customers as opposed to its shareholders. Of course, if rampant IPO or acquisition rumors come true in 2012, that strategy may change.
New Features, Acquisitions, and Expansion
Recently, Twitter launched a redesign that makes the site ripe for advertising. Twitter’s “Discover” feature is billed as a tool to gather curated content that members are interested in at any given time. Members are encouraged to use Discover because the more they use it, the better the relevancy of the content that will be provided to them. It’s a step in the right direction for Twitter to gather social data, increase ad targeting potential, and attract more advertisers.
This month, Twitter acquired Summify, a tool that “discovers” content from the Twitter feeds people follow and delivers that content in an aggregated format, making it easier for people to access content that matters to them. This acquisition seems like a complementary fit for Twitter’s new Discover feature and opens even more opportunities for selling targeted ad space, based on relevant content.
Features and acquisitions aren’t the only ways Twitter is creating more advertising opportunities. For example, Twitter started accepting political ads in 2011. The company also opened a new advertising sales office in London showing its intention to expand advertising to a global audience.
Furthermore, Twitter’s self-serve advertising program is still in beta. When that tool rolls out to a wider audience of small advertisers, Twitter stands a greater chance to compete with the likes of Facebook, where self-serve advertising reportedly accounts for 60 percent of the company’s overall ad revenue.
More Ad Formats
Currently, Twitter offers three primary ad formats to large advertisers with deep pockets — Promoted Tweets, Promoted Trends, and Promoted Accounts. It’s safe to assume that these three ad formats won’t be the only choices for long. For example, a recent banner ad on General Electric’s Twitter profile piqued interest in how and when Twitter might launch banner ads to a wider audience of advertisers.
So far, ads on Twitter have been fairly unobtrusive and generally well-received given their relevancy and usefulness. As long as the proliferation of ads doesn’t damage the overall Twitter experience, people may be unlikely to complain too loudly about advertising on the platform.
On the other hand, waiting so long to monetize the site could prove to be a problem for Twitter, simply because people are so used to an ad-free experience. As more ad formats and advertisers enter the space, a member backlash is always possible. There is no doubt that Twitter will continue expanding site advertising and integrating ad sales with the availability of social data. The question is if and when Twitter users will stand up and say, “That’s enough!” Until then, it’s a safe bet to assume that advertising will become more frequent and prevalent on Twitter.
[Image credits: Maria Hagglof, Zack Shakleton, Task Force on Financial Integrity and Econ Development, Tenz]


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New Delhi, Oct 19: German luxurious carmaker Audi on Tuesday opened bookings for its upcoming new Q5 SUV in India forward of its launch subsequent month.
The brand new model of the Q5 will be booked with a fee of Rs 2 lakh on-line by way of the corporate's official web site or at any of its dealerships, Audi India stated in an announcement.
Additionally Learn | Sensex Rallies Almost 400 Factors to Soar Previous 62,000 Mark; Nifty Opens at Contemporary File.
The mannequin shall be powered by a 2-litre petrol engine that produces 249 HP and 370 Nm of torque and can include security options akin to eight airbags, together with rear-side airbags to boost dive security, moreover different options akin to Audi park help, consolation key with sensor managed boot lid operation.
"Today, we open bookings for our strong addition to Audi's successful Q family in India - the Audi Q5. This will be our 9th product launch for 2021," Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon stated.
Additionally Learn | Apple MacBook Professional Fashions With M1 Professional & M1 Max Processors Priced in India From Rs 1.94 Lakh; Examine Options & Availability Here.
Stating that the brand new Audi Q5 is a mix of options, consolation and practicality in its section, he stated, "With its new design that captivates at first glance, we are confident that it will continue to retain its leadership position in the segment and woo the existing and prospective customers."
The posh carmaker is in search of to speed up its gross sales development in India with the launch of the all-new Q5 SUV, one among its quantity drivers subsequent month.
It had suspended gross sales of its widespread SUVS -- Q3, Q5 and the Q7 final 12 months when India moved to BS-VI emission norms with the corporate additionally deciding to cease providing diesel engine choices within the nation.
Audi India, which shares its annual gross sales numbers solely, had bought 1,639 models in 2020. Nevertheless, by way of development within the first eight months of 2021 it has already witnessed 115 per cent improve in gross sales.
(That is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Employees could not have modified or edited the content material physique)


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MUSCATINE, Iowa — Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) has introduced a new Bandag drive axle retread for LTL applications and fuel-efficient Firestone trailer tire.
The two new products were introduced to dealers at the company’s Bridgestone Bandag Executive Symposium. The Bandag brand BDR-HT3 retread is designed for single-axle tractors and features a new tread compound and pattern that resists tears and improves fuel mileage, the company says.
“Bandag BDR-HT3 is a problem-solver for our fleet customers,” said Chris Hoffman, manager, TBR and retread product marketing, BBTS. “In the most severe cases, fleets that operate single-axle tractors have experienced tread lug chunking resulting from the high torque of single-axle tractors. Stress to the tread elements is further aggravated when applications require hauling up and down steep grades.”
The company says it combats tread chunking and improves mileage by using a new breakthrough tread compound, new tread design and splice optimization. A bow tie-shaped tread block distributes torque evenly to reduce block stress, the company says, while the wider, buttressed shape design strengthens the blocks.
The company’s new Firestone trailer tire, meanwhile, has been dubbed the Firestone FT455 Plus. It’s built with fuel economy in mind without sacrificing removal mileage, the company claims. It’s approved for use on EPA SmartWay-certified equipment and is designed for free-rolling positions, including trailer axles, tax axles and converter dollies.
“Building on the ultra-economical performance of the Firestone FT455, the new FT455 Plus radial adds innovative cap, base and sidewall compounding for exceptionally low rolling resistance,” said Hoffman. “With traditional tandem drive tractors pulling single trailers, our research has found about 43% of tire fuel economy was attributable to trailer tires. Selecting the right tire for the job helps our fleet customers cut their cost per mile while meeting the technology recommendations of the SmartWay transportation partnership.”
Firestone says its FT455 Plus promotes long, even wear thanks to its classic five-rib design and shallow 12/32” tread depth.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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The ERTF newsletter is now available to all ERTF members, who should have received a copy by email. Copies of this and all previous newsletters are also available to members through the ERTF website.
This latest edition includes reviews on the ERTF conference plus other places of interest, and an extensive "what's on" guide. There is also information regarding a visit being organised by our Cambridge rep, open to all members.
Deadline for articles to be published in the next newsletter is 15 January, with the Winter 2016 newsletter due from 1 February 2016.


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Google has confirmed that it is to terminate its Wallet Card on June 30. “Moving forward, we want to focus on making it easier than ever to send and receive money with the Google Wallet app,” the company says. Reports that Google was to end support for the physical card emerged earlier this week following an app teardown by Android Police.
- Consumers to get option to personalise their digital payment cards
- More than 90% of consumers worldwide will consider using digital payments in the next year, Mastercard predicts
- European banks invest €30m in EU rival to Visa and Mastercard
- Mastercard in talks with PBOC over support for cross-border digital yuan transactions
- Facebook relaunches WhatsApp peer to peer payments in Brazil
This article is more than five years old


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BARCELONA -I recently gave an interview to Michael Tangeman from Media Mindshare and creator of the Barcelona Tech Talk blog about the up-and-coming tech scene in Barcelona, recently named Mobile World Capital by the GSMA (creators of the Mobile World Congress).
Here below is the full interview:
Another sector could be textiles and clothing, even room for a tourism and travel-related incubator – mobile is perfect for travel and tourism, the hospitality sector. Getting these industry sectors to understand how they can mobilize their services through mobile apps is the challenge. An e-government push to mobilize e-government services could lead the way and show how that can be done.


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MINSK, 7 April (BelTA) – Scientists of the General and Inorganic Chemistry Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) have developed a technology to make a new type of wrapping paper. It is an active material that can make stored food stay fresh longer, the NASB press service told BelTA.
The institute's Director Anatoly Kulak said that the new paper has bactericidal qualities and can substantially increase the shelf life of perishable commodities such as vegetables, fruits, baked goods, sliced sausage, cheese, and confectionery goods sold in bulk. The paper is imbued with a set of reagents to be able to suppress the ability of microorganisms to proliferate.
It is worth noting that the reagents are harmless. They are categorized as food additives and hold on to the paper so strongly that virtually nothing is transferred to the food that comes in contact with the wrapping. Unlike traditional plastic wrapping materials the new one is totally biodegradable. It is kind of a breathing material thanks to its microporous structure, Anatoly Kulak explained.
The new paper is now made by the Borisov-based enterprise Paper Mill Goznak.
This year the General and Inorganic Chemistry Institute intends to work out technologies to manufacture new kinds of wrapping paper by enhancing its functional qualities and expanding the lineup of products. For instance, water-resistant, fat-resistant, high-strength paper with biostatic qualities may be created.
Food industry often uses paper imbued with fluorine-containing polymers, for instance, for wrapping butter. “Our product will not contain fluorine-containing polymers but only biodegradable polymers. We are also working on paper that can regulate the ripening of fruits: depending on its composition such paper will be able to slow down or accelerate the ripening of fruits. The new products also include packaging solutions for long-term food storage. They can absorb and chemically destroy the substances that food produces in storage. The new product will allow reducing smell permeation through packaging. To achieve this effect, we add non-organic oxidic compounds to paper. We are considering adding silver nano-particles,” the official said.


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Denver, Colorado-based Locai Solutions has launched its second CookIt client, Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, which added the intelligent meal planning tool to its e-grocery website ShopCaputos.com. Branded as The Recipe Rack, Caputo’s online customers will now have the ability to shop recipes, combining the tasks of menu planning and grocery shopping into one click.
The release of The Recipe Rack is the latest addition to Caputo’s digital grocery strategy, in partnership with its technology provider Locai Solutions. Powered by Locai’s Meal Planning solution, CookIt, a personalized shopping experience is tailored to a customer’s cart items, past purchases, dietary preferences and more. The learning algorithm suggests recipes and products to shoppers, taking into account sale items and favorite brands. It even scales ingredients based on portion size.
“The CookIt technology behind The Recipe Rack will allow customers to easily shop meals instead of aisles, while adding everything to their cart with absolute simplicity,” said Matthew Idstein, who oversees e-commerce for Caputos. “By showing different recipe ideas based on purchase history, dietary restrictions and food allergies, each customer gets a highly personalized shopping experience. It truly is a time saver!”
Caputo’s is the latest grocer to adopt Locai’s CookIt technology, who launched the solution with Wakefern ShopRite at the end of last year. Locai offers a full suite of e-grocery software, including a fulfillment management system called PowerPick, a turn-key e-commerce website, and other UX features like Endless Aisles.
“The convenience and value that CookIt brings to Caputo’s is really a major step forward in personalization,” said Scott DeGraeve, Locai’s COO. “Beyond increasing basket size, customer engagement and loyalty, The Recipe Rack allows Caputo’s to serve their customers at home where their products are being consumed and enjoyed. It really speaks to the importance of family that lies at the heart of the Caputo’s brand.”
Caputo’s is a family-owned and operated grocery chain that began in 1958, and operates 7 stores throughout the Chicagoland area.


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Dealers active in janitorial sales have increased their knowledge, added experienced staff and started to compete at a much higher level. Success has opened up sales for new product lines and expanded sales of existing products.
By Michael Chazin
In the last decade distribution of janitorial supplies has changed dramatically as increasing numbers of independent office products dealers have entered the category. At one time traditional janitorial distributors pretty much had this category to themselves. That’s no longer the case as independents, big boxes and online sources have all entered the fray. More recently, the market has intensified still further as new entities, such as Home Depot’s HD Supply division, have arrived on the scene and existing players have forged new alliances to bolster their position.
In the past five years, Innovative Office Solutions of Burnsville, Minnesota, has seen its janitorial supplies business triple. Ryan Burgwald, chief sales officer, explains that the dealership has emphasized facility sales and expects growth to bring the category up to 24 percent of sales. “We’ve moved into different verticals, have added personnel and have a greater focus in this category beyond selling,” he says. “There is a tremendous growth opportunity in this category and we can absolutely compete in most situations.”
Eaton Office Supply in Amherst, New York, has experienced similar category growth. Janitorial products now account for 12 percent of overall sales dollars, up some 30 percent compared to just three years ago. Eaton’s started its Jan/San journey back in August of 2008 and in January of the following year joined the AFFLINK Jan/San buying organization. “It was a good opportunity to learn that product category quickly, who the vendors were, to build relationships and come up with a market plan,” says Bob MacDonald, product category manager for janitorial supplies.
Eaton’s expects to be up two or three points per year in facility supplies. A lot of that growth will come from communicating with existing accounts and letting them know these supplies are available. “Because a lot of people still go to the wholesale club to pick it up or struggle to deal with a local janitorial dealer with minimum order requirements,” says MacDonald.
Sales of janitorial supplies have grown for the past decade and become a large part of daily life at Walker’s Office Supplies in Auburn, California. Following the addition of a janitorial specialist in 2010 the dealership started to do small bathroom makeovers. The dealership went in with a package of paper towels, toilet paper, seat covers, soap, air fresheners and free dispensers. “Bite the bullet and give them free dispensers, hang them for free and stuff them,” says Jarrod Anderson, president and owner. At that point, he adds, the dealership becomes the source for a whole new category with that customer.
Focus on bathrooms
The experience gained through redoing customer bathrooms enabled Walker’s to gain a deeper knowledge of the janitorial category. So many times, says Anderson, dealers move too quickly and try talking to their customer’s facility director before they’re even ready to have that conversation.
After doing one bathroom at a time for a few years, the experience gained enabled the dealership to win larger janitorial sales.
Innovative adopted a similar strategy, concentrating on essential restroom supplies. The offering encompasses towels, toilet paper, can liners and soap. “We could keep it super simple, train on that and our sales reps who are not janitorial specific could go out and have that conversation,” says Burgwald. He talks about focusing on what he calls “the center of the plate” and keeping the conversation simple.
Innovative sales reps take this offering to their customers and are supported by category experts who can continue that Jan/San conversation for more demanding opportunities.
Burgwald says that this process has uncovered a range of possibilities that define bathroom aesthetics. “You can walk into a bathroom, take a look and know that it isn’t up to par.” Often, he says, the dispensers will look like they have been up for a long time. “That’s a significant play for the office channel,” he says. If the bathroom looks out of date, it’s probably an easy conversation to have as the current supplier isn’t doing its job.
Innovative built on its early success with bathroom makeovers and moved into broader facility sales, targeting, among others, property management firms and K-12 school systems. Organic growth in the category led to deeper associations with chemical suppliers and then an equipment provider. “We feel that we’ve graduated to the next level and can be that complete janitorial solution,” says Burgwald.
Facility supplies is the fastest growing category at Storey Kenworthy, Des Moines, Iowa. “From outside the front door, through the building and out back to the dumpster, we can take care of every single need that the customer has,” says John Guenther, facility solutions specialist. Current office products customers readily provide warm introductions to the person in charge of facilities. “We also scout out bigger players in the market who don’t currently do business with us,” he says.
Through an association that one of the owners has, Storey Kenworthy has established a reciprocal sales agreement with a local janitorial dealer in Des Moines. “Their owner is close personal friends with our owner,” says Guenther. “They came to an agreement on how to move forward and increase business for both organizations.”
Storey Kenworthy has used this association to pick up new sales as well as benefit from direct manufacturer contract pricing using the dealer as the conduit. “Direct manufacturer relationships are still key,” he adds. “The Clarke equipment line was recently added to the Storey Kenworthy lineup and has added revenue streams not traditionally enjoyed in the past.”
More ways to grow
Buying a janitorial dealer is yet another way for an office products dealer to establish itself in the facilities marketplace. That’s the approach The Supply Room, Richmond, Virginia, took when it acquired a janitorial dealer in Richmond in the second half of 2017. “We were growing in janitorial, but it was really with our office customers,” says Yancey Jones Jr., COO. “Once we got that expertise it not only expanded our product line but it got us into verticals that we weren’t in with traditional office sales.” Those new verticals include manufacturing, food processing, automotive and healthcare.
TSR had janitorial specialists on staff already but with the addition of experienced janitorial supply salespeople their numbers have grown tremendously. “Their task is to grow the category with our general reps,” says Jones. “They go in as subject matter experts with our account managers to uncover opportunities.” The message to those generalist sales reps is you don’t need to become an expert. “We’re asking them to identify where the opportunities may be and then we can bring in the experts to close the deal.”
When Innovative Office Solutions first started to look at selling to property management firms it saw the need to join The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). “We quickly learned that these people are all tightly networked,” says Burgwald.
In response, Innovative positioned itself as a community-minded seller and focused on establishing relationships. That approach paid off when the manager at one of the larger buildings in Minneapolis referred to Innovative as a “breath of fresh air”, commenting on its straightforward communications style, ease of online ordering along and the ability to purchase other product categories as key elements of the dealership’s value proposition.
At A-Z Office Resource in Memphis, Terry Hammond was first hired as a janitorial specialist and then moved into sales management covering Memphis, Nashville and Columbia Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama.
After that move janitorial sales did a slight back slide until about nine months ago when a new specialist was hired. “The Jan/San segment is so large and requires so much specialty knowledge that our general office products people just don’t have,” he says.
“I think growth in our market is going to come from building service contractors,” says Hammond. As salespeople review their accounts and look at freestanding buildings with just one tenant, there is usually a contractor that comes in and supplies a full range of janitorial services. “It’s a difficult market to penetrate because the really big ones go direct,” he says, and the smaller ones each have their own challenge. “We are working with some contractors now to partner with them,” he adds.
Competition seems to increase every time a dealer turns around. “It’s getting tougher all the time with companies like Staples and even Lowe’s and Home Depot carrying housekeeping and janitorial products now,” says Hammond. “You can walk into Home Depot and buy a commercial grade cleaner, which would have been more difficult to do ten years ago.” It points to the fact, he suggests, that everybody is getting into the janitorial supplies space.
Competition depends on who the customer is, says Walker’s Anderson. “That’s why I stay away from public entity stuff because it’s just a field that I don’t compete well in,” he says. All the janitorial dealers are competing for this business along with Home Depot’s HD Supply. “When it’s just the little stuff you know you run up against Amazon, Costco and Staples,” he says. “If you are a sales rep for an independent office supply company and you add value to that customer, that’s a differentiator. But if you expect them to go online and reorder, there is no added value—then you’re not going to get it.”
In terms of vertical markets, Walker’s has done well with health clubs, golf courses and park and recreation facilities. “One sales rep is a gym rat and has all the gyms in the area,” says Anderson. Another salesperson is a golfer and counts every golf course in the area as a customer. “Churches also are wonderful janitorial accounts. They’re a perfect fit,” he adds.
There is a lot of local competition in the trading area of Kerr Office Group, Elizabethtown, Kentucky. “Those Jan/San houses have a lot of experts and they buy large volumes direct,” says Ed McCoy, vice president sales and marketing. The two biggest challenges Kerr has faced traditionally are pricing on janitorial items and access to all products. “We have the ability to go after most of that stuff now, either direct or through our buying group, so I would say that struggle is narrowing each year,” he reports.
The office supply channel has gained credibility and janitorial vendors are now ready to step in and work with office products dealers. “In the past Jan/San houses owned the industry and we were kind of snubbed, if you will, by the manufacturers,” says McCoy. Those days are definitely over. “We have penetrated accounts, we have the relationships, people trust us and we are taking business from traditional janitorial houses,” he says. “And that is happening across the U.S.”
In response, some janitorial dealers have started to go after business in the office products space. “They can’t match the service model of independent dealers but they’re trying to boost sales because their numbers aren’t growing,” says Guenther. “Some of those companies already deal with Essendant for janitorial items and have all the office products available to them,” he says. Historically they have not bothered to pursue those sales, but that is changing. “We are growing faster in their category than they ever imagined so they are trying to think outside the box to capture some of those lost sales.”
Specialists are necessary
As the specialist at Storey Kenworthy, Guenther has varied responsibilities. He keeps an eye on vendor relations along with the head of purchasing and works with the sales team to educate and assist in closing new business opportunities. “It’s my job to educate our customers and give them the information they need to make informed decisions,” he says.
Following the acquisition of a janitorial dealer, TSR discovered different roles for those janitorial salespeople. Some just continued to sell their book of business because of the number of accounts they had while others became category champions to help other TSR salespeople grow sales in the janitorial category, says Jones. “There are many new categories we’re asking our generalists to sell.”
Sales were already growing because the service model of next-day delivery and online ordering already appealed to janitorial customers. “We have been able to offer those customers who came over from the acquisition a much higher service level than they were receiving,” says Jones. New janitorial customers have also opened opportunities for additional sales. “If you walk into any car dealership they are going to offer you coffee or water,” adds Jones. “So we have added a breakroom offering for these customers.”
“One of the best decisions we made back in August 2008 was the transition of moving me from being a sales manager to a category manager,” says Eaton’s Bob MacDonald. In addition to sales he also focuses on sourcing. “We’ve been able to develop some good relationships because I have time to meet with vendors and manufacturer reps and they better understand what we’re trying to accomplish,” he reports. Typically MacDonald works with sales reps to establish a comfort zone with accounts to let them know that a single source can be set up for office and janitorial supplies with one invoice and one delivery.
Often specialists provide much-needed answers that salespeople gladly take back to their customers. Whether it is an epoxy concrete floor, an odor problem or a marble floor with stains they have somebody they can call. “When you tell a client you will bring someone by to look at it, you’re 75 percent of the way to developing a better relationship and closing that sale,” says Hammond.
Moving into machine sales
When Eaton’s first joined AFFLINK, an AFFLINK representative came to Amherst and introduced Eaton’s to another local dealer, also an AFFLINK member, that serviced janitorial and food service accounts. The two dealerships have chosen to work together rather than compete. “Our product niche is more of the small and medium-sized accounts and they’re more of the GPO and larger account niche—hospitals and other places we wouldn’t be cost competitive,” explains MacDonald.
The two dealers have gone to market together in a number of instances and split responsibilities where one does invoicing and the other handles deliveries. The janitorial dealer isn’t structured to readily handle a number of smaller orders, but that is Eaton’s strength. Together the two dealers have won business using the “One Western New York” approach. “We work co-cooperatively to support a broad category of businesses, from small business and non-profits, to our well-known local sports teams—The Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bisons,” MacDonald says.
The relationship has also opened up opportunities for sales of cleaning chemicals and floor care equipment, with a dedicated representative from the local AFFLINK janitorial dealer who works with Eaton representatives on selling machines and bulk chemicals. “It’s really taken us into a niche in the market that a general office supply company would probably not get into unless they bought a janitorial supply house,” says MacDonald.
As janitorial sales at Walker’s expanded, the natural expansion led first to floor care products and then to floor scrubbers and vacuums. “Next thing you know they want you to repair the machines,” says Anderson. He partnered with a Jan/San dealer not directly in his market that handles machine repairs. “They have given me access to the Windsor line of machines which is a well-known name in the Jan/San world,” he adds.
A team from Kerr went to last year’s ISSA show in Las Vegas to scout out a machine line to represent. Three vendors visited the dealership and it ultimately selected the IPC Eagle line of machines, which includes scrubbers, buffers, vacuums and related equipment. Kerr technicians were trained and certified by IPC Eagle to provide service. That was in the first part of last year. Since then, the dealership has held two lunch-and-learns to let customers know about the new offering.
Customers were invited to the events, given lunch and presented with the machine line. “We’ve had great success with the program because it lets them see the equipment and get their hands on it,” says McCoy. “We have even done some demos where we let people take a machine and try it out in their facility for a couple of days.” A small area of the showroom has been tiled and set aside for display and machine demonstrations.
Inventory and sourcing both present challenges. Storey Kenworthy has roughly 300 janitorial items in inventory but that number isn’t static. “Being a stocking dealer allows us to decide if it’s more important to have product on our floor at a better cost versus using a wholesaler and paying a premium,” says Guenther. Inventory ebbs and flows depending on opportunities and the customer base. Sourcing is fairly similar as Guenther says the dealership makes use of every opportunity, including purchases made direct, through wholesale or through the buying group.
At TSR, Jones says that currently 70 percent of product is purchased direct and the balance comes through wholesale. “We want to be doing more direct because we want to be tied more closely with vendors,” he says. The ratio between direct and wholesale will probably remain fairly constant, but there’s always room for variations, especially when they are strategic. “In some instances we’ve used the wholesaler a little more because some products were not turning the way we wanted,” he says.
It’s not a requirement that dealers maintain inventory to compete successfully in the janitorial category. Innovative works closely with all of its suppliers, but looks to its wholesaler for more than 95 percent of its janitorial items. “Essendant has been a great partner ensuring we have the access to the right breadth of product and pricing to compete on large opportunities,” says Burgwald.
Support from janitorial vendors has been excellent at Kerr Office Group where, it seems, no request is turned down. A school system that the dealer works with was trying to standardize facility products across all schools. One vendor will help train the janitors and work one-on-one with them on how to strip and wax a floor. “The manufacturer is funding that,” says McCoy.
At A-Z, Hammond is appreciative of vendors who take the time to work with his office supply salespeople. There is just one problem: most of those vendors only want to go out and call on large customers. “That’s not what I look for from my vendors,” says Hammond. “I want them to go on a route with a salesperson as they make their regular calls to help them with the smaller and medium-sized customers as well. To me their customer should by my salesperson, not the end user.”
The janitorial challenge
While the rewards are certainly worth the effort, adding janitorial products to a dealer’s business can be more challenging than adding other categories. Everything is different—from the customer contact to the products and different suppliers with different processes. The best way to go after this category, Jones contends, is with a dedicated sales force. The general line salesperson can uncover opportunities, but as the category progresses and the products get more complex, a specialist becomes a necessity.
Dealers who have yet to enter the janitorial category or those who are struggling to gain a toe-hold need to remember not to make the offering overly complex. “You don’t need to be everything to everybody,” says Burgwald. “You can sell a lot of toilet paper, a lot of towels, a lot of soap and a lot of can liners without ever touching any of the other stuff.”
To make your business model work, “partner with a manufacturer, have that manufacturer come in, build a relationship and then sell that manufacturer,” continues Burgwald. “There is also an opportunity for the independent dealer to leverage the wholesalers and buying groups to deliver this category through traditional office supply channels.”
If an owner or manager wants to sell more janitorial products, but the sales force isn’t on board, then it might be time to make some changes, Anderson suggests. “If your salespeople are not doing it by now, it is probably time to hire more people or new people.”
Michael Chazin is a freelance writer specializing in business topics, who has written about the office supply business for more than 15 years. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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A viral TikTok video shows a Target store in San Francisco, with at least one entire aisle of products behind security glass amid years of failed social justice reforms that have sparked a shoplifting crisis.
Footage of the store’s interior posted to TikTok last week showed at least one aisle of cosmetics and toiletries under lock and key. The New York Post reported the store’s “entire inventory is on lockdown.” The store is located on Folsom Street near the city’s Mission District, an area known for lawlessness.
This is what Target in San Francisco looks like pic.twitter.com/7mVnnbO8cK
— Clown World ™ 🤡 (@ClownWorld_) April 21, 2023
In a statement to Fox News, a Target spokesperson said:
“Like other retailers, organized retail crime is a concern across our business. We’re taking proactive measures to keep our teams and guests safe while deterring and preventing theft.
“These mitigation efforts include hiring additional security guards, adding third-party guard services at select locations, and using new technologies and tools to protect merchandise from being stolen.”
The shoplifted items are then sold online or at local flea markets:
The spokesperson continued:
“We are working with legislators, law enforcement, and retail industry partners to support public policy that would help achieve our goals of creating a safe environment in our stores and keeping our doors open in communities across the country.”
It comes as no surprise that Target has a history of contributing millions to “national social justice initiatives.” Some of these progressive initiatives, aimed at reforming policies in predominantly liberal urban areas, have had unintended consequences. For instance, the easing of theft rules in California led to a surge in shoplifting.
Target may be hesitant to shutter its stores in San Francisco due to its commitment to progressive values. However, other retailers have had enough and have fled the metro area. Just last week, Whole Foods closed its flagship store in the downtown district due to “high theft” and hostile visitors.”


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Ride-hailing company Uber has confirmed it could face charges in key markets, including the UK, after coming under examination by tax authorities.
The announcement, contained in a regulatory filing, marks another detrimental blow to the company, which has lost around $12bn or 9% in value since its first day of trading as a public company on 10 May 2019.
Last week the transportation network company reported losses of $1bn in 2019, among the largest of any public company.
In its filing to US regulators submitted in April, Uber said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was examining tax years 2013 and 2014. It also revealed that it is under examination by other state and foreign tax authorities, and that its tax advantages are to be cut due to its “transfer pricing positions”.
Transfer pricing concerns have often been referred to as the infamous “double-Irish” manoeuvre utilised by large companies in order to evade tax exposure. In order to achieve this, a company books the transactions of goods and services among corporate subsidiaries, often as a way to shift reported income to low-tax jurisdictions.
However, is not the only one coming under investigation, as regulators prepare to uncover anti-competitive practices at Google, Facebook and Amazon. In 2017, Amazon was fined $294 million by European authorities for booking profits in a tax free unit located in Luxembourg.
The IRS investigation suggests that political and regulatory bodies are turning against tech giants.
Uber has also highlighted that tax years from 2010 to 2019 could be an issue in a number of its key markets, including the UK, the US, the Netherlands and India. However, the company said it has adequate cash reserves to meet its exposure.
Many banks have started research coverage of the company and many analysts seemed to ride over Uber’s disastrous IPO, which was originally guide-priced at $120bn. Uber eventually went public at $80bn and its current market value is $69bn.
Uber’s revenues are predicted to increase by 24% this year to $14bn, but the company is on track to lose $4.4bn. According to Refinitiv data, three analysts from banks not involved in the Uber IPO recommend buying the stock, five have neutral ratings, but none recommend selling. The IPO has also brought the probability of higher prices for customers.
Last week, Uber CFO Nelson Chai said: “We expect to deploy fewer consumer promotions.”
In 2016, industry expert Hubert Horan calculated that Uber riders were only paying an estimated 41% of the cost of their trips.
“Uber’s growth to date is entirely explained by its willingness to engage in predatory competition funded by Silicon Valley billionaires pursuing industry dominance,” Horan stated. It seems Uber’s fares must double if the company hopes to break even.


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Hey all, it seems as if another glitch its hitting out favourite app once again, this time its random vibrations which are there to indicate a Pokémon is ready to be caught but when you look at the screen, nothing is there.
This latest problem has had a lot of Pokémon Go fans go crazy on Reddits The Silph Road.
Since the latest update a few hours ago Pokémon trainers have been looking at their phones every time a Pokémon is near by, just to find nothing and hopefully Niantic can fix this soon as its incredibly annoying.
After going through a number of forums it seems as if it has something to do with the near by list, apparently the app is now making a trainers phone vibrate every time the near by list updates, causing massive confusions.
Originally it was believed that the culprit was due to the notification range being updated and increased further to what we can see on our screes, but it is doubtful Niantic made this mistake.
Also it looks as if this problem is mostly happening to Android users, but iOS fans don’t celebrate just yet because there are still some iphone players who have complained about this too.
But with another update being released during this weekend, I assume this bug will be repaired along with all the extra Pokémon, and what we believe will be shiny or generation two finally being brought to our favourite game, Pokémon Go.
Its going to be a big weekend and the last thing Niantic wants is a bunch of its fans complaining about annoying bugs, so get ready for a massive Pokémon weekend.
Have you or your friends noticed this lasts glitch in the game? If so please let us know in the comments below.


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Google Pixel 2 And Pixel XL 2 Named 'Muskie' And 'Walleye', Latest Updates On Specs Unveiled
Reports have been circulating that the latest updates regarding the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel XL 2 have been spilled and are now exposed to the public. New reports have confirmed them to be the names of the two devices, specifically, codenames along the lines of previous releases that have gone and brought a lot of tech junkies into a lot of excitement.
Google Pixel Codenames Revealed
This latest information on the two phones suggested that codenames "Muskie" and "Walleye" have been chosen as the new names for the next Pixel smartphones. According to Slash Gear, since these names don't generally give people any relevant information, many reports didn't focus too much on what they actually mean.
The only relevant thing that should be known is that the larger of the two is likely going to be the Muskie, while the Walleye is very likely the smaller version of the two. These names were disclosed and provided by unknown who were speaking with Android Police, and given the context and the history of Google giving such names, there's really no real big reason to doubt it.
Testing appearances of these devices might be strangely be plotted as the first set of Pixel phones. Both phones use the same processor and all other internal gear, yet only one appeared in test bins for Android.
Sneak Peeks And Reveals About The Two Phones
According to Android Central, a peak of the specs from the upcoming Google phones have been provided online in its official launch website. These specifications have shown the Pixel and Pixel XL as the next upcoming smartphones that can truly bring in some quality and amazing performance.
At this point, there is little more to say about the Google Pixel 2 and XL 2. However, there has also been sneak peeks at the recent changes that the Google Pixel has undergone through; see how the Google Pixel XL has held up during that time and just how things unfolded for both phones.
Can The 'Google Pixel' Phone Beat The 'iPhone 7'?
Though Apple's iPhone 7 is considered as one of the best handsets to date, the up and coming Google Pixel smartphone has the potential of beating the iPhone. With the two phones being similar specs-wise and performance-wise, the Google Pixel can definitely stand its ground against the iPhone 7.
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Setting The Record Straight: Where The Democratic HJC Report Goes Too Far
The highly-anticipated Democratic House Judiciary Committee Report was released yesterday. Despite being 449 pages in length, the report’s missteps when it comes to antitrust reform are clear from the start. Experts agree that the report paints a false picture of the technology industry and offers recommendations that would harm startups, consumers, and small businesses nationwide.
Sifting through the report’s pitfalls is no easy feat—as you continue to digest its content, keep these important points in mind:
— The report dismisses the consumer welfare standard and instead offers recommendations that will hamper technology’s benefits for consumers nationwide.
— Today’s technology sector embodies strong competition, growth, and investment—all of which are threatened by the report’s recommendations.
— Overbearing antitrust action could harm small businesses and upstarts, who uniquely benefit from digital tools during COVID-19.
The report dismisses the consumer welfare standard to offer recommendations that will hamper technology’s benefits for consumers nationwide.
Iain Murray Of The Competitive Enterprise Institute Notes That The Report Largely Dismisses Consumer Welfare, The Bedrock Of Antitrust. “The report has only a couple of references to ‘consumer welfare,’ both dismissive. No consideration is given to why consumer welfare became the antitrust standard. It is good for consumers *and* drives businesses to improve their practices.”
— “House majority report on big tech antitrust just out is clearly a not-so-stealthy attempt to destroy consumer welfare doctrine of AT law and replace with ‘big is bad,’ regulators-pick-winners-and-losers model.”
Congressional Implementation Of “Burdensome Regulations” Could Have Sweeping Consequences, Notes Robert D. Atkinson, President Of ITIF. “Using antitrust law to impose significant regulatory burdens on America’s most innovative firms will reduce consumer welfare, cede America’s lead in Internet services, and stifle the transition to a broader Internet platform economy. We need a scalpel, not a pick-axe. Today’s report follows a year-long investigation by the Subcommittee and is part of a broader effort to toughen antitrust laws, especially as they apply to the largest Internet platforms. Going forward, these efforts should be guided by three principles:
— Antitrust policy should recognize the tremendous benefits large firms bring to the economy. Consumers receive thousands of dollars in value for free. Unwise regulation could easily impose more costs than benefits.
— Antitrust policy should continue to focus on consumer welfare. It should not protect firms from legitimate competition by larger, more efficient companies.
— Regulators must recognize that we are part of a global economy and American technology companies compete globally. Handicapping American companies will slow growth and lower living standards and further erode America’s already declining competitive edge.”
Today’s technology sector embodies strong competition, growth, and investment—all of which are threatened by the report’s recommendations.
The Report Bases Its Claims On Only A Handful Of Companies, But Could Drastically Impact The Entire Technology Sector & Economy, Reminds Marianela Lopez-Galdos Of The Computer & Communications Industry Association. “The mere fact that the Majority Report suggests introducing changes to the competition regime because a selected group of companies (and here it’s only 4 companies) is said to have engaged in anticompetitive practices raises serious procedural and substantive questions. Engaging in a drastic change to the antitrust norms shouldn’t be based upon a series of assumptions regarding the conduct of only a few companies where the competition norms would be applicable across the entire economy, disregarding the sector or industry.”
The Report “Wrongly Equates Business Success With Monopoly,” According To A Statement From The Alliance On Antitrust. “If the recommendations become law, they would harm American consumers, stifle innovation, and penalize businesses for their successes. The report wrongly equates business success with monopoly. While acknowledging the strength and importance of the American digital economy, the report goes on to make claims and offer recommendations that would restrict consumer choice and weaken the American economy. The report reflects a results-oriented approach to antitrust that seeks to weaponize the law to empower those who govern at the expense of the governed, while sacrificing basic economics and the rule of law.”
Alec Stapp Of The Progressive Policy Institute Highlights That The Report Ignores Evidence Of Widespread American Approval Of Tech Companies. “The report cites 1 poll showing that Americans are concerned with how much data Big Tech has & that they want more government regulation. But this is at odds with the bulk of polls showing Americans approve of & trust tech companies more than other institutions (like Congress!).”
Matt Schruers, President Of The Computer & Communications Industry Association, Warns That The Report Seeks To Harm Today’s “Fiercely Competitive Ecosystem.” “Writing new rules specific to a handful of prominent U.S. digital services won’t necessarily create an industry of equally dynamic small companies: it could instead hobble U.S. leadership and cede ground to foreign competitors. America’s global lead in technology is attributable to a highly competitive free market in which companies battle constantly for consumers’ interest and attention. This fiercely competitive ecosystem, characterized by permissionless innovation that regularly disrupts and transforms the economy, has served U.S. consumers well. Politicians should be wary of trying to fix what isn’t broken.”
Overbearing antitrust action could harm small businesses and upstarts, who uniquely benefit from digital tools during COVID-19.
Jake Ward Of The Connected Commerce Council Warns That The Report’s Recommendations Could Wreak Havoc On American Small Businesses—Especially Amid Today’s Economic Challenges. “According to Digitally Driven, a survey of more than 7,000 small businesses, tools that enable e-commerce, digital marketing, more efficient operations and working from home give American small businesses a fighting chance during the COVID recession… The Cicilline proposal is a square peg in the modern economy’s round hole, and the resulting chaos will create inefficiencies and force higher prices for online ads, marketplaces, business collaboration tools, and many more services that today work brilliantly for millions of small businesses.”
Scott Kupor Of Andreessen Horowitz Points Out That The Report’s Claims Of Reduced Entrepreneurship And Venture Capital Spending Are Misguided. “According to the House, big tech has reduced entrepreneurship and VC activity. The data show otherwise: from ’06-’19, total # of VC deals/$ up 4x to 12,211 deals/$135.8b, early-stage deals/$ up 3x to 4,157 deals/$46.3b, angel/seed deals/$ up 10x to 5,107 deals/$10b.”
The Connected Commerce Council Also Pointed Out That Digital Tools Largely Drive Small Business Success Today. “Research and common sense tell us that smart use of digital tools and online marketplaces drives small business success. In the best of times, businesses that use affordable, scalable small business tools grow faster and have higher revenue and profits.”


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Post by KostaAndreadis @ 02:10pm 08/03/17 | 8 Comments
Via the CEMU emulator, which was built to emulate the Wii U. Of course, running an illegal copy of the game this isn't exactly legal, but impressive in that the developers behind the CEMU emulator have stated that it didn't take much effort to get Zelda running. And by running that's barely playable with frequent freezes, stuttering, and visual glitches. But still, running. And most interestingly, even with a specific Zelda build of the emulator, it's expected that a fully playable version could still be months or years away.
As with any emulation of this sort, fixing issues takes a while. Hence the uncertainty. And it was only recently that the GameCube emulator Dolphin received its own substantial update that made previously unplayable games like Metroid Prime silky smooth -- and in full 1080p too.
Like Dolphin before it CEMU isn't a backyard effort, with Team Cemu currently being funded via Pateron to the tune of just over $8,000 USD per month going towards their efforts. And with a high profile release like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild you can be sure that their efforts will be put towards trying to emulate the game as best as possible. And even, providing people the option to run it in 4K. Maybe.
You see how it runs so far on PC (with an i7-4790K and a GTX 780), via emulation, in the video below. Note that the lack of audio is because, well, currently there isn't any.
Nintendo's stance on emulation over the years have been consistent, it sees the practice as not only illegal but a major threat to intellectual property and its franchise.


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Nearly two years, following Home Depot’s 2019 “Investor and Analyst Conference,” it was reported that shrink, or product theft and losses, is a bigger issue, potentially worsened by the opioid crisis and the ease at which stolen products can be quickly resold online.
At the time, several news outlets, such as the LA Times, also reported that:
[Home Depot is] installing technology so that power tools won’t work unless they go through the retailer’s point-of-sale system.
Technology that prevents power tools from working unless they go through the point of sale system? How’s that going to work with cordless power tools, which are arguably the largest segment of power tools purchased today?
I listened to a transcript of the presentation and Q&A session, and Home Depot did indeed say that they are accelerating plans around technology that can help bring shrink down, including point of sale activation where you buy a power tool, and the only time that power tool can work is if it goes through a point of sale.
In other words, it seems that Home Depot is experimenting with technology that prevents power tools from working unless you buy them at a register.
They said this is one of several pilots to better secure higher-valued products.
What kinds of power tools? Which brands? I suppose this is related to which power tools are most commonly stolen from stores. “Power tools” can also mean different things.
HOW will this be done?
Some cordless power tool brands have specific models and connected technologies that allow tools to be locked-out via an app, but you need an app to do it. I don’t think I have ever seen these tools, such as Milwaukee One-Key, sold at Home Depot stores.
Home Depot has been in the news again recently and several readers have pointed me towards a Business Insider story that says the plans are now being set into motion.
Home Depot is introducing power tools that won’t work if they’re stolen.
It has been around 20 months since this initiative was first announced, and despite the fresh media attention, there is no indication as to which brands and tools this will affect, and how the anti-theft measure will work.
News story point to Bluetooth connectivity being involved, where tools are unlocked at registers or remain locked and inoperable if stolen, but the vast majority of cordless power tools today lack such connectivity options.
This will continue to be an interesting development to follow.
This post was originally published on 12/12/2019 and updated on 8/3/2021.


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Nikon has unveiled the NF-300i, a digital photo frame powered by Android that turns your photos into a 3D extravaganza--without the aid of funny glasses.
If you're looking for a cheap and easy universal remote--and you can live with its streamlined feature set--the Logitech Harmony 300 is a great choice.
Samsung's upcoming laptops certainly look like they'll be some of the more appealing mainstream portables this fall.
Want to utterly overwhelmed by a deluge of new Samsung laptops and netbooks? Great, because we've just got wind of not one, not two, but four different series of portable computer from the Korean electronics deity.
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Some Facebook engineers came up with a visualization of user activity by the social network's 120 million users across the planet.
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New and Noteworthy: PCI-X, PCI Express comparison; Internet Explorer losing market share
Not everyone understands the plight of left-handed computer gamers like Razer, which is planning to release its second mouse for southpaws.
A survey by a Webcasting and virtual events company suggests that Houston tops the list of cities that execs would avoid for a conference or trade show. Los Angeles was second.


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Combining two mind-altering substances in one bottle might once have been a pleasant daydream for wine and marijuana enthusiasts across America, but it has now become a reality.
This could also be a horrific nightmare when it comes to the problem of drink-driving. With marijuana legalization popping up in several states across America, it is difficult to say what the repercussions of mixing wine with marijuana will be.
One thing is for certain, wine and marijuana have become a staple in American culture, just as they have been in cultures around the world throughout history.
Hua Tuo, a famous Chinese physician infused hemp and wine way back in the second century for its anesthetic properties. In fact, the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes dates back to 28 B.C., and it continues to be used today.
A 2001 study published in The British Journal of Psychiatry discussed the medicinal properties of marijuana way before legalization was thought to be even possible. The study stated, “Cannabis and some cannabinoids are effective anti-emetics and analgesics and reduce intra-ocular pressure. There is evidence of symptom relief and improved well-being in selected neurological conditions, AIDS and certain cancers. Cannabinoids may reduce anxiety and improve sleep.”
One of the oldest wine cellars known to date was recently uncovered and excavated in Tel Kabri, Israel. The findings were published in PLOS One (2014) by Dr. Andrew Koh of Brandeis University, Massachusetts, Eric H. Cline, a co-director of the Tel Kabri excavations, and Assaf Yasur-Landau of the University of Haifa in Israel.
The wine dates back to approximately 1800 B.C., and guess what, they found psychoactive properties in the various additives used to process the ancient wine.
The study noted, “These additives suggest a sophisticated understanding of the botanical landscape and the pharmacopeic skills necessary to produce a complex beverage that balanced preservation, palatability, and psychoactivity.”
One notable marijuana-infused wine enthusiast is Melissa Etheridge, a famous singer and songwriter who battled chemotherapy bouts with marijuana.
She has paired up with Greenway, a Santa Cruz marijuana dispensary founded in 2005 and the first marijuana dispensary to be supported by both city and state.
California has over half a million card-carrying cannabis users. Melissa Etheridge’s marijuana-infused wine “No Label” is sold through Greenway and it may be a “high-ly” marketable product with the marijuana crowd who enjoys wine, but despises grain alcohol.
Greenway’s founder, Lisa Molyneux, is one who dislikes the taste and feeling attached to grain alcohols like whiskey, vodka or rum.
Molyneux stated in a previous interview, “Personally, I abhor grain alcohol. Many years ago, I tried cannabis-infused wine that a winemaking friend of mine made for his own personal consumption and I loved it. I got the recipe from him and I started working on my own batch seven years ago. As it turns out, I misunderstood his directions, but even he agrees that my results are better.”
So what does this mean? Can marijuana-infused wine be a good thing? It is likely that this new — and old — craze will be met with mixed emotions.
We know that wine, especially red wine, can be therapeutic, and we also know that marijuana has therapeutic value. However, it appears that the pairing of certain strains of cannabis with various wines will be aimed more at wine and pot enthusiasts than at those seeking medicinal value.
We advise taking certain precautions before trying marijuana-infused wine: It is important to understand what the risks are when using any drug, whether it be marijuana or alcohol — talking to a trusted health-care provider is always advisable.
It is also essential to understand how your body reacts to both marijuana and alcohol separately, before you combine them in an effort to try something new and exciting. Even though these psychoactive pleasures have become legalized in some states, there’s no rush to try them.
Moderation, knowing your body, and having a clear picture of your health is the first step.