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Marijuana Legalization May Be on the Horizon in Virginia, But Questions Remain for Banks
Lawmakers in Virginia may be on the verge of legalizing marijuana. But, nobody is taking that news to the bank just yet.
Even if Virginia legalizes marijuana, it'll still be illegal at the federal level. That means banks consider proceeds from the cannabis industry money laundering.
Jenn Michelle Pedini at Virginia NORML says the medical marijuana industry in Virginia already operates as a cash-only business.
"On the consumer side, operators in Virginia aren't generally able to accept credit cards or ATM cards directly," Pedini explains. "So they are accepting cash and installing ATMs in the lobbies of their dispensaries and they are using apps that allow cashless payment."
Virginia legal exert Rich Kelsey says banking is a highly regulated business that puts a premium on compliance.
"The risk of running afoul of federal law whether you're truly going to be prosecuted, which many people think wouldn't happen, or whether you're just going to be dinged by your federal regulator, which most people think would happen," Kelsey says. "Banks just aren't going to do it."
The House of Representatives has already passed a bill that would allow banks to do business in states that have legalized. That bill had support from all of Virginia's Democrats in the House as well as Republican Congressmen Morgan Griffith and Denver Riggleman. But it hasn't seen any movement in the Senate yet.


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Snow in the run up to Christmas and heavy pre-Christmas discounting impacted Next’s sales by £22m, the retailer said.
Next said that like-for-like sales slumped 6.1% over the five months to Christmas Eve after the extreme weather cost the retailer 2.2% of its full-price sales during the season.
Retail sales, which fell 3.1% during the period, were also impacted by limited stock availability on best-selling lines in the key festive period, the retailer added.
Next’s Directory arm benefitted initially from the weather conditions when shoppers decided to shop from home rather than visit the high street, but in the immediate run up to Chrstimas concerns over whether home deliveries could be made put off further demand. Next said it believed the effect of the weather on Directory had been “neutral” overall. Sales over the five month period rose 8.7%.
Total Next sales excluding VAT during the period from August 1 to December 24 rose 0.2%, within the retailer’s previous guidance of flat to a 3% increase.
Next added that its end of season Sale had started well and that its clearance rates were in line with expectations.
Next reiterated that its profit forecast for the full year to the end of January 2011 remained within guidance issued in September and November. It estimated that full year pre-tax profit would be within the range of £540m and £555m, an increase of between 7% and 10% on last year.
Next said that the outlook for 2011 remained uncertain with the full impact of government cuts and the impact of rising retail selling prices on consumer spending still unclear.
Next reconfirmed that its prices would increase by about 8% this year as a result of higher input costs and the increase in VAT to 20% yesterday.
In a statement Next said: “Our best guess is that price rises will moderately suppress like-for-like sales, though we believe this will be offset by the addition of profitable new retail space and continued growth of directory’s online business.”

domain: news


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Morrisons Milk to Swap Plastic for Cartons
Supermarket giant Morrisons is making an innovative move to switch all its branded milk from plastic bottles to paper-based cartons.
With sustainability at the forefront of everyone’s minds, larger companies are doing their bit in the bid towards a greener, more sustainable future.
A First For Supermarkets
From mid-February, nine types of Morrisons fresh milk have started being sold in Tetra Pak Cartons. This is a move that will save 100 tonnes of plastic a year, “Fresh milk is currently one of the single biggest users of plastic packaging in UK Supermarkets. It accounts for approximately 10% of all plastic used.” Morrisons stated.
Morrisons is the first supermarket in the UK to make the move from plastic to cartons. It’s not just their milk making the switch as fourteen of Morrisons’ nineteen fresh juice products have also switched from plastic to carton packaging.
The positive move from plastics to cartons has been supported by explanatory point-of-sale materials flagging the move.
Dairy Category Director at Morrisons has commented, “Fresh milk is the top user of plastic packaging in our stores so this will result in significant plastic reduction.” He also said that Tetra Pak has also been independently verified as a better sustainable packaging option. If customers take it, they could be looking at moving all their fresh milk to Tetra Pak cartons.
The new cartons can be recycled at kerbside and recycling centers “in most UK regions.” The carbon neutrality of the cartons has been certified by the Carbon Trust. Customers’ top concern, according to Morrisons, is reducing the amount of single-use plastic in stores.
The company, which operates nearly 500 stores across the UK, has committed to a 50 percent reduction in primary plastic packaging for its brand by 2025. An astonishing commitment and, if achieved, will be an incredible example for all other supermarkets in the UK to aspire to and aim for.
Tetra Pak’s goal is to create “the world’s most sustainable food package,” with cartons made entirely of responsibly sourced renewable or recycled materials that are fully recyclable and carbon neutral. After all, 74% of paper and 83% of paper-based packaging is recycled into new products, making it one of the most recycled materials in the world. [Cepi, 2020 + Eurostat, 2018]
Less Plastic for a Better Future
Morrisons have stated that as well as keeping the milk fresh, the packaging is made from sustainably sourced FSC® certified trees, and other controlled sources such as Bonsucro certified sugar cane. The sugar cane is used in the very thin layer of plastic coating, as well as the twist caps. These cartons being mostly paperboard, are made of more than 80% less plastic (*results are as per comparison vs. 4 pints HDPE bottle in the UK) than the average milk bottle you are probably used to seeing in the fridges in your local supermarket.
So, the next time you are out shopping for your weekly groceries, why not keep an eye out for milk that comes in a paper carton? After all, it’s easier to store, made from more sustainable materials, and all-around better for the planet.


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Shares in daily deals firm Groupon have risen 13% following the ousting of its founder and chief executive Andrew Mason.
Its shares lost a quarter of their value on Thursday after the company reported falling sales and profit margins after the close on Wednesday.
By mid-morning on Friday the shares had risen to $5.10.
However, when the company floated in 2011 they were sold at nearer $20, valuing the firm at $13bn.
The departure of founder and chief executive of Groupon, Andrew Mason, had been widely expected.
The online firm, which offers discounts to subscribers on local goods and services such as meals and beauty treatments, posted another quarterly loss this week.
Investors fear its business model, which is increasingly copied by competitors including Amazon, may be unsustainable.
Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg said the model was too easy to replicate: ``The question is whether this as a business model can last.
`It's easy to replicate and under a lot of pressure. The question is where the company goes from here.... Clearly something wasn't working, isn't working.''
Some retailers have complained that the company takes too big a cut of the offer price, although it has recently reduced this from 40% to 35%.
However, news of that lower margin was one of the key reasons for the share price fall as it led investors to fear it would take even longer for the company to become profitable.
The challenge for Groupon, and its competitors, is to keep the businesses happy through the amount of profit it can make from the people it brings in, but also to keep the users of the offers happy by giving them a genuinely discounted product.
Groupon is seen as having high marketing expenses and a large employee base, with more than 11,000 employees.
It attracted the notice of regulators over its reporting as revenue the total amount its customers spent on deals rather than the amount it made from them.
It had to restate the accounts, and new documents showed that net revenue in the first half of 2011 was around half of what was originally reported.
It made its only profit in the second quarter of last year.
Mr Mason, who set the firm up in 2008, is a colourful character who was once photographed for a leading magazine with a cat on his head.
His departure note to employees, stated: "After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I've decided that I'd like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding - I was fired today. If you're wondering why... you haven't been paying attention."
Groupon's executive chairman Eric Lefkofsky and vice chairman Ted Leonsis are stepping in as temporary joint chief executives until a replacement for Mr Mason can be found.


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Pity the college kids who are readying themselves for the boredom of working in an office where online profile views are sharply limited or not allowed. Don't they know that there are jobs that demand this stuff? More and more employers are scouting for social networking skills and trying to fill positions that require daily Facebook diligence. And it's not all Silicon Valley—the Securities and Exchange Commission just started Twittering.
This is not a dream, folks. The Facebook future is now. Here are the seven best jobs for a Facebook addict:
Recruiter: The job hunt has in many, many ways gone digital. Boris Epstein, CEO and founder of BINC, a search firm that fills tech positions, has made it a priority to know his way around social networks and be an active Web 2.0 participant. Epstein is on Facebook; so are his company and his employees. They're all on LinkedIn and active on the company's Twitter account, as well as its corporate blog. "If we relied solely on phone and E-mail, we'd become recruiting dinosaurs in no time," Epstein says.
Sarah Lacy, cohost of Yahoo's Tech Ticker and author of Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good: The Rebirth of Silicon Valley and the Rise of Web 2.0, says companies that are successfully using social networking to recruit college graduates are often choosing to make one individual their advocate or personality on Facebook or LinkedIn. Successful recruiters make the process friendly and humane: "They might say, 'Look, we're interested in this skill set: Maybe go do this, and you can come back,' " Lacy says. "Someone who's really being helpful and not cramming a marketing message down these kids' throats."
Social media marketing manager: Social media managers didn't exist a decade ago, but companies are looking for individuals to guide their Web 2.0 efforts—to organize company blogging, online communities, viral marketing, podcasting. It's part strategist, part evangelist, and it requires a real knowledge of social networking sites.
For recent college graduates who have a sound base of Web 2.0 savvy, those skills should be a good selling point to employers. "Overall, it's become increasingly more important for nearly every position, marketing in particular," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. About a year ago, social networking skills were sought after merely as tools in recruiting, but the bigger driver now is in companies' networking and connecting, Haefner says.
Photographer: If you make your living with a camera, then there's no better way to market yourself than to show off your product. Social networks are no-brainers for photographers: They can post their photos, connect through blogs, and start groups, all of which will help build their brand and spread their name.
Ventures aimed at the E-commerce opportunities for photography have proved less than successful, says Lacy, whose husband is a photographer. "There's something about buying art online that doesn't work," she says. It's the online relationship-building that works for artists. Social networks allow them to have connections with their appreciators—or, literally, groupies, if you've got a Facebook group—and reach new customers.
The bonus here is that you don't need fancy tech credentials. You may, however, benefit from fluency in a second language. Of course, if you don't like interacting with people, as Valleywag points out, you may not enjoy this gig.
Tech reporter/blogger: It's your job to scout the Web for stories and build a big pile of sources for tech-related scoops. Sure, there are Digg meetups to attend, but tech reporters and bloggers belong online. Look at TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington, who has turned his site into the source for Silicon Valley news. Aside from his site, Arrington has friends on Facebook, gets the news out in bits on Twitter, and makes connections and shares his résumé on LinkedIn. However Arrington gets his scoops, he's clearly not hard to find.


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Apple signs deal to stop buying so many components to Samsung
A long way Apple has had to travel to get to this day, when they finally were able to sign an agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) so that it will provide silicon microprocessors, which are used to give life to the series of models “Apple A” that move the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
The important thing about this agreement is that it means the first big step to cut a heavy reliance on Cupertino kept to Samsung, a company that until today it manufactures Apple hardware designs, although both companies are locked in strong legal disputes around the world.
And is that ten years ago the relationship between the two companies was very good, because Samsung had not come with its portfolio of tablets and smartphones to own racing you to the iPhone and iPad, so they were happy to fabricarle microprocessors, screens and other components Apple.
However, with the success of the Galaxy line things changed and now Apple seeks to distance itself from the Korean in every way, so this means that according to TSMC will finally stop buying so many components to the competition, but the change will take a couple of years and in Cupertino still have to purchase screens and other processors to Samsung which TSMC does not supply all the demand.
Link: Apple Finds It Difficult to Divorce Samsung (Wall Street Journal)Tags: a6, a7, Apple, Apple A6, apple a7, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, TSMC


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Premier Brad Wall announced a $500 million "booster shot" for the province of Saskatchewan.
Part of that money was $100 million for the Municipal Economic
Enhancement Program. With this program, Kindersley will see
around $480,000. The Town of Kindersley's Chief Administrative
Officer, Sherry Magnuson, says that they were pretty excited when the
Premier made the announcement. Magnuson added that they will be
able to use this money in 2009.
As for the amount of money the town recieved Magnuson says it was very fair.


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This weekly round-up spotlights Toronto’s newest restaurants and bars, plus incoming establishments that should be on your radar.
Here are the newest restaurants opening in Toronto right now:
- Dishing out flavours from the Amalfi Coast, Don Alfonso 1890 from Michelin star Chef Ernesto Iaccarino has opened in Toronto inside the historic Consumer’s Gas Building at 19 Toronto Street.
- Drom Taberna, a new Eastern European restaurant and pub is newly opened at 458 Queen Street West replacing Tortilla Flats.
- Fargo’s Snack Bar is open in Little Italy at 772 College Street and dishing out a menu featuring beef patties, pakoras, mutton rolls, and more.
- The Fortunate Fox is now open at the base of the Kimpton Saint George hotel at 280 Bloor Street West in the Annex.
- Korean soft serve chain Milkcow opens the doors to its first Toronto location this weekend at 2651 Yonge Street.
- Petty Cash the new West Coast-inspired snack bar is now open at 487 Adelaide Street West.
- Sapori at 1588 Dundas Street West is now open and serving biodynamic wines, local craft beer, cocktails, comfort food, and enormous charcuterie boards.
- Spielhaus, Toronto’s newest board game cafe is now open at 1187 St Clair West.
- Tractor Everyday Healthy Foods a new spot for build-your-own bowls, house-made soups, stews, salads, and sandwiches, is now open at 151 Yonge Street.
- Billy’s Diner is soon to replace the recently shuttered Icy Spicy Fusion at 99 Pape Avenue, according to Goodhood.
- Coming soon to Toronto’s east side, Black Lab Brewing is in the work 818 Eastern Avenue.
- Chin Chin Street Side Kitchen, the fast-casual spin-off from the famous LA restaurant is opening two locations in the GTA. The first at 363 Bremner Boulevard is set to open this September while the second location in Mississauga will open just weeks later.
- Gyoko Sushi is coming soon to 2143 Danforth Avenue.
- North of Brooklyn Pizzeria is opening a commissary this July at 511 Rogers Road.
- Pi Co. is opening yet another location! The newest outpost is going in at Shops at Don Mills at 1070 Don Mills Road
- Recipe Food Co. is opening soon at 696 Queen Street West in the Trinity Bellwoods area.
- Steambox Dumplings is moving! The small-batch dumpling makers are coming soon to 1255 Dundas Street West, formerly The Goods.


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DuPont Merck's Ethmozine (moricizine)
Roberts Pharmaceuticals acquiring rights to the oral antiarrhythmic worldwide, excluding Japan. "The cardiac arrhythmia field no longer fits our core strategy," DuPont Merck said Dec. 18. Roberts plans to introduce the drug in the U.K. and France, where it has been approved, in 1993. Ethmozine received FDA approval for life- threatening ventricular arrhythmias in June 1990 and was introduced in the U.S. in September 1990.
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Maruti is all set to launch the 2019 Baleno soon. With the update, Maruti will be bringing in some cosmetic changes to the hot-hatch which was first launched in the country in 2015. At the moment, bookings for the facelift have opened up at NEXA showrooms and one can go and book the car for a booking amount of INR 11,000.
The current Baleno hasn’t received any significant update since its launch which took place 4 years ago. The only major update which the Baleno brand received was the introduction of Baleno RS, which happened in 2017. But sales have been commendable.
Maruti says, “With a staggering 14% growth in first nine months of 2018-19 over last year, Baleno holds the industry record of fastest 5 lac sales milestone within a record time of 38 months. With cumulative sales of over 5.2 lac units, Baleno holds over 26% of market share in the A2+ segment of country’s Automobile Industry.”
We had released our render of the 2019 Baleno, based on the spy shots. Now, Maruti has officially teased the car, and revealed interesting new details. “New Baleno, the style icon of Nexa has been refreshed with a fresh sense of premium-ness and class-leading features which is set to retain its leadership status in the segment,” adds Maruti.
Maruti says, “Baleno will arrive in its striking new stance complimented with new and aggresive front design. The interiors are upgraded with refreshred premium ornamentation. The new Baleno will offer additional safety features like speed alert system, co-driver seat belt reminder and rear parking assist sensors. These are over and above the standard dual airbags, child seat restrain system (ISOFIX), Pre-tensioner and force limiter seat belts and ABS with EBD.”
Just as before, Maruti will be retailing the Baleno through its NEXA channel. Post launch, the Baleno will compete with Hyundai i20 Elite, Honda Jazz and the upcoming hot-hatch from Tata Motors. Currently, the Baleno retails from INR 5.38 lakhs and its top end is available at INR 8.49 lakhs. Prices might get a little hike due to the updates which the 2019 version will be coming along with.


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The dermatology brands sold by Dr. Reddy's to Eris Lifesciences include Hydroheal, Revilus, Avarta, Aquaderm, and others
Indian drug company Eris Lifesciences has agreed to acquire nine dermatology brands from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in a $33.2m deal to expand its portfolio in cosmetic dermatology.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories divested its non-core brands such as Hydroheal, Revilus, Avarta, Aquaderm, and others in the Indian market to Eris Lifesciences as part of the deal.
According to the stock exchange filing of Eris Lifesciences, the all-cash deal is expected to be closed on or before March 31.
The transaction is expected to expand the cosmetic dermatology business of the drug maker through the expansion of the product portfolio.
Under the agreement, Eris Lifesciences will be assigned the trademark and their applicable line extensions of the brands by Dr. Reddy’s.
Dr. Reddy’s branded markets (India & emerging markets) CEO MV Ramana said: “India is a focus market for us. We aspire to break into the top 5 in India.
“Today’s announcement is in line with our stated intention of pursuing a strategy that involves growing brands organically combined with acquisitions that are a strategic fit and divestment of non-core brands.
“This deal is a further step towards consolidating our core and helping us deliver focused play in India in keeping with our purpose of ‘Good Health Can’t Wait’.”
Dr. Reddy’s said that the divestment is expected to strengthen its core brands.
In January this year, Eris Oaknet Healthcare, a fully-owned subsidiary of Eris Lifesciences, announced the acquisition of a portfolio of dermatology brands from Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. The deal was intended to strengthen its footprint in the anti-fungal and anti-psoriasis segments.
Last month, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories signed an agreement with Australia-based Mayne Pharma Group to acquire the latter’s US generic prescription product portfolio. As per the agreement, the Indian pharmaceutical firm will acquire the portfolio for an upfront payment of around $90m in cash.


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New Porsche Cayman builds on Boxster’s success
Porsche is evolving its little Cayman coupe, and it showed off the all-new 2014 version of the car at the Los Angeles Auto Show Wednesday.
The company said the new car is longer, lighter, faster, and more powerful than previous generations of the Cayman.
The two-seater features a mid-mounted 2.7-liter engine good for 275 horsepower, or a 3.4-liter engine producing 325 horsepower. Those numbers are up from the similar-sized engines in the Boxster convertible, which shares a lot of components with the Cayman.
The all-new coupe will be available in spring 2013 with a starting price of about $53,000.
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IN THE SWIM: V magazine’s May issue is the fashion insider’s answer to the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Editor in chief Stephen Gan and Mario Testino started talking about producing a different kind of swimsuit issue last year and chose models that had a special connection to Testino. The magazine, on newsstands now, has six different covers, featuring Kate Moss, Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigova and Daria Werbowy. “Our only requirement was that these were six cover girls known immediately by their first names,” said Gan.
Meanwhile, the newest edition of Gan’s other side project — Visionaire — will play tricks on the eyes. The spring edition features images from photographers, including Mario Sorrenti, Alex Katz, M/M Paris, Yoko Ono, Roe Ethridge, Peter Lindbergh and David Sims that have been printed with a special ink that changes color from black and white to color in direct sunlight. Visionaire 56 SOLAR was produced in partnership with Calvin Klein, and can be purchased at the Calvin Klein Collection store on Madison Avenue, and other specialty stores for $250. The issue will be released this month. In addition, Calvin Klein creative directors Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli will design a one-of-a-kind dress and suit with materials dyed with the same UV-sensitive ink used in the issue. Visionaire will reveal the designs at a June 1 party. — Amy Wicks and S.D.S.
BABY BOOTY: Children were top of mind at a dinner at Park Avenue Spring for Jennifer Garner, hosted by InStyle managing editor Ariel Foxman on Thursday night. For one, the dinner celebrated Garner’s new role as artist ambassador for Save the Children. The actress, whose new movie “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” hit theaters May 1, sought out the charity because of the work the organization does so young children can get access to early learning tools and resources. “I’ve been looking for a way to help kids like the ones I grew up with in rural America who don’t have a leg up, who don’t have parents who can take them to music class, to art class or who don’t have parents who are around other parents to help model for them ways to invigorate a child and make them eager to learn more,” she said.
Garner, who recently gave birth to her second daughter, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, wore a black Carolina Herrera dress for the event. “Dressing after baby I find to be a challenge, because I’ve got…these — ” she said, grabbing her chest. “They’re great. I need them. They’re not easy to dress. They’re not the body issue I’m used to dealing with.” But other guests shared Garner’s struggle to find a sartorial strategy after having a baby, including Rachel Roy. She was reprimanded by a friend over one particularly revealing look. “A very good friend of mine said, ‘Darling, you’re a mother of two. You must lengthen that dress!’” said Roy. “I guess I was excited to fit into my samples finally, which hasn’t happened in about two years. I’d much rather have the two kids than the miniskirt. But it was a little too high.”
Also in attendance were Francisco Costa, who attended the event before presenting an award at the National Magazine Awards; Molly Sims; “Friday Night Lights” actress Connie Britton; Chris Benz; Thakoon Panichgul; Richard Chai, and Rag & Bone’s David Neville and Marcus Wainright. Not surprisingly, most guests felt First Lady Michelle Obama embodied impeccable mommy style, but InStyle fashion director Hal Rubenstein had one criticism. “I just wish she’d wear a higher heel. Her husband is smart enough and has a strong enough ego. If she stood a bit taller, so what? Every woman looks better in a high heel. Her skirts would have a better line. Her legs — she has these great legs — would look even better.” — S.D.S.


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Chief among those tidbits: a promise that Nintendo is working on a good deal of physical add-ons for the Switch. "It may be appropriate to call them accessories. Or it might be better to call them add-on hardware," Kimishima said. "It’s probably more correct to call them accessories. You can assume that there will be a wider array."
We can only hope that this cryptic statement is referring to customized Joy-Con controllers that can replace the standard detachable Switch controllers, as seen in this fan concept from back in August. Then again, maybe Nintendo is planning on plug-in additions that add directly to the power of the console, à la the old Famicom Disk System or 64DD. Or maybe it just means boring stuff like expanded battery packs and carrying cases.Elsewhere in the interview, Kimishima also restated that Nintendo is still "interested in VR," but it seemed more cautious than enthusiastic about the technology. "If you ask us whether there are any possibilities, we can’t say no," he said. "It may be that we will build VR software titles, I think that opportunity is available to us."
Kimishima reiterated his promise for a worldwide Switch launch in March of 2017, saying the company plans to ship 2 million systems before the month ends (still no details on the specific day in March that launch is planned for). After the disappointing sales of the Wii U, though, Kimishima seemed to stress the importance of the Switch selling well right out of the gate.
"In terms of how many units will sell, we’re looking at past examples where competitors, and our own Wii, had a lot of momentum, and that means the first year after it goes on sale will be extremely important," he said. For context, the Wii sold 5.84 million systems in its first fiscal year on shelves, while the Wii U only shipped 3.45 million in its launch year.
In an investor presentation last night, Kimishima said he's pleased with the 23 million views the Switch trailer has received across Nintendo's official YouTube accounts, noting that self-selected reactions have been "95% Positive." But speaking to Bloomberg, Kimishima stressed that there is still much more to talk about."By no means was that everything," he said of the trailer. "One thing we still can’t show is the software lineup. We want people to touch the device in January and experience the software for themselves." That statement lines up with comments from earlier this week, when a Nintendo spokesperson said that trailer viewers "shouldn't assume what you saw on the video represents actual game footage."


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After almost 10 months of on-the-water experimentation — and countless hook changes, weight adjustments and buoyancy tweaks — Matrix Shad soft plastic paddletail creator Chas Champagne last week rolled out a brand new topwater lure called the Matrix Mullet that’s already developing quite a reputation for snagging big speckled trout.
“It’s a 4-inch pencil bait that walks the dog, with a good compact density for long distance casting,” Champagne said. “We put extra rattles in it to get loud action, and it’s equipped with heavy-duty black nickel No. 6 treble hooks.”
Although he knows one day he will, Champagne said he has yet to break a single treble while reeling in countless specks, reds and bass during the design phase of the lure, and doesn’t believe any hook modifications after purchase are necessary.
“Lots of avid topwater gurus buy all these baits and the first thing they do is go home and put different hooks on them,” he said. “We’ve basically eliminated that step. If you don’t like these hooks, I don’t know what to tell you — these are some seriously good hooks.”
Another feature of the Matrix Mullet is nickel-plated split rings, as well as an included split ring on the nose of the lure.
“A lot of bait companies don’t do that,” Champagne said. “I don’t even tie a loop knot. The jump ring acts as a loop knot, so you can tie whatever knot you want.
“You can tie a loop knot, too, and you’ll have even more separation.”
The topwater lure is currently available in five colors that were named in an online contest by the company’s customers: mojito, blue steel, purple rain, bayou bengal and prom night.
“The paint job is like when you wrap a boat, so it really pops,” Champagne said. “It’s really shiny, and it holds up really good.”
Champagne said he ultimately decided to go with the 4-inch model because of the variety of fish here that will smash that size topwater.
“I want the 10-inch bass to hit it, I want the 13-inch speckled trout to hit it and I want the 17-inch red to hit it,” he said. “I didn’t want to have a big 7-inch bait where you have to be on giant trout just to get a hit.
“Because I can promise you a 6- or 8-pound trout will hit this just as much as they’ll hit anything else, but that 10-inch bass is not going to be as thrilled to hit a 7-inch bait as it is to hit this. Everything I make, I want it to be able to catch everything.”
Matrix Mullet topwater lures cost $7.99 each, and are available at your local retailer or online by clicking here.


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Atlanta releases list of proposed airport concessions winners
If you someday find yourself wolfing down a Varsity chili dog or a Willy’s burrito before a flight from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, you’ll be able to trace the meal to a contentious meeting at Atlanta City Hall on Wednesday.
The City Council’s transportation committee voted to approve a package of new retail and food and beverage concessions contracts for the world’s busiest airport. At stake were millions of dollars in sales and payments to the city, and more than 150 food, beverage and retail slots were up for grabs.
The vote moves the list along for consideration by the full council in early January.
Many of the eateries recommended by the city’s procurement and aviation departments are well-recognized Atlanta names that will be new to Hartsfield-Jackson — The Varsity, Shane’s Rib Shack and Willy’s Mexicana Grill among them. Some local applicants, including South City Kitchen and Manuel’s Tavern, were not on a list of winners.
Dissent centered not on the winners’ merits but on the process. Committee members had 12 hours or less to inspect key documents after Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration couriered them to their homes late Tuesday night. The last-minute delivery was not an effort to keep a contentious issue out of the limelight, said Louis Miller, the city’s aviation general manager.
“We’re dotting our I’s and crossing our T’s,” said Miller, who reports to Reed. “We spent a lot of time with this.”
The committee voted 4-1 to approve recommended food and beverage contract winners, with one abstention. The vote on retail outlets was 4-2.
The airport plans to open a new international terminal this spring. Failing to approve the contracts on Wednesday would have tacked several weeks onto a procurement process that has already been delayed for months. In September, the city tossed out an initial batch of proposals because of missing documents.
Delaying the opening of the international terminal would cost the city $3.1 million per month in lost concessions sales, Miller said.
The contracts are in the form of nine food and beverage “packages” covering 126 locations, as well as separate packages for 24 retail locations at the airport.
Recommended retail locations in the international terminal include Ferragamo, Omega, Bvlgari, Swarovski, and Tommy Hilfiger. Some of those retailers already have a presence in the airport.
Other proposed restaurants with Georgia or Atlanta connections include Goldberg’s Deli, Real Chow Baby, ECCO, Atlanta Chop House, Varasano’s Pizzeria, The Original El Taco, YEAH! Burger and Grindhouse Killer Burgers.
The idea is for passengers to “know they’re in the Southeast, they know they’re in Georgia, and they know they’re in Atlanta,” Miller said. “That was very important to what we were trying to accomplish.”
Along with a filling spots in the international terminal, the airport looked to changed other restaurants and retail venues because many hadn’t been refreshed in years.
Many of the contract package winners, including Hojeij Branded Foods, Delaware North Companies, The Paradies Shops, Concessions International and HMSHost, contributed or had affiliates that contributed to Reed, and in some cases were close to Reed’s campaign. Reed said he returned money contributed by airport concessionaires during the procurement process. Reed has not accepted contributions from airport concessionaires since June 30, according to spokeswoman Sonji Jacobs Dade.
Officials expect formal challenges and lawsuits from losing bidders.
“I’m not aware of any procurement process in the city of Atlanta that’s been done in my lifetime that’s not been under a cloud” said Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms, who pushed for the package to be approved in Wednesday’s meeting, which stretched over four hours. “Everybody has an attorney. People are not going to be happy. People are going to sue.”
Councilwoman Felicia Moore repeatedly asked for more information about how each concessionaire’s score was tabulated than the city’s lawyers and procurement experts would divulge. She complained of having only “a couple hours” to review the list.
“If we as a body allow this to occur, then we’re saying it’s okay,” she said. “It’s just not okay.”
Councilman Michael J. Bond said the legislative body should err on the side of caution and deliberation as it handles lucrative contracts that will last between seven and 10 years. “A fully-vetted proposal is the way to go,” he said.
Four committee members — Bottoms, C.T. Martin, Carla Smith and H. Lamar Willis — voted to approve the food and beverage contracts, and later to approve the retail contracts. Moore voted against both actions. Bond voted against the retail contracts and abstained from the food and beverage vote.
There were between five and seven competitors for each of five large food and beverage packages, and 13-20 competitors for each of four small food and beverage packages. Each retail slot had three or four competitors.
Willis had harsh words for those who complained about the procurement process. He said complainants would have had more credibility if they had alerted him to flawed judging before the winners were announced.
“There are going to be happy people and some very unhappy people,” he said. “That’s the name of the game. The reality is somebody is going to lose. Unless you can point out that somebody made a bad call . . .why should we hold it up?”
Some of the winning brands at Hartsfield-Jackson:
Food and beverage: Ruby Tuesday, P.F. Chang’s, Pappadeaux Seafood, Pinkberry, McDonald’s, Qdoba, Varasano’s Pizzeria, Chick‐fil‐A, TWIST, Willy’s, Popeyes, Yogurbella, Dunkin’ Donuts, Paschals, T.G.I. Friday’s, Fresh to Order, Little Azio, Lavazza Coffee, Carrabba’s, The Varsity, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, LongHorn, La Madeleine, The Real Chow Baby, Baja Fresh, French Meadow Bakery, The Pecan, Rolling Bones BBQ, Chipotle, Ruby’s Diner, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Popeyes, Bojangles’, Corner Bakery Café, Fatburger, Georgia Grown, Argo Tea Café, Shane’s Rib Shack, Atlanta Chophouse, Coffee Beanery, Starbucks, Chicken N Beer, Atlanta Braves All-Star Grill, Goldberg’s Bagel Co., Michon’s Smokehouse, Jekyll Island Seafood Co., Asian Chao, Gold Coast Dogs, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Wienerz Grill.
Retail: Wall Street Journal, Johnston & Murphy, Magellan’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Kiehl’s, Luxury Boutique, Simply Books, Clutch, CNN, TouchTable, Sunglass Icon, CNBC News, New York Times Bookstore, Goldberg’s Deli, Spanx, Pandora, Brooks Brothers, Swarovski, Shades of Time, Soundbalance, Sweet Auburn Market, Brookstone, The Body Shop.


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Eating too much junk food and doing any type of drug the rule would have banned sales of sugary sodas larger than 16 ounces by restaurants. Or you could just answer why do you think junk food is bad why should the government regulate the sale of advertisement on junk food. So, the sale of junk food should be banned as it brings more healthy problems secondly, the selling of junk food is the major cause of litter problems in the country. Are junk food sales at schools banned read and get the answer. Sample extended essay should the sale of junk food in school canteens be banned junk food is defined as food items which are generally considered to be unhealthy and. Should the sale of junk food in school cafeterias be junk food tax the current issue of junk food consumption and the overall obesity battle in america continues.
Why selling junk food at school is good for our kids why selling junk food at school is good for our kids news judge could turn around plan b sales. Taxing junk food may help reduce obesity and improve health yahoo-abc news network gop lawmaker calls on trump to 'pause' all sales of high-powered guns. A survey found 44% of school districts banned junk food from fewer school districts promote junk food fewer schools took a cut in soft drink sales. Another day, another junk food debate from boycotting bake sales to banning sodas, many educators have joined the national fight against obesity but should junk. Imposing a national excise tax on junk food manufacturers would not only be feasible, it could also help alleviate the obesity as a sales tax would.
Efforts to ban kids from having junk food could why parents (and schools) shouldn't ban junk while holland supports a ban around the sale of junk food. But here we are listing out five reasons as to why fast food should 5 reasons junk food should here are five reasons fast food should be banned 1 fast food. Junk and fast food sale should be limited or banned in public schools as these food items have no nutritional value.
Panel urges junk food ban in schools some states, including california, have passed laws limiting junk food sales in schools but many others have not. The arguments over serving junk food in schools is not about just calories and trans fats it is also about money policies to keep junk food from competing with.
Schools should not sell junk food, based on the usda’s ban on nutritionally unsound foods the online publication serious eats reports that as part of the healthy. Transcript of should junk food be banned in a public school in new york they are banding bake sales because parents don’t like their kids eating sweets.
Junk food is the term that used to describe the food that is to be unhealthy and have low nutritional value it is being blamed for the increase in childhood obesity. For better or for worse, junk food has gone global it is now available all over the world (magee, 2007, para 1 schools must protect the freedom that the students.
Home / health / the government should ban the sale of junk food in elementary schools the government should ban the sale of junk food in elementary junk food. The usda just banned the sale of junk foods in schools, but will the new approach lead to healthier eating, or just result in lost revenue for the schools. Public schools in the city should be reminded to implement the ban on the sale, distribution and bringing of junk food and carbonated drinks in their canteens for the. By jae curtis another day, another junk food debate from boycotting bake sales to banning sodas, many schools have joined the national fight against obesity. Five years after california started cracking down on junk food in school cafeterias, a new report shows that high school students there consume fewer. Why junk food should be banned in public schools - ghost writing essays for this reason many schools across the world have banned the sale of junk food on campus.


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Nathan Kimmel Co. is one unusual firm.
First, there’s the obvious distinction: a nearly 16-foot dolly – more precisely known as a hand truck – that is parked in front of its headquarters on busy Santa Fe Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.
The giant landmark reflects the company’s status as one of the largest dealers of Magliner Co. hand trucks in the United States. In fact, the Standish, Mich., manufacturer awarded the huge dolly to the company 10 years ago.
“Putting it in front brought us so much business,” said owner Carol Kimmel Schary, who noted that the dolly is used as a point of reference when giving directions. “If people know they need to buy a hand truck, they come here because they already have us in their minds.”
However, selling hand trucks only amounts to a side business for Nathan Kimmel. In another distinction for the company, it is one of a relative few to make commercial-grade tarps used for large surfaces that need to be covered. They start at $265 for a 20-foot-by-50-foot piece and go up depending on material and size.
The company’s tarps, manufactured in an adjacent plant, have been laid down at Dodger Stadium and Yankee Stadium, and during the construction of LA Live and the Freedom Tower in New York.
Sales totaled $2.6 million last year, giving Nathan Kimmel yet another distinction: It was on the Business Journal’s list of the biggest 100 women-owned companies in Los Angeles last week, and in an industry – construction – where women still haven’t made much headway. Sales are projected to hit $3 million this year.
Schary took over the 56-year-old company when her father died in 1996. Among its 14 total employees are her sons Jason, 36, and Adam, 32, who help manage the business.
Nathan Kimmel sells other construction accessories, such as fumigation paraphernalia and safety equipment.
As for that giant dolly, it hasn’t gone unnoticed by other vendors who would like to boost sales. A glove vendor sent her 4-foot-tall safety glove that also sits at the headquarters, but it plays a definite second fiddle to the Magliner.
“Nothing has gotten as much attention as the hand truck,” Schary said.
– Yasmeen Al-Shawwa
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, CLICK HERE.
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We are posting this news a bit late (as the event was held beginning of April), but it took our team quite some time to recover. Simply look at the picture below to know what we’re talking about! :-)
Poken recently had the privilege of attending the invitation only Summit at Sea gathering of leading edge entrepreneurs, innovators, artists and philanthropists. Over 1,200 of a new generation of leaders sailed off to a private island to connect, explore ideas, and create new partnerships and friendships.
Because Poken is acknowledged as the new breakthrough technology to streamline and encourage Social Networking, we were selected as the tool to connect all of the attendees of this incredible gathering.
Who said you can’t make great collaborations happen while having fun ?
Hi-Four from the Hi-Seas!
Poken has recently participated in two major conferences: WIMA, in Monaco, and APPNATION, in San Francisco. We demoed our new exciting products and announced the upcoming launch of the new Poken website.
APPNATION is a global conference focused on the consumer applications marketplace. The event covers social and mobile apps for all devices and platforms, including social media, smartphones, tablets etc. We showcased our new NFC enabled pokenPULSE, the Poken App and pokenTAGS. Watch the demo on the video !
Poken also made a great impact at WIMA, the leading global Conference & Exhibition exclusively dedicated to NFC technology. Our team created real life scenarios to demonstrate the capabilities of the pokenTAGS and the Poken App on phones that have NFC technology built-in.
This enabled our booth visitors to collect of our team’s social business cards, information about the best restaurants in town and details about the famous Monaco Grand Prix. Check it out!
Nokia needs no introduction – it has been and still is the world’s leader within the mobile phone industry. They represent the peak of the mobile technology iceberg, and everything you hear as being the latest in the industry most likely comes from them. NFC, although relatively new, is therefore no stranger to Nokia.
For that reason, we’ve developed a Poken application that comes pre-installed in the Nokia C7 phone, that allow users to collect not only people, but also places and things using NFC technology.
Basically, with a simple touch of the Nokia C7 to another NFC Poken device, you can collect tonnes of information and decide later what you want to keep.
The Poken Mobile Application has been developed by the Poken Team, and will be preinstalled in each C7 phones by June 2011. Considering the reception we received at WIMA in mid April, the partnership with Nokia turned out to be a truly smart move in the mobile industry.
So stay tuned and check out how all the magic happened!
Great atmosphere at Poken Lausannne right as we speak. Poken partners from all around the world are gathering in Lausanne to attend the 2nd Annual Poken Reseller Summit. The Summit comes as a result of the success of last years event where the Poken partners contributed towards the product roadmap.
The goal of the Summit is to keep our resellers updated with the latest Poken features and improvements and also to establish and strengthen the company’s vision and mission worldwide.
The Summit started early in the morning and will last 2 days. So far, the reaction of the resellers has been beyond expectation, where the proactive and constructive questions and feedback just hasn’t stopped!
This feedback is giving us insights into the global market, local client requests and the feedback of our end users, bringing us closer to them. Also, by understanding where the interest of our users lies, we can adapt and enhance our products so that they will better fit and support the existing market.
High Four to this amazing reseller team !
Today, we are announcing our collaboration with NXP Semiconductors, the leading semiconductor company in NFC and smart card technologies! At WIMA, both companies will showcase the first joint prototype of a low-power full-featured NFC product, combining an NXP NFC core and Poken’s ultra low-power 32-bit microprocessor.
Poken’s NFC-based platform will allow users to quickly collect people, places and things – with a simple touch !
We believe that this close collaboration with NXP will accelerate the integration of the smart card and NFC worlds within social media, allowing for clever new features!
We are thrilled to partner with such a visionary company !
To read more about this announcement, please check out our press center !
The NFC world is moving fast! As recently announced, Poken has officially joined the non-profit NFC forum, together with a number of other industry leaders including Google, Daimler and Hitachi. This commitment to NFC as a next generation technology by key players confirms that we’ll be using NFC devices in the next few months.
Poken has joined the NFC forum as ‘implementation partner’, meaning our research and development teams are already commercialising NFC-based technologies to a range of devices including new generation phones and the new Poken tag technology.
Check out well-known names joining the forum : http://www.nearfieldcommunicationsworld.com/2011/03/31/36793/google-joins-the-nfc-forum/
The mission of the NFC Forum is to promote and to encourage the development of products using NFC as well as educate consumers and enterprises on this emerging technology. It currently counts more than 140 members sharing their development, application, and marketing expertise to develop the best possible solutions for advancing the use of NFC.
In addition, Poken will be launching the world’s first end-to-end NFC compliant platform for social networking at WIMA, the 5th Global NFC Applications Products and Services Congress this month in Monaco.
Stay tuned and you’ll know more about this great show very soon !
High Four !
Check out this great article on Poken published early March in the well-known United and Continental airlines onboard Magazine called Hemispheres !
With an affluent world readership of some 12 million readers per month, it is a big achievement for Poken to be mentioned with such enthusiasm by this high profile magazine.
Click here to learn how “How an adorable new networking device may replace the humble business card”… They said it !
High four !


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In this week’s cannabis news round-up, Vice President Kamala Harris criticizes cannabis classification; Germany passes landmark cannabis legalization bill; and New York governor orders review of adult-use cannabis licensing program.
Vice President Kamala Harris Criticizes Cannabis Classification, Anticipates DEA Decision
US Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the current federal classification of cannabis as “absurd” during a recent White House event, expressing eagerness to await the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) decision on potential reclassification. She emphasized the anticipation surrounding the DEA’s upcoming determination regarding the rescheduling of cannabis, or cannabis with THC levels exceeding 0.3%, within the Controlled Substances Act.
“I’m sure DEA is working as quickly as possible and will continue to do so and we look forward to the product of their work,” Harris said at the start of the discussion, which included Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), along with individuals pardoned for minor cannabis offenses by President Joe Biden and rapper Fat Joe.
This event is the Biden administration’s latest show of highlighting its efforts to reform federal cannabis policies in the lead-up to the presidential election. President Biden referenced his pardoning of federal cannabis offenders and relaxation of federal cannabis regulations during his recent State of the Union address, aligning with the overwhelming support for cannabis legalization among 70% of Americans, especially prominent among younger voters, a key demographic Biden aims to retain support from.
In October 2022, Biden issued two executive orders pardoning individuals convicted of certain nonviolent federal cannabis offenses and directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assess cannabis’s potential reclassification within the federal controlled substances list. Although HHS recommended moving cannabis to a less restrictive category by late 2023, the final decision from the Department of Justice (DOJ) remains pending. Biden’s subsequent expansion of the pardon declaration in December aimed to provide relief to a broader population, estimated by Harris to be in the “tens of thousands.”
Germany Passes Landmark Cannabis Legalization Bill, Implementation Set for April 1
Germany’s Bundesrat has approved a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure, known as CanG, following its prior approval by the Bundestag in February. Despite facing opposition within the Bundesrat, representing the sixteen Länder of Germany, the measure passed without delay and is slated to take effect on April 1.
The decision not to appeal to the Mediation Committee means that Germany’s transition towards a more liberal cannabis policy will proceed as scheduled.
From April 1, 2024, German adults will enjoy the right to cultivate cannabis plants in their homes and possess personal amounts of cannabis. The legislation also permits the establishment of noncommercial cannabis clubs as part of the initial phase of legalization.
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach’s proactive measures, including a protocol declaration to the Bundesrat, were crucial in averting potential delays in the bill’s approval. With the avoidance of referral to a mediation committee, which could have postponed implementation by up to six months, Germany remains on course for legalization on Easter Monday. Lauterbach welcomed the development in a social media post.
“The fight was worth it, legalization of cannabis is coming on Easter Monday!” Lauterbach said. “Please use the new opportunity responsibly and help protect children and young people. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the black market today.”
New York Governor Orders Review of Adult-Use Cannabis Licensing Program
In response to the challenges faced by New York’s adult-use cannabis licensing program, Governor Kathy Hochul has initiated a comprehensive evaluation to address issues that have hindered the legal market and allowed illicit sellers to thrive. The review aims to streamline license processing times, facilitate faster business openings and thoroughly assess the Office of Cannabis Management’s organizational structure and processes.
Gov. Hochul has openly acknowledged the shortcomings of the state’s cannabis rollout, labeling it a “disaster.” Despite the legalization law’s provisions to prioritize nonprofits and individuals with prior cannabis convictions for retail licenses, only a modest number of legal shops—a little more than 80—have opened since sales commenced in late 2022. Furthermore, the establishment of a $200 million social equity fund aimed at supporting applicants from communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs has not fully addressed the challenges faced by aspiring entrepreneurs.
The proliferation of unlicensed storefronts across New York, particularly in New York City, has exacerbated the situation. Gov. Hochul recently called for online platforms such as Google and Yelp to stop listing these illegal operations.
The decision to evaluate the program follows the suspension of a high-ranking official at the cannabis agency amid allegations of selective enforcement against a cannabis processor. As part of the review, Commissioner Jeanette Moy from the state’s Office of General Services, alongside other government officials, will be embedded within the cannabis management agency for a minimum of 30 days. Their objective is to devise strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and establishing performance benchmarks for future progress.
“We have built a cannabis market based on equity and there is a lot to be proud of,” said Chris Alexander, executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management. “At the same time, there is more we can do to improve OCM’s operations and we know Commissioner Moy, a proven leader in government, will help us get where we need to be.”
Meanwhile, the Office of Cannabis Management has been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of license applications, with just 32 personnel tasked with reviewing approximately 7,000 applications received since last fall.


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A bakery in Canada is giving away solidarity bread to people in need
Like the rest of Canada, a pair of bakers in Squamish, B.C. are making tons of sourdough bread during the pandemic — but they're also giving it away to people in need through their community initiative Solidarity Bread.
Bakers Raoul Tillieux and Michal Marcis launched the sourdough bread delivery service to help Canadians get access to quality food during the pandemic.
"Due to the pandemic, many people face loss of income and, with that, an increase in food insecurity," their website says. "We want to support them."
With every order, Solidarity Bread gifts a loaf of fresh sourdough bread to the Squamish Food Bank or the Helping Hands Society.
Operating out of Howe Sound Brewing, the pair make around 180 sourdough loaves each week, with flavours ranging from white sesame to roasted garlic.
For Marcis, baking sourdough bread is particularly meaningful.
"I'm from Slovakia, where every visitor is welcomed by sourdough bread and a pinch of salt," Marcis told filmmaker Ben Grayzel. "It gives a big meaning to me. The bread is symbolism of warmth, and also of life."
Marcis says that there is a "much higher demand" for food at the Squamish Food Bank since the beginning of the crisis, with demand doubling or even tripling.
"There are some people who can afford to pay for the extra loaf, and there are some who can't afford to get any," he says. "We want to give a tool to people to show their solidarity."
Join the conversation Load comments


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Paccar had seen its profits surge in recent quarters on sharply higher truck sales revenue in the U.S. and Canada, as well as growth at its financial-services unit. However in July, the company predicted its truck orders for the year could be hurt by weak U.S. economic growth and uncertainty in Europe.
Paccar is also a major buyer of engines from Cummins Inc. (CMI), which earlier this month again lowered its guidance for the year and unveiled plans to cut up to 1,500 employees, citing global economic uncertainty.
Chief Executive Mark Pigott said results for the quarter "reflect lower industry truck orders in North America and Europe due to the uneven global economy."
Sales were down 15% in the U.S. and Canada and dropped 21% in Europe.
For the quarter, Paccar reported a profit of $233.6 million, or 66 cents a share, versus $281.6 million, or 77 cents a share, a year earlier. Truck and other sales fell 11% to $3.55 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently forecast earnings of 65 cents on sales of $3.57 billion.
Revenue at the company's financial services business rose 3.6% to $273.5 million, while income climbed 30% to $80.4 million.
Shares closed at $39.57 Wednesday and were inactive in recent premarket trading. The stock is up 5.6% so far this year.
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


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If you want to own a piece of NASCAR history, or maybe you’re just a big fan (who isn’t) of Busch beer, then we’ve got something for you.
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of Busch’s presence at Daytona and the brand is celebrating its racing roots with this beautiful, limited-edition a crisp, collectible can of Busch beer, made entirely from Kevin Harvick’s #4 race car.
“Busch Beer officials brought the idea to me last year and I thought it was great way to connect with the fans. These cans are made up of pieces of my car from the 2018 season and I’m excited for the cans to be released. Can’t wait for the fans to see them,” said NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick.
On February 17th, Busch is inviting nearly 10 million Daytona 500 viewers to play a live trivia contest for a chance to win one of the 40 exclusive cans. Here’s what to do:
1. Follow @BuschBeer on Twitter
2. Watch Daytona 500 live
3. Answer trivia questions on Twitter using the hashtags #Car2Can and #BuschContest
4. Stay tuned for the winners
Fans can also win a can via Busch’s charity auction ahead of the contest at Daytona. The first can of the collection will be offered to the highest bidder on February 11th with all proceeds going directly to Keep America Beautiful and be matched dollar-for-dollar by Busch.


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Cheese offers nutritional benefits, less lactose than you might expectThank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
But when people talk about their fondness for cheese, it’s often in a guilty way, like, “Cheese is my weakness.”
“Cheese is packed with nutrients like protein, calcium and phosphorus and can serve a healthy purpose in the diet,” says Lisa Young, assistant professor of nutrition at New York University. Research shows that even full-fat cheese won’t necessarily make you gain weight or give you a heart attack. Cheese does not appear to increase or decrease the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and some studies suggest that it may even be protective.
Good bacteria, lower risks from saturated fat
It’s easy to see why people might feel conflicted about cheese. For years, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines have said that consuming low-fat dairy products is best because full-fat products, such as full-fat cheese, have Saturated fats, which can raise levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, a known risk for heart disease. Cheese has also been blamed for weight gain and digestive problems such as bloating. However, it turns out that the cheese may have been misunderstood.
Yes, they are high in calories: some types have 100 or more calories per ounce. And it’s high in saturated fat. So why is it okay for most people to eat it? “There’s more to cheese than just saturated fat,” says Emma Feeney, assistant professor at University College Dublin’s Institute of Food and Health, who studies the effects of cheese on health.
Old-school thinking about nutrition focused on individual nutrients—such as fat or protein—that promoted or prevented disease. It’s not clear that this is the wrong approach, but nutrition experts are now placing more emphasis on the whole food and how its structure, nutrients, enzymes and other components interact with each other.
When milk is transformed into cheese, the process changes the way the nutrients and other components in it are chemically arranged. This has an effect on how it is absorbed and processed by the body, which can lead to health effects that are different from the effects of eating the same nutrients in another form, such as oil.
In 2018, Feeney directed six weeks clinical trial in which 164 people each ate an equal amount of dairy fat in the form of butter or cheese and then switched parts of the study. “We found that the saturated fat in cheese did not raise LDL cholesterol levels to the same extent as butter,” she says.
Experts have different theories as to why the saturated fat in cheese is less harmful. “Some studies show that the mineral content in cheese, especially calcium, can bind to fatty acids in the gut and flush them out of the body,” says Feeney. Other studies suggest that fatty acids called sphingolipids in cheese may increase the activity of genes that help break down cholesterol in the body.
When cheese is made, it also receives some beneficial compounds. “Vitamin K can form during the fermentation process,” says Sarah Booth, director of the Vitamin K Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Aging Research Center at Tufts University in Boston. The vitamin is important for blood clotting and bone and blood vessel health.
And as a fermented food, “both raw and pasteurized cheeses contain good bacteria that can be beneficial to the intestinal gut microbiota,” says Adam Brock, vice president of food safety, quality and regulatory compliance for Wisconsin Dairy Farmers. This good bacteria, found primarily in aged cheeses like cheddar and gouda, helps break down food, synthesize vitamins, prevent disease-causing bacteria, and boost immunity.
Weight gain, lactose intolerance
Cheese also appears to reduce the risk of weight gain and several chronic diseases.
Weight gain: Cheese is a concentrated source of calories. But studies show you don’t have to skip the cheese to keep the scale steady. In one published in New England Journal of Medicine, researchers set out to determine which foods were associated with weight gain by following 120,877 men and women in the United States for 20 years, looking at their weight every four years. Cheese was not associated with either gain or loss, even for people who increased the amount of cheese they ate during the study.
One of the reasons cheese helps with weight control is that it can suppress appetite more than other dairy products.
Cardiovascular diseases: Big meta-analysis of 15 studies published in the European Journal of Nutrition who looked at the effect of cheese on cardiovascular disease found that people who ate the most (1.5 ounces per day) had a 10% lower risk than those who ate none. Other analyzes have found that cheese does not appear to affect heart disease risk either way.
Diabetes and hypertension: Cheese and full-fat dairy also appear to be associated with a lower risk of both. IN survey of more than 145,000 people in 21 countries, the researchers found that eating two daily servings of full-fat dairy products or a mix of full-fat and low-fat dairy products was associated with a 24 and 11 percent reduced risk of the two conditions, compared to eating none. Eating only low-fat dairy products slightly increases the risk. And among people who didn’t have diabetes or hypertension at the start of the nine-year study, those who ate two servings of dairy each day were less likely to develop the diseases during the study.
Lactose intolerance: Lactose, a sugar in milk, can be difficult for some people to digest, leading to diarrhea, bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms. But the bacteria used to make cheese digest most of the lactose in milk, says Jamie Png of the American Cheese Society. Much of the lactose that remains is found in the whey, which is separated from the curd towards the end of the cheese-making process and drained. If you’re lactose intolerant, stick to hard or aged cheeses like cheddar, provolone, parmesan, blue, camembert, and gouda, and minimize fresh soft cheeses like ricotta and cottage cheese.
Although cheese itself does not appear to have a negative impact on health, how you incorporate it into your overall diet does matter.
In much of the research suggesting a neutral or beneficial effect, the most amount of cheese people ate each day averaged about 1.5 ounces, but in some cases it was as much as 3 ounces. (An ounce of cheese is about the size of your extended thumb.)
Some studies have found that the health benefits of cheese are greatest when it replaces a less healthy food such as red or processed meats. So there’s a big difference between crumbling blue cheese over a salad and serving a double cheese pepperoni pizza. “Incorporating cheese into a Mediterranean-style diet where you also include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other foods known to reduce your risk of disease will be most beneficial for your overall health,” says Young.
For those watching their sodium intake, the cheese can be quite salty. (Salt acts as a preservative.) If you’re eating about an ounce a day, this isn’t much of a concern. Most types give you between 150 and 300 milligrams of sodium per ounce. (The daily value is no more than 2,300 mg.) Eat more, however, and sodium can increase.
The form that cheese takes can also affect how it affects health. “A lot of the research on cheese and health uses unmelted cheese,” says Feeney. “We don’t yet know how melting or cooking affects health outcomes, such as eating cheese on pizza or in cooked dishes like casseroles.”
Copyright 2022, Consumer Reports Inc.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side-by-side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertisements. Read more at ConsumerReports.org.
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What is Facebook...now?
Everyone knows about the origin of Facebook as the social media website born out of a dorm room. We've all seen the movie, read the book and relived Facebook's invention in countless articles on the internet. But, since then, Facebook has expanded its prowess at lightning speed. Facebook is now the owner of WhatsApp & Instagram, the acquirer of virtual reality firm Oculus, and 50 other companies in the fields of travel, internet, file sharing, Mobile Ads, digital publishing, location services, face recognition, speech recognition, the list is long and exhaustive. Facebook is rapidly moving towards becoming one of the largest aggregators of user data in the world.
A research paper titled 'Ethical Implications of Data Aggregation' by Santa Clara University says, " The myriad bits of information collected by Facebook can be used to compile a detailed and penetrating profile of an individual, one that is if anything even more personal. In the hands of a company that professes a philosophy of "radical transparency," this can leave the subject very vulnerable, not just to having personal information exposed but to being discriminated against because of it."
Facebook makes majority of its revenue by selling adspace and targetting advertisements to users whose data it collects and sells to advertisers. How else does an ad from an online ticketing firm appear on your feed just when you are planning a holiday or when you browse a particular product on an ecommerce website, Facebook instigates you to buy it by flooding your homepage with deals and discounts of that very product. Data aggregation and ownership is the biggest, most viable business in the world right now, and that's exaclty what companies like Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, etc are after.
What is Free Basics and why is Facebook being so philanthropic?
Simply put, Free Basics is an app you can download to access some particular websites and online services for free, sans any data cost. Currently, the app will only work with a Reliance Communications connection, but for now the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has asked Reliance Communications to halt the service temporarily. A TRAI source told TOI, "The question has arisen whether a telecom operator should be allowed to have differential pricing for different kinds of content. Unless that question is answered, it will not be appropriate for us to continue to make that happen."
In the past few months, Facebook has been aggressively pushing its agenda for providing free internet to Indians. They have published full page ads in leading English national newspapers, they have hoardings in metropolises like Delhi and Mumbai, they have television ads, they are pushing notifications on our smartphones, they are promoting their "Save Free Basics" campaign through ads on our Facebook feeds and the countless emailers that follow. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg even made the effort to come down to India this year. The company is doing all this to gather as much support as they can till the December 31 deadline of TRAI inviting comments on a consultation paper on net neutrality. TRAI is asking the same question as stated above- Should a telecom operator be allowed to have differential pricing for different kinds of content?
While Facebook is doing all that they can to 'Save Free Basics', a free internet platform for those who remain disconnected, the company's insistent agenda does not seem to include the very people this platform is being built for. Targetting the already internet friendly population, metro citizens and english daily readers, Facebook is calling on people who already are on the internet, instead of those that want to be.
Do we really need Free Basics to increase internet penetration in India?
While Facebook's Free Basics' ad proudly claims statistics like 50% faster adoption of mobile networks, 3.2 million petitions to TRAI in support of Free basics, and an 86% support from Indians for Free Basics, the fact is that we may not need Free Basics at all.
According to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI), the country's internet user base grew 17% just in the first 6 months of 2015. In 2014, the base of Indian internet users clocked its fastest boom of 32% in a year. While internet penetration was slow for 10 years as it took a decade for the base to grow from 10 million to 100 million, the user base rose to 200 million in 3 years post hitting the 100 million mark, and only 1 year to rise to the 300 million mark. The report also says, that going forward, rural India will be the primary driver of internet growth with a whopping 75% participation, while urban India will grow at a rate of 16%.
This shows that not Facebook or Free Basics, but the proliferation of low-cost smartphones and local language content is responsible for the current and future surge in Internet penetration in India. The question is, will a handful of free internet services really transform our digital lives?
What will Free Basics 'not' provide?
According to Facebook's guidelines for developers to register for the Free Basics platform,
"Services should not use VoIP, video, file transfer, or photos larger than 200 KB."
"If websites are found to contain any of the above post-implementation, we will block them until we can confirm that the content has been removed."
So yes, you cannot watch videos through Free Basics, you cannot place video calls, you cannot share files, you cannot view quality images, there'll be no banking or money related transactions as secure content is not supported, and if you are the owner of a website, your content can be removed or blocked. Wasn't the whole point of internet supposed to be freedom? Why the custom user experience?
Fun facts for Facebook:
According to a report by Video on Demand firm Vuclip, 78% Indians prefer video content in local languages. Another report by video tech company Ooyala calims video consumption over mobile phones has spiked by 127% in the last year. So, for a country where people consume on-demand videos the most, is Free Basics literally so basic that it won't give users what they are actually looking for?
Another interesting study by Deloitte states, "Social media and entertainment (Music & Video) are the two activities on which the Indian mobile internet users spend their time the most followed by games, general search, and emails." While Free Basics will definitely provide users the much wanted social media connect, the rest is conveniently forgotten about, or as Zuckerberg said, "It's not sustainable to offer the whole internet for free."
Moreover, Facebook has tied up only with Reliance Communications, a network which according to the recent Mint-instaVaani survey, is the worst telecom service provider in India.
What will Facebook get by propagating Free Basics?
Free Basics will give more power to Facebook that ever. Even though the company says that Facebook on Free Basics will not have any ads, its developer guidelines clearly mentions, "Your name and logo may be included in Free Basics, product screenshots of the service and press releases, but we won’t use your brand in a larger marketing promotion without first asking for your approval."
Now, who wouldn't want "a larger marketing promotion" by Facebook? If you are a business, would you ignore this opportunity? If I tell you that I know the most influential business leaders of the country, wouldn't that automatically increase your trust and reliability on me? If I give you a platform where users can access your content for free and on priority, would you not pay me more to advertise on my associate platforms as well? Not to point out the obvious, but doesn't this seem familiar to a marketing pitch?
Will your Free Basics' data be secure?
Last but certainly not the least, security can also be a big concern when it comes to Free Basics. Facebook's guidelines for developers state that a website's content "passes through Facebook's servers." It goes on to explain, "When people use the Free Basics mobile website, information is temporarily decrypted on our secure servers to ensure proper functionality of the services and to avoid unexpected charges to people. We preserve the privacy of that information while it's decrypted by only storing the domain name of your service and the amount of data being used—the same information that would be visible using end-to-end encryption—as well as cookies that are stored in an encrypted and unreadable format."
If information passes through Facebook's servers and is temporarily decrypted, can it really be safe? If someone willingly hands you a treasure chest, would you only take one gold coin? The statement on security seems quite ambiguous as of now and makes for yet another question Facebook needs to answer.
So there you have it, everything you did or did not know about Free Basics by Facebook. Do let us know what you think of the service and if you are in support or against such a platform in India.


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Mellody, a plant-based product molecularly identical to conventional honey, is now available to consumers through a partnership with New York’s Eleven Madison Home.
Eleven Madison Home is a store offering pantry staples and kitchen essentials, and was born out of Eleven Madison Park — the world’s first three-Michelin-starred vegan restaurant. The honey alternative will be available as part of a new collection called the Tea & Honey Box, which features one jar of Mellody, honey oat shortbread cookies (made with Mellody), a honey dipper, and three single-origin teas from In Pursuit of Tea in the varieties Himalayan Black, Thunderdragon Green, and Elderflower.
“We were blown away by the quality of Mellody and were excited at the possibilities of how we can incorporate it into our kitchen through recipes and products. A plant-based diet can often be seen as limiting. This product and what we’re doing with Eleven Madison Home goes a long way to discredit that notion,” said director of operations Chef Daniel Distefano.
“A vegan’s best friend”
Launched last month by MeliBio, Mellody is said to taste and perform exactly like bee-made honey. It was created to address urgent issues facing both the commercial honey industry and natural ecosystems, as native bees in the US increasingly come under threat from non-native honey bees.
Last November, MeliBio raised $2.2 million and revealed it was planning to launch plant-based honey at 75,000 European stores through a partnership with Narayan Foods.
“A vegan’s best friend in terms of sweetener, Mellody is for everybody who wants to enjoy delicious food, wants to know where their food comes from, and wants to know that there’s an option,” said Darko Mandich, CEO & co-founder of MeliBio.


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Directors of the National Restaurant Association have decided to hold the organization's annual conventions in Chicago for the next five years, Thomas D. Gibbons, assistant secretary of the association, announced today. View Full Article in Timesmachine »