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Recently Snapchat has been at the forefront of product development with many other social media platforms (cough, Facebook) essentially trying to steal their thunder. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen all those ‘stories’ memes.
This month, Snapchat announced that they’re completely overhauling the way that users search for Stories. At present, this feature only allows users to search for other users they interact with most or search for new people to follow. But the new search function will allow users to search for topics and themes acting very much in the same way popular search engines like Google work. This also opens up a very lucrative revenue stream for Snapchat.
This revamp benefits both users and advertisers – users get to search for information that’s relevant to them in a way they are already familiar with and advertisers get a new platform to display content to users who are actively searching for it. Winner, winner chicken dinner.
It’s important to note that Snapchat isn’t putting ads in the search listings… yet. But as the new feature gains traction, it’s likely to have similarities with Google, whereby we see sponsored stories within the search results as a way to monetise the platform.
How will it work
Ironically, Snapchat’s new search feature is somewhat similar to Facebook’s. For example, if you search for “premier league” on Facebook, the results would offer up brands and pages you can like, as well as photos, news, groups, and posts from friends about the premier league.
Whereas on Snapchat, the same search query will result in a list of every story and account relevant to the premier league. In the current climate of this social tug-of-war, this appears to be a move to divert Facebook user’s attention to Snapchat.
The Techy Stuff
This feature differs from the stories found in Snapchat Discover, which are assembled by human editors. The new search results are automated via a machine learning system which will consider the text within Snaps, as well as the time and place they are posted in order to establish whether they are relevant to the user’s search query.
Currently the new feature is only available in some part of America, with no news yet on when the rest of us can expect it. Keep your eyes peeled!


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Serving the scrap metal and recycling needs of northeastern Pennsylvania for more than 85 years, Brenner Recycling offers the region’s premier full-service solution for industrial, residential and personal recycling – including pickup and delivery for industrial clients within 75 miles of Hazleton, PA.
Top Prices for Metal and Paper
We accept and buy a range of materials – from various ferrous and non-ferrous metals to newspaper and cardboard. You can count on us to offer the best market prices with flexible payment options, including cash.
with the partners of
Hazle, Black Creek, Foster, and Sugarloaf Townships
and the Boroughs of West Hazleton, Beaver Meadows, Conyngham, Freeland, and McAdoo
Free Recycling Day
Saturday, May 2, 2015
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
282 South Wyoming Street
Hazleton, PA 18201
Since January of 2013, it has become illegal to dispose of desktop computers, laptop computers, computer monitors, computer peripherals, televisions and any components of such devices with your household garbage.
“We have been in the recycling business since 1925 and now are providing a means for people to properly dispose of their old computers, printers and peripherals and get paid for them at the same time,” said Paul Brenner, president of Brenner Recycling.
People disposing of old computer monitors, however, will have to pay a fee of $20 per monitor since Brenner has to pay to dispose of them properly.
Brenner Recycling is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon.

domain: news


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Marvel fans don’t have to wait any longer for the much-anticipated Black Panther sequel — Black Panther: Wakanda Forever officially hits theaters November 11.
Directed once again by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sees the return of Shuri (Letitia Wright), Nakia (Lupita N’Yongo) and Okoye (Danai Gurira), as well as Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett). The film also features Daniel Kaluuya, Michaela Coel, Dominique Thorne, among others.
The new film opens on the Wakandan kingdom mourning the death of T’Challa, in a loving homage to the death of actor Chadwick Boseman. The remaining warriors, Shuri, and Queen Ramonda are then left to defend their land from mysterious invading forces, and those who seek to take advantage of the nation for their valuable Vibranium resources.
While most Marvel films and shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are now available to stream on Disney+, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever might not hit the platform immediately. Here’s how to stream the Black Panther sequel online, and where to watch and download the original Black Panther right now.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Release Date
Despite the massive success of Marvel films that were made available to stream online on Disney+ same-day, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released exclusively in theaters. Marvel has not yet announced a streaming release date for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, so as of now, the only way to watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in theaters, when it’s released on November 11, 2022.
Marvel’s Movie! Here’s options for downloading or watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever streaming the full movie online for free on 123movies & Reddit,1movies, 9movies, and yes movies, including where to watch the Marvel’s Movie at home. Is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 2022 available to stream? Is watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Disney Plus, HBO Max, Netflix, or Amazon Prime? Yes, we have found an authentic streaming option / service.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is almost here.It’s been four years since the first Black Panther movie and Marvel fans are gearing up for the release of the highly anticipated sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Following the death of King T’Challa, played by the late Chadwick Boseman, this movie follows Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje as they band together to protect Wakanda from intervening world powers.
If you can’t wait to see the next chapter in this saga, here’s everything we know about how, when, and where you can watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever:
When Will Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Be On Streaming?
While a streaming release date has not yet been announced, we can give an educated guess based on previous Walt Disney Studios films. Though there’s no set pattern, many Disney movies will stream close to 45 days after theatrical release, usually on the Friday after (Disney+’s regular day to release new movies. If that’s the case, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could be streaming on Disney+ as early as December 30 — or if the service wants to jump the gun, December 25 as an early Christmas present.
However, Thor: Love and Thunder, which is also a Marvel movie, was released in theaters on July 8 before it came to Disney+ and digital platforms on Sept. 8, timed to Disney+ Day. If Black Panther: Wakanda Forever follows the same
trajectory, we may be able to stream it from the comfort of our homes by mid-January.
Black Panther 2 cast
The following cast members have been confirmed for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
● Letitia Wright as Shuri
● Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia
● Danai Gurira as Okoye
● Winston Duke as M’Baku
● Dominique Thorne as Ironheart/Riri Williams
● Michaela Coel as Aneka
● Tenoch Huerta as Namor
● Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross
● Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda
● Mabel Cadena as Namora
● Alex Livinalli as Attuma
● Isaach de Bankolé as Wakandan River Tribe elder
● Dorothy Steel as Wakandan Merchant Tribe elder
● Danny Sapani as Wakandan Border Tribe elder
Boseman is obviously a huge loss from the cast of any sequel, and it’s now been confirmed he will not be replaced nor will he be featured through use of archive footage or CGI (such as Carrie Fisher in The Rise of Skywalker).
Will Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Be on HBO Max?
Unfortunately, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will not be released onto HBO Max, as it is a Disney movie and not a Warner Bros. film. Traditionally, Warner Bros. movies are usually released onto the streaming service, with Don’t Worry Darling coming to the platform next week.
Is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Streaming on Netflix?
Sadly, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will not be streaming on Netflix and will only be available to stream on Disney+ after its theatrical run.
Is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Available On Hulu?
Viewers are saying that they want to view the new TV show Black Panther 2 on Hulu. Unfortunately, this is not possible since Hulu currently does not offer any of the free episodes of this series streaming at this time. It will be exclusive to the MTV channel, which you get by subscribing to cable or satellite TV services. You will not be able to watch it on Hulu or any other free streaming service.
When Will Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Be on Disney+?
Although Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is not streaming on Disney+ on November 11, chances are it should be there sooner, rather than later. Marvel movies tend to stream on the service anywhere from 45 days later, to a few months later, with streaming dates TBA depending on the movie’s performance. Given this, it’s possible Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could start streaming on Friday, December 30, just in time for New Year’s Eve. Alternately, if Disney wants to release it a little earlier, the movie could hit 44 days later, on December 25 as a Christmas surprise. Or, if the movie is performing extremely well in theaters, as expected, it’s possible the movie could be released for streaming outside of the 45 day window, some time in January, 2023.


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ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL), a leader in real-time digital engagement solutions and services for connected mobile devices, today confirmed that it will release its 2020 third quarter financial results after the market closes on November 11, 2020, and conduct a conference call the same day at 3 p.m. Mountain Time (5 p.m. Eastern Time).
To register for access to a live video webcast of the call, please click the ‘Investors’ tab on the Company’s website at https://www.evolving.com/investors and then click the ‘Q3 earnings call’ icon on the left. A replay of the webcast will be accessible on that website through February 11, 2021.
Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL) is a provider of real-time digital engagement solutions and services to more than 100 customers in over 60 countries worldwide. The Company’s portfolio includes market-leading solutions and services for real-time analytics, customer acquisition, customer value management and loyalty for telecom, retail and financial services companies. Founded in 1985, the Company has its headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, with offices in Asia, Europe, Africa, South America and North America. For more information, please visit www.evolving.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EvolvingSystems.
Investor Relations Contact:


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Samsung has started seeding the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update for the Galaxy S4 in India. The update applies to the Exynos variant of the S4 – GT-I9500 – and is said to contain some UI tweaks, the new heads-up notifications, a rehash of the multitasking menu, and improvements to performance, security, and battery life. Continue reading
Verizon has started rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat update for its variant of the Galaxy S4. So if you’re on Verizon, be on the look-out for an update today for your Samsung Galaxy S4. There’s some KitKat goodness inbound for you.
Two days before we shared a news with you that Android 4.4.3 rolled out to Nexus 5 users on Sprint but now doesn’t look like Nexus 5 will be the only device that will be getting Android 4.4.3 in the coming weeks. Rumors suggests that Google may release Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for several devices like Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One M8, Moto G and others in this month. Continue reading
Samsung has finally started rolling out the Android 4.4 KitKat update though the release is limited to the Galaxy Note 3., but reports have it that the tech giant is testing the most-awaited update from Google for its flagship Galaxy S4. The latest leaked test builds suggest the Android 4.4.2 update is just around the corner for the Galaxy S4.
The AT&T-branded Samsung Galaxy S4 is once again getting its Android 4.3 update as an OTA, only to pull it a couple of days later after a few devices that received the update started facing issues.
This software package updates the Baseband version number to I337UCUEMK2, and includes multiple improvements. Continue reading
According to a Verizon PR rep, their Samsung Galaxy S4 launch has been moved up to May 23. Previously scheduled for May 30, this is exciting news for Big Red customers who were beginning to feel left out of the GS4 party.


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Following its reveal at the Xbox Games Showcase back in June, Atlus shared a new trailer for the upcoming JRPG Metaphor Re:Fantazio at The Game Awards 2023. Along with the trailer, Atlus shared a new official visual for the game and announced its main voice cast members.
In case you missed its reveal, this upcoming game by Atlus is being developed by Studio Zero. Meanwhile, at the helm is Katsura Hashino, the director of Persona 3, 4, and 5,
This new trailer gives fans a better idea of what to expect. Plus, it features designs by acclaimed artists Kazuma Koda and Ikuto Yamashita, and features the voices of the all-star cast.
You can check out the second Metaphor Re:Fantazio trailer here:
Meanwhile, here’s a look at the game’s new key visual featuring designs by Shigenori Soejima, the renowned artist who is best known for his work on the Persona series:
This new visual is also featured on the game’s official website which has been given a big makeover recently.
Metaphor Re:Fantazio Japanes Voice Cast Announced
As for the game’s voice cast, four voice actors have been revealed so far. Anime fans will no doubt be familiar with the cast as these four have all voiced many notable characters in anime movies and shows.
Here are the four main cast members along with the characters that they voice:
Protagonist – Voiced by Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer)
Gallica – Voiced by Sumire Morohoshi (Emma in The Promised Neverland)
Strohl – Voiced by Kensho Ono (Giorno Giovanna in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)
Hulkenberg – Voiced by Saori Hayami (Yor Forger in Spy x Family)
Metaphor Re:Fantazio will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PS4 and Windows PC in Fall 2024.


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The National Mastitis Council (NMC) has released a commemorative book – a collection of the past 50 years of mastitis control, milk quality, NMC history, and personal recollections from members. “Through the years NMC has grown from humble beginnings into an organization of internationally recognized experts in the field of milk quality,” says Sheila Andrew, president of NMC. Click here to view a copy of the commemorative booklet.
“As you read this historical tribute, we hope it reminds you of the great strides in mastitis research, the importance of the original five-point plan and how NMC has been successful in providing current, science-based educational information to generations of dairy producers and their consultants for more than 50 years.”
Special thanks are given to everyone who contributed to this book, including past presidents, members, staff, sponsors and industry publications. PD
—From National Mastitis Council news release
Image courtesy of National Mastitis Council.


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Overall overview of cigarette market
Currently, cigarette sales in most regions of the world continue to decline, but the market performance in the Middle East and Africa is unexpected. The latest data from Euromonitor International shows that tobacco product sales and sales have increased in Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Oman and other countries.
Among these countries, smoking rates continue to rise in low- and middle-income countries. But not all Middle Eastern and African regions are growing cigarette sales. Cigarette sales in Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have maintained a steady or declining trend.
Cigarette consumers in the Middle East and Africa are mainly men, tobacco control measures are relatively weak, and the number of smokers is on the rise. The World Health Organization estimates that the number of smokers in the region is expected to increase from 47 million in 2003 to 103 million in 2025. Six of the 10 countries surveyed by Euromonitor International ban the use of e-cigarettes. Iraq, Israel and Kuwait allow the use of e-cigarettes. The UAE has only recently lifted the e-cigarette ban. Nonetheless, e-cigarette sales are growing in all of these countries.
Hookahs are still popular in the Middle East and Africa, and some areas are known for smoking hookahs. The number of hookah sales in the Middle East and Africa increased from 80,374 tons in 2015 to 84,241 tons in 2018, and is expected to reach 87,105 tons in 2020.Sales increased from US $ 2.67 billion in 2017 to US $ 3.03 billion in 2018, and is expected to be in 2020 It will reach $ 3.63 billion.
Despite the popularity of hookahs, cigarettes dominate. According to data provided by Euromonitor International, cigarette sales in the region increased from 469.46 billion sticks in 2017 to 473.67 billion sticks in 2018 and are expected to climb to 480.56 billion sticks in 2020. Cigarette sales are also growing rapidly. Cigarette sales in 2015 It was US $ 28.49 billion in 2017, US $ 34.54 billion in 2017, and US $ 37.4 billion in 2018. By 2020, this number may reach US $ 44.02 billion.
As taxes and prices increase across the region, more and more consumers are turning to cheaper hand-rolled cigarettes. Sales of hand-rolled cigarettes in the region increased from $ 256.5 million in 2017 to $ 271.5 million in 2018. According to Euromonitor International's estimates, by 2020, hand-rolled cigarette sales in the region will reach $ 279.9 million.
E-cigarettes are widely banned in the region, but it still has a certain consumer group. Euromonitor International predicts that by 2020, sales of e-cigarettes and other products in the region will reach $ 1.27 billion, up from $ 973 million in 2018.
Some tobacco companies believe that low-risk tobacco products have great potential for development in the region. After the UAE lifted the ban in April this year, British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International announced that they would launch e-cigarettes in the UAE, and Philip Morris International also plans to launch iQOS in Egypt.
Egypt: cigarette consumption increases
In 2018, the Egyptian market consumed 96.25 billion cigarettes, almost four times that of Iraq, the second largest cigarette market in the Middle East and Africa. Cigarette sales rose from US $ 4.7 billion in 2017 to US $ 5.13 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach 2020 It will grow to $ 6.77 billion annually.
Egypt Oriental Tobacco produces 72% of the cigarette market in Egypt, most of which are low-end brands and some are mid-end brands. As the only official tobacco producer in Egypt, in recent years, Egypt Eastern Tobacco has benefited from multiple price increases and tax increases.
Egypt is also the region's largest pipe tobacco consumer market. The country's pipe tobacco sales in 2017 were 34,405 tons, which increased to 35,128 tons in 2018, and is expected to reach 36,583 tons by 2020.
Because of the rapid population growth, smoking rates in Egypt have remained high. In 2019, a survey conducted by the country in cooperation with the World Health Organization revealed that 22.8% of Egyptians consume tobacco in multiple ways.
In recent years, Egyptian consumers have had to pay more for cigarettes due to increased taxes and a shortage of foreign exchange. Banning tobacco cultivation in Egypt means that tobacco leaves must be imported, which makes the cost of cigarette production even more expensive. According to reports, in July 2018, the price of all types of cigarettes in Egypt rose by at least 1.5 Egyptian pounds (1 Egyptian pound is about 0.43 yuan).
According to a document issued by the Egyptian finance department, as of June this year, the Egyptian government's tax target for tobacco is about 58.5 billion Egyptian pounds. In January, the country's parliament passed an amendment that places that provide food or drinks to the public can only sell hookahs after obtaining a permit. It is reported that 81% of hookah consumers will spend 10% of their income on hookah consumption. In addition, most Egyptians who frequent restaurants and cafes smoke hookah, and many restaurants and cafes derive most of their income from hookah consumption.
Egypt has become a party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control since May 2005. The country implements a smoking ban in public places. Restaurants, hospitals, schools, government offices and other places explicitly prohibit smoking; prohibits various forms of tobacco advertising and promotion; prohibits the use of terms such as 'low tar', but allows the use of colors that indicate tar levels , Numbers and symbols.
Saudi Arabia: Hookah market develops well
2017Since 2017, cigarette sales in the Saudi market have been declining: in 2016, sales were 31.37 billion, and in 2018 sales were down to 22.7 billion, and this downward trend continues. The reason is that in June 2017, the country's cigarette excise tax doubled. Despite the decline in sales, cigarette sales in the country have continued to rise, increasing from US $ 4.4 billion in 2017 to US $ 5.09 billion in 2018 and reaching US $ 5.24 billion in 2020.
The country's huge hookah market is remarkable: in 2018, sales of hookah tobacco were 24,458 tons, an increase of 450 tons from 2017, and it is expected to increase to 25,300 tons next year.
Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that acceded to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control earlier, and formally adopted it in 2005. Since 2010, the government has introduced strict tobacco control laws, including a ban on smoking in educational settings, religious places and manufacturing facilities. As part of the tobacco control plan, at the end of 2017, Saudi Arabia implemented a new law prohibiting smoking in private cars, and violators will face fines of up to 5000 Saudi Riyals (1 Saudi Riyal).
5In May of this year, Saudi Arabia emulated Egypt and passed a new rule requiring cafes and restaurants that provide hookahs and other tobacco products to be licensed.
9In September 2018, Saudi Arabia proposed to promote plain packaging for tobacco products. If implemented, Saudi Arabia will be the first country in the Middle East to implement plain packaging for tobacco products.


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American tech giant Apple will reportedly release three new smartphones in the autumn, including the largest iPhone it has ever released.
According to Bloomberg tech pundit Mark Gurman, the firm is prepping an XL iPhone, a model that is the same size as the iPhone X and a more affordable offering.
Each handset will take design ques and features from the current iPhone X. Gurman said Apple wants to appeal to a wider range of consumers, including people who want a cheaper option.
Sources familiar with the situation told Gurman that Apple is currently testing the devices with suppliers, but it will announce them later this year.
Apple wants to turn its fortunes around following a year of disappointing iPhone X sales and the battery throttling debacle. The firm will offer a handset for everyone, said Gurman.
The larger handset will feature a 6.5-inch, 1242x2688 screen - making it Apple's biggest ever iPhone. It will also be of the largest mainstream smartphones, in general.
Gurman said the handset will be aimed predominantly at business users due to its size. "While the body of the phone will be about the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, the screen will be about an inch larger thanks to the edge-to-edge design used in the iPhone X," he wrote.
He expects to see split-screen modes and apps. But an iphone of this size affect iPad sales, argued Gurman. The Apple expert said it is "a category that recently started growing again.
The tech firm will also unveil an upgrade to the iPhone X. Along with the larger model, the phone will sport an A12 processor and stainless steel edges.
Last year, Apple abandoned plans to announce a gold version of the iPhone X following production issues. But in 2018, this could change.
"Apple is considering a gold color option for the update to the iPhone X and the larger model," said Gurman.
"The gold option is especially appealing to consumers in Asia and may help boost sales in the region."
To cater for more international markets, the larger model could come with a dual-SIM card. "That would let people use their phones in countries with different carrier plans without having to swap out cards," said Gurman.
Finally, the cheaper iPhone will sport an edge-to-edge display, just like the iPhone X - but it will use LCD technology to keep production costs low. It could come with Face ID too, although there is no word on pricing.
Cotton seedling freezes to death as Chang'e-4 shuts down for the Moon's 14-day lunar night
Fortnite easily out-earns PUBG, Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018
Meteor showers as a service will be visible for about 100 kilometres in all directions
Saturn's rings only formed in the past 100 million years, suggests analysis of Cassini space probe data
New findings contradict conventional belief that Saturn's rings were formed along with the planet about 4.5 billion years ago


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Health/Food Posts Tagged as 'Chemicals'
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Alcohol tainted with methanol suspected of killing at least 19 people in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has issued a national alert about tainted alcohol after 19 people were confirmed to have died over the past few weeks from methanol poisoning. The government says several alcohol brands have been tainted with methanol, a poisonous alcohol found in solvents and antifreeze.
Since early June, 14 men and five women across Costa Rica have died from methanol poisoning, according to the Ministry of Health. They ranged in age from 32 to 72. Seven of the deaths were in the San Jose province, which includes San Jose, the most populous city in Costa Rica.
The Ministry of Health said information on the deaths is "preliminary" and an investigation is ongoing.
Nearly 90 Hummus Products Are Being Recalled Over Listeria Concerns—Here’s What You Should Know
Hummus manufacturing giant Pita Pal Foods, LP just issued a voluntary recall of 87 types of hummus products over concerns of listeria contamination, reports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The products were flagged as potentially dangerous during an FDA inspection at the company’s Houston, Texas-based manufacturing facility. They were distributed nationwide in the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
Hummus brands affected include Lantana, Fresh Thyme, Harris Teeter, and 7-Select, but we’ve included the full list below. The majority of the products being recalled have “best by" dates between July 21, 2019 and August 30, 2019, but a few have them from November or December 2019.
Parents eye water supply after 7 cancer cases...
Now Fruit Juice Is Linked to a Higher Cancer Risk
Drinking soda doesn’t just threaten to make us fat, it could be linked to a higher risk of cancer, judging from a new study. But here’s the more surprising part: so could fruit juices.
Increased daily consumption of about 3.4 ounces of soda -- roughly a third of a can of Coke -- was associated with an 18% greater risk of some cancers in a study published in the British Medical Journal. The likelihood of breast tumors alone rose even more, by 22%. When people drank the same amount of unsweetened fruit juice, they were also more likely to develop cancer, the researchers found.
The research, part of a broader effort carried out in France to investigate links between nutrition and health, is one of the first to find a connection between sweet drinks and cancer. The findings may also taint the image of fruit juices, which are often perceived -- and promoted -- as healthy.
THIS GENIUS LEMON JUICE HACK WILL KEEP YOUR WHITE JEANS PRISTINE ALL SUMMER LONG
White jeans are inarguably the chicest part of any casual summer look. During a time of the year where khakis run rampant and flip flops finally see the light of day, they’re one of the few warm-weather items that truly elevate your look. But as much as I love them, I find it so odd that the one time of year we’re allowed to wear white jeans is also the time of year when we’re our sweatiest and come in contact with the most dirt. How the heck are you supposed to keep white jeans bright white when you’re not really supposed to even wash your jeans?
To get the job done right, we’ll have to enlist the holy trinity of laundry: distilled water, vinegar, and baking soda.
“Baking and white vinegar are natural cleansers and distilled water is super important as, unlike tap water, it has no minerals and won’t leave behind mineral residue as it dries,” says Maeve Richmond, founder of home organizational company Maeve’s Method. “The baking soda and white vinegar are working together to create a powerful natural stain remover solution.”
Well and Good
This is why America's travel business is worried
Foreign travelers to the United States bring billions of dollars into the economy each year. But that flow of people and money now appears to be at risk.
Last year set a record for tourism: 78.6 million foreign travelers came to the United States in 2018. But following that banner year, tourism is now in a slump. Travel in early 2019 is in decline, particularly from Canada, Mexico, China and South Korea. That slowdown started taking place in the second half of last year.
The travel industry is worried about how severe, and long lasting, that decline could be.
Tourism is a serious economic driver for the American economy. The United States enjoyed a $69 billion surplus on international travel last year, reducing the country's overall trade deficit by 11%, according to Tori Barnes, executive vice president of the US Travel Association, the industry trade group. On average,foreign travelers spend $4,000 each on visits to the United States. Chinese tourists spend about $7,000.
"It's a really significant economic impact," said Barnes.
Companies that rely on foreign tourism are starting to feel the decline in travel: For example, Tiffany's reported disappointing sales this week, in part because of a drop in purchases by foreign tourists at its US stores.
American Airlines responds to rapper Boosie's profane rant after missing flight
Another tourist dies in Dominican Republic
Kids and teens are experiencing such severe side effects from weight loss and sexual function pills, they're ending up in the hospital
Supplements send an estimated 23,000 people to the hospital each year in the United States, and a new study suggests children and young adults comprise a significant number of these visits. Even more alarming, supplements for weight loss, muscle gain, and sexual function were some of the biggest culprits for adolescent supplement-related hospitalizations, according to a new retrospective study in Journal of Adolescent Health.
Researchers looked at adverse event reports in a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) database that were filed between January 2005 and April 2005 and found 1,392 adverse event reports related to supplement use in young people (from babies to 25 year-olds).
The researchers zeroed in on 977 reports where a single supplement was deemed responsible for causing a person's hospital visit.
Burger King Apologizes After Employee Caught on Camera Using Floor Mop to Clean Tables at North Florida Restaurant
A fast food restaurant is apologizing after an employee at a North Florida location was caught on camera using a floor mop to clean the top of tables.
The video, shot at a Burger King located in the Jacksonville area, shows the employee using the mop on the table before going back to using it on the floor.
NBC affiliate WBBH-TV reports the company released a statement apologizing for the actions of the employee, calling it “unacceptable” but did not say if that worker had been disciplined.
Investigators find 'serious hygiene issues' at US chlorinated chicken plant that could send meat to UK under free trade deal after Brexit
Serious health and safety issues have been revealed in American chicken plants that want to send meat to Britain following Brexit.
Donald Trump's administration insists that Britain would be expected to open its shops to American food, including 'chlorinated chicken', as part of a free trade deal.
The US government, farmers and processors insist their chicken is perfectly safe.
However, an undercover investigation at a US processing plant operated by America's biggest poultry producer, Tyson Foods, has revealed a series of hygiene issues.
Parents are poisoning their autistic children with bleach. The alarming trend is promoted online as a 'miracle cure.'
Some parents are poisoning their children with chlorine dioxide to heal autism, according to an NBC News investigation.
The alarming so-called treatment is being promoted online by proponents who claim it's a "miracle cure."
Chlorine dioxide can cause irreparable bodily harm, doctors warn. It damages the digestive system and wreaks havoc on red blood cells.
"It can lead to kidney damage and kidney failure," Dr. Daniel Brooks, medical director at Banner University Medical Center's Poison and Drug Information Center and Outpatient Toxicology Clinic in Phoenix, told NBC News.
Brooks described the use of the chemical as a treatment for autism as "ludicrous."
Tyson Recalls Nearly 12 Million Pounds of Chicken Strips That May Contain Metal
11.8 million pounds of frozen, ready to eat chicken strips have been recalled by Tyson Foods after several customers complained that their chicken contained fragments of metal. This marks the expansion of an on-going investigation which began in March with the recall of more than 69,000 pounds, prompted by two complaints that the food contained "extraneous material."
The U.S. Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued an official statement which provides detail on the original complaints and updated recall: "The problem was discovered when FSIS received two consumer complaints of extraneous material in the chicken strip products. FSIS is now aware of six complaints during this time frame involving similar pieces of metal with three alleging oral injury. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider."
Campbell’s soup changed tomatoes’ DNA and opened up a can of mystery
Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies recalled due to "unexpected solidified ingredient"
Packages of Chewy Chips Ahoy! cookies sold at Walmart and other retailers nationwide are being recalled because they many contain an "unexpected solidified ingredient." Nabisco parent Mondelez Global issued the recall Tuesday after receiving reports of "potential adverse health effects," it said in its recall notice.
A company spokesperson said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch that cornstarch used to make the cookies sometimes did not properly mix and then solidified in the baking process.
"The vast majority of consumers have not reported adverse events with respect to the product in the four code dates recalled," the Mondelez spokesperson stated. "However, a small number of consumers have reported gagging, choking or dental injury, but none of these reports have been confirmed at this time."
Kale is now one of the most pesticide-contaminated vegetables
Often touted for being highly nutritious, kale has joined the list of 11 other fruits and vegetables known to be "dirty," according to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group.
The watchdog group publishes its "Dirty Dozen" list annually, in which it ranks the 12 produce items that contain the highest amount of pesticide residues. The group analyzes data from the Department of Agriculture's regular produce testing to determine the list.
Texas company recalls contaminated water, unapproved herbs, then shuts down
A second-generation family-run business operating out of Dimmitt, Texas, is no more. McDaniel Life-Line is closing up shop after issuing two recalls within a month for products found by federal regulators to be contaminated with a potentially dangerous bacteria or skin-burning ingredients that could potentially disfigure users.
All Life-Line Water, sold online to consumers in the U.S. and Canada, is being recalled after analysis by the Food and Drug Administration found the product to be tainted with pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that can cause blood infections in those with weakened immune systems, leading to serious illness or death.
Heavy metals found in 45 fruit juices: report...
Nectarines, peaches, plums recalled over possible listeria contamination
Thousands of pieces of fruit have been recalled in 18 states because they may be contaminated with the harmful bacteria listeria, the Food and Drug Administration announced. New York-based Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. issued the recall for some of its nectarines, peaches and plums.
The company found listeria monocytogenes on some finished products through routine sampling, the FDA said. No illnesses have been reported.
The bacteria "can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems," the FDA said in its announcement. A listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women, according to the agency.


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Toyota, Thailand’s largest auto-maker, says it expects the Thai auto market to grow by 9 per cent to 600,000 units this year.Toyota Motor Thailand president Kyoichi Tanada said passenger-car sales would reach 251,000 units while commercial-vehicle sales would reach 349,000 units, of which 272,000 units would be pure pickups.
Speaking at the company’s annual press conference, Tanada said there were several factors that would enable growth in 2010. In 2009, the total automobile market suffered a 28-per-cent plunge in the first half of the year, but there was a rebound in the second-half and the year ended with sales of 548,871 units, dropping by 10.8 per cent year on year.
The fall in the passenger-car market was limited to just 1.4 per cent, to 230,037 units, thanks to increased popularity of small and fuel-efficient models. The market for commercial vehicles declined by 17.9 per cent in 2009 to 318,834 units. Of these, 240,887 were pure pickup models, representing a fall of 20.4 per cent in this segment.
Toyota plans to sell a total of 257,000 vehicles in Thailand this year, up 11.5 per cent compared to 2009, and hopes to maintain the 42.8-per-cent market share it held in 2009, with sales of 111,000 passenger cars and 146,000 commercial vehicles, including 114,500 pure pickups.Tanada said he was convinced that Toyota would be able to hold on to leadership in all three major domestic markets this year.
Thai Government Launches “Factory Sandbox” Scheme to Protect 3 Million Jobs
The plan will focus on plants which employ at least 500 people and will build confidence among both Thai and foreign investors at a time when supply chains in rival countries are shutting down.
BANGKOK (NNT) – Thailand’s government has launched a pilot “Factory Sandbox” program to test, vaccinate and isolate factory workers, with the aim of limiting COVID-related disruptions to Thailand’s important export-driven manufacturing sector.(more…)
The environmental case for remote working
Anyone searching for a silver lining to the pandemic should look to the clear, blue skies above them. A reduction in pollution worldwide has been an unintended benefit of the lockdowns and stay-in-place orders imposed to control the spread of COVID-19.
Can border reopening revive tourism in South-East Asia?
In Thailand, where pre-pandemic tourism accounted for 11-12% of GDP, the country lost an estimated $50bn last year as Covid-19...
Thailand dropped from UK’s tough covid-19 travel ‘red list’
Earlier, Thailand was listed among countries with high infection levels that were put on a ‘red list’, requiring arrivals to...
The ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Cooperation Work Program
ASEAN and Russia recently agreed to enhance and widen economic cooperation at the 10th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM)-Russia Consultations held...
Flexible Workspace Startup Worklounge Debuts with 20+ Luxury Member Lounges in Thailand
Worklounge launches a premium membership granting remote professionals and executives access to exclusive hotel lounges across Thailand. Their platform is...
5 insights to guide ASEAN’s digital generation in a post-pandemic world
We surveyed 86,000 people from six ASEAN countries about their views for a post-pandemic world. The ASEAN Digital Generation Report...


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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is planning to invest $ 28 billion in cloud services infrastructure in 3 years term. Such large-scale investments are caused by sharply increased demand in connection with the epidemic of coronavirus, notes NIX Solutions.
In a statement, the company noted that funds will be invested in the development of semiconductors, the creation of operating systems, as well as in the construction of data centers.
At a time when most Chinese office workers worked from home, the company had to cope with the multiply increased load on services. The greatest growth was observed in the use of the DingTalk service, which is intended for video conferences. The increased number of users and workloads have led to delays and disconnections several times.
Jeff Jang, president of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, stated that the COVID-19 epidemic “led to an increased burden on the economy in various sectors,” and that “the company will try to accelerate the restoration of business processes.”
Cloud services are one of Alibaba Group’s fastest-growing and most popular services. Alibaba Cloud Intelligence reported revenue growth of 62% in the fourth quarter of 2020, to 10.7 billion yuan. The Chinese Internet giant owns more than 46.4% of the cloud computing market, reports Reuters.


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Festival and mobile bar specialist Arribar will bring brand partners to the Henley Royal Regatta.
Arribar will provide the bar and hospitality enclosure for Upper Thames Rowing Club during Henley Royal Regatta, 1-5 July.
The company will be working with Running Horse Pub, owned by the Chase Vodka brand, and will create both VIP and public areas on the 200 metre stretch of river frontage.
Arribar has signed up a number of brands over recent months as part of its brand activation and awareness offering, including the Meantime Brewing Company and Harry Brompton alcoholic iced tea; their products will be on offer from the enclosure bars alongside Chase Vodka and champagne sponsor Perrier-Jouët.
Arribar general manager Tom Curtis said: “We operate bars and hospitality areas at some of the biggest and best events in the summer season and we are delighted to add the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta to our schedule. We can offer new and upcoming brands exposure to a huge audience and while that’s great for the brands, customers enjoy having something new and different to try, and it adds appeal for the venue.”


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Failed delivery spam and other naughty things to watch out for this holiday season
‘Tis also the season for failed delivery spam.
Cyber Monday online sales set a new sales record this year, as it does most years. A total of $7.9 billion was spent on that one day in the U.S. alone. That’s up 19.3 percent from the previous year. Add in Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday and $15 billion were spent through ecommerce in just three days.
So, at this point, who isn’t expecting something to be shipped to their homes in the next few weeks, whether it’s an item you bought or a gift from a loved one?
That’s where failed delivery spam comes in
If you were to see an email notice like this from international shipper DHL in your email inbox with information about an upcoming delivery, would you be surprised? Would you hesitate to click on the weblink in the email’s body?
How this Apple purchase notification? If you got it, might you click on the “See Details” link? Why not?
This spam-to-infection path is a pretty simple formula that works well. And it has increasingly become the vector of choice for online criminals, as other methods like exploit kits have waned.
Spam on the rise and perfect for the holiday season
F-Secure’s research finds that spam is the most common method for cyber criminals to spread malware in 2018. Roughly 69 percent of spam emails attempt to trick users into visiting a malicious URL. Malicious attachments were used in the remaining 31 percent of spam. And these tactics become even more effective as the holidays near and pressure to find the perfect gift for everyone, including yourself, rises.
“The kind of spam that criminals use doesn’t seem so spammy to a lot of people this time of year- More people are just more open to the commercial messages spammers like to spoof, which makes individuals more vulnerable at home and at work,” says F-Secure Behavioral Science Lead Adam Sheehan. “Tests we performed using simulated Black Friday and Cyber Monday phishing emails saw about 39 percent more people click than similar tactics we use at other times during the year, which isn’t a trend we like to see.”
The failed delivery notification scam works because it plays on our trust of huge brands that we deal with on a nearly constant basis. And it amplifies a fear we all have—the fear of missing out. And as the holidays approach, we may be missing something that has increased significance because it’s meant for someone we care about or it could be from someone we care about. Online criminals are also behavioral scientists in their own right. They know we’re inclined to click first before we ask questions because we like to nurture our own fantasies about the gifts we might receive while also refraining from questioning others to keep from spoiling a surprise.
So what should you do about the rise of spam?
Practice cyber security basics, of course. Keep your system updated and run security software at all times. And train yourself to not click on links in emails—especially emails related to shipping.
There is some good news for this holiday season. Spam is far less likely to infect you with ransomware this year than in the last several. Malware that holds your files hostage for payment is in decline now as it has been for all of 2018. But letting crooks utilize your PC power for virtual currency mining or to make your computer a part of an ad fraud botnet is still a problem. And these are problems you’ll be able to avoid if you can practice just a bit of cyber hygiene.
Happy spam-free holidays!


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- Despite reported positive patient and primary care provider relationships, patients still experience barriers accessing care but see the upsides of urgent and retail care clinic offerings, according to a survey from Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The survey of 1,700 adult patients found that 59 percent of patients think their primary care provider cares about them on a personal level and 49 percent believe their PCP knows them personally, highlighting perceived positive relationships with their providers.
The data showed that patients know their PCPs in return, with 75 percent of patients saying they know their provider by name.
That’s more than patients can say for their urgent care and retail clinic providers. Only 15 percent of patients said they know the name of the clinician who most recently treated the patient in a retail clinic. Twelve percent of patients could say the same about their latest urgent care clinic provider, and 8 percent for their most recent free clinic provider.
Although patients reported positive and more personal relationships with their primary care providers, they are also seeing the benefits of accessing retail or urgent care. Sixty-one percent of patients said they were willing to visit an urgent care clinic instead of the primary care clinic even when their needs were non-urgent.
Forty-one percent of patients said they would opt for urgent care when appointment scheduling at the PCP proved to be a hassle.
Thirty-four percent of respondents said urgent care is preferable when their PCP is not available when needed, and 30 percent opt for urgent care when the PCP office is not conveniently located. Twenty-eight percent of patients said they visit urgent care when there are unreasonably long wait times at the PCP.
These results reinforce commonly-accepted benefits of urgent care and retail health clinics. Patients tend to like these care sites because the clinics are easy to access, have expanded office hours, and present a more time-sensitive solution to medical needs.
However, according to the Mercy Health Systems survey, patients still have some misperceptions about receiving treatment at an urgent care or retail clinic. Patients largely do not understand the need to communicate with their primary care providers following all care encounters in an effort to drive care coordination.
Only 36 percent of respondents said they followed up with their PCP after an urgent care center visit, and only 25 percent did so after a retail clinic visit.
This is despite the fact that urgent care and retail clinic providers are supposed to instruct patients in follow-up communications. The survey did not reveal the actual frequency at which urgent care and retail health providers offered those instructions.
Patients may not have engaged in follow-up communication with their PCPs because they believed the retail or urgent care clinic already did so. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they thought all parties automatically communicated following an urgent care or retail clinic visit.
Mercy plans to use these insights to improve their PCP offerings for patients, said Mercy Physician Network President William J. Strimel, DO. Understanding how patients value primary care and what drives them to seek alternative care will help shape future efforts to overcome patient access issues.
"We wanted to enhance our understanding of dynamics that affect interactions between patients and their PCPs," Strimel explained in a statement. "The research findings show that both patients and physicians need to work harder to communicate to take advantage of the benefits offered by the more personal relationships patients can enjoy with their PCPs."
Additionally, these insights showed Mercy leaders that patients fundamentally value a strong relationship with their PCP, a relationship they currently do not have with urgent care or retail clinic providers.
"By focusing on building long-term relationships based on open communication, working to ensure we are delivering high-quality and cost-effective care with a personal touch, PCPs will be better positioned to see their practices thrive," noted Mercy Health System CEO and President Susan Croushore. "Here at Mercy, we recently consolidated our three acute-care facilities' individual call centers into one to better address issues patients face with scheduling appointments."
Separate research has also shown that patients prefer a personal touch in their patient-provider relationships. Strong clinician empathy is valued during care encounters, as is the perception of teamwork and care coordination.
However, the patient-provider relationship is not proving enough to keep patients visiting primary care clinics over urgent care and retail clinics. Data from March 2016 showed that retail clinic visits are up 10 percent from 2013, likely because retail clinics help patients overcome the access issues they encounter with their primary care providers.
Primary care providers often have long wait times and convoluted scheduling processes, making it less appealing for patients to visit when they have a non-urgent or basic health concern. Physician appointment wait times have increased by 30 percent since 2014, according to data from Merritt Hawkins.
Primary care providers will need to continue prioritizing patient-provider relationships while overcoming patient access issues to truly maintain their market share. PCP offices should look at appointment scheduling optimization and using their workforce judiciously to ensure patients can access their providers in a simple and timely manner.


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Twitch is getting Curse-d. The Amazon-owned video streaming platform today announced that it has entered an agreement to acquire Curse, web content company and makers of the Curse chat application. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We've long been fans of Curse, which is an innovator in the games industry with a strong culture built around its offerings-from Curse Voice and Curse Client to Gamepedia," said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. "While it's still early days for Twitch and Curse, we're kindred spirits in many ways and are looking forward to working together to enhance our users' gaming experience."
Curse CEO Hubert Thieblot said he was thrilled to join Twitch, adding, "I'm really excited to see how we can bring Curse services into the Twitch network, and provide an unparalleled experience to both Curse and Twitch users."
Beyond Curse Voice and the Gamepedia wiki, Curse owns a wealth of gaming websites, including N4G, MMO Champion, and an array of guides, tools, and community sites devoted to games like Minecraft, League of Legends, Diablo III, and Hearthstone. Between its websites, desktop apps, and social media channels, Curse claims to have 30 million visitors a month.
According to Crunchbase, Curse has raised $58 million in startup funding since its 2006 founding. More than half of that money came just over a year ago, as League of Legends maker Riot Games put $30 million into the company.


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One of the limitations of WhatsApp is that you can only use it on your phone. If you are not carrying your phone, you’re stuck without WhatsApp.
There are several reasons why you’d want to use WhatsApp on a PC running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1. Checking your phone is a distraction that you might want to avoid while working. It’s inconvenient to switch to another device just to send a couple of quick messages. And if you’ve lost your phone, then you might want a quick way to message people and let them know. No matter what your reasons are, you can run WhatsApp on a PC. Here’s how.
In a country where engineering degrees are chased by many an aspirant, salary statistics thrown up by a leading staffing solutions company come as an eye-opener.
The starting income of an electrician, who is unskilled and perhaps has just cleared Class XII, is Rs 11,300 per month while a desktop engineer, who is an engineering graduate, earns only around Rs 3,500 more. What’s more, the desktop engineer’s salary rises by about the same margin as the electrician’s over a period of time—to about Rs 19,000 in five years, and around Rs 30,000 in eight years. So in about eight years, the electrician too would be comfortably earning over Rs 26,000 per month. Narrowing this salary gap is the severe shortage of workers like fitters, welders, electricians and plumbers on the one hand, and the growing number of engineers trying to get into the IT sector.
Samsung’s latest flagship Note 4 has just been unveiled at an Unpacked event in Berlin, ahead of IFA 2014. At first glance, the device doesn’t seem too radically different from its predecessor, the Note 3. However, looking closely, there are major improvements to the screen (quad HD super amoled), build quality (metal rim), camera (16MP rear with optical image stabilisation), S Pen (doubled pressure sensitivity) and interface as well.
Ever wondered why your car servicing or repair bills are running into thousands, sometimes into lakhs. Or why, it’s extremely difficult to get your high-end car repaired from your neighborhood mechanic?
The Competition Commission of India has the answer in a 215-page report, where it has pulled up all 14 car makers for “violating trade norms in the spare parts markets” and has imposed a penalty of Rs. 2,545 crore on them.
Domestic companies such as Maruti, Tata Motors and M&M as well as global bigwigs such as Honda, Volkswagen, Fiat, BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota are among those who have been penalised for “monopolistic control over spare parts and diagnostic tools.”


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For Immediate Release
February 28, 2017
Jen Retallick, Hamilton Strategies, 610.584.1096, ext. 100, firstname.lastname@example.org, or Deborah Hamilton, 215.815.7716 or 610.584.1096, ext. 102
Target Stock Plunges 12%; American Family Association Begins Phase II of #BoycottTarget
Target Continues Freefall After Announcing Q4 2016 Earnings; AFA Urges 50,000 More to Sign Boycott Pledge to Send Target a Strong Message on Dangerous Restroom and Fitting Room Policy
TUPELO, Miss.—Target continues its freefall, as its stock plunged 12 percent today after the retailer announced disappointing 2016 fourth-quarter earnings.
According to Forbes.com, earnings missed expectations, which “bodes poorly for the retail giant and strengthens the argument the company needs to change its strategy to effectively compete and ultimately grow market share again.”
A growth strategy might be what Target needs, but the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) has a different take on the steep decline. The nearly 1.5 million shoppers who have signed AFA’s #BoycottTarget pledge since April are making a real difference.
“The American Family Association has called for a boycott of Target since last April after the chain publicized the fact that it would allow men to use the women’s restrooms and fitting rooms in their stores,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “This is unacceptable for families, and the dangerous and misguided policy continues to put women and children in harm’s way. Men don’t belong in the same bathroom as our wives and daughters.”
The significant drop, Market Watch reported, “would put it on track to open at the lowest level seen since Aug. 7, 2014. The stock would suffer the biggest one-day price drop since it went public in January 1972, and the third-biggest-ever percentage decline, and the biggest since Aug. 31, 1998.”
Now, AFA is initiating Phase II of #BoycottTarget, with the immediate goal of reaching 1.5 million signatures so Wildmon can hand-deliver an additional 500,000 signatures on top of the 1 million that were already delivered to Target headquarters in May of 2016. The pledge number as this afternoon sits just over 1.45 million.
“We must boldly and aggressively keep the pressure on Target and let them know that the boycott will not end until its dangerous fitting room and bathroom policy is reversed,” Wildmon added. “We all must help protect women and children and join nearly 1.5 million families in boycotting Target.”
Forbes also reported that Target stock has been falling for three years, hitting a high of $85.81 in 2015 and currently trading right around 58 today. Fox Business also reported that Target’s net sales have now declined for six quarters in a row.
Once the threshold of 1.5 million signatures is reached, AFA hopes to plan another meeting with Target executives in Minneapolis, with a two-fold goal: to communicate to AFA’s more than one million friends and supporters that the 40-year-old family organization is resolute in giving them a voice; and to convince Target to change its restroom and fitting room policy that endangers women and children.
AFA is suggesting several ways to urge Target to protect the safety of women and children:
- Sign the #BoycottTarget pledge. Encourage family and friends to sign the pledge, too, in an effort to increase signatures to 15 million—fewer than 50,000 signatures are needed!
- Voice concerns on Target’s Facebook page.
- Call Target to politely let its executives know you’ve signed the #BoycottTarget pledge—Guest Relations, (800) 440-0680, option 1, then 1 again.
- Share the boycott information on social media and be sure to use #BoycottTarget. This will be one of the most effective ways to build the signatures to 1.5 million and beyond.
“As AFA has stated many times, our worries do not stem from fear of the transgender community,” Wildmon concluded, “but rather, from both the real and potential threat that predators and voyeurs, or anyone with evil intentions, would take advantage of the Target bathroom policy to harm women and children—and there are plenty of incidents to show that they have.”
To interview a representative from American Family Association, contact Jen Retallick, 610-584-1096, ext. 100, email@example.com or Deborah Hamilton, 610-584-1096, ext. 102, 215.815.7716.


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Despite some recent difficulties (click here), Facebook remains a dominant social media platform. It has been affected by privacy issues. Its policies about advertising, And a lack of transparency. Thus, Facebook is studying several new initiatives. One question to ask consumers: Would members pay for an ad-free Facebook experience? [Would YOU be willing to pay for an ad-free Facebook?]
Would Members Pay for an Ad-Free Facebook Experience?
To answer this question, let us turn to observations from Debra Aho Williamson. As she writes for eMarketer:
“Is an ad-free Facebook a feasible strategy? The scrutiny of Facebook’s ad practices has ramped up following the Cambridge Analytica revelations and the fake news crisis. Also in play: the EU’s adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Thus, the idea of Facebook charging users who don’t want to see ads a monthly subscription fee seems to be one possible remedy. But eMarketer’s analysis, highlighted in a report last month, finds the price that it would have to charge consumers could be a reason to squash the idea.”
“In fact, just 23% of consumers surveyed in April by Recode and online survey firm Toluna said they would be willing to pay for an ad-free Facebook. And CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains public in his resistance to the idea. He says that ‘We think that ads [are] a great business model that aligns with our mission. We want to build a service that can help connect everyone around the world. So we want to offer that service for free and have it be affordable. That’s completely aligned with what we’re trying to do.’”
Conclusion: Do not expect Facebook to abandon ads and turn to subscription fees any time soon.
Take a look at the chart below to see why Facebook’s ad-based model will continue to generate huge revenues into the future.
2 Replies to “Would Members Pay for an Ad-Free Facebook?”
I understand why Facebook uses ads, because it brings them extra revenue. If they offer ad free subscriptions it may turn away some possible ads because companies may not want to pay for ads knowing it may not reach their entire goal audience. But, only 23% would be willing to pay which is not a very large amount of users. I know I personally wouldn’t pay for no ads because I am beginning to use facebook less and less anyway.
Lets face it, everyone or at least a good majority of people absolutely DESPISE ads but do we really have any other choice? Ads exist so that the company makes some money for us to use their content for free. The 23% of people who would personally pay for ads is somewhat impressive but still pretty low for today’s standards. Knowing myself, I wouldn’t pay money out of my own pocket for a service like facebook. I doubt facebook will offer a subscription service for their platform anytime soon.


text: Personal computer graphics and video processor operation Tseng Labs Inc is to sell its graphics design assets to graphics and video acceleration company ATI Technologies Inc. The sale comes after a run of consistently poor financial results for Tseng, most recently reporting nine month net losses of $5.4m from losses of $2.4m on revenue that plummeted 69.9% to $7.0m (CI No 3,277). ATI will pay $3m in cash for Tseng’s assets, as well as an unspecified amount relating to employee incentive payments. As part of the deal, ATI will rent Tseng’s Newton, Pennsylvania facility for at least three years, and has the option to renew that up until 2007. Tseng is remaining tight liped over its future, but says it is planning to acquire other companies with the $30m it should get out of the sale. There doesn’t seem to be anything left of Tseng, and a company spokesperson would not elaborate on why the company was selling its assets, saying simply it was a change in strategy. Some 40 Tseng staff have accepted offers of employment at ATI, only a handful will stay at Tseng.


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With the historic fall in the shares of Tesla Motorsits executive director, Elon Musk, He is willing to do whatever is necessary to save the company: even making his employees sleep in the factory. This unusual approach caught the attention of readers, who were surprised by the magnate’s statements.
Crisis at Tesla: why the shares fell
There are many variables that impact the Tesla stock dropbut perhaps the most decisive error was the problem Cybertruck, the firm’s first electric truck. Its production process went through years of delays and changes to have a terrible commercial reception.
The very same Elon Musk admitted that the entire project with the truck It didn’t turn out in the best possible way: “tesla He dug his own grave. (The Cybertruck) is one of those special products that appear only once in a while and are incredibly difficult to bring to market, achieve volume and be successful.”
Given this scenario, the tycoon needs to regain good luck with the company and have a memorable 2024, whatever the cost.
Elon Musk’s method to increase productivity at Tesla
In conversation with some investors, elon Musk referred to the possibility that his workers they would have to make sacrifices: “That will be a challenging production ramp. We will practically be sleeping on the production line. Not practically, in fact we will be sleeping there.”
In this way, the magnate revealed that he plans for his factory employees in Texas sleep there, in order to produce a perfect and successful electric vehicle.
Although it could be taken as a non-literal expression, it is clear that Musk is willing to make the necessary sacrifices to improve the situation of Tesla Motors and get the company afloat. Furthermore, it would not be the first time that workers They have to sleep on the production line.
The specific reason behind the entire demand is a future generation electric vehiclewhich would be assembled by tesla sometime in 2025.
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.


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Jersey / Tallinn / London JT IoT, the Perwyn-backed Jersey-based global IoT Connectivity player, announces the acquisition of Top Connect, an international MVNO and global roaming provider. The acquisition of this IoT and roaming provider and its expert team will accelerate JT IoT’s plan to build a stronger global IoT ecosystem and expand into new markets and use cases.
Top Connect is an Estonian connectivity player with 25 years of experience successfully serving more than 100 international customers and distributors. With its own core infrastructure and a wide range of connectivity providers, Top Connect will provide important diversification to the JT IoT portfolio.
Graham Millar, CEO of JT IoT, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Top Connect to the family. The acquisition of Top Connect provides significant growth opportunities for both of our businesses through an enhanced service offering for our customers. Mutual access to new markets, products and people will add significantly enhanced capabilities for the JT IoT and Top Connect teams.”
This was announced by the CEO of Top Connect company Vladislav Sobolev: “We are very excited to join the JT IoT team. By combining our engineering expertise, core infrastructures and vendor agreements with the JT IoT connectivity platform, we can drive innovation and create real value for all of our global IoT customers.”
said Mark Blower, partner at Perwyn: “Top Connect will bring the right expertise and services that we aim to add to the JT IoT portfolio to provide businesses around the world with scalable and reliable IoT connectivity. This acquisition will continue to strengthen our international growth, helping us to realize the ambitious goals we have set for 2022.”
The combined business will serve more than 500 enterprises and government organizations worldwide and manage more than 10 million IoT connections.


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For First Time on Record, Yearly Non-Automotive Robotic Orders Higher Than Automotive Orders
Additional high point: fourth quarter of 2020 was second-best quarter for robot orders
ANN ARBOR, MI – For the first time, yearly orders of robots from non-automotive sectors surpassed automotive robot orders, as sales of robotic units in North America increased 3.5% in 2020 from 2019. This growth was driven by a strong Q4 that was the second-best quarter ever for North American robotic sales with a 63.6% increase over Q4 2019.
Industry statistics – released today by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), part of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) – show that North American companies ordered 31,044 robotic units, valued at $1.572 billion in 2020. In Q4, companies ordered 9,972 units valued at $479 million.
“The surge in robot orders that we’re seeing, despite the pandemic, demonstrates the growing interest in robotic and automation solutions,” said Jeff Burnstein, A3 President. “It’s promising to see the growth of robotics in new applications and reaching a wider group of users than ever before.”
Year-over-year orders in life sciences increased by 69%, food and consumer goods grew by 56%, and plastics and rubber saw a 51% increase. Automotive orders increased 39% in 2020.
“In 2020, we saw two trends in particular that propelled growth in non-automotive orders for robotics technology,” said John Bubnikovich, Chief Regional Officer – North America, KUKA Robotics. “First, the automation competence level in general industry has grown, and that matured into greater demand for the technology. Second, consumer behavior shifted significantly and the expectations created by this shift were tough to satisfy without automation.”
At the same time, Bubnikovich said, supply chain disruptions and instability in the workforce made industries accelerate automation strategies.
The same trends are being noticed by other major robot manufacturers.
“With the changes in people’s personal buying behavior caused by COVID, robots have been utilized in record numbers to allow for the fulfillment of orders in the e-commerce space while allowing for correct social distancing practices,” said Dean Elkins, Segment Leader – Handling, Yaskawa Motoman. “In addition, robots largely aided in the production of personal protection and testing equipment and the medical devices needed to keep our society healthy and safe.”
“We have seen a substantial increase in activity in non-automotive sectors, as customers focus on making their production lines more flexible and better able to efficiently achieve high mix, lower volume production in response to constantly evolving customer demands,” says Mark Joppru, Vice President – Consumer Segment & Service Robotics, US ABB Robotics and Machine Automation. “In food applications, for example, where robots were traditionally used to automate simpler processes like case loading, they are increasingly being commissioned for higher value processes, like directly preparing food, resulting in improvements to food safety and hygiene. While these trends have existed for several years, COVID has changed perceptions and priorities for customers, accelerating the adoption of robotic automation.”
In August of 2020, A3 reported on the strain to supply chains and economic uncertainty due to COVID-19. Alex Shikany, A3 Vice President, Membership & Business Intelligence, noted that despite a drop in orders, industry leaders showed optimism about the remainder of 2020, and accurately predicted the strong finish to 2020.
“The pandemic has created a sense of urgency for manufacturing companies to invest in automation like never before,” said Mike Cicco, President and CEO of FANUC America. “Traditionally, companies have implemented automation to reduce cost, increase output, and improve quality. However, the pandemic has added an additional factor that is driving manufacturers to re-examine their supply chain to increase flexibility, minimize disruptions, and move it closer to their customers. With this mindset, there are more opportunities for scaling robotic applications across multiple facilities, especially for larger companies. The untapped potential for automation is a promising sign for our industry; the opportunities for automation today are truly limitless.”
To help educate users and potential users about how to successfully apply robotics and automation, A3 will hold Automate Forward, the premier virtual automation trade show and conference. Register free and join industry peers March 22-26 to hear from more than 80 speakers and see the latest technologies from more than 160 leading automation suppliers.
About Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
In the spring of 2021, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) will become the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the global advocate for the benefits of automating. A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done. RIA is one of four allied associations, including AIA - Advancing Vision + Imaging, Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA), and A3 Mexico, that will transform into A3. Combined, these associations represent over 1,100 automation manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, research groups and consulting firms from throughout the world that drive automation forward.
A3 hosts a number of industry-leading events, including the new virtual Automate Forward (March 22-26, 2021) and the Automate Show & Conference (June 6-9, 2022, in Detroit, MI).
For More Information
Association for Advancing Automation


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A Gucci store on North Michigan Avenue was broken into early Monday, and burglars fled with jewelry valued at about $100,000, police said.
According to police, the burglars broke the glass of a revolving door at Gucci America Inc., 900 N. Michigan Ave., at 4:10 a.m. to gain entry to the store and then smashed two glass display cases.
There were no security cameras in the store, and there apparently were no witnesses to the burglary, Belmont Area property crimes Sgt. Pat Leonard said.
Primarily watches and gold necklaces were taken, police said. The store was open for business Monday, a spokeswoman said.
The store referred all calls to the company`s New York headquarters, which was taking an inventory to determine the exact value of the missing gold and sterling silver jewelry, said Lisa Schiek, a spokeswoman in New York.
An inventory list of the missing items will be supplied to police, she said.
The burglars smashed the store door by throwing large steel pipe nuts through it, said Belmont Area property crimes Sgt. Ray Gawne.
The nuts, described as construction type nuts similar to those used to hold railroad tracks or steel girders together, were each about 2 inches in diameter, Gawne said.
The burglars set off an alarm after climbing through the broken door, but they remained inside for only up to 2 minutes, quickly shattering display cases holding gold chains and watches before they fled, Gawne said.
Building security guards were on duty at the time, but they were not on the ground floor, Gawne said. The guards told police that they saw no one suspicious in the area before the burglary, he said.


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Reliance Jio has reported an exceedingly healthy set of figures for its first quarter, with the Indian telco seeing increases across the board.
Revenue increased by a third to ₹19,513 crore, approximately $2.6 billion, for the three months to June 30, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) up by 55% to ₹7,281 crore, and net profit spiking 183% to ₹2,520 crore.
Average revenue per user for Jio now sits at ₹140 a month, around $1.87, and the telco has almost 400 million customers. Total traffic on its network grew 30% to 1.42 exabytes.
"Customer engagement has increased during the quarter with national lockdown driving average wireless data consumption per user per month to 12.1 GB and average voice consumption to 756 minutes per user per month," the company said in its earnings report.
The telco added it had over 1 million fibre-to-the-home customers.
During the quarter, the telco sold a third of itself to others for ₹152,056 crore. Buyers included Google, Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR, Mubadala, ADIA, TPG, L Catterton, PIF, Intel Capital, and Qualcomm Ventures.
Reliance said Jio has already received ₹115,694 crore of the purchase money and ₹22,981 crore would be retained for future growth.
All up, parent company Reliance now has a 66.48% stake remaining in Jio.
In July, Jio launched its own video conferencing platform, JioMeet, which was used to hold Reliance's annual general meeting and had 320,000 concurrent users, the company said.
The company's JioHaptik product is powering the Indian government's WhatsApp COVID chatbot, with over 30 million people using it.
All up for Reliance, the petrochemical behemoth posted ₹100,929 crore in revenue for the first quarter, with EBITDA coming in at ₹21,585 crore, and net profit jumping 31% to ₹13,248 crore.


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This is the second of two parts. Read part 1.
for larger view
In his first 22 years as a pharmacist, Irving Reitzenstein, Pharm.D., ran a traditional community drug store in greater Los Angeles. The intrusion of insurance companies drove him out.
"I was really acting more as an intermediary between patients and their insurance companies," Reitzenstein said. Low reimbursement rates drove pharmacists to try to fill more prescriptions each day to maintain their income, he said, and customers lost out: "You couldn't provide the same level of service."
The search for a more rewarding path led Reitzenstein to veterinary compounding, a pharmacy practice in which drugs are manipulated in dosage, form and/or flavor to serve the individual needs of specific patients.
Unfettered by the pressures of insurance, compounding is a cash business on the rise since the 1980s. Compounding always has been needed in veterinary medicine because fewer drugs are available specifically for animals than for people. But demand is up, following the rising regard people have toward their animal companions. If they're part of the family, they deserve health care.
Today, Reitzenstein co-owns Valley Drug and Compounding in Encino, Calif., which is devoted almost completely to the small-animal market. He calls the work fulfilling, even fun. But underlying the freedom and creativity of the job is a chronic stress and uncertainty.
The stress is born of inconsistent rules applied to the industry, and unpredictable government enforcement. The industry itself is divided over how to regard the rules. Observers warn that compounding could be shut down altogether if the industry doesn't police itself effectively.
The practice of compounding is popular not only in veterinary medicine, but in human medicine, as well. Tom Murry, Pharm.D., executive director of the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB), said demand falls into four broad categories: pain, pediatrics, post-menopausal women and pets.
How much of the market veterinary medicine claims isn't clear. Figures on the growth and value of the industry and its sectors are hard to come by. Compounding pharmacies tend to be privately held, and their main trade group, the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP), does not calculate industry value, nor does it tally the number of compounded products prepared annually, IACP Executive Director Rod Shafer said.
The IACP does not track such information out of respect for the privacy and competitive positions of its members. "A lot of times people feel that's proprietary information," Shafer said.
Whatever the numbers, the demand for compounding has become sufficient to support single companies expanding their reach to every state. And that development fuels concern that some pharmacies are exploiting consumer demand.
Because of their specialized applications, compounded drugs do not undergo the drug-approval process required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of mass-manufactured drugs. Therefore, compounded medications generally are not tested formally for safety and efficacy.Does size matter?
Gigi Davidson, director of clinical pharmacy services at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine, said the existence of outsize operations belies the responsibility of compounders to address individual needs.
"Since the early 1980s, we've seen compounding pharmacy become this institutionalized, giant force," Davidson said. "...One compounding pharmacy sending medications to all 50 states is not the (purpose) of the compounding pharmacist. Compounding pharmacies exist in all states, and almost any compounding need can be met locally. Interstate compounding commerce has been driven purely by economics and not by patient need. Shopping for compounds out of state is based purely on the bottom line."
Marcy Kelly, vice president of sales and marketing at Wedgewood Pharmacy in New Jersey, one of the nation's largest compounding pharmacies, said it is incorrect and unfair to equate size with illegal or unethical operations.
"Compounding pharmacies are responding to a prescriptive order," she said. "Whether it's one patient or 1,000 patients who have that (special) need, it's still a need that can't be met another way.
"I do not think size defines the model or the role of the health-care practitioner," Kelly continued. "We have grown because we have constantly looked for ways to make it easy for our customers to do business with us. The way we answer the phone. The speed of making sure the medication is available to them. That the preparation is consistent and the labeling is clear and appropriate. It means we have done just everything we can think of to make every experience that they have with our pharmacy a good experience. That doesn't turn us into a manufacturer."
Dr. Brett Cordes, veterinary medical director of animal health at The Apothecary Shop in Phoenix, Ariz., which sells manufactured and compounded medications nationwide, said distinctions between good and poor, ethical and unethical compounders come down to characteristics other than size.
Before Cordes joined The Apothecary Shop, he was a small-animal practitioner in Arizona. At the time, compounding was new to him, but popular in the state. As he learned more about the pharmacy practice, he noticed something interesting.
"I saw a trend with dogs I saw for second-opinion exams, taking a compounded medication for months, sometimes years, and not getting any better," Cordes recalled.
When he switched the dogs to a medication from a compounding pharmacy that was accredited by PCAB, or prescribed an FDA-approved alternative, Cordes said, the dogs always would get better.
That observation told him that all drugs — and all compounded drugs in particular — are not equal. "That capsule that somebody made, how do you know that the ingredients in there are not just cornstarch?" he asked rhetorically.
"It's like inviting friends over for a steak dinner and serving hot dogs," he said. "It is still beef, right?"
So profound was the experience that Cordes eventually took a job building veterinary business for The Apothecary Shop, one of 66 compounding pharmacies accredited by PCAB
. Industry attempts to police itself
The accreditation body was created in 2004 to raise the quality and awareness of compounding. It is the pharmacy industry's attempt to police itself and to bring order and consistency where gaps exist in government laws and regulations, said its Executive Director Murry.
"We want to take care of our patients," Murry said. "If the FDA wants to help us do this, we'll work with the FDA. If the (state) Boards of Pharmacy want to do this, we'll work with them. PCAB's trying to help address the concerns that everybody has. If there's a lack of consistency coming from state and federal regulators, that doesn't do us any good. We've got to have some clarity."
Earning accreditation is not easy. Murry said the process takes from a few months up to a year. The board has 200 applications pending, amounting to about 10 percent of the marketplace, Murry said. "We've had a few denials, and I would also say that every pharmacy can improve," he said. "That is what PCAB is here to do, to help good pharmacies become great pharmacies."
PCAB's reputation for high standards is building confidence among groups and individuals who have been critical of trends in compounding.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), for example, has been outspoken against unethical compounding behavior, such as selling mimics of commercially available FDA-approved medications. Two years ago, the association tried to exclude such businesses from the trade show at its annual convention by requiring exhibitors to sign a statement confirming that their activities followed federal law and FDA guidelines on veterinary compounding.
"Even after that, there were still players outside the rules," said Dr. Kenton Morgan, chair of AAEP's Biologic and Therapeutic Agents Committee.
The AAEP next considered excluding all compounding pharmacies until it realized that some compounders sell both compounded and FDA-approved products. So it settled on a prohibition against advertising of compounded products and compounding services. That ban remains in place for this year's convention in December.
Next year, a new policy takes effect. Starting in 2010, AAEP will require all convention exhibitors who promote or sell compounded products or compounding services to be accredited by PCAB. "It was the decision of the ... leadership that rather than us going around our convention area to determine if the compounding pharmacies were playing by the rules, we would ask them to belong to an organization with high standards and one which addresses the issue of compliance," Morgan said.
The creation and operation of PCAB, however, has not settled controversies and divisions within the industry. Some pharmacies that are not accredited are pushing for changes in some PCAB principles.
Kelly at Wedgewood, for example, objects to the principle that accredited pharmacies not dispense compounded products to practitioners for resale to clients. While federal guidelines for compounding prohibit resale, some states appear to allow it, whether explicitly or by not specifically prohibiting it. The trade group IACP and many individual compounding pharmacies do not accept FDA authority over compounding.
"What's at issue here is that (PCAB) goes beyond what state law says," Kelly said. "While we support and adhere to the quality standards and the concept of accreditation, until we can support (all) the principles of PCAB, Wedgewood won't participate."
Shafer, executive director of the IACP, shares the view that accreditation standards should steer clear of regulatory policy. "PCAB, their major concern should be quality," he said. "State boards of pharmacy and other agencies that have responsibility for licensure and meeting (government) rules and regulations should be concerned about whether you're following the law."Veterinarians have stake, responsibility, power
Ongoing uproar in the industry could spell its demise, some fear. "I would really hate to see us to the point where the FDA says, ‘We can't control all these loose cannons, so we just need to shut down the whole show,' " said Reitzenstein, whose pharmacy will seek accreditation once it completes a transition to computerized recordkeeping, an essential step toward meeting the standards.
Cordes said veterinarians stand to lose as well — losing customer respect if not compounding services.
"Veterinarians are going to start looking bad ... once consumers become more aware," Cordes said. "And consumers are becoming more and more aware."
Although much of the ruckus over compounding takes place out of the public eye, incidents occasionally push the subject into the spotlight. That happened this spring when 21 prized polo ponies died abruptly before a match in Florida, killed by a vitamin and mineral supplement that was compounded incorrectly. The case is under investigation.
Dr. Katrina Mealey, who teaches small-animal medicine and pharmacology at Washington State University, said clinicians must be mindful that their liability is much greater when prescribing compounded medications than with FDA-approved drugs.
To make her point, she tells practitioners that they should be willing to label all compounded medications with a notice reading: "This drug is not FDA-approved. Your veterinarian verifies its safety and efficacy for treating your pet's condition."
Davidson said veterinarians have the power to drive business — and therefore the industry as a whole — toward ethical, appropriate uses of compounding and away from improper and potentially illegal and unsafe uses.
She argues that "mega compounders," in trying to undercut their competitors and monopolize entire markets, are "driving the quality of compounding down. It's putting the mom-and-pops out of business because they can't compete with the volume that the mega-compounders are able to provide. Veterinarians are the only ones who will be able to stop that."
A compounding question raised more than once on Veterinary Information Network (VIN) discussion boards is whether practitioners are likely to be prosecuted or penalized for too-liberal use of compounded drugs.
Douglas Kemp, Pharm.D, a retired director of pharmacy at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, and one of VIN's resident experts on the subject, says that whether anyone has been cited is not the point.
"FDA is concerned with the degradation of the drug-approval process and the creation of manufacturing under the guise of compounding," he wrote in an online discussion
in 2007. "I share in that concern and all of us should accept the responsibility of trying to protect the laws and regulations that were developed in response to real problems and designed to protect us from the unscrupulous.
"From an FDA viewpoint — how do they separate the ‘manufacturing as compounding' businesses from the local compounder trying to meet the needs of a practitioner? What is the delineating factor? What is OK? One violation? 25? 100? How do you maintain the safeguards offered through the approval process if anyone who wants to can simply declare the act to be compounding and state that (the) FDA cannot touch them?
"I fear that FDA will accumulate enough reports of violations and find a way to document a detrimental impact on the approval process — at which time we might see compounding severely curtailed or prohibited."
Dr. Laura Wade, an avian and exotics practitioner in western New York state who relies heavily on compounded medications for her usually small and often fragile patients, knew very little about the complicated regulatory background of compounding a few years ago. She has since boned up. She takes seriously the threat of losing the compounding option.
"If they took it away, it would be very difficult for me to treat my patients well," Wade said. "I would be up against a wall. I don't know what I'd do. ... It would be really hard for me not to have access ... which is why I want to be very careful how I do my work."
Part 1: Legal fog surrounds growing source of veterinary drugs


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Head of Nasdaq Private Market (NPM) Bill Siegel is leaving the company.
Siegel joined from secondaries platform SecondMarket Solutions, where he had been chief executive, when Nasdaq acquired it last October.
Siegel will join security risk firm SecurityScorecard as chief financial officer and will oversee all operations, finance and people functions. He will be succeeded by Eric Folkemer, a vice-president and 12-year Nasdaq veteran, according to a spokeswoman.
Folkemer, who led Nasdaq’s acquisition of SecondMarket, reports to Nelson Griggs, executive vice-president of the firm’s listing services unit.
NPM was founded in 2013 and allows private company shareholders to sell and manage their equity. The market’s programme value rose 136 percent in the first half of 2016 to $544 million, compared with a year earlier, according to a July update.
The average valuation of companies using the platform also rose to $3.6 billion from $2.6 billion during the same period.


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Technology giant Samsung Electronics is optimistic that its market growth in Ghana in the coming years. This is on the back of new trends in consumer demands.
Samsung is targeting an annual increase of about 5% – 10% in revenue for its Africa operations over the next decade and according to CEO and President of Samsung Africa, Sung Yoon, Ghana is one of the top countries for this growth.
Speaking to key Samsung dealers and partners in Accra, Mr Yoon noted that Samsung has created a niche for itself in Ghana by offering high quality products and value additions. “This has impacted positively on the Ghanaian economy in various ways, such as fostering knowledge/technology transfer and creating employment directly and indirectly for thousands of people.”
Earlier this year Samsung detailed a new vision for Ghana, reaffirming its commitment to delivering the highest quality products and services to the market. The electronics manufacturer continues to invest heavily in the country through its various corporate citizenship initiatives.
According to Mr Yoon, Samsung remains the market leader in Ghana. However, in an increasingly tough operating environment, the company recognizes the need to keep innovating. He told the partners and dealers that Samsung will launch new mobile devices in 2019 in Ghana across all categories – Entry, Mass, High End, and Flagship and Premium.
On the night, Samsung rewarded its best partners and dealers for their contribution in growing the brand in Ghana. Awards were given to companies such as Franko Trading, Melcom, Electromart, Compu-Ghana, Palace and Telefonika.


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Work on Apple’s massive flying saucer-shaped Campus 2 building may be completed in time for the planed January 2017 opening after all. New drone footage, courtesy of Matthew Roberts, reveals that the underground auditorium where future media events and corporate meetings will be held is nearly finished, with other structures progressing nicely, too.
The clip offers an overview of a 100,000 square foot fitness center, a research and development center located next to the main iSpaceship building, multiple tunnels scattered throughout the site, the last iSpaceship section being framed, massive glass panels and solar panels on the building’s rooftops and more.
Here’s Matthew’s aerial drone footage, captured by a DJI Phantom 3 Professional.
And here’s another one, captured by Duncan Sinfield.
Apple Campus 2, or iSpaceship as it’s affectionally called, has 2.8 million square feet in total. The company plans to move in employees by the end of January 2017, according to CEO Tim Cook at the ‘Let us loop you in’ media event.
Unfortunately, a pair of excellent ground-level videos that were posted five days ago by another YouTubber have since been removed.
Those impressive clips put us at the center of the action, right within the iSpaceship site, offering a look at the structure’s inner courtyard and underground access tunnels. One of the videos depicted a truck driver entering and driving through the site’s Gate 5 tunnel.
Source: Matthew Roberts via 9to5Mac


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A lot of clever features have made Wordle popular, say two Northeastern experts.
A record volume of import cargo is anticipated for the Port of Los Angeles this year, but relief for overburdened supply chains may be on the horizon. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes
The compounding effects of inclement winter weather and the wildly contagious omicron variant of COVID-19 left airlines in a bind at one of the busiest times of year for travel. AP Photo/LM Otero
Hopes for the digital media industry were elevated when co-founder and chief executive officer Jonah Peretti celebrated BuzzFeed’s Listing Day at Nasdaq in New York City last month. Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images
Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University


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Reaffirming the negative trend most analysts have forecasted, Citi Investment Research on Monday released its own back-to-school estimates, pegging the same-store sales decline for the period to range from 3 percent to 4 percent.
“We expect another challenging b-t-s season,” Deborah Weinswig, leader of Citi’s Retailing and Broadlines sector, said during a conference call. “This is the first year since 1995 that we are projecting a decline in back-to-school spending.”
In a survey conducted by its retail analyst team, Citi said 45 percent of consumers could spend less during b-t-s than last year, up from 41 percent during the year-ago survey. Discount stores will be the “primary destination” for b-t-s shopping, said Weinswig, with 67 percent of consumer votes, while the department stores were preferred by only 18 percent of shoppers.
In addition, 70 percent consumers cited price most often as the main motivation for b-t-s shopping, up 5 percent since last year. Forty-eight percent surveyed plan to use more coupons or look for sale items, while 40 percent will seek out generic or private-label items.
J.C. Penney Co. is likely to be a winner in the broadlines sector, said Weinswig. “While discretionary spending will likely remain pressured, we believe the company will benefit from industry consolidation, new product launches in time for b-t-s and an improved value equation for [its private-label] American living line.”
In the athletic and sporting goods sector, Citi’s footwear and apparel analyst, Kate McShane, pointed to “worsening trends in unemployment and lower levels of dispensable income year-over-year.”
McShane is targeting Foot Locker Inc. as the strongest performer in the sporting-goods segment for b-t-s, because it will “benefit from customers looking for value.”
“The footwear category has held up better than other retail categories,” she explained. “We think the footwear brands Foot Locker carries, and the broad array of price points it offers, could result in better-than-expected same-store sales for b-t-s.”