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Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.
01-04-2012, 12:06 PM #1
Apple Reportedly Bidding on English Premier League Broadcasting Rights
Missed this interesting tidbit of news last night, but Apple is apparently bidding on the rights to stream English Premier League football (soccer) to its customers.
The Daily Mail (who is notorious for stirring up rumors without sources) claims that both Apple and Google are looking to secure streaming rights to the EPL. The deal presents a lucrative business opportunity for the company who eventually does secure the rights granted the EPLís popularity in the U.K.
The current deal with Sky Sports will terminate at the end of this season with ESPN, and Al Jazeera already expressing interesting in securing the rights for their own channels. Securing the rights will no doubt be expensive as Sky Sports current deal cost the company roughly $2.5 billion. Apple currently streams (via subscription) NBA, NHL and MLB games for U.S. owners. Securing a deal with the EPL would give Apple a massive marketing tool to increase interest in Apple TV in the U.K.
However, the competition during a bidding war for EPL rights, if it did erupt, would be fierce. Apple, Google, and other entities could likely drive the price up through the stratosphere. I can see Google artificially driving the price up just to see how much cash Apple would be willing to throw down before backing out. Apple by far has the most purchasing power out of any of the rumored entities.
And who knows, if the rumored Apple Television sets are on the way, this could be a huge selling point for the yet-to-be confirmed product.
Source: The Daily Mail
01-04-2012, 12:35 PM #2
An international selling point maybe. In the US, soccer is all but pointless for marketing purposes, except for certain demographics that don't fit the ideal Apple purchaser anyways.
01-04-2012, 12:49 PM #3
And what is the ideal apple user??
01-04-2012, 01:11 PM #4
01-04-2012, 01:12 PM #5
01-04-2012, 01:16 PM #6
I doubt they will go for it. Sky pay thousands of millions of £ for it. I think they will probably scare Apple away from it. Other companies have tried to take it away from them but they just pay over the odds. Sky have like 5/6 sport channels. If they lose the majority of the reason why people get Sky then they would lose those customers and then the channels.
They just need it more than Apple.
Last edited by KraXik; 01-04-2012 at 01:18 PM.
01-04-2012, 01:31 PM #7
If I can watch Manchester united on an apple tv, I will definitely buy one.
secret moderator... Please hit that THANKS button over there if I helped you in any single way
01-04-2012, 01:59 PM #8
That would actually be the selling point that could push me to buy one.
01-04-2012, 02:10 PM #9
It's a good idea. For me i live in Canada, pay $15 a month for a channel called Sportnet World for EPL games and other games come on TSN and The Score. TSN and Score are in HD so that is good.
Has nothing to do with SKY, SKY has the rights in the UK and apple TV wouldnt be allowed to broadcast all the games in the UK because of a blackout there just like SKY cant.
Saying that does APPLE TV have good quality for sports? would there be an extra cost involved??
01-04-2012, 02:24 PM #10
01-04-2012, 02:38 PM #11
"The Daily Mail (who is notorious for stirring up rumours without sources)" sums it up, the paper just wants to stir things up
Don't believe a word of it
01-04-2012, 02:55 PM #12
Im sold. Bring on the EPL
01-04-2012, 03:20 PM #13
01-04-2012, 03:27 PM #14
01-04-2012, 03:43 PM #15
01-04-2012, 08:43 PM #16
If I can get decent quality live (HD) EPL matches in Australia without having to use Foxtel I'm sold.
The 'free' alternatives that I have found don't have the quality. There is an internet based subscription channel available in Aus as well but the quality wasn't up to it either.
01-05-2012, 05:03 AM #17
If Apple is really considering going into Football, they should take advantage of the recent launch of Apple TV in Brazil and go for the Brazilian Football League, which will probably be waaay more cheap to acquire the rights of transmission and would guarantee hundreds of millions of subscribers all around the world.
01-05-2012, 08:32 AM #18


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Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) on Sunday reported a 13 per cent decline in domestic sales to 7,874 units for April.
The company had sold 9,072 units in the domestic market during April 2021, HCIL said in a statement.
Exports last month stood at 2,042 units against 970 units in April 2021.
“The customer sentiment continues to show improvement and positivity, which is reflected in strong demand. However, the supply chain issues remain a challenge for the industry, which is impacting the ability to meet the growing demand,” HCIL Director (Marketing and Sales) Yuichi Murata said.
The automaker is hopeful that the situation improves sooner than later so that the demand-supply equation can be more balanced, he added.
“On our new City e:HEV, we have received an overwhelming response from the market, reaffirming the preference for a strong electric hybrid model in the mainstream segment. We will be launching this segment-defining product on May 4, 2022,” Murata noted.

domain: news


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Health warning for bacon and sausage sarniesThank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
New health warning on bacon and sausage rolls: Preservatives in cured meats may increase risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 50%, study shows
- The researchers accessed data collected from over 100,000 people in France
- Participants self-reported medical history and diet for the seven-year study
- However, other experts expressed concern about the latest findings
Preservatives in cured meats may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by more than half, according to a survey.
Researchers say they have found a link between nitrites – used to add color and flavor to meats such as sausages and bacon – and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
The team accessed data collected from more than 100,000 people in France which have been tracked since 2009.
Researchers say they have found a link between nitrites – used to add color and flavor to meats such as sausages and bacon – and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Participants voluntarily enrolled and self-reported their medical history, diet, lifestyle, and major health changes and were followed for approximately seven years.
What are nitrites? And how do they differ from nitrates?
Nitrites and nitrates are commonly used to preserve meat and other perishables.
They are also added to meat to redden it and add flavor.
Nitrates are also found naturally in vegetables, with the highest concentrations found in leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce.
It can also enter the food chain as an environmental contaminant in water due to its use in intensive agricultural methods, animal husbandry and sewage disposal.
Nitrites in food (and nitrates converted to nitrites in the body) can contribute to the formation of a group of compounds known as nitrosamines, some of which are carcinogenic – ie. have the potential to cause cancer.
In 2015, the World Health Organization warned that there was a significant increase in the risk of bowel cancer when consuming processed meats such as bacon, to which nitrites are traditionally added while curing.
The current acceptable daily intake of nitrates, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), is 3.7 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.
The EFSA acceptable daily intake of nitrites is 0.07 mg per kilogram of body weight each day.
The analysis showed that those who had the highest total dietary intake of nitrites had a 27% increased risk of developing the reversible condition.
The scientists also found that people with the highest intake of sodium nitrite – the most important additive responsible for the characteristic color and taste associated with cured meats – had a 53% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Lead author Dr Bernard Srour, from Sorbonne University Paris Nord, said: “These results provide new evidence in the context of current discussions on the need to reduce the use of nitrite additives in processed meat by the food industry.
“Meanwhile, several public health authorities around the world are now recommending that citizens limit their consumption of foods containing controversial additives, including sodium nitrite.”
The amount of nitrites people consumed from the dietary supplements in the study averaged 0.51 mg per day.
The group consuming the most nitrites averaged 0.62 mg per day.
One slice of bacon contains about 0.25 mg of nitrites, according to previous research.
Around one in 12 adults in the UK and US have type 2 diabetes and of these, 90 per cent are overweight or obese.
Previous studies have shown that eating a lot of red and especially processed meat is associated with a greater risk of an obesity-related condition.
However, other experts expressed concern about the latest findings and how dietary supplement intake was assessed.
They also cautioned that nitrite from dietary supplements contributes only about 4 to 6 percent of total nitrite intake, with the rest coming from other sources, such as drinking water.
Tom Sanders, emeritus professor of nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London, said: “The estimates were based on recalls of dietary intake on two separate occasions at the start of the study, with no further assessments in the follow-up period of over seven years.
“The researchers had to guess which foods contained the various nitrite additives, the levels used in the products, and the amounts of the food consumed.”
Dr Dwayne Mellor, registered dietitian and senior lecturer at Aston University, said: “When looking at the significance of this data, it may be worth noting that the use of nitrites as a supplement is often like sodium nitrite, which is used for drying of meats like bacon, which, if one were looking to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, would be something people would be encouraged to eat less of.
“The best way to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is to be physically active, maintain a healthy weight for you and eat a varied diet based on vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and fruit, along with whole grains and moderate intake of dairy foods and meat – especially processed meat.”
The findings are published in the journal Plos Medicine.
#Health #warning #bacon #sausage #sarnies


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The 2022 GMC Hummer EV looks like it will be an amazing electric vehicle with the off-road capabilities of a 9,000-pound mountain goat and the performance of a brick-shaped hypercar. How General Motors got here is the question that we hope its recently announced documentary titled "Revolution: GMC Hummer EV" will answer.
The 60-minute – nay, about 40 minutes with commercials – will air on the History channel on Sunday, March 27 at 11 AM EST. Why so early? That's when the DRIVE block of automotive-themed shows runs on the cable channel.
Gallery: Revolution: GMC Hummer EV Documentary
Are you interested in watching this docummercial? What's most interesting about the Hummer EV's story is that it was developed from soup to nuts in about two years, which is half as much as a typical new vehicle. GM says the documentary will show us on-site dynamic testing of the Hummer EV in the freezing climate of Michigan's UP as well as the heat of Moab, Utah, and go inside closely guarded facilities like the GM Design Center and the company's proving grounds.
The tale of GM's electric vehicle development so far has been one of competing stories. On the one hand, you've got the optimistic account about its impressive slate of long-range EVs that begins with the Hummer EV and will be followed closely by the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevy Silverado EV. On the other have, there's the fiasco regarding the Chevy Bolt recall over potential battery fires and the stark fact that this giant automaker sold a grand total of 26 electric vehicles in Q4 2021 here in the United States.
What About The Hummer EV SUV?
Since GM paid for this documentary, it will likely follow the former narrative and not the latter. And it's true that if GM's impressively sized investment in the future of electric vehicles pays off, the company will be sitting pretty in the new EV era.


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The new 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has entered production at the company’s Normal, Illinois plant and is currently making it to dealerships nationwide.
The plant will be pumping out 50,000 units of the Outlander Sport, which is Mitsubishi’s best-selling vehicle in North America, and will eventually hit as many as 70,000 units each year.
The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport itself has received upgrades including a new front fascia, grille, 18-inch alloy wheels, improved ride and handling and much more. The compact crossover will be on sale early August with a starting price of $19,170.
– By: Omar Rana


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Whether or not we’re actually ready, America is reopening. The process to return to “normal” will be uneven and gradual across the country in the coming days, weeks and months. And regrettably, we are no more certain today than we were six weeks ago about what recovery will actually look like.
The impact on our economy from this pandemic is still yet to be fully realized, and it may take a generation to fully articulate. During the first quarter of the year our national GDP fell nearly 5%—the most since 2008. Worse, Q2’s GDP is forecasted to be down between 30-40%, which is not only unthinkable, but would also be a historical record in the U.S.
As of this morning, 30 million Americans had filed for unemployment, either because they were laid off or furloughed. Realistically, that number hasn’t quite peaked. And sadly, many of the jobs lost or put on hold may not come back, at least not for a good while.
Publishing has been hit hard, surely not as hard as some industries, but times are tough just the same. Anyone that wanted to read this story already knew that. I don’t need to recap who the victims are, but our industry has all the problematic symptoms of this downturn—pay cuts, furloughs, layoffs and shutdowns. Ad spending is drying up. The events business is ravaged beyond comprehension. Retailers are unable to open, thus unable to sell magazines, books and newspapers. It’s an economic horror story caused by microscopic genetic RNA material, also known as the COVID-19 virus.
All that said, the human cost of the pandemic is far worse, and it will continue to stay with us long after the economy has recovered. That’s important perspective as we try to professionally pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off. Those of us who get through this with our health and are able to return to work are better off than at least 228,000 people around the world who weren’t so fortunate and lost their lives to this virus. I apologize for getting preachy, but whenever you’re forced to weigh humanity versus economics, humanity always wins. Period.
So let me get to the reason you clicked on the headline in the first place: where do we go from here? I’ll be honest, I don’t know. But I do stand by what I said last month that this industry will go on. So let me expand on that idea a bit more and make some guesses and pleas about our future.
I will get this out of the way, rather than build up to it. The future of your business is digital. This is a truth a lot of our peers have all been lying to themselves about for at least a decade. It’s time for some publishers to stop clutching their pearls while trying to maintain a business model that is primarily reliant on one or two products. And to be clear, when I say the future is digital I’m not talking about pure-play digital publishing models that are essentially print businesses on a digital platform, driven by advertising and a sliver of subscription revenue. I’m talking about diversified digital businesses. In addition to table stakes like monetized content through the traditional routes as well as more robust new-age subscription products, a future-proofed digital publishing model is a suite of products that also includes virtual events, affiliate marketing and e-commerce. Many in the industry have already been playing in these spaces for years, and the pandemic has forced several others to jump in feet first.
There was a growing number of publishers before the pandemic generating more than half their revenue through digital products. I think over the next few years this number will continue to increase, but at a faster clip now. Conversely, those who continue to hitch their wagons to their legacy models and repudiate change, may not make it at all.
I want to make something very clear;…


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Lidl Ireland has said they had planned to build a larger Fortunestown store, but the decision is now under review.
The supermarket chain said it had plans for a new store on Fortunestown Lane but the events of last Friday have stalled the process.
In a press release they stated: "We can confirm that it had been our intention to build a new larger store on Fortunestown Lane. Given the events of Friday last, that decision is now under review. "
The Fortunestown branch in West Dublin suffered severe damage last Friday night when it was attacked during the blizzard conditions brought by Storm Emma.
Six people were charged in court on Sunday in connection to the incident, while three other men were charged with alleged offences that took place in a nearby Centra shop.
Lidl Ireland say they have engineers and consultants on site at the Fortunestown branch and they are assessing the damage causeed.
They say a final decision regarding future plans will be made after hearing their recommendations.
On Monday it was annoucned that the 30 staff members employed in the Fortunestown store have been redeployed to other stores in the area.
A meeting between management and workers was held to arrange for staff to move to nearby stores in order to minimise the disruption to peoples' livelihoods.


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The University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) in partnership with Springfield E&P Group on 23rd August, 2018, organised a Nation-Building Entrepreneurial Fora on the theme “Unearthing and Enhancing the Innate Potential of Ghanaian Youth for Business Creation and National Development”. Present at the event were the Head of the Department of Marketing & Entrepreneurship, Professor Robert Hinson, the School’s Administrator, Mr. Emmanuel Poku-Sarkodee and keynote speaker, Mr. Kevin Okyere, CEO of the Springfield Group. Also in attendance were students and some employees of the Springfield Group.
Head of the Department of Marketing & Entrepreneurship, Professor Robert Hinson, in his delivery encouraged students not to compromise the quality of their studies, but rather be brilliant at their books and also start thinking about ways of becoming great entrepreneurs in the near future
Springfield Group’s CEO, Mr. Kevin Okyere, in his delivery made known to the audience what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and the challenges entrepreneurs go through. “Being an entrepreneur is all about the team members and not all about one’s self”, he said. Think about what you can do to help people. He encouraged students to have an able-minded attitude, believe in themselves, be creative, focused and be persistent. He further encouraged students to think about what they can do as entrepreneurs to help others in society.
Mr. Kennedy Noonoo of the Springfield Group delivered the closing remarks. In his speech, he encouraged students to partake in internships and national service programmes with their company. The programme ended with a question and answer session where Professor Robert Ebo Hinson and Mr. Kevin Okyere answered pressing the students had. There was also a photo session with the Springfield Group.
copyright © 2016 University of Ghana Business School. All Rights Reserved


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Special to Mustang News
The Pride Center is holding a Trans* Fashion Show on April 4.
The event will include more than just fashion, Pride Center graduate assistant and event organizer Bryan Pride said.
“It’s a celebration of identities to inform and empower people while creating a dialogue,” he said.
The Pride Center wants to provide information to help trans-identified people understand the proper ways to represent gender identity, he said.
Trans-identified fashion designer Victoria Vu will attend the event. Vu will work with transgender students on how to alter their clothes and help them pass in their new identity, he said.
“We’re all very excited about what it’s about to be like,” Pride said.
Admission is free. The show is from 6:30-8 p.m. at 550 Dana Street.


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Search For "shenzhen"
Updated : 5 hours, 57 min ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 25 (ANI): Chinese tech company Tencent, the parent company of the country's main messaging app WeChat, denied reports that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's account on the platform had been hacked, media reported Tuesday.
Updated : 2 days ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 23 (ANI): It's just been a few days since OnePlus launched its OnePlus 10 series, comprising two new smartphones, the OnePlus 10 and the OnePlus 10 Pro in China. And now a new report suggests that the company is working on a Lite version of the same.
Updated : 5 days, 6 hours ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 20 (ANI): OnePlus might be working on a new Nord-smartphone for the Indian market that could come under Rs 20,000.
Updated : 5 days, 21 hours ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 19 (ANI): A new leak has claimed that the unveiling of the OnePlus 10 Pro to overseas markets will happen in March, but before that, we'll see two other OnePlus phones - Nord CE 2 and Nord N20.
Updated : 6 days, 8 hours ago IST
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India]/ Shenzhen [China], January 19 (ANI/PRNewswire): Excelra, a leading global Data & Analytics organization, today announced the partnership for its Global Online Structure Activity Relationship Database (GOSTAR) with XtalPi Inc., an AI-based pharmaceutical b
Updated : 1 week ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 17 (ANI): In an obscure forum thread on OnePlus' community forum, a representative confirmed that the company will no longer provide software support for its OnePlus 6 and 6T smartphones released back in 2018.
Updated : 2 weeks ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 11 (ANI): The OnePlus 10 Pro has finally made its official debut in China today after months of leaks and rumours about the smartphone.
Updated : 2 weeks, 2 days ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 9 (ANI): Huawei's P50, P50 Pro and P50 Pocket foldable smartphones are currently only available in China, but two of them will make their global debut next week - on January 12.
Shenzhen [China], January 8 (ANI): As OnePlus' 10 series event is just a couple of days away, the company doesn't stop teasing its upcoming handsets.
Updated : 2 weeks, 3 days ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 8 (ANI): Realme VP and head of Realme International business group Madhav Sheth has confirmed that the company's latest GT2 series is launching internationally soon and also teased the new tablet and laptop announcements set for 2022.
Updated : 2 weeks, 6 days ago IST
Shenzhen [China], January 5 (ANI): The specs and renders of the upcoming Realme 9i have leaked ahead of its January 10 announcement.
Shenzhen [China], January 4 (ANI): Though OnePlus just posted a couple of 10 Pro teasers, it didn't reveal much in the way of the smartphone's specs.


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Now that legalization of cannabis—medicinal, recreational or both—is gaining traction around the world, its different components and how they might be of use are getting a closer look.
While CBD (cannabidiol) is the cannabinoid is commanding the spotlight for its claimed therapeutic effects, another cannabinoid may soon prove the major player: CBN.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
What are cannabinoids? | Learn
Is CBD the new THC?
Marijuana vs. hemp: What’s the difference?
Understanding of CBN, clearly, is in the very early stages, but there are signs it may have very useful applications, most notably for sleep.
What is CBN?
“CBN is one of the most common cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant after THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD,” says Michele Ross, Ph.D., a neuroscientist who worked in the cannabis research field since 2006 and is founder of Infused Health.
Cannabis is known to have more than 100 different cannabinoids, and though the potential effect of each one is not yet known, they can work synergistically in what is known as the “entourage effect.”
Cannabinoids affect the body through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a network of signals that regulate a range of bodily functions, from mood and pain perception to appetite and nausea.
While the body produces its own cannabinoids that attach to receptors in the ECS to signal a bodily function, cannabinoids from cannabis can also bind to the same receptors, causing users to feel cannabis’ effects when consumed.
With legalization, scientists and companies have started taking a closer look at cannabinoids, such as CBD, and how their therapeutic potential. Given that CBD has no psychoactive effects, but could have medical uses, such as for epilepsy or stress, it has become an attractive option for products. CBN could find similar success.
While CBD and THC have been the most researched of the cannabinoids, was the first cannabinoid scientists isolated at the end of the 19th century, had its structure further defined in the early 1930s and its chemical synthesis created in 1940.
How is it created?
“[CBN] is a degradation product of THC,” says Jeremy Riggle, Ph.D., chief scientist at Mary’s Medicinals, which produces its own CBN products. “The plant itself doesn’t make very much of it, if any, [but] over time, as THC is exposed to temperatures and sunlight, THC itself will degrade into CBN,” Riggle explains. This degradation process as THC is exposed to oxygen is called oxidation.
Since CBN is created as cannabis ages, it has typically been associated with old or poorly stored cannabis in the past. In fact, CBN was found through laboratory testing to be the most present cannabinoid in perfectly preserved cannabis found in a 2,700-year-old Chinese shaman tomb.
Since CBN comes from THC, they both have a similar molecular structure; THC even has cannabinol in its name.
CBN can also be produced after cannabis is heated, a process called decarboxylation, which also converts THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) found in raw cannabis into cannabinoids THC and CBD.
While CBD can be as high as 15 percent to 20 percent in cannabis flower, most cannabis plants contain around one percent or less of CBN, Ross says. Noting that there’s no CBN-rich strains, she says “its presence really is from it being cured, degraded or vaporizing it. We’re not going to see over one percent CBN if it has been stored properly.”
It is, however, possible to distill CBN to boost up its concentration to as much as 60 percent, Riggle reports, much like is being done with CBD oils.
Is CBN psychoactive?
One major draw of CBD is that it is not psychoactive, making it friendlier to regulate (the U.S. has legalized hemp-derived CBD) and easier to market to those cautious of cannabis. However, unlike CBD, Riggles notes CBN has been found to be “slightly psychoactive,” but much less so than THC as a result of its reaction with CB1 receptors in the ECS.
CB1 receptors are “what initiate the euphoric psychotropic effects [of cannabis],” Riggle says, and CBN has a low affinity for them because of its structure. “CBN just doesn’t fit on the receptors as well as THC,” he says.
A study published in 1980 found CBN had no “significant effect” on cognitive or motor function.
“[CBN] is not going to drive psychosis, which is actually nice, because there are some people who are very sensitive to THC,” says Ross.
That said, there are indications that CBN could amplify the effects of THC. For example, a study published in 1975 and involving five male subjects found that when CBN was taken with THC, subjects felt more “drugged, drunk, dizzy and drowsy” than under the THC condition alone. Researchers concluded that “CBN increases the effect of THC on some aspects of physiological and psychological processes, but that these effects are small.”
Ross echoed these findings. “There seems to be some kind of synergistic effect between THC and CBN,” she says. “If you’re more prone to the psychoactive effects of THC, like dizziness or drowsiness, if you add CBN on top of that, you will get even more drowsy out of it.”
CBN and sleep
There has been a lot of buzz over CBN as a potential sleep aid, what with a natural sleeping aid likely having appeal for many people. Information from the National Academies noted an estimated 50 million to 70 million people in the U.S. suffer from a disorder of sleep and wakefulness.
There has been a lot of buzz over CBN as a potential sleep aid, what with a natural sleeping aid likely having appeal for many people. The National Academies estimated in 2006 that 50 million to 70 million people in the U.S. suffer from a disorder of sleep and wakefulness. In 2013, Time reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the period running from 2005 to 2010 and found that roughly four percent of the U.S. population, or around 9 million people, had used prescription sleep aids in the last month.
However, it is too early to definitely say CBN affects sleep. A large reason for the current hype around CBN could be a 2017 report from cannabis science and technology company Steep Hill. Citing the information, it was reported that Steep Hill claimed that consuming 2.5 mg to 5.0 mg of CBN has the same level of sedation as 5.0 mg to 10 mg of diazepam.
However, Kymron DeCesare, chief research officer at Steep Hill, said in an interview that this information may not be accurate. The report was based on older information and some case studies, and since then, there have been several trials that have shown “no significant sedative properties” for CBN.
Others have referenced the 1975 study mentioned earlier in which subjects felt more “drowsy” after combining THC and CBN to support CBN as a good sedative.
But Dr. Melanie Bone, a physician who specializes in cannabis science, says the study is not definitive proof of CBN’s sedative effects because it was only done on five male subjects, which “could not possibly achieve statistical power.”
Noting that she would like to see more robust data, Dr. Bone says that “many folks are making products based on this data from a long time ago, and I just wonder if it will hold up to greater scrutiny.”
Another study published in 1975 found that when CBN was combined with THC, there was a “synergistic effect” on most of the depressant effects. Riggle’s view is that finding should be taken with a grain of salt as well, since it was a study was done on mice and some have “extrapolated a lot” from it.
A study released in 1995 did find that CBN caused a “significant prolongation of sleeping time,” but that was in interaction with pentobarbital, which is used to treat insomnia. The study notes other derivatives of CBN “did not significantly affect the sleeping time.”
While the scientific evidence that CBN is good for sleep is limited, both Riggle and Ross say there is anecdotal evidence from patients and customers who say it has helped them sleep.
Other potential effects
Since CBN is a cannabinoid and reacts with the ECS, it is said to also have other uses. This broad effect of cannabinoids is due to the ECS being “ubiquitous in human physiology,” Riggle says. “Anytime you increase or moderate the tone [in the ECS], it will have pretty broad physiological health outcomes,” he contends.
Beyond sleep, Riggle believes that CBN, like CBD, could be used as a topical for conditions such as flaky skin. “The potential for cannabinoids in skin physiology is huge,” he suggests.
A study published in 2012 further hints CBN could help with appetite. The study found CBN increased appetite for rats, while CBD did the opposite.
The study found the rats treated with CBN were quicker to eat, ate more and ate for longer periods, concluding that CBN could be a possible appetite stimulant.
Another animal study, this time involving lab cats and published in 1984, concluded CBN could help with the eye condition glaucoma, finding it reduced the intraocular tension.
Where to find CBN
With cannabis flower typically containing around one percent or less of CBN, this may not be the best option for CBN, unless, over time, cannabis can be bred to have higher concentrations.
While CBD currently enjoys the limelight and products with the cannabinoid are becoming increasingly common, despite the evolving science, some companies in the U.S. are beginning to produce CBN products, and some even combine it with CBD.
These include CBN transdermal patches, gel creams, vape cartridges, capsules, oral tinctures, CBN-dominant hemp oil, a sublingual strip for sleep and a CBN drink.
Greencamp.com is an educational website dedicated to shedding the light on many unexplored sides of medical and recreational cannabis. Aside from informing people of safe cannabis use, Greencamp also provides technology for finding optimal cannabis treatment. Greencamp operates their own cannabis gear shop at Bloomgroove.com


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Tesco looks set to stay at the top of the grocery food chain as Credit Suisse raised the supermarket’s target share price.
According to Proactive, the new target is up 8.1 per cent from 283p to 306p.
It comes after Tesco revealed last week that its operating profit had soared by almost 30 per cent to £1.3 billion.
The retailer also closed the book on a seven-year-old accounting scandal, agreeing a £193 million settlement with a group of shareholders.
Its results, plus speculation over a private equity takeover, saw its share price peak at its highest point since February at 276.7p on Friday.
Credit Suisse maintained its “outperform” rating.
Tesco is “well-positioned to maintain market share… generate enough cash to fund [capital expenditure] and shareholder returns”, it said.
Kantar data from 3 October shows the grocer accounts for 27.4 per cent of grocery sales in the UK.
Catherine Shuttleworth, founder of retail agency Savvy, stressed that Tesco’s Aldi Price Match was a key reason for its success.
“Tesco reassured people that shopping with them means you can have all the benefits of Aldi pricing with all the benefits of the Tesco range,” she told the Retail Gazette yesterday.
“It’s been an important factor in driving customer numbers and switch.”
She added that its Clubcard Points loyalty scheme provides “valuable benefits to shoppers which makes them more committed to the Tesco brand”.


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After 95 years of serving the community, St. Francis School ceased its operations this month as the academic year came to a close. Oahu Auctions is coordinating a campus-wide auction to clear all contents of the school’s classrooms and premises.
The online auction will end Sunday, June 23 at 6 p.m. The public can get an up-close look at everything in the auction on June 21 and June 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Francis School campus in Manoa. The auction is open to the public and there is no cost to bid.
“People can expect to find not only desks and chairs, but a full range of band instruments, equipment from our science lab and art room, computers and electronics, athletic equipment and variety of other things,” says Dr. Casey Asato, who served as the Head of School. Among the larger auction items are golf carts, a bus, shipping containers, and outdoor portable bleachers. “Koi fish from our fish pond will also be in the auction,” says Asato.
The online catalog with photos of the auction items are available on the auction website, which can be accessed at OahuAuctions.com. Items are continually being added to the auction catalog.
Proceeds from the auction will be applied towards the school’s debt.


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Stories From The Last 12 Hours
Made to assist individuals with limited mobility, this robotic spoon moves with the user to prevent spills.
Facebook, Google and Alibaba cofounders sponsored lavish prizes in physics, life sciences, and math.
On Sunday, the European Commission warned Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube and Microsoft that if the companies do not address their hate speech problems, the EU will enact legislation that will force them to do so.
While things have been a bit quiet on the LG “Friends” ecosystem front, Motorola seems to be rather busy on their end. The company recently...
Nikola Motor Company is going all in on hydrogen-powered trucks, and there are a lot of advantages to doing so. But two big hurdles may stand in its path.
The throbber is a sign of temporal rupture. It is the last barrier to a perfectly smooth and seamless virtual experience. If you spot a “throbber,” you’ve probably got an issue with your hardware. These small digital animations, more commonly known as buffer icons, only appear when your internet connection or browser speed is too slow to manage the volume of incoming data.
Uber’s New York general manager discussed drivers’ concerns during a monthly meeting with the new pseudo drivers union.
The Army Corps of Engineers will not grant the Dakota Access Pipeline the right to drill under the Missouri River, amounting to a huge victory for the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
The first season dropped waaaaay back in June 2015, and fans are excited and impatient about new episodes of the sci-fi series.
Writers behind Alexa, Google Assistant, and other conversational UIs talk about writing humor for robots.
Virgin Galactic's second SpaceShipTwo rocket plane glided through its first free-flying test run today, two years after the loss of the first SpaceShipTwo.
The GoPro Karma Grip is now available. The camera maker announced today that the handheld stabilizer is for sale in select stores and GoPro.com for $299. This..
Your Mac is a media machine, but you can give it a boost with Softorino YouTube Converter. It’s the perfect tool to take your favorite YouTube videos with you while on the go or access them when you’re away fromaaa
Amazon has shown what its digital personal assistant Alexa is capable of doing by baking it into its Amazon Echo devices. This compelled Google to...
The Pixel and Pixel XL are, indubitably, fantastic smartphones. Some (me included) would argue that they’re actually the very best on the market, at least in the Android realm. However, if th…
When Donald Trump won the 2016 Presidential Election, it quickly became clear that Alec Baldwin would have steady work on Saturday Night Live for his portrayal of the President-elect. The show...
With the new MacBook Pros, Apple is boasting that users should be able to get about 10 hours worth of battery life out of the laptop. Unfortunately...
The Green Party cannot reportedly afford to post the $1,000,000 bond required.
Marvel’s released the latest teaser trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and it’s got so much Baby Groot, it’s almost too cute to handle.
Last week, Apple wrote a letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration telling it that "new entrants" to the auto...
During today’s Playstation Experience event, Sony and Capcom unveiled the latest iteration of the Marvel vs. Capcom series, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, which is slated to be released sometime in...
That's our best stuff for today. Great job! Read more


text: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finalized its determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food. The move, based on “a thorough review of the scientific evidence,” essentially bans artificial trans fat from the food supply. Companies can still seek food additive approval for one or more specific uses of PHOs with data demonstrating a reasonable certainty of no harm from the proposed uses. PHOs can no longer be added to foods after June 18, 2018, unless they are otherwise approved by FDA. The three-year compliance period is meant to allow food manufacturers to either reformulate products without PHOs or petition the FDA to permit specific uses. “The FDA’s action on this major source of artificial trans fat demonstrates the agency’s commitment to the heart health of all Americans,” said FDA’s Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, M.D. “This action is expected to reduce coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year.” Consumption of trans fat can increase the risk of coronary heart disease by raising low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly referred to as “bad cholesterol,” and the Institute of Medicine has concluded that there is no safe level of consumption of trans fat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, removing PHOs from processed foods could prevent up to 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 coronary deaths each year. “PHOs or partially hydrogenated oils have been used as ingredients since the 1950s to improve the shelf-life of processed foods,” wrote Susan Mayne, the director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, in an agency blog post. “In this case, it has become clear that what’s good for extending shelf-life is not equally good for extending human life.” On Nov. 8, 2013, FDA announced a tentative determination that PHOs are no longer GRAS under any condition of use in human food and therefore are food additives. At the time, the agency requested additional data and scientific information and asked for comments on several questions. The public was originally given until Jan. 7, 2014, to comment on the notice. However, in response to several requests, FDA extended the comment period to March 8, 2014. The agency received more than 6,000 comments in response to the notice, including more than 4,500 form letters. The submissions came from individuals, industry and trade associations, consumer and advocacy groups, health professional groups, and state or local governments. FDA encourages consumers seeking to reduce trans fat intake to check the Nutrition Facts label for trans fat. The most effective way to avoid PHOs is to check the ingredient list for partially hydrogenated oils because, even if trans fat is listed as having “0” grams, they could still contain less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving.


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Well by now, you’ve all heard about the upcoming launch of the latest version of the Sony PlayStation 3, The PS3 Slim. While that was a nice nugget to tickle our fancy, Sony had other tidbits to share. One of which includes the impending release of two brand new PSPs.
Come November, gamers can get their eager hands on the Turquoise Green and Blossom Pink versions of the PSP. Aside from the color, there isn’t much difference from the original – but these new units are more than a pretty face. Each new color will be bundled with a new game. Turquoise is slated to be shipped with LittleBigPlanet.
In other handheld news, the PSP will be launching a new digital reader that will allow users to access a range of media. Set to debut in December, Sony has partnered with Marvel Entertainment and other comic book publishers to give gamers an all access pass to comics and graphic novels much to the glee comic fanboys and girls everywhere.
So to sum things up, a PSP by another color is still just as awesome.


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As part of its settlement agreement with the US government in relation to the diesel vehicle emissions scandal, Volkswagen was ordered to put $2 billion into the development of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the country.
Owing to that settlement, Volkswagen created a new unit dubbed “Electrify America” that was dedicated to just such a course of action. That unit has now announced that it will be installing new plug-in electric vehicle charging stations at over 100 Walmart stores throughout the USA, in relation to the settlement and following on earlier buildouts.
To be more specific, the plan is apparently for Walmart stores in 34 different US states to get new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by the middle of 2019.
“We recognize that electric vehicles are going to grow and become more relevant,” commented Mark Vanderhelm, the vice president for energy at Walmart, in an interview with Reuters. “We are trying to get out in front of that.”
That coverage provides more: “The Walmart charging stations are part of a broader Electrify America project to install 2,000 chargers at nearly 500 charging stations across the country by June 2019. Wayne Killen, Electrify America’s senior director for infrastructure, said that 80% of the Walmart charging stations would be at store locations alongside highways, while the remaining 20% would be in metro areas.
“Killen said the highway locations will primarily provide chargers for trips between US cities but also cross-country journeys along Interstate 10 between Santa Monica, California and Jacksonville, Florida, plus Interstate 80 that runs from San Francisco and Teaneck, New Jersey.”
The new Walmart-based EV charging stations will reportedly feature 4–10 chargers each — presumably enough to allow for a number of open chargers at most times, even when vehicles are left there for a fair while. Some of these chargers, though, will reportedly be fast chargers.
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Medtronic merger could bode well for Medtronic Spinal
After Medtronic Inc. completes its $42.9 billion merger with Covidien, Medtronic Spinal, the company’s Memphis-based division, could see new technology and a share of $10 billion the company is planning to invest in its U.S. operations.
Fernando Vivanco, senior director of corporate communications for Medtronic, said the details on when the investment would be made and how it would be divided up “hasn’t been sorted through,” but he stressed there would be no negative impact on Medtronic Spinal.
“If you look at this merger, it’s about growing the business,” Vivanco said. “Medtronic has a solid track record of growing the companies we acquire and we anticipate continuing that trend.”
One change that will be coming soon is Medtronic’s plan to move its legal headquarters to Ireland, where Covidien is based. However, the company’s CEO Omar Ishrak will remain in its “operational headquarters” in Minnesota.
According to Charlie Whelan, lead analyst for Frost & Sullivan Advance Medical Technologies, Medtronic’s decision to relocate the headquarters was made mainly to reinvest overseas cash into overseas operations without having to pay a “hefty corporate tax premium,” a practice that other companies like Apple Inc. have done.
“You find an existing company with the right synergies and a headquarters overseas and reinvest the money without the tax debt,” Whelan said. “Their international division has grown faster than the national division, and Ishrak has stated that growth is very important.”
Whelan said while both companies don’t have much, if any, overlap with their products, their existing products complement each other and could bode well for future product development.
“This isn’t one company buying another in the same marketplace,” Whelan said. “A number of Covidien’s products could only boost the spinal division. I don’t see this as a bad thing for Memphis.”
Michael Sheffield covers bioscience and biotechnology; manufacturing; tourism and hospitality; and sports business. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Pay-later gift card service launched by B.C. startup
Kiind prevents gift givers from wasting money on unused gift cards
An online gift card service that doesn't charge the gift giver until the recipient buys something with the card has been launched by a Victoria, B.C., startup company.
Kiind, which launched in the U.S. Wednesday, aims to address problems with prepaid gift cards — many go unused, some have expiry dates and extra fees, and the gift giver has no way of knowing whether the gift was ever used — that have led consumer advocates such as the Consumers' Association of Canada to recommend giving cash instead
A 2012 survey by Consumer Reports found 15 per cent of respondents said they still had at least one unused gift card from 2011. The Consumers' Assocation of Canada says the rate of unused gift cards is as high as 40 per cent, while Kiind estimates it is roughly nine to 20 per cent. A 2012 report by business consulting firm CEB estimated that $110 billion was loaded on to gift cards in the U.S. in 2012 and that $2 billion worth in cards were lost, expired or went unused, down from $8 billion in 2007.
Leif Baradoy, Kiind's founder and CEO, said that with his company's service, if the gift card is not used by an expiry date specified by the gift giver, he or she will not be charged for it.
On the other hand, the gift giver is charged and notified when the recipient uses the gift — "so that you know that your gesture has been appreciated," Baradoy said. "It sort of closes the loop on the act of giving."
The service also reminds the recipient to use the gift card, and special reminders are sent when the recipient travels close to the store or restaurant where they can spend it. Gift givers also have the option of allowing the recipient to donate the gift to charity.
Gift givers are charged anywhere from 19 cents to 49 cents per recipient to use Kiind's service, with higher volume gift givers qualifying for the lower charges.
Baradoy said user feedback suggests they think they're getting good value for the money.
"If you're giving a $100 gift card, spending 49 cents to make sure you're not going to pay unless it's used — it's less than the cost of a stamp."
He added that the fee also provides access to free analytics, so big givers — such as companies rewarding clients, employees or businesses that provide them with referrals — can see which gifts are preferred by the recipients. Such companies may spend thousands of dollars per year on gift cards, which means that unused amounts could add up.
While those corporate clients are being targeted by Kiind, Baradoy said consumers are also welcome to use the service.
Baradoy said he started working on a digital gifting space in 2011. Talking to customers about what they wanted led to the idea of a service where gift givers didn't pay until the card was used.
"It's such a simple concept, but it's something that no one has done before," Baradoy said.
He thinks retailers had no incentive to offer that kind of service because they make a lot of money from unused gift cards.
However, he said legislation introduced in some provinces and in the U.S. in recent years that ban expiry dates for prepaid gift cards mean unused gift cards are now a long-term outstanding liability on a company's books.
That has made retailers more interested in a service like Kiind, he said.
Retailers include Amazon, restaurants
So far, Kiind can be used to buy gift cards for online retailers such as Amazon and Art.com, restaurants and food outlets such as Tony Roma's Steakhouse, and many local retailers in 300 U.S. cities.
It has been available for months to 13,000 users in Calgary and Victoria, including about 4,000 gift givers who have been helping the company test and refine the service. However, Baradoy is negotiating to get some big Canadian brands on board before launching widely and publicly in Canada.
He added, "We do want to get to Canada as quickly as possible."


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aamericans for safe access
alabama medical marijuana coalition
Americans for Safe Access
The green rush is on in Las Vegas.
The city is now officially accepting applications for medical marijuana business licenses and land use permits, which will pave the way for dispensaries and cultivation sites to open later this year or early next.
Las Vegas plans to issue 12 licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries as well as an undetermined number of cultivation facilities and production facilities.
Entrepreneurs must submit their paperwork in person by 3 p.m. on July 23 to be considered. Officials will then vet applicants, select finalists and present their selections to the city council and planning commission this fall.
Landing a license will likely be tough, as a large number of applicants are expected to apply.
The city is an attractive place for medical cannabis business in general, in large part due to the massive numbers of tourists that visit each year. Under Nevada’s program, registered patients from other medical cannabis states can buy MMJ from dispensaries while visiting.
More than 200 groups recently applied for dispensary licenses in unincorporated parts of Clark County, including areas around the Strip.
Some of the applicant groups that failed in Clark County are expected to apply for licenses in Las Vegas.
Medical marijuana entrepreneurs in Nevada are considering the possibility of working with private vault companies to store their cash.
Vegas Vaults, a safety deposit box storage facility in Clark County, said it is already receiving inquiries from prospective MMJ business owners seeking an alternative to traditional banking services, which are largely unavailable to companies that handle cannabis.
The company allows customers to store “virtually anything” they want – including cash. Users can do so anonymously, meaning that Vegas Vaults doesn’t collect any information on these customers. That could prevent courts from seizing the boxes or locking down assets.
The company’s owner, William Bayne, said one challenge for potential clients that want to store money is that the boxes only hold approximately $1 million in cash. High-volume medical marijuana businesses might have to stockpile much more than that, given that many of them won’t be able to land bank accounts.
In other markets, entrepreneurs have paid to build vaults or safe rooms in their dispensaries, though these options are expensive and require ample space. Other businesses pay transportation services to move their cash to secure vault businesses.
Nevada passed a law legalizing dispensaries last year, and several communities have started the application process for MMJ business licenses.
Clark County, Nevada, has taken another big step toward rolling out its medical marijuana program.
County commissioners approved 101 applications for medical cannabis businesses this week. The breakdown of approved applicants: 58 cultivators, 38 production facilities and five testing labs.
The commissioners rejected only five applications from a pool of 106, while six other applicants withdrew during the process.
Although the county has a cap of 18 licenses for dispensaries, it does not have a limit for the number of cultivation and production facilities or testing labs.
Some groups that didn’t secure dispensary licenses received initial approval to open a production or cultivation facility, giving them a second chance to enter the industry. One of those groups – Polaris Wellness Center – plans to now cultivate plants and produce marijuana sodas, brownies and cookies.
Similar to the dispensary application process, the producers/processor application process attracted a smattering of entrepreneurs with connections to politics and big business. Randy Black, a longtime casino executive, won a license, as did Brian Greenspun, publisher of the Las Vegas Sun.
The license winners must now gain state approval before they can open.


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Unipixel Inc., a 60-employee Colorado Springs operation acquired from Atmel Corp. last year could double in size by 2018 as technology advances to allow mobile-device manufacturers to produce screens that can folded, bent or rolled, the operation's top manager said.
Unipixel plans to add 20 employees by year-end to accommodate growth in its XTouch product line, made in the former Atmel plant at 1150 Cheyenne Mountain Blvd. now owned by Microchip Technology Inc., said Tom Moss, Unipixel's vice president of fabrication operations.
Atmel developed the technology under the XSense name as a thin film imprinted with ink that contains copper and can conduct electricity to be used in the touchscreens of smartphones and tablet and laptop computers. But in early 2015, Atmel decided to shut down or sell the operation.
"We are seeing growth," Moss said. "We have everything we need here to keep the business where it is and grow it. ... We even have all the equipment we need to ramp up to our current goals."
Moss is optimistic about Unipixel's growth in Colorado Springs because the XTouch product this year has been designed into 17 mobile devices from the world's top manufacturers, ranging from notebook personal computers to tablet computers that can be converted into laptop computers by attaching a keyboard.
Unipixel has not disclosed the identity of the manufacturers, but Atmel has been selling the XSense displays for tablets made by Taiwanese computer maker ASUS and personal computer and printer giant HP Inc.
About half of Unipixel's local employees work in the manufacturing operation, while the rest handle shipping and receiving, purchasing and sales orders, as well as safety, quality, reliability, finance, IT and engineering functions that previously had been provided to the XSense operation by Atmel, Moss said.
XTouch production initially would be expanded by adding manufacturing shifts, he said. Unipixel plans to exercise options it has to continue leasing space from Microchip for another 12-18 months, but the company has looked at a former semiconductor manufacturing plant shut down by Intel Corp. for future expansion, he said.
"We would likely have to subdivide that space" to fill the massive Intel plant, which spans more than 400,000 square feet, Moss said. Unipixel bought the product line from Atmel in April 2015 for a $450,000 promissory note, but also licensed the technology for two years and prepaid $9.3 million in royalties as part of the license, which can be extended for another 10 years.
Contact Wayne Heilman: 636-0234


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Cruise lines offer a variety of inventive themed cruises for every type of traveler, whether your client is looking for a music festival at sea or the ultimate wine tasting experience in a top wine region.
On Crystal Cruises’ April 29 voyage, guests can enjoy a 7-day jazz-themed trip on Crystal Symphony from Vancouver to Los Angeles. The Experiences of Discovery itinerary will stop at ports in Victoria, BC; Seattle, WA; Astoria, OR; San Francisco and Santa Barbara. On board, guests can listen to nightly performances in the lounges and theaters by a dozen jazz artists performing with and paying tribute to Benny Golson, a saxophonist, composer and arranger. Some of the performers include pianist Kenny Barron and his trio; guitarist Henry Johnson; and the Don Braden Quartet.
“To hear some of the best-known jazz compositions from the man who made many of them famous, along with this collection of great modern musicians on one voyage, is not only an honor for us, but truly an exclusive, Crystal-caliber treat for our guests,” says Bret Bullock, v.p. of entertainment for Crystal Cruises.
In September, Crystal Cruises will lead another jazz cruise with about two dozen musicians on a French-Canadian trip departing from Montreal on Sept. 26, featuring musicians such as Eddie Metz and Antti Sarpila. The trip will feature stops in Sept-Iles, Magdalen Island, and Quebec City, Quebec.
Rates start at $2,830 pp. For more information, visit crystalcruises.com.
Country music fans can also rejoice with a cruise to a private island in the Bahamas to celebrate the band Alabama’s 40th anniversary of their first show at The Bowery in New York City. The 4-night cruise departs Oct. 24 on NCL’s Norwegian Pearl departing from Miami to Nassau and stopping at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island.
The band will perform two outdoor concerts, and each member will have an individual performance. In addition, Alabama will be hosting a variety of other performances and activities on board. Guests will also receive an autographed cruise poster per stateroom, and can take a photo with the band.
“We have some exciting things in store for the fans and look forward to making this a lifetime memory for everyone on board,” says Teddy Gentry, founding member of Alabama. “This will be a one-of-a-kind experience where we truly get to share time together with our biggest supporters over the years.”
Staterooms go on sale March 20, and rates start at $750 pp. Rates include entertainment, meals, and access to the ship’s amenities, which include the fitness center, two pools, hot tubs and a rock climbing wall. For more information, visit alabamafestivalatsea.com. For more on Norwegian Cruise Line, visit ncl.com.
In 2014, Viking River Cruises is adding a new itinerary, Chateaux, Rivers & Wine, allowing guests to experience not only the history and culture of the Bordeaux region, but also to taste the wines of the region and learn how to make pastries, such as caneles.
“Our itineraries in France have always been very popular, and we are pleased to introduce this unique new experience in the Bordeaux region,” says Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking River Cruises. “We have designed an itinerary that allows our guests to explore this historically fascinating region and enjoy some of the world’s most celebrated wines.”
The 8-day voyage includes six guided tours in the Bordeaux and Aquitaine region, such as a tour of the citadel of Blaye or the town of St. Emilion, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, or a visit to the sites in Bordeaux. Passengers can also learn more about the culture of the region from local experts, such as a master sommelier.
Rates start at $1,656 pp. For more information, call (877) 668-4546 or visit vikingrivercruises.com.


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Petitioners want Skype-like Google Voice desktop client
In November 2009, Google acquired IP telephony software company Gizmo5 and all of its engineers and products. The company's robust desktop Voice over IP client for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux seemed like an excellent extension of the Google Voice platform, which at the time was a Web application and related mobile app for BlackBerry and Android.
Since that time, Google Voice has had its official U.S. launch and it is still a mobile app and Web-based management system. There is no standalone desktop application to accompany it.
Well, not one that the public has access to, anyway. Last week, TechCrunch got its hands on the unlaunched Google Voice desktop client, still branded "Gizmo5 by Google," but more or less integrated into the Google Voice account system.
Unfortunately, the future of this application is uncertain because, aside from a few shining examples (Google Earth Desktop, and Chrome) Google tends to favor Web apps and applications for mobile platforms. The desktop Google Voice client could potentially go unreleased.
Consumers excited for the Google Voice desktop software have started a petition begging Google to release it.
"Google Voice has been a landmark service that has brought a high-level of convenience to millions," the petition says. "We have asked, begged, and pleaded for a desktop VoIP application. We have heard news of said application and then sadly heard news of this application possibly being dropped for your "to-do list". This petition is brought forth to show you the overwhelming demand for such an application for OS/X, Windows, and Linux PCs."
In the three days it has been up, the petition has gotten more than 1,200 signatures with a goal of 500,000. The low initial number is likely due to the Independence Day holiday weekend over which the petition was launched. To sign the petition, go to giveusgvdesktop.com and link your Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace profile with the Petitionspot application, or simply enter your name, zipcode and email address.


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Cemento Andino recently launched legal action against Holcim, Cemex and Argos, accusing them of selling their products at artificially low prices to damage competitors and eventually enable them to buy them out.
During the meeting, Cemento Andino president Federico Molina repeatedly asserted that current cement prices in Colombia do not even cover production costs, so smaller domestic companies will certainly go bust if the situation continues unchecked.
The big three companies, who control 91% of the Colombian cement market, claim that prices have fallen due to market forces, "but one of the senators said if you think this is merely a matter of supply and demand, surely you can maintain those prices and we can form a futures market as with oil or agricultural goods," the company insider said.
"It is basically an attempt at intimidation... the senate can’t really determine market prices, but it could demand for a period that the companies sell cement to the state for construction at this price," the source said.
This is a proposal that would show whether it is really true that low cement prices are in accordance with market conditions and not just a tactic to pressure small cement companies into selling their plants, senator Serrano said.


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The Multi-Million Dollar Gamble in Detroit
By Marty Bernstein
AIADA Contributing Editor
In just a few weeks, thousands of
America’s car dealers are headed to Las Vegas, Nevada – the
official home of gambling in America and the high stakes gambling
headquarters of the world – this year’s home to the National
Automobile Dealers Association’s annual dealer convention and
AIADA’s 37th Annual Meeting and Luncheon, the proverbial launch pad
for international dealers’ 2007 legislative session.
While Vegas has gained fame for winning or losing vast fortunes on a single roll of the dice, the turn of a card and/or the spin of a roulette wheel, the real gamblers, albeit corporate gamblers are on display this week in Detroit’s Cobo Hall, the venue for the 100th annual North American International Automobile Show.
Here in hushed tones during media previews, a corporate executive details his/her brands’ exciting announcements for the New Year, and then, with the recorded sound of trumpet or the roll of snare drums or just really loud music, beautiful damsels deftly pull the satiny cover off a hand-made production car… and also a few next generation concepts that may one day soon end up in the showrooms of local dealerships.
This is the multi-million dollar crap shoot everyone loves to see… media journalists salivatging amid a clamour of “oohs” and “aahs.” The striking designs with rakish angles and smooth curves combined with shimmering metal and plastic, sensual leather, deftly prepared wood and bling-bling wheels that never cease to stir the souls of auto lovers.
The Detroit Show is arguably one, if not the biggest show for introduction of new models and concept cars from auto manufacturers around the world.
The Detroit Show generates the most consumer and trade media coverage, has more spectacular multi-million dollar exhibits, the very best in high tech visuals, gigets, gadgets and gizmos, passes out more trinkets, treasures and trash, the most stylish, slickest, sophisticated and spectacular media kits, is undoubtedly the most show-biz sanctioned auto show with more glitz, glitter, glamour than any other show in the industry.
Not too many years ago the show was the exclusive home of the Detroit automakers, but now it has morphed into a truly international show both in size and scope smack dab in the birthplace of the American auto industry.
As we go to press there are 15 production vehicles and 11 concept cars scheduled for presentation during the introductory media days here from Asian, European and U.S. automakers.
Below is a quick sneak-peak of some of this year’s new production and concept vehicles from international automakers:
Headed for Production
2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom
Drophead Coupe … aka Convertible
The inspiration is the RR Phantom, but it’s not just a drophead coupe, it’s a drop dead gorgeous, stunning and for the few with master-of-the-word bank accounts and AmEx black cards, with a six figure price tag slightly over $400,000.
Nissan’s New Rogue – Murano’s Little Brother
Small crossovers are going to be a big utility segment if the new Rogue sells as well as expected. Aggressive styling both in and out offers appeal to a younger, male buyer. But they will sell to females as well with several key stow compartments.
BMW 3 Convertible – A
Softtop Favorite Goes Hardtop
The fourth generation of BMW’s distinctive 3 Series four-seat convertible comes to the show with the introduction of the first retractable hardtop roof that opens in just 22 seconds and folds smoothly into the rear compartment.
The Mini Goes Maxi and
As one of the most popular small vehicles ever, the Mini added a few inches and more powerful model first shown last year in Paris. And just for the fun of it, a new Mini Convertible Sidewalk model will be seen for the first time in Detroit.
– Named for a Mexican Beauty
Veracruz may lack the fame of Cancun, Acapulco or Porte Vallarta as a beautiful vacation site, but Hyundai’s new crossover model will add to the luster of the Mexican city on the Gulf of Mexico. Its styling resembles that of the Lexus crossover.
Porsche Is On the Prowl for
More Potent Power
Like the Porsche Cayenne, Turbo and S models? The new versions will be debuting to throngs of auto aficionados both in and out of the media world and they look stunning with new almost everywhere in and out and under the hood.
The brand’s new Lancer Evolution compact sport sedan which is scheduled for delivery to dealers later this year is derived from Concept X with sleek lines and stance.
Lexus offers only a
sneak-peak-picture at its new model
Talk about top secret. All Lexus has said is it will stage the world premiere of the 2008 IS-F, an all-new high performance version of the popular Lexus IS 250/350 sport sedans.
Toyota FT-HS Concept –
This concept is, according to advance publicity, powered by a 400 horsepower hybrid powertrain. The new concept car was designed at Calty Design Research, Toyota’s design studio in Newport Beach, California.
Jaguar C-XF Concept
Designed by the same teams headed by Jag’s director of design, Ian Callum, who produced the award-winning Jaguar XK sports GT a couple of years ago, the C-XF concept is a precursor to future Jaguar exterior looks and innovative interiors.
Nissan Bevel Concept
Another California designed concept car, from the Nissan Design America, in La Jolla, CA, the Nissan Bevel Concept is described by Nissan as a dynamic, multi-purpose vehicle with a small size, big utility and fresh thinking.
Acura ’Advanced Sports Car Concept’
Acura, like a few other OEMs, did not release any photos of its concept car, just a computer generated sketch as a tease. The advance release said, “The concept provides a glimpse of the next generation Acura exotic small sports car.”
Mitsubishi’s Prototype X
With the name ‘Prototype X’ it’s possible to imagine a vehicle designed at Site 51, the supposed home of secret designs for the military. X, we were advised, does hint at the next production version of Mitsu’s rally-winning Lancer Evolution for 2007.
Mazda Ryuga Concept
If the well-known Mazda ad slogan ‘zoom-zoom’ were interpreted by an automotive design studio, the Ryuga concept vehicle would result. In Japanese, Ryuga means "gracious flow," and this model definitely sets the tone for an amazing sheet metal reveal this week.
Honda Accord Coupe Concept
The Accord is Honda’s best selling model in North America, and this concept vehicle’s debut marks the first time an Accord concept car has ever been shown at a major auto show. Like other concepts it conveys styling cues for the future and is a widely anticipated occurrence at this year’s Show.
A combination of versatility and the sporty charisma of a coupe, the XC60 Concept is a preview of the new production Volvo XC60 that is planned to reach showrooms at the beginning of 2009 in the Small Premium Utility segment.
Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive Concept
The German brand took a look to the past for a future design. The Ocean Drive Concept 4-door design revives the tradition of large luxury convertibles. There’s an aura of luxury and elegance that is unmistakable.


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Firms slash jobs for first time in 18 months
Companies are slashing jobs for the first time in 18 months after the economy tipped into recession, a report will warn.
Job cuts: More to come as the economy slides into recession
The Confederation of British Industry will say that almost a third of small and medium-sized companies cut headcount over the last three months, and are planning more redundancies in the run-up to Christmas.
Meanwhile, a bleak survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development will this morning reveal that the number of employers planning to sack staff has soared to its highest figure since its records began in 2004.
The warnings come ahead of Wednesday's official employment figures, which are expected to reveal a 50,000 jump in the claimant count last month - up from 31,000 in September.
Job insecurity has pushed consumer confidence to record lows, the British Retail Consortium warned last night.
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Augmented reality and virtual reality sure have been two trending technologies that almost every enterprise is looking into incorporating in their operations. But the world hasn’t actually managed to push through its full capability just yet. But with the new 5G connectivity, developers are sure they can change the way we live.
Just recently, Gartner released a report stating that in the next years, over 100 million consumers are expecting to shop with AR and VR technologies. The business advisory company then predicted that more retailers will use AR and VR apps to shake up the customer experience.
This has, however, been a struggle in the past years, mainly because AR and VR environments need huge amounts of data and fast connectivity for optimum performance. And the solution that experts are looking at is the 5G connectivity.
The higher throughput of 5G network is said to be necessary in cloud streaming VR and AR contents. With an access to 5G getting easier and more common, it may be that AR and VR will go mainstream with it.
The 5G network just launched this April and its capabilities reportedly can support multiple uses such as real-time rendering for immersive video, shorter download times and extension of brands and shopping experiences beyond stores.
Following this, both Verizon and AT&T already launched mobile 5G networks and are ready to deliver more powerful AR and VR experiences to online shoppers of IKEA and other retailers.
Experts claim 5G is engineered for massive bandwidth, and will deliver faster and more reliable mobile connections than the previous generations of connectivity. According to a report, Verizon’s Senior VP of Strategy, Toby Redshaw says it’s a “quantum step forward” in wireless technology. He continued:
“You’ll see things today that simply aren’t possible without 5G that I think are going to revolutionize a whole series of consumer experiences and how business is operating.
It’s going to going to kind of enable a lot of new functionality – for businesses, for cities, for education, for healthcare.”
But the real technology that will benefit from the 5G network is believed to be the augmented reality.
The 5G network is said to be essential to the future of augmented reality. Augmented reality is predicted to be much bigger than virtual reality. It is not just used in games like Pokemon Go or for Snapchatting. Many industries rely on augmented reality for improving their operations and employee productivity. Commercial, automotive, industrial and healthcare sectors already use augmented reality through interactive AR devices for planning, trainings and operations.
The founder and CEO of the NY-based computer vision and spatial computing software company Evercoast, Ben Nunez, says the technology will “really change how people interact, how they consume content, how they engage with products, and brands, and even each other.”
Several companies are now upgrading with the 5G network in their operations. Evercoast, for instance, is showing off its “virtual fitting room,” which captures video of a person using 16 high-definition cameras from 180 degrees, then delivers that in 3D form to VR goggles or a looking glass display, so they can put themselves in different outfits and settings.
The AR glasses developer, ThirdEye, boasts its smart glasses that use augmented reality and mixed reality software to provide remote help, now with 5G connectivity. The glasses are now faster in delivering instructions on how to provide medical treatment for an injured person.
Lastly, Envrmnt, the XR arm of Verizon, is building technologies that will exploit the latency and bandwidth advances of 5G networks. It has developed an AR powered object recognition tool that allows customers to get product details and reviews instantly, just by holding their smartphones up to the grocery store shelf.
Some of this tech is already being consumers by people in the U.S. while others are yet to be deployed.
More 5G Involvement on AR VR
Currently, the chip maker company Qualcomm is promoting a platform for smartphone-powered virtual and augmented reality headsets that rely on 5G networks, alongside partners like Acer, LG, and Sprint. Qualcomm just announced this effort at the Mobile World Congress, saying it would help push phone-powered VR and AR headsets onto the market this year.
Qualcomm is set to create an “XR-optimized” certification program for mobile phones using its Snapdragon 855 processors. So far, two VR goggles will support this program – the Acer OJO and the Nreal Light mixed reality glasses. More products are said to use the program including Pico.
How 5G Improves AR VR Experience
5G was initially introduced to the world in 2018 but it was not until earlier this year when companies were able to produce hardware products using the connectivity. Intel, Sprint, and T-Mobile were among those who announced their 5G plans for 2018.
But why is 5G technology so important to AR and VR?
Experts believe that 5G connectivity will open the floodgates of mass adoption. When it happens, it will finally allow people to use VR and AR to its full capacity.
1. 5G Reduces Latency
In a research conducted by ABI Research:
“This is where 5G’s significantly faster speeds and lower latency will come to the fore. We anticipate that 5G will bring about ‘a 10X improvement in throughout, a 10X decrease in latency, a 100X improvement in traffic capacity, and a 100X improvement in network efficiency’ over 4G.” The new speed that comes with this decrease in latency is going to change everything.
5G network would reduce the wait time to seconds.”
With this speed, latency is actually almost discarded. AR and VR will run super efficiently without lag time which is very important to industries like medicine that rely on AR for critical operations.
2. Improves Connection
AR has already invaded our mobile devices but it needs a solid connection to work optimally. Remember how Pokemon Go users complained about glitches? It was running on 4G. Now imagine it running on 5G which is exponentially more powerful than 4G.
According to Huawei, “A 5G network provides up to a million connections per square kilometer. This will bring an exponential increase in the number of connections.”
A basic example of this is your wifi. Connectivity becomes poor when more devices are connected to one single modem. More devices on the network will create a need for more connections – something that we cannot do with 4G. Hence, with 5G, more devices can be supported and AR and VR apps will that needs heavy connectivity will still operate smoothly.
3. Increased Traffic Capacity
5G network will usher to millions of new devices that will change the quality of life of users. However, it is a requirement to have a strong network connection to handle all the new traffic.
According to Qualcomm, 5G can offer a 100X improvement in traffic capacity compared to 4G connectivity. For businesses and individuals to take full advantage of VR and AR every single day, this improved traffic capacity is a must. A network that is overloaded with traffic will create latency that VR and AR simply cannot withstand.
4. More Bandwidth Equals Better Quality Screens
The wider the bandwidth, the faster your internet is. VR and AR needs internet and it hates lags. Screens and the equipment required to run VR and AR will require speeds and bandwidth that 4G does not offer.
According to Spectrum:
“One way to get around that problem (lack of bandwidth) is to simply transmit signals on a whole new swath of the spectrum, one that’s never been used for mobile service before. That’s why providers are experimenting with broadcasting on millimeter waves, which use higher frequencies than the radio waves that have long been used for mobile phones.”
5G uses frequencies of 30 to 300 GHz compared to previous bands that have below 6 GHz. Increased bandwidth will be required to ensure connections are not lost and speed remains at a high level for the best VR and AR screen quality. It cannot be done without 5G.
Indeed, 5G has the ability to make VR and AR a mainstream reality for the world. It will greatly improve screen and equipment quality, increased traffic capacity, improved connection speeds and for latency to be almost nonexistent.


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HTC Desire C Unveiled Featuring 3.5-Inch Display, Beats Audio, 5-Megapixel Camera And NFC Support
Having already made the rounds under the guise of HTC Golf and Wildfire C, HTC has today confirmed the launch of the Desire C, a budget Android smartphone that features Beats audio, Ice Cream Sandwich and NFC support. The 3.5-inch smartphone is powered by a 600MHz Snapdragon S1 processor and boasts an HVGA display, Bluetooth 4.0, 5-megapixel camera, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a 1230 mAh battery.
The Next Web
Galaxy S III SGH-T999V Sighted On Samsung Canada’s Support Page, Coming To WIND And Mobilicity?
Recently Samsung Canada put up a generic support page for a phone with model number SGH-T959V, which coincides with the Galaxy S III variant that T-Mobile is expected to get. Considering the linear iteration over the years (SGH-T959, SGH-T989, SGH-T999) it’s all but certain that this model number, which has been spied a few times, will be a non-LTE variant of the Galaxy S III.
Google Reportedly Planning Stable Of Nexus Devices With Android 5.0, Will Sell 'em Direct
The Wall Street Journal is reporting on quite the bombshell today, noting that Google is about to cause its carrier partners in the States all sorts of grief -- indirectly, of course. Just weeks after placing its heralded Galaxy Nexus on sale for $399 unlocked, the report states that said move is only the beginning of a new initiative. Likely to be formally revealed at Google I/O, the mega-corp is planning to partner with a variety of OEMs (rather than just one at a time) in order to have up to five Pure Google (read: Nexus) devices available at once.
Twilio Calling: Cloud Telephony Startup Adds An Android SDK, Now Works On 75% Of All Smartphones
Cloud-based telephony API startup Twilio has made significant inroads into VoIP and other carrier services like SMS by launching products that work on the web and in iOS apps, supporting 90,000 registered developer accounts in the process. Today it’s widening that net considerably with the launch of a new Android client, the first SDK from the company to work on Google’s platform. And it hints that Windows Phone may be next in line.


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Asus on Thursday announced a price cut of Rs 1000 on its ZenFone Max(ZC550KL). The ZenFone Max (ZC550KL), which was earlier priced at INR 8,999, is now available for INR 7,999. The new price reduction will reflect across all major e-commerce sites like Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal and leading retail stores including Asus Exclusive Stores across India.
Asus launched the ZenFone Max(ZC550KL) in India in January 2016. The phone was launched at Rs 9,999 for the 2GB RAM variant. The ZenFone Max features a 5.5-inch HD display and weighs 202g with battery. The smartphone is backed by a 5000mAh battery with reverse charging which as per the company claims can power the phone for up to 914 hours in standby and up to 38 hours of talk time.
On the optics front, the ZenFone Max(ZC550KL) sports a 13 MP rear camera with laser auto focus of 0.03 seconds, dual LED real tone flash and a 5MP front camera with Auto Focus, wide view an f2.0 aperture. The rear camera also comes with host of other features like the real time beautification, nigh mode, photo effects, panorama mode, time rewind and more. The phone comes with a3.5mm audio jack and includes connectivity options such as WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Micro USB (support OTG), Bluetooth V4.0+EDR +A2DP, dual micro SIM card, dual SIM dual Stand by and Wi-Fi direct.
The ZenFone Max(ZC550KL) is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor paired with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage which can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD card.


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Honda Is Shipping Out of the UK
Honda (NYSE:HMC) is packing up and closing its Swindon factory by 2022, insisting that it has nothing to do with Brexit. The fact that it’s closing in 2022 and not, like, right now before Brexit takes place illustrates that Honda was probably looking for an excuse to get out and move to a country where manufacturing is much cheaper due to less regulations and other government interference in business. The Swindon factory employs 3,500 people. In another effort to deflect criticism for “hurting the economy” by doing what it needs to do to stay profitable, Honda is emphasizing that the move out of the UK will help it in the electrification process of future car models, because then if people protest Honda, they’re protesting electric cars, and you can’t do that. It’s politically incorrect.
SEE: Cannabis Stock News Daily Roundup February 14
16 States Including California are Suing Trump on Border Wall
California is suing President Trump over the border wall, together with Nevada, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Virginia. All of these states with the exception of Michigan went for Hillary Clinton on 2016. Only 4 US States share a border with Mexico in the first place, and only the blue ones are suing. Texas and Arizona seem fine with the whole border wall thing. The lawsuit states, in so many words, that the President can’t simply declare an emergency where none exists just because he wants to spend money where Congress didn’t allocate it. The case will come down to whether a judge believes that a state of emergency actually exists on the Mexican border, which comes down to political persuasion more than anything else really.
Oil Moves Past $56, Gold Past $1,330, Palladium at All Time Highs
Oil (NYSEARCA:USO) and gold (NYSEARCA:GLD) are moving up, and in a sign that either gold is underpriced or palladium is way too expensive, palladium (NYSEARCA:PALL) is now trading higher than gold, over $1,400 an ounce and at all time highs. Meanwhile, platinum (NYSEARCA:PPLT) is very depressed, trading at just around $800, which means the order of precious metals is now silver, platinum, gold, palladium, which sounds really weird. Platinum is trading at very long term support established back in April 1980. Something strange is going on in the metals markets. Oil meanwhile is approaching resistance at $57.50 with the 50DMA moving back up after falling since November.
$4,000 For a 15MPG GM Electric Bike? Sure!
What wants a brand spanking new electric bicycle that can rocket forward at 15 entire miles per hour and takes 3.5 hours to fully charge? We all do. This GM (NYSE:GM) creation, called ARIV, won’t go the way of the Segway, AKA the motorized dolly beloved by nerds everywhere. The first bikes are going to Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Ford is working on its own version of this monster bike after buying scooter firm Spin for $100M back in November. GM is closing 5 plants and laying off 14,000 workers, most of whom won’t be working on the bike.
JPMorgan Goes Crypto
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), the largest bank in the US by assets, is going into blockchain. It’s starting its own coin, dubbed JPM coin, which will basically be a stablecoin backed by the US dollar. The coin will be tested out on institutional clients who need to transfer a lot of money all at once in wholesale payments that could be done much faster through blockchain rather than through traditional wires. Is this bullish for Bitcoin (BTC-USD)? Some enthusiasts would say so, but it doesn’t seem to be the case because JPM Coin has nothing to do with the Bitcoin blockchain itself, and is its own independent blockchain. In that sense it will be a competitor to Bitcoin. That didn’t stop Bitcoin enthusiast Tim Draper from being wildly bullish on the cryptocurrency, predicting a move to $250,000 a coin by 2022. “Over time, when they start taking bitcoin, I’m going to be pretty much moving everything [out of the banks]. There is no reason to hold on to shells, when you’ve got gold,” he said. By gold, he meant Bitcoin, not actual gold.


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Yahoo may be getting out of the search business, but now Google is gunning for the company’s stronghold: display advertising.
The search giant announced the DoubleClick Ad Exchange Friday, which will function like a stock exchange for display advertising online. Google is hoping that this auction market will help automate the process of buying display ads and break the code for display the way that Google tapped into the search market.
Google may have 70% of the search market, but in display it has a paltry 1.3% of ad views. Will the DoubleClick Ad Exchange change all that?
According to The New York Times:
“Some industry executives say that the DoubleClick exchange will give
advertisers more flexibility than Yahoo’s, allowing marketers to aim
their ads more precisely at certain types of customers and to buy one
ad spot or ‘impression’ at a time.”
Google has been interested in the display ad business for awhile now. Display is harder to track and monetize than search, but Google search revenues are falling and the company is serious about getting into display. In the company’s announcement Friday, Google wrote that display ads are “vital in boosting awareness and sales” on the web.
After failling to find footing on its own in display, the search giant bought DoubleClick two years ago for $3.1 billion and has been integrating DoubleClick’s technology with its own ever since.
That said, this is not likely to be a huge business for Google. Silicon Alley Insider estimates it will bring in $25 billion business annually, with Google taking in only $300 to $500 million a year.
Compared to some of Google’s other revenue streams, that isn’t a huge moneymaker. But the DoubleClick Ad Exchange could help the company solidify its online advertising domination.
Yet another ad exchange sounds like another way to commoditize the process of selling display ads online, but Google thinks that their presence in display will help to curb the bleeding of revenue in the space. Neal Mohan, Google’s VP of product management, tells Paid Content:
“The whole point is to create more revenue for everyone. Let’s say a site experiences a sudden rise in traffic due to some news
event. They’ll be able to bid inventory that would normally sell their
ad space for much more. Ad space that goes for $5 could suddenly sell
We’ll have to wait and see if they manage that.


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At Casper’s new Gruner Brothers Brewery, the beer is brewed, the canning lines are ready and the labels are printed.
There’s only one problem. Part of the federal government isn’t working.
“Since we’re a new brewery we’re waiting to get our labels approved, and with the government shutdown that will delay our can release,” said Ben Gruner, co-owner of Gruner Brothers Brewing.
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One key element of the federal government for breweries is label approval by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which is now inactive during the partial government shutdown.
The TTB checks the labels on beer and spirits labels for accuracy and makes sure they meet specific regulations such as alcohol content, bar codes and health warnings.
“We should have the final labels done today or tomorrow and then we have to submit them, but I don’t know if we’re submitting them into a black hole or what,” said Gruner. “If the pile (at their office) stacks up, we’re going to be so far behind.”
The timing is particularly disruptive to Gruner Brothers Brewing, who just started brewing in October and were planning to have cans on the shelves by next month.
“We were hoping to have the cans out in the next 30 days, but they’re saying the wait is 43 plus days and that’s if they were open,” said Gruner.
For craft distillers such as Casper’s Backwards Distilling, the regulation process that is now at a standstill is even more involved.
“Formulas are when we submit a recipe that they approve so that we can put new products on the market,” said Backwards Distilling co-owner Amber Pollock. Formula approval includes anything that involves botanicals, according to Pollock, such as all of their gin products.
“We’ve got some products in the works that would need formula approval before they hit the market,” said Pollock. “Essentially we aren’t able to release anything new that hasn’t already been TTB approved until they’re operating again.”
Pollock says that until now TTB has reduced the approval wait time to a few days for labels and several days for formulas. Pollock, as well as Gruner, are concerned about the backlog that will inevitably pile up as the TTB office is shut down.
Every brewer who introduces a new brew and label will be submitting, said Gruner. Craft brewers in particular rely on new, interesting and seasonal varieties to keep customers interested.
“There’s something like 7,000 plus breweries across the United States,” said Gruner.
“I anticipate there will be a backlog,” said Pollock, who recently rushed to submit the formula and label for a new product to get into the queue. “We didn’t want to be in the back of that line when it opens back up,” she said.
Gruner Brothers will still produce beer and sell it in kegs and at their tap room in the former Petroleum Club building. But as the fight over President Trump’s proposed border wall continues, the small businesses will have to keep future plans on hold.
Pollock says the uncertainty makes it more difficult to run an already competitive business. “The longer it goes the longer the backlog,” said Pollock. “If it’s weeks it’s not the end of the world, but if it’s months that could be a big change in our trajectory of the year.”
“It’s not really fair to breweries, small or large,” said Gruner.