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Mask are now mandatory in public. How do we adjust?
When Eilene Shaffer reopened the doors to her MeWow Cat Cafe in Buckingham last month, she was determined to make it clear that masks were nonnegotiable.
In the face of a mandate that has drawn the ire of mask-resistant folks, she found that a little humor goes a long way.
Looking to diffuse tempers, she posted a sign: “You can choose not to wear a mask. Then you must remove all your clothes to enter. It's all or nothing. It’s about choices.”
When it comes to masks, there isn’t much choice. Wearing a face covering is now mandatory in all public places in Pennsylvania, under an order Wednesday from state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine.
The new guidelines serve as a reminder that the coronavirus crisis is far from over. The mask is the most visual indicator of just how radically life has changed, and just how much the public has had to adjust.
Health officials expect masks to be a part of the social and professional landscape for some time, as uncertainty about the duration of the pandemic lingers and cases rise in many states, including Pennsylvania.
“Until we achieve herd immunity, I don't see masks going away,” said Dr. Harris Cohen, who runs Hatboro Family practice and hosts Facebook Live events to educate the public on emerging guidelines. “Until we have an effective treatment that works every time to prevent hospitalizations, ICU bed usage and ventilator usage ... or until we have a vaccine, masks are here for the long haul. So find one that’s comfortable.”
Yet wearing a mask can come with its share of challenges for those facing anxiety and a feeling of claustrophobia when worn for an extended period of time.
“One client wasn’t realizing that she was panicking just by wearing it in preparation to go back to the office,” said Doylestown life and business coach Candace Yaeger, who helped the woman cope through self-talk techniques to remind herself that she could breathe, that she was safe and that she would be fine.
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization recommend that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings, especially in areas with significant community spread.
Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration have largely been unyielding in their support of masks — “my mask protects you, your mask protects me” has become something of a mantra. Yet the topic has become a hot-button issue across the state.
As of Wednesday, mask-wearing has become standard protocol, with Wolf and Levine announcing that the practice is now a requirement for anyone who leaves their home. That includes riding on public transportation or using ride-sharing services; visiting any indoor location open to the public; obtaining services from any health care facility; being outdoors and not able to social distance; and working.
Exceptions are provided for those who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, individuals working in an environment where masks create an unsafe condition, people who cannot remove a mask without assistance, children under the age of 2, and for those who are communicating with someone who is hearing-impaired or has another disability that requires them to see a speaker’s mouth.
“This mask-wearing order is essential to stopping the recent increase in COVID-19 cases we have seen in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said in a statement. “Those hot spots can be traced to situations where Pennsylvanians were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing — two practices that must be adhered to if we want to maintain the freedoms we have in place under our reopening.”
Supporters of mask-wearing say it not only protects the public, but it also has economic benefits.
“If a face mask mandate meaningfully lowers coronavirus infections, it could be valuable not only from a public health perspective but also from an economic perspective because it could substitute for renewed lockdowns that would otherwise hit GDP,” Goldman Sachs researchers wrote in a report published in Forbes. Wearing masks and slowing the spread could save the U.S. economy $1 trillion by avoiding another shutdown, the researchers said.
The face-mask mandate, however, isn’t without its detractors. Many opponents say the rules infringe on their personal freedoms, making mask-wearing a hot political issue.
For Barry Possinger, it’s a health issue. The self-employed Stroudsburg resident says he is exempt from wearing a facial covering due to a medical condition, but that hasn’t stopped people from confronting him, he said.
Possinger was on a trip to Lowe’s in Bethlehem about a month ago when he had his first brush with another individual over masks. While waiting in the checkout line, a fellow customer noticed that he was not wearing the now-commonplace coverings, sparking a heated reaction.
“I was more than six feet away from him on the checkout line, and he just, you know, (says) ‘Where’s your mask, (expletive)?’” Possinger said.
“I said, ‘I don’t have to wear one. Your medical condition exempts you. If you have a medical condition, it exempts you from wearing a mask.’ And I said, ‘With HIPAA, I don’t have to tell anybody what it is,’” Possinger said.
The man continued to argue with him, Possinger said, as have others.
Recently, while at a BJ’s Wholesale Club store, he was confronted by a woman who asked where his mask was, though this interaction played out a little better than the Lowe's scenario.
“I wanted to tell her, ‘Why don’t you mind your own business?’ but I didn’t. I just said, ‘If you have a medical condition, you don’t have to wear one.’ And (she said), ‘Oh, I didn’t know that.’ She was pleasant, it was OK, and that was the end of it,” he said.
Possinger has since made it a point to contact store managers ahead of shopping trips to inform them that he would be shopping without a mask.
“If you want to wear one, wear one. I’m not forcing you to wear one, I’m not forcing you not to wear one,” Possinger said. “Please don’t try to bully me and force me to wear one. If you’re that afraid, stay home, jump in bed, pull the covers up over your head, build a bubble around your house and stay home. When we all die, come out.”
Enforcing the rules
While it’s one challenge to get everyone on board, it’s an even greater challenge to enforce the mandate, business owners have found.
High-traffic businesses, such as eateries, resorts and casinos, have their own distinct problems when it comes to enforcing mask protocols.
For restaurants and bars, the most obvious issue stems from a business model that revolves around consuming food and beverages.
“Restaurants and bars offer families and friends a place to gather and socialize while enjoying food and drink, and we want to make sure that business owners and staff have the proper precautions in place to protect workers and patrons,” Wolf said.
Customers are still required to don masks “while entering, exiting, or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail food service business,” though they can remove them while sitting.
And while indoor seating capacity is capped at 50% for establishments in the green phase, and many of those businesses employ other mitigation tactics — separating tables by at least six feet, for example — it isn’t a foolproof system. Diners could easily forget to put their masks back on when hitting the restrooms, potentially exposing other customers to the virus.
Stephanie Rath, general manager of Barley Creek Brewing Company in Tannersville, said that the restaurant has had a surprisingly positive experience with reopening efforts and mask wearing, and that her team has been working hard to keep everyone safe and happy in the midst of the pandemic.
“It has not been difficult for us to enforce,” Rath said. “The staff are more than willing to go above and beyond and make sure they’re keeping each other safe and all of our customers safe.”
Barley Creek consists of an indoor eatery, along with an outdoor patio and the “Pint Size Park” beer garden, so guests who are wary of sitting in close quarters inside have some options.
“The outdoor venue has definitely made it easier for us to reassure those guests that aren’t ready to return indoors for dining to have a space and venue available for those guests outdoors,” Rath said, noting that both indoor and outdoor customers abide by mask-wearing protocols, donning the coverings whenever they aren’t at their seats.
Resorts, including that of Kalahari in Pocono Manor and Camelback in Tannersville, have been implementing standard mask-wearing protocols on their premises since reopening went into effect. According to most policies, guests have to keep their face coverings on unless they are in the waterparks — even the CDC recommends against wearing masks while in the water, as the coverings inhibit breathing when soaked — or at bars and restaurants.
While the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board made it clear in their reopening guidelines that “all patrons entering a casino shall wear a mask which covers the nose and mouth areas and shall wear the mask in that manner continuously while in the casino,” and “employees shall wear masks,” that does not necessarily mean the rules are being followed to a T.
On opening day at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, guests were seen throughout the premises without masks. Though some could claim exceptions that does not negate the increased risk of infection that comes with going bare.
“Guests are entitled to lower their mask to eat, drink or smoke — as is permitted by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board — but all team members have been instructed to ask guests with masks lowered while not partaking in those activities to raise their masks for the safety of themselves and others,” said Glenn Cademartori, Mount Airy’s vice president of marketing. “For guests who arrive without a mask or need a replacement, we have complimentary masks available.”
Parx Casino on Thursday rolled back its rule allowing patrons to smoke in designated indoor areas, saying they now must go outside due to the new mask rules. Mount Airy continues to allow smoking in areas of the casino.
So what happens when a customer decides they aren’t going to wear a mask, whether they have a legitimate exemption or not?
State health department spokesman Nate Wardle said businesses are welcome to refuse service to customers who refuse to comply with mask-wearing policies, as “Governor Wolf has shared that just like businesses enforce wearing shoes and shirt to offer service, masks are now added to that.”
However, Wardle recommended that business owners and employees offer up some education in lieu of a harsh send-off.
“If the customer is refused service, and if the business is not able to provide a mask, the business should consider providing information on mask making, distributing ‘how to’ flyers, or sharing information about where masks can be purchased,” Wardle said, adding that staff should stress that just about any face covering, including a bandanna or a scarf, would be helpful.
Putting up a sign describing the establishment’s mask requirements on entrances and other areas of high visibility could be helpful as well.
When tensions escalate, though, the best bet for workers is to play it safe and back off. If customers become excessively troublesome, it may be necessary to call in security or law enforcement to handle the problem, but everyday employees should aim to avoid such situations.
“If a customer is belligerent or aggressive, there is no expectation that an employee should force a customer to comply or put themselves in a dangerous situation,” Wardle said.
Life with masks
Shaffer, of the MeWow Cat Cafe, saw confrontations unfold online, and didn’t want to take a chance.
“In my store I can't afford there to be a commotion either way, having concern for the safety of my staff, customers and cats in mind,” she said.
Cohen said people with medical conditions who cannot wear masks should still avoid going out in public as much as possible.
“For those going back to gyms, bowling alleys, nail salons and tattoo parlors, you absolutely have to wear a mask,” the doctor said. “We are not infringing upon constitutional rights, we are not infringing upon your rights as a human being. We are asking you to be a courteous citizen. If you have a disease where you feel like you can’t wear a mask, you don’t have to shop at that store; let somebody shop there for you.”
Yaeger, the life coach, said she tries to remind business owners and clients to avoid taking to heart the confrontations they see on social media.
“Anytime we are going through something that is so unknown, there is a collective shift we have to make,” she said. “We have to watch what we are consuming.”
From his perspective, Cohen said most people are “doing the right thing.”
“You know what video never goes viral? Someone doing the right thing. You never see videos on Twitter or Facebook of someone putting on a mask going through Trader Joes, buying their cat cookies, thanking everyone and going back into their car. Those videos don’t get hits,” he said.
"Politics and science should be totally separate,“ he added. "The mask, while some people feel it’s forced upon them, is the only way to protect yourself and others. The countries where mask wearing is accepted and worn has seen plummeted rates of infections.“
Cohen would like to see national leaders emphasizing a unified message.
“We need to see a unified message from the government down — from scientists, from doctors, leaders in the community, nurses, firefighters, teachers, people at the supermarket,” he said. “You can’t be looked down upon by doing the right thing.”
Shaffer felt the blow of criticism when she posted the humorous sign on her business’ door. It now adorns a T-shirt for sale, as well.
“I’ve gotten hate emails and awful things on my voicemail, but the huge majority of people think it’s a great perspective to have,” she said. “If you’re willing to cover your body, you should be willing to comply with a mandate and cover your face
“This was about getting everybody to calm down ... So let’s everyone get along, and put a mask on.”
Mask tips for safety and comfort
Wearing a mask can make you feel like you’re suffocating, especially in warm temperatures. That’s because the air you exhale is at your body temperature, about 98 degrees. With a mask covering your mouth and nose, heat gets trapped inside. If you can’t breathe easily through your mask, and you’re wearing it outside on a hot day, you could overheat.
Dr. Richard Levine, a family medicine physician at Virtua Primary Care in South Jersey, offers these tips for staying safe and comfortable in a mask as the mercury rises:
– Pick a mask made of a breathable material like 100% cotton. An old T-shirt or woven cotton sheets would work. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester, as well as mask filters, which can make your mask hotter and harder to breathe through.
– Pick lighter colors that reflect sunlight, rather than darker colors that absorb heat.
– Make sure your mask fits snugly, but not too tight. Your mask should cover your nose and mouth. It also should fit snugly against the sides of your face, but loosely in front of your nose and mouth so it doesn't restrict your breathing. If you’re bothered by ear loops, try a mask that has adjustable ties or straps.
– Carry more than one mask. Cloth masks can easily become damp with sweat. A wet mask can stick to your face and obstruct your breathing. Carry extra masks in a plastic sandwich bag to keep them clean and dry.
– Wash your cloth masks as often as possible. If you’re wearing a disposable mask, throw it away if it becomes damp or soiled.
– Take time to breathe easy. The CDC recommends wearing a cloth mask in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as stores and crowds (like on the boardwalk). But if you’re sitting alone outside or driving, you probably don’t need a mask. When you’re picking up food at the drive-thru and will be within six feet of someone else, put your mask on.
Likewise, if you’re running or walking alone in your neighborhood, you can leave your mask at home. If you’re weaving in and out of a crowd and can’t maintain a safe distance, wear your mask.
If you have a job that requires you to wear a mask all day, take breaks where you can go off by yourself and remove it. Be sure to wash your hands and avoid touching the front of the mask.
– Care for your skin. Heat and humidity can cause moisture to build up under your mask, irritating your skin. To ease this irritation, apply a moisturizer that doesn’t clog your pores.
– Wait to go outside. If you’re particularly sensitive to the heat and are afraid you’ll have trouble breathing through your mask, go outside first thing in the morning or later in the day when it’s cooler.


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Start-up fashion brand Hammers Hill launches with Practical a trendy One-piece Cap and Hoody
The cap and hoody combo has become a go-to look for everyone from TV and movie stars to sports heroes – and now, lifestyle brand Hammers Hill is capitalizing on this trend with its one-of-a-kind cap and hoody as one piece. The product is the company’s first of many that will combine style and comfort, say its founders Andreas and Elena
Hammers Hill’s launch product is an all-black cap and hoody with a white logo on the chest. Made of 100 % cotton, the one-piece hoody is designed to slip on easily. The sporty, understated and unisex look is appropriate for lots of occasions, from a jog around the block to a night out with one’s entourage.
“At Hammers Hill, we like to say that fashion is a lifestyle,” says Elena. “Our patent-pending cap and hoody is a great way to get noticed, but without seeming to put too much effort into it. That’s the hallmark of today’s best casual looks.”
The story behind Hammers Hill reveals the passion and perseverance that have gone into making this brand into something special. The founders were a typical double-income, no-kids family until the birth of their son, after which Elena decided not to return to the workforce. So, Andreas worked hard to support the growing family, while they both kept their ear to the ground for opportunities.
Inspiration struck as they were browsing a celebrity gossip magazine and noted how many famous folk don a cap and hoody when ducking the paparazzi. After not finding this look available as one piece from any retailer, Andreas and Elena decided to fill this gap themselves – and Hammers Hill was the result. Once the idea for the flagship product was formulated, the new company set about making a prototype, building a website and manufacturing an initial run of apparel.
“We are so grateful for the community’s support in bringing this dream to life,” says Elena, “and to give fashion-forward consumers a practical, well-made item that we believe is perfectly positioned to become a hot trend – especially considering that people like Lebron James and Justin Bieber have been seen sporting this look.”
Customers can now pre-order Hammers Hill’s second product, a white asymmetrical cap and hoody. Everyone who pre-orders now will receive a free pair of stylish Hammers Hill sunglasses. In addition to the white hoody, the company already has new designs on the drawing board. They are also meeting with retailers in Los Angeles who are interested in stocking their products in 2017.
Because their son was such an important inspiration in founding Hammers Hill, Andreas and Elena will be donating 10 % of net proceed to UNICEF and Save the Children – Africa.
Hammers Hill is an apparel company behind the first-of-its-kind cap and hoody one piece. The company is the brainchild of a pair of young entrepreneurs who want to make the world a better and more fashionable place.

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A decade ago, China wasn't the top trading partner for even one of the Group of 20 economies. Today, it's the biggest trading partner for six (Australia, Japan, Korea, India, Russia and South Africa), has replaced the U.S. as the top export market for a seventh (Brazil), and risen in import for the rest.
"When somebody writes the history of our time 50 or 100 years from now," says Lawrence Summers, the Harvard University economist and former Obama aide, "it is unlikely to be about the Great Recession of 2008…or about the fiscal problem that America confronted in the second decade of the 21st century. It will be about how the world adjusted to the movement of the theater of history toward China."
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This may not come as an Earth-shattering surprise but Bethesda says there will be no demo for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the next chapter in its epic open-world RPG series.
A good demo is a tricky thing. You need to whet the appetite but leave them wanting more; it has to represent the entirety of the game without giving away the store. Above all else, it must not underwhelm. That’s a tough formula at the best of times and when it comes to huge, open-world games like those of the Elder Scrolls series, it’s just about impossible. So Bethesda isn’t even going to try.
“We won’t be doing a demo,” Producer Craig Lafferty told Gameplanet. “A game of this size and complexity, it’s really hard to do a demo that represents the game. It’d be a gigantic demo as well, so we won’t be doing a demo.”
It’s been awhile since the last Elder Scrolls demo: 15 years, in fact, when Bethesda released a single-dungeon teaser for the great Daggerfall. It showed off the game’s dungeoneering capabilities reasonably well but gave no hint about the depth, complexity or sheer size of the real deal. In other words, it was more or less a waste of time and effort that could have been better spent on the game itself. So, no demo? No problem.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim comes out on November 11, 2011, for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.


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Mr. Speaker, that is not exactly what the Premier of Quebec was saying yesterday.
The rules around the transfer of family businesses are some of the Liberals' most tragic reform proposals. Selling a business to a family member will cost more in taxes than selling to an outsider.
That makes no sense. The Liberal Premier of Quebec is the one saying this, not me. He said that, back home, in the regions, when a business gets sold to an outsider, it usually ends up leaving the area, resulting in a loss of jobs and economic activity.
When will the Prime Minister of Canada finally understand that his tax reform will directly affect middle-class Canadians, especially those in the regions?


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Plus, we found totally different manufacturers that provide each a disposable CBD vape pen and a CBD vape pen that’s refillable. If you’re thinking about getting a refillable CBD vape package, mkuc.org they’ve obtained you coated as nicely. “You may inform how offended they have been getting with this sense of manipulation,” he said. Since vapes are well-liked, https://www.vapingdevice.biz/yocan-x-kit-500mah it’s necessary that you already know what you’re getting and that you’re buying solely from trustworthy manufacturers.
If you’re involved in buying a pair totally different products, this is a good one-stop shop. If you’re a fan of smoking rituals, a CBD vape pen looks as if a pure alternative to add to your health regimen. You get to vape CBD and https://www.vapingdevice.biz/strawberry-custard-by-finest-creme-de-la-creme-120ml enjoy the act of smoking, you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of different flavors to take pleasure in, and you’re additionally enjoying the benefits of CBD. Bundle up your favorite flavors without delay to qualify without cost shipping!
The restrictions won’t apply to a few flavours that the FDA says appeal more to adults than teenagers: tobacco, menthol and mint. Anti-smoking activists have questioned whether the brand new FDA restrictions will be enough to stop the teen vaping surge. The restrictions are expected to have much less affect on vape specialty shops, https://www.vapingdevice.biz/lychee-by-skwezed-100ml as a result of many already require an ID to enter. The province will nonetheless permit vaping to be promoted in specialty stores and cannabis shops, https://www.vapingdevice.biz/og-summer-blue-by-keep-it-100-synthetic-30ml which are open to people aged 19 and https://www.vapingdevice.biz/hyppe-max-flow-tank-disposab-00-puffs-8ml older.
In a statement Health Canada mentioned it was considering more regulations to scale back nicotine content material, www.xn--v20ba78u9xira404pbqce7pvwap69d.kr further prohibit flavours, and require the vaping trade to provide details about their vaping merchandise. Linda Richter, an expert on vaping and adolescent substance use who works on the New York-primarily based Center on Addiction, suggests that schools present information in regards to the well being consequences and the way corporations have manipulated college students to use vaping products by making it seem fun and cool.
A latest research discovered that almost 60% of high schoolers and 54% of center schoolers who use nicotine vaping products stated Juul was their regular model. They are like-minded spots in Washington and California. The new tips are anticipated to closely impact fuel stations and convenience shops, https://www.vapingdevice.biz/straw-melon-sour-by-finest-saltnic-series-30ml which have lobbied towards the plan because it was floated last November. But there is little research on their lengthy-time period well being effects, notably for younger individuals. The public health teams have warned that the lack of oversight could undo many years of anti-tobacco efforts as younger individuals migrate toward newer vaping merchandise.
Ontario was set to ban the advertising of vaping merchandise in convenience shops under the previous Liberal government but the Progressive Conservatives paused regulations that have been to come into impact on July 1, 2018 shortly after they took workplace. Under proposed pointers released Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration, e-cigarette makers would limit gross sales of most flavoured merchandise to shops that verify the age of customers entering the shop or embrace a separate, age-restricted area for vaping products.


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Michael Jackson: The Experience will not be released for PS3 and Xbox 360 until next year.
Developed by Ubisoft, the rhythm action title has been postponed to allow the development team more time to improve its Move and Kinect support.
"We're giving our teams more time to develop the Kinect and Move versions to ensure we deliver awesome experiences that take full advantage of the new technologies," a Ubisoft rep told IGN.
The game was originally slated to arrive on November 25 alongside its Wii, DS and PSP counterparts. It will still be released for the other platforms as intended.


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Chrysler reinvented themselves with an all-new midsize sedan announced at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show earlier this year. The 200 boasted a handful of segment-firsts including a nine-speed automatic transmission, fully disconnected rear axle, adaptive cruise control and a full-speed forward collision warning system.
Chrysler’s team used the same four key principles that fleshed out the 200 (emotional design impact, use of high-quality materials with honest material execution, state-of-the-art technology and classic, thoughtful American design) to rethink their 300 sedan. → Read More
zAutos had the honor of attending the 2014 LA Auto Show this week. This year’s showcase had a healthy mix of concept cars, luxury convertibles, exotics, classics and mid-size sedans. Here is a short list of our favorites featuring some of the fastest, wildest, and most innovative cars at LAAS.
Check it out after the jump! → Read More
Alfa Romeo has teased the United States with its luxury cars since the 1950s. In 1995, the Italian brand ceased exporting cars to the US before returning with their 8C Competizione in October 2008. Alfa Romeo ran a limited production of just 500 units of the sports car, allocating 90 units to the States. The first mass-produced Alfa Romeo to be sold in the US market was announced in 2013, but the launch was repeatedly delayed for uncited reasons. Finally at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler, stated that the Alfa Romeo 4C would grace the streets of North America by 2015.
Yesterday at the 2014 LA Auto Show, we were able to sneak a peek at the luxury sports car that will rival the Jaguar F-type, Porsche Boxster and Chevrolet Corvette. → Read More
Audi AG opened up the 2014 LA Auto Show today with a green triumvirate that will shatter the luxury market. The A7 Sportback h-tron quattro is not just a luxury plug-in hybrid, its also a fuel cell vehicle. Audi has combined their sporty electric drive with clean hydrogen energy to create a car that has a range of 311 miles on one tank of fuel.
“The A7 Sportback h-tron quattro is a genuine Audi – at once sporty and efficient. Conceived as an → Read More
Kenneth Feinberg, Administrator of the General Motors (GM) Ignition Compensation Fund, announced on Monday a one month extension of the claim filing deadline. The original deadline of December 31, 2014 has been extended to January 31, 2015, “out of an abundance of caution,” Feinberg wrote on the campaign’s website.
“I believe that the many efforts to reach all possible GM automobile owners, former owners and others who might have been adversely impacted by a defective ignition switch have been both → Read More


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A new trailer has been released for the upcoming multiplayer sandbox title, BLOCKABOUT. The footage, which can be seen below, shows off the first-person experience in its Beta form with over 2 minutes of gameplay. Those interested can gain access to that Beta now by purchasing it from the title’s official website.
BLOCKABOUT, which supports virtual reality (VR) through use of the Oculus Rift VR headset, allows players to customise their own maps and build objects using a in-game level editor or the title’s unique Block Launcher weapon. Maps can be shared online with friends, and vehicles, weapons and more can be added for players to experiment with, perhaps setting up their own online matches or simply destroying everything that’s been built.
The Beta is currently in version 1.2 and costs $9.95 USD. It hasn’t been revealed when the full version might become available. VRFocus will continue to follow any and all VR titles and bring you the latest on them.


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YouTube launches new mobile site
The online video giant has revamped its site for mobile browsers.
YouTube has overhauled its mobile site to give customers better video capabilities on the move.
The Google-owned site has been enhanced for those using HTML5 on their mobile browsers, providing faster loading times.
The look and feel has been updated, with a new UI for the iPad has also been introduced.
Along with these deeper features, added extras such as the ability to make video playlists, add videos to your favourites or like/unlike videos have been incorporated into the new site.
Announcing the services, Google said: "YouTube launched on mobile devices in 2007 with about 1,000 videos available on the mobile site. While this suddenly opened up the possibility to access videos on the go, our site, mobile browsers and the hardware had limitations that prevented the mobile experience from keeping up with YouTube on the desktop."
"Today, more than ever, YouTube knows that you want to be able to find and access your favorite videos wherever you are. That's why YouTube's rolling out an updated version of the mobile site."
The new site can be accessed by visiting m.youtube.com.
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While we'd definitely recommend taking this with a hearty throw of salt, Canon's not-yet-real EOS 7D apparently has a universal product code ready and waiting for its elusive launch date. 'Course, this could be nothing more than an intriguing false alarm, but it's not like we haven't seen Canon cameras eventually materialize
after seeing faint footprints
in the sand to start. So, there you have it, fuel for the seemingly endless Canon DSLR rumor fire -- speculate away in comments.


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MADRID (Reuters) – U.S. tech giant Amazon plans to invest 2.5 billion euros ($3.04 billion) in new data centres in the Spanish northern region of Aragon that will open in mid 2022, the company said on one of its websites on Monday.
The cloud computing service unit of Amazon, Amazon Web Services, will invest the amount over a period of ten years, the company said.
The investment includes capital expenditure, the construction of the centres, imports of equipment and operating expenses such as the salaries of the 1,300 employees the company will hire there.
Amazon Web Services has had a presence in Spain since 2012 and is building more infrastructure to be able to host data in Spain for its customers who require it.
($1 = 0.8211 euros)
(Reporting by Inti Landauro)


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Peloton’s no-good-very-bad downfall from its pandemic peak — losing over $20 billion in value since November and becoming a dangerous subplot in prime time TV — has attracted speculation that the connected fitness company is a target to be acquired, but by whom? A Friday evening report from the Wall Street Journal tosses out Amazon as one of the “potential suitors” that may be considering a deal — just as markets closed for the weekend and only a few days before Peloton issues its Q2 2022 earnings report on February 8th. Just the suggestion caused a spike in Peloton’s stock price, sending it up 20–30 percent in after-hours trading.
Peloton’s yo-yoing fortunes over the last two years have been well documented, but combine the deep-pocketed tech giants trying to enhance their health and fitness portfolios and the reality of re-opening gyms, there are some dots to connect. Over the last few weeks, some reports have suggested Apple as a possible landing spot, but that seems unlikely. Apple’s health approach uses the Watch first, then connects services to any fitness equipment its customers prefer to use, not high-priced workout-specific hardware that can be replaced by a cheaper bike and BYO tablet.
Amazon makes a little more sense as a destination, even if it’s only a little more. There was an almost-launch of a Peloton-like “Prime Bike” in 2020 that I still can’t figure out, plus two attempts at fitness-tracking wristwear of its own with the Halo Band in 2020 and Halo View in December. Shelling out double-digit billions — a purchase could cost something near the $13.7 billion Amazon spent to acquire Whole Foods — on Peloton would be an expensive but effective way to catch up with the fitness/health sector competition.
According to the WSJ, Amazon is working with advisors to consider its next move. Whether an acquisition attempt comes from the company or anyone else is still up in the air. Also muddying the situation, according to the paper, is that CEO John Foley and other insiders control 80 percent of Peloton’s voting shares, so activist investor calls for a sale may not carry much weight. Either way, we’ll probably have a better idea of the company’s future by the time its earnings report hits on Tuesday afternoon.


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Corporate Greed Kills: Another Apple Factory Worker Commits Suicide
While millions of people across the planet love their iPhone’s and other Apple Inc. products, some of the factory workers who build them are so unhappy with their working conditions, they commit suicide. And there was another one last week.
According to the Wall Street Journal:
Early one day last week, a 31-year-old man finished his night shift on an iPhone assembly line, climbed to the top floor of Foxconn Technology Group’s L03 production building and leapt to his death.
Suicide among Apple Inc. factory workers is not new. In fact, it has been such a long-standing problem, back in 2011, Apple contractor Foxconn installed suicide nets around the buildings that house their workers to try to cut down on the deaths.
However, simply catching bodies does not address the problems that drive Apple factory employees to believe that committing suicide is better than going to work.
A BBC undercover investigation revealed the horrendous working conditions employees assembling Apple Inc. products must endure, and it’s not pretty.
Overtime is supposed to be voluntary, but none of the reporters were offered any choice. In addition to the excessive hours, one reporter had to attend unpaid meetings before and after work. Another reporter was housed in a dormitory where 12 workers shared a cramped room.
…Standards on workers’ hours, ID cards, dormitories, work meetings and juvenile workers were being breached at the Pegatron factories.
Exhausted workers were filmed falling asleep on their 12-hour shifts at the Pegatron factories on the outskirts of Shanghai.
One undercover reporter, working in a factory making parts for Apple computers, had to work 18 days in a row despite repeated requests for a day off.
In addition to being worked to the point of physical exhaustion, the report also found that small children were forced to work in mines, under extremely dangerous conditions, in order to secure the materials needed to build Apple products.
Apple responded to the claims of slave-like working conditions in its foreign manufacturing facilities with a ‘progress report’ in 2015. However, attempts to find that report return, ‘The page you are looking for can’t be found.’
Over the years there have been protests over working conditions at Apple factories, but they have not led to substantial enough improvements to take the suicide nets down.
While President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation may have ended slavery in the US, the practice of using human beings as disposable machines is thriving around the globe. And American corporations are leading the charge.
Exploiting cheap labor and destroying the environment for profit has become the ultimate goal of American capitalism. It is also a huge part of the reason good paying US jobs are moving to countries that see protecting the environment and human life as irrelevant to the bottom line.
So, the next time you hear the word ‘deregulation’ coming out of the mouth of a politician, remember that they’re leaving out the word ‘corporate’ in front of it. Without the regulations that keep our water clean, air breathable, and working conditions bearable, corporate America would be free to prove just how much misery they can inflict on the world in the name of greed.
While Apple Inc. grabs headlines for apparent sweatshop and slave labor working conditions, this is not an issue exclusive to the Cupertino giant. This is what happens when corrupt politicians turn a blind eye to the horrors of unbridled capitalism.
*** Maryann Tobin is the author of “Afterlife: The Journey Of A Dog’s Spirit”
This heartwarming story is told through the eyes of an animal spirit that has been sent back to earth in the body of a small dog. His mission is to help a young woman discover that their destinies are more connected to the powers of the Spirit World than either of them ever imagined. If you’ve ever shared your life with a dog or any other pet, you will never look at them the same way again after reading this book. Afterlife: The Journey of a Dog’s Spirit is available now on Amazon.com.


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Joint Financial Association in China Launch Initiative to Regulate NFT
China Internet Finance Association, China Banking Association, and China Securities Association on April 13, 2022, launched an initiative that is aimed at regulating the non-fungible token (NFT) industry. The regulatory initiative aims to curtail the financial risks that users of the innovation might be exposed to.
NFT has become a hot topic in China, especially since the latter part of 2021. Several tech companies, including the giants among them, have in one way or the other initiated projects that are related to NFTs. This has called for concern, attracting the attention of the Chinese government and regulatory agencies. The overall impression is that the government intends to avoid a similar situation as was experienced with cryptocurrencies.
In line with this, the joint financial association has called for its members to take steps that will prevent financial risks. This would include taking measures that will protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers and maintain the healthy ecology of the industry. Hence, certain obligations have been proposed by members of this association to achieve a regulated ecosystem.
Six different points have been proposed by the joint financial association as follows;
First, participants are advised to adhere to integrity and focus on innovation that will empower the real economy. They are expected to practice the concept of science and technology for good, choosing application scenarios reasonably and standardizing the application of blockchain technology. They are also expected to apply NFTs for positive causes that promote industrial digitization and digital industrialization.
Part of the responsibilities required is to ensure that NFT products are fully supported and that consumers are treated rationally. Inflated prices and deviation from basic laws of value are discouraged and intellectual property rights of underlying commodities must be protected. Total and accurate disclosure of product information must be implemented to protect consumers’ right to know, right to choose, and right to fair trade.
The second point is aimed at the prevention of financial risks. Participants are expected to curb the tendency of NFT financialization and securitization. To strictly prevent the risk of illegal financial activities, and consciously abide by a stipulated code of conduct.
The code of conduct includes the non-inclusion of securities, insurance, credit, precious metals, and other financial assets in the underlying commodities of NFT, and not to issue and trade financial products in a disguised form. Also, the non-weakening of the non-homogeneous properties of NFT by splitting ownership, the creation of batches, and the conducting of ICO in disguise.
The third point prohibits participants from providing centralized transactions such as centralized bidding, electronic matching, anonymous transactions, market makers, etc. They are also not allowed to provide a continuous listing of transactions, standardized contract transactions, and other services for NFT transactions, and to set up trading venues in disguised form.
The fourth condition does not allow the use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether in the pricing of NFTs. They cannot also be used as settlement tools for NFT issuance transactions.
The fifth condition requires that real-name authentication must be carried out when issuing, selling, and purchasing NFT products. In doing so, the identity, information, and transaction records of users must be properly preserved and used in active cooperation with anti-money laundering agencies.
The sixth condition demands participating bodies not directly or indirectly invest in NFTs. They are also not allowed to provide financial support for investing in NFTs.
The initiative also called on consumers to heed the warnings of the government by establishing correct consumption concepts. They are advised to enhance their awareness and self-protection while desisting from speculation and any illegal activity that is related to NFT.


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There is another mass shooting and another profitable quarter for the gun manufacturers. The very day after the Orlando, Fla., police department announced that a Sig Sauer semi-automatic weapon was used to kill 49 people and wound 53, a gun shop reported on the news that the sale of semi-automatic weapons at their shop at least tripled.
Under the law, gun manufacturers cannot be sued for their weapons’ being used in killings, but where is the outrage that they actually profit from mass shootings? Shouldn’t the press be asking the gun manufacturers how much profit they make after a mass shooting?
The National Rifle Association predictably always says after a shooting that it’s too early to talk about gun control. Would it be too unreasonable for the gun manufacturers to say it’s too early to sell semi-automatic weapons after a mass shooting and suspend the sale of such guns in the aftermath of a mass shooting? Can they put their obligation to a civilized society above their profits?
Remember Newtown, Conn.? Ever wonder what kind of sick lunatic needed a Bushmaster .223 caliber semiautomatic rifle the day after one was used by Adam Lanza to murder 20 innocent children?


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S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday issued an executive order lifting occupancy limits for all restaurants in South Carolina, effective immediately.
“We’re thrilled,” said Nick Vaugh, who helps run Crave Italian Oven & Bar in Myrtle Beach and Sol y Luna in Carolina Forest. “It’s great news for our restaurants and the industry overall. ... It's huge.”
Restaurants across the state have been operating at 50% capacity due to rules McMaster instituted in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, they can operate at 100% capacity.
“South Carolina is open for business,” the governor said in a statement. “Our state’s approach has been a measured, deliberate, and targeted one — aimed at keeping our economy open and our people safe.”
McMaster's “last call order” that bars the sale or consumption of alcohol in the state's restaurants after 11 p.m. is still in effect.
Additionally, other safety guidelines for South Carolina eateries, such as the mandatory use of face coverings for team members and customers, also remain in place.
Vaugh said Crave and Sol y Luna’s operators have had to adapt amid the coronavirus pandemic.
They began offering family meals to go, and that option — which can feed four and is aimed at being something not too pricey — proved to be a hit. The businesses will keep serving them going forward.
“That’s been a silver lining to what we’ve all endured,” Vaugh said.
It’s also made them understand how important it is to offer outdoor dining, which is available at both eateries.
“It’s a critical component to a restaurant,” he said.
The governor's office recommends that restaurants in the state also keep indoor and outdoor tables six feet apart and limit seating at a table to no more than eight guests, exclusive of family units or members of the same household.
These businesses are also encouraged to "minimize, modify, or discontinue" services that permit patrons to fill or refill their cups, Friday's news release said.
Each establishment is urged to make sure customers can maintain at least six feet of separation from other parties while waiting to be seated.
However, these steps are not mandatory.
Lately, Vaugh said, more folks have come out to Crave and Sol y Luna to dine in, and things are improving.
“It’s huge,” he said of the occupancy restrictions being lifted. “Being allowed to operate at 100% capacity is critical to our business [being] successful.”
“Today’s announcement is certainly welcome and is needed,” he added. “Every seat counts. Every seat matters.”


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Apple today launched a new campaign in favor of privacy, where they show in less than a minute how many companies buy and sell your data to create digital profiles through which they can show you ultra-targeted advertising or follow your steps between apps and websites .
Over the last decade, many companies have offered free digital services in exchange for your personal data. It is a complex ecosystem of social networks, apps, websites, information brokers, and technology companies that collect, analyze, and refine data that is sold and sometimes used in unethical ways. According to a Strategy+Business report published in 2019, it is an industry of 227,000 million dollars per year of which the vast majority of people are unaware of its existence.
The commercial is one more effort by Apple to differentiate itself from the competition and use privacy as one of the most important edges in its strategy. Especially after the enormous popularization of smartphones, devices that we always have in our pocket and with many more vectors through which data can be obtained. Not only the camera, but also sensors such as GPS to detect location, accelerometer —through which you can even know the number of steps a person takes— or position triangulation through cellular antennas. In addition to that, obtaining behavior through the apps that are used. To make it even more serious, those behind it often sell such data to third parties. Therefore, user exposure can be very high, even without them knowing it is happening.
The responsibility towards people and their privacy is high. From the first iPhone released, Apple has chosen a path that protects privacy and security above all else. There is an important series of technologies, limitations, and features that are being incorporated into the operating systems of the company's devices to safeguard our data. In addition, these are becoming more sophisticated as technology advances and the ways of spying on us become increasingly complex.
Apple takes the opposite path from Facebook and Google
Apple, through these types of commercials, makes a strong declaration of intent about the relationship they want to have with their users. It is the opposite path to technological giants like Facebook or Google, which offer free services in exchange for access to part of our information.
Both companies generate the vast majority of their revenue through targeted advertising. Google is definitely being more responsible than Facebook, who are mired in various scandals and controversies. On dozens of occasions they have been accused of the way they treat their users' data. Also because of the simplicity when it comes to carrying out ultra-segmented campaigns that, in the wrong hands, can become a weapon of mass manipulation. In fact, they have accepted that they have no way of controlling where the data they collect goes.
Apple, on the other hand, has opted for a business model in which it practically does not need to have user data in order to later market it and obtain higher income. Not only that, but they incorporate dozens of privacy-friendly features that work automatically at the operating system level. They also require app developers to disclose and be transparent about the type of information they will collect. That way people can take more informed actions about what they download to their devices from the App Store.
Your data is for sale, Apple's campaign in favor of privacy will be in hundreds of media and digital platforms globally.


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RETAIL VIEW: Sam's Club takes data mining to the next level
- June 28, 2010
When a member of Sam's Club enters one of the chain's more than 600 stores, he or she can go directly to a kiosk located at the front of the store, swipe a membership card and print out a handful of specially designed coupons.
Kristy Reed, manager of corporate communications for the nation's second- largest clubstore operation behind Costco, said that the coupons are individualized to the specific shopper based on his or her shopping history. Ms. Reed said that the data from each shopper are used to create a profile, which is then analyzed via the computer, and the shopper is presented with numerous eValue coupons that can be used immediately in the store.
The Sam's Club spokesperson said that the system works by analyzing each person's shopping history and comparing it with others to identify individualized shopping patterns.
For example, she said that a shopper's profile might reveal that tortilla chips are a commonly purchased item. An eValue coupon greeting that shopper at the store kiosk the next shopping trip may be for fresh salsa.
Ms. Reed said that while the program does group customers according to buying habits, each eValue package of coupons is individual to each customer. Two customers will receive some of the same coupons if they have similar buying habits, but they almost certainly will not receive the exact same mix.
Retail consultant Dick Spezzano of Spezzano Consulting Service in Monrovia, CA, called the effort a "great idea." While mining the data from membership or loyalty cards is not new, Mr. Spezzano said that presenting these coupons to each individual shopper at the store level makes a great deal of sense, as it puts the coupon in the shopper's hand while shopping is top of mind, and it also saves mailing costs.
The longtime retail executive said that supermarkets have been data mining for as long as there have been membership or loyalty cards, but they have not been individualized to the extent that Sam's Club is taking them.
Mr. Spezzano said that in his experience, the information has been used to create clusters of shoppers.
For example, buyers of fresh seafood tend to be the high-profit shoppers in the store, as they also buy more expensive wine and premium produce. Hence a strategy would be developed to mail that group of customers promotions for higher-end items.
Another longtime retailer and retail consultant, Peter Goulet, owner of Pinnacle Sales & Marketing in Saco, ME, agreed that using this type of shopping data for target marketing is an excellent idea.
He said that for many years, retailers have been using the information in a number of different ways, with the most common usage being a broad-based application that gives a retailer specific information about its shoppers as a group. A retailer can mine these data to learn information such as average basket size and market share of specific items.
Mr. Goulet said that the data also could be used for some target marketing, as Mr. Spezzano noted, using shopping similarities to create clusters of people. Mr. Spezzano said that typically, a retailer separates its shoppers into a half- dozen different cluster groups.
Taking the information down to the individual level is the logical next step, said Mr. Goulet, calling it "intriguing" and envisioning how a produce marketer could use that type of service to its advantage.
For example, Mr. Goulet said that a Washington apple supplier might work with a retailer to give a coupon for Washington apples to a consumer that shows a tendency to buy New Zealand apples. Or a supplier of a produce item might direct coupons to a medium user of an item trying to convert him or her to a heavy user.
Ms. Reed of Sam's Club said that the retailer is working with its vendors on the coupon concept. She said that existing vendors are more than welcome to work through their specific Sam's Club buyer to get involved in the target- marketing program.
Steve Lutz of The Perishables Group did sound a cautionary note, saying that scan and loyalty card data analysis has been going on for quite some time, but when a retailer takes it to the individual level, there are some privacy and disclosure issues.
He said that customers do have privacy concerns and that some do not want their shopping habits shared with anyone -- including the supplier of the products they buy. He said that understanding and catering to the buying habits of groups of consumers is different than target marketing the specific buying habits of one individual, and added that there are consumer groups concerned about this potential privacy invasion.
Ms. Reed said that Sam's Club has no concerns about the privacy issue because it is a membership store. She said that the chain's customers are required to purchase a membership and use that card every time they shop. She said that Walmart, which is the parent company of Sam's Club, does not use a loyalty card and has no plans to initiate a similar eValue target marketing program.
Mr. Spezzano has heard concerns about the privacy issues but he does not believe it is a major worry. He said that as long as a retailer is not selling that information or disclosing it to third parties, it should be on solid ground using the data to create value shopping opportunities for its customers.


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Gaming PCs continue to be one of the positive drivers of growth on a PC market which has stagnated in the last few years. Gaming is not a local phenomenon, but a global trend which is reflected in the demand for unique experiences and high-performance devices the world over. Enthusiastic customers must reach deep into their pockets for an outstanding gaming experience as well as strong performance as these devices are normally to be found in the premium price categories. Nevertheless, this situation does not seem to be an obstacle for eager gamers since they are prepared to pay more than one and a half times the average price for a gaming PC.
Solid double-digit sales growth
In total, gaming and gaming-capable PCs generated revenues of more than 12 billion USD in the first ten months of 2018, which accounted for 19 percent of total PC sales. As a result, gaming PCs achieved a +31 percent increase in sales compared to the same period in the previous year. Their growth remained stable within the double-digit range, but was lower than the positive growth of +55 percent in 2017. The share of gaming PCs grew from 6 percent in 2016 to just under 12 percent in the period from January to October 2018, while at 7 percent, gaming capable PCs had to endure a decrease in turnover (2016: 8 percent).
Light price fluctuations in gaming PCs; gaming capable desktops more strongly affected
With reference to global developments, gaming PCs are representative of two central trends: performance and premium. Correspondingly, the prices set are not surprising, especially in the premium segment. In the period from January to October 2018, the average price of a gaming notebook showed a slight increase of +4 percent to 1,100 USD, while the price of a gaming desktop was just


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FRANKFURT/BERLIN (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said it faced production delays at more than half its German plants because of a row with two suppliers that analysts estimate may cost the carmaker tens of millions of euros.
About 28,000 workers at six of Volkswagen’s (VW) 10 German factories were affected after the carmarker halted production on Monday of the top-selling Golf and Passat models as well as assembly of engines, gearboxes and emissions systems due to a shortage of parts.
VW’s supplier conflict poses a threat to the company’s profitability as it seeks to recover following its diesel emissions scandal.
Analysts at UBS estimate that a one-week production halt at its Wolfsburg headquarters would result in about 100 million euros ($113 million) in lost gross profits and could have knock-on effects on other suppliers.
“Production at several Volkswagen plants has been interrupted as a result of a halt in component deliveries by external suppliers,” VW said in a statement.
Efforts by Europe’s largest carmaker to force CarTrim, which makes seats, and ES Automobilguss, which produces cast iron parts needed to make gearboxes, to resume deliveries have not succeed, VW said.
The local suppliers, part of Wolfsburg-based Prevent DEV, are seeking compensation after saying they faced lost revenues running into tens of millions of euros after VW cancelled a contract. VW is seeking to resolve the dispute in top-level talks with the suppliers on Monday afternoon.
Germany’s Economy Ministry called for a swift end to the dispute, noting thousands of workers were affected.
The carmaker has pulled out all legal stops to force the suppliers to resume deliveries, including threatening fines and even seizure of the missing parts.
Car Trim has so far ignored an injunction that VW has obtained and the regional court in Braunschweig is due to consider a possible injunction against ES Automobilguss on Aug. 31.
Lower Saxony Economy Minister Olaf Lies, a member of VW’s supervisory board, has said the dispute is hitting VW “at the worst possible time”. Whether management is to blame for over- reliance on single suppliers need to be clarified, he added.
Industry analysts were critical of VW.
“A global player has based its entire production chain on a mid-sized company,” said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the Center of Automotive Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen. “That is not only amateurish but also extremely naive.”
VW shares paid little heed to the dispute and were trading 0.5 percent lower at 119.35 euros as of 1226 GMT, while Germany’s blue-chip index .GDAXI was down 0.7 percent. ($1 = 0.8858 euros)
Reporting by Jan Schwartz and Andreas Cremer, writing by Edward Taylor, editing by Georgina Prodhan


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Wabash Canada, one of the country’s leading commercial trailer companies, has begun the construction of its new sales and service location in Moncton.
The Fernette Avenue site will be home to both the Wabash National trailer dealership and the company’s fleet maintenance business, GoRight.
The facility will host 4 double-wide service bays on 4 acres, including a truck wash bay and full-width overhead crane for bulk tanks and truck bodies, the company said.
More than 10 full-time sales and service positions will be created as a result of the expansion. The construction project will create an additional 25 jobs, and is expected to be completed in December 2019.
“The groundbreaking at our newest location in Moncton represents an exciting additional milestone in the growth of the company,” said Brent Larson, CEO of Wabash Canada and GoRight.
“We are very excited about our investment in Moncton and Atlantic Canada. We will be able to better serve our customers and our rapidly-growing base of Wabash trailers domiciled in the region.”
Wabash Canada is the exclusive dealership in Eastern Canada for trailers manufactured by Wabash National.
The company is showcasing its new Modular Structural Technology reefer trailer at the Atlantic Truck Show, opening in Moncton on Friday.


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While the fashion industry is synonymous with trends, a local women’s retail store sells with the intention of every customer leaving in her personal adaptation of a modern classic.
Deidre Weller opened Thistle Boutique in downtown Charlevoix last August.
“The reason that I got into this is because I wanted every person that comes in our store to feel like they were welcomed and to feel like they had a special experience,” Weller said.
The shop itself has a sleek charm, with smiling faces willing to back up style needs at every shelf.
“The words I use to describe the store are sophisticated-casual. We have a lot of styles that are versatile. You can dress them up or dress them down,” Weller said. “I believe clothing is an investment, so it’s important that pieces are going to have longevity to them.”
The color-coded racks full of dresses, jackets, tunics, jeans, tanks and jewelry lend themselves to an assortment of preference.
“We have everything from $20 tank tops, up to several hundred dollars for some of our higher-end lines,” Weller said.
The shop has a variety of designers to choose from, and even a few customer favorites.
“Some of the fan favorites are probably Effie’s Heart. They do a lot of unique prints. We had a typewriter print last fall that was a huge hit,” Weller said. “Another one that we do is Tyler Böe. They’re based out on the east coast and, again, it’s kind of timeless classic pieces that you can wear across seasons and years.”
“We’re actually in the last two weeks of fall inventory,” Weller said. “Our fall inventory is purchased months in advance, but we bring it out right now. Especially being in a seasonal market, we have to bring things out a little bit earlier then they do in other markets just to capture as much foot traffic as we can.”
Thistle Boutique is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at 327 Bridge St. in downtown Charlevoix.


text: Overseas PVC producers have started to wrap up April PVC business in China, with the done deal levels representing noticeable increases over March, as per Chemorbis. In Southeast Asia, April import prices are also emerging significantly higher due to strong demand prompted by tight supplies and the bullish local markets across the region. After US$80/ton increases on their initial April offers to China, Asian PVC producers have mainly concluded their spot deals at prices close to their initial levels. Amidst high feedstock costs as well as limited PVC supplies from Japan, sellers were able to obtain monthly increases of at least US$60-65/ton on their transactions this month. As strong costs, rising domestic prices inside China and lack of availability from regular supply sources are exerting a renewed upward pressure on sellers, players expect to see further increases on May PVC prices. Also, demand is reported to be improving in China, with several converters raising operating rates to 60-70% this week due to an increasing number of orders from end product customers. In Southeast Asia, extremely tight supplies as a result of scarce VCM availability across the region also meant another round of hikes for April, with sellers raising their April offers by US$60-120/ton, supported further by massive increases of up to US$130/ton posted by the regions’ local markets in the face of the shortage of local and Japanese cargoes. Following the initial hike requests, spot done deals began to be reported for the most part with increases of up to US$110/ton as tight regional supplies prompted buying interest.


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California’s MycoWorks is growing mycelium, an element of fungus, into the next wave of luxury materials. Amid environmental and ethical concerns over leather, the company’s high-performance fungus products are already attracting some of the biggest names in fashion.
In the “Materialistic” series, VICE News explores the future of ultra-sustainable fashion.
*This series is supported by Levi’s. VICE News retains complete editorial autonomy.
Supplemental video provided courtesy of MycoWorks. All depicted material is Reishi™ by MycoWorks.
“The Making of Fine Mycelium” video provided courtesy of MycoWorks. Art Direction by Xavier Gallego.
Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News
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Versed in the highs and lows of emerging-market development, SABMiller, Standard Bank, and others are expanding across the continent and beyond
By Jack Ewing
Name a global economic woe, and chances are Charles Needham is dealing with it. Market turmoil has knocked 80% off the shares of South Africa's Metorex, the mining company he runs. The plunge in global commodities is slamming prices for the copper, cobalt, and other minerals Metorex unearths across Africa. The credit crisis makes it harder to raise money. And fighting has again broken out in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Metorex has a mine and several projects in development.
Such problems might send many executives to the window ledge. Yet Needham appears unruffled as he sits down at a conference table in the company's modest offices in a Johannesburg suburb. The combat in northeast Congo, he notes, is far from Metorex's mine. Commodity prices are still high, in historical terms. And Needham is confident he can raise enough capital, drawing on relationships with South African banks. "These are the kinds of things you deal with, doing business in Africa," he says.
That kind of resolve is typical of South African companies. All told, South Africans have plowed more than $8.5 billion into the Sub-Saharan region, the U.N. estimates, making the country the biggest investor there. Ever since South African Breweries pioneered the African beer market— and then went on to become the global titan known as SABMiller—South African companies have led the way on risky turf. Johannesburg cellular provider MTN was one of a handful of companies to defy conventional wisdom and prove that Africa could be a huge market for mobile phones. South African retailers such as Massmart, Shoprite, and packaged-food maker Tiger Brands are bringing Western-style shopping to Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and other far-flung locales. And Standard Bank has opened branches in 16 African countries that in many cases lacked even basic financial services. "South African companies are more open than ever to the opportunities in Africa," says Sonal Pandit, portfolio manager for African equities at JPMorgan Funds (JPM).
Now the South Africans are taking their emerging-market expertise well beyond Africa's coastline. MTN has moved into Afghanistan and Iran. Standard Bank in 2007 bought control of BankBoston Argentina. And Anglo American, now based in London but with South African roots, has become the world's fourth-biggest mining company, with operations from Chile to Australia.
The knowhow South Africans have gained on the continent is making their companies attractive to foreigners with ambitions in the region. In March, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China bought a 20% stake in Standard Bank. Britain's Vodafone (VOD) in November took control of Vodacom, a pan-African cellular carrier based near Johannesburg. "Africa is the next China," says Malcolm Perrie, who oversees sub-Saharan Africa for U.S. auto parts maker Federal-Mogul, which aims to double its sub-Saharan sales within five years.
South Africans carry a detailed understanding of the quirks of the local market. Perrie, for instance, grew up in Zimbabwe and South Africa and knows that goods are often unloaded from trucks by hand because retailers can't afford forklifts. So Federal-Mogul ships its Championbrand spark plugs and other parts in boxes one person can carry. Knowing Nigerians feel insulted when bank tellers sit behind bulletproof glass, Standard instead stations armed guards at its bank entrances in crime-plagued Lagos, which doesn't bother customers. And in Uganda, where many people have little access to mass media, MTN advertises its phone service by painting roadside buildings yellow and blue, the company's colors. Such common-sense solutions may seem obvious, yet South Africans have been faster than others to recognize the opportunities—and more willing to take a risk. French-speaking Democratic Republic of the Congo, for instance, might well have been a logical market for a French carrier, but South Africa's Vodacom jumped in early and is now the leader.
With so many roads in Africa leading to Johannesburg, it would be bad news for the whole continent if South Africa fell victim to global financial turmoil. There's no shortage of reasons to worry. Growth in South Africa, which accounts for a third of sub-Saharan Africa's gross domestic product, likely will slow to 3% in 2009 after averaging 5% in recent years. Mining, an important domestic industry, has been hit by the plunge in commodity prices. The rand has been sliding, creating additional price risks in a country with 13% inflation. And the African National Congress, which has dominated the country's politics since the end of whites-only rule in 1994, has split into rival factions.
Yet foreign economists seem to fret more than South Africans. They don't teach sangfroid in business school, but you may learn it growing up in South Africa, a sometimes jarring mélange of well-manicured wealth and chaotic poverty. The suburbs of Johannesburg look like Beverly Hills or Pasadena, except that the security guards are more heavily armed and the posh houses crouch behind concrete walls topped with electric fence. At a mall called Nelson Mandela Square, shoppers pass a bronze statue of the anti-apartheid leader on their way to the Crabtree & Evelyn outlet.
Despite freeways packed with BMWs and Toyotas (TM), Johannesburg provides constant reminders that it is very much an African city. More than 70% of South Africa's 48 million people live on $2 or less a day, and a quarter haven't even completed primary school, the World Bank estimates. Wizened women with unwashed children on their backs beg at intersections. Men stand by highways with signs around their necks advertising their skills, looking for day work. At a McDonald's (MCD), customers munch on Quarter Pounders at outdoor tables, taking little notice of the rats that scurry around the chain's parking lot.
Understanding the twin aspects of South Africa's sophisticated economy and emerging market complexities surely gives its companies an advantage around the continent. "South Africans do well when they go elsewhere because they're not afraid," says software entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth, a South African based in London.
Neighboring Mozambique is a good place to see how South African companies are remaking business in the region. The capital, Maputo, remains a city where most people live in houses with mud-brick walls and rusty metal roofs, and sidewalks are crammed with vendors selling everything from fresh papaya to bootleg DVDs of High School Musical 3. At a shiny mall next to an abandoned bullfighting arena, a motorized Santa Claus stands at the entrance to South Africa's Shoprite on a warm afternoon, greeting customers stocking up on rice, cornmeal, and fake Christmas trees. Downtown, Durban-based home furnishings retailer Mr Price sells brightly colored bedding, crockery, and furniture.
And on a bumpy road that hugs the coastline, there's a shining South African-owned big box store called Game. Aside from a few local touches—palm trees in the parking lot, signs in Portuguese, and a whole aisle devoted to ceiling fans—the store looks like a discounter in Ohio or Oregon. A mix of expatriates and wealthier locals fill their carts with Frosted Flakes (K), Hannah Montana bedsheets, and Sony (SNE) TVs.
But creating this oasis of consumerism hasn't been easy. Construction was delayed for months while officials held out for bribes. The store's spunky manager, Ana Paula Florentino, refused to pay. "If you give them your finger, they want your hand, and if you give them your hand, they want your arm," says Florentino, who as a child fled the former Portuguese colony on the eve of a brutal civil war that lasted from 1975 until 1992, making Mozambique one of the poorest countries on the planet. Rather than depending on the local phone network, she transmits sales and inventory data to headquarters via satellite. It's challenging to manage personnel in a country where many have never held regular jobs. Workers must learn such basics as the importance of laundering their company-issue red-and-white striped shirts—and skipping the traditional twohour midday siesta.
The role model for many South African companies is SABMiller. The brewer was active in neighboring countries for decades, then began expanding aggressively after the end of apartheid, when the U.N. lifted economic sanctions. Betting that its experience in such places as Angola and Zimbabwe suited it for other emerging markets, SAB acquired beermakers in Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
The brewer, now based in London, proved South Africans could compete internationally. "SAB has been an inspiration," says Peter Wharton-Hood, chief operating officer of Standard Bank. He and his colleagues are trying to do for banking what SAB did for beer, though they admit they were slow to appreciate the opportunities on their doorstep. "We didn't take Africa as seriously as now," Wharton-Hood says. "There was significant pessimism about the prospects for the continent."
That's an important point. News reports about Africa tend to be dominated by war in the Congo, pirates in Somalia, or chaos in Zimbabwe. In fact, Angola, Mozambique, Uganda, and other countries have grown markedly more peaceful recently, even if government institutions still leave a lot to be desired. "In the last 10 years we have seen a dramatic increase in political stability and a reduction of conflict," says Clive Tasker, CEO of Standard Bank's Africa operations.
The opportunities aren't lost on outsiders. Standard faces competition from the likes of Londonbased Barclays (BCS), which took over Johannesburg's Absa bank in 2005. Companies from other emerging markets are bringing to Africa their own experience in dealing with difficult environments. In telecommunications, MTN and Vodacom often bump up against Zain, from Kuwait. Brazil-based builder Odebrecht and oil company Petrobras (PBR) have been expanding in Angola, exploiting the fact that both nations speak Portuguese. And a Chinese outfit is building Congolese roads and other infrastructure in exchange for access to mineral deposits.
From within Africa, Nigerian institutions such as United Bank for Africa are proving to be worthy competitors outside their domestic market.
Executives in Johannesburg, however, see the growing competition as just another hazard of doing business in the region. "South African businesspeople have managed enormous risk over the last 20 years," says Michael Spicer, a former executive vice-president at Anglo American who is now CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, an industry group. "They are incredibly flexible."


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Capgemini, a global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing services, today announced the launch of its newest Applied Innovation Exchange (AIE) located in Singapore. The exchange will deliver a robust service catalogue, within an ecosystem of other AIEs, including a focus in areas such as data analytics, visualization, artificial intelligence and cognitive computing. It will be Capgemini’s first AIE in Southeast Asia and 10th globally, in addition to its complement of Applied Innovation Discovery Centers. In line with Singapore’s ‘Smart Nation’ vision which is designed to harness digital technologies as powerful catalysts for change, the AIE will strengthen Singapore’s reputation as an innovation hub by expanding the region’s innovation capacity and bolstering the development of local talent, to co-create a technology-enabled future.
Singapore is already one of five Asian cities ranked among the top 10 locations for innovation centers worldwide, according to Capgemini Consulting’s research, with Asia now rivalling Silicon Valley as a new home to global innovation centers. Capgemini’s AIE enables local and regional organizations to future-proof themselves, by proactively planning for forthcoming transformations by responding in an agile way that breaks with the traditional siloed models of Research & Development (R&D).
“Businesses are now focused on how to embrace and apply innovation with speed and scale in a secure and sustainable way. This requires a new way of thinking and working, in which companies drive corporate innovation through collaboration with a broad innovation ecosystem, to reinvent themselves for tomorrow’s business challenges,” said Lanny Cohen, Global Chief Technology Officer and member of the Group Executive Committee at Capgemini. “With its vibrant start-up scene and business friendly environment, Singapore is the vanguard of Asia’s rise as an innovation superpower and the perfect location for Capgemini to establish our first AIE in Southeast Asia.”
Capgemini’s AIE Enhances the Start-up Ecosystem
From the beginning, the Singapore AIE will be working with Capgemini’s partners and academic institutions in Singapore, to develop a databank of knowledge and expertise specifically for Singapore. It will also work globally with existing AIEs in locations such as London, Munich, Mumbai, Paris, and San Francisco.
In addition, Capgemini’s InnovatorsRace50, a global competition for start-ups and entrepreneurs, is now open to applicants worldwide including from across Singapore and the APAC region. Launched in January with an entry deadline of March 6, the competition provides start-ups with an international platform to showcase the potential of their products, services or innovative uses of technology to disrupt businesses and industries. Through celebrating the spirit of innovative entrepreneurship, this special 50th Anniversary edition of Capgemini’s Innovators Race series offers five winning start-ups the opportunity to secure equity free-funding of US$50,000, extensive networking opportunities, participation in international tech events, access to industry experts, and the opportunity to become a Capgemini partner.
“Singapore’s recent Committee for the Future Economy report underscored the nation’s need to further develop innovation by fostering entrepreneurial talent and collaborating with innovation hubs. To that end, we are committed to working closely with our key partners, the Economic Development Board, and the city’s varied ecosystem of innovators and start-ups to create new solutions for companies to future-proof their businesses,” said Luc-François Salvador, Executive Chairman of Capgemini Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
How the Applied Innovation Exchange Works


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Recently, I blogged about the uptick in credit card debt among seniors. Sadly, the uptick isn’t limited to seniors. As the article below describes, young people are racking up far more credit card debt than their parents ever did, a new study shows, and economic experts are worrying that Generation Y — people born in the early 1980s — will end up dying without ever paying off their credit card bills. I cannot fathom a sadder prospect. People going thru their entire life with burdensome credit card debt yoked to the big banks from nearly cradle to grave.
Don’t let it happen to you, or your parents, or your kids. Educate yourself and your family about all the negatives of carrying high interest credit card balances. If you or someone in your family is burdened by credit card debt, seek out a reputable attorney who focuses on debt settlement, the process of negotiating for large reductions in your credit card debt without bankruptcy.
Kevin Fallon McCarthy
Latest posts by Kevin Fallon McCarthy (see all)
- Different Ways to Get Out of Debt - January 22, 2019
- Public Servants’ Second Chance at Federal Student Loan Forgiveness - April 10, 2018
- CREDIT CARD LOSS FOR SMALL BANKS AT AN EIGHT YEAR HIGH - March 22, 2018
- Rise of the Jumbo Student Loans - March 17, 2018
- Credit Card Market: Now and Then - February 23, 2018


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The Freddo – that frog-shaped lump of Cadbury’s chocolate much appreciated by those who don’t want a whole Dairy Milk but wouldn’t mind a little something-or-other now you mention it – originally hit Britain’s shelves in the mid-90s, when it was priced at 10 pence.
In 2016, the recommended retail price of a Freddo has risen to 25 pence, representing an increase of 2 pence a year since 2000.
According to a new report from Vouchercloud - the grandly-titled Freddo Index – if the cost had risen in line with inflation, a Freddo would now set you back just 15p.
If Freddo prices continue to rise at a consistent rate, by 2030 one of them will set you back an eye-watering 38p - significantly more than the 20p it would cost if the price had risen in line with inflation.
When Freddos were launched they weighed 17g, growing to 20g in 2007, before shrinking back to 18g four years later.
The Freddo Report, inspired by the Economist’s Big Mac index, also noted that the price of the Beano had risen even more sharply than the Freddo:
“Through a combination of covering their costs and ever-rising prices in similar products,” the authors note, “the price of a Beano Comic has shot up to £2.50 this year, compared to a gentle 52p in 2000.
“The inflation-appropriate price of 79p makes for equally saddening reading, too. In fact, the price of a Beano Comic, inflation adjusted, should only just be hitting the £1 mark in 2028 - while the price increase over the last 15 years suggests it’ll actually be closer to £4.”
According to Vouchercloud’s data, the price of Mars bars and cinema tickets are also making it increasing costly to splash out on traditional treats for kids.


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The search giant already confirmed that Google Pixel 2, as well as Google Pixel 2 XL, are in the making. However, regardless how great the smartphones will be, fans shouldn’t expect them sooner than fall of this year. Since then, a series of rumors and leaks brought us much information such as the codenames Walleye and Muskie.
Google Will Unveil Three Pixel 2
Aside from the revealed Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, it was also reported that there’s a third Google smartphone device in the making. Its codename is said to be Taimen, which may or may not be part of the Pixel 2 series. Google tried really hard to remove the leaked codenames from its AOSP forum but failed to keep them private. And today, a new finding seems to suggest that the Pixel 2 smartphone series may see an earlier launch compared to the news last week.
Google Pixel 2 Release Date
According to BGR, Google doesn’t have anything to announce, that is why we don't need to be excited about it. At least one engineer from Google has access to a physical Pixel 2. The image below shows that someone was able to finally test a gadget in related to Google's next flagship, which is said to be "a walleye device.”
The search giant might want to launch the three Pixel 2 devices just a little earlier than what is expected, which is October of this year. As times goes by, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that Google Pixel 2 prototypes are already available. After all, fans are expecting for Google to be working on both the new Pixel 2 smartphones and Android O.
On the other hand, Google is yet to satisfy and answer demands for the Pixel and Pixel XL, so it had better make sure the upcoming Pixel 2 series doesn’t have the same fate. According to Christian Post, Pixel 2 models will be powered by the Snapdragon 835 processor. Qualcomm's latest chip is found on the latest flagship releases including the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6 and Xiaomi Mi 6.


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Today, Apple announced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, a new thinner iMac, an updated Mac Mini, and some iPad news..
The new iMacs and Mac Mini are getting Fusion Drives, which are similar to Hybrid Drives, combining SSD with standard hard drive storage and work pretty fast.
First, the iPad 4th gen was announced with the A6x processor and lightning adapter to replace the iPad (3)..
And the least surprising news was the new iPad Mini… Which is a 7.9-inch iPad, with a 1024 x 768 resolution, most of the same specs as the iPad 2, and an all-new 7.2mm-thick aluminum shell, which makes it 53 percent lighter and significantly thinner than the 4th-generation iPad
Surprisingly, Apple is still selling the iPad 2, alongside the Mini and the iPad..
You can see more details here when the store is back up: Apple Store


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Lordstown Motors has agreed to go public through a merger with blank-check company DiamondPeak Holdings in a deal that values the electric pickup truck start-up at $1.6 billion, the companies said on Monday.
The combined company will be called Lordstown Motors Corp following the closure of the deal in the fourth quarter and will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "RIDE," the companies said.
A blank-check company is a shell company that raises money through an initial public offering to buy an operating entity, typically within two years.
A bunch of electric vehicle makers including Nikola Corp and Fisker have either gone public or are planning to list their shares through mergers with blank-check companies this year.
"Lordstown ... has a transformational product and business plan in what are two of the most valuable areas of focus and tremendous opportunity in the auto sector - electric vehicles and light duty trucks," DiamondPeak Chief Executive David Hamamoto said on a conference call. "Lordstown has attracted a clear lane of customers in the commercial fleet segment of the market."
Lordstown has been working on a new full-size electric pickup truck called Endurance and last year hired Rich Schmidt, a former director of manufacturing at Tesla Inc, as chief production officer.
The company said the truck is aimed at the U.S. commercial fleet market, with initial production expected in the second half of 2021. The Endurance will have an electric driving range of 250 miles and a price tag of $45,000 net of a federal tax credit, Lordstown CEO Steve Burns said on the call.
Lordstown expects to receive about $675 million of gross proceeds from the deal and will use the funds for the production of the new truck, which has secured $1.4 billion worth of pre-orders, the company said.
The deal includes investments by General Motors and institutional investors, including Fidelity Management and Research Company LLC, Wellington Management Company LLP, Federated Hermes Kaufmann Small Cap Fund, and funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, among others, Lordstown said.
Even as the company attracted very high-level talents from the industry yet the top deck remained very volatile. Since 2020 on average at least 31 senior executives quit the group while it appointed close to 40 senior officials in the same time period.


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Bread maker Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc. is recruiting online sellers. Those interested can click this link to apply: https://tinyurl.com/onlinesellingapplicationform. Gardenia is currently accepting applications for Metro Manila locations. Other locations will open soon.
The bread maker, the biggest in the Philippines, said stock-up on essential items due to COVID-19 has led to a 35% spike in sales in the second quarter of 2020. As a comparison, sales rose by 5% in the first quarter of 2020. Gardenia would put off any price increase on its products until the end of 2020 to make life easier for most Filipinos.


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BBC Worldwide has reported a one per cent rise in its headline profit to £156 million for the 12 months to March 31st 2013.
Profit before tax, excluding gains and losses on disposals, of £125 million was up 21 per cent (2011/12: £104m).
The company grew headline sales by three per cent to £1,116 million (2011/12: £1,085m).
BBC Worldwide’s 34 branded international channels have continued to drive revenues, through launching new operations, widening distribution and increasing advertising sales.
Programme sales and distribution also continued to be a strong source of profit, and passed the £300 million revenue mark for the first time.
"BBC Worldwide’s performance has remained very robust despite the economic challenges facing the media sector, with particular growth in programme sales and our international channels," said Tim Davie, chief executive of BBC Worldwide and director, global. "2013/14 will be a transformational year for the company with a re-focused strategy that maximises opportunities presented by new markets and technology.
"This will ensure BBC Worldwide remains a world class content company that inspires audiences around the world and helps build the reputation and the commercial success of the global BBC."
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It seems implausible for anyone to try and take on Google at their own game at this stage. But that didn’t stop Apple from launching Apple Maps (which was initially a disaster). Google Street View doesn’t really have a competitor in the market, but Facebook may want to change that. The social media giant has bought Mapillary, with which it wants to take on Street View.
Mapillary has been around since 2013, and has largely relied on crowdsourced images. Users from more than 190 countries have been taking photos from their own neighbourhoods and their travels around the world using their phones. Mapillary collects these images and stitches them together with innovative software, and build a street-level view comparative to Google Street View.
The business was being run as a free service for non-commercial users, with usage packages at a fee created for large-scale commercial use. This ends with the Facebook acquisition, and all commercial use is now also free.
It gives us a very good idea of what Facebook plan to do with Mapillary. While there has been no confirmation from the company, expect the street-level imagery to be included on Facebook pages of the businesses on the platform.
Facebook has dabbled in other mapping technologies in the past, which will be bolstered by this acquisition as well. Facebook created an AI tool for OpenStreetMap users on its platform last year. It also plans to create an AR world that is based on its mapping of the Earth (to be used with its upcoming AR glasses).
It isn’t clear if Facebook will choose to push Mapillary as a standalone competitor to Google Street View or if it will absorbed into its own business. For many it makes that is stays independent – with Facebook resources it could post a viable alternative to Google Street View in the future. This is something Apple Maps and Bing Maps have not been able to do.


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CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming could legalize some raw-milk sales if proposed changes to the state’s food safety rules are approved by Gov. Matt Mead.
The changes would allow people to buy raw milk as long as they own a share of the animal that produced it. Such arrangements, called herd shares, are currently prohibited in Wyoming.
Direct sales of raw milk to consumers, either at farmers’ markets or at stores, would remain illegal.
Herd shares already exist in Wyoming in the form of under-the-table arrangements between animal owners and residents who prefer raw milk. Consumers typically pay some of the costs of caring for the animal in exchange for a regular share of its milk.
The rule change would legitimize the practice.
“Before too long, you are going to see a lot more people talking about it,” said Maureen Tescher, a Casper-area woman who owns six cows and drinks raw milk. “And a lot more people saying they do have cows that they are willing to share.”
The rule change is part of a larger update to Wyoming’s food safety rules. The Wyoming Department of Agriculture has been working on the update for more than a year.
The department had originally proposed a less sweeping change to the state’s raw-milk rules. It would have clarified that families can consume raw milk from their own cows, as well as share that milk with nonpaying guests.
That rule would have only applied to animals with a sole owner. During a series of public hearings this summer, raw-milk supporters argued the proposed change didn’t go far enough. State Rep. Sue Wallis, a vocal advocate for easing Wyoming’s food safety rules, suggested removing the “sole” ownership requirement.
After reviewing public comments, the department this month announced that it would eliminate the sole ownership requirement. That would effectively allow herd share agreements in Wyoming, said Dean Finkenbinder, consumer health services manager for the Agriculture Department.
The department is now preparing the rules to be sent to the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, Finkenbinder said. The Legislative Service Office will have an opportunity to comment and Gov. Matt Mead’s office must give final approval before the rules go into effect, according to Mead spokesman Renny MacKay.
Critics of easing the rules say legalizing some sales of raw milk will result in more people getting sick. That is a possibility, Finkenbinder acknowledged. But he also said people who commented wanted the change, “so that’s the direction we’re going.”
If the rules are ultimately approved, the Wyoming Department of Health would want to ensure residents are aware of the possible risks associated with raw milk, said spokeswoman Kim Deti. Unpasteurized milk can carry harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites and carries an increased risk of certain diseases, she noted.
Raw milk supporters say it provides nutritional benefits they can’t get from pasteurized milk. Some dispute statistics suggesting raw milk causes more foodborne illness than the pasteurized variety.
Wallis expects the rule change will make it easier for people in Wyoming to purchase raw milk. It would also provide an economic benefit for farming communities, she said.
“You can advertise openly,” she said. “It is not something you have to be careful about anymore.”
Wallis would like Wyoming to allow raw-milk sales in stores. The Recluse-Wyo.- Republican said she’s seriously considering authoring legislation to that effect for next year’s session.
A bill that would have legalized herd shares died in a state legislative committee last year.