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Lourdes Salvador's Column
...Co-founder of MCS America discusses the latest Multiple Chemical Sensitivity issues.
Lourdes Salvador volunteers as a writer and social advocate for the recognition of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). She was a passionate advocate for the homeless and worked with her local governor to provide services to the homeless through a new approach she created to end homelessness. That passion soon turned to advocacy and activism for people with MCS and the medical professionals who serve them. She co-founded MCS Awareness in 2005 and went on to found MCS America in 2006. She serves as a partner for Environmental Education Week, a partner for the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE), and a supporter for the American Cancer Society: Campaign for Smokefree Air.
Prevalence of Fragrance Sensitivity
by Lourdes Salvador
Once thought to be pleasant and socially acceptable, fragrances are quickly becoming the next cigarette smoke, gradually being banned in schools, the workplace, medical facilities, some churches, and other public access areas.
Fragrances are now recognized as containing many of the same carcinogens as cigarette smoke. Even the most expensive fragrances are no better than cheap cologne. Both are loaded with as many as 3,000 – 5,000 synthetic chemicals of which 80% have not been tested for human safety according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
Scientists have found that 30.5% of the general population experience scented products on others irritating. Despite commercials which lead us to believe that wearing scent is appealing to the opposite sex, doing so may actually drive others away.
Fragrances are not limited to perfume and cologne. Nearly all shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, hair products, after shave, and even make-up contain scent. Most people are wearing a myriad of conflicting fragrances which may not be harmonious in combination.
Air fresheners are somewhat of a misnomer. Essentially, they fragrance the air and are used in places like public restrooms in failed attempts to cover-up what amounts to lack of regular cleaning.
Scientists have found that 19% of people experience adverse health effects from air fresheners. This is not a simple dislike of the smell, but an actual physical illness which results from breathing the toxic chemicals which make up the air freshener scent.
The study also found that 10.9% of people experience irritation from scented laundry products which vent outside while residential dryers are in operation. Scientific investigations have discovered a myriad of chemicals in these laundry products which are known neurotoxicants, carcinogens, and some of which are so toxic that they are listed on an Environmental Protection Agency “no safe exposure limit” list.
Irritations reported include headaches, breathing difficulties, and other health problems such as neurological symptoms.
Caress and Steinemann, researchers at the University of West Georgia, say, “This study reveals that a considerable percentage of the U.S. population reports adverse health effects or irritation from fragranced products.” A higher percentage of those with asthma and chemical sensitivity report health problems from fragrances.
Investigations show that fragrances are not required to be tested for human safety and that some of the chemicals used in them act synergistically to magnify the health effects that would be experienced by each chemical alone.
Worse, manufacturers are not required by law to list ingredients in fragrance. Hence, anything at all may be in a fragrance, safe or not.
Fragrances are a totally unnecessary addition to products, including our dress and appearance, and should be saved for special occasions. Indeed, manufacturers often add fragrance to their products to increase brand loyalty the expense of health.
Caress SM, Steinemann AC. Prevalence of fragrance sensitivity in the American population. J Environ Health. 2009 Mar;71(7):46-50.
Steinemann AC. Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients. Environ Impact Asses Rev (2008), doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2008.05.002.
For more articles on this topic, see: MCSA News.
Copyrighted 2009 Lourdes Salvador & MCS America
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People who participate in an upcoming fundraiser that combines vodka tasting, baby goats and a pop-up arcade, among many other attractions, along with learning about health and wellness opportunities, will also benefit Breast Friends, an organization that supports women with breast cancer. Everyone wins at the second annual Breast Cancer Community Impact FUNdraiser on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Fit Alliance parking lot at 15965 S.W. 72nd Ave., Tigard.
Everyone wins at the second annual Breast Cancer Community Impact FUNdraiser on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Fit Alliance parking lot at inTigard.
Jordon Hice and Lisa Rhoades are the co-founders and co-owners of Fit Alliance, and they met Allison Hancock, the executive director of Breast Friends, through a business networking group, which led to them hosting the fundraiser at their business, where Hancock is a client.
“My grandmother passed away from metastatic breast cancer that could have been prevented, so the cause is very near and dear to me,” Hice said. “This event was born to provide funds so that Breast Friends can continue the wonderful work that they do and to support our local economy. Every vendor at the event will be a local business owner from Tigard or surrounding areas.”
Hice added, “The Breast Friends and Fit Alliance teams will both be there with a booth. We will have vodka tasting from Wild Roots, inflatable Connect Four from Portland Party Works, baby goat petting with Portland Goat Parties, yard games, a pop-up arcade set up in the gym – courtesy of Reset Button Arcade – face painting for the kids (and adults too!) and a raffle.
“There also will be a wall of wine, a full menu of Mexican food and drinks at the restaurant next door (El Sol de Mexico), plus baked goods from Humble Pie Bakery, Drea’s Badass Cookies and Bishop & Son’s. In total, there will be over 20 local businesses with booths selling goods and services, including an array of quality allied health professionals to help you get your health and wellness on track.”
According to Hice, the following health and wellness professions will be represented: massage therapy (chair massage), holistic dentistry, a bio-wellness center, fitness and nutrition coaching, trauma recovery coaching, supplements and forest therapy.
Becky Olson and Sharon Henifin, who were longtime friends and went through breast cancer together, started their Tigard-based nonprofit Breast Friends in 2000 and retired in 2017. The organization offers support to women on many levels through four different programs.
Hancock, an 18-year breast cancer survivor, said, “Jordon has had breast cancer in his family, and this is an important cause to him. Not only is this a fundraiser for us, but it is important to let people in the community know we are here and what we do. Being able to have this event now is so important to us.”
Hice added, “As part of the Washington County family, we want to give back to our community by offering free admission to this day of fun and activity to raise money for a very worthy cause.”
For more information on Fit Alliance, visit fitalliancepdx.com or call 503-352-5832. Breast Friends is located at 14050 S.W. Pacific Highway, Suite 101, Tigard 97224; for more information, visit breastfriends.org. or call 503-598-8048. Hancock invites people to contact her directly at email@example.com.

domain: news


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KUALA LUMPUR, August 4 (Xinhua) -- Sunday is a big night for Malaysians as they bank their first Olympics Gold medal hope, among other goodies, on its top seeded shuttler, Lee Chong Wei who is set to play against China in the Men's Singles finals on Sunday.
Retailers seized the chance to advertise themselves by promising freebies to celebrate the Gold medal, if Malaysia bags it.
Ice cream chain outlet Baskin Robbins promised to offer free ice cream on August 8 while furniture retailer Macy's said it would refund the purchases made at their stores under certain conditions.
Social network sites like Facebook was overwhelmed by encouraging comments and thank you notes to Lee.
Prime minister Najib Razak tweeted "spoke to Chong Wei, congratulated him for the superb win! Told him to create history for Malaysia by winning the Gold".
He had earlier announced a one million ringgit reward to the Gold medalists at this year's Olympics and a lifetime monthly incentive of 5,000 ringgit to boost the athletes' morale.
Lee defeated China's Chen Long 21-13, 21-14 at the Wembley Arena on Friday in a superb performance.
The shuttler, who won a Silver medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, would face defending champion, China's Lin Dan on Sunday.
The Malaysian shuttler had Malaysians worried whether he could play at the Olympics when he sustained an ankle injury and made an early exit at the Thomas Cup in May.
Several medal hopefuls, including archer Khairul Annuar Mohd were expelled at the Olympics after making it to the qualifying rounds.
Sunday night's finals would put Lee in a massive test and potentially create history in the Malaysian sports front.
"Please give the Olympics a perfect ending ceremony by winning us a Gold! Btw, thank you in advance for a free ice cream," one Facebook user said.


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Do-it-yourself dealer Brico Depot Romania, part of the British group Kingsfisher, has started the rebranding process of Praktiker stores in Brico Depot.
The process will be carried out in stages and should be completed by the start of the 2019 spring season, the company announced.
Praktiker was the first modern DIY sales network to open stores in Romania in 2002. Kingfisher completed the acquisition of Praktiker Romania in December 2017 and started a process of business integration and consolidation at the outset. of this year, which included the closure of three Praktiker units. The company will continue to optimize its network and will close three other Praktiker stores, in Arad, Brasov and Pitesti.
Following the acquisition, Kingfisher has become the second largest player in the local DIY market, with a network of 38 stores.
Kingfisher spends about 22 million euros for the acquisition of Praktiker in Romania


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It wasn't exactly sacrosanct, but it used to be one place you could go to escape the barrage of Madison Avenue hype.
No longer. At least not in Pasadena.
The Pasadena Board of Directors on Tuesday approved the placement of advertising boards in the Rose Bowl's 27 permanent restrooms.
Each board will contain 12, 28-inch-tall ad panels, hung above the urinals in the men's restrooms and inside the entrances to the women's restrooms.
$99,000 Return Possible
Indoor Media Concepts, a Tustin company that "specializes in unique marketing concepts," according to a city staff report, approached the Rose Bowl staff with the new idea. Only two other companies nationwide provide a similar service, but neither of them are in the western United States.
Potential advertisers include radio stations, software developers, automobile makers and hotels.
The city's return could reach $99,000--60% of the restroom ad income. In addition, the city will be allocated one public service ad on each board.
"I guess if anybody had told me this is the way you make money, I'd have told them they were crazy," said City Manager Don McIntyre.
The ads could replace revenue lost from the cancellation of a September concert and could enable the city to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages at the stadium, a move that may be considered by the Board of Directors in the future.
Although most of the board members considered the restroom ads a discreet way to earn more money for the bowl, Director Rick Cole had reservations.
"We have already decorated one side of the Rose Bowl with 'Chrysler Car of Champions' and it seems more and more athletes themselves are becoming walking billboards," he said. "Should we have behind the mayor, 'This City Council meeting is brought to you by the Norton Simon Museum?' "


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For the December-January 2014 edition of Vogue Paris,the magazine has tapped hot husband and wife duo Victoria and David Beckham for its cover.
Victoria Beckham, has also stepped in as the guest editor for the issue bringing her minimalist chic aesthetic. Beckham has been fast on the rise in the fashion world, reinventing herself from the fake tanned tiara wearing Posh from our childhood Spice Girls years.
Now a highly respected high fashion designer, Beckham has just shown her spring-summer 2014 collection in New York to a warm reception.
The cover was shot by renowned photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin which is set to hit newstands December 2nd.
No wonder their children are so gorgeous!


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Although billionaire investor Carl Icahn's American Railcar Industries upped its offer to buy railcar maker Greenbrier Cos. to $22 per share, that's still probably not high enough to get the deal done, analysts say.
Longbow Research Analyst Matthew Brooklier said in a client note that an offer between $23 and $26 per share would still add meaningfully to American Railcar's earnings, Reuters reports. But St. Charles-based American Railcar set its latest offer at a discount to the range in which Greenbrier shares were trading, some $30, when Icahn tried unsuccessfully to merge the companies in 2008.
J.B. Groh, an analyst with D.A. Davidson & Co., has set a target price of $25 for Greenbrier's shares, Bloomberg reports. He said he expects Greenbrier to come up with a counteroffer even though American Railcar said in its sweetened offer that it wouldn't entertain one.
American Railcar on Tuesday had revealed an offer of $20 per share for Oregon-based Greenbrier, which would value the company at about $543 million. In a letter Wednesday, American Railcar raised its offer to $22 per share — or about $597 million — and set a response deadline of 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday.
American Railcar Industries (Nasdaq: ARII), led by President and CEO James Cowan, reported revenue of $519.4 million in 2011. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is the company's chairman and majority shareholder.


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Award Winning Cool Climate Wine Dinner
The International Cool Climate Wine Show is thrilled to be joining RACV Melbourne, to present the 2019 Award Winning Cool Climate Wine Dinner.
Christian Maier, Head Sommelier for RACV Club & Resorts, said "The International Cool Climate Wine Show is widely recognised as one of Australia’s foremost cool climate wine shows with over approximately 700 wines entered from the cool climate regions of Australia and around the world.
I was fortunate enough to be a judge this year, and judge alongside a panel of industry experts. It was a wonderful to be involved."
Ten of the best wines that have been awarded Trophies or Gold medals at this year’s show, will be presented at this exclusive dinner, which will be
co-hosted by International Cool Climate Wine Show President, Mr Paul White as well as this years' Chair of Judges, Mr Robert Paul.
This is a unique opportunity, not to be missed.
Tickets are STRICTLY LIMITED
When: Thursday, June 20th, 2019
Time: 6.30 pm
Cost: $149.00 per person (please note you must be 18+ to attend)
a sumptuous, 4 course meal
10 award winning wines from the 2019 International Cool Climate Wine Show


text: CBOT wheat jumped around 5% in morning trade on Monday after India announced it would restrict wheat exports from the country with immediate effect to manage domestic supplies of the grain. The announcement comes as a major surprise to the market as the country previously indicated a push for higher exports after supply losses from Ukraine pushed up prices in the global market. In fact, India was one of the few countries where the USDA was expecting wheat exports to increase and help fill the supply gap. Over recent weeks, a severe heatwave in large parts of India has created supply risks for the country, with production estimates for 2022/23 revised downwards recently, pushing the administration to take harsh measures. India will continue to send some wheat to neighbouring countries, although this would also need government approval and depend on requirements and availability.


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Despite having an exclusive on a much-hyped phone, AT&T is still losing customers to Verizon, says the NYT.
From the NYT:
Despite the pull of the iPhone, Verizon has managed to steadily increase its share of the smartphone market, to 26 percent in May, from 20 percent in late 2008. In the same period, AT&T’s market share slipped to 40 percent, from around 45 percent, according to comScore. Those numbers do not take into account the impact of the popular iPhone 4, released last month.
The article points to the new Droid X, from Google and Motorola, as the next coming of the Jesusphone, and suggests that Verizon’s partnership with Google may be enough to keep draining AT&T of customers.
What do you think? Are you into the Droid phones?


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Articles Featuring Echo of Soul
- Echo of Soul Announces Summer Event is Back
- Echo of Soul is bringing summer back, with the return of their limited-time Summer Event.
- Gamigo Gears Up for Easter Across its Portfolio of Games
- gamigo is proud to announce they are getting ready for Spring, and with that comes a wealth of Easter-themed events.
- Echo of Soul’s ‘Kingdom’ Update is Now Live
- Echo of Soul's "Kingdom" update is now live and with it comes the return of popular dungeons and Guild Wars.
- Gamigo Celebrates the Holidays Across 14 Games
- Gamigo is getting into the holiday spirit, and announced a wealth of holiday events across their portfolio of titles.
- Gamigo Announces Halloween Special Events
- Gamigo announced today that their titles are going to be taking part in Halloween-themed events for their worldwide community.
- Echo of Soul: Wrath of the Goddess Episode 2.5 Now Live
- Aeria Games has released Echo of Soul's latest content update, Wrath of the Goddess Episode 2.5.
- Echo of Soul: Wrath of the Goddess Expansion Launched
- Echo of Soul has added a host of new content with its new Wrath of the Goddess expansion.
- Echo of Soul Episode 1.5 & Warlock Class Now Available
- Echo of Soul has debuted a brand new character class as part of a new content update - the Warlock!
- Aeria Confirms Western Echo of Soul Servers Unaffected by Korean Closure
- Aeria Games has released an official response to the HanGames closure of the Korean Echo of Soul servers.
- Echo of Soul’s August Update Opens Kranheim Raid
- Echo of Soul's August update has arrived, bringing with it a new raid, new challenges, and more.
Articles You May Enjoy
- Uncharted Waters Online Releases Barca Solar Update
- The second chapter of Uncharted Waters Online’s latest expansion, “Episode Atlantis,” has been released.
- Scarlet Blade Launches Closed Beta Test
- Closed beta finally begins for the bad-ass women of Scarlet Blade.


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Three months after a tsunami devastated resorts in South Asia, the region is the focus of the world's biggest tourism fair in Berlin. Tourists are being asked to return, but can the industry learn from past mistakes?
Thai resorts are spreading the message they're open for business
In a sign of how much importance Germany attaches to tourism and efforts to rebuild areas devastated by December’s tsunami, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was on hand to open this year’s ITB tourism fair. He was the first German leader to speak at the ITB in eight years. Germany was one of the biggest donors of relief aid after the tsunami hit and its people are among the world’s most prolific travelers.
“Alongside the private and state relief aid there is now one thing that is crucial -- tourists should not take their eyes off the affected regions,” Schröder said. “That’s the only way to help give the region hope for the future. If tourists stay away, it will hit the people there hard.”
Beach clean-up on Phuket
In the fair’s Asia Pavilion, the message to visitors is: Come back -- our beaches are clean, safe and ready to welcome you.
German appeal to industry
But the German government likely won’t be thrilled to hear that it’s all business as usual. Before the ITB opened, German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul appealed to the tourism industry to take responsibility for reconstruction in tsunami-affected areas. The mistakes of the past should not be repeated, she warned. Instead, she called for “intelligent solutions” -- sustainable tourism that would benefit both tourists and locals and protect the natural beauty of tourist destinations.
In countries such as Thailand, where tourism was already highly developed before the tsunami struck, experts at the ITB said there’s little chance of that happening.
“The window of opportunity was open briefly, but it has already shut,” said a German hotelier based on the Thai island of Phuket. Before the tsunami, Patong, the island’s most famous town, was known for its crowded strip studded with flashy discos and cocktail bars -- and its equally crowded beach. After the tsunami swept all the beach chairs and vendor stands into the sea, there was talk of redoing the beach more tastefully, with just one or two rows of beach chairs. “Now, it’s already back to four rows,” he said.
Jürgen Kripl, a German hotel manager also working in Phuket, added that it’s been very difficult to check how donations are being used in Thailand. He complained of a lack of will among Thai businesspeople in the tourism industry to see improvements through. “Foreign donations could just be used to slap up the same kind of cheap hotels and restaurants that were there before,” he said.
The German development ministry could have more luck pursuing its vision in countries where the tourism industry still has room to grow -- Sri Lanka, for example.
Peter Richter, a senior advisor for the German Technical Assistance Service (GTZ), liases with the private sector in Sri Lanka to create a better tourism infrastructure and to train locals working in the industry. The temptation among locals immediately after the tsunami, he said, was to simply get things operational again so tourist dollars would flow as quickly as possible.
Tourists to Sri Lanka could join the locals in picking tea as part of an ecotourism experience
But together with German business consultant Wilja Witcombe, he’s promoting the “Beyond Beaches” campaign, training locals how to offer tourists alternative packages around other aspects of Sri Lanka -- nature, wildlife, culture and wellness.
“Some fishermen in Sri Lanka do not want to go back out to sea because of the tsunami, so we are helping them to become tour guides of their area, training them in biodiversity, the ecosystem, things of relevance in their regions, and they can be part of the ecotourism trend,” said Witcombe.
As tragic as it was, Witcombe said that the tsunami provided an impetus among Sri Lankans who lost everything in the giant wave to rebuild their tourism industry on a more solid foundation.
“I think people are very aware of the need to do things differently,” she said. “The tsunami gave us a big push forward to get our message about alternative tourism across faster, and now, the people who didn’t listen before, and even laughed at our efforts, are listening.”
Early warning system
Germany's Minister for Research Edelgard Bulmahn, right, and her Indonesian counterpart Kusmayanto Kadiman exchange documents after signing an agreement on the building of a tsunami early warning system in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Another mistake of the past -- the lack of an early warning system for tsunamis -- also looks set to be remedied, something experts at the ITB agree will help tourists regain their trust in the region. Germany said it will build a warning system for Indonesia as part of its aid commitment to Southeast Asia.The global satellite-based system was designed by the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest research institution. The Geoscience Center in Potsdam will oversee the €45 million ($60.3 million) project to build it and predicts the first buoys could be placed in Indonesian waters by October of this year. The Indonesian system can be extended to other countries; Sri Lanka has already expressed interest.


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Another report has backed up claims that Apple exclude a couple of EarPods with the iPhone 12 handsets when they released later this year. The news comes from Wedbush’s Dan Ives, as announced by Benjamin Mayo: He is hearing the same: “our checks that possible no wired EarPods will come in the iPhone 12 box.
Eventually, this may help Apple with driver sales of its wireless AirPods earbuds ever higher. The Wedbush analyst believes that Apple will sell 85 million AirPods units in 2020, contrasted with 65 million calculated in 2019.
This matches up with reports earlier within the year from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Removing the EarPods from the packaging offers various monetary advantages to Apple, however, that expanded edge comes at a value of diminishing the client experience.
While users aren’t getting on buying decisions on the contents of the retail box, that unpacking experience makes the initial introduction of the item. Accounts of Steve Jobs meticulously opening and shutting packaging to analyse this temperament is the kind of devotion to detail that enables a brand to stand out and make little passionate rushes before a handset is turned on.
There is a practical example, I personally appreciate when a manufacturer puts a case within the box. It’d only be a transparent TPU cover, but it says ‘the phone is worth something’.
Throughout the years, Tim Cook’s Apple has decreased packaging around the iPhone; evacuating the carry case for the EarPods, using a slower charger, and rapidly dropping dongles being three notable examples
Removing the EarPods would be a clear continuation of this policy. The saving money on removing the hardware equipment will include over the teenagers of millions of new handsets sold Will the purchasers notice? They’ll certainly miss the instant of joy that Steve Jobs hoped after when you purchased an Apple product item.
However, probably just spend extra money with Apple and get some AirPods. Which I assume is the point, yet it is another step from Apple away from being a gem of marketing towards being simply one more manufacturer.


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Light vehicle registrations in Slovakia improved marginally in April 2012, reaching 6,203 units. Comparatively, the country’s automotive industry posted registrations of 6,135 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in April 2011.
Last month’s increase in registrations was due to a slight increase in car numbers, which offset a year-on-year drop in …
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CT Gaming has extended its reach and is now available for gamblers in Belgium. Thanks to a strategic agreement, CT Interactive will henceforth roll out a few of its dice slot games with PepperMill Casino, which is easily one of the most recognized brands in Belgium.
CT Interactive’s games including 20 Dice Roosters, 50 Dice Treasures, 20 Dice Party, as well as 40 Mega Dice, will all be available for punters in Belgium. In total, CT Gaming will debut 23 dice slots with PepperMill Casino.
Dice slot games may not be the most common type of casino table games available. However, they still have a lot of support from experienced casino players. Because they are limited in number, dice slot games provide an entertaining gambling experience to those that prefer them.
This partnership is expected to be beneficial for both brands as they work to leave their mark in the competitive gambling market in Europe. Peppermill Casino’s customers will now have a lot more variety than they are used to as far as their selection of dice slots is concerned.
CT Interactive has continued to explore its expansion plan
CT Interactive, on the other hand, has now expanded its reach with this partnership which should help the brand realize its goal of domination in the European market. The brand has been working hard to set up similar strategic partnerships all over the continent to help it actualize its vision.
For instance, just recently, CT Interactive successfully teamed up with the La Tinka casino brand in Peru. Owing to this deal, CT Interactive is now one of the primary operators in Peru following a successful integration process. As one of the most popular operators in Peru’s gambling market, this partnership will no doubt help CT Interactive stand out among competitors.
CT Interactive has stated publicly that expansion is a critical pillar in the company’s growth. CT’s international reach has grown considerably over the last year owing to a series of deals that the brand has made with some of the biggest online casino operators in the world.
CT interactive also has several other partnerships in Peru as it continues to pursue its quest to dominate Latin American jurisdictions. For instance, in August last year, CT Interactive took its content live with Bonanza.club.
Last year, CT also took the Italian gambling market by storm when it teamed up with Signor Bet. Since the partnership agreement was announced, CT has availed some of its most popular titles to Signor Bet. This includes titles such as Chilli Fruits, 40 Treasures, Luck Clover, and more.
In April 2022, CT Interactive also gained access to several more segments of the lucrative gaming market in Latin America. It is this deal with Playtech that saw CT Interactive integrate its popular games with Playtech’s already massive portfolio of online slot games.
This was yet another move from CT Interactive to deepen its global footprint. Owing to this deal, market opportunities opened themselves up in profitable regions including Mexico and Colombia. Before its partnership with Playtech, CT has also signed a similar deal with Pariplay.
Under the terms of its deal, Pariplay would integrate CT’s games into its award-winning Fusion content aggregation platform. This collaboration saw CT introduce its games such as Duck of Luck and Win Storm to one of the biggest customer bases in the Baltic region, as well as Romania.
Just before the year concluded, CT Interactive also inked a deal with Mondo Gaming, which further solidified its presence in Italy. Since the deal was struck, CI Interactive has been supplying Mondo Gaming with 3-level jackpot titles, as well as 20 games. CT Interactive also acquired market access into Curacao before the end of 2022 through a strategic partnership with Timeless Tech.
As you can expect, the brand kicked off 2023 strong by sealing several more deals and partnerships. Case in point, CT took its content live with AdmiralBet Montenegro, which has a multi-layered platform that attracts gamblers in their thousands. Soon after this, CT Interactive then introduced its products to operators in Bulgaria.
CT Interactive entered the Bulgarian gambling market thanks to a deal with Betmarket. Betmarket is one of the popular sportsbook operators in Bulgaria even though it has only been licensed for a relatively short time. These recent deals that the brand signed in January 2023 have allowed the software provider to commence the year on a high note.
Still in January 2023, CT Interactive continued its dominance in the gambling market in Malta by teaming up with IZI Group. CT Interactive already had an existing partnership with a subsidiary of IZI Group known as IZIBET.com. As such, this is the second brand from IZI Group that CT Interactive has teamed up with.
As a result of this deal, CT Interactive will offer IZI 40 exclusive slot games. CT interactive will henceforth provide the group with cutting-edge titles and content that has been designed with modern players in mind.
To ensure its continued success, CT Interactive is scheduled to attend the highly anticipated ICE London which is expected to take place between February 7th and 9th at ExCel London. During the conference, CT Interactive will showcase some of the games that the brand has been working on.
For instance, attendees will be treated to CT’s newest addition dubbed Treasure Chase. Treasure Chase was developed by the company to cater to gamblers that are looking for dynamic and high-octane gameplay. During the event, CT will also enjoy the opportunity to showcase its upgraded portfolio of more than 200 games after the company invested heavily in improving its products in 2022.
CT Interactive has grown to become one of the most recognized online software providers in the world. The brand already supplies its operator partners with more than 200 casino gaming titles. Some of the products that CT Interactive offers include dice slots, jackpots, classic fruit slots, as well as cascading reels games. All the titles available can be customized and personalized by any operator that wishes to do so in line with their customer attraction and retention strategies.


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Interested in CSE blockchain stocks? Here’s a rundown of five companies on the exchange to watch.
With blockchain technology set to reach a staggering market size of US$69 billion by 2030, investor interest in the space has been growing — and CSE blockchain stocks are at the forefront of the industry's development.
In terms of publicly traded companies in the sector, the CSE, or Canadian Securities Exchange, has positioned itself as an epicenter for blockchain companies listing their common shares, making CSE blockchain stocks a hot commodity in the capital markets.
The CSE also launched a blockchain-powered platform in early 2018 — the first in Canada for clearing and settling securities by way of blockchain — further solidifying itself as a leading stock market in the Canadian blockchain revolution.
However, while there are many companies dipping into this ever-evolving industry, not all of them are purely focused on the development of blockchain technology.
Here's a look at three CSE blockchain stocks that are directly involved in blockchain technology or have deep interests in blockchain applications and digital assets. The CSE blockchain stocks below were selected using the CSE's stock screener; they are listed in order of biggest market cap to smallest, and all had market caps of at least C$10 million as of November 23, 2022.
POSaBIT Systems (CSE:PBIT)
Market cap: C$90.4 million
Fintech company POSaBIT Systems delivers blockchain-enabled payment processing and point-of-sale systems to the cannabis industry. and other cash-only businesses. The company's payment solutions provide compliance, safety and transparency for merchants while creating a user-friendly experience for consumers.
In October 2022, the company reported that its 3Q 2022 revenues will reach a record level of at least US$10.0 million, up 60 percent over Q3 2021 revenues.
2. BIGG Digital Assets (CSE:BIGG)
Market cap: C$57.54 million
BIGG Digital Assets owns two operating companies: Blockchain Intelligence Group (blockchaingroup.io) and Netcoins (gonetcoins.com). Blockchain Intelligence Group has developed two patent-pending technologies deployed through its forensic services division.
BitRank® is a "risk-scoring" application that provides visibility into a cryptocurrency wallet's history. Through this platform, banks, money service businesses, exchanges, miners and bitcoin ATMs can identify, mitigate and report cryptocurrency transaction risks. QLUE™ helps law enforcement and financial institutions detect fraudulent and criminal bitcoin transactions using advanced search algorithms.
3. Taal Distributed Information Technologies (CSE:TAAL)
Market cap: C$42.2 million
Last on our list of top CSE blockchain stocks is Taal Distributed Information Technologies, which is focused on becoming a vertically integrated blockchain infrastructure and service provider with the ability to create custom solutions for its clients. The CSE blockchain stock's services include transaction processing, managed services, data storage solutions and miner API.
TAAL has a hosting partnership agreement with Hut 8 Minin Corp. (TSX:HUT), a leader in North America's digital asset mining industry. In its five year roadmap, TAAL discusses the major changes it sees coming in the blockchain industry, including "a transition away from a block rewards subsidy model to a transaction fee-based model."
In August 2022, TAAL announced its transition to a Metanet service provider. "Metanet is the next generation of global data commerce, whereby transactions are completed without third-party intervention," stated the press release. "Metanet evolves TAAL’s base business of capturing blockchain subsidies towards the monetization of blockchain transactions as a service platform and will drive the next leg of growth for the Company."
This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2018.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.


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HeidelbergCement has increased its estimate for benefits from the planned takeover of Italcementi.
The makers of building materials are focused on reducing costs and boosting efficiency with investments on hold in much of the world due to an uncertain global economic outlook.
HeidelbergCement responded to the market uncertainty in July when it agreed to take control of Italcementi in a deal that valued the company at US$7.3 billion.
Shares in HeidelbergCement have grown 3.5%. They have remained flat since the Italcementi acquisition was announced, compared with a 14% drop of LafargeHolcim over the same period.
Traders said the raised synergy target offset a lower sales outlook for 2015.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/05112015/benefits-heidelbergcement-italcementi-deal-grow-923/


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For the company now known as GoBolt (formerly Bolt Logistics), what originally began in Toronto in 2017 as a small, but mighty team of three focused on providing concierge-esque consumer storage, quickly and organically evolved into a much larger nation-wide operation providing fulfillment and last-mile logistics for local ecommerce merchants and some of the world’s most prominent brands.
Spurred by a 400 percent increase in revenue in 2020 (largely driven by B2B customers in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Vancouver), GoBolt’s Series A raise of $20 million supported the startup’s switch away from consumer storage and powered their debut as Canada’s newest tech-enabled logistics and last-mile provider.
GoBolt’s rapid success comes from its consumer focused roots and priding itself on not being just another third-party logistics (3PL) provider, but a true partner that serves as an extension of their customers’ logistics team. The company has built a vertically integrated solution that puts people, and the environment first. As a testament to this, all of GoBolt’s warehouse teams and drivers are fully employed and benefited GoBolt employees. By looking after its people and investing in company culture, GoBolt is able to deliver on its brand promise of exceptional customer service and reliability.
In addition to its focus on people, GoBolt is building a sustainable approach in an industry notorious for its heavy impact on the environment. By bringing in Canada’s largest fleet of commercial electric vehicles (EVs), the company is ahead of schedule in achieving its goal to be carbon negative by the end of 2023. But even the environmental focus comes back to GoBolt’s commitment to its people.
“For us to continue to do great work, we need great people and those people generally expect their employer to be just as dedicated as they are about the positive impact they want to have on the world. Because we share our values so publicly, we’ve been able to attract people who share those values and are committed to our mission to offer negative carbon logistics,” say Mark Ang, Co-Founder and CEO of GoBolt.
This adds to the company’s differentiation and ability to offer something refreshing to its customers who are tired of traditional, slow-moving logistics solutions. “As a younger company with a strong focus on innovation, back-end systems, and technology, we’re able to foster a culture that values thinking differently and moving quickly. As we grow, we want to maintain our entrepreneurial spirit that enables us to be nimble,” concludes Ang.
So what’s next for GoBolt? Less than 10 months after its Series A, GoBolt’s Series B injected an additional $115 million to scale its offering beyond Canada and double down on its environmental mandate. In 2022, the company is aggressively purchasing EVs and expanding into the U.S. while continuing its growth in Canada. GoBolt has now grown from 400 employees at the start of 2021 to over 1,000 and is just at the beginning of the company’s exciting trajectory.


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Eat Your Way Thin
A few French fries can’t hurt, right? Actually, wrong! A surprising new study shows that eating just a bit more of some popular foods can really pack on the pounds.
For several decades now, Harvard researchers have tracked the effect of various lifestyle factors, including diet, on the health and well-being of more than 120,000 volunteer doctors and nurses. Their latest report reveals that the average study participant gained 3.35 pounds over every four-year period, or almost 17 pounds in 20 years.
The good news is that although foods such as fries packed on the pounds, other foods were linked to weight loss over the years – and not just fruits and vegetables. Butter was the only full-fat dairy food that was associated with significant weight gain – cheese and whole milk were not.
And though some research suggests that diet sodas can make you gain weight despite having no calories, in this study they didn’t.
The researchers based their findings on self-reported diet, exercise, sleep, TV habits, and weight gain or loss. And they found that, of course, maintaining a healthy weight isn’t just about what you put I your mouth: People with the worst fitness and food habits gained about 6 pounds more every four years than the people with the best diets and most workouts.
But eating right and getting moving aren’t the only secrets to weight-loss success. Sleeping more also helps. Participants in the study who slept 6 to 8 hours a night had healthier weights than those who got less sleep. Watching less TV is another factor. For every hour per day spent in front of the boob tube, study participants gained 1/3 pound every four years.
What Price Skinny? In a new study, 30 percent of women said they would give up at least a year of their life and 13 percent would pay over $8,000 a year to be at their ideal weight and body shape.
For every extra daily serving of these foods, people gained this amount of weight, on average, over four years.
• French Fries – +3.35 pounds
• Potato Chips – + 1.69 pounds
• Sugar-sweetened Drinks – +1 pound
• Processed Meats – +0.93 pounds
• Red Meat – +0.95 pound
• Foods Containing Trans Fat – +0.65 pound
• Potatoes (baked, boiled, or mashed) – +0.57 pound
• Sweets and Desserts = +0.41 pound
• Butter – +0.30 pound
For every additional daily serving of these foods, people lost this amount of weight, on average:
• Yogurt (-0.82 pound)
• Nuts (-0.57 pound)
• Fruits (-0.49 pound)
• Whole grains (-0.37 pound)
• Veggies (-.022 pound)


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The BlackBerry Storm 2 – which has still to be formerly announced and has thus been the subject of recently leaked images and information – has appeared within a new video.
Despite the featured phone sporting an early model chassis, supporting 'in development' software and offering no Wi-Fi plug-ins (they will follow, however, before the official roll-out), the phone has made a good first impression.
In fact, according to the Crackberry website that created the actual video, the new model is much improved over the first Storm incarnation. 'It feels nicer in the hand and the concept is executed more cleanly. Improved engineering all around. Examples: better battery door integration (no need for "feet" for an ill-placed speaker port or hooks to hold the door in place; tighter tolerances (no gaps/light shining through); buttons are part of display.'
Other features of note included an enhanced screen interface with an improved 'feel' during operations. The screen display 'gives' when pressed, offering feedback through the solid glass.
No price, release date or distribution details are available at the moment.
Click to read the Crackberry story and view the video


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MÉRIDA, Yucatán.- Prices for reservations for two in Mérida restaurants , on the eve of Valentine’s Day, range from 400 up to 1,500 pesos.
Restaurants around the world boost sales by marketing gift baskets for this special night, selling quality chocolates or giving a rose to each woman on Valentine’s Day. Many restaurants take a more elaborate approach by offering special menus, decorations and cross-promotions with florists, musicians, jewelers and plastic artists.
But here in the Yucatan, this date is normally one of the best of the year for the local restaurant industry, and as every year there will be promotions and special events depending on the type of establishment. And for many Merida residents (local or foreign), this romance-filled holiday is just another excuse to work up their appetites.
It’s “love at first bite”, as restaurants across the “White City” prepare for Valentine’s, and the National Chamber of Seasoned Food and Restaurant Industry (Cámara Nacional de la Industria Restaurantera y Alimentos Condimentados: CANIRAC) reported that a good number of food & drink businesses in the state capital have launched promotions for the whole week.
“We are expecting at least the same sales figures registered last year,” said Carlos Campos Achach president of CANIRAC.
Campos Achach explained that inflation and the increase in gasoline and LP gas prices, bring higher costs for supplies, ingredients and raw materials, and this situation results in higher prices on restaurant menus all over Mérida.
From flowers to a gift to dinner out, Valentine’s Day can be an expensive holiday, but Yucatecans are very romantic people, and they are aware of how valuable a nice dinner for two can be in a relationship.
TYT Newsroom with information with Sipse.com
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Gene Munster at Piper Jaffray put out a note yesterday saying he expected Apple to ship 48m of its new-fangled mobile handsets in 2009. That may seem like a large number, but according to Gene, it would require Apple capturing just under 8 per cent of the North American handset market and less than 3 per cent market share of the rest of the world over the next two years.
Meanwhile, Crunchgear’s "The Futurist" says fragile screens, software bugs – and oh, that buttonless keyboard! – could all cause the handset to bomb. Michael Arrington at Tech Crunch has his doubts about that thesis, as do we: Sharp edges on the new MacBooks aside, if there’s anything Apple can be counted on to get right with the iPhone, it’s the design and user experience.
Where could things go wrong? It’s price, not design, that stands the best chance of de-railing Apple’s iPhone hopes. When Steve Jobs unveiled the basic model’s $499 pricetag in January, the gasp from the crowd was audible. With business customers unlikely to flock to the gadget until it become compatible with Outlook and other business email services, convincing millions of consumers to part with $500 for a phone could be a tall order. But it’s not out of the realm of possiblity – not by a long shot.


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Now retailers are launching first-time Manhattan shops to take advantage of the ski trend. Luxury outerwear brand Moncler recently opened a boutique in SoHo, as did Icebreaker, a New Zealand-based purveyor of cold-weather apparel. Many such shops boast Alpine looks that can not only climb every mountain but also survive any midtown slush pond.
“The whole idea of the après-ski chalet Swiss Miss—that whole look—has moved into the fashion realm, and it's gone viral,” said Catherine Moellering, executive vice president of style-forecasting company Tobe Report.
Not long ago, the sport was in a downhill decline in the Northeast. Flatiron district fixture Princeton Ski Shop shuttered three years ago. And Vermont-based Stratton Mountain Ski Resort was nearly put up for auction last year as its private equity owner, Fortress Investment Group, scrambled for cash.
What a difference a few feet of powder make. Skiers and instructors making tracks down the mountains of Stratton over the holidays reported a record number of visitors. At Sugarbush, also in Vermont, the numbers already are surpassing year-earlier levels: The ski center pulled in 7,500 skiers each day during the Christmas holiday weekend, a number typically not seen until February or even later in the season.
“We are seeing some pretty strong numbers this year,” said Candice White, Sugarbush's vice president of marketing. “We are feeling really positive about the 2010-11 season.”
Some experts say the sport is gaining speed because of changing demographics, as teenagers and twentysomethings embrace downhill alternatives such as snowboarding and freestyle skiing. These variations involve terrain parks with half-pipes. Several local athletic shops and group sporting companies now offer day trips to nearby mountains Hunter and Windham. Paragon Sports in Union Square and Zog Sports, a social sports programmer founded after Sept. 11, report that their ski trips have been very popular.
Retailers have been paying attention. Open just four months, Moncler's Prince Street store is already performing well, according to the Milan-based brand, which offers down-filled coats that cost upwards of $1,100. Canadian womenswear company Lolë, which also sells winter sports jackets, will open soon in TriBeCa, and state-of-the-art ski label Spyder recently rented a downtown showroom to wholesale its wares.


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In its first earnings report since going public in April, Oklahoma City-based Paycom Software Inc. reported a profit of $1.1 million for the first quarter, or 2 cents per share, down from $2.6 million or 5 cents per share, for the same period a year ago.
However, Paycom saw gross revenue grow to $37 million in the first quarter — a 34.1 percent increase from $27.6 million in the same period last year. Recurring revenue increased 34 percent from the same period a year ago.
In a conference call with investors after the market’s close, Paycom CEO Chad Richison said the company opened five new regional offices in the first quarter — two more than it had initially planned to open. Paycom specializes in cloud-based payroll and human resources products for midsize businesses.
“What we are finding is that the demand for our products is exceeding our expectations,” Richison said.
During the next year, the company plans to continue to hire new research and development and sales and marketing staff at a rapid pace to keep up with growth, as well as expand into new markets, Richison said.
Continue reading this story on the...


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Amazon’s 8th Generation Kindle Flagship Coming Next Week Says CEO Jeff Bezos
The last time that Amazon released a flagship Kindle e-reader was way back in October 2014. That is when the online retail giant released the Kindle Voyage to much fanfare. The Kindle Voyage brought with it a redesigned exterior, 6-inch 300pi e-ink display, an ambient light sensor and PagePress navigation with haptic feedback. All of this upgraded hardware came with a relatively high $199 price tag.
18 months after the launch of the Kindle Voyage, Amazon is now ready to announce its next generation flagship reader. And the confirmation comes from none other than Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who took to Twitter to make the announcement:
Heads up readers – all-new, top of the line Kindle almost ready. 8th generation. Details next week.— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) April 4, 2016
Unfortunately, that’s all we have to go on at this point. The all-new moniker likely means that we’re going to see a significant departure from the design of the Kindle Voyage, although we can’t say that with any certainty. What we do hope, however, is that Amazon manages to make it new flagship a bit easier on the wallet. While the Voyage is definitely a fine piece of kit, the $199 is a tough pill to swallow compared to the $119 price tag of the Kindle Paperwhite.
However, we should note that Amazon is currently running a limited-time promotion for Prime members which takes $50 off the price of the Kindle Voyage and $30 off the price of the Kindle Paperwhite, bringing their prices down to $149 and $89 respectively.
Although e-readers aren’t exactly hot commodities in the consumer electronics space like smartphones or even tablets, it’s nice to see that Amazon is at least still making advances in the category.


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MFS Africa has raised $100m in an equity and debt financing round to further accelerate its expansion effort by adding more talent to its teams in Africa and worldwide.
The funding follows a series of acquisitions and investments by the African digital payments network in fintechs across the continent.
This includes its recently announced takeover of Nigerian fintech Baxi, which it plans to develop into a key node to enable regional payments into and from Nigeria.
AfricInvest FIVE co-led MFS’ latest financing round along with existing LUN Partners Group and investors Goodwell Investments.
The round was joined by new investors Allan Gray Ventures, CommerzVentures, Endeavor Harvest, and Endeavor Catalyst as well as returning investor ShoreCap III.
Debt financing was secured from Lendable and Norsad among others.
MFS Africa has been expanding its footprint across Africa over the past year. The firm currently has offices in bidjan, Kampala, Kinshasa, Nairobi, and Lagos.
Additionally, it moved its headquarters to London.
The firm said it will establish additional regional offices in major African markets, as well as in China and the US.
MFS also plans to leverage the new capital to strengthen its governance, risks and compliance (GRC) functions and further bolster its treasury and liquidity pool.
It will also continue to invest in fntechs across the African payment ecosystem.
MFS Africa founder and CEO Dare Okoudjou said: “This new fundraising round further demonstrates our commitment and the scale of our ambitions. For our clients across Africa and beyond, this is also a validation of the choice they have made to partner with us in building a network of networks that make instant cross-border payments as simple as making a phone call.
“We look forward to continuing to work with them to expand and deepen that network in the years to come.”
AfricInvest FIVE partner Julius Tichelaar noted: “Cross-border payments remain an important challenge in many African markets today and MFS Africa is uniquely positioned to confront this.
“We are excited to join MFS Africa’s world-class management team on its mission and to support its growth journey”.
In March this year, MFS Africa reached over 320 million mobile money wallets, covering 60% of all mobile money wallets in sub-Saharan Africa.
Last December, the pan-African fintech teamed up with PayPal service Xoom to offer secure and convenient mobile money transfers to six countries across Africa.
It also signed a partnership with MoneyGram last year, allowing MoneyGram to leverage its reach to mobile wallets and bank accounts across the continent.


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We received the following letter this morning from the NABI, the U.S. National Association of Beverage Importers. We are very happy to learn that the TTB (the American Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) has lifted the threat of a ban and that the Italian and American governments are working together to find a solution. Although more than a million bottles were sequestered by the Siena magistrate office in his investigation, only a small number of producers were involved in the inquiry. As a result, many small and certainly innocent producers were suffering because of this.
Here’s the letter we received:
Friday, June 13, 2008: This morning NABI received an update relative to the ongoing TTB action involving Brunello designated wine exported to the US market. In a call from Italy it was learned that the Italian government will continue to defer to the investigating magistrate. The primary TTB request for the names of the firms under investigation for alleged wrongdoing has not been met. After reviewing the situation with Italian authorities TTB representatives understand this position and will let the investigation take its course. However their demand for assurance that the Brunello standard is met for product sold in the US continues.
Lacking information concerning those under investigation TTB and the consortium moved on to methods for assuring the integrity of product in the marketplace. During these discussions it became clear to TTB that requiring a laboratory analysis for shipment to the US is not feasible. They have abandoned this requirement.
An alternative agreeable to TTB and the consortium is a declaration from any office of the Italian government that with reasonable assurance the product meets the rules for the sale of Brunello in the Italian market. This declaration is similar to that required of US product sold to certain export markets. The declaration may be broad in scope to cover an entire brand and vintage. TTB suggested that the declaration could come from any government entity including that responsible for quality assurance.
It was also learned that the Italian Ministry of Agriculture met with the US Ambassador to Italy with the goal of removing the TTB demand letter. The Ambassador in consultation with the US Department of Agriculture reported back to the Italians that the controlling authority is TTB.
The new approach discussed in this update will be the subject of a TTB Industry Circular for release sometime next week. Both TTB and the Brunello Consortium are working on language that would be mutually acceptable. Although it appears that TTB is significantly backing away from its aggressive position on a shipment by shipment laboratory analysis, obtaining any certification can be problematic. NABI has reaffirmed with TTB our position that innocent producers and importers will suffer significant adverse consequences as a result of this controversy. We have told TTB that the approaching June 23 deadline is not workable. Meeting a certification requirement from the Italian government will require reasonable time to accomplish. We anticipate more information following the return of the TTB delegation to the US on Monday, June 16.


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Nintendo hinted it was improving its notoriously rudimentary online access with word of the Nintendo Network early this year, and was even more adamant at E3 about making a big push into digital video. Some have accused the company of nothing but flag-waving -- if that's true, the waving is about to turn into a full parade through a new hire. As of July 1st, Nintendo is bringing on Disney's former Interactive Media Group senior VP Duncan Orrell-Jones to take on the just-minted role of senior VP for the company's Network Business group in the US. He'll be handling the overall American digital strategy, which covers both gaming as well as content. We'll need to wait awhile before we see the results, but if it helps make sure friend codes never rise from the dead to haunt our Wii U, we're all for it.
NINTENDO OF AMERICA HIRES NEW SENIOR VP OF NETWORK BUSINESS
Duncan Orrell-Jones to Lead Nintendo's Online Efforts
REDMOND, Wash., June 28, 2012 – Nintendo of America announces the hiring of a new senior vice president of Network Business. Effective July 1, Duncan Orrell-Jones will take on the newly created position and spearhead the development and evolution of Nintendo of America's digital strategy for the company's Nintendo 3DS and Wii U video game systems. Orrell-Jones will work at Nintendo's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., and report to Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime.
"Duncan Orrell-Jones brings knowledge and hands-on experience to Nintendo that will help us develop and implement long-term digital initiatives for our systems," Fils-Aime said. "By creating this new position we're demonstrating our commitment to the expansion of our online business, and Duncan is the perfect person for the job."
Orrell-Jones comes to Nintendo from The Walt Disney Company, where he has worked since 1993, most recently as senior vice president in the Disney Interactive Media Group. In that role, he was responsible for identifying opportunities to expand Disney's games business outside North America across a variety of platforms. Prior to that he also served as the senior vice president and general manager for the Disney Interactive Media Group in Tokyo, where he led a 140-person team to drive the company's digital properties on various platforms.
Orrell-Jones holds a bachelor's degree in physics from UCLA and an MBA from Emory University's Goizueta Business School.


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Apparently, we’re all going on a summer holiday this year – and it’s in the UK. According to a survey by Away Resorts, who operate new forest glamping at Sandy Balls, over one third of Brits plan to take their main break in the UK this year. With 44% saying they will be staying near the beach – no surprise there then, judging by our weather lately!
Interestingly, 55% said they’ll be taking their main holiday at a caravan or lodge park, suggesting that the holiday village is seeing a resurgence. Holiday parks were picked as their go-to destination by the 34 – 45 and 44 – 54 age groups the most, suggesting that this type of accommodation is most popular with families. And why wouldn’t it be? With onsite activities for children, adult entertainment in the evenings and restaurants within easy reach, it makes it much easier for families to organise their time and enjoy their breaks in this type of setting.
In fact, holiday parks aren’t just being picked for their convenience, they’re also being chosen due to the accommodation on offer, as the majority of those surveyed said they picked their main holiday due to two main things: the locality and the accommodation. Holiday parks have been reinventing themselves recently, with many offering luxurious and stylish caravans as well as beautiful scandi-style lodges.
What’s more, consumers are willing to pay that bit extra for the luxurious accommodation at holiday villages, with 32% saying they will pay between £250 – £500 per person, excluding spending money. This compares equally to the average cost of a four person family abroad, suggesting that Brits are choosing the UK over warmer climes.
Take a look at the infographic below for more of the survey data.


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Mobile has overtaken desktop in terms of the number of clicks by consumers, according to new research. With the proliferation of mobile devices only set to increase, this underlines the growing importance of optimising marketing strategies so that brands can communicate their message through various platforms.
The study, which was carried out by Marin Software, found that smartphones and tablets are now responsible for 50 per cent of clicks, 46 per cent of spend and 43 per cent of conversions in the UK.
It highlights the sea-change in purchasing behaviour, as consumers are comfortable using mobile devices to book holidays, order clothes, do their shopping and complete banking transactions.
"The smart choice for advertisers in 2015 will be to optimise their spend toward smartphone devices - the rate of clicks goes up significantly every quarter, but the cost has remained low compared to both desktop and tablet," stated Jon Myers, the company's managing director of EMEA.
Mobile ad views represent a real chance of growth for marketers, providing they capitalise on the opportunity, as the cost per click is cheaper than other forms of digital display campaigns.
But the rise of mobile is clear. There was an 8.9 per cent year-on-year rise in mobile conversions in Q4 2014, while desktop recorded an 8.3 per cent decrease. This highlights how mobile is set to become the number one channel for marketers.
With tablet usage greater in the UK than other European countries and the US, companies cannot afford to overlook this medium when drawing up their strategies.
In order to take advantage of this growth, brands have to make sure their websites are mobile optimised, as 2015 is set to be the year of cross-screen marketing. There's no point developing great campaigns if they are not being pushed out through the right channels.


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Within the ever-evolving cryptocurrency world, usually new tokens are instantly launched after notable occasions happen. Now, a contemporary wave of tokens themed across the upcoming U.S. presidential election has began catching the attention of speculative buyers, to the purpose one surged over 7,000% in 24 hours.
In response to a report, a token bearing the moniker of Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, dubbed as RON, noticed its worth recognize over 7,178% over a 24-hour interval on decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges.
The token has, nonetheless, been criticized for having a low variety of holders and having points with its audit, which revealed that its sensible contract will be modified by its creator in a variety of methods, which embody permitting them to vary charges, mint new tokens, switch particular tokens, and even disable promoting on exchanges.
Scorching on the heels is one other politically themed token, named after Robert F Kennedy Jr ($RFK), which rose over 4,000% throughout the span of some brief hours. DeSantis, a key participant on this unfolding cryptocurrency drama, formally threw his hat within the ring for the 2024 U.S. presidential election earlier this week.
His declaration of candidacy was initially made on Twitter, and official paperwork adopted on Wednesday. DeSantis has made clear his perception that Bitcoinserves as a bulwark for civil liberties. In his view, the potential of digital belongings and the liberty they afford to their customers are unparalleled.
That stated, it’s essential for buyers to train prudence when coping with these new tokens. They carry a big stage of threat, particularly given the truth that any particular person can listing them on a decentralized change like Uniswap or PancakeSwap
The cryptocurrency house has been coping with a big memecoin development. As reported, a mysterious “tremendous” memecoins hunter has managed to commerce with good points worthy of Wall Road titans, because the dealer has managed to mage an astounding 562.64 ETH, price greater than $1 million, in little over a month buying and selling memecoins.
Whle this dealer was profitable, as CryptoGlobe reported PEPE’s buying and selling frenzy has did not rival these of rival memecoins Shiba Inu ($SHIB) and Dogecoin ($DOGE), based on an evaluation performed by well-liked crypto analytics agency Santiment.
When it listed the meme-inspired cryptocurrency, main change Binance cautioned potential buyers that PEPE lacks any inherent utility or worth assist mechanism. PEPE has been accused of potential insider buying and selling, as 7% of the full token provide was reportedly bought by insiders or crew members minutes after the token era occasion.
Regardless of warnings in regards to the contract proprietor’s potential capability to switch transaction taxes and blacklist features, PEPE’s market has seen a exceptional growth. It’s now a high 100 digital asset after a number of centralized change listings.
Earlier, a lucky cryptocurrency investor has seemingly managed to show an funding of simply 0.125 ETH in PEPE right into a staggering $1.14 million in only a matter of days by shopping for into it on the proper time.
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27 April 2015
A budding fashionista used a rather unusual material to create awareness for recycling.
Danielle Potter, a 17-year-old A Levels student, wanted to explore how fashion and advertising could be used to express the importance of recycling for her AS Level Extended Project.
Being a vegetarian, Danielle decided to use packaging from Quorn products to make a dress.
“I started asking my family and friends to keep their packaging but after three months I still didn't have enough,” said Danielle.
“I contacted Quorn asking if they would be able to send me any disused, samples or seconds packaging and amazingly, they said yes!
“Three weeks later a big box full of both plastic and cardboard packaging arrived at my door. I began making the dress immediately with the help of my amazing nan, who is an experienced sewer.”
Not only did Danielle feature on Quorn’s official Twitter feed, but she also graced the pages of the Hertfordshire Advertiser newspaper.
Danielle is hoping to study Fashion Promotion at Ravensbourne University this September after she has finished her A Levels.


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In a surprise announcement, Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, Wednesday proposed a tax on sugary drinks during a budget speech in front of a packed House of Commons. The proceeds from the tax, he said, would be used to double sports funding for primary schools.
The move was unexpected, given that Prime Minister David Cameron had ruled out a tax on sugary drinks in October, arguing that there were more effective ways of tackling the country’s obesity problems. He eventually said he was being persuaded, The Guardian reported, even though he resists the idea of new taxes.
“It’s a big signal,” Jamie Oliver, acclaimed British chef, nutrition proponent, and advocate for the tax, told the BBC.
“It’s symbolic that a robust government can actually gain control of big business when it’s having ill effects on child health,” Mr. Oliver said.
The tax would take effect in two years to give companies time to reduce the amount of sugar in their drinks. Though the tax amounts have not been released, they would fall in two categories: A lower tax would be levied on companies producing or importing drinks containing 5 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and a higher one on drinks with more than 8 grams per 100 milliliters, such as Dr. Pepper, Fanta, and Sprite.
Fruit juices and milk-based drinks, such as Starbucks's Frappuccino, would be excluded.
The BBC reports that this new tax could raise the price of a two-liter bottle of soda by as much as 80 percent. It could also bring into government coffers £520 million ($742 million) in its first year.
The British government’s health advisory group, Public Health England, last year recommended a 10- to 20-percent tax on sugary soft drinks. It pointed to successful efforts in Mexico, which introduced a 10 percent tax in 2013 that the country says contributed to a 6 percent decline in purchases of sugary drinks, according to the group’s October report.
“Data on the effectiveness of these measures, while not always robustly evaluated, suggests that reductions in sales have been seen as a result of the imposition of taxes in Norway, Finland, Hungary, France, and Mexico,” the group reported.
It called for the tax as a means to help end growing obesity in the country. The public health advisory says that nearly a quarter of adults, 10 percent of 4- to 5-year-olds, and 19 percent of 10- to 11-year-olds in England are considered obese, with many others categorized as overweight.
But whether sugar taxes make a difference in obesity rates is debated, with some arguing that government should have no role in controlling what people eat and drink. And despite the example of Mexico, it is not always clear if the tax is effective in changing bad habits.
Denmark, for example, introduced a tax on foods high in saturated fat in 2011, widely called a “fat tax,” but dropped it (and plans for a sugar tax) a year later because people simply crossed into bordering Germany to shop and failed to change eating habits, the Danish government said.
In the United States, similar soda taxes have failed to pass in New York State and San Francisco. Only Berkeley, Calif., has been able to pass a soda tax in 2014, though it is not yet clear whether it is helping to reduce obesity rates.
The New York Times points out that while soda taxes have failed, the debates over soda taxes have drawn public attention to health concerns and helped wean many Americans off sugary beverages.
Sales of full-calorie soda in the country have plummeted by more than 25 percent in the last couple of decades.
“The drop in soda consumption represents the single largest change in the American diet in the last decade and is responsible for a substantial reduction in the number of daily calories consumed by the average American child,” the Times reported.


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Travel-inspired furniture store comes to River Arts District
Siblings Will and Charlotte Hough understand the modern paradox of wanting to travel the world and come home to a place that feels rich.
At Sunnyside Trading Company, their new store on Depot Street in the River Arts District, they sell textiles and furniture that embody the "travel home philosophy," as Will calls it.
Travel, which the Houghs have benefited from since they were children, creates new, unimaginable connections, he explained.
"But then there’s the wanting to come back home and be comfortable," he said. “There’s the piece in your home that reminds you of your travels."
Sunnyside Trading Company sells home goods that look like that piece. There are chairs from India and China, tables and wood sculptures from Thailand, rugs from Turkey, furnishings from Uzbekistan.
The Hough siblings run the business with their father, Stuart Hough, who taught them to love travel. The family lived in Paris for 10 years while Charlotte and Will were children. Stuart worked as an antiques trader.
“He makes us very credible with all of his experience," Charlotte said as Stuart waved to Depot Street passersby. In addition to being a furniture expert, Stuart is also a natural salesman, Charlotte said.
Stuart ushered groups of shoppers into the store in the Pink Dog building, which was strewn with packaging as the Houghs endeavored to set up. The business isn't officially open, but because of its highly visible site — the former location of Asheville Running Company, which features a glass, roll-up door — it's open by default.
Stuart and his children differ in their interests. The elder prefers the furnishings, while Charlotte and Will are more interested in textiles.
Will, who studied international affairs at the University of Colorado, feels a kinship with early entrepreneurs who traveled trade routes through Asia and Europe to exchange fabrics around the world.
"It’s actually the oldest human profession," he said "It’s been around for 25,000 years."
Charlotte and Will plan to continue to travel to source vintage and reused textiles for the store. They work with an Indian company, Marudhara Arts, to find authentic fabrics to use as upholstery for chairs and floor pillows.
The floor pillows provide an accessible entree into furnishings for younger customers who might not need a heavy wood dining table.
“In this day and age, people our age are not settled near as much," Charlotte said. "We have year leases. We move around."
Will picked up her thought: "We want to bridge that gap between people our age who may not have as much money or may not know as much about furniture," he said.
Floor pillows start at $50, and a modern egg chair upholstered in reclaimed fabric costs about $275.
The Houghs have big plans for the shop: upholstery classes, locally made handbags, lifestyle goods from nearby artists. But for now, they're focused on the storefront.
A grand opening celebration is planned for late August.
For more information, search for Sunnyside Trading Company on Facebook or Instagram.


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German company BvL has beefed up its range of self-propelled diet feeders with a large-capacity model to rival the likes of Keenan and Strautmann, which both launched new products earlier this year.
The company already has a smaller model – Vmix Drive Maxxis Plus – in its ranks that has only one mixing auger.
However the new model – Vmix Drive Maxxis Plus 2S – has two augers with bigger mixer loads of 17-21cu m able to feed between 100-155 cows in one pass.
Power comes from a six-cylinder, 6.7-litre FPT diesel engine churning out 224hp. There’s standard four-wheel-steer and optional four-wheel-drive for those sticky areas, while the machine is available with 20, 25 or 40kph top speed.
Similar to the smaller sibling, the new model has the same toothed roller, which gently plucks the material leaving a clean edge to the clamp face, with discharge from either side via an 800mm wide belt.
Inside the cab there’s a rear-view camera, an armrest with a multifunction joystick, which controls all the machines main functions, while the cab is suspended with the seat and joystick moving together with the bumps.
Prices have not been released yet.


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Food Safety: Where We Stand in China
Mr. An Dao Chang, China National Center for Biotechnology Development; Dr. Wu Yong Ning, Dept. of Chemical Contamination Monitoring, Food Safety Institute, China CDC; Fred Gale USDA ERS
By Linden Ellis and Jennifer Turner
Sparked by a number of Chinese food export scandals in early 2007, international attention on China's food safety intensified throughout the year. While the international news media has focused on the problem of Chinese exports, within China food safety problems have been a serious concern for the Chinese public for many years. Pressures domestically and internationally have catalyzed some progressive changes in food regulation in China, which was the focus of discussion at a December 18 China Environment Forum (CEF) meeting. At this meeting, CEF hosted a delegation from China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) to discuss the Chinese government's policies and new research agenda to ensure food safety. The meeting opened with An Daochang—vice director of MOST's National Center for Biotechnology Development, which is responsible for the development and management of research projects in the fields of biotechnology and food safety. An Daochang highlighted the institutional challenges to China's food safety, such as overlap between the 13 ministries in charge of domestic food safety and the challenges of monitoring products from a huge number of small-scale agricultural producers in a cash-based agricultural market. Wu Yongning from China's Centers for Disease Control discussed new regulations, research, and projects currently underway to strengthen food safety regulation. Fred Gale of the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service focused his comments on certification and industry efforts to promote safer food products in China. Many of these certified products are considerably more expensive than uncertified foods, creating a two-tiered system in which poorer citizens have less access to safer food. This meeting was timely, for the United States and China just concluded their third Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) meetings in Beijing, which produced a number of food and product safety agreements.
The Real Problem
Since China joined the WTO in 2001, imports to the United States have increased dramatically, as have incidents of unsafe food. According to Dr. Wu, much of the news media attention on food safety has misinformed the public. For example, although news stories often highlight chemical contamination, the main food safety threat in China remains microorganisms. Wu believed one of the main institutional shortcomings behind food safety scares and export rejections is that the development of food safety standards continues to lag behind the volume of production. The numerous small farms combined with poor handling practices are particularly tough regulatory challenges. Notably, Chinese urban consumers, for whom basic food security needs have been met, are beginning to demand safer foods, and they are increasingly willing to pay more for them, which is pushing better regulation.
In order to ensure that science and actual circumstances are taken into account when designing food regulations, the Chinese government has made serious efforts to collect reliable data on food safety in the country. In 2002, China conducted its first health census, the National Survey on Diet and Health Status, which will be conducted every 10 years. Samples were taken from 132 sites in 31 provinces and consisted of four parts: (1) questionnaires, (2) physical examination, (3) laboratory tests, and (4) and household dietary surveys. This census identified microorganisms as the major threat to food safety.
There are two ways that China monitors trends in food safety, the Nationwide Food Contamination Monitoring Network and the Total Diet Study (TDS). The network operates in 17 provinces and focuses on monitoring concentrations of contaminants for the purpose of early detection for emergency response. Four rounds of the TDS have been conducted since 2000 in 12 provinces with the goal of monitoring and analyzing trends in food safety. The TDS has a smaller sample size than National Survey on Diet and Health Status and focuses on assessing exposure to contaminants, including specific emerging contaminants such as chloropropanol and acrylamide.
Tracing the source of the contamination is a major part of the TDS initiative, which highlights its utility for regulating and monitoring agencies in China. For example, the 2000 study showed that between 1990 and 2000 cadmium contamination in vegetables, grains and roots fell dramatically, but rose considerably in meat sources, especially seafood. During the survey, scientists were able to trace the contamination to a specific species of crab in Liaoning Province. Seafood, in fact, emerged frequently in the survey as a major source of contamination including HCH, Dioxins/PCBs, and organic tin. These findings, combined with repeatedly rejected exports, have lead regulators to target the seafood industry. (See the CEF Aquaculture research brief and China Environment Series 9 article "Surf and Turf" for more information on fish and meat safety in China).
Certification and Standardization
According to speaker Fred Gale, the food certification "system in Beijing is amazingly up-to-date." Even more striking than a fairly extensive food certification system has been the growing trend of international and Chinese food exporting companies creating their own "islands of safety" by strictly overseeing growers who supply their products. These farming operations can range in size from village wide to whole provinces and usually involve the company paying farmers to grow their products under a central supervisor who monitors for safe practice and transparency. Another feature of these "islands" is reliable field laboratories where food is tested for contamination before being shipped to consumers, usually internationally.
Dr. Wu, drawing on his work serving on a committee at the World Health Organization (WHO), noted that the WHO believes China is doing well on the food safety issue when compared with other developing countries. However, broad public concern about the safety of China's food supply domestically and globally led the Chinese government to take a number of initiatives to safeguard food safety from farm to table, particularly in policies aimed at encouraging farm consolidation and standardization. For example:
• A recent major farm consolidation was launched in new regulations that require all poultry to be kept indoors, attempting to eliminate commercial backyard poultry.
• Traceability, a major issue in a cash-based economy, is being targeted with farm record keeping requirements. Moreover, third party certifiers are encouraged, both by the government and industry, to ensure that proper records are kept.
• The biggest public sector push has been with end-product testing for residues and contamination. However, there are obvious shortfalls of this method, such as sheer volume and the limited traceability of end products.
• In terms of reducing toxic chemical residues in food, the government has eliminated the use of the 5 most toxic pesticides in 2004 and encouraged organic production by greatly expanding the scope and reliability of organic food certification.
Beyond new regulations and campaigns to promote better standardization in China's food production, Wu emphasized the importance of three new laws: The newly drafted Food Safety Law; the Food Hygiene Law (overseen by the Ministry of Health); and the Law of Quality and Safety for Agri-Product (led by the Ministry of Agriculture). The latter law requires that all food safety emergencies must be reported immediately.
The new food safety law, which was submitted to the People's Congress at the end of 2007 is distinctive from its previous version in that it: (1) outlines the specific responsibilities of government bureaus at all levels, (2) places the Ministry of Health as the government entity primarily responsible for food safety, (3) requires all findings be available on the web for feedback, and (4) mandates higher fines for violators and punishments for officials who do not enforce the law.
Although it is believed that the new food safety law will alleviate some of current institutional problems, the structure of the regulatory system remains an obstacle to an otherwise improving situation. Currently, food safety is regulated by 13 ministries resulting in finger-pointing and turf-battles when problems arise. Some of the responsibilities of the key ministries overseeing food safety are:
Agricultural production control: Ministry of Agriculture
Food products production control: State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ)
Market control of food products: State Administration of Industry and Commerce
Inspection of food service, crisis management and food recalls: Ministry of Health
Another structural challenge for China is the danger of becoming a dual-standard country. AQSIQ is the only ministry in control of food safety exports from farm to ship. Third party certifiers and large company exporters ensure export food safety, while exports that do not meet international standards are often then sold in the domestic market. Yet another developing dual-system is the divergence in quality between the goods consumed in urban markets and rural markets. Dr. Gale pointed out that safe food comes at a high price in China, with grocery brands selling for as much as 500 percent more than traditional wet-market goods. In order to avoid social instability over this inequity of safety, China's government will have to alleviate some of these dualities.
Areas for Collaboration with the United States
The reforms of China's food safety infrastructure and efforts to regulate the huge food production sector offer many areas for collaboration with other nations. Dr. Wu highlighted the need for international assistance with risk assessment and monitoring to bolster the nation's data quantity and quality, which are the foundations of MOST's food safety work. With regards to chemical contamination, data sharing on the affects of specific contaminants on the human body would be helpful for proving causation and influencing policy changes. Technology sharing through relaxed patent regulations would also help China gather information more accurately and quickly. An area that the United States in particular could offer assistance is industry self-regulation, as that is the keystone of U.S. food safety regulation. In terms of grassroots institutions, the MOST delegation expressed interest in encouraging and developing farmer's associations to improve standardization and information dissemination among food producers.
China Environment Forum
Since 1997, the China Environment Forum's mission has been to forge U.S.-China cooperation on energy, environment, and sustainable development challenges. We play a unique nonpartisan role in creating multi-stakeholder dialogues around these issues. Read more


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There are some interesting entries in the top 10 brands on YouTube in terms of most viewed videos. And yes, Angry Birds does rather well in the list.
Eileen Brown delivers news on social media tools and trends and deep dive into business strategies.
Eileen Brown is a social media consultant and advisor who has been working with collaborative technologies for over 20 years.
LinkedIn might start to lose its dominance as a social networking platform in the technology sector after today's beta launch of Solaborate
Smart homes are about to get a whole lot smarter with Wattwave power line technology from startup enModus.
Start-up Rolio has created a social aggregator that easily replaces the hole left when Google Reader goes
Ever wondered how to dissolve an antacid tablet in space? Have a look at these cool activities you could do in orbit.
Qantas is consolidating its social media activities and going back to traditional outbound communications from its website. Is it leading the way in rationalising its Twitter accounts or accepting that running too many social media accounts just does not work?
Do you go gaga for Game of Thrones or worship Wonder Woman? Treat yourself to a gift to celebrate your hero from your favourite TV show.
Why do we share links on social sites that our friends are not particularly interested in? And why do articles about fashion get a higher percentage of clicks than articles on business?
Teenager Paris Brown had a new job in the police force. Then the media dredged up her online past to try to make sure she lost it.
Ever wondered which brands are the most followed on Google Plus? Here are the top 10 fan pages.


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Microsoft's Your Phone App Beta Released
Microsoft today is rolling out a beta version of their new smartphone screen mirroring app for Windows and Android devices.
The new "Your Phone" app allows Android users to mirror their device screen along with photos and text messages to any supporting Windows 10 computers. This will allow easier access to information stored on your phone along with a quick and easy way to respond to messages on your phone from your desktop.
The new app requires Windows 10 running build 1803 or later, and an Android phone running Android 7.0 or newer. The PC also needs to support Bluetooth low energy peripheral mode.
Currently, many Android phones will support this feature right out of the box including the Samsung S8 and newer phones. As for Surface devices which Microsoft themselves manufacture only the Surface Go supports this feature. Future Surface devices will add support.


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As RFID technology becomes more abundantly used in the health industry, some are concerned of what effects they may have on their pacemakers and implanted devices. The FDA, in collaboration with some major medical implant manufacturers, conducted a study to determine the effects of RFID readers on common implantable cardiac devices, according to HealthCanal.com.
The study concluded that while high-frequency readers may cause little to no damage, the low-frequency RFID readers should be the ones where there are concerns. Implantable devices of today commonly use filters to minimize interference from higher-frequency signals, but due to limitations in design the filtering of low-frequency signals is not as easy to do.
The in vitro testing showed that low frequency RFID readers caused reactions in 67% of pacemaker and 47% of ICD tests. The tests were conducted from distances ranging from 2.5 to 60 cm, and as expected the greatest interference was recorded at the shorter distances where the signal was the strongest. Some of the reactions include inappropriate pacing, changed pacing rates, high-voltage shock and device re-programming.
Despite the vitro testing, to date, the FDA has not received any incident reports of electromagnetic interference caused by any RFID system.
Food and Drug officials claim that there is no need for panic, and individuals with implanted cardiac devices should only be aware of these circumstances as RFID implementation continues to flourish in the health field. The Food and Drug Administration hope to continue by creating standards and requirements for RFID manufactures, by taking this information into account.
Read the full story here.


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TORONTO, Ont. - Toronto Digital Imaging (TDI) has come up with a new concept that allows for the economical production of customized mud flaps. Using digital imaging technology, TDI has developed the ...
TORONTO, Ont. –Toronto Digital Imaging (TDI) has come up with a new concept that allows for the economical production of customized mud flaps. Using digital imaging technology, TDI has developed the AdFlap – a fully-customizable plastic mud flap which can be offered for under $15 each with no minimum order.
Traditionally, mud flaps had to be screen printed, which involved a costly set-up fee as well as high-volume minimum orders.
Mario Isgro of TDI said the company can now offer customized flaps at a much lower cost thanks to the advantages of digital imaging, which requires no set-up. All that’s needed is a digital image in an accepted format.
Owner/operators now will be able to order mud flaps with personal messages or pictures of their families on them. Private fleets as well have been jumping on-board, since they can have their logo placed on the mud flaps at a reasonable cost.
The mud flaps are made of plastic, but Isgro said they have been tested extensively and have proven to be very durable. They are provided by an industry-leading mud flap supplier. For more information, visit www.tdi-imaging.com or call 800-550-9925.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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There are many reasons why The Container Store, a Coppell, Texas-based retailer of storage systems and accessories, has made Fortune Magazine's list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" the past 15 years.
Among those reasons: The company says its full-time staffers receive 263 hours of training during their first year, compared to the 7-hour retail industry average, and its salespeople reportedly make 50 to 100 percent more than the industry average.
The Container Store also looks for ways to empower, and inspire, its retail staff with technology, and it is currently testing some unique new wearable tech designed to improve communication within its stores.
Like a lot of retail companies, The Container Store uses walkie-talkies, but about nine months ago, the company took its first steps away from those two-way radios and started piloting the Theatro Wearable Computer in its Austin, Texas, store. This small gadget enables hands-free voice communication over Wi-Fi networks, among other things.
While The Container Store is only using the Theatro Wearable Computer in one store, the gadgets have already revolutionized the way its sales people communicate. John Thrailkill, The Container Store VP of store systems and business development, says the company has been so pleased with the results that it plans to roll out Theatro Wearable Computers across its entire lineup of stores in the coming years. Thrailkill also thinks The Container Store is just starting to realize the true potential of the device.
Theatro Wearable Computer Look and Feel
The Theatro Wearable Computer is roughly the size of a matchbox, but a bit thicker, and clips to a pocket, lapel or lanyard. It's made of durable plastic and weighs 1.25 ounces. It has a rechargeable (though not removable) battery that gets about nine hours of life, and it sits in an "egg-crate-like" charging tray when not in use.
The device uses a standard headphone jack to connect an earpiece or earbuds, for audio, so it's compatible with most headsets. The current Theatro Wearable does not support Bluetooth, however. The components would have added significant costs and complexity, because Bluetooth headsets need to be paired, connected and constantly charged, according to Chris Todd, Theatro CEO.
The Theatro Wearable Computer has a large rubber button on its face, which is used to initiate voice commands, along with three buttons on its side: Two for volume up and down, and another that Todd calls the "disturb everybody button" because it bypasses the voice commands and lets you speak to everyone in the store, not unlike a walkie talkie. That third button is customizable, but its default function is a broadcast feature. The device also has a LED that illuminates when the battery is low.
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