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On Dec. 5 the New York City Board of Health voted unanimously to ban trans fatty acids in all restaurants — an initiative that Cornell Dining began months beforehand. Even more detrimental than saturated fat, trans fats clog arteries, increase cholesterol and are a leading contributor to coronary heart disease, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“We’re way ahead of the curve. We’ve been working on using trans fat-free oils in all our dining locations for six to eight months now,” said Steven Miller, Cornell Dining chief executive chef. “We’re using more olive oil than vegetable oil, and we’re working on getting french fries that contain no trans fats.” Miller said.
A large order of fries at McDonald contains a whopping six grams of the artery-clogging trans fats, yet the fries at Appel Commons contain very little, if any. Partially hydrogenated oils used in frying are one of the most common sources for trans fatty acids, along with processed foods like cookies, baked items and stick margarine.
Prof. Dennis Miller, food science, explained that the recent concern over trans fats results from their ability to affect both good cholesterol, HDL and bad cholesterol, LDL.
“Essentially they’re moving both types of blood cholesterol in the wrong direction. Other types of fat only move the levels in one direction, like saturated fat that increases both types of cholesterol,” Miller said.
The trans fatty acid’s combined effect of raising LDL levels and lowering HDL levels creates far greater health risks than any other type of fat in the body.
In a 1993 Harvard medical study that tracked the dietary habits of 85,000 nurses, Prof. Walter Willet, nutrition and epidemiology, linked the consumption of trans fats to coronary heart disease. “It was a big study with a lot of subjects involved, and that really got people concerned,” said Miller.
By 2005, the USDA and the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services published a set of guidelines explicitly warning citizens to “keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible.”
Miller pointed out, however, that “it takes a while for general recommendations to reach the public after research is published.”
Only in the past year have super market isles become populated with food packaging bragging “zero trans fats.”
New York is the first city in the U.S. to completely ban trans fats — by July 2008 restaurants must have eliminated the use of all partially hydrogenated oils, which contain high amounts of trans fatty acids. The federal government has not passed a ban on trans fats, but the FDA now requires all food companies to list the amount of trans fats on their labels.
Along with the Cornell Dining facilities, Cornell Dairy also boasts almost no trans fats in its ice cream, milk and other products. “In general, dairy products don’t have any trans fats, but by law we had to add the trans fat line in on the label as of January 2006,” said Vinnie Nykeil, general manager of Cornell Dairy.
In conjunction with Food Science 101, the Cornell Dairy puts out two new flavors of ice cream each year, along with its 20 regular flavors. Aside from the low trans fat content, the ice cream is high in other fats and sugar: “We’ve tried low fat or low sugar ice cream and it just doesn’t sell, because younger people want the good stuff,” Nykeil said.
Although the bad reputation of trans fatty acids is only just beginning to spread, Americans are on their guard. “A lot of consumers, while they don’t know what trans fat is, know that it’s not good,” said Prof. Miller.
In the Cornell community, at least, trans fatty acids are hard to come by.


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The CMA has accepted the amended Microsoft – Activision deal, that adds Ubisoft into the equation for cloud gaming.
This decision comes roughly a month since Microsoft put forward this amended deal to the CMA for approval. Under the new deal, the cloud gaming rights for Activision Blizzard King’s games will fall to Ubisoft, who is being added to the deal as the sole arbiter of these rights.
Gamers who want to stream Activision’s games through the cloud will now have to go through Ubisoft’s cloud services to do so. Microsoft will also have to negotiate with Ubisoft terms so that they can add cloud streaming of Activision games to their services.
The CMA has shared a brief statement on the decision on their website. We’ll cut straight to the CMA’s explanation of why they accepted this deal:
“ the sale of Activision’s cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft will prevent this important content – including games such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft – from coming under the control of Microsoft in relation to cloud gaming. The CMA originally found that Microsoft already has a strong position in cloud gaming services and could have used its control over Activision content to stifle competition and reinforce this position.
The new deal instead results in the cloud streaming rights for Activision’s games being transferred to an independent player, Ubisoft, maintaining open competition as the market for cloud gaming develops over the coming years.”
However, the CMA also explains they still have some remaining concerns. In their words:
“While the restructured deal is materially different to the previous transaction and substantially addresses most concerns, the CMA has limited residual concerns that certain provisions in the sale of Activision’s cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft could be circumvented, terminated, or not enforced.
To address these concerns, Microsoft has offered remedies to ensure that the terms of the sale of Activision’s rights to Ubisoft are enforceable by the CMA. The CMA has provisionally concluded that this additional protection should resolve those residual concerns.”
With that in mind, the CMA has scheduled a consultation to last until October 6, 2023. That perfectly ties in with Microsoft’s deadline to close the deal by October 18, 2023.
And so we may finally be at the end of a saga that’s lasted nearly 2 years, starting with Microsoft’s announcement of intent to acquire Activision last January 2022. And when that deal closes, the industry is set to be genuinely disrupted.

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Where is augmented reality going in 2019 — and beyond?
In 2018, augmented reality started to heat up as Magic Leap released its much-anticipated headset, paving the way for others to explore and support massive AR development on their platforms. AR continues to be a rapidly growing space, as more tech companies continue building out their own competitive technologies — including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Magic Leap. The new year will be an important one for the software and hardware components of AR to shine. Here are some predictions for where we’ll see AR as we move into 2019:
1. New AR capabilities for multiplayer
With the launch of ARKit 2.0, we now have multiplayer functionality in mobile AR, which lets multiple people experience an AR scene together. In 2019, we will see more interesting functionalities to AR including the ability for objects to stay fixed in a specific area. Perhaps even the digital 3D characters can interact with each other and/or with tangible objects in the space (like a pony jumping up and down on a couch or two AR objects dancing together).
2. More AR integrations
As more consumers move to better smartphones, we’ll see a surge of AR in mobile. AR-enabled phones will continue to be the easiest access point for everyday consumers to experience AR. Hardware will not only become cheaper and more accessible, but also faster with less side effects, such as the heating up and draining of the battery power. As far as Android AR enabled phones in 2018, there was a jump from 100 million to 250 million when it comes to Android ARCore devices. Apple also saw 380 million iPhones with ARKit capabilities by the end of last year. With both Android and Apple devices seeing large numbers of adoption to their newest phones, AR usage will continue to exponentially grow in 2019.
3. AR advertising will become a thing
This year, we’ll start to see AR objects and banner ads on our devices that will be pretty compelling for users. AR will open newer, more intimate approaches to people seeing and learning about marketer’s products — even down to how an item might look on their body or in their home. 2019 could potentially be the first year and starting point for brands and publishers to get in on the action as AR offers a fresh and more interactive way to reach audiences.
A very futuristic video of how our realities might be in the future when it comes to branded content and/or advertising can also be seen here. Of course, this specific form will have to wait until a new glass platform is made and cool enough for mass users to wear them.
4. The camera becomes a platform
We predict Apple and Google will build out a platform around the smartphone camera in order to deliver a better, more creative way for users to have easier access to camera enhancing apps. Much like iMessage and Gboard, developers will be able to build extension apps around the camera, easily accessible for users to enhance and engage with features to augment their videos and photos.
5. Beyond 2019
As AR progresses past 2019, we’ll continue to see AR integrated more seamlessly in our lives. Once we move past the early entertainment/novelty phase of AR, we’ll start to see real utility of AR and daily use cases in our lives. On a more creative level, we’ll begin to replace expensive and large tangible objects with digital ones. We’ll be able to access any object we want, in just seconds on a much cheaper scale for everyone globally to enhance their life.
For example, instead of decorating your living room dinner table with a large bouquet of real flowers that don’t last long and end up smelling bad as they rot in just a few days, you will purchase an AR bouquet in seconds that can change colors every three minutes or completely change the flower type so that every hour it appears like a brand new bouquet.
To get even wilder, many people might opt for a digital pet to replace their pet or to avoid all the inconveniences that come with taking care of a real pet. Instead, you have a digital AR pet with all the emotions and physical looks of a real pet, but without all the feeding and cleanup responsibilities. Not only does this pet appear and act as if it were real, it could be a much more extreme and unique pet like a baby dinosaur or pet dragon that grows just like any other animal in the animal kingdom. This AR pet can even share emotions and smartly notice when you’re happy or sad and can react appropriately. Wouldn’t that be pretty entertaining?
Overall, 2018 was a big year for AR as big players joined in the game in the race to own the augmented reality space. As AR continues to attract more investments, business development and signs of market spend, AR will continue to grow in 2019 and beyond. The impact AR will have in the years beyond 2019 will change drastically, as soon as AR moves away from the mobile environment it is today, to a more wearable glass that has the capabilities to enhance every inch of space that you can see. We’re already excited for all the new advancements in AR and can’t wait for this new generation of video augmentation and enhanced environments to impact our lives on a global scale.
Loberg, Dana. (2019, January 29). "Where is augmented reality going in 2019 — and beyond?" Retrieved from https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/29/where-is-augmented-reality-going-in-2019-and-beyond/


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BLUE bags currently being delivered free to every household in Carmarthenshire are being stolen after they have been left by crews, it has been claimed.
Council staff have received notification from residents that their allocations have been taken by other individuals and without the authority’s consent.
By the end of February, each household will have received three rolls of blue recycling bags.
The decision to deliver to each household was made following resident feedback – people asked for blue bags to be more accessible to help them recycle more.
Executive board member responsible for environment, Cllr Hazel Evans, said: “I would like to reassure people that everyone will have a delivery of their allocation of three rolls before the end of the month and anyone who hasn’t had their delivery as of yet and requires a roll in the meantime can visit one of our official outlets.
“If anyone comes across people taking someone else’s allocation I would encourage them to inform us of any information and give us as much detail as possible, for example their car registration, that will help us to identify the individuals carrying out this activity so that we can investigate further.”
Anyone who has not received a delivery by the end of February is asked to contact the council’s customer services.


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Acosta Inc., the marketing firm owned by Carlyle Group LP, has gone bankrupt after big consumer-product firms decided to do more of the work themselves to keep up with changing consumer tastes.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Wilmington, Delaware, with support from creditors on a plan that would hand them ownership of a reorganized company and slash $3 billion of long-term debt. Creditors including Elliott Management Corp., Oaktree Capital Management, Davidson Kempner Capital Management and Nexus Capital Management agreed to the deal, interim Chief Financial Officer Matthew Laurie said in a court declaration.
Acosta had skipped an Oct. 1 bond interest payment and previously said it was working on a plan to hand control over to creditors. The deal provides $325 million in new capital and preserves about 30,000 jobs, Laurie said. Acosta said it has commitments from lenders for a $150 million loan to keep the company operating during the reorganization.
The company and its rivals including Crossmark Holdings Inc. and Advantage Solutions Inc. are the brands behind the brands on the shelves of retailers like Walmart Inc., Target Corp. and Kroger Co. They make sure major retailers carry their clients’ products and display them well, and sometimes coordinate with the companies on product promotions.
Acosta, based in Jacksonville, Florida, helps stock shelves for some of the largest U.S. consumer goods companies and offers sales and marketing services to brands including Campbell’s, Kellogg’s and Coca-Cola.
The business has been squeezed as customers handle more of the marketing tasks in-house. They’re dealing with changing consumer behavior, including a shift from packaged goods to fresh foods, and to private label rather than traditional brands, leaving less demand for outside marketing firms.
The bankruptcy filing listed total liabilities of $1 billion to $10 billion, and no more than $1 billion in assets.
The case is Anna Holdings, 19-12551-CSS, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.


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A gecko-inspired adhesive from a University of Massachusetts research team can hold up to 700 pounds on a sheet the size of an index card.
The Seidio Innotraveler's hinged structure proved difficult to adjust, and its screws were prone to come loose in our testing.
Apple 17 inch Studio Display vertical lines glitch confirmed by Apple
With its spring-loaded clamp, the Easy One Touch holds a phone firmly in your car, but allows for easy removal.
Researchers at Princeton say the sensor adheres to dental enamel and might one day continuously monitor a patient's health.
Cornell researchers say they've come up with a liquid-adhesion device that could lead to load-bearing Post-it-like notes and bonding shoes for people seeking Spidey-like traction.
The Clingo Universal Car Phone Mount would be an excellent smartphone mount if not for the need for frequent cleaning.
A pro racing driver has created a video of himself completing a lap of the Nurburgring in both Gran Turismo 5 and real life. Turns out the game is pretty realistic.
It may look like a high-strung sports sedan, but the 2014 Chevrolet Impala LT is all about pampering its driver with a comfortable ride without breaking the bank. The new MyLink tech isn't the best in this class, but it gets the job done.
No 3D printer is perfect yet, but the Afinia H-Series H479 3D printer is the most approachable model we've reviewed, and we'd recommend it to anyone serious about getting started with 3D printing.


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Where Farmers Are Turning Into Craft-Beer Brewers
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
Because New England has hops. Do you?
By Matt Foley
If the line stretching across the rear parking lot of New England Brewing Co. is any indication, it’s the buzz that’s brewing. And the customers haven’t even indulged. Yet. No, here in Woodbridge, Connecticut, an eclectic queue of thirtysomething hipsters, Yale students, and middle-aged public officials wait patiently not for a Father John Misty concert or an Oprah book signing but merely for a case of beer. If they’re lucky, a pack of the famously colorful — and famously limited — Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA cans will still be available when they reach the counter. Across Connecticut, sights like this are becoming increasingly common.
Since 2011, the number of Connecticut breweries has more than tripled, from 16 to 54, a trend that doesn’t look to be slowing any time soon. This past July, Gov. Dannel Malloy signed a new law allowing farmers to break into the beer business. Effective immediately, farmers across Connecticut can now brew, bottle, distribute and sell up to 75,000 gallons of barley pop per year — so long as they do their part in promoting the Nutmeg State’s cool factor: The licensing agreement requires all brew to be labeled “Connecticut Craft Beer.” According to the Brewers Association, more than 30 new Connecticut brewing outlets are being planned.
You won’t get these beers anywhere else.
Zack Adams, Fox Farm Brewery
“Technically, farmers were already brewing beer,” says Lora Rae Anderson, communications director at the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. “But now it’s official. [Craft beer] is much more accessible in rural areas, in part thanks to the new farm brewing license.”
Today, notes of malted wheat may waft from Kent to Putnam, but 14 years ago, when New England Brewing was nothing more than a rent commitment, Connecticut’s craft industry was hardly a crowded, trendy or profitable space. That, too, has changed. In 2012, the state’s craft brew sector generated $374 million in economic impact. Now that figure is over $569 million, with more than 4,600 jobs created, according to the association. It remains to be seen whether industry growth is due more to Malloy’s tenure, which began in 2011, or consumer trends.
Along with breweries like Stratford’s Two Roads and Kent Falls Brewing Co., New England Brewing has blossomed into one of the most coveted choices for local libations. “[New England Brewing] has a brilliant distribution strategy,” says Mark Barnhart, a Connecticut craft brew aficionado and the director of economic development in Fairfield, Connecticut. “If you have the right product, people will come. Even if they have to line up in a queue.” Barnhart is right, and while New England Brewing’s decade-plus head start in the market makes for easy brand recognition, other brewers are starting to catch up, including the newly aboveboard farm distributors.
When Fox Farm Brewery opened in Salem in May 2017, the classic red barn looked nothing like its past life as a neglected, vine-covered dairy operation. These days the barn’s beautifully clean wood interior and massive cathedral-style ceiling — high enough to check out a bird’s-eye view of the venue while brewer Zack Adams extracts a sample from one of the 15-foot tanks — practically beg visitors to stop and stay a while. According to Adams, the process of renovating the barn, building a brewery and sourcing local ingredients has created a product unique to Salem — and, to an extent, unique to his farm. “Our beer has a strong connection to our place in the world,” says Adams, who uses fruit, microflora and yeast grown on site in the brewing process. “You won’t get these beers anywhere else.”
And, adds Anderson, the excitement around Fox Farm and other new farm tasting rooms is leading hop-chasers to venture away from Connecticut’s congested coastline and into the rest of the state. “These farm breweries are popping up all over the state,” says Anderson. “They’re wonderful hangouts. It gives people a reason to travel a bit farther and go try something new.”
For a state that’s expected to run a $1.6 billion deficit over the course of the 2017–18 fiscal year, the recent craft-brewing surge has been a welcome addition to the seemingly sinking bottom line. Connecticut’s one historical economic constant has been manufacturing, with more than 4,000 companies and 160,000 jobs at one time accounting for one-tenth of the state’s economy. But over the years, many of those jobs have dried up. Whether it’s tech rendering jobs obsolete or tax hikes chasing away giants like General Electric and Aetna, there are economic holes to fill. No amount of kegs will totally suffice, but craft brew is offsetting some damage. “It’s been a real challenge to meet demand [in Fairfield] and find suitable locations for these operations,” says Barnhart. “Luckily, we’ve seen major growth in Bridgeport, for example, which had plenty of available manufacturing space that can be converted for brewing. It’s an excellent repurposing of these buildings.”
And according to Jamie Bratt, director of planning and economic development for Hartford, the reuse of industrial space is a sign to residents and tourists that good things are still to come. “It’s a signal that there are exciting things happening in the district,” Pratt tells OZY. “There are people coming into our breweries that haven’t visited Hartford in a very long time. That has a direct secondary economic impact.”
Next time you’re passing through the Northeast, take a backroad off Interstate 95. If you see a red barn or a silo with no cornfields in sight, investigate. Thanks to Malloy’s nifty new law, you’re bound to find a brew or two.


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Animal Crossing New Horizons has been keeping players busy with their in game events. We saw Bunny Day and Cherry Blossoms events in the last two months, and we have another one right around the corner. Nature Day is the New Horizons version of Earth Day. Our Animal Crossing New Horizons Nature Day guide explains everything we know so far about the upcoming event.
When is Nature Day?
Nature Day starts at 5 AM on April 23 and will be active until May 4 in New Horizons. This in-game event takes place one day after Earth Day and will be introduced into the game as part of a large patch.
You will need to make sure your game is totally up to date with the latest version before you try and start exploring the Nature Day event. Check out what else you can expect in the upcoming April Free Update here.
What Happens on Animal Crossing New Horizons Nature Day?
Nintendo clued us in on what players can expect during Nature Day. First, there will be a special Nature Day promotion for Nook Miles+ members. The limited-time Nature Day activities will include tasks like planting shrubs and doing other Nature related things for Nook Miles.
Leif and his Garden Shop will also be available at the start of Nature Day. This is the place where you can pick up some bushes and other new plants. We already know for sure there will be Azaleas and Tea-Olives for sale in a variety of different colors.
Leif will be a random island visitor just like Flick and others, but his shop will be for the sale of plants and other related things. The Garden Shop will randomly pop-up in your town square when Leif decides to drop-in for a visit.


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As China has seen a tourism boom since this year’s Spring Festival holiday, multiple Chinese localities have rolled out measures to further promote tourism.
Train trips made in the first 10 days of March in the Yangtze River Delta region increased by nearly 6.6% from the same period in 2019, according to data from the China Railway Shanghai Bureau Group Co., Ltd.
Domestic flights handled across China from the beginning of this year to March 12 reached 95% of the level in the same period in 2019, according to statistics from flight data service provider VariFlight.
The culture and tourism department of central China’s Hubei Province recently launched tourism products focusing on spring under nine themes to attract visitors.
At the opening ceremony of the culture and tourism consumption promotion season, east China’s Jiangsu Province rolled out 348 cultural and tourism activities and multiple preferential measures to benefit the people, aiming to offer tourists high-quality tourism products and more affordable choices.
Several localities have launched tourist-dedicated trains. On March 19, 320 tourists from Hong Kong arrived in Wuhan, capital of Hubei, by high-speed train for a four-day tour.
Read original article


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Exactly four months before kicking off LNE Canada’s first congress, which will be held on May 5th and 6th at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal, we are more than excited by your desire to bring the aesthetic industry to new heights and our shared passion for the industry. Indeed, no less than over a
Aesthetician of the year 2019
Les Nouvelles Esthétique organizes the first edition of the “Aesthetician of the Year” awards to reward the most proactive professional, an exceptional businesswoman who, every day, shines the field of aesthetics and stands out by its irreproachable customer approach and its services.
Canadian innovation Awards
The INNOVATION AWARDS showcase innovative products and services to beauty professionals, the media, and consumers.
CANADIAN EYELASH EXTENSION CHAMPIONSHIP
CANADIAN BODY PAINTING CHAMPIONSHIP
LNE Canada is proud to team up with Make up For Ever—Professionnal Paris and Marilyn Pellerin, founder and director of Académie l’ABC du maquillage for the Canadian Body Painting Championship. This thrilling event will be held during the LNE Canada Congress on May 5–6 at the Palais de Congrès de Montréal.
CANADIAN NAIL ART CHAMPIONSHIP
Show all your artistic talents by standing out at our Canadian Nail Art Championship


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The Association of Tennis Professionals, which operates the top professional men’s tour, has entered into a partnership with sunscreen brand Daylong.
The brand, which is part of the Nestlé Skin Health company, has agreed an initial two-year deal to become the official sun care brand of the ATP World Tour. The partnership will run until the end of 2017.
“The Daylong brand perfectly meets the needs of tennis players, who spend a tremendous number of hours on court and absolutely need an effective and reliable way to protect their skin,” Peter Sonnekus-Williams, chief marketing officer at Nestlé Skin Health, said.
Daylong already has a presence at ATP World Tour events in Sydney, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Dubai.
The ATP confirmed the brand would feature at several other tournaments throughout 2016, including the Geneva Open in Switzerland, which takes place from May 15-21, and the Halle Open in Germany, which will be staged from June 13-19.


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Port of Nagoya
03 Jul 2017
The 2016 container traffic results show that Japan’s “strategic international container ports” policy is paying off, the transport ministry said.
05 Jun 2017
The new scheme is part of the Japanese government’s efforts to increase the country’s annual exports of agricultural.
02 Jun 2017
The two ports rank among Japan's top 10.
26 Apr 2017
Japan’s container trade is estimated to have risen 1.9 percent year-over-year to 11.9 million TEU in fiscal 2016.
06 Feb 2017
The forecast of container trade growth in Japan looks at the eight ports that together handle 90 percent of Japan’s containerized trade.
17 Oct 2016
The effort is aimed at alleviating landside congestion issues that have been a key contributor to the shift of traffic to privately-operated minor terminals.
04 Oct 2016
A research outfit affiliated with Japan’s largest freight forwarder has laid out its expectations for the country's container trade.
19 Jul 2016
Container traffic at Japanese ports sank for the first time in six years.
12 Jul 2016
Japanese container trade volume will slip slightly in fiscal 2016 for the third straight year.
04 Jul 2016
Japan’s implementation of the SOLAS container weight rule appears to have gotten off to a smooth start.
22 Apr 2016
Nittsu Research Institute and Consulting Inc. expects Japan’s container trade to remain almost flat in fiscal 2016, edging up only 0.1 percent from a year earlier to 11.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units because of economic uncertainty both at home and abroad.
01 Apr 2016
All but one of Japan’s five biggest ports posted negative traffic results in 2015 amid growing economic uncertainty both at home and abroad, with only the Port of Kobe weathering the storm well enough to eke out growth.


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It's been a big year for Too Faced already. They've shared sneak peeks of their new highlighters and liquid lipsticks, but their latest hint is a little bit different. According to CEO of Too Faced Jerrod Blandino's Instagram post, Too Faced might be opening their first store. Not much information has been given yet, but, as always, the hashtags hold some major details.
At the moment, the only way to shop Too Faced products is either the company's website, Sephora, Ulta, or HSN. The majority of your buying options include some online shopping, aside from Sephora and Ulta stores. That might be all about to change. Blandino uploaded a video of a script letter "T" with the caption "store logo concept (just the T) for the shop-in-shop." I'd say that's a pretty great hint, if you ask me.
Of course, nothing is official just yet. Bustle did reach out to Too Faced for comment. Either way, this is a pretty exciting sneak peek. Considering that the start of the sign is just a concept, there's no telling how long it will take to set up an entire store or pop-up shop, if there even is one. Unfortunately, there were no hints about the time of the launch except for #comingsoon.
The caption tagged the Selfridges Instagram page, so if I had to guess, I'd say that's a pretty big hint about where a potential in-store shopping experience might be located. The downside for Stateside shoppers is that there are only Selfridges stores in the United Kingdom.
Like I said before, there are other exciting launches to come to be excited about as well. First there's the gorgeous heart-shaped highlighters that Blandino teased more than once. There's also the Melted Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Unicorn Tears that might be in the works as well.
Bottom line: even if the possible in-store shop doesn't end up coming to he US, there's still a lot to look forward to.


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Canadian low cost airline, WestJet, has reduced its full-price travel fees by an average of 25 per cent for all routes across its 68-destination Caribbean and North American network.
Those seeking the cheapest flights to Toronto may like to book with WestJet, which is also offering lower everyday value fares if booked 330 days before departure, removing the need to wait for seat sales to get better deals. Travel experts have always advised searching for flights early, not leaving it for the last minute. Long haul flights should be booked at least 6 months in advance in order to get the lowest price available.
Executive vice-president for strategy and planning Hugh Dunleavy noted that this move has come following feedback from people looking for the cheapest flights to Toronto and elsewhere that revealed a level of frustration regarding price unpredictability.
“For those guests who, for one reason or another, have to travel at the last minute or at peak travel times like Christmas, we’ve significantly reduced those fares to make them more affordable,” he remarked.
It comes after the organisation launched a seat sale offer in conjunction with the Canadian Tourism Commission to provide increased savings on inter-Canada travel over the summer.


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Apple opened up the iPhone and iPod Touch for a wealth of new applications today. In a press conference at its Cupertino, California headquarters, CEO Steve Jobs revealed details about a software development kit (SDK) that will finally allow outside programmers to create new ways to use the popular handheld computers, one of which also happens to be a cell phone. The resulting applications will be easily downloaded via Apple's new iTunes App Store. This new capability will be part of iPhone 2.0 software, a free upgrade Jobs says will be available in late June.
So what are these "exciting new enterprise features" that the company teased in its hype? Apple would like to compete with the ubiquitous Blackberry, which is the leader in corporate use of smartphones. To respond to that, the iPhone will soon be able to be placed under central control — just what corporate types like. This means such things as email being pushed to the iPhone as it’s received, as well as calendar and contact information.
It’ll also have Microsoft Exchange and ActiveSync built in, popular formats for corporate users. The appeal for companies using Microsoft Exchange will be the ability to flip a few switches and all their info will begin to securely flow into the iPhone. And of course, its security will be beefed up for those paranoid suits with zillion-dollar secrets to keep, and if an iPhone is lost or stolen, there's even a way to erase all the data residing on that wayward handset.
Next, Apple execs invited all software developers to start writing custom applications for the iPhone. Web-based applications were possible from the beginning, but now Apple is opening up the innards of its programming routines for the iPhone, letting outsiders use the same tools Apple programmers use to create new ways to use the iPhone.
Beyond making it possible to write native iPhone applications, this software development kit (free, available now) will make the process of writing iPhone software a whole lot easier. Sweetening the pot is the iFund, a $100 million boatload of money offered by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Beyers, which the company plans to invest in promising iPhone application developers. What does this mean for users? This could be the beginning of an explosion of creativity, spawning applications for the iPhone no one has even thought of yet. Neat.


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NVIDIA Sets Conference Call for First Quarter Financial Results
CFO Commentary to Be Provided in Writing Ahead of Call
SANTA CLARA, Calif.- April 29, 2010 - NVIDIA (Nasdaq: NVDA) will host a conference call on Thursday, May 13, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) to discuss its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, ended May 2, 2010.
The company's prepared remarks will be followed by a question and answer session, which will be limited to questions from financial analysts and institutional investors.
Ahead of the call, NVIDIA will provide written commentary on its first quarter earnings from David White, chief financial officer and executive vice president. This material will be posted to http://www.nvidia.com/ir immediately after the earnings press release is distributed at approximately 1:20 p.m. PT.
To listen to the conference call, dial (212) 231 2900; no password is required. The conference call will also be webcast live (in listen-only mode) at the following websites: http://www.nvidia.com and http://www.streetevents.com.
The press release announcing NVIDIA's results will be distributed over a national wire service prior to the conference call and posted at the company's website: http://www.nvidia.com.
A replay of the conference call will be available until May 20, 2010, at (800) 633 8284 and (402) 977 9140, passcode: 21443084. The webcast will be recorded and available for replay until the company's conference call to discuss its financial results for its second quarter fiscal 2011.
NVIDIA (Nasdaq: NVDA) awakened the world to the power of computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Since then, it has consistently set new standards in visual computing with breathtaking, interactive graphics available on devices ranging from tablets and portable media players to notebooks and workstations. NVIDIA's expertise in programmable GPUs has led to breakthroughs in parallel processing which make supercomputing inexpensive and widely accessible. The company holds more than 1,100 U.S. patents, including ones covering designs and insights which are fundamental to modern computing. For more information, see http://www.nvidia.com.
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Something to look forward to in February!
Ann Nahari Teams with the UnderWraps Agency for New York Fashion Week Presentation
NEW YORK CITY—JANUARY 3, 2013 – Los Angeles-based plus size fashion brand, Ann Nahari (www.ann-nahari.com) announced that it has enlisted the services of New York’s Underwraps Agency to cast and produce its upcoming showcase during New York Fashion Week. Slated to show on February 9th in Manhattan, this will be Ann Nahari’s first presentation in the United States.
With an established name in the global fashion community after successful showings in Dubai and Istanbul, the luxury full figured atelier is ready to launch in the American market. Teaming with the Underwraps Agency, which launched in early 2012, Ann Nahari will be only the second plus size brand to present during the famed industry semi-annual event. This collaboration continues the revolutionary mission to showcase the beauty and style of the full figured woman.
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Sales at German steel distributors saw a 19.1% month-on-month fall in April, whereas stock levels remained largely stable, reflecting the limited buying activity last month, latest figures from the stockholders’ association Bundesverband Deutscher Stahlhandel (BDS) show.
Sales amounted to 858,012 mt in April, of which long products saw an 18.7% drop from the previous month to 272,080 mt while flat products fell to 491,538 mt, down 21.2%. On a year-on-year comparison sales decreased 10.1%.
Stock levels for April, which showed fairly high levels over the past months compared to previous years, saw a slight drop of 1.2% from March to April at 2.4 million mt, but a y-o-y increase of 3.6%.
“Inventories are still high: stockholders say not only that they are full but also their external stocks are high and in the Ruhr area there is no more room to put anything,” said a source close to a mill.
Broken down by product, longs showed a 6.7% y-o-y increase to 860,229 mt and flat products grew by 6% y-o-y to 1.5 million mt. Other products showed a contrary y-o-y development, decreasing from 66,401 mt to 60,298 mt, thus explaining the rather modest overall y-o-y growth rate of 3.6%.
Sources in the flat steel market in particular told Platts that buying activity was limited in April while stocks remain high as steel service centers bought more than usual in Q4 and early Q1.
Figures for Q1 this year show that stock levels amounted to 2.44 million mt, up 8% on year and remaining fairly high compared to previous years. Average figures topping those levels were last seen in Q3 2014, when stocks stood at 2.51 million mt. However, sales volumes also grew on a quarterly comparison, rising 6.4% y-o-y to a monthly average of 963,284 mt. Similar averages were also last seen in 2014, when monthly sales levels reached 962,793 mt in Q1 that year.
Laura Varriale, PLATTS


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THINGS DO TO GUIDE: Christmas is coming
Christmas arrives exactly one month from now — are you ready? Not to worry, with so many fairs and events going on, you can cross everything off your holiday to-do list this weekend.
Friday, Nov. 25
Scoop up some great gifts, grab some treats and you may even win a prize at the Eagle Ridge Manor (475 Guildford Way) Christmas marketplace today and tomorrow, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be sewing, baking, a silent auction, a raffle for a $500 entertaining basket, psychic readings and neck/head massages. Funds raised go to the recreational therapy department.
Reporter and author Mike McCardell will be at the Port Coquitlam Costco (2370 Ottawa St.) from 2 to 4 p.m. signing copies of his latest book, Here’s Mike: And Junkyard Granny, Whistling Bernie Smith, the Robertson Screwdriver, Pancakes and Eternal Truth. Until Feb. 29, 2012, partial proceeds from each sale of Here’s Mike will be donated to Variety - The Children’s Charity. McCardell’s books have raised $75,000 for variety.
Saturday, Nov. 26
Choose from four Christmas bazaars happening today throughout the Tri-Cities to get your shopping done: Eagle Ridge Manor (see above); Trinity United and St. Catherine’s Anglican (2211 Prairie Ave., PoCo) offers a baking/gourmet table, silent auction and luncheon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Hawthorne Seniors Care Community (2111 Hawthorne Ave., PoCo) will have crafts, baked goods and a white elephant sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as will the Burquitlam Lions Care Centre (560 Sydney Ave., Coquitlam).
MMM, BAKED GOODS
The Tri-Cities Baker’s Community Market returns with plenty of sweet treats, samples and free parking. Stock up on Christmas baking so you have one less thing to do during the holidays, and do bring three non-perishable items for the Share food bank to help out those in need (and a chance to win a basket of baked goods). The market runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Visit tricitiesmarket.blogspot.com.
Leigh Square hosts a Winter Artisans Fair this weekend, featuring a variety of affordable, quality art, fine crafts and edibles. There will be free photos with Santa (noon to 3 p.m.), roving entertainment, children’s Christmas story time (3 p.m.) and live music (4:15 p.m.). The lighting ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. The fair runs today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Don’t forget to bring a donation for the Share Food Bank.
LIGHT THE HALL
Celebrate the arrival of winter with live music, food, fire juggling, ice carving and arts activities at Light the Hall at Coquitlam city hall from 3 to 7 p.m. Meet the Snow King and Queen, Maillardville Puppets and participate in the Magical Mystery Tour. Bobs and Lolo play at 3:30 p.m. and all activities are free. Visit www.coquitlam.ca for more information.
Master Peter Hudoba, a representative of Master Zhi Gang Sha, is at the Port Moody recreation centre tonight and at Pinetree Community Centre Monday, Nov. 28, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. to discuss self healing. Call Thai Siew at 604-733-0853 for more information.
Sunday, Nov. 27
St. John Ambulance (2338 Clarke St., PoMo) hosts Community CPR Day for people 14 and up to learn CPR Level A (adult) and B (child/infant/adult). Classes begin at 8:30 a.m., with morning and afternoon classes available. Registration is required by calling 604-931-3426.
Please send Things-To-Do guide submissions to email@example.com.


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There are few things more exciting than getting a new home kitted out.
And that was likely what Brits Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and her boyfriend Jason Statham were doing in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The 35-year-old model looked radiant in a black mini-dress with spaghetti straps that showed off the slender body that made her a catwalk star.
Out and about: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley showed off her curves in a skin-tight black mini-dress with spaghetti-string straps as she went shopping in Los Angeles with her beau, actor Jason Statham, on Sunday
She paired the 𝓈ℯ𝓍y frock with cream high-heeled booties with peep toes and cutouts, embellished with rivets.
The blonde accessorised with a black handbag and dark glasses that protected her eyes from the bright winter sun.
Rosie’s beau followed on behind, admiring his girlfriend’s rear view as he strolled.
On a mission: The beautiful British blonde was reportedly checking out furniture stores
Lagging behind: The 55-year-old British actor followed Rosie, admiring his girlfriend’s rear view as he strolled
The Transporter star was casually dressed in a black T-shirt, grey Paige Denim jeans and sneakers.
Jason, 55, pulled on a black baseball cap and wore a pair of celebrity must-have sunglasses.
The couple, who have been dating for five years, were reportedly looking for furniture.
The pair bought a $12.9 million mansion in Beverly Hills in April with five bedrooms and eight bathrooms in 5,600 square feet of space.
Comfy casual: The Furious 7 star, who looked laid back in a T-shirt and jeans, has been with Rosie since 2010
It also has a large living room, a family room, two dining rooms, a den and a media room. The kitchen has a casual cosy look with reclaimed barn wood used on the ceilings, counters and for built-in seating.
Aside from interior decorating, both Rosie and Jason have busy careers.
The actor had three films out this year: Wild Card, Furious 7 and Spy, and his Mechanic Resurrection is lined up for 2016.
The model, who co-starred in this year’s blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road, was back in London earlier this month to promote her Marks & Spencer range of intimates and sleepwear, Rosie For Autograph.
Property magnates: The pair bought a $12.9 million mansion in Beverly Hills in April with five bedrooms and eight bathrooms
Spacious kitchen: The couple may have been shopping for items for their new home, which boasts 5,600 square feet of space including this huge kitchen


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DMA and Multichannel Merchant Announce 2009 MCM Awards Finalists
April 6, 2009 — The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and Multichannel Merchant today announced the 78 finalists for its 2009 MCM Awards. Winners will be announced during a May 6 luncheon ceremony held during the 26th Annual Conference for Catalog and Multichannel Merchants (ACCM).
ACCM is the largest conference for catalog, online, and retail marketers, co-produced by DMA and MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT, that will be held May 4-7 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The 78 MCM Awards finalists, who comprise both business-to-business (B-to-B) and business-to-consumer (B-to-C) marketers, included 49 print channel and 29 Web channel. Fourteen of these merchants are eligible for the Multichannel Merchant of the Year Award, as finalists in both the print and Web channels. Gold and Silver Awards are given annually for quality in both print and Web, and the Cross-Channel Award honors multichannel merchants for synergy across the print and Web channels. Last year, DMA and MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT presented a total of 47 awards. For a full list of 2008 MCM Awards winners, please click here.
Both MCM Awards finalists and winners are evaluated by a panel of experts through a series of three judging sessions: pre-screening, in-home evaluations, and a final judging session. Print and Web channel entries are evaluated on creative, merchandising, copy, customer service/navigation, and marketing execution.
“The MCM Awards are an exciting part of the ACCM program,” said Yasmin Melendez, DMA’s group show director. “This year’s finalists have combined seamlessly integrated campaigns with remarkable creativity that will sure give the judges a difficult decision when they present the awards in May.”
“Our judging panel carefully reviews all aspects of every catalog and Website entered,” said Melissa Dowling, editor-in-chief, MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT. “The competition has been extra tough this year — we may see some surprises when the winners are announced in New Orleans.”
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Interoperable blockchain network Flare has partnered with edtech startup Uppercent to launch an educational marketplace powered by NFTs. Non-fungible tokens, issued on Flare, will be used as the access passes to unlock access to high quality online courses taught by the top 1% of achievers worldwide.
On the Uppercent platform, members can buy, sell, and trade access passes to exclusive courses produced by Uppercent instructors from a variety of backgrounds. These include social media stars, leading business & mindset trainers & Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneurs. The instructors will explain the lessons they have learned on their journeys to the top, covering vocational skills such as entrepreneurship, social media and mindset.
The platform will launch in phases, with announcement of the first courses and instructors set to commence in late March. In phase one, students will be able to log in to their accounts and register for upcoming courses. This will be followed by the official platform launch later in the year, when people will be able to start buying and selling access passes to the courses on the Uppercent marketplace.
Traditional student learning carries a high cost of access, be it expensive textbooks that aren’t easily resold or single-user online courses. Uppercent democratizes learning and plans to create a thriving secondary market for access passes. In pioneering a secondary market for education, Uppercent is reimagining e-learning to enable students and educators to receive more value.
Flare Co-Founder & CEO, Hugo Philion, said, “We’re excited Uppercent has chosen Flare as the blockchain to power web3 functionality for the next generation of edtech products. As firm believers in the potential for NFTs and the importance of high quality user-generated content, we look forward to enabling the Uppercent team to use Flare to push the boundaries of UX and utility in the online education market.”
Uppercent Founder & CEO, Jake Lee, said “We’re delighted that Flare has joined our journey towards bridging E-learning from web2 to web3 with the ambition of rebuilding the e-learning ecosystem and providing more value to all stakeholders. Flare’s interoperability protocols, and particularly the State Connector will be a huge help in enabling us to build the first secondary market for E-learning.”
The Uppercent platform forms a community of like minded individuals looking to improve themselves and a marketplace where knowledge is shared and access to courses is obtained. Free membership to the Uppercent is available to anyone who joins the project’s Discord community before the official launch.


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Apple is reportedly in the process of acquiring once-promising self-driving shuttle firm Drive.ai in a deal that will bolster the tech giant's own autonomous vehicle initiative with seasoned engineers and segment experts.
Citing people familiar with the matter, The Information reports Apple is structuring the deal as an "acqui-hire," meaning engineers and other key personnel are targets of the buy. As with most Apple acquisitions, the Cupertino company is looking for talent and intellectual property, not brand value.
Apple did not confirm the buy with its usual boilerplate PR response, suggesting negotiations are ongoing.
"We don't comment on speculation," an Apple spokesman said.
Drive.ai was founded in 2015 by graduate students from Stanford University's Artificial Intelligence Lab. Based in Mountain View, Calif., the firm in 2018 launched pilot programs in Texas to test its autonomous shuttle vehicle.
"Drive.ai uses artificial intelligence to create self-driving transportation solutions that improve the state of mobility today," according to its website.
According to the report, Drive.ai raised $77 million from investors including New Enterprise Associates and Nvidia, the latter being a major player in automotive artificial intelligence. The funding rounds were apparently not enough to keep the company independent.
If and when the deal goes through, Apple will gain scores of engineers well-versed in the field of self-driving cars. Drive.ai boasted a roster of more than 100 engineers as of February, included specialists in neural networks, the report said.
Apple's self-driving car project is something of an open secret in Silicon Valley. Initially in development under the "Project Titan" banner, the program sought to create a branded car from the ground up, but Apple scaled back its ambitious goal for the Apple car project in late 2016 after hitting a number of snags. The Titan team has since refocused attention to autonomous vehicle subsystems.
Work on Titan is still ongoing and as of April Apple had 69 self-driving test vehicles on California roads. The company is also actively recruiting new talent for the project and recently poached powertrain expert Michael Schwekutsch from Tesla.


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Crypto companies FTX and FTX US switch to Stripe for payments and identity verification
By Matt Collins Article may include affiliate links
Stripe has signed a deal with FTX, one of the world’s leading crypto companies, to build a seamless onboarding and identity verification flow for users joining the exchange, and to power payments for users adding funds to their FTX account.
FTX is one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the world, operating an exchange that lets consumers buy, sell, and trade a variety of digital assets. As of January 2022, investors were trading an average of $14 billion worth of assets on FTX every day.
The deal also includes FTX US, a U.S. regulated affiliate.
“We want FTX to become a trusted mainstream brand,” said Tristan Yver, head of strategy at FTX, in a statement. “We’ve partnered with Stripe to help us transform what could be unintuitive crypto experiences into ones that exceed consumer expectations.”
FTX has chosen Stripe to enable a seamless payment experience for users who want to purchase cryptocurrencies with debit cards and Automated Clearing House transactions directly from their bank.
FTX built its new payments setup with Stripe in just days. “Stripe’s developer documents are a pleasant surprise compared to what we’ve worked with in the past,” said Yver.
FTX is also using Stripe Radar to mitigate fraud risk. Fully integrated with the rest of Stripe, Radar uses machine learning models and signals including customer details and billing information to distinguish fraudsters from legitimate customers. This enables FTX to accept as many legitimate transactions as possible, generating additional revenue with no extra effort.
“The optimizations we made in our payments setup with Stripe deliver the smooth on-ramp experience FTX’s growing customer base demands. We’re able to multiply revenue by making it easier than ever for people to invest in crypto,” said Yver.
FTX has also chosen Stripe Identity to build an onboarding and identity verification flow, so new crypto investors can easily prove they are who they say they are.
Using Stripe’s machine learning model — built on the same technology Stripe uses to verify millions of users globally—FTX has significantly reduced the number of rejections of new investors. FTX’s previous identity verification process often required manual reviews, which could take up to a week; the new flow enables real-time identity verification.
“We’ve recently overhauled our user onboarding process, and we’ve partnered with Stripe to bring their automated ID verification system to FTX,” tweeted FTX US president, Brett Harrison, after completing the implementation. “We’re seeing greatly increased speed of KYC processing, higher rates of automated approvals, and a smoother UX for our customers.”
“Stripe is working with many of the most exciting projects in Web3 and supporting the world’s leading crypto brands. FTX is a great example of this,” said Will Gaybrick, chief product officer at Stripe in the statement.


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Wall Street analysts predict that Q2 Holdings Inc (NYSE:QTWO) will announce $60.19 million in sales for the current quarter, according to Zacks Investment Research. Six analysts have issued estimates for Q2’s earnings. The highest sales estimate is $60.34 million and the lowest is $60.02 million. Q2 reported sales of $50.12 million in the same quarter last year, which would suggest a positive year over year growth rate of 20.1%. The firm is expected to announce its next earnings report after the market closes on Tuesday, November 6th.
On average, analysts expect that Q2 will report full-year sales of $238.75 million for the current fiscal year, with estimates ranging from $237.60 million to $239.20 million. For the next year, analysts forecast that the business will post sales of $296.15 million, with estimates ranging from $293.79 million to $300.66 million. Zacks Investment Research’s sales calculations are an average based on a survey of sell-side analysts that that provide coverage for Q2.
Q2 (NYSE:QTWO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 7th. The technology company reported $0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of ($0.14) by $0.15. The company had revenue of $58.57 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $58.34 million. Q2 had a negative net margin of 12.07% and a negative return on equity of 14.66%.
QTWO has been the subject of several research reports. Stifel Nicolaus restated a “buy” rating and set a $68.00 price target on shares of Q2 in a research report on Thursday, August 9th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “buy” rating and set a $65.00 price target on shares of Q2 in a research report on Thursday, August 9th. Loop Capital upped their price objective on shares of Q2 to $67.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Thursday, August 9th. Needham & Company LLC upped their price objective on shares of Q2 from $62.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 9th. Finally, Craig Hallum set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Q2 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $61.00.
In other news, EVP John E. Breeden sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.33, for a total value of $377,475.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,247 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,535,531.51. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Jeffrey T. Diehl sold 1,000,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.25, for a total transaction of $58,250,000.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 1,472,477 shares of company stock worth $86,758,418. Insiders own 17.90% of the company’s stock.
Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Q2 in the second quarter worth about $132,000. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Q2 in the second quarter worth about $200,000. Brick & Kyle Associates purchased a new stake in shares of Q2 in the second quarter worth about $228,000. Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new stake in shares of Q2 in the second quarter worth about $267,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado purchased a new stake in shares of Q2 in the third quarter worth about $285,000. 93.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
QTWO opened at $51.80 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $2.28 billion, a P/E ratio of -107.92 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 6.00 and a quick ratio of 6.00. Q2 has a fifty-two week low of $36.25 and a fifty-two week high of $67.10.
Q2 Company Profile
Q2 Holdings, Inc provides cloud-based digital banking solutions to regional and community financial institutions (RCFIs) in the United States. It offers Q2online, a browser-based digital banking solution that delivers RCFI-branded digital banking capabilities; Q2 Sentinel, a security analytics solution; Q2 Corporate to support RCFIs to attract and retain larger commercial accounts; and Q2 SMART, a targeting and messaging platform.
Further Reading: Stock Symbols, CUSIP and Other Stock Identifiers
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This is a relatively new sector, with just shy of 65 per cent of Africa’s "find a tutor" startups having launched in or after 2016. Yet these companies are increasingly diversifying their offerings in order to improve educational outcomes.
One of the world’s oldest professions, even tutoring is gradually being bought into the on-demand fold. "Find a tuto" platforms have the potential to have a significant positive impact on educational outcomes.
Matthew Henshall is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Cape Town-based SkillUp Tutors, which offers parents and students access to thousands of highly skilled and vetted tutors based on grades, subject, location, and budget.
The startup has achieved a number of notable landmarks, having been picked for the legal incubation programme run by Webber Wentzel and secured a Series A funding round from Knife Capital. Henshall said such platforms intend to make education more effective.
"By effective, I mean easier to use, safer, and more affordable for students and parents by reducing high commissions which are inherent to the industry. Through his studies, Benjamin Bloom, an educational researcher, found that one-on-one tutoring is 98% more effective than traditional classrooms. This is such a tremendous outcome that personal tutors cannot be ignored," he said.
One-on-one tutoring, however, is traditionally expensive, and if it is cheap it is likely directly proportional to quality. Henshall believes this is where “find-a-tutor” platforms can change the curve.
"By maintaining high levels of quality, largely through building trust in communities through technology, they are able to make tutoring more affordable," he said.
"It will no longer become a service for the most affluent, but for everyone."
Godwin Benson is the 27-year-old Nigerian systems engineer behind online tutoring platform Tuteria. Benson last year won the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, for his work with the startup, which launched in 2015 and is an online platform that links students to qualified tutors in their area. Users are able to find the skills they want to learn via the app, set their budget, and get connected to the nearest tutor.
Benson echoes Henshall’s point that one-on-one learning has been proven to be the most effective way to learn. "Tutoring platforms like Tuteria, therefore, help to simplify the process of finding verified and competent tutors to achieve the learners’ desired educational goals. Tutoring helps students learn at their own pace and style, which helps improve their subject mastery in a non-threatening environment."
Yet in order to further improve outcomes, startups in this space are going beyond simply connecting students to tutors. Tuteria last week rolled out a mobile-friendly online resume builder called CareerLyft, which offers ready-to-go templates and allows users to share their resumes with friends. It is also heavily focused on quality-monitoring.
"We not only provide the platform to connect learners with tutors, we provide them with unforgettable positive learning experiences," said Benson. "How we achieve this is by monitoring the progress of their lessons via an inbuilt system that enables learners and tutors to give us feedback on every single lesson, and also via reviews and ratings at the end of every month. This process ensures that beyond getting them tutors that match their requirements, we also ensure that actual progress is made towards achieving the learners' goals."
SkillUp is also diversifying, launching an online lesson space last month and last week announcing the launch of its own coding course. Henshall said finding a tutor was only the first step of the journey, with SkillUp – like Tuteria – keen to ensure outcomes were positive.
"We want to make sure the tutor is helping students reach their goals. A large part of our effort goes into building a platform where students and tutors can monitor and track students progress and goals. The tutor offers ongoing support and we make sure it is easy for a tutor to flag any problems with students so parents can keep track and be proactive," he said.
"We also have tools like online lessons which build on the simple act of finding a tutor and make the education more effective. Find-a-tutor is making education more efficient, what we’re now trying to do is be more a part of that journey in helping students succeed, and that requires making it more effective."
Africans are proving more than keen to use platforms like Tuteria and SkillUp, on a continent where the quality of education provision varies hugely depending on location and income.
Benson said Africans want to improve their quality of life through education, and many are already familiar with the concept of one-on-one tutoring.
"They typically attempt finding tutors by asking friends or colleagues, or from the school which their children attend. However, tutoring platforms eliminate the harrowing frustration involved in finding a very good tutor by themselves, and provide other services like monitoring lessons, safeguarding payments and ensuring professional service delivery, which inspires many customers to use such services," he said.
"We’ve seen a huge market acceptance of our service. Many Africans still have trust challenges with paying online, but there have been positive developments and we believe that, progressively, more Africans will have better trust for online platforms, which will make the entire process seamless."
Henshall agreed that in Africa, as in the rest of the world, education is one of the most important things for families. "However, unlike Southeast Asia, Africans do not spend as high a percentage of household income on private education to get their children a step ahead. This is largely simply due to different economic climates and opportunities once students are ready to enter the working world," he said.
"One thing we have also seen, especially in South Africa, is higher trust barriers. Customers are more hesitant to try a new service. While we pride ourself on only the highest levels of safety and trust, for many clients using our service this might be one of the first online payments they have done or one of the first few e-commerce websites they’ve used. Inviting someone into your house to tutor your child requires really believing and trusting in the brand, at SkillUp we focus wholly on building this trust and showing true representations of our tutors."
Disrupt Africa is a one-stop-shop for all news, information and commentary pertaining to the continent’s tech startup – and investment – ecosystem. With journalists roaming the continent to find, meet, and interview the most innovative and disruptive tech startups, Disrupt Africa is a true showcase of Africa’s most promising businesses and business ideas.
Our readers can keep up-to-date with the quirky world of tech hubs and accelerator programmes; and our reporters provide live coverage of the all-important tech and entrepreneurship events across Africa.
For our startup, entrepreneur, and investor friends alike, our mission is to provide practical information and advice from across Africa’s varied vibrant markets, and to promote engaged and thought-provoking discussion about the exciting ecosystem we belong to.Go to: http://disrupt-africa.com/


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Major goes against police and takes the side of drunk Minsk inhabitants
Any alcoholic beverages except vodka will be sold in shops on Independence Day. On the eve of the holiday the police proposed to forbid selling alcohol after 6 p.m. on July 3. Last time spirits were “locked up” on the graduation day. Mayor took the side of Minsk dwellers this time.
Despite of the fact that heads of some districts insisted on forbidding the sale of low-quality alcohol, the Mayor of Minsk Mihail Paulau noted that “all bans were a dead end”. Local authorities should better prepare an entertainment programme that would make Minsk inhabitants forget about any alcohol.
Minsk City Executive Committee’s press centre referred to the department of consumer market and informed ERB that all alcoholic beverages except vodka will be available in shops:
“Vodka will not be sold during the holidays. But there will be no problems with buying cognac, beer or wine”.
The police are going to accept a plan of their work during the mass celebration. Thus, it will be decided what is going to happen to those who will drink too much while celebrating the Independence Day.
The agency Minsk-Naviny informs that the Mayor simply went against the police and told them not to do anything bad to people who “abuse a little bit”: “Even if somebody drinks too much, the person remains our citizen and nobody gives you the right to insult them. The rule should be followed not only during holidays, but on any other day too”.


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Credit Suisse analysts have taken another look at their model for Amazon.com Inc. and anticipate that the annual Prime Day shopping event will take place in the third quarter rather than the second quarter.
The revision comes ahead of Amazon’s
first-quarter earnings announcement, which is scheduled for Thursday after the closing bell.
“From a modeling perspective, we previously anticipated that Prime Day would occur in 2Q22, but at this point we shift the timing into 3Q22 and transfer ~$10 billion of GMV between the two quarters,” analysts wrote in their earnings preview.
“CEO Andy Jassy’s shareholder letter helped to crystallize the rationale for stepped up investments as he disclosed that Amazon has seen three years of growth in just over a year,” Credit Suisse analysts led by Stephen Ju wrote.
“Growth CapEx has historically come more gradually, but we will highlight that
Amazon has spent more money on e-commerce-focused CapEx in the last two years than it has in the prior decade preceding the pandemic – we estimate ~$81.7 billion during 1Q20-4Q21 versus ~$73.8 billion for all of 2009-2019.”
Analysts say the investments have been focused on transportation and fulfillment with expansion of one-day and same-day delivery service.
“Amazon may be unique in our coverage universe as the only company that has the potential to deliver accelerating revenue and FCF [free cash flow] growth,” analysts said.
Credit Suisse rates Amazon stock outperform with a $4,100 target price.
Stifel analysts expect online sales growth to decelerate in the first quarter with strong results for the AWS and advertising arms.
“Near-term margin will face headwinds from inflationary pressures related to wage increases and higher transportation costs, as well as lost productivity and disruption in operations due to labor constraints,” Stifel said.
“The recent increase in Prime fees and fuel surcharges charged to sellers will partially offset margin impacts.”
Stifel rates Amazon stock buy with a $4,400 price target.
Amazon has an average stock buy stock rating and average target price of $4,059.59, according to 52 analysts polled by FactSet.
Here’s what else to know about Amazon heading into their earnings announcement:
Earnings: The FactSet consensus is for earnings per share totaling $8.35, down sharply from $15.79 last year.
Estimize, which crowdsources estimates from sell-side and buy-side analysts, hedge-fund managers, executives, academics and others, forecasts EPS of $9.63.
Amazon has beaten the FactSet earnings estimate six of the last seven quarters.
Revenue: The FactSet consensus is for revenue of $116.450 billion, up from $108.518 billion last year.
Estimize forecasts revenue of $117.782 billion.
Amazon has missed the FactSet sales consensus the last three quarters.
Stock price: Amazon stock is up 1.8% over the past three months, and is down 15.3% for the year to date.
-UBS thinks Amazon is becoming more “shareholder friendly.” Amazon’s moves to bump up margins give UBS a reason for optimism.
“It has always been challenging to forecast margin expansion at Amazon simply because they would find some or the other avenue to invest, although investment intensity has waned every couple of years or so before picking up again,” analysts led by Lloyd Walmsley wrote.
“The expectation going into 2022 was slower growth and lower margins in 1H, then faster growth and higher margins in the back half. Nevertheless, we have been seeing several signs of the new management team being more shareholder friendly and with an eye on margins.”
UBS rates Amazon stock buy with a $4,625 price target.
-Inflation drove higher prices, which helped Amazon. Wedbush analysts say Amazon saw benefits from inflation.
“[I]t is important to note that the same inflationary pressures also likely benefited the company by driving higher product prices across most of its categories, especially groceries,” analysts led by Michael Pachter wrote.
“In Q1, we expect that these products likely saw around a 5% increase in prices, assuming the new 5% surcharge is being implemented in order to cancel out the negative impact of inflation. Additionally, we believe inflation did not result in a material impact to revenue in Q1 due to robust consumer spending.”
A Wedbush survey conducted in March 2022 found that about 78% of respondents spent more on Amazon that they normally would, up from 74% in both March 2021 and September 2021.
was next behind Amazon with 39% saying they spent at an elevated level on that site.
“This supports our broader thesis that the shift to online spending throughout the pandemic has changed consumers’ shopping habits more permanently, with Amazon appearing to be the biggest recipient of dollars shifting online, by a wide margin.”
Wedbush rates Amazon stock outperform with a $3,950 price target.


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IROQUOIS – Shoppers in South Dundas are seeing a new sign in the neighbourhood.
Workers were at the Iroquois Plaza Monday afternoon, changing out the signs on the Mac’s location there.
All stores across Eastern Ontario are expected to be changed out to Circle K by the end of the year.
The parent company, Alimentation Couche-Tard, announced in September 2015 it would be transforming its Canadian Mac’s locations to its American name – Circle K – to improve its brand sell.
The Mac’s signature owl logo will still be used for its Quebec stores.


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Top 10 cities with the highest inflation in French and Southern Cameroons in 2022
The Cameroon national stats institute (INS) recently published a report on the evolution of inflation in the country in 2022.
Ngaoundéré, in the Adamaoua region, ranked first being the city with the highest inflation over the period. The rate was over 7.4%, while the general price level rose by 6.3%. A year before, inflation in the city was slightly above 1%. The top 10 is completed by Bafoussam (+7.3% after 2.4% in 2021), Buea (+7.1% after +1.7% in 2021), Bamenda (+6.8% after +3.8% in 2021), Maroua (+6.4% after +3, 2% in 2021), Yaoundé (+6.2% after +1.8% in 2021), Douala (+5.7% after +1.9% in 2021), Bertoua (+5.5% after 4.4% in 2021), Ebolowa (+5.7% after +3.7% in 2021) and Garoua (5.4% after 2.1% in 2021).
“Inflation is fueled by soaring food prices. In 2022, the general level of prices was, in large part, fueled by the increase of 12.9% in food prices and 6.3% in prices of restaurant and hotel services. The main increases in food prices have been in oils and fats, bread and cereals, fish and seafood, meat, milk, cheese, and eggs, and vegetables,” INS said.
According to the organization, the inflation rate is expected to rise above 6% in 2023. “The inflation outlook is influenced by the tightening of financial conditions in most regions, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the depreciation of the FCFA against the dollar, the readjustment of fuel pump prices, and the new tax provisions of the 2023 budget law,” the INS analyzes.
Source: Business in Cameroon


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Bakery chain to heat up market
- Jeanne Lang Jones
- Staff Writer
The Australian bakery chain Bakers Delight plans to open its first U.S. store in Bellevue in March, the start of an effort to open 10 Seattle area stores over the next two years.
The chain is looking for sites in Bellevue, Mill Creek, Redmond, Kirkland, Queen Anne in Seattle, and West Seattle, said Braeden Lord, president of North America for the privately held company. The Bellevue store could be the beachhead for an eventual rollout along the West Coast, Lord added.
Founded in 1980 in Melbourne, Australia, by Roger and Lesley Gillespie, Bakers Delight says it is the world's largest international bakery company, operating approximately 700 bakeries, mainly in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Bakers Delight sells fresh-baked breads, rolls and sweet rolls made from scratch daily. It offers a total of about 80 different types of bread from traditional white and whole wheat loaves to its signature Cape Seed loaf with seven different grains and seeds.
The company, which includes both company-owned and franchised stores, has a total of about 15,000 employees and annual revenue of $420 million. The bakery chain had a 14.6 percent share of Australia's $1.89 billion bread market in March 2006, according to Roy Morgan Research, of Australia.
The company's North American operations are based in Vancouver, British Columbia, where it operates under the name Cobs Bread Co. The firm has about 40 bakeries in Canada currently and will continue to expand there even as it enters the Puget Sound market. The decision to open stores in the Seattle area market was prompted by the favorable response to the company's baked goods by Seattle area residents visiting stores in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., company executives said.
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19 horses sold for $1M or more
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 21, 2016) — A total of 2,653 horses were sold for $215,213,000 at this year’s Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which closed on Sunday. Last year’s sale, which was one day shorter, accounted for 2,575 horses sold for $218,959,40. The cumulative average for horses sold of $81,121 this year was down 4.6 percent from last year’s $85,033. The median price of $25,000 was down 16.67 percent from $30,000 in 2015.
Sales included 19 horses sold for $1 million or more, highlighted by the $3.8 million paid for 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) winner and millionaire Unrivaled Belle, the most expensive Thoroughbred sold at public auction in the world this year, and the $3.5 million given for Group 2 winner Secret Gesture (GB).
“The November Sale reflected what we’ve seen recently: perceived quality or commerciality is well-rewarded,” saidBob Elliston, Keeneland vice president of Racing and Sales. “Participation by a deep buying bench comprising domestic and international interests was as strong as ever, with enthusiastic duels from multiple bidders who were willing to stretch their budgets for the premier horses. The horses of racing age portion of the sale also created energy and successfully attracted leading trainers and end-users. The money is here, but you must have something of value.”
During the first two sessions of the sale, which made up the premier Book 1, 18 million-dollar horses sold to 14 different entities representing major buyers from the U.S., Australia, China, Dubai, Ireland and Japan.


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Apple has announced an expansion to its video workout service, Apple Fitness+.
Starting on Monday, kickboxing workouts will be added as a new workout type. The kickboxing sessions will be led by Fitness+ trainers Jamie-Ray Hartshorne and Nez Dally, and will be offered in ten, twenty, and thirty minute durations. Each workout will include several rounds of moves, followed by a final round that combines all the different moves performed in the workout, with the aim of building full-body fitness.
In addition to the kickboxing sessions, Apple Fitness+ has also added a new category of meditation sessions called “sleep,” which will feature new sleep meditations on a weekly basis. This is the latest addition to the Fitness+ collection of meditation sessions and is intended to help users relax and get a better night’s sleep.
A new season of “Time to Walk” has also been added to Apple Fitness+, featuring guests such as actor Jamie Lee Curtis, talk-show host Amber Ruffin, actor Jason Segel, chef Jose Andres, and actor Sheryl Lee Ralph (who was recently Emmy nominated for her work in the hit comedy series Abbott Elementary). In addition, the Artists Spotlight workout series has added a new playlist centered on songs from Beyonce’s newest album, Renaissance.
.@Beyonce's music coming to Apple Fitness+ workouts 🎶
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) January 5, 2023
Apple Fitness+ is expanding its roster of trainers as well, with the addition of Brian Cochrane and Jenn Lau later in January. Cochrane will focus on high-intensity interval training, while Lau will lead strength workouts.
Until recently, Fitness+ required users to wear an Apple Watch, as it tightly integrated metrics and Activity rings goals into the experience. However, with the release of iOS 16, the Fitness+ service is now available to anyone with an iPhone through the Fitness app. Fitness+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, or it can be included as part of the Apple One Premier bundle plan.
Are you excited to hear about these changes? Let us know and check back soon for more.


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Reckitt announced Aug. 11 that it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to import 150 metric tons – about 331,000 pounds – of infant formula base powder from its facility in Delicias, Mexico.
The announcement is part of the Parsippany-based company’s continued efforts to get more baby formula on U.S. retail shelves in light of the critical shortage that began earlier this year.
The company said once the powder is blended and packaged in the U.S., it will yield the equivalent of 6 million 8-ounce servings of PurAmino, Mead Johnson’s amino acid-based formula.
The first shipment will be produced this month and is expected to be distributed after quality and safety checks.
PurAmino is intended for infants and toddlers who cannot digest other types of formula because of allergies or other gastrointestinal conditions. The company said this formula will be distributed primarily through hospitals and other health care centers.
Reckitt will deliver the PurAmino by ground transport to its facility in Zeeland, Mich., where it will be packaged and delivered via Mead Johnson’s distribution network.
“We appreciate the continued support from the government, our supply chain partners and employees globally, who have worked together to help end this shortage as quickly as possible, with the highest standards of safety and quality,” Pat Sly, president of Reckitt’s nutrition business, said in a statement. “Every step we can take to increase supply and get more formula to parents is vital, and the FDA’s latest import approval will help us do just that.”
Reckitt estimated that its formula is feeding about half of all infants in the U.S.
In the first half of the year, the company’s Infant Formula and Child Nutrition business recorded a 40% increase in like-for-like net revenue.
On May 19, acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs warned about price gouging and potential fraud concerning the sale of baby formula in the state.d


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In the past few months, we’ve been working hard on developing Sotrender, adding new features and charts. In the meantime, we’ve also talked with you, our clients, quite a lot. What we’ve discovered was that while we were focused on new things, we were hiding them somewhere in the app so well that some of […]
Instagram is booming! The platform recently surpassed 1 billion users worldwide. And it’s not just user growth that’s moving in the right direction; Instagram is seeing a big-time rise in ad dollars coming to the platform. It seems brands have found greener pastures on Instagram over Facebook’s News Feed.
Finally! We’re happy to announce – and launch – our brand new Instagram analytics for business profiles at Sotrender!


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It has been noticed on Apple’s manufacturer support list for its CarPlay platform that Porsche has been added as a partner.
“The previously unreported addition to the CarPlay lineup came sometime in mid-March, according to Internet caches of the website. Porsche owner Volkswagen Group is offering substantial CarPlay support across its marques, including Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Suzuki and Volkswagen.
It is not yet clear how or when the Stuttgart luxury brand plans to build in compatibility, as the company has already developed a fairly comprehensive in-house solution called Porsche Communication Management. PCM offers the usual assortment of niceties like GPS navigation, voice control and digital audio, but bakes in advanced features such as speed limit indicators called up from data stored in the system’s navigation database.” states Apple Insider.
Keep it locked to CarPlay Life for more announcements on CarPlay, as it happens.
[Source – AppleInsider]


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Facebook rolls out free offline-to-online guide for SMBs to go digital
Facebook said it is reaching out to nine million small businesses across India to ensure it reaches the businesses that need these guides and resources the most.
Looking to support Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in their recovery from the impact of the pandemic, Facebook on Wednesday announced an offline-to-online SMB Guide and new resources. The SMB Guide is free and publicly available.
Facebook said in a statement that it is reaching out to nine million small businesses across India to ensure it reaches the businesses who need these resources the most.
The guide provides step-by-step directions on how SMBs can build a digital presence quickly and reach potential customers online. It explains Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and covers key themes such as building an online presence, mobile storytelling, social media advertising, and creative and performance strategies.
The offline-to-online resources are available in Hindi and English.
Archana Vohra, Director, Small and Medium Businesses, Facebook India, said in the statement that these resources can help SMBs go online "with minimum effort."
Facebook said it is also rolling out the next leg of ‘Boost with Facebook’, the social media giant's flagship skilling and learning programme for scaling young businesses. The programme went virtual earlier this year, and is now going vernacular — will be delivered primarily in Hindi through Facebook Live sessions.
One key theme discussed during Boost with Facebook will be how SMBs can build for Diwali and the festive season beyond it.
Facebook also launched 'Season of Support', a dedicated resource to boost business and build sales for small businesses during this time. It enables SMBs to seek support from Facebook’s expert team and also utilise personalised resources to help them reach their desired goals.
Further, quick courses that under ten minutes long and simple guides containing insights on building an online presence, keeping an audience engaged and increasing sales, will be made available.
Other measures by Facebook to enable SMBs to become resilient are grants, business resource hubs, brand incubator programmes, advertiser programmes, and more.
Facebook's global $100 million grants programme for SMBs is another lifeline for small businesses. In India, it is a Rs 32 crore grant, which has been given to over 3,100 SMBs.
Facebook and Instagram have also launched capabilities for businesses to drive discovery and sales through Gift Cards. Customers can discover Gift Cards on Facebook and Instagram and purchase them on third-party platforms, thereby helping SMBs reach more potential customers online.
Edited by Kanishk Singh


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Independence Day is the busiest holiday for sales of consumer fireworks. But the devices that are legal to buy and set off vary by state. So here's a guide to knowing what's legal, and how to stay safe around fireworks.
In Pennsylvania, state law says residents are only permitted to set off small, ground-based "novelty" fireworks like sparklers and toy caps. Fireworks like Roman candles, firecrackers and cherry bombs are all illegal. However, Pennsylvania fireworks stores can sell a full slate of the more powerful products -- but only to out-of-state shoppers.
That policy doesn't do much good for New Jersey and Delaware fireworks fans. Both states ban the sale and use of all consumer fireworks. Those states, along with Massachusetts and New York, are the only ones in the country that don't allow sales of at least some types of fireworks.
Of course, fireworks buyers have been crossing state lines to buy their goods for years.
But law enforcement officials know this, too. The New Jersey Attorney General's Office is warning consumers that fireworks are illegal in the state and violators could be charged with a disorderly persons offense.
On the Facebook page for Phantom Fireworks, which has locations nationwide, one fan alerts shoppers who want to cross from Pennsylvania into New Jersey or New York: "Watch out for police outside these stores ... they will follow you straight to the border and pull you over."
Retailers, law enforcement on alert
Besides trying to catch those attempting to skirt state laws, law enforcement officials may put extra scrutiny on fireworks buyers this year for another reason. An advisory from the National Explosives Task Force issued last week warns sellers that consumer fireworks area a "common component used in improvised explosive devices," USA Today reports. The notice comes in the wake of the April bombings at the Boston Marathon, for which the alleged bombers are accused of purchasing explosive powder from a fireworks store.
Federal authorities are advising retailers to watch out for suspicious activity like customers who ask about taking apart or modifying fireworks, according to USA Today.
Between June 22 and July 22 last year, more than 5,000 people were treated in emergency rooms nationwide for fireworks-related injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most of those injuries involved malfunctioning devices or improper use.
Whether you're using sparklers at home or vacationing in an area where you can shoot off more powerful fireworks, here's how to avoid spending the Fourth of July in the ER, according to the National Council on Fireworks Safety:
- Only use fireworks outsdoors.
- Keep water nearby.
- Don't let young children handle fireworks, and closely supervise teenagers who are using them.
- Wear safety glasses.
- Don't drink alcohol if you are handling fireworks.
- Don't re-light a "dud." Wait 20 minutes, then soak the non-working firework in water.
- Avoid homemade fireworks.
- Soak used fireworks in water before putting them in a garbage can.
- Never throw sparklers.
- Only light one sparkler at a time.


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What's it Like to Deliver cannabis in Washington State?
Pelican Delivers has chosen Better Buds to beta test it's new Cannabis delivery software. As part of the beta test, Better Buds customers will be the first customers in Washington State to have Cannabis delivered to there home. Pelican Delivers is
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Calvin Harris posts series of hints provoking speculation around new sound
Over the years, Calvin Harris has repeatedly proven himself as one of the industry’s most technically gifted producers, releasing a diverse number of hits, each attaining an exceptional level of praise across the board. Recently, the Scottish DJ/producer turned heads when he changed his appearance, growing a beard in order to “be taken seriously by the Grammys as a producer”. Now, as we move into the second month of 2018, it looks like Calvin Harris is ready to introduce even further changes to his brand, unveiling a series of mysterious hints across platforms.
Changing his profile pictures and banners to reflect what appears to be new branding, Calvin Harris’ social media accounts all have a brand new look, featuring the same imagery. A mysterious website also popped up just days ago, with the URL featuring the words ‘Nuh Ready‘. No details are known at this stage as to the relevance of ‘Nuh Ready’, but it has the potential to be the title for a new track, or even a brand new album. After announcing his retirement from Funk Wav sound there has been speculation recently as to which path Calvin Harris would take as he changes his sound, and these hints seem to prove that he is about to shake the music industry yet again by breaking boundaries once more.
Take a look at the tweet below.
— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) February 4, 2018


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March 19, 2009
Court Settlement Will End Raccoon Dog Fur Sales By Andrew Marc
The Humane Society of the United States and Andrew Marc (Andrew & Suzanne Company, Inc.) have reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed last year alleging that six of the nation's largest retailers and fashion designers have repeatedly engaged in false advertising and mislabeling of fur garments.
Pursuant to the agreement, fashion designer Andrew Marc will phase out all use of raccoon dog fur in its Andrew Marc and Marc New York lines, reform its garment labeling practices and endorse legislation to close a loophole in federal law which allows many fur-trimmed items to be sold without informing consumers whether and what kind of fur is present in the garment.
The litigation is proceeding against the non-settling defendants, including major retailers Dillard's, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Over the past three years, The HSUS identified dozens of falsely advertised or falsely labeled fur garments across the retail industry. Although many of these garments are advertised or labeled as "faux fur," 70 percent of the garments actually contained fur from the raccoon dog, a member of the canine family. Andrew Marc represents that its fur comes from farm-raised animals in Finland.
The HSUS brought the lawsuit under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act alleging that the defendants are (1) advertising and labeling products as "faux fur," when they are, in fact, derived from real animal fur or (2) advertising and labeling products as common raccoon, fox or rabbit fur when they are, in fact, made from the wholly distinct species of raccoon dog—a member of the canine family.
The complaint also alleges violations of the federal Fur Products Labeling Act and Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibit the false advertising and mislabeling of any fur product.
Since 2006, The HSUS has sent dozens of letters to companies informing them of problems and urging corrective action. The HSUS also filed two legal petitions with the Federal Trade Commission—one in March 2007 and the other in April 2008—seeking enforcement action and criminal and civil penalties against more than 20 companies for violations of the FPLA.


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It’s December 21, just three days before the big day. That’s right—Christmas Eve, the day traditionally spent watching the greatest holiday movie of all-time, A Christmas Story. As for Christmas Day, well, like the rest of 2020 it’s going to be very different. Exhibit A: there’s a pretty good chance many of us never got around to sending friends or even family holiday and/or Christmas cards. Enter Radiohead.
We now have plenty of time to send out custom holiday sentiments thanks to the band, who’ve shared a new DIY digital greeting card generator on the Radiohead website. “This festive card is for you to make and send to acquaintances new and old,” according to the site, adding that “No element of data placed onto it will be stored by Radiohead.”
Card-makers can choose from five different cover messages (cryptically listed as “FA LA LA,” “LA-LA,” “LA, LA,” “LA,” and “LAA,” though different messages appear once published), and the same number of messages for the inside of the card (among those messages: “PEACE ON YOU,” “IN LIEU OF EMPTINESS,” and, my personal favorite, “SUNLIT UPLANDS STILL AWAIT”). Now you can send vaguely apocalyptic digital cards to show your loved ones that you care (and could probably benefit greatly from a hug).
“Right now, I just feel this: I hope you are all safe and well and not too scared, or too bored.” Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood said in a statement. “I also hope that somehow we can be part of making music for you soon, and that the pleasure of making music, and hearing music, whether in a gig, concert hall, church, or at home with friends—is not forgotten in this desolate year.”
Make and send your DIY Radiohead digital greeting cards here.