51.7 F
San Francisco
Friday, March 13, 2026
Home Blog Page 2244

Ivanka Trump’s Perfume is the #1 Selling Perfume on Amazon

Reginald Edward
-
0
Ivanka Trump’s Perfume is the #1 Selling Perfume on Amazon

While several major retailers have decided to pull the plug on Ivanka Trump products from their stores and websites, Donald Trump’s daughter is getting massive sales on Amazon. In fact, Ivanka Trump’s perfume is the best-selling women’s fragrance on the e-commerce site.

Townhall.com, a conservative news site, broke the news about the perfume’s rise to the top of Amazon’s fragrance section on Thursday, and by Friday, Ivanka Trump’s women’s fragrance continued to dominate Amazon’s website. Not to mention, several of Trump’s other products became best sellers on the e-commerce site.

I bought this perfume in support of Ivanka Trump. I had no idea how it smelled. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and I LOVE it!!”, one user wrote as a review.

However, many other users have taken the time to bash the product. “The smell of corruption, greed and graft. Made in China, of course…produced by Putin, Bannon, Reality TV fans, and greedy 1%ers,” one review read. 

Ivanka Trump Amazon

While many people called for the boycott of stores that sold Trump-related products thanks to the #GrabyYourWallet boycott. Some Trump supporters have also launched boycotts against companies that decided to stop selling Trump products.

Last week, Nordstrom announced they would no longer sell Ivanka Trump’s brand citing weak sales. “Each year we cut about 10% [of brands] and refresh our assortment with about the same amount,” the statement said. “In this case, based on the brand’s performance we’ve decided not to buy it for this season,” a Nordstrom representative told Bloomberg.

Following Nordstrom, Burlington Coat Factory and the Home Shopping Network stopped selling Ivanka Trump products.

In response to the Ivanka Trump backlash, President Trump tweeted, “I am so proud of my daughter Ivanka. To be abused and treated so badly by the media, and to still hold her head so high, is truly wonderful!”

Germany Bans ‘My Friend Cayla’ Calling the Dolls a ‘Spying Device’

Jonathan Antonio
-
0
Germany Bans ‘My Friend Cayla’ Calling the Dolls a ‘Spying Device’

Germany has banned the internet-connected doll called “My Friend Cayla” after calling it a “spying device.”

“My Friend Cayla” is a toy that connects to the internet and can chat with children. But, regulators in Germany are calling for parents to disable the toy after the Federal Network Agency called it a surveillance device.

Germany bans My Friend Cayla

“Items that conceal cameras or microphones and that are capable of transmitting a signal, and therefore can transmit data without detection, compromise people’s privacy,” said the FNA agency director, Jochen Homann.

“This applies in particular to children’s toys. The Cayla doll has been banned in Germany. This is also to protect the most vulnerable in our society,” Homann added.

The doll works by sending a child’s question to an app, which translates the words into text and searches the internet for an answer, then the doll responds with a reply to the question.

The FNA regulators issued a statement warning that anything someone says around the doll is recorded and transmitted without their knowledge. Also, German regulators argued that baby can advertise to children.

“A company could also use the toy to advertise directly to the child or the parents,” it said.

“Moreover, if the manufacturer has not adequately protected the wireless connection, the toy can be used by anyone in the vicinity to listen in on conversations undetected.”

My Friend Cayla Controversy

Genesis Toys manufactures My Friend Cayla and reportedly uses a voice-recognition software called Nuance, a program that is actively used by military and intelligence agencies.

‘M is not the first time the doll was in hot water for spying on children. Last December, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) partnered with the Commercial-Free Childhood, the Center for Digital Democracy and the Consumers Union to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over the toy’s ability to listen in on conversations.

“Both Genesis Toys and Nuance Communications unfairly and deceptively collect, use, and disclose audio files of children’s voices without providing adequate notice or obtaining verified parental consent,” Epic complaint says.

Sprint and T-Mobile Merger is Reportedly Back on The Table

Reginald Edward
-
0
Sprint and T-Mobile Merger is Reportedly Back on The Table

Even business never give up on their dreams. According to a Reuters report, Sprint’s parent company SoftBank is reportedly working on a deal to merge with T-Mobile. Instead of acquiring the mobile telecom giant, it appears Softbank is willing to “give up control” of Sprint. Also, the company is prepared to sell most of the company to Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile’s parent company, to merge the two company. Reuters reports their sources tell them that negotiations are expected to start in April.

Sprint
NEW YORK CITY – APRIL 19: People walk past a Sprint mobile telecommunications retail outlet in New York City, on Friday, April 19, 2013. (Northfoto / Shutterstock, Inc.)

In 2013, Softbank initially discussed acquiring T-Mobile. But, the company ditched those plans after FCC regulators at the time made the deal difficult. However, under the Trump administration, rumors of a deal have surfaced. In fact, T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere said during the CES a merger is a “potential outcome.” Other companies are attempting to benefit from the Trump administration. For example, AT&T and Time Warner are expected to merge. Also, Verizon is in the process of acquiring Yahoo!, despite the Yahoo! hack.

Softbank currently owns 83% of Sprint and Reuters reports that the lack of growth in the United States has left the company frustrated.

This news comes after Verizon announced unlimited data plans, following in the footsteps of their competitors including T-Mobile and AT&T.

Mark Zuckerberg Wants to End Terrorism With Facebook

Jonathan Antonio
-
0
Mark Zuckerberg Wants to End Terrorism With Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg has revealed his vision of expanding the social network and connecting the world.

In a 6,000 word post on Facebook, Zuckerberg painted a picture of what he envisions the future of Facebook will become. Essentially, Zuckerberg plans on expanding from connecting friends and families and plans on connecting people online and offline, to create a global family.

Zuckerberg describes a future where Facebook allows users to explore beyond their social networks and connects with others.

“History is the story of how we’ve learned to come together in ever greater numbers—from tribes to cities to nations,” he explains. “At each step, we built social infrastructure like communities, media, and governments to empower us to achieve things we couldn’t on our own.”

Zuckerberg asserts now is the time for Facebook to “develop the social infrastructure to give people the power to build a global community that works for all of us.” By using Facebook, Zuckerberg argues the social network can stop the world’s biggest problems including “ending terrorism, fighting climate change, and preventing pandemics.”

Facebook
DUBLIN, IRELAND – 09/02/2017 Facebook’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Asia) headquarters at Grand Canal Square in Dublin, Ireland. (Laura Hutton / Shutterstock, Inc.)

While Zuckerberg’s post is ambitious and short of humility, it offers very few clues as to how he plans on making this possible.

Zuckerberg does point out that if Facebook is going to make the world a better place, he believes people should be given reliable information – something the social network is currently fighting fake news.

Also, Zuckerberg argues artificial intelligence can be used to stop the spread of troubling content from going viral on the social network. Also, the use of the Safety Check feature can ease people’s worries during a time of crisis.

Facebook is growing and reaching an estimated 2 billion users by the end of 2017. Despite the CEO’s claims that he is not running for President, this new essay may illustrate the Facebook’s CEO plans on using the social network for his political campaign soon.

You can read the full essay by Mark Zuckerberg below.

Flu Vaccine is More than Twice As Effective as 2014’s Flu Shot, CDC Says

Brent Edward
-
0
Flu Vaccine is More than Twice As Effective as 2014’s Flu Shot, CDC Says

The flu shot is reducing the risk of influenza infections in the U.S. by nearly 50%, according to a report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The most common virus strain this year is influenza A (H3N2). The CDC says that the effectiveness of the vaccine is preventing this strain is around 43%. Meanwhile, the flu shot’s effectiveness against the influenza B strain is 73%. As a result, the CDC says the overall protection against the flu this year is 48%.

The study examined data from November 28th through February 4th and analyzed over 3,000 children, and adults enrolled in the United States Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network. The government agency uses that data from Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network to estimate how well the flu vaccine protects individuals from contracting the virus.

Influenza
OSAKA, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 27. Sick woman is wearing a mask on her face.Travel on the train on 27 November 2016. (Marco Crupi / Shutterstock, Inc.)

In comparison to previous years, during 2015 to 2016 flu season the vaccine was 47% effective. Also, during the 2014 to 2015 flu season, the vaccine was only 19% effective, according to the CDC.

Brendan Flannery released a statement regarding the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.

“The viruses in the vaccine are a good match for the circulating viruses this season,” Flannery said.

“The prediction for the H3N2 virus was right on regarding that particular virus continuing to be a dominant virus, Flannery added”

Flannery pointed out that the H3N2 strain was not very common last year. In fact, that particular strain first arrived two years ago. “This vaccine is a much better match for the circulating virus than the vaccine we had two years ago.”

Influenza 2017

The CDC tells unvaccinated people who are six months old or older to get the flu vaccine still this year.

“Influenza activity may have peaked where there were early peaks in the Northwest and on the West Coast,” Flannery explained. “Activity is increasing in some of the Midwest and the East Coast.”

The flu shot is an inactivated influenza virus. Every year, a group of scientists, physicians and public health researchers in the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices decide which virus strains will go into the vaccines and sold for the upcoming flu season. Researchers collect data from various countries, and scientists measure how the virus spreads across the country.

Earlier this year, researchers discovered virus such as the influenza virus affects men differently than women. Researchers reported that viruses are deadlier for men than women. Evolutionary biologists argue viruses have evolved to affect women differently to spread to future progeny.

72% of Democrats Report Being Stressed After the Presidential Election

Brent Edward
-
0
72% of Democrats Report Being Stressed After the Presidential Election

Americans are still stressed out about politics in the United States, according to a new survey.

The American Psychological Association’s annual “Stress in America: Coping with Change” study shows Americans are dealing with a higher level of anxiety over politics and distress over the future of the country.

Lynn Bufka, APA executive director for practice, research and policy told USA Today, “People are saying they’re more stressed now than they have been in quite some time.”

72% of Democrats report the outcome of the Presidential election is a major stressor. Meanwhile, 59% of Republicans consider the future of the country as one of the leading causes of the stress.

Researchers also pointed out millennials, minorities, and individuals with a college degree and people living in urban areas are reporting the highest levels of stress. However, considering the outcome of the election, most of these individuals experiencing higher than normal levels of stress most likely did not vote for Donald Trump.

How stress affects the body

Immigration Ban Protest
NEW YORK CITY – FEBRUARY 2 2017: Thousands of Yemeni bodega owners closed their stores & rallied with supporters at Borough Hall to oppose President Trump’s immigration ban on Yemen. (a Katz / Shutterstock, Inc.)

Bufka asserts stress can lead to physiological symptoms including headaches, stomachaches, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety. Ultimately, this can affect someone’s health in the long term. In fact, a study by Harvard Medical School earlier this year found a correlation between brain activity and cardiovascular activity. Scientists examined 300 patients in a longitudinal study. Harvard researchers discovered activity in the brain’s amygdala leads to an inflammation of arteries and increases the risk of heart attacks.

Stress levels before the election

This news comes after the APA studied Americans stress levels before to the election. Last October, researchers found more than 50% of Americans reported feeling stressed out about the election. Also, Republicans reported having higher levels of stress than Democrats, which is interesting considering how Democrats now report having higher levels of stress.

Human Gene Editing Gains New Support from Scientists

Megan Diane
-
0
Human Gene Editing Gains New Support from Scientists

Powerful gene-editing tools are the future of science and health research. But, scientists are considering using these tools on human embryos and sex cells – eggs and sperm, according to a report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the National Academy of Medicine.

On Tuesday NAS said scientific advances that allow for gene editing of human cells is a “realistic possibility” and “deserves serious consideration.”

The report illustrates an optimistic view of technology known as CRISPR-Cas9. CRISPR-Cas9 allows for scientists and researchers to quickly edit genes.

However, researchers were not always so optimistic about CRISPR-Cas9. In December 2015, the NAS held an international meeting regarding the technology and said that it would “irresponsible” to use gene editing technology to treat diseases or correct possible genetic diseases until problems are solved.

But, the latest NAS report now calls for clinical trials for human genome editing be permitted. However, the NAS calls for the technology implemented for “serious conditions under stringent oversight.”

Before CRISPR, editing genes were not always accurate. But, CRISPR-Cas9 allows for scientists and researchers to precisely edit DNA. As a result, this new technology makes gene editing easier and more reliable. It also introduces the possibility for gene therapy to treat diseases.

The biggest ethical issue surrounding the technology is the use of the technology on human sex cells or embryos as it could affect the offspring and not the individual. The NAS report says this new sentiment towards gene editing “must be approached with caution, caution does not mean prohibition.”

Also, the report goes on to call out the possible levels of inequality that could arise from the technology.

“There is some indication of public discomfort with using genome editing for what is deemed to be enhancement, whether for fear of exacerbating social inequities or of creating social pressure for people to use technologies they would not otherwise choose,” the NAS said in the report.

YouTube Distances Themselves From PewDiePie After Anti-Semitic Jokes

Reginald Edward
-
0
YouTube Distances Themselves From PewDiePie After Anti-Semitic Jokes

After PewDiePie uploaded a video with a sign saying “Death To All Jews,” YouTube is now distancing themselves from the once highest paid YouTuber in the world.

According to Variety, YouTube has canceled the second season of Scare PewDiePie, a web series created specifically for YouTube’s premium service YouTube Red. The show centered around PewDiePie exploring video game inspired sets that the YouTuber previously played on his YouTube channel.

In addition, YouTube will cut PewDiePie from their “Google Preferred” advertising service. Google Preferred lists the 12 different listings of packages of channels. These channels are the most popular channels among U.S. 18 to 34-year-olds. As a result, YouTubers that are listed in this premium service can earn more money from higher paying advertisers. Also, brands can advertise on the most popular channels on the video streaming network.

As a result of these news changes, PewDiePie’s income will take a hit following his “Death to All Jews” video. However, the YouTuber will still be able to make money from his other videos on the platform.

PewDiePie
LOS ANGELES – OCT 28: Felix Kjellberg at the “Ender’s Game” Los Angeles Premiere at TCL Chinese Theater on October 28, 2013, in Los Angeles, CA (Helga Esteb / Shutterstock, Inc.)

YouTube’s decision to cut ties with the PewDiePIe comes after Disney’s Maker Studios, severed their relationship with the YouTuber over his anti-Semitic jokes. The video that got him in trouble involved two men hired from the freelancing website Fiverr who were told to hold a sign saying “Death to All Jews.”

While Scare PewDiePie season two was announced last year, users can still watch old videos from Scare PewDiePie season one online.

Pewdiepie addressed the controversy on Tumblr.

“I think it’s important to say something and I want to make one thing clear: I am in no way supporting any kind of hateful attitudes.”

Pewdiepie added, “I make videos for my audience. I think of the content that I create as entertainment, and not a place for any serious political commentary.”

Disney Cuts Ties With PewDiePie After Posting a “Death to All Jews” Video

Reginald Edward
-
0
Disney Cuts Ties With PewDiePie After Posting a “Death to All Jews” Video

Disney’s Maker Studios has ended their deal with one of the most popular YouTubers of all time, Pewdiepie.

Why did Maker Studios break their relationship with Pewdiepie?

Apparently, the YouTuber posted a video on January 11th for which he paid two men to hold a sign that said, “Death To all Jews.”

In the “Death to All Jews” video, Pewdiepie hired people through the freelancer website Fiverr. Pewdiepie reportedly said: “I didn’t think they would actually do it.”

However, the two Indian gentlemen later apologized, “we really don’t know what the message meant when making the video.” But, that did not stop Fiverr from banning the two men. Pewdiepie has called for the freelancing service to un-ban the two Indian men from Fiverr. But, Fivver does not look like they will be unbanning the two gentlemen any time soon.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Pewdiepie worked independently, but this video was too much for the company.

“Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate,” said a spokeswoman for Maker Studios.

PewDiePie’s history of Anti-semitic jokes

PewDiePie has posted nine videos with anti-Semitic content since August, according to the WSJ. Three of the videos have been taken down. One of the videos featured a man dressed as Jesus saying, “Hitler did absolutely nothing wrong.”

Pewdiepie addressed the controversy on Tumblr. He said, “I think it’s important to say something and I want to make one thing clear: I am in no way supporting any kind of hateful attitudes.”

Pewdiepie added, “I make videos for my audience. I think of the content that I create as entertainment, and not a place for any serious political commentary. I know my audience understand that and that is why they come to my channel. Though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive.”

What is Maker Studios?

Disney acquired Maker Studios three years ago for $675 million. Then in 2016, Pewdiepie threatened to leave the company. But, the studio allowed for him to create his own network called Revelmode, which is an entertainment media platform for him to create content.

Who is PewDiePie?

There’s no denying how popular PewDiePie is. The Swedish Youtuber became the most subscribed user on YouTube by 2013 and by 2017, his channel has had over 14 billion video views.

Facebook Soccer? Facebook Partners with Univision to Stream Liga MX Soccer Games

Jonathan Antonio
-
0
Facebook Soccer? Facebook Partners with Univision to Stream Liga MX Soccer Games

Facebook is setting their eyes on live sports. Via a partnership with Univision, Facebook will begin streaming 46 games from Mexico’s soccer league, Liga MX to Facebook users in the United States.

“Now Facebook represents the next wave of TV and, given its scale, they are an ideal partner to distribute our Liga MX matches in English,” said Tonia O’Connor, Univision’s president of content distribution stated in a statement.

Univision’s deal with Facebook will allow for the network to reach a new and younger audience as well as experimenting with live sports on a social media platform. Also, it could help expand into a new market as the game will be available in English.

The games will first launch this Sunday and will continue through the playoffs. However, the games will not feature ads. But, this may not last forever. Facebook is currently experimenting with commercial breaks within live videos. As a result, Facebook will begin to split the advertising revenue with their partners.

Facebook’s Dan Reed said in a statement, “Sports are inherently social, with the power to build and connect communities around the world. This aligns closely with our mission, and we feel Facebook is a natural home for sports content, including live games.”

“We plan to bring fans more live games from a variety of sports in the Video tab, and will collaborate closely with our partners to do so in a way that supports their business goals,” Reed added.

To access and watch the games, users can just click Facebook’s video tab.

Facebook’s partnership with Univision is not the social media company’s first foray into live sports. Last summer, Facebook streamed several U.S. basketball games and a soccer match between Manchester United and Everton.

Twitter
CHIANGMAI, THAILAND – MARCH 22, 2016: Photo of iPhone device with Twitter app running (GongTo / Shutterstock, Inc.)

Facebook is not the only social media company interested in streaming sports live. Twitter announced premium live video by obtaining the rights to 10 NFL Thursday night games. Since then, Twitter has landed deals with the NBA for two original programs, the NHL for weekly games, and the MLB for several weekly games.

1...2,2432,2442,245...2,279Page 2,244 of 2,279

Explore

Trending

Follow us

© All Rights Reserved, Newspaper Theme.