3D TV May Be The Future Despite Fears of Causing Health Problems
March 12, 2010
Mail Online
By Mail Foriegn Service
Avatar director James Cameron hailed 3D TV as ‘the future’ last night as he helped launch a range of 3D television sets.
At a glitzy launch in New York of Samsung 3D sets, he told the crowd: ‘You will all remember that you were here, in Times Square, for the launch of the television of the future.’
The Black Eyed Peas were called in to perform and lend the event a touch of glamour as fears surfaced that viewers could experience health problems while watching the screens.
Viewers wear electronic glasses with the screens which open and close rapidly in time, with images designed for the right and left eye, creating a three-dimensional effect.
But doctors said headaches and visual disturbance were likely.
Dr Michael Rosenberg, an ophthalmology professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said: ‘There are a lot of people walking around with very minor eye problems, for example a minor muscle imbalance, which under normal circumstances, the brain deals with naturally.’
But he said that in a 3D film, these people are confronted with an entirely new sensory experience.
‘That translates into greater mental effort, making it easier to get a headache,’ he added.
A recent study by the University of California, Berkeley, concluded that 3D does cause headaches and blurred vision.
Researchers attributed this to viewers focusing on the foreground and distance simultaneously.
There have been a number of anecdotal reports of viewers developing headaches while watching Avatar and the internet is awash with forums advising how to avoid head pain while viewing 3D.
Samsung, which is the industry leader for flat-screen televisions, was the first to unveil its range of sets which will hit British shops by the end of the month.
They are offering 46 and 55-inch televisions and Blu-ray with two pairs of 3D glasses.
In hot pursuit is Panasonic, which is also launching its first 3D televisions at a BestBuys shop in New York this week. Sony, meanwhile, aims to start selling its sets in June.
British retailers are already preparing for a rush of orders when the new ranges become available.
Bill Moir, head of marketing at electrical specialist Comet said: ‘Our first 3DTVs will be available to pre-order online from the end of March and available in stores in April.
‘We’ve already seen a lot of demand for the new technology. Thousands of customers have already registered their details online with us to receive more information about 3DTV ahead of the UK launch.’
Experts predict that within five years every full-size television will have 3D capability.
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Judge: Informercial pitchman can’t leave country
February 26, 2010 by JP
Filed under Business Week, Kevin In The News
February 25, 2010
Business Week
By Mike Robinson
A federal judge refused Wednesday to give infomercial pitchman and author Kevin Trudeau permission to visit Canada next month while appeals his 30-day criminal contempt sentence in Chicago.
U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said Trudeau’s $50,000 bond, which also requires him to surrender his passport, was set by a federal appeals court. The judge said he has no authority to interfere with the higher court’s order by giving him permission to go to Canada.
While the bond set by the appeals court does require the passport be surrendered, Gettleman noted he saw nothing in it that would specifically bar a visit to Canada. But he said he was not certain of just what it allows.
“I’d be careful if I were you,” he told Trudeau.
Trudeau — who sells books advocating “natural cures” for a variety of ailments — has been fighting a court battle since 2003 with the Federal Trade Commission over alleged misleading advertising for a diet book.
Gettleman last week found Trudeau in criminal contempt, sentencing him to 30 days and fining him $50,000 — later reduced to $5,000 — for urging his supporters to flood the judge’s computer with messages praising his remedies.
The hundreds of messages that followed crashed Gettleman’s computer and inundated the judge’s BlackBerry while he was teaching a course at Northwestern University law school.
Trudeau left court Wednesday with attorney Thomas Kirsch II, who said they were still deciding whether to take their travel request to the appeals court.
Trudeau said he wants to visit Toronto and Vancouver for unspecified business reasons. The appeals court has yet to decide if it will hold a hearing on the appeal of Gettleman’s sentence.
Click here for the full report
Judge refuses to act on pitchman’s request to travel
February 25, 2010 by JP
Filed under Chicago Tribune, Kevin In The News
February 24, 2010
Chicago Tribune
By Jeff Coen
A federal judge today told infomercial pitchman Kevin Trudeau he’ll have to take his request to travel to Canada up with an appeals court now considering his challenge to a 30-day jail sentence for contempt of court.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman imposed the punishment last week after Trudeau supporters inundated his computer with e-mail messages.
Gettleman is presiding over a lawsuit brought against Trudeau by the Federal Trade Commission. It alleges he used deceptive practices in some advertising.
Trudeau appealed the contempt citation and jail sentence to the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
That court postponed Trudeau’s surrender to jail while it quickly decides his appeal.
Trudeau wants to travel to Canada for unspecified business purposes.
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Gas Prices to Top The 3 Dollar Mark
February 23th, 2010
Sun Times
Gas prices are headed up to above $3 a gallon for regular, and experts say it isn’t because of higher demand.
The average per-gallon price of unleaded regular gasoline in Chicago jumped 10 cents in the last week to $2.82, which is 84 cents higher than a year ago, according to AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express.
Nationally, the price is $2.65 a gallon, up 3 cents a gallon from last week and 73 cents a gallon higher than a year ago.
Pump prices typically rise this time of year as refineries switch to a more expensive grade of gas. But prices are climbing even after millions of Americans got pink slips and kept their cars in the driveway.
What’s pushing prices higher is the crude oil that’s used to make motor fuel, said Fred Rozell of the Oil Price Information Service. Crude is an international commodity that has become ever more expensive as demand grows in China. As crude prices increase, so do gas gas prices.
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New Study Provides Insight Into Chicago Political Corruption
February 22, 2010 by joel
Filed under Government
February 22, 2010
NBC
Cook County has been a “dark pool of political corruption” for more than a century, a new study by the University of Illinois at Chicago says.
Nearly 150 employees, politicians and contractors in the nation’s second-largest county have been convicted on corruption charges since 1957, according to a report released Thursday by the university and the Better Government Association.
The 33-page study gives a history of corruption, starting from 1869 when county commissioners were jailed for rigging a bid to paint City Hall. It also details hiring scandals, including some under Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. Stroger hasn’t been charged with any crime.
In the last 36 years, 31 sitting or former Chicago alderman have been convicted of corruption or other crimes. The last was Ike Carothers (29th), who earlier this month plead guilty to charges he accepted gifts in exchange for his votes on zoning issues.
The study says reforms could turn things around, including stricter campaign finance laws and amending a county ethics ordinance.
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GIN Dream Weekend – Chicago – May 21-23
February 19, 2010 by JP
Filed under Events, Kevin On Tour
Friday, May 21 – Sunday, May 23, 2010
Event Location
Hyatt Regency O’Hare
Rosemont, IL (Chicago)
Visit Hotel Website
Who Can Attend
GIN Affiliates
All GIN Members
Registration
Click here to register for this event online. Please do not contact the hotel about event registration. Thank you.
Event Schedule
Registration begins at 3pm Friday, May 21st, 2010
Meeting begins 7pm Friday, May 21st, 2010
Weekend concludes Sunday May 23th, 2010
Additional Information
This event is open to all Global Information Network Affiliates and Members. Portions of the event will be for GIN Members only. Members/Affiliates may bring spouses or significant others, but only members/affiliates can attend the meetings. Children are not allowed to attend meetings or banquets.
About the Hotel
Experience the dramatic rebirth of the iconic Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Long the standard among Chicago hotels near O’Hare, our 1969 John Portman structure has been transformed into a modern and sophisticated site. Contemporary meeting facilities welcome gatherings of all sizes, with a brand new conference center designed for smaller events, and grand convention venues to accommodate the most expansive groups. Exciting new dining choices and luxurious amenities from top to bottom add welcoming touches throughout our O’Hare airport hotel, while our convenient location – with fast access to both downtown and the airport – makes us ideal for every visitor. Discover for yourself the world-class services of our remarkable O’Hare hotel.
9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue,
Rosemont, Illinois, USA 60018
Maps & Directions
Obama is Above Jury Duty?
January 27, 2010 by Andrew
Filed under Government
January 27, 2010
Telegraph.co.uk
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
January 26, 2010 by Brandy
Filed under Testimonials
KT,
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, for all that you have shared with me and my family. We met in Chicago. My wife has MS and was in the wheel chair. We have seen Dr. Zamboni’s research and submitted it to her MS doctor and he dismissed it as “HOG WASH.” (Only to be expected.) She hasn’t seen him since! In Chicago Dr. Coldwell told her to get off all of her medication. She has and is still improving. MonaVie has helped and we are moving rapidly forward in that. Also, thanks for introducing me to Lee Storms!
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
God Bless,
Lou Minnis
Orlando, FL
Chicago to Pay Whistle Blowers Who Turn In Tax Cheats
October 28, 2009
Chicago-Sun Times
By Fran Spielman
Would you be willing to rat out a business that’s cheating Chicago on taxes in exchange for a share of back taxes recovered?
City Hall is counting on it.
Mayor Daley’s tough-times, 2010 budget includes a first-ever “Tax Whistleblower Program” expected to include cash bounties for informants who deliver the goods on unpaid business taxes.
The cash reward would be a percentage of the amount recovered, but specifics are still being worked out. The dreaded employee head tax and lease tax are just two of the most frequent targets for tax cheats.
“It’s just another way of bringing people into compliance,” said Revenue Department spokesman Ed Walsh.
“It would probably be … a business knowing that a competitor is not remitting a tax. An employee [of the tax-dodging business] could know that, too. Typically, you need to provide some type of incentive.”
The whistleblower program isn’t the only new revenue initiative in 2010.
The Revenue Department is also mapping plans to start sending e-mails to motorists whenever vehicles they own get parking or red-light tickets.
They could choose to pay their fines immediately — either the old-fashioned way or by issuing electronic checks. And, in the case of a red-light ticket, the city could be spared the cost of mailing notices.
“It might be advantageous to parents who loan the car to their kids. That way, they’d be made aware of the ticket sooner,” Walsh said.
Yet another plan would let booted motorists settle their debts online.
Click here for the full report.
Chocolate is the New Aspirin?
October 27, 2009
FoodNavigator.com
By Catherine Boal
Cocoa can function in the same way as aspirin in preventing heart attacks, according to a new study investigating its effect on blood platelets.
The research will lend further weight to the various health claims now attached to the traditional indulgence.
Dark chocolate has recently been making inroads into the health market as its beneficial antioxidant and flavanoid content becomes more widely publicised and consumers switch from milk or white chocolate to keep up with the trend.
Scientists at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine say that a few squares of chocolate a day can reduce the risk of a heart attack by almost 50 per cent in some cases.
The discovery came after volunteers for a trial on the effects of aspirin were disqualified for eating chocolate, despite being warned that this would interfere with results from the study.
Despite being barred from participating in the drug study, the chocolate-eaters blood was examined and compared with others who hadn’t indulged in order to determine what effect cocoa has on platelets.
Platelets from those who had eaten chocolate clotted more slowly than those who had not – taking an average of 130 seconds to clump together compared to 123.
Professor Diane Becker said: “What these chocolate ‘offenders’ taught us is that the chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack.”
She continued: “Eating a little bit of chocolate or having a drink of hot cocoa as part of a regular diet is probably good for personal health, so long as people don’t eat too much of it, and too much of the kind with lots of butter and sugar.”
The full results of the study were presented to the American Heart Association’s annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago yesterday.
Click here for the full report.
