POM Wonderful: Not So Wonderful After All, Says the FTC

POM Wonderful's claims about the health benefits of its Pomegranate Juice and POMx supplements go a little too far, according to a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission. As part of the suit, the FTC wants POM to stop running its misleading ads and get FDA approval in the future for all ads that make specific health claims.
POM's ads make some lofty assertions--one ad says that the juice can lead to a 30% decrease in arterial plaque along with 17% improved blood flow. And the Wall Street Journal reports that company co-founder Lynda Resnick has publicly announced that the drink can reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men.
The pomegranate juice giant isn't the first company to be targeted by the FTC. This past February, the FTC sent letters to 17 food corporations, including Kellogg, Nestle, and POM, warning that their ads violated federal law by making misleading statements about disease prevention and health benefits. But while other targeted companies have stopped producing the ads in question, POM has gone on the offensive, saying that prescreening of ads violates the company's First Amendment rights.
The company explained in a statement:
POM believes very strongly in its first amendment rights to
communicate the promising results of our extensive scientific research
program on pomegranates. We believe the commission is acting beyond
its jurisdiction, exceeding its authority, and creating a new
regulatory scheme that attempts to treat our juice as a drug, which it
is not. The FTC is violating POM’s constitutional rights to share
useful and important information with the public, and therefore we have
initiated a separate lawsuit to preserve these rights.
The public battle comes at a bad time for company founders Lynda and Stewart Resnick. Earlier this month, the Renzo Piano-designed Linda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened to considerable acclaim.


Ariel Schwartz can be reached on Twitter or by email.

"

Adobe Plugs in the Biggest Bloom Box Yet

Adobe Plugs in the Biggest Bloom Box Yet: "

Bloom Energy, the much-hyped startup behind the Bloom Energy Server fuel cell device (aka the Bloom Box), has mostly remained quiet since its February launch--until now. Software giant Adobe just installed 12 100-kilowatt Bloom Energy Servers at its San Jose headquarters, marking Bloom's largest installation yet. The servers' 1.2 megawatts of power will be enough to power one third of Adobe's electricity.

Randall H. Knox III, senior
director of Global Workplace Solutions at Adobe, explained: 'Installing Bloom Energy fuel cells supports Adobe's efforts to remain
at the forefront of utilizing clean technologies.' That's true enough--Adobe is using methane from a landfill as a feedstock for the fuel cells, so the company's Bloom Boxes will produce net zero carbon emissions. And unlike solar and wind, the fuel cell boxes aren't reliant on optimum weather conditions.

But Adobe is taking a risk with its massive Bloom Energy Server
installation. Each server sells for up to $800,000, which means the
company may have invested nearly $10 million on the technology. And the
Bloom Boxes aren't all that reliable--Bloom had to replace cells in eBay's installation after just 7 months. In general, Bloom estimates that fuel cell stacks will have to be switched out twice during the box's 10 year lifespan.

We'll find out soon enough just how revolutionary the Bloom Energy Server will be--Bloom plans to release a residential version of the Box for $3,000 a pop, sometime in the near future.

Ariel Schwartz can be reached on Twitter or by email.

"

Exclusive: Facebook and Skype Readying Deep Integration Partnership

Exclusive: Facebook and Skype Readying Deep Integration Partnership: "

You didn’t think Facebook would integrate with Google (GOOG) Voice, did you?

Actually, according to sources close to the situation, Facebook and Skype are poised to announce a significant and wide-ranging partnership that will include integration of SMS, voice chat and Facebook Connect.

The move by the pair–which have tested small contact importer integrations before–is a natural one for the social networking giant, which is aiming to be the central communications and messaging platform for its users, across a range of media.

Facebook’s goal, according to sources: To mesh communications and community more tightly together and add more tools to allow users to do so.

Since it was not going to create an Internet telephony service of its own–kind of like not creating a mobile operating system–Facebook has apparently turned to the Web’s Internet telephony leader.

Interestingly, Facebook has previously tested a video chat product.

Skype had 124 million people using it at least once a month and 560 million registered users, which will be bolstered by the 500 million Facebook users who will now be able to use it more seamlessly within Skype.

That will include allowing users to SMS and call Facebook friends from Skype, which will now deploy Facebook Connect.

And also do video chat using Facebook in Skype, which you can see below, in a very odd screenshot sent to me by a source–Walt Mossberg’s code name is not Daniel Matthews and I am not Allison Brown. (Click on the image to make it larger.)

This all will be available in Skype’s newest version, 5.0, which emerges from beta in a few weeks.

This is a big win for the Luxembourg-based Skype, which is currently readying a public offering.

While it now dominates the online calling space, it needs to be present where users are now moving, such as Facebook.

And for Facebook, this is also helpful to its international push, making it more appealing globally since Skype is much more popular outside the U.S.

It will be interesting to see if both cross-integrate into their popular mobile apps too.

Facebook has been doing a lot of integrations with other communications services, such as a massive upcoming one with Yahoo (YHOO) and also one with Microsoft (MSFT).

Skype is also increasing its partnerships. Today, for example, it will announce a deal with Avaya, which makes office phones and related software aimed at businesses.

The pair called it a “strategic unified communications and collaboration partnership,” and is centered on business and personal videoconferencing.

"

A Selection of Art Blogs

There is a useful list of Art Blogs under an index maintained at:
http://theaustralianindex.com/?s=directory&keywords=art

A selection of art blogs is shown below:

http://www.indie.com.au/
http://blogs.unsw.edu.au/daao/
http://www.art-in-tropical-australia.com/tropical-art-blog.html
http://www.printspace.blogspot.com/
http://www.otispepper.blogspot.com/
http://www.art-in-tropical-australia.com/tropical-art-blog.html
http://www.aboriginalartblog.com/
http://blogs.unsw.edu.au/daao/
http://www.cultureofthearts.com/
http://www.todonaiart.com/blog/
http://qldvisualart.blogspot.com/
http://www.pascoepopart.com/blog/blog.htm
http://artylady.blogspot.com/
http://michellewrighton.com/
http://merks-art.blogspot.com/

Wind energy is doubling every three years (roughly), according to the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA)

By Aurelia End (AFP) 

  HUSUM, Germany — The world's leading wind energy trade fair opened on Germany's windswept North Sea coast Tuesday, with close to 1,000 exhibitors from some 70 countries displaying the industry's growth.

The four-day event in Husum in northern Germany, expected to draw 30,000 visitors, had just 743 firms showing off their wares last time it was held two years ago, and the exhibition space has been increased by 40 percent.

The sharp rise reflects the rude good health of the industry, with the amount of electricity produced by wind energy roughly doubling every three years, according to the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA).

Major factors have been new markets such as China and Brazil opening up as countries worldwide seek to slash carbon dioxide emissions produced by conventional sources of power like coal.

But although the sector's prospects are seen as staying healthy medium term, the number of wind turbines installed will decline this year due largely to a slowdown in the United States, according to the German Wind Energy Institute (DEWI).

And long term, in countries such as Germany, which has been one of the most active in developing wind energy with 21,000 turbines already in place, something of a slowdown is inevitable due simply to a lack of space.

Operators are doing what they can by modernising -- "repowering" as it is known in the trade -- and by expanding existing wind parks, but this can also run into opposition from locals who find them an eyesore.

The real answer, experts say, is to place large numbers of wind turbines offshore where they can be powered by sea winds well away from humans, something which is a big talking point among delegates in Husum this year.

But building machines as tall as cathedrals "in depths of 40 metres (130 feet) ... is a big question mark," Lutz Mez, professor at Berlin's Free University, told AFP.

Transmitting the power to where it needs to be is also problematic and environmentalists, while supporting the development of alternative energies, worry about the impact on marine and coastal wildlife.

Nowhere is the dilemma clearer than in Germany, which has ambitious plans for more than 80 offshore wind parks. Only one -- a pilot project -- is up and running.

Husum's host country is also under fire from renewable energy firms because of plans by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to postpone the date when Europe's biggest economy abandons nuclear power.

Merkel wants to extend the lifetime of Germany's 17 nuclear reactors by an average of 12 years beyond a previously scheduled shutdown of around 2020 as a "bridge" until renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar suffice.

"The government's plans are torpedoing the development of renewable energy," said Hermann Albers, head of the German Wind Energy Association (BWE).

Anti-nuclear protesters have vowed further demonstrations in the coming weeks after tens of thousands rallied in Berlin on Saturday, while opposition lawmakers have said they want a referendum on the issue.

Canadian experts tackle cancer’s core

At CHUQ – Hotel-Dieu de Quebec, Dr. Yves Fradet is working on research that could lead to a prostate cancer vaccine.

 On the other side of the country, the University of Victoria’s Dr. Frank van Veggel is researching new diagnostic strategies that use magnetic resonance imaging to detect metastasized prostate cancer cells, and Dr. Cheryl Helgason of the British Columbia Cancer Agency is working on research that could help scientists better understand the role of prostate cancer stem cells in the progression and spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, at the University of Calgary, Dr. Tarek Bismar is researching better predictors for aggressive prostate cancer so that one day — hopefully soon — men who have a less aggressive form of prostate cancer will not have to be subjected to aggressive treatments.

This and other important research like it funded by Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC), which allocates 80% of its mission funds to research, is part of an exciting momentum rising across the country and globally in the fight against prostate cancer.

It represents new hope for the one in six men who will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetimes because up until recently, prostate cancer research and treatments have lagged behind that of other cancers.

In fact, PCC estimates that the diagnostic and treatment options for the disease and level of knowledge are at the same stage today as breast cancer was 40 years ago. But finally, things are changing.

One of the most exciting recent changes to have taken place isn’t found in any one laboratory or research project. Instead, it is found in a new direction PCC embarked on two years ago.

That’s when the country’s leading prostate cancer organization decided to focus on championing prostate cancer research nationally — and internationally — by connecting researchers, patients and organizations to each other to more effectively leverage the collective knowledge and resources.

“A lot of catch-up is required in prostate cancer research, specifically in diagnosis and treatments,” says Susan Langlois, director, research programs, PCC.

“And, the way we see that happening is through national projects and partnering with international groups. What we’re doing now is trying to bring the researchers across the country to work on projects that have the greatest impact on men who are either at risk of prostate cancer or have been affected by prostate cancer.”

Among its many new initiatives to achieve this is the establishment of PCC’s Networks & Partnerships Committee (NPC), which is composed of leading international prostate cancer researchers and funders and which conducts needs assessments, identifies gaps and develops projects for potential partnerships.

It also facilitates the partnerships with other funding agencies to increase the overall pool of funds available to conduct larger prostate cancer research projects.

An example of such a project is the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC ) — a massive global effort to accelerate research into the causes and control of 50 different types of cancers.

PCC is heading the pan-Canadian prostate cancer genome project and has committed to invest up to $15-million over the next five years. Canadian researchers are also collaborating with funders and researchers in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia.

“If they can crack the code to prostate cancer and be able to use that to determine whether somebody has aggressive disease or is at risk of the disease, then a cure might be possible — even prevention. For us, this is the most exciting piece,” Ms. Langlois says.

Prostate Cancer Canada is committed to work in partnership with men affected by prostate cancer, as well as with the research and medical communities, to achieve best possible outcomes in prostate cancer awareness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survival.

“As the only national foundation working with people affected by prostate cancer, we have an important role to play in bringing about improvements in the lives of these people. “ Ms. Langlois says.

“Research aims to benefit current and future generations of men affected by prostate cancer — and those near to them. In order to achieve this goal, PCC is seeking views of men affected by prostate cancer when determining areas for targeted research investment and when selecting projects for funding.”

PCC’s leadership role also includes organizing symposiums and meetings for researchers from across Canada to share their findings and collaborate.

For example, next February the organization will host the PCC Research Symposium, which will bring together the Canadian prostate cancer research and clinical community.

Members of the Prostate Cancer Canada Network (PCCN) will also participate in the meeting. The ability for these groups to work together will enhance the quantity and quality of prostate cancer research in Canada. “One of the primary goals of the February symposium is find ways to make available to Canadian men new and better technologies for diagnosing and treating prostate cancer,” she says.

“It is PCC’s hope that by directing research, rapid changes in medical practice will be introduced that will improve the quality of life of men affected by the disease and their families.”

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/life/prostate/Canadian+experts+tackle+cancer+core/3551214/story.html#ixzz10DfJZb6M

Your Preschooler’s Developing Personality: 6 Tips for Parents

As your preschooler grows and learns, his or her personality continues to develop and show itself in new ways. Learn how to encourage your child be himself or herself while still introducing new things.

What to expect in personality development from age 3-5.

By Wendy C. Fries
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

You probably noticed your preschooler's unique personality peeking out those first few months of life, when your little one reached eagerly for a rattle or pushed away a teddy bear. Between the ages of 3-5, your child's personality is still growing and changing.

What sorts of changes can you expect in during the preschool years? How can you help your preschooler's personality blossom? Here's expert advice.

How Your Preschooler's Personality Is Changing

From age 3-5, kids' personalities develop all kinds of new features. For example, they're becoming more comfortable with expressing themselves with words, says Kirby Deater-Deckard, PhD, psychology professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and author of Parenting Stress.

During those years, preschoolers gain more self-control, too. They will rely less on you and others, and more on themselves. They're learning how to calm themselves when they get excited, frightened, or upset, and they're becoming more attentive and less emotionally reactive.

Preschoolers are also building their self-confidence. And they're "gaining lots of experience in learning how to treat others," Deater-Deckard says.

By age 5, kids typically start showing more concern for mom and dad, at last starting to understand that you have your own needs and feelings, too. They'll also begin to show affection more easily, develop a fantasy life, and may see-saw between being demanding and cooperative.

6 Ways to Help Your Child's Personality Develop

While your child's personality will blossom naturally on its own, there's a lot you can do to help it fully and freely develop -- and a few things you should avoid.

1. Remember that your child is unique. "Children differ in remarkable ways from each other in their budding personalities," Deater-Deckard tells WebMD. That includes siblings. Ultimately, "healthy personality development is fostered by parenting that is sensitive and responsive to the individual strengths and needs of the child."

2. Encourage play. It's a huge influence on a child's development. Giving kids time to play is key to helping your child's personality blossom, says pediatrician Tanya R. Altmann, MD, author of Mommy Calls: Dr. Tanya Answers Parents' Top 101 Questions About Babies and Toddlers.

Play helps kids develop physically, mentally, and emotionally. It teaches them to work in groups, settle conflicts, develop their imagination, and try on different roles. When kids play, they practice decision-making, learn to stand up for themselves, create, explore, and lead.

3. Avoid labels. You want your child's personality to develop on its own, without being shaped by yours (or anyone else's) views. So avoid labeling your preschooler with words like shy, bossy, emotional, or tough.

4. Set an example. You're probably the person your preschooler sees and imitates the most. So it's up to you to model politeness, sharing, and patience.

5. Realize it's nature and nurture. Don't chalk up your child's personality to just their nature or how you nurture them: Both matter, says Deater-Deckard, and work "together to create the diversity of children’s (and adults!) personalities."

6. Let your child be himself or herself, not an image of you. Maybe you're very outgoing, focused, quiet, or shy. You may want your child to be like that, too. But it's much more important that they be themselves, and make friends and meet the world in their own way.

There are many more ways to help your child's personality grow.

Reading to your preschooler can be an important key, Altmann tells WebMD. She also favors limiting television time.

Other experts recommend supporting your preschooler's interests and broadening their experiences. How you help your child's personality develop just may turn out to be as unique as your child.

Should You Try to Change Your Preschooler's Personality?

You can let preschooler be themselves and still encourage them to try things that don't exactly fit their emerging personalities.

"People change," says Deater-Deckard, and the parts of us that make up our personality do "have some flexibility."

Deater-Deckard suggests that instead of trying to change your child's personality, focus on giving the child experiences "that may support growth in new directions."

Those experiences could include the way you parent, your home, and your preschooler’s social experiences with other kids and adults.

"I encourage parents to enjoy and even relish each child’s individual qualities and strengths," Deater-Deckard says, "while trying to figure out how to respond to that same child’s more challenging or difficult behaviors."

Personality: We Start to Become Who We Are Early

By the preschool years, the major parts of personality are already pretty stable. But they're not rigid. People can change at any age, Deater-Deckard notes.

Focus on the aspects of your preschooler's life that you influence and, as Deater-Deckard says, "strive to create a loving and supportive environment, rather than striving to make the child become like a particular kind of person."

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