Tea for two ... or more

World Tea Expo, the most prominent annual event for the tea industry, is gearing up to showcase the very best teas and tea-related products from the global marketplace, including the winners of the 2013 Best New Product Awards. The conference and trade show, co-located with Healthy Beverage Expo, takes place June 7 – 9 in Las Vegas, Nev. at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The 2013 World Tea Expo Best New Product Award winners include:

TeaPops
By DeeBee's Organic Frozen Treats
Tea as an Ingredient Winner
DeeBee's Organic Frozen Treats' TeaPops are the world's first tea-based popsicles. The frozen "pops" are available in green, white and black teas, as well as rooibos. Flavors include Cherry Berry, Classic Iced Tea, Mango Tango, Mint-A-Licious and Tea-Na Colada. Visit www.deebeesorganics.com.

TEAS' TEA Lattes
By ITO EN
Open Class Winner
The new guilt-free TEAS' TEA Lattes from ITO EN are a healthier version of traditionally rich lattes. Authentically brewed with premium, whole loose-leaf tea leaves and nonfat milk, each bottle – in Black Tea Latte and Matcha Latte – is only 80 calories per serving with zero fat grams. Visit www.itoen.com.

Save energy this summer

With the Midwest in the grip of a summer heat wave for the next several days, FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is offering tips to help customers save energy and money while keeping their cool.

• Close air conditioning registers in unused rooms and keep the doors to those rooms closed.  This will reduce the amount of energy your air conditioner will use to maintain your home's temperature.
• Don't position heat-producing appliances near wall-mounted thermostats.  Doing so will make your air conditioner run longer than necessary to maintain your preferred temperature.
• Consider setting air conditioners a few degrees warmer on hot days.  Every degree you add to your interior temperature in the summer can reduce your energy usage by up to 3 percent.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).  CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and they produce less heat.  
• Now is a great time for an HVAC tune-up.  Your FirstEnergy utility may offer rebates on HVAC tune-ups or discounts on the purchase of new, energy efficient HVAC units.  To see if you qualify, visit www.energysaveOhio.com or www.energysavePA.com.  
• Close drapes or blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight.  Blocking the sun's rays reduces the temperature in your home, which means your air conditioner has less work to do.
• Consider joining the Easy Cool Rewards Program to manage your air conditioning when you're not home.  You'll receive $60 and a Honeywell programmable thermostat (a $250 value).  For details, please visit www.energysaveOhio.com or www.energysavePA.com.  
• If your home has an attached garage, keep your garage door closed during the hottest hours of the day.  This can reduce the amount of cool air that might escape, resulting in less work for your air conditioner.
• Locate window air conditioning units where they will be in the shade during the hottest hours of the day.  Keeping the sun off your window air conditioner will reduce its workload and increase your energy efficiency.
• Cook with the microwave instead of the oven.  Traditional ovens require far more energy than microwaves, and they produce substantial heat inside your home, making your air conditioner run longer.
• Run kitchen and bath exhaust fans only as long as necessary to remove odors or steam from the room.  Leaving a fan running will pull cool air from your home, increasing its temperature.
• If you have a second refrigerator or a freezer that's running but not being used, consider having it recycled.  You'll get a cash rebate of $35 to $50 and save up to $150 every year in energy costs.  

To learn more about energy efficiency and to read about rebate programs you may be eligible for, please visit www.energysaveOhio.com or www.energysavePA.com.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its ten electric distribution companies comprise the nation's largest investor-owned electric system.  Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed baseload coal, natural gas, and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of approximately 24,000 megawatts.

California Supreme Court upholds bag ban

 The California Supreme Court today issued a ruling that impacts not only plastic bag bans throughout the state but has far-reaching ramifications for the circumstances under which public agencies must prepare environmental impact reports under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA").  The court ruled in favor of the City of Manhattan Beach, paving the way for the city's ban on plastic bags to go into effect.  Downey Brand partner Christian Marshargued the case before the Supreme Court on behalf of the appellant, Manhattan Beach.  He was joined in the argument by James Moose of Remy Thomas Moose & Manley for amici curiae Californians Against Waste.  "We were confident the city had a right to impose the bag ban, and this ruling gives cities acrossCalifornia some real clarity," Marsh said.  

An industry coalition of plastic bag manufacturers and distributors known as the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition sued Manhattan Beach for its citywide ban on plastic bags, arguing that the environmental impacts associated with increased paper bag use would outweigh any environmental benefits of the ban.  The city, among many in California with similar ordinances, imposed the ban to limit the number of plastic bags making their way into the ocean and marine environment.  The case raised two important issues that have been facing fiscally-strapped cities and counties across the state: (1) whether the coalition, which had a commercial interest in overturning the ban, qualified for "public interest" standing under CEQA, and (2) what is the legal threshold under CEQA for when a project or ordinance necessitates preparing an environmental impact report, known as an EIR.  In its ruling, the court sided with the city on the CEQA threshold, but ruled against the city on the coalition's standing to sue.

Get a free Lemon Ice at Fazoli's

Rome is not only the capital of Italy, it's the largest city in Floyd County Georgia, a place in New York where a major Revolutionary War battle took place, and a small town in South Carolina near Myrtle Beach. In fact, Rome is the name of more than 8 cities located throughout the United States.  And there are numerous other places in America named after Italian cities and towns.  Name just one of them and you will receive a free Italian Lemon Ice from Fazoli's in flavors of the old country.

From July 18 through July 22, stop by any participating Fazoli's restaurant and provide the name of an American city with an Italian name, and you will receive a free Italian Lemon Ice.  This includes two new flavors, Pomegranate Passion Fruit and Orange Italian Cream.  The Lemon Ice giveaway is all part of Fazoli's Tour of Taste promotion, where the flavors of Rome, Tuscany, Campania, Naples and Sicily are being featured through five new entrees.  There is also a chance to win a trip for two to Italy and other great prizes included in Fazoli's Tour of Taste Sweepstakes, which can be entered by visiting participating restaurant locations.  Sweepstakes ends July 31, 2011.

Cathy Hull, chief marketing officer for Fazoli's, believes most people can identify at least one American city with an Italian name.   "Just off the top of my head Florence, Naples and Venice come to mind, but there are so many more cities in the United States with Italian names," said Hull.  "What's interesting is that each region of Italy brought different flavors to America as well.  We are highlighting these flavors with our Tour of Taste entrees, and you don't have to live in Rome to enjoy them."

An American family favorite for more than 20 years, Fazoli's is a leading QSR with an all new menu featuring freshly prepared Italian entrees, Submarinos® sandwiches and salads and a contemporary new restaurant design.  Founded in Lexington, Ky. in 1989, Sun Capital Partners acquired Fazoli's in 2006.

On upcoming lead level changes

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted (3-2) that there was insufficient evidence to make a determination that manufacturers of children's products sold in the United States could not meet a total lead content limit of 100 parts per million (ppm) for a product or product category. The new total lead content limit, which is called for in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), goes into effect on August 14, 2011 for manufacturers, importers, retailers and distributors of children's products.

Through the CPSIA, Congress set tough new levels for lead content in products designed or primarily intended for children 12 and younger.  Lead is a heavy metal that is toxic for children, and associated with lowered levels of learning, impaired hearing, brain damage and, at high levels, can be fatal.

Congress directed CPSC to phase in the reduced levels for lead content over a three year period, starting with 600 ppm on February 10, 2009. The level dropped to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009. Finally, Congress directed the total lead content limit be set at 100 ppm, unless the Commission determined it was not technologically feasible for a product or product category.

Always ask your health care professional

Growth hormone known by some as hgh is naturally produced in the human body, the side effects of using hgh are rare but have been known to happen. Normally they occur when someone has taken higher-than-recommended doses of hgh for more than the normal recommended time period. Problems can also be caused when using any product, including a hgh releaser when consumers to not check with a health care professional prior to taking supplements. Consumers should examine their reasoning for wanting to take a product, at times there are other options.

Cheese Seizure because of rodents ...

The United States Attorney's Office, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, filed a verified complaint on May 13, 2011, requesting that the U.S. Marshals seize cheese products distributed by Brunkow Cheese of Wisconsin Inc., after FDA inspections found evidence of rodent infestation.  The U.S. District Court unsealed the case today, and documents show that the U.S. Marshals seized certain cheese products at the facility on May 17, and May 18, 2011.

Brunkow Cheese, based in Darlington, Wis., manufactures, packs, labels, and distributes cheese products. The products, according to the verified complaint filed, are adulterated within the scope of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). 

The verified complaint alleges that in February 2011, FDA conducted a comprehensive inspection of the company that revealed evidence of rodent activity. A follow-up inspection in late April 2011, found that the company had taken corrective action to remedy many of the February violations, but had not resolved the rodent contamination problem.

The FFDCA governs the safety and accurate labeling of $1 trillion worth of products annually, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, blood and tissue products, and the nation's entire food supply except for meat and poultry.

FDA: Do Not Feed SimplyThick to Premature Infants

The FDA is advising parents, caregivers and health care providers not to feed SimplyThick, a thickening product, to premature infants. The product may cause necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life-threatening condition.

FDA first learned of adverse events possibly linked to the product on May 13, 2011. To date, the agency is aware of 15 cases of NEC, including two deaths, involving premature infants who were fed SimplyThick for varying amounts of time. The product was mixed with mothers' breast milk or infant formula products.

Illnesses have been reported from at least four different medical centers around the country. The illnesses of which FDA is aware involve premature infants who became sick over the past six months. SimplyThick was added to the feeding regimen of those infants, who later developed NEC, to help with swallowing difficulties stemming from complications of premature birth.  

The current situation is unusual because NEC most often occurs in babies within the hospital early in their premature course. But among the ill babies of which FDA is aware, some had been discharged from the hospital to home on a feeding regimen that included SimplyThick and then fell ill at home.

Grape tomatoes recalled

Six L's of Immokalee, Fla. is voluntarily recalling a single lot of grape tomatoes, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. The strain of Salmonella has not been determined and no illnesses have been reported.

The specific lot was packed on April 11 and was comprised of grape tomatoes that can be identified byCherry Berry lot code DW-H in either in clam shells or 20 lbs. cardboard containers. The product was distributed to North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Georgia and Canada, and reached consumers through retail stores and restaurant distribution.

The contamination was detected through a random sample obtained by the USDA at a distributor in New York. The product is from a farm in Estero, Fla. which has since ceased production of that commodity.  

The recall does not include any other tomatoes or produce distributed by Six L's. Consumers who have purchased the specific lot of grape tomatoes mentioned above are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Six L's at 877-606-1821, ext. 3955, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Consumer Confidence Index® Increases Slightly

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® , which had decreased in March, improved in April. The Index now stands at 65.4 (1985=100), up from 63.8 in March. The Present Situation Index increased to 39.6 from 37.5. The Expectations Index rose to 82.6 from 81.3.

The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey® , based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by The Nielsen Company, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for April's preliminary results was April 14, 2011.

Says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center: "Consumer confidence, which had declined sharply in March, posted a modest gain in April. Consumers' short-term outlook improved slightly, suggesting that the uncertainty expressed last month is easing. Inflation expectations, which had spiked, retreated somewhat in April. Although confidence remains weak, consumers' assessment of current conditions gained ground for the seventh straight month, a sign that the economic recovery continues."

Compare the ink costs

One thing many consumers don't do when considering buying a new printer is look at the long term costs associated with the purchase. They often buy based on the lowest price of the printer, which may end up costing them much more in the long run. Whether it's brother printers or any other brand, compare the price of the printers you are looking at with the cost of the replacement ink cartridges. There can be a huge variation in the price, that less expensive printer as far as initial cost, may cost you more than it's price in ink. Considering almost every place that sells printers, either online or in a store, also carries ink? It's simple to compare ...

Precious metals lure investors

Many investors prefer to have their money backed by precious metals instead of paper dollars. This has led to an increase in marketing offers for gold IRA that are being sought after in addition to 401k gold accounts that are not backed by paper dollars, giving those who do not have faith in the current currency system more security.

The premise is that should the economy falter, those who hold precious metals will maintain a higher degree of investment worth than those backed by US or other currency. This has extended to beyond purchasing precious metals into offerings of gold 401k accounts that use the same system as IRA gold accounts.

For those who have traditional currency backed IRAs there ways to transfer this to a precious metal based investment. Many brokers offer a gold IRA transfer so that you are able to take advantage of this type of an investment without having to start over. Gold has been the basis of an investment system for centuries, which is why many prefer to rely on gold or other precious metals as a part of their investment strategy.

Blurry bifocal adventures

I've had to wear prescription glasses since I was in the sixth grade. This past year I was told that I needed to get bifocals. For me it was a nightmare of an adventure since my life entails computer screens and printed content as well as wanting to be able to see things clearly from a distance.

It took several trips to the place I purchased my glasses from, with things still not right with the no-line bifocals I selected. My advice? Make sure you clearly understand the return policy of where you purchase glasses some. I learned the hard way ...

Five Possible Income Tax Filing Problem Areas

 Maybe you're just a procrastinator by nature or it's been a rough year with too many life issues getting in the way of doing your tax season homework. So now, even with three extra days this year, you haven't filed your taxes yet, and the April 18 deadline is fast approaching.

Because you're in a last minute rush, it's even more important to take the time to check and double-check your work. According to the Illinois CPA Society, you should watch these five areas for errors that could cause you problems later:  

Cancer drug approved for Phase 3 trials

Polaris Group recently announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for a Phase 3 clinical trial of pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) directed towards patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have not responded to other treatments.

During the Phase 2 clinical trials it was found that other cancers have been reported to have responded. Early-to-mid-stage clinical showed positive results in patients with metastatic melanoma, and Phase 2 trials for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and mesothelioma are continuing.

There are quite a few resources on the Internet to learn more about mesothelioma symptoms as well as other new cancer treatments on the horizon.

Citizen group demanding action after third Southwest incident

Yesterday, on the heels of the FAA secretly mandating removal of oxygen generators from airline lavatories, both American Airlines flight 547 and Southwest Airlines flight 812 decompressed. On BOTH flights, the oxygen masks deployed and people passed out due to an apparent lack of oxygen. The FAA justified that risk by saying that decompressions rarely happen.

"The FAA has long asserted that the airlines can self-regulate in the area of safety inspections, but clearly the airlines cannot be trusted. It's the fox guarding the hen house and it's got to stop," Kate Hanni said. "The airlines are motivated only by their bottom line, cost cutting, and razor thin margins; that doesn't leave a lot of room for 'in cabin safety' issues or tap testing the fuselage for cracks. The FAA must step in and impose fines that are meaningful and inspections that actually work to determine life or death safety issues both inside and outside the aircraft."

Traffic fatalities continues to drop

Despite Americans driving nearly 21 billion more miles last year, U.S. highway traffic fatalities dropped 3 percent from 2009 to the lowest levels in recorded history.  The fatality rate also dropped, to 1.09 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

"The hard numbers show that auto travel today is safer than ever before – not because of an economic slump, but because automakers have worked with other stakeholders to bring innovation to autos," said Alliance Interim President and CEO John Whatley.  "Still, we have to remember that these aren't just numbers, these are lives, so automakers are continuing to advance technologies that will make the biggest impact on the traveling public."

Alliance members have enhanced safety — and led regulations — through the introduction of many safety technologies, including anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, side airbags for head and chest protection, side curtain airbags, radar use for collision avoidance, and more.  These technologies, combined with a comprehensive approach that includes promoting strong traffic safety laws coupled with high-visibility enforcement and consumer education were fundamental factors in bringing safety statistics to their historic levels.

Fun with fake news

When you see the words, "advertorial" it means it's an ad - not a news story. However, some places go pretty far in making their ads seem like "breaking news" -- Great example of a company that's trying to fake you out is - here.

Should you buy from a company that's being that blatantly misleading? That's what you need to decide ...

Season of the witch

Personally I think the one of the best acne products out there is one that has been around for a very long time. Witch hazel -- it's something my great-grandmother used and told me about before was a teenager. It's something that I've used for almost 40 years and most people don't believe I'm almost over 50. My daughters try a variety of new products, but one by one they go back to the old-fashioned method. For those of you looking for something a bit more chemical in nature, look for shipping discounts, free shipping and read the fine print when it comes to sites that guarantee results.

Opera and Internet safety

Despite lingering concerns about the U.S. economic recovery, Americans worry more about having their online privacy violated (25%) than declaring bankruptcy (23%) or losing their job (22%). Coinciding with Data Privacy Day today, new survey research by Opera Software in the United States, Japan and Russia examines what people worry about online.

Internet fraud as a result of online privacy violations was among the top four concerns in all three countries, recorded between 22 and 29 percent of respondents. Distress over being hurt in a traffic accident topped the lists in Japan (35%) and United States (27%), while relationship problems kept 40% of Russian respondents awake at night. Relationship drama and pandemics like swine flu tied for second place in Japan's worries (34%).

The online survey, administered by market research company YouGov, aimed to uncover what concerns people have for their online safety and privacy. A thousand or more people in each of the United States,Japan and Russia completed the survey between January 19 and January 24. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults aged 18 or more in the three countries.