Wichita police crack down on head shops

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) -- Wichita police cracking down tonight on shops that sell illegal drug paraphernalia.

Gage Conway and Talya Stegeman stood in line for more than two hours at the store 42 Below in hopes of getting glass supplies for smoking.

"If you smoke tobacco out of this for awhile, it turns blue," said Conway as he shows off the glass pipe he just bought. "It's artwork."

Conway says he smokes tobacco out of the glass pipe, but law enforcement calls this and other glass products drug paraphernalia. Wichita police are handing out fliers to head shops and gas stations around town reminding them bongs, pipes disguised as pens, incense or key chains are all illegal.

'I don't understand why," said customer Jesse Watson. "They're going to have the paraphernalia whether they drive 300 miles or not."

Customers say they've heard the police are giving stores just a few days to get rid of the illegal items or they'll be shut down.

Police tell me they won't be shutting down these stores, but they will be confiscating these items and citing the owners.

Resource :  http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Wichita-police-crack-down-on-head-shops-373441651.html

Mid-Day stock watch on March 30

Hours since the markets opened today, after a careful observation of stock movements and analysis, we find these below mentioned five stocks worth watching during the rest half of the day.

a) Healthcare Global Enterprises: Healthcare Global Enterprises made a debut in the markets at a price lower than the issue price. The stock listed at Rs 210.20 on bourses; while it had an issue price of Rs 218. The share price dropped 19.52 per cent in early trade and touched the day's low at Rs 175.45.

b) Nitco Tiles: The government has imposed anti-dumping duty on vitrified tiles for six months. The duty is USD 1.37 per square meter on all vitrified tiles from China. The companies such as Nitco Tiles, Cera Sanityware and Kajaria Ceramics will be in focus.

c) Tata Steel: Tata Steel is considering the sale of its entire UK business in order to curtail heavy losses. The company is going to move forward the decade long unsuccessful business in UK. The stock will be in focus throughout the rest of the day.

d) Gail (India): Gail India started drilling the first exploratory well as an operator, in its NELP-IX block in Cambay basin at Anand district, Gujarat. The company is a lead operator of the block with 25 per cent participating interest in it. The share price will be in the limelight for the day.

e) State Bank of India: Vijay Mallya has submitted a Rs 4000 crore repayment plan, to be concluded by September 2016. The major lender State Bank of India has debt exposure of about Rs 2000 crore towards Kingfisher Airlines owned by Vijay Mallya. The bank will be in focus for the rest of the trading session.

Resource : http://www.dsij.in/article-details/articleid/13844/mid-day-stock-watch-on-march-30.aspx

Better times ahead for Kajaria, Somany

Lower gas prices and capacity additions will aid growth for both firms, though upside potential seems higher for the latter

Tile makers Kajaria Ceramics and Somany Ceramics have gained market share in recent years on the back of higher than industry volume growth. Capacity expansions and higher investment in brand-building are key factors.

Lower natural gas prices have aided operating margins, as this is a key raw material used by these companies. In fact, the ongoing renegotiations with Qatar-based RasGas on sourcing agreements and gas pricing are crucial for India, as it can lead to higher supplies at significantly lower prices. Likely imposition of anti-dumping duties on tiles imported from China will also allow these companies to take price increases (offsetting potential cost pressures) and aid their volumes, as Chinese imports impact eight to nine per cent of industry volumes in coastal regions such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Kochi, among others. This and implementation of a national goods and services tax (GST) will be key catalysts for these companies.

Kajaria and Somany plan to increase capacities of their facilities and joint ventures over the next two years, as they try to capture a larger part of the unorganised tiles market, nearly half the domestic industry. In this backdrop, analysts expect Kajaria and Somany's revenues and earnings to grow at a compounded annual rate (CAGR) of 20-25 per cent over the next two years.

While the Street remains positive on both stocks, Kajaria appears fairly valued from a short-term perspective. On the other hand, a recent qualified institutional placement (QIP) by Somany will enable it to reduce its net debt to equity ratio to 0.4, from 0.6 in FY15. The share price of Somany, third largest entity in the tiles market, trades at a discount to that of the industry leader Kajaria but this could narrow a little.

"We believe the discount between Somany and Kajaria's one-year forward price to earning (PE) will narrow down to 17 per cent, to align with the historical average, driven by strong earnings growth and an improvement in balance sheet of the former," says Deepak Purswani, analyst at ICICI Direct. At current levels, this discount has widened to about 35 per cent. Kajaria trades at 27 times its FY17 consensus earnings estimates, this ratio stands at about 18 for Somany. Analysts on an average expect Somany's share price to rise about 16 per cent from current levels, which in the case of Kajaria is pegged at three per cent. Thus, investors could consider Kajaria on corrections from a one to two year perspective.

Resource : http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/better-times-ahead-for-kajaria-somany-115122700691_1.html

11 Affordable Glass Bong Brands for 2016

Last year was phenomenal for the glass-bong industry and the legalization movement, and consequently for smokers throughout the country. As 2016 unfolds, it’s time to look forward as reputable glass brands continue to innovate while expanding their inventories.

The companies featured in this article understand what many consumers want: highly functional and creative glass bongs, dab rigs, bubblers and pipes at affordable prices. Having a budget no longer means settling when it comes to obtaining quality glass.

This article is sponsored by DankStop, an online headshop and retailer comprised of glass enthusiasts who are devoted to getting you the best deals possible on all of your smoking supplies.

Resource :  http://www.celebstoner.com/reviews/products/2016/03/16/affordable-glass-bong-brands-for-2016/

E-shopping to rise 78% this year: Report

Pune: Attractive deals and aggressive marketing would increase average online purchases in India by 78% in 2016 from 66% in 2015, according to a recent report.

The report, released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce (Assocham) on the basis of a study it undertook in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), says that about 55 million consumers logged in to buy things in 2015, and the number is expected to grow to 80 million. Better infrastructure in terms of logistics, broadband and Internet-ready devices would help, the report adds.

The overall e-commerce industry, valued at $25 billion, has been growing at a compounded annual growth rate of about 35 - 40% each year, the study said, adding that it is expected to cross the $100 billion mark in five years.

In 2015, a higher amount was being spent on average for popular online categories such as bags by 110%, apparel (68%) and cosmetics (25%). There was also a significant increase in spending on categories such as watches by 126% and artificial jewellery by 65%, the report said. "Smartphone and tablet shoppers would be strong growth drivers. Mobile phones already account for 11% of e-commerce sales; this share would jump to 25% by 2017," the report said.

Commenting on the findings,

D S Rawat, secretary general of Assocham, said, "E-commerce is big business and is getting bigger every day. Online shopping has been embraced by Indianswith close to 8-10 million adults making a purchase via the internet in the last year".

Computer and consumer electronics, along with apparel and accessories, account for the bulk of India's retail e-commerce sales. These would contribute 40% of the total retail e-commerce sales in 2016, a rise from the current 35%, the study said.

India's travel and tourism industry is the second fastest growing travel industry in the world. Nearly 75% of all travel-related businesses have migrated to e-commerce. With nearly one-third Internet users already making purchases online, the e-commerce growth would rely more on increased spending from existing buyers than first-time online buyers, it said.

Other factors contributing to the growth of e-commerce include aggressive merchandising and discounts from flash sales and daily deals, more online loyalty programmes and increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets among consumers, the study added.
growth in the last year, the paper added.

Even with efficiency improvements in individual performance and productivity (IPPs) in the delivery networks, it is estimated that there would be an additional employment of close to 1,00,000 people in these two functions alone by 2017-2020, representing an increase in employment, the report said.


Online purchase of event tickets, music, consumer electronics, games and consoles, sports equipment, flowers, insurance, home appliances and furniture saw a strong 

Resource : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/E-shopping-to-rise-78-this-year-Report/articleshow/51503625.cms

What your toilet paper says about you

This week let’s do a bit of – ahem – roll play. How do you prefer to hang your toilet roll? Do you like the loose end to be far away from the wall (the over style) or next to the wall (the under style)?

Now let’s see what Dr Gilda Carle (“relationship expert to the stars”) has to say about your choice.

If you roll over… You like taking charge, crave organisation and are likely to overachieve.

If you roll under… You’re laid-back, dependable and seek relationships with strong foundations.

If you don’t care, as long as it’s there… You aim to minimise conflict, value flexibility and like putting yourself in new situations.

But could your choice tell us something about your earning power? One US survey found that 73% of people who earn under $20,000 roll under, while 60% of those who earn over $50,000 roll over. These surveys do not quite meet the standards required for a scientific psychology study – but if this column is your favourite bathroom reading it will give you something to ponder.

For a fully referenced version of this article, go to benambridge.com. Fancy some more quizzes? Order Psy-Q by Ben Ambridge (Profile Books, £8.99) or £6.99 from the bookshop.theguardian.com


Resource :  http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/dec/27/what-your-toilet-paper-says-about-you-quiz

Crews start replacing troublesome lead water pipes in Flint

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Crews in Flint are starting to dig up old lead pipes connecting water mains to homes as part of efforts to allay the city’s contaminated water crisis.

Mayor Karen Weaver says work starting Friday will target lead service lines at homes in neighborhoods with the highest number of children under 6 years old, senior citizens, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and homes where water tests indicate high levels of lead at the tap.

On Thursday, a crew dug up a service line leading to a Flint home as part of a separate effort funded by group of private, charitable, business and community groups.

Also Friday, Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan is set to lead a delegation of 25 members of congress to hear from Flint residents.

Resource : http://woodtv.com/2016/03/04/crews-start-replacing-troublesome-lead-water-pipes-in-flint/

Spring Arts and Crafts Show

he show is billed as one of Iowa's largest shows, with over 200 exhibitors presenting and selling thousands of unique, handmade products.  Among the various products being sold at the show are oak and wine barrel furniture, paintings and prints, ceramics, kids tee pees, wall hangings, toys, blankets, jewelry, metal art sculptures, pet products, etched and stained glass, yard and garden art, pottery, candles, clothing, quilts, aprons, pillows, doll clothes, baskets, rugs, place mats, table runners, purses, floral arrangements and wreaths, wood and metal signs, soap and lotions, emu oils and many more original products.

Exhibitors will also be selling homemade breads, coffee cakes, dips, salsa, soups, jams, jellies, cheese and sausage, wines, fudge, honey, food mixes and roasted nuts.

All items offered for sale to the public are handmade by the exhibitor at the show.

Admission is $5 and children 10 and younger are free. Parking is free throughout the show.

Resource :http://www.omaha.com/calendar/community_events/spring-arts-and-crafts-show/event_2a1fcada-de6e-11e5-9dfa-3c4a92e18942.html

Candy-flavoured e-cigarette ads can influence school kids

Advertisements featuring electronic cigarettes with flavours such as chocolate and bubble gum are more likely to attract school children to buy and try e-cigarettes than those featuring non-flavoured e-cigarettes, new research has found.

E-cigarettes are now the most commonly consumed nicotine product amongst children in countries with strong tobacco control policies, the study pointed out.

As e-cigarette use, rises amongst children and adolescents, there are concerns that their use could lead to tobacco smoking, said the researchers from University of Cambridge.

In the study published in the journal BMJ Tobacco Control, researchers assigned 598 school children to one of three groups -- one group was shown adverts for candy-like flavoured e-cigarettes; a second group adverts for non-flavoured e-cigarettes; and a third, control group, in which the children saw no adverts.

The school children were then asked questions to gauge issues such as the appeal of using e-cigarettes and tobacco smoking, the perceived harm of smoking, how much they liked the ads and how interested they might be in buying and trying e-cigarettes.


The children shown the ads for candy-flavoured e-cigarettes liked these ads more and expressed a greater interest in buying and trying e-cigarettes than their peers.


However, showing the ads made no significant difference to the overall appeal of tobacco smoking or of using e-cigarettes - in other words, how attractive, fun or cool they considered the activities.


"We're cautiously optimistic from our results that e-cigarette ads don't make tobacco smoking more attractive, but we're concerned that ads for e-cigarettes with flavours that might appeal to school children could encourage them to try the products," said one of the researchers Milica Vasiljevic from University of Cambridge

Resource : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/parenting/Candy-flavoured-e-cigarette-ads-can-influence-school-kids/articleshow/50636852.cms

Alert: Know how online e-cigarette vendors lure customers

The use of e-cigarette has tripled among middle and high school students from 2013 to 2014, according to data from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Now, a new study has found that it is partly due to aggressive online marketing by e-cigarette vendors.

The study by University of California-San Diego researchers described marketing tactics that make purchasing e-cigarettes easy for all ages.

"We found e-cigarette vendors were highly engaged in promoting the culture of 'vaping' online, including posting images to Instagram, a social media site used by 52 percent of teens," said study's first author Tim K. Mackey.

Also Read: E-hookahs versus the real thing

"Despite the fact that 47 states prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, the results highlight the potential of the internet to encourage e-cigarette initiation and underage purchasing," he added.

E-cigarettes are tobacco-less, battery-operated devices that spritz vapour into the mouth with flavours like bubble gum and peach fuzz.

Users of these devices, known colloquially as vapers, exhale a mixture of volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and ultrafine particles that usually contain aerosolised nicotine in a cloud of vapour.

Researchers found that although some of e-cigarette vendors did display health warnings about the devices on their website, but the notices were often depicted in smaller fonts or placed discretely in the terms and conditions section of a website.

Also Read: E-cigarettes a safer choice? Think again

One third of the vendors had no detectable age verification process for buyers and of those that did, most required only a simple click to say the buyer was within the legal age limit.

"The study found that online e-cigarette vendors use a variety of sophisticated and aggressive marketing practices, including promotional offers and high social media engagement to promote the sale of their products," Mackey said.

The findings were published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Resource :http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/know-how-online-e-cigarette-vendors-lure-customers/1/489802.html

Smoking e-cigarettes can directly kill your lung cells

A team of US researchers has found that e-cigarettes are toxic and can directly attack lung cells, weakening the immune system and boosting bacterial virulence.

“The study shows that e-cigarette vapour is not benign — at high doses it can directly kill lung cells which is frightening,” said senior author Laura E. Crotty Alexander, staff physician at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and assistant clinical professor at University of California’s (UC) San Diego School of Medicine.

(Also read: Flavoured e-cigarettes can damage lungs, says Harvard study)

“We already knew that inhaling heated chemicals, including the e-liquid ingredients nicotine and propylene glycol, could not possibly be good for you. This work confirms that inhalation of e-cigarette vapour daily leads to changes in the inflammatory milieu inside the airways,” Alexander added in a paper published in the Journal of Molecular Medicine.

Alexander’s team saw their findings hold up in mice. Inflammatory markers — signs of full-body inflammation — in the airways and blood of mice that inhaled e-cigarette vapours for one hour a day, five days a week, for four weeks were elevated by 10 percent compared to unexposed mice.

(Also read: E-cigarettes not healthy alternative to smoking)

“Some of the changes we have found in mice are also found in the airways and blood of conventional cigarette smokers, while others are found in humans with cancer or inflammatory lung diseases,” Alexander noted.

Conversely, the study also showed that bacterial pathogens exposed to e-cigarette vapour benefited.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which are responsible for nitrate reduction in the body, were better able to form biofilms, adhere to and invade airway cells and resist human anti-microbial peptides after exposure to e-cigarette vapour.
Resource :  http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/smoking-e-cigarettes-can-directly-kill-your-lung-cells/

MPs to seek smaller health warnings on cigarette packs: report

Tobacco use is linked to 900,000 deaths every year in India, and the govt had ordered manufacturers to print health warnings covering 85% of the surface of a cigarette pack, up from 20% now. Photo: Reuters

New Delhi: A panel of lawmakers will call for smaller health warnings on cigarette packs, saying the government’s requirement of 85% of surface area is too harsh on the tobacco industry, sources who have seen the panel’s draft report said.

The decision is the latest twist in a tussle between the health ministry, which wants to step up an anti-smoking campaign, in line with the rest of the world, and members of parliament who fear lower sales will hurt tobacco farmers.

Tobacco use is linked to 900,000 deaths every year in India, and the government had ordered manufacturers to print health warnings covering 85% of the surface of a cigarette pack, up from 20% now.

But the parliamentary committee has suggested in its report that the warnings be limited to half the packs’ surface area, as a move to protect tobacco farmers’ interests, while promoting health.

The panel feels “a balanced approach” would be to keep the warning size at 50%, according to two sources who have seen the report, but asked not to be identified because the draft is not public.

Panel chairman Dilip Gandhi declined to comment.

However, the government was unlikely to change its plan of implementing the stringent rules on cigarette packs from April, said a health ministry official who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The government is not bound by the decision of the panel, but it has political clout as its members are drawn from both the ruling party and opposition groups. Activists fear the call will delay adoption of stiffer warnings on the packs.

Euromonitor International estimates India’s cigarette market was worth $9 billion in 2014. Leading players include ITC Ltd, VST Industries and Godfrey Phillips India Ltd, a partner of US-based Philip Morris International.

ITC did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment, while officials of Godfrey Phillips and VST were not reachable.

The Canadian Cancer Society ranks India 136th out of 198 countries that use warnings to deter smokers, lagging nations such as Australia and Thailand that top the list.

The lawmakers’ report would send an undesirable signal, said one official of an anti-tobacco alliance.

“It will be a very unfortunate reflection on commitment to health by people involved in policy making,” said Shailesh Vaite of the Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control, which groups more than 350 global organizations.

Industry lobby the Tobacco Institute of India (TII) has called the new rules drastic and unreasonable, saying they will hit farmers’ incomes and fuel consumption of smuggled cigarettes that do not follow packaging norms.

TII declined to comment on the parliamentary panel report as it has yet to be published. Reuters

Resource : http://www.livemint.com/Politics/ShW4jItxrN7dOTKA9d5jMP/MPs-to-seek-smaller-health-warnings-on-cigarette-packs-repo.html

E-cigarettes `as dangerous as` tobacco in pregnancy

If you think switching to e-cigarettes during pregnancy is safer, then you are wrong as a new study suggests that by doing so, you are unwittingly putting your unborn baby at risk.

The New York University study found that the devices may harm learning, memory, co-ordination and behaviour and the world's leading science conference has heard that even fertility may be cut, the Daily Mail reported.


Researcher Judith Zelikoff said that women may be turning to these products as an alternative because they think they're safe, but as it turns out they're not.


Zelikoff compared baby mice exposed to e-cigarette vapour in the womb and shortly after birth with pups whose mothers had breathed in clean air.


Both normal e-cigarettes and nicotine-free varieties were used. When she looked at the creatures' brains, she found distinct differences in their genes, with up to 2,630 genes more or less active in the mice that had breathed in e-cigarette fumes.


She noted that the findings should open people's eyes by showing that this is something that potentially can be harmful if used during pregnancy. It should lead to much more research, this is just the beginning. This is not just a product that's cool to use and is not going to have health effects.


Patrick O'Brien, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said that e-cigarettes are becoming a popular alternative to tobacco smoking, but as the long-term risks for the developing baby from using them are not known, they do not recommend women to use these products in pregnancy.

Resource :http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/E-cigarettes-as-dangerous-as-tobacco-in-pregnancy/articleshow/50982577.cms

Child-Resistant Packaging Required For E-Cigarette Liquids

BOSTON (AP) — New regulations requiring child-resistant packaging for liquids and gels used in electronic cigarettes will soon take effect in Massachusetts.

The new restrictions are intended to address concerns that children may swallow the liquids or gels, which contain a high concentration of nicotine. They take effect Tuesday.

Attorney General Maura Healey says children can be attracted to the bright colors and child-friendly flavors of the liquid and gel nicotine.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that turn nicotine-containing liquid into vapor that is inhaled. They lack the chemicals and tars of burning tobacco but can be addictive.

Regulations kicked in last year that barred anyone under 18 years old from buying e-cigarettes and banned the promotional giveaway or free distribution of e-cigarettes.



Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Resource : http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/03/13/e-cigarette-liquid-gels-packaging-children/

Going up in smoke: 5 myths around e-cigarettes

In a new study published in the American Chemical Society’s journal, Chemical Research In Toxicology, researchers suggest that the e-cigarette may be just as addictive as its real counterpart.

Apart from this, lead author Riyad al-Lehebi and his colleagues from the University of Toronto, Canada, presented papers at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, which stated that there isn’t enough proof to show that e-cigarettes are successful long-term solutions for those who want to kick the butt.

“Other agents such as medicines or nicotine chewing gums have been found to be better in helping people quit smoking than e-cigarettes,” says oncologist Dr Anil Heroor.

Clearly, those who thought e-cigarettes are a bridge to quitting smoking had it wrong. In the light of this revelation, we ask experts to bust myths about e-cigarettes.

* Myth 1: Electronic cigarettes are less harmful

Not true. High-voltage e-cigarettes may generate formaldehyde at a greater level as compared to smoking. This raises one’s cancer risk by about 5-15 times higher than long-term smoking.

* Myth 2: They are safe electrical devices
E-cigarettes can explode in your face. Some people have already sued manufacturers for the same. The manufacturers, however, claim that this happens if you use chargers that aren’t compatible.

 * Myth 3: They do not contain toxins

An analysis of e-cigarettes in 2009 by the FDA, USA, found that they contained detectable levels of known carcinogens and toxic chemicals to which users could be exposed.

* Myth 4: They do not cause passive smoking

There are no long-term studies to back claims that the vapour from e-cigarettes is less harmful than conventional smoke.

* Myth 5: They do not cause cancer

Cancer takes years to develop, and e-cigarettes were only recently introduced. It is almost impossible to determine if a product increases a person’s risk of cancer or not until the product has been around for at least 15-20 years.

(With inputs from Dr Zakia Khan, interventional cardiologist and Dr Prashant Chhajed, chief pulmonologist, Fortis Hospital.)


Resource :http://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/going-up-in-smoke-5-myths-around-e-cigarettes/story-WUUgTFDoVpsbdQcemKWWxN.html