iNews Briefs
World Cup ads have already been shared more than Super Bowl ads
By Todd Wasserman From Mashable
World Cup 1, Super Bowl 0.
Before the first kickoff, ads related to the World Cup have already been shared more than this year’s crop of Super Bowl commercials, according to marketing-technology company Unruly. The top-20 World Cup 2014 ads have so far netted 6.9 million shares across social media. That’s 31.4% more than the 4.7 million shares related to the top-20 ads from Super Bowl 2014.
If you take Shakira’s Activia ad, “La La La (Brazil 2014)” out of the equation, though, the Super Bowl is still slightly ahead in shares, according to Unruly.
A YouTube spokesperson said Google hasn’t tracked World Cup ad views in aggregate. However, she added that the Shakira video — at close to 100 million views at the time of publication — has already gotten twice the views of the most popular Super Bowl ad, Budweiser’s “Puppy.”
Other huge World Cup ad hits include Nike’s “Winner Stays” (74 million views) and Castrol’s “Footkhana” (15.1 million).
Some 909 million people tuned in to at least one minute of the final World Cup 2010 game in South Africa, according to FIFA. The 2014 Super Bowl scored 111.5 million viewers.
To see the videos of some of the ads go to the main story at: http://mashable.com/2014/06/11/world-cup-ads-super-bowl/?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_cid=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Car ploughs into crowd in Guyana killing three, including a three-year-old girl
From Caribbean360
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Thursday June 12, 2014, CMC – At least three people, including a three-year-old girl, were killed and two others injured after a car ploughed into them on Wednesday night, police said.
The authorities said that the accident occurred in three Corentyne villages and that the 18-year-old driver had been detained. He was cornered by residents after initially fleeing the scene.
Among those killed was a three-year-old child Shamin Cort and two sisters identified as Juanita Bagot, 17 and Tabita “Latoya” Bagot, 19. The three relatives were killed a few meters from their home.
Two other injured persons have been admitted to hospital.
Cayman Prep students to be chosen for MUN conference in Budapest
Seniors at Cayman Prep school are hoping they will be chosen to attend the Model United Nations conference in Budapest next year.
Model United Nations is a conference where students step into shoes of UN Ambassadors and debate a range of issues on the UN agenda. Model United Nations involves researching, public, teamwork, and leadership skills. As of 2012, there are about 400 MUN conferences worldwide.
Earlier this year, a group of 17 students from Cayman Prep joined more than 1,000 other students from across globe for a MUN conference at the Yale University campus in Connecticut although the school had sent in more than 70 applications.
The MUN program was first introduced to Cayman Prep last year, when the school sent 20 of its best middle school students to a conference held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Cayman law firm Mourant Ozannes have sponsored Cayman Prep’s involvement in the insightful Model UN programs since the school’s first participation in the programme.
Permanent hair dye can be cancerous
IANS From The Times of India
Permanent hair dyes and perming treatments at salons may contain banned aromatic amines called toluidines that have carcinogenic properties, researchers warn.
A new study from Lund University in Sweden has found that hairdressers may still be exposed to these carcinogens.
Permanent hair dyes, also called oxidative dyes, are the ones most dangerous to hairdressers and its users.
For their study, the researchers looked at o-toluidine levels in the blood, along with levels of seven other potentially carcinogenic aromatic amines.
o-toluidine (ortho-toluidine) has actually been confirmed as a carcinogenic.
Researchers measured its levels in the blood of 295 female hairdressers, 32 regular hair dye users and 60 people who had not used any of these products.
They found that hairdressers were indeed exposing themselves to o-toluidine and meta-toluidine (m-toluidine).
A similar trend was seen for perming treatments in respect of o-toluidine levels.
“The ingredients of hair dyes and perming products should be analysed to find out if these products continue to be potential sources of toluidine exposure,” researchers said.
Hairdressers should protect themselves from the risk of absorbing these products through their skin by wearing gloves.
Permanent hair dye can be cancerous (Thinkstock Photos/ Getty Images)
For more on this story go to: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Life-Style/Health-Fitness/Health/Permanent-hair-dye-can-be-cancerous/articleshow/36347683.cms
No action taken against Cayman ICTA chief angers MLA’s
Although the head of the Cayman Islands Information Communication and Technology Authority (ICTA) had been fired he was paid in full to the end of his contract
David Archbold, chief at the ICTA, was discovered to have some questionable recruiting practices at the authority and was “let go” without incurring disciplinary action.
Kurt Tibbetts, the minister responsible for the ICTA said Archbold had only three months left before retirement and it would have been more costly not to have paid him off as it would have resulted in a legal battle in the courts.
MLA’s were still angry, especially East End member Arden McLean and North Side member Ezzard Miller who alleged Archbold had committed perjury when it was exposed he had lied to the Legislative Assembly over the unlawful recruitment of ex-pats.
US visitor to Cayman returning home arrested for extradition
Following a request from authorities in Israel Ofer Kahal, also known as Ofer Khal, was arrested at Owen Roberts airport last Sunday (8).
Kahal was travelling back to the US with his wife who continued on with her journey so that she could get family to return here with help.
Kahal was convicted in 2001, in his absence, of causing death by negligent driving when he was serving in the Israeli military forces. He was accused of driving a military vehicle into the back of a trailer in March, 1997that resulted in two people being killed and a third seriously injured.
At his trial in 2000 he was acquitted and left Israel for the US to continue his studies but the following year an appeal court overturned the verdict.
He has been living in the US with no problems.
Cayman magistrate Valdis Foldats granted bail with conditions that included an electronic monitor, daily reporting to police, curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., surrender of passport and travel documents, a recognisance in the sum of $50,000 and the cash security of $50,000.
Cayman Islands Girls Brigade celebrates 121 years
The Girls Brigade of Cayman gathered together at Elmslie Memorial Church in George Town to observe an International Day of Prayer with women and girls throughout the world.
They also celebrated their 121st anniversary.
Money raised went to various projects including the “giveagirlHOPEfund”.
Google just bought a satellite company for $500 million
By Richard Lawler From engadget
Google is in the ground, on the roads and floating through the skies, and now it’s looking beyond, by agreeing to the half-billion dollar cash purchase of a company that says it’s “built and launched the world’s smallest high-resolution imaging satellite, which collects beautiful and useful images and video every day.”
Skybox Imaging (already signed up as a Virgin Galactic customer) says it started with a goal of tracking changes happening across the surface of the earth, while recent rumors from The Information suggest tech giants like Google and Facebook are in a space race as they try to connect the world to the internet and their various services.
The satellite company’s tech can immediately assist Google Maps / Earth, but Google says it could have other purposes too, like acting as a relay to spread wireless internet to places currently without service or where connections have been knocked out by disasters.
The deal isn’t quite done and must pass regulatory approval, but for a peek at what Skybox’s satellites can do, check out a few of their YouTube videos embedded after the break.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/10/google-acquires-skybox-imaging-satellites/?ncid=rss_truncated
IHS Inc conference attendees cleaned up Cayman Islands Field of Dreams
80 IHS Inc who were here from Colorado, USA, for a conference together with 12 Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman employees engaged in a number of clean up projects at the Cayman islands Little League Field of Dreams.
With the help of YMCA Cayman’s Greg Smith, Paint Pros and Cayman Islands Little League Association officials like Jeff Pouchie and John Cridland, the group painted and enhanced the playground, painted the clubhouse/main building, provided warning track and backstop maintenance and transformed the umpires trailer into a more usable asset.
The assistance comes as local Little League concludes its 25th season, with about 50 youth and adult teams and free ball programs for kids. A few finishing touches to the facility are still needed and the association will be looking for volunteers in the coming weeks. It should be noted the field is operated by a bare minimum of staff and an army of volunteers.
IHS also performed projects for Meals on Wheels, cleaned up Barkers beach, planted mangroves, repaired the skate park, made bicycles and helped at the Botanical Garden.
Ford, Heinz working to make car parts from tomatoes
By Ashlee Kieler From Consumerist
The last thing you want when you buy a car is a lemon. But the folks at Ford and Heinz think you may someday want a tomato; or at least a car made with tomato-based parts.
Unlikely collaborators Ford Motor Company and H.J. Heinz Company announced Tuesday they are exploring the use of tomato fibers in developing sustainable, composite materials for vehicle manufacturing, while also reducing the overall environmental impact of automobiles.
ford-heinz-sustainabilityFibers used to create the materials come from the more than two million tons of tomato peels, stems and seeds leftover from Heinz’s annual production of ketchup.
The latest innovations being explored include using dried tomato skins in wiring brackets and in the storage bins used to hold coins and other small objects.
“Although we are in the very early stages of research, and many questions remain, we are excited about the possibilities this could produce for both Heinz and Ford, and the advancement of sustainable 100% plant-based plastics,” Vidhu Nagpal, associate director of packaging for Heinz, says in a statement.
Ford began collaborations with Heinz, The Coca-Cola Company, Nike and Procter & Gamble, more than two years ago in an attempt to develop 100% plant-based plastic for use in vehicle fabric and packaging.
Other Ford bio-based products include the use of coconut-based composite materials, recycled cotton used in carpeting and seat fabric, and soy foam seat cushions and head restraints.
No word yet on whether vehicles with the new components will smell like the inside of a tomato, but we’re hoping that won’t be the case.
For more: http://consumerist.com/2014/06/10/ford-heinz-working-to-make-car-parts-from-tomatoes/
Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce speak out on latest Aud Gen report
Following the latest report issued last Monday (9) by the Cayman Islands Auditor General Cayman’s Chamber of Commerce have issued a statement expressing their concerns.
The report showed hundreds of thousands of dollars had been spent in questionable ways by the previous government between 2009 and 2012 – see iNews Cayman story published June 10 2014 “The Management of Travel and Hospitality Expenditures Report” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/the-management-of-travel-and-hospitality-expenditures-report/ and Editorial published June 10 2014 “Are the Government Chief Financial Officers going to remain in their posts?” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/the-editor-speaks-are-the-government-chief-financial-officers-going-to-remain-in-their-posts/
Chamber President Johann Moxam said, “These actions represent a complete disregard for safeguarding of the public purse. The business community and the general public have faced repeated increases in government fees which resulted in higher cost of doing business and the cost of living while our public officials at various levels were spending our money on lavish trips and alcohol filled receptions.
This is unconscionable and unacceptable.”
In iNews Briefs published June 11 2014 Cayman Premier Alden McLaughlin said his government had implemented a new travel policy “which openly sets out rules and criteria for all civil servants. The Progressives-led Government readily adopted the policy and Members have been traveling under its guidelines since taking office a little more than a year ago.” (See http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/inews-briefs-128/ for the whole statement.)
Alamo Drafthouse bans Google Glass use from its theaters
By Laura Northrup From Consumerist
The Google Glass face computer is such a new invention and there are so few out in the wild that etiquette and rules haven’t quite caught up yet. Now that any random member of the American public with $1,500 and a tolerance for being stared at can buy the device, rules are cropping up. Like at Alamo Drafthouse, a small chain of movie theaters that has now banned the devices from its theaters.
It’s an important distinction that the devices themselves haven’t been banned. You can wear Glass into the building, while you buy your tickets and food, and even read your e-mail while you wait for the movie to start. However, as soon as the lights go down for the trailers, the device has to come off.
The Drafthouse also has a strict policy of throwing out people who text during the show, but the decision to ban Glass during movies is an anti-piracy one, not one intended to improve life for other movie-goers, like the texting ban. Glass doesn’t light up, but it can record video, and theater owners and the Motion Picture Association of America are kind of concerned about that. Instead of calling in law enforcement to remove Glass-wearers from the theater, it’s simpler just to ban the device in the first place.
Versions of Glass that integrate with prescription frames are just part of someone’s glasses, which they kind of need in order to watch the movie. A wearer could even forget that the device is there if it’s powered off.
For more: http://consumerist.com/2014/06/10/alamo-drafthouse-bans-google-glass-use-from-its-theaters/
Cayman police confirm resort death was not suspicious
The Cayman Islands police confirmed last Tuesday (10) the man found in an apartment at Treasure Island Resort on May 10, Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman last month is not considered suspicious.
Although officers from the Royal Cayman islands Police Service are still looking into the death of James Dean McLaughlin, 38, a post mortem examination has shown no reasons to suspect foul play.
The number of school shootings in the US has gotten out of control
By Andy Kiersz From Business Insider
School and other mass shootings have unfortunately become a regular part of American life.
Via Reddit, this chart, from Noel Bautista of ArmchairScholar.com shows the number of school shootings in each year from 1990 to 2014, not including today’s shooting at Reynolds High School outside Portland. There’s been a stark increase in the last few years:
As a big caveat, the chart was made using data from Wikipedia’s list of school shootings in the U.S., and so it’s possible that older shootings could be under-reported in the data. Regardless, the number of shootings in recent years has been enormous, and a comparison with other studies shows that they are in fact on the rise.
For other charts illustrating deaths and injuries from shootings, and the geographic breakdown of shootings, check out the original post on Armchair Scholar at: http://www.armchairscholar.com/school-shootings-in-the-us-from-1990-2014/
See attached chart school shooting incidents by year Noel Bautista
For more: http://www.businessinsider.com/school-shootings-chart-2014-6#ixzz34NwaSU4n
Cayman Arts Festival helps students learn the violin
The Cayman Arts Festival is encouraging students at George
Town Primary School to learn the violin with a donation of $1,000.
Glen Inanga, artistic director of the Cayman Arts Festival, said the festival has been able to donate the money from a number of fundraising activities in recent years.
Money was also raised recently by the Parent Teachers Association to hire a string specialist to introduce violin playing to the students.
Dove redefines ‘Dad’ in emotion-punching Father’s Day ad
By Neha Prakash From Mashable
Dove is hoping its newest ad will spotlight the unsung heroes of the family — fathers.
Released just in time for Father’s Day, the one-minute spot features 27 priceless and fleeting moments of fatherhood, from the father-daughter dance at a wedding to fixing car troubles to piggy back rides.
While the sweet ad will likely leave you misty-eyed, it also highlights what Dove believes is the unfair portrayal of fathers in the media. In a recent survey conducted with 1,000 fathers, Dove Men+Care asked what qualities best described TV dads (think Ward Cleaver or Phil Dunphy). The most popular answers included “disconnected,” “bumbling” and “incompetent.”
“Three-quarters of dads say they are responsible for their child’s emotional well-being, while only 20% of dads see this role reflected in media,” Dove said in press release. “It’s time to acknowledge the caring moments of fatherhood that often go overlooked.”
At the least, #realdadmoments will remind you that, no matter what age, sometimes it’s nice to just call out for dad.
To view the Dove ad go to: http://mashable.com/2014/06/10/dove-fathers-day-ad/?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_cid=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Octagonal boosted as investment GIS reports strong two months
From Live Charts
AIM-listed Octagonal, which holds close to a 10% stake in custody and clearing company Global Investment Strategy (GIS) UK as its main investment, has reported a strong operational performance by GIS for both April and May.
During the two months, the total settled transactions surpassed 12,000, with the settlement values exceeding £1.6bn.
GIS, in which Octagonal bought its stake in April, has launched a mini prime broker service for its global hedge fund clients and has appointed an investment advisor for the Seachange Capital Absolute Fund, a Cayman Islands-incorporated fund specialising in on-exchange option trading.
Shares in Octagonal, which changed its name from SureTrack Monitoring in November 2013 after a company reorganisation, had jumped 29.87% to 0.487p by 09:27 on Wednesday (12).
Netherlands, Dutch Caribbean to exchange DNA Data
By Marvin Hokstam From NL Times
The Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean island states of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten have agreed to an exchange of DNA criminal profiles.
The agreement was reached on Wednesday during meetings in Willemstad, Curacao between Justice and Security Minister Ivo Opstelten and his counterparts from the islands.
Parties agreed that their judicial authorities would have direct access to each other’s databases where DNA profiles of people who commit serious crimes are stored. They also agreed to expedite the process of bringing the necessary changes to the applicable legislations.
This exchange of data will make it easier to trace genetic evidence found on a crime scene to anywhere in the Kingdom.
For more: http://www.nltimes.nl/2014/06/12/netherlands-dutch-caribbean-exchange-dna-data/
Cayman’s inflation rate on the rise
Data released this week shows Cayman islands consumer price index has risen by 2.3% overall in the first three months of this year.
Accommodation services rose a staggering 27.5% and the average cost of electricity, gas and other fuels went 3.7%.
Housing and utilities price index fell with rentals declining just over 1%.
Cayman needy to have welfare vouchers replaced by cards
The needy persons of Cayman who receive food vouchers from the government assistance programme via Needs Assessment Unit (NAU) will now receive pre-paid cards to purchase food and supplies.
Pre-paid cards for groceries will now make it more convenient NAU clients to purchase food and supplies.
The cards will be provided by all major local supermarket vendors in Grand Cayman. This new method of payment will replace the paper format vouchers currently being provided. The change is a part of an ongoing initiative by the NAU to provide a more efficient service to the public.
Local vendors will provide the pre-paid cards, which will function much as do debit cards. Clients will still be able to choose their preferred vendor from a list of participating vendors.
The card will be topped up electronically and any unused funds will be returned to the department once the service period has expired.
Each pre-paid card is specific to the identified client and the balance on each card can be tracked. This reduces the risk of loss of funds due to the card being lost or stolen.
The NAU will distribute the pre-paid cards to clients within the coming weeks. Until then, vouchers will continue to be used.
The introduction of the pre-paid cards does not affect the provision of services as it pertains to eligibility and the amount provided.
Breakthrough in solar cell tech paves the way for cheaper access to the sun’s power
By Chris Smith From BGR
Two scientists from the University of Toronto have figured out a way to create cheaper, lighter and more flexible solar cells, CNET reports, which could allow more users in the future to harness energy directly from the sun for different purposes.
Post doctoral researcher Zhijun Ning and Professor Ted Sargent have developed a “new form of solid, stable light-sensitive nanoparticles, called colloidal quantum dots” that can be used to make better and cheaper solar cells, better gas sensors, infrared lasers, infrared light emitting diodes, and other devices.
What the two scientists managed to do is to prevent one of the semiconductors used in quantum dots to degrade when exposed to oxygen, thus improving efficiency of light absorption.
Most importantly, the new material can be mixed into inks and painted or printed onto thin, flexible surfaces, such as roofing shingles.
“This is a material innovation, that’s the first part, and with this new material we can build new device structures,” Ning said. “Iodide is almost a perfect ligand for these quantum solar cells with both high efficiency and air stability—no one has shown that before.”
It’s not clear yet whether these nanoparticles can be used on smartphones, tablets and wearable devices. Apple already has patents that show the company is thinking about integrating tiny solar cells in displays to improve battery life on mobile devices.
Cayman Immigration gives notice of changes to business hours on Friday 27th June
NOTICE
Changes to Business Hours on Friday, 27th June 2014
Immigration Public Counters & Passport Offices will close to the public at 12:00noon, all other sections (except airport) will close at 12:30pm. in order to facilitate a staff function.
Normal office hours will resume on Monday 30th, June 2014.
The Department apologizes for any inconvenience this closure may cause
RCIPS Headquaters and other departments temporary relocation
Due to fumigation and building works of the building at Elizabethan Square (Montpelier Properties) #80 Shedden Road, where the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Headquarters, Finance, Human Resources, Financial Crime Unit and other related offices are situated; the landlord has required for the premises to be vacated by 4:00 pm on Friday, 13th June 2014.
Occupants will not be allowed to return to the building until after proper safety assessments are completed but the expected time that personnel will be out of the building, temporarily, until further notice. However, Police HQ (Commissioners and staff), Finance and Human Resources will still be affected due to other construction works that will commence shortly thereafter.
Members of the public should note the following:
· Financial Crime Unit will be operating from the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue
· Finance and Human Resources will be located in a separate building on the Elizabethan Square complex (Bodden House)
· Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of Police and their secretary will be operating from the GTPS
All existing telephone numbers will be working as normal and persons wishing to contact any member of staff should continue to use the designated numbers or in the alternative call 949-4222 or by email which can be found on the RCIPS website at RCIPS.ky.
Some key numbers are listed here:
· HQ receptionist: 244-2900
· Commissioners’ secretary: 244-2964
· Financial Crimes Unit (FCU): 949-8797
· Finance: 244-2960
· Human Resources: 244-2900
· FOI Manager: 244-2900
We appreciate the cooperation of everyone and will ensure that there is no disruption to services provided by these sections of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.
Chatterbox Music and Creative Arts Camp
Our Creative Arts Summer Camp is back for another year starting in July, and we are really excited about all of the fun activities that we have planned for the kids! From music, to visual arts, to songwriting, to plays, to games and even talent shows — we have got it all!
Here is the info (the camp poster is attached below as well):
Creative Arts Summer Camp – 2 weeks in July:
Weeks: June 30-July 4 & July 7-11
Times: 1-4pm
What we’ll do: Music, art, drama, songwriting, guitar, recording, crafts, plays, talent shows and more!
Location:#15 Pasadora Place, Smith Road, George Town
Ages: 5 and up
Cost: CI$225/week
Check out our promo video: https://vimeo.com/95993029
We hope to see you in July! Please RSVP if interested, as spaces are limited.
