Marketplace Murmurs is a daily collection of consumer-related news, thoughts and missives that cross the minds and desks of the CBC News: Marketplace staff...

2005

Light blogging ahead
May 31, 2005

Just a note to let you know that I'll be blogging less over the next month - I'm working on a CBC/New York Times/Discovery Times pilot series called Times Seven which airs throughout June.

posted by Tessa | 9:25 AM (ET) | Permalink

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‘Store Wars’ spoof promotes organic shopping
May 30, 2005

Looking for a few minutes of escape? Head to an intergalactic parody set "not long ago in a supermarket not so far away.”

The Organic Trade Association and Free Range Studios (also makers of "The Meatrix") have created a spoof on the "Star Wars" saga that promotes healthier eating without pollution and pesticides. Hang with Cuke Skywalker, Obi Wan Cannoli, Princess Lettuce, Ham Solo, Chewbroccoli, C3Peanuts, and Tofu D2 as they take on Lord Tader and The Dark Side of the Farm.

Watch 'Store Wars' [Flash].

Cute in the way of the parody they are, yes.

Via StoreWars.org (thanks Evan!)

posted 10:33 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Former Nazi to sue VW over logo
May 27, 2005

A former graphic designer for the Nazi party is suing Volkswagen over its logo. Nikolai Borg says he helped design VW’s logo, and he wants the carmaker to recognize his contribution. According to his lawyer, Borg isn’t looking for money, just credit for having worked on the design.

Via Adrants

posted 2:37 PM (ET) | Permalink

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Viagra and blindness connection investigated
May 27, 2005

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it's investigating reports of possible blindness by some users of the anti-impotence pills Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, CBC Health and Science News reports.

The FDA said it is still looking into the blindness cases, adding that it does not have proof that the drugs were responsible.

The regulator said it has 43 reports of blindness, including 38 men taking Viagra, four taking Cialis and one using Levitra.

Also, a U.S. study warned this week that the recreational use of drugs such as Viagra by gay men is associated with higher risks of sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV.

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 2:37 PM (ET) | Permalink

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More young people getting skin cancer
May 27, 2005

Basal cell skin cancer. (Canadian Dermatology Association)

Teens and people in their 20s are starting to get a very common form of skin cancer usually found in people over 50, the Canadian Dermatology Association said today.

The rate of acquiring basal cell skin cancer is rising by five per cent a year in North America and 60,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with it this year.

About one in three children born in 1994 risks developing basal cell cancer, the association said.

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun triggers the affliction, which accounts for 80 per cent of all skin cancers, CBC Health and Science News reports.

"Frequent severe sunburns and intense sun exposure in childhood increase the risk of basal cell skin cancer," said Dr. Cheryl Rosen, national director of the association's sun awareness program.

"The main cause [of rising cancer rates] is lifestyle changes – people are out in the sun at an earlier age," Rosen said.

Related Murmur: Nobody under 18 should use a tanning bed: WHO

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 2:29 PM (ET) | Permalink

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Battle over Barbie in Quebec heads to Supreme Court
May 27, 2005

Mattel's Barbie (AP file photo)

Mattel is suing a restaurateur in Quebec for naming his BBQ-themed joint "Barbie's." The California-based toy maker is taking the case to Canada’s Supreme Court, claiming that children might wander alone into the bar under the mistaken impression that it has something to do with the Barbie dolls.

"Barbie and Barbie's are among the most famous marks in North America, having been widely used and promoted for more than 40 years," the company maintains in documents filed with Canada’s highest court.

Related Murmur: Barbie undergoes yet another makeover

Via CBC News

posted 10:54 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Canadian children get Fs in phys-ed
May 27, 2005

A new evaluation of children's fitness gives Canada a failing grade, the head of a national charity devoted to boosting healthy living said yesterday.

The report by Active Healthy Kids Canada gave Canada a D average on its report card and found that less than half of the country's children are active enough for good health.

"When it comes to keeping kids physically active, Canada is dropping the ball," said Dr. Mark Tremblay, chairman of Active Healthy Kids Canada.

The report also gave Canada two Fs, one for lack of daily physical education due to just 14 per cent of elementary schools and four per cent of high schools offering daily phys-ed classes in 2000.

The second F came from childhood obesity rates, which ballooned from two per cent in 1981 to 10 per cent in 2001, CBC Health and Science News reports.

Related Murmurs:

• 'Say no to pop,' Nunavut residents told
• U.S. government analysts reduce estimate of obesity death toll
• Kids spend more time with media that adults spend at work: study
• McDonald’s to launch global ad campaign aimed at getting kids active
• School nutrition programs lead to trimmer students: study
• Arkansas lawmaker wants to gut state’s ‘fat grade’ program
• Parents of active kids should get a tax break: B.C. MLA

Related Marketplace stories: Fat Grade, Getting Kids Active

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 10:34 AM (ET) | Permalink

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‘Old West’ tactics of vigilante hackers draw fire
May 26, 2005

AFP has an article on a subject I told you about last week: vigilante hackers taking aim at phishing scams.

The reporter talks to critics of the hackers’ tactics – seems they doubt the legality and effectiveness of this ‘Old West’ style of cyberjustice. But they don’t provide alternative methods to halting the scams either.

I’ll continue to tip my hat to the vigilante hackers, until someone comes up with a better way of clamping down on insidious phishing scams.

Related Murmurs: Vigilantes hack phishing scam sites, Beware of new “evil twins” and “pharming” web threats, Beware of ‘pharming’ scams, E-mail fraud warning, Identity theft tops FTC’s list of consumer complaints

Via Fark.com

posted by Tessa | 11:06 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Revenge of the movie industry: Authorities shut down file-swapping site
May 26, 2005

Hayden Christensen plays Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith. Source: LucasFilm Ltd.

U.S. law enforcement agencies moved to close down the Elite Torrents file-sharing network yesterday, CBC Arts and Entertainment reports.

According to authorities, Revenge of the Sith – the latest Star Wars movie, which landed in theatres last week – was among the files being swapped by the network's members.

Officials for the Justice and Homeland Security Departments said the operation represents the first time criminal enforcement action has been taken against those who use BitTorrent technology.

People who log on to Elitetorrents.org are now confronted with a page bearing the seals of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Homeland Security Department.

"This site has been permanently shut down by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement," reads a message. "Individuals involved in the operation and use of the Elite Torrents network are under investigation for criminal copyright infringement."

Meanwhile, McSweeney’s has a great article you should take a look at: Reviews of DVDs that may or may not be pirated but were definitely bought on the street in Shanghai for about a dollar. I especially enjoyed the Sin City bit.

Related Murmurs: Retro ‘Star Wars’ ads give glimpse into how movie marketing has changed, Labels to appeal file-swapping decision, Music copyright case heads to Supreme Court

Via CBC Arts & Entertainment

posted by Tessa | 9:42 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Navigating the supermarket: Study maps shoppers’ paths
May 25, 2005

I like to think I’m a fairly efficient shopper when it comes to the grocery store. Before I head out to my local supermarket, I write out a list (checking it twice). While en route, I’ll consult my mind’s eye and map out the store floor plan, coming up with a strategy (Which aisles can I skip? Which are the must-tread areas? How I should tackle the always-congested fruit and veggie section?).

While this might unnerve those who absolutely must meander up each and every aisle, it turns out I’m not alone. A recent study (“An Exploratory Look at Supermarket Shopping Paths”) from the University of Pennsylvania found that grocery shoppers appear pretty sporadic when it comes to how they navigate through the aisles.

For instance, contrary to long-standing perceptions of shopper travel behaviour, most of us rarely make it down to the end of an aisle. Instead, we make short forays into aisles, then scurry back to the perimeter (which, incidentally, is the shopper’s comfort zone). Among the study’s other revelations:

Grocery shoppers don't weave up and down all aisles -- a pattern commonly thought to dominate store travel. Instead, most shoppers "tend only to travel select aisles, and rarely in the systematic up and down patterns most tend to consider the dominant travel pattern." Once they enter an aisle, shoppers rarely make it to the other end. Instead, they "travel by short excursions into and out of the aisle rather than traversing its entire length." Shoppers prefer a counter-clockwise shopping experience. They tend to shop more quickly as they approach the checkout counters. Shoppers' behavior is driven more by their location in the store than the merchandise in front of them. The perimeter of the store -- often called the "racetrack" -- is actually the shopper's home base, not just the space covered between aisles. "Whereas previous folklore perpetuated the myth that the perimeter of the store was visited incidental to successive aisle traverses, we now know that it often serves as the main thoroughfare, effectively a home base from which shoppers take quick trips into the aisles," the paper states. More from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

To come up with their data, the researchers placed radio frequency identification (RFID) tags located on consumers' shopping carts, and then recorded the paths taken by individual shoppers in an actual grocery store. The authors of the study say it has the potential to change the way retailers in general think about customers and their shopping patterns.

Marketplace stories: The Science of Shopping, Paco Underhill: Shopping Scientist, Grocery Store Blues

Related Murmurs (RFID): RFID could make your toothpaste sing, RFID technology won’t be regulated in U.S., European consumers worry about use of RFID, Pub-crawling with Big Brother, Keeping track of the kids ... with RFID

Via AdFreak

posted by Tessa | 11:05 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Gift card study confirms growing impact
May 25, 2005

The use of gift cards is growing so rapidly it's causing a shift in retail spending patterns, according to a study by Statistics Canada.

The agency surveyed 80 of Canada's largest retailers, accounting for more than 11,000 stores selling everything from electronics to home furnishings.

During the last Christmas season, the survey found that 68 per cent of those retailers offered gift cards, up 15 percentage points in just one year.

Gift cards are plastic cards that look like credit cards with a magnetic strip on the back. They're electronically "loaded" at a cash register with a specific cash value.

Via CBC Business News

posted 10:38 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Adverse drug reaction database goes online
May 25, 2005

Health Canada will make its database of adverse drug reactions available to Canadians in a searchable online format, Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh will announce in a release today, CBC News Online reports.

The move comes 15 months after CBC News made a version of the database available online, following a five-year struggle with Health Canada to obtain the information in database format under Canada's federal Access to Information Act.

"Because the CBC pushed it and was releasing some of this information, they were faced with the fact that the information was already out there," said Dr. Eric Wooltorton, an associate editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

"It's their job. They know they should be doing it."

Wooltorton said he isn't aware of another country making such information available online in a searchable format. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration makes its comparable database available in CD-ROM format, but for a fee.

Related: Faint Warning: How Canada tracks dangerous drugs (CBC News Indepth), A Hard Pill to Swallow (Marketplace), Out in the Cold (Marketplace). Murmurs: Drugs killing thousands of seniors yearly

Via CBC News Online

posted 10:26 AM (ET) | Permalink

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“Car cloning” theft hits the road
May 24, 2005

A sophisticated car theft scam is on the rise, putting unassuming consumers and car dealers out thousands of dollars. The scam involves the “cloning” of vehicles, usually high-end luxury cars and sport-utility vehicles.

Here’s how car cloning works: A vehicle is stolen in one country (e.g. Canada) and shipped across the border into another (e.g. the United States). A second vehicle identification number, or VIN, is recorded from a similar, legally registered model to the stolen vehicle. The second VIN is applied to the stolen vehicle, making it appear legitimate, when in fact it’s a “clone” of the legal vehicle, USA Today reports:

A vehicle's VIN is a unique identifier that differentiates a car from thousands of others that are of the same make or model. Thieves can glean the VINs from the Internet or even from strolling into an auto dealership and scribbling down the numbers from cars in a showroom. The thief can put the pilfered VIN on a stolen vehicle that can then be sold to other criminals or to unsuspecting dealers and consumers. Such fraud isn't detected unless insurance companies or police realize, mostly through database searches or tips, that more than one car has the same VIN and is registered in a different city, state or even a different country. More from USA Today

Related Marketplace stories: Survival Guide: How to buy a used car, Bought a stolen car: What happens now?, Grand Theft Auto, New kid on the block in car theft prevention

Via USA Today

posted 11:09 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Eat your greens and get an iPod
May 24, 2005

Some kids in Scotland are participating in a tempting scheme to get them to ditch junk food. Glasgow City Council is offering 30,000 children in 29 secondary schools rewards like iPods and Xbox consoles for eating healthy, BBC News reports:

The pupils are given swipecards and can claim various prizes depending on the number of points they gain for eating "sensibly" on school premises. A council spokeswoman said youngsters "wouldn't turn up their noses at winning an iPod for eating nice food". They can redeem their points for a selection of goods - from cinema tickets and book tokens to top-of-the-range iPods and Xbox games consoles - at the end of the term. More from BBC News

Related Murmurs: Study links poor diet to learning disorders, McDonald’s to launch global ad campaign aimed at getting kids active, McDonald’s targets kids as young as four with ads, Court revives teens’ suit against McDonald’s, Kraft to cut back on junk food ads aimed at kids, American vending machine group launches anti-obesity effort, Junk food ad ban proposed, Fast food supersizes

Related Marketplace stories: Fat Grade, Cafeteria Confidential, Sugar Surprise, Junk Food Addiction, Fast Food

Via BBC News

posted 10:14 AM (ET) | Permalink

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U.S. trend for firms to screen smokers troubles ethicists
May 24, 2005

A tactic used by some U.S. companies to screen out smokers may begin to take hold in Canada, but it faces stiff opposition from puffing advocates and medical ethicists, CBC Health and Science News reports.

U.S. companies, which pay their employees' health insurance premiums, have found a way to cut costs by refusing to hire smokers, or forcing those who do to quit the habit under penalty of being fired.

"We want a healthy workforce," Howard Weyer, CEO of Weyco Medical Benefits Inc. in central Michigan, told CBC News. "They're just going to be – we're all going to be – better for it, if we're healthy."

North of the border, where governments pay for healthcare, smokers cost their employers an estimated $8 billion a year in absenteeism and lost productivity.

About one-quarter of Canadians smoke, but few companies in Canada overtly discriminate against them. Some employers do ask for non-smokers in their help-wanted ads, however.

Some critics argue that acting against smokers is a slippery slope that could lead to bans against obese or depressed employees.

Related: Smoking (CBC News Indepth), Go Smoke Free (Health Canada)

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 9:27 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Frommer pens guide to loos across U.S.
May 20, 2005

The second most frequent plea from the back seat during a road trip, after "Are we there yet?" is perhaps: "I've gotta go!"

But go where – when the family car is just outside of Barstow on the edge of the desert?

Beside children bursting after sucking back super-sized drinks, there may also be intense leg-crossing up front by some of the more than 33 million adults in the U.S. with the condition known as overactive bladder.

To the rescue is the unique travel tip book, Where to Stop and Where to Go: A Guide to Traveling with Overactive Bladder in the United States.

Penned by renowned travel guide writer Arthur Frommer, the 75-page guide highlights easy-to-follow restroom locations at key restaurants, museums, and other tourist attractions in 19 U.S. cities and four national parks.

Related Murmur: The Virtual Toilet Paper Museum and other online oddities

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 12:39 PM (ET) | Permalink

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Vigilantes hack phishing scam sites
May 20, 2005

They may be the superheroes of the web. A group of unidentified hackers have begun taking phishing scam operators on in their own game, Information Week reports. According to a British web monitoring firm, at least two phishing sites have been recently hacked, replaced by banners warning potential victims that the website is part of a scam.

Related Murmurs: Beware of new “evil twins” and “pharming” web threats, Beware of ‘pharming’ scams, E-mail fraud warning, Identity theft tops FTC’s list of consumer complaints

Via ConsumerWorld Blog

posted 12:07 PM (ET) | Permalink

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Ban on billboards in space proposed
May 20, 2005

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t want ads in space. (Apparently large billboards placed in low-earth orbit could appear as large as the moon and be seen without a telescope. )

Yesterday, the FAA proposed a rule change that would ban obtrusive advertising in space, Reuters reports.

But if the ban sticks, how will George Lucas get the word out about Star Wars Episode VII?

Via Exploding Cigar

posted 10:56 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Hey ladies: this phone thinks you’re fat
May 20, 2005

Crazy. I don’t know what to say. So I’ll let the tactful folks at Samsung Malaysia explain it themselves:

Samsung presents today's fashionable and sophisticated women with the best gift ever - SGH-A400 (Egèo). The elegant look of the SGH-A400 will capture your eyes and make you feel the best … At Samsung, we acknowledge the unique individuality of every modern woman in this society and have thus created the Egèo that will meet her every needs. Just for the Ladies - Pink Schedule, Calories Calculator, Bio Rhythm, Fatness Indicator. More from Samsung

Via Darrenbarefoot.com

posted 10:40 AM (ET) | Permalink

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British diaper study causes flap
May 20, 2005

A new British study suggesting that disposable and cloth diapers have the same impact on the environment has some environmental groups seeing red, CBC Health and Science News reports.

The Environment Agency released a report yesterday comparing the two types of diapers, measuring everything from the impact of the raw materials used to make them to the effect of transporting, disposing and laundering them.

While companies that sell disposable diapers say the study shows parents shouldn't feel guilty about using their wares, advocates of cloth diapers say the study is not scientifically valid.

Elizabeth Hartigan of the Women's Environment Network said the sample size for assessing the way parents use cloth diapers was too small and so it was unfair to draw conclusions.

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 10:22 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Ottawa holds 'landmark' forum on arthritis pills
May 19, 2005

Health Canada is to hold a two-day public forum next month in Ottawa on the risks and benefits of so-called COX-2 painkillers, which have been tied to heart problems.

"This is a landmark event for Health Canada," Health Minister Ujal Dosanjh said.

The drugs, commonly prescribed for arthritis, are sold under the names Celebrex, Mobicox, Bextra and Vioxx, CBC Health and Science News reports.

COX-2 inhibitors were originally promoted as being easier on the stomach than older drugs called standard nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, such as ASA and ibuprofen.

But last year, Merck & Co. withdrew Vioxx from shelves after a study found it doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke. Health Canada asked Pfizer Inc. to pull Bextra from the market last month due to concerns it could cause a deadly allergy.

Related Marketplace story: Celebrex: Is there truth to the hype?

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 9:18 AM (ET) | Permalink

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New $10 note goes into circulation
May 19, 2005

Canada's revamped $10 note

New $10 bills with upgraded anti-counterfeiting features began changing hands yesterday, CBC Business News reports.

The design, colour, and theme – remembrance and peacekeeping – of the upgraded $10 note are the same as the old $10 introduced in 2001.

The new $10 joins the $20, $50, and $100 as notes that have been revamped to combat counterfeiting. The Bank of Canada said it upgraded the note in response to an increase in the counterfeiting of lower-denomination bank notes.

Via CBC Business News

posted 9:18 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Retro ‘Star Wars’ ads give glimpse into how movie marketing has changed
May 18, 2005

As airwaves and bandwidth are consumed with hype and promotion surrounding the latest Star Wars, it’s fun to take a walk down memory lane. The blogger behind A Small Victory: George Lucas ate my soul has posted a bunch of the original ‘Star Wars’ radio ads from 1977.

Via Darrenbarefoot.com

posted 9:52 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Ontario passes allergy law for schools
May 17, 2005

Ontario has become the first Canadian province requiring public school teachers to be trained to recognize the symptoms of acute allergic reactions and know how to treat them.

Called "Sabrina's Law," the legislation means publicly funded schools must also educate students about anaphylactic shock from allergies and establish response procedures, including how to use epinephrine injectors. The needles, commonly called EpiPens, deliver a shot of potentially life-saving medication.

School boards must have:

• Regular training for staff on dealing with allergies.
• Individual files for students with an anaphylaxis allergy.
• Emergency procedures in place for those students.
• Storage for emergency EpiPens.

Parents would also be obliged to alert the school of a child's allergies, CBC Health and Science News reports.

Related Marketplace story: The politics of peanuts

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 2:42 PM (ET) | Permalink

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Beware of new “evil twins” and “pharming” web threats
May 17, 2005

Protecting your identity online is getting harder with the rise of two new web scams.

As online consumers become more savvy to ‘phishing’ scams (where a user is tricked into revealing personal information via spoofed e-mails), fraudsters are coming up with new methods to cause havoc. The latest, the WSJ reports, are called “pharming” and “evil twins.”

Evil twins are wireless networks that pretend to offer trusty Wi-Fi connections to the Internet like those available at some coffee shops, hotels and conferences. On a laptop screen, an evil-twin Wi-Fi hotspot can look identical to one of the tens of thousands of legitimate public networks that consumers log on to every day, sometimes even copying the sign-in page. But that's just a front, and fraudsters who set up the connections attempt to capture any passwords or credit-card numbers that consumers using the link may type. In pharming, thieves redirect a consumer to an imposter Web page even when the individual types the correct address into his browser. They can do this by changing -- or "poisoning" -- some of the address information that Internet service providers store to speed up Web browsing. Some ISPs and companies have a software bug on their computer servers that lets fraudsters hack in and change those addresses.

Related Murmurs: Beware of ‘pharming’ scams, E-mail fraud warning, Identity theft tops FTC’s list of consumer complaints

Via Wall Street Journal

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Cocktail of noise and carbon monoxide increases hearing loss: study
May 16, 2005

Garage mechanics, firefighters and truckers, listen up: a new study shows chronic exposure to noise plus carbon monoxide increases hearing loss.

The Université de Montréal study of 8,600 workers between 1983 and 1996 is the first to link carbon monoxide and hearing loss in humans. It is to be published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America by early next year.

Lead researcher Adriana Lacerda is to present the study on Wednesday in Vancouver at the society's annual meeting.

The results revealed that workers who were exposed to carbon monoxide and noise levels above 90 decibels – the sound of a chainsaw – had trouble hearing high frequencies (from three to six kilohertz). A larger shift was observed among workers with 25-29 years of noise exposure in the workplace.

These workers would not be able to hear birds singing or telephones ringing, study supervisor Tony Leroux told CBC News Online.

Via CBC Health & Science News

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Two-thirds of patients brush off their dentist's advice, study suggests
May 16, 2005

Two-thirds of dental patients fail to follow advice on tending their teeth and gums, British researchers have found.

Only up to one-third of gum disease patients, who received advice on how long to brush their teeth, followed it exactly, according to a study by a team at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Yet the same people perceived their brushing habits to be better than they were – a finding that has implications for dentists wishing to change their patients' behaviour, CBC Health and Science News reports.

Gum disease can eventually lead to multiple tooth loss, but in many cases damage can be stabilized or reversed if treatment is combined with proper home dental practices.

Via CBC Health & Science News

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CRTC rules against big phone companies
May 13, 2005

The CRTC ruled against the big telephone companies yesterday, saying it will regulate internet-based phone service the same as any other local phone service.

In its decision, Canada's telecom regulator told dominant local phone service providers such as Bell and Telus that they cannot offer internet-based phone services below cost, CBC Business News reports.

Via CBC Business News

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Playing video games boosts business skills?
May 12, 2005

Playing computer and video games has long been dismissed as worthless --and by some critics even dangerous-- but there’s a growing body of research that seems to indicate that gaming provides notable benefits to kids, parents, workers and businesses.

Apparently gamers are better risk-takers, show particular confidence in their abilities, place a high value on relationships and employee input and think in terms of "winning" when pursuing objectives, the Mercury News reports:

“The people who play games are into technology, can handle more information, can synthesize more complex data, solve operational design problems, lead change and bring organizations through change.” [Chip Luman, human resources vice president at the Charles Schwab company's call-centre.]

Related Murmur: Video gaming causing repetitive strains

Related Marketplace story: Can an online game be addictive?

Via Michael Moore's Must Read

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Races handle salt differently, study suggests
May 12, 2005

The bodies of black and white teenage girls handle salt and calcium differently, which may help to explain why the races have different rates of hypertension and fragile bones, according to research at Purdue University in Indiana.

Blacks retain more sodium on a high-salt diet than whites, but too much salt in the diet reduces bone density in both races, a study published in the April edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition said.

High salt intake is a leading contributor to hypertension, or high blood pressure, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks, CBC Health and Science News reports.

Related Murmur: MDs sue U.S. over salt levels in food

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 9:22 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Do cashiers check your credit card signature?
May 11, 2005

In my university days I worked as a cashier for a Canadian retailer. I was always surprised by how seldom cashiers (myself included – mea culpa) actually took the time to verify that a customer’s signature matched the one on the back of their credit card.

In the years since I’ve conducted an informal survey: whenever I use a card I pay attention to whether the cashier compares the signatures during a transaction. In my experience, few do.

Via Consumer World Blog

posted by Tessa | 12:16 PM (ET) | Permalink

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Comment (thanks Kay!): Rarely do retailers check my signature on credit card purchases. They usually return the card immediately after swiping it.  I can't remember the last time someone actually checked my signature.  I usually pay for everything by credit card and pay it off at the end of the month.  I prefer this to using debit, because I have a paper record of where I've spent my money, whereas with debit, I must record everything myself.  I guess I'm just lazy, but since I pay the credit card company off every month and have a no charge credit card, it's best for me.  Comment (thanks Teresa!): Several years ago, I received a credit card bill from a "national hardware and automotive" chain with  $500 worth of charges which were definitely not mine.  It turned out that some enterprising crook had manufactured a credit card in my name, and of course, signed the back with the same name but in their handwriting. I find the clerks always check and compare the signature at this particular chain, but in this case, of course the signature and name on the card, and the signature on the sales receipt would have matched.  This fake card was swiped and recognized by their system, so when the company found out it was a fraud, they could tell it was a professional job.  Fortunately, they absorbed the loss and provided me with a new card, with a slight adjustment in the numbers so they would know if the fraudulent card was used again.  They doubted that it would, and as far as I know, wasn't.  (I probably wouldn't have been told anyway!) I have worked for several businesses which include accepting payment by credit card.  Some business owners are certainly more strict about credit cards acceptance than others.  One of my previous employers enforced the policy (which is only right) that the signature must match the name on the card (e.g.: A card with the imprint of John Doe with Jane Doe's signature would not be accepted).  This sometimes resulted in a loss of a sale, but better security for the business owner and recommended by the issuing banks! Comment (thanks H!): I own a convenience store in Alberta and we check signatures if we do not know the customer.  However, I have run into a problem where a card got stolen, signature was checked after being approved by the machine only later to find out the next day that the card was a stolen one and that the signatures were similar but no cigar.  To my knowledge of working in this industry for the last 12 years, nobody's signature is exactly the same each and every time.  Anyhow, I am now awaiting a reversal of the payment to my account from the credit card company because the signatures did no match perfectly.  Where is the protection of us businesses that have to eat up such a problem?  Don't these credit card companies insure things like this?  Yes, I am disgruntled and now make it a policy that if you do not know the customer and the amount is over $75.00 to ask for additional ID.  Tsk! Tsk! How awful is this?  Thank you for reading my comment. Comment (thanks Cris!): Just a note from the other side of the counter, I worked at a hotel for four years as a front desk clerk.  It was mandatory for us to check the names and signatures, albeit to the disgruntlement of some guests (kids with parents' cards, adults with spouse’s card, etc.).  We had to have faxed authorization if our guest was to use someone else's card.  We would not check someone in without this authorization or a card that obviously belonged to them.  If the card didn't have a signature, we asked for ID. While I believe that not checking signatures could be related to just plain laziness, there is also a fear factor here.  Many of our clerks suffered the wrath of angry customers - even though this was a business class hotel - when we were trying to protect our guests and ourselves.  We always appreciated the rare person who stated their gratitude for our diligence.

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Canada Food Guide revamp to include more ethnic foods
May 11, 2005

Canada's food guide is being overhauled to reflect new scientific knowledge and the country's changing multicultural makeup, CBC Health and Science News reports.

The guide – used by nutritionists, hospitals, schools and other institutions to define healthy eating – was first introduced six decades ago and hasn't been updated since 1992.

Many critics say the guide is dated, confusing, boring – and doesn't reflect the country's population, which now includes more than 200 ethnic groups.

Health Canada is holding meetings with health groups, the food industry and others across the country, asking for their thoughts on the new food guide they hope to release in about a year.

Related Murmur: Food fight over U.S. Food Guide Pyramid changes

More from CBC News Indepth: Updating Canada's Food Guide - Food for Thought

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 9:49 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Gadget promises to decipher baby’s babbles
May 10, 2005

The Japanese toy maker behind the “Bowlingual,” which claims to decipher a dog’s bow-wows, is developing a new device that will translate a baby’s babbling.

A research team has been conducting experiments with moms and babies, monitoring the infants' cries, facial expressions and body temperature changes. The project is backed by the government-subsidized Japan Science and Technology Agency, AFP reports.

Via Fark

posted 10:56 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Mirror mirror on the wall, which diet is best of all?
May 10, 2005

Weight Watchers, Zone, Atkins… Which diet is best for you? Consumer Reports has analyzed them and will publish a list of winners and losers in its June issue. WebMD Medical News has a preview.

Via WebMDHealth

posted 10:29 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Poverty affects health more than smoking, study suggests
May 10, 2005

Poverty erodes a person's health more than smoking, drinking or lack of exercise, a Statistics Canada study suggests.

Education and income were more important for middle-aged health than acting healthy said the study, which was released yesterday.

"Among middle-aged adults aged 45 to 64, socio-economic characteristics such as the education level and household income were more important determinants of healthy aging than healthy behaviours," the study found.

The eight-year study of middle-aged adults found that only after the age of 65 does healthy living impact health more than financial well-being, CBC Health and Science news reports.

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 10:21 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Video gaming causing repetitive strains
May 9, 2005

An affliction once thought limited to the adult world of office typing has spread into the youthful playpen of living room video games, CBC Health and Science News reports.

Some call it "Nintendonitis" or "Nintendo thumb," but it may be known more widely as repetitive strain injury or carpal tunnel syndrome.

It's the hours of sitting in one position repeating the same motions over and over again that is the problem, says Vancouver ergonomist Peter Goyert who designs office and other equipment to reduce user discomfort.

"These sort of awkward postures can contribute to those types of aches and sorenesses, which over time can develop into potential long-term problems," Goyert told CBC.

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 1:23 PM (ET) | Permalink

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Bodvertising’ takes another turn: Baby offered as ad space
May 9, 2005

This baby's being offered on eBay as advertising space.

First it was the guy who sold his forehead as advertising space. Then there were those moms-to-be selling their pregnant bellies as billboards. Now a couple in Winnipeg is offering up their baby on eBay for ad space.

In the eBay item description, the sellers say they’ll place the winning bidder’s advert “on any and all item of clothing that she is wearing in public for a period of 1 year!”

“We are constantly stopped on the street, at malls, in the supermarket, in parking lots and the park by total stranger who want to see our little girl,” the sellers say. “Every single one of them is a potential customer that could be exposed to a companies message on a new media that would attract their attention.”

Update: By Wednesday, May 11, the couple behind the auction had a change of heart. They've pulled the ad, and replaced it with a note citing "negative press" as the reason for the removal. More from the Winnipeg Sun.

Related Murmurs: Contest explores ads of the future, Update: Belly wars begin over pregnant woman's ad auction, Pregnant woman to sell ad space on her belly, Advertising on the brain: Update III

Via Adrants

posted 10:43 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Testing the waters
May 9, 2005

Is bottled water safer than the good old tap variety? Does it taste better? The American news magazine 20/20 put the leading brands and regular tap water to scientific and taste tests. The result? Tap water was just as safe as the bottled version, and when it comes to tastiness, the most expensive bottled variety came in last.

Via Consumer World

posted by Tessa | 10:20 AM (ET) | Permalink

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New deodorant aimed at 7-year-old girls
May 6, 2005

Procter and Gamble is releasing a deodorant that it hopes will attract young girls to its Secret brand, Ad Age reports:

“Girls have started using deodorant younger and younger,” said Dave Knox, assistant brand manager at P&G overseeing the body-spray launch. “If you don’t target the consumer in her formative years, you’re not going to be relevant through the rest of her life.”

Secret Sparkle Body Spray comes in a variety of teeny-bopper scents, and is being pushed by P&G in an aggressive campaign that includes iPod giveaways and the brand's first marketing blog.

Personally, I think girls should stink.

Via Advertising Age

posted by Tessa | 9:10 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Debit card shopping coming to the web
May 5, 2005

Canadian consumers who don’t have a credit card have been out of luck when it comes to online shopping, but that will change soon. The country’s major banks are finalizing details for a service that will allow consumers to use their debit cards to make purchases on the web, the Toronto Star reports.

Interac Online will allow online shoppers to buy products from participating retailer websites, in much the same manner that credit card users follow. Customers will be able to access their personal online banking account from the retailer’s site, where they will be asked to confirm and approve the transaction. Customers are then returned to the retailer's site where the product purchase is completed.

None of the customer’s personal information is shared with the retailer during the transaction.

Via Toronto Star

posted 12:54 PM (ET) | Permalink

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Theatre chain to publish real movie start times
May 5, 2005

When does the movie start? Loews says it will being publishing real movie start times next month.

The third largest theatre chain in the United States says it will soon begin publishing the actual start times for feature movie presentations. Beginning next month, Loews says it will include a note in its newspaper and website listings alerting customers that "the feature presentation starts 10 to 15 minutes after the posted show time."

The move comes in response to gripes from customers about the increasing number of ads, PSAs, promotions and sneak previews running before a film, E! Online reports.

"It has been a long-standing tradition to show coming attractions and advertising before the feature, and we believe most of our customers understand this practice," Travis Reid, president and CEO of Loews Cineplex, said in a press release.

He added that recently "some of our customers have suggested that we also publicize the start time of the movie. In response to those requests, we are pleased to communicate the start time of the overall show, as well as the approximate start time of the feature."

Via BoingBoing

posted 9:27 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Comment (thanks Kay!): I sure wish this would start in Canada; the only problem is that when the lights go out, you have to wait until the promos and advertising have a "light" moment in them to find a seat.  In the old days, there used to be an usher with a flashlight.  I actually saw one couple come in with a flashlight once.  I must remember to bring mine the next time.  I'm a single senior and see a lot of movies so I see the promos and advertisements many times, but as I said, you have to go before the movie actually starts, or you can't see to find a seat.  Also, some theatres don't have handrails up the stairs.  This is a real hazard to people like me who have WONKY STEERING CAPABILITIES!!!

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Ontario doctors aging and working less: survey
May 5, 2005

The average age of doctors in Ontario is increasing while the amount of hours they're working is declining, an annual survey [PDF] by the province's medical regulatory body said yesterday.

The average age of practising physicians is 51, up from 49 in 2000, the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons said.

The survey, conducted last year, also said more specialists are approaching retirement and the proportion of family doctors relative to specialists is declining, CBC Health and Science News reports.

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted 9:27 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Comment (thanks Kay!): I have a wonderful family physician, but she only works part time and is often off work with a bad back.  She doesn't have someone covering for her, so this means I must go to a walk in clinic.  They don't know my health history and my personality, so they really don't prescribe properly for me. (I'm a seven-year cancer survivor with diabetes) I purposely go to walk-in clinics if it's not an emergency.  If you go to the emergency department of hospitals, you sometimes wait hours.  I can't imagine why anyone would do this when walk-in clinics are on almost every street corner now.  My family doctor knows me well, and knows that I only go to her when it's absolutely necessary, but the walk-in clinics don't know that.  As a cancer survivor, believe me, I've had enough of doctors appointments so would never go unless it was necessary.

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Vintage personal hygiene ads
May 4, 2005

A fabulous find from we-make-money-not-art:

The Ad*Access Project collects images and database information for over 7,000 advertisements printed in U.S. and Canadian newspapers and magazines between 1911 and 1955. Don't miss the ads for "feminine hygiene."

For example, this one is for a liquid antiseptic germicide:

Via we-make-money-not-art

posted 10:02 AM (ET) | Permalink

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eBay lists items confiscated at U.S. airports
May 4, 2005

Image source: eBay

In the market for 35 lbs of plastic-handled scissors? Look no further than eBay. If you do a search with the keyword “NTSA” (National Traffic Safety Agency, also known as NHTSA) you’ll find all kinds of goodies that have been confiscated at airport gates by the Transportation Security Administration.

Earlier this year, the TSA expanded its "Prohibited Items List" (things passengers on U.S. flights aren't allowed to carry in their luggage.) Included in the newly banned items are cigarette lighters, although passengers may still carry matches with them past security checkpoints.

Related Murmur: Lighters to be banned on U.S. flights, matches still a go

Via BoingBoing

posted 9:47 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Spring means reach for repellent, West Nile experts say
May 4, 2005

The return of mosquito season brings back West Nile virus, but doctors worry Canadians could become complacent about protecting themselves, CBC Health and Science News reports.

Medical officials predict West Nile will spread into British Columbia this year. The first patient is expected in the Kamloops area, which has been labelled a red zone for the virus.

To prepare, cities across B.C. are netting mosquitoes to test them for the virus, although the province has never had a case of West Nile in either a bird or a human.

In 2004, experts predicted the virus would continue west into B.C., but a cool, wet summer reduced activity across the country to 25 human cases nationwide.

Federal public health officials recommend the public use mosquito repellents containing the chemical DEET to protect themselves.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently said two other repellents can be effective. One, oil of lemon eucalyptus, is available in Canada, but it doesn't work as well as DEET or last as long.

Research shows about 80 per cent of people infected with the West Nile virus show no symptoms, while most of the remainder have only mild symptoms, such as fever or headache.

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted by Tessa | 9:26 AM (ET) | Permalink

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RFID could make your toothpaste sing
May 3, 2005

A German computer science student has figured out a way to use radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to play product jingles, the New Scientist reports. When a product embedded with a RFID jingle-enabled tag crosses the checkout counter at the supermarket, it would beam information to the tag reader tag reader, which would then play the tune.

Related Murmurs: RFID technology won’t be regulated in U.S., European consumers worry about use of RFID, Pub-crawling with Big Brother, Keeping track of the kids ... with RFID

Via we-make-money-not-art

posted by Tessa | 10:06 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Air pollution kills thousands each year: Health Canada
May 3, 2005

It's estimated that 5,900 Canadian deaths each year can be attributed to air pollution, a new report from Health Canada says.

The department revised its previous estimate of 5,000 deaths per year from 2002, using data from eight Canadian cities, CBC Health and Science News reports.

Air pollution and mortality data were collected in Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, Ont., Calgary and Vancouver.

Smog alerts are issued in part because air pollutants are known to cause breathing problems and aggravate respiratory and cardiac conditions, which are leading causes of hospitalizations and death in Canada.

Related Murmur: Riding the school bus exposes kids to pollution: study

Via CBC Health & Science News

posted by Tessa | 9:43 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Washing machine aims to mollify battle of the sexes
May 2, 2005

A designer in Spain has developed a new washing machine that he hopes will bring equality to the sexes when it comes to the dirty laundry.

Pep Torres developed the “Your Turn” washing machine, which uses fingerprint recognition technology to make sure the same person doesn’t have to bear the brunt of doing a load of laundry twice in a row.

Via Popgadget

posted by Tessa | 10:43 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Study links poor diet to learning disorders
May 2, 2005

Kids in the U.K. suffer from behavioural and learning disorders because of their diets, a new study says. The research found that British children’s diets are deficient in vital nutrients needed for their brains to function normally.

Researchers from Oxford University’s department of physiology conducted the study, which is published in this month’s issue of the American journal Pediatrics. The researchers studied the performance of underachieving children, some of whom were also disruptive, and found it improved dramatically when their diets were supplemented with fish oils containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Related Marketplace stories: Fat Grade, Cafeteria Confidential, Sugar Surprise, Junk Food Addiction, Fast Food

Via Environmental Health News

posted by Tessa | 10:22 AM (ET) | Permalink

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Supermarkets bank on futuristic shopping gadgets to keep Wal-Mart at bay
May 2, 2005

Here’s an interesting article from CNN/Money about how American supermarket chains are beefing up the gadgets, gizmos and –wowee– service in an attempt to keep compete with Wal-Mart.

Related Marketplace stories: The Science of Shopping, Paco Underhill: Shopping Scientist

Via Consumer World Blog

posted by Tessa | 10:08 AM (ET) | Permalink

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