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Pepsi pulls controversial ad with Kendall Jenner, says it 'missed the mark'
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On Tuesday, Jenner tweeted out Pepsis new ad, which didn't go over well, prompting Pepsi to pull the ad completely. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
News Division
Published: Apr 6, 2017, 2:19 PM
Kendall Jenner and Pepsi received heavy criticism this week for a new ad that lasted only a day.

On Tuesday, Jenner tweeted out Pepsis new ad (it's since been deleted), which shows the celebrity leaving a photoshoot to join a group of protesters who are calling for peace.

The ad promptly received a heavy amount of backlash from Americans because "it trivialized the widespread protests against the killings of black people by the police," according to The New York Times.

Pepsi pulled the controversial ad Wednesday, according to The Wall Street Journals Jennifer Maloney.

"Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding," the statement read, according to Maloney. "Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position."

The ad originally sparked outrage on Tuesday. It shows Jenner hand a police officer a can of Pepsi, like a peace offering. The cop accepts the can, smiles and the crowd erupts in applause.

Critics said the ad showed protests that were a lot like those aimed at police brutality, BBC reported.

Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke out against the ad in a tweet saying, "If only daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi."

Other critics called the ad privileged, white and insensitive toward protesters, BBC reported.

Pepsi initially released a statement on Tuesday saying that the ad spread an important message.

"This is a global ad that reflects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony, the statement said, according to BBC. We think that's an important message to convey."

Jenner has yet to comment on the ad.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.