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Subway announces new rewards program. Here's how much you'll need to spend for a free sandwich
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The new program, called Subway MyWay Rewards, will give customers surprise food items and tokens, which will eventually become reward dollars. - photo by Herb Scribner
Subway has a new rewards program, but its really confusing.

The new program, called Subway MyWay Rewards, will give customers surprise food items and tokens, which will eventually become reward dollars, according to a press release.

The rewards program, which will launch in the U.S. and Canada next month, will arrive in more than 28,500 restaurants.

Guests will receive birthday surprises and more surprises based on how much they spend.

"We know time and money are important to our guests," said Subway Chief Digital Officer Carissa Ganelli. "It's important to us that we deliver a seamless, convenient experience to help our customers get what they want when they want it and what they want is our delicious, nutritious, and affordable food.

Customers can join the rewards program through the Subway App, Subway.com or a restaurant.

According to Mashable, the programs rewards program is somewhat confusing. On one hand, customers will receive surprises, like coupons and special offers. Thats the easy part.

On the other hand, the tokens provide some complication. Customers will earn four tokens for every dollar spent. Two hundred tokens will result in $2 in Subway credit.

That means a customer would have to spend $50 at Subway to receive a $2 credit.

Or, since most Subway sandwiches cost about $6, a customer would have to spend nearly $150 to receive a free sandwich.

Subway previously launched a free meal punch card system called Sub Club. But, according to WIRED, the company discontinued the program in 2005. Customers expressed anger, though, when they showed up at restaurants to spend their reward points only to find the program no longer existed.

Subway joined a list of food companies that discontinued the punch card system switching to mobile apps, instead because customers could create fraudulent cards through photo-editing and laser printers.
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
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.