LED Lights Can Help Save The Planet, One Bulb At A Time | CNET

Upgrading your light bulbs is the easiest and smartest way to help reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Here’s the math. Our lights are usually the first things we turn on when we wake up, and the last things we turn off before we go to sleep. We use them every day and to do almost everything: cook, work, enjoy family meals and relax with a book. But we hardly ever think about how one type of light can be a success story in the fight against climate change. Read full…

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Digital Contact Tracing Apps In The US That Use ENS Tech From Google And Apple Are Still ‘Weeks’ Away | Engadget

In order to help fight the spread of COVID-19, Apple and Google quickly developed exposure notification technology for Android and iOS that that relied on Bluetooth technology in mobile phones. They initially released their platforms in May (via an update for iOS and Play Store services on Android), but so far, in the US apps based on the technology have not rolled out widely. According to a Google blog post, apps based on their exposure notification systems have launched in 16 countries and regions, with Canada joining that count on…

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The Canada-U.S. Border Could Be Closed For Months. Here’s What You Need To Know Now | CBC News

Gone are the days when Canadians and Americans could freely drive across their shared border for a quick shopping trip or to visit family and friends. Now, the Canada-U.S. land border that was once wide open is closed to non-essential travel, affecting the lives of many people on both sides. Here’s the latest on what you need to know about Canada-U.S. border rules and why our neighbours to the south may not be visiting for a while. Read full story here: The Canada-U.S. Border Could Be Closed For Months. Here’s…

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CFIA Says Don’t Plant ‘Unsolicited Packages Of Seeds’ Received In Mail | CTV News

TORONTO — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning Canadians not to plant packages of “unsolicited” seeds. The agency said in a statement that these seeds can contain invasive species and can be harmful to agricultural and natural areas. “Do not plant seeds from unknown origins,” the CFIA wrote in the statement. “Unauthorized seeds could be the seeds of invasive plants, or carry plant pests, which can be harmful when introduced into Canada.” In a tweet, the Ontario Provincial Police said the foreign seeds are typically sent from China or…

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Nearly 5,000 U.S. Citizens Have Tried To Enter Canada For Shopping, Recreation Despite COVID-19: CBSA | CTV News

OTTAWA — According to new data from the Canada Border Services Agency, more than 10,000 U.S. citizens have been turned away at the Canadian border during the pandemic — and almost half of them were hoping to enter Canada to shop, go sightseeing or simply for recreation. While half of the U.S. citizens were turned back for “other” reasons, which the CBSA did not expand on, a little over 2,700 citizens had to turn back when they said they were hoping to cross the border for “tourism” or “sightseeing.” More…

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N.S. Power Applies To Get Time-Of-Day Pricing To Give Option For Lower Electricity Prices | CTV News

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Power customers will soon be asked if they’re willing to do laundry late at night to save some money on their bills. With an electric scooter as a primary mode of transportation, Ed Julian is certainly aware of what he pays for power every month, and like many Nova Scotians, it’s too high for his liking. After being shelved for a while because of COVID-19, the power utility has ramped-up its smart meter replacement program again, with an aim to have half-a-million installed by next year.…

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Uncovered: 1,000 Phrases That Incorrectly Trigger Alexa, Siri, And Google Assistant | Ars Technica

As Alexa, Google Home, Siri, and other voice assistants have become fixtures in millions of homes, privacy advocates have grown concerned that their near-constant listening to nearby conversations could pose more risk than benefit to users. New research suggests the privacy threat may be greater than previously thought. The findings demonstrate how common it is for dialog in TV shows and other sources to produce false triggers that cause the devices to turn on, sometimes sending nearby sounds to Amazon, Apple, Google, or other manufacturers. In all, researchers uncovered more…

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Tim Hortons App Under Investigation Over Data Concerns | CTV News

GATINEAU, QUE. — The Tim Hortons mobile ordering app is being investigated by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and provincial agencies in Quebec, B.C. and Alberta. The joint investigation was prompted by concerns raised in media reports about how the app may be collecting and using data about people’s movements as they go about their daily activities. It will examine whether the fast food restaurant chain owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc. is in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Canada’s federal private…

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Elon Musk’s Company SpaceX Applies To Offer High-Speed Internet Service To Canadians | CBC News

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has applied to offer high-speed internet to Canadians living in remote areas by beaming it to them via satellites. The Globe and Mail newspaper first reported that space exploration company SpaceX applied with Canada’s telecom regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), for what’s known as a Basic International Telecommunications Services, or BITS, licence. That’s a requirement for any company that wants to offer what the CRTC calls “telecommunications traffic between Canada and any other country.” Read full story here: Elon Musk’s Company SpaceX Applies To…

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Thousands Of Tourists, Shoppers Still Trying To Enter Canada Despite COVID-19 Travel Ban | CTV News

VICTORIA — Canadian border agents have turned away more than 7,500 foreigners – mostly Americans – trying to visit Canada for non-essential purposes, including sightseeing, shopping and recreation, since pandemic restrictions on travel were imposed. The latest data available from the Canada Border Services Agency reveals that 7,639 foreign nationals were denied entry to Canada under the discretionary travel ban between March 22 and June 16. Americans accounted for 87 per cent of those denied entry, with 6,615 U.S. citizens being sent home by Canadian border agents. The remaining 1,024…

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