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Project roadmap or token price — Which is most important?

Project roadmap or token price — Which is most important?

Content creator KryptosChain explains why a project’s roadmap and token price are important to its success, as well as the upgrades to the Polkadot ecosystem that excite him most.

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In the latest episode of Market Talks, show host and Cointelegraph head of markets Ray Salmond sat down with Polkadot ambassador and content creator KryptosChain to discuss the current state of the crypto market and drastic changes taking place in the Polkadot ecosystem. 

According to KryptosChain, the crypto market is possibly rounding the last corner of the bear market, and across the space, sentiment and money flow are steadily beginning to improve.

“Overall, I do think the market sentiment right now is hype-driven, but hopefully, we can change that with enterprise adoption and through the eventual approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF”

He added that, “In my opinion, I think the Bitcoin halving next year will be the main driver for the start of a new bull market, because of its history, and people base the markets’ performance on the history and psychology around it. I think 2024, toward the end — maybe summer or maybe autumn — is when we’re going to see some big activity.”

When asked whether investors should believe in projects based on the team’s goals and aspirations, or simply the price of the token, KryptosChain suggested that:

“It’s a mix from my point of view, and from what I’m seeing in the crypto community, a majority of people are in it only for the money, and then there are some people that are in it for the tech and the money, and there are very few, which are mostly the developers, who are only in it for the tech because they believe it can change the world and that Web3 is here to stay. From my point of view, as a content creator, both are important. The tech is important, but if you’re going to make an investment in it, you need to reap something from it, also. I believe it’s also important to look at who are the market makers behind a project.”

Related: Forget about price! Polkadot Decoded 2023 says bear markets are for building

A well-timed change is in order for Polkadot

Regarding the recent developments in the Polkadot ecosystem and his views on the changes, KryptosChain was generally positive and excited about the project’s new direction.

“Polkadot is introducing so many technical updates to change things, to make the ecosystem truly interoperable, which is a big positive. Forkless upgrades and alterations to the Parachain auctions are also upcoming events which are quite exciting.”

To hear more about Ray and KryptosChain’s discussion at Polkadot Decoded 2023, listen to Market Talks, exclusively on the new Cointelegraph Markets & Research YouTube channel.

Collect this article as an NFT to preserve this moment in history and show your support for independent journalism in the crypto space.

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

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“Mocktail” no more: Why bartenders want to change what we call non-alcoholic drinks

“Mocktail” no more: Why bartenders want to change what we call non-alcoholic drinks

In the not-so-distant past, ordering a non-alcoholic drink at a bar or restaurant usually amounted to nothing more than seltzer combined with some sort of saccharine — often inexplicably blue — syrup. The two liquids wouldn’t be mixed in any sort of meaningful manner, so you’d be left with a flat, dull seltzer and a pool of sludge in the bottom of your glass . . . yum? 

Ordering them was often an ordeal as well, one that required requesting a cocktail and then saying “. . . um, but could it come without the liquor?” You’re not a child at an all-inclusive resort trying to get a tropical piña colada to sip on in the pool. You’re an adult trying to order a drink. It shouldn’t be this challenging. 

However, this is thankfully changing. According to NielsenIQ, a data analytics company, the market for nonalcoholic beer, wine and spirits grew more than 20% last year and more than 120% over the last three years. The market now sees almost $400 million in annual sales, and with that newfound prevalence, there are definitely better options for a spiritless cocktail, but a big question still remains: What should those beverages be called? 

You’re an adult trying to order a drink. It shouldn’t be this challenging. 

Monikers like “mocktail” and “virgin” have long been standbys, but as bartenders across the country are becoming increasingly intentional about the non-alcoholic beverages they serve — and customers are becoming more intentional about how and what they drink — beverage professionals say it may be time to consider naming alternatives. 

“I think that the industry may be moving away from the term ‘mocktail’ probably because people are now taking non-alcoholic offerings just as seriously as alcoholic options,” said Allie Ballin, co-owner of the Wildset Hotel and Ruse Restaurant. “Now, ‘mocktails’ are just as thoughtfully created as cocktails, and craft brewing and wineries are adding quality NA options to their arsenal.” 

This sentiment is echoed by James Simpson, the beverage director and partner in Destination Unknown Restaurants, a D.C.-based restaurant. He told Salon Food that the word “mocktail” conveys a knock-off of something — which was unfortunately the standard in the industry for a long time — however, he has found “that the rise in the popularity of non-alcoholic drinks has given us more room to make beverages without alcohol and put them right on the cocktail menu alongside alcoholic cocktails.” 

Want more great food writing and recipes? Subscribe to Salon Food’s newsletter, The Bite.

Of course this isn’t a brand new idea; Julia Momose — A Chicago-based bartender, mixologist and the creative director of Kumiko, a Japanese dining bar —told Michelin in 2018 that she would “like to petition that we cease referring to the non-alcoholic drinks we serve as ‘mocktails’ and assign a name more befitting the care and the skill that goes into the beverage.” However, it’s one that is certainly gaining popularity in tandem with the development of non-alcoholic beverage programs, like the one at ilili in New York City. 

“Words are very important in shaping our guest experience, so from the inception of ilili’s NA program, we embraced and taught ‘soft cocktail’ over ‘mocktail,” said the restaurant’s beverage director, Chris Struck, who continued saying that the latter was a term best saved “for a list of Shirley Temple-esque drinks that might be served at a middle school talent show.”

As Struck said, changing the naming conventions around non-alcoholic drinks is often an exercise in hospitality. 

Elizabeth Parker, who is the general manager of D.C.’s Lutèce, joined the team back in May 2022 while feeling “disenchanted by finding little or no engaging beverage options when dining out,” which resulted in the beverage program growing exponentially since. According to Parker, the restaurant’s Sans Alcohol program features selection of alcohol-free spirits, bitters and botanicals to create seasonal non-alcoholic cocktail menus, which includes drinks like the Jalisco Heartbreaker, made with Spiritless Jalisco 55 (a popular tequila alternative which, per Lutèce bartender Allison Desy, has ” has wonderful ginger and vanilla notes”), rosemary, hibiscus tea and bubbly club soda. 

The menu also allows bartenders the ability to make non-alcoholic versions of classic cocktails like negronis, Manhattans, old fashioneds and Apérol-esque spritzes. 

“Diners shouldn’t need to sacrifice the creativity, complexity and social inclusion of craft cocktails just because they don’t want the alcohol,” Parker said. Furthermore, she notes the intentionality and the fact that it’s not some sort of ephemeral venture, stating “This section of our menu was not developed for Dry January, Sober October or No-vember. We champion creating delicious cocktails with or without alcohol year round for all of our guests to pair with our menu, augment their dining experience and most importantly — to enjoy!” 

Will Patton, the beverage director at Bresca and Jônt, speaks to the importance of the hospitality aspect. 

“We champion creating delicious cocktails with or without alcohol year round for all of our guests to pair with our menu, augment their dining experience and most importantly — to enjoy!”

“One of the staples of elevated dining is never say ‘no’ to a guest. So if someone doesn’t imbibe, we want to be able to ‘yes’ while not compromising our standards,” Patton said. “We are very proud of our cocktail selections so it’s important to take as much pride in our non-alcoholic beverages as well.” 

He points to the Citronnade a la Menthe, served at his restaurants, which is a “a play on the traditional mint lemonade served in French bistros. We prepare a cardamom lemon cordial and mix it with Moroccan tea before lightly fermenting for 48 hours. This doesn’t add any discernible alcohol, less than a kombucha, but does lighten the sugar content and add a spumante amount of fizz.”

As someone who is currently abstaining from alcohol, I’m agnostic over what to call these carefully-crafted beverages. Spirit-free, zero-proof, soft cocktail, whatever — just don’t call it a Shirley Temple (though I’ll never turn some grenadine in my drink).

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M.I.A. MLA Jason Stephan’s weak excuse for swearing-in absence

M.I.A. MLA Jason Stephan’s weak excuse for swearing-in absence

Jason Stephan, the Red Deer-South electoral district’s absentee MLA, apparently now wants us to believe he had no idea in March that there was an Alberta election scheduled at the end of May. 

At least one naïve octogenarian employed by Postmedia as a political columnist seems to have taken the bait. 

But younger and more alert readers, and even this septuagenarian writer, will recall that it’s been known since early November 2021 that a fixed election day for Alberta was set in legislation, and that, since she took over as premier last October, Danielle Smith insisted that the election would go ahead as legislated on May 29. 

Nevertheless, making his excuses on the social media site that won’t publish links to Canadian news reports, Stephan insisted his family holiday to Africa was booked “months ago, in early March, before the election in May, before any swearing in date conflict.” 

Seriously? Well, this is Alberta, so, presumably, yes. 

Most of us would pick up on the obvious: that November 2021 – when the Alberta legislature passed a law setting May 29, 2023, as the date of the next provincial election – was a year and four months before March 2023, when Mr. Stephan says he made his travel arrangements. 

Moreover, most of us would also think that from sometime in March 2023 to the end of May 2023 was a matter of weeks, not months, but I suppose we can concede that point to Stephan on the technicality. He is, after all, an accountant in addition to being a lawyer, so he is bound to have some familiarity with both arithmetic and nice legal distinctions. 

Stephan’s reason for this vacation seems like a perfectly fine one.

“After graduating from high school and working to save money, my oldest son was called to a 2 year mission for our church in Africa,” he wrote. “This spring my son got married. As our wedding present to our son and his beautiful bride, my wife and I agreed to pay for a trip back to Africa, so he could share some of the wonderful places and people he served with us and his bride.”

Well, I’m not going to knock him for that. However …

“Upon learning of a swearing in date conflict in June, arrangements were made for me to sworn in shortly upon my 2 week return in the first week of July,” he went on in his post. “There is no impact on my responsibilities or my ability to serve.”

The latter point, of course, is a matter of opinion upon which reasonable people can reasonably disagree.

But it’s important to remember that holding an opinion different from one held by Stephan or any other UCP member does not make one a liar, and his characterization in the same post of a comment by Edmonton-Mill Woods NDP MLA Christina Gray as containing “many lies” is offensive. 

“We have done nothing wrong,” Stephan concluded defiantly. “My wife and I and my son and his new wife are going to finish our trip.”

Well, good on ya, buddy. You be you. 

After all, Stephan does have a history of tavelling when he really ought not to be on the road – and being self-righteous about it when busted. 

It doesn’t change a thing, though. Given this weak excuse, it remains a reasonable conclusion that MLA Stephan is shirking his duties and treating his constituents with contempt. 

His Central Alberta riding being where it is, he can take comfort in the knowledge he’ll almost certainly get away with it. 

What’s more, as he pointed out by implication, if not explicitly, nothing of importance is going to happen with the government’s legislative agenda anyway until well after July, when he has a date for a personal swearing-in session with House Speaker Nathan Cooper.

If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s probably the value of public figures being honest and open up front about their whereabouts on dates important to their constituents if they happen to be planning to be out of town.

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Exchange rate sells for as high as N815/$1 at I&E Window

Exchange rate sells for as high as N815/$1 at I&E Window

The exchange rate between the naira and dollar sold for an intra-day high of N815/$1 at the official Investor & Exporter Window on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

This is the highest rate traded for the dollar on the official market since we started tracking records in 2018 when the window was launched.

The exchange rate however closed at N763.17/$ at the close of business on Wednesday depreciating from N756.61/$1 recorded a day earlier.

The disparity in exchange rates closes

Meanwhile, the disparity between the black market and the official exchange rate market closed again on Wednesday with the official rates closing at N763/$1.

  • This was close to the black market rate which sold for between N760-N770/$1 depending on who is buying or selling.
  • Nairametrics reported on Monday that the official and parallel market rates first achieved convergence on Monday, June 19th when they closed at N770.38.
  • By achieving exchange rate parity for the third consecutive day, analysts believe the official rate has crossed a critical first step in price discovery.

The three major phases to price discovery are the transition phase, speculation and adjustment phase and the intervention phase.

Under the transition phase,  when the newly managed float regime is being implemented market participants need time to understand and adapt to the new framework.

  • During this phase, there may be increased volatility and uncertainty as market forces start to influence the exchange rate.
  • This is what we are currently experiencing in Nigeria, thus the volatility.

In the speculation and adjustment phase, market participants, such as banks, forex traders, and institutional investors, analyze economic data, policy announcements, and other relevant factors to form expectations about the future exchange rate.

  • They may take positions in currencies based on these expectations, leading to fluctuations in the exchange rate.
  • As the market becomes familiar with the managed float regime, speculative activity, and adjustments may also occur.

In the intervention phase, the central bank may intervene in the foreign exchange market to influence the exchange rate.

  • If the exchange rate deviates significantly from the desired level, the central bank may buy or sell its own currency to stabilize or steer the exchange rate toward the desired direction.
  • These interventions can impact market sentiment and influence price discovery.

Other Markets: In the peer-to-peer (p2p) market operated by Binance, the exchange rate traded for around N770/$1 late on Wednesday.

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James Kenton Tennessee Metal Roofing Promotes American-made Products via a Highly Exclusive Roofing System

James Kenton Tennessee Metal Roofing Promotes American-made Products via a Highly Exclusive Roofing System

Kenton developed the MetalMan Roofing System to ease access to aftercare services.

Mt. Juliet, TN, 15th June 2023, ZEX PR WIRE, James Kenton Tennessee Metal Roofing, a service operated by the same-name independent contractor, promotes locally-made roofs. Kenton has stressed the importance of keeping American, especially Tennessean, roofs local by installing the MetalMan Roofing System, an all-American roofing solution.

While not prone to severe weather events, Tennessee gets a fair share of tornadoes and rainstorms from nearby hurricanes. Foreign-made roofs don’t always comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and American regulations. They may or may not be environmentally friendly.

As an American-made product, the MetalMan Roofing System complies with local safety standards. As a product for Tennessee homes, the product is designed to withstand extreme weather events.

“Foreign-made roofing products might be cost-efficient, but they aren’t energy efficient,” explained a James Kenton Tennessee Metal Roofing staff member. “What’s better: Paying a higher utility bill every month or paying more for an expensive roof to lower your utility bill? These products are designed to weather local conditions, and there’s no guarantee they resemble the weather we get here. MetalMan was tailored around Tennessee’s inclement weather. It complies with American standards. It’s safer and better for your home and the environment.”


The MetalMan Roofing System is composed of eco-friendly components. James Kenton Tennessee Metal Roofing makes the product more sustainable through roof retrofitting. The service involves installing the metal roof without removing the existing structure, reducing construction waste.

The owner, James Kenton, is a Massachusettsan-turned-Tennessean, poised to hit the 30-year mark in his roofing career. He manages independent roofing operations in Nashville as a third-party service for construction businesses catering to homeowners.

Kenton manages business accounts, creates budgets and expense reports, provides estimates, and walks homeowners through projects. He oversees every roofing job and provides after-repair and installation services to his clients.

For more details about repair, replacement, and installation services, contact Kenton on Facebook or connect with him on LinkedIn.

About James Kenton

James Kenton is a roofing contractor who has spent almost 30 years installing metal roofs and overseeing repairs, replacements, and installations across Massachusetts and Tennessee. The roofer’s company has ranked within the top 100 companies on Qualified Remodeler and Replacement Contractor. For roofing and retrofitting services, email Kenton at [email protected].

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088440878443

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JimKenton9

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kenton-tennessee-9044aa259/

Published On: June 15, 2023

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Indian drug controller probes into exported medicine to Sri Lanka following reports of loss of eye sight

Indian drug controller probes into exported medicine to Sri Lanka following reports of loss of eye sight

The Indian drug controller is currently investigating a pharmaceutical company based in Gujarat after receiving reports from Sri Lanka that a steroid eye drop manufactured by the firm has been associated with adverse events, including cases of vision loss. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government has recalled the medicine, as per media reports. 

The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has issued a notice to the company, requesting information regarding the importer, recipients of the drug, and details about the manufacturing license and product permissions.

The company, Indiana Ophthalmics from Wadhwan-Gujarat, has been urged to investigate the cause of the alleged product contamination and provide their findings to take appropriate action. 

Failure to submit the requested information by June 3, 2023, could result in the suspension of the company’s Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), Pharmexcil said. 

An RCMC is required by companies to export drugs, and if the necessary information is provided, Pharmexcil will await the investigation findings before taking further action.

Eye drop given to cataract patients post-surgery 

According to reports, the prednisolone eye drop in question was administered to patients in Sri Lanka who had undergone cataract surgery. The eye drop has been linked to “eye infections in over 30 individuals,” as mentioned in the Pharmexcil notice.

Earlier cases of Indian-manufactured eye drop

This is not the first instance of contamination involving an eye drop manufactured in India. Earlier this year, US was investigating the EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over-the-counter eye drop produced by Global Pharma Healthcare in Chennai, India. The investigation centered around a widespread outbreak of a highly resistant strain of bacteria that has been associated with different types of infections, including those affecting the eyes.

US reported an outbreak of highly antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections linked to the Indian-manufactured eye drop. The outbreak reportedly resulted in 68 cases of infection across 16 states, causing three deaths, eight cases of vision loss, and four cases of eyeball removal.

The company voluntarily recalled the eye drops in February.

Indian-manufactured ophthalmic ointment 

In another incident, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert regarding an Indian-manufactured ophthalmic ointment in February, citing quality issues such as the presence of particles in various colors, sizes, and shapes on the nozzle, cap, and inside the tubes.

The ointment is given as a treatment for infants and older children and is also indicated as a preventive measure for infants. As per WHO, the affected ointment is supplied in bulk and as a component of various medical kits supplied by some international organizations providing humanitarian assistance. At least 55 countries received the affected batches, as per the global health agency. 

Watch | Pakistan to begin barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia

Additionally, black spots and brown splotches were found on the inner foil layer of the tubes. However, the WHO clarified that no adverse events were associated with the ointment. “Redness and swollen eyes are common reactions to general use of tetracycline eye ointment. There is currently no indication that the above-mentioned quality issues may give rise to adverse events that are not listed in the product labelling,” WHO had said. The manufacturer initiated a voluntary recall of several batches.

Indian-manufactured syrups 

Apart from eye drops, the WHO has also highlighted three instances of diethylene or ethylene glycol contamination in Indian-manufactured syrups since October last year. These syrups have been linked to 70 deaths in Gambia and 18 deaths in Uzbekistan.

Furthermore, a case of contamination was detected in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, despite the manufacturer claiming that the syrups were never sold to these countries.

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Is this the intense story of Superstar Rajinikanth’s ‘Thalaivar 170’?

Is this the intense story of Superstar Rajinikanth’s ‘Thalaivar 170’?

Is this the story of Superstar Rajinikanths Thalaivar 170?

Superstar Rajinikanth is playing an important supporting role in his daughter Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s new movie ‘Lal Salaam’ starring Vikranth and Vishnu Vishal in the lead roles. The legendary actor is playing the role of Moideen Bhai and will wrap up his portions in a couple of weeks time.

Rajini will begin shooting for his next biggie ‘Thalaivar 170’ produced by Lyca Productions and directed by T.J. Gnanavel. The film has music by Anirudh and the team is said to be in talks with Chiyaan Vikram for the chief antagonist role.

Rajini is said to be playing a retired police officer in ‘Thalaivar 170’ and it is said that the core story of the film is based on a fake encounter and the hero’s fight against the system. It is also said that T.J. Gnanavel much like his ‘Jai Bheem’ has taken a real life incident and has spun a screenplay on it with an important social issue at the center. Lets wait for the official confirmation once the project goes on floors this July.

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