Chobani's Greek Yogurt Taking America by Storm

10 years ago, a Turkish man moved to America with $3,000 and after a few years and a loan of a million dollars, bought a frozen yogurt factory in upstate New York. 5 years later, that man, Hamdi Ulukaya, ended up with 100% of his company and 1 billion in revenue, something only done by tech companies such as Google and Facebook.

And all he did was sell Greek yogurt.

Hamdi Ulukaya is the owner and CEO of Chobani, a Greek yogurt company. He's also the only investor in his company. Strained yogurt, or as its known in the States, Greek yogurt, is known for its extremely thick and smooth texture, and is created by straining the excess whey from the product. The food has been taking America and therest of the world by storm. Chobani stands for shepherd in Turkish, which comes from his dedication to his hard-work to his father's farm back in Turkey.

He sold his first case of Greek yogurt in October of 2007, and now the company is worth 1 billion, a growth rare in the tech world, and unheard of in the foods section of the market. He started his company buy hiring 4 people and a yogurt master from Turkey after he bought Kraft's yogurt factory in New Berlin and started working on attempting to produce the best-tasting, most high-quality yogurt around. Nowadays, Chobani has employed over 3,000 people after owning 2 factories; one in Idaho and another in New York. There first sale was to a store in Great Neck, New York, called Ever Fresh, a kosher store. He, salesman Kyle O’Brien, and several others hand-packed the 300 cases of plain, peach, strawberry, blueberry, and vanilla and drove them to the Long Island store. Chobani's big break came when ShopRite picked them up in their stores. Business exploded, and more and more orders came, even though they didn't have a marketing campaign.

Since the business boom, they've gone from about 55,000 cases per week to nearly 2 million. They were able to open a new factory twice the size of the one in New York. The factory opened in Twin Falls, Idaho.

He was recently awarded the Ernst & Young's World Entrepreneur of the Year against 48 other entrepreneurs. He doesn't glorify himself, either. His office in Chobani's upstate New York factory includes a desk and a few airy-themed pictures. He doesn't wear a suit. Instead, he wears jeans and a little red bracelet with the Turkish blue eye good-luck symbol. Not the type of usual entrepreneur you'd picture. 

He wants to pave a pathway for future company owners in America to make real products for their consumers. Chobani prides itself on its 100% authentic, all-natural yogurt. Its motto is "Nothing but good," and with all its revenue, it must be.

Now, the factory owns 60,000 cows and purchases about 1 billion pounds of milk each year, which is then turned into the annual sale of about 2,000,000 yogurt cases. Chobani proves to be a company that highlights the American Dream for immigrants coming to make in big.

Day 1 and 2 of E3 Summary

As the sun rose on Los Angeles on June 10th, many hopeful gamers flocked to E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo. From newly released games to newly revealed consoles, Day 1 proved to be quite a blockbuster event.

The newly revealed PS4 won the heart of gamers, and shone alongside Sony's executive, who revealed to the cheering audience that the PS4 would not need a constant Internet connection and would be able to play used games, very much unlike its rival, the Xbox One. Additionally, the PS4 will be $100 cheaper than the Xbox One. It will also include a 500 GB hard drive. The one thing gamers missed during all the hype was Sony's plan of doing a paid plan for $50 for online multiplayer, matching Microsoft's plan of Xbox Live's paid subscription. The PS4 will also not be packaged with a camera, but will also be included with the traditional Blu-ray player. Sony also announced they'd be releasing multiple versions of the PS4, much like the Xbox One is doing.

The Xbox One also had a bit of highlighting moment, as they talked more about games, as promised. However, with the hefty price tag of $499, many gamers still feel like they're trying to create an all-around living room entertainment system. However, they didn't leave out games for the Xbox One as they promised, with an impressive lineup of games exclusively to the Xbox One, ranging from zombie-shooter Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome, Titanfall, and the highly surprised release of Halo 5.

What may be the most interesting part of the Xbox One exclusive games was Project Spark, which is more of a game creation tool. The games you create can be played by you and your friends. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum, PS4 had many companies release their lineup of games for the next-gen-console, including inFamous: Second Son, Killzone: Shadow Fall, and The Last of Us, and The Order: 1886.

Many non-exclusive games this year include highly anticipated Battlefield 4, Batman: Arkham Origins, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Saints Row 4, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and Watch Dogs. Killer Instict also got the spotlight, as did a new release of cult-favorite, Mirror's Edge. A big game released that have many fans excited is Star Wars Battlefront 3.

Day 2 revealed quite a bit on Nintendo's hands, including Mario Kart 8 for Nintendo's 8th-gen console, the Wii U. Alongside with Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. returned to Nintendo's consoles for Super Smash Bros. Wii U. They also revealed a new Legend of Zelda, titled A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS.

Many other games that were revealed yesterday will get more explination on today's stages, including inFamous: Second Son, Wolfenstein: New Order, and Batman: Arkham Origins.

E3 this year has proved to be one of the biggest in recent years, especially with more details of the Xbox One and the revealing of the PS4. Many games were revealed along with the consoles, many for universal consoles, and a handful of exclusive games for the PS4 and a bunch of exclusives for the Xbox One.

Does the Xbox One Fall Short of Expectations?

As a gamer, nothing excites more than a hyped up, new release. Yet with the 8th generation of consoles, this may not turn out to be the case.

The Xbox One was revealed on May 21st to compete with Sony's Playstation 4 and Nintendo's Wii U. The reveal went on for about an hour, with about 15 minutes talking about actual gameplay. Many online and gaming communities reached out negatively about this. In terms, the video game console didn't really talk about video games, and instead, talked about other, smaller pieces of info. Many blockbuster games are in development for the Xbox One and PS4, and while the Xbox will still play games, used games may be forgotten. Used games, which contributed to 48% of GameStop's revenue in 2012, will only be able to run on the Xbox One if you pay a fee. If the game has been installed on another person's console, you''l have to pay for it to work on yours. Or, you'll have to download your profile onto another persons console. Games also made for the Xbox 360 will not be compatible for the Xbox One.

The Xbox One features a spunky, half-gray, half-black matte finish design, with the Xbox logo in the lower right hand corner. CD's will be inserted into the slot on the left-hand sign.

The Xbox One will also allow you to watch TV programs, and will also have TV achievements.

TV achievements?

Yes, Microsoft has decided to include their idea of giving TV watchers achievements, such as watching an entire season of your favorite show, or sitting there on the couch with a dumb look on your face. They'll also track your watchings

Other features include Skype, Blu-Ray player, a handy multi-tasking system, and a re-vamp of the Kinect.

However, the Microsoft team is saying that a constant internet connection is required, and will be checked every 24 hours. So if the Xbox has any plans to be sold in Egypt or any country undergoing the process of not imploding on itself, they may want to rethink that.

Another issue is the invasion of privacy. The Kinect will be a requirement for the Xbox One, and will remain on at all times (even in Sleep Mode, it will still be able to recognize commands.) Speaking of invasion: any webcam can easily be hacked, and would you want that in your house?

The creepiest part of the Kinect? The fact that it will be able to read your facial expressions while watching ads, and send the reports to advertisers. The following reactions would let advertisers know what consumers are and aren't interested in.

The controller has a similar resemblance to that of the Xbox 360's controller, with of-set analog sticks, a D-pad, and the traditional X, Y, A, and B buttons. The Start and Back buttons were replaced with Menu and View.

Overall, Microsoft has gone and created a privacy-invading, all-around entertainment system, not just a video game console. But video gamers don't want to spend the extra money on trinkets, or even a new cable box. Just a video game system that can handle new and used games, and just a general console feel. More on the Xbox One will be released during E3 on June 11th, and hopefully, gamers will get to know more about gameplay on the console.

Jason Collins Comes Out as the NBA's First Openly Gay Basketball Player

Jason Collins, the center for the Washington Wizards, came out as openly gay during his article in the May 6th edition of Sports Illustrated, describing it as “a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders.” Collins made the announcement in an article he wrote himself for Sports Illustrated. He started the article by saying "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay." Collins also wrote in his article "I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

Collins' Cover for SI.

The support for Collins has been incredible. He’s received tons of messages from fellow NBA players, and even a phone call from the President.  "It was just your typical day when you speak to the president and Oprah," he cracked. 

There has been a string of hateful comments, though. On ESPN, the NBA analyst Chris Broussard, judging the NBA player on his religious beliefs, said that “living openly as a homosexual was a sin and that doing so was walking in an open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ.” A local homophobic minister has "way too much air time" bashing Collins' idea of coming out, Collins reported. A caller to NPR even suggested separate locker rooms and showers.

Despite hateful his comments, he has been outweighed by all the positive and helpful comments. Even his Twitter account had surged from 3,500 followers to 85,000 overnight.

Collins quoted on coming out: "Truthfully, this whole experience has been humbling and kind of overwhelming. What I'm doing has been done before in sports. There have been lots of other pioneers. I'm obviously the first to come out in this country in one of the four major pro sports -- basketball, baseball, football, hockey. But some people would put soccer up there, too, and Robbie Rogers has already blazed a trail there. I'm just trying to live my life authentically."

Rogers called Collins on his way to a LA Galaxy tryout and said, "It feels a little weird to congratulate you for being honest."

However, Collins' girlfriend of 8 years, Carolyn Moos, didn't know he was gay after all this time. "It's very emotional for me as a woman to have invested 8 years in my dream to have a husband, soul mate, and best friend in him." Even though the wedding was canceled for "the right reasons," she said, she still doesn't seemed depressed about him, saying that she "just wants him to be happy."

Collins has played for 12 seasons in the NBA, but has never shattered any scoring awards or even became a full-time starter, but he shattered an incredible barrier with his announcement. Jason Collins has even been compared to the Jackie Robinson of our era with his ground breaking achievement. As Jackie Robinson was the 1st black baseball player, Collins announcement of being the 1st openly gay basketball player could change the outcome of sports for the future.

Meet the Choco Surprise

As more and more childhood memories slowly disappear, Kinder Surprises, or kinder eggs as they're sometimes referred to, were created by Ferrero, who also created the popular spread Nutella. They were banned by the Food and Drug Administration in 1938. They were banned under the right that "a confectionery product with a non-nutritive object, partially or totally embedded within it, cannot be sold within the United States, unless the FDA issues a regulation that the non-nutritive object has functional value", otherwise known as the 1938 Food and Drug Act. There have been few cases of people smuggling them in over the Canadian border to sell in the United States of America, as a woman from Winnipeg found out after paying a $300 fine. 

Smugglers, be gone. There is now a much safer, legal alternative, and you can thank the genius minds behind 

it.

They're called "Choco Treasures", and are produced by Candy Treasure LLC, a candy producer is New Jersey. They cost between $1 to $1.49, and they're sold on Candy Treasure's website (www.chocotreasure.com), Target, and a candy store in Lower Manhattan called Economy Candy.

Kevin Gass, the creator, reported to ABC News that "he worked with the FDA and a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission certified lab to make sure the product was safe for children of all ages." To wit: The egg is designed that each egg contains a capsule that separates the two halves of the chocolate. The capsule also has expands around the side, so all children can tell there's something there by the edges.

Kinder Surprises were banned for the reason that the candy was not eligible for kids under 3 to eat, due to choking hazards from the toys. Most Kinder toys had to be assembled. However, Gass and the FDA had created a bigger egg so that no assembly was required.

Squirty toys, hand-painted figurines, full decks of mini playing cards, 3D puzzles and spinning tops are just a number of kid-friendly toys a Choco Surprise could hold. His motivaton behind which toys to enclose was because if they were for kids, why not add toys adults could love, too? Gass revealed that one of the biggest challenges was finding a toy that appealed to adults and kids alike, even though children are the target audience.

The best part? The eggs are being released just in time for this year's Easter. There are also 2 special edition eggs:  Sport eggs, containing a sport related toy, and a Spiderman version, licensed by the comic giant, Marvel.

Candy Treasure LLC is also sponsoring multiple Easter Egg hunts around America, and the proceeds will help donate Choco Surprise eggs to St. Jude’s Children’s Ranch & Hospital, the L.A. Zoo, the NY City Parks Dept, Chicago Parks Dept, Glazer Children’s Museum, and the Drumthwacket Foundation.

While there’s finally a legal alternative, fans of the original Kinder Surprise have set up a Facebook page for the Kinder eggs and have also started a petition trying to get the ban lifted.

America: Do We or Do We Not Need Gun Control?

America has had its fair share of gun violence. The Newtown school shooting from Adam Lanza and the shooting at the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado from James Holmes has given more insight to the nature of Americans. Do we need guns for safety? Or should we regulate gun sales?

The decision to ban gun sales is risky and people will find a way around them one way or another. However, the numbers don't lie.

Approximately 1,000 crimes involving guns are committed daily in the U.S., while some 29,000 citizens are killed annually with firearms. Comparable numbers include 155 deaths by firearms annually in the UK, and 168 in Canada. These numbers approximate to UK with 2.5 firearm deaths per million, Canada with 4.9 per million, and the U.S. with 92 per million.

On the other hand, people find ways around gun control. Anders Breivik, the terrorist who blew up a government building in Oslo. He used a bomb in order to get achieve his goal and killed over 70 people.

If you're for it, or not for it, either way there's no denying the shootings have sparked many debates about gun control: should we have heavier bans or continue on as we are? Some say continue on as we are and that guns can do just as much good as evil, such as self-defense. But counter arguments say more control on guns, background checks, and magazine clips with room for only 10 bullets or less. James Holmes was apprehended with 3 guns carrying more than enough ammunition for a mass murdering.

However, nobody talks about the positive sides of using guns. An elderly Florida man legally carrying a gun shot and wounded two armed men as they tried to escape a cafe they had just robbed. The video, shot last year, has gone viral, and the old man, Samuel Williams, has quite rightly become a folk hero in the miniature Florida community.

On the other hand, when insanity takes control of gun, then the results aren't the best. James Holmes and Adam Lanza, two mass shooters who took action in 2012, had been "diagnosed with a form of mental illness." James Holmes and Adam Lanza both had considerable mental problems, leaving America wondering if we need background checks. Both injured and killed multiple people, saying we need less ammunition per magazine clip.

More rural areas want less gun control. Guns are one of the most important things for a rural person. In the countryside of south Louisiana, nearly everyone has guns. Many people hunt, and if you don't hunt, it's still completely normal to have at least one gun in the house. You need it for personal security - the police can't come soon if you live far out of town - and for shooting poisonous snakes and coyotes threatening your farm animals. More city folk are more in favor for more gun control, as they’re living in a more populated area, where a shooting could more likely take place. A poll found that the view of gun control is affected by one's race and locality.

Either way, the debates keep coming and coming into view. Should we or should we not have more gun control? Which will benefit the public more?

Oscar Pistorius's Legacy Coming to an End?

The world of sports was shocked this summer when Oscar Pistorius, the infamous Blade Runner at the 2012 Olympics, became the first ever Olympian to run in the Paralympics as well as the regular Olympics. He's widely been regarded as "the most famous disabled athlete of all-time." Now the world of sports is being shocked again as he's being accused and investigated on the possible charge of first-degree murder.

The double amputee is being faced with the heavy charges on the accusation of shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp 4 times in the arms and head early Thursday morning. Neighbors also said they heard incidents of "screaming and shouting" throughout the evening before. Police have also said they've visited the runner's home in South Africa in the past on reports of domestic violence.

Police have not confirmed that Steenkamp was murdered although her publicist released a statement saying the model was dead.

Pistorius was born on November 22, 1986 with fibular hemimelia , or having an absence of the fibula in both of his legs. Just when he was 11 months old, his legs were amputated halfway between his knees and ankles, and he now wears fiberglass “blades” which is how he got his name of “Blade Runner”. He had won several gold medals in the Paralympics and 4 silvers in able-bodied events. Pistorius’ friends and family described him as a very nice guy and very inspirational. It’s no wonder that he shocked the world when the story was released. 

Reeva Steenkamp was born in a small town near Cape Town and moved with her to Port Elizabeth. She then began to study law at the University of Port Elizabeth. After earning her degree as a paralegal, she then became a model. She had been dating the runner since November and was soon to be shown on a reality TV show called Tropika Island of Treasure. Just last week, the model described her boyfriend as "an impeccable man who always has her best interests at heart".

A claim not made by the police says the runner mistakenly shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkemp thinking she was an intruder, when she was just planning a Valentine's Day surprise. This could be traced back to the 30 year old model Twitter account after she tweeted Wednesday evening "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow?" and also tweeted that "It should be a day of love for everyone."

A 9mm handgun had been recovered from the crime scene in the morning, which Pistorius reported owning one much before the incident. Pistorius was a fan of guns, and he would drive to the local shooting range when he couldn’t sleep at night. He kept his gun located in his bedroom for security. Later that day, Pistorius arrived at Mamelodi Day Hospital for tests on his blood alcohol level and his fingernails would be tested for evidence as well.

Pistorius will appear Friday morning for a court hearing. Police in South Africa said they would oppose bail for Pistorius.