Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:55 PM on Thursday, March 25th, 2021
Digital assets stored on the blockchain can be endlessly copied, but legal and finite ownership of original digital artwork, music and more is becoming the domain of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), now enjoying their moment in the cyber-sun as the hot cryptocurrency investment du jour.
Enter ex-Beatle and iconoclast, the late John Lennon. What’s the connection? It’s famed rock music photographer and jewelry designer May Pang who, as the story goes, went from personal assistant to paramour of Lennon in 1973 during an 18-month breakup from his wife, Yoko Ono.
In the annals of rock star indulgence, it’s known as Lennon’s infamous “Lost Weekend” in Los Angeles (again, lasting nearly two years) during which punches flew, substances were abused, public scenes ensued in L.A. watering holes, and late songwriter Harry Nilsson (“Everybody’s Talkin’ at Me” and “Me and My Arrow”) reportedly saved Lennon from a bad psychological slide.
Pang chronicled the entire affair (no pun intended) with her camera, capturing deeply personal moments of what turned out to be some of Lennon’s last years on earth. The Beatles co-founder was murdered outside of his New York City apartment building in December 1980.
Speaking with PYMNTS, Pang and Ruth McCartney, stepsister to Beatles co-founder Sir Paul, spoke of their partnership bringing a slice of Lennon history back to life.
Together with global blockchain solutions firm Liquid Avatar Technologies, augmented reality (AR) platform ImagineAR, Oasis Digital Studios and McCartney Multimedia, the parties are “bringing [Pang’s] personal and exclusive collection of ‘John Lennon’s Lost Weekend’ photographs featuring her intimate 18 months with the rock ‘n’ roll icon to the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) collector market through Oasis Digital Studios,” per a statement.
Along with the sound of tens of millions of Lennon fans fainting at the prospect of owning these original sounds and images is the scramble for digital wallets as bidding begins.
Pang Partners With Sir Paul McCartney’s Digital-Savvy Stepsister On NFT Line
Pang knew the late icon better than most, telling PYMNTS, “John Lennon loved the idea of instant. So now … you have your [digital] camera and you go, ‘I don’t like that photo, [delete it] put the next one in,’ — he would love that more than anything else.” She added, “That’s where my book [title comes from], ‘Instamatic Karma.’ [It’s] a play on his song title.”
Perhaps a ripping Beatles cover song — “Money (That’s What I Want)” — would be the more appropriate citation when speaking about NFTs. Trade in NFTs began heating up earlier this year as everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was suddenly auctioning off their most famous digital assets, like Dorsey’s first-ever tweet.
For her part, McCartney and her Oasis Digital Studios are rocking her world-class Rolodex to bring digital ownership of even more amazing moments in pop culture to the crypto crowd.
“We’re not just taking photographs … and selling them as JPEGs,” McCartney said. “There is a whole multimedia component, in some cases augmented reality, in some cases cinematics. We’re turning these iconic photographs and paintings and pieces of pop culture … [into digital] audio and visual [NFTs].”
She added, “I think art is just following that natural progression of … drawings on cave walls to paintings in the Sistine Chapel, to something hanging on the wall in a collector’s place or the Louvre. We all live in our phones … so why wouldn’t we collect art digitally, especially if it’s protected in the blockchain?”
McCartney said she likes to call NFTs “non-forgeable tokens” to illustrate their unique digital attributes.
“I think it’s a lot more attractive because … how many great old masters have been counterfeited and ripped off? Well, with this medium, you can’t do it. So, it guarantees the owner exclusivity, and it guarantees the artist protection for their work.”
Among her next moves in the space will be foodie NFTs from the world’s top chefs, she said.
“Money Don’t Get Everything, It’s True…”
Pang said she views the new crypto craze through an artist’s lens, telling PYMNTS that after discussing NFTs with McCartney, she realized the creative opportunities afforded by the form.
Noting that with NFTs “I could take my photographs and put in events” and other multimedia elements, Pang compared the NFT phenomenon to The Beatles’ groundbreaking Sgt. Pepper’s album, still hailed as a technological breakthrough for the creation of art in the 1960s.
Harking back to her comment about Lennon’s love of all things instant, Pang said, “He would be deep in the thick of this, too,” meaning the creation of NFTs. For the man credited with the first (and only) political protest to take place in a hotel suite, Pang’s call seems on the money.
While “John Lennon’s Lost Weekend” NFT is a collection of images and more, when asked about favorite items in the collection, Pang’s tone lightened to a laugh as she recalled Lennon’s personal favorite image, now part of the NFT, of himself wearing an Aran sweater.
“That was one of his favorites,” Pang told PYMNTS, noting that Lennon said, “‘I like the way I look.’ He didn’t like a lot of photographs that were out there [of] him.”
Getting the vote for most dramatic NFT image in the collection: Lennon signing the papers legally dissolving The Beatles, consigning them off to the ages — and now, the blockchain.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 2:29 PM on Thursday, March 25th, 2021
*Strain-specific Live Resin product set for release under Color Cannabis adult-use brand *Available for purchase from Ontario Cannabis Store in May
TORONTO, March 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WeedMD Inc. (TSX-V:WMD) (OTCQX:WDDMF) (FSE:4WE) (“WeedMD” or the “Company”), a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical-grade cannabis, is pleased to announce the debut of its strain-specific live resin product for release under its Color Cannabis adult-use brand, 510-thread vaporization carts. Products will be available for purchase from the Ontario Cannabis Store starting in May, 2021 with eventual expansion to additional provinces and retailers. The live resin line offered in Pedro’s Sweet Sativa cultivar is the first in a series of new extract products recently announced by the Company that will eventually expand to feature solventless hash and rosin concentrates.
WeedMD partnered with Ontario’s Peak Processing, a highly-skilled, third-party processer that specializes in developing hydrocarbon extract of freshly harvested and frozen cannabis biomass to produce live resin formulations. This process ensures the cannabinoid and terpene-rich trichomes are preserved at harvest to produce some of the purest, true-to-nature forms of concentrates from the Company’s award-winning genetics.
“With the launch of our live resin products, we’re excited to introduce consumers to another authentic offering featuring the unique cultivar that is Pedro’s Sweet Sativa,” said Joseph Mele, Senior Vice President, Commercial Sales and Marketing, WeedMD. “The goal with all Color Cannabis products is to expand consumers’ awareness – particularly for those seeking unique terpene profiles and new premium, high-value concentrates. Peak Processing has carefully extracted live resin from fresh-frozen Pedro’s Sweet Sativa, grown and processed alongside our skilled teams, and we’re looking forward to adding more cultivars to this innovative line-up.”
WeedMD is expected to release additional Cannabis 2.0 extract products including solventless hash and rosin concentrates throughout 2021, under its Color Cannabis and Saturday Cannabis adult-use brands. Product development for both solventless cannabis concentrates, including bubble hash and rosin extract products, is currently underway alongside WeedMD and its highly skilled third-party processors currently undergoing trialling processes.
The Company has further developed a unique, in-house sub-critical CO2 extract post-processing methodology, which preserves the flower’s terpene profile and results in a malleable, semi-solid high-potency cannabis extract product. Trials to confirm scalability and product integrity are also currently underway at the Company’s Aylmer, Ontario processing and extraction hub.
Extract products will be produced using WeedMD’s own biomass, grown on-site at the Company’s state-of-the-art greenhouse and outdoor field in Strathroy, Ontario.
Access WeedMD’s 2021 Shareholder Newsletter here. Information about upcoming corporate events can be found here.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:23 AM on Thursday, March 25th, 2021
Announced that it has launched, in the Apple App Store and on Google Play, the 2nd phase of its Liquid Avatar Mobile App program.
Updated phase, which builds on the program launch in February, introduces key features, and a host of minor technology and app updates.
Phase 2 will also see the introduction of multiple language capabilities with several languages being readied for rollout in the near future, the ability to connect further social media and data sources to their Liquid Avatar personas, and additional free Liquid Avatar creative components.
TORONTO, ON / March 25, 2021 /Liquid Avatar Technologies Inc. (CSE:LQID)(OTC PINK:TRWRF) (FRA:4T51) (“Liquid Avatar Technologies” or the “Company“), a global blockchain, digital identity and fintech solutions company is excited to announce that it has launched, in the Apple App Store and on Google Play, the 2nd phase of its Liquid Avatar Mobile App program.
This updated phase, which builds on the program launch in February, introduces key features, and a host of minor technology and app updates. This release will provide users with the ability to create multiple Liquid Avatars and manage different facets of their personalities (personas) as well as storing items in their personal locker. Phase 2 will also see the introduction of multiple language capabilities with several languages being readied for rollout in the near future, the ability to connect further social media and data sources to their Liquid Avatar personas, and additional free Liquid Avatar creative components.
The Company will continue to advance the product via its April release, which is expected to feature a first look at Liquid Avatar’s Verifiable Credentials Ecosystem, allowing users to create W3C compliant Verifiable Credentials in their Liquid Avatar wallet, with an initial focus on their Identity Verified Credential. Work also continues on a number of other key features including the integration of ImagineAR’s (CSE:IP / OTCQB:IPNFF) augmented reality platform that will provide unique immersive experiences for Liquid Avatar Mobile App users and Oasis Digital Studios’ AR Enhanced NFTs.
The Liquid Avatar beta app, featuring user created digital icons that allow users to manage, control and create value from their biometrically verified digital identity, officially launched globally in the Google Play and Apple App Store on February 18, 2021. With the foundational first and second phases now available, the Liquid Avatar app will continue to launch additional updates, features and phases, on a regular monthly basis. The Company believes that as it plans to provide future features, regular releases will provide users with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with existing features before moving on to more comprehensive services and the opportunity to manage their digital identity and verifiable credentials.
If you would like to join our mailing list and receive updates from the Company, please click here
Loncor Resources Inc. (“Loncor” or the “Company”) (TSX: “LN”; OTCQX: “LONCF”; FSE: “LO51”) is pleased to announce further significant assay results from its drilling program within its 84.68%-owned Imbo Project in the eastern part of the Ngayu greenstone belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The deepest borehole drilled to date at its flagship Adumbi deposit, LADD009 intersected 32.15 metres grading 6.17 grammes per tonne (g/t) gold (including 1.46 metres grading 94.77 g/t Au), 15.36 metres grading 3.73 g/t gold (including 5.89 metres grading 6.56 g/t Au), 5.00 metres grading 3.17 g/t gold and 7.45 metres grading 1.48 g/t gold.
Mineralized sections for borehole LADD009 are summarised in the table below:
Borehole Number
From (m)
To (m)
Intersected Width (m)
Grade (g/t) Au
LADD009
559.76
564.76
5.00
3.17
LADD009
581.90
614.05
32.15
6.17
LADD009 including
599.05
600.51
1.46
94.77
LADD009
629.56
644.92
15.36
3.73
LADD009 including
632.00
637.89
5.89
6.56
LADD009
650.50
657.95
7.45
1.48
Borehole LADD009 had an inclination of minus 75 degrees and azimuth of 218 degrees at the start of hole and regular measurements of inclination and azimuth were taken at 30 metre intervals down the hole. All core was orientated, and it is estimated that the true widths of the mineralised sections are approximately 82% of the intersected width. All intercepted grades are uncut with maximum internal dilution equal to or less than 4 metres of intersected width. Borehole LADD009 intersected the mineralization at a depth of approximately 140 metres below the open pit shell (see Figures 2 and 3 below). Boreholes LADD012 and LADD013 are currently being drilled (LADD011 was abandoned before reaching target depth due to mechanical problems and LADD013 is being drilled in its place).
Commenting on these latest drilling results, Loncor President Peter Cowley said: “Borehole LADD009 is the deepest hole drilled to date at Adumbi as well as the highest value in terms of the product of grade multiplied by true width for the multiple intersections (see Figure 2). These excellent results combined with previous results from the ongoing drilling program indicate that gold grades are increasing with depth. We continue to be excited by the results at Adumbi. The holes from our current drilling program have intersected significant widths and grades and will increase the current open pittable, inferred mineral resource of 2.19 million ounces (28.97 million tonnes grading 2.35 g/t gold) at the Adumbi deposit. Studies are underway to quantify this increase.”
The gold mineralization at Adumbi is associated with a thick package (up to 130 metres) of interbedded banded ironstone and quartz carbonate and chlorite schist with higher grade sections being found in a strongly altered siliceous unit termed “Replaced Rock” (RP) where structural deformation and alteration has completely destroyed the primary host lithological fabric. Disseminated sulphide assemblages include pyrite, pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite which can attain up to 20% of the total rock in places.
The objective of the current drilling program at Adumbi is to outline additional mineral resources to the current inferred mineral resource of 2.5 million ounces of gold on Loncor’s 84.68%-owned Imbo Project which contains the Adumbi, Kitenge and Manzako deposits (inferred mineral resources of 30.65 million tonnes grading 2.54 g/t Au).
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 24th, 2021
Intends to implement a normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) or alternative trading systems.
On any given day, during the NCIB, Kontrol may only purchase up to 69,500 common shares, which is equivalent to 25% of the Average Daily Trading Volume of 278,000 calculated based on the trading volumes on the CSE over the past 12 months and may purchase once per calendar week, in a block trade, a greater number of Common Shares.
TORONTO , March 24, 2021 – Kontrol Technologies Corp. (CSE: KNR) (OTCQB: KNRLF) (FSE: 1K8) (” Kontrol Technologies ” or ” Kontrol ” or ” Company “) is pleased to announce today that it intends to implement a normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) or alternative trading systems.
Pursuant to the NCIB, Kontrol may purchase, from time to time, over a period of 12 months starting March 25, 2021 and ending March 25, 2022 , up to 2,061,236 common shares (approx. 5% of its common shares issued and outstanding as of March 24, 2021 ). As of March 24, 2021 , there were 41,224,731 common shares of Kontrol issued and outstanding. On any given day, during the NCIB, Kontrol may only purchase up to 69,500 common shares, which is equivalent to 25% of the Average Daily Trading Volume of 278,000 calculated based on the trading volumes on the CSE over the past 12 months and may purchase once per calendar week, in a block trade, a greater number of Common Shares.
Purchases under the NCIB may commence as of March 25, 2021 and will end on the earlier of: (i) March 25, 2022 ; or (ii) the date on which the Company has purchased the maximum number of common shares to be acquired under the NCIB. All purchases made by the Company will be through PI Financial Corporation acting on behalf of the Company. The purchases will be made in accordance with the rules of the CSE, through the facilities of the CSE or through alternative trading systems. The actual number of common shares which will be purchased, and the timing of such purchases, will be determined by the Company, and the price which the Company will pay for the common shares will be the market price at the time of the purchase. The common shares purchased under the NCIB will be cancelled.
The Company’s Board of Directors believes that the market price of the Company’s common shares may from time to time not reflect the underlying value of the Company, specifically its growth opportunities, and that the proposed purchasing of its common shares is in the best interests of the Company and represents an appropriate use of corporate funds. It is expected that any purchases made by the Company could also enhance value and liquidity for its shareholders.
Of note, this NCIB is further to a previous NCIB that the Company had implemented while trading under the CSE. Under the previous NCIB, which started on July 8, 2019 and ended on July 8, 2020 , 1,464,156 common shares were approved for purchase, of which 30,500 common shares were purchased. The weighted average price paid per common share purchased was $0.58 CDN.
About Kontrol Technologies Corp.
Kontrol Technologies Corp., a Canadian public company, is a leader in smart buildings and cities through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology. Kontrol provides a combination of software, hardware, and service solutions to its customers to improve energy management, air quality and continuous emission monitoring.
Additional information about Kontrol Technologies Corp. can be found on its website at www.kontrolcorp.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .
Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “likely”, “should”, “would”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “potential”, “proposed”, “estimate”, “believe” or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” happen, or by discussions of strategy.
Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that sufficient capital will be available to the Company and that technology will be as effective as anticipated.
However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, that sufficient capital and financing cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or at all, that technologies will not prove as effective as expected, that customers and potential customers will not be as accepting of the Company’s product and service offering as expected, and government and regulatory factors impacting the energy conservation industry. In particular, successful development and commercialization of the Kontrol BioCloud are subject to the risk that the Kontrol BioCloud may not prove to be successful in detecting the virus that causes COVID-19 effectively or at all, uncertainty of timing or availability of any regulatory approvals and Kontrol’s lack of track record in developing products for medical applications. KontrolBioCloud is an air quality technology and not a medical device. The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus).
Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations, and opinions of management on such date. Kontrol does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities law. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information.
