In nearly all
issues of art magazines, there is usually an article or two about an artist’s
success story or an upcoming artist who narrates their journey through the
world of art.
Sadly, it is usually the case the almost each of these artists seems to have received some discouragement from pursuing art at one time or another in their lives. No matter the level of talent or enthusiasm the young artist exhibited, there was always one or more people, sometimes even an art teacher, parent, counselor, who vehemently discouraged any idea of becoming an artist whenever they became of age.
Why Does This Happen?
Sometimes, even
if children have artistic parents, they usually get discouraged from even the
thought of becoming an artist. Children are so thoroughly dissuaded from the
arts such that even after years of college struggles in choosing a major, they
never even consider art as an option.
However, it is
not clear why many non-artists (and even artists) are quick at discouraging
someone that it is impossible to do art for a living, and it is a sure path to
poverty and anguish.
Even though it is a difficult path, there are also numerous other paths in life that are difficult. For instance, being a doctor is not a piece of cake. Medical school is very difficult. It requires many years, costs an arm and a foot, and leaves the student stressed up due to a huge debt burden. Moreover, this does not even take into account the internship done after graduating. However, parents never discourage their children from becoming doctors.
The reason is
that they believe, being a doctor is a guarantee for employment and a lump sum
salary. On the contrary, they imagine that all artists are poor and that art is
for those who never made it academically. Statistically speaking, more doctors
earn better than artists. There are also doctors who struggle financially, and
there are artists who are doing quite well.
Are There Some
Parents Who Discourage White-Collar Careers?
There are very
few to no parents who ever discourage their children from becoming doctors,
lawyers, pilots, engineers, etc. They find it a source of pride for parents
whenever their children partake in such courses. However, having y0our son or
daughter grow up to become an artist is a fact to be ashamed of.
Some students
graduate from college with degrees in “prestigious” traditional colleges. Nevertheless,
after a few months, or even years they come to an epiphany that a particular
career just not just cut it for them. They undergo much frustration as they try
to find something they can enjoy.
It reaches a
point whereby they finally quit their jobs and pursue their artistic passions.
Most parents normally respond with shock and deep concern for their children.
Even art teachers are not left out of this too. They usually believe that
someone who takes art as a career can either become a teacher or a starving
artist.
Every day we constantly witness success stories of artists who managed to make it to a certain extent despite all odds whether it is in still life, landscape, portrait art, etc. what’s more, they are earning considerably well while still undertaking jobs they are passionate about.
Fortunately,
some parents understand and support whatever their child aspires to become. They
will even facilitate the process by:
Availing the requisite
material
Facilitating networking
Giving information
about relevant educational events
This is the right action to take as a parent. They should emphasize the importance of passion and effort in whatever one does. This is a surefire way of attaining success in any endeavor. Even when you want to become good at writing an essay, you need to put in the requisite effort and continuously practice until you perfect your writing aptitude.
Any time someone
reads a story about a successful artist who made it despite all odds, they
should contemplate how life would have been if they gave up the pursuit. There
are also numerous other potential artists out there who listened to
discouragements given by parents, teachers, peers, and others. Right now they
are working unhappily in some dead-end jobs they seriously hate. The world has
been denied their art, whereas they have been denied their dreams. This makes
them live a life of utter dissatisfaction.
Therefore, it is
important to allow children to discover their natural strengths and work on
them. By discouraging them, you might end up destroying a dream.
Imagine your life without a car. Hard to imagine,
isn’t it?
Cars make our life simple, comfortable, and more
efficient. However, cars come with their own hazards. Globally, close to 3,700
people meet their untimely death through road traffic accidents.
You read that right: a whopping 3,700
individuals.
If you have a family, the risks are even much higher. When it comes to the death of children and young adults between the ages of 5 to 29 years, road traffic accidents are the foremost cause. If you’ve ever experienced a road accident or you know anyone who has been in a road accident, you know how harrowing and devastating such experiences can be.
Thus, any feature that can ensure your car is
safe should not be sneered at. Such measures should be wholeheartedly embraced
and implemented. Here are three such measures (accessories).
Auto Emergency Braking
Cars with an Auto Emergency Braking (AEB) are 38%
less likely to collide with another car. That’s how efficient an AEB feature is.
An AEB feature slows down your car or completely
stops it in the event of a looming accident. It works by alerting the driver of
an impending crash, but if the driver fails to take action, the AEB feature
takes over and brings the car to a halt.
So, when you decide to purchase a new car, make sure you find a car that has an AEB fitted. For various manufacturers, an AEB feature may have another name. For instance, with Mazda, it is called the Smart City Brake Support while Mitsubishi calls it the Forward Collision Mitigation. Check with your car manufacturer or retailer to ensure your car has an AEB feature.
Ignition Interlock Device
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, someone is injured in a drunk-driving crash every 90 seconds.
This makes DUI related offenses one of the leading causes of road traffic
crashes.
There have been various measures implemented to
curb drunk driving, particularly license suspensions. However, the most
effective way to curtail drunk driving is to use an Ignition interlock device. The device is a car
breathalyzer that controls a vehicle’s ignition.
The driver, before starting a car, would be
required to provide a breath sample through the mouthpiece of the ignition
interlock device. Once the sample returns a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC)
value beyond the stipulated value (0.02 for most states in the U.S), the car
will not start.
While ignition interlock devices are often
mandated for people who have been convicted of drunk-driving, it is also very
beneficial for any ordinary driver.
Driver Fatigue Monitoring
Driver fatigue or drowsiness is a major cause of
road accidents.
Using a unique pupil identification technique,
the feature analyzes the behavior of a driver’s eyes and predicts if the driver
is getting drowsy and not in the state to drive.
While the specifics differ by brands, this
feature usually comes with WiFi, GPS, and built-in infrared light. If there is
any aberration in driving behavior (including calls, tiredness, anxiety,
smoking), sound and light alarms will go off. The Driver Fatigue Monitoring
tool is especially useful for long journeys.
Wrapping Up
Your life is precious. With car accidents among
the leading causes of deaths globally, it is imperative that everyone takes
measures to ensure their cars are safe.
Fitting your car with devices such as ignition
interlock device and auto emergency braking and making sure your airbags are
always functional are crucial ways to keep your car – and more importantly,
yourself and your family – safe.
A diamond necklace has been a darling of
fashion for eons and is considered a sign of elegance and sophistication. This
piece of ornament occupies such a special place in every woman’s heart as it
brings out her stylishness in a way that nothing else could possibly do. A
diamond necklace is a must-have accessory for any event whether formal or
informal as its transformative nature is unmatched.
These necklaces come in various shapes and styles which ranges from a simple diamond dangling off a chain to heavier multi-diamond cluster necklaces. This guide offers five effective tips that will help will choose the perfect necklace that will suit you or your loved one.
This is an essential starting point as it set the pace for other consideration as you choose your necklace. In essence, the piece should not be too small that a one has to squint to see it, neither should it be too big to overshadow everything else in your outfit. The weight and size of the necklace should match the style and fashion of the woman wearing it in that a smaller diamond will resonate with an introverted woman who wants to keep her fashion taste at minimal.
2. Consider the length of your chain
You can choose between
choker necklaces and full-length diamond necklaces. A choker is more popular
especially with individuals who have long necks as it tends to put more
emphasis on their elegant neckline and also focus on the face. A shorter woman
can complement her outfit wearing a choker which is between 18 and 24 inches as
it will lengthen her appearance and make her appear taller. The same rule
should apply to plus size individuals.
An older woman will feel more comfortable wearing a longer necklace as more focus will be directed on the necklace instead of her neck or face. A dangling pendant can serve to divert attention from the facial area.
This factor will highly
depend on your preference and the status of your pocket. The most important
features in a diamond are color, clarity, cut and carat weight. It is generally
recommended that if you choose clarity or color of an inferior grade, decide on
an excellent- graded cut. A high-cut stone is more lively and appears more
brilliant. It will also compensate for all other faults.
In a nutshell, if you are operating on a tight budget, it is advisable to work with smaller diamonds. Bigger diamonds of low quality will have more pronounced imperfections.
4. Facial shape
The shape of the face of the recipient will indicate the perfect necklace that will suit her. Round-faced women will look great in longer diamond necklaces as this will help achieve a lengthening effect. Short chokers tend to amplify the roundness of their faces. Oval faces will look elegant in any length necklace.
5. Your wardrobe
This is a point that
cannot be overlooked. Your closet dictates largely the type of necklace that
will rest on your neck. For instance, a
longer chain is preferred when wearing clothing that covers the neck for instance
turtle necks or sweaters. It is important to note that this applies differently
to shorter women.
Conclusion
Necklaces have been an integral part of jewelry since time immemorial. Any woman who wants a touch of refinement in her outfit will find this classic necklace a must-have in her jewelry collection. The various styles of these necklaces give one a wide variety of choice to choose a piece that suits her tastes and preferences. Women should always consider their facial structure and type of neck before purchasing a necklace. A diamond necklace is a pricey but worthy investment and should be chosen wisely. The above-given tips are meant to help you purchase a piece that will ensure you get value for your money
Whether you’re an aspiring data scientist or
you’re already a data scientist looking to expand your skill set, know that the
knowledge of Python is an essential skill in the field of data science. Python
has become the preferred language in data analysis over the last few years, and
it’s mainly due to its ease of learning and the fact that it is hugely time
saving during application, though those are not the only reasons. Listed below
are five reasons Data Science with Python training is essential for every data
scientist. But, before we get to the why of learning this programming language,
let’s understand what Python is.
What is
Python?
Python is a versatile programming language that
supports functional programming, structured programming, and also object
Oriented programming. The versatility of this language is what makes it a good
choice for data scientists. Python enables developers to create codes in a
modular style and the codes can be reused as well, since Python supports the
use of modules and packages.
Python is a simple and easy to learn programming
language. It requires the use of a unique syntax which supports readability.
It’s also a low-cost programming language. Python’s interpreter and standard
library are available free of cost in binary and source form.
Python for
Data Scientists
According to the Indeed Data Science skills
report of April 2019, Python is among the top skills employers look for in data
scientists, along with machine learning and SQL and Hadoop.Having these top
skills not only boosts your resume but also gives you the chances of earning a
higher salary. According to LinkedIn, data scientists with an updated skillset
make an average of $107,000 a year.
Python is more scalable than R, making it more
and more popular across various industries. It is also faster than Matlab and
Sata. YouTube is one platform that uses Python because of its flexibility in
problem solving situations.
Compatible
with Hadoop
Python is compatible with Hadoop, the most
popular open-source big data platform. The PyDoop package offers access to HDFS
API for Hadoop, allowing programmers to write Hadoop MapReduce programs and
applications. HDFS API allows you to connect to HDFS installation, which makes
it easy to read, write, and get information on global file system properties,
directories, and files.
Easy to
Learn
Python is easy to learn for non-programmers too,
compared to other programming languages. Due to its readable code, large online
community, and varied learning resources, Python is a good choice to start
learning programming language.
Extensive
data science libraries
Python has over 72,000 libraries in the Python
Package Index, making it popular among aspiring candidates. These libraries are
upgraded regularly. Most of the libraries in Python are available for data
analysis. Here are some of them.
NumPy: The library has a number of
high-level mathematical functions that operate on multidimensional arrays and
matrices.
SciPy: It works in association with NumPy arrays and
has routines for numerical integration and upgradation.
Matplotlib: This is a 2D plotting
library which contains data visualizations in the form of histograms, bar
charts, and scatterplots with minimal coding lines.
Online
Python Community
Python has increased its reach in the world of
data science and a large number of volunteers are developing Python libraries.
Due to this, it’s possible to develop advanced tools and processes in Python.
Which Skills
Will You Learn?
Python is simple to learn, making it an ideal learning language for beginners. Read on to know which other skills you will learn with the data science with Python course.
You will get an in-depth
understanding of data science processes, like data wrangling, data exploration,
data visualization, and hypotheses building & testing.
You will be enabled to perform
high-level mathematical calculations using the NumPy package.
You will gain expertise in machine
learning using the Scikit-Learn package.
You will Understand how to use
supervised and unsupervised learning models, such as linear regression,
logistic regression, clustering, K-NN, and pipeline.
You will gain the knowledge to
extract useful data from the websites with the help of web scraping using
Python.
You will gain the ability to perform
scientific and technical computing with SciPy package and its sub packages,
like Integrate, Optimize, IO and Wave.
Data Science
Is an Ever Expanding Field
Expanding consumerism has caused a surge in the
demand for data scientists. Knowing the coding and programming tools and when
to utilize their strengths to get the most out of your analysis is essential
for a data scientist. Python is a popular programming language in data science,
and a working knowledge of this language will give you a stepping stone to
start your career as a data scientist.
With the sudden downturn in the economy and a slowdown in economic growth along with rising unemployment levels, a ‘churn’ has been observed in most of the jobs in the market. This is applicable even at the “C” level positions, which include managerial (chief) staff, such as CEO or CFO, etc. People are voluntarily shifting from one job to another for small wage-gains and to seek a job before getting sacked from their own jobs. However, if you are being sacked for any past criminal offense, you should immediately consult the Houston criminal defense lawyer.
Signs of Termination
If you are still working with a
company despite the economic downturn, and have been delivering above-average
performance for quite a few years now, a sudden change of events could leave
you nowhere if you are not prepared. Remaining alert and keeping an eye on some
of the signs that might point toward the possible termination of your contract
in the near future is the first step toward getting yourself ready for any such
situation. These signs could be anything that has not been a trend in the past.
For example, if you are not called to a staff meeting to discuss an important
project, or not invited to a company-sponsored event unlike your colleagues, or
if you are not given as much workload as you were given in the past, – and if
it forms a pattern – then you should consider it an alarming signal for a
possible redundancy that might occur in the near future.
How to Prepare Yourself?
You should always be prepared beforehand lest something happen which is not in your favor. According to HR professionals, there are two significant dates, which you should regard as a ‘turning point’ in your career in a situation where the worst could happen. These are January 1st and July 4th. These two are the holidays between which you should take time out to review and update your résumé, pay close attention to what is going on in the labor market and the industry that you are affiliated with by scanning the newspapers and watching the news. Asking around and getting in touch with a former colleague who is working in your target company, and keeping yourself updated on the performance of all the companies you are aiming for certainly helps during such a time.
Update Your Resume and Plan
Ahead of Time
An important aspect that I
mentioned previously is to have an up-to-date résumé at all times. You never
know when you might need it. Instead of wondering why things are going the way
they are and waiting for the moment you are forced to leave your job in search
of a better opportunity, you should be ready to tackle anything beforehand by
having a definite plan of action and a revised résumé to present before a
prospective employer. Always have a plan about what you are going to do in the
worst situations. What jobs to search for if you are terminated, the CV that
you are going to present, etc. Moreover, revise and make changes in that plan
as necessitated by the prevailing circumstances.
Many people got downsized as a
result of the economic downturn. However, they made a
mistake of not being prepared for the situation and often waited for months
before landing a new job or even beginning to search for it. This made the
situation worse than it already had been. In such a scenario, there is another
useful tip. Along with having an updated résumé, have your references ready,
and make sure that they recommend you positively for your targeted
position.
The moment that you have your first child, your world
changes. Suddenly, there is a new center of the universe and a new top
priority. You want to give your son or daughter the best life possible, and you
want to keep them happy, healthy, and connected to you and the rest of your
family.
Raising a healthy child means regular visits to the
pediatrician, healthy foods, opportunities for games and exercise, and all of
the other things that you’re careful to provide in order to care for your
child’s physical health. But, as you may well realize, physical health isn’t
everything: We also need to care for the mental health of our children.
Caring for your
child’s mind
Just as with physical health, achieving great mental health requires good everyday decisions. In fact, your child’s mental health relies on many of the same things that his or her physical health does. A great diet, plenty of exercise, and regular sleep patterns are all good for a person’s mental health, just as they are for a person’s physical health.
The support of a loving family matters enormously, too. Bring your family together for meals and other moments — and be a good example of work-life balance by taking family vacations. Heading down to Florida may not seem like a mental health treatment, but experts say that it actually is. There’s a ton of evidence to support that a relaxing day on the beach and a West Palm Beach sunset cruise can actually calm us down, lower our stress levels, make us happier (and even physically healthier), and return us to our daily lives feeling recharged and being measurably more productive at school or work.
Another key to great mental health is communication, and
that’s particularly important to parents and children. Your child isn’t going
to go set up his or her own mental health care appointment and drive him or
herself there. You need to know what is going on in his or her head. Encourage
healthy communication and know how to get your child to open up, so that you
have a better chance of identifying mental health issues early instead of
finding out later that your child hid them from you.
What to do when
things go wrong
Mental health and physical health have a lot in common,
but we don’t always recognize that. We can keep our child eating healthy foods
and exercising, yet we won’t be surprised if our child comes down with a
physical ailment. Can we appreciate the same truth about mental health?
The fact of the matter is that, while there is much that you can and should do to care for your child’s mental health, you can’t control everything. Mental health issues are very common, even among children, and especially among teens. If your child shows symptoms of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other common problems, don’t take it personally or blame yourself, but do take it seriously.
In situations like these, experts say, you should seek professional help. Seek out mental health care providers like psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists. Consider inpatient rehab, too, such as Polaris adolescent residential treatment centers for mental health issues. Sometimes, getting your child away from difficult situations and familiar settings can help enormously.
Just like physical health, mental health requires regular care. Also like physical health, it sometimes requires us to go to the doctor. When you make mental health a priority in your family, you’ll help your children live the life you want for them.
Summer of 2019 is loaded with potential Box
Office ‘breakers’.
But which summer films will lead the pack with
regards to box office success? Avengers: Endgame is the fasted movie to gross
over $2 Billion in history. It’s also on the verge of beating out Avatar as the
top-grossing movie of all time. For the sake of making this article truly about
the summer box office, we are excluding Endgame as it was released on April
26th, which is by no means, ‘summer’, even though some are including it because
its success will hold it in theatres well into the summer months.
Top sites like bovada will have lines on this matter, so we’ll look to them for guidance on our predictions.
On the Marquee
OK, even though the official start of summer
is June 21st, we’ll include any movie released after June 1st. June is
basically what we consider summer, despite what official northern hemisphere
dates say.
Our
Expected Top Movies in the Box Office:
June 7th – Dark Phoenix
June 24 – Toy Story 4 & Child’s Play
July 5th – Spider-Man: Far from Home
July 19th – The Lion King
July 25th -Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
Aug 2nd -Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs
& Shaw
Let’s go
backward.
Once
Upon a Time in Hollywood +1400
Although this may end up being one of the best
movies this summer, that doesn’t mean it is going to outgross certain other
that have a particular type of draw … eg.
less awesome plot, structure, and well-written dialogue and more
explosions. This flick has the makings to be phenomenal. With Leo, Brad, and
Margot the characters are bound to be amazing. That said, It probably won’t
gross more than 50 million dollars in its opening weekend.
Dark Phoenix
+1400
Sansa Stark (sorry Sophie Turner) as Jean
Grey? This is going to be pretty cool. However, the film lacks the hype
surrounding other summertime X-men releases. So it’s doubtful that it will
break the 90 million mark in its opening weekend. Like Once Upon a Time in
Hollywood, it shares the longest odds of the bunch to have the most profitable
opening weekend.
It’s not the Fast and the Furious, but the
Fast and the Furious ‘Presents’ … Just adding that word will help it to earn
less than its actual non-spin-off
counterparts. Sure it has Statham and Johnson … but it will be lucky to pass
the 100 million mark in its first couple of days.
Toy
Story 4 +500
Wait … Toy Story 4 has better odds than a Fast
and Furious production? Yes. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the fourth
installment of Toy Story go well north of 100 million on opening weekend. Toy
Story 3 did better than both the original and sequel combined, so this
franchise seems to be getting better as it progresses.
Alongside Toy Story, Child’s Play is opening,
which provides no real competition. Although the Child’s Play reboot may be a
fun horror flick, it shouldn’t gross more than 40 million upon opening and
being of a totally different genre, is no real threat to the Tom Hanks classic.
The fact that this is a living, breathing part
of the Avengers saga with latest Spider-Man getting his own time in the
spotlight, will help this film bring home the bacon. This installment should
far surpass its other Marvel sibling, Dark Phoenix and push past the 150
million dollar mark.
The
Lion King -125
The Lion King will rule the box office. It is,
after all, the Lion King children since the early ’90s have loved this
‘instant-classic’ Disney cartoon and now they are doing it more in CGI/film
fashion. Apparently, this will be a scene for scene re-adaptation that closely
follows the original. Everything about this production, from its release date
to the hands involved in its making screams winner, winner, chicken dinner. 200
million dollar opening weekend? Probably with some change to spare.
It’s raining it’s pouring the old man is … annoyedly clicking “Still Watching” on his streaming service. That’s probably more in line with the times than the old nursery rhyme.
And why not? It’s great to curl up and relax on a dreary day. These rainy day movies will help keep you entertained until the sun decides to come back out.
1. A Wrinkle in Time
If you’re looking for something with some of the most powerful female actors ever, watch this. Oprah, Mindy Kaling, and Reese Witherspoon all-star.
It’s a semi sci-fi-like tale, though that wasn’t a term back when the book was written. It’s suspenseful, thoughtful, and full of vibrant imagery. It’s got flawless CGI and special effects editing and you may just cry once or twice.
But cry in a good way!
Young man and woman in bed watching tv and eating pop corn
2. Clueless
If you want something light, classic, and funny but that you’ll still want to pay attention to – watch the 1995 film Clueless. It stars people we didn’t know would be big stars back then, like Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash.
The comedy details a set of rich Beverly Hills girls and their blessed but drama-filled life. Some say the comedy is a loose take on the 1815 novel Emma, by Jane Austen.
It’s fun, there are great catchy lines in it, and it’ll send you down nostalgia road. Just don’t expect it to be the high-quality filmmaking you’re used to. It was filmed back when most people still didn’t have cell phones.
3. Goodfellas
If you want something a bit darker but still classic, what about the American Crime film Goodfellas? It’s about three men, one who gets involved in the mob, and some who were born into it.
You get to see both sides, how the activity affects the families, and what it’s like to work for “The Family”. There are some murder scenes in this one, so it’s not great for kids.
It’s not gruesome, but it’s intense at times. As far as filmmaking goes, it’s older than Clueless, as it was made in 1990, so don’t expect any CGI or green screen effects.
4. Casablanca
If you’re having a dreary day and want something that will keep the mood mild but also make you cry because of romance, this is the classic for you.
It’s filmed in black and white, which goes perfectly with the tones of a dark rainy day. In the movie, our heroine runs into an old flame while in town wither her new husband.
Her husband is a bit of a troublemaker and she needs her old flame to help them out of trouble. But will the pull of the old flame be too much? Will they escape in time? It’s old Hollywood glam and drama with a side of romance.
You can find it on most streaming sites, like IPTV. What is IPTV? You’ll find out.
Rainy Day Movies
When it comes to rainy day movies, are you more of a feel-good flick person or do you want something equally dark and scary as the storm?
We lean towards the first option, but a good thriller always gives, well, a thrill.
Interested in learning about the top car movies? We’ll give you the top 10 here.
New calls for President Donald Trump’s impeachment
came from House Democrats, after former White House counsel Donald McGahn failed
to appear before Congress despite a subpoena.
Donald McGahn skipped a hearing on May 21 about the Mueller report.
In an extraordinary move, President Trump has vowed to block all subpoenas
of his current and former staff.
House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler said after the failed
hearing: “Our subpoenas are not
optional.”
“Let me be clear: this committee
will hear Mr. McGahn’s testimony, even if we have to go to court to secure
it,” he said.
The Trump administration claims that the report by Special Counsel Robert
Mueller, into allegations of Russian collusion and obstruction of justice,
cleared him of wrongdoing, and that there are no further questions to answer.
It also claims that staff cannot legally be compelled to testify, but Jerry
Nadler said he would hold Donald McGahn in contempt and pursue other means of
compelling testimony.
“We will hold this president
accountable, one way or the other,” he said.
On May 2, President Trump responded on Twitter, arguing that he had
“allowed everyone to testify” to Robert Mueller’s team, and accusing
the Democrats of seeking a “do-over” of the special counsel
investigation.
Democratic Party leaders have so far
held off pressure from their lawmakers to begin impeachment proceedings, and
the party is divided over the merits of the move, but the pressure is growing
as the president stonewalls congressional inquiries.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi scheduled
a party meeting on May 22 to discuss the issue.
Both the Department of Justice and
White House released statements on May 20 arguing that Donald McGahn was under
no obligation to give evidence.
According to a letter sent to House
Judiciary Committee, Donald McGahn was “absolutely immune from compelled
Congressional testimony”. Donald McGahn, who served as White House counsel
for nearly two years under President Trump before his resignation in October
2018, said he would respect the president’s instruction not to appear.
White House press secretary Sarah
Sanders accused Democrats of pushing for “a wasteful and unnecessary
do-over” of the Mueller report.
Citing the justice department
guidance, Sanders said: “The former
counsel to the president cannot be forced to give such testimony, and Mr.
McGahn has been directed to act accordingly.”
In the wake of Donald McGahn’s
failure to appear, Jerry Nadler announced he had issued subpoenas to former
White House Communications Director Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson, McGahn’s
former chief of staff.
According to a New York Times report, Democratic lawmakers and aides were examining possible rules changes to allow the House to fine people held in contempt, as well as other means to break the impasse.
Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda has died
at the age of 70.
The three-time world champion, who
underwent a lung transplant in August 2018, “passed away peacefully”
on May 20, his family announced.
“His unique achievements as an
athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable, his tireless zest
for action, his straightforwardness and his courage remain a role model and a benchmark
for all of us,” his family’s statement said.
Niki Lauda, one of the best-known
figures in motor racing, took the title for Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 and
McLaren in 1984.
For many, the legendary Austrian
will be remembered for his remarkable recovery and return to racing after being
badly burned in a crash in the 1976 German Grand Prix.
A new generation of fans was
introduced to Niki Lauda in the acclaimed 2013 film Rush, which detailed his rivalry with British driver James Hunt,
the 1976 world champion.
Niki Lauda, who was born in Vienna
in February 1949, was a motor racing legend who went on to be a successful
businessman following his retirement from the sport.
However, the Austrian was probably
best-known for surviving a crash during the 1976 season which left him scarred
for life.
On August 1, 1976, one year after winning his first title, Niki Lauda
suffered third-degree burns to his head and face and inhaled toxic gases that
damaged his lungs after his vehicle burst into flames at Nurburgring.
Niki Lauda was given the last rites in hospital but made an almost miraculous
recovery and returned to racing, still bandaged, just 40 days later.
After his career as a racing driver, Niki Lauda became an airline
entrepreneur and, most recently, a non-executive chairman for the Formula 1
Mercedes team, instrumental in bringing in British driver Lewis Hamilton, who
has won five world championships.
However, ill health followed him into his later years and he underwent a
lung transplant last year.
Niki Lauda had previously had two kidney transplants, the second donated in
2005 by his then-girlfriend Birgit Wetzinger, a former flight attendant for his
airline whom he married in 2008.
In January 2019, he spent 10 days in hospital while suffering from
influenza.
Niki Lauda leaves behind his wife, their twins born in 2009, and three sons from previous relationships.
Brenton Tarrant, who was accused of killing 51
people in New Zealand’s Christchurch mosques attack has been charged with
terrorism, police have said.
The Australian was charged with “engaging in a terrorist act”,
police said in a statement on May 21.
Brenton Tarrant is already facing charges of murder and 40 of attempted
murder following the 15th of March attack on two mosques in the
South Island city.
He is next due in court in June.
It is the first time a person has been charged in New Zealand with an act of
terror under this law.
New Zealand Police – who met with victims’ families and other survivors to
inform them of the charge before it was announced – said they consulted with
legal experts and prosecutors before deciding to lay the additional charge.
On March 15, 50 people lost their lives in the shootings at
two mosques in Christchurch. One died in hospital later.
The Christchurch attack was New Zealand’s deadliest mass shooting and brought
an outpouring grief and support for the victims and their families.
Two weeks after the attack, more than 20,000 people gathered for a memorial
service to honor those who lost their lives.
Last month, New Zealand’s parliament voted to ban military-style
semi-automatic weapons to prevent any such thing happening again.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is spearheading an effort to get
world’s governments and tech companies to improve their efforts to tackle
extremist content online.
The “Christchurch Call” was launched in response to the suspect
live-streaming the attack, which was then watched many thousands of times.
The call has already been backed by Australia, India, Germany and Sweden, as
well as tech giants Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter. However,
the US declined to take part.
Many
people dream of becoming an entrepreneur – having their own shop to sell
clothes, shoes, bags and other stuff. It is a good business which can be a
stable source of income. However, not many can afford the big capital required
to start a store. Budget is indeed a big factor but what if we tell you that
there’s a way to fulfill this dream without having to spend too much money to
start with? The answer to this is the internet. You can start your shopping
business online without needing big money as capital. We will share some tips
on how to start a shopping business online.
Come up with a winning business plan – of course you need a plan before you start your business. What are you planning to sell on your website? Do you want to sell shoes, bags, clothes and apparels or do you plan to offer other goods like baked goods or probably handmade jewelries other products? It is important to know what you will offer.
Choose a remarkable domain name – your website is going to be your virtual shop thus you need to come up with a name that can be remembered by users immediately. It is best if they can easily name your site when someone asks them where they purchased what they purchased on your site.
Choose reliable hosting site – It is important that your site is always up and running especially during peak hours wherein many people are browsing and potentially shopping. You should make sure to choose a web hosting site that has good reputation of having zero to low down time and with easy to contact support team.
Have an SSL certificate – SSL certificate allows safe connection between your site and users’ browser. This gives confidence to users that their details are safe on your website.
Design a layout that is easy to navigation – you should ensure that visitors can easily navigate your site. For example, you should immediately show them options where they should go or what they should click from homepage to go to this page or that page. Online users do not want complicated websites.
Provide various payment options – it is also good practice to provide various payment options like Visa, MasterCard, direct bank transfer or 3rd party payment options like PayPal, Neteller, Skrill and others. This makes things a lot easier for customers.
Publish a thorough and easy to follow step-by-step guidelines – another thing to remember is to come up with an easy step by step guide for new users on your site. You should have a guide that they can use so they know how to register, place order, pay and so on and so forth.
Provide a customer hotline or support email or chat – lastly, you should provide a support contact details that users can contact in case they have questions or enquiries.
These tips will help you start
your very own online shopping site and eventually fulfill your dream of
becoming a successful entrepreneur. Just like in running a land-based business,
you should work hard and be patient. Sometimes it can take a while before the
business grows and starts earning so don’t lose focus.
The US has decided to lift tariffs
on steel and aluminum imports from Canada in a move that could lead to approval
for a new North American trade deal.
In a joint statement, the US and
Canada announced that a 25% tariff on steel imports, and of 10% on aluminum,
will end in 48 hours.
It is widely expected the US and
Mexico will make a similar announcement soon.
In 2018, the US implemented the
tariffs on grounds of “national security”.
Under the new agreement, there will
be no quotas on how much steel or aluminum the three countries buy from
overseas.
However, the US and Canada will
monitor imports and if a country is determined to be buying in too much, one of
the other nations can request a consultation and potentially re-impose tariffs.
Getting rid of the tariffs is viewed as a key hurdle to approval for the
US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal which was signed in 2018. It
replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Providing that Washington and Mexico City also announce an agreement to lift
levies on steel and aluminum, the US, Mexico and Canada will ask their
respective governments to ratify USMCA.
It also targeted US farm goods as
well as items like tomato ketchup and household products.
On May 17, Canadian PM Justin
Trudeau said: “These tariffs were
harming workers and consumers on both sides of the border. As we look at moving
forward with the new NAFTA, it didn’t make a lot of sense to continue to have
tariffs on steel and aluminum between our countries.”
EU steel and aluminum exports to the
US are still subject to the tariffs, but there has been some good news for trade
relations between the two.
On May 17, President Donald Trump
delayed a decision on whether to impose levies on cars and car part imports.
The White House has put back the
decision by six months to allow more time for trade talks with the EU and
Japan.
Tariffs of up to 25% on imported
cars and car parts were under consideration.
A report by the Commerce Department
claimed that imports of foreign-made cars and auto parts into the US were a
threat to national security.
The report has not been published,
but in his announcement President Trump cited its findings which conclude that
US carmakers are missing out on revenues to invest in research and development
(R&D).
The announcement said: “The lag in R&D expenditures by
American-owned producers is weakening innovation and, accordingly, threatening
to impair our national security.”
President Trump said he agreed with
the study’s finding that imported cars and trucks were “weakening our
internal economy”.
The deal with Canada, as well as the
delay in higher tariffs on EU and Japanese cars and auto parts, come at a
critical time for the US and China – the world’s two biggest economies.
According to data
recently released by national senior living referral service, A Place for Mom,
the rates for independent living and assisted living have remained relatively
steady compared to general real estate value and inflation.
“Construction of new facilities has also led to lower occupancy rates and stable pricing for senior care home operators,” Sue Johansen, vice president of partner services with A Place for Mom, told USA Today. “As competition increases between facilities, facilities have pushed to attract residents with deals and options.”
According to A Place for
Moms, the fasted growing areas for assisted living communities include
Minneapolis, Portland, and Los Angeles.
This comes during an
important time when, according to another report from Health Affairs, middle
income seniors are having serious trouble affording private living. On the
other hand, they don’t qualify for subsidized nursing home care without being
forced to spend down their assets. This group of “forgotten middle” includes
retired teachers, government workers, and first responders.
“This is a cohort that hasn’t been paid much attention to,” Beth Burnham Mace, coauthor of the report, told the Boston Globe. “These are people who provided amazing services to society, and it’s important that there’s housing and care they can afford.”
Unaffordable houses, combined with an increase in spend among seniors who retire, only further complicates the easy. Studies have found that many seniors are taking advantage of new activities that they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise, and filling their new non-workdays by spending more than normal. In fact, one study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 45.9% of households spent more than what they had spent before retirement.
Better government response and private sector attention will help steer results in a positive direction. Today, developers can find an architecture company that specializes in assisted living development. Design strategies should increase the comfort and safety for senior citizens, help to enhance the quality of life for the senior population, and incorporate creative solutions that take their physical capabilities into consideration. And most importantly, they should be more accessible to seniors of all income classes.
“It’s still a very
good real estate market for most of the country and many seniors who move into
senior living are liquidating real estate to do that,” Johansen said.
“So you’re selling at a high time but getting in at a time when rates are
pretty stable and promotional activity is aggressive. All of those factors
combine to create the perfect storm in terms of timing for families to make
that decision.”
When dreaming of the lottery, even a cash prize of a few million isn’t easy to comprehend. A billion would be even harder. But a trillion? The average person just can’t handle a number that big.
Now try to conceptualize $13.5 trillion. That’s enough to send everyone in the U.S. to their local state college for a four-year degree and still have some left over.
It’s also how much money the 15 largest banks in America hold in assets. Of that cohort, just five manage half of it: Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, US Bancorp, and Wells Fargo. Until recently, their hold over American wallets had gone unrivalled.
But as FinTech companies grow in scope, new challengers step up to disrupt the grip these Big Banks have over the industry — and consumers like you stand to benefit the most out of this change.
What is FinTech?
FinTech is short for Financial Technology and describes any technology that supports financial services. As a result, it’s a pretty broad term. Even the abacuses of yesteryear technically fit the bill, as do the automatic calculations the Big Banks use when completing transactions.
In 2019, FinTech means something more advanced than helpful back-end functions. It describes a subset of financial companies that offer front-facing services to customers.
FinTech represents a varied group of companies
The headlines make certain parts of the FinTech corner stand out more than others. Bitcoin often makes a splash in the news. The latest drama surrounds now dead CEO of Quadriga Gerald Cotton. He kept $145 million in a cold wallet no one can hack, leaving more than 100,000 investors out of luck.
Before this, it was Elon Musk thinking out loud on a podcast, saying crypto is the currency of the future. And before that, most new sites debated whether crypto is a reliable way to invest your money.
If you’re unfamiliar with the industry, it would be easy to equate all FinTech with Bitcoin because of the focus it’s under. While crypto is one of the most theatrical examples of FinTech, not all FinTech is crypto.
Mobile banks make it cheaper to manage your money
Some FinTech companies offer relatively humble services compared to Quadriga. There are mobile banks that take your day-to-day banking experience out of the branch and onto your phone, tablet, or laptop, so you can deposit a check with your camera or transfer funds to a friend.
Because they don’t have the overhead costs of physical locations, most mobile banks eliminate the common banking fees and restrictions the biggest banks place on their services. While you may have to pay as much as $15 in monthly fees to keep a basic checking account with one of the big banks, FinTech scraps these fees altogether.
FinTech also removes barriers to essential services
There are also online lenders that offer installment loans and lines of credit to people with subprime credit. For anyone who’s tried to get a loan while they’re rebuilding their credit, you understand the importance of knowing your credit score before you apply.
Many of the biggest banks have strict regulations and will reject any applicant with a subprime score. However, there are FinTech companies that won’t — they use other financial criteria to determine your creditworthiness, giving people with low credit a chance at getting an online loan.
Whether you’re denied a loan or tired of paying too much to maintain a checking account, greater convenience and low costs can persuade you to ditch traditional financial organizations for FinTech. And you wouldn’t be alone. By 2023, it’s expected there will be more than 362 million FinTech users in the U.S. alone.
With this many potential customers, FinTech is primed to take a bigger piece of the financial pie as it disrupts the monopoly the biggest banks have over the country.
Are you a business owner and want to be prepared for any possible legal issues? Click here to find out what you should look for in a top-tier business attorney.
The average small business in the U. S. with a turnover of $1 million spends $20,000 on litigation every year.
At some point, companies expect to run into some legal trouble that will call for them to hire a business attorney. While a lawyer is necessary, the kind of lawyer you get can either be a money pit or an invaluable asset to your firm.
Read on to find out what factors make a business counsel a worthwhile investment.
Degree of Specialization
When you are considering looking for a business lawyer chances are you already have a particular legal need that you desire to resolve. The nature of your need should dictate the kind of lawyer you end up hiring.
For the regular business formation services, many business counselors can handle that for you. Other common services such as helping you negotiate for better contracts, drafting wills among others also fall under this category.
When you require specialized services you can’t go looking for general counsel. You need a lawyer who has domain experience in the particular area of expertise you require.
For example, if you are involved in a class action lawsuit your best bet would be talking to several class action lawsuit lawyers to find out who can best serve your need.
They are deeply versed in that area of expertise and they understand the nuanced dynamics of such cases that other lawyers may miss.
If you are looking for a general attorney who will work with your firm for the long-term then you should look for a lawyer who has experience in serving as general counsel.
Whenever you need a specialized lawyer they can offer recommendations and work with them.
Your business counsel is like your doctor. If you go to an oncologist when you have a toothache you will not receive much help.
Conversely, you should look for a lawyer who matches the legal needs of your business for you to get the best results.
A Top Business Attorney Brings Other Resources to the Table
Top-tier business lawyers bring much more than just legal services to the table and this an essential aspect you should look for.
For your company to get the best value, you need an attorney who can offer introductions to other clients, potential customers and even strategic partners.
If they have been in the business for a while they have likely developed a network that can help you in other ways. That is one distinguishing mark of a veteran business counsel.
The same point applies even in the legal aspect of things. A top-notch business counsel has ties to their legal fraternity that can be of help when you need to seek expertise in other areas.
Working with a lawyer who can get you quality recommendations is of great use in bringing a diversity of service to you.
Another salient feature of a high-quality business counsel is whether they offer their clients opportunities to network through special events.
Having a lawyer who offers this to your business provides extra value as you get to meet and learn from other entrepreneurs.
An Understanding of the Entrepreneurial Nature
The best business counsel is one who has been an entrepreneur or has a tangible understanding of entrepreneurship. There is simply no substitute for that.
If you are a small business looking for a small business attorney, then you would likely run into problems working with a lawyer who focuses on Fortune 500 firms.
The work of a business counsel is not to tell you what you shouldn’t have done but to help you chart a successful way forward for your business.
If your business counsel has a level of insight into how an entrepreneur thinks and what businesses need, they will serve you in a much better manner.
Their Billing Structure and Fees
Hiring attorneys for your business might not come cheap.
However, a good business lawyer will have a billing structure that works for you. They will know exactly what needs to be done and will charge you more accurately.
Versatility is also important when it comes to billing.
For example, they can give you flat fees when you need simple work done like drawing up contracts and the like. When there is more involving work they can bill by the hour.
When you are handling a lawsuit, the lawyer can work on a contingency basis such that you only pay if and when the result of the suit is favorable to you.
Their Firm Is the Right Size for You
Looking at the size of the lawyer’s firm in relation to your business is necessary for identifying how they can best serve you.
If you run a big corporation then a large law firm (or a more high profile lawyer) with all the resources that come with it will likely give you the most value.
A complex lawsuit, for example, will be better dealt with by a lawyer with many associates who can do the massive grunt work necessary.
If you run a small business then a small business lawyer will offer you better service since you will require more attention and personalized services.
A large law firm or a busy lawyer will likely not make you a high priority since they need bigger clients to meet their revenue targets.
If not that then they may end up giving your case to a relatively new lawyer who may not have as much experience.
The best lawyer for you is one who meets you at your point of need and devotes the necessary attention to you.
Get the Best Representation
Your business will need a lawyer at some point in its existence. The question isn’t whether to get a lawyer or not. It is what kind of business attorney you need to look for so that they can be an asset to your company.
Do you want to protect your business? Check out these legal issues that your business must be on the lookout for.
French luxury group Kering will no longer use models who are under the age
of 18.
The fashion company owns several major fashion houses, including Gucci,
Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen.
The policy will come into effect in time for the 2020-2021 Autumn/Winter
collections, the company said.
Kering CEO François Henri-Pinault said in a statement that the company was
“conscious of the influence exerted on younger generations” by its
images.
He said: “We believe that we have
a responsibility to put forward the best possible practices in the luxury
sector, and we hope to create a movement that will encourage others to follow
suit.”
Kering’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, added: “The physiological and psychological
maturity of models aged over 18 seems more appropriate to the rhythm and
demands that are involved in this profession.”
The company’s decision comes as fashion brands are increasingly trying to
become more ethical, both in their designs and in their working practices.
In August 2018, Condé Nast, which publishes Vogue magazine, announced that it would not use models under the
age of 18 in editorial shoots, unless they were the subject of an article.
An editorial in Vogue said at the
time: “This is partly the result of
an internal reckoning.
“Vogue, along with a number of
other publications, has played a role in making it routine for children – since
that’s what they are – to be dressed and marketed as glamorous adults.”
It continued: “No more: it’s not
right for us, it’s not right for our readers, and it’s not right for the young
models competing to appear in these pages. While we can’t rewrite the past, we
can commit to a better future.”
Last year, the Council of Fashion
Designers of America (CFDA) made a similar declaration. Its CEO Steven Kolb
said: “Young models are still
developing. There can be a lack of the confidence, strength, experience, and
maturity it takes to deal with the pressures of this work.”
In 2017, both Kering and a rival
fashion group LVMH signed a charter agreeing to – among other things – stop
hiring models who were under the age of 16.
A number of fashion designers have also pledged not to hire ultra-thin models and not to use exotic animal skins and fur in their designs.
It has long been common across the fashion
industry to cast models who were under 18 – and indeed, many supermodels got
their start in the industry at a young age.
Model Naomi Campbell, now 48, was
just 16 when she launched her career. Kate Moss, now 45, was discovered at the
age of 14. Brooke Shields was just 14 when she appeared on the front cover of Vogue in February 1980.
Currently, 17-year-old Kaia Gerber
is a rising star, while the late Karl Lagerfeld’s godson Hudson Kroenig, 11,
was regularly seen on the catwalk.
However, a spotlight was shone on
the treatment of young models in October 2017, when 14-year-old Russian model
Vlada Dzyuba collapsed backstage at Shanghai Fashion Week and later died in
hospital.
Vogue, in
making its decision, also cited a number of allegations of harassment in the
fashion industry, which were publicized as part of the #MeToo movement.
The publication added that in the mid-1980s, when Naomi Campbell launched her career, there were so few fashion shows a year that “a model could stay in school if she wished” – but nowadays the work is much more demanding.
Instagram is a famous social media platform
and every brand should consider using this app. It has add-on features for the
marketers like insights and sponsored ads. It keeps on rolling out the features
supporting the business accounts. Where Facebook is all about personal
connections with the friends and relatives, Instagram has upgraded its rank and
has supported the brands and companies to sell their products on the photo
sharing platform.
It is never too late to join any social
media platform. With the right strategy, brands can promote their products and
sell them online. Here is everything you need to know about the business
account on Instagram.
If you already have a personal account with
brand loaded content, then you can easily switch to the business account. It
can make switching for your followers seamless. If you are new to Instagram,
then you can create a business account and reach out to the suitable audience.
You need to be creative in the way you
craft your brand profile on Instagram. There is no specific way to build up a
right profile, but the basics can help you in building the business account.
Engage with the
Customers
Standing out in the mammoth of posts on Instagram is a real task at hand. Instead of looking for an increasing number of followers of the account you must start with a small bunch of customers. Engage them in your posts and interact with them on a one-on-one basis. Try and enter the niche markets where you can build your own following. To build up the market, you can buy followers on IG.
Hashtags play a key role in the Instagram
marketing strategy. They help in search of the followers and the brand. This is
true for the businesses and target audience.
Looks Towards your
Customers for Content
Using your existing customers or followers
as adverts on Instagram is a brilliant step keeping in mind the user generated
content. Running contests or incentives for the customers for tagging your
brand in their photos can speak a lot about your brand perception. Showing off
your customers can build up your business and a loyal customer base.
Be Active
You should often post the content through
your business account to maximize the engagement and the time when the
customers will be online. It should be well planned to save time for yourself.
Craft a Story
The biggest reason for the success of
brands on Instagram has been the narratives. It is the best way to captivate
the followers and keep them engaged with your business. Your posts can be the
story of your brand. You need not be the perfect story-teller. The customer
should come to know at a glance all about your business.
Product Showcase
At the end, business is all about selling
what you have. There are various ways to showcase your products to the
prospective or existing customers. Creativity is the major driving factor.
And it’s not too late to enter Instagram
business!
Businesses today face a wide range of security threats. Brick-and-mortar businesses are significantly more likely than residential properties to become targets for theft, with 8.8 percent of small businesses suffering burglary annually, representing nearly one in ten companies, according to insurance provider Insureon. The risk of digital security threats is even higher, with eight in 10 U.S. businesses anticipating a critical breach in 2019, a Ponemon Institute survey found.
Fortunately, even as thieves strive to find new ways to rob business owners, security technology providers are developing innovations to make their task harder. Here are three types of risks businesses currently face, and some security systems companies can use to protect themselves against these threats.
1. Hardening Physical Security with Barriers and Surveillance
While some security threats require high-tech solutions, when it comes to physical break-ins, your first line of defense is still a good solid door and lock. In half of all commercial burglaries, the thief gains entrance through a door, a Temple University survey found. When a door can’t be opened, picked or broken, burglars will look for another point of weakness, such as a window that can be smashed or opened with a crow bar. You can protect doors by using measures such as solid wood or steel doors with steel frames, deadbolt locks with throws at least an inch thick and supplemental protection such as security storm doors. For windows, use barriers such as roll-down grilles for front windows and iron works for side and rear windows.
High-tech surveillance systems and alarms are also integral to physical security. Burglars don’t like to be seen, so a good surveillance camera system coupled with motion-activated lighting can serve as a strong deterrent, as well as a means to identify thieves should a break-in occur.
For instance, security camera system provider Lorex has developed Nocturnals cameras with 4K Ultra HD resolution and color night vision capability, able to capture critical details such as burglar hair color and license plate numbers even in low-light conditions. This type of camera system can also be set up so that if the motion sensors are triggered, push notifications are sent to your smartphone via an app, allowing you to respond more quickly to an event in progress.
2. Countering Ransomware and Cryptojacking
On the digital front, ransomware was the biggest emerging cyberthreat to businesses a couple years ago. In a ransomware attack, hackers use attachments or links in emails, on websites and in social media messages to trick users into downloading malware. The malware then encrypts the user’s files and demands a ransom payment in order to restore access to the files, threatening to permanently encrypt the files if payment is not made.
Last year, cybercriminals took ransomware a step further by deploying a similar attack method called cryptojacking. Cryptojacking uses the same methods as ransomware to get on a user’s device, but then the malware covertly hijacks the device’s resources in order to “mine” cryptocurrency such as bitcoin online. This increases the device owner’s utility bills while slowing down their processing speed, effectively making them pay the expense of hosting criminal activity. Unlike ransomware, cryptojacking does not cause any obvious damage, so victims may not notice any symptoms other than a slowdown in performance. Cryptojacking now affects 10 times more businesses than ransomware, according to Check Point Research.
Both ransomware and cryptojacking can be countered by taking basic cybersecurity steps such as avoiding clicking on suspicious links and attachments, keeping software and antivirus programs updated to the latest versions and installing ad-blocker and anti-cryptomining extensions in browsers. In addition, you can protect yourself from losing files to ransomware by performing regular automated file backups using a service such as IDrive.
3. Blocking Business Identity Theft
Most people have heard of identity theft against consumers, but you might not realize that businesses can also have their identity stolen. Identity thieves who gain access to sensitive information about your business may use it to open up business lines of credit in your company’s name, open personal lines of credit in the name of your company’s personnel or customers, or apply for phony tax refunds in your company’s name. This can damage your company’s reputation and business credit rating, hurting your ability to get access to credit. Business identity theft is on the rise, increasing 250 percent from 2016 to 2017, according to the IRS.
Sound cybersecurity policies can help protect you from business identity theft. Some basic steps you can take include requiring employees to use strong passwords or password manager software, only using secure networks such as VPNs, keeping software and antivirus programs current with the latest updates and avoiding suspicious email attachments and website link. Thieves may also try to steal your information by intercepting your mail, so it’s also important to physically protect your mail. The US Postal Inspection Service advises taking steps such as picking up mail promptly after delivery, delivering outgoing mail directly to a postal carrier or a letter slot inside a post office rather than an unmonitored postbox and notifying your post office to hold your mail when you’re out of town.
Despite your best efforts, your business identity may be stolen anyway through means beyond your control, such as a hack of one of your service providers. Experian recommends using an identity monitoring service to alert you to suspicious activity so you can take appropriate steps in the event of identity theft, such as notifying financial providers.
Businesses are vulnerable to security risks in both the physical and digital arenas, and a sound security strategy needs to address all these areas. Strong barriers and motion-sensitive surveillance systems can help prevent physical theft. Smart cybersecurity policies can reduce digital risks such as ransomware and cryptojacking. Cybersecurity measures can also help prevent identity theft, in conjunction with physical mail security and identity monitoring. Implementing these tactics can greatly reduce business security risks.
Common Sense Tips to Use When Selling a Car Online
Having a reliable and appealing car is something most people view as a priority. Over time, a person may start to lose interest in their existing vehicle. The best way to find something new is by selling an existing vehicle to fund the purchase of a brand-new vehicle.
If the vehicle you are trying to sell is considered a luxury sports car, finding the right buyer may be more challenging. Generally, these types of vehicles will command a hefty price on the used car market. Neglecting to plan out this selling process in detail may lead to a sports car owner losing money.
Trying to sell a luxury sports car online? Check out these helpful tips for success.
Consider Selling to a Professional Buyer
One of the main goals most people have when selling a car is making this process as quick and painless as possible. The best way to achieve this goal is by selling to a professional online buyer. Companies like We Buy Exotics make selling a luxury sports car easy.
All a seller has to do is enter in the VIN on their vehicle and submit a few pictures to receive an offer in minutes. If the seller agrees to this offer, they get their money and the buyer will schedule a pickup.
Before using a particular professional buyer, be sure to research them to find out what type of reputation they have. Rushing through this process may lead to a person losing money on the sale of their luxury vehicle.
Image source Wikimedia
Getting a Vehicle History Report
Establishing trust with a potential online buyer is the biggest hurdles most luxury car owners will have. This is why providing in-depth information about the car is so important. Getting a car history report to put in the online listing is a good idea.
These reports will detail the accidents a car has been involved in as well as its maintenance history. Most online buyers will demand this documentation before making an offer. By putting the vehicle history report in the listing, it will be much easier to attract the interest of motivated buyers.
Detail the Vehicle Before Putting It On The Market
Over 17 million vehicles are sold in the United States each year. The key to attracting the attention of online buyers is providing them with plenty of pictures of the luxury sports car being sold. Before taking these pictures, you will need to get the vehicle professionally detailed.
The last thing a seller needs to do is put pictures of a dirty vehicle online. Most buyers want to make sure the vehicle in question is in pristine shape. The money paid to a professional auto detailer will be worth it considering the appeal it will add to a vehicle.
A Well-Written Description is a Must
Once a potential buyer looks at the pictures of a sports car, they will want to read the seller’s description of the vehicle. When crafting this description, be sure that all pertinent information is included. Details like the mileage, make and model are essential. Failing to include this information may lead to a potential buyer losing interest.
Preparation Goes a Long Way
The key to successfully selling a luxury sports car is properly preparing beforehand. Researching the market and proofreading your vehicle description can help you sell your automobile in a hurry.
Have you ever wondered why an alcoholic beverage makes you crave a cigarette?
You’re not the only one. 70% of U.S. drinkers also smoke. And almost three-quarters of alcoholics smoke over a pack of cigarettes every day.
Duke University Medical Center research revealed alcohol boosts the pleasing effects of nicotine. That’s why people enjoy smoking when drinking an alcoholic beverage.
Most people understand that tobacco smoking can cause cancer. Cigarette smoking contributes to over 480,000 deaths every year.
While the effects of tobacco are an obvious health risk, alcohol is confusing. Not every drink is dangerous in the same way each cigarette is.
The moderate use of alcohol can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. But, drink more and it increases your chances for cancer.
Keep reading to learn the dangers of combining alcohol and tobacco.
Risks of Alcohol Use
The moderate use of alcohol can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. But, when you drink more it increases your chances for cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) define moderate drinking as 1 drink for women and 2 drinks for men per day.
Alcohol can increase the risk of cancer. It can cause inflammation in the liver and pancreas. Inflammation raises the chance of cancer in those organs.
Alcohol also produces acetaldehyde in the body. This substance prevents cells from repairing DNA damage.
Every cigarette causes damage to your body. A single cigarette can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Cigarettes increase blood pressure. Long-term high blood pressure adds to the risk of cancer.
Each cigarette starts a chemical chain reaction that results in carcinogenic compounds. The poisons in cigarette smoke weaken the immune system and damage DNA.
Smoking can both cause cancer, and damage cells so your body can’t fight it.
Lung cancer isn’t the only cancer smoking causes. The bloodstream absorbs the compounds from smoke and spreads them throughout the body.
Short-term Dangers of Combining Alcohol and Tobacco
Cigarettes and alcohol together create more risks than using either substance alone.
The primary risk is that alcohol is a depressant and tobacco is a stimulant. The nicotine in tobacco offsets the sedative aspects of alcohol.
If you smoke while drinking you may not realize how much alcohol affects your body. Poor assessment of inebriation leads to poor judgment and bad choices.
For example, you may continue to drink because you don’t feel drunk. Or, you might choose to drive your car.
Long-Term Effects of Mixing Alcohol and Tobacco
Mixing smoking and alcohol increases cancer in the mouth, throat, oesophagus, and colon. It’s no surprise that 80% of men and 65% of women with throat and mouth cancer combine smoking and drinking habits.
Studies suggest alcohol dissolves cigarette chemicals while they’re in the throat. That could trap carcinogens in the throat’s sensitive tissues.
Plus, smoking and drinking together slow metabolism. The carcinogens from the cigarettes stay in the bloodstream longer. Longer exposure to carcinogens increases the risk of cancer.
If you’re struggling with alcohol and tobacco abuse you can get help here.
Get Treatment for Tobacco and Alcohol Addiction
The fact that alcohol and tobacco are legal and accessible makes them easy to abuse. The effects of tobacco and alcohol mixed together are dangerous.
Abuse results in a shorter life span, respiratory problems, and higher risk for cancer. Rehab programs can help you end your addiction.
Ireland
has been on my bucket list for years. And it is always the weather that stopped
me. I have travelled through Scotland before and, despite being a wonderful
trip, I also remember how it rained every day.
In the
end, my curiosity about nature in Ireland outweighed my worries about the
weather, and I decided to go backpacking in Ireland alone.
Are you
also planning a backpacking trip to Ireland? Here is some first-hand advice.
It may
not sound as idyllic as this means you will need to have a travel itinerary,
but the truth is Ireland is not that cheap, and the options of public transport
are not available in huge numbers. Trains won’t bring you everywhere, but buses
will. Unfortunately, during summer months these buses can be overly crowded,
overbooked and very expensive.
Check the weather forecast.
Checking
weather forecast is particularly good advice if you are planning to see the
cliffs of Moher, and let’s be honest who doesn’t? Whether you are set on doing
the long cliff walk or just a quick visit, it is best to keep this activity on
a flexible schedule.
The
reason is you don’t want to see the cliffs in poor weather conditions with low
visibility. I stayed for two days in the region of the cliffs and went for the
best day. It was still raining in the morning, but I got blue skies in the
afternoon.
Unfortunately, I forget about the excellent advice when booking the boat trip along the cliffs. Let’s say my views were limited to hanging overboard and seeing the water surface. So it is always a good idea to visit Ireland during the best season and don’t forget to check the weather forecast.
Get a heritage card
If you
are the type of backpacker that loves visiting ancient and historical
attractions then we recommend purchasing a heritage cord. Heritage Card costs
about 25 euros and will save you lots of money as it offers free entrance to
all fee-paying heritage sites in Ireland. Even if you are only visiting Burren
National Park, Skellig Michael and a few castles it’s already worth the money.
Get Backpacker
Travel Insurance
Getting sick, loss of luggage or items, cancellation of the flight. Many things can go wrong when backpacking Ireland alone. Don’t let this ruins your trip and get backpack travel insurance in advance. Travel insurance from the trusted Ireland Insurance Company will cover most undesirable costs and will give you peace of mind.
Cheap Accommodation
A lot in
Ireland is aimed at students, including the accommodations that you can use
when you go backpacking. There are youth hostels everywhere, with common rooms
that are quite affordable. You can make contact here with other young people
from all over the world. Two great reasons if you are backpacking Ireland
alone.
If you
are hoping to get a bit more luxury, there is the option to sleep in one of the
many hotels or a bed & breakfast or a guest house. All these accommodations
have their star rating, which runs from 1 to 5 stars.
If you’re new to Orange County, even if you’ve lived in California for years, you have to be aware that driving in the Los Angeles metropolitan area is unlike anywhere else. It’s not just gridlock. Some traffic laws are unique to LA. Due to the size of LA, it can be difficult to navigate. To feel more confident on the road, be aware of these things to avoid needing a Santa Ana traffic ticket lawyer.
Road Etiquette
LA residents know and understand that traffic might move slowly.
Honking is reserved for imminent danger, but a light tap on the horn can let
someone know that the light is green. When you’re on the freeway, give yourself
lots of time to get across multiple lanes to exit. Don’t drive in the far-right
lane unless you’re going slower than traffic or need to exit.
Rules to Follow
Avoid getting a ticket by following some rules that are specific to LA:
Carpool/HOV lanes
High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes and carpool lanes have limited access and require
a minimum number of occupants.
Cell phones
California prohibits using your handheld
cell phone when driving. Use a hands-free device or wait until you can pull
over.
Don’t smoke in your car if you have a child with
you
It’s illegal to smoke in a vehicle that is
carrying a minor child.
Don’t drink and drive
The legal limit is 0.08 percent, but law enforcement will give you a ticket if
you are impaired at lower levels. Don’t have open alcohol in the car. Transport
it in the trunk.
Red light cameras
Many major intersections have cameras that will record your license plate if
you run the red light.
When You Get a
Traffic Ticket, Take It Seriously
Don’t just pay your ticket, but don’t toss it in the trash either. Get help from a traffic ticket attorney Orange County, when you contact The Ticket Clinic at 1-800-248-2846.
The way we live says a lot about us. Lifestyle means a
lot to us and is about more than how much fun you’re having or how much work
you’re getting done. It also has a profound effect on your mental health.
That’s why it’s smart to take a step back and examine
your own lifestyle. How is it helping your mental health? How it is hurting?
The consequences of a lifestyle that runs counter to your mental health
interests can be severe, so take action and build a better, healthier life.
Is your lifestyle
good for you?
Everyday, we make decisions (or follow through on
powerful habit loops) that affect our mental health, whether we realize it or
not. And, over time, these decisions can add up to a complete mental health
picture — for better or for worse. Let’s take a closer look at your lifestyle.
Mental health and physical health are much more closely connected than many of us realize, and a poor diet and lack of exercise can bring down your mood and make you more vulnerable to all kinds of common mental health conditions. If you are interested in trying licensed online therapy to improve your mental health, check out https://www.betterhelp.com/start/ today.
Consider stress. What about your environment — including
your home, your commute, and your work environment — might contribute to higher
stress levels? What about your work, your career, and your current work-life
balance (or lack thereof) might be raising your stress?
What about the place that you live in? Big cities with competitive work environments tend to lead to higher stress levels, so residents of places such as Washington, D.C., may want to be more proactive about their mental health than others, expert DC therapists point out — though they emphasize that virtually anyone can benefit from therapy.
Are you seeking treatment for any mental health issues?
Are you in therapy? You probably visit the doctor regularly for physical
checkups — do you do the same for your mind?
What a rough
lifestyle can do to your mind
All of the questions and concerns above are important
because, if you’re not careful, your wrong answers could lead to serious mental
health problems.
Anxiety disorders are, when taken together, the most common form of mental health issues. They can be triggered and exacerbated by stress — the same sort of stress that is caused by your lack of work-life balance or your busy, competitive life in a big city like Washington, D.C.
Depression is common, too, and it can be worsened by the
low moods you’ll experience when you fail to get proper nutrition or exercise
regularly.
And other, less common mental health issues can arise
from environmental factors — including basic, ongoing lifestyle decisions —
too. So get smart and change your life.
Building a better
life
The idea of changing your whole lifestyle to improve
your mental health can be overwhelming. But you don’t have to do all of this at
once, and reprogramming habit loops for the better will help you achieve
long-term, sustainable change.
Tackle bad habits first, and start fighting for the
little things that will improve your mental health, such as a vacation or a
rule against answering emails after hours. Leave a bit earlier to make your
big-city commute less stressful. Aim for sustainable changes — rather than
crash diets — and try adding vegetables in and swapping out a few unhealthy
favorites for healthier options. And, above all, get some professional help.
Your mental health is an important dimension of your overall health, and it
deserves the same professional care that you’d give your physical health.
Even if you don’t make much money or buy expensive things, the truth is, we are themost wasteful country on the planet.
A few decades ago, our waste and consumption of natural resources didn’t seem like a big deal, at least not to the general public. However, people are becoming aware of the inevitable ramifications of the way we live.
If we don’t start making changes fast, such as the majority of the population using eco-friendly products, our children or grandchildren may not live in the world as we know it.
But it’s not just us. The entirety of the civilized world has a hand in what’s happening to our planet.
But what exactly is happening to our planet?
Why Eco-Friendly Products Are Important
Regrettably, the subject of climate change or global warminghas become a political topic, which is bad news for our planet.
Why?
Because until climate change is looked at for what it is, a scientific fact backed by analytical data, our country cannot unite with the rest of the world to reverse the problem. Right now, it’s a topic for debate, commonly referred to as “fake news” by those who oppose using resources to fix the problem.
Top view of a rubber stamp mark printed on a recycled paper with room for text on the right
But here’s what is happening while we waste time debating over it:
Greenhouse gases are trapping heat in our atmosphere, steadily increasing the earth’s temperature every year. 2016 was the hottest year ever recorded.
Every second, we destroy an entire football field of the rainforest. Every day, we destroy anarea the size of New York.
Scientists surmise that we lose .01 to 0.1 species a year, which could be anywhere from200 to 100,000 based on low-end/high-end estimations of total species.
Climate change may be irreversible by 2030.
As glaciers melt and sea levels rise, we can expect to lose coastal cities and experience an influx of refugees from other countries.
Since we don’t control politics, what can we do?
The simple answer is to do everything you can, starting with this list.
In other words, we need to cut it out with the straws.
Fast food restaurants need to switch over to bio-degradable straws. Sit-in diners need to use any of the eco-friendly products out there such as metal and bamboo straws.
For us, we can also use the reusable straws for our drinking containers. It’s such a simple, yet important sacrifice.
2. Eco-Friendly Bottles
If you thought straws were bad, think about this—Americans use 1,500 plastic bottles every second. Now, you may not be very good at math, but you can easily deduce that the amount per day, week, month, and the year is unfathomable.
If we were to switch to eco-friendly products, such as metal, glass, and silicone water bottles to name a few, we could significantly cut down on waste.
Additionally, the amount of plastic found in the ocean is absurd. It’s also killing off marine species of fish and coral.
3. Reusable Shopping Bags
As we progress down our list, the numbers only seem to get worse. Worldwide, humans use over1 trillion plastic bags per year—roughly 2 million per minute.
Reusable bags are made of canvas, synthetic fibers, and natural fibers. Not only are these better for the environment, but you can load a ton more groceries and goods in them. Bigger, eco-friendly products like these will save you countless trips back and forth to your car while unloading groceries.
4. Solar Power
It’s a fact. Eventually, we will run out of natural resources such as gas, oil, and coal. When we run out of these fossil fuels, say goodbye to the world as we know it.
It means no more power or vehicles. We will return to a time of darkness.
However, as the world is recognizing the imminent threat of overconsumption, it’s also advancing its eco-friendly products, such as producing some of thebest quality solar panels.
5. Bamboo Products
Eco-friendly products made from bamboo are becoming ever more popular.
Nearly everything you can think of can be made out of bamboo. Some of the most popular bamboo products include toothbrushes, kitchen utensils, towels, speakers, toilet paper, floors, skateboards, and sunglasses.
Eco-friendly bamboo products are especially easy on the environment as they are rapidly renewable and harvested by hand, which helps prevent the accidental killing of animals and the use of heavy machinery.
6. Recycled Shoes
Buying recycled shoes helps the planet on multiple fronts.
First, eco-friendly products made from recycled goods prevents waste and over-usage of harmful materials such as plastic, rubber, and leather.
Leather is harmful because most tanning processes, including those in the U.S., use hazardous chemicals such as chromium and formaldehyde.
7. Meat-Replacement Products
The most effective change we could all make to save the planet won’t be a popular one. The answer, unfortunately for most, is to stop eating meat. Period.
Additionally, the vast majority of deforestation occurs to provide land for growing crops. Not crops for starving people across the planet, but for the animals destined for the butcher block.
Additionally, animal livestock and their byproductsaccount for 51% of all greenhouse gases. All forms of transportation exhaust in the world combined only accounts for 13%.
8. Rechargeable Batteries
Eco-friendly products such as rechargeable batteries are a no-brainer.
Batteries are made with natural, non-renewable resources. It’s hard to imagine life without batteries (no laptops, cell phones, tv remotes, video game remotes, garage door openers, car batteries, etc.), however, we may be risking it soon.
While rechargeable batteries aren’t perfect, they’re still a much better option. They still use the same non-renewable resources, but they last much longer. Rechargeable batteries aren’t thrown away after a single use, which greatly decreases waste.
9. Ceramic Nonstick Pans
There’s a popular documentary on Netflix right now called “The Devil We Know.”
This documentary explores the lies, deceit, and criminal acts by a company known as Dupont. Dupont is the company behind Teflon coatings. The primary chemical, C-8, is used in nearly everything you can think of that boasts a non-stick or water-repellent surface.
And while the company has repeatedly changed the name of its chemicals and products and even the name of the company itself, the fact is, they are still knowingly producing hazardous products.
For your health, and the health of the environment, use ceramic alternatives for your pans. Teflon pans emit toxic chemicals and gases when they are heated past a certain temperature, while ceramic pans tend to be free of harmful chemicals.
10. Composting Toilets
Traditional toilets in first-world countries use water for every flush. Now, before modern sewer systems and toilets, cities had astronomical health issues related to improper human waste disposal.
However, for those looking to have less of a water footprint on the environment, consider that toilet-use in the U.S. averages1.3 to 7 gallons of water per flush, depending on the toilet.
While composting toilets may come off archaic at first, they’re actually quite clean and sanitary. Our solid waste is mixed with a composting agent such as peat moss which rapidly evaporates and breaks down the material.
What’s left is virus and pathogen-free fertilizer, completely safe to handle and discard.
11. Low-Flow Showerheads
The average American shower uses over17 gallons of water, lasting about 8 minutes. However, on long days or mornings when we’re not in a rush to get off to work, we tend to take our time. After all, showers feel amazing!
Low-flow showerheads can trickle out as little as 0.75 gallons of water a minute, meaning an 8-minute shower would take only 6 gallons of water. Saving roughly 10 gallons of water every day would mean each person is saving 3,650 gallons of water a year.
If every American used only one eco-friendly product, a low-flow showerhead, we would save 1.2 trillion gallons of water a year!
12. Bio-degradable Trash bags
Finally, the average American produces over2,000 pounds of trash per year. Multiply that by our 327.2 million population and you get a lot of trash. A lot of trash means a lot of trash bags.
Bio-degradable trash bags use synthetic plastics made from corn, vegetable oils, and grains. In other words, they are renewable, compostable resources.
Respecting Our Planet
The whole point of using eco-friendly products is to show a little more respect for our planet. Mother Earth provides everything for us, and we are doing a disservice to her based on how we live.
Many of our normal ways of life in this society are causing irreversible damage to the planet we call home.
If something big doesn’t happen soon, if we don’t make major changes, our children and grandchildren will pay the consequences. We may likely not be around for it, but it is the fate we are leaving to them.
Start going green today. Don’t use laziness or inconvenience as an excuse. Before long, excuses or not, our planet will stop providing for us.
Click here for more articles on the environment and climate change to find out more about positive changes you can make!
