Diseases of Despair: The Plight Of Some Americans

Modern life isn’t as convenient as many of us would like to believe. We are constantly in a rush and doing multiple things at once when life’s modern contrivances should have lessened our burdens, so we have more time to rest and relax. However, that is obviously not the case. Life wears most Americans out leaving them stressed, depressed and more likely to succumb to diseases.

While diseases recognized by science are usually the major concern, there are other conditions (often undiagnosed and likely to affect mental health) can also cripple a person and put them in pain like a real disease does. Experts now recognize a crippling disease that should raise warning signals among White Americans because many already succumbed to it and lost their lives in the process.

In rich countries, death rates are supposed to decline. But in the past decade and a half, middle-aged white Americans have actually been dying faster. Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton first pointed out this disturbing trend in a 2015 study that highlighted three “diseases of despair”: drugs, drinking and suicide. 

On Thursday, the pair released a deeper analysis that clears up one of the biggest misconceptions about their earlier research.

The problem of dying whites can’t only be blamed on rising rates of drug overdoses, suicides and chronic alcoholism, they say. More and more, middle-aged white Americans are dying for all kinds of reasons — and the underlying issue may have less to do with opioids and more to do with how society has left behind the working class.

“Ultimately, we see our story as about the collapse of the white, high school educated, working class after its heyday in the 1970s, and the pathologies that accompany that decline,” they write.

And here is a theory as to why the mortality rate among White Americans is increasing:

So the theory comes back to despair. Case and Deaton believe that white Americans may be suffering from a lack of hope. The pain in their bodies might reflect a “spiritual” pain caused by “cumulative distress, and the failure of life to turn out as expected.” If they're right, then the problem will be much harder to solve. Politicians can pass laws to keep opioids out of people's hands or require insurers to cover mental health costs, but they can't turn back the clock to 1955.

(Via: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/03/24/the-disease-killing-white-americans-goes-way-deeper-than-opioids/?utm_term=.2ffb328419fa)

And a more detailed explanation as to why this phenomenon is happening is this:

Since the early 1970s, people without a college degree have had fewer good career opportunities, stagnant wages, shrinking unions, declines in church membership, and fewer marriages. “These changes left people with less structure when they came to choose their careers, their religion, and the nature of their family lives,” Case and Deaton wrote. “When such choices succeed, they are liberating; when they fail, the individual can only hold him or herself responsible.”

“Cumulative distress, and the failure of life to turn out as expected is consistent with people compensating through other risky behaviors such as abuse of alcohol, overeating, or drug use,” they wrote.

“Ultimately, we see our story as about the collapse of the white, high school educated, working class after its heyday in the early 1970s, and the pathologies that accompany that decline.”

(Via: https://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewzeitlin/deaths-of-despair-white-working-class-americans-are-dying?utm_term=.iudl5P0Rk#.ylkl4DY8g)

So, what is the takeaway here? We should always listen to what our parents say. It all boils down to that. Parents know best, right? And almost every parent only wants the best for their children, including a good education. If there is one thing that is clearly the reason for the despair felt by many Americans that even cost them their lives – it is the lack of education that deprived them of opportunities and the knowledge and skills to help them adapt to a changing society. So, they resorted to drugs and drinking until they felt hopeless enough to take away their own lives.

The article Diseases of Despair: The Plight Of Some Americans is republished from PodBlaze.com

source https://www.podblaze.com/diseases-of-despair-the-plight-of-some-americans/

Taking Computer Hardware To The Next Level

Technology makes the world go round nowadays. Everywhere you look, there is a shiny piece of gadget that is sure to catch your attention. And almost everything is automated too. The demand for computer hardware continues to grow as people have increased computing needs at home or at work. Agencies, offices, and organizations are centralizing their operations, which mean data are encoded on the computer that likewise demands sufficient data storage memory.

The appearance and features of computer hardware have also changed a lot over the years. The newer hardware looks sleek and sophisticated and visibly much lighter than its older counterparts. Business is definitely booming and hardware manufacturers are generating millions of dollars in profit – not just in the U.S. – but on the global market.

The Americas was the x largest geographic region in the computer hardware market in 2016, accounting for $x billion or x% of the global market. Asia was the x largest geographic market, accounting for $x billion or x% of the global market. Europe was the x largest geographic market, accounting for $x billion or x% of the global market. The Middle East and Africa accounted for x% and $x billion, while Oceania accounted for x% of the global computer hardware market.

Emergence of Internet of Things - The Internet of Things (IoT) is emerging as the next big trend in the computers market with the ability to create an impact across the business spectrum. The Internet of Things merged the physical and online worlds to open up to a host of opportunities for companies, governments and consumers. The IoT is a complex ecosystem with multiple players such as device vendors, communication service providers, software vendors and IT service providers. For example, the August Smart Lock uses the Internet of Things platform to automatically lock and unlock the front door of a user's residence, and can remotely grant access to guests, friends or staff.

(Via: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/computer-hardware-global-market-report-2017-300411951.html)

Computer hardware (for personal/ office use) may have been selling like hot pancakes for years now but the increasing use of the public of the cloud can affect sales over time. Computer user groups show no preference to hardware brand at all when it comes to cloud computing.

The big computer hardware suppliers have ruled the hardware roost for many a year. So assured was their hold on enterprise IT budgets, there was even the saying of “no one ever got fired for buying IBM”, alluding to how these big IT brands carried the argument for large hardware expenditure. But is this now at risk?

Public cloud adoption is rising, and anyone who’s had the pleasure of wandering around some of the datacentres used to host these clouds may be surprised by the lack of large-brand logos on the hardware inside, and in many cases, the lack of any logos at all.

But wait, there’s more…

For the average organisation, buying hardware from a known entity with full commercial support still makes sense. However, as time moves on and more workloads move to the public cloud, this is a decreasing market for the main hardware suppliers. This is why IBM has spent so much time and energy repositioning itself as a purveyor of servers, network equipment and storage to a “cloud-first” company selling capabilities around SoftLayer, BlueMix and Watson.

Is all lost for the other hardware suppliers, such as Dell and HPE? Not necessarily. Outside of the massive public cloud providers, there are many other smaller public cloud providers only buying a few thousand servers. Although a basic ODM approach may be tempting, there are still opportunities here for the branded suppliers to offer a fully supported stack.

(Via: http://www.computerweekly.com/opinion/The-rise-of-the-ODMs-Should-the-branded-hardware-suppliers-be-worried)

People usually buy computer hardware that they can afford and matches their needs. Now that cloud computing is fast becoming accessible to many and preferred by big businesses, the hardware business is also changing to accommodate a different market. And perhaps, we may also be seeing some changes to the features of a computer hardware used on a personal level.

Taking Computer Hardware To The Next Level was first published to PB

source https://www.podblaze.com/taking-computer-hardware-to-the-next-level/

The Philantrophy Of Giving

“Sharing is loving” as the saying goes. And at a time when conflict is everywhere, sharing more love and compassion for others can go a long way. The basic living needs have changed. Although we still need shelter from harm and the elements and food to nourish our bodies, other luxuries of the past have evolved to become a need of the new generation.

For one, having an Internet connection is now a need that will allow people to connect with loved ones, to study or to oversee and grow their business. While many people aspire to achieve more in life through social connections and the accumulation of wealth and material things, others struggle to have the most basic things in life. In many underprivileged countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, food and water are scarce and people easily die from the most common of sickness.

Those who enjoy a better life feel the need to give and share their blessings to those who have less in life. And you don’t even have to go far to see poverty and extend help to people in need.

JEFF POWERS was raised as “a good Catholic boy”. So when he sold his wall-fastener business in 2012 for $225m, he wanted to give back. And, like many philanthropists, he started close to home. He donated to the hospital where his son had spent months recovering from a car accident. He helped pay for a swimming pool at his children’s school. Today he supports all sorts of causes, from scholarships in Florida to soup kitchens in New York.

(Via: http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21719494-rise-dafs-may-be-much-about-tax-charity-philanthropic-boom)

Nowadays, social media is also proving to be a powerful platform to raise awareness on certain causes or asking for help in raising funds to help an individual or an organization.

It is common to see GoFundMe pages asking for monetary donations that won’t require you to go through all the hassles of traditional donations in the past. Even challenges that have gone viral were also a vehicle in raising money in support of a particular cause.

Through the years, we’ve witnessed how social media has evolved – starting out as a simple media-sharing site, it now serves as a digital platform for brands. But what we should also be giving our attention to are the organizations who took the extra mile and used social media to raise awareness and funds for charitable causes.

1. #ALSIceBucketChallenge

Almost all of us have probably heard (and even joined!) this one. The mechanics of the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was simple – participants just had to take a video of themselves pouring a bucket of iced water over their heads, share it on any social media platform with the hashtag #ALSIceBucketChallenge or #IceBucketChallenge then nominate their friends to take on the challenge and donate to the cause. Aside from spreading awareness on the Lou Gehrig’s Disease, it also helped the ALS Association raise nearly $100m in just 30 days.

(Via: http://lifestyle.abs-cbn.com/articles/4539/in-focus-3-viral-challenges-that-have-used-social-media-for-perfectly-selfless-causes/)

Here are some handy tips you can follow when you feel that you have more than enough in life and you want to share your blessings to others.

Look beyond the name

Visit the organization’s website and check its mission statement, along with any reports about its programs. Another great way to learn about a charity’s activities is to volunteer. You’ll witness firsthand how the group approaches the cause you care about.

Judge by the results

You have three major paths for getting clues to a nonprofit’s effectiveness, based on what you can learn online about that particular charity.

Listen to deep divers

Certain groups study nonprofits in depth to find ones achieving the best results. Your easiest option is to give to nonprofits that get their seal of approval.

Check directories

If those resources don’t cover causes you hold dear, you can consult two major online directories of nonprofits, Charity Navigator and CharityWatch. Each rates charities based on measures of their financial health, transparency, and accountability. While not directly measuring effectiveness, these ratings are designed to indicate how professionally an organization operates. And presumably a well-run organization has a better chance of having an impact than one that’s a mess.

Feel the urge to give? Do it directly through that organization’s website or mailing address. Avoid giving through a third party or via links sent in emails; even if the charity is real, the fundraiser may not actually represent it. And even legitimate fundraising costs can be too high. Daniel Borochoff, who founded CharityWatch in 1992, says the data he has seen indicates that, on average, telemarketers’ fees eat up two-thirds of the money they raise.

(Via: http://time.com/money/4583851/charity-donations-giving-guide/)

Social injustice is everywhere. People die because of poverty or resort to doing crimes to get through the day. While the government does its best to reach out to these sectors, all sorts of help are welcome. Your small change can feed a homeless person for a day. Your used clothes and shoes can make a difference in another person’s life. But what’s even better is that you give back to charities or groups with specific causes that not only offer a palliative solution to these issues but offer long-term solutions that help people get back on their feet so they no longer rely on other people’s generosity to survive.

The Philantrophy Of Giving is available on https://www.podblaze.com/

source https://www.podblaze.com/the-philantrophy-of-giving/

How To Spot A Narcissist

Love, trust, and respect are often the foundations of a solid and lasting relationship – whether it is just a platonic or an intimate one. People tend to get attracted to someone because of their finer features. But over time and as the relationship grows, you’ll be able to see glimpses of the not-so-good side and it will test how far you will go for the other person.

Couples often break up because of misunderstanding and personality differences. Once the arguments start, the relationship is likely doomed to end. However, there are instances when people stay in a relationship even though everything is on the rocks and being together is no longer just about love.

When you are in an emotionally abusive relationship, you tend to not realize that you are experiencing “real” abuse, such as victims of physical and sexual abuse.  In addition to this, so many people do not understand what narcissism is and are completely oblivious to what narcissist abuse is.

It usually takes years to figure out and usually your self-esteem is in the gutter when you realize THAT is the problem.

Know this, narcissists tailor make their abuse to fit their targets.  Their abuse will go under the radar for most people, including the victims.  In many ways, narcissists know what their targets’ weak spots are and use those as the places to hurt.

If a narcissist knows you are afraid of abandonment he will abandon you 1000 times.   If a narcissist knows you like a certain pet, he will hate that pet. If a narcissist knows you love to talk about politics, he will refuse to ever comment on politics to you, except to make a disparaging comment about people who like to talk about politics…

If your narcissist is on Facebook, he’ll comment on everyone else’s posts, and not yours.  Why? So that he can let you know how irrelevant you are.

See how insidious this is? If you try to tell others, “He doesn’t comment on my Facebook posts,” or, “He didn’t return my text,” or, “He won’t respond when I ask him a direct question,” people will tell you that those are irritating, but not really worth ending a relationship, particularly a marriage over.

(Via: https://pro.psychcentral.com/recovery-expert/2017/03/recognizing-narcissistic-abuse/)

If you look around you nowadays, many relationships are just like it. Most are casual hook-ups where the couple met online before starting dating – not really aware of the person’s background. Hence they only realize later rather than sooner about their quirks and idiosyncrasies when they’re already deep in the relationship and a breakup is easier said than done. Other times the person just becomes too immune to the abuse that they simply turn a blind eye and let it go.

You grew up surrounded by narcissists. They hurt you frequently. So frequently that your heart was seared. The pain rolled off like water-off-a-duck’s-back almost before you realized that, yet again, you’d been wounded. Talking back was swiftly and severely punished. So you learned to swallow all the pain, all the insults, all the hurt.

It was a coping mechanism, however unhealthy, that helped you survive narcissistic abuse.

But now? Well, this High Pain Threshold has outlived its usefulness. Previously, it protected us from pain. Now, it’s causing us pain.

(Via: https://blogs.psychcentral.com/narcissism/2017/03/how-narcissism-and-a-high-emotional-pain-threshold-ruins-relationships/)

To avoid being stuck with a narcissist (for life), learn how to identify one early on and how to deal with them in case you are already tied to one.

The top warning signs to identify a narcissist:

- The one sure sign I found was to really listen to the stories/conversations he has with you. You could be talking about anything under the sun, and he will find a way to turn the conversation back on/about him, all the time.

- We could only listen to his MUSIC, watch his TV shows, eats at restaurants he liked. It was always about him. There was no flexibility or compromise.

- When he talks, it is all about him and how great he is. He was very competitive and always has to win. Nothing is ever his fault. He needs his ego stroked. He can't argue because he is incapable of reasoning, so arguments just escalate. He never says he's sorry and can't give a compliment without a negative. He's very materialistic and all about the car he drives. I really think they have no heart.

• A narc will use the phrase “soul mate” especially very early on.

• Someone who lies like a pro. Smooth con. A manipulator.

• Narcissists have no sense of humor and literally to self-deprecating skills.

• The number one sign is he moves on too quickly in to the next courtship.

• A narcissist can’t take it when you tease them.

• Narcissists will often say put-downs wrapped around jokes.

(Via: https://www.firstwivesworld.com/index.php/my-narcissistic-ex-husband/item/9310-what-are-your-top-red-flags-for-identifying-a-narcissist)

While the manipulation of a narcissist may appear cute and flattering at first, it can quickly transition to annoying and even suffocating over time. A healthy relationship not only involves love, trust, and respect for each other but allow one another to have a life outside of the relationship.

The world does not revolve around the two of you. You may miss out on meaningful relationships with family and friends because your significant other only wants you to spend all your free time with him/ her. Find out if your love is that strong enough for you to accept his/ her narcissistic tendencies and remain to be committed to your relationship for a long time.

The following post How To Spot A Narcissist Read more on: https://www.podblaze.com

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Changes In The Special Education System

Change is everywhere. From the way we live to our hobbies and interests, the world we live in now is far from the world where our parents grew up in. With the many changes happening in our surroundings, it makes perfect sense to educate the youth about these changes so they can better adapt to them once they grow up. But there is a small part of the population that have special needs, and thus require special education.

The Special Education system devotes itself to the learning needs of children with disabilities. It aims to provide them with sufficient education and to enhance their skills so they can survive in a far-more-complex world even if their body senses are lacking.

March 22, 2017 will go down as a good day for parents, like me, who have a child in the public education system who has special needs. In a time when many of the exceptional children's programs in this state and in this country seem to be under constant attack, the Supreme Court has given us some new ammunition in the form of (i) a new and higher standard for the level of education that our children are required to be provided with and (ii) an acknowledgment from the highest judicial figure in the land in a Supreme Court opinion that affirms the presence and importance of the role that parents must play in the formation of their children's IEP's [Individualized Education Plan].

(Via: http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8fca4cbe-73a4-456c-8551-d366336b8774)

The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes that students with special needs also requires special education that is not limited to just teaching them the basics but in providing them a quality education that boosts their potential as an individual despite their disabilities.

In a stunning 8-0 decision in the case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a higher standard of education for children with disabilities. Advocates and parents say the case dramatically expands the rights of special-education students in the United States, creates a nationwide standard for special education, and empowers parents as they advocate for their children in schools. But critics say the decision will not have any impact on schools, arguing that the vast majority already provide a good education for those kids.

As I explained in January, the parents of Endrew F. removed him from his local public school, where he made little progress, and placed him in a private school, where they said he made “significant” academic and social improvement.

In 2012, Drew’s parents filed a complaint with the Colorado Department of Education to recover the cost of tuition at the school, which is now about $70,000 per year. The lower courts ruled on behalf of the school district on the grounds that the intent of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is to ensure handicapped kids have access to public education—not to guarantee any particular level of education once inside. But the parents appealed, with the case eventually landing at the Supreme Court.

The case revolved around a central question: Must schools provide a meaningful education in which children show significant progress and are given substantially equal opportunities as  typical children, or can they provide an education that results in just some improvement?

(Via: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/03/how-a-new-supreme-court-ruling-could-affect-special-education/520662/)

As such, the court ruling showed the value of education above everything else, regardless of the circumstance of the student. This positive move raises the hopes of families with students with special needs because it promises them a better education than what they currently get today. Parents are also grateful that their children are given the attention and support they need and this court ruling guarantees their children will have a better future. Let’s wait and see whether President Trump also sees the justice system eye-to-eye regarding this matter considering his first few policies involved budget cuts on the education system as a whole.

The following article Changes In The Special Education System is courtesy of https://www.podblaze.com/

source https://www.podblaze.com/changes-in-the-special-education-system/

The Crisis Enveloping The American Arts

Some may not have an appreciation for the arts. Only people who are cultured and have a refined taste understands the importance of the culture and the arts in any society. And America is rich in various artworks dating back to centuries ago. Until today, artists all over the nation are free to express their artistry and share it to everyone with the support of the government.

But all of that is about to change as it is about to be hit by budget cuts imposed by the new administration. President Trump reduced the budget of certain sectors he deemed aren’t as important as defense and national security where he plans to focus much of his time and efforts since assuming office.

If you’ve been following, or involved in, the visual and performing arts for any length of time, you’ll know that this isn’t the first time conservatives in the power have threatened to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ronald Reagan wanted to eliminate it in the early 1980s. At the end of that decade, Jesse Helms and other conservative members of the United States Congress attacked the NEA because it had given small amounts of money to artists Andres Serrano, who created a beautiful series of photographs that included one of a cheap plastic crucifix submerged in urine, and Robert Mapplethorpe, whose photographs included some that could be seen as homoerotic. One year later came the celebrated cases of the “NEA Four,” performance artists working separately who had received grants for controversial pieces.

So President Donald Trump’s recent budget proposal, which eliminates virtually all federal funding for the arts — not just the NEA, but the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — is nothing new to arts leaders.

It’s a battle they’ve waged before, and they’ve come away battered but not defeated.

This time, local arts leaders say, the threat feels different.

(Via: http://www.bradenton.com/entertainment/article140980903.html)

Even though the arts have faced the same challenges in the past, prominent people in the arts acknowledge the difficulties they are now facing and the possibility of the budget cut to really come their way. It does not help that many others do not also see their value in nation-building.

“Although government’s role in the arts must always remain peripheral, with individual creativity and private support being central, there is no reason why the things which the government can properly do in this field should not be done confidently and expertly,” the report reads.

The U.S. government has had a sporadic relationship with the cultural community. While Thomas Jefferson and other founders had strong beliefs in the value of art, there were long periods when Washington had little involvement, especially in the 19th century. In the 1930s, New Deal officials established the Works Project Administration, which supported everything from murals and theatrical productions to historical guidebooks. But the WPA was based more on job creation than on cultural patronage. “Hell, they’ve got to eat just like other people,” New Deal administrator Harry Hopkins said of artists who benefited.

(Via: http://www.570news.com/2017/03/27/agency-follows-a-uniquely-american-way-of-funding-arts/)

While the debate over its relevance continues and whether or not the budget cut pushes through, the arts will be crippled and it will impact the country in a negative light.

In ways big and small, this impact is replicated all across the country, in cities and small towns, and suburbs alike. From Maize, Kan., to Reedsburg, Wisc., the arts bring communities together around an idea bigger than any one individual.

In short, these budget cuts make a determination - perhaps unwittingly - about who deserves the arts.

They fail to recognize that the arts are not a privilege. The arts are the beating heart of our humanity, and the soul of our civilization, a miracle to which we all deserve to bear witness.

We know the unique strength of our nation resides in our creative spirit, our willingness to innovate and inspire. We cannot allow that resource to wither or weaken. It is the core of who we are, and the key to what we can achieve.

(Via: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Walker-The-arts-are-fuel-for-the-American-Dream-11028394.php)

It is disheartening to witness how only a handful has power in the country – power that they use as they see fit. While the nation’s leaders try to shape the future of the country as they know best, they overlook other aspects that are equally important to the nation even though they think it is of little relevance. We can only hope that all these changes we are witnessing now will benefit the entire nation over time and not just a handful of people whom the administration favors.

The blog article The Crisis Enveloping The American Arts is courtesy of https://www.podblaze.com

source https://www.podblaze.com/the-crisis-enveloping-the-american-arts/

Protect The Bees, Save The Earth

Everyone on this planet serves its purpose. From the tiniest of insects to the most in-demand of crops, our lives are interconnected and we all benefit from each other – albeit not all the time – but more often than not.

While humans only see the bigger things in the picture like the flowers that bloom and the fruits on a tree, we fail to realize the means for them to grow and bloom like that. Bees have a lot to do with many things in nature. Although we often associate them with making honey, they help in the pollination of most plants and flowers and are far more important than we give them credit for.

Cas Olivier would like to create as much of a buzz as possible about conserving bees and relocating them, rather than killing swarms in Madibeng. He is calling on anyone interested in helping him.

Cas, who is a well-known bee-farmer from Hartbeespoort, is one of just a handful of bee lovers in the area, very well-acquainted with these hardworking but often feared little insects and very knowledgeable about the do’s and don’ts regarding their wellbeing.

“I was called out to Brits to remove a swarm of bees from an electricity box,” Cas explains. “The fire department’s workers and myself stopped there simultaneously, and as we spoke, I learnt that although there is a moratorium in place prohibiting them from killing bees. They do not really have the necessary equipment and know-how when it comes to relocating big swarms and eventually do end up killing them.”

It’s the reason why he wants to share his knowledge and passion for bees because he understands how important bees are for our future and that of our planet.

Why this love for bees? Cas says he just loves bees and hates to see them being killed when it really can be prevented. In conversation with him and seeing how keen he is to share information about these black and yellow workers, it is evident that this is his passion. “It has been said before that without bees we couldn’t survive. Bees are responsible for a whole lot of pollination which takes place across several plant types, naturally helping their reproduction, including beans, pumpkin, certain aloes and so on.”

(Via: http://kormorant.co.za/29209/all-abuzz-about-bee-conservation/)

And there is actually a reason for concern when some bee species have already been considered endangered and nearing extinction. If we don’t act now and save them from getting wiped off this face of the planet, then we’d lose our chance forever and have no one else to blame but ourselves.

The rusty patched bumble bee has become the first wild bee in the continental United States to gain federal protection, with the government adding it to its list of endangered and threatened species.

The bee, once widely found in the upper Midwest and Northeastern United States, was listed on Tuesday after US president Donald Trump's administration lifted a hold it had placed on a plan for federal protections proposed last northern autumn by the administration of then-president Barack Obama.

Bumble bees are key pollinators of crops such as blueberries and cranberries, and are almost the only insect pollinator of tomatoes in the US, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

(Via: http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/breaking-news/us-bumble-bee-on-endangered-species-list/news-story/e463842d548bd01dd96432020a3a51e8)

Other groups are also gearing up for bee conservation efforts although some are baffled whether they are doing the bees more harm than good.

Even the most well intentioned initiatives can have negative consequences if you don’t do enough research before launching. Just ask General Mills.

The company, famous for cereals like Honey Nut Cheerios, which has a bee as its mascot, recently launched a “Bring Back the Bees” campaign. General Mills gave out 1.5 million wildflower seeds to customers in the hopes the seeds would get planted across the U.S. and help the declining bee population.

But some critics have argued that this initiative could actually do more harm than good. Since General Mills gave out the same seeds to customers across the country, it’s possible that the wildflowers could become invasive species in certain areas. And that could potentially hurt local ecosystems.

(Via: https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/03/csr-example.html)

For many of us, it has been years and years since we last talked about bees and nature in general - in class, probably, where we had no choice but to listen lest our grades suffer. It is why many can’t hind their surprise after knowing how much of an impact the bees have to our lives and to the entire planet. These tiny buzzing insects do their best to ensure that everyone has food on their table for the years to come but are we doing our part in protecting them? It is a wake-up call for many to reassess our priorities and start making an effort in the conservation of our environment even in our own little ways - not tomorrow - but today.

Protect The Bees, Save The Earth was first seen on https://www.podblaze.com

source https://www.podblaze.com/protect-the-bees-save-the-earth/

Will Travel Plans Change In Light Of The Travel Bans

Traveling here and abroad is always a welcome reprieve for weary workers. Nothing can rejuvenate the senses better than taking a break from the daily grind and enjoying the beautiful sights of a new city or to bask in the sun somewhere in the tropics. And Americans are known to be frequent globe-trotting travelers that love interesting attractions.

In light of the various travel bans issued by the Trump administration, traveling is proving to be more of a burden and challenge and defeat the purpose of having one. Did the plans of the multitudes of American travelers change or are they still yearning to go out and explore the world?

President Trump’s travel ban has caused some destinations and tourism organizations to project fewer international visitors to the U.S. in 2017, but the U.S. outbound travel forecast is much brighter.

The number of foreign trips by U.S. travelers is expected to grow 5.4 percent in 2017, according to a new World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Oxford Economic’s 2017 economic impact report released this week. Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Mediterranean destinations in Europe will likely benefit from this strong growth in U.S. outbound travel, the report said.

Travel and tourism growth for North and South America grew 2.4 percent last year and was hurt by weak inbound travel demand to the U.S. but helped by U.S. outbound travel growth. The Americas’ growth for 2016 was higher than Europe (2.0 percent) and the report states that despite a 15 percent drop in the UK pound following the Brexit vote there is little evidence of an inbound travel boost to the UK last year. Any impact on tourism from a weaker pound will likely be felt this year, the report said.

(Via: https://skift.com/2017/03/21/u-s-tourists-headed-abroad-are-a-bright-spot-for-international-travel/)

While average Americans seem to be unaffected and will likely pursue their travel goals, companies are expected to cut down on business travels – especially international trips – after the issuance of the various travel bans. So, multinational companies with offices in different parts of the globe will probably refrain from sending their employees to their U.S. offices for the time being.

Alexandria, Va.-based Global Business Travel Association, which represents the business travel industry worldwide, said today that nearly four in 10 (37 percent) of U.S. business travel professionals expect some level of reduction in their company’s travel because of the revised executive order. Even more European travel professionals feel this way, with 47 percent expecting some in business travel for their company. Additionally, 17 percent of European travel professionals report that their company has already cancelled business travel to the United States because of the executive orders issued. GBTA polled its U.S. and European members this week to assess the business travel impact of President Trump’s revised executive order on travel.
Thirty-eight percent of European business travel professionals said their company’s would be less willing to send business travelers to the United States in the future because of the executive order, and 45 percent indicated their company will be less willing to plan future meetings and events in the United States.

(Via: http://www.specialevents.com/news/companies-expect-reduced-international-travel-due-trump-bans)

These travel bans surely have elicited mixed reactions from the crowd and since nobody can really tell what President Trump got right up his sleeves in the future, many are on their toes as they anxiously wait for his plans to unfold in the coming days.

However, while things aren’t as bad when it comes to international travel, U.S. tourism may suffer from fewer tourists flocking into the country.

The U.S. Travel Association on Thursday said the Trump administration's immigration policies are hurting tourism.

The nonprofit industry organization said in a statement that there are "mounting signs" of "a broad chilling effect on demand for international travel to the United States."

White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters disputed the contention, saying: "It takes several months for each month's international arrival statistics to be processed and released to the public. To claim the executive order has had an impact on travel would be premature."

But the U.S. Travel Association's statement added to a growing chorus of concern from the travel industry over the impact of Trump administration policies on tourism.

And they even have a name for it:

"It's known as the Trump Slump," travel guru Arthur Frommer wrote last month on Frommers.com. He called it "an unintended consequence of the Trump-led efforts to stop many Muslims from coming to the U.S.," resulting in "a sharp drop in foreign tourism to our nation that imperils jobs and touristic income."

(Via: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-03/trump-slump-signs-of-drop-in-international-tourism-to-us)

President Trump designed the travel ban as a protective measure to uphold the safety and security of the Americans from possible terrorists. However, such a move resulted in a myriad of implications that have a small or big impact on the country’s economy as a whole. Now, let’s see how the Trump administration cleans up their mess and help the country recover from the slump it is currently in.

Will Travel Plans Change In Light Of The Travel Bans is republished from https://www.podblaze.com

source https://www.podblaze.com/will-travel-plans-change-in-light-of-the-travel-bans/

Boost Your Data Recovery Know-How

Our daily lives revolve around the use of many technologies. Back in the days, you can only get your hands on sophisticated technical gadgets at work or in government offices. Now, your home is full of techy gadgets that are supposedly there to make your life easier and better. Aside from modern home appliances that save us from doing manual household chores, our personal arsenal of flashy gadgets includes smartphones, iPads/ tablets, laptops, computers, smartwatches, smartTV and so much more.

301Imagine all these technologies in your life. It means that you not only invest a great deal of money in buying and maintaining them but also in the effort you exert in the transfer and storage of important data and files. Your computer hard drive saves all sorts of data, from cookies of websites you frequent to personal data and files you save yourself, a lot is at risk when something happens to your device leaving you unable to access these files.

Whether you are an Apple or Windows PC user, data recovery is possible if you know how to do it right.

Most people don’t give a damn to data recovery software until they lose some important data to system crash, a virus attack, partition loss, formatting, or by accidentally hitting the Delete button. It’s not just your PC that is prone to data loss. Memory cards, music players, external hard drives, smartphones, and even digital cameras are vulnerable. Most data recovery tools out there are expensive. And those available for free often retrieve only a limited about of data. 

But you need to keep this in mind:

First things first. Any data recovery software gives the best results when the original data is not overwritten. It means when you realize that some important files have been deleted, don’t do anything to the internal hard drive or the external storage device. Use it as little as possible until the lost files have been recovered. Each action you take on the storage drive reduces your chances of full recovery.

Step 1: Download the free data recovery software and install it on a non-data loss drive on your Windows PC.

Step 2: Launch the tool.

Step 3: Select the storage device/ drive where the data got lost.

Step 4: Once the scan is complete, it will show you all the lost files.

(Via: http://www.valuewalk.com/2017/03/icare-data-recovery-safe-freeware/)

However, if you want to save yourself from all the trouble of having to recover data from scratch or the burden of paying for a professional to retrieve lost data for you, prevention is still better than cure.

One thing you need to understand is that you can still lose your data even if you are very diligent when it comes to data backup. Suppose your memory corrupts or the hard drive encounters an error? You will have no choice but to lose all your data. You may also find yourself deleting a file without the intention. You always need to be prepared when it comes to the recovery of corrupted, deleted and lost data. Here are some essential tips and tools that can assist you to prepare for such incidences.

1. Install to the USB flash drive - download hard drive data recovery software directly from a flash drive. You can also find some portable versions that will extract zip file contents directly to the flash drive.

2. File detection - You can recover your files as long as they are not shredded with a data detection tool that is secure. 

3. Build the Recovery Toolkit - It’s advisable to install recovery tools on your computer before losing any data. 

4. Recover Corrupt Files - You may recover a file but find in damaged a bit. You can find third party software like Recover my files and PC tools file recovery that supports a broad range of file formats.

5. Recover Images from your Memory Card - Did you know that it is possible to recover deleted, lost and corrupt photos from your memory card as long as you can view the card in windows? Use the trial version of Zero Assumption recovery and you will find amazing results

6. Recovery of Data Outside of Windows - It’s possible to recover data by plugging the drive into another PC if you are unable to boot into windows. 

7. Recover Data from CDs or DVDs - You can use different tools to recover data from your DVD or CD whether you have a physical or virtual problem.

8. Pick the Right Search - Most tools offer a broad range of searches depending on the kind of data you lost. You could still find recycle bin recovery tools if you want files that were located there. Make sure you pick the right tool if you want the recovery process to be successful.

9. Deep Searches - File recovery tools offer much slower but more thorough search options that will scan your drive cluster by cluster. These tools can assist you to find data from lost partitions or drives.

(Via: http://www.newspatrolling.com/9-essential-data-loss-recovery-tips-and-tools/)

Having a clear understanding of your options in recovering data and ways on how to prevent its loss can save you time, money and effort in dealing with data loss. Data recovery know-how will always come in handy whether on a personal level or on a bigger work-related or business-related platform level. Data is precious, so do your best to protect it and ensuring you know what to do in case it disappears from your hard drive.

Boost Your Data Recovery Know-How Read more on: https://www.podblaze.com

source https://www.podblaze.com/boost-your-data-recovery-know-how/

Business As Usual For President Trump

Donald Trump may be the new U.S. president but that does not mean he is no longer the man behind the brand. He may have temporarily relinquished the business to his children after assuming the presidency but it seems that he is still in the loop in matters concerning their empire. After all, he even takes guests of the state to his private clubhouses for meetings, so this is nothing new.

While the president should only be involved in the affairs of the state, it seems that his son missed the memo. Eric Trump insists on giving his father financial reports on their businesses even though he made a vow to keep their businesses/ organizations out of their father’s way.

Eric Trump sits behind his desk on the 25th floor of Trump Tower on a late February day in New York City, dressed in a slightly less formal version of his father’s go-to power uniform—blue suit, white buttoned-down shirt, no tie. There are reminders of Donald Trump everywhere in this office, including the TV in the corner that beams out wall-to-wall news about the president any time his son turns it on. Amidst it all, Eric Trump, who now manages the Trump Organization with his brother Don Jr., wants to emphasize that the Trump business is separate from the Trump presidency.

“There is kind of a clear separation of church and state that we maintain, and I am deadly serious about that exercise,” he says, echoing previous statements from his father. “I do not talk about the government with him, and he does not talk about the business with us. That’s kind of a steadfast pact we made, and it’s something that we honor.”

But less than two minutes later, he concedes that he will continue to update his father on the business while he is in the presidency. “Yeah, on the bottom line, profitability reports and stuff like that, but you know, that’s about it.” How often will those reports be, every quarter? “Depending, yeah, depending.” Could be more, could be less? “Yeah, probably quarterly.” One thing is clear: “My father and I are very close,” Eric Trump says. “I talk to him a lot. We’re pretty inseparable.”

The apparent contradiction troubles ethics experts. “The statement that the president made earlier that he wasn’t going to talk to his children about the business sounded good, but the reality was there was no way to enforce it,” says Larry Noble, general counsel of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center and a former chief ethics officer at the Federal Election Commission. “He is breaking down one of the few barriers he claimed to be establishing between him and his businesses, and those barriers themselves were weak to begin with. But if he is now going to get reports from his son about the businesses, then he really isn’t separate in any real way.”

(Via: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/03/24/after-promising-not-donald-talk-business-with-father-eric-trump-says-president-give-him-financial-reports/#75e69950359a)

It appears that the Trump Organization means a lot to the Trump family that despite mixing personal/ business affairs and that of the state being unethical, they can’t help themselves but do what they want to do. And the news picked up on it fast.

For ethics experts already skeptical of President Trump's plans to pass his business off to his kids instead of a blind trust, Eric's comments further call into question just how separate the president will actually remain from his business empire. "He is breaking down one of the few barriers he claimed to be establishing between him and his businesses, and those barriers themselves were weak to begin with," said Larry Noble, general counsel of Campaign Legal Center and former chief ethics officer at the Federal Election Commission. "But if he is now going to get reports from his son about the businesses, then he really isn't separate in any real way." Becca Stanek

(Via: http://theweek.com/speedreads/688233/eric-trump-plans-share-quarterly-updates-family-business-profitability-president-trump)

There are a number of unorthodox things President Trump has been guilty of doing since becoming president. While he may have won the presidency against Hillary Clinton without a doubt, he is fast gaining the disapproval of the people with his controversial policies that seem to show how we really see his people and what they mean to him. After all, he may be the president now – but it is only a short gig (4 years to be exact). But his business – it’s his legacy to his family.

The blog article Business As Usual For President Trump was initially published on OnlineCloudBackupServices.com

source https://www.podblaze.com/business-as-usual-for-president-trump/

Do Not Neglect Your Neurological Health

Many of us take our health for granted. You often feel invincible in your youth because you rarely get sick and you can get away with the neglect and abuse your body goes through. You can eat what you want. You can sleep whenever you want or skip it, it doesn’t matter. You can still function even though you are not feeling well.

However, everything takes its toll as you age. Your body will show signs of aging and symptoms of neglect. We are often preoccupied with issues and conditions that are obvious to the naked eye, wrinkles, age spots or balding hair and the more serious conditions like irregular blood pressure, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

While all these things are important, there is an equally important aspect of our health that many do not pay attention to but can seriously impair your health in case of a stroke. Most neurological conditions appear later in life. But many people suffer from a stroke earlier now because of our modern lifestyle. For instance, constant exposure to smartphones can have a damaging effect on the brain.

The deliberation over the extent of harm caused by electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is one that has continued for decades. Electromagnetic fields are physical fields produced by electrically charged objects. Depending on their force of radiation, they can reshape the behavior of other electric items in their vicinity at various magnitudes. As time has progressed, technology has advanced from herculean machines to handheld innovations. The impact of cellular radiation on the human brain, behavior and health are everlasting — but in the most detrimental way. It is essential that our daily device usage be limited; this means significantly less phone and laptop time.

The widespread increase in cell phone usage contributes to adverse physical symptoms and prominent magnitudes of daily stress in the average American. Considering minute EMFs are produced by the human body itself in order to carry out biochemical processes, needless to say that external radiation-producing devices can alter the body’s natural system of electromagnetic field movement. 

(Via: http://www.collegiatetimes.com/opinion/neurological-effects-of-smartphone-use-prompts-limitations/article_321ab52a-0ccf-11e7-aad7-1bb0db2e8763.html)

Cardiac conditions can also hasten the deterioration of your neurological health. Or in this case, the management of cardiac conditions can exacerbate neurological decline.

Small leakages from blood vessels in the brain, known as microbleeds, increase with age and are associated with cognitive decline. Of 84 older patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), nearly a quarter developed new microbleeds after their procedure, according to results of a single-center study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 66th Annual Scientific Session.

Microbleeds can be observed using MRI scans of the brain and are detrimental to thinking and memory. Previous studies of MRI scans in patients age 80 and older have shown evidence of microbleeds in up to 30 percent of elderly patients. This study revealed increased risks of microbleeding among patients who had undergone a previous cardiovascular intervention and among those with more prolonged exposure to anticoagulant medications, which are used to prevent blood clots that cause strokes and mini-strokes in patients undergoing cardiac procedures. It is the first study to link microbleeding with TAVR and the first to investigate microbleeding as a side effect of any cardiac procedure.

(Via: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170320090451.htm)

Most American families put their elderly in nursing homes, so they get the care and attention they need. And many of them present a neurological problem that continues to grow according to health care providers.

Seizures and epilepsy are more prevalent in elderly nursing home residents, especially those with neurologic comorbidities, than in patients in the community, according to data published in Neurology.1

"Nursing home patients are a very underrepresented population in research, although the elderly are a growing portion of our population," investigator Angela K. Birnbaum, PhD, from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told Neurology Advisor. "Reporting the prevalence of epilepsy and other neurological conditions presents the scope of a problem by reporting the number of patients that may need specialized care, especially since these diagnoses are usually treated with [central nervous system] medications that can have complicated pharmacokinetics and side effect profiles."

(Via: http://www.neurologyadvisor.com/epilepsy/epilepsy-seizures-common-in-nursing-home-elderly/article/643330/)

And many more Americans will likely suffer as the new administration pushes for budget cuts in critical areas like health care, which will compromise the health and well-being of individuals who rely on the state for help in accessing basic health care services.

The American Academy of Neurology has issued a statement on the American Health Care Act, stating that it "does not do enough to ensure continued access to health insurance coverage for millions of Americans.

(Via: http://www.neurologyadvisor.com/the-handoff/the-handoff-your-week-in-neurology-news-march-23-2017/article/646180/)

The statistics do not paint a pretty picture but it serves its purpose. It should act as a warning that many of the things we do today can have negative implications later in life. You have to take your health seriously if you want to enjoy a long and quality life as you age. Make sure that you do not take your health for granted because it is you who will suffer in the end.

The following blog article Do Not Neglect Your Neurological Health Find more on: https://www.podblaze.com/

source https://www.podblaze.com/do-not-neglect-your-neurological-health/