Those Who Can, Teach

By Kim L. Clark

What's a proven way for Solopreneur consulting service providers to demonstrate expertise, distinguish yourself from the many "me, too" competitors; position yourself as a thought leader; and work against being perceived as a commodity? Teaching! The old proverb, "Those who can, do and those who can't, teach" doesn't hold up in the 21st century marketplace.

Teaching is the smartest-ever marketing activity. You get paid to do it, so along with it being savvy marketing, teaching simultaneously benefits your cash-flow. If that's not enough, through teaching you will become a better public speaker and better able to promote yourself as a keynote or a panel moderator. In horse racing, they call that a trifecta!

Ideally, you'll teach a subject related to your business. Artists since Michelangelo (at least) have taught art classes. Best-selling book authors and award-winning playwrights are usually able to join a university faculty, where they earn steady money teaching creative writing classes. Distinguished investigative newspaper and magazine reporters often teach journalism at universities, which is a superb addition to their curriculum vitae.

Self-employed bookkeepers can teach fellow Solopreneurs how to use QuickBooks. Marketers can teach the basics of social media marketing. Landscape artists can teach homeowners how to choose shrubbery and flowering plants for their yards, or how to create and maintain a window box filled with lovely plants. Developing proficiency in the ancient and noble art of teaching delivers numerous tangible and intangible benefits to Freelancers and their students.

If you've never taught, I recommend that you both learn curriculum development and hone your teaching skills by writing a proposal to teach one of your professional competencies at an adult learning center, library, or some other organization that offers workshops to the public for free or at a modest cost.

Some time ago, I wrote proposals for a series of 90-minute sales skills training workshops that were accepted by an adult learning center (that happens to be the oldest adult learning center in the country, BTW). The workshops were successful and attracted paying students for four or five years. That teaching experience helped me get hired to teach a 20-week business plan writing course that was sponsored by a women's entrepreneurial development center that's funded by the Small Business Association. I taught for two semesters and it was a wonderful experience.

As you visit websites to research teaching opportunities, confirm the credentials required of instructors and peruse the types of courses that are offered. Master's degrees are often required (but not always mandatory) and you'll need to know if the subject matter you might teach is offered at the institution. Also, read the instructor bios and I'll bet you'll discover a few Solopreneurs on the faculty.

Once you've developed a workshop and learned how to successfully present it, consider taking it online in a YouTube video. E-learning is a growing field and becoming proficient in presenting an online course is to your benefit. Schools are transferring ever more courses to the online format and if you have the know-how, you will be a more attractive candidate for those disappearing adjunct opportunities.

If you've earned a master's degree and have a minimum of three years of teaching experience, you may be able to teach at a local college or university. Adjunct (that is, part-time, non-tenure track) teaching is great, but the market has become quite competitive in some parts of the country.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Kim L. Clark is an external strategy and marketing consultant who brings agile talent to the for-profit and not-for-profit organization leaders for whom she works. You can ensure that mission-critical projects at your organization are achieved when you contact Kim at http://polishedprofessionalsboston.com.

Article Source: Those Who Can, Teach

Advantages & Disadvantages of Choosing AngularJS Web Development

By Maulik D Shah

Angular JS is an open source framework for building web applications. Tech giant Google maintains it. Coders face many issues while developing and testing any code. It resorts many of the challenges which the coders may face.

AngularJS mixes HTML codes and app modules to form a framework. Its earlier base was Model View Controller (MVC) Architecture. It was mainly in use for planning rich web applications. But, situation has been on a change since the introduction of the Angular JS 2.

The new and superior features of this technology are a boon for the Angular JS Development Companies. The advanced technology can now naturally be in sync with models and view. This makes AngularJS web development a very simple process.

In short, some of the stand out features of AngularJS are:

- Two-way data binding

- MVC structure

- Directives

- Templates

- Dependency injections

- Testing

Apart from these basic advantages, these are the few reasons which make Angular JS the first choice for web development.

Let us look into these advantages in detail:

Most widely used Framework
AngularJS is one of the most widely used frameworks for creating websites. Also, for the mainstream development, Angular JS is in use. Moreover, it has a fine support of a global community of keen and talented developers.

Declarative Code Style
The most hectic job in coding is writing codes for every little function. You need to write multiple codes for adding a single function. With the declarative coding paradigm, AngularJS ensures that the coders have to write fewer codes. The coding reduces for executing the same goals. In simpler terms, you do not need to write all the steps involved in any action. You just have to write the final steps!

Wide Recognition
AngularJS web development is a globally known framework. It is in use for developing high quality apps. In addition, it is also known for developing hybrid apps. Many development frameworks and stacks across the world are using AngularJS for this purpose. It has a wider global acceptance and is trending currently as a technology for developing web apps.

Data Binding
For enhancing the testing ability, Angular JS is in use. Testing enhancement is because the decoupling of data can have the view of DOM element or HTML. The developer can effortlessly identify the logic that controls this data. Moreover, the data separation is also very simple. Hence, the division of UI element and its representation makes viewing a pleasing experience than other frameworks.

We have seen the positives of Angular JS development. Now, let us see why few web development companies remain distant from using AngularJS.

The Disadvantages of AngularJS

Performance Glitches
As the apps developed under the AngularJS framework are dynamic. These dynamic apps lack in performance. Sometimes complex single page apps can have some lags and show glitches while performing.

Need Professionals
An entrepreneur may look at Angular JS as the best suitable framework for web app development. But, you get to know that your classical web development knowledge would create confusion when you use AngularJS. Features like dependency injection and firm can be challenging for you. Either you will have to invest more time in learning or you may have to look for professional help.

JavaScript Mandatory
Nothing in the world is absolute. Is it universal that all the computers and laptops would have a JavaScript support enabled? When you own a business, you want to reach maximum number of people. When JavaScript support is missing, your website or app would not be able to reach these people. Your web app would become less useful. Instead, if you use HTML as the base for web development, this problem eliminates.

Maulik Shah is the Founder and CEO of Biztech Consulting and Solutions, a fast growing IT solutions provider specializing in Mobile Apps Development and   AngularJS Development Services. Maulik is a tech enthusiast and writes about the various Aspects of ecommerce technology.

Article Source:  Advantages & Disadvantages of Choosing AngularJS Web Development

Advertising Signage Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

By Basharat Khadim

Emerging advertising tools and channels are continuously changing the way we communicate or promote products or services. Signs, whether safety or commercial, are now being designed with the glittering digital display that presents content in a very engaging and attractive form. With the features of LED screens, companies now have the power to maneuver content in so many interactive ways to enhance their visibility. Understanding emerging signage trends will definitely enable you to create a good looking set of signs for your business. Following are some signage trends that will help you understand how to improve the presence of your business in a competitive environment.

Electric display

Despite new technologies, traditional signs are still playing an effective role in promoting small and large businesses. However, in the future, digital screens will gain more popularity and acceptance. It is because moving content with digital features is more powerful and engaging than a static sign. Modern consumers now have the freedom to get information regarding their desired products and services by simply browsing through LED boards.

Interactive content

Modern advertising techniques are bringing interactivity to offline advertising. The trend to display content in an interactive way will continue to gain more acceptance. Highly sophisticated display signs are bringing the idea of Internet of Things (IoT) into life. In coming years, tech-savvy businesses would be able to use signs that will show content according to viewers needs and preferences. The idea of IoT has clearly been put into practice by modern signage technology. Digital touchscreens and projectors are likely to be used widely in the future.

Social media integration

Social media has become a key advertising strategy for all kind of businesses. Whether you are a small plumbing contractor or a large brand, it has become inevitable to integrate social media into your advertising efforts. It will become more important than ever to use social interactions in the signage to improve engagement.

Content will continue to dominate

Content is of paramount significance for marketers and businesses. It's the content that drives people to take actions. No matter what kind of signs you are using to promote your business, you need to focus on creating valuable content that has the power to make people buy. Even if you are using simple banners, decals, wraps, or vehicle graphics to advertise something, your content should be up to the mark. Make a good use of signage to promote your brand and do not forget to follow new trends.

Being a reputable company, A Sign Promotion provides innovative and up to date   signage solutions to businesses of all sizes in Edmonton. We only utilize advanced printing machines and graphic design software to create amazing products for our clients. From wraps and banners to 3D lettering and graphics, we provide a broad range of ROI-focused signage services. Feel free to discuss your project with us!

Article Source:  Advertising Signage Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

The Fall of the Unsinkable: A Marxist Criticism Approach to the Movie "Titanic"

By Kian Arceo

The untold secrets of a sunken ship in the Atlantic revealed by one of the survivors of the tragedy. This is the story of "The Titanic", a story of love and tragedy alongside happiness and sadness in one film. The purpose of this movie review is not just to give the summary of the movie but to view the movie from different perspectives and approaches. This critique seeks to apply Marxist criticism approach as the standpoint of the review. On the next paragraph is a summary of the plot of the movie.

After winning a trip on the RMS Titanic during a dockside card game, American Jack Dawson spots the society girl Rose DeWitt Bukater who is on her way to Philadelphia to marry her rich snob fianc� Caledon Hockley. Rose feels helplessly trapped by her situation and makes her way to the aft deck and thinks of suicide until she is rescued by Jack. Cal is therefore obliged to invite Jack to dine at their first-class table where he suffers through the slights of his snobbish hosts. In return, he spirits Rose off to third-class for an evening of dancing, giving her the time of her life. Deciding to forsake her intended future all together, Rose asks Jack, who has made his living making sketches on the streets of Paris, to draw her in the nude wearing the invaluable blue diamond Cal has given her. Cal finds out and has Jack locked away. Soon afterwards, the ship hits an iceberg and Rose must find Jack while both must run from Cal even as the ship sinks deeper into the freezing water. This is the focal point of the movie but more than just the plot, let us see it from various points.

Titanic clearly shows dominant ideology of differences regarding race, class or status in the society. Jack was a white Caucasian man who is poor whereas Rose was a wealthy first class passenger. The Titanic itself was divided into three separate classes. The First class, Middle class, and the Third class. The placements of the people in the ship were according to their class or status in the society. During the sinking process, the people from the First class were the first ones to occupy the life boats. A part from the Middle class was able to escape the sinking ship as well. But the Third class were the less fortunate ones who were given late notice and had very limited boats left available. It can be concluded that rich people are given more privilege than less wealthy ones.

Titanic is a nicely made movie. It contains complete elements an ideal movie should have. Incorporating different genres into it makes it more exciting and thrilling. Putting together romance, tragedy, and comedy played a major role in catching the heart of its audiences. It also teaches a good lesson about life that no matter the struggle and difference between two people, love will endure everything until it prevails. And most importantly, it has shown factual events of the legendary sunken ship which serves as commemoration for the lives taken by this historical tragedy.

Article Source: The Fall of the Unsinkable: A Marxist Criticism Approach to the Movie "Titanic"

Global Milk Industry Trend Analysis and Outlook

By Santosh Salgare

Industry Overview:

Milk is considered to be a complete food for human diet. For any mammal, milk is the primary source of nutrition, especially for infants, since this white liquid is easily digestible. Numerous health benefits associated with the consumption of milk include, but not limited to improved bone strength, stronger immune system, reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, and healthier skin. Adequate consumption also aids in the deterrence of diseases such as dental decay, dehydration, obesity, and many other chronic diseases. Milk contains nutrients including Calcium, Vitamin A, B12, D, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Selenium, Protein, Riboflavin, Zinc, Carbohydrates, etc.

Milk accounts for around 14% of modern agricultural trade, along with its other products. Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP) and Whole Milk Powder (WMP) are the most demanded and traded commodities, whereas fresh milk accounts for only less than 1% of production traded. Infant Formula Milk is another highly demanded commodity with products such as Starting Milk Formula, Follow-on Milk Formula, Toddlers Milk Formula, and Special Milk Formula. According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, by production tonnage, milk ranked third with a production of 770 billion liters and was the most demanded agricultural commodity in terms of value globally in 2013.

Global milk industry depends on breeding animals such as cows, goats, sheep, buffaloes, and camels for milk production. However, lactose-free alternatives such as soy milk and almond milk are also of significant demand in the milk industry. However, cow milk is estimated to hold an 80% share of the global milk production. Buffalo milk, although produced in fewer quantities than cow milk, is produced and traded mainly in countries such as Pakistan and India. The milk production system can be categorized into four, namely specialized landless system, market-oriented system, subsistence-oriented integrated dairy-crop systems, and pastoral systems.

Market Dynamics, Trends, and Outlook:

The global milk industry is driven by the substantial demand from countries with dietary guidelines recommending milk as a staple food. Milk provides an average 134 kilocalorie of energy per capita per day. It is also an affordable source of nutrition to meet the daily recommended levels. For instance, in the United States, 100 kilocalorie milk costs only around US$ 0.23, whereas other sources such as egg, vegetables, and poultry cost around US$ 0.41.

North America accounts for a major share in the global milk industry with the U.S, Canada, and Mexico contributing significantly to the growth. Whereas, in South America, Brazil and Argentina dominate the industry and countries such as Uruguay and Chile are projected to exhibit slow growth.The milk industry in Russia exhibits a stunning growth with around 40% of the gross product of animal husbandry. The largest milk producer in the world is India followed by the U.S., China, and Pakistan, among others.

Long-term demand for milk and its products is projected to register a substantial growth, which in turn will result in price volatility. The industry is expected to witness erratic changes in prices in the upcoming years. The changing lifestyle, food habits, population growth, etc. are some of the factors bolstering the growth of the global milk industry. In a nutshell, the hike in milk production and consumption worldwide is the key factor boosting the global milk industry growth.

For instance, the European Union was regulated by a milk quota system until 2015, according to which every member state had a national production quota. In case if any state exceeded its quota, it must pay a set penalty to the EU. The abolishment of this system has been affecting the global milk industry on a positive note, which in turn is expected to spur the growth of the global milk industry in the near future.

Introduction of a variety of flavors, attractive packaging, and availability in different forms elevate the consumption of milk globally. For example, in March 2016, Prairie Dairy Farms introduced two fresh flavors, namely Strawberry Cr�me and Orange Cr�me, of its Peeps flavored milk. The packaged milk with new flavors and colors has gained strong market demand in the developed countries. The key participants in the global milk industry are slowly shifting their focus toward the developing countries in order to explore the market opportunities.

Busy life schedule of citizens in developing countries opens up a gargantuan scope for the multinational companies to gain a foothold in such markets focusing on breakfast products. Selling products through advertisements highlighting easy breakfast and on-the-go options will propel the growth of the global milk industry. Growing health concerns encourage the consumers from abstaining from carbonated soft drinks and other juices, which in turn creates an opportunity for the milk industry.

Apart from the aforementioned factors driving flavored milk market, the rising awareness on healthy diet hinders the market growth to an extent. However, the unflavored milk market witness a steady growth in the global milk industry and the trend is expected to continue over the upcoming years as well.

Key Participants:

The global milk industry is highly competitive and dynamic in nature. The competition among the key participants of the global milk industry results in the betterment of product quality, pricing, innovation, distribution, etc.Like in any other industry, in order to succeed, the brand must stand out from other products with a distinct and unique value proposition.

Some of the key participants in the global milk industry include, but not limited to China Mengniu Dairy Company, Nestl�, Lactalis, Amul, Associated Milk Producers, Dairy Farmers of America, Darigold, Dean Foods, Arla Foods, Groupe Even, DMK DeutschesMilchkontor GmbH, Bright Food, Grupo Lala, Meg Milk Snow Brand, FrieslandCampina, Meiji Dairies Corporation, Morinaga Milk Industry, SpoldzielniaMleczarskaMlekovita, Muller, Saputo, Sodiaal, and Yili Group.

Brand Essence Market Research are into market research & consulting. Our expertise is in creating market research reports for multiple industries. Follow us for latest research reports! Visit us: http://www.brandessenceresearch.com/. Call us on +44 2038074155 today to order this report or to ask for related reports.

Article Source:  Global Milk Industry Trend Analysis and Outlook

How to Make Marketing Investments Pay Off

By Joan Nowak

Customers are your source of revenue so it makes sense to invest money into attracting, converting and retaining them. But as you plan your efforts, here are a few things to consider to make your customer investments pay off.

#1 - Look Beyond Satisfaction

Customer satisfaction is certainly an indicator of customer repurchase intentions. Improvements can reduce churn and create new business through referrals. But even satisfied customers are not created equal when it comes to profitability. Understand why customers are satisfied. Some factors that impact both satisfaction and profitability include brands, products/services, buying experience, differentiation - and of course, price.

Satisfaction and profitability are not mutually exclusive. Some customers simply can't be profitably satisfied. So why make the investment in them? Invest resources in your profitable customers.

#2 - Focus on the Lifetime Value of the Customer

How much you invest to acquire a new customer or retain them will vary. But you need to think beyond the most recent or first transaction. Consider instead what you expect to earn from customers on an ongoing basis.

This long-term view considers what products or services they buy, how often and for how long. Seek to understand your customers' value. When you do, you can look for ways to improve it and decide how much you will spend to acquire and retain customers.

#3 - Budget and Plan for Retention Too

When it comes to marketing, think beyond new customer lead generation. While important, a portion of your marketing budget should be allocated toward nurturing and retaining customers. When you consider lifetime value, it's a good decision. Plus, it's a lot cheaper to retain a customer than to acquire a new one!

#4 - Track Retention Rate Over Time

What we measure we can celebrate or improve! Do you want to know if your customer investments are paying off? Your customer retention rate, over time, will tell you that.

You can calculate the retention rate for any period you choose: weekly, monthly, quarterly or something else that is relevant to you. Pay attention to the trends over time! To calculate, you need to know the following:

Retention Rate Formula: ((CE-CN)/CS)) X 100

CS - number of customers at the start of period

CN - number of new customers during the period

CE - number of customers at the end of period

Let's do the math with a simple example.

You started the first quarter (January 1) with 200 customers [CS]

You ended the first quarter (March 31) with 250 customers [CE]

During the first quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) you acquired 65 new customers [CN]

Let's plug them into the formula: ((CE-CN)/CS)) X 100

250 - 65 = 185; 185/200 =.925;.925 x 100 = 92.5

Your retention rate for the period is 92.5%

#5 - Monitor Satisfaction

If you spend money to acquire and keep customers, it makes sense to get feedback and monitor customer satisfaction. Surveys allow you to do this. When done right, they help you quantify the quality of your business - and support your investments.

When done by phone, they allow you to stay in contact with customers, identify and fix mistakes, identify possible problems (before they become major issues) and request testimonials, reviews, and referrals. Remember to apply item #1 above when you consider changes or improvements in your business - rely on feedback from ideal, profitable customers!

Customer acquisition and retention are important for any business. Planning how you will do both will save you time and money. Incorporating the five items above will help you make better decisions.

Joan Nowak is a results-oriented business coach and consultant who helps small businesses build profit by leveraging marketing, sales, operations, systems and people. To learn more about her services, access additional small business resources or schedule a complimentary consultation, visit http://www.HybridBizAdvisors.com.

Article Source: How to Make Marketing Investments Pay Off

Protect Your Nonprofit's Online Reputation

By Wayne Elsey

You might be thinking that you don't have to do anything to protect your online reputation. Perhaps you're thinking, who would want to do anything against a charitable organization? You would be mistaken. Criminals and trolls don't pick favorites, and unfortunately, any person or group can be fair game.

Nonprofits Can Be a Prime Target

In the "wild west" of the digital world and social media, plenty of people and organizations have gotten their emails, websites and social networks hacked by people who are looking to cause havoc or worse, steal. If your site is hacked, for instance, you can find yourself in a situation where people are donating to your charity, only the funds are not going to your nonprofit but into the pockets of criminals. The same can occur if you're social media accounts are hacked.

You can also find yourself on the "wrong" side of an issue, and let's face it, in today's world no one can please everyone and trolls would love the chance to make it rain negativity on your organization if they feel like it.

Therefore, it's always a smart thing to think about online reputation management.

An Ounce of Prevention

As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And, although some nonprofits, particularly the smaller ones with limited resources and bandwidth prefer to have a limited online presence, this is not the approach you should be taking.

Your organization does, in fact, have to have an active website, mobile, digital and social media presence because, in the digital age, that's how you get supporters and engage. However, you have to be proactive about the risks that are involved, just as you would with your own bank account and personal accounts. I'm sure you take precautions with respect to your personal finances and social media accounts. The same is true for your nonprofit's digital presence.

Search Engine Results for Your Organization

Any online reputation management begins by searching for yourself on the big search engines, especially Google and then Bing. Search for your nonprofit's name and don't stop at seeing the results of the first page. Go deeper into the weeds by searching to see if there's anything adverse in the first five pages of the search results. You should also look at Google News and see if you missed anything that might have been written as a news item.

If you happen to find negative items, you need to make a note of them. See the source, and take note of the URL since you will probably be returning to those pages. Depending on the type of source, you can ask third-party sites to correct any erroneous information, however, depending on the source, you may have success or not.

Audit Your Social Media Accounts

The next places you'll want to review carefully are all of your social networking sites, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. If you see there are negative posts that may have been done by someone else, you can delete them. If you have comments or shares that are evidently from dissatisfied people (e.g., donors, ex-staff), the rule is to address it professionally and then take it offline as quickly as possible. Remember, you always want to remain positive, even if you're dealing with a negative situation. If you're dealing with trolls, then you can choose to briefly reply that you respectfully disagree or choose not to engage at all since trolls are looking to get a rise from you.

Reputation Services

If you find yourself in a situation where there's something about you on a search engine search or social media, you can also look at paid services such as Reputation Defender, or tools such as Trackur or Rankur. However, depending on the issue, you may end up spending a lot of money for incomplete results because nothing is ever really "erased" from the internet and search engines in our country are loathe to delete information. Each situation is different.

You or someone on your team should be regularly monitoring the digital information about your organization on the Internet and also on social media. Make sure, always, to have information at the ready should you need to challenge a third party platform about something they have in their system that is simply flat-out incorrect or even abusive. Read the "Terms of Service" for all platforms, including social media, so you can challenge things should it come to that concerning your online reputation.

Author of "Not Your Father's Charity: Grip & Rip Leadership for Social Impact" (Free Digital Download available at http://notyourfatherscharity.com/free-resources/ )

� 2018 Wayne Elsey and Not Your Father's Charity. All Rights Reserved.

Article Source: Protect Your Nonprofit's Online Reputation

The Top Business Trends You Must Keep in Mind

By Wayne Elsey

As you know, we live in an environment where it's "blink," and you missed it. Still, there's always an urgent need to keep on top of what is happening so that you can stay ahead in business. I own several companies and, candidly, I don't think there's a single day I'm not thinking about how to make things better and improve our competitive advantage in our industries.

A couple of days ago I read an article about a luxury yacht company that had been in business for generations, and although they had client orders on hand, in the tens of millions of dollars, they fired everyone and shuddered their doors. They were hemorrhaging money and not paying attention to the changing winds.

The reality is that I can sit here today and write what you want to be looking for in business trends and then a year from now, write the same sort of article with different ideas to keep an eye on as business and society evolve. Still, there are some areas that I think will remain constant and you should pay attention to in your company.

Always Pay Extra Attention to Millennials

For decades and decades, the "darling" of generations were the Baby Boomers because of their sheer size and buying power. As the Boomers are now seniors, the same can be said about Millennials. They will be, and already are, a force for years to come and they are the first generation that is pure digital natives. Your products and services should be marketed to them and how they think. By 2020, Millennials will have an estimated $1.4 trillion in spending power.

Get Comfortable With AI, IoT, and ML

What used to be buzzwords such as AI, IoT, and ML, are not anymore. They are not the future; they are the present. Most of you know about AI (Artificial intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), but maybe you have not heard about ML (Machine Learning). Machine learning is when computers do things without being programmed to do it because they are learning it for themselves. Through machine learning, we are given self-driving cars, excellent web search tools, practical speech recognition programs and a host of other platforms. As technology evolves, all of these elements will play a more substantial part in life and business.

Remote Workforce

I have a preference for my team to be onsite, but for some functions and aspects of our work, these elements are outsourced. Currently 40% plus of American workers are doing some work remotely, without having to be present at their place of business all the time. This trend creates demand for adequately training remote employees through video conferencing platforms, especially for social media and programming positions. All that is required is a computer and Internet.

Get Past the Clutter

The way you brand your business is essential. People are drowning in data and information, and you have to be able to cut to the chase immediately. Branding, which encompasses the name, logo, etc., creates instant identification. With excellent branding, you are perceived as an authority, successful and trustworthy because you pay attention to the details. Also it makes prospecting easier. Customers find you. You can hire better talent. Candidates seek you out rather than looking to apply for a position with an unknown company. Because of branding, it is easier to create more businesses under the same name.

Opportunity Exists in Buying Businesses

There are more businesses for sale due to the retirement of the Baby Boomer and Millennials will be buying them and then reinventing the companies they buy. Keep an eye out for your competition because there's always an opportunity in looking to buy an existing competitor. For instance, you can buy their entire client base, or perhaps they've excelled in e-commerce, and you're able to bring that into your portfolio. I've successfully purchased some of my competitors, and it's only helped my businesses grow.

Author of "Not Your Father's Charity: Grip & Rip Leadership for Social Impact" (Free Digital Download available at http://notyourfatherscharity.com/free-resources/ )

� 2018 Wayne Elsey and Not Your Father's Charity. All Rights Reserved.

Article Source: The Top Business Trends You Must Keep in Mind

5 Magic Numbers Every Dieter Needs to Know

By Yemliha Toker

Does this sound familiar? You've been watching yourself all week (avoiding junk, skipping seconds) and still, your weight is exactly the same as it was a week ago-or worse, even inched up a pound or two. It's hard to remember that weight loss is a long-term process, you've got to stay patient. But I've learned that focusing on just your weight can sabotage your motivation. So instead here are five other numbers to think about. Keep track of these and your overall health (as well as your weight) ought to improve.

1. Waist circumference
By now, you've probably heard enough experts blast BMI (body mass index, or a ratio of your weight to your height), saying it's not a good measure of body fat and health. Instead, you should know how many inches your waist measures. That's because the fat that accumulates around your middle is linked to a host of health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even death. One 2010 study examined more than 100,000 Americans age 50 and older and found that people with the biggest waist size had about twice the risk of dying as the slimmest.

Numbers to know: Aim for less than 35 inches for women and 40 for men.

2. Daily calorie requirement
Our health books editor loves to point out the one thing most successful weight-loss programs have in common: They cut calories. Why? Chances are you consume way more than you realize or need.

Number to know: Most not-too-active middle aged women should consume around 1,600 calories a day to lose weight; men should consume 2,000 to 2,200. Try Mayo Clinic's calorie calculator tool for a personalized guesstimate that takes age, activity levels, and other factors into account.

3. Daily fiber intake
You probably scan food labels for calorie and fat content. But if I asked you how much fiber you're eating each day, I bet you wouldn't know (and it's probably half of what you should get). The big deal about fiber and weight loss is that it takes your body a long time to digest it compared to other nutrients. This tamps down hunger cravings and prevents blood sugar spikes. You know how can feel voracious an hour after eating a jumbo plain bagel? That's probably because your meal had no fiber.

Number to know: Many experts recommend 25 to 35 grams a day (a medium apple and a cup of oatmeal each have four, for example); some would love to see us eating even more. Most adults get about 15 grams a day. If you're pretty low on the fiber intake, add it slowly to avoid feeling bloated.

4. How much you sleep
Sleep helps the body regulate complex hormonal processes that affect our appetite, cravings, and weight. There's now ample research that shows people who get less sleep are more likely to be overweight and munch on junk food than those who get more. Skimping on sleep may sabotage your diet as much as the Snickers calling your name from the office candy bowl.

Number to know: If you're consistently getting six hours or less, your sleep habits may be tampering with your weight-loss goals. Most adults need seven to eight hours a night. A good clue you're getting enough: not needing an alarm clock to wake up.

5. How many steps you take each day
More and more research shows it's not the hour we spend sweating it out in the gym that counts, but all the incremental activity that adds up over the course of the day from things like taking the stairs, walking over to a colleague's desk instead of emailing, or standing and pacing while you chat on the phone. Sitting down is bad for your body and your metabolism-our hunter-gatherer ancestors were constantly on the move, and so we've evolved not to sit still for hours on end.

Number to know: The magic step count (which you can learn by wearing a pedometer) is 10,000 a day. Most inactive people get 2,000 or fewer.

Article Source:  5 Magic Numbers Every Dieter Needs to Know

You Are What You Eat, Revisited

By Yemliha Toker

Over the four years of the study, participants put on an average of about 0.8 pounds per year, or 3.2 pounds over the entire study. Perhaps a gain of 0.8 pounds per year doesn't seem like too severe a problem, but over 20 years' time, it's going to swell up to 16 pounds--potentially enough to contribute to becoming overweight and to health challenges such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

The No. 1 weight-gain perpetrator

Perhaps surprisingly, the researchers discovered that the food most strongly linked with the participants' gains in weight was the humble potato chip. Yep, this mild-mannered but ubiquitous snack food was responsible for about one-half of the 3.2 pounds that the average study subject put on over the four-year period.

Some other consumable culprits

Overall, if eaten in large quantities, potatoes themselves were responsible for 1.28 pounds of an average participant's 3.2-pound weight gain. Likewise, these three other food categories were each believed to also be responsible for packing on an additional pound of weight during the study:

sugar-sweetened beverages

unprocessed red meats

processed meats

Behaviors can put on weight too

The study also mentioned several other factors besides diet that were involved in gaining weight, including

drinking alcohol -- for each alcoholic drink averaged per day, participants gained 0.41 pound by the end of the four years

stopping smoking -- participants who quit during the study put on 5.17 pounds over four years

watching TV -- for each hour of TV averaged per day, participants gained 0.31 pound over the four years

On the flip side

During the four-year study, the researchers also identified some foods that were significantly linked with weight loss, with yogurt at the top of this "good" list. All of these values in pounds signify the weight lost from averaging one serving of a particular "good" food per day over the four-year span. All values were statistically significant (P <0.005).

eating an average of one serving of yogurt over four years was associated with a total loss of 0.82 pound

nuts, a total loss of 0.57 pound

fruits, a total loss of 0.49 pound

whole grains, a total loss of 0.37 pound

vegetables, a total loss of 0.22 pound

Including more of these foods in your diet over time might not result in dramatic weight loss, but may, in the long run, result in slimming of the waistline and decreasing your risk for the significant diseases mentioned above.

Other things associated with weight loss

Regular physical activity was linked with a 1.76-pound loss of weight over the four-year study period. No surprise, therefore, that exercising, as well as stopping smoking and cutting back on TV and alcohol also appeared to be important in keeping the weight off.

My take on this study

Although these findings might not seem like earth-shattering news, this study does pinpoint the healthiest weight-loss foods that you must include in your diet--foods such as yogurt (soy yogurt if you're vegan or have issues with dairy), fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

Nuts are healthy, of course, but moderation is encouraged if you're having weight challenges (that is, no more per day than a 1/4-cup serving) since they're chock-full of calories. (A person innocently snacking on a bowl of nuts has been known to consume over 2,000 calories in one sitting!)

Probiotics, or healthy bacteria, might be a factor in yogurt's weight-healthy benefits, since recent studies of these good bacteria have revealed that they promote weight-friendly hormones.

Of course, I'd go with the non-sugary kind of yogurt, especially the Greek and Icelandic styles, which have much more protein than regular brands and satisfy your appetite much better.

Prebiotics--the healthy foods that our bodies' good bacteria like to eat--are found in fresh fruits (bananas are super-high in them), vegetables, and whole grains.

Prebiotics might also help keep our gastrointestinal tract happy, which is always a good thing, and might be weight friendly as well.

Moderation is crucial. There isn't one magical food or ingredient that we should be eating all of the time. When you're shopping for fruits and vegetables, buy all the colors of the rainbow, so you will be eating a whole array of different vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (cancer-fighting agents).

To your health, dear readers!

Article Source:  You Are What You Eat, Revisited

When Inflammation Goes Bad

By Yemliha Toker

But inflammation is a funny thing. Sometimes, the body comes to believe that normal healthy tissue is infected or is a foreign object, and then the immune system starts to fight against and destroy that healthy tissue.

This second type of inflammation--when inflammation goes awry--is believed to be involved in many chronic illnesses that plague us today. Heart disease, many cancers, and possibly even diabetes and obesity seem to be due at least in part to the body becoming chronically inflamed.

Fight It With Good Goods
Since inflammation can sometimes trigger these diseases, it seems logical to find ways of keeping low-level, chronic inflammation to a minimum inside our bodies.

Well, luckily, researchers have discovered that certain foods and dietary habits are linked to lowering levels of inflammation. Also, if you are already living with some of the diseases mentioned above, you might want to encourage your body's healing processes by eating an anti-inflammatory diet.

What Is An Anti-Inflammatory Diet?
Actually, it's not a diet per se, but a way of eating that, in short, encourages consumption of natural foods instead of packaged ones. Such a diet also calls for eating foods that have been identified by researchers as being able to decrease inflammation--for example, salmon. This fish is naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have turned out to be Mother Nature's big-time inflammation tamers.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet Tips
You can read about the anti-inflammatory diet in many places, but I've been most impressed by the information on Dr. Andrew Weil's website. I'm going to summarize his main points below.

Include as many fresh food as possible, including plenty of fruits and vegetables right out of the garden.
Try not to eat processed foods and fast foods. Particularly avoid products made with high fructose corn syrup--and please note that the Corn Refiners Association is now calling this non-food "corn sugar."
Eat a variety of foods.
Eat more whole grains like brown rice and bulgur wheat. During the processing of these crops, the grain is kept whole and intact, or else is cracked into only a few large pieces.
Whole-wheat flour is no longer a champion. Products made with it have the same glycemic index as those made with white flour, so whole wheat probably won't stabilize your blood sugar level as well as, say, brown rice and bulgur.
Consume more beans, winter squash, and sweet potatoes.
Decrease your intake of saturated fat. Eat less butter, cream, high-fat cheese, un-skinned chicken, whole milk, and fatty meats, as well as of any products made with palm-kernel oil.
Use extra-virgin olive oil as your primary cooking oil or, alternatively, expeller-pressed, organic canola oil.
Also acceptable: organic, high-oleic, expeller-pressed sunflower and safflower oils.
Avoid the regular types of oils. Regular safflower, canola, sunflower, corn, cottonseed, and mixed vegetable oils are not as nutritious.
Avoid margarine, shortening, and all products listing them in their ingredients, as well as any products made with partially hydrogenated oils or palm kernel oil.
Include avocados and nuts in your diet.
Consume foods high in omega-3-fatty acids, such as salmon (choose wild over farm-raised fish), sardines, herring, black cod, hemp seeds, and flax seeds. (Grind up the seeds first.).
Take fish-oil supplements if you're not eating oily fish at least twice a week. Dr. Weil recommends buying only "molecularly distilled" products, which are certified free of heavy metals and other contaminants.
Decrease your consumption of animal protein, except for fish and high-quality, low-fat, natural cheeses and yogurts.
Eat more vegetable protein, especially from beans in general, and from soybeans in particular. Also look into whole-soy foods, as opposed to foods made with processed soy.
Drink pure water. (Note: Expensive bottled waters are not only environmentally unsound; they are also not guaranteed to be pure. Look into buying a high-quality water filter.)
Drink teas instead of coffee, including white, green, or oolong tea.
If you drink alcohol, red wine is the preferred kind.
Enjoy (in moderation) plain, dark chocolate that has at least 70-percent cocoa content.

My Thoughts About The Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Dr. Weil's outline above might sound overwhelming, but if you think about it, it's really pretty basic:

Eat natural, unprocessed foods as much as possible.

Steer clear of saturated fats, particularly animal fats.

Increase fiber consumption by eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Eat more ancient grains, which have the added advantage of being free of gluten, the protein in wheat that can cause serious chronic inflammation in some people.

If you're a vegan/vegetarian and aren't eating fish oils of any kind, you can still get the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids by taking high-quality DHA/EPA supplements. (DHA and EPA are abbreviations for two of the omega-3 fatty acids: docosahaxanoic acid and eicosapentanoic acid, respectively).

Consider adopting at least a few of these tips right now, particularly if your diet doesn't incorporate many anti-inflammatory practices. Then gradually begin to add other foods and strategies that appeal to you. See if such a diet helps you feel better overall.

Of course, always check with your doctor before starting or changing supplements. This includes the omega-3 supplements, which are natural blood thinners, or might otherwise be inappropriate for a particular person.

Article Source:  When Inflammation Goes Bad

How to Dine Out and Stay Healthy

By Yemliha Toker

What these researchers found out about fast food was pretty impressive, from a (bad) health perspective: Each one of those speedy breakfasts, lunches, or dinners contained an average of more than 1,750 milligrams (mg) of sodium.

To put these findings in perspective, consider that the new U.S. government dietary guidelines recommend that a person consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium--over the course of a whole day. Would you be shocked if I also told you that over half of those 6,500 single meals (57 percent of them) contained more sodium than the 1,500 mg daily supply?

Far too much salt

And how much sodium does the human body really require in a day? Only about 500 mg. And yet, the experts estimate that the average American swallows between 6,900 mg and 9,000 mg of sodium every day.

Since 1 teaspoon of salt contains roughly 2,000 mg of sodium, this means that the average American is downing up to 4 1/2 teaspoons of salt each and every day! If a high-sodium diet can leave you feeling bloated, what must these folks be feeling?

A hazardous substance

For people sensitive to sodium, such as those with a family history of hypertension, people with diabetes, African Americans, and the elderly, the accumulation of too much salt in the body can be particularly risky--it can, for example, increase one's chances of getting heart disease, a leading killer. Add to this the fact that about half the people with high blood pressure aren't even aware that they have hypertension--and, Houston, we've got a problem here.

Consuming less sodium in restaurants

Now that you know that restaurant food in particular is laden with piles of sodium, maybe it's time for us all to review the tips given by the American Heart Association (AHA) to reduce sodium intake when dining out:

Get to know which foods are low in sodium, and look for them on the menu.

Ask for your dish to be prepared without salt.

When you order, be specific about how you want your food prepared.

Don't add salt to your food. Instead of the salt shaker, reach for the pepper shaker.

Ask for fresh lemon and squeeze its juice onto your dish instead of using salt. (Lemon juice goes well with fish and vegetables, for example.)

And consume less fat as well

As always, we've got to also continue to keep track of the calories and fat when dining out. What should your daily target be for calories and fat? The AHA now recommends that most adults, besides limiting their sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day, consume no more than about 2,000 calories and 20 grams of saturated fat (the artery-clogging kind) each day.

Healthy options are possible--even at McDonald's (sort of)

So how are you supposed to navigate the unhealthy meals being dished out by so many of today's eating establishments? If you find yourself at a McDonald's, for example, what can you do to stay healthy? The medical and health news publisher WebMD recommends steering clear of the fatty offerings and going with the Egg McMuffin, which totals

300 calories

12 grams of fat (5 grams of it saturated fat)

2 grams of fiber

protein that should help you feel satisfied for hours

But... please know that the McMuffin falters in the sodium department, containing as it does a whopping 820 mg of the stuff, or a little more than half the daily limit of 1,500 mg.

... And even at Burger King (sort of)

In Burger King, you could choose the Egg and Cheese Croissan'wich, which provides

• 320 calories

• 16 grams fat (7 grams of it saturated)

• 11 g of protein to keep your hunger at bay

Like the McMuffin's, however, the Croissan'wich's sodium content is still too high: 690 mg.

If you're ordering lunch at Burger King, the chicken baguette sandwich will supply you with 350 calories and 5 grams of fat.

A great source of dietary info from restaurants

HealthyDiningfinder is a website that has teamed up with restaurants and with registered dietitians to help diners in the U.S. find--and restaurants to serve--food that passes or surpasses a list of healthy-eating criteria. The website shows diners a selection of restaurants in their area that offer tasty, dietitian-approved, menu choices, while it inspires the restaurants themselves to offer healthier choices.

The site also provides tips on how to decrease the content and consumption of calories, fat, and sodium. In order to meet HealthyDiningfinder's "Sodium Savvy" criteria, for example, an entr�e can have no more than 750 mg of sodium, whereas appetizers, side dishes, and desserts must contain no more than 250 mg.

Playing with HealthyDiningfinder

Here's how I had fun playing with this website:

Go to the search mechanism on HealthyDiningfinder.com and you'll find the search parameters listed in a column down the left-hand side of the page.

Type in your city, state, and zip code. (It's not necessary to enter your exact street address.)

Narrow your search to within 5, 10, 15, 20, or 50 miles of your house, depending on how far you're willing to drive for a meal.

Don't bother choosing a "Price Range"--you might as well see all the restaurant options available out there.

I clicked on only 1 "Cuisine" choice at a time--"American/Family"; "Asian/Chinese"; "Italian"; Fast/Quick"; "Mexican"; "Seafood"; "Other"; etc.). By choosing just a single category each time, I could keep my search results simple.

Click the "Apply" button after each of your "Cuisine" choices, take note of the results, and then go back to the search page and unclick your last choice. Choose another type of cooking that you're interested in and click "Apply" again. Repeat as long as you want to keep looking.

I also didn't bother to choose any of the 3 Specialties--"Sodium Savvy," "Kids LiveWell," and "Coupons"--because whenever a restaurant popped up in the search results, its specialties were automatically listed below its name and logo.

A couple of surprises

HealthyDiningfinder's search form worked pretty well for me, although it presented me with a couple of surprises. A Hooters restaurant here in Baltimore, for example, proudly listed 7 "Healthy Dining Options"--who knew? And when I searched "Seafood," not a single restaurant turned up, even when I extended the search out to 50 miles. I have to assume that the "Seafood" category was not functioning, since I live in Baltimore, a city that sits right on the Chesapeake Bay and is world-renowned for its piscine delights. Oh--that reminds me of 1 further step:

8. At some point in your search, be sure to click on the last category, "Other." When I finally got around to searching it, several seafood places did pop up--although none was a Baltimore great.

The point is, with a little planning and the help of HealthyDiningfinder, you can indeed find healthy meals when you dine out.

Article Source: How to Dine Out and Stay Healthy

Are You Getting Enough Probiotics?

By Yemliha Toker

Probiotics are the "good" or "healthy" bacteria that live in our gut and keep our gastrointestinal tract in optimal health. It's estimated that this nice mix of microflora growing in our intestines amounts to some 100 trillion bacteria--10 times more than the 10 trillion total cells making up our bodies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations define probiotics as "microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host." But just how much probiotics is "adequate," and how can you work them into your diet?

How much--or many--do you need?

You may have seen TV ads featuring Jamie Lee Curtis touting a particular yogurt for its "healthy bacteria"--but is eating an occasional carton of yogurt going to be enough? Hardly--research suggests that in order to ingest a "therapeutic" amount of bacteria, we need to eat a dollop of yogurt that contains around 10 billion "colony-forming units" or CFUs (aka "bacteria"). And since many of the yogurts you can buy in grocery stores, including the one Jamie is holding up for the camera, contain bacteria "only" numbering in the millions, that's not going to be nearly enough.

Benefits even from run-of-the-mill yogurts having "active cultures"

But in spite of most yogurts' relatively paltry bacterial numbers, even those merely containing "active cultures" can still help with certain gastrointestinal ailments, including:
constipation
diarrhea
lactose intolerance
inflammatory bowel disease
colon cancer
infection with H. pylori (the bacteria that's linked with peptic-ulcer disease)

Researchers at Tufts University have cited additional benefits to be had from yogurts with active cultures:
enhancement of the body's immune system
decrease in the time food takes to go through the bowel
positive changes to the microflora of the gut

Foods containing probiotics

Probiotics, which include such bacterial species as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and yeast, can be found in foods such as:
yogurt
milk
miso tempeh
soy beverages

Benefits of higher doses of probiotic bacteria

Lactobacillus acidophilus, the one with lactic-acid bacteria (and abbreviated L. acidophilus on food labels), is the most well-known healthy bacteria and comprises the largest family of probiotics. L. acidophilus can also be ingested in supplements, with doses ranging from 1 billion to 35 billion or more per serving. These products with the highest doses are typically found online rather than at pharmacies and grocery stores. What are the potential health benefits of probiotics in these higher doses that you won't find in yogurt? Researchers have found that high-dose probiotics have many health benefits, including:
treatment of diarrhea
treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
reduction of the recurrence of bladder cancer
prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections
shortening of duration of intestinal infections
prevention and treatment of inflammation after colon surgery (also called pouchitis)
prevention and management of eczema in children
possible prevention of kidney stones (because L. acidophilus can encourage the growth of another bacteria, O. formigenes, which can decrease the risk of kidney stones)

Side effects or risks associated with the use of probiotics

While probiotics are generally found to be safe, only a few studies have been conducted on elderly, young, or immune-compromised populations. In populations where probiotic use has been studied, though, side effects are typically mild (for example, increased gas or bloating).

General considerations

As with any supplement, always check with your doctor before beginning a new regimen.

It's important to note that dietary supplements (including vitamins and minerals) are not regulated by the FDA and therefore these products might not have the quality or purity that's suggested by the label.

Choosing a well-known brand, or buying products bearing a USP label, will ensure that the product is safe.

Consumer Reports is a good place to verify if your particular probiotic contains the numbers of bacteria advertised on the label.

Article Source:  Are You Getting Enough Probiotics?

The Evil of Bloodshed of Innocent People

By Gabriel Ama

Numbers 35:33

"So you shall not pollute the land in which you live; for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the bloodshed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it."

Dear people of God, you can see from today's lead Holy Bible text that a country's land is defiled when there is bloodshed of innocent lives in it. Bloodshed is a very offensive act as far as God is concerned.

See what God says in Ezekiel 36:18, "So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land and for their idols with which they had defiled it."

Drawing from the above verses, it is therefore horrendous to see a nation like Nigeria treat with kid gloves people who shed innocent blood of people who have not committed any crime.

In almost every part of the nation, people are kidnapped and murdered almost on a daily basis. Ritual killers operate freely, terrorists are having a field day, kidnappers are rampaging and collecting ransom from their victims.

Women are raped and killed, spouses are killing each other over very flimsy reasons and no one is arrested or brought to book for these crimes.

To make matters worse, the government does not show any concern, neither are the security agencies bothered about investigating and bringing the culprits to justice.

Every one of them is only busy chasing money, money, money and power, power, power. Many at times, I just wonder what the workers of government and security agencies do when they resume at work from Monday to Friday, every month, all year round.

How exactly does the minds of these people work? Why aren't they just bothered about these avoidable incidents? Has it occurred to them that there is a spiritual implication to all these unchecked calamities befalling the land?

Why do they carry on as if it is not human lives that are being wasted day in day out almost on a daily basis? How do they sleep at night with these happenings that are within their authority to check?

How can a person receive salary every single month for work he never does and his conscience never bothers him?

Everyone is first a human being before belonging to any other group or association by whatever name. Human life is sacred to God.

This is a wakeup call to Christians of Nigeria descent living within and outside the country. Let us go on our knees sincerely and ask God to have mercy on this nation called Nigeria.

Let us ask God to intervene to put an end to the bloodshed. Let us sincerely repent of sin and evil. Let us as Christians amend our own ways and determine to conform to the standards of the Holy Bible. Let us stop bribery and corruption.

Let Christians wake up to their responsibilities and be the light of Christ wherever we find ourselves. Let us stop joining ungodly people to pollute the land through collusion.

Let us discard people's ethnic origin and see everyone first as a creation by God.

Please join me to pray this sincere prayer for this nation called Nigeria.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day and for our nation Nigeria. We thank You for the opportunity You have given us to witness all that is happening in this nation. We know evil does not come from You but from the devil and his agents.

We know You have stated in Your Word in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."

Father, please have mercy and forgive us Nigerians of our wickedness, selfishness and evil ways in this nation. Please forgive the insensitivity of our political leaders and security agencies at all levels towards the avoidable bloodshed of innocent lives that has polluted the land and incurred your wrath.

Please have mercy also and forgive those of our religious leaders and congregations who have refused to take a stand against the evil in the land but have rather chosen to join the ungodly to pollute the land by complicity.

Please come to our aid and put an end to all these atrocities being committed by agents of the devil. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we take authority over this nation and we rebuke every foul spirit that has been operating freely to promote evil and non-challance amongst those whose responsibility it is to put an end to these calamities.

We plead that You open the minds and eyes of the people in authority to see the spiritual implication of their non-challance in their work of protecting lives and property of the citizens so that they can repent sincerely and amend their ways to take full responsibility.

We humbly ask, dear Lord, that you raise up for us God fearing leaders and people who would do everything from the fear of You, Almighty God and would obey every commandment You have given to us in Your Word.

We humbly ask that You bring to justice everyone at every level who refuses to repent and amend his or her ways to confirm to Your Holy Word.

Thank You Father, for we have prayed in the Mighty Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word this day, act on it and share with others in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Click the link below to visit my page on Amazon to order your copy of my book "NOW, I UNDERSTAND" that provides deep insight into the many marital, medical, spiritual, emotional, financial and societal issues confronting Christians and others today.

The book provides practical solutions to these issues and many other very important ones using the timeless teachings and principles of the infallible Word of God, the Holy Bible.

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Article Source:  The Evil of Bloodshed of Innocent People

Is Cancelling NAFTA Bad for Canada?

By Joe Barbieri

The spectre of NAFTA being cancelled is on many people's minds since the election of President Donald Trump. Washington has pulled out of the TPP and wants a better deal for the U.S. in the NAFTA agreement. The recent possible tariffs coming from the Trump administration is also heightening trade concerns. Is cancelling NAFTA a bad thing for Canada? There are 2 ways to examine this question.

The Current State

The first approach is looking at how things currently are and what is likely to happen using this assumption. Canada is the U.S.'s second largest trading partner and the U.S. is Canada's largest trading partner by a large margin. The U.S. is Canada's closest trading partner by physical location. Much of the infrastructure that is already in place caters to shipping goods across the Canada-U.S. border seamlessly - bridges, railways, sea ports, shared production facilities etc. The culture of the U.S. is similar enough to Canada that doing trade is fairly easy. There are no language barriers, religion barriers, or culture barriers relative to other countries. Our currencies are closely aligned, making trade easier in terms of financing, terms of payment and currency exchange. It is fairly easy to obtain U.S. dollars anywhere in Canada. Comparing this to the Japanese Yen shows the contrast. Lastly, the assumption is that the U.S. will protect Canada militarily so Canada can focus on producing other goods.

Using this assumption, if NAFTA is cancelled, Canada may be a big loser in terms of trade. The fears are that Canada's goods will not be exported and economic activity will suffer. We do not have any other trading partners as large or physically close by as the U.S. The infrastructure and financing advantages also do not exist with any countries. Even Mexico who is part of NAFTA has a different currency, language, culture and priorities than the U.S. with respect to trade. Cancelling NAFTA looks like a disaster.

What are the disadvantages of NAFTA or trade deals in general? First, trade deals encourage specialization of industries in the lowest cost / highest benefit production of goods and services. All other production is reduced and or ceased. If you want to develop a new industry, you will have a small chance of success since your trading partners may dominate the industry or limit you from competing. If this is not the case, you may develop the industry on someone else's terms. Starting a business without free reign to experiment usually does not succeed because experimentation is necessary to optimize the market demand, efficiency and need for a given product. These limitations create a volatile economy based on a handful of sectors. In Canada, this means energy, commodities, banking and real estate. The second issue is negotiating power. Trade deals limit what you can negotiate after the deal is made, unless the entire deal is re-negotiated, which is what is happening today with NAFTA. This limits diversification of trading partners and new opportunities which may be present. Sometimes even within an established industry, different market conditions that would normally be taken advantage of would not be available because of the terms of the trade in a deal. As an example, the price of oil is fixed at $50 per barrel between two countries. The price of oil rises to $100 per barrel on world markets, but the seller will not benefit from this since they are selling the oil at $50. Should the price drop to $20, the seller would benefit, but then the question of "how often does this happen and is it worthwhile?" is going to come up. The last disadvantage is the negotiation itself. If you are negotiating with a much bigger, stronger trading partner, you will likely need them more than they need you. This means that they can argue for better terms of trade and if you want to make the deal, you will have to sacrifice more than you may realize. In the case of Canada and the U.S., the U.S. has a more developed economy than Canada, and much more influence on the world stage. If the U.S. wants to dump Canada and trade with someone else, they can do it more easily than Canada can for the U.S. This gives the U.S. more negotiating options than Canada - at least at the present time. The U.S. can offer more products for sale, more options for trade and more customized terms. Let's say that Canada went to a trade negotiation and said "I will offer technology expertise." Would that be possible? Not likely, but Canada can offer mining expertise. The U.S. can offer both.

The Opportunity

The second approach is assuming that cancelling NAFTA can be an opportunity, and changes can be made to benefit Canada more so than the current agreement. Why? Trade can be opened up to every country in the world and with open terms. Since the competition is much greater if all countries are available for trade, the opportunities may be greater. The flip side is that more competition may make it harder to trade for an advantage due to cheaper labour or better quality that may be available in other countries.

Cancelling NAFTA would make Canada more independent because we cannot rely on a specific trading partner to buy our goods. This will create more resourcefulness and entrepreneurialism among Canadians. When people have to find a way to survive, there is more effort expended. This effort will create more diversification among industries since we no longer can afford to specialize in certain sectors.

This scenario has started to play out with Canada negotiating more deals with Europe and Asia. Canadian firms have global expertise in certain sectors which gives them an advantage when creating terms of trade.

Do you want to:

Learn how the world of money really works without the need of a time consuming or expensive course of study?

Discuss what you want to achieve according to your horizon?

Restructure your finances to achieve your goals?

Advice that is not affiliated with any institution or any product - an independent opinion?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, contact me at: Contact me, Joe Barbieri by email at joetheinvestor.today@gmail.com, my web site at http://www.joetheinvestor.ca or by telephone at 647-286-8020 for an independent consultation on what your options are. Note: This article is intended for people who want to learn about the world of finance and how to research for themselves. If you would like to buy or sell investment products, or specific advice on investment products, tax or legal issues, please consult your investment advisor, accountant or legal counsel

Article Source:  Is Cancelling NAFTA Bad for Canada?

Hawaiian Music History - A Brief Overview

By Adrian Manuel

Music is a part of everyday life. We listen to it on the way to work, when we work out, while running errands; all too often in the background. Yet, music is a unique form of expression that charts history, tradition, and culture. Music is the very fabric of Hawaiian culture, its story interweaving through the centuries and evolving to the sound you hear today. European settlers may not have discovered the islands until the 1700s, but Hawaiians discovered the gift of song well before foreigners set foot on Hawaii's shores.

One of the more curious things about the Hawaiian language is that there is no word for "music," but its structure has been a mainstay of Hawaiian tradition. Mele, or chanting, was a ritual in ancient Hawaii, a means of preserving ancestral history. These chants chronicled stories of family lineage and legends of Hawaiian gods, tales visually told through the dance of hula. Rituals were guided by a drum beat and a small orchestra of stones, sticks, and rattles, laying the foundation for early Hawaiian music.

Contact with European settlers in the 1700s introduced Hawaiians to the cultures of the world. Missionaries brought Christian hymns and various European instrumentation such as the flute, violin, and the piano. But the Hawaiians were more fascinated with the guitar brought by Spanish cowboys, or paniolos. Hawaiians referred to Spanish music as Cachi-cachi because their fast and improvised style of playing quickly caught on. When the Spanish returned to their home countries, they left their guitars as gifts.

Keen on creating their own playing style, locals began slackening the strings, creating a distinct finger-picking style that suited their rhythmic sensibilities. "Slack-key" guitar became a local craze and encouraged the innovation of another playing style - "steel-guitar." This involved sliding a piece of steel along the strings, which gave off a soothing, dream-like quality that would soon become the sound representing Hawaiian music.

These innovations inspired locals to embrace other forms of instrumentation. The melody remained firmly in the vocals, an emphasis on language and culture, while the sound, just as ancient rituals had dictated, provided harmony and support. Many were discovering they had innate musical talent and Hawaii quickly garnered such talent for an orchestra. In 1915, the Royal Hawaiian Band was invited to compete at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. This was the first-time people had heard of Hawaii, a culture and a language being expressed through song. It painted a lush portrait of the islands, an impression that everything is as melodic and polished as the music they performed.

The Royal Hawaiian Band put the culture of Hawaii on the map and it was Tau Moe, a family of four also known as, "The Aloha Four," who popularized the steel-guitar. They were Hawaii's very own supergroup, touring across the mainland, then the world. Hawaii's island-born innovations and rhythmic harmonies had found a global audience.

The onset of recording made it possible for people to bring Hawaii home with them. In the 1920s, the radio programming of "Hawaii Calls" and live broadcasts of Hawaiian music made people feel as if they were truly there. Almost every hotel - the only venues big enough to house bands and orchestras - had radio equipment set up. A band that was entertaining guests was suddenly playing to the world. By the 1950s, Hawaii Calls was being broadcast to 750 stations.

Hawaiian music waned in the 60s. Local musicians like Don Ho and Joe Keawe still thrived, but mainland artists had flooded the scene, having tried their hand at the genre solely because of its popularity. Hawaiian music was in danger of becoming a fad had it not been for the next generation of musicians.

Gabby Pahinui put the emphasis back on culture. A slack-key and falsetto wunderkind, he had found inspiration through tradition. As Hawaiian music became more popular, it became increasingly about style. With mainland artists having moved on, the genre refocused on long-held cultural themes of sovereignty and national pride, thus spearheading a cultural awakening.

Hula was in the middle of a resurgence. The Merrie Monarch Festival, once a tourist-pageant, became a celebration of culture as hula groups, or halaus, were now required to create original chants for their routine. It was a license to create rather than repeat, introducing a new tradition to the festival by honoring those of the past. The Merrie Monarch gave rise to artists such as Keali'i Reichel and The Brothers Cazimero.

This renaissance ushered in an era of Hawaiian superstars. Sonny Chillingworth and Willie K were revered for their slack-key prowess, while Linda Dela Cruz and Amy Hanaiali'i Gillom's falsetto wonder made them overnight sensations. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, simply known as Braddah Iz, remains as the most renowned Hawaiian musician of all time. His medleys of "Starting All Over Again" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" are in syndication to this day, while "Hawaiian Supa' Man" is a suitably mythic representation of his talent and style.

Reggae didn't arrive in Hawaii until the 80s. Initially shunned by traditionalists, reggae's rhythmic wonder meshed well with Hawaii's similar music sensibilities. Hawaii has since adopted reggae and the larger Jamaican culture with open arms. The Rastafarian flag is a symbol of national pride alongside Hawaii's own state emblem. Reggae and Hawaii are inseparable on the radio today, breeding "Jawaiian" as a popular and meaningful subgenre in the canon.

What made Hawaiian music so pivotal was the culture. It made people stop and listen. Hawaiian themes, traditions, and the stories they tell are what define Hawaiian music as a genre. So long as artists take inspiration in the language and the culture, the music will remain essential to the world.

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Article Source: Hawaiian Music History - A Brief Overview

Titanic, a Great Tragedy: Marxist Criticism

By Krishna Guevarra

Being judged would never be fair. Being discriminated would never be fair. Being treated differently would never fair. It would never be fair nor right to be classified depending on your wealth, not even a single thing would be enough to be discriminated. But in the movie "Titanic", directed and written by James Cameron, it is clearly depicted how social class affects life. It has significant impact in the way of living. The movie is about the sinking of Titanic, an Olympic-class passenger liner, and is based on true story. It is mainly about the love of the two passenger, Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater. Through their story, we could witness the huge gap between the first class and the third class and the way they are treated.

Old Rose DeWitt Bukater, 100 years of age, tells the story to her granddaughter Lizzy Calvert, Brock Lovett, Bobby Buell, Lewis Bodine and Anatoly Mikhailovich on the Keldysh about her life set in April 10th, 1912, on a ship called Titanic when young Rose boards the departing ship with the upper-class passengers and her mother, Ruth DeWitt Bukater, and her fianc�, Caledon Hockley. At the same time, an artist named Jack Dawson and his best friend Fabrizio De Rossi win third-class tickets to the ship in a game. She narrates her experiences from the departure until the downfall of Titanic on its first and last voyage on the 15th of April 1912.

The titanic is divided into two parties. The lower part is allotted for the poor, the third-class passengers, while the upper part, the deck, is for the rich, the first-class passengers, it is just a concrete portrayal of social discrimination. They are having a so much different living. it primarily conveys how the third-class passengers value happiness while the first-class passengers only think about material things.

"Well, it's for royalty. We are royalty, Rose." says Caledon Hockley when he gave Rose a rare diamond necklace which was called 'Heart of the Ocean'. It is just a simple evidence how big deal for them to be rich, to be royal. They think that being wealthy makes them high as a person and being different and superior to the poor. Being high was really engraved in their brains.

Caledon Hockley is the man that Rose DeWitt Bukater's mother, Ruth DeWitt Bukater, wants her to marry, as she wants to save their depreciating family and to maintain their high family status. He is one of the hitch to Jack's and Rose's happy ending, together with Rose's mother and the fact that they are on different classes. Despite of these hitches Rose and Jack still manage to fight for their love.

Jack and Rose take all the chances that they have to be together then suddenly the Titanic hits an iceberg which leads the ship to sink. In this situation, most of the third-class passengers are deprived from getting into the lifeboats in order to survive, as they are locked because of scarcity. 700 first-class passengers, as the 'chosen people', have more chances to get a slot because of their location and especially because of their status. The passengers of the Titanic had their destinies decided through classes.

The author wants to convey how classes determine rights and living. He wanted to show the unending class conflicts, the inequality in the system, and the discrimination that is happening. He wanted to show the world how those who are rich vary from those who are poor, and how unjust it is. Through his masterpiece, the Titanic, he did open people's mind and made them realize the unrighteousness of this. He successfully delivered his message to us and encouraged us to make a change. He is successful to create an extraordinary movie, which is outstanding in every aspect. Cinematography, music, portrayal of the actor and other technicalities perfectly match with the story line. His success does not end with the excellent product but for the accomplishment of his objective, to make people learn something, to know that there is no harmony in a world where royalty and class defines being, and to know that inequality and unfair treatment between the bourgeoisie and proletariat must be corrected.

Article Source:  Titanic, a Great Tragedy: Marxist Criticism

Gaps Between Two Classes Shown in the Titanic Movie by James Cameron: A Marxist Criticism Approach

By Carla B Basilla

"I am the King of the World!," said Jack. Ironic as it is, having the third-class utter those words especially in our society of divisions and dying unity. Titanic by James Cameron is one of the most successful Academic Award-winning film and considered as the highest-grossing film since its release in 1997. It became a hit among viewers because of its cinematography and with the oozing chemistry between Kate Winslet (Rose) and Leonardo DiCarpio (Jack) portraying the tragic love story of a wealthy and a poor being separated by classes. The movie renders what happens if our society distinguishes people by their wealth and position. This is made evident through characterization of upper and lower classes and how the gaps affect the people and their survival.

It has been 84 years since the tragedy happened. Rose DeWitt Bukater, one of the survivors found out that American oceanic explorers were looking for details about the famous shipwreck that happened on the most luxurious passenger ship called RMS Titanic on April 10, 1912. She knew about the discovery of her painting and meets with the explorers. She then reminisced her experiences of being an upper class passenger of Titanic with her mother, Ruth De Witt Bukater and her fiance Caledon Hockley; also, her connection with a third-class passenger, Jack Dawson, who won a ticket to America before the ship started to sail. 1500 people were on the ship, some first class, others restrained to the lower decks where windows were limited. The passengers on board the Titanic held high hopes, not because it was deemed "the unsinkable ship" but because they were leaving their past behind them and preparing for a new life in America. Told to be a fine and decent lady, Rose cannot disagree nor share her thoughts. Rose was sick of the feeling that no one can hear her, until Jack came. Jack finally saved her from the thought of drowning herself and from the loneliness.They enjoyed each other's company even though being involved with each other seemed like a sin for others. Jack taught her many things: to be happy and contented with just small things. Rose adored Jack and couldn't deny her feelings for him. Their love arose when Rose asked Jack to draw her like one of his "french girls" wearing only the rarest diamond, the Heart of the Ocean. A romantic love affair between Jack and Rose couldn't be denied so Cal became jealous of Jack and searched for a way to keep them apart. He succeeded. It didn't take long when the Titanic then collides with a large iceberg and begins to sink. The boats aren't enough to rescue all the people and first-class people were prioritized. Rose thought of coming back for Jack. As the ship lowers itself into the depths of the ocean, Jack and Rose must fight death of the freezing water and await a rescue ship. They both got out of the ship but only Rose survived when Jack froze to death before the rescue boat came. Their love story started early but ended sooner than expected. Despite all that, Rose still cherish all the memories with him as she throws the "Heart of the Ocean" into the sea.

Since the beginning of the story, gaps between classes are depicted when Rose came out of the fancy vehicle preparing to go aboard while Jack, on the other hand, was still betting and wanting to win the ticket to America with her best friend, Fabrizio. Luckily, he won .Roaming the camera around showed the indoors of Titanic. It was too large and too fancy to accommodate all the passengers but since it is divided into classes, first-class passengers were their top priority. They have chaperone around the vicinity, expensive chandeliers, special gatherings and people in fancy dresses. Everything at Titanic seemed special, for first-class people, of course. Turning the camera on the third-class area made a lot different. It was nothing special but for third-class passengers, rattan beds and small spaces meant a lot. In the story, Jack and Rose symbolize the two classes, first-class (wealthy) and the third-class (poor) while Ruth and Cal were the forces that keep the two apart and main causes of discrimination. RMS Titanic symbolizes our society with divisions and the iceberg is the problem. The ship was deemed the "unsinkable ship" carrying the people filled with dreams and hopes for a new life. Having that label, Titanic ironically sank and didn't reach its destination. Believing that Jack saved her, Rose adored him and invited him for a dinner with the upper-class. Jack was happy to be in a gathering with Rose but joining the people in suits and ties that define their level of formality and their worth seemed quite unusual. Jack and Rose ditched the fancy gathering and goes with the party of the third-class passengers. It wasn't grand but the party was livelier and joy was true. Rose danced and giggled with them and felt the happiness that she never felt before. The movie showed that luxury cannot buy real happiness. But as the society is harsh and discriminating, Rose was told to avert her attention to Jack because he was just a third-class. Her mother Ruth, hates the thought of Rose being close to the third class. Consequently, the two cannot deny their feelings anymore and Cal being a wealthy and manipulative man, put a ploy to stop the love affair of her fiance and Jack. Jack, on the other hand, cannot do anything because he was powerless. The ship hit the iceberg and was about to sink, so as the humility and justice. The first-class passengers were prioritized, leaving the third class passengers locked and waiting for their turn. Other passengers were looking for the boat meant for first-class even though the ship was about to sink. The boats weren't enough but others sailed in few number of passenger in order to save the lives of the wealthy. In the end, from a distance, the saved passengers looked upon the "unsinkable ship" seeing many people drown into the sea. The iceberg was unexpected and sinking is surmised but if only people were treated fairly and others weren't selfish, many could have been saved and many dreams could have been pursued. The theme of the story is that differences in societies create gaps and gaps create inequity leading to a society drowning in selfishness. The position of the people determined their survival but we all know that rich ones weren't only the people deserving to live. In the movie, gaps between classes were demonstrated up to the very end.

Titanic was indeed a great story and no one could deny how it captured the hearts of many viewers. It wasn't only a powerful story of love and survival but also about the illness of our society-unfairness and division. Our society will never flourish and achieve our goals if we keep on dividing ourselves and weighing our wealth. Our dreams and hopes will just sank into nothing if we never unite. We will not triumph and our journey will end if we keep on discriminating and putting boundaries between each other. It is true that problems are inevitable, but if we are joined-up altogether, we can lessen the consequences and face the challenge whole-heartedly. We are all the Kings of the World, we can be the savior of our nations and lead to success. The story of Jack and Rose still goes on as it continues to be an eye-opener for us to cut off the dividing classes and to fill in the gaps with love and humility in order to have a wonderful journey towards success. Bon voyage to our society!

Article Source:  Gaps Between Two Classes Shown in the Titanic Movie by James Cameron: A Marxist Criticism Approach

ABC's Of Leadership - J Is For Juggle

ABC's Of Leadership - J Is For Juggle

By E. Elizabeth Carter

Needless to say, there are many duties that a leader has to manage which includes overseeing the staff's activities. Priorities will shift as things come up but when one is leading an organization there may be too many urgencies and not enough time.

Juggling starts to occur but is that the best use of a leader's time? Instead isn't the role of the leader to keep the team focused and motivated? Some leaders have real issues with this because they become overwhelmed and may start delegating things that they personally need to handle. They also lose so much focus that even the highest priority is not getting the attention it needs.

An effective leader must analyze daily what he or she needs to spend their time on. Leaders should delegate what they can even if it is just a piece of a project, etc. The problem is that some leaders delegate the wrong tasks to team members who do not excel in that area, and/or they do not provide the right direction for the task to be completed. These mistakes take up valuable time which will have a financial impact in some way.

Any time management or project management article will tell you to get organized which is a given. The next step is then to make two lists and label them A and B. List A should only have 3 to 5 items at the most. When you look at your B list, how many items can be delegated or just taken off the list completely? Each item on the A list should then be given a timeline with deadlines written in for each one. Each piece of the timeline should have a "generous" amount of time allocated to complete it. Lay out the timelines and start to create a calendar with what you will focus on for the next five business days. It is vital to also have "reflective time" and "downtime" listed on each calendar day.

Try this for two weeks and then tweak it if necessary. If you are more of a visual person, use an online calendar and segment each project in a color. Make blue sleep time and a vibrant color like orange personal time. Also include exercise time, meetings, etc.

Thinking of a current project, how can you spend less time working on it by delegating or by outsourcing?

Other "J" words to ponder - just-in-time, joy, judge, and journaling.

Article Source:  ABC's Of Leadership - J Is For Juggle