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The New Culture: Smartphone-Addicted Society

Our society has been around for years and it is our relationship with one another that has helped us build great cities, modern developments, and mind-blowing technologies. We have established certain rules and norms that defined our culture throughout history and is the reason why humanity exists the way it is today. But over the years, we have witnessed a drastic change in human behavior. These changes continue until now where you can see people being more concerned about their virtual lives than their real ones.

Sleep is only one of the biggest things we keep on losing because of our preoccupation with smart technology. Our intense fear of missing out or #FOMO urges us to push our bedtimes further and continue tinkering with our devices until the wee hours of the morning. The thing is, the world won’t come to an end if you can't respond to a comment or like and share the status or tweet of a person or star you are following. We are living and breathing individuals that have needs far more important than our affinity to tech devices yet we now thrive in a culture where it is acceptable to lose sleep or lose that important “me time” because you are always reachable on your phone or social media.

The powers that be tell us that everything should be done through our phones — that speed is the currency of the day and response time matters. How important is response time to an emergency medical technician? It seems pretty important. How important is it for you as a career professional to respond to a text, an email or a phone call? It depends. If you are a physician or nurse on call, you'd better respond quickly. If you possess a safety-oriented role in a manufacturing setting, it seems very important. But most career professionals interrupt their careers and sometimes do permanent damage to their relationships by the overuse that our smartphone culture provides and prods us into.

(Via: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/09/08/the-always-on-smartphone-culture-turn-it-down/#3a9b3d621c0d)

Back then, you are free to rest and relax or bond with your family and friends outside of work or school. Your obligations won’t usually follow you at home. And you also make an effort in talking to or seeing people since we don’t yet have smart technology that allows us to talk to people or video call them in real-time remotely regardless of what part of the world they are in. Sometimes, there are individuals who prioritize their online persona than their real self and lose connections with family and friends as a result of it. Health issues are quite common too as tech gadgets emit harmful blue light that impacts our sleep and health as a whole.

You're suffering from nomophobia -- and you're not alone.

Have you ever felt panic set in when you realize you’ve left your phone at home or don’t know where it is? You know what it’s like – the accelerated heart rate, the shorter breaths, the frantic searching, the attempts to reassure that nothing critical will happen in a half-hour of separation. It may sound ridiculous to some, but these feelings are real and intense for many smartphone owners.

But what’s really going on? Why are people feeling this way? Can anything be done about it? These questions were asked by researchers in Hong Kong and South Korea, who collaborated on a recent study called “Understanding Nomophobia.” Nomophobia means ‘no-mobile’ phobia and describes the anxiety and discomfort described above. 

(Via: https://www.treehugger.com/culture/does-it-hurt-be-separated-your-smartphone.html)

The fear of being separated from your smartphone is even a medical condition now known as nomophobia. Yes, there are individuals who really freak out in the absence of their handy tech gadgets that probably hold all their life secrets. When these technologies were developed, the innovators were probably thinking about how they will improve the lives of everyone. It turned out that the public became slaves to their gadgets – just like what is happening right now.

It is a common sight if you go out in public. People are busy fiddling with their phones rather than interacting with others or even simply caring as to what is happening around them. They are lost in their little virtual bubble where everything is possible at their fingertips. And at the rate things are going now, it is highly likely that a new digital culture has been born and will definitely dominate the world in the years to come.

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How Natural Disasters Impact The Local Economy

We may have seen just how disastrous natural calamities are over the years but it does not make us immune to its effects and impact on the people, especially to society at large. It is even worse if it is your hometown that is affected and your family is displaced after being evacuated. Well, safety first, after all. Once the storm has passed, it is time to do a quick reality check and assess just how much damage was done and how to move on from such a tragedy.

The local economy is sure to go down during and soon after any disaster strikes. For example, a hurricane with such power and magnitude as Harvey destroyed many homes/properties, businesses, and infrastructures that will require a lot of money in order to rebuild. And because almost everything was destroyed, the price of staple commodities shoots up until enough supply is replenished to meet the people’s demands. Transportation is challenging as most main roads and highways are either flooded or destroyed and therefore not accessible making food deliveries difficult. As a result, prices will likely go up too.

Hurricane Harvey has left tens of billions of dollars in damage.

But how does that steep price tag affect us locally?

Gas prices are already seeing an up-tick, but could the economic impact go beyond that?

The answer to that is yes.

With a natural disaster of this magnitude, the trickle-down effect it has leaves quite a broad reach. Joseph Zoric, an economics professor at Franciscan University, took time Wednesday to break down the financial impact residents locally may see.

A major oil and gas refinery shutting down caused gas prices to spike.

And Zoric says food, and any other transported goods will see a spike as well.

(Via: http://wtov9.com/news/local/what-is-the-local-economic-impact-of-harvey)

Despite the US being a rich nation, it does not necessarily mean recovery will also be swift and that many won’t suffer in the aftermath of a calamity. We’ve experienced it before with Katrina. Losing a home is no joke and people who aren’t used to severe flooding wouldn’t likely have anticipated the dangers brought by the hurricane, thereby made less planning and preparation before its landfall. You can���t simply point fingers after even if there was enough information disseminated by the government and corresponding agencies about what to brace for.

The costs of the deadly storm in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico have continued to mount, with Texas authorities estimating it at $125bn (£97bn).

Hurricane Harvey has killed more than 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

While the rain has shifted away from Houston, the US's fourth largest city, much remains underwater. The state of Texas is one of the US's main economic engines.

Many firms in the region, a major transport hub that is a home to the oil and gas industry, don't know when they will resume normal operations.

(Via: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41113666)

Again, experience is the best teacher. The country wasn’t given enough time to process everything and analyze where we have gone wrong because Hurricane Irma came soon after Harvey left. As if the damage brought about by Hurricane Harvey isn’t extensive enough after hitting Texas that is the heart of the oil and gas industry in all of the US, people down in Florida also have to brace for the worst.

Texas is not the only state affected by Harvey but every other state that gets their energy from the different Texas-based oil refineries and suppliers. That alone is a major blow, not only to the local economy in Texas but in other US states because we can expect oil prices to go up in the week and months that follow. And we use oil in running just about any industry there is in the world today. Ordinary citizens will struggle the most because while help is given, they also suffer from the trauma such a disaster has caused them that perhaps only time can heal.

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Animals Suffer From Nature’s Wrath

We all dread the onslaught of natural disasters. We are forced out of our comfort zones especially if there is a need to evacuate in the case of flash floods and severe flooding. Everyone is focused on saving as many people as possible out of harm’s way and many often forget that there are also other species that needs saving – our animal friends. Devoted pet owners don’t just leave their homes without their pets in tow. However, there are some that completely forget about the animals they leave behind as they make their way to safety.

If you’ve seen the news lately, you’ll not only see people in evacuation centers or homes/properties submerged in flood but of poor and helpless animals left to fend for themselves in the face of the harsh elements. Fortunately, some are saved by animal shelters before it is too late. However, because the recent hurricanes proved to be really powerful ones, even the shelters themselves weren’t safe and animals in their care had to endure for a while as they and their carers battered the storm and the painful recovery that follows.

The news of dogs left tied up, abandoned by owners in Palm Beach County to fend for themselves during Hurricane Irma, disturbed many of you, and us.

The question .. will Palm Beach County hold those pet owners accountable?  

It's not something the animals asked for, to be abandoned by their families, for a storm. 

"Absolutely unacceptable. People need to be responsible pet owners in this community," says State Attorney Dave Aronberg.

"The animals should be a valued part of your family and they should be a part of your plan," says Animal Care and Control Capt. Dave Walesky. 

(Via: http://www.abcactionnews.com/weather/hurricane/animals-abandonedleft-chained-during-hurricane-irma-will-owners-be-held-accountable)

While it is understandable that pet owners are terrified for their lives that they leave home in a hurry to save themselves from whatever a hurricane like Harvey or Irma may bring, it is absolutely unacceptable for them to leave behind their furry friends. They signed up as pet owners and should likewise be responsible and held accountable for the safety and well-being of the animals in their care. They can’t just leave them behind without knowing what the elements have in store for all of us and for how long before they can come back home.

The flooding arrived Monday morning at the back door of Clay County Animal Care and Control — and within 45 minutes, the entire shelter was knee-deep in water.

As Hurricane Irma moved across Northeast Florida, entire neighborhoods disappeared under the storm’s flood waters. Rain and wind poured onto already saturated land — and rivers and lakes and creeks overflowed, unable to contain the sheer amount of water.

It was all hands on deck, said Christina Sutherin, the Clay County facility’s director.

“It all happened so quickly,” she added. “I have the most amazing staff ever. They left their families. They left their homes, dropped everything to come out. All they cared about was making sure our animals were safe.”

(Via: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-09-13/animal-shelters-seek-help-public-hurricane-irma-aftermath)

The shelters are also damaged as is the rest of the community, where the authorities estimate the damage left behind by both disasters to be over several billions of dollars. In the aftermath of the storms, it’s the flooding that makes recovery more challenging than it already is. With limited funds, most animal shelters struggle in securing the safety of all the animals in their care. More animals are even added into their custody as they rescued displaced animals abandoned by their owners that were out in the flooded streets.

Even wild animals were caught and rescued during the storm, not only those pets with owners. Animals can sense when danger is coming and many of them flee before disaster strikes but fortunately, most of them bounce back pretty well soon after while a handful is rescued and picked up by most local shelters.

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Hurricane Survivors Get Help From Charities

The entire world is aware of how two recent hurricanes left certain US states in a bad shape today. Texas and Florida residents were once again reminded of the power of Mother Nature’s wrath and many are quick to surmise that climate change may have a hand in this. It is not often that Americans experience natural calamities like these two, so it is a major eye opener for many especially the ones who had to go through the ordeal of the storm. The fear caused by the heavy rain and flooding forced people out of their homes with only the most important items in their possession without really knowing when they’ll be able to go home and bounce back.

The government is always ready to help its citizens but one can’t expect to receive everything they will ever need to recover from the state. After all, major public properties and infrastructures were also destroyed during the storm that the government has to fund and rebuild. Non-profit organizations pitch in to help and they have been of great help to each and every community for the longest time. They not only hand out relief goods but even aid in the relief and rescue operations.

More than 50 local and national charities have raised more than $350 million in the nearly three weeks since Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas Gulf Coast, and the disparate groups are trying to decide on priorities while some storm victims still await help.

Distrust of large charities such as the American Red Cross has driven many donors to smaller, local organizations. For instance, Houston Texans football star J.J. Watt has raised more than $30 million for his foundation, an effort he started by posting appeals on social media.

One donor to Watt's effort, Helen Vasquez, stood outside the Texans' stadium and said she had seen a Facebook post listing the salaries of executives at top national charities. She gave Watt $20 instead.

(Via: http://m.startribune.com/harvey-charities-raise-more-than-350m-in-less-than-3-weeks/444459993/?section=nation)

Charities help disaster survivors in every possible way you can ever imagine. Big charities like the Red Cross are all over the place while smaller ones also do their part and make a difference to people’s lives. During times of disasters, others who are unaffected by the tragedy do not hesitate in giving back to these charities in order to help them mobilize help where help is needed.

Hurricane Irma is no more, but the response and recovery to the devastation the storm left behind in Florida and in the Caribbean is fully underway.

The damage to some island nations in particular is difficult to comprehend. The small island of Barbuda had 90 percent of its structures damaged or destroyed, according to the Washington Post. Anguilla saw similar damage to its electricity infrastructure. On St. Martin, 70 percent of the homes had been damaged or destroyed, leaving tens of thousands in need of public shelter. A million people were without power in Puerto Rico, and millions more were without electricity in Florida, where the fiscal damage has not yet been calculated.

If you’re wondering what you can do, one easy way to pitch in is to give money to one or more of the many charities involved with the response and recovery. Here are some suggestions and a little guidance if you’re not sure where to start.

(Via: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/11/16287944/hurricane-irma-donations-charities-disaster-relief)

The survivors need your help now more than ever. You may not be able to extend help physically in aid of the recovery efforts but whatever amount you share can go a long way in uplifting the lives of these people who do how to move on from this tragedy. Giving financial donations to these charities or humanitarian organizations is perhaps the best thing you can do in helping another person in need. You may also donate in kind, although, some advised that monetary donations are better because of the challenge posed in transporting goods and clothing in the affected areas where most infrastructures have also been damaged by the hurricane.

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Wiping Your Computer Clean

The world we live in now is highly digital. It is inevitable for you to deal with tech gadgets in the course of your day because it is all over the place. And as such, we have also started to embrace more of these modern contraptions into our personal lives. Can you imagine going about your day without your handy and ever reliable smartphone that can do just about everything you’ll ever need for the day? The answer is probably no, right? But let us not forget what started it all – computers. Their presence enables mankind to shift from manual labor and consequently automated most of our tasks, so we have a lot to be thankful for their existence.

But just like any material object (especially a tech one) you have at home, school, work, or everywhere else, they are subject to normal wear and tear especially when misused or abused. Over time, your computer would need fixing or worse, a replacement. Other time, you simply just want to upgrade and buy that shiny new laptop or Mac you saw at the mall the other day. Sooner or later, you’ll have to say goodbye to your desktop or laptop but it’s not as simple as you think. There are data to be transferred and saved but do you know where to start?

Many families have welcomed new PCs into their homes, thanks to back-to-school and Labor Day sales, leaving older computers to be donated, recycled, or sold. That makes this a good time to learn how to perform a factory reset.

What is a factory reset? That's when you wipe your computer's hard drive and reinstall its operating system. Doing this reverts your computer to its pristine state, deleting all your personal information, applications, and files in the process.

Getting rid of a computer without performing a reset could put your data in the wrong hands—and you and your family at risk for identity theft. 

Can't I just delete the files? Matt Ham, owner of repair service company Computer Repair Doctor, explains that manually purging files isn’t enough.

(Via: https://www.consumerreports.org/computers/how-to-wipe-a-computer-clean-of-personal-data/)

The number of digital data/files you have saved on your device depends on how long you’ve been using it and how often you use it. You may save photos, songs, videos, movies, and most importantly, documents that mean the world to you. You also use your PC when browsing the web, accessing social media accounts, or when doing online banking, which means there is a big possibility you have saved sensitive login details and passwords on the device.

Step 4: Delete!

You’re now ready to delete the contents of the hard drive. Drag everything from your Documents, Pictures and Music folder into the Recycle Bin, then right-click on the Recycle Bin to delete its contents.

This alone won’t fully delete your PC’s contents, but will speed up the secure deletion process. For this, try the free Eraser tool - it overwrites deleted files several times so they cannot be recovered.

Install the Eraser software and select the files and folders you want to permanently erase. Be warned: it’s a time-consuming process. Remember to repeat the Eraser process for files on all the user accounts on your PC.

(Via: http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/laptops/how-to-securely-wipe-your-laptop-or-pc-windows-7-11363807738531)

Cleaning up may be a hassle for many but it is a crucial step you should not miss out on when selling your old PC or laptop because there is the risk of you leaving behind important data that you don’t want others to see or gain access to. But before doing anything like a factory reset, make sure you back up all your data first before they are gone for good. If not, you may have to undergo the costly and painful process of data recovery that is dreaded by most computer users. You can either transfer these files to an external hard drive or up in the cloud for safe keeping. The cleanup process may vary, though, depending on operating system version, so also bear that in mind.

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The Era Of Fake News

We live in a digital age where information is passed around even faster than the speed of lightning. With social media dominating the web, you can very well read stories and see photos and videos of events happening in various parts of the world in real time without knowing how credible its sources are. Politics is often targeted by fake news that usually leaves the public confused because they can no longer tell what is real and what is not. Technology is a big factor why fake news is able to spread like wildfire. Anybody can post anything they want on social media or on certain sites that people can easily see and quickly shared with others.

Politicians have also benefited from these false stories especially when it discredits the credibility of their rivals. Perhaps it also explains the unprecedented win of President Donald Trump in last year’s election. Other times, it can help dictate the direction a certain nation is going. Take Brexit, for instance. The people’s opinion was greatly influenced by the intentional spreading of fake news before and during the time of voting. So you see, we can’t just turn a blind eye to this public nuisance anymore because of its large-scale implications that can make or break nations, actually.

How can we fight back against the fake news infecting our information feeds and political systems? New research suggests that education and filtering technology might not be enough: The very nature of social media networks could be making us peculiarly vulnerable.

The intentional spreading of false stories has been credited with swaying such monumental events as last year's Brexit vote in Britain and the U.S. presidential election. Tech firms such as Alphabet Inc. unit Google and Facebook Inc. have been trying to find ways to weed it out, or at least help users spot it. Some say we need to start earlier, educating children on how to think critically.

But understanding the unique epidemiology of fake news may be no less important. Unlike a typical virus, purveyors of falsehood don't have to infect people at random. Thanks to the wealth of information available on social media and the advent of targeted advertising, they can go straight for the most susceptible and valuable victims — those most likely to spread the infection.

(Via: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-fake-news-google-facebook-0904-story.html)

Many people use social media today and in the course of our use, we share personal information through the details we disclose on our accounts, posts we like, share and comment on, surveys we take, etc. We are practically the products being sold by SNS platforms to third-party advertisers. This information, when it goes into the wrong hands, allows the perpetrators of fake news to publish targeted posts to a specific niche or group of people for them to realize their goals whatever they may be. Hence, it’s also the reason why we can’t just easily put an end to fake news because it thrives in social media, a platform the majority of us can’t live without right now.

The White House’s social media director tweeted fake news about Hurricane Irma Sunday.

Dan Scavino shared a short video showing flooding at an airport he said was of Miami International Airport.

“Sharing #HurricaneIrma on social media with President @realDonaldTrump & @VP Pence hourly. Here is Miami International Airport. STAY SAFE!!” he wrote.

But that wasn’t Miami International Airport.

(Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/wh-social-media-director-tweets-fake-news-hurricane-irma-article-1.3485541)

Even public officials are fooled by fake news. This is especially common during natural calamities and disasters when news is flooding in and everyone is glued to the latest updates that many gullibly share or retweet posts without verifying their legitimacy or credibility first. Since we are undeniably in the midst of the fake news era, what we can do to somehow lessen its damage, prevent them from trending, or protect you and your family from any problems arising from such posts is to refrain from sharing whatever you see on your newsfeed. Sometimes, you just have to bite back your (virtual) tongue and stop flaming the fire that is fake news – the new favorite of cyber criminals aside from the spreading ransomware attacks.

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Ebay’s Attempt to Dominate China

Most global businesses today are online businesses. It's a no brainer considering how digital the world has become. For example, Amazon, Facebook (and most social networking sites), Google, Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, Sony, etc are online brands that have been widely accepted by almost everyone on the planet and their popularity just keeps on growing. The demand for their products and services is so big that they have managed to wipe out most competitions without a sweat at all. While most of these brands are success stories, it is not always the case.

Take for instance eBay’s attempt to penetrate the Chinese market. We all know how big of a company eBay is in the Western Hemisphere and just how big and powerful a country China is. Unfortunately, this US-based multinational e-commerce corporation failed to establish their business in “The Land of the Red Dragon” as early as 2002 because they have little understanding of how the Chinese deals with business. It’s also worth pointing out that the government is pretty much involved in all the affairs of its people even if it is a private company or corporation and perhaps was also a factor to the company's failure. Jobs weren't an issue.

He points to eBay’s unsuccessful 2002 bid to make it in China. The internet giant ran up the white flag after being beaten by a then much smaller home-grown company, Alibaba. It’s what can happen when a multinational doesn’t give its China office enough autonomy, says Tse. 

“eBay didn’t understand the complexities of the China market. They required everything to be done almost exactly as they they did it in the US,” he says. 

“Alibaba was smaller but its team was flexible and adapted quickly. They understood what the consumer wanted and they developed a locally accepted version of the business model. 

“If it would take a week before eBay [with its head office overseas] could make a decision and come back to China with it, during that one week Alibaba could have made five decisions. This is how Alibaba beat eBay.” 

(Via: https://www.intheblack.com/articles/2017/09/01/edward-tse-consulting-china)

What entrepreneurs need to remember when crossing borders and bringing their brands to foreign markets is to have someone oversee everything that is familiar with the market and has a good grasp of the culture and practices in that place so that their efforts do not go to waste. At times, entrepreneurs must learn to adapt and be flexible, something that eBay wasn’t able to do when the opportunity to expand there presented itself.

About a decade ago, EBay Inc. made a legendary retreat from the Chinese auction business in the face of growing local competition. It was a defeat so humiliating that it became a business school case study. Since then, however, the Chinese e-commerce market has changed drastically -- and so has EBay. As the company makes its return to the mainland, it may be at the forefront of an important trend in online trade.

EBay recently announced that it's partnering with Ningbo, a major port and manufacturing hub, to help boost the city's e-commerce with the rest of the world. That's a farsighted move. In 2016, Chinese shoppers made a whopping $86 billion in online purchases from vendors in other countries. Globally, such trade was just as healthy, adding up to $300 billion in 2015 and growing at nearly 25 percent a year -- faster than domestic e-commerce. At a time when globalization otherwise seems to be in retreat, companies taking advantage of this kind of trade are looking like the future of retail.

(Via: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-02-22/why-is-ebay-returning-to-china)

However, it seems that more than a decade is enough time for eBay to innovate and rethink their strategy because they’re once again considering a China expansion. They sure have learned from their mistakes and the Chinese market is pretty big and profitable for them to keep ignoring it any longer. This time, they are partnering with Ningbo to help them realize their dream of enjoying a slice of China’s pie. It may actually work this time as Chinese consumers are constantly anxious about the dangers of many fake local products and there is a growing middle and upper class that can afford more expensive (even luxury) Western brands.

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Snoring Is No Joke

We all look forward to a good night’s sleep after a long day at work or school. Our body craves the comfort of our bed where we can just lie down and simply not do anything until we eventually fall asleep. For many, this is the definition of pure bliss. However, not everyone gets to enjoy sleep the way some people do. There are actually two people that come to mind: those who snore and then there’s their partners/spouses. The loud snoring in itself is so annoying that it even triggers a break-up or for couples to even for them to consider having separate sleeping arrangements.

While we may laugh at someone who snores loudly, we fail to realize just how dangerous it truly is. Although not all snorers are diagnosed with sleep apnea, everyone who has sleep apnea actually snores. People with this condition stop breathing many times in their sleep aside from just snoring and that it itself is a very dangerous symptom. Your brain is basically choosing between sleep and breathing and that should not be the case as breathing is essential to life.

Snoring is no laughing matter. Besides sleep deprivation - for the snorer, and especially for anyone within earshot - snoring is linked to more serious consequences.

It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks or a stroke, and can even result in premature death.

Earlier research has shown that a tendency to snore can be established early in life.

To find out why, researchers led by Karl Franklin of University Hospital in Umea, Sweden asked more than 15 500 randomly selected people in Nordic countries about their early childhood, and their snoring habits.

(Via: https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/health/snoring-is-no-laughing-matter-413556)

If you are a habitual snorer, you probably know it by now because it is not something that just pops up out of the blue. So what are you waiting for? Isn’t your partner nagging you enough for you to go get yourself checked? Do not just turn a blind eye to your condition simply because you are deep in slumber when it manifests. The danger is still there. There are numerous sleep clinics you can visit for a consultation and many people do it now. It is just proof that snoring is a common predicament experienced by the majority of the world’s population today.

You’ve probably heard of sleep apnea, and if you haven’t already, chances are you will. Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects one in five adults, afflicting more men than women. What many don’t realize is that sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues, even death, if left undiagnosed and untreated.

The experts have spoken. Sleep apnea requires medical attention. Before trying any treatments or solutions, get yourself diagnosed first to receive the best treatment for whatever you are suffering from, which is most likely sleep apnea if you are a heavy snorer. You can even ask your doctor if an anti-snoring mouthpiece is good for you just so you don’t lose more sleep than you already did.

Sleep apnea is a condition to take very seriously. Not only can it be life threatening, but the sleep deprivation, daily fatigue and other symptoms will make your life miserable if not properly treated.

With insurance coverage readily available for diagnosis and treatment, there’s every reason to see your doctor and start to sleep soundly and wake up healthy, happy and refreshed!

(Via: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obstructive-sleep-apnea-a-common-disorder-to-treat_us_59972074e4b02eb2fda31f8f)

It was probably alright to just laugh about issues like snoring if we were back in the 80s or 90s but not today. We all know by now the many dangers posed by sleep apnea and we just can’t afford to be negligent with our health when there are many health risk factors around us waiting for our immunity levels to go down. And that is bound to happen when you can't sleep soundly at night Get that much-deserved sleep because that is all that your body needs and wants after toiling hard for the day. Give it some rest and you might even be able to live until you are 100.

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Possible Business Changes Shakes American Entrepreneurs

No man is an island. How many times have we heard that before? Nobody can exist alone. It’s the same thing to our society. Nations work with other nations in making the world go round. From sharing the world’s resources (at a cost, though) to trading with one another, we all make allies to help the country provide everything it needs for all the citizens of the land and it is actually a never-ending process. Some nations will cease to work alongside a certain country for various reasons, though, and it may unnecessarily cause a strain that can impact the lives of those affected and affect the overall economy as well.

Many changes are happening today in America under the leadership of President Trump. We know he has created one of the biggest empires in the U.S. but he has a lot to learn when it comes to politics and running the country for he is absolutely a total newbie. He can’t always just post his sentiments on Twitter and not give a care as to what its impact to the public will be given his position in the government. It’s even more important that he reflects on his actions and the policies he is supporting right now since he’s the one in command of the country and everyone else counts on him to do what’s right to make America great again.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned on Friday that the Trump administration was making “highly dangerous demands” in the North American Free Trade Agreement modernization talks that could erode U.S. business support and torpedo the negotiations.

John Murphy, the chamber’s senior vice president for international policy, said the largest U.S. business lobby was urging the administration to drop some of its more controversial NAFTA proposals, including raising rules of origin thresholds to “extreme” levels.

“We’re increasingly concerned about the state of play in negotiations,” Murphy told reporters.

(Via: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trade-nafta-chamber/u-s-chamber-warns-against-trumps-highly-dangerous-nafta-demands-idUSKBN1CB2IR)

And President Trump’s potential pullout from the NAFTA will be a major blow to American businesses as many things will suffer if relationships with Canada and Mexico will be put to an end once the president decides to put an end to this agreement. While like any other agreement there is, the North American Free Trade Agreement is not perfect but it does not mean the president should totally abolish it for it can also mean a certain disaster. Perhaps a little tweaking can help but not necessarily put an end to it like what the president is suggesting right now because many businesses are not yet ready for it.

America's biggest business group is warning the Trump administration that a withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement would be a "political and economic debacle" that would cost hundreds of thousands of United States jobs.

Talking with reporters Friday, John Murphy, a senior official with the US Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber would work to rally support for the trade deal and against the administration's hard-line demand for concessions from Canada and Mexico.

The comments were unusually blunt for America's biggest business group.

The Trump administration, which has threatened to pull out of NAFTA if the three countries can't agree on far-reaching changes to favour American interests, quickly returned fire.

(Via: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20171008/us-chamber-commerce-sounds-alarm-about-nafta-pull-out)

Of course, President Trump is only thinking about the country’s welfare and is perhaps the likely justification why he is making all those demands but he fails to realize that this is an agreement between three countries. Hence, it must somehow be beneficial for all and not to just one party. As a businessman, it should have been clear to him how these things work since you negotiate with others and strike up a deal. It is true that America is still one of the most powerful and influential nations in the world but it still needs to work side by side other nations especially when it comes to trade.

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How Education Shapes The Future

Nobody is too old to learn. It’s a fact even if many people feel that age is a hindrance to going back to school and getting an education or pursuing post-grad courses. But the truth is, some could not even put their children to school in high school or community colleges because of financial constraints. Of course, it is a given that their basic needs must be met first before they can pursue their intellectual endeavors or join important think tanks. Meanwhile, there are those who can afford to study abroad because they believe that it boosts their credential and helps them land better and higher-paying jobs someday. All these factors are constants in our modern education system. There are much more actually and the government should look into them in order to create policies that address most of these problems and help lighten the burden poorer families experience day in and day out.

The educational sector needs to consider that practical application is what is most important now and that employers look at that first from job applicants although we do no discredit the value of their academic achievements too. Looking for work is especially harder now as many industries already automate most of their processes and applicants are expected to miss out on even more job opportunities as roughly 7 million more jobs will be automated in the coming years. It is also perhaps the reason why those who can afford to study abroad don’t hesitate in doing so because they know they’ll learn more from prestigious institutions in other countries in terms of knowledge, skills, and experiences local students miss out on and be the first to get hired when job vacancies open up.

Employers value transferable skills in the workforce, more than strictly technical ones. In fact, ACT's 2016 National Curriculum Survey showed among employer responses that the most valued skills were things like “acting honestly,” by treating others fairly, “sustaining effort,” and “keeping an open mind," intermixed with other skills like complex problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. With the global workforce already losing around 7 million jobs over the next five decades to automation, according to a recent study, it's important that students graduate from higher education institutions not being automatons themselves. 

IIE's study drawing the link between study abroad experiences — which build students' abilities to work with others, meet new people, and think outside the box — and improved employability only highlights the importance of higher education leaders emphasizing learning in an academic sense, but also building of the actual student on a more personal level. 

(Via: http://www.educationdive.com/news/how-can-institutions-build-students-21st-century-workforce-skills-send-th/506313/)

Not everyone enjoys the same opportunities and in a way, it affects whether they become successful later in life. While some students are actually deserving of landing certain jobs or even getting promoted, they miss out on these chances because others have a finer resume than theirs, attended better schools, or have a longer list of skills and trainings/seminars making them more competitive and qualified for the job since they have the money to burn unlike those who have no choice but to attend public schools.

The introduction of technology into education was not a silver bullet for improving education outcomes and the 19th-century style of teaching and learning needs to be adapted as technology is gradually incorporated into South African classrooms.

This was the message coming out of the Decolonised 21st Century Education Conference in Johannesburg on Friday.

Panelists said technology needed to be coupled with an adapted curriculum, political will and trained teachers to facilitate learning that solved local problems.

(Via: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/education/2017-10-02-focus-on-technology-educations-future-in-spotlight/)

It is imperative for educators to integrate as much technology as needed into the curriculum and day-to-day lessons of students because we already live in a highly digital world. It’s no longer a luxury since we are only making sure students are equipped with everything they will ever need for the future that awaits them. They must be able to navigate their way through all these digital mazes that are quickly gaining traction in the world. It’s also all the more reason for the government to increase federal funding on education because the future of our nation is a stake here. Whatever the personal opinions of the leaders in power right now are on the case are irrelevant and they should think first about the welfare of the country and the people who will soon run it in the years to come.

How Education Shapes The Future was initially published to PopEgo

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Black Friday Christmas Shopping Rules!

It is funny how time flies. It wasn’t long ago when the year just started and now it is almost another year-end once more. In as much as we are excited over what the new year brings, we can’t help but feel excited about the idea of being able to eat, rest and relax to our heart’s content. It is like our little reward for working hard the entire year. Now, there’s more. It’s not just the holidays that get us pumped up but the thought of receiving gifts. Like how we love to be on the receiving end, many of us apparently have to give out gifts too. Whether it is for your family, friends, or the obligatory exchanges of gifts during the endless parties that the holiday brings, you have no choice but to shop for one (or more) or end up being branded stingy or worst, the Grinch.

For the average Joe, we love a good bargain. Imagine all the money you can save on your Christmas shopping if you are able to buy in bulk and with big discounts. One of the most looked forward to shopping sprees before the year’s end is the Black Friday sale. Who isn’t excited about it? Just look at the long lines every single year. It simply does not get old and has become a tradition for some families. The discounts are outrageous and you can definitely save a lot of bucks by braving the malls at this time of the year and fall in one of those long lines lining outside the various malls and shops.

In keeping with American tradition it always fall on the Friday after Thanksgiving meaning this year it will fall on November 24.

With Black Friday taking place before Christmas, it's easy to see why it is so popular among shoppers, as it gives them a great excuse to sort out presents - at a fraction of the cost.

In previous years online retailer Amazon has remained a firm favourite thanks to its huge discounts on must-have items including PlayStations, Kindles and Fire Sticks.

(Via: http://www.devonlive.com/whats-on/shopping/black-friday-2017-best-deals-776075)

Many have dubbed the Black Friday sale the biggest shopping event of the year for a good reason. Some wait for it buying luxurious appliances like LED television because the discount is crazy. It is the perfect excuse to hoard as many staples and nice-to-haves are sold cheaply. If you still aren’t done with your Christmas list, this is the best time to finish it as you can find food deals for Christmas presents you are planning to give. With all the savings you can get, many people no longer mind falling in line for hours just as long as they can buy what they want without paying for the same price as they would when they buy it on ordinary days.

Walmart (WMT, -1.03%) has made the first of its Black Friday style deals available to shoppers online as the race to win the holiday season starts to intensify.

The world’s largest retailer, looking for a repeat of its strong 2016 holiday season when it bested rivals like Target (TGT, -8.50%), is offering a few deals on items such an Acer Aspire ES Laptop and the Xbox One S Console Bundle from Thursday through November 12, in the hopes of whetting shoppers’ appetites for the Black Friday shopping bonanza.

A full list of Walmart’s Black Friday deals that will only be available on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday itself is available here.

Other retailers including Kohl’s (KSS, +0.33%) and Amazon.com (AMZN, -0.88%) have also begun giving shoppers a foretaste of the deals to be had starting on Thanksgiving Day. (Many such deals, include Walmart’s, will be available online all day on Nov. 23 but only in stores later on Turkey Day. In the case of Walmart, the deals will be in-store starting at 6 p.m., as was the case last year.) On Wednesday, Best Buy also announced an early start to its Black Friday deals.

(Via: http://fortune.com/2017/11/09/walmart-black-friday-4/)

If shoppers prepare for the biggest shopping spree they do each year, businesses are just as prepared. They ensure their shelves are stacked to the brim so that people will have a lot of options and stocks can meet the people’s demand. There may be horror stories about people getting hurt during Black Friday sales because of the crowd but if you have noticed, the crowd has actually lessened over the years perhaps because many have discovered the joys of online shopping and no longer want to subject themselves to the hassles of buying for things personally when they can get the same deals and get the items delivered onto their doorsteps. So, take advantage of its lessening popularity to tick off everything in your Christmas list and at the same time save a lot of money you can put to good use instead of paying for overpriced Christmas presents.

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Special Needs Deserve Extra Help

Since all of us are created uniquely, we grow up to be a diverse group of people populating this planet. It is a wonder for somehow we actually manage to coexist but let us not forget it is not always peacefully. Until today, divisiveness is still a major issue and has caused wars that only left humanity scarred and hurt for a long time. While we battle the struggles we made so ourselves, there are vulnerable human beings that require special needs and attention that are oblivious to all the conflicts we are experiencing.

People with special needs are special. PERIOD. They are not like us who can cope with whatever problems we are facing for their bodies aren’t equipped to do just that. They lack various senses that are crucial for living normally. Not everyone, though, was born with their disabilities. Some acquired theirs through an unfortunate accident or something like that. Persons with disabilities need our understanding and perhaps we can extend our love and patience for them, which they so badly need. It’s not that they wished to be invalid or something since they also suffer from the many limitations their handicap has brought about.

The perseverance of navy serviceman and para-athlete Jason Chee inspires me (Against the odds, he triumphs; Oct 1).

His story is a reminder that anyone can acquire a disability in an accident, an illness or in old age. However, no disability can take away the intrinsic worth of a person nor stop him from maximising his potential.

It is heartening that the National Council of Social Service organised the "See the True Me" public education campaign to encourage the public to see persons with disabilities for who they are instead of the disability they have.

However, one of the reasons given by the Government to justify keeping the cut-off time of abortion at 24 weeks is to allow those mothers whose unborn children are found to have "structural abnormalities" to "consider the implications and make an informed decision as to whether to keep or abort the child".

(Via: http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/lets-rally-to-support-those-with-special-needs)

We are all worthy of love no matter our disabilities. Do not just easily pass a judgment to the next person because you see him unable to rise on his own, walk on his own, eat on his own, or simply move and talk on his own. Be the bigger person and extend help in whatever way you can to make their lives more comfortable and convenient and extra brighter given that they have to endure a life more lonesome and less-fulfilling as ours.

Unfortunately, the world we live in is far from ideal, especially if, like me, you happen to have disabilities. Unfortunately, we happen to live in a society that does not value such people. It discriminates against them, often with the connivance of politicians, and through the utilisation of gaps in the law, or through the failure to enforce what law exists. Try getting on a bus while using a wheelchair if you want an example of the latter. With a few notable exceptions, for example those rare individuals with the potential to become elite Paralympic athletes, British society does not value differently-abled people, or the contributions that they make. Britain is frequently in the habit of treating differently-abled people not as valued members of society, but instead as burdens or costs. No less an institution than the United Nations was moved to describe the situation facing them as “a catastrophe” in a recent report. 

(Via: http://gulftoday.ae/portal/e693697d-12ff-4cb8-b9aa-f9fc463d6e99.aspx)

All over the world, people with disabilities still have problems in getting accepted by society. While many institutions are advocating on their behalf, they still face the harsh criticisms of those who have little tolerance towards them and choose to ignore other people’s sensitivities and difficulties because they do not want to inconvenience themselves in offering support. If you know better, go the extra mile and offer help when needed because that is what we all need, someone to take the first step and show the world how life is so much better if we all help and love one another whether we are lacking in some things or not.

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Make Your Blogs SEO-Friendly

We live in an era where technology rules. It’s all around us and we can’t get away from it because that’s what everyone uses too. And remember what they say if you can’t beat it, join it. Technology is here to stay and there is no denying it. We may hype up its benefits but it has its limitations too and it somehow made our lives a little more complex whether you acknowledge it or not. These new innovations burst like a vacuum that draws people in. And with it came many other tech advancements that define the modern life that we know of today.

The use of social media became an obsession to many too and smart technology became available to everyone who can afford a smart device. The Internet of Things made everything so interconnected without us fully knowing or realizing it and it left everyone unable to keep their hands off their smartphones. There is an advantage here, though, if you are someone who is business-minded and can see potential rather than challenges. If there is one thing that is literally all over the web today, it has to do with content. Whatever your niche is, you can write up something about it and share it with your followers or consumers. Blogging is the most popular one of all as it allows the writer to connect with people on a more personal level yet at the same time provide the writer with a steady stream of income that was unheard of in the past. However, it is not always that easy to start a profitable blog. Here’s why.

The digital marketing landscape has evolved significantly over the last two decades. And between Google’s ever-changing algorithm and the deluge of misinformation floating through the digital marketing sphere, it’s easy to lose sight of basic practices we should be employing in our own SEO and content marketing strategies.

With every new algorithm update and technological shift in search, we become obsessed with how the field of SEO will enter a wholly new paradigm, and we shift our focus to reflect this. Yet as much as the medium may change, the core principles remain the same — and it’s time to get back to the basics.

We all understand the secrets and best practices of SEO, so why do we often fail to leverage these tactics? Let’s explore five common blogging mistakes you may be making right now.

(Via: https://searchengineland.com/5-easy-miss-blog-mistakes-281795)

You can’t just easily take KEYWORD out of the equation since that is basically how people look up contents on the web. By using it right, you’d be able to hit your target better and reach out to the people who care about your content (and product and services) the most. Take advantage of keyword research to determine your audience and then share to them the type of content they want the most.

First of all, it’s very important to realize the fact that Google isn’t the only way to grow your traffic. Sure, Google search is a big part of that process – but it isn’t the only way to do it. It totally depends on you that whether you want to still rely on organic search or not. But make sure to be safe from another algorithm update. In the following post, we are going to dig wider and deeper for more Google-less traffic strategies.

Tactic #1: Content Swap

Recently, I published a guest post and somehow it did gain popularity which led to some new traffic and Twitter followers for me. The trick, again, is to guest post at the right place – Google PageRank or Domain Authority never remained my main concern. What I required was influential blogs with real readers who will read and engage with your content. Now content swapping is all about swapping guest posts to build links. Although it may turn out as a tedious job but trust me when you use this as a tactic, you are in the driver’s seat. It is a safe bet to say that guest posting opportunities will come to you instead of you being forced to seek them out endlessly.

(Via: http://customerthink.com/stop-worrying-about-the-seo-rankings-start-thinking-outside-the-box/)

Do not simply obsess about Google, though, if you are a blogger. While it is the largest and most influential search engine in the land today, it is not the be all and end all of everything. You can maximize the use of your content by using social media and influencers who have lots of followers to create buzz to your page or site but there’s more that you can do without going far. You can likewise tap other search engines like Bing, which comprises roughly 36% of US searches. So, explore your options well and extend your reach as far as you can because you never know when you’ll be able to hit a goldmine. If you have the budget, various types of online advertising can only work for you just as long as you already have a plan in place so as not to waste your efforts.

The blog article Make Your Blogs SEO-Friendly is republished from Popego

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Natural Calamities: Safety First Before Going To Events

We all like to unwind at times especially when we’ve had enough of the daily grind. Of course, you have to make sure first that it is your free time as well so as not to compromise your work and lose your bread and butter. Coming to events whether intimate or in public is a great way to de-stress. A must as we live in such complex and stressful times today. Most events require you to pay fees but some don’t, so feel free to choose which ones you like and can afford. Indoor ones are great for small groups while the outdoors or big arenas are the perfect venue for big concerts where you can contain a big crowd without a problem at all.

The problem with outdoor locations is the elements. Yes, we can’t always predict them nor control them. Fortunately, modern science allowed experts to somehow tell when Mother Nature will likely have a meltdown so the public can take the necessary preparations and protect themselves first. It is just a shame that some big events or concerts you have waited and anticipated for months will suddenly be put on hold because a storm or hurricane is brewing and organizers will decide to postpone the event but it is better than compromise the safety and security of the audience.

A concern over severe weather produced due to Hurricane Nate making landfall had regional events postponed until further notice Saturday morning.

District 5 Councilwoman Sherry Guidry had been promoting a new downtown beautification event she’d created heavily on social media in recent days. The event, titled ‘Tight & Right,” would have brung volunteers to downtown New Iberia, beginning on Anne Street near the Masonic Lodge, to pick up trash and clean the streets. 

On Friday night, Guidry was considering starting the event earlier than its scheduled 10:30 a.m. start to beat the weather. But, after speaking with parish president Larry Richard about weather concerns, she canceled the event Saturday. 

(Via: http://www.iberianet.com/news/local-events-postponed-due-to-hurricane-nate/article_e694566c-abb4-11e7-a93e-8b25124231e7.html)

It wasn’t long ago when a couple of hurricanes hit the nation in succession and a new one is coming our way once more. People who bought tickets to large-scale events held outdoors may sigh in exasperation but it is better to set aside any events than put their lives in danger. Getting hyped and enjoying yourself can wait just as long as you are sure nothing bad will happen to you by doing so. We’re not even considering here the threats beyond nature like the mass shooting that happened in Las Vegas quite recently.

A mobile sign on Saturday near the entrance  of what was to be the first day of Flambeau Fest at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center flashed a mix of bad and good news: “Saturday only canceled,” the sign said. “Sunday will happen.”

Fans expecting to see Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch, Chase Rice and other country music stars Saturday at Flambeau Fest were disappointed. But by mid-afternoon, the festival announced that Hunt will perform Sunday at 4:30 p.m., joining the second-day lineup that includes classic Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr. and the country and Southern-rock band Blackberry Smoke.

Citing Hurricane Nate’s pending landfall on the central Gulf Coast, festival officials canceled day one of the event following consultations with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

(Via: http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/article_db3fd666-a91f-11e7-bd93-3bcb8e8bc997.html)

The question is simple, would you feel at ease going to any event knowing that a brewing storm is on its way and you are not yet sure just how powerful it is and how well your home and family will fare in the midst of this uncertainty? No matter what event it is, it shouldn’t even be a question anymore as to why events have to be canceled. The public should just wait a little longer because they’d be able to go to that event when the sun is once shining once more and they no longer have to worry whether a sudden flooding will make their entire surrounding a vast open urban swimming pool or face some other similar threat.

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Modern-day Disaster Preparedness

We live in an imperfect world. The planet may be full of amazing natural wonders and beautiful landscapes but we are also plagued by harsh and sometimes unforgiving natural disasters. These disasters vary depending on where you are in the world. For instance, volcanic eruptions are common in countries located within the Ring of Fire or the Circum-Pacific Belt. Then, there are also disasters where you can prepare for in advance like hurricanes while some you can’t like earthquakes leaving many injured and displaced in its wake.

A lot of ancient civilizations have been wiped out from the place of the planet because of catastrophic disasters that buried cities like Pompei. Modern technology has worked to our advantage, though, since there are now machines that tell us when and where a certain disaster will strike. And because of that, we are able to evacuate our homes when necessary rather than put our lives and that of our families at risk against the harsh elements.

The researchers used their data on the number of people living in different areas of the world, combined with the built environment around them, to calculate levels of exposure. Of the six hazards they looked at, earthquakes have the greatest potential impact–while in 1975 1.4 billion people were at risk, 2.7 billion were at risk in 2015. Floods happen the most frequently, but they impact Asia and Africa much more heavily, with Asia accounting for 76.9% of the exposed population of the world and Africa accounting for 12.2%. Japan is most at risk from tsunamis, while Indonesia is most vulnerable to volcanoes.

While the researchers said that these findings–which they presented at the 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction conference in Cancun, Mexico–aren’t directly tied to climate change policy, they point to vulnerabilities that are created by the way cities are designed and built. While they can’t yet point to what those are, the next step in the research is to create a detailed understanding of how city planning impacts each urban center’s vulnerability to disaster. “It’s less about the climate, more about mitigation measures,” says Pesaresi.

(Via: https://www.fastcodesign.com/90127905/the-ambitious-project-to-study-disasters-from-space)

Studying these disasters from space will give scientists a new perspective on these phenomena and give them a bird’s eye view, so they can come up with better disaster preparedness measures to help everyone in the planet survive one disaster at a time.

There are more weather disturbances now and natural disaster because of climate change. The build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also makes the world a hotter place as heat is trapped and hastens the melting of polar ice caps. When that happens, the sea level will rise and many island nations like the Maldives will probably be swallowed by the sea and disappear from the map forever.

In the last few decades, the risk has dramatically increased; the number of people living in seismic areas, for example, has increased by 93 percent in just 40 years.

The findings, compiled in the Atlas of the Human Planet 2017, reveal the global exposure to natural disasters has doubled since 1975, largely as a result of population growth and development.

In the analysis, the researchers accounted for six major natural hazards: earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, tropical cyclone storm surge, tropical cyclone wind, and floods.

They used satellite observation data over 40 years to measure for ‘exposure,’ or ‘the people and assets at risk of potential losses or that may suffer damage to a hazard impact.’

‘It covers several dimensions like the physical, the social, and the economic dimensions,’ the authors wrote.

(Via: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4539146/Risk-natural-disasters-doubled-1975-study-says.html)

We can’t deny that the world is changing for the worse and we only have ourselves to blame. Our abuse of the world’s natural resources and senseless use of material objects that end up as trash further pollutes the world and worsens these disasters. While individuals like Donald Trump believe otherwise about the reality of climate change, it does not change the fact that we are facing more catastrophic threats each year. The planet may suffer further when Trump opted out of the Paris Climate agreement, it is actually us who will take the bigger blow once Mother Nature strikes back with a full vengeance if the rest of humanity does not unite to save the planet while we still can.

Modern-day Disaster Preparedness is republished from https://popego.com/

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Quantum Computing Asks For Another Kind Of Programming

Computers rule the world. They run almost everything there is on the planet. From simple home appliances, entertainment showcases, smartphones and machinery in big industries, there is indeed a computing system in place that makes it work all the time. We are no longer new to technology since it is all around us now but there are newer technological innovations that an ordinary person isn’t yet ready for or one may find it hard to believe even exists.

Quantum computing is the stuff of legends. Computer programmers started coding in mediums of 1s and 0s since the birth of computers. Meanwhile, quantum computing offers computing speeds of up to hundreds of millions faster than most conventional computers these days and no longer limited to coding binary numbers. Unfortunately, this highly advanced computing technology also calls for a different breed of computer programmers knowing how baffling the technology itself is even to experts in the field.

Quantum computers finally seem to be coming of age with promises of “quantum supremacy” by the end of the year. But there’s a problem—very few people know how to work them.

The bold claim of achieving "quantum supremacy" came on the back of Google unveiling a new quantum chip design. The hyperbolic phrase essentially means building a quantum device that can perform a calculation impossible for any conventional computer.

In theory, quantum computers can crush conventional ones at important tasks like factoring large numbers. That’s because unlike normal computers, whose bits can either be represented as 0 or 1, a quantum bit—or “qubit”—can be simultaneously 0 and 1 thanks to a phenomenon known as superposition.

(Via: https://singularityhub.com/2017/05/09/quantum-computing-demands-a-whole-new-kind-of-programmer/)

Big companies like Google make a bold promise of introducing the first ever commercial service from a “universal” quantum computer this year after unveiling their new quantum chip design. Those are such big words, indeed, considering that the company lacks the programmers who can code at a quantum level. Even IBM intends on bringing the quantum technology to the cloud for free sooner rather than later. For computer programmers to be able to handle quantum technology with ease, they must first have a good grasp of quantum physics at the very least. It’s not something that they usually do when coding for conventional computers.

There are a number of quantum simulators available now that will help users get familiar with quantum computing, but it’s not the real thing and is likely to behave very differently.  MIT physicist, Isaac Chuang, said, “The real challenge is whether you can make your algorithm work on real hardware that has imperfections.” It will take time for any computer programmer to learn the skills needed for quantum computing, but until the systems have been developed, what will they learn on?

This is one of the reasons for the push in making quantum devices more accessible. D-wave made available their Qbsoly and Qmasm tools earlier this year in an attempt to get more people into the realms of quantum computing. If the tools are available, more people will be tempted to have a go and budding quantum computer scientists will be born.  And as Google’s researchers wrote in a statement, “If early quantum-computing devices can offer even a modest increase in computing speed or power, early adopters will reap the rewards.”

(Via: http://trendintech.com/2017/05/16/quantum-computers-sound-great-but-whos-going-to-program-them/)

While the obvious difference between a classic computer and a quantum one is that the former are binary while the latter work with “qubits”. All qubits of a quantum computer would often be in a “superposition of states” where all qubits of information can be in all potential combination of states at the same time for quantum computers to actually work. The quantum computer must be shielded from the external environment or else it ceases to function at all.

Coding at this level means to execute appropriate algorithms that should always be reversible. Unfortunately, not all coders code this way, and again, they should be knowledgeable enough in the field of quantum physics to be able to program quantum computers efficiently. Only then can quantum computing really be widely used when there are computer programmers who can handle what it takes to code at a quantum level.

Quantum Computing Asks For Another Kind Of Programming is republished from PopEgo.com Blog

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China Takes Cyber Security Seriously

A big majority of the world’s population use some sort of technology or another in their daily life, whether for personal or office use. The Internet is now the favorite playground of many with the advent of smartphones because there are endless things you can do and explore. There is no more reason to get bored anymore. However, there are many dangers lurking on the web, and not just in the dark web, says Bill Werther of Loudouni.com. Moreover, people often abuse the perks of the web, making cyberbullying and online scams common complaints from online users these days.

It’s a different thing in China, though. While the Chinese have access to the web, the Chinese government enforce stringent cyber security laws that must be observed by virtually everyone on land. China takes all these new cyber threats seriously with the likes of cyber terrorism and cyber hacking that may not only endanger the lives of the Chinese people but even the security of the entire nation too. That’s why they have these cyber security laws that address these issues early on, so they don’t face a big cyber issue like the ones happening all over the globe nowadays.

China consistently ranks as the world’s worst abuser of internet freedom. A law on cyber security, which took effect on Thursday, is no doubt intended to tighten Beijing’s grip on the speech and thought of its citizens. As if this were not bad enough, the law will also serve as a barrier to global companies operating in China and impede Chinese companies’ ability to compete on the global stage.

The law explicitly criminalises any online information that the ruling Communist party regards as damaging “national honour”, “disturbing economic or social order” or contributing to the “overthrow of the socialist system”. It is ostensibly aimed at protecting the privacy of China’s 730m internet users. In reality it will enshrine the state’s right to snoop on anyone who logs on to the internet and will force all companies operating in the country to be complicit in this.

(Via: https://www.ft.com/content/60913b9e-46b9-11e7-8519-9f94ee97d996)

It no longer comes as a surprise how much cyber freedom China violates because this totalitarian country has been accused of many other human rights violations in the past and up until the present. Who says antivirus software and firewalls can only be installed on computers? China has their existing “Great Firewall of China” as well because that’s how much they censor online content. And you should not just shrug off these laws if you are a Chinese citizen because you risk being persecuted if you are found to have violated any of these law’s vague provisions.

And while Chinese officials say the new rules will help guard against cyberattacks and prevent terrorism, critics, many of them from businesses, have their concerns. Companies worry that parts of the new law, which takes effect on Thursday, will make their operations in China less secure or more expensive. In some cases, they argue, it could keep them out entirely.

The law will have a big impact on how business is done in China, said Michael Chang, an executive with the Finnish technology company Nokia and the vice president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. But, he said, “There’s unfortunately a lot of confusion.”

“Industry is not ready because the implementation rules are not clear,” Mr. Chang said, speaking at an event organized by the lobbying group to announce the results of its annual business confidence survey.

(Via: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/business/china-cybersecurity-law.html?_r=0)

While the country and its leaders often get away with many human rights violations and infringement, it’s a different thing when it comes to dealing with businesses and business owners especially those owned by foreign investors and have offices in other parts of the world. Technology is very much a crucial part of our daily life right now.

We not only use it for our personal life but for work and studies too. It’s the reason why these vague clauses in the Chinese cybersecurity law got business investors worried and wondering what these changes means to their businesses especially when it comes to data storage and transfers. And we are not just talking about computer use but even that of smartphones as well. Fines will be imposed on violators and there’s also the risk of turning off overseas businesses because of outrageous laws that aren’t exactly easy to follow that only a superpower like China has the audacity to implement.

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