Have you ever looked at another person’s daily accomplishments and thought, “How do they do it”? By the time most are pouring a second cup of coffee in the morning, some super-achievers have gone for a 5-mile run, hit inbox zero, and nailed the rough draft of that report due next week. Oh, and they figured out the day’s Wordle, too. advertisement advertisement After more than a decade of writing and practicing productivity techniques, I’ve learned that these folks generally do know more about how to get more done. And you can adopt those practices, too. But, why would you? Getting more done in less time can mean that you have more free time to do the things you love with the people you love. Or, it can create space to fill with more work that could have a detrimental effect on your mental and physical health. I learned this the hard way last year. advertisement advertisement Don’t make the same mistakes. Instead, practice … [Read more...] about The ultimate guide to purposeful productivity (your mental health will thank you)
Free trade
US to raise $200 billion for G7 vs China’s Belt and Road
US President Joe Biden attends a working lunch with other G7 leaders to discuss shaping the global economy at the Yoga Pavilion, Schloss Elmau in Kuren, Germany, June 26, 2022. (Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS) WASHINGTON — The United States aims to raise $200 billion in private and public funds over five years to fund needed infrastructure in developing countries under a G7 initiative aimed at countering China’s multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road project, the White House said on Sunday. US President Joe Biden will unveil the plans, flanked by other Group of Seven leaders, some of whom have already unveiled their own separate initiatives, at their annual gathering being held this year at Schloss Elmau in southern Germany. Increasingly worried about China, G7 leaders first floated plans for the project last year, and are formally launching it now under a fresh title, “Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment” while dropping the moniker “Build Back Better World” … [Read more...] about US to raise $200 billion for G7 vs China’s Belt and Road
Democrat Congressman Used Campaign Funds To Pay His Wife And Ex-Con Son Thousands, Records Reveal
Rep. Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democratic congressman, has paid his wife and son roughly $56,000 from his campaign committee since 2019, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. His son Jeffrey has notably raked in close to $45,000 for mostly “field services” and “field operations services,” filings show, while his wife Paulette has been paid roughly $11,000 for “accounting services.” “I wouldn’t say it’s a common practice, but it does happen,” Kendra Arnold, executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “It’s illegal to pay a family member anything above fair market value for their services. The practice is frowned upon because it is really difficult to determine if it is fair market value.” Democratic Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush, who has a documented history of funneling campaign dollars to family members, has paid roughly $56,000 from his principal campaign committee to his wife and ex-convict … [Read more...] about Democrat Congressman Used Campaign Funds To Pay His Wife And Ex-Con Son Thousands, Records Reveal
Juul Funded High Schools, Recruited Social Media Influencers To Reach Youth, House Panel Charges
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A House panel revealed for the first time internal documents from Juul Labs that Democrats said detailed the e-cigarette company’s plan to directly reach teenagers. The hearing, which featured Juul cofounder James Monsees and chief administration officer Ashley Gould, comes as part of a House Oversight Committee investigation into the company’s role in what the Food and Drug Administration has dubbed a youth vaping epidemic. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the amount of high schoolers who used e-cigarettes jumped to 20.8% in 2018 from 11.7% the previous year. The panel requested last month that Juul turn over a wide-ranging set of internal communications related to its marketing and social media strategies. Panel members used some of those documents to question executives about the San Francisco company’s efforts to recruit social media influencers and to talk to teenagers face-to-face. … [Read more...] about Juul Funded High Schools, Recruited Social Media Influencers To Reach Youth, House Panel Charges
The Disturbing Focus Of Juul’s Early Marketing Campaigns
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A print Juul advertisement that ran in Vice Magazine in 2015 as part of the e-cigarette company'’s ... [+] launch campaign, “Vaporized.” Juul 'Vaporized' ad in 2015 via Stanford Research Into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising Juul Labs, the maker of the most popular U.S. e-cigarette, is growing meteorically—on track to generate an estimated $1 billion in sales this year, up more than 300% from a year ago. However, its products haven’t only gained traction among smokers trying to wean themselves off cigarettes. They are also a hit with teenagers. What medical experts are calling a Juul-driven “youth nicotine epidemic” is gaining heightened attention from regulators like the Food and Drug Administration, which on Thursday said it is seeking a nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars and will sharply restrict the sales of fruity-flavored nicotine vaping cartridges. Juul, likely aware of the … [Read more...] about The Disturbing Focus Of Juul’s Early Marketing Campaigns
Where To Stay and What To Do When Visiting Meow Wolf In Denver
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Meow Wolf opened its first permanent installation in 2016 in Santa Fe. Known as the “House of Eternal Return,” it instantly became a nation-wide sensation due to its interactive and unexpected exhibits. What makes Meow Wolf so different than a typical art installation is that it’s not something you look at; it’s something you immerse yourself in. The exhibit creates a world that visitors walk through and engage with, allowing (and encouraging) interaction in a choose-your-own-adventure type experience, complete with secret passages and other hidden gems. One of the most famous examples in Santa Fe is a washer/dryer that, when opened, reveals a slide that visitors can use to access a room of lost socks below. In this way, the experience of visiting Meow Wolf is different than anything before it. The success has prompted more installations to be built around the country, including what’s called “Convergence Station” … [Read more...] about Where To Stay and What To Do When Visiting Meow Wolf In Denver
Resorts To Offer Spectacular Independence Day Celebrations
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin This year’s Fourth of July is set to be the top holiday weekend to travel with nearly half (46%) of summer travelers planning to vacation over Independence Day, according to Vacasa’s 2022 Summer Travel Trends report . Vacasa’s search data also revealed the following destinations as the most popular spots for 2022: Bethany Beach, DE; Alabama Gulf Coast, AL; Outer Banks, NC; Cape Cod, MA; Oregon Coast, OR. In order to impress their guests, hotels and resorts throughout the country are planning spectacular fireworks displays ranging from a “Free as a Bird” experience to a “Big Bay Boom.” Mohonk Mountain House , New Paltz, New York With its picturesque setting in the Hudson Valley and situated on a private glacial lake with views of the Catskill Mountains, this Victorian castle resort provides a one-of-a-kind mountain retreat for a Fourth of July celebration. With activities like tomahawk throwing, family … [Read more...] about Resorts To Offer Spectacular Independence Day Celebrations
These Luxury Swimwear Brands Are Minimizing Plastic Use With Biomaterials
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Sustainability comes in gradations. While many brands are taking commendable steps forward in becoming more eco-friendly, the use of plastics, even recycled, can come with downsides . After all, washing plastic-based fabrics can result in microplastic shedding, which can be harmful to both human health and the environment — and especially detrimental to ocean habitats. And, even if a company is using materials made from recycled plastics, most still rely on some new plastic as part of the blend used to construct swimsuits. Swapping out plastic-based materials for biomaterials can be a more sustainable decision, although it’s mostly small brands going this direction right now, as bigger brands seem to be embracing recycled plastics (which is still a good start). When it comes to finding an alternative to plastic, however, not all biomaterials are created equal. Water use, energy consumption, renewability, and pollution also … [Read more...] about These Luxury Swimwear Brands Are Minimizing Plastic Use With Biomaterials
Russia’s Deadly Artillery Drones Have A Strange Secret (Updated)
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Russia’s small drones continue to take a deadly toll of Ukrainian forces, directing laser-guided artillery rounds with lethal precision. But the drones are not as advanced as you might expect, with new video of a captured airframe showing it is fitted with an off-the-shelf Canon DSLR camera. Russia’s manned air force has not been effective, and even its most modern aircraft keep getting shot down . Confirmed casualties to date include at least 19 combat aircraft and 32 helicopters, but the real total will be higher (though likely less than the 152 aircraft and 137 helicopters claimed by Ukraine). But their unmanned fleet seems to have been more effective. Numerous drone videos released by the Russian Ministry of Defence show similar scenes : a Ukrainian armored vehicle, often self-propelled artillery, is observed for a few seconds before suddenly exploding, destroyed by an unseen projectile. Sometimes videos … [Read more...] about Russia’s Deadly Artillery Drones Have A Strange Secret (Updated)
Russian Jets Are Flying So Low To Dodge Ukrainian Air-Defenses That They’re Running Into The Ground
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Desperate to avoid surface-to-air missiles in the lethal air space over Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian pilots have revived a classic tactic—flying really, really low. But the same low flying that helps pilots to dodge enemy air-defenses also exposes them to a separate risk: collisions with the terrain. In just the past week or so, the Russian air force has lost two Su-25 attack planes, and at least one pilot, in crashes during low-level flights to or from the war zone. The sky over Ukraine—in particular, eastern Ukraine where the fighting is the most intensive—is some of the most dangerous in the world for crews on both sides of the conflict. In four months of warfare, the Ukrainian and Russian air forces have written off around a fifth of their deployed fixed-wing aircraft, as well as many helicopters. Ukraine has lost 39 manned aircraft that independent analysts can confirm; Russia has lost 81. It’s … [Read more...] about Russian Jets Are Flying So Low To Dodge Ukrainian Air-Defenses That They’re Running Into The Ground