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)
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Elon Musk’s wild 24 hours: Twitter deal setbacks, Dogecoin hype, and a Tesla employee lawsuit
Even by Elon Musk’s exaggerated definition of weird, the past 24 hours or so have been more than a bit peculiar. advertisement advertisement On Tuesday alone, Musk stoked investor fears at an economic forum; both dissed cryptocurrency and pumped it up; swung the ax at his flagship company while the board and shareholders of the company he’s chasing voted on whether they wanted the deal to proceed; and is having to deal with at least two court filings. It is, by any typical measure, a completely bonkers series of events. Even for Musk, who has practically made a personal brand out of controversy. Here’s a quick recap of today’s revelations about the SpaceX CEO. advertisement He stirred up Twitter drama, just as the company’s board takes a vote Right before the Twitter board of directors unanimously recommended to shareholders that they approve Musk’s $44 billion purchase of the company, Musk laid out a series of … [Read more...] about Elon Musk’s wild 24 hours: Twitter deal setbacks, Dogecoin hype, and a Tesla employee lawsuit
Int’l tourist arrivals for 2018 exceed UN expectations so far
Image: Michal Krakowiak/Istock.com via AFP Relaxnews A rise in international travel to countries in Asia-Pacific and Europe helped drive up global tourist arrival numbers by 6 percent in the first four months of 2018, exceeding the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization expectations. According to the latest stats from the UNWTO, between January and April of this year, international arrivals increased by 8 percent in the Asia Pacific region. At the sub-regional level, international tourist arrivals spiked 10 percent for countries in Southeast Asia and 9 percent across South Asia. Not far behind, Europe also saw a 7 percent spike in international tourist arrivals during the same period, thanks to strong performances from destinations in the south and Mediterranean, and Western Europe. South America showed the strongest results in the Americas, with 8 percent growth in international tourist visitors, while the Caribbean, which is still recovering from the aftermath of … [Read more...] about Int’l tourist arrivals for 2018 exceed UN expectations so far
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
Sen. Kevin Cramer May Have Finger Amputated After Yard Work Injury
Republican North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer shared Wednesday that he sustained an injury while doing yard work and may require an amputation as a result. Cramer said in a statement posted to Twitter that he sustained a “serious” injury to his right hand while completing yard work over the weekend but declined to provide specifics. In addition, he cited high risk of infection and the potential need for an amputation as his reason for remaining in North Dakota, according to the statement. The senator also shared that he was alert and in good spirits despite the injury. A statement on my recent injury ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/tIEuPO9LJP — Sen. Kevin Cramer (@SenKevinCramer) June 22, 2022 In a subsequent tweet, Cramer clarified that the potential amputation would affect “part of one little finger” after his communications director said that the risk was to his fingers. Part of one little finger. — Sen. Kevin Cramer (@SenKevinCramer) June 22, 2022 Cramer said in … [Read more...] about Sen. Kevin Cramer May Have Finger Amputated After Yard Work Injury
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
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
Sunday Conversation: Why MUNA Is Music’s Next Great Band
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin There is no one path to success in the music industry. So the stories can often be unpredictable. Like a band leaving their major label deal behind and then becoming the next big thing in music. Certainly doesn't sound like a blueprint to music stardom. And yet that is exactly the unique road L.A.-based trio MUNA find themselves on. After the trio of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson released their second album, Saves the World , in 2019, the band parted ways with RCA. While that could have been disastrous for some, it has turned out to be the best thing that could have ever happened to MUNA. The band took the time during the COVID lockdown to reassess who they wanted to be as a group, signed with Phoebe Bridgers' Saddest Factory Records label and just released their brilliant third album, MUNA , this past Friday (June 24). Suddenly the trio have become press darlings and are the next great band in … [Read more...] about Sunday Conversation: Why MUNA Is Music’s Next Great Band
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)
How Drones Are Making Ukrainian Artillery Lethally Accurate
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Ukrainian forces have repeatedly repelled Russian attacks and inflicted heavy losses on the attackers, as seen in an attempted river crossing at Siverskyi Donets yesterday which left the area littered with burned-out Russian vehicles . While light anti-tank weapons such as the Javelin play an important part, Ukrainian artillery does most of the damage, striking targets with extreme precision from indirect long-range fire. How can they achieve this extraordinary accuracy? The answer may lie in cheap drones. Hitting a tank with an artillery round is an unusual feat. A round fired indirectly – lobbed at grid co-ordinates which are invisible to the gunner – will have a ‘ circular error probable ,’ or CEP, measured in tens of meters, which is the circle inside which half the rounds land. For a 155mm weapon the CEP is typically 25 meters at 15 miles, making it difficult to hit a tank-sized target. Doing so normally requires a … [Read more...] about How Drones Are Making Ukrainian Artillery Lethally Accurate