Hidden carcinogens: Your infographic round-up

Scientific research can cause no-end of worries.

This is something that could not be truer when it comes to carcinogens.

Just remember, it wasn’t a huge number of years ago that buildings were constructed with asbestos. Then, many years later, it started to become apparent that this was responsible for millions of cancer-related deaths – many of which happened decades after the initial exposure to the substance (we’ve found an infographic below which talks more about this).

Unfortunately, as science continues to develop, it appears that history is almost repeating itself. So-called normal, safe products are turning out to be anything-but and things are changing.

Today is all about showcasing this in the full, visual method that it perhaps needs. We have found some of the most interesting carcinogens around and placed them alongside infographics to describe what they are and the damage they can do to our bodies.

It can start through your letterbox

This first infographic actually looks at some of the most dangerous products that the contentious Monsanto are responsible for.

For the purposes of today we just want to take at one of these, coming in the form of polystyrene. As we know, this is something that is regularly used in the packaging of materials, yet research has now found that it can increase the risk of cancer.

The other eleven products mentioned in the infographic also give some good, albeit worrying, food for thought. A lot are related to the agriculture industry and are applied at scale using machinery like this.

The perils of asbestos

Over the past few decades the world has fortunately come to understand the dangers of asbestos. However, it’s something that certainly shouldn’t be forgotten and this infographic shows some of the key points about it, ranging from the amount of time it takes to develop (it’s frightening), right the way to the jobs that are most at risk from it.

Formaldehyde: the new asbestos?

Scientifically speaking, formaldehyde isn’t linked to asbestos. However, it can be found in the building trade, with plywood and various roof coverings tending to use it. It has been classed as a carcinogen and this simple infographic illustrates the chemistry behind it.

Crispy, golden finishes: tasty but dangerous

It’s one of those things that you either love or hate. Unfortunately, in the interests of staying healthy, you should look to avoid that crispy, brown finish that so many crave with certain types of foods. Leaving something in the frying pan for a few minutes longer might taste the part (to some of us), but there are some carcinogenic concerns as well.

The scientific term for the “crispy, brown” phenomenon is acrylamide. This infographic dives into the topic in full detail, showing how the process works and ultimately, why it might be dangerous to you.

Is anything safe?

Finally, let’s leave you to look at this infographic which analyses carcinogens as a whole.

As the other infographics have already highlighted, the world of carcinogens is surprising and murky. This image by GMOAnswers.com highlights the point in-detail. It shows many of the different examples of carcinogens, ranging from those that are “probably not” carcinogenic to humans, to those that definitely are. Again, it makes for frightening viewing.

Reasons why the pandemic is driving so many couples to divorce

The coronavirus pandemic, as with any infectious virus or disease, has created a nightmare for people around the world. The physical, emotional, and psychological impacts have been severe, with one of the end results being a 50% increase in divorce inquires. 

This trend isn’t unique to America, either. Just like the virus, it originated in China and has since spread to the world. The same thing happened during the SARS epidemic, as well. A closer look reveals why divorce rates rise as a virus subsides. 

Increased Time Spent Together

One the main reasons behind couples seeking a separation is the increased amount of time they spend together in quarantine or lockdown. On average, dual-income couples spend roughly three hours and thirty minutes together on any given weekday. Increase that time to 24/7, and problems are likely to arise. 

Realizations

Now spending 24/7 together, couples begin to notice things they previously overlooked about their partner. They may realize their partner is a clean freak, doesn’t care about social distancing, or simply has habits that went unnoticed with a regular schedule. Those quirks and differences can add up and create animosity. 

Lackadaisical Response

One of the main differences couples face is their response to the pandemic. One partner may be adamant about safety protocols while the other is more laid back. These differences cause a divide, but they can easily create relationship-shattering arguments when children are involved. 

Overresponse

On the flip side, some people become paranoid and overprotective during an epidemic. Creating strict protocols and enforcing them can make the other partner feel as though they are trapped or being controlled, which is unhealthy under any circumstances.

Stress

Research shows that divorce rates rise based on stress. Incidents like chronic illness, the death of a child, and deployment or drafting in wartime can all be contributing factors that place whatever is missing from a marriage in the spotlight. Lockdown has that same stress-inducing ability. 

As patience runs short, stress begins to compound and partners lose their ability to overlook each other’s mistakes and quirks. Communication is the key to keeping all of these incidents from leading to divorce, but having quality conversation when stressed out is a daunting challenge. 

Open Communication

Before rushing to Orange County divorce attorneys or estate planning attorneys in Sacramento, it’s vital that couples learn better communication skills if they want their marriage to succeed. This is true in and out of a pandemic. Partners must be able to talk about their frustrations, needs, and desires in a healthy way. 

Of course, no good conversation can be had if partners are unwilling to work with one another through their issues. Those that are willing must practice active listening, compassion, and understanding for positive communication and healing to take place. 

By talking these issues out, couples grow stronger and closer to one another. If you try having these discussions but it only drives you and your partner further apart, then it’s likely the two of you were headed in that direction to begin with. 

How To Give A Great Speech At Your Next Conference

Delivering a great speech and having a successful conference experience is not as hard as you might imagine. Becoming a good public speaker is about much more than simply overcoming your fears. It requires a concentrated effort on key principles as we will outline here so that you can master these skills:

Eye Contact 

Keeping eye contact with your audience is powerful on many levels.  It shows you are confident in your presentation.  Throughout your speech you will want to shift your eye contact from one individual to the next.  Don’t stay focused on the same person the entire time or the rest of the audience will feel left out.

Slow-Down 

One of the most common things observed when listening to people speak is they seem to be in a hurry – they rush their words.  This is clearly because they are nervous.  However, your speech is so much more effective when it isn’t rushed.  Use silence as an advantage.  Pause often to keep yourself from babbling to fill the silence.

Vary Your Tonality 

According to MotivationalSpeakerz.com, you will want to convey energy when you need to such as stressing an important point.  Varying your tone will help keep your presentation interesting and memorable.

Public Speaking Anxiety 

Learning to overcome public speaking anxiety isn’t as hard as you might think. By following practical guidelines, even the most nervous of speakers can learn to deliver a powerful presentation by staying relaxed and calm.  In fact, by the time your finished reading this article, there’s a good chance you’ll feel better already.

Here are three tips to get you started.

(1) People Want You to Succeed

The first way to begin to overcome public speaking anxiety is to keep in mind that your audience actually wants you to succeed in delivering a powerful presentation. “If you can recognize that your audience wants you to be successful, it can really help your anxiety melt away” says Chris Johnson of the Coaching Institute.  “Yes, there are certain types of people who thrive on watching others fail (mainly because they are failures themselves), but the fact is the majority of audience members do want you to be fun, interesting, and captivating.”

(2) Don’t Draw Attention to Your Nervousness

Another powerful way to overcome public speaking anxiety is to not let on that you’re nervous.  Even if you are nervous, it doesn’t always show.  There’s no need to draw attention to it as doing so will surely take away from your credibility.  If you remain silent, your audience may never know you had any anxiety or nervousness at all.

(3) Turn Nervousness Around 180 Degrees

Did you know that the same energy that causes stage fright can also cause enthusiasm and excitement?  Knowing this allows you to turn that energy into something that will aid you in delivering a captivating presentation. Use the energy to your advantage.

Final Thoughts

It is true that speaking in public does require a great deal of practice if you want to be able to get up on stage and deliver at a high level. However, your ability to overcome any self doubt or fears will subdue as you continue to practice.

Use Public Speaking To Raise Money For Your Charity

Running a charity can be a daunting task when you consider all of the hats you must wear to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Many individuals who started their charity tend to be people who just wanted to help a cause and did not fully realize that they also be responsible for having to raise money for their organization.

Because of this, many organizers lack the experience when it comes to hosting an event and speaking to an audience with the intention of giving a fundraising speech. If you have had it on your to-do list to “get better at public speaking”, rest assured you are not alone. 

Many charity leaders lack this skill and find it quite overwhelming. But rest assured with the appropriate practice you can learn how to deliver a great speech so you can raise fund for your organization.

Slow Down
It is very common to speak extremely fast during your presentation.  According to the professional speakers at KeynoteSpeakers.info, you should try to speak twice as slow as normal while giving a public speech.  While it might seem ridiculous on stage, you will probably be speaking at a normal rate.  

We have a tendency of talking extremely fast when we’re nervous, and there is no more applicable time than your first public speaking topic!  You have to be coherent of this predisposition, and know that you will need to overcome it.

Cut out the “ums”
Mentally, every time you search for a word, phrase, or statement while up on stage, your natural tendency will be to say “um” or “uh” to pass the time.  Stop.  Here’s the secret – just don’t say anything.  While it can feel very unnatural on stage, to the audience, pauses are quite beneficial.  

Pauses allow the listener to soak in what you just said.  Pauses are given for dramatic emphasis, and help the listener know when you’re emphasizing something.  Pauses give the audience a natural breaking point, and clearly delineate breaks in content.
In addition, the crowd will never know that you were searching for your next statement or comment.  Instead of saying “um”, just pause.

Smile
“Even though it can feel like you’re presenting to a bunch of random faces, making a connection can be an important step in their opinion of your public speaking” says Sean Adams, a motivational coach at MotivationPing.com. “If you want to master the art of public speaking, you will need to make a connection with your audience.”

The first and easiest step to take in doing so is to smile.  Smile more than you think is necessary.  Smile to soften a point you just made, or to establish a soft and sensible side to you.  When you smile, you are reminding the viewer that you are human.  You are connecting with them in a genuine way so that what you are sharing becomes easier to digest rather than feeling like a cold book report.

Psychological impacts of fatal vehicular accidents to survivors

Most people associate injuries and damages with a car accident, but did you know that each wreck comes with psychological impacts as well? The scope of these impacts varies depending on the severity of the accident, making those involving fatalities the worst for survivors. What’s even more difficult is dealing with grief after losing a loved one. These are the psychological impacts they face.

Emotional Injury

While recovering from their wounds and handling the financial or legal aftermath of an accident, survivors develop emotional trauma. This may take weeks or even months to fully materialize due to the shock most people experience. 

Left untreated, emotional injuries develop into mild or severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anxiety and depression begin to take hold of the mind, along with wide ranging symptoms. Survivors experience some or all of the following:

  • Disturbances in their sleep patterns
  • Recurring nightmares of the accident or reliving it in the daytime
  • Irritability and being easily startled
  • Difficulty concentrating or disorientation
  • Fear of getting into a vehicle, even as a passenger
  • Sight, sound, and smell triggers that cause them to relive the accident
  • Extreme guilt

Healing Trauma

Many people find that these symptoms lessen over time. It may take only a few days for some, while others experience their trauma for weeks or months. Any brief period is considered a normal psychological reaction to an abnormal event. However, experiencing symptoms for more than one month can leave lasting damage.

When trauma is prolonged, it’s vital that survivors seek psychological help in the form of counseling. It takes a therapist to help heal both mild and severe PTSD. Without any form of mental health care, these symptoms will eventually impact every aspect of daily life.

Survivors can seek additional aid, as well. Support groups for survivors are an excellent way to feel through these emotions and symptoms. Relying on family and friends for support is also an essential part of the healing process.

Handling Legal and Other Aspects

Part of the healing process also includes taking care of the accident’s aftermath. That means allowing wounds to heal, seeking compensation if another party is liable, and taking care of the wrongful death lawsuit. 

Fatal car crash cases are impossible for individuals to handle on their own, which is why skilled legal representation is essential. An attorney can take care of the mountain of paperwork and gathering witnesses necessary for a case, as well as navigate the complex legal proceedings that follow. 

They can also speak with your insurance on your behalf, taking care of every aspect that follows an accident. This gives you the time you need to heal any wounds and address any psychological impacts in a healthy way. 

Don’t Wait

Whether you are the victim of the accident or the party held liable, it’s essential that you seek help for psychological impacts that last more than one month. Waiting to get treatment or counseling will only allow your symptoms to grow and worsen as time goes on. The aftermath of a fatal accident is difficult to deal with, but you don’t have to do it alone. 

Nick Trimble Shares: 6 Strategies for Real Estate Investors to Find Amazing Deals

One of the key traits of successful real estate investors is that they’re able to find some of the best deals in the real estate world. Finding amazing deals may seem like an elusive goal, but it can help propel a real estate investor to financial success. How exactly can you find amazing real estate deals to invest in? We asked Nick Trimble, a real estate investment expert who is passionate about sharing his real estate knowledge. He shared six strategies for real estate investors to find amazing deals.

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Pick a real estate specialty

Choosing one area of real estate can really help you narrow your focus and help you hone in on what you’re looking for when it comes to property investments. For example, are you looking to flip houses, buy rental properties, or stick with single-family homes? These are all distinct projects which take different resources and time to properly invest in. If you choose a niche or specialty, at least for a consistent amount of time, you can excel in this area, and develop a knack for spotting amazing deals.

Get out there and network

While it may seem like you’re in direct competition with other real estate investors in your network, you may just want to keep these “enemies” close. Other real estate investors can actually be a key resource, if you network properly. For example, they may pass properties or tips your way, if they know you and are keeping you in mind. Expanding your network can only be a major positive, and you want to develop your relationships in your field.

Conduct research on the ground

It can be tempting to want to stay behind a computer screen all day, but a great strategy for investors to find amazing deals is to actually get out there, and scour neighborhoods for yourself. You should be spending time in neighborhoods you want to invest in and treat these little trips as if you’re conducting research. You can learn a lot about a place by spending time there and talking to the people who live there.

Look at bank foreclosures

This may be one of the oldest tricks in the real estate investing book, but it still holds true to this day. Bank foreclosure properties can make for incredible deals. Sometimes, these properties will be real fixer-uppers, so that’s definitely important to keep in mind and to investigate carefully. You definitely want to make sure you fully understand the property before you invest.

Don’t be afraid of direct mail

Direct mail may seem like an outdated way to make contact, but it can be a great way to let sellers know who you are and what you’re interested in. Choosing your direct mail targets carefully will be key, so you don’t waste time and resources. But if you use your direct mail to make contact with sellers who are looking to move, and who have properties you’re interested in, you may have some luck.

Do your research
Knowing what you’re doing before you jump in with both feet can help save you a lot of headache, and help you strike better deals. For example, you should do plenty of research before buying your first rental property, and you can read another article featuring Nick Trimble on the same subject. There are plenty of real estate resources like Trimble’s real estate blog available on the internet you can learn from. Remember, knowing your stuff before you invest will help you fare better in the long run.

Vacaciones Tropicales: 6 Elements For Creating The Perfect Family Getaway

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When you decide to go on a family vacation, there’s a whole lot of decisions to be made, and plenty of variables for what can happen. From location to activities and packing, there’s lots of hard work and resources that go into making your dream vacation happen. And after all that work, you want to make sure it is the perfect trip for your family. Vacaciones Tropicales is a vacation ownership agency that helps families book luxurious dream vacations at affordable rates, particularly Spanish-speaking families. Today, Vacaciones Tropicales is sharing six elements for creating the perfect family getaway.

  1. Pick your dream location

What are you looking for in your vacation? Are you looking to unwind on sandy shores while your kids play in the water? Maybe theme parks are more your speed. Or you’d like to relax in lush forests by a beautiful lake. It’s fun to think about what you want your next family vacation to be like. By thinking about your needs and desires as a family, you can settle on the perfect destination. You can learn about some of the destinations Vacaciones Tropicales offers by checking out this article.

  1. Pack all the necessities

There are plenty of essentials you’ll want to bring along on your trip, and it can be mind-boggling to try to remember them all, for the whole family. Especially when it comes to packing for little ones, you want to make sure you remember all the bits and pieces. Making a thorough packing list beforehand can help you keep track of what you need to bring along.

  1. Plan your activities

Depending on where you’re going, the available activities will vary greatly. But take advantage of everything your destination has to offer! Whether its nature, amusement parks, or sunny beaches, you can plan out some of the activities you want to be sure to fit in. That way, you’ll have a game plan in mind, before you get fuzzy with that “vacation brain.” The team at Reef Mask recommend going out snorkelling

  1. Work within your budget

No family wants to go broke trying to afford the perfect family getaway, but it can be tempting to bite off more than you can chew. Luckily, there are plenty of luxurious options out there which are affordable and make it accessible for families to work within their budgets. Going on your dream vacation shouldn’t break the bank.

  1. Figure out transportation and lodging

Where will your family stay on your dream vacation, and how will you all get there? Once you settle on a location, you can iron out these details. You can take your time and do plenty of research, to find the most affordable and comfortable options for your family.

  1. Put real-life things on paus

Take off from work. Have a neighbour get the mail. Make sure the bills are paid. Find a pet sitter, and someone to water the plants. In short, make sure all of your real-life things are taken care of, and ideally, put on pause for the time being. You don’t want to be answering emails from the sandy shores or worrying about the plants you forgot to water. By taking care of all these loose ends beforehand, you can truly unwind during your dream vacation.

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About Vacaciones Tropicales

Vacaciones Tropicales offers dream vacations to families for a fraction of the price. Families who want to take advantage of everything Vacaciones Tropicales has to offer simply attend a 90-minute VIP information session about the perks of vacation ownership. You can read more about why these options are great for families here. For more information on Vacaciones Tropicales, head over to their website.

JD.com and Richard Liu Come Through For Wuhan

As the world knows, Wuhan, China is the epicenter for coronavirus, and JD.com is at the front line of relief efforts for the embattled city. When the city municipal authorities requested relief supplies of bedding for its emergency hospitals, JD.com responded extremely swiftly and decisively through its supply chain and delivered hundreds-of-thousands of sets of sheets and other bedding. Liu Quingdong recognized the threat that the virus posed to the nation and the world immediately, and he did not hesitate to use the resources of his vast and highly effective company to help.

Hotels and hospitals

Not only did Liu Quingdong come through with supplies for the temporary hospitals in Wuhan, he also delivered bedding and supplies to the hotels that are no being used to house the aid workers and medical personnel who are working with the victims of coronavirus. Richard Liu is aided in this charitable work by alumni of a Wuhan university, and he is leading the logistics side of the operation. The people operating the hotel were astonished not only by the volume of supplies delivered through JD.com but also by the speed of the delivery and the quality of the items.

The CEO

For Liu Quingdong, coming through with deliveries under pressure is nothing new. As founder of Jingdong, he saw the potential in online marketing very early in the Internet revolution and pioneered his company at a time when many others felt that the Internet would simply be a tool for academics.

Liu Quingdong comes from humble origins as the son of working-class parents. He excelled at school, and he also taught himself computer coding, which allowed him to eventually create the highly effective platform that became Jingdong.

He began his career for a company that sold medical supplements and was very good at his job. Eventually, he was promoted to head of the computer department. It was from there that he decided he had the vision for his own company and went out on his own. Jingdong originally sold just a few wares and also had bricks-and-mortar stores in addition to its online operations.

The SARS epidemic, which forced many people to shop from home, convinced him to focus exclusively on online selling, and he gradually built Jingdong into the massive company that it is today. His success is due to relentlessly focusing on improving the customer experience, and his company boasts the world’s largest fleet of drones, which allow delivery to remote areas of China that other delivery companies simply can’t reach.

When Mr. Liu took his company public in the United States, its stock soared. Today, it is the largest e-commerce company in China and one of the largest in the world. The company’s highly streamlined logistics operation is studied as the model for e-commerce going forward. Liu remains at the helm of the company he founded, and he plans on making it even more effective as it becomes a global operation in the near future.

Robot Co-Workers and What the Future of the Workplace Will Look Like

As we all know, working from home has suddenly become pretty normal over the last few weeks.

However, if recent technological developments are to go by, another “new normal” could enter the picture according to this SMM Panel. The future of the workplace is well and truly up in the air right now, but one thing that appears certain is that in a lot of industries, robots are playing a bigger part.

Now, the term ‘robot’ is perhaps misleading. When we hear this, many of us are forced into thinking about those cartoons made out of sheets of metal. Nowadays, a robot is a little less visible, and tends to work behind the scenes more.

For example, we recently came across this story about robots reviewing a resume (and ultimately giving it a dreadful score). In truth, this is now pretty normal practice – machines can assess, and learn from documents, and provide completely viable feedback.

From an employee’s perspective, this can be worrying. We don’t have to be told about all of the jobs that are being lost because of robots and if some studies are to be believed, around 150,000 mobile robots will be deployed in physical stores in the next five years. That’s right – they will be there for all to see.

However, all is not lost. While robots are continuously getting a bigger slice of the action, at the same time there are some staple skills that just aren’t going to be replaced. These are the soft skills which can be difficult for humans to learn; we’re referring to the likes of empathy, creativity and even planning. Armed with these skills, and even more technical ones such as programming, it’s completely possible for the typical worker to beat the robot in the jobs race.

Let’s not forget that many of these skills are rewarded with high-paying roles as well. In other words, if you can apply yourself to learn a new skill, you will be rewarded financially.

Let’s take an example with Bright Machines, who have started to develop automation systems which can effectively be “dropped” into a whole magnitude of organizations. While the nature of these systems can replace the human element, let’s not forget that they still require plenty of human knowledge to implement them in the first place. This is something that is often forgotten about when we talk about robots entering the workplace.

However, while some methods may have already entered the world of work, others are a long way away. We might hear constant stories about the development of driverless cars, but this doesn’t for example mean that truck drivers are going to be out of a job anytime soon. It’s going to take years and during this time, people will start to change the way they approach work so they can futureproof their career moving forwards.

Resort Save: Should You Book Your Next Vacation There? [2020 Review]

There’s many factors to consider when booking your next vacation. Where to go and what to do are only the tip of the iceberg, and there’s tons of other things to keep in mind, like who is coming along with you, and your finances. Resort Save is making a name for itself in the vacation industry by offering attractive vacation ownership opportunities at destinations around the world. Considering this is a highly competitive industry, with many options, I wanted to dive into Resort Save. So, the question is: should you book your next vacation with Resort Save? I wanted to review Resort Save, so you can decide if their vacations are the best option for you.

Attractive Prices for Exotic Locations

When you book your vacation with Resort Save, you’re booking a luxurious vacation in one of their stunning locations, for a fraction of the price. They offer vacation packages at a wide variety of locations, so it’s easy to pick a place that’s perfect for you. Whether you’re looking for a quiet tropical beach, an all-inclusive resort, a family theme park adventure, or a luxurious lakeside getaway, there are plenty of options to pick from. This makes Resort Save a great option for nearly everyone, whether you’re single, a couple, or a family. Their domestic locations include:

  • Florida – Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, New Smyrna, Orlando
  • Nevada – Las Vegas
  • Pennsylvania – Poconos
  • California – Lake Tahoe
  • Hawaii – Maui, Kona

Sometimes, you’re looking for an exotic getaway outside of the United States but planning a trip like this on your own can be overwhelming. If you’re interested in an international getaway, Resort Save also has many options for vacations outside of the United States, including:

  • Mexico – Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Loreto, Puerto Vallarta
  • Cayman Islands – Grand Cayman
  • Bahamas – Freeport

How It Works

Resort Save makes it easy and enjoyable to save big when it comes to vacations. Customers simply attend a 90-minute VIP presentation, where they learn helpful and entertaining information about vacation property ownership. There’s never any pressure to buy or commit, but most people find these presentations very informative, and enjoy finding out how they can save money on their next vacation. Resort Save helps customers save money on world class accommodations, making these vacations accessible and much more affordable. Resort Save is so confident that customers will be happy with their vacation, that they offer a satisfaction guarantee: if you’re not 100% satisfied with your vacation, they give you another one at equal or greater value.

About Resort Save
Resort Save is a vacation travel company with 25 years of experience in the industry. They offer a wide range of affordable vacation ownership opportunities at destinations across the United States and around the world. To keep up with the latest offerings and opportunities from Resort Save, be sure to follow them on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Steemit.