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Ways For Retirees to Fund Their New Business Startup

Business Startup

Who said that just because you retired means you can’t have a steady stream of income? Having your own startup is a great way to keep yourself occupied as well as financially stable. And since opening a business has never been easier, you’re probably rearing to go. But before you can begin, you need to find a way to come up with the appropriate amount of money. Opening a business isn’t free, and depending on your niche, it can cost more than you expect. Here are a few ways retirees can fund their new startup.

Get a Life Settlement

Many people who are retired often need to rely on their retirement funds to finance things. However, using them to open a business is not a good move at all. An excellent way to get a large amount of cash quickly is to sell your policy through a life settlement. A life settlement is when you sell your life insurance coverage to another. In exchange for the death benefits, you’ll receive a percentage of what your policy is currently worth upon payout. But how much you get depends on the policy and what the buyer is willing to part with. Regardless, what you receive should be enough to cover the costs of a small startup. To get a life settlement, you’ll have to research various life settlement companies and see what your best option is.

Take Out a Business Loan

The most common way to obtain the funds you need is to take out a business loan and repay over time. This application for this loan is pretty much the same as any other, except it can only be used for business-related purposes. You can get this loan from four places such as:

  • Online
  • Through a bank
  • Going to a credit union
  • Taking it out through the SBA

Since you’re just starting out, you want to apply for an SBA loan. SBA is short for small business administration. Regardless of your choice, you want the lender to be on the same page as you. Don’t hold out on any details. Tell them everything you plan on using the loan for and the type of business you’re opening. Lenders will want to deal with people they can trust, and being transparent can greatly improve your chances of being accepted.

Participate in a Crowdfunding Event

Crowdfunding is another way you can obtain a large amount of money quickly. How it works is that people donate to your cause because they have faith in your overall success. However, this is a lot easier said than done. You need to come up with a marketing campaign that really speaks out to your target audience to grab their attention. And just like with the lender, you want to be as transparent with the details and what your business represents to build trust. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the eye of an angel investor, who’s a person that generously donates much larger sums of money than regular crowdfunding.

Vaping and Anxiety: Mental Health Effects

Vaping cigarette

Vaping is a common act today; it has become widespread among many young adults and even teenagers. There sure are enough reports online to confirm it.

Vaping is a process by which some particular kind of liquid is converted to vapor through the action of puffing and inhalation of an e-cigarette by someone. There are a lot of flavors and different chemical contents to most juice, with them being able to get found in a lot of online and physical markets.

Vapes come in different sizes and shapes, thus, inciting the market to have quite a number of them to offer. You can choose the best vapes on Provape.

Many see vaping as a coping mechanism to get away from using cigarettes, and others have come into using them based on prescription. However, we can’t neglect that even adolescents are getting to the vaping world more than ever before in recent whiles. And slowly, we are coming to realize how this can affect their mental health. A number of teenagers have stumbled into vaping due to peer pressure, and many others even move on to actual cigarettes with time due to addictions.

Vaping and Anxiety: How Bad?

Even though frankly not with many backed up theories, there have been reports that vaping in youths has led to a rise in anxiety within them. It gets dangerous once addiction kicks in, especially when too much nicotine is involved. Although, according to a Drug Abuse National Institute report, vaping is more on the safer side than the common cigarettes, it still can’t be neglected that even e-cigarettes have some effects on the still-developing youth’s brains.

When not recommended for individuals, care should be taken to avoid abuse. We tend to talk more about the physical effects of most smoking occurrences than the mental aspect. And this is the reason we’ve come to understand little about how dangerous this can be, especially to young minds. Peer pressure is a huge catalyst to the use by most teenagers, and while this can’t be totally taken out, it would help if there is more awareness.

It’s quite disturbing that many of the vaping population are high school goers, with many getting so addicted to nicotine over time. Anxiety is something some teens and young adults have come into battling over the course of usage, and many don’t even seem to realize this with time. If care is not taken, this can worsen over time to depression. Hence, the reason to make this known to them is by integrating awareness into their daily lives.

Has It Always Been All Bad?

Vaping was first introduced as a mechanism to help stop smoking, and so far so well, it, indeed, has been very helpful. However, the shift in the target market and the ultimate abuse of its use have gradually become a topic to be seriously considered. Its effect on the brain of teens is one major disadvantage, with many more risks coming up as they get more addicted to time.

The impacts on their mental health have interfered with most of their academic career and even resulted in many issues like ADHD. It will help look out for certain symptoms like persistent cold, bleeding from the nose, need for stronger flavors, high rate of thirst, and many more. If these are noticed in a teen, then care should be taken into helping such an individual get over their nicotine addiction.

Mental Health Effects

Addiction And Brain Issues

Nicotine dependence, just as other addictions, influences both the mental and physical state of the users. It should be noted that some e-juices even tend to contain a higher content of nicotine and the normal cigarette; care should be taken into this. Its effects on mental states have often been overlooked due to the more interest directed to the physical consequences, which are not so many. Hence, this has caused many to believe that too much of it can have little or no effect on mental health.

Reports have continued to come up in recent whiles with many showing the effects of nicotine addiction on the mental state, especially among teenagers and young adults. When the content intake gets too much, it affects some brain parts. This thus has shown symptoms such as ADHD, disruption of moods, anxiety, depression, poor cognition, and even suicidal thoughts. These symptoms can grow into more intense ones that could last a lifetime if not attended to.

We advise that when not recommended, the usage of vapes should be taken with caution. Even though vaping has helped to deal with smoking and, in some cases, helped overcome some mental issues, it can still pose a serious threat if misused. For many, their mental state has worsened over time and, for others, increased their dependency ratio on nicotine. Nicotine has been discovered to impede some important hormones in the brain, hence paving the way for a rise in depression rates.

Decline In Stress Management Ability

Another thing nicotine does is heighten our perceptivity to pressure. Our brains usually have a way of dealing with stress, but a rise in the nicotine content in the body can distort this. This has often led many users to advance in their dosage level, hence, furthermore complicating the whole issue.

While it is true that vaping is not as problematic to the mental state as smoking is, awareness should be made to preach the proper usage. High schoolers should be curbed of this act, and the benefits of vaping should be portrayed in clear lights and not seen as a medium to drag everyone in to use it. The rising awareness of the potentially harmful effects of too much nicotine or smoking, in general, should serve as a caution to many users and should put more attention into managing their habits. It will help if more are taught in most high schools about vaping, as this would surely go a long way in helping most young adults and adolescents.

A Prevention Technique?

More research needs to be done to light the basic pros and cons of vaping. There is little or no report to back up most speculations due to the little interest shown about its effect on mental health. Hence, this should be looked into.

Taking advice from a trusted healthcare source will also help with your vaping plan. Even when the motive is to switch from smoking cigarettes to e-cigarettes, the plan shouldn’t be carried out all by yourself. Consulting a practitioner is advised.

Conclusion

Every potentially good thing has both a positive and negative side to it. Vaping, of course, has seemed to help a lot of people, but again, there is a number it has affected too due to oversight. It will always help to understand the pros and cons of whatever dosage you plan to take up.

Furthermore, adolescents should be enlightened every day on the true concept of nicotine-taking. It not necessarily should be painted in a bad light to them. However, proper guidance and restrictions should be set in place for them. Taking all these into note will certainly help promote our societies’ well-being and all-around mental state.

4 Drive-in Movie Theaters in Nashville Every Movie Buff Should Check Out

Nashville

The US has plenty of amazing cities, and Nashville is one of them. It feels like a little town with the conveniences of a big city. Plenty of tourists visit Tennessee to find out what the city has to offer. If you are a movie buff, Nashville has excellent drive-in movie theaters for you to explore.  Here are a few to consider checking out. 

1. Starburst Drive Inn Theater

If you are looking for the best things to do in Nashville, TN, consider visiting this drive-in movie theater. It offers you comprehensive family entertainment at affordable rates.  Head out and enjoy a relaxing evening of DOUBLE FEATURE movies under the beautiful skies. It costs less than the ticket to an indoor cinema. Having been established in 2003, the movie theater has evolved into an amazing destination for family entertainment. It is the ideal place to catch your favorite movies under the stars. It was the first drive-in theater in middle Tennessee to offer Barco Digital projection technology. It has a nostalgic feel that merges well with modern technologies in sound and projection.  At Starburst, you don’t need to have speakers hanging on windows. All the movie sound is broadcast through clear FM Stereo to your radio. It is a few minutes from Nashville town, so you can access it easily. 

2. Franklin Drive In

This drive-in theater is popular for running a lot of classic movies. However, it has plenty of new ones as well. Depending on changing weather conditions, it operates from March to the end of October or November.  This theater is about 40 minutes from Nashville. However, the generous deals make it worth the drive. For only $15, your car with three or fewer people can get in and watch movies. For $18, four or more people can get in. Even if it is just you and your partner, it would still be a great deal. You and your children can take out a blanket and sit at the playground. With an FM Stereo radio for sound, you are set to have a good time. 

3. Moonlite Drive Inn

Woodbury on Highway 70S has a fantastic drive in. It is safe, clean, and affordable. Right before the entrance is the Woodbury Police Station.  Next is a convenience store/gas station. It is perfect if you want to grab some last-minute snacks. The concession stand is also a great place to make some last-minute purchases.  The ticket prices for two movies are pretty good. You only need to part with $4 for kids aged five or older and $6 for adults. Although the site says no pets are allowed, you can get in with one as long as it is on a leash. Your pet will be happy to get in and watch people. It would be best if you let them know the movie you want to see as you get in. Every screen has a double feature. You can move your vehicle around as you aren’t limited to one screen.  Everything happens smoothly, and contrary to what you may think, there is no confusion. The fresh popcorn is tasty, the ice cream scoops are generous, and the pan pizzas look great. The kids have a wide variety of snacks to choose from. 

4. Cadillac Drive-In

This drive-in theater is family-owned and operated. Since the headlights, tails lights, and hatch lights are off, the general feel is serene. The tickets cost $9 for adults and kids aged 12 and under can get in for free.  The snack options include popcorn, burgers, and soda. They are fairly priced and just as fantastic as the entertainment. Nashville is an amazing city for movie lovers. It has plenty of drive-in movie theaters, and most of them are affordable. Whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, please spare some time to check them out. Being a musical city, Nashville’s entertainment scene doesn’t disappoint.

Speaking of musicals and if you’re not aware, Dolly Parton has an extraordinary show a few hours from Nashville and It’s in Pigeon Forge. Depending on your taste, it may be worth the trip. Check this website to discover if it is.

8 Changes to Make If You Hate Working Out 

Working Out 

Many people actively avoid exercising or working out because it’s uncomfortable or because they don’t like it – but they’re missing out on immense benefits. People who exercise regularly are less stressed, less susceptible to various conditions and illnesses, and much more likely to live a longer and happier life.

If you genuinely feel like you don’t like exercising, rest easy. Many people feel this at some point in their lives. But with the right positive changes and strategies for the future, you can reshape your mentality and learn to love exercise.

You Should Enjoy Working Out

Working out shouldn’t be a chore – at least, not entirely. There are elements of working out that should be difficult by design; for example, at some point, you should be out of breath and sweating because of how hard you’re working. But that doesn’t mean the entire experience should feel agonizing.

If you actively enjoy working out, you’ll be more likely to do it consistently. You’ll feel better going into your exercise and coming out of it, and the entire quality of your life is going to improve. It may take a bit of effort to get to a place where you do enjoy working out, but you can get there.

Important Changes to Make

If you want to enjoy exercise more, these are some of the most important changes you’ll need to make.

  1. Hire a personal trainer. One option is to hire a personal trainer. This may or may not be in your budget, but if you can afford it, you should try it. Working with a personal trainer allows you to build a bond with another individual, strengthening your connection to working out and making you feel better as you go through the motions. Personal trainers can also help you identify and overcome the internal challenges preventing you from getting the most out of your exercise routine. They can also introduce you to many new exercises you may not have considered on your own.
  2. Try a different gym (or build your own). If you hate working out because you hate your gym, try a different gym. A different environment can immediately make you feel more connected to your exercise and ameliorate some of the annoyances that keep you from enjoying working out. Different gyms may have a different selection of equipment, different types of people who attend, and different amounts of space that you can work with. If none of the gyms in your area is acceptable, consider building a home gym with your own equipment.
  3. Experiment with different exercises. There are hundreds of worthwhile exercises you can try, dozens of which you can do in the comfort of your own home. If you don’t like running, try swimming. If you don’t like conventional barbell bench presses, try dumbbells or a machine. There are thousands of different ways to work out, and almost all of them are beneficial, so keep experimenting until you find something you like.
  4. Vary your routine. Even if you have a set of exercises that you personally enjoy, try not to do them all the time. Doing the same exercises in the same order every day, or every week, will eventually lead you to feelings of burnout. That’s why it’s important to vary your routine on a regular basis, swapping out old exercises and swapping in new ones.
  5. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Reassess how you talk to yourself about working out. Instead of putting pressure on yourself to work out or making yourself feel guilty for not exercising, treat yourself with more compassion.
  6. Set smaller, more achievable goals. Don’t try to overload yourself with ambitious goals or impossible expectations. If you’re only focused on losing 100 pounds or setting a new personal weightlifting record every time you go to the gym, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. Instead, set smaller and more achievable goals. What can you reasonably accomplish today?
  7. Enlist the help of friends and social groups. Friends make exercise both easier and more enjoyable. They’ll help you stay accountable to your goals and provide you with support on your toughest days.
  8. Reframe how you see working out. Try to see exercise as an optional way of treating yourself to something positive. This can be a hard mental transition to undertake, especially if you have a troubled relationship with exercise in the past. But if you can do it, you can learn to see exercise in a whole new light.

Different people struggle with working out for different reasons. Some people don’t like the idea of physical activity, while others feel embarrassed or nervous working out in front of others. It’s a good idea to reflect and determine the root causes for your dislike of working out before you attempt any of these strategies. If you do that, and you actively work to change your mentality, you can get to a place where exercise is enjoyable – or at least tolerable. 

Benefits Of Fintech Payment Services

Fintech

Are you familiar with Fintech payment services? This term is a portmanteau of the words finance and technology, referring to the application of new technological advancements to services and products for business payment solutions.

It’s an industry that is growing rapidly for the purpose of addressing the interests of both businesses and consumers. Fintech companies integrate artificial intelligence, data science, and blockchain technologies to make financial sectors faster, more efficient, and safer. Such an approach innovates almost every finance area, including loans, payments, stock trading, credit scoring, etc.

These are the crucial benefits of Fintech payment services.

Greater convenience and speed

The two main benefits of Fintech payment services that go hand in hand are convenience and speed. A soaring number of companies have adopted this software, as technology provides users with a reliable and high-quality customer experience. This technology includes artificial intelligence, machine learning, the internet of things, blockchain, etc. This URL, https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/Ultimate-guide-to-artificial-intelligence-in-the-enterprise, provides a guide to artificial intelligence in the enterprise.

The use of cutting-edge technologies has provided both businesses using Fintech and their customers with more convenience. The advancements in technology have made transactions and systems much faster in various industries. Traditionally, individuals would have to visit their bank branches to make money transfers, but these branches are open until a certain hour. Fintech payment services, however, can process transactions anywhere and at any time.

In addition, many online lenders offer same-day lending owing to the advancements provided by Fintech. The demand from customers to get the payment services they need instantly is relatively high, with ninety percent of banks expecting mobile application usage growth. Most lenders are capable of delivering a quick decision-making process because of the less information required from applicants while still abiding by the lending guidelines.

Lower costs

Another benefit of Fintech payment services is the opportunity for both businesses and consumers to reduce costs. There are a few factors affecting payment costs, including the difference between the quoted rate and currency conversion rate of banks, the processing fees charged for every money transfer, etc. Nevertheless, owing to Fintech, providers give up from charging extra fees, including cancelation fees, modification fees, and other hidden costs.

Moreover, Fintech makes sure the process of sending and receiving money from across different currencies is performed without charging hefty conversion fees. It allows the integration of digital and physical payment methods, which consolidate multiple cards and bank accounts by using a single interface.

Companies can save up to fifty percent on transaction costs, which can be later passed onto customers. For instance, digital-only banking providers eliminate overhead costs by providing all of their services through their applications. The absence of physical branches means offering lower interest rates to consumers compared to competitors.

Security

Another advantage of Fintech payment services is the high level of security and financial safety. It minimizes the risk of physical theft and loss. Even though this technology is still susceptible to cyber theft, the likelihood of such theft can be minimized by adopting high-tech cybersecurity measures. Transparency is significantly improved by using real-time money tracking for domestic and international payments.

Furthermore, most reliable Fintech businesses make substantial investments in their security infrastructures, not only online but also offline. Their goal is to assure clients that the information they provide is completely secure. These companies have to invest in their security to prevent the risk of data theft, security breaches, and cybersecurity infiltration.

Improved transparency

Fintech payment services are not only cost-efficient but also much more transparent. This technology has paved the way for better transparency in the industry of finance. Regardless of whether you will be sending or receiving funds via a given payment solution, users are kept informed about their transactions.

In view of customer support, there is round-the-clock customer support in most cases. Make sure to go here for more information on Fintech marketing. Strict security measures and real-time updates are available as well. Consequently, reliability and trust have been substantially improved.

Faster approval

Another important benefit of Fintech payment services is the faster rate of approval. Most banking systems should make improvements to their approval rate. The use of financial technology has made this process a lot easier. Customers can make an online request, and the approval of the application can occur in the course of one day.

Additionally, customer information is processed quickly, and clients gain quick access to all the services they need. These actions are enabled through the automatic process powered by artificial intelligence, which is supposed to make the process more rapid compared to the speed of humans.

Fintech vs. traditional banks

While the objective of both traditional banks and Fintech is to offer high-quality services to customers, there are several differences between these providers of financial services. They differ in the way of doing business, their regulations, growth potential, and risk factors. For instance, Fintech is not only innovative but also customer-centric. It makes financial processes simpler and more accessible to customers.

Additionally, it relies on new technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence to provide clients with a unique and personalized experience. Since the business structure of these companies is more optimized, their services and products are much cheaper compared to traditional banks. In contrast, the regulatory framework or banks restricts the use of new technologies and the introduction of new services that address the needs of customers quickly.

Regarding customer experience, Fintech providers are more accessible to clients, as they work virtually and don’t require individuals to be physically present to use their financial services. They offer 24/7 support and access, quick consultations, and the possibility for clients to open accounts remotely. Their main priority is user experience, which isn’t the case with banks. This article, https://www.wikihow.com/Ensure-Excellent-Customer-Service, reveals useful tips for ensuring excellent customer service.

Conversely, banks require individuals to be physically present to set up an account or use any payment services. Not many banks use the power of technology for online identity verification. Hence, traditional banking is viewed as less convenient.

Regarding regulations, Fintech is more flexible and lenient in comparison to banks, which are stricter. The former doesn’t have a single regulator, which makes business changes possible without adhering to strict guidelines. Nevertheless, the regulation aspect depends on the country, as some authorities do impose regulations on such businesses for better customer safety.

Banks, however, are under the regulation of central and national banks in their respective countries. These regulating bodies require banks to abide by certain guidelines, restrictions, and legal requirements. In terms of growth potential, both banks and Fintech companies have the potential to grow from different aspects.

The risk factor aspect makes Fintech riskier compared to traditional banks. The flexible nature of the former is what makes it riskier. Anyhow, individuals keep on using it because it offers a more innovative, faster, and less costly experience. Due to stricter regulations, banks are naturally considered the less risky alternative. The only way for these institutions to remain competitive is by making improvements to their customer experience.

The bottom line

This industry is expected to keep on evolving to become even safer for customers.

Banks have no other option left but to stay competitive!

Can Turmeric Prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

Brain

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia in the world today. It is believed that this condition results from the buildup of the protein amyloid-beta in the brain. But its exact causes are still being researched.

Currently, there is no effective treatment or cure for Alzheimer’s. But turmeric, a common spice and ingredient in curry powder has been confirmed by studies to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Turmeric has long been a staple ingredient in Asian foods. In fact, researchers attributed the lower rates of Alzheimer’s and dementia in Asian cultures to the constant consumption of Curcumin. (1)

How does turmeric prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

Turmeric contains an active component called Curcumin. This component gives turmeric its yellow colour, and it has enormous health-beneficial properties that may contribute to the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientific research has examined Curcumin more closely to understand its neuroprotective properties. The effectiveness of this substance at preventing Alzheimer’s disease is attributed to three main functions:

Removal of Beta Plaque

Beta-amyloid plaques are mainly implicated in brain damage linked with Alzheimer’s disease. These plaques destroy synapses, the structures through which nerve cells pass signals to one another. This impairs brain functioning and leads to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Studies have shown that Curcumin may inhibit the formation of plaques in the brain.

Antioxidant properties

The damages associated with Alzheimer’s disease are often a function of free radicals, which are harmful to the brain cells. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant agent and decreases the amount of free radicals in the brain.

More so, several studies have found that Curcumin combats oxidative stress and decreases the amount of free radicals that damage neurons. (2)

Anti-inflammatory properties

Another factor that contributes to Alzheimer’s disease is the inflammation of nerve cells. This inflammation is thought to result in more amyloid plaques.

Taking anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. But many of these drugs are toxic to the liver and kidneys when used for a long time.

On the other hand, Curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory properties and is safe to take for a prolonged period.

These three functions highlighted above make turmeric an effective ingredient to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and preserve memory and cognition.

You can add this turmeric capsule to your diet today to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

Important tips to keep in mind before taking turmeric supplements

Although turmeric remains a commonly used spice in cooking (often added in curry powder), you may not get an adequate amount of it. And eating too much turmeric may cause nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea.

That’s why taking turmeric supplements are often recommended for people to enjoy lots of health benefits, including the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

The good news is that scientific evidence has shown that turmeric is safe and effective in the treatment of several conditions.

You can learn about these surprising health benefits of turmeric.

Closing Remark

It is a good idea to check with your doctor before adding turmeric capsules to your diet, especially if you’re already on some medications.

Also, Alzheimer’s Association recommends that individuals consider a curcumin supplement with black pepper extract. This black pepper helps to increase the efficiency of the curcumin.

Why You Should Drink Black Coffee (and How to Get Started Today)

black coffee

Coffee was once considered a beverage for the rich. However, things have changed, and today, anyone can brew and enjoy it at home. Black coffee is delicious, and it has plenty of health benefits. It can improve your energy levels and alleviate the symptoms of various illnesses. Here are a few reasons to consider drinking black coffee. 

1. Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease

Drinking coffee could lower your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. The disease affects one in eight adults aged 65 or older. Scientists suggest that coffee drinkers are 16 percent less likely to get Alzheimer’s than non-coffee drinkers. 

2. Diabetes Management

If you drink coffee regularly, it could reduce your likelihood of getting Type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes develops when your insulin cannot get glucose into bodily cells. Therefore, sugar may build up in your blood instead. 

3. Improving Signs of Depression

Over 18 million adults in the United States suffer from depression. However, studies suggest that drinking coffee could alleviate its symptoms. Drinking four cups of coffee every day could improve your mood. It could lower your susceptibility to depression and its symptoms. If a loved one is struggling with depression, consider checking out coffee gift ideas for them. 

4. Preventing Cancer

Coffee can help you prevent various types of cancer. They include prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, oral cancer, and liver cancer. The high concentration of antioxidants in coffee is said to help the body prevent cancer. 

5. Obesity Management

Did you know that coffee can help you lose weight? The high caffeine content helps you burn more calories than you consume. Coffee can help your body burn more fat while you work out. 

6. Reducing the Risk of Cirrhosis

Every year, 31,000 people die from liver cirrhosis. However, studies suggest that drinking coffee can lower your risk of the disease. It can prevent liver damage from alcohol consumption. 

Drinking at least four cups of coffee per day lowers your risk of liver cirrhosis by up to 80 percent. 

7. How to Start Drinking Black Coffee

Coffee is a complex drink, and there are plenty of ways to consume it. The beverage comes in various styles, strengths, species, and tastes. Black coffee is simple. It is easy to prepare, and there is a variation for everyone. 

The textures and flavors of black coffee come from its brewing method. Here are a few ways to make your black coffee. 

Drip

Your electric coffee maker is ideal for making drip coffee. Pour water into the reservoir and add coffee grounds and a filter. Press ‘on’ to start brewing. This method is fast and perfect for casual coffee drinkers. 

Espresso

When preparing this type of coffee, grind your coffee beans finely and pack them into a pressurized compartment. Hot water will then be passed through the coffee grounds at high pressure. The result is a thick, concentrated drink. 

Pour Over

This method is a lot like the drip method. The only difference is that you will need to do everything by hand. You are in full control of the pour speed, water temperature, and brew time. 

Cold Brew

With this method, you only need coffee grounds, cold water, and a container to hold them. After grinding your coffee, put it in a container with some cold water. Refrigerate the mixture for a few hours and enjoy your delicious drink. 

How to Sweeten Your Black Coffee

There are plenty of healthy ways to sweeten your black coffee. They improve the taste of your coffee without making it unhealthy. Here are a few of your options:

  • Honey
  • Agave
  • Maple syrup
  • Stevia
  • Coconut sugar

If you enjoy drinking coffee, you have probably tried black coffee. It is healthy, delicious, and a great way to start your day. 

The benefits of black coffee include improving your mood, preventing some types of cancer, and aiding weight loss. Your black coffee doesn’t need to be boring or predictable. There are many ways to prepare and sweeten it.

Vinod Ramchandra Jadhav Provides a Guide to Supply Chain Digitization

supply chain

There’s a lot of talk about the global supply chain, with delays causing disruptions in products and services worldwide. But, as entrepreneur Vinod Ramchandra Jadhav explains, the creation of digital supply chains will help transform the process of changing raw materials into sellable products that are shipped to retailers and distributors.

To digitize something as complex as the supply chain takes a lot of work and advanced technological tools such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, and robotics.

Here’s a closer look at the phenomenon of supply-chain digitization.

What Is It?

Digitizing the supply chain involves taking analog processes and converting them to digital ones. This is done by creating a group of dedicated data that then aggregates information across the entirety of the supply chain.

That dedicated data is then combined with information from specific external sources such as socioeconomic information, Google trends, competitor pricing, historical sales information, and consumer data obtained at the point of sale.

The software will fuel the digitization of the supply chain, and it’ll strongly integrate business intelligence and automated processes.

Benefits of Digitization

All industries across the world realize the immense benefits that digitization can provide, and the supply chain is no exception. Yet, in an increasingly complex and fast-paced world, simple tasks such as manually entering data cost companies millions of dollars a year.

Digitizing the supply chain opens up the possibilities for automation. But unfortunately, when most people think of automated tasks powered by artificial intelligence, they become afraid that computers will take the place of human jobs.

That’s simply not the case. Instead, automation reduces the burden on workers by freeing them up from menial tasks and allowing them to focus on tasks that are much more important to the company. In addition, it reduces the chances for human error, which is especially high for these tasks such as data entry.

In logistics and transportation, leaders need to make quick decisions and be agile. This is nearly impossible without a digitized system thinking ahead rather than looking back.

Analogue systems simply can’t keep up with the massive data that flows through the supply chain and is necessary for it to run. By digitizing this system, leaders can build strategies that integrate contingency plans for nearly any scenario imaginable.

What is Involved?

Digitizing the supply chain can be looked at from a very micro perspective. One company can work on digitizing its processes to more effectively and efficiently fulfil orders.

The problem with that thinking, though, is there are multiple moving parts to the supply chain. No one company — no matter how massive — has control of every aspect of the supply chain.

There’s order taking, billing, and customer service. There’s warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfilment. There’s packaging, shipping, and final delivery.

As Vinod Ramchandra Jadhav explains, the true digitization of the supply chain must be approached from a macro perspective. The supply chain must be approached as an ecosystem that involves multiple companies at multiple stages of the chain.

This is where advanced technologies such as IoT, robotics, and blockchain come in. They all enable and promote transparency, sharing information, and standardization of that information in one way or another.

When this happens, logistics can become seamless, allowing companies to be responsive, flexible, and resilient. And in the end, this enables the overall supply chain to operate efficiently — making consumers happy and making companies more money.

About Vinod Ramchandra Jadhav

A self-described first generation Entrepreneur, Mr Vinod Ramchandra Jadhav is the Chairman of SAVA Healthcare Limited, India and Managing Director of Regent Global DMCC, Dubai. With a professional career spanning more than 30 years, he is well versed in hydraulic systems, Industrial Engines, Global sourcing, Supply chain management, ERP database design, Cross Border Trade, International taxation, First-to-Market Generics & Veterinary Medicines in various capacities.  Mr Jadhav holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Materials Management.

4 Things You Should Know About Medical Negligence Claims

Medical Negligence

Dealing with a medical negligence claim can be a very confusing process, especially when you don’t know what your rights are, or how the process works. Fortunately for you, this article has put together the most important information you need to know so that you won’t be caught off guard. Here are 4 things you should know about medical negligence claims.

Medical

Determining Liability

It is always advised that you approach these cases with a lawyer by your side. According to Foyle Legal, “the consequences of making a claim and not being successful can be devastatingly expensive for you” as well as the people you support. Unfortunately, the system favors medical health professionals at this time, so your case needs to be strong. A lawyer will be able to help you show that there has been a breach of “duty of care” by the practitioner and that your health was put in harm’s way. When determining liability it is important to remember that doctors and medical staff could have done something wrong, but that it was not considered negligent in nature. In order for it to be considered negligent, other medical practitioners need to agree that there was a failure to do something, or that the treatment provided was not up to standard. If you fail to receive this judgment from other practitioners then you cannot go forward with your claim.

Demonstrating Causation

Causation shows that your current injury or condition was caused by the specific event or treatment in question. If your condition was a risk explained to you prior to undergoing treatment, or surgery, you cannot go ahead with your case. The only thing you can claim for in this case is additional and excessive pain caused by the negligence. As stated before, you will need the backing of an independent medical practitioner to assess your situation and to stipulate if they can find any abnormalities, or negligence in the way the operation or treatment was handled and your experience thereafter.

If it is deemed that your pain is caused by a pre-existing issue that was irritated by an operation or treatment, then the causation is not the fault of the practitioner. If it is deemed that while operating the practitioner accidentally damaged something, for example, a nerve, leaving you unable to recover correctly, then the causation is the fault of the practitioner.

You Need to Clearly Demonstrate Damages

When making a compensation claim for medical malpractice, you need to demonstrate that you have suffered a loss as a result of what happened. The court will calculate how much you should receive as compensation for your injuries as a result of negligence. The value of your claim is what the practitioner must then pay if found guilty. This is divided into several parts: general damages, compensation for pain and suffering, loss of ability, and financial losses.

The financial losses portion includes loss of both past and future earnings, the costs of medical care that you have incurred as a result and will need to pay for in the future (including therapies), any modifications you will need to make to your property as a result of your injury, and any other financial losses you might incur as a result, including loss of pension.

Funding

As you can imagine, with all of the things that you need to prove, the whole process can get quite expensive. Assessments from third-party medical practitioners alone can be exorbitant – but they are necessary in order to prove liability and causation. There are a few funding options available to you.

No win no fee medical negligence

Formally known as a “Conditional Fee Agreement”, a no win no fee medical negligence agreement is a great way to fund your claim. You only pay if you win, and this means you probably won’t have to pay anything, as your opponent is usually ordered to your fees for you. What you do have to pay for is usually covered by your compensation. This includes insurance for your lawyers (in case you don’t win your case) and their success fee. a

Legal expenses insurance

This is something that you would have already had to have had. This covers most negligence claims, so be sure to take advantage of this insurance if you have it.

Legal Aid

Legal Aid could be an option for you, but you need to be sure that you qualify.

Private funding

If you don’t qualify for any of the options above, you might need to pay for things yourself. Your lawyer will give you a fixed investigation fee that you can include in your list of financial damages to claim back when you win your case.

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Going to court can be very stressful. This is why it is good that you go in equipped with a lawyer and have as much information available as possible. 

How to Fly Private: 4 Things to Have in Mind

Private Jet

Flying private for the first time can be very exciting, yet overwhelming. Whether you’ve opted out of travelling commercially, as it no longer is the best option for your needs, or you’ve been invited to experience this type of luxury, you’re probably wondering about the expectations you need to set. 

Besides the aircraft size and the possibility of having a private flight tailored to your needs, commercial and private flights have numerous distinctions between them. We’re here to help make the preparations for your trip easier by revealing the 4 things to have in mind when you’re flying privately. 

Airplane

1. Baggage and Packing

The baggage and packing capacity and regulations are probably among the first things that crossed your mind. With commercial flights, you could easily check your airline’s guidelines on how to pack for your trip (baggage weight, what items to leave in your hold luggage, what you can take in your carry-on, etc.). As a general rule of thumb, you need to be very mindful while packing for your private flight. Passengers, on light jets, typically can’t directly access their larger baggage from the cabin, which is why they can benefit from having a carry-on that packs all the essentials they may need during the flight. Larger aircraft, on the other hand, come with onboard baggage compartments. This means that while a carry-on could be more convenient, you don’t need to sweat it. 

Note that the available storage space depends on the number of passengers on the jet. So, when packing, account for the possibility of having limited storage space. As opposed to commercial flights, some private jets allow you to keep liquids with you. Some flight charters also welcome pets onboard. Most importantly, don’t forget to pack your ID. While there are numerous benefits to flying privately, such as skipping the wait in queues, you won’t be able to board the jet without your ID. If you’re traveling internationally, you will need a valid passport. 

2. Selecting Your Aircraft

If this is your first time flying privately, chartering an aircraft would be the easiest way to plan your flight from Houston, Texas. When browsing, you will find numerous options for luxury flights, including flights that are priced individually. These are also known as one-off charters.  Other options would be joining a membership or purchasing a jet card. Once you’ve decided on your destination, you need to contact your selected charter company. They will help you determine the best aircraft for your needs, depending on the number of passengers, your route and schedule, amount and weight of baggage, as well as the facilities you wish to find onboard. Make sure to inquire about the company’s cancellation policies in case anything comes up, its safety standards, as well as its COVID-19 procedures. 

3. The Fixed Base Operator 

You’ll likely be departing through a Fixed Base Operator, or FBO, if you’re traveling via a private jet. An FBO is a terminal designated for private aviation. Depending on the airport, the FBO may be a separate terminal or an entirely different building. Some airports even set up their private and commercial aviation operations in different locations altogether. Make sure to contact your charter provider or the airport itself to find out where your flight will be taking off and get the directions beforehand. Many charter providers provide an itinerary that includes the location of departure upon booking. 

The FBO is usually very quiet and offers luxurious workspaces, meeting rooms, and lounges. It is set far from the noise and disarray of the commercial terminals. The FBO houses a quick and highly organized security area. Since you and your company will be the only ones on board, you may be able to arrive at the airport later than you normally would if you were flying commercially. If you’ll be travelling domestically, aim to arrive 15 minutes, at the very least, before the time of departure. International flights require a minimum of 30 minutes, as this would allow the crew to go over all the necessary documentation. 

4. Procedures Onboard

Before the aircraft takes off, the crew will conduct a pre-flight safety briefing. They should also go over the COVID-19 procedures and regulations. They will let you know when you can safely get up and move around the cabin. You can use this time to ask questions or submit special requests. If you wish, you can even go to the cockpit to talk to your pilot. However, make sure to ask the crew when it would be appropriate and safe to do so. Most private flights come with internet and will allow you to turn on your phone while onboard. 

Pilot

Flying privately can be a very fun experience. If this is your first time doing so, you may feel anxious, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, with these four things in mind, you can be prepared and bask in the joys of luxury travel.