Sunshine Slate

As the state of Florida combs through textbooks to ban content with diverse views, a national campaign pledges to deliver a million free books with diverse titles to encourage students to understand more about the world around them. The “ Reading Opens the World ” campaign – launched by the nation’s second-largest teachers union – is designed to promote literacy by giving away a variety of free books that highlight Latino, Black, Asian and other diverse sets of authors. Fedrick Ingram – secretary-treasurer with the American Federation of Teachers – said he’s disappointed to see Gov. Ron DeSantis take such strong stances to censor learning. “Unfortunately, people want to politicize what’s going on in our classroom and with our teachers and with our students,” said Ingram. “But we have to do what we need to do as educators and as an education organization, and that is put kids first.” With little evidence, the DeSantis administration claims elements of “critical race theory” were f...

New research from Trinity Business School has confirmed the existence of the COVID-19 ‘Infodemic’ – making solutions to global issues more difficult to achieve. New research – undertaken by Cheng (Suwan) Long, a PhD candidate at Trinity Business School, alongside researchers from Bayes Business School, DCU Business School and Nottingham University Business School – has provided the first confirmation of the existence of the ‘infodemic’, as claimed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), associated with COVID-19 . First coined to characterise the communication surrounding the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) as a major public health concern, the term ‘Infodemic’ refers to the rapid spread and overabundance of information – credible and unreliable – making a solution more difficult to achieve. The term has since been used by the WHO to describe the rapid surge of both factual and false COVID-19 related information. Undertaking research which involved examining ...

Elections can change people’s perception of what is ethically right and wrong, according to new research by the University of Cologne . The study , conducted by Arno Apffelstaedt and Christoph Oslislo together with Jana Freundt from the University of Fribourg, investigated whether and how social norms can change as a result of election outcomes. They found that majority-elected rules can shift a person’s moral compass, and can cause actions that were once judged as ‘socially inappropriate’ to be considered socially acceptable. As a consequence, elections can not only alter existing norms and erode previous consensus about what is considered appropriate, but they can also lead people to adapt their actual behaviour. Interestingly, these effects can even be observed after a flawed election in which voters were offered bribes, asked to pay a “poll tax” or excluded from the election. The researchers say one example could be the aftermath of the Brexit vote in 2016, when the number o...

China’s call for ‘common prosperity’, and associated policies, will have important implications for China’s economy and business, finds a new report from LSE IDEAS , the London School of Economics’ foreign policy think tank. According to the report, authored by Dr Xin Sun, Senior Lecturer in Chinese and East Asian Business and a member of the China Foresight forum at LSE IDEAS, “Xi’s own words do not provide a straightforward answer to questions raised around the true meaning of ‘common prosperity’.” This has given rise to a range of different interpretations which, while insightful, do not provide a full picture of this political agenda. Dr Sun argues that common prosperity “has more to do with centralising and strengthening the Party’s economic control than improving the welfare system.” The report finds, common prosperity offers a strong interventionist vision that would further strengthen the Party’s control over both localities and the market. This, the author notes, is likely...

A dog loving dad will always appreciate a pressie for his bestie… At Ruff and Tumble there is a range of practical presents at all prices. From Drying Coats for wet, active and adventurous dogs to Leads – all these high quality Ruff and Tumble items won’t disappoint. Mud, French Navy, Burgundy The Country Collection of Drying Coats, with a faux leather trim, is traditional and practical looking. In darker colours, stains and mud are eaily disguised, but this Drying Coat will always look smart with that country style trim. Have the dog’s name embroidered for just £8 extra. Completed in house, there’s no delay and quality finishing is guaranteed. A Drying Coat is useful in so many ways – drying, cooling, bathing, post-op and warming – its value goes well beyond drying wet dogs. But when it comes to drying, it’s the double layer that makes Ruff and Tumble unbeatable. Two layers of breathable natural cotton wick wet from fur fast. A deep neck acts as a hoody to dry the ears, a ...

Gov. Ron DeSantis has been confronting a lot of issues dealing with race and inclusion. The latest is his signing into law his version of Florida’s new Congressional district maps which heavily benefits Republicans and slashes the number of Black districts in half, from four to two. DeSantis claims the districts were racially gerrymandered, but his proposed “race-neutral” map caused a sit-in protest by mostly Black lawmakers in the Florida House at the end of the redistricting special session. Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, expressed her frustration. “Ron DeSantis is disrespectful, Ron DeSantis is a bully, Ron DeSantis does not care about Black people,” Nixon asserted. “I will not bite my tongue. There is an incessant attack on Black people in the state of Florida.” The League of Women Voters of Florida and a number of Democratic-aligned redistricting groups filed suit the same day the governor signed his maps into law . The League successfully challenged the state during the...

Combat Veteran David Sterling earned a Purple Heart for wounds received in the line of duty and a Silver Star for valorous actions during his heroic service to the US Army, but he lost something significant during his service in Iraq. David was injured by a rocket propelled grenade, which took most of his right arm. As horrific as his physical injury was, it ran much deeper. David explains “Since my early childhood, I was a sketch artist, and art has always been a deeply important aspect of my life. Without my dominant hand, I found it impossible to return to my art in a meaningful way. This inability to express myself artistically added to the physical and emotional trauma that I experienced on a daily basis. Bottom line; without my art, I was struggling” Then, in 2021 David applied for a program called VetsTurn that provides selected US combat veterans with the necessary tools, supplies, education and support to use woodturning as therapy for PTSD. A member of the VetsTurn progra...

Introducing: At-home treatment for anxiety and depression with Nurx Nurx now offers prescription treatment for certain mental health conditions, privately and conveniently. This new service costs $55 per month, and includes: Initial consultation to determine which psychiatrist-designed treatment plan is right for you At least 6 check-ins per year to ensure that treatment is working and adjust as needed Unlimited messaging with the medical team about your treatment plan Resources for online therapy services or mental health apps Prescription refills and free shipping How it works Complete an online evaluation You’ll answer a comprehensive set of questions to see if Nurx Mind is right for you and allow a Nurx medical provider to evaluate your symptoms and state of mind. This uses industry-standard screening questions similar to what you would complete when starting treatment with an in-person mental health professional, but you can get started any time, no appointment need...

Bitcoin (BTC) is set to crack $80,000 and hit a new all-time high this year, according to Finder.com’s latest Bitcoin Price Predictions report . Finder’s panel of 35 fintech and cryptocurrency specialists believe that BTC will peak at $81,680 on average in 2022 before dropping to $65,185 by the end of the year. Morpher CEO, Martin Fröhler, gave one of the most bullish end-of-2022 forecasts and says “political uncertainty, inflation, and an ever increasing desire to own non-government controlled assets will propel Bitcoin to new all-time highs.” On the other hand, CoinJar CEO Asher Tan gives a more conservative prediction. Tan predicts BTC will peak at $60,000 before dropping slightly to $56,000 by the end of the year. “There’s still plenty of uncertainty about the short-term Bitcoin outlook. Given the macroeconomic headwinds, it would not surprise me to see Bitcoin spend the whole year bouncing around between US$30-60k – the sort of conditions that are terrible for traders, but re...

Is Loan Modification Underwriting Important? First, let’s get the one thing out of the way: a Loan Modification is not Refinancing. Refinancing means that you’re getting a whole new Mortgage Loan with all the paperwork and procedures involved. In other words, a brand-new mortgage. But a Mortgage Loan Modification is solely intended to allow buyers to stay in their homes in the face of unanticipated financial difficulty – such as that which we have experienced in the past two years of the pandemic! This may involve lowering your rate or extending the term of the loan. Now it’s not an entirely new loan, but some very similar processes to the original loan procedure are involved. The Loan Modification Underwriting Process is quicker, easier, and can be carried out with much less paperwork and pain. Since the Mortgage Loan Modification Underwriting is carried out for the same institution that originated the loan in the first place, they can easily verify your new financial situation. An...

Florida’s redistricting saga continues Tuesday when lawmakers return to Tallahassee for a special session to essentially give Gov. Ron DeSantis what he wants with Florida’s Black Representation. Legislators passed their own version of Florida’s proposed new congressional maps, but the governor vetoed them in favor of his own , which favor more Republicans and dismantle districts ensuring representation for Black voters. Ellen Freidin, CEO and general counsel of Fair Districts Now, led the campaign in 2010 to pass a constitutional amendment to prevent politicians from doing exactly what the governor is doing. “He’s really totally disregarding all the voters of Florida and in particular Black voters in the two districts,” Freidin asserted. “He’s cutting black representation in Florida in half.” Claiming racial gerrymandering was part of the process, DeSantis wants to split the 5th Congressional District, represented by Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., who is Black, and the 10th Congress...

A deep uncertainty made up of “unknown unknowns” is delaying investments in energy transition technologies such as offshore wind farms or electric vehicles which in turn is slowing down the speed of the energy transition, according to new research from a team of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. The researchers examine cases of uncertainty where neither policymakers nor market actors have estimates or probabilities to work with in tackling these issues. Their analysis identifies that under these circumstances, decision-makers find it difficult to make any investments, as traditional tool kits how to assess and handle risks do not work when it comes to such deep uncertainties. To tackle this issue and reduce deep uncertainty, the researchers say policymakers must make credible commitments, signalling that, for example, the path towards zero emissions by the year 2050 will eventually be implemented. This would allow better forward-looking planning and investment. The rese...

Interlock , a next-generation cybersecurity company, today introduces its blockchain-based security solution set to change the face of cybersecurity. The new technology has been created to address the surge of cryptocurrency and NFT threats that have risen sharply in recent times. Between 2020 and 2021 alone, cryptocurrency theft rose 516% to a value of $3.2 billion, with a reported average loss of $1,900 per person. The speed at which today’s technology is moving has meant that the security and testing normally in place have not had time to adapt. As the adoption of NFTs and crypto wallets gain popularity, a window for new, sophisticated, and malicious attacks has opened. Interlock offers a fresh solution that leverages blockchain technology, ushering in a new era of smarter, safer, and more collaborative online security. The first Interlock product is a browser extension that provides instant protection from browser-based threats like impersonation sites and malicious links while ...

On days when employees are ill, they only engage in presenteeism (i.e., continue working despite experiencing health symptoms) when they have not met their daily work goals, according to research from Trinity Business School. This suggests that employees only revert to daily presenteeism to compensate for low daily work goal progress. However, engaging in presenteeism compromises people’s productivity on the next day as it depletes their mental energy that cannot be recharged overnight. According to Professor Wlad Rivkin lead researcher; “It is crucial to tackle daily presenteeism, especially for remote workers. For example, managers should openly discourage presenteeism by reassuring team members that if they feel unwell it is acceptable to reduce their daily work goals and instead tend to their health. In light of the energy-depleting nature of presenteeism if employees engage in it they should work on tasks that are inherently pleasant rather than tedious tasks that further drai...

Most of you are probably thinking – do we need reasons to read? However, human nature at this time of year is focused on goals that usually lean toward the physical body – eat healthier, exercise more, drink more water, sleep longer, etc. not by finding reasons for reading. All these worthy goals take time and energy. At the end of the day, it’s easier to stream a show or zone out on social media. Learning to balance the demands of life is a longer article than we have room for in this newsletter. But we will share some data to help motivate you to add in reading time. A study conducted in the 1990s by Keith Stanovich  demonstrated that readers of fiction were more creative in their essay answers. When creativity diminishes, we tend to feel burned out and blocked. Reading allows your imagination to take charge and create a mental picture. 1. Reading helps your creativity.   2. Reading improves your attention span.   3. Reading reduces stress by 68%. The a...

People are being asked to return to the office after working from home due to the waning pandemic, experts say it is completely normal to feel anxious, and it’s important to identify those concerns and talk to your employer to find ways to help make a smoother transition back into the office. Jane Marks, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Tallahassee, said going back is a big shift, and it is perfectly reasonable to ask for things, like perhaps an office by a window. She recommended using the transition as an opportunity for positive change. “The idea of going back to a work situation where you may have a little bit more control than you thought you had,” Marks observed. “People need you, they need you on the ground, they need boots on the ground, well, you are part of those boots.” Marks added the pandemic has also shifted the idea of self-care. She asserted it is no longer a reward, but a requirement in terms of how we could manage our lives with balance. She recommend...

Global Intelligent Automation leader Laiye, serving 70% of the Top 10 global Fortune 500 companies, today announced a first-of-its-kind offer to ensure businesses make the leap to Intelligent Automation by committing to refunding 100% of the licence cost if its solutions do not achieve the company’s business goals. In a first for the Intelligent Automation industry, Laiye has announced it will refund 100% of the value of its software licence fees if business metrics are not achieved within an agreed time frame. Laiye will work with customers to determine the pre-agreed business metrics, which may include employee productivity, cost reduction, increased revenue, reduced error rates, improved customer Net Promoter Score (NPS), or better compliance and auditability. Laiye is the first Intelligent Automation and RPA provider to materially back its trust in the success of its products. No other automation company offers such a risk-free incentive to businesses looking to update their dig...

Cyber Yachts , the world’s first metaverse yacht company, is announcing the world’s most expensive NFT – a 120 meter (394 foot) mega yacht named “Indah,” priced at $400,000,000 USD (Indah can be purchased in Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Latinum (LTNM)). In addition to the NFT , the buyer will also receive the real-world, fully constructed 394 foot mega yacht based on the same design, built by one of the world’s most respected luxury yacht shipbuilders. The project is a collaboration between Cyber Yachts and internationally renowned yacht designer Lukasz Opalinski of Opalinski Design House. Opalinski’s clients include Italian shipbuilding company Benetti and Netherlands-based yacht builder, Oceanco. Mentored by distinguished mega yacht captain and naval expert John Henson, Opalinski won the New Designer of The Year award in 2005 and 2006 from London’s famed New Designers Show. Opalinki’s yacht design presentation for “Project Magnitude” garnered 9.5 million views on YouT...

Have you been looking into getting life coaching? Life coaches help their clients improve their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. Life coaches can help you clarify your goals, identify the obstacles holding you back, and then come up with strategies for overcoming each obstacle. There are significant reasons that many turn to personal and business coaches. – Dealing with addiction (alcohol, food, or sex). – Having trouble with starting or growing a business . – Feeling stuck (no momentum or moving forward in life). A coach can help you to make sense of your experience and situation. Create a space in which you can think in a new way. Ask challenging questions to help you move on. Encourage you to bring your whole life, into what you do. Topics that are often discussed include: Professional Growth & Direction. Values Alignment. Goal Setting. Skills Acquisition. Strategic Decision Making. Self-Induced Obstacles. Performance Reviews. Productivity. Ponzi Sch...

With Spring in the air, what better time to give your home cleaning regime a makeover. When it comes to cleaning, many of us turn to bleach that fills your home with toxic smelling fumes and chemicals that can harm your family – but no longer does it have to be that way. World-renowned Essential Oils Company, Young Living’s, Thieves® line of products bring safe alternatives to your home, so you can replace harsh chemicals with a naturally derived plant formula that are just as effective as other synthetic-based brands while also containing the benefits of essential oils. Crafted with a perfect blend of Lemon, Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils, Thieves® produces a welcoming aroma so your home smells clean and fresh. Each Thieves® formula contains ingredients that are tough on stubborn dirt but gentle on you. The Legend of Thieves® Young Living’s unique Thieves® Blend is a modern staple with a renowned past. Where it all began… Four 15th-centu...

Floors trending now – This year is all about making bold and beautiful colour choices for your home and having fun with chequered patterns. Go chic with check We’ve already seen that chequerboard and check is a massive trend for 2022, both in fashion and interiors. Harvey Maria has an unrivalled selection of plain coloured floor tiles that can be used to create all chequerboard patterns. Chequered flooring has always been stylish and Harvey Maria has given the classic black and white a modern update. Try softer neutrals such as brown or pastel blue to freshen up a dull area or forgotten space. Harvey Maria’s Check and Dovetail collections, created in collaboration with Neisha Crosland, can work this trend into slightly smaller spaces. These LVT Floors collections are massively durable and practical, so can also be used to create or define multi-functional spaces, such as breakfast nooks, pantries, laundry or utility areas. Decorate Floors with colour Decorating your home with...