As we look for a winner 54 holes from now, I can’t help but focus on the chaos… and try to avoid it. Yes, it is true aggressive play could bring us a blistering low round, but I believe slow and steady might win this race. A focus on not only notching up the Par Breakers, but also consideration of Bogey Avoidance, is the key.
(WHTM) – Wet weather and driving are a dangerous combination but by taking the correct precautions you will be able to drive safely through the wet weather.
Whether it be rain or snow (especially when it melts) the wet conditions will make your vehicle hydroplane.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, hydroplane means to skid on a wet surface (such as pavement) because a film of water on the surface causes the tires to lose contact with it.
So, when can hydroplaning take place?
Any vehicle driving more than 35 miles per hour is at risk of hydroplaning, according to Safe Motorist.
When you hydroplane you will lose control of your vehicle which could lead to an accident with another vehicle or even driving off the road.
Safe Motorist states that the most dangerous time for a vehicle to hydroplane is the first ten minutes of light rain.
According to Driving Tests, the following will help you prevent hydroplaning:
Reducing your speed.
Properly and regularly rotate and balance your tires.
Choose high-quality tires that are designed to prevent hydroplaning.
No cruising in the rain (cruise control).
Avoid puddles and standing water.
But if your vehicle begins to hydroplane, here are some tips on how to recover (according to Driving Tests):
Immediately take your foot off the accelerator.
Gently turn your steering wheel in the direction your car is hydroplaning.
Wait to feel the tires regain grip.
The biggest tip for any motorist when driving in bad conditions is to remain calm, take a deep breath, and drive as safely as possible even if that means pulling over until conditions improve.
Starting Friday (Dec 1), Google will be deleting accounts that have not been operated by the users for a couple of years, according to a BBC report.
Under its inactive account policy, the tech giant will start the purge, albeit in a phased manner, with accounts that "were created and never used again" getting the bump first.
Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli wrote a blog post in May in which the company stated that steps are being taken to reduce the risk of account deletions.
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The company has cited security reasons as the cause of the drive, stating that forgotten and unused accounts are more likely to be compromised by hackers and other notorious actors.
Using a Google account allows a user to access a plethora of Google products such as Gmail and YouTube, using the same username and password.
It was in May, earlier this year that the company first hinted at clearing the aisle of unused accounts. Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli in a blog post highlighted the steps being taken by the California-based company to improve security of the product.
“Google is updating our inactivity policy for Google Accounts to 2 years across our products. Starting in December, if a Google account has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years, we may delete the account and its contents, including content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), and Google Photos,” read the post.
Who stands at risk?
The policy is only applicable to personal Google accounts not accessed in the last two years. Accounts of organisations like schools or businesses will remain unaffected by this overhaul.
How to avoid getting deleted?
According to experts, simply signing into an account or sending an email should be enough to keep it active. Google added that reading or sending an email using Google Drive or watching a YouTube video could also help avoid getting the boot.
However, Google suggests that once you have gained access to the account, a recovery email address should be added as it will help in resisting the password if the user forgets it.
As we look for a winner 54 holes from now, I can’t help but focus on the chaos… and try to avoid it. Yes, it is true aggressive play could bring us a blistering low round, but I believe slow and steady might win this race. A focus on not only notching up the Par Breakers, but also consideration of Bogey Avoidance, is the key.
It sounds like a bad dream, but for some account holders it's actually happening. "Banks are evicting what appear to be an increasing number of individuals, families and small-business owners," according to The New York Times — and "often, they don't have the faintest idea why their banks turned against them."
Unexpected account closures can lead to myriad issues. While sometimes you'll get a letter notifying you that your account is being closed, if you don't (or you don't see it), you might "discover that [your] accounts no longer work while [you're] at the grocery store, rental car counter or A.T.M.," said the Times. In turn, you might not be able to pay your bills on time, which can negatively impact your credit score, or for small businesses, making payroll might be tough.
Why would a bank close your account?
There are a number of reasons that a bank might close your account:
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You haven't used your account much in several years.
You have a zero or negative balance.
You've frequently bounced checks or overdrafted your account.
You've made too many transfers.
You have what the bank considers a high-risk occupation (per Forbes, this may include "gun sales, marijuana sales, online gambling or escort services.")
You've had a previous criminal conviction that you didn't report to your bank, or you were convicted after you opened your account.
Your bank thinks you're the victim of identity theft.
Your bank has noted suspicious or potentially illegal activity.
Your bank has made changes, such as closing branches or stopping business in your state.
What happens if your bank does close your account?
"If a bank closes your account, it isn’t required to notify you, so you might not receive a notification informing you of the closure," reported CNBC Select, but it "is required to return any money that may have been in the account." The only exception here is if "the bank suspects terrorism or other illegal activities," per Time. But in other cases, you can expect to get a check in the mail or see a deposit in another account with the bank.
Additionally, per Time, "your account may be frozen," which means that "debits will be blocked and deposits won't make it in." Know that while an account closure "typically doesn't have a direct impact on your credit score (like, say, having your credit card closed on you), it could become a problem if your account has any outstanding balances, such as unpaid overdraft fees," CNBC Select explained.
How can you prevent your bank from closing your account?
If all of the above sounds like a nightmare to deal with, luckily there are steps you can take to avoid an unexpected closure:
Handle checks with caution. As The New York Times explained, "fraud involving mail theft and checks has roughly doubled in recent years," which has meant that banks "have turned up the dials on their check-fraud algorithms." You can avoid an account closure for this reason by avoiding check fraud altogether. To do this, avoid mailing checks (and if you do, take them "directly to a post office," suggested the Times), and also "try not to accept a check from individuals you don't know, in case they are trying to rip you off," advised the Times.
Stay in communication with your bank. While your bank's customer service might not be that helpful after your account is already closed, staying in touch while your account is open can prevent a closure. According to the Times, it can pay off to answer your bank's calls and emails and to let them know in advance if you're making any big financial moves, such as a notable lifestyle shift or a home sale.
Sign up for alerts and notifications. Per CNBC Select, you can "lessen the risk of your account being closed" by monitoring your account balance and enrolling in notifications to know if it falls below a certain amount or when certain transactions or deposits occur. You might consider linking your account to another so funds are transferred in if your balance gets too low.
FILE-Employees work in an office in Santa Clara, Ca. (Photo By Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Many working professionals contemplate leaving their jobs for another opportunity, but making the move can be a tough decision for some to make.
Instead of shopping their resumes around to find a better job, employees are staying put in their roles until the right fit presents itself in a trend known as "job cuffing."
Job cuffing is a play on the term "relationship cuffing," meaning when someone gets into a relationship just for the cold months — to have someone to attend holiday parties with and get cozy with when it's freezing outside. The person doesn't want to stay with their partner long term, FOX Business noted.
Experts tell FOX Business that employees are willing to extend their time in their current job during the winter months with a goal of finding something better in the spring.
John Mullinix, head of growth marketing for Ladders, shares with FOX Business that workers feel less confident about finding a new job based on many companies reducing their staff or slowing down hiring.
Separately, the uncertain economic conditions and a decline in hiring during the holiday season can further complicate job searches.
Another factor for employees staying put in their jobs is to get end-of-year bonuses and take holiday paid time off before continuing their job searches in the spring, an expert shared with FOX Business.
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. job market has remained solid despite interest rate hikes and has helped fuel consumer spending to boost the economy.
Employers added 204,000 jobs a month over the past three months. The combination of a solid economy and decelerating inflation has raised hopes that the Federal Reserve can nail a soft landing — raising rates just enough to tame inflation without triggering a recession.
The Associated Press and FOX Business contributed to this report. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
It sounds like a bad dream, but for some account holders it's actually happening. "Banks are evicting what appear to be an increasing number of individuals, families and small-business owners," according to The New York Times — and "often, they don't have the faintest idea why their banks turned against them."
Unexpected account closures can lead to myriad issues. While sometimes you'll get a letter notifying you that your account is being closed, if you don't (or you don't see it), you might "discover that [your] accounts no longer work while [you're] at the grocery store, rental car counter or A.T.M.," said the Times. In turn, you might not be able to pay your bills on time, which can negatively impact your credit score, or for small businesses, making payroll might be tough.
Why would a bank close your account?
There are a number of reasons that a bank might close your account:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
You haven't used your account much in several years.
You have a zero or negative balance.
You've frequently bounced checks or overdrafted your account.
You've made too many transfers.
You have what the bank considers a high-risk occupation (per Forbes, this may include "gun sales, marijuana sales, online gambling or escort services.")
You've had a previous criminal conviction that you didn't report to your bank, or you were convicted after you opened your account.
Your bank thinks you're the victim of identity theft.
Your bank has noted suspicious or potentially illegal activity.
Your bank has made changes, such as closing branches or stopping business in your state.
What happens if your bank does close your account?
"If a bank closes your account, it isn’t required to notify you, so you might not receive a notification informing you of the closure," reported CNBC Select, but it "is required to return any money that may have been in the account." The only exception here is if "the bank suspects terrorism or other illegal activities," per Time. But in other cases, you can expect to get a check in the mail or see a deposit in another account with the bank.
Additionally, per Time, "your account may be frozen," which means that "debits will be blocked and deposits won't make it in." Know that while an account closure "typically doesn't have a direct impact on your credit score (like, say, having your credit card closed on you), it could become a problem if your account has any outstanding balances, such as unpaid overdraft fees," CNBC Select explained.
How can you prevent your bank from closing your account?
If all of the above sounds like a nightmare to deal with, luckily there are steps you can take to avoid an unexpected closure:
Handle checks with caution. As The New York Times explained, "fraud involving mail theft and checks has roughly doubled in recent years," which has meant that banks "have turned up the dials on their check-fraud algorithms." You can avoid an account closure for this reason by avoiding check fraud altogether. To do this, avoid mailing checks (and if you do, take them "directly to a post office," suggested the Times), and also "try not to accept a check from individuals you don't know, in case they are trying to rip you off," advised the Times.
Stay in communication with your bank. While your bank's customer service might not be that helpful after your account is already closed, staying in touch while your account is open can prevent a closure. According to the Times, it can pay off to answer your bank's calls and emails and to let them know in advance if you're making any big financial moves, such as a notable lifestyle shift or a home sale.
Sign up for alerts and notifications. Per CNBC Select, you can "lessen the risk of your account being closed" by monitoring your account balance and enrolling in notifications to know if it falls below a certain amount or when certain transactions or deposits occur. You might consider linking your account to another so funds are transferred in if your balance gets too low.
FILE-Employees work in an office in Santa Clara, Ca. (Photo By Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Many working professionals contemplate leaving their jobs for another opportunity, but making the move can be a tough decision for some to make.
Instead of shopping their resumes around to find a better job, employees are staying put in their roles until the right fit presents itself in a trend known as "job cuffing."
Job cuffing is a play on the term "relationship cuffing," meaning when someone gets into a relationship just for the cold months — to have someone to attend holiday parties with and get cozy with when it's freezing outside. The person doesn't want to stay with their partner long term, FOX Business noted.
Experts tell FOX Business that employees are willing to extend their time in their current job during the winter months with a goal of finding something better in the spring.
John Mullinix, head of growth marketing for Ladders, shares with FOX Business that workers feel less confident about finding a new job based on many companies reducing their staff or slowing down hiring.
Separately, the uncertain economic conditions and a decline in hiring during the holiday season can further complicate job searches.
Another factor for employees staying put in their jobs is to get end-of-year bonuses and take holiday paid time off before continuing their job searches in the spring, an expert shared with FOX Business.
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. job market has remained solid despite interest rate hikes and has helped fuel consumer spending to boost the economy.
Employers added 204,000 jobs a month over the past three months. The combination of a solid economy and decelerating inflation has raised hopes that the Federal Reserve can nail a soft landing — raising rates just enough to tame inflation without triggering a recession.
The Associated Press and FOX Business contributed to this report. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
FILE-Employees work in an office in Santa Clara, Ca. (Photo By Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Many working professionals contemplate leaving their jobs for another opportunity, but making the move can be a tough decision for some to make.
Instead of shopping their resumes around to find a better job, employees are staying put in their roles until the right fit presents itself in a trend known as "job cuffing."
Job cuffing is a play on the term "relationship cuffing," meaning when someone gets into a relationship just for the cold months — to have someone to attend holiday parties with and get cozy with when it's freezing outside. The person doesn't want to stay with their partner long term, FOX Business noted.
Experts tell FOX Business that employees are willing to extend their time in their current job during the winter months with a goal of finding something better in the spring.
John Mullinix, head of growth marketing for Ladders, shares with FOX Business that workers feel less confident about finding a new job based on many companies reducing their staff or slowing down hiring.
Separately, the uncertain economic conditions and a decline in hiring during the holiday season can further complicate job searches.
Another factor for employees staying put in their jobs is to get end-of-year bonuses and take holiday paid time off before continuing their job searches in the spring, an expert shared with FOX Business.
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. job market has remained solid despite interest rate hikes and has helped fuel consumer spending to boost the economy. Employers added 204,000 jobs a month over the past three months. The combination of a solid economy and decelerating inflation has raised hopes that the Fed can nail a soft landing — raising rates just enough to tame inflation without triggering a recession.
The Associated Press and FOX Business contributed to this report. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
Email phishing is a deceptive tactic employed by cybercriminals to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, financial details, or personal data. This malicious practice often involves sending fraudulent emails that impersonate reputable entities, masquerading as legitimate requests or urgent notices. Phishing emails usually aim to manipulate recipients into clicking on malicious links, downloading harmful attachments, or divulging confidential information, which can lead to identity theft, financial losses, or data breaches.
To shield oneself from falling victim to email phishing schemes, here are some crucial tips:
Verify sender details: Scrutinize the sender's email address carefully. Pay attention to any misspellings or unusual domain names that might indicate a fraudulent sender.
Think before clicking: Be cautious of hyperlinks or attachments within emails, especially if they prompt urgency or seem suspicious. Avoid clicking on them unless you're certain about their authenticity.
Confirm requests: If an email requests sensitive information or financial transactions, double-check the legitimacy of the request by contacting the organization directly through official channels, not by replying to the email.
Use security tools: Employ robust anti-phishing software and email filters that can detect and flag potential phishing attempts before they reach your inbox.
Keep software updated: Ensure that your email client, browser, and security software are up-to-date with the latest patches and security measures to minimize vulnerabilities.
Enable multi-factor authentication: Implement an extra layer of security by enabling multi-factor authentication wherever possible, adding an additional step to verify your identity.
Educate and train: Educate yourself and your team about the telltale signs of phishing emails. Regular training sessions can help individuals recognize and avoid falling prey to such scams.
Report phishing attempts: If you receive a suspected phishing email, report it to your organization's IT or security team. Many email providers also have tools to report and block phishing attempts.
By staying vigilant, verifying sources, and exercising caution while handling emails, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to email phishing scams, safeguarding personal information and financial security in the digital realm.
With the holidays comes, most often, a tornado of temptation to spend, spend, spend. Retailers are rolling out deals left and right and the pressure to show our loved ones our appreciation by buying them gifts can be heavy, as advertisements for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales whirl around us.
Knowing that the spending extravaganza is on the horizon can be anxiety-inducing. According to a new LendingTree survey, 47% of Americans are dreading the holidays this year due to the costs involved. The dread isn’t unprecedented; the same survey found that 10% of Americans are still carrying debt from holiday spending in 2022. The thought of building up more debt this year is duly frightening.
In addition to your regular budget, you should carve out a realistic holiday-specific budget to keep within your spending boundaries.
“A holiday-specific budget can help you avoid overspending, so figure out how much you want to spend on things like gifts, decorations, food, travel and tips for service providers,” said Willie Arroyo, a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual. “Use what you spent last year as a starting point and ask: Does this make sense for my budget this year?
“If you have a lower income this year or are preparing for that possibility soon, think about what you can do differently to help lower costs,” Arroyo continued. “It’s possible you may be able to find some automatic savings if, for instance, traveling is off the table, or if you usually host a big holiday dinner that will be much smaller this year.”
Choose Cash Over Cards
Oh, how easy it is to just swipe your card, whether online or in person, and feel like it’ll all just take care of itself. Alas, this is a great way to land into debt and rouse up serious regret post holidays. Aim for an all cash, in-store approach.
“Consider committing to going all-cash, at least for the holiday season,” Arroyo said. “For many people, handling physical money makes the spending feel more tangible and makes you value what you’re buying more.”
Make a Year-End Financial Checklist
As we’re bidding adieu to 2023 and getting ready to usher in 2024, now is a great time to check items off your end-of-the-year financial checklist — like setting aside money for holiday gifts, beefing up your emergency fund, or upping contributions to your retirement funds.
“If you’re fortunate to have money left over once you’ve topped off these funds, make a plan for how you’ll put that extra savings to work,” Arroyo said. “Start thinking about how you can rebound from some common financial setbacks and get back on track. If you’re unsure where to begin, consider working with a financial advisor who can provide tailored guidance for your specific financial situation.”
Make a List and Check It Twice
“Making a list of everyone you plan to give gifts to and specifying the intended gifts helps you approach holiday shopping with a clear plan,” said Maya Sudhakaran, head of growth and acquisition at Plynk. “Seeing a full list with a cost breakdown minimizes the risk of overspending and ensures that you allocate funds thoughtfully to each person on your list. Perhaps you don’t need to buy multiple gifts for certain family members, or notice a big-ticket item that could be purchased elsewhere for a better price?”
Get Creative With Gifts
Retailers lay on heavy pressure to shop ’til you drop, and it can be overwhelming. But you can cut through the marketing noise and avoid spending much by taking a DIY approach to gifting.
“You don’t have to bust your budget in order to give meaningful gifts,” Arroyo said. “Consider made-with-love gifts based on your skill sets, like baked goods, candles or knitted items. Or, if you normally spend time with extended family you aren’t seeing this year, consider sending them something the whole family can enjoy instead of individual gifts, like a gift card to their favorite retailer or a gift basket full of their favorite treats.”
Gift Experiences Instead of Things
Kendall Meade, certified financial planner at SoFi, points out that some research suggests that people experience greater and more long-lasting enjoyment from experiences rather than possessions. Lean into this approach.
“Purchasing experiences could be a way to spend less money and still convey a similar, if not more significant sentiment,” Meade said. “Especially if you do them together.”
Communicate Your Spending Plans with Your Loved Ones
Perhaps you feel obligated to go all out on gifts for your loved ones. Be open about how you feel with the recipients on your list. Set clear expectations and communicate that you would rather take a low-key approach to spending this year.
“Giving your friends and family a heads up about the type of holiday you’re planning gives them time to adjust to the idea that things may be different this year,” Arroyo said. “It’s also important to manage expectations and stick to them. Don’t keep your plans a secret.”
Tap Your Credit Card Rewards
Though it’s generally wise to stick to an all-cash plan, there is an exception to the rule: credit card rewards. Don’t let these go to waste.
“What good are credit card rewards when about a third of us never redeem them?” Arroyo said. “See if you can offset your travel, food or gift-giving costs using points earned through credit card rewards or loyalty programs. Maybe those miles you’ve been hoarding can help pay for a plane ticket to your in-laws’, or your credit card points can cover the cost of co-worker gift cards. Let your rewards take care of big or small costs so you can stress less about your budget and focus more on making memories with loved ones.”
Get Off the Internet
While it’s not realistic to log offline entirely, it is possible to pare down your screen time.
“The holidays might be a good time to get offline,” said Jacqueline (Jack) Howard, head of money wellness at Ally Bank. “Not only to be more present with friends and family, but also so you don’t feel like you’re constantly comparing your holiday to others. When we compare our experiences to others, we lose our financial values and tend to overspend when we might not be in the place to do so.”
Fulfill Your Giving Needs by Volunteering
When the temptation to spend is intense, it can be beneficial to shift your perspective on what the spirit of giving truly is. Tap into that and focus on giving back to the community.
“It is easy to get caught up in the hype that comes with the holidays, but it is important to remember what really matters,” Meade said. “Some ways you can do this is by volunteering at soup kitchens, providing gifts to those in need, or even Habitat for Humanity initiatives. It could also involve donating existing toys before the holidays. For example, my wife and I have our kids pick out and donate a bunch of toys shortly after Thanksgiving. Not only does this clear out clutter, but it helps our kids understand that others are less fortunate and they should appreciate whatever they receive.”
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With price hikes from the likes of Salesforce, Microsoft and Hubspot making headlines in 2023, it’s hardly surprising that the amount that businesses are spending on SaaS is increasing rapidly. Over three-quarters of vendors hiked prices in 2023, driving SaaS inflation to more than double the rate of US CPI inflation.
Above-inflation price increases are undoubtedly a thorn in the side for businesses trying to control costs, but they are (for the most part) clearly articulated by vendors.
In a frustrating development for CFOs and finance teams, vendors are resorting to more insidious tactics in a bid to pump revenues.
Research by Vertice has revealed that over one-quarter of businesses have been impacted by “SaaS shrinkflation” in the last 12 months, where vendors charge the same price for reduced functionality.
Software pricing is notoriously difficult to understand because the majority of contracts are made up of a complex constellation of packages, bundles and license agreements. SaaS shrinkflation takes advantage of this confusion, with vendors employing a handful of novel tactics to achieve the same benefits of inflating prices – without touching the list price itself.
How to spot SaaS shrinkflation in your tech stack
Understanding the ways vendors are raising their prices and using this knowledge to your advantage is the first step to reducing the impact of shrinkflation.
Common examples of SaaS shrinkflation
Non-cumulative pricing
Some vendors with usage-based pricing are gradually moving towards a use-it-or-lose-it model. Non-cumulative pricing limits the amount of value a customer can accrue over time. Some vendors do not allow customers to collect cumulative credits on usage or other criteria, instead making customers use their paid-for allowance or accept losing it for subsequent pay periods.
Reduced discounting
The willingness to offer discounts has reduced markedly among software vendors. Salespeople have far less flexibility to reduce the price than they once did, which means it’s harder to get generous discounts tools in your SaaS stack. This is an often ‘invisible’ element of shrinkflation but one that can have a huge impact on your overall annual spend.
Bundling
The concept of bundling features into a single offering is a tactic that more vendors are adopting to hide decreases in real value. While it can be easy to presume that more features mean greater value, this isn’t always the case. This is because buyers are left with no choice but to subscribe to a plan that consists of functionality they have no use for – at a higher cost than they would otherwise need to pay if they were only charged for the features they actually needed.
Unbundling
Where a company may have previously had ten features as part of their plan, some vendors are effectively unbundling these features at the point of renewal and include each one as an individual line item at a fixed cost. This is happening frequently with enterprise-level renewals, as these plan types are often obscured on the pricing page and customized to the individual company.
How to combat shrinkflation
The moment most companies notice the impact of shrinkflation is at the point of renewal, when they will be facing a larger bill without a clear explanation as to why. Get very familiar with the contract you originally signed and how the price or service has changed since this point.
To be in a strong negotiating position, you should start your due diligence way before a renewal date. While there’s no one-size-fits-all, I recommend starting this process 6-8 months before a renewal to give you enough time to gather the facts and start asking probing questions. If you fail to take this time, your supplier could realize that you need a quick turnaround and respond with inflexible terms.
To ultimately secure the best possible price, you need leverage. More specifically, you need intel into what other companies like yours are realistically paying for their subscriptions. Technology can help with this process by providing visibility into software pricing and supporting you with contract negotiations.
Noroviruses are usually more widespread in the fall and winter, but you can get sick from the virus any time of the year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from acute gastroenteritis in the U.S.
Norovirus infection, sometimes referred to as stomach flu, is unrelated to the flu caused by the influenza virus. Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, says it's a virus that causes gastroenteritis.
"Norovirus is a type of virus that causes gastroenteritis or stomach flu. Usually, it presents with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Most healthy people will have recovery over a few days. But for people with a weakened immune system, for example, their symptoms can last longer than that," she says.
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Dehydration is a concern, especially for young children, older adults, and those with other health issues or who are pregnant. Those symptoms can include decreased urination, dry throat and mouth, and feeling dizzy when standing up.
Transmission
"Norovirus is spread through contact with the virus. People sick with norovirus shed the virus in high amounts in their vomit and stool, so coming into contact with the virus is how you get sick. This can be through direct contact or through contaminated food, or you can pick it up from a surface. That's why hand-washing is important and the best way to prevent getting sick with norovirus," says Dr. Rajapakse.
Risk factors
The CDC says that around half of food-related sickness outbreaks caused by norovirus are linked to restaurants or food-related environments. This happens when infected food workers and staff touch food or when it is contaminated.
Dr. Rajapakse says food that is contaminated with norovirus usually looks, smells and tastes normal so it can be difficult to tell it is contaminated.
Norovirus can quickly spread, especially in confined spaces, such as day care centers, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships. These viruses are tough to eliminate since they can endure high and low temperatures and most disinfectants.
"One of the common places that we see norovirus outbreaks occur is in close confined settings, like cruise ships, for example, where you have a lot of people eating from the same places and living in close proximity to each other," says Dr. Rajapakse. "Even one case of norovirus on a cruise ship can spread quickly to others there. That's why it's crucial to make sure that you're washing your hands well, especially before you eat."
Preventing norovirus infection
Antibiotics won't help because it's a viral infection, not bacterial. The best protection is prevention.
Tips to prevent the spread of norovirus:
•Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
•Avoid food and water that might be contaminated.
•Clean fruits and vegetables before eating.
•Cook seafood thoroughly.
•If you're sick, stay home and avoid others.
•Avoid preparing food for others if you are sick with vomiting/diarrhea.
•Disinfect surfaces and counters that may be contaminated.
And use caution when traveling. The CDC tracks outbreaks of norovirus and other diseases. You can learn more on their website.
The CDC says outbreaks from norovirus are usually more common in the winter months. In countries above the equator, outbreaks are most common from November to April, while they are most common from May to September in countries below the equator.
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What percentage of your photos do you discard because they are blurry? The most common question I get asked by photographers is why so many of their images are not sharp. There can be a myriad of reasons, and here are the most common issues photographers face.
Usually, with a photograph, we want either the subject or the entire scene to be sharp. I’m often getting contacted by people who need help because they are having problems achieving that, and it’s invariably something simple needed to fix it.
Crazy Trigger Finger Syndrome
Problem
By far, the most common issue is with the photographer’s technique of pressing the shutter release button. In the excitement of getting the shot, they jab at the button with their finger. Consequently, the camera moves as the shutter opens, and the entire image becomes blurred. This can happen even at fast shutter speeds.
Solution
Rest your finger on the button and gently squeeze it.
The Wobbly Body Effect
Problem
This has nothing to do with my expanding waistline.
The standing human body isn’t stable. Imagine standing on a bus. If you face forward, every time the bus accelerates or brakes, you lose balance. That instability is worse still when you stand with your feet together and your knees locked. We sway back and forth constantly as we face forward. Therefore, when using a camera, between locking focus and taking the shot, the distance between the camera and the subject has changed.
Furthermore, if you hold a heavy weight in front of you for any length of time, your muscles will tremble. Likewise, breathe in and hold your breath, and your chest muscles are under tension and will cause movement.
Solution
Stand at 45-60 degrees to the subject. Keep your feet a shoulder’s width apart and turn your leading foot so your toes are pointing towards the subject. Tuck your elbows in so a strong triangular shape is formed by your forearms and your body, with the camera at its apex.
If possible, support your body against a solid object or lower your center of gravity by crouching down. Grip the camera loosely and take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Now, gently squeeze the shutter button.
Focusing on the Wrong Thing
Problem
By default, most cameras have all the focus points activated. That means that whatever is closest to the camera will be in focus. However, that might not be what you want. For example, you may want to shoot through those trees to capture the animal or bird beyond.
Solution
It is possible to select one focus at a time, a small cluster, a large cluster, or all at once. For much of my photography, I am selecting a single focus point, placing it on the subject I want to be in focus. In this way, I can shoot beyond close objects, allowing them to frame the subject. Moreover, quality cameras these days are becoming evermore clever at identifying subjects and will automatically latch onto them, even if there is something in the way.
The Depth of Field Is Wrong
Problem
There is only a small amount of the photograph that is sharp.
Solution
The simple answer is to step down the aperture. But the way to fix this issue depends on the type of photograph you are shooting. There are three things, (or maybe two, or maybe four, or five, or six if I go into depth with this subject, but that’s for another article) that affect the amount of the image that’s in focus for your camera. That is the proximity to the subject, the aperture, and the focal length of the lens.
One mistake a lot of photographers make is to buy a fast or a long lens and then always use it with the aperture wide open. Consequently, they end up with too little of the image in focus, like the one above. As you get closer to a subject, the depth of field reduces as well. Likewise, the depth of field reduces as you increase the focal length.
Using the Wrong Focusing Mode
Problem
The camera either doesn't lock focus or it locks and the subject distance moves.
Solution
Cameras have two main focusing modes. Single autofocus locks onto a stationary subject and continuous autofocus changes the focusing distance as the subject moves toward or away from the camera but is rubbish for still subjects. If you own a Canon, they chose the slightly ridiculous names One Shot and Servo AI to describe these functions. Some cameras also have a hybrid mode that automatically switches between the two. Although it's getting better, its performance is lacking, and I recommend manually switching.
Tracking follows the subject around the frame and is great for keeping moving subjects in focus.
The Horizon Is Sharp, but the Rest of the Photo Isn’t
Problem
When shooting landscapes, the foreground is blurry.
Solution
With landscapes, a mistake many make is focusing on the horizon. The temptation is to focus on the distant object of interest: the island, mountain, trees, the rising sun, the stars, etc. Doing so will mean that much of the foreground will be out of focus. Alternatively, many will focus too close, and the horizon will be blurred.
There’s a sweet spot called the hyperfocal distance. It’s the point that will give you maximum front-to-back sharpness. It changes depending on your focal length and aperture, but there are apps such as Photopills that will help show you where you should focus.
Only a Few People in a Group Shot are in Focus
Problem
One or two people or objects are sharp, the rest are out of focus.
Solution
This is a major challenge for many novice wedding photographers. They have their full frame camera and a fast lens, so they are tempted to shoot at its widest aperture. Consequently, the depth of field is too shallow to get everyone in a shot. The solution here is to reduce the size of the aperture. However, that will also slow down the shutter speed, and there is a greater chance of showing movement and people are constantly moving. Therefore, the ISO may need to increase.
Handy hint: I use my camera’s focus peaking feature that outlines the edges of the in-focus areas to make sure everyone is sharp in the picture.
There's a Lot More to It
This is the first of two articles looking at this topic. Keep your eyes open for the next article that will be following soon. It will have a more in-depth look at some of the causes of blurry photos.
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at TAMU chapter.
The buses are taking too long, your air pods are always dead, the leaves are EXTRA crunchy. It is around this time of year when everything seems like it’s pushing you just about to your breaking point. It’s that time of year when everyone is just about ready to go home sit in their PJS all day and stuff their face at Thanksgiving.
I, personally, was a victim of the mid semester slump this year. With organizations picking up, classes getting harder and harder, and the weather just being so gross, I was greatly affected. I have always been pretty good at school and managing my time but at this point in the year it seems like I’m just existing to take-up space and get things done.
The mid semester slump by my definition is when every. Single. Day. Begins to feel like Monday. When there is a complete lack of motivation and all you want to do is lay in bed and rot. The mid semester slump is also when you find yourself at the Chick-fil-A drive through a little too often than you’d hope. This is a lull in time when you essentially just want to run home so you can be with your family and away from the college town scene.
Mental health is also usually at an all-time low at these points in the semester. Protecting our mental health is so important so we need to be consistently taking care of our minds and bodies, mentally and physically. Sometimes you might just focus on you and do some self-care whether it’s taking a long shower or simply putting your phone on do not disturb for the night.
One thing about the mid semester slump is that it is so normal, and it is okay to admit that you’re struggling because everybody else around you probably are too in one way or another. Just because people may look fine on the outside does not mean that they are not going through a rough patch as well.
My semester slump this year was challenging but here are some ways that helped me get through it a lot easier!
Turned my phone on DO NOT DISTURB! – If someone really needs you, they will find you, nothing that important will ever happen on your phone. If something major happens someone will find a way to reach you.
Went on walks/runs – A way for me to personally get out of my head and away from everything is to go on a walk. Whether it be outside or on the treadmill it always gets the job done.
Treated myself for the small things – Once I would accomplish a small task that was difficult, I would get myself a sweet treat. Sometimes it really is the little things!
Took it one day at a time – I tend to get overwhelmed when I see things at large so going week by week or even day by day helped to reduce my anxiety.
GET A DESK CALENDAR – Being organized has been something that has really been helpful throughout my mid semester slump. I got a desk calendar and I see it every morning to remind me what’s on the agenda for that day.
Sticky notes! – When times would get really trying, I would write encouraging notes and leave them on my mirror so the first thing I would see in the morning was a positive reminder.
Saw my therapist! – One of the best things for me has truly been protecting my mental health. Seeing my therapist regularly has helped me to learn how to deal with “slumps” and what to do when I’m faced with hard challenges.
Winter: the season in which fund owners incur self-inflicted wounds.
Investors who make the mistake of holding stock mutual funds in taxable accounts are at risk of having unwanted distributions dumped in their laps. This often occurs in December. They pay the price the following April.
Case in point: the JP Morgan Tax Aware Equity Fund. The name says that it’s going to be kind to taxpayers. The reality is something else. The fund has confessed that a fat, taxable distribution of capital gains will arrive before the year is out.
If you hold this fund anywhere but in a tax-sheltered account, you will be sharing some of your investment with the tax collector. The payout will come to 21.4% of your account, and you will owe federal tax on the distribution, at a rate up to 23.8%. State income taxes are on top.
Fund vendors often telegraph their punches. This table displays other funds that have warned shareholders of impending damage.
BRACE YOURSELF
Holders of any of these investment companies will get a capital gain distribution for 2023, whether they want it or not.
Sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it. If you have owned one of these funds for a long while, resistance is futile.
Let’s suppose you got into a fund years ago at $20, saw its portfolio appreciate to $25 per fund share, and note that a $5 distribution of capital gains is now en route. If you stand pat you’ll have a $5 capital gain distribution to report. If you flee before the payout, you’ll have the same $5 long-term gain to report.
How do funds wind up in this situation? By selling portfolio positions at a profit. There are two ways that can happen.
One is if a trigger-happy portfolio manager sells winners in order to reinvest in something more attractive. Presumably a “tax aware” fund will avoid such behavior. But most funds are rather nonchalant about taxes.
The other cause of unwanted payouts is redemptions. When customers decamp, the manager is forced to liquidate holdings in order to cash them out. If he has run out of losers he sells appreciated stocks. Once the fund has exhausted any loss carryforward, it is compelled to distribute gains on those stocks to the dwindling band of surviving shareholders. Victims include latecomers who are underwater on their fund shares.
There are preventives and there are antidotes. Consider these six strategies.
1. Locate investments wisely.
An actively managed stock fund should go in your tax-sheltered account. If there’s no room for it there, don’t buy it.
2. Exit weak funds.
Suppose, in our example, you got into the fund at $24 and then it declares a $5 dividend. You could sell before the payout and report a $1 gain. Or you could sell after, getting a $5 dividend offset by a $4 loss on the fund share, for the same net $1 long gain on which to pay tax. It doesn’t matter whether you get out before or after the dividend. The key here: the ex-dividend price of the fund, $20, is less than your purchase price, $24.
3. Look before investing.
Morningstar reports a “tax cost ratio” for funds that have been around for a while. It’s based on past distributions, but it’s a pretty good indication of how much trouble a fund will cause you in the future.
Among funds that hold either only U.S. stocks or a blend of stocks and bonds, here are the worst offenders:
FUND TAX BURDENS: THE WORST
These funds create enormous tax damage with their distributions. Their expense ratios are no bargain, either.
The tax cost ratio is defined as the average annual percentage loss to federal income taxes for holders in top brackets. Thus, if in one year a fund would have turned your $100 into $130 inside a tax-free account but only $117 in a taxable account, it would show a cost ratio of 10%.
Access the ratio by selecting Morningstar’s “performance” tab and then clicking on “month-end.”
Morningstar’s calculation does not reflect the capital gain (or loss) that would occur on a sale of fund shares. It does not include either state income tax or the many ways that a distribution can boomerang on your return by boosting your adjusted gross income. For many investors, even the ones not in top brackets, it understates the erosion of income taxes.
The sinners table is limited to domestic stock funds that have been around for a decade, haven’t kept up with the overall stock market before tax, and have run up a tax cost of at least 5% a year. Really bad apples.
But take note that there are many slightly rotten apples that didn’t qualify for display. A reasonable expectation for the real return on stocks—return above inflation—is 4% a year. A misbegotten fund wipes out this return.
4. Consider getting a “tax aware” fund.
But only if it’s cheap.
Here’s a catalog of stock and balanced funds sporting “tax” in the name. The ones from Vanguard are good buys. Most of the rest should be avoided.
TAX-MANAGED FUNDS
These equity and balanced mutual funds aim to keep your taxes low—and sometimes accomplish that only by running up stiff expenses. For comparison: one iShares exchange-traded fund, which advertises no special effort to minimize taxes but nonetheless does that merely by dint of being an ETF.
Turns out that one way to achieve a low tax cost ratio is by gouging shareholders. Expenses get taken off the top, reducing the taxable income that must be distributed. Pay attention to the combined cost of ownership: taxes plus expenses.
5. Harvest losses.
Whether or not you are afflicted by capital gain distributions, loss harvesting is good financial hygiene. Capital losses and loss carryforwards can offset lots of things, such as gain from a house sale.
The idea is to sell a losing position, stay out for 31 days, then buy it back. While you’re on the sidelines, protect against a rebound by temporarily holding a replacement.
If you lost money on Exxon Mobil you’d sell and immediately buy Chevron, then a month later reverse the trades, assuming Exxon is the stock you’d rather own. If you hold both and have lost money on both you’d sell Exxon, double up the Chevron, and after a month sell the higher-cost Chevron shares and reestablish the Exxon position. Or, hold your place in the oil sector with a temporary stake in Fidelity MSCI Energy Exchange-Traded Fund.
6. Prefer ETFs.
There are two reasons why an exchange-traded one is the only kind of stock fund to hold in a taxable account. One is that most ETFs track indexes, so there’s no reason for them to shuffle their portfolios. The other is that they can use a peculiar loophole, involving swaps of securities with ETF market makers, that makes capital gains vanish. Mutual funds can’t easily use the loophole. There are cases where equity ETFs are forced to disgorge gains—the iShares Taiwan fund in the first table above being one such—but they are quite rare.
Bottom line: Given all the ways to avoid it, you have only yourself to blame for discomfort caused by cap gain dividends.
Hand-washing is important and the best way to prevent getting sick with norovirus.
Dreamstime/TNS
Noroviruses are usually more widespread in the fall and winter, but you can get sick from the virus any time of the year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from acute gastroenteritis in the U.S.
Norovirus infection, sometimes referred to as stomach flu, is unrelated to the flu caused by the influenza virus. Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, says it’s a virus that causes gastroenteritis.
“Norovirus is a type of virus that causes gastroenteritis or stomach flu. Usually, it presents with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Most healthy people will have recovery over a few days. But for people with a weakened immune system, for example, their symptoms can last longer than that,” she says.
Dehydration is a concern, especially for young children, older adults, and those with other health issues or who are pregnant. Those symptoms can include decreased urination, dry throat and mouth, and feeling dizzy when standing up.
Transmission
“Norovirus is spread through contact with the virus. People sick with norovirus shed the virus in high amounts in their vomit and stool, so coming into contact with the virus is how you get sick. This can be through direct contact or through contaminated food, or you can pick it up from a surface. That’s why hand-washing is important and the best way to prevent getting sick with norovirus,” says Dr. Rajapakse.
Risk factors
The CDC says that around half of food-related sickness outbreaks caused by norovirus are linked to restaurants or food-related environments. This happens when infected food workers and staff touch food or when it is contaminated.
Dr. Rajapakse says food that is contaminated with norovirus usually looks, smells and tastes normal so it can be difficult to tell it is contaminated.
Norovirus can quickly spread, especially in confined spaces, such as day care centers, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships. These viruses are tough to eliminate since they can endure high and low temperatures and most disinfectants.
“One of the common places that we see norovirus outbreaks occur is in close confined settings, like cruise ships, for example, where you have a lot of people eating from the same places and living in close proximity to each other,” says Dr. Rajapakse. “Even one case of norovirus on a cruise ship can spread quickly to others there. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure that you’re washing your hands well, especially before you eat.”
Preventing norovirus infection
Antibiotics won’t help because it’s a viral infection, not bacterial. The best protection is prevention.
Tips to prevent the spread of norovirus:
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid food and water that might be contaminated.
• Clean fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Cook seafood thoroughly.
• If you’re sick, stay home and avoid others.
• Avoid preparing food for others if you are sick with vomiting/diarrhea.
• Disinfect surfaces and counters that may be contaminated.
And use caution when traveling. The CDC tracks outbreaks of norovirus and other diseases. You can learn more on their website.
The CDC says outbreaks from norovirus are usually more common in the winter months. In countries above the equator, outbreaks are most common from November to April, while they are most common from May to September in countries below the equator.
Deep-frying a turkey has become popular in recent decades — but the Consumer Product Safety Commission is reminding people of the risks of the technique, and how to safely fry a bird for Thanksgiving.
Jason Kempin / Getty Images
“Cook the turkey, not your home.”
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That's the Thanksgiving message being sent by the Consumer Product Safety Commission — and to emphasize the warning, the agency shared an alarming video showing the cataclysmically explosive results of making mistakes when frying a turkey.
As the video racked up views on social media, the CPSC also acknowledged what many suspected: It's pretty fun to make small-scale disaster films.
"You know when we do space stuff in America and the rocket takes off, or the satellite deploys, or the helicopter flies on Mars and everyone cheers because it all worked the way it's supposed to," the agency said, "and no one got hurt. It's a lot like that."
For anyone planning to fry a turkey this year, the CPSC says that if you make any of the mistakes below, you run the risk of burning down the house:
Use too much oil, and overheat it;
Try to fry a frozen turkey, especially a big one;
Use your fryer on a porch, in a garage, or next to your house.
It's also crucial to carefully read and follow the instructions that come with your fryer, the CPSC says. And heaven forbid, do not set up a fryer inside your home.
Why do some turkeys basically explode?
The CPSC's new video shows what look to be normal turkeys sparking a conflagration in different domestic settings, as oil splashes over the pot's rim and ignites into a sheet of flame from the gas burner below. The footage is similar to the agency's earlier oeuvre — like its use of dummies to show what can go wrong when fireworks are mishandled.
But birds aren't bottle rockets. So why are these turkeys blowing up?
"The reason frozen turkeys explode, at its core, has to do with differences in density," chemist Kristine Nolin wrote for The Conversation, saying the high proportion of ice inside frozen turkeys can fuel explosions.
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Because it's less viscous, water might seem less dense than oil; it's not. In a pot of hot oil, water from the turkey falls to the bottom. But the extreme heat also converts the water into its gas phase: steam.
"The water molecules then rapidly spread far apart from one another and the volume expands by 1,700 times," Nolin said, noting that the water's density is suddenly much lower than the oil above it.
Add the rapid change in density and expanding volume together, she said, "and you get an explosion." And things get worse when, as in the CPSC footage, displaced oil is ignited and spreads flames around the fryer.
So, why do people still deep-fry turkeys?
The draw of moist turkey meat and fast cooking times of only a few minutes per pound have created legions of fried-turkey fans in the U.S. since the technique started to become popular more than 20 years ago.
As the CPSC video suggests, when you're dealing with extremely hot oil and an open flame, one of the big dangers is that by the time you realize mistakes have been made, it's hard to correct them.
One time-tested way to make sure you reach a safe and effective oil level in your fryer pot is to measure it with water ahead of time, so the liquid sits around 1 to 2 inches above the bird.
"Remove the turkey and note the water level, using a ruler to measure the distance from the top of the pot to the surface of the water," the National Turkey Federation says. "Pour out the water and dry the pot thoroughly" before refilling the pot with oil to the proper level.
If you decide to measure the oil this way, do it before the turkey is marinated or breaded.
And given the dangers of water and hot oil noted above, make sure the turkey is fully thawed, drained and patted dry before you prepare it for the fry pot.
Fire dangers are heightened on Thanksgiving
No matter what method you'll use to cook your Thanksgiving meal, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is pleading with people to stay near their food when it's in the oven or on the burner.
"There are more home fires on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year," the agency said, adding, "Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires!"
On an average Thanksgiving Day, the U.S. sees about 1,600 cooking-related fires break out, the CPSC says. That's more than three times the normal daily figure.
Over all, cooking accounts for nearly half of the 360,800 home fires in the U.S each year, the CPSC said.
Because of the risks of nearly instantaneous fire spreading from a turkey-fryer mishap, the National Fire Protection Association says that it "strongly discourages the use of turkey fryers," urging people to buy fried turkeys from a restaurant or grocery store instead.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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Frying turkeys can explode. Here’s how to avoid that - Oregon Public Broadcasting
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