Inspire Reader

Got Water? 4 Reasons to Drink More H2O

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 19:55:00 +0000

Photo by Anderson Rian on Unsplash.

We all know water is good for us and that we should probably drink more of it. So why, then, do Americans find it so difficult to sip from what is arguably the fountain of youth?

Answers vary, but the fact is, one in 10 Americans drinks zero cups of water per day, according to a study by Dr. Alyson Goodman, a medical epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zero. She suspects that those who don’t drink any water (or very little) are getting it from other sources such as food and coffee, but warns this may not be enough.

“Many health risks decrease when you drink plain water,” says Goodman.

Which is why, she says, the results are “mindboggling.”

Robert Eakle, CEO of Alkame Water, agrees. “Without water, no living thing can survive,” he says. “It affects every area of our life and is an essential part to maintaining proper health.”

However, not all waters are created equal. Enhanced waters, like Alkame Water, provide the body with more health benefits than regular water. Just take a look at how it can help:

• It balances body fluids. Your body is composed of about 60 percent water and performs vital functions such as protecting your organs and tissues, regulating your body temperature and carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells—essentially it keeps your body running like a well-oiled machine.

• It keeps skin looking healthy. Water moisturizes your skin and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss (think free anti-aging cream). In addition, it can keep your skin fresh and smooth.

• It boosts the immune system. Those who guzzle water are at a lower risk of getting sick. This crystal-clear concoction helps fight against flu, cancer and other ailments—especially if your water has mild alkaline properties, such as those found in Alkame Water. Including ionized water in your daily intake can give your immune system a boost through added antioxidants, improve aerobic capacity, enhance energy levels and through a patented technology that alters the molecular structure of water, hydrate your body more fully.

• It can help control calories. While drinking water may not be a weight-loss strategy, per se, substituting it for higher-calorie or sugar-filled beverages can help by removing by products of fat, filling you up so you’re not noshing, acts as a natural appetite suppressant and raises your metabolism.

How to Secure Income for Retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 19:49:00 +0000

Photo by Huy Phan on Unsplash.

Ten thousand Americans a day are turning 65, including a couple we’ll call Stu and Helen. In excellent health, Stu and Helen could be facing a retirement of 30 years — or even longer. One of their biggest fears about their impending retirement is their potential longevity — and running out of money to not only pay their bills, but enjoy their free time.

Stu and Helen participated in their companies’ 401(k) plans. Like many workers, neither has a traditional pension, so they are solely responsible for their own retirement security.

Fortunately, couples like Stu and Helen have options for creating a “personal pension.” By using some of their savings to purchase an annuity, they can guarantee a steady stream of income for life.

With an immediate annuity, they can make a lump-sum payment to a life insurance company, and the company will send them their choice of monthly, quarterly or annual payments. They can choose to receive the income payments over a specified number of years or as a guaranteed stream of income they can never outlive.

They could also consider purchasing a deferred annuity, which allows savings to grow tax-deferred during an accumulation phase until they decide when payouts begin. People who are years away from retirement — or who are retired but don’t need income right away — might choose this type of annuity.

With a deferred annuity they decide how their money grows during the accumulation phase. A fixed annuity earns interest at a guaranteed rate. An index annuity is tied to a market index like the S&P 500 stock price index. In a variable annuity, savings are placed in subaccounts that are invested in stocks and bonds.

Another option is a special type of deferred annuity, often called longevity insurance, which will provide them with a guaranteed stream of income once they reach a certain age, usually around 85.

Surveys show that 90 percent of annuity owners think annuities are an effective way to save for retirement. And annuities are among the most regulated financial products in the marketplace. From product development to advertising to sales, life insurers must comply with state and federal laws and rules that help prevent fraud and protect consumers. In addition, most states provide a “free look” period allowing customers to return annuities to the insurance company for a full or partial refund.

Planning for retirement can be stressful. But for retirees like Stu and Helen, the guaranteed income from annuities can provide peace-of-mind for a lifetime.

Three Ways Millennials Can Start Saving More Money

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:17:00 +0000

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash.

For too long, Millennials have gotten a bad rap about money and their ability to save for a rainy day or retirement.

However, a new “Relationship With Money” survey by financial services firm Edward Jones found that not only do more Americans born between 1981 and 1996 consider themselves “savers” than those in their parents’ Gen-X cohort (48 percent vs. 46 percent), but that Millennials also were better at socking away emergency funds (75 percent vs. 66 percent).

That’s right. The same Millennials whose motto could be “Why buy a car when you can Uber?”

“This debunks the myth that Millennials aren’t as financially focused as other generations,” says Edward Jones investment strategist Nela Richardson.

And the survey isn’t some outlier. It’s supported by other research.

The Federal Reserve Survey on Consumer Finances found that while Millennials are deep in debt, more than 42 percent have retirement accounts, the highest share for those under 35 years of age since 2001.

Part of what’s driving Millennials’ emphasis on saving could stem from lingering memories of the Great Recession.

“Back in the late 2000’s, the oldest cohort of millennials entered the worst job market since the Great Depression of the 1930’s,” says Richardson.

“For younger millennials, watching their parents and other family members go through that experience may have also made them more aware of the risks of a market downturn or some other unexpected event, such as losing a home or a job, and so they’re more conservative when it comes to spending and saving in their adult lives,” says Richardson.

One potential alarm bell uncovered by Edward Jones’ sampling of more than 2,000 adults nationally age 18 and over: While 92 percent were honest enough with themselves to recognize there was room for improvement in their financial health, the very thought of saving money sufficed to make more than a third feel either “anxious” or “overwhelmed.”

If that sounds familiar, here are three steps to consider:

• Identify your money-related emotions. People often have emotional responses to money. Getting a big bonus at work can make you feel euphoric; agonizing over what to do with it can be paralyzing even as the logical part of your brain (invest at least most of it) fights it out with the emotional part (splurge it all!). What’s key is knowing that letting your feelings dictate your spending, saving and investing choices can lead to poor decisions.

• Develop a financial strategy. Keeping your cool starts with identifying your main goals – a down payment on a new home, college for your children, a comfortable retirement – and then sticking to a sound, long-term path for attaining them.

• Get an “accountability partner.” Meaning, someone with whom you’re comfortable sharing your finances. It could be a family member. Or a professional financial advisor, such as a local one at Edward Jones, who has the perspective, experience and skills necessary to help you make the moves appropriate for your situation.

“Whether you are strapped with student debt, saving to buy a home or trying to build an emergency fund, there are trade-offs that must be made in balancing these short-term goals and our long-term financial future, such as investing for retirement,” Richardson says. “Without a sound financial strategy, most people tend to be reactive rather than proactive and feel that their money is controlling them.”

A New Perspective on Robots and How They Will Shape Humanity

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 19:23:00 +0000

Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash.

Throughout the years, technology has improved drastically – Creating machines and devices that were unimaginable 50 years ago. And perhaps the most advanced and interesting of society’s technological advancements is robots – but it is furthermore the most misunderstood.In fact, according to recent Pew Research, more than 70 percent of American Express concern about a world in which machines perform many of the tasks done by humans.Fortunately, some people believe humans and robots can coexist and work together in harmony and are working to debunk many of the fears people have about them.

Mouser Electronics Inc., a leading semiconductor and electronics component distributor based in Fort Worth, TX, and celebrity engineer Grant Imahara, have teamed up again for the fourth consecutive year for their Empowering Innovation Together program.This year’s program is called Generation Robot, which features five videos filmed across the world, including in the U.S., Germany and Japan. Mouser’s goal is to contact innovators around the globe by showing how robots have a positive impact on humanity and change how people see the possibility of interacting with them.Throughout the Generation Robot series, the entire spectrum of robotics will be examined, as will the understanding of how robots not only have a technological impact on society, but also a social and moral one.

The video series begins with the Imahara visiting the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Georgia Tech and speaking with the executive director, Dr. Magnus Egerstedt.There, he explores several aspects of robots, like the basics of the machines, myths and misconceptions, as well as the hopes for, and fears of, the advancement of robot technology.In the video, Dr. Egerstedt mentions that robots used to be about mechanical engineering, but now modern robots involve psychology, because these machines will be working along with humans and thus they need understanding people.The second video, which takes place in Augsburg, Germany, dives into the real meaning of robots and humans working together, as well as the way this interaction will benefit society.The third video, which comes out in mid-July, will focus on the all-robot-staffed hotel in Nagasaki, Japan, where Imahara investigates the way robots behave utilizing only artificial intelligence.

How to Lose Weight By Thinking Differently

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 16:37:00 +0000

Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash.

Do you play mind games that prevent you from winning at losing weight? Are you always having a conversation with yourself that manages to sabotage your newest Monday efforts to lose weight? If so, chances are pretty good that you have a dialogue in your head that needs to change. If you're having the following self conversations, it's best to change your dialogue. Changing your self talk is a great first step when you feel you absolutely can't lose weight.

The clean plate game to lose weight

You know this game: eat it all up because some people are starving! If you eat up all the food when not hungry, you are not helping anyone that is starving! Or, you paid for it so you must eat it. At home, put less food on your plate. In a restaurant, ask for the people box prior to digging into the large plate of food. Acknowledge that while you still paid for it, you now have food for another meal so you doubled your value. This is a hard habit to break, but it can be done with practice. These portion control strategies are always going to help when one has trouble losing weight. The portion control automatically decreases your calorie consumption. It's such a simple concept that is often overlooked.

Skipping breakfast may slow weight loss

You think you will eat less overall calories by limiting what you consume in the morning. Many studies indicate that when people do this, they manage to consume more total calories in a given day. In other words, this eating strategy can backfire for some people. Other studies show that when people consume substantial calories in the morning, they use those calories to meet energy requirements more efficiently, and store less of that energy in fat cells. Eating the bulk of your calories at the tail end of the day is, therefore, theoretically less efficient for your body weight and overall energy levels.

I will add, however, that some studies also suggest that whether someone eats breakfast or not has no impact on weight status. With that said, skipping breakfast and lighter daytime eating can put you at some degree of nutritional risk. It is very difficult to meet overall nutritional requirements with almost no daytime food and just dinner. And, if your blood sugar takes a nose dive during the day, you are at risk for an eating binge.

Use caution with foods prepared elsewhere

Do you really know what is happening in the kitchen of your favorite restaurant and take-out place? I would venture to guess that this food has much more fat, calories, and sodium than you would find in your own kitchen. Try to limit relying on outside sources for your meals unless you are able to confirm with nutrition labels that it is a healthy option. When you do dine out, at least try to check the nutrition information out ahead of time. There are so many websites and apps available to the consumer to do some pre-planning for healthier options. HealthyDiningFinder is a site where you input your zip code and nearby dining options are noted.

Review menus in advance

While not all restaurants can make their nutrition information available, you can at least take a peek at the menu online. That way you can begin thinking about the better meal options in advance of stepping foot into the restaurant. This helps you avoid quick impulse decisions on your selections. Once with friends socializing at the restaurant, your planning strategies to pick healthy choices may fizzle. Having thought about what to order in advance will keep defensive dining tactics in play.

It's for "company" game

There are many variations to this one: there is also "It's for the kids." Do the M & Ms really need to be in a bowl for your grandchildren and shouting to you all the time? I have grandchildren too, but I would not have a candy bowl sitting out all the time. I certainly like the chocolate as well and I would not be able to stare it down. Get the treats for kids, grandchildren, and company, but keep a limited stock that is purchased just prior to their arrival. Or, hide it from yourself. Better yet, get a treat that does not pose a high temptation threat to you! The less you like that treat, the better you can resist it.

Willpower for weight loss

I don't feel that most people successful at long-term weight loss can use the concept of willpower. Over the long haul, they should instead think "smart" on eating strategies: keep a clean kitchen free of high temptation foods, keep small amounts or portion controlled foods that you conceptualize as treats, or if food is just too tempting to avoid once in your kitchen, just don't put it into your grocery cart in the first place. Willpower, in my opinion, is not a good long-term weight loss strategy.

Reflection for weight loss

Taking a step back to evaluate how you think about eating may be just the solution for trouble losing weight! By managing your thoughts along with your eating environment, you can start down the weight management road without tripping up too much. While summer is over, the holidays are right around the corner. Thinking differently could be just the torture-free weight loss fix you need when you think you can't lose weight. Anyone can lose weight with the proper tools. After you change your thinking, you are ready for any additional steps necessary to lose your weight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10259690

Can The Solar Energy Panel Save You Money?

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 14:55:00 +0000

Photo by Vivint Solar on Unsplash.

There are a number of ways you can save money on your electrical bill. One of these ways involves installing solar panels on your roof or backyard. These can be installed using DIY instructions or you could have a professional install them for you.

The energy provided by a system using solar energy panels is electrical. The panels provide DC current. An inverter can be used to convert the DC current to AC current. This current can be used by various appliances in your home.

Different solar energy systems can be purchased at your local building supply store or other related retail outlets. These systems will be sold according to their potential power output. The more power they are capable of producing, the more they will cost. The low power units will be ideal for outdoor lighting, small water pumps and various outdoor tools. If you are purchasing a home size or business size system of solar energy panels it would be best to seek out a local retailer that specializes in these systems. There is also plenty of information available on the internet. These resources will discuss different solar energy panels and where they can be purchased.

There are solar panel systems available that be can used as roof top tiles. They will look like your roof top but will provide you with an abundance of free energy from sunlight. You can also install ground mounted solar panels in your backyard. Solar panels can also be installed on the roof your backyard shed.

Installing panels that absorb the Sun's energy will involve a certain cost. How much it will cost involves a number of factors. These factors involve the cost needed to provide you with the energy you desire. The amount of power you will need will be directly to the size of the system you will need. Of course where you live will be another factor. If you live in an area where you receive an abundance of sunshine installing sun absorbing panels will be the most cost-effective.

Different solar panel systems will give you different amounts of power. Having a professional install solar panels will be expensive. You may not see a return on the money you spent for a number of years. However you could install solar panels yourself. You will need proven installation plans. These will should give you step by step instructions. These plans should also give you places to purchase the necessary parts and tools to make your solar panel construction project a success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10234211

How to Recover Android Data After Factory Reset?

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 14:38:00 +0000

Photo by LOLIONI on Unsplash.

There are many times when people factory reset their android smartphone. Mostly they do it when their memory gets full, the performance of the device becomes slow due to a lot of applications, there is some malware related issue with the phone, or when people are selling it or giving it away to someone.

The process of factory reset is designed to be such that whenever user does a reset, every data and setting gets deleted from one's phone, which takes the phone back to the same condition in which it was when it came out of the factory, thus giving existence to the term 'factory' reset.

How to Do a Factory Reset?

To do a reset, all one needs to do is go to their Android smartphone's Settings section. From there, go to the System settings, where you will find the Advanced option. In the section, the is an option called reset, which you need to choose so as to do a factory reset. Remember, always back up your important data such as contacts, music and other things you find important before doing a factory reset.

Is Data Recoverable After a Factory Reset?

Yes, it must be known that Android data is recoverable even after one does a reset. This is a very important thing, because it might be of help to the people who lost something important, and it might be harmful for those who did a factory reset to protect their data.

There are various tools and softwares that are available with which you can extract your mobile phone's deleted data. All one needs to do is look for them on the internet, download them and use them for extracting deleted data from a mobile phone. It is a very simple process indeed.

Now the question is, can we still protect our data? The answer to that is also yes. You can still protect your data.

Let us look as to how that can be done-

Built-in Encryption of Android Devices-

Before Android released their operating system Marshmallow 6.0, the Android phones did not come with default encryption. One needed to put it up before doing a factory reset so that their recovered data cannot be directly.

But since the Marshmallow 6.0 update, the phone comes with encryption that has been already enabled, meaning that even if you recover your phone's data, you would not be able to access directly without going through the encryption.

Cloud Backup-

Cloud backup is another thing you need to look at. Most phones these days sync some important data on Google Drive from where you can recover it on a new device or even your older one even after a factory reset just by accessing your Google account.

However, there's no guarantee that cloud backups such as Google Drive is completely safe. In fact, it's the exact opposite of safe. There have been many cases of cloud storages of people being hacked and their data being stolen, so always remember to keep only unimportant data on your Google cloud storage.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10234400

Where were the first motor cycles to be produced?

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 13:26:00 +0000

Photo by Harry Gui on Unsplash.

During the early days of motoring there was no distinction between motor vehicles and bikes. The first engine to be named a motorcycle was designed during 1893. Around 1860 people attempted to attach the steam engines to the tricycles, but the motors were sluggish and strong. Gottlieb Daimler in Germany and Edward Butler in Britain dealt with gas engine cycles about 1880. In 1893, Hildebrand and Wolfmuller of Germany designed a motorcycle capable of running for 38 kilometers an hour. Motorcycles have quickly become common. In 1895, de Dion and Bouton of France designed a motorcycle with a thin, light-weight petrol engine.

How do submarines work?

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 13:20:00 +0000

When the submarine needs to sink, the ballast tanks are filled with seawater, and the hydroplanes are set up to steer the vessel downwards. When submerged, the hydroplanes are read modified to control the drive angle. The hydroplanes are set to horizontal location until the submarine has entered the correct depth and small auxiliary ballast tanks are filled. When the water emerges the reverse happens. Ordinary submarines use battery-powdered electric motors while crushing on the shore, when they are submerged and diesel engines. The batteries are also recharged from diesel engines.

Why do boxers wear gloves?

noreply@blogger.com (Inspire Reader) — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 10:58:00 +0000

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash.

Padded gloves protect a fighter's hands. They also spare his opponents from its worst cuts and injuries. In ancient Greece and Roman times boxers wore weighted leather gloves when they fought. These offered their hands a certain protection but they also made their blows extremely damaging. The sport had become slightly less savage by the time the first organized bouts were held in Britain in the 18th Century. A bare knuckle style of fighting was used then. Padded gloves were not commonly used until the late 19th century. At the 1968 Olympics a new kind of soft leather glove without a surface seam was introduced. Even the small change made a great difference. It reduced serious cuts around the eyes, from 46 during the 1964 games to less than ten in the 1968 games.