The recent inaugural Tax Insurance Forum (TIF) hosted by tax advisory firm Leo Berwick in New York provided an opportunity for tax insurance brokers and underwriters to engage in a lively discussion led by several panelists.
“The tax insurance market has grown substantially, beyond traditional M&A,” said Joe Volk, Managing Director at Leo Berwick. “It requires brokers, underwriters, and underwriter counsel to be creative in assessing non-traditional risks and to have deep expertise outside of M&A.”
The TIF was intended to be a collaborative event where brokers and underwriters in the tax insurance marketplace could discuss important issues and new challenges that have emerged in the field, with the conversation being led by recognized leaders in the industry. The agenda included:
- The State of the Tax Insurance industry (Nick Kato, Leo Berwick; Joe Volk, Leo Berwick; Justin Pierce Berutich, Euclid Transactional; Austin Cahill, Alliant Insurance Services);
- Green Energy (Kyle Kidd, Leo Berwick; Jordan Tamchin, CAC Specialty; Mark McTigue, Marsh);
- Claims and Insuring Live Controversies (Sharon Katz Pearlman, Greenberg Traurig; Bill Kellogg, Ryan Transactional Risk);
- Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (David Brandon, Leo Berwick; Joe Volk, Leo Berwick; Devorah Pomerantz, Great American Insurance Group; Bill Kellogg, Ryan Transactional Risk); and
- State and Local Tax Issues (Toni Lewis, Leo Berwick; Jeffrey Lash, Euclid Transactional; Alisha Soares, Marsh)
Addressing conference goers on the state of the market, Austin Cahill, a Managing Director and Tax Team Leader at Alliant Insurance Services said that there must be a willingness to turn over new rocks to help clients mitigate risk. “Our time in the spotlight is here,” he said. “There has never been a bigger need for collaboration. We must … perhaps divorce ourselves from just being players in the M&A market space.”
Echoing the need-for-collaboration sentiment, Leo Berwick’s Managing Partner Nick Kato said “insurance proposals that are submitted to an underwriter are occasionally ‘skinny’ or missing key analyses and facts.” Mark McTigue from Marsh shared that brokers explain to their clients that a well-written tax memorandum that summarizes the relevant facts and an analysis of the law, together with a “tax exposure calculation” that clearly shows the tax at risk if the IRS or other taxing authorities were to successfully challenge the insured tax position, can go a long way to getting strong terms and pricing.
Nick Kato added that without those key items, “many more hours may need to be spent by underwriters and underwriter counsel on the submission if it’s going to be effectively quoted, and ultimately underwritten.”
The group agreed that a potential tax submission must go beyond a high-level summary and cursory legal analysis. Unless that submission contains the information needed by an underwriter, it takes on a generic quality, potentially resulting in delay, higher premiums, higher underwriting fees, or even an inability to issue a non-binding indication letter (NBIL).
The group also addressed the recent slowdown in M&A activity, as a result of uncertainties surrounding valuations, inflation fears, increased interest rates, and decreased demand. This has caused a reset of public and private company valuations. As a result, it has been difficult for parties to reach an agreement on price. Notwithstanding the slowdown in M&A activity, tax insurance submissions continue to increase, supported by increased market acceptance of the product.
“The tax insurance market’s dedication to expanding product awareness and penetration has been unwavering and is really starting to pay dividends,” said Justin Pierce Berutich, Managing Director and Head of Tax at Euclid Transactional. “With our persistent efforts, the market successfully delivered insurance solutions for even the most intricate tax opportunities, including transfer pricing and non-U.S. risks in regions like Latin America. It’s incredibly exciting to be a part of the market’s continued progress and expansion.”
Turning to the green energy portion of the agenda, panel members discussed new opportunities for tax insurance coverage in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act and the expansion of green energy tax credits.
As of January 1, taxpayers may elect to transfer credits to unrelated taxpayers in exchange for cash, opening up new opportunities for monetization of credits. Panel members discussed their observations of tax structuring trends in core renewables.
“Overall, we are still seeing tax equity partnership flips for larger scale wind and solar projects, despite the new transferability regime,” said Kyle Kidd, Partner and Renewables Leader at Leo Berwick, who has extensive experience advising renewable energy investment funds.
Kidd said that clients seem to be considering transferability of investment tax credits on less familiar green energy projects, like standalone battery storage and biogas. Smaller-scale wind and solar projects are also good candidates for transferability, since the transaction costs of transferability are less than a traditional tax equity partnership structure.
The role that tax insurance may play in the new transferability regime is an evolving debate. Kidd said that the expectation is that sellers of tax credits will provide indemnities to buyers to protect buyers from recapture risk and general credit qualification risk. In a scenario where the seller has a weak credit rating, we may see tax insurance playing a role.
One of the most common issues still being insured is valuation risk with respect to investment tax credits. With standalone battery storage, some valuations are significantly higher (relative to cost) than typical solar projects. It may become clear that tax insurance will play a role in this unfamiliar territory.
“Tax credit insurance is very important in this space,” said Jordan Tamchin of CAC Specialty “More times than not, it is the lynchpin in getting deals done, especially for companies that may have a weak credit rating. Moving to a broad policy to ensure transferability instead of listing every issue that may arise may be the way to go.”
After a brief break, a new panel discussed audits and tax controversy from a claims perspective as well as in connection with the industry’s ability to insure live controversies. The discussion centered on partnerships, and the elevated rate of audits in this area.
“The IRS moves very slowly and cautiously in the partnership space because the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) procedures which now govern partnership examinations are relatively new,” said Sharon Katz Pearlman, a Shareholder with Greenberg Traurig LLP, where she is a member of the law firm’s Global Tax Practice focusing on US and cross-border tax controversy, and an adjunct professor of law at NYU Law School. “In addition, practitioners are seeing more strong collaboration with IRS National Office on a variety of issues. With respect to the BBA process and technical partnership issues, if examiners have specific questions, they can consult with an expert at the IRS national office. This has expedited the process somewhat but there is still a long way to go.”
“The IRS has put a lot of enforcement focus and funding into the partnership space and has hired tax professionals with partnership experience, but it is still a challenging area. And, although the BBA was enacted to help the IRS more easily manage partnership examinations, the IRS is still short staffed with a lot of training yet to be completed.”
The panel agreed that there is heightened risk as time marches on and the IRS becomes more attuned to what was taken lightly in years past. Education is another reason for the elevated instances of audits.
With regard to active tax controversies, the group noted that it seems more penalties are being asserted at the examination level, and that they are not automatically being dropped at Appeals. The panel commented that the penalty provisions exist to encourage voluntary compliance, and also serve to motivate taxpayers and their advisors to take and adequately document reasonable return positions.
The panel and audience discussed that the presence of tax insurance may be included in an IRS agent’s information document request. However, the presence of tax insurance doesn’t necessarily indicate a weak return position to the IRS. Rather, the presence of tax insurance could be seen as signal to the IRS that a position has been thoroughly vetted and that an insurance company has placed real capital at risk based on its underwriting.
The panel also indicated that settlements are still much more common than trials. However, there is increased IRS Office of Chief Counsel involvement, and certain matters proceed more slowly as a result. It can be more of a challenge to obtain an Appeals settlement that taxpayers believe fairly reflects the hazards of litigation. In a change from former Appeals process, Appeals does not always operate within the “80/20” parameters for resolution which it generally used in the past.
The next part of the forum involved REITs. Leo Berwick’s REIT Tax Leader, David Brandon kicked off the general discussion by mentioning three areas in which investors typically are interested in tax insurance for REIT transactions. These are REIT qualification, prohibited transactions, and Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA).
He cautioned that the potential exposure in this space is very real, particularly with REIT qualification. “Although the question of REIT qualification has not been on the IRS radar screen for some time, problems in this area are often unearthed in connection with major REIT transactions, when a buyer’s due diligence team uncovers them” he said.
The panel agreed that most major REIT transactions should be backed with a REIT qualification opinion, and sufficient due diligence undertaken to support all the factual conditions of the opinion.
All were in agreement that prohibited transactions, which can be subject to confiscatory penalties, can be an excellent area for tax insurance when supported by appropriate factual development. As the economy deteriorates, particularly in the commercial real estate sector, REITs may look to raise funds by selling properties, raising the question of whether the properties are dealer properties subject to penalty taxes on disposition by a REIT.
Devorah Pomerantz noted that as an underwriter, she looks for a submission to clearly establish the factual background in such risk submissions. Volk noted that underwriters and underwriter counsel know the law, but appropriate facts and representations need to be present in a submission for the risk to be successfully underwritten.
Perhaps the largest takeaway from the REIT discussion was that prohibited transactions, which can be subject to confiscatory penalties, can be an excellent area for tax insurance when supported by appropriate factual development. Underwriters and underwriter counsel know the law, but appropriate facts and representations need to be present in a submission for the risk to be successfully underwritten.
The forum wrapped up with a discussion of payroll, and state and local tax issues, which could be an area of expansion for tax insurance.
Alisha Soares, Senior Vice President at Marsh, opened the dialogue by emphasizing that it takes a wary eye to bring an employee retention credits (ERC) risk to underwriters.
“When bringing a potential ERC risk to market you have to understand who was intended to receive these credits,” said Soares. “Then, go over the underlying documentation. We need to watch out for the ERC mills, or bad actors advising companies that they’re eligible to receive ERCs when they’re not. That’s not where we want to be. The IRS is in the position to enforce the rules aggressively.”
Jeff Lash, Senior Vice President and tax underwriter at Euclid Transactional noted that it is important for brokers, underwriters, and underwriter counsel to be stewards of the tax insurance product and exercise due caution in insuring risks like ERC eligibility, particularly when ERC eligibility is on the IRS Dirty Dozen list.
The IRS issued a renewed warning in March urging people to carefully review ERC guidelines before trying to claim the credit as promoters aggressively push ineligible taxpayers to file.
The IRS and tax professionals also continue to see third parties aggressively promoting these ERC schemes on the radio and online. These promoters charge large upfront fees or a fee that is contingent on the amount of the refund. The promoters may not inform taxpayers that wage deductions claimed on the business’ federal income tax return must be reduced by the amount of the credit.
“There is little appetite to insure these credits because of all the unreputable schemes out there that start with such things as banner ads and click bait,” said Toni Lewis, Partner and State and Local Tax Leader at Leo Berwick.
Notwithstanding the potential for bad actors, some forum attendees emphasized a willingness to consider insuring ERC eligibility given the right facts and situation.
The panel then shifted gears to developments and fallout that continue from the 2018 Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair.
Wayfair seems to have left an impression, particularly for state taxing authorities, that a nexus determination may be simplistic. Essentially, if you meet the economic threshold, you have a filing requirement regardless of the actual activity in a state. The US Supreme Court, in its Wayfair decision found that a business must “purposefully direct” its activities toward a state in order to be subject to its tax laws. The Court found that Wayfair’s advertising was purposefully directed toward South Dakota. It remains unclear what level of activity (active or passive) meets the Courts “purposefully direct” standard. This is just one of several questions that remain unanswered by the Supreme Court’s decision in Wayfair. These unanswered questions, along with the states’ inconsistencies in how they have adopted economic nexus and marketplace facilitator statutes mean that many state nexus issues are anything but simple, making tax insurance an important tool in the taxpayer playbook in addressing gaps or uncertainties in state statutes and regulations.
The lively discussions continued after the final panel session. There was a general sense in the room that this is somewhat of a new dawn in the tax insurance industry. There is a distinct need for robust collaboration when assessing new risks in emerging industries like green energy. Although the green or renewable energy industry is not new, certain industry offshoots, such as battery storage, are.
“All in all an exhilarating forum,” said Kato. “We accomplished what we set out to do: get a variety of views on the pressing tax insurance issues of the day. On behalf of Leo Berwick, we look forward to hosting the next TIF.”
Please contact a Leo Berwick team member to learn more.


Conference Report - April 2012
Demographic change – a wake-up call for all of Europe.
The working population of Europe is declining, while the ageing population is expanding. Solutions are needed to prevent stress of citizens and companies workers and at the same time improve affordable childcare services to allow more women to join the labour market. On the other hand, the provision of better organised home-help services for households and support services for the elderly can become a substantial source of new jobs.
These were some of the key messages emerging from an innovative Breakfast Debate in Brussels, 24 April on demographic change and future job opportunities in the home help, childcare and eldercare sectors organised by Edenred, the pioneer of the ‘Ticket Restaurant’ system, together with Toute l’Europe.eu, the online European information service.
The event was the first of a series of ‘Policies & Practices’ debates being organised with the aim of bringing together policy makers with practitioners from the field to help develop constructive and workable policy solutions.
Highlighting the current demographic situation in Europe was Dr Erika Schulz from the prestigious German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) in Berlin. She presented the latest population trends in Germany which show that the number of elderly people requiring care will rise from the current 1.3 million to 3 million by 2050, while the number of carers to look after them is steadily declining. Dr Schulz anticipates a shortfall of some one million carers with evident consequences.
As a participant in the pan-European research project ‘ANCIEN’ (‘Assessing Needs of Care in European Nations’) Dr Schulz was able to point to the similar disturbing patterns emerging in many regions of the EU - an indicator of an impending crisis in the long term care for the elderly.
“The ‘baby boom’ generation of the 1950s who typically had two or three children has been replaced by a more cautious generation less certain about the future and less willing to commit to large families,” she said. “The labour force in Germany will decline from 43 million today to 34 million in 2050 while the number of elderly they have to support continues to increase.”
Jean-François Lebrun from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities said that at the EU level the number of over 65 year olds will double over the next 50 years from 87.5 million in 2010 to 152.6 million in 2060, according to Commission estimates.
Mr Lebrun presented the Commission’s analysis of the demographic challenge and provided the audience with a preview of new important consultative document “Towards a job-rich recovery” being presented by the Commission later this year.
The EU has set an objective of increasing the employment rate in the 20-64 age group to 75% by 2020 and is investigating a number of strategic areas for potential job creation. One of the areas it highlights is the employment potential in the sector for personal and household services (PHS). It also believes many jobs can be created providing long term care (LTC) for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Potential for jobs in household services
Mr Lebrun points out that home help and care for the elderly do not demand the technical skills levels of professional health services. Encouraging jobs in these sectors can allow people to get a foothold in the labour market while opening up possibilities for later skills development (‘up skilling’). They can offer various levels of job skill requirements from ‘do it yourself’ to the higher levels of care services.
The Commission also recognises that Europe also needs to implement measures which will attract more women into the workforce by improving their support services and overall work-life balance. Importantly, the expansion of trustworthy and affordable PHS services will enable women in particular to be free to focus on their own higher productivity work.
New model for the low skilled
Mr Lebrun points out that there is a need to develop a ”new model of jobs for the low skilled”. The Commission’s proposals for the PHS sector have considerable job creation potential. By subcontracting chores such as housework at a rate of just one hour per week, a potential of 5.5 million jobs can be realised, he said.
As a practical way of organising PHS, Mr Lebrun presented the example of the ‘Titres services’ (services voucher) system operated in Belgium which could be a useful model for other countries.
Instead of going to the informal market to find domestic services such as cleaning, laundry, cooking, shopping etc., a household can buy service vouchers at 7.5 euro per hour from an agency regulated by the public authorities and have the services of a fully legalised helper. The full hourly cost of the service in the Belgian system is 20.80 euro with the difference being financed by the national employment office (ONEM).
Take-up of the system has been good and more than 10% of users say they are able to increase their own work availability and employability as they can delegate mundane takes. Others have found that when freed from doing housework they were able to seek employment work once more.
This Belgian approach provoked a lively discussion with particular interest being focused on the potential application of this system to child care and elder care services. Representatives of family organisations pointed to the importance of being able to work with the same people on a long term basis. Others discussed the potential for providing higher skills accompanied by higher service voucher tariffs.
Jean Francois Lebrun pointed to the advantages of being able to bring a lot of people in from the black market to work fully legally – a benefit for both householders, employees and the state.
While the cost of this system is currently relatively high for the public purse, Lebrun pointed to the potential for refining the system by finding the optimum price for the service vouchers.
“With suitable refinements the system can become highly affordable for the public purse. An extrapolation of the Belgian system across the EU would give a net cost of 1.2 billion euros for creating 4 million new jobs in housework services,” he explained.
Direct benefits to the public purse can include reductions in unemployment benefits, additional revenue from personal taxation and social security contributions. Indirect benefits can include savings from other support schemes, the greater possibility for the elderly to stay at home, a better work-life balance and increased aggregate demand at the macroeconomic level.
Discussion centred on the expansion of the scheme to enterprises which have every interest in ensuring a fully committed and focused workforce, particularly the females, freed of household worries.
Other participants pointed to the potential of filling the shortage of carers for the elderly by using unemployed youth, and more males in a sector currently dominated by females (85%). The sector had to be made more attractive to attractive more people to work in the area it was suggested.
For these schemes to succeed, Mr Lebrun stressed, the public authorities have to take a global, long term vision and level of service has to be maintained through adequate training and where necessary supervision.


Gregory Boat Co. and Gregory Marina, family-owned Detroit companies that hail back to 1906, have been sold to Bloomfield Hills-based development firm Lormax Stern.
With the purchase, the companies’ names will change. Gregory Boat Co., on East Jefferson Avenue across from Belle Isle, will be renamed Detroit Boat Basin; Gregory Marina, on Clairpointe Street near the Detroit River, will become KAM Marine and KAM Yacht Sales. Detroit Boat Basin was the company’s name back in the 1940s.
The purchase will not impact the staff or its leadership. Kathy Gregory will continue as president.
Read the original story at Crain’s Detroit Business


Fake news. It’s everywhere.
Even on our campus. When it comes to alcohol and drug use at Wake Forest, what many students think is the norm isn’t always the case. Demon Deacons party smarter than you think. And we have the fictional memes — and the factual statistics — to show it.
Based on the Spring 2020 National Collegiate Health Assessment (NCHA) of 884 Wake Forest students, these are the facts:
- 21.6% of Deacs don’t drink alcohol.
- 73.5% of Deacs don’t smoke weed (use cannabis) and more than half (51.5%) never have.
- 96% of Deacs know that taking study drugs not prescribed to them is dangerous and doesn’t work, so they don’t do it.
- 84% of Deacs don’t vape.
- 82.6% of Deacs don’t drink to the point of blacking out.
- 99% of Deacs don’t drink to the point of getting in trouble with the police.
- 75% of Deacs don’t drink to the point of doing something they later regretted.
- 93% of Deacs don’t drink to the point of physically injuring themselves.
- 99% of Deacs don’t drink to the point of needing medical help.
- 70 Deacs identify as being in recovery from alcohol or drug use. (If you need information about recovery, reach out to the WFU Collegiate Recovery Community with firstname.lastname@example.org or @wakeforestcrc.)
Our party memes are all over social media, and they’re brought to you by the same nerdy oldsters who collect and study statistical data about alcohol and drug use among Wake Forest students. Our strategy is to place fiction next to fact — and our goal is to challenge your perception of drinking and drug use behavior on campus.


Vicki Podberesky Seeks Justice For USC Basketball Player De’Anthony Melton
USC student-athlete De’Anthony Melton is an innocent young man. Abandoned by the NCAA who has neglected its duty to “create opportunities for college athletes,” and waiting on USC who has been hesitant to make a decision to play him, despite overwhelming evidence that neither he, nor a close family friend did anything wrong, De’Anthony Melton stands in the shoes of a young black man assumed guilty until proven innocent. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-usc-melton-ncaa-hernandez-20171129-story.html#share=email~story
His attorney Vicki Podberesky, of Andrues/Podberesky, has worked tirelessly to marshal evidence that definitively proves that no crime was committed or NCAA rule broken by either De’Anthony, his family members, or close family friends. Videotape evidence uncovered by Podberesky shows that family friend Dave Elliott never took any money at a meeting arranged by Christian Dawkins, Munish Sood, and an undercover FBI agent. http://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-usc-melton-video-20171128-story.html
The video reveals a glaring falsehood in the government’s complaint, where the FBI undercover agent swore under oath that she gave the money to Christian Dawkins, the sports agent indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York. Hotel security cameras captured the meeting on video, which clearly reveals that not only did the undercover agent lie in the affidavit in support of the complaint, but also that the agent herself—notDawkins—placed the alleged envelope of money on a table at the meeting, and the envelope was never touched by Melton’s family friend, Dave Elliott. While USC continues to sideline De’Anthony Melton, his attorney at Andrues/Podberesky has been unrelenting in her efforts to preserve Melton’s reputation, his basketball future at USC, and his promising career in the NBA.


Coronavirus cases are on the rise. An 89-year-old man in China has become the fourth person to die from a new strain of coronavirus. The man was a resident of Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated, but it’s since spread to other major cities, including the capital Beijing. The head of the country’s national health commission has confirmed the disease can spread from human to human, and there are now more than 200 confirmed cases in China alone. More countries are going to start screening travelers from China, with the World Health Organisation due to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday. From Beijing, Patrik Fok reports.
#coronavirus #corona #ChinaVirus
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Byron Shire Council has (so far) marked about 40 big, old Tallowwoods, Blackbutts and Red Mahoganies on the Coast Road for potential removal.
Next to the Coast Road north of the Broken Head Hall. Look for the painted numbers on the trunks.
Council wants to do road works.
Why are the trees important?
- They are scenically significant in a landscape in which so many beautiful, BIG trees have been removed.
- They provide a beautiful backdrop to this scenic drive and are part of what makes Broken Head so special.
- The Tallowwoods are one of 3 feed trees vitally important to our threatened coastal koala population (the others are Swamp Mahogany and Forest red Gum).
- The trees provide habitat for birds, bats, reptiles and other native animals.
- They provide a forested link for animals across the busy Coast Road and elsewhere these links have largely disappeared.
- Crazily, Council is targeting this same area to protect and improve the koala habitat link in their Comprehensive Coastal Koala Management Plan now on public display.
It’s happened before!
Concerned local residents had to protest and address Council TWICE before to save old trees earmarked for clearing next to the Coast Road at Broken Head.
After protests stopped the tree clearing Council upgraded the road south of the Broken Head Beach turnoff without having to remove the rest of the trees marked for removal.
Fortunately, Councillors acted sensibly in the past but now the new Council need to act.
What can I do?
1. Contact the Councillors:
2. Sign our change.org petition to Council here
3. Write a letter to the editor
4. Talk to your friends and encourage them to take action.
• No tree clearing!
• Protect the beautiful roadside corridor of old native trees.
• Protect the Tallowwood koala feed trees.
• Protect the forest link for animals across the Coast Road.
• Fix the road but save the trees.
• Save the money earmarked for unnecessary studies and spend it in other areas of the shire where it’s desperately needed.


In the world of protein bars, flow wrap is the name of the game. Consumers know and understand this very customary packaging. Wilde Snacks of Boulder, Colorado, wanted to capitalize on this consumer standard, yet give them something they had never tasted before or seen in a typical flow wrap package.
The Wilde package
The protein product using GAP (Global Animal Partnership) certified lean meats was supposed to be created as a bar rather than having it labeled as “jerky” – a must when CEO Jason Wright set out to create Wilde. “We were tired of the sugary, low protein snack bar options currently available on the shelf. We wanted to give the customer a new savory option but with a recognizable feel, so we chose to flow wrap the bars to give them a familiar package.” Since the consumer would be trying something new when choosing Wilde, Wright and his team wanted to make sure they offered it up in an instantly recognizable package, located on shelves next to the bars they were already accustomed to.
Wright knows that Bosch Packaging Technology is known as one of the leaders in horizontal flow wrapping so it was an easy choice when deciding on a machine supplier. “With Bosch we felt comfortable to achieve hermetic seals, which was one of the main reasons to partner with Bosch,” Wright says. In order to verify the requirements, Bosch performed tests at their plant prior to ordering the equipment and demonstrated their capability to seal the packs at the required quality and speed. Wilde Snacks decided to go with the Pack 101 horizontal flow wrapper, which is an entry-level solution that offers a wide format range. “We love the consistency of the machine. It produces the perfect seal we need every time,” says Wright. The demand for quality meat snacks has grown in double digits for the last five years. “The wave is coming,” Wright says, “and we’re out there with our surfboard.”
Read more about the pack style “horizontal flow wrap in this article:
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A furnished apartment with pool and room service: Serviced Apartments are booming in Switzerland. This increases price pressure and housing shortages.
In Switzerland, the business with serviced apartments is growing. These are furnished rental apartments, with certain services such as laundry included in the rent. The term is broad, however.
Basically, serviced apartments are according to the real estate monitoring of Wüest Partner in terms of service and equipment level between hotels and furnished living. Typically, the apartment cleaning is included. In addition, the infrastructure on site often belongs to the offer. Guests can use the gym or the complex belonging to the residential complex.
47 percent surcharge
Serviced apartments are lucrative as they often lead to above-average returns, according to Wüest partners. They are noticeably more expensive than classic rental apartments. At a high service level landlords demand on average 47 percent more rent compared to a regular apartment, the authors said.The surcharge of furnished rental apartments without additional services is on average just under 7 percent. According to the study, a serviced apartment costs around 2,500 Swiss francs per month in Swiss terms.
Most users of such offers are foreign business people. Accordingly, serviced apartments are mainly found in major Swiss cities, especially in Zurich. The apartments are also characterized by «excellent location quality», according to the study authors. For example, traffic connections are extremely good.
However, these apartments are not aimed at long-term tenants: the majority stays for a maximum of two months. Thus, the rental period for such an offer is massively shorter than for classic rental apartments. There, according to Wüest, it is the average partner for around 7.5 years.
National Councilor Balthasar Glättli sees a connection between serviced apartments and housing shortages: "If regular living spaces are converted into serviced apartments, of course, living space disappears for the quite normal long-term tenants." In this case, there are fewer apartments for people who want to permanently move to Zurich, for example, can not afford an expensive serviced apartment.


In the vast and competitive landscape of the digital world, where websites are constantly vying for attention, the significance of backlinks cannot be overstated. Often referred to as the backbone of search engine optimization (SEO), backlinks play a pivotal role in determining a website’s credibility, authority, and ultimately, its success. In this article, we will delve into the realm of backlinks, exploring what they are, why they matter, and how they can propel your online presence to new heights.
What are Backlinks?
Simply put, backlinks are incoming links from one website to another. They act as digital endorsements, signifying to search engines that the linked content is valuable and worthy of attention. When a reputable website links to yours, it’s like a vote of confidence, and search engines interpret this as a signal that your content is credible and relevant.
The Importance of Backlinks:
- Enhanced Search Engine Ranking: Backlinks are a crucial factor in search engine algorithms. Search engines, such as Google, consider the quantity and quality of backlinks when determining the ranking of a webpage. Websites with a higher number of high-quality backlinks are more likely to appear at the top of search results, driving organic traffic and visibility.
- Credibility and Authority: Backlinks are a testament to your website’s authority and credibility within your industry or niche. When reputable websites link to your content, it establishes your site as a reliable source of information, building trust among your audience and peers.
- Increased Referral Traffic: Backlinks are not just about impressing search engines; they also serve as direct pathways for potential visitors. When users click on a backlink, they are redirected from one site to another, increasing your website’s visibility and driving targeted traffic.
- Faster Indexing: Search engines use bots to crawl and index web pages. Backlinks can expedite this process by providing a clear path for search engine spiders to discover and index new content. This is particularly beneficial for new websites aiming to establish a presence in the digital realm swiftly.
- Diversification of Traffic Sources: Relying solely on one traffic source is risky. Backlinks allow you to diversify your sources of traffic. If one channel falters, you can still attract visitors through other reputable websites linking to your content.
Building Quality Backlinks:
- Create High-Quality Content: The foundation of any successful backlink strategy is high-quality content. Create valuable, informative, and engaging content that naturally attracts links from other websites.
- Guest Posting: Contribute guest posts to authoritative websites in your niche. In return, you can usually include a link back to your site, establishing your authority and reaching a wider audience.
- Networking and Relationship Building: Cultivate relationships with influencers, bloggers, and other websites in your industry. Genuine connections can lead to organic backlinks as others recognize and appreciate your expertise.
- Broken Link Building: Identify broken links on other websites and offer your content as a replacement. It’s a win-win situation – they get a working link, and you gain a valuable backlink.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the internet, backlinks remain a cornerstone of digital success. They not only contribute to improved search engine rankings but also validate your website’s credibility and authority. By understanding the importance of backlinks and implementing strategic link-building techniques, you can pave the way for sustained online growth and recognition. Embrace the power of backlinks, and watch your digital presence soar to new heights.


This episode explores housing rights and discrimination, featuring the life and legacy of J. Vance Lewis, one of Houston's first Black trial attorneys, and his influence on Freedmen's Town. Then, Christopher Tyson of Build Baton Rouge discusses the law and policy behind housing rights and urban development, followed by an overview of race-based housing discrimination cases with Lone Star Legal Aid.
Use the chapter markers in Buzzsprout to navigate between the segments.
After listening to this episode, Houston Bar Association members can visit hba.org/watchcle for information to obtain CLE credit.
Views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of The Houston Lawyer or the Houston Bar Association.


Electronic cigarettes also known as an e-cigarette or e-cig are gaining more and more popularity as people discover an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. An ever-increasing number of smokers are giving up the deadly smoking habit in favor of what is referred to as “vaping”. Many small businesses have popped up to cater to the needs of “vapers” and electronic cigarette users. The majority of these businesses are run by entrepreneurs who have seen first hand the benefits of making the switch to the electronic cigarette. Electronic cigarettes are battery operated devices providing an alternative that have been welcomed by smokers around the globe.
Why Electronic Cigarettes?
Everyone knows and understands the negative effects that smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes has on your body. It’s not only a danger to your health but a danger to the people around you. In a nutshell the electronic cigarette is a powerful device developed as an alternative for smokers of traditional tobacco cigarettes, it is not a smoking cessation device. If you are a cigarette smoker and harming your health and the quality of your life you may want to consider switching to an electronic cigarette. When you smoke a tobacco cigarette you generally feel obligated to smoke the whole thing. Usually a few puffs will sooth the craving but you don’t want to waste the rest of the cigarette by throwing it away after a few puffs because this of course is a waste of money with the price of tobacco sky rocketing these days. The e-cigarette allows you to use it when required and use as much as you like, you can literally take a few puffs, pop it in your pocket, and go about your day. You may even use an electronic cigarette less and save thousands of dollars every year.
E-Cigarettes – Are they effective?
Quitting smoking is the best and healthiest thing a smoker can do. Smoking cigarettes is not only dangerous, it’s deadly! Quitting smoking is very hard work and replacement products can definitely help to kick the tobacco addiction. Some individuals may need to use nicotine patches, gum and inhalers to help quit smoking, those products continue to give you nicotine.
Nicotine addiction is the most powerful substance addiction of them all, more powerful than heroin addiction. It’s no wonder millions of smokers around the world are struggling to quit and escape the grip of addiction once they start smoking cigarettes, and it gets harder the longer you smoke. If you belong in the category of smokers that want to quit smoking cigarettes, but have struggled with other quitting methods, you may find the electronic cigarette to be an alternative method of quitting.
A Thoughtful Gift
Electronic cigarettes have taken Australia and the world by storm and not surprisingly, they have also become popular gift items. It’s always exciting to find a gift for someone that is special to you. You can now give the gift of an electronic cigarette starter kit to your chain smoking uncle or friend for under $100! An e-cigarette is a fantastic way to say that you care without putting a lot of stress on your loved ones to give up smoking. You don’t need a massive budget to purchase a starter kit and the electronic cigarette could be the positive intervention you’ve been looking for to help your loved ones kick the nasty habit.


Learn to Write Stories That Hook People
Do you dream of literary success?
Do you want to improve your blog, get a story published, or write that bestseller that is bursting to break free?
Are you looking to improve your writing? Break into the travel industry and land assignments that send you to far reaches of the globe?
Do you wish you had access to teachers and experts who could help you?
There’s a storyteller inside all of us.
The trick is getting it out.
There’s an art to putting your story on paper.
And, like any art, it’s one that can be learned – and improved on.
Becoming a good writer takes practice and, most importantly, a good teacher.
When you are traveling, living in a small town, or have limited funds, getting the help you need can be difficult. I know. I’ve been there. When I started out I looked high and low for a course that would help me improve my writing while I traveled.
I never found one.
But what if you could get a college writing course for a tenth of the price – with personalized feedback from a college professor?
What if you could learn from the best – anywhere in the world and whenever your schedule allowed?
Get Your Own Private Mentor
We’ve partnered with award-winning travel writer David Farley, author of An Irreverent Curiosity, host for National Geographic, and professor at Columbia and New York University to teach an in-depth course on the nuts and bolts of travel writing.
David is considered one of the top travel writers in the country. He’s hosted a National Geographic Channel show, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, AFAR, and countless other publications.
Through video lectures, interviews with successful travel writers and editors, detailed examples of edited stories, graphics, real-world examples, and writing assignments, you’ll get the course David teaches at NYU and Columbia University — with added information for online writing — at your fingertips (and without the cost).
From crafting a story to self-editing, improving your grammar, writing a book proposal, coming up with ideas, creating narrative arcs, and pitching editors, our course covers everything you need to know to succeed as a writer – and even includes templates for pitching editors and David’s actual book proposal.
What Our Students Are Saying
“Writing is a skill, and David Farley is an exceptional teacher. This travel writing course is everything you would expect out of a university course, except with the added luxury of doing it at your own pace in the comfort of your chosen environment. With tutoring, editing, writing examples, videos, advice, and feedback, being a part of this course is like having your own private writing mentor. It’s helped me improve my own writing, as well as helped me think like a writer and spot errors before I publish them!” – Toni
“David not only explains the ins and outs of what it means to be a travel writer but inspires and teaches his students to become professional storytellers. The feedback and insights David gave me on homework assignments have carried over into everything I’ve written since and have changed the way I read other people’s work, edit my own, and find ideas. The best part of all — the course actually gets you excited to sit down and write!” – Corey
Are you ready to succeed?
We know that when the barrier to entry is low and Buzzfeed-style lists dominate the Internet while publications shutter, it can seem like there’s no hope of making it in the travel writing world. While there is a glut of potential writers, there’s still a dearth of driven ones. There’s quantity but not quality, and I want to show you how to break free from the crowd, find the big breaks, improve your writing, and make it in this industry.
This course covers all aspects of travel writing. It will teach you how to craft the perfect story, improve your writing, self-edit, and enhance your research through video, writing samples, examples of edited work, and much more.
When we were young, there were only a couple of “how to become a travel writer” type of books — and they didn’t seem very good. And there were no classes — online or live — where a successful travel writer could lay out for you just how one successfully travels down this path.
In David’s 10+ years of teaching, his students have gone on to write for the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, and other publications. Some have even published books.
Those successful students were not necessarily the most talented writers in the class. THEY WERE ALWAYS THE MOST DRIVEN. THEY REALLY WANTED THIS. They wanted to make it. That propelled them to become better writers and successes in the field.
And we want to help you get there like those other students!.
Our Course Syllabus
Each week, you’ll get a number of lessons taught through video lectures, text, and step-by-step breakdowns as well as assignments to turn in for editing and personalized feedback. It’s like having your own personal teacher. This course is self-paced so you can learn and write at your own speed.
Introduction to travel writing
Understanding the writing lifestyle
How to create a story
How to find your angle and peg
How to come up with story ideas
BONUS: Writing resources
The anatomy of a story
Various types of commercial writing (and their differences)
How to craft the perfect lede
How to be descriptive (and avoid clichés)
How to edit like an editor
Grammar dos and don’ts
BONUS: Revision checklist
The difference between print and online writing
How to write for an online audience
How to create viral content
How to write memoirs
How to create perfect story arcs
How to research effectively
BONUS: Research checklist
How to find freelance work
How to find and pitch editors
How to sell your work online
How to blog and succeed on social media
BONUS #1: 93 PLACES TO PITCH YOUR WORK
Get a list of publications that hire writers so you can step out the gate with places to pitch right away! Instead of spending fruitless hours trying to find this information online, we’ve included it all in one place for you. We include their rates, email addresses, and contact information.
BONUS #2: PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK ON YOUR WORK
Writing is a skill that requires practice and feedback. That’s why you’ll be able to submit your writing samples to us. David and I will help you refine your writing, editing, story planning, and craft so you can become a better writer from day one. That’s our commitment to you.
No other online travel writing course features this!
BONUS #3: Printable Cheat sheets
From grammar dos and don’ts to editing guidelines, revision checklists, we provide a number of cheat sheets and checklists that you can download, print out, and reference as often as you like to continue to improve your writing.
13+ Hours of Expert Interviews
Listen to interviews with 13 award-winning writers and editors as they share their travel writing tips, failures, and successes with you.
Travel Writer, Editor
Don has been a travel writer and editor for 40 years. In this interview, he talks about how to break into the industry, his early mistakes, and advice for new writers.
Author, Travel Writer
In this wide-ranging interview, he discusses how to brainstorm stories, create a narrative arc, and publish a book.
Stephanie is currently a teacher at UNC. In this interview, she talks about how to write and pitch a successful book.
Carol talks about creating a niche you can grow with, supporting your family on a freelancer’s salary, and the lack of diversity in travel writing.
Nathan discusses long-form writing on the web, how to create story ideas, and how NOT to pitch editors.
Travel Writer, Editor
Derk is the former editor of AFAR magazine. In this interview, he discusses what writers can do to improve the quality of their writing and pitches.
Writer, Educator, Teacher
Thomas is the editor of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. In this interview, he covers the dual life of writing and editing.
Food and Travel Writer
Matt discusses his journey from writer to editor, the mistakes he sees freelance writers make in their editing, and how to successfully pitch online.
Freelance Writer, Traveler
Jessica talks about life as a freelance travel writer and how to be a “reporter” in your destination.
Jason is an award-winning travel journalist and current editor of Frommers.com. In this interview, he discusses how to write service articles.
Author, Former TV Writer
Caroline shares her advice on how to create stories, develop a narrative arc, and write dialogue that engages and captivates the audience.
Travel Editor, SFChronicle.com
Spud shares how he picks and assigns freelance work as well as how writers can self-edit their work and improve their writing.
Travel Writer, Essayist, Adventurer
Rolf discusses his evolution as a writer, how to use traditional writing skills for the web, and finding unique story angles.
perks of membership
Private Facebook Group
Monthly Q&A Webinars
Get Started Today!
This course will teach you writing and editing skills from world-famous and best-selling authors, writers, and editors. Start today risk-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee.
We’re fully committed to helping you improve your writing and become a success. You can test-drive the course for 30 days, read the material, listen to the webinars and interviews, and check out the case studies. If you still don’t feel the course is right for you or will improve your writing, we’ll happily refund 100% of your money.
Meet Your Instructor
David has been writing about travel, food, and culture for over twenty years. His work has appeared in AFAR magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, and World Hum, among other publications. In 2006 and 2013, he won Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers for magazine articles he wrote. He has lived in Prague, Paris, and Rome and now lives in New York City. He is the author of An Irreverent Curiosity and was a host for National Geographic. He teaches writing at Columbia and New York University.
What Our Students are saying
“This course surpassed any writing course I have ever taken in college, as a homeschool teacher, or as a travel professional. I really enjoyed the content and how it was presented, along with the fact that I could send in my writing for David and Matt to review and give feedback on. This course is really is the best of the best! Thank you, David and Matt!” – Whitney
“I noticed an immediate improvement in my writing after starting the course. David illuminates the fundamental concepts of travel writing in such a relatable way that you will be hard-pressed NOT to have a few lightbulb moments as you progress. From the nuts and bolts of grammar to research, composition, and marketing, David dives into it all. Moreover, the feedback David provided was extremely helpful in helping me identify and correct mistakes! If you want to understand the concepts behind the best travel writing in the world, this course is where to start!” – Christopher
“I took this course to learn the underlying physics of being a great travel writer. Through detailed course notes and video tutorials mixed with bespoke and actionable feedback, I found this course suited me perfectly to find structure in my storytelling and also writing for the reader. Supported by a community of bloggers, I now have the confidence to tackle any writing task thrown at me.” – Warren


Mayor Grzmowicz: “It’s much quieter and eco-friendly”
The tender, which costs about 20 million euros, was signed at a ceremony held in the Municipality of Olsztyn in July.
Olsztyn’s Mayor Piotr Grzmowicz as the host gave a speech in the ceremony, where Atilla Gökhan Kızılarslan, Chief Commercial Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Warsaw, Fatma Durmaz Yilbirlik, the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Durmazlar Holding, the holding officials, Olsztyn Municipality officials and citizens also participated.
Piotr Grzmowicz stated that they were able to return to rail system transport, which was abolished in 1965, only in 2004 and emphasized that rail systems are the cleanest and cheapest transport system for the people of the city and the region.
Mayor Grzmowicz stated that they work to develop the tram vehicle numbers and infrastructure within this scope and they are happy to sign an agreement with Durmazlar Holding, meeting all their expectations as a result of the tender they initiated for buying 12 tram vehicles.
Grzmowicz said, “For now, we ordered 12 tramways. Durmazlar Holding’s trams are much quieter and eco-friendly than the trams we are currently using. We may buy 12 more trams according to circumstances after the upcoming 21 months delivery period. The satisfaction received from Panorama model trams, which is produced by Durma Holding and used in Kocaeli and Samsun, was a determining factor for us to choose Durmazlar.”
Fatma Durmaz Yılbirlik stated: “Our goal is to make the world better with advanced technology”.
Fatma Durmaz Yılbirlik, the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Durmazlar Holding gave a speech after Mayor Piotr Grzmowicz and expressed that she was very glad to be in Olsztyn for this meaningful purpose. She stated that gaining the trust of the Olsztyn Municipality and the people of Poland fills them with pride as Durma Holding, which exports to 120 countries and serves Polish industrialists for more than 30 years and wished that the agreement would be the first step in rail systems between Poland and Turkey. Yılbirlik said “We are fully convinced that we will not let down the trust in Durmazlar Holding, which always aims for better and analyzes the needs of the different cultures and aims to make the world better with technology as Turkey’s co-founder of Industry 4.0. I wish this agreement to be good for the city of Olsztyn and Durmazlar”. Fatma Durmaz Yılbirlik, the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Durmazlar Holding and Piotr Grzmowicz, the Mayor of Olsztyn signed agreements and congratulated the officials in the Turkish and Polish delegations and had their photo taken after the speeches on “The first tramway export of Turkey”. Fatma Durmaz Yılbirlik made statements after the ceremony and said that they entered the rail systems sector in 2009 with the 65-year experience and infrastructure of Durmazlar. Stating that they were very happy to export to Olsztyn as the first tram export of Turkey with the company that produced roughly 100 subway and tram vehicles, Yılbirlik also said that it was her duty and goal to increase the cultural relationship and the friendship between the two countries as the Honorary Consul of the Marmara Region in Poland since 2014. “It’s an honor for me and my country to continue to work both culturally and commercially and to make this happen,” she said.
İpekböceği and Panorama experience
Aiming to be the first in the world rail systems sector, Durmazlar Holding established Durmaray in 2010, which operates in the field of rail systems technologies, projects, design, software, installation, testing and commissioning. It started production in 2 separate facilities which have 15 thousand m2 of closed and 50 thousand m2 of open area for frame and bogie production and 25 thousand m2 and 10 thousand m2 open area for rail systems vehicle production. The first tram produced by Durmaray, İpekböceği was put into the service of Bursa in 2013. It also won 60 Light Rail System and 12 bidirectional tram projects initiated by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality in 2015.
The company’s new generation design Panorama was put into service with 8 vehicles in Samsun and with 12 bidirectional vehicles in Kocaeli in 2016. Panorama trams will also be available for Olsztyn after 21 months. Having completed their 30-year life test, tested and approved with international standards, the trams stand out with their low energy consumption, low noise level, eco-friendly and safe design. Panorama trams prioritize passenger’s comfort with its 370 mm depth of entrance and 100% low floor. They have 210 passenger capacity with a length of 32 thousand 500 mm and a width of 2 thousand 500 mm.


The Mount St. Joseph University Fireworks will be the highlight of the annual Delhi Skirt Game Tailgate Party on Thursday, July 31. The Tailgate Party is planned for the Remke parking lot on Delhi Pike from 6-10 p.m. Bring the whole family to dinner!
The annual Delhi Skirt Game's theme this year is "Famous mothers versus famous daughters." Where else can you see Goldie Hawn squaring off against Kate Hudson? The annual skirt game is a charity fundraiser and features Delhi, ahem, men dressed in women's clothes while playing baseball. Local 12's Bob Herzog will again host the game with a special appearance by Judge Dinkelacker. Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neal will play catcher like you've never seen him before.
For more information, visit the Skirt Game's website at http://www.delhiskirtgame.org/


By Mary Elizabeth Dallas | Reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD
“Getting the flu is miserable,” says Christopher A. Ohl, MD, a professor of infectious diseases at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “It means missed work, school, and vacations.” There are simple steps you can take to avoid the flu this season, but first you need to know your influenza facts.
See if you have what it takes to protect yourself and your loved ones this flu season.
How long can flu viruses generally survive on a hard surface?
“Up to eight hours” is correct. Flu viruses can generally survive on hard surfaces for up to eight hours, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Large airborne droplets sneezed or coughed from the nose or mouth of an infected person can land on nearby surfaces, like floors, tables, and countertops, Dr. Ohl explains. Flu viruses can also be transferred from an infected person’s hands to commonly used objects like light switches, phones, and doorknobs, where others can pick them up, he notes. Flu viruses prefer low humidity and low temperatures, and under these conditions they could potentially survive for up to 48 hours on hard, nonporous surfaces like plastic and stainless steel. If these surfaces are moist or wet, flu viruses could survive even longer, according to HHS.
To avoid getting the flu or spreading the virus to others, it’s essential to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, which can spread germs, advises Susan Rehm, MD, vice chair of the department of infectious disease and executive director of physician health at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. If used correctly, certain chemicals – including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, iodine-based antiseptics, and alcohols – can help get rid of flu viruses lingering on surfaces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How far can the flu spread in the air when a person sneezes or coughs?
“About 6 feet” is correct. You don’t need to be in close contact with someone who has the flu to become infected. People with the flu can spread it to others about 6 feet away, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Most people don’t realize how easily the flu can be transmitted through the air, Dr. Rehm notes. “If people have the flu when they cough, sneeze, or even talk, the flu virus goes into the air and people who are in a radius of up to 6 feet or possibly even farther may be breathing in flu particles and getting sick,” she says. Visualize Pigpen, the character from the Peanuts comic strip with a dusty haze around his head, Ohl suggests. If you get into that cloud or within 6 feet of someone with the flu, you’re at risk.
How long do you need to wash your hands to get rid of germs?
“At least 20 seconds” is correct. One of the most important things you can do to avoid getting the flu or infecting others is to keep your hands clean, the CDC advises. But, for this to be effective, you need to wash your hands correctly. That means scrubbing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. “It’s the friction that makes the difference,” Rehm explains, “not the type of soap you use.” Scrub both the fronts and backs of your hands as well as the spaces between your fingers, Rehm suggests. After you’ve finished, air-dry your hands or use a clean towel.
Make good hand hygiene a habit. Routinely wash your hands before eating, as well as after preparing food, using the bathroom, changing a diaper, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, the CDC recommends. If you aren’t near a sink with running water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
Can you spread the flu to others before you develop symptoms?
“Yes” is correct. Even before people realize they’re sick, they can spread the flu to others, the CDC cautions. Symptoms of the flu, such as fever, chills, and body aches, usually develop one to four days after the virus enters the body. Unlike a cold, which can develop gradually and worsen over the course of a few days, the flu usually comes on very suddenly, Rehm notes.
Most healthy adults may be able to infect other people up to 24 hours before these symptoms appear, the CDC states.
In general, how long are people with the flu contagious?
“Five to seven days” is correct. Most healthy adults could infect other people with the flu for five to seven days after they get sick, according to the CDC. “Once a fever hits, you are the most contagious,” Ohl says. “Generally, the highest level of contagiousness is when you feel the worst.” Your symptoms may be less severe after a few days, but it’s important to remember that you are still contagious. It may take up to two weeks for some people to fully recover from the flu. In order to avoid spreading the virus to others, the rule of thumb is to stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, Ohl adds. “Be a good citizen and stay home,” he says. “It’s not the time to get up and go to work. Your colleagues don’t want to be around you if you have the flu.” Children with the flu and those with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer than seven days, NIAID notes.
Once you get a flu shot, how long does it take for the vaccine to become effective?
“About two weeks” is correct. The seasonal flu vaccine is not effective right away: It takes about two weeks for your body to make the antibodies that will protect you from the flu, according to HHS. During this time, if you are exposed to the virus, you are still at risk for infection because you’re not yet immune. That’s why it’s important to take the time to get a flu shot early in the fall before flu season kicks into high gear, Rehm notes. “Every year, flu season is a little bit different,” she says. “A couple of years it peaked in December, and many years it peaked at the end of February. The biggest problem with immunization is missed opportunities.”
Bottom line: Don’t continuously put off getting a flu shot. Since the timing, severity, and length of flu season vary from year to year, getting vaccinated early on can help minimize your risk for infection, Rehm advises.
You can’t get the flu if you get a seasonal flu shot.
“False” is correct. There is still a chance you could get the flu if you are vaccinated. The effectiveness of the seasonal flu vaccine depends on your age and health status, and also on the similarity between the viruses selected to make the vaccine and the viruses actually circulating in the community, the CDC explains. More than 100 national influenza centers in more than 100 countries conduct ongoing flu surveillance. The World Health Organization uses this information to make recommendations about which flu strains to include in the vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere, according to the CDC. If the viruses included in the vaccine are a close match to those in circulation, the vaccine will be more effective. Even if the vaccine and circulating flu viruses are not closely matched, the vaccine may still offer some level of protection, reduce the severity of the illness, and help prevent serious flu-related complications, the agency explains. “The flu vaccine remains the No. 1 way to prevent the flu,” Rehm says.
“Even in years where it’s not as effective, having some degree of protection is better than none, which is what you get if you don’t get the vaccine.”
Once flu symptoms develop, antiviral medications are most effective if taken within:
“48 hours” is correct. Antiviral drugs are most effective against the flu if they are taken within 48 hours of the patient’s developing symptoms, the CDC reports. These prescription medications are available as pills, in liquid form, and as an inhaled powder. Some can also be given intravenously. Antiviral drugs are not a cure for the flu, but they can reduce its severity. They can ease your symptoms, prevent serious flu-related complications, and help you recover a day or two sooner, the CDC points out. Even if the ideal 48-hour window passes, some people with the flu — particularly those with chronic medical conditions — may still benefit from taking antivirals, Rehm notes. “These drugs are the only things that can actually prevent the flu virus from replicating,” she says. “They are very specific.”
How many people in the United States die from the flu or flu-related complications each year?
“Between 3,000 and 49,000” is correct. The flu is a serious illness and shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s estimated that annual flu-related deaths in the United States range between 3,000 and 49,000 people, according to the CDC. To put this into perspective, nearly 34,000 people are killed in car accidents in this country each year, Rehm points out. Every year, 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized because of flu-related complications, the CDC reports. Young children, older people, pregnant women, and people whose immune systems are weakened from disease or medication are at greater risk. But it’s important to realize that anyone can develop serious flu-related complications, Rehm cautions.
In recent years, 80 to 90 percent of people who died from the flu were:
“Adults age 65 and older” is correct. During recent flu seasons, 80 to 90 percent of those whose deaths were ruled flu-related were 65 and older, the CDC reports. As you get older, your immune system weakens, increasing your risk for the flu and flu-related complications, HHS explains. As a result, older people have the option of getting a high-dose flu vaccine that will trigger a stronger response from their immune systems.


Filmed in Vancouver
We’re ready for our close-up! Vancouver’s film and TV show biz pumps $1 billion per year into the local economy, and with blockbuster flicks like Deadpool, Skyscraper, 50 Shades of Grey and Star Trek filmed here, word is out that Vancouver is spreading its own Hollywood glitter.
Chalk it up to lower production costs, close proximity to a range of available backdrops – sparkling ocean, sandy beaches, lush rainforests and soaring mountains, for starters – and a mild climate conducive to year-round shooting. Whatever the case, Vancouver is critically acclaimed by movie producers, directors and celebrities alike. In fact, the city has a long history with celebrity lore, back since Gary Cooper hitched a ride to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on a passing street-cleaning machine.
Of course, it’s not just big-name cinematic releases that shoot in Vancouver – plenty of your favourite TV flicks are brought to life here, too. The city has become a sci-fi and fantasy hub, starting back when the original X-Files series filmed in the ‘90s (David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson also returned to shoot the series reboot). Other small-screen fan favourites shot in Vancouver include Riverdale, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, Arrow and The Flash, as well as old-school series spanning the range of 21 Jump Street to MacGyver.
While visiting, take note of big white trailers parked around the city, with cables snaking down footpaths and casually dressed crews milling about with walkie-talkies – you might be witnessing the makings of the next Hollywood blockbuster. That’s a wrap!


Jonathan Guyer is a senior foreign policy writer at Vox.
He worked as managing editor of The American Prospect from 2019 to 2021, where he wrote accountability stories on national security and foreign policy that won top prizes from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Jonathan has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Rolling Stone, among others. His research has been supported by fellowships from Fulbright, the Institute of Current World Affairs, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
Visit Oum Cartoon, his archived blog of Arabic comics and caricature.


Author Member: Jeff Probst
Jeff Probst's latest novel, When the Moon was White, was published in autumn 2022. He has had stories, articles and poems published in literary magazines, journals and newspapers in California, South Africa and London.
I launched my novel at a local pub on a Wednesday afternoon to about 25 people in the ‘Americana’ group of the local U3A (University of the Third Age). The audience demographic of over-60s was just right: my novel features the Moon Race and music from the Sixties. The group seemed to enjoy the extracts I read, and the Beatles, Herman’s Hermits and Beach Boys tracks.
Why are you proud?
I worked on my novel for nine years, and here was a group of local readers who listened to my words, asked interesting and intelligent questions, and afterwards bought some books.
What have you learned?
Not to panic before my next reading. The people who come want to hear what I have to say.


The guys sit down with Lee Warrick, a junior front end web developer who recently attended a local bootcamp after years of being a firefighter and nurse. They talk about his transition from healthcare to programming, how the college experience differed from his development training, how he keeps his skills sharp on the job, and how you can run a bunch of extracurricular activities for developers, but maybe just attending some is at least as effective a use of your time.
We really enjoyed having Lee on the show and hope that his story can inspire our listeners who might be on the fence about learning programming.
Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast.
01:28- Lee's developer story
09:31- Biggest surprise of developer life
13:56- Advice to your younger self
23:08- How do you keep learning after school?
38:14- Can your job actually be fun?
40:36- How to keep from burning out?
46:44- Choosing the right extracurriculars
- Lee's website
- Lee on Twitter
- Tech Jr. Podcast


A hyper realistic and completely free western, the video game Red Dead Redemption 2 is a technical success and scriptwriting. His record sales prove it. But videos of players showing themselves to be beating and killing suffragettes create controversy over this “open world”. The Rockstar studio does not seem to fear for its reputation.
It took seven years to discover the sequel to Red Dead Redemption. Released October 26, this video game, which takes place in 1899, plunges the player into an open world of westerns. But by leaving a complete moral freedom to its players, Rockstar, the publishing company, must now face a bad buzz.
In this game, the player crosses the road of characters illustrating this period of change in the United States. He met suffragettes in particular, those women who campaigned for the right to vote and who won it in 1920.
But a few days after the release of the game, unexpected videos have blossomed on Youtube. There were players attacking these militant women. Some were beaten, others thrown at alligators or tied up at the bottom of a mine … the most “popular” of these videos, posted by youtubeur Shirrako exceeded 1.7 million views. Others accumulate hundreds of thousands.
In the comments, there are many anti-feminist remarks. Some thank Rockstar for allowing them to get rid of these ” boring feminists “, others regret that it is not possible to act in real life. At first, Youtube censored these videos arguing that its policy does not allow gratuitous violence. But faced with criticism of players, they have been restored but prohibited to minors.
Absolute moral freedom
The creators of the game emphasize that if the players have complete moral freedom, they must still pay the consequences of their actions. So by acting badly, vis-à-vis these women or any other character, the player will be more and more sought after by the authorities and bounty hunters will eventually eliminate it. A threat that is not enough to prevent this drift.
” This is a complex problem that applies to very detailed games and open universes, which give priority to the player’s choice.What is less complex (to understand) is that there is a pool of video game players who hate women and get on with it, “writes on twitter Emmanuel Cheeseberg, editor of the Motherboard tech website. Dan Hassler-Forest, media specialist at the University of Utrecht University in the Netherlands, is less nuanced: ” the possibility of hitting a suffragette is something that the studio deliberately chose to introduce into the game “.
The game’s specialists explain that it is precisely the absolute freedom that makes this game extraordinary. On the side of RockStar, we remain discreet on the controversy. If some hope that this controversy will damage the reputation of the studio, in fact, it is mainly involved in its promotion. This new album has already sold 17 million copies in eight days and will be the best-selling game in 2018.
Grand Thief Auto
In addition, the studio is accustomed to controversy. He is at the origin of the famous “Grand Thief Auto” (GTA) license. At the release of each version, the studio is systematically criticized for the violence of the scenario, the ambiguous moral choices and the presence of sex workers with whom the players can “interact”. Nevertheless, each release is a commercial success.
In France, in 2016, former Secretary of State for Digital Axelle Lemaire had launched a mission about sexism in video games. This industry, on which the Hexagon is at the forefront, benefits from tax credits and an aid fund. The minister and parliamentarians had threatened to deprive the studios that they would not put enough effort into the positive representation of women. But, in the absence of consensus, these projects did not succeed.


The world of mobile communication has seen rapid evolution over the past few decades, from the birth of the first-generation (1G) networks to the current widespread adoption of 5G. As we stand on the precipice of technological advancement, the next frontier in wireless communication is already emerging: 6G. In this article, we will delve into the concept of 6G mobile communication, its potential features, applications, and the profound impact it could have on our interconnected world.
6G, the successor to 5G, represents the sixth generation of mobile communication technology. While 5G is still in the process of global deployment, the industry is already looking ahead to 6G to address anticipated requirements beyond the capabilities of 5G networks. While it’s important to note that 6G is still in the early stages of research and development, several key attributes are being envisioned:
- Unprecedented Speed: 6G is expected to offer blistering data transfer speeds, potentially reaching terabits per second. This would enable near-instantaneous downloads of ultra-high-definition content and immersive virtual reality experiences.
- Ultra-Low Latency: The latency in 6G networks is expected to be reduced to a few milliseconds or even microseconds, facilitating real-time applications like remote surgery, augmented reality gaming, and autonomous vehicles.
- Massive Connectivity: 6G is envisioned to connect not only people and devices but also the Internet of Things (IoT) on an unprecedented scale. This includes connecting billions of devices and sensors, enabling a vast array of applications in smart cities, agriculture, and healthcare.
- Spectral Efficiency: Improved spectral efficiency in 6G networks will allow for more efficient use of available radio frequencies, reducing congestion and enhancing network reliability.
- Energy Efficiency: 6G aims to be more energy-efficient than its predecessors, with innovations in power management and reduced energy consumption, contributing to a greener future.
- Advanced Antenna Technologies: The use of advanced antenna technologies, such as intelligent beamforming and massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output), will be critical for delivering high-speed, reliable connections in 6G.
The capabilities of 6G are expected to open the door to a wide range of innovative applications and services:
- Immersive Experiences: 6G can provide the backbone for incredibly immersive augmented and virtual reality experiences, revolutionizing gaming, entertainment, and remote collaboration.
- Healthcare: The low latency and high reliability of 6G networks can enable remote surgery and telemedicine procedures with precision and confidence.
- Smart Cities: 6G will play a pivotal role in the development of smart cities, facilitating seamless connectivity for traffic management, public safety, and efficient resource utilization.
- Autonomous Vehicles: The ultra-low latency of 6G is crucial for autonomous vehicles, ensuring rapid response times and safe navigation.
- Agriculture: Precision agriculture can benefit from 6G’s massive IoT capabilities, enabling real-time monitoring of crop conditions and automated farming techniques.
Challenges and Considerations
While the prospects of 6G are exciting, there are several challenges to overcome:
- Technical Hurdles: Developing the technology to achieve the ambitious goals of 6G, such as terabit-per-second speeds, presents significant technical challenges.
- Regulatory and Spectrum Issues: Allocating and managing the required frequency spectrum for 6G is a complex process that will require international coordination.
- Security: With greater connectivity comes increased security concerns. Robust security measures will be essential to protect the vast array of connected devices and data.
- Environmental Impact: As with any advanced technology, the environmental impact of 6G must be carefully considered, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.


As the vaccine rollout strengthens, Cambodia is, at last, looking towards re-opening its borders for tourism.
The Cambodian ministry of tourism announced plans to relax travel restrictions for foreigners from November. To further entice tourists, the country is also looking at reducing its current quarantine time of 14-days, or, even removing it entirely. At this stage, it appears that the re-opening plan will only permit fully vaccinated travellers to visit the country. As yet, no further details have been announced.
Cambodia is rapidly outpacing its neighbours in the vaccination race – according to figures from Our World in Data, the country has vaccinated 54,6% of its population. Thailand, and Vietnam are lagging behind with 11,2% and 3,6% respectively. It’s no surprise then, that these positive numbers have brought the possibility of re-opening to leisure travel to the fore. In fact, Cambodia’s vaccine rollout has been so fast-paced, it’s the second highest in Southeast Asia, beaten only by Singapore, which is currently at 79,1% of the population vaccinated. Currently, Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh is the most vaccinated city in Southeast Asia. The country’s goal is to reach herd immunity by the end of September when roughly 75% of the population will have received both jabs.
When to visit?
For foreigners eager to explore the temples of Angkor Wat, or kick back on a beautiful beach, then Cambodia‘s re-opening couldn’t be better timed. The wet season tends to run between May and October, so by then, the seasonal monsoon cycle should be over. The dry season runs from November to April, and December and January are the coolest months. With daily average temperatures sitting in the mid-20oC’s the end of the year is ideal for a beach escape. So, whether you want to snooze on the beaches of Saracen Bay, or hack through the rainforests in the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia will soon be a bucket-list possibility once more.


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October 16, 2014
The Senate today concurred in amendments to legislation authored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York) that expands the state’s prescription drug monitoring program to include Schedule II through V controlled substances.
October 10, 2014
Sen. Pat Vance (R-31) joined U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-4) and Rep. Mike Regan (R-92) today in a bridge naming ceremony in honor of Staff Sergeant Guy E. Shelley Jr.
October 9, 2014
Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York), Rep. Mike Regan (R-York/Cumberland) and U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-4th) will lead the ceremonial unveiling of a sign designating the Old York Road bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike as the Staff Sergeant Guy E. Shelley Memorial Bridge.[...Read More]


By Jerry Williams, Volunteer Docent at Grounds For Sculpture
Volunteers at Grounds For Sculpture have a monthly educational meeting. Our guests at one meeting late last year were from The Sculpture Foundation, the force behind Sculpture On The Way. They used to produce a full color brochure on the artwork included in the program. When we asked when it would be updated to include the many additions since last publication, we were advised that it was not practical to keep updating the brochure because the artwork itself keeps changing. They suggested someone amongst us volunteers take up a similar project.
Well, the individual who asked the question coincidentally had the same name as me. So, I picked up the thrown gauntlet, grabbed my camera and hit the road. I’ve traversed these roads and seen these sculptures countless times, but I never gave a second thought to photographing them. I quickly discovered that a weekday afternoon was not going to work if I wanted to capture all of the pieces. So I shot a few and decided to come back on the next Saturday morning.
I headed north on I-295 and pulled to the shoulder across from Head 2 Head. There’s not much traffic on this road at about 8 a.m. on a Saturday, but there is still some. I quickly picked up my camera with a telephoto lens and shot off a group of pictures of the sculpture across six lanes of highway plus a grass median — this while cars whizzed by on both sides of the roadway.
Done there, I went further up the highway and turned around to come back to exit 65B from the north. As soon as you come off this exit, the first thing you see is Comprehension by Seward Johnson. It was this piece that drove home the realization that certain installations of public art are meant to be seen only in passing. I should have realized it after photographing Head 2 Head on a busy Interstate Highway, but it sunk in here. There is simply no place to stop safely and take some photos, even early on a Saturday morning.
Over the next hour or two I shot a bunch of photos. When I got home, I loaded them into my computer and printed out what I thought were the best ones of each piece. The following week, I met with Lynn DeClemente, the registrar for The Sculpture Foundation. I showed her what I shot and she identified those pieces I could not. She also pointed me to pieces I had missed, or didn’t know about, and let me know of a few pending additions. Without Lynn’s invaluable assistance and guidance, I would not have been able to complete this project.
So, the following Sunday, camera in hand along with a big cup of coffee, I once again headed out. The sculptures on and around the NJ Transit train station property were easy to capture on Sunday morning as it’s not a busy place then. Across the road is the Congoleum plant and I spent some time on their property shooting whatever I could of the surrounding art.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of all was trying to fully capture Crossing Paths by Seward Johnson. This monumental piece was not yet installed when I took on this project. It is sited to best be seen from the adjacent train track. Thus, from the road (East State Street Extension), all you can see is the back. Well, I was determined to shoot the piece from the front and knew the area pretty well. So I set out to go to the other side of the tracks and get a few good photos. The other side of the tracks is also industrial, including trucking firms and the like. As you can imagine, early Sunday does not bring much activity to light industrial areas so I was the lone car in the area. I drove up and down side streets across from the work but could not get a clear view of it. While I sipped my coffee I contemplated the risk versus reward of entering private property to get closer to the tracks. Wisdom won out and I drove back to the other side of the tracks and moved on to the other works.
The piece on Klockner Road by NottinghamHigh School (Long Forms by Mark Power) presented its own problems. Before doing my early weekend morning excursions, I drove by the high school a number of times before I could even distinguish the piece from the surrounding trees. I briefly thought of pulling over and taking a few shots but quickly stifled those thoughts. Imagine an older gentleman (me) driving up to a high school during school hours and sticking a camera with a telephoto lens out the window. Once again, wisdom won out and I decided to capture this on a weekend trip.
Tulip by Seymour Ikenson presented another problem. At the time I was doing this project (early 2012), the former Siperstein’s paint store was being demolished and a new Walgreen’s was replacing it. The construction site was fenced off and there was rubble surrounding the sculpture. Across the street is a Wawa in whose lot I sat, with another cup of coffee, pondering how I could capture the work without including all the construction detritus. Bottom line was that I couldn’t and the photo included in Episode V is taken from The Sculpture Foundation website.
This project made me realize that there are two types of public (actually there are probably more than that). One is sculpture that is intended to be enjoyed while passing by. These pieces are usually monumental and are not designed to be seen up close and personal. Most of the works in Sculpture On The Way fall into this category. They are placed in locations not convenient or safe for pedestrians. The other type is those that can and perhaps should be looked at up close and personal. First Ride and Daedalus come to mind as good examples of this type.
Sculpture On The Way is not stagnant. Since I undertook this project, Hitchhiker and Crossing Paths were added. Los Mariachis and Turn of the Century were moved to a new location and joined by Whispering Close and Time For Fun. The vacated location was filled with God Bless America. It is not beyond belief that before you read this final episode, yet another change will have taken place on Sculpture On The Way. Just as a breadcrumb path succumbs to changes from wind and animals, so too does Sculpture On The Way.
I hope you enjoyed this excursion as much as I did preparing it. The next time you go to Grounds For Sculpture, or to the NJ Transit train station, or have any reason to be in the area, perhaps you’ll look at this marvelous collection in a slightly different light. It was a pleasure chatting with you.


Invizius has been named by FierceMedTech as one of 2018’s Fierce 15 med tech companies, designating it as one of the most promising private companies in the industry.
Invizius has developed H-Guard, a biotechnology product that acts as an “invisibility cloak”, hiding life-saving medical devices from patients’ immune systems. The company’s first application targets the blood filter used in kidney dialysis, promising to meet a massive and desperate unmet need among almost three million patients with kidney failure.
Invizius spun out of ground-breaking research at the University of Edinburgh into how deadly bacteria manage to hide from the human immune system. H-Guard replicates bacteria’s behaviour and is being developed into a suite of products that integrate with existing treatments, preventing the deadly complications that result when medical devices are rejected.
During dialysis, the patient’s immune system sees the dialysis machine as an unwelcome foreign body, and attacks it, creating inflammatory processes that end up damaging the patient’s own cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for dialysis patients, and life expectancy on dialysis is slashed by two-thirds compared to that of the general population.
H-Guard is also being developed to help millions of patients in critical care, or who undergo open heart surgery, who suffer from complications after being hooked up to heart and lung machines.
Invizius announced £500,000 of investment from Mercia Fund Managers in April 2018, shortly after the company was formed with the help of Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service.
Richard Boyd, CEO of Invizius, said: “The team at Invizius is absolutely delighted that our innovation and global ambition are receiving international recognition as one of the Fierce 15, and this adds to the momentum the business is building. We are excited and motivated by the potential of H-Guard to address decades-long shortcomings in the treatment of millions of patients worldwide.”
The Fierce 15 celebrates the spirit of being “fierce” – championing innovation and creativity, even in the face of intense competition. This is FierceMedTech’s seventh annual Fierce 15 selection.
An internationally recognized daily report reaching a network of over 90,000 med tech industry professionals, FierceMedTech provides subscribers with an authoritative analysis of the day's top stories. Every year FierceMedTech evaluates hundreds of private companies from around the world for its annual Fierce 15 list, which is based on a variety of factors such as the strength of its technology, partnerships, venture backers and a competitive market position.
The full list of this year’s Fierce 15 winners, and a feature on Invizius, can be viewed here.


Catherine Bauer writes…
Silence (or thinking music).
Tap, tap, tap.
Those are the sounds of a frustrated writer – be it journalist, columnist, blogger, novelist, student – whatever.
Writing doesn’t always come easy – even to someone who enjoys it or who writes for a living.
More than a few of Adelaide’s PR consultants have a journalism background and are regularly asked by clients to help write columns or blog posts.
A good column or blog requires more than just the ability to articulate an opinion. Your opinions have to make sense, provide insight and be convincing. And ideally, they must be entertaining. They can be more intimate, informal and conversational than a lot of mainstream writing.
Here are a few tips that might help you with any New Year blogging resolutions.
Write as you would speak – don’t be formal if you’re not. And don’t be informal and lighthearted if it doesn’t come naturally.
Don’t be long winded – a rambling rant that takes forever to reach a point is blog poison. Get right to the point ASAP.
Write with conviction – put forward your opinion as something you truly believe in. Argue your case with conviction. Don’t sit on the fence. Be definite and be prepared to stand by your statements.
Use facts – back up your arguments with facts.
Be critical – people like reading columnists who dare to criticise. Naming names might create a bit of controversy but as long as you do not libel anyone and don’t go overboard in your criticism, it works well to make your column an interesting and exciting read.
It’s ok to be passionate – a ho-hum piece of writing is akin to a flaccid handshake – or being flogged with warm lettuce, to borrow from former Prime Minister Paul Keating. A soft or passive voice isn’t one for a columnist or blogger. If what you’re writing about doesn’t excite you, don’t expect your readers to be engaged either.
Have a point – if you’re going to raise an issue, you should also suggest a solution – not to is pretty useless.
Come up with some posts for the blog bank – this is a good idea if you’re a regular writer. Keeping up a series of blogs or columns can be onerous, especially when you’re not faced with some good juicy issues to tackle. Find some ageless subjects that aren’t time sensitive. And write ahead at those times you’re feeling creative, rather than at a time your stressed or busy and the words have to be painfully extracted.
Finally, don’t enter the realm of sharing your views, opinions and experiences unless you have a thick skin!
Hughes PR is a communications and public relations consultancy with proven and extensive experience in publicity and media relations, issues management, crisis management, digital media and social media strategy and implementation, community consultation, event management, media training, publications and strategic problem solving. Find out more.


The organisers of the Small Business Saturday event have estimated that UK shoppers spent £1.1 billion on the day, as shoppers showed support for their local high streets after a tough year.
The UK's eighth annual Small Business Saturday, which took place on 5 December 2020, saw 15.4 million people hitting the high street and shopping in independent retailers. Research commissioned by Small Business Saturday founder American Express has revealed that spend exceeded the billion pound mark for the first time ever, even though there was a fall in footfall.
Toluna polled 3,701 UK adults on behalf of American Express and found that the average per person spend was £70.74, up 56% from £45.42 in 2019. These figures indicate that UK shoppers spent £1.1 billion in small retailers on the day, using ONS figures for the UK adult population.
Of the shoppers who took to the high street on Small Business Saturday, 48% said they chose to spend money with small businesses as they wanted to support them after a tough year. Small Business Saturday also drew high engagement on social media, with #SmallBusinessSaturday trending throughout the day.
Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business Saturday, said: "It is fantastic to see such phenomenal, record-breaking support for small businesses, in one of the toughest years many have ever experienced. Small Business Saturday has been running for eight years, but this year's campaign has been our most vital. We are delighted that it's generated such a massive boost for small businesses, at a time they are facing huge challenges with the ongoing effects of the pandemic.
"I have no doubt that this strong support for small businesses has been driven by recognition of the critical role they played in our communities during lockdown. So many firms worked hard to pivot and adapt their businesses during this national emergency, often stepping in to offer useful services, vital products, as well as being a source of practical support and kindness, particularly for the NHS and frontline workers.
"While there is light at the end of the tunnel for 2021, with a vaccine, this winter is still going to be tough for many small businesses and it's so important that we all continue to support them. This year Small Business Saturday is not just about one day, but all of the small actions that individuals can do across the winter to add up to one big impact."
American Express is also incentivising its card holders to support their local small shops with its Shop Small offer. From 5 to 20 December 2020, they will receive a £5 statement credit when they spend £10 or more in-store at participating small businesses. The offer is valid for use up to ten times, once per participating location, which means shoppers can earn a total of £50 in statement credits.
Written by Rachel Miller.


David M. Rossi, a music teacher at Germantown Central School, has been named director of the Mohawk Valley Chorus.
He will be only the sixth director of the chorus in its 75 years of existence, succeeding John H. Nethaway, who retired after 30 years of service this spring.
Besides his teaching experiences, Rossi has been music director of the Choraliers of St. Clare’s in Schenectady since 2004 and of the Clifton Park Community Chorus the past year. He is also choir director and organist at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Christ the King Church, a position he has held since 2003.
His teaching career, before joining the Germantown district two years ago, has included stints at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady and St. Brigid’s Regional Catholic School. He also served as a substitute teacher at Sidney Central for several years.
Among his other conducting experience was directing the First Congregational Church of Greene choir, where he also led a three-octave bell choir, and the Tri-Town Ecumenical Choir.
Rossi is a graduate of Colonie Central High School and Hartwick College, where he sang with the Hartwick College Choir and the Hartwick Chamber Choir. He has also sung with the Catskill Choral Society.
He will be leading MVC when it resumes rehearsals for the 2009-10 season on Monday, Sept. 12, said president Charles Snyder.
In Rossi’s application, he expressed hope “to work with a choir of people from various backgrounds and experiences. I would like to work with and direct a group of people who enjoy music and learning a variety of musical styles. I would enjoy working with people who have interests that are comparable to my own.”