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CEO of LifeWave, David Schmidt, Provides Information on Coronavirus

CEO of LifeWave, David Schmidt, Provides Information on Coronavirus

By Article Editor on

With the worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, leaders across a range of industries are turning their attention to the unique problems it presents. One example of this is work from David Schmidt, the CEO of LifeWave, a leading health and wellness company. He has used his perspective as an inventor and researcher to help provide people with information relevant to staying safe during these uncertain times. We’ve reviewed information from a recent webinar by the company leader to help our readers gain the benefit of his insights.

Disclaimer

Before diving into the information itself, it is prudent to provide the following disclaimer so that this content can be viewed in the appropriate context. The CEO of LifeWave is not a medical doctor and the insights he has provided are only intended for informational purposes. This information should be used in conjunction with direct input from a qualified healthcare professional. Products from LifeWave cannot be used to cure, treat, or prevent the coronavirus. If you become infected with the virus, contact a doctor to determine the next steps that should be taken.

About the virus

Since there is so much misinformation concerning this pandemic, let’s first take a look at the virus itself to better understand what it is and the unique concerns associated with it. The virus that causes Covid-19 is a coronavirus. This virus type is quite common and can cause many different types of diseases including the common cold, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The virus that causes Covid-19 is new and distinct from these other viruses, however, so it is known as a novel coronavirus.

Symptoms of the disease can include fever, fatigue, dry cough, shortness of breath, aches and pains, sore throat, and more. Carriers of the virus may also exhibit no symptoms at all. The disease has an incubation time of two weeks or more, during which a carrier may exhibit no symptoms but may still be contagious. This is one of the factors that has contributed to the spread of the disease, since infected individuals may spend extended periods of time interacting with others and spreading the disease without realizing they are contagious. This is also one of the reasons that social distancing has been one of the primary methods of slowing the spread of the pandemic.

Virus transmission

While the spread of the virus by asymptomatic individuals is contributing to this pandemic, there are also other factors that may contribute to its spread. The novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 is estimated by some experts to be 10,000 times more infectious than other coronaviruses that are more commonly seen. This is due, in part, to the size of its viral colony and how many particles of the virus may be exhaled in the course of normal respiration. This spread can be intensified by coughing or sneezing by infected individuals.

While a major source of virus transmission is through respiratory droplets in the cases presented above, there are other transmission vectors that should be considered as well. Individuals can become infected if they come into close contact with an infected individual. Transmission can also occur when individuals touch a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch their mouth, nose, or eyes. The virus can live for varying time periods depending on the type of surface upon which it rests. For instance, the virus can survive up to 3 hours on copper, up to 4 hours on cardboard, and up to 3 days on stainless steel.

Increased risk

As noted in the webinar hosted by David Schmidt, while everyone should remain informed and take all necessary precautions concerning the virus, it is also important for individuals to understand what factors may place them at an increased risk of contracting the disease. Those who are in an increased risk group may want to take additional precautions or engage in actions to reduce their risk, if possible.

One of the additional risk factors for contracting and developing serious symptoms from the disease includes age. While people at any age can contract the virus, those with an impaired immune system, such as older individuals, have a greater potential to become seriously ill. Obese individuals, individuals with autoimmune conditions, and individuals who consume excessive amounts of alcohol are also at an increased risk due to impaired immune function. Since Covid-19 is a respiratory illness, those with impaired respiratory function, such as smokers, are also at a higher risk of developing serious symptoms if infected with the novel coronavirus.

Additional precautions

While social distancing is one of the primary ways of helping to slow the spread of the coronavirus, there may also be some additional actions that individuals can take to help reduce their chance of becoming infected. One method touched upon by the CEO was the use of hydrogen peroxide, which has been shown to inactivate the novel coronavirus in concentrations of as little as 0.5%. Pharmacies typically sell 3% solutions of the liquid that can be diluted and used as a gargle to prevent viral infection. This practice may help combat viral particles that have become lodged in an individual’s throat during respiration or food consumption.

Ozone has also been shown to be helpful in destroying viruses. This fact can be beneficial for those in situations where they share space with other individuals, such as in an office or shared living setup. In this context, an ozone purifier can help to clean the air and reduce viral load in one’s immediate environment. It is important to take note of the type of ozone air purifier that is being used since some units are intended for disinfecting purposes only. In this case, it is important to find a unit that can operate while people are in the general vicinity.

Diet

Diet may be another useful ally for those seeking to improve their wellness at this time. An optimal diet may help bolster one’s immune system and generally improve one’s chances of preventing infection. Healthy fats can be a key part of a nutritious diet, Omega 3 fatty acids being one of the most useful fats in this regard. These fats have been shown to provide proteins and antioxidants that can play an important role in maintaining a high-functioning immune system. These fats can be found in many different sources such as fish oils, seeds, and nuts.

Consuming high levels of fruits and vegetables can also provide a key source of antioxidants that can contribute to immune function. A variety of these foods can help to balance one’s dietary intake and provide a range of different phytonutrients. Seeking out different colors and fruit and vegetable types can help to ensure a more complete nutritional representation in one’s daily consumption.

Other foods that could contribute to immune function include liver and dark chocolate. Both foods contain high levels of copper, which has been shown to boost immune function. Adequate hydration is also important for those seeking to keep their immune system functioning at the highest level possible. Finally, intermittent fasting can be employed in conjunction with diet to improve immune response. A typical schedule in this regard is 8 hours of eating followed by 16 hours of fasting.

Supplementation

The LifeWave CEO also pointed to the use of nutritional supplements as a way to help support the body’s natural immune functionality. Here again, copper plays a part in his suggested things to consider. Copper glycinate can be effective in daily doses from 2 – 5 mg, although some people may be at risk for an adverse reaction. Vitamin C is another related supplement here, with its use connected to elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide in the body. Combining copper and Vitamin C has been shown to have an inactivating effect on the HSV virus.

Garlic extract is another supplement with intriguing properties. Garlic has been shown to have a positive effect on immune system function, an effect that also may become more pronounced when combined with Vitamin C supplementation. While this is encouraging, caution should be used when supplementing garlic. There may be some undesirable telomere effects related to garlic supplementation, so it may not be appropriate to take daily.

Other supplements that may be of use in this area include melatonin, colostrum, ginger root, zinc gluconate, and Vitamin D. All of these supplements have been connected to enhanced immune system properties and/or a reduced inflammatory response. This may be beneficial when seeking to promote overall wellness.

Sleep

Sleep is also extremely beneficial for promoting an optimally-functioning immune system. Most sleep recommendations advocate for 7 – 8 hours of sleep per night to keep your body operating to the best of its ability. Melatonin, mentioned above in the supplement section, can also be helpful for individuals seeking to improve the quality and duration of their sleep. This may make the supplement doubly beneficial for those trying to improve their immune function and ward off viral threats.

Habit-building can also be a viable strategy for improving sleep quality. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day can help one’s body develop a natural rhythm for falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night. Reducing the use of electronic devices, especially those with screens, before bedtime may also be of benefit here. Other strategies that have been used to encourage overall sleep quality include adequate hydration, stress reduction, and other positive lifestyle choices.

Stress reduction

In addition to having a beneficial effect on sleep quality, reducing the level of stress in one’s life can have a positive impact on a person’s immune system. This is due to a number of factors but perhaps most significant is stress’s tendency to increase inflammation in a person’s system. Reducing stress can, therefore, have an anti-inflammatory effect and overall beneficial impact on a person’s wellbeing.

Techniques for reducing stress include increasing levels of exercise, engaging in mindfulness meditation, and controlling one’s breathing.

Exercise

Like stress reduction, exercise can also have a positive impact on a person’s immune system. This points to the interconnectedness of many of the areas of focus touched upon by Mr. Schmidt. Exercise can improve immune function by improving a person’s quality of sleep and their ability to engage in stress reduction. It can also help to mitigate some of the factors that make a person more susceptible to disease, such as obesity and reduced cardiovascular capacity.

Intense exercise can take many forms and can include strengthening work such as resistance training, weightlifting, or bodyweight exercises. Yoga, Qi Gong, and calisthenics can be used by individuals who are seeking to improve flexibility through exercise. Sprinting or other forms of high-intensity interval training can help to improve cardiovascular function. Exercising while sick has been associated with compromising the immune system, so individuals who are dealing with active symptoms should contact a medical professional before making the decision to work out.

Though the novel coronavirus has now spread worldwide, affecting the global population, there still may be much that can be done on the individual level to improve wellness. Social distancing is an important part of any person’s overall wellness strategy at this time. In addition, the above information from the CEO of LifeWave can help to improve wellness and promote optimal immune function. Possible efforts here include optimizing diet, exercise, sleep, hydration, and stress management. Applying this information alongside the guidance and supervision of a qualified medical professional may be beneficial at this time.

About the company

LifeWave is a leading health and wellness company founded in 2004 by David Schmidt. The company’s founder helped create its innovative line of offerings from a lifetime of invention, product development, and work in various areas of business. The offerings for which the company is best known are its line of patented phototherapy patches. These patches are applied topically to a user’s skin in order to reflect specific wavelengths of light back into the body. Depending on patch design, this process can activate profound changes at the cellular level that can improve a number of wellness markers. The company’s patches have been used to combat aging, reduce pain, and improve overall energy levels. Due to the success of its offerings, the company has been singled out in multiple years on the list of fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine.

Alexis Kennedy Is a Video Game Developer

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Video games are a multi-billion dollar industry. However, the very large video game studios are not the only companies that are making money. There are a large number of independent video game studios that are much smaller. There are many games that have sold millions of copies around the world that were made by a small group of people on a shoestring budget. Millions of dollars do not need to be invested in a video game in order for it to be successful. Nobody knows that better than Alexis Kennedy. He is the founder of a pair of independent video game development studios that have generated large amounts of profit.

Alexis originally taught English for a living. However, he did not think that career was very fulfilling. Therefore, he started a job as a software developer. There was a natural transition from software development to designing video games. He had always enjoyed video games from a very early age. He had a few ideas for games. He decided to turn those video game ideas into reality. He created a video game development company called Failbetter Games. It was during this time that he created a game called Fallen London. This was a browser game that became enormously successful. It has been played by more than two million people over the past decade. He also created a game called Sunless Sea. He was able to get the money he needed to make this game through an online crowdfunding campaign.

Alexis Kennedy decided to quit working for Failbetter Games after he had worked there for a period of seven years. He spent the next year working as a freelance video game writer for many of the very big studios. He wanted to do this because he felt it would make him a better writer if he was able to expose himself to the very different styles of the larger studios. He worked on some very big video game projects during this time. He is pleased with the work that he accomplished. However, he decided that he would much rather be the person in charge. Therefore, he decided to create another studio to develop more video games.

Alexis Kennedy has founded another independent video game development studio called Weather Factory with a friend named Lottie Bevan. The studio has focused on developing games that have very complex narratives. Cultist Simulator was the initial release from Weather Factory. It was yet another hit for Alexis. It has received widespread acclaim from both critics and fans alike. He has been asked about his process for designing games. He says that he tries to create worlds that are complex so that the person playing the game becomes totally immersed. He believes the goal of a video game writer and developer is to create a game that people do not want to stop playing. This is much easier said than done. However, Alexis Kennedy has been able to do it on more than one occasion during his career.

Alexis Kennedy believes that the video games that he creates become so popular because he does not rush them. He takes the time to craft a compelling narrative. He feels that many of the independent video game developers are in a rush to get their games on the market. Therefore, they cut corners and end up making an inferior product. Fans of his games know what Alexis is going to bring to the table. He has a great reputation for creating games that have many hours of entertainment value. This is why he has become one of the most successful independent video game developers.

Juan Monteverde Shows How to Work With An Attorney

Juan Monteverde Shows How to Work With An Attorney

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Working with an attorney to help resolve a legal dispute can be unfamiliar territory for some people. That doesn’t mean, however, that it has to be a difficult process. In fact, a good attorney can actively help to demystify the interactions between themselves and a client over the course of a working relationship. In order to help our readers better understand how this works, we turned to the career of Juan Monteverde, a leading securities attorney. Through a look at his insights and an overview of his professional history, you should have a better idea of what to expect from your interactions with an attorney.

Professional background

Let’s first take a look at the professional history of Juan Monteverde in order to gain perspective on how he has helped his own clients resolve a myriad of legal issues. As a securities attorney, he focuses his work on issues dealing with stocks and other financial tools relating to public ownership of a company. In this regard, he often works with shareholders during the process of a corporate merger to ensure their rights are properly taken into account. By doing so, he has been able to not only protect the rights of the shareholders he represents, but also to help improve the overall quality of the merger taking place.

The attorney is also known for his work in disseminating ideas related to legal practice. These undertakings date as far back as his time in law school where he was a staff editor of the law review. He also served as the President of Plead the 5th, his school’s official newspaper. His written work in his field has continued into the present, where he produces scholarly content for distribution in legal publications. In addition to writting articles, he also often speaks at public events to help inform others on issues related to mergers and executive compensation. In this capacity, he has spoken at ABA, ACI, PLI, and other legal conferences.

Importance of communication

One of the most important things to expect from an attorney is an open and clear line of communication. Just like any other type of relationship, communication is the basis for making the partnership a fruitful one and even the best of intentions can be for naught if there is a breakdown in this area. Though communication does not necessarily need to be immediate for it to satisfy the needs of a good working relationship, there should at least be enough of it to keep you abreast of developments in your legal matter. If you find that you are unclear about how things are progressing, and you’re unable to get a response from your attorney, then you may have a breakdown in communication that needs to be addressed.

In general, it is reasonable to expect regular updates from your attorney or someone in their office. You are also well within the bounds of a normal working relationship to expect to be clear on the overall strategy for your matter and where in the process you are at a given time. A timeline of events can be helpful in this regard and can be something you can request from your attorney to ensure you’re both on the same page. If you have questions related to that timeline or other aspects of your case, phone calls or other forms of communication should be responded to in a timely manner. Similarly, you should also be responsive to your attorney and provide feedback when asked.

Attorney competence

At present, there are well over one million attorneys licensed to practice law in the United States. While this means that you should have many options available if you should have a legal dispute that needs to be resolved, it also means that there is a wide range of skill levels amongst practicing attorneys. It is important to understand this and realize that just because an attorney is licensed to practice law, it doesn’t mean that they are exceptionally skilled in that regard.

In order to ensure that you select an attorney who is able to meet the demands of your case, it can be wise to look to third-party evaluations of their abilities. This will help you feel confident that your attorney is competent in the field in which they practice. To take an example from the career of Juan Monteverde, the attorney is ranked by numerous outside organizations, such as Martindale-Hubbell, as a top practitioner in his field. In fact, Super Lawyers has listed him as a New York Metro Rising Star in multiple different years, an award given to only the top 2.5% of attorneys in a given specialty.

Understanding fees

Another important issue to understand fully is the fees that will be associated with a particular legal action. There’s no overarching rule that can be used to determine how much it will cost to engage an attorney in services. Instead, this is an item that should be discussed between a client and their attorney directly. This issue is of sufficient importance that it should be discussed at the outset of a working relationship so as to prevent any misunderstandings down the road.

Examples of possible fee structures vary drastically depending on the attorney’s experience level, type of legal action, and other factors. Some attorneys will operate on a pro bono basis, meaning there is no charge for their services. This is sometimes done in the case of low-income clients. Other legal actions might be paid for with a percentage of a client’s awarded damages, in the case of some civil suits. Other attorneys may charge a flat hourly fee. Knowing an attorney’s fee structure from the outset is an important part of the full and honest communication that all clients should expect.

While many people may not have a full understanding of what to expect from a potential attorney, they need not be left in the dark for long. A good attorney-client relationship generally follows certain guidelines that can often be similar to other fruitful partnerships one may encounter in life. Communication and trust are key components in these matters. Looking to the above overview of insights and work by Juan Monteverde can provide a good first step in understanding what to look for if you find yourself in need of an attorney’s services.

The Whiskey Wash Reviews Kevin Plank’s Sagamore Spirit

The Whiskey Wash Reviews Kevin Plank’s Sagamore Spirit

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When Kevin Plank was playing football for the Maryland Terrapins, he was continuously frustrated by the fact that his cotton T-shirts didn’t keep his body comfortable and dry. Being an individual who wasn’t easily daunted by a challenge and who liked to pursue passion projects, he searched for a fabric that could wick the sweat from athletes’ bodies when they were on the field.

Eventually, his search led him to a moisture-wicking microfiber fabric that had previously been used for underwear, from which he designed a new T-shirt that kept athletes dry, cool and light by wicking moisture.

The Establishment and Development of Under Armour

Based on the success of his early prototypes, Plank went on to found his company Under Armour in 1996 to produce sports apparel made from microfiber. At the time, he had $40,000 in credit card debt and $20,000 in personal savings, and he began selling his T-shirts from his grandmother’s basement. Nevertheless, thanks to his entrepreneurial drive and sharp business skills, he managed to keep growing the company by expanding its product lines and making smart marketing investments. Now, almost 25 years after its establishment, Under Armour has grown into a multinational enterprise that’s known for some of corporate America’s fastest growth rates, making a total of $5.2 billion in revenue in 2018 alone. 

However, as the company dealt with concerns about questionable accounting practices and slowing sales, Plank announced his retirement as CEO in October 2019.

Sagamore Spirit Produces Award-Winning Ryes

Never one to sit still, Plank also founded several other businesses while heading up Under Armour. One of these ventures was the Maryland-based Sagamore Spirit company, which began construction on a 22,000-square-foot whiskey distillery in 2015. The distillery also features a welcome center, a processing center, a gift store, two tasting rooms, and a full-service restaurant and bar named Rye Street Tavern.

Maryland has long been a center of U.S. rye whiskey production. According to Forbes, before Prohibition, there were 13 distilleries in Baltimore and 31 located throughout the rest of the state. Maryland-style rye is known to be smoother, sweeter and less spicy than its Pennsylvania counterpart, made from 65 percent rye and 35 percent corn. 

As another passion project of Plank’s, Sagamore Spirit’s mission is to produce rye-whiskey that stands out from the crowd due to its unique Maryland style. Sagamore Spirit sets itself apart due to the use of spring water sourced from Plank’s Sagamore Farm, a renowned horse farm that’s located on a bed of limestone rock. The water is filtered naturally through a limestone aquifer, which ensures its refreshing pureness and zest. The rye whiskey is aged in North Point, in a facility with a capacity of 20,000 barrels. 

And it seems that Plank’s rye whiskey is a success, as The Whiskey Wash reports. While experts agree that the distillery has room for growth, its ryes have already won several industry awards. For example, the cognac finish expression won a noteworthy double-gold citation at the 2020 Denver International Spirits Competition. This cognac finish is one of seven ryes the distillery is currently producing. 

Sagamore Spirit Cognac Finish Rye Whiskey

First produced as a distillery exclusive, the Sagamore Spirit cognac finish rye is a delicious 101 proof that’s been aged for four years in charred barrels made of American white oak before being finished for eight months in barrels that formerly contained French cognac. It’s a pleasing dark amber color, with a nose that contains hints of maple bar donuts, vanilla and new leather jackets. As rye aficionados would expect, it hits the palate with spicy notes of cinnamon and fresh-cut ginger before melting down into date bars and brown sugar. 

Now available in wide release, the cognac finish rye makes for good sipping, although it might be sweeter, moodier and darker than some comparable ryes. For those bourbon drinkers who are less experienced with ryes, the Sagamore Spirit cognac finish rye might be a pleasant cross-over. 

While the finish has a long duration, its fading could be more elegant and pleasing — as the sweetness and spice dwindle, drinkers are left with an enduring black tea taste on the palate. 

Fine-Tuning the Ryes

Overall, the Sagamore Spirit company is well on its way to producing some delectable ryes. Nevertheless, some may need a little more fine-tuning before they become true classics.

Jonathan Cornelissen and How Data Affects Everyday Life

Jonathan Cornelissen and How Data Affects Everyday Life

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There has been plenty of talk recently about the ways in which data is affecting the economy. This is with good reason, as the ways in which organizations conduct business has been drastically changed by the recent increase in data availability. However, lost in this focus is the impact that data is having on many other facets of modern daily life. To dive into this topic, we looked to work conducted by Jonathan Cornelissen, a founder of a leading data education startup. Through a look at his work, along with an overview of modern data usage, you will be able to gain a better idea of how the field affects many of your daily actions.

Professional background

For a sense of his credentials, let’s first take a brief look at the professional history of Jonathan Cornelissen. The tech entrepreneur first thought up the idea for his data startup while pursuing his Ph.D. At that time, he already had a sense of how data was poised to change the world and he was taking steps to tailor his education in that direction. To do so, he began learning the R programming language, popular for its usability in data science applications. When he found the language challenging to learn through his formal studies, he looked for additional resources to aid in his education using his analytical skills to the best of his abilities. To his surprise, there was a notable lack of independent platforms offering engaging educational content geared towards the field of data science.

To address this shortfall, he founded his startup along with a small group of his peers. The idea behind it was that it could not only help people at formal educational institutions, but also those who were already in the workplace. The endeavor turned out to be a success, first while working alongside formal academic partners and later after taking the platform more widely to market. It has since become one of the most popular data resources online and has helped educate over four million learners in the field of data science.

Data at home

As the startup founder foresaw when he created his company years ago, data has become an increasingly more important part of daily existence, a fact that is perhaps seen most easily through the way it affects life at home. One of the key issues affecting modern home life is the access a particular household has to goods and services. For instance, an individual living in a more rural area might have to drive quite far to access their nearest supermarket, whereas a suburban resident might have a plethora of options within close proximity. This type of consideration can have a compounding effect on the quality of daily life, sometimes even making an impact on how much access one has to healthy food choices.

While it might not seem immediately obvious to those outside the field, this aspect of modern life is heavily tied into the field of data science. The reason for this lies partly in the manner in which companies make decisions about where to operate retail locations. One factor that weighs heavily in this regard is the demographic makeup of a given area. Data analysis of these demographics allows companies to predict where their products might be best received and where they stand to make the most profit. Business choices made as a result of this type of data analysis can trickle down to the community scale in the form of decisions about where to place supermarkets, affecting individuals in the manner detailed above.

Education and data

Demographic data can also have a large impact on the quality of education available to residents of different areas. This data, often pulled from census information, can help governments ascertain population levels, income disparities, age ranges for residents, and more. Governments will often use this information to make choices about funding, teacher to student ratios, school upgrades, and other criteria that directly affect the educational process. As a result of these decisions, educational effectiveness may vary from school to school.

The tech entrepreneur has long discussed the importance of using data to improve the educational process. Having played a role in the formal educational system before transitioning to his efforts in his educational startup, he has a unique view on the ways in which the state of education can be improved on the whole. By harnessing the power of data and the ingenuity of the entrepreneurial spirit, he has been able to bridge gaps in a system that does not always adequately meet the needs of students in his field. His work, though often focused on data science, is widely applicable to educational efforts on a larger scale.

Healthcare

Another area in which data plays a key role is in the field of healthcare. This can be seen in many different aspects of the field, but one area that is especially relevant to daily life is the way in which data affects health insurance. This manifests through the ways in which insurance companies determine premiums and other aspects of their offerings. Though this process can vary between companies, all insurance companies use data as a primary means of serving clients and staying economically viable.

Data is also used by hospitals to better serve the patients who pass through their doors. This data can be as simple as exit surveys which allow them to analyze quality of care, or it can delve into more complex areas of disease analysis to innovate new ways to treat illnesses. No matter the specific method, it is again evident that data plays a huge role in this area of life which is vitally important to the wellbeing of individuals in the modern world.

While it is true that data has helped to revolutionize the workplace in recent history and has changed much about how companies are run, it is also important to note the ways in which the field of data science is changing our everyday lives. From the above overview, we can see that this is apparent in many different foundational parts of life, such as healthcare, education, nutrition, and more. Coupled with information on the work of Jonathan Cornelissen, this analysis should provide a helpful jumping-off point for those interested in the effect data has on life in present-day society.

Gary Barber and Spyglass Entertainment Fail to Create Victims’ Fund for Harvey Weinstein Victims

Gary Barber and Spyglass Entertainment Fail to Create Victims’ Fund for Harvey Weinstein Victims

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On February 14, 2020, a group of protesters gathered outside of the offices of Spyglass Entertainment head Gary Barber. The group gathered together to advocate for the victims of Harvey Weinstein. According to the protesters, the victims’ fund had never been funded like it was supposed to. Thanks to Barber and Spyglass Entertainment, the $30 to $50 million the fund was supposed to get had never arrived like it was supposed to.

Barber’s Connection to Harvey Weinstein

Originally, Harvey Weinstein was famous for his work as a film producer. He co-founded Miramax and the Weinstein Company. Until 2017, Weinstein was the co-chairman of the Weinstein Company with his brother. In October 2017, Weinstein was dismissed from the company because of sexual assault allegations. More than 80 women made allegations against him, and the scandal sparked the #MeToo movement. On February 24, 2020, Weinstein was found guilty of rape.

The reason why the victims’ advocacy group is protesting Barber is that he now controls the Weinstein Company. In 2019, Barber gained control of the Weinstein Company’s television and film assets through a partnership with Lantern Entertainment. Originally, Lantern Entertainment was responsible for buying Weinstein’s former business after it had to declare bankruptcy in 2018.

The Cause of the Protest

The protest in February began because of a broken promise. When Spyglass Entertainment and Barber took over the Weinstein Company, they had negotiated with former Obama appointee Maria Contreras Sweet. According to the terms of the deal, Spyglass was supposed to put $30 to $50 million into a victims’ fund. They never fulfilled their promises, so the victims’ fund remains empty.

After the protest, the group released a statement. It called on Spyglass Media CEO Gary Berber as well as Lantern Asset Management Capital heads Milos Brajovic and Andy Mitchell to fulfill their promises to Weinstein’s victims. According to the protesters, the victims have been patiently waiting for Mitchell, Barber, and Brajovic to uphold the promises they made. Unfortunately, all of their waiting has been in vain.

A total of about 10 people gathered to make their case in front of Barber’s Century City office. The protesters believe that the original offer was made and accepted in good faith. Instead of following through on the offer, the company never offered the financial contributions it had said it would.

Lantern Entertainment Has Dealt With Fraud and Breach of Contract Lawsuits Before

In 2018, Lantern Entertainment was the subject of a different kind of legal scandal. Documents were filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court involving negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and fraud. The heart of the case involved African-American producer Marvin Peart.

Peart developed his reputation working in Hollywood and has gained respect over the years for his talent. In the 2018 lawsuit, Peart sued Lantern Entertainment because of the Weinstein Company deal. Originally, Peart was responsible for landing the deal and negotiating the deal’s terms. Once the deal went through, he was supposed to be given a seat on the board of the new company. In addition, he was supposed to get more than $10 million for bringing in Lantern Entertainment as an investor.

Unfortunately, none of these promises were kept by Lantern and the Weinstein Company. Instead, Peart says he was forced out because of institutional racism. In the lawsuit, Peart attacked Lantern for completely cutting him out of the deal. If Lantern had followed through like it was supposed to, Hollywood would have spent the year celebrating the story of an outsider who successfully landed the largest entertainment deal of 2018.

According to the lawsuit, Lantern engaged in historic revisionism through its public announcements. The announcements about the deal did not include any references to Peart’s accomplishments. All of Lantern’s actions were more than just a simple breach of contract. These actions were just another example of how institutional racism marginalizes African-American professionals in Hollywood and keeps them from their rightful place in the winner’s circle. While months have passed since the lawsuit was filed, the case is still pending in the courts.

Who Is Gary Barber?

Barber was born in South Africa. After he received an accounting degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, he began working as an accountant in the United States and South Africa. Since 1979, Barber has lived in the United States. In 1998, he founded Spyglass Entertainment with Roger Birnbaum.

Barber ended up serving as the CEO of MGM in 2010. During his time as the head of MGM, the company produced James Bond films and other major productions. While his contract was resigned in 2017 for another five years, he ended up getting removed from the studio in March 2018. Because of his ouster, he received a settlement worth $260 million. More recently, Barber has made the news for his company’s takeover of the Weinstein Company as well as its failure to pay the victims of Harvey Weinstein.

Like the victims’ fund Gary Barber was supposed to set up, Peart never received everything he was promised. Lantern, Spyglass Entertainment, the Weinstein Company and Barber have developed a track record of breaking agreements when it suits them. While the protesters are hopeful that Barber will follow through on his promises, Lantern and Spyglass Entertainment’s past actions do not bode well for the outcome of the victims’ fund.

Luxury Consignment is the Next Christmas Trend with The RealReal

Luxury Consignment is the Next Christmas Trend with The RealReal

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Are you putting off your holiday shopping until the last minute? If so, you’re not alone.

Nearly 53 % of people end up putting off shopping for gifts until the last minute. Not enough time and not enough money are two of the biggest reasons cited for gift procrastination, and a lot of this has to do with the mindset of holiday purchases.

Buying used items was once taboo, but lately has come into vogue. “It’s the thought that counts” has caught on in many different areas of life, including in the items we purchase. This year, you don’t have to put off your shopping due to money constraints. High-end consignment and resale companies like The RealReal are making it easier than ever to purchase unique items in ways that are convenient for the customer. Here are six reasons to consider secondhand shopping for your presents this holiday.

Reason 1: It saves you money.

Think about all the times you’ve spent money on things your loved ones don’t need — like candles, physical copies of movies, or gag gifts. 45% of consumers have admitted to overspending during the holiday season, which has put a lot of pressure on the national debt average. The pressure to buy things new has hindered people’s gift-giving in the past, but it doesn’t need to anymore. Now that you don’t have to worry about putting yourself into debt buying your loved ones presents, you can focus on buying your loved ones the things they want or need.

Make a budget and stick to it, then do your shopping. You’ll find that the more you shop secondhand, the more you can find and the happier you can make people.

Reason 2: It’s better for the environment.

One of the motivations behind luxury resale companies like The RealReal is to slow down fast fashion’s impact on the environment. In the United States alone, as much as 21 billion pounds of fabric makes up landfills. Unfortunately, fast fashion isn’t slowing down even as landfills are piling up. If consumers were to continue using clothes at the rate they have been and letting them end up in landfills, we would have to further exploit natural areas for landfill space.

Additionally, fast fashion is one of the top contributors to carbon emissions in the world. Luxury clothing and accessory consignment, instead, aims to make the sale of apparel cyclical — meaning nothing is wasted.

For the RealReal, the process looks like this: consumers send their item to The RealReal for evaluation, the piece is then authenticated, marketed, and sold to someone secondhand. The whole process is multifaceted in its benefits. It prohibits landfills from becoming overrun with usable fabric, it slows the demand for raw resources related to clothing and accessory production, and it slows carbon emissions globally. The person who once owned the item, as well as the platform the used garment is marketed on, all make a profit. Finally, the new customer receives a quality item at far less of a cost than it usually would cost.

Reason 3: It helps you focus on what your loved ones want.

Let’s face it — we’ve all been in the situation before where we’ve been so focused on getting something for our loved ones that we have lost sight of what they wanted. In other words, we’ve impulse-bought items in the past. 80% of Millennial-aged shoppers admitted to impulse buying this year, and the pressure to impulse buy during the holidays is even higher. Instead, focus on making lists (or gathering lists) of things your loved ones want. Then, incorporate secondhand shops like The RealReal into your shopping routine to get the most out of your shopping.

Reason 4: Luxury consignment lets you get higher-quality items for your loved ones.

Another symptom of impulse purchases is that you might end up getting something for lower-quality to save a little money. Knockoff and department store brands might have cheaper deals on new items, but that does not mean those products will last. Purchasing luxury items at lower costs, even pieces that are used, means you are gifting your loved ones quality gifts while still being able to save a little bit of money.

Reason 5: It is convenient.

If you live in a city, chances are you live near a consignment or thrift store. After all, there are over 25,000 secondhand stores in the United States alone. If you don’t live in or near a city, however, online consignment brands like The RealReal make it easy for consumers to purchase and receive their items quickly. You can even do your shopping while you’re on a break at work — so you have a little more time to yourself during the holidays.

Reason 6: The items you purchase will almost always be unique or hard-to-find.

One of the biggest fears that we face when it comes to buying presents for our loved ones is the fear that we’ll purchase them something they already have. Most people have received something that they already own as a present, and even more, have received duplicates of the same item. Purchasing an item from a secondhand retailer, like The RealReal, means that you will likely not be giving the same present to a loved one that someone else is. High-end fashion items usually are released on a limited basis, meaning they are harder to find in the first place. If you find a vintage item, these are not only valuable but useful and unique. Likely, if you’re buying an object used, the gift recipient will not only like it but will be receiving an item unlike anything else on their list.

Buying used is not only trendy and fashionable — it makes sense. Now more than ever, there are quality secondhand stores available worldwide that are more than willing and able to bring their customers authentic luxury goods, as well as other secondhand deals that are sure to be a hit this holiday.

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Jimmy John Liautaud: The Founder of Jimmy John’s

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Helping others to help themselves is Jimmy John Liautaud’s driving force. The selfless American businessman founded his first sandwich business back in 1983 when he was just 19 years old. Hard work and discipline has seen him reach where he is today, owning more than 2,800 stores across 43 states. Today, he is the owner and chairman of the business. Liautaud acknowledges that the restaurant business is not easy to run, and not everyone can do it. It requires a lot of dedication and sacrifices, working over 18 hours every day without days off and holidays, and spending very little time with family. But at least he found out he was good at it. 

Liautaud understands that people learn from what you do, as a leader and not what you say, and that is what he does-leads by example. When Liautaud was opening his business, he never prepared any business plan, but through many sacrifices and hard work, the business grew beyond his expectations. Liautaud believes in hard work, and his advice to outshine the competition is to report early and stay late by one hour instead of resting, and work on Saturdays, and you will have guaranteed success. Besides building immense wealth, Liautaud takes pride in his family’s achievements. He is a proud husband to Leslie, and together, they have raised three children. 

As the founder and chairman of Jimmy John’s, he has created success stories, and the business has received several recognition awards. In 2015, Jimmy John’s was named among the top 10 Promising Franchises for Ambitious Entrepreneur by Enterpreneur.com. In 2018, Liautaud was listed number one on the Entrepreneur‘s Franchise 500 competitors. Forbes has also ranked Liautaud at number one Franchise. According to the NRM top 100, to date, Jimmy John’s is among the vast growing chains in the country. Apart from creating wealth, Liautaud spends time helping others both at the community and national levels. 

Together with his wife, they founded Liautaud Family Foundation, intending to help the less fortunate. The foundation has contributed to many support programs, including health, education, wellness, arts, and military. He has also contributed to various institutions such as Crisis Nursery, Frances Nelson SmileHealth dental clinic, Mayo Clinic, Champaign County Youth Center, and Camp Southern Ground. Liautaud comes from a humble military background where his father, together with his two brothers working in the service, Liautaud recognizes the hardships that the Army undergoes to provide service for the nation. In 2014, he contributed $1 million towards the Folds of Honor Foundation, an organization that offers scholarship programs to families of disabled and fallen soldiers. 

Despite his tough academic experience at Elgin Academy, Liautaud still gives education a top priority. In his contribution to supporting education, he gave out $1 million to help construct a new structure that will hold a library, 12 classrooms, and a theater. Liautaud wanted the building named after his name, but the school management, for inspiration’s sake, decided to name the school after his story, Liautaud Lyon Upper School. Together with his wife, they are parents an independent in Wolfeboro, the state of New Hampshire. The couple donated $2 million, which was the largest, to new residents in Brewster.

Liautaud’s family is committed to inspire, motivate, and improve other people’s lives. In 2011, they contributed to the Champaign community a sum of $1 million towards the construction of a modern YMCA. Liautaud is a talented speaker with a strong personality who captivates his listeners wherever he speaks. With honesty, he motivates his audiences with life experiences. He is never tired of helping the needy and encouraging people to move to greater heights

Teach To One Education Method Solves Common Teacher Frustrations

Teach To One Education Method Solves Common Teacher Frustrations

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Educators are unfortunately well acquainted with some of the common struggles or frustrations faced in today’s classroom. From managing parent concerns over Common Core to making sure no child is actually left behind, teachers have a full plate. Teach To One actually eases many of these issues in innovative ways.

Maybe you can adopt some of these practices in your own classroom. If not, this article will at least deliver a greater understanding of the Teach To One method. It could be a gateway to the future of education.

What Is The Teach To One Method?

Teach To One is an innovative educational method that restructures classrooms and addresses individual students where they are at any given moment. It is flexible and adaptive because it is highly personalized.

Although individualized teaching methods often overload educators, Teach To One uses technology and unique grouped learning to actually reduce the load on teachers.

Instruction is broken into modalities represented by different sections within a single classroom. Students access an online portal to receive their daily lessons which build upon the ‘Exit Slip’ assessment they completed the previous afternoon. At regular intervals, students move from one area of the room to the next to receive one-on-one help or more traditional classroom instruction from a teacher. 

The method has been used primarily for math instruction and both students and teachers report tangible benefits.

Teach To One Solves Common Teaching Frustration #1: Technology Integration

While every skill students learn is important, we could argue that none is as vital as technological literacy. Computers are a part of everyone’s daily life and students must adopt familiarity with the technology they’ll face in higher education and the job market.

It’s no longer good enough to send students to a period of computer instruction. Additionally, teachers can’t always rely on parents to have computers in the household.

Teach To One: Math solves this concern by fully integrating tablet and Chromebook use in daily instruction. Students use this hardware to access their personalized lessons and take daily evaluations.

Furthermore, parents and students become familiar with a portal that gives them access to progress reports and easy communication with classroom instructors. Keeping all of this information in a centralized database makes it easy for supervisors and parents to track a student’s progress over a month, a year, or even their entire learning career.

Teach To One Solves Common Teaching Frustration #2: Teaching To The Least Proficient Student

One of the most valid complaints about standardized tests is that it forces teachers to teach to the least proficient student in the class. This creates the potential for more advanced students to grow bored. This situation is also dangerous because it holds the most proficient students back from progressing even further while others lag behind.

It’s also difficult to address the different needs of each student without singling them out in some way. When struggling students feel the pressure of attention or fear being ‘found out’ about their struggles, they’re less open.

This very concern can deplete the joy of learning. This risks their test scores now and their willingness to participate in the future. In short, performance-based anxiety can hinder a student’s ability to embrace learning.

Teach To One Solves Common Teaching Frustration #3: Students Under The Iceberg Suffer Silently

To understand this concern it helps to dive into something known as The Iceberg Problem

Many students are arriving into middle school with unfinished learning from prior years. This is especially problematic in math because it is so cumulative. For example, working with percentages can be challenging if you have never learned decimals.  But education policies signal to teachers to focus exclusively on grade-level material. Instructional time

is limited. It can be challenging for teachers to address each student’s unfinished learning while also covering the grade-level material—all in a single school year. As a result, unfinished learning accumulates and persists, hindering the ability for many students to become ready for college and career. We call this The Iceberg Problem Only a small portion of an iceberg’s mass is visible, while most of it remains hidden below the surface. – Iceberg Problem Offical Website

A nonprofit group called New Classroom Innovations Partners identifies a roadmap for addressing the cumulative failures that lead to The Iceberg Problem.

  • Measure learning growth with adaptive assessments that measure gains on an individual student level from grade to grade. 
  • Modify accountability systems to measure growth over a multi-year span, heavily considering transition grades and establishing additional growth indicators. 
  • Launch Math Innovation Zones within schools allowing individual schools to embrace a new approach that caters to students’ proficiency and future-readiness. 
  • Make teacher support and training a priority. 
  • Establish a new educational future where assessment and accountability go deeper than grade-wide standardized tests. This can happen if we create a culture that expects more.

Teach To One was created to address each bullet point in the New Classrooms’ ideal plan.

Teach To One Solves Common Teaching Frustration #4: Large Classroom Size

Teachers can relate to the challenges of reaching each student as classroom size steadily increases. School districts may not have the budget to hire more teachers or the space to create additional sections of the same class.

Teach To One pairs individualized plans that students access through technological hardware with personalized instruction. It breaks students into smaller groups within the classroom and opens the door to aids with specialized training who can lend a helping hand at a lower cost to districts.

Former Professor Emeritus of Education and researcher, Lary Cuban, details the physical classroom structure in a Teach To One math class in his blog.

Taking over the school’s library, the large space is demarcated into four separate rooms each with a sign of a local university (e.g., San Jose State, San Francisco State). Each room is designed with Teach To One space consultants. has long tables–each movable chair clearly numbered–capable of seating up to six students.

There is much noise from different segments of the room since library shelving units separate the spaces. Students, teachers, and aides went about their business amid ebb and flow of sound across the divided space. One space is used for a teacher-directed lesson on scientific notation,, another space is used for students to use their Chromebooks to work on the individually designed lesson on scientific notation (based on their results of work the previous day recorded on their online Exit Slip…); the third space is for collaborative work between and among students and teachers.

The fourth space is used for a teacher-directed lesson on circumference. This morning, the seventh and eighth graders are distributed between the four “rooms” spending a half-hour in each space before moving on to the next “modality.” For each segment of the 90-minute class, students sit at different tables with different classmates. – Lary Cuban

Breaking Away From The Status Quo

This review briefly explores the Teach To One experience for educators. Specifically, it’s obvious how this unique teaching style addresses many common frustrations that teachers struggle with every day.

Rather than leaving teachers to innovate their own solutions while already straining under the pressure of their jobs, Teach To One provides a structure. This structure is based on research and informed projections in the hope of transforming the American education system.

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