YouTube sensation Wengie is a lot of things to a lot of people, but in some areas of her life, she really seems to like creating a little bit of mystery and uncertainty.
After all, having some secrets and building up curiosity is one of the most effective ways to keep people coming back for more, right?
And with millions of followers from around the world and billions of views to her various social media channels, Wengie definitely knows how to keep her audience entertained and returning for even more content – which she always seems glad to create and share.
Wengie, legally known as Wendy Huang or Wendy Ayche, is a Chinese-Australian blogger, vlogger, singer and voice actress. She has been selected as the most popular YouTube personality in Australia and has even been a nominee for YouTuber of the Year.
The former accountant regularly offers her viewers everything from practical make-up and style tips to fun pranks to general commentary on life in general. She does fun things with food, DIY tutorials and occasionally a lot of slime. She also has a line of licensed toys and other products called Whimsical by Wengie which are available through Target and Walgreens ,
Though much of her personality is often out in the open she also has been a little vague on some other personal details of her life, including whether or not she has actually had plastic surgery to her face and other body parts. But one of the bigger questions is the official status of her significant other.
She also occasionally invites Max into her videos and he also appears sometimes in Instagram content with her. They also jointly produce a YouTube Channel called “ReactiCorns” where they both wear unicorn onesies and react to various videos and other items of interest.
So who is Max? Depending on the video, circumstances or Wengie’s general phrasing at the moment, sometimes he’s her lovely husband, her boyfriend or her fiancé.
Based on past interviews, statements, and legal documents, Max is kinda-sorta her husband and she claims to have married him as far back as 2016. However, some Internet sleuths have theorized that they’re only married in name only but haven’t filled out the legal paperwork to fully put a ring on it.
The conventional theory among many Wengie fans is that they are officially fiancé and fiancée and haven’t officially become husband and wife.
Some of the confusion comes from a very special wedding episode featuring Wengie in 2016. Except it wasn’t actually a real wedding, and was believed to have been put on more for fun.
Whatever their legal marital status, Wengie and Max are definitely committed to each other for the long haul and are far from casual daters.
They first met in 2000 at the Year 10 formal dance in high school. The story goes that they were both there with other dates, and Max asked to take their picture with some of their mutual friends.
Then they became reacquainted in 2010 when she auditioned for a dance school where Max was one of the judges. They became casual friends after that but their friendship slowly evolved. By 2011 they were dating and in 2014, they became engaged at Yosemite National Park in California – although they didn’t officially announce it to her fans until the next year.
Fans of Wengie can’t get enough of her insight and personality but details about her main squeeze are sometimes a little more hard to come by.
Some general information about Mr. Max:
He goes by the nickname Blue Unicorn.
He has Asian heritage and was born in Australia.
He has his own gaming channel on YouTube called Maxmello that mainly focuses on Roblox.
He was born in April 1986.
Many Wengie watchers say 2020 might be the year that she and Max might real-deal get married.
Talkspace is one of the most rapidly growing mental health apps in the country. As the United States continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, Talkspace has been instrumental in helping users cope during these difficult times. Recently, Kenyon College announced approval for the use of Talkspace by its students. During a student council meeting the benefits of mobile therapy apps were discussed, and the student officers voted in favor of making Talkspace a treatment option for students who need help with mental health issues.
According
to the Kenyon student council, this is a great opportunity for students to
access mental health resources while they are away from campus and practicing
social distancing. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly every university across
the country has had to send
students home. Because of the close quartered-nature of
universities, they can quickly become breeding grounds for contagious diseases.
While this is usually limited to colds and the seasonal flu, the threat of
COVID-19 is more dangerous. Therefore, universities have opted to send their
students home, having them conduct virtual classes with professors instead. Even
though college comes with its stresses, having to attend college virtually
during a time of crisis can bring a whole new level of anxiety.
Talkspace is one of the leaders in the world of telehealth. The app has more than one million users. Talkspace connects users with licensed therapists and mental health professionals through multiple channels, including on a mobile device. Users start by answering questions about themselves and their history. After which, Talkspace will connect them with multiple therapists who can provide assistance. Then, the user can select which therapist they would like to work with, enter a Talkspace “room” with their therapist, and send messages 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
The
service is the perfect opportunity for Kenyon to help connect students with
mental healthcare opportunities, because of licensing regulations in Ohio. Due to local laws, non-Ohio residents are not
allowed to access tele-health services that would normally be available at
Kenyon College. In an effort to ensure that the same types of counseling
services would be available to students in need, the University sought out
telehealth companies like Talkspace to find a reasonable alternative.
But
it’s more than just providing resources that comply with state and federal
regulations. One of the major benefits of Talkspace is the availability of
therapists. Students can send messages in the moment of stress, rather than
waiting until a weekly appointment. Regardless of whether they are struggling
with depression, anxiety, or something else entirely, there are therapists
ready to take the call. Talkspace is also able to address issues related to
diversity. Diversity is important because students need to be able to relate to
the therapist who is providing them with mental health assistance. Kenyon has
stated that one of the barriers is that it is hard to recruit people who want
to live in the local area. Through Talkspace, students can access therapists
who come from all backgrounds and identities. Therefore, students can connect
with a therapist who they feel understands them a little bit better.
Right
now, the relationship between Kenyon and Talkspace is going to run through this
academic year.
Talkspace has seen numerous advances in its services and, thanks to the increased traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic, Talkspace has also expanded the services it provides. This includes free services to new users and new social media channels through Facebook and Instagram. With the increase in demand for its services, Talkspace has also been providing discounts for services related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The novel app has acknowledged that this is a time for companies to step up and help those in need. Without a doubt, Talkspace sees this moment as a tremendous opportunity to change the way the United States addresses mental health issues. This is a tremendous benefit to college students not only at Kenyon but across the country.
For now, the administration at Kenyon is hard at work helping the app go live for students. If Kenyon has a positive relationship with Talkspace, this might encourage wider adoption of telehealth services.
There is a severe lack of mental health resources across the country. University students face unique challenges as they transition from childhood to adulthood. There are numerous trials and tribulations that they are going to face. While it is nice to have access to mental health resources and counseling on campus, some students are going to feel more comfortable if they have control over who provides therapy. They might also like the idea of confidentiality, not having to worry about someone seeing them walking into campus health. This is where Talkspace can be helpful. It will be exciting to see how Talkspace provides benefits to students at Kenyon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
