#Fitness Trends 2019: What’s announced and new exercises to try

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Fitness Trends 2019: What’s announced and new exercises to try

Workouts are no longer just part of the daily program of ambitious athletes or sports personalities. They have become an important element of a healthy and active life. Whether for balance, stress reduction or you have certain body goals, the regular exercise is always recommended. As in other lifestyle areas, there are always news in […]

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from Fitness Trends 2019: What’s announced and new exercises to try

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Week 39, 2020

NVIDIA to Acquire Arm for $40 Billion, Creating World’s Premier Computing Company for the Age of AI

NVIDIA - September 13, 2020 - 6 min

This purchase will deeply influence the future of computing. We probably won’t see the effects for 5-10 years.

Nvidia’s Integration Dreams

Stratechery by Ben Thompson - September 15, 2020 - 19 min

Great overview of the NVidia-ARM acquisition with historic and industry context.

SiFive hires Qualcomm exec as CEO for RISC-V alternatives to Nvidia-Arm

VentureBeat - September 17, 2020 - 5 min

RISC-V is an instruction set architecture, just like ARM, that companies can use to build chips. The biggest difference is price: while manufacturers need to pay royalties to ARM for using it’s architecture, RISC-V is completely free.

An update for our TikTok family

TikTok - September 20, 2020 - 3 min

The USA-TikTok saga is closer to an end:

“Both Oracle and Walmart will take part in a TikTok Global pre-IPO financing round in which they can take up to a 20% cumulative stake in the company. We will also maintain and expand the US as TikTok Global’s headquarters while bringing 25,000 jobs across the country.”

How a marked-up term sheet and messy rollout threw TikTok deal into disarray

Reuters - September 23, 2020 - 5 min

Some of the terms of the deal are not 100% clear yet:

“ByteDance said it would hold an 80% stake in TikTok Global itself, until it launches an initial public offering in the next twelve months, and that it would then gradually reduce its stake.”

“Oracle said on Monday that ByteDance would not have a stake in TikTok Global, and that it would be ByteDance’s investors who would be awarded the remaining 80% stake.”

Building YouTube Shorts, a new way to watch & create on YouTube

Youtube - 3 min

YouTube is launching their TikTok competitor, called Shorts.

Airtable raises $185M and launches new low-code and automation features

TechCrunch - September 14, 2020 - 5 min

“The spreadsheet-centric database and no-code platform Airtable today announced that it has raised a $185 million Series D funding round, putting the company at a $2.585 billion post-money valuation.”

The Billionaire Who Wanted To Die Broke… Is Now Officially Broke

Forbes - September 15, 2020 - 7 min

“It took decades, but Chuck Feeney, the former billionaire cofounder of retail giant Duty Free Shoppers has finally given all his money away to charity. He has nothing left now—and he couldn’t be happier.”

Delivery Hero strengthens its global footprint and acquires Glovo’s operations in Latin America

Delivery Hero - September 16, 2020 - 5 min

The deal is valued at €230M.

Will Smith and Airbnb team up so fans can now stay at the ‘Fresh Prince’ mansion

The Loop - September 14, 2020 - 4 min

Stripe Workers Who Relocate Get $20,000 Bonus and a Pay Cut

Bloomberg - September 15, 2020 - 3 min

A classic carrot and stick strategy. Relevant comic strip.

Opendoor, a Leading Digital Platform for Residential Real Estate, Announces Plans to Become Publicly-traded via Merger with Social Capital Hedosophia

Businesswire - September 15, 2020 - 11 min

“The transaction values Opendoor at an enterprise value of $4.8 billion, and is expected to provide up to $1.0 billion in cash proceeds”

Chamath launches SPAC, SPAC and SPAC as he SPACs the world with SPACs

TechCrunch - September 19, 2020 - 2 min

Chamath Palihapitiya is behind last year’s Virgin Galactic and now Opendoor’s SPACs. And he’s planning more.

Buffett-backed Snowflake’s value doubles in stock market’s largest software debut

Reuters - September 17, 2020 - 3 min

“Snowflake shares started trading at $245 apiece on Wednesday, more than double its $120 IPO price, and closed up 111% at $253.93 to value it at over $70 billion.”

Amp It Up!

Linkedin - May 13, 2018 - 17 min

This 2018 essay from the CEO of Snowflake’s reads like an alpha business bro parroting the same old startup advice down to Steve Jobs quotes. You will probably not learn anything new, but it serves as a good primer into the mind behind the biggest software IPO pop ever.

Uber backup driver charged in fatal 2018 self-driving car crash

The Verge - September 16, 2020 - 2 min

Uber is throwing under the bus the backup driver that was overseeing the self-driving car when it hit a cyclist.

The TinySeed Investment Thesis — TinySeed: The Startup Accelerator for Bootstrappers

TinySeed - 15 min

“We believe investing broadly into the earliest stages of the Independent SaaS market — specifically, the set of B2B SaaS companies who are not necessarily reliant on traditional venture capital — can provide venture returns with less than venture risk.”

Zwift, maker of a popular indoor training app, just landed a whopping $450 million in funding led by KKR

TechCrunch - September 16, 2020 - 3 min

The exercise-at-home market is booming, and this Peloton competitor is cashing in.

Affirm Raises $500M Series G Round

Affirm - September 17, 2020 - 2 min

The company, founded by PayPal co-founder Max Levchin, offers a point-of-sale (POS), buy now, pay later (BNPL) service.

Klarna raises $650 million at a $10.6 billion valuation

TechCrunch - September 15, 2020 - 3 min

“Klarna’s main product is an alternative payment method on e-commerce platforms. It lets you buy now and pay later over three or four installments with 0% interest.”

Evernote’s CEO on the company’s long, tricky journey to fix itself

Protocol - September 16, 2020 - 10 min

Evernote’s CEO on how they had to undergo a 18-month deep code rewrite that was the root of many of the product’s longstanding issues. Technical debt is real and it can undermine your company. Now, they’ll try to take on note-taking newcomers like Roam and Notion.

Chime is now worth $14.5 billion, surging past Robinhood as the most valuable U.S. consumer fintech

CNBC - September 18, 2020 - 4 min

“In this latest round, a Series F that raised $485 million, Chime more than doubled its valuation from December and is worth almost 900% more than just 18 months ago, when it hit a $1.5 billion valuation.”

How does the laser technology in EUV lithography work?

Laser Focus World - August 29, 2019 - 12 min

There’s a new laser technology for semiconductor manufacturing that’s been in the making for quite a while but could signify a big leap in the industry.

The Era of Visual Studio Code

Roben Kleene - September 21, 2020 - 18 min

Great overview of the history of text editors and why Visual Studio might stay at the top for a while.

Nikola shows the tech hype cycle can’t stop worshipping founders

The Verge - September 25, 2020 - 7 min

The founder and CEO of electric truck company Nikola resigned after a report last week suggested the company has overstated the technological capabilities.

The company’s shares fell 33 percent in two weeks.

My semiconductor conspiracy theories

‌Aishwarya Nagarajan - September 20, 2020 - 8 min

The case for how a semiconductor fabrication company in Taiwan could spark the next world war.

How we used data to design modern record certification plaques

Sony Music Data and Insights - September 21, 2020 - 5 min

“Record labels regularly present their artists with recording certification plaques to celebrate milestones in the journey of a song or an album.”

Sony redesigns the record certification plaques for 2020 using data science.

Microsoft Pledges to Get Gaming Service on iPhones

Bloomberg - September 21, 2020 - 1 min

Following Apple’s AppStore rules, Microsoft said they’s bringing xCloud to iOS. We’ll see what the implementation finally looks like, as the rules estate each game needs to be submitted separately as an independent app.

Microsoft is acquiring Bethesda Softworks parent company ZeniMax

The Verge - September 21, 2020 - 2 min

“Microsoft has agreed to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Doom and Fallout studio Bethesda Softworks, for $7.5 billion in cash”

Zynga co-founder’s Playco is already a mobile gaming unicorn

TechCrunch - September 21, 2020 - 3 min

I’m always wary of startups with huge valuations pre-launch. Specially if it’s in the gaming industry where it’s virtually impossible to predict what users will like next.

QR codes bring helpful context to the Apple Store experience

9to5Mac - September 21, 2020 - 3 min

There’s a bigger pandemic trend of using QR codes to create contactless experiences. They mainly substitute shared pieces of printed text (e.g. restaurant menus) and, in this case, shared objects.

Gig Economy Company Launches Uber, But for Evicting People

Vice - September 21, 2020 - 6 min

“The website also featured a quote, attributed to The New York Times […] A search reveals this phrase hasn’t appeared in the Times. The company did not respond to requests for comment or a source for this quote, but the mention of the Times has since disappeared from its website.”

“At the time of writing, Civvl and OnQall did not return requests for comment, but did appear to block the author’s IP address from visiting OnQall.com. ”

This is what I call culture-market fit.

Creating Your Own Widgets: A New Category of Apps Emerges

Macstories - September 21, 2020 - 16 min

Since iOS 14 was launched, there’s been an outpouring of apps to customize your home screen, and videos to tech you how to. Turns out people like to customize the devices they use for most of the day.

On Widget Shaming – 512 Pixels

512 Pixels - September 23, 2020 - 2 min

On the other side, people are critiquing many peoples home screens as lacking “taste”. But taste is subjective.

Following TechCrunch reporting, Palantir rapidly removes language allowing founders to “unilaterally adjust their total voting power”

TechCrunch - September 21, 2020 - 2 min

“Palantir has now filed a sixth amendment with the SEC just a few hours after it filed its previous amendment, and the company has removed all references to this special mechanism from its SEC filing.”

Aston Martin reveals first racing simulator: The AMR-C01

Aston Martin - September 14, 2020 - 4 min

If you’ve always wanted to feel like James Bond while driving an Aston Martin from the comfort of your home, this is your opportunity. The experience can be yours for a mere $75k. But be quick, units are limited to 150.

Microsoft says it detected active attacks leveraging Zerologon vulnerability

ZDNet - September 24, 2020 - 2 min

The Zerologon vulnerability is one of the worst in recent times. Update your Windows machines.

Daniel Ek will invest over $1 billion in European moonshots

Protocol - September 24, 2020 - 1 min

More European startups success stories will hopefully help fuel 🤑 the European tech ecosystem.

Anduril among companies tapped to build the Air Force’s ‘internet of things’ for war

TechCrunch - September 24, 2020 - 3 min

The Ex-Oculus founder military drone company is among the ones chosen by the Air Force as supplier.

Also, “Internet of things for war” is dystopian AF.

How Twitter Survived Its Biggest Hack—and Plans to Stop the Next One

WIRED - September 24, 2020 - 14 min

The most surprising takeaway is many Twitter employees were not using physical 2-Factor authentication (using a physical USB key instead of a SMS or TOTP code).

Spotify, Epic, Tile, Match, and more are rallying developers against Apple’s App Store policies

The Verge - September 24, 2020 - 3 min

They’re calling themselves the Coalition for App Fairness, and their aim is to “create a level playing field for app businesses and give people freedom of choice on their devices.”

Ring’s newest security camera is a $249 autonomous indoor drone shipping in 2021

TechCrunch - September 24, 2020 - 4 min

Amazon announces new cloud gaming service called Luna

The Verge - September 24, 2020 - 3 min

Amazon is joining Google Stadia and Microsoft’s xCloud in the cloud gaming space.

Expanding to the US

Index Ventures

Index Ventures, one of the biggest VCs in Europe, is launching a guide for European startups to expand to the USA, based on experiences from some of the biggest success stories like Spotify.

Amazon disavows $500 “Prime Bike,” says it has no formal connection to the product

The Verge - September 23, 2020 - 2 min

Not even Amazon can police Amazon for Amazon counterfeit products.

Firefox usage is down 85% despite Mozilla’s top exec pay going up 400%

calpaterson.com - September 22, 2020 - 11 min

Journalists Are Leaving the Noisy Internet for Your Email Inbox

The New York Times - September 23, 2020 - 6 min

I wonder if Substack is simply subsidizing a few tens of creators to build momentum and absorb the long tail of writers that will not make a fulltime income in the platform but will increase their bottom line.

Twitter to start testing voice DMs

The Verge - September 23, 2020 - 1 min

▶ ◉──────── 02:37

Microsoft’s Edge browser is arriving on Linux in beta next month

The Verge - September 22, 2020 - 1 min

This is the first time a Microsoft browser will be officially supported in Linux.

Old television kept wiping out village’s broadband for 18 months

CNN - September 22, 2020 - 2 min

“For 18 months, residents of a village in Wales have been mystified as to why their broadband internet crashed every morning.”

“Now engineers have finally identified the reason: A second-hand television that emitted a signal that interfered with the connection.”

Russia wants to ban the use of secure protocols such as TLS 1.3, DoH, DoT, ESNI

ZDNet - September 22, 2020 - 3 min

Following in China’s steps. This is proof the latest security protocols work well to prevent espionage.

Recurring Revenue: The Rise of an Asset Class

Medium - September 21, 2020 - 15 min

Apple CEO Impressed by Remote Work, Sees Permanent Changes

Bloomberg - September 22, 2020 - 2 min

“Cook said he doesn’t believe Apple will “return to the way we were because we’ve found that there are some things that actually work really well virtually.””

Apple is unique among big tech companies in their adamant reject of remote work. But it looks like hell just froze over.

[pinarworks]

Netflix may be BFFs with authoritarian governments After a whole decade of FOMO (fear of missing out) in which we were almost burnt out while trying to catch up with the actual events happening around, Netflix made staying home cool again. The popular streaming service that offered its audience hundreds of options to watch online made ‘’every day like Sunday’’, while the saying ‘’Netflix and chill’’ became the defining motto of the moment. Sure, one can easily suggest that FOMO has only changed in exercise and now we are living in a time in which fear of missing out is lived while we are in our houses, seemingly chilling, but in reality, trying to catch up with every show that is determined as cool on Netflix. Still there is no denying the new state of living in the world is now also designed by services like Netflix which offer a fun way to escape the fake news of the real world through immersing oneself in movies, art and comedy. Netflix Turkey launched in early 2016, almost 9 years after it started its streaming service in the USA, and to many people’s surprise it came uncensored. It was a surprise because in Turkey, TV and radio broadcasting is subject to serious governmental control through an institution called RTÜK (Radyo Televizyon Üst Kurumu - Supreme Institute of Radio and TV). RTÜK which was formed in 1999 in order to control the content of the newly set private TV and radio channels, has the right to censor all broadcasted content, fine channels for inappropriate content, cut scenes that are declared inappropriate for Turkish culture; whatever that culture might be in the eyes of the members of the institution. In years and with changing world and governments, RTÜK has also adopted new rules such as alcohol and tobacco censorship that passed in 2008 which made it mandatory for channels to blur the scenes in which aforementioned substances were being consumed. Netflix’s official launch in Turkey then created a wave of excitement as well as concern. For a while things went smoothly. Since Netflix was a new invention that RTÜK did not recognize and fit into any of its categories, it was able to be streamed as it is, with whatever content it curated for the applied geography but without any censorship within. Well, that could change any time now. At several moments in 2019, Turkish viewers had received a few signs as to Netflix being suddenly cautious with its ‘’sensitive’’ content. First in January 2019, it censored one middle finger in the series Sex Education and later in September 2019, the cigaratte hold by one character in the trailer of El Camino was edited out. These changes foreshadowed the upcoming RTÜK regulations, regulations which will now include the control of streaming services such as Netflix, Puhu TV, Blutv and others. In August 2019, a new law indicating that every streaming service operating in Turkey should get an official license from RTÜK has passed. In September RTÜK announced they got over 600 applies including Netflix; which meant the compromisation of the content it would offer its Turkish audience with the government. The rules indicated in the article are open to interpretation and easily be misused. Sentences such as ‘’Media services shall not be contrary to the national and moral values of the society, general morality and the principle of protection of family’’ may look clear on the surface but are definitely subject to change in meaning depending on the interpreter’s own ideals. What are the moral values of Turkish society? Sure, we get the hint, it’s the heterosexual society in which the nuclear family is ruled by the husband etc. Would gay marriages/relationhips be cencored then? Probably. Where does an occasional middle finger stand here? Or the consumption of cigarettes and alcohol? One is free to wonder since many people would say an occasional dinner in the family would involve alcohol now and then. Netflix has 1.5 million subscribers in Turkey, 1.5 subscribers who are paying literal money to access this service whose preferences would be bypassed by this law. With this law the agency of 1,5 million people will be ignored and looked down upon. Sadly, Turkey is not the only country that Netflix and other streaming services, have issues with. In 2017, a movie called Angry Indian Goddesses was released censored in accordance with India’s movie theatre code, which received backlash from the audience who wanted to see the movie uncensored (to which Netflix compiled and released the uncensored version but then was in conflict with the government and soon signed an agreement with the government promising not to stream offensive content in India which included insults on religions and the flag). In early 2019 Netflix also blocked an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj in Suudi Arabia;, a comedy commentray in which a self-identified Muslim-American Minhaj critisizes the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Royal Family. The service cancelled the aforementioned episode upon request of the government itself. In his speech at New York Times DealBook Conference Netflix CEO Reed Hastings defended the decision by saying ‘’Well, we’re not in the news business. We’re not trying to do ‘truth to power. We’re trying to entertain. And we can pick fights with governments about newsy topics, or we can say, because the Saudi government lets us have us shows like Sex Education, that show a very liberal lifestyle, and show very provocative and important topics. And so, we can accomplish a lot more by being entertainment, and influencing a global conversation about how people live, than trying to be another news channel.’’ Well, yes. No one could have said it clear and short. Netflix is not an ambassador of free speech, it’s just another company which is following money. The question then comes up: What should Netflix do? Should it withdraw its services from the country which asks for regulations and compliance? That would be a sad direction to take not only for Netflix who would then lose tons of money but also the audience who would lose a connection to the global streaming trends, in a way a connection to outer worlds. We know what happens with start-ups going big: They compromise, with the government, with the military, with the state, with, in the end, the establishment. In order to follow the capital you should follow its owners and the relationship with capital and the rulers is a natural one. This is a complex relationship considering that through its journey to money, these companies also intentionally or not create channels in which people invest in emotions, relations and affects. That’s why the reality that Netflix is earning a lot of money from hiring people like the politically fresh acts like Minhaj, from streaming shows on popular matters such as feminism, veganism and climate change comes up nuanced. The service’s main goal in the end is money and monopolizing and the means will always be justified. It’s a reminder of the complex winding of things in capitalism. It’s a system which relies not only on economic dependency but on emotional investment as well. After all it's good to remind oneself now and then, that Netflix may not be one of our good friends. But then other questions come up: As a paid service, what happens when Netflix complies with the government? Is a censored version of a certain movie, count as the uncensored one? Should people pay the same amount of money for the censored curated content as well? What if Netflix would be fair(er) and when regulated with the government would regulate its pricing policies as well, say ask for lower amounts of money in compensation for the damage done or in merely out of consideration of its audiences? Originally published in Spex Magazin in German on 05.12.2019 https://spex.de/netflix-zensur-tuerkei/

[dropshippingreviewslove1-blog]

Noise Cancelling Earbuds For Running 2019

Searching for the noise cancelling earbuds for running couldn't be easier in today's trending earbuds, either gym earbuds, workout earbuds, sports earbuds, earbuds for CrossFit and so many others. The list of running earbuds below will not only show you the best quality noise cancelling earbuds but a complete guide for buying one. There are numerous questions about earbuds, which I intend to provide the best possible answers and guides to owing one.

Are wireless earbuds good for running?

Of course, they are but remember, what is good for Paul must not be good for Peter. What if the reasons for Paul is different for Peter? You may not be a fan of wireless earbuds, but am here to convince you and to show you why you should try them. With wireless earbuds, you don't have to deal with tangling cables, or cables getting in your way of exercising. Earbuds give you total freedom of movement, just like headphones with long cables always in your way. Like the Sony wireless Bluetooth noise cancelling sports workout earbuds. This earbud is a good example of why you should try one. It is one of the best wireless earbuds for any exercises because it is wireless/cordless, sweatproof and has an inbuilt microphone in case you want to answer calls. Read below for the reviews.

What are the best wireless earbuds for running?

You can find really good quality earbuds with low price, but you need to remember, you get what you paid for. I will give you a list of some of the best wireless earbuds for running below, and you can read the reviews at the bottom.

Can earbuds be noise Cancelling?

Yes, they can and here is how. Earbuds use an active noise-cancelling technology to reduce external or background noise rendering a particularly suitable and relaxing listening atmosphere in areas with shrill background sonance. You can read more about noise canceling earbuds.

Are Apple earbuds noise canceling?

In 2019, Apple announced a new release of its Apple AirPods 3 noise cancelling earbuds, and it will be water resistant. Recent AirPods are not really noise-canceling, but the new design and upgrade set for late 2019 is an upgrade from its Apple AirPods 2.

What to look out for when buying sports earbuds

When buying a pair of these earbuds, you should be wary of some of these features: If they are waterproof. Most earbuds claim to be waterproof against rain and sweat, not really. But some are really mild sweat proof like the ones we have here. Using these sport earbuds while exercising are ok for sweat proof and water resistant, but you should know which ones are water resistant so you don't damage it.If they are a good fit and comfortable. Some of these earbuds come with a hook that lets it sit nicely and comfortably on your ears. Also, the loop which acts as a sound eliminator that fits into your ear, canceling unwanted noise from around you without interfering with audio output. Also, if it has an ergonomic design.If they have good sound production. There is nothing that gives motivation like having a good beat, pure sound quality. Some earbuds just have normal sound, unlike the ones here that will make you keep going like there is no end.If they are real noise cancelling. Imagine running and the sound of traffic and people around interfering with your music, its really annoying right. The best way to avoid all those external noises is to choose one from this list of the best noise cancelling earbuds for running and gym. Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds For Running, Gym, and Sports

1. Sony WF SP700N Wireless Bluetooth Earbud

Sony WF SP700N is truly a noise cancelling bud, it is sweat and splash proof, a comfortable cushioned fit. The sound quality is powerful with extra bass, different sound setting like the ambient aware more, voice mode and normal mode. Connects to Bluetooth devices like android and apple devices, uses the Sony connect app for noise cancelling and sound settings of your choice. The battery life is 9 hrs and more with the charging case. Read the complete review for Sony WF SP700N Pros ComfortableQuality sound and sound settingsBest for running with noise cancelling Cons Not cheap

2. Juckbo Wireless Bluetooth Earbud

Juckbo Wireless Bluetooth Earbud

The is one the best noise cancelling earbuds for running, because of certain features that makes it stand out. The sound quality is good with a HI-Fi stereo sound and a true noise cancelling technology. It is a lightweight and ergonomic design which makes it a top choice for sports like running and gym. Very easy and very fast to connect with any smartphone with the help of Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. Very good battery life of up to 4 hrs and charge with the charging case can last up to 15 hrs, and the charging case can charge the earbud up to 5 times. Read the complete review for Juckbo earbud. Pros Easy to connect with any smartphoneVery comfortable and lightweightIts cheap earbudGood for most sports activity

3. Phiaton Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds

This is another good earbud from Phiaton with active noise cancelling technology with a splash and sweatproof, lightweight material for comfortability. It has a fast charge ability to quickly charge for 5 minutes and lasts for 1hr. Good quality sound and inline control to switch between calls and music easily, and connects to any smartphone. It also has a vibrating notification which lets you know when there is an incoming call or if you step too far away from the connected device. The battery life can last 8-9 hrs on a full charge. Read the complete review for Phiaton earbud Pros It is splash and sweat resistantHas an active noise cancelling technologyVibration notification for calls and distance away from the deviceLong battery hoursGood sound qualityAffordable Cons May damage if hit against any hard surfaceBattery life may reduce if stored away of a full charge

4. Tribit X1 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

This Tribit earbud is small but mighty sound, with noise reduction technology and splashproof. A Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and inline call technology for answering call in-between music. It has a 3 hrs playtime on a full charge and even more playtime with the case in your pocket. Has silicon tips for comfortability and to stay in place no matter what exercise you are doing. Read the complete review for Tribit earbud. Pros Connects with all smartphonesIdeal for any sports activityGood battery life Cons A sound problem as it agesNot cheap

5. Kavard TWS Mini Wireless Bluetooth Earbud

This is not just a running earbud, but can also serve for different sporting purposes, because of the noise cancelling technology. It is sweatproof and lightweight design for comfort and convenience. It connects to all Bluetooth device and can stay connected even at 40 feet distance. The battery can last 5 hrs of playtime and more hours with the charging case which also provides a quick charge. Read the complete review for Kavard earbud Pros Quick charge caseEasy to connect with any Bluetooth deviceSecure and comfortable fitCan be used for hiking, running, biking and relaxation

6. ZAQXSW Bluetooth Wireless Earbud

This has an interesting design, the earbud sits on your ear bones, not an in-ear earbud. It produces good sound and it's a noise cancelling bud, with a built-in mic for calls. The earbud is sealed off for complete waterproof and rain proof. It is comfortable, lightweight, safe, secure and convenient to use. The battery lasts 8 hrs playtime and 20 hrs standby time and uses Bluetooth 4.1 to connect to any Bluetooth devices. Read the complete review for ZAQXSW earbud. Pros Complete waterproofQuick steady Bluetooth connectionProtects the eardrumIdeal for running, cycling and swimming

7. Sabbat Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

This earbud has a 3D design, very good sound and noise cancelling technology to increase quality music and reduce outside noise. Fast and stable Bluetooth connection which can be paired with any Bluetooth devices. Up to 6 hrs playtime battery and more 30 hrs playtime with the charging case. An active voice assistant using Siri, and answer calls using the in-built microphone. Read the complete review for Sabbat earbud. Pros Fas and stable connectionLong playtime hrsQuick chargeActive ANC Cons Not cheap

8. AJAHBGSMXD Smart Touch Wireless Earbud

If you are looking for easy to use earbud for running, then this might just be what you are looking for. It is very comfortable, you don't have to worry about falling off or experience any pain you get with the normal headset when you try to use the manual buttons. It uses ANC technology to eliminate distorting or external background noise, and powerful deep bass and midrange sound. It is completely waterproof and sweatproof. Read the complete review for AJAHBGSMXD earbud. Pros Smart tough buttonsLong battery lifeFast 5.0 connection to any Bluetooth deviceDeepwater resistance Cons Not cheap

AINEED Bluetooth Wireless Earbud

This is sweatproof and splashes water resistant, and very comfortable with ergonomic design. The battery can last up to 6 hrs on a full charge, and 20 hrs with the charging case. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 for faster and stable connectivity for both music and calls. The sound production is very good with noise reduction technology, which makes the sound becomes clearer. Ideal for most sporting activities including running, jogging and hiking. Read the complete review for Aineed earbud. Pros Very comfortable fit with different ear tipsSplash and sweatproof designConnectivity is goodActive voice assistant RECENT POSTS Best Ceiling Speakers For Surround SoundBest Bluetooth Outdoor SpeakersBest Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under £100Best Bluetooth Garden Rock SpeakersBest Bookshelf Speakers Under 300The 10 Best TweetersBest Sylvania Bluetooth SpeakersBest Car Speakers For Bass Without A SubwooferBest Car Subwoofer UkBest Bluetooth Speakers Under 100 Read the full article

[treadmill-world-reviews-blog]

Treadmill Industry News

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State of the Treadmill Industry 2018

  Industry News Commercial cardio equipment still outsells weightlifting equipment, but not as much as it used to. Cardio comprised 64% of the total exercise equipment market in 2016 compared to 36% of weightlifting. This compares to 71% for cardio in 2008 and 29% for weights, according to Fitness Industry Suppliers Association. In June 2018 U.S. President Trump announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on some goods imported from China. The specific goods were mostly industrial, as opposed to consumer, but since most treadmill parts are made in China, the move raised the possibility of higher prices for treadmills. The initial list was presented with the possibility that more products would be added. Among those items on the list were sewing machines, dishwashers, and electric motors and parts. Treadmills use electric motors. However, even treadmills made in the USA are assembled primarily from parts manufactured in China, so tariffs could affect the treadmill market more generally. As of September 2018, it looked increasingly likely that China would place tariffs on more categories of exports in the coming months. Overlaid against the tariff issue is Chinese pricing for steel products generally. One reason Chinese products have been relatively inexpensive is that Chinese companies have had few environmental regulations to comply with. New Chinese policies have resulted in stricter environmental rules. This has resulted in higher costs that are being passed on to customers.   Company News   ICON Health & Fitness celebrated its 40th anniversary in October 2017. Forty years previous it introduced the first home treadmill to the U.S. market under the Weslo label. In January, 2018, A Federal Court ruled that ICON infringed on a Chinese patent related to an elliptical machine and awarded Nautilus Inc. $1.8 million in damages, plus attorney’s fees. Nautilus and ICON entered into a patent licensing agreement in 2004, through which ICON received a license to certain Nautilus patents for a 5 percent royalty on sales of elliptical machines that used the patents. In May 2018, BH North America, the maker of Bladez and BH Fitness treadmills, moved its entire operation from Orange County, California to Missouri. The move was expected to produce substantial cost savings, as the company continued its emphasis on its BH Fitness commercial brand, which it sells to customers such as hotels. A few months prior to the move, Dan Foust replaced Bob Whip as CEO. BH North America also sells to the consumer market through its Bladez Fitness brand. It now looks like Yowza Fitness, maker of high end ellipticals and treadmills, has gone out of business. Yowza was founded in 2009 and has sold exclusively direct to consumers through its website. The website hasn’t been undated for over a year and their 800 number no longer works. There hasn’t been an update to its Facebook pages since August 2017 and emails to the company bounced back or were not returned. New & Different Models At the International CES show in January 2018, Peloton, widely known for its stationary bikes, introduced its first treadmill. Peloton is still a very young company, but has gotten a lot of attention for its $2,000 bike and online classes. At $4,000, it features a huge 32 inch console, surround sound, and a deck designed not just for running, but for weight training, as well. Instead of a simple running belt, it has fifty-nine aluminum and rubber slats for better flex and cushion. The company appears to believe that enough people want more than just the cardio provided by their bikes and that their new treadmill/weights combination can meet this demand. Clearly the company aims for the luxury market. It more than doubled its sales in 2017 to about $400 million. It differentiates itself by the level of service and individually catered classes, even so far as having the instructors yell out the names of the home users. There are more than thirty retail stores where prospective customers can try the new machine. The perceived competition for the Peloton treadmill seems to be live classes, instead of other treadmills. The company has raised nearly $450 million from institutional investors, but has been only marginally profitable, if at all. Blue Goji, a developer of interactive fitness games, introduced its Infinity treadmill prototype at the South by Southwest conference in March, 2018. The Infinity prototype allows for natural torso movement and tracking, bio-feedback, and virtual reality games. Users can play immersive VR and 2D games using a range of body motions. The promise is that users will feel more stable and secure than with other treadmills due to the Infinity’s patented tension-sensing belt, which allows even exercise that require balance, like tai chi. The Infinity will be manufactured by Woodway and is expected to be available for sale in early 2019. Something completely different is the Mini Walk treadmill from the Chinese company IPO Sports. It’s only a few inches high, sixty-four pounds, and has no console. What’s really unusual is that its motor adjusts the belt speed according to how fast you are running or starting to run. The front, middle, and back of the belt have infrared sensors that measure how long your feet are in each part and deduces your actual and trending speed from those readings. The company says the Mini Walk is the first treadmill to have just twenty-two components and no welding. Suggested price about $250. You’ve heard the idea of generating electricity through use of exercise machines. There have even been some gyms that have tried to set this up. But now power generating treadmills are available to the mass market, at least in the UK. British company SportsArt has introduced its ECO-POWR line of equipment that includes the Verde treadmill. It purports to convert up to 74% of kinetic (movement) energy into electricity. It uses an inverter to return the power to the electrical grid. So far the machines are available only in the UK, primarily to commercial facilities. See the photo below: In June 2018 a Fund Me campaign was started on Indiegogo to raise $10,000 to build the World’s First Boxing Training Treadmill, to be called the IMPACT 50-0. It was presented as the combination of self-defense and aerobic training that can burn fat faster than other treadmills. The main differentiating factor is that different color lights suggest different moves. For example, a yellow light may indicate that a defensive move is necessary, while a green light indicates an open shot that the user needs to hit designated pads within a prescribed time limit, and a red light indicates you were too slow and got hit. As of September 2018, over $2,000 had been raised. Make sure to click here for aall of our latest Treadmills and home gym equipment deals.  

State of the Treadmill Industry 2017

  The Numbers are In According to Grandview Research, the global fitness equipment market is anticipated to grow at 3.6 % from 2015 to more than $13 billion in 2022, as growing health consciousness spread from the U.S. and developed market to developing nations, especially in Asia. Governments in these nations have given incentives to businesses to encourage employees to exercise. In North America, cardio equipment, which includes treadmills, ellipticals, step machines, and rowers, continued to out sell strength training equipment and was projected to grow at an annual rate of over 2% through 2022, compared to a higher rate for weight training equipment. Asia was projected to grow at a rate more than 7%, but North America still comprises about 45% of the world market. Of the roughly $4 billion of fitness equipment sold in North America in 2016, treadmill sales in the U.S. led the way with about $1 billion, most of which were to health clubs. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), total sales of exercise equipment in North America increased 1.5% in 2016, with institutional exercise equipment gaining 4.2% and consumer sales rising only half a per cent. Sale of treadmills for commercial use jumped 9.9%, but only 2.3% for consumer use. This compared favorably to consumer sales of elliptical machines, which declined 1.8%. In its 2016 survey, the SFIA) found that more than 50 million Americans said they used a treadmill at least once in the previous year. Retail sales of fitness equipment in North America ranged from $300 home products to commercial treadmills costing more than $10,000. However, the survey found that people in both the millennial and Gen Z age groups said they would rather run outside than on a treadmill. Company News During 2017 Johnson Health Tech acquired specialty fitness retailers Busy Body Home Fitness, 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment, and Fitness Resource. The addition of the combined 100+ stores of these businesses makes Johnson the largest national fitness equipment retailer. Johnson’s plan is to rebrand all its one hundred retail stores, in the U.S. including the Leisure Fitness brand, as Johnson Fitness & Wellness as part of its three hundred stores worldwide. New Products In November 2016, Johnson Health Tech announced that it is now marketing Matrix line of cardio equipment to the home market. Previously, Matrix was sold only for commercial uses. Johnson says that Matrix is the fastest growing commercial fitness brand in the world. At prices for treadmills beginning around $3,000, Matrix is one of the more expensive home brands. We know that professional football is competitive, but do players need special treadmills to work on their speed? Yes, according the XPE Sports Academy in Florida, where they have developed something called the SHREDmill to improve results in the 40-yard dash. The SHREDmill evolved from using regular treadmills with the power turned off so that the user had to develop the power to turn the belt himself. In 2011, the current system of variable magnetic resistance was developed, so that the user still has to provide the power, but can adjust the resistance as well. The resistance is set so that sprinting is specially trained for by pushing off and accelerating. Proponents of the SHREDmill claim great success for dramatically speeding up linemen, as well as receivers and backs. NFL players Travis Benjamin, Mark Ingram, Eric Berry, and Maurice Poincey have improved their times. Players Anquan Boldin, Kareem Jason, and Jerod Mayo have all bought their own machines. By the time the 2017 season starts, around ten pro and college teams will have a SHREDmill.   Lawyers! In November 2016, ICON Health & Fitness sued an online product review site Consumer Affairs for $10.5 million, claiming it posted fake negative reviews for companies that didn’t pay its membership fees of thousands of dollars per year. ICON claimed that the site wrongly gave negative reviews to its Nordic Track products and that this constitutes a violation of the federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) statute. ICON also claimed that the site not only defamatorily damaged ICON’s reputation, but constituted fraud as well. In October 2016, a group of consumers sued treadmill manufacturer Precor Inc., alleging that the readings of its heart rate monitors give inaccurate and unreliable readings and that the company sold its machines while knowing this. In March 2017, the suit was certified as a class action and limited to nine models of treadmills. Precor’s responses have included that readings depend on whether the user walks or runs, the amount of intensity of exercise, and correct usage. In a March 2017 ruling in a case with a similar issue to the Precor case, a federal judge ruled that a patent owned by ICON Health & Fitness was invalid after ICON tried to prevent Polar Electro from selling its own heart rate monitor. The patent was ruled invalid because it claimed only abstract ideas, instead of a specific design. Also in March 2017, a bill was introduced in Congress that would include certain fitness expenses as medical expenses that qualify for tax deductions. Thus, for example, the purchase price of a home treadmill would be subsidized by the federal government in the hope that increased exercise will result in less total spending on healthcare. The bill is known as the Personal Health Investment Today Act and would allow up to a $2,000 deduction.

State of the Treadmill Industry 2016

  The treadmill industry completed another year of more than $1 billion in sales in 2015 with no end in sight. As reported in the Wall Street Journal in October 2016, GYMetrix, a company that uses digital tracking and surveys to track what people actually do at gyms, analyzed hundreds of gyms and found that treadmills are the number one choice of women and the number two choice of men, after dumbbells. While retail sales in general continued to be weak throughout 2015 and 2016, sports and fitness stores generally did well. Competition from online stores continues to a challenge for all sporting goods categories. Company News In December 2015, after outsourcing its manufacturing to China, ICON Health & Fitness auctioned off its remaining plastics processing equipment in its Logan facility. The equipment auctioned included injection molding machines, blenders, granulators, silos, chillers, cooling towers, temperature controllers, hot runners, and remaining parts. ICON cut 400 manufacturing jobs in Logan in October, but continues its FreeMotion treadmills and other equipment at its plant in Smithfield, Utah. In July 2015, Moody’s upgraded ICON’s bond rating “due to its improved operating performance and enhanced liquidity profile” and the strategy of “streamlining its manufacturing footprint.” This came three months after expressing a negative outlook due to the uncertainty of refinancing bonds that were coming due within three months. Not all fitness equipment manufacturers are following ICON’s move to manufacturing in China. In January, 2016, Brunswick Corp, maker of Life Fitness equipment, paid $195 million for Cybex Intl, manufacturer of commercial treadmills and other gym equipment. Both companies continue to manufacture in the U.S., but distribute throughout the world. Cybex was a public company that lost about $169 million in 2014. It appears that Brunswick wants to diversify its business from its cyclical core line of manufacturing and selling boats and marine engines. Their stated goal is to double the sales of its Life Fitness division by 2020. In May, 2016, Sports Authority Inc., a leading retailer of treadmills and other exercise equipment, filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in order to close its 463 stores and liquidate its assets. A $1.3 billion buyout in 2006 by a hedge fund took on more debt than the company could pay. Sports Authority has been a major seller of ProForm, Stamina, Schwinn, and Yowza treadmills. In 2006, the chain had sales about equal to rival Dick’s Sporting Goods. However, by 2016 Dick’s had hundreds more locations, each with about twice as much revenue as Sports Authority stores. Some analysts have attributed this to Dick’s better presentation and technology in its stores. In January 2016, Nautilus, Inc., maker of Bowflex, Schwinn, and other brands of exercise equipment, bought elliptical maker Octane Fitness from private-equity firm North Castle Partners for $115 million. The purchase of Octane, which makes high-end elliptical machines for use in home and commercial gyms, could help Nautilus extend into higher price points and reach new distribution channels. During 2015, Octane had of about $65 million, while Nautilus had sales of about $335 million. New Technology In January 2016, Wahoo Fitness announced its GymConnect System, a device that is sold to treadmill manufacturers or individual users to attach to their treadmills to a wide variety of networks. So not only can the user to control the treadmill and connect to proprietary closed systems, but also to the more widely-installed iFit and other networks and new apps. The module can allow changes in programs and incline, but, for safety reasons, will not change speed. Star Trac and other manufacturers have started installing the modules on their new models in 2016. Individual units for consumers are available to consumers at about $200 each. Also early in 2016, Technogym released a new running treadmill that can detect a runner's rhythm and create a personalized interactive music soundtrack for them based on the speed that they are running. Users log into their exercise account and choose their music along with their other workout parameters. Then the system detects the user’s rhythm and creates a personalized interactive music soundtrack to match that rhythm and speed as they change. TechnoGym calls this “the world’s first music interactive treadmill." Life Fitness has announced that it has brought the connectivity of the internet of things to gyms with its new remote monitoring service. It recently rolled out LFconnect Protect to more than 10,600 hotels, residential exercise rooms and fitness clubs using its premium lines of machines. The service attempts to minimize machine downtime by timing repairs before issues become problematic. It also helps gyms plan future purchases based on the machines exercisers use most. As Life Fitness technology develops, the company said, it could one day better help gyms use data to market to their customers. In August 2016, ICON lost its attempt to save its patent on a virtual personal trainer from cancellation when a federal appeals court ruled that the patent was ambiguous. Therefore, Polar heart rate monitors were found to not violate ICON’s patent. ♣ Have any treadmill news for next year’s report? If so, please send it to info@treadmill-world.com and we will be happy to include it.

State of the Treadmill Industry 2015

Treadmills remained the most popular form of exercise equipment worldwide in 2015, as fitness continued its popularity and populations become increasingly overweight. Treadmills comprise about 55% of the home fitness market, with ellipticals at about 15%. The remainder is made up of stationary bikes and hybrids of these styles. All this is according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Robert Braun, VP of Sales at Treadmill World, says “The 2014 holiday season was marked by customers waiting for holiday deals, then finding that what they wanted was out of stock. As shipping costs have risen and free shipping has become more common, the costs of shipping equipment has gone up relative to the value of the machines. Thus, fewer lower end machines are made or sold.” However, Nautilus continued its push into the lower priced home market. Its T616 treadmill incorporates Bluetooth connectivity so users’ workout data can be synced with the Nautilus trainer app. Braun adds “The quality at the lower end continues to rise, along with the prices for those models.” In November 2014, negotiations between the International Longshoreman Workers union and its employer, Pacific Maritime Association, resulted in labor slowdowns on the west coast, delaying deliveries of exercise equipment and parts to U.S. manufacturers and distributors. This in turn led to these businesses running out of stock on many models and disappointed consumers. The strike was settled March 2015. Company News In late 2014, Smooth Fitness ceased operations. Its remaining inventory and intellectual property was bought in foreclosure by Treadmill Doctor, which then sold the Smooth website and some other intellectual property to ICON Health & Fitness, while retaining the intellectual property related to parts and service. Smoothfitness.com now offers new Smooth-branded treadmills manufactured by ICON. The former Smooth Fitness is out of business, so is not honoring its warranties on machines bought before the sale. However, Treadmill Doctor still sells parts for these models. The Smooth website is being operated by ICON, selling new models labeled Smooth Fitness, but assembled by ICON. Braun of Treadmill World says “We sold a lot of their stuff, but the word is that they were spending too much for click. Apparently, this caused their profits to thin to the point that their institutional investor didn’t want to put in any more cash.” In November 2014, Johnson Health Tech introduced a new line of Horizon and Vision treadmills with its new wireless connectivity system, ViaFit. ViaFit enables the user to share workout data with other fitness apps and devices. The machines connect to your home wifi through a free ViFit account and seamlessly syncs to other devices that you may be tracking workout results on. Johnson also introduced its Passport Player, which improves on the virtual running course programs offered by other manufacturers. In addition to the visual and incline changes that occur along a course, Johnson’s new program provides ambient sounds and a separate, larger screen that provides a more realistic virtual outdoor running experience. Johnson’s commercial brand, Matrix Fitness, announced a 19 percent global sales growth rate for 2014. The company attributed the growth the new products and repeat customers. In October 2015, Johnson substantially increased its distribution of commercial fitness equipment in Canada by acquiring a leading Canadian commercial equipment distributor, STAK Fitness. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission fined Johnson $3 million for failing to report defects in its machines. Johnson’s Matrix Fitness Ascent Trainers and Elliptical Trainers apparently allowed a buildup of moisture from perspiration or cleaning liquids in the power sockets of the units. The agency says this buildup caused smoking, sparking, and fires. It seems the company made two design changes to fix the problem, but did not immediately report the incidents or design changes to the agency. Johnson recalled the trainers in January 2014, but it wasn’t until 2015 the fine was imposed. In July 2015, ICON Health and Fitness announced it will eliminate the U.S. manufacturing of home equipment by cutting 400 employees and moving those operations overseas by the end of the year. The announced purpose was to remain competitive as the company expanded globally. Most of the parts of ICON equipment have been manufactured in China for years now, with most assembly taking place in Utah. However, now most assembly of home treadmills will occur in China. The company also has plants are located in Taiwan and Pakistan. Assembly of ICON’s commercial brand, FreeMotion Fitness, will continue at the company’s Smithfield, Virginia plant. The company said it would renovate the space vacated by its manufacturing operations in order to “accommodate future growth.” ICON started manufacturing in Utah in 1987, after having been manufactured in other countries since 1977. It will continue its other operations in Utah, such as engineering, marketing, and distributing with about 1,500 employees. A few weeks after ICON made its announcement, Moody's upgraded ICON’s corporate bond rating due to ICON’s “improved operating performance and enhanced liquidity profile.” Moody’s said that that ICON’s strategy of streamlining its manufacturing and expanding its distribution network should continue to improve the company’s performance. However, Moody’s also noted that its rating is constrained by the company’s concentration of customers and its limited operations outside of North America New Technology If you're used to running on a treadmill and then go for a run in the great outdoors, one of the first things you might notice is that the real deal feels quite different. Tread runners often describe the difference as running less upright and feeling like the feet are pushing into the ground with more effort. In short, it's more challenging. Those feelings happen to be real. While doing things like changing the elevation grade of the belt will help simulate what it's like to really run, traditional treadmills fall short of activating and conditioning the lower-body muscles the way they are trained during a sprint or a longer-distance jog. Woodway introduced its Curve treadmill, a motorless model with a tread belt curved at the front and the back to better simulate the activation of muscle use while running on solid ground. The promise is that, because users need to dig into the front of the belt and push off the back in order to start the belt moving and keep it moving, they are working their lower body harder. See the image below. Technogym, which calls itself the leading producer of design and technology-driven fitness equipment, introduced the first treadmill to be activated by voice commands. The model is called “Artis.” This user wears Google Glass, which works through UNITY, an android-based console display platform. Users can control the speed of the treadmill with voice commands, as well as see running data on their their headset and communicate with a personal trainer through a webcam. No word yet on availability. According to an article published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Ohio State University has invented a treadmill that actually adjusts its speed to the user’s, instead of the user having to adjust his speed to what he has set the speed of the treadmill to. The purported effect is that using the treadmill feels like running or walking on a steady surface. Apparently, this new machine more accurately measures VO2Max, the commonly-used measure of aerobic capacity. Stay tuned on this one. ♣ Have any treadmill news for next year’s report? If so, please send it to info@treadmill-world.com and we will be happy to include it. Read the full article

[lionwall08-blog]

The Weekly Roundup: Your Go-To Guide For Everything You May Have Missed This Week & More! 12/29 – 1/04

Welcome to Ben Greenfield's Weekly Roundup and Cool New Discoveries!

Ben Greenfield's discoveries from the latest news from the fronts of fitness, nutrition, health, wellness, biohacking and anti-aging research. I also recap my upcoming events and special announcements so you can keep up with giveaways, discounts, and more!

New Discoveries Of The Week: Cool New Things I'm Trying, Books I'm Reading, And More!

– Woo-Woo Book I'm Reading:

Stress Less, Accomplish More: Meditation for Extraordinary Performance is a new book sent to me by my friend Emily Fletcher, who was a former podcast guest in Meditation For Mind-Blowing Sex, Meditation For Insomnia, Meditation For Energy & Much More. Emily specifically developed a novel meditation technique for working people with busy lives. Now, you can learn to recharge anywhere, anytime – at home or at your desk. All you need is a few minutes and a chair (no apps, incense, or finger cymbals required). But this is not just another meditation book. In it, Emily teaches a cool trifecta of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Manifesting to improve your personal and professional performance, clarity, health, and sleep. You learn how to cultivate Mindfulness through brief but powerful exercises that will help you stop wasting time stressing. Plus, you’ll get Manifesting tools to help you get crystal clear on your personal and professional goals for the future. I'm digging it (and I'm usually NOT a fan of woo-woo meditation books). Get it here.

– Healthy “Vape” Pen I've Been “Smoking”:

FUM pen: I realize that I told you about this a few months ago, but I'm currently really digging this vape pen as a replacement for my habit of vaping organic tobacco and chewing nicotine gum, which I want to put the brakes on just a bit. OK, OK, this is not a vape pen per se, but rather an essential oil “inhaler” pen that is so simple and safe to use that even my kids are “taking hits” on peppermint essential oil before school. It's called a “FUM pen”. I've been taking hits on cinnamon and nutmeg for focus, lavender for relaxation, and peppermint for a pre-workout, lung and head-clearing effect. I've been using black pepper to break tobacco and nicotine and it works like gangbusters! Studies have even shown that using a pen like this with black pepper essential oils can help get rid of smoking and nicotine cravings (for those of you who have been chomping on too much of that nicotine gum I've also recommended). Plus, handcrafted just west of Calgary, AB, Canada, the thing just looks sexy and super functional. Get your FUM pen here, and get your essential oils to go along with it here.  When you enter code BEN at checkout, you'll get free shipping on your pen in the U.S. and Canada when you spend $40 or more bones.

Podcasts I Recorded This Week:

Every month, Ben Greenfield releases never-before-seen videos, audios and PDFs inside the BenGreenfieldFitness “Premium” channel (just $10/year to access!). You can click here to go Premium and access an entire vault of protected content!

What You Didn’t Know About CBD & THC, Fixing Lyme Disease, The Full Body Blood Change Reboot, Peptides 101, Hyperthermia & Much More!

This episode was brought to you by Clearlight Saunas, Christian Gratitude Journal, Organifi and Kion

The Hidden Health Epidemic Nobody Is Talking About (& 6 Ways To Protect Yourself From It)

This episode was brought to you by Clearlight Saunas, Christian Gratitude Journal, Organifi and Kion

Articles I Published This Week:

How I Track Sleep, The Top 7 Sleep Parameters To Track, Interpreting Your Sleep Trends & Much More.

My full article feed and all past archives of my articles are here if you want to check out past articles.

Articles & Podcasts I Was Featured In This Week:

– Charlotte Pawar – How to Save Money in Your UK Fitness Business (#181)

– Kwik Brain 087: Protecting Your Brain from 4 Invisible Super-Villains with Ben Greenfield

– You will not believe the benefits of Sauna! Have we been chumped by the medical “authorities”?

Special Announcements:

::: Do You Want Your Own Copy Of My Lifebook? :::

Surely you've heard about one my coolest discoveries of 2018 already: Lifebook. Lifebook, a transformative process for planning your life with crystal clear vision, was developed by my friend Jon Butcher and I couldn't recommend taking the course more highly. Now, if you are interested in owning a copy my own personal, inspiring Lifebook in a beautiful hardcover print version, I am currently taking pre-orders. Let us know your interest and we will get back to you shortly with order and pricing information. It's everything I stand for, everything I believe in, everything I hold dear, everything that makes me, me. Pre-order it here.

::: Join Me and Team Kion Next Week for a Fasting Challenge and Live Fasting Q&A :::

The Kion Fasting Challenge begins on Monday, January 7th and goes through Friday, January 11th. Sign up here. This challenge is completely FREE and will teach you a ton about the most popular types of fasts, how to do them and how each can boost your health in different ways. Plus, you'll receive support from me, the team at my company, Kion, and a host of friendly folks in my Facebook Group.

Plus mark your calendar for this upcoming Tuesday night at 7PM pst, where I will host a Live Q&A about fasting on my Facebook page. It's easy to tune in. Just “like” my page, and you will receive a notification when I go live. This is a great opportunity to ask me your burning questions about fasting!

::: Get The Real Skinny on Fat :::

Don’t let another doctor devastate anyone else with the words…“There’s nothing we can do.”  This 9-Part Documentary Series from my friend and genius, Naomi Whittel, when it comes to cellular autophagy for health reveals the real truth about Alzheimer’s and the actual plan to take back control of your life. Help spread the word before it’s too late! Watch now for free. 

Upcoming Events:

– January 12, 2019: TEDxCoeurdalene, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. I am thrilled to present topics in longevity and biohacking to in an intimate setting to an inspired audience. Join me!

– Jan 20 – 21, 2019: Serious Business Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana. This conference is going invoke thought and insight and expose you to new ideas and thinking on self-development and business in the beauty industry. Register here.

– February 22- 24, 2019: CalJam: The Rebel Yell Tour. California Jam combines a TED talk format with a rock n’ roll show in-between! The driving objective of the event is to get attendees up to date on chiropractic research, scientific studies, and useful practice management strategy. The hope is that attendees bring all they learn at Cal Jam back to their communities to implement real, rippling change. Get your tickets here before the prices go up!

– April 6 – 7, 2019: FitCon Summit, Salt Lake City, Utah. FitCon® encourages everyone to Find Their Fit. It does not matter whether it is powerlifting, Crossfit, bodybuilding, roller derby, or even axe throwing. Be sure to visit the Kion booth in the expo!

– April 26 – 28, 2019: Paleo f(x) Conference, Austin, Texas. Join me, staff from my company, Kion, and the rest of your tribe at Paleo f(x)™ 2019, the largest gathering of Paleo / ancestral health / keto / functional medicine / strength & conditioning experts in the world… see everything you'll get out of this enriching, enlightening event. Besides, April is a wonderful time of year to visit Austin, TX….Get your tickets here.

– June 23 – July 7, 2019: European Detox Retreat, Paracelsus al Ronc, Switzerland. At this 2019 liver detox and R&R at the beautiful Swiss Mountain Clinic (formerly Paracelsus al Ronc) in the Italian quarter of Switzerland, you will stay on-site and receive diagnostics and treatments from the best doctors of biological medicine to detox your liver and your soul. Plus you're going to have a wonderful time hiking, sightseeing and enjoying one of the most beautiful places in the world. Here's the link to more info. *this event is sold out, waitlist is available

-View the Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Calendar Here

This Week's Most Popular Instagram Pic:

View this post on Instagram

I’m often asked about how I plan and systematize my #workouts …⁣ ⁣ With my level of busy-ness and travel I’m a big fan of **reducing decision making fatigue and keeping things very simple.** ⁣ ⁣ In my new 8 Week “Beyond Fitness” Quest Program (http://BenGreenfieldFitness.com/BenQuest – link in bio), I outline the very simple program I follow each week to maintain maximum fitness with minimum effective dose.⁣ ⁣ My plan currently looks like this (and this is a *very basic overview*):⁣ ⁣ Mon: 30 min single set to failure #weighttraining that includes a 4 minute Tabata cardio set + 30 minutes infrared sauna + 30 minutes walk or sport of choice⁣ ⁣ Tue: 30 minutes kettlebell training or functional fitness + 30 minutes VO2 cardio (4 minute medium-hard efforts with 4 minutes recovery) + 30 minutes walk⁣ ⁣ Wed: 60 minutes free day to do new sports/workouts or same as M/F + 30 minute walk⁣ ⁣ Thu: 30 minutes #kettlebell training or #functionalfitness + 30 minutes mitochondrial #cardio (short 30 second hard efforts with 4 minutes recovery) + 30 minutes walk⁣ ⁣ Fri: 30 min single set to failure weight training that includes a 4 minute #Tabata cardio set + 30 minutes #infraredsauna + 30 minutes walk or sport of choice⁣ ⁣ Sat: any new workout, “epic” workout, #obstaclecourse training or sport such as snowboarding, #paddleboarding, #tennis, etc.⁣ ⁣ Sun: #Spiritual disciplines – e.g. #fasting, plant medicine, hike, holotropic #breathwork, longer #yoga session, etc.⁣ ⁣ During all walks, I’m catching up on phone calls for the day. All my #mobility is done with 10-15 minutes brief stretching, etc. in the mornings.⁣ ⁣ That’s it. That simple!⁣ ⁣ What’s your "minimum effective dose" of #exercise? And be sure to check out the Quest by going to my bio link.

A post shared by Ben Greenfield (@bengreenfieldfitness) on Dec 27, 2018 at 9:00am PST

This Week's Most Popular Tweet:

Just used my free afternoon hour on New Year's to upgrade my body with my home equipment. Just did self administered NAD IV + vitamin cocktail + EWOT on LiveO2 with 100% oxygen on mask + infrared sauna, then finished with PEMF on PulseCenters. Holy hell. Feel like superman.

— Ben Greenfield (@bengreenfield) January 2, 2019

My Most Popular Facebook Post This Week:

Here is my OURA sleep score from a particularly solid night of sleep over the holidays. I only use 2 supplements to…

Posted by Ben Greenfield Fitness on Wednesday, January 2, 2019

This Week's Most Popular Pin from Pinterest:

Ben Greenfield Fitness saved to “Ben's Nutrition Advice.” Read the article here.

Featured Product:

Kion *bundles* are here! Try one of the new Kion product bundles or pick one up for your friend or family member this holiday season!

Kion Coffee Lovers Bundle *NEW AND ON SALE*: What's better than Kion Coffee? Keeping it piping hot at home, in the office, or on-the-go in a stylish Kion Tumbler! Included is one bag of organic Kion Coffee and one Kion Tumbler. Get one here.

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Intro Bundle: The perfect gift for someone you know would benefit from the knowledge of Ben Greenfield and the high-quality products of Kion. Beyond Training is the culmination of the many years I've spent in the trenches helping people burn body fat, achieve peak mental performance and take your body to a new level. Kion Coffee, one of Kion’s most popular products, is a certified organic, whole-bean coffee that is carefully selected and roasted for taste, purity, and high antioxidants. See what's included in the Kion intro bundle here.

Daily Life Bundle: The ultimate Kion Bundle! Team Kion’s go-to, everyday essentials. Energize your body and avoid lean muscle “cannibalization” during fasted workouts with Kion Coffee and Aminos. Enjoy stable energy and no sugar crashes with the mouth-watering, chocolatey-salty-coconut Kion Bar. Take Kion Lean before your largest or most carb-heavy meal here.

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*The FDA hasn't evaluated these statements. Kion products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Need Help Fully Optimizing Your Brain & Body? 

Did you know you can consult one-on-one with me so that I can personalize a nutrition or fitness plan for you to reach your goals? Are you training for physical performance? Trying to shed fat or gain lean muscle as fast as possible? Ready to tap into the most cutting-edge health, fitness and longevity protocols? Contact me so I can get you exactly what you need to reach your goals as safely and quickly as possible.

Leave your comments below – and any news or discoveries that you think I missed!

Cheers,

Ben

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Source: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/article/weekly-roundup-articles/weekly-roundup-12-29-01-04/

[charlieharry1]

5 Data to inform your social media method in 2020

There are numerous elements which can have an effect on your strategy and new research is usually churning up findings that you can employ

we’ve written a lot on why you want a social media method and have given masses of insights into the way to create one, so that you should be properly versed on the advantages of a great  Digital Marketing Company Birmingham social plan. However, there are numerous elements which could have an effect on your method and new research is always churning up findings that you can employ – in addition to techniques that you have to forestall the usage of so as to see the first-class results. Just as with every advertising approach, your plan for social media must be fluid, contemplating any new research, technology or systems that come approximately. Sticking with a method that changed into put in vicinity months in the past and doesn’t replicate up to date excellent exercise can mean you don’t see the consequences or roi you’re after. With this in mind, right here are some latest records that could inform your social media strategy and help your emblem see the nice possible effects. Lively social media users in 2020

 49% of the worldwide population are energetic social media customers

simply below half of the arena (49%) is now energetic on social media, meaning 3. 80 billion people use social media platforms each month. That is a nine. 2% boom, or an additional 321 million humans, in comparison to january 2019, representing a huge upward thrust. When you don't forget the fact that four. Fifty four billion people are at the internet (with a penetration rate of fifty nine%), it is going to show how big an influence social media may have on individuals. Searching at social media use by means of place well-knownshows that active users in every a part of the arena are increasing. As an example, although most effective 16% of africa are active social media users, from april 2019 to january 2020, this represents a 12% (23 million people) growth. Join up without spending a dime membership

Read Also:-  Do you know about Breadcrumbs SEO?

 in january 2020, the americas had a social media penetration charge of 67%, that is a 6% rise compared to april final 12 months, at the same time as asia-pacific noticed a nine. Eight% boom which means 50% of the place now actively use social media. Although europe handiest noticed a four. 4% increase in the same period, this now manner that it has a 55% penetration rate. The biggest increase in lively social media users became seen inside the middle east, which saw a 14% upward push from april 2019 to january 2020 taking penetration within the area as much as forty eight%. Digital detox in 2020over 35% of human beings have reduced their social media use

regardless of the quantity of lively social media users developing over the last year, 35. 7% of humans in the us have admitted to lowering the amount of time they spend on social media. Millennials (the ones born between 1981 and 1996) are more likely to reduce the time spend on social media networks, with over half of saying this is the case. This trend is essentially due to the feeling that social media is leaving humans feeling overloaded, which 29% of survey respondents stated was the case. Other reasons for slicing lower back on social media included addition/time-wasting (27. 2%), a loss of believe (26. 7%), privateness/facts issues (21. Four%), mental fitness and wellbeing (21. 1%) and digital detox (14. Four%). Even as people are reducing returned on the amount of time they spend on social media, they may be more likely to actually put off an app than get rid of their account completely, this means that there may be a hazard of them returning. A few 30. 6% stated they take away an app in comparison to nine. 6% who stated they delete debts. 30. 2% of humans have removed facebook in the closing yearin terms of what social media platforms humans are announcing they eliminate, 30. 2% stated they'd either deleted their facebook account or removed the app, suggesting that fb’s decline could maintain in 2020. Pleasure with social media lead generation45% of marketers are happy with the lead quantity from social media

social media can do extra than raise recognition of your emblem, it may additionally convert humans into leads. In reality, forty five% of marketers are ‘glad’ with the volume of leads they're getting from social media, with 38% being really happy and seven% being extremely satisfied. Social media advertising method guide

down load our character member aid – social media advertising approach guide

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 however, an appropriate number of leads does no longer always imply that those leads are of excessive great. In truth, 37% stated they're upset with the first-class of leads they get from social media systems, in comparison to the 35% who are happy with their lead excellent. This indicates that marketers want to do extra on social media to qualify the leads they may be bringing to their web page from systems – consisting of via imparting social evidence, posting consumer-generated content and operating with influencers. This can in the end assist social media advertising strategies deliver better roi. Social media and seek spending trends in 202031% of brands are set to increase their spend on tiktok in 2020

Tiktok has visible an almost meteoric rise in terms of use, with the platform attaining 500 million energetic users throughout the globe in 2019. This hasn’t gone neglected through entrepreneurs and now just a third (33%) are planning on increasing their advertising budget on the channel in 2020. Although fifty two% currently aren’t spending money on tiktok, that is also in all likelihood to alternate as the platform goes from power to energy. The increase in the recognition and spending on tiktok seems to be coming on the price of snapchat, which is expected to look net budgets decrease by using 6%, with handiest 12% of marketers pronouncing they're growing spending on the platform. But, it's miles worth noting that – as with any other social media structures – tiktok may not be the proper healthy for your enterprise. As the platform often has a more youthful target audience, b2b and people brands with an older audience might not get exceptional roi from tiktok. It’s worth noting that instagram is set to peer the most investment of social media platforms in 2020, with 68% of marketers reporting that they may be going to boom spending on the network. Youtube is up subsequent with 64% trying to add more to their price range for the platform. Fb get entry to by way of device 202079% of fb customers handiest access the platform through a cellular cellphone

manufacturers were talking about becoming cellular-first for several years, but plainly when it comes to social media, this is a demand. Even if social media systems have computing device web sites, human beings are more likely to go to the platforms via smartphones, a sign of the increase in cell connectivity. Some seventy nine% of facebook users only get entry to the social network on their phones, with simply 19% using the platform on each telephones and computer systems. Whilst looking on the sort of cellular device people use to head on fb, eighty. Eight% are on android and 14. 2% are on an ios device. When you combine those findings with the fact that many platforms are most effective absolutely handy via cell apps, entrepreneurs need to make sure that they're searching on the mobile experience while developing their social media approach. This means content that grabs  Digital Marketing Company in Oxford interest, consisting of pics, in addition to content material that is easy to view on smartphones, including vertical videos. Further, entrepreneurs also want to make certain that wherever they are sending humans from social media, it's also fully cellular-optimized that allows you to get the excellent results.

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[kristablogs]

The pandemic could make cities more bike-friendly—for good

Biking gets more popular when cities invest in infrastructure that makes it easier to cycle around. (Josh Bean/Unsplash/)

Confined at home and with gyms closed, an increasing number of Americans are hopping on their bikes. According to Eco-Counter, a company providing stationary sensors that count pedestrians and cyclists as they pass, there’s been a jump in cycling across much of the United States during the last two weeks compared to the same period last year.

To encourage those walking or rolling about their neighborhoods to maintain a buffer of space between themselves and other people, cities have increasingly taken the bold action of closing streets to through traffic, in what’s called “slow street” measures. Not only could these changes allow for socially-distanced exercise amid the pandemic, some of these closures may stick around into the future as officials try to curb America’s dependence on automobiles. “What we’re seeing is an unprecedented level of implementation [of slow street measures] happening,” says Kyle Wagenschutz, director of local innovation for the nonprofit PeopleForBikes.

A dozen or so cities have shut down sections of their streets to vehicles, and more may be poised to follow suit, according to Ken McLeod, policy director for the League of American Cyclists. These cities include Oakland, New York City, Denver, Portland, Burlington, and Madison. In Denver, officials announced the closures of stretches of eight roads totalling about 5.5 miles in early April. Heather Burke, spokesperson for the city’s department of transportation, says residents welcomed the change: “People were really excited and appreciated the extra space to get outside for a walk, bike ride or fresh air during this pandemic.”

While some cities are simply targeting the densest areas to ease crowding, others are essentially taking advantage of shutdowns to jumpstart their plans for bike and pedestrian infrastructure. One of the more-strategic cities is Oakland. There, officials announced they would close 74 miles of streets; as of May 1, almost 16 miles had been installed. These “soft closures” use signs, barricades, and cones to block a traffic lane, restricting cars from entering unless a driver’s final destination is along that closed street. McLeod says that the city identified the streets to close based on its 2019 bike plan, which had mapped out potential locations of new bike boulevards. “So while the specific barriers they’re using are probably unlikely to be permanent,” says McLeod. “It’s very likely in that case that some of those streets will see permanent changes that reflect this slow streets intervention.”

Slow streets are also accelerating internationally, points out Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman, urban anthropologist at Drexel University. Amid the lockdown, Paris announced plans to modify 400 miles of its streets with bikeways, and Rome plans to do the same for 93 miles of roads. “It gives us an opportunity, even though this is a terrible situation, to experiment and test,” says Johnston-Zimmerman, “then keep it afterwards and hopefully keep a lot of the environmental benefits that we're seeing going in the long term.”

Cities reducing vehicle access to tens or hundreds of miles in a short span not only would have been unimaginable a few months ago, it could facilitate a transportation shift on a scale that’s never been seen before. Wagenschutz explains that when cities build a mile or two of trails or bike lanes at a time, that has little effect on cycling. “The growth in cycling is going to take a very long time because the network is not comprehensive enough,” he says of these small developments. “What’s needed is to actually jumpstart a major shift in how people move around their cities.”

It appears that the trend will spread in coming months. Wagenschutz has talked with transportation officials from several cities who are also interested in implementing slow streets, and doing so in a way that would fit into their long-term plans to reduce car traffic. These cities include Lincoln, Nebraska, Memphis, Tennessee, and Columbus, Ohio. Chief among officials' concerns is that continued social distancing will reduce public transit use, and further increase dependence on cars as a result. “That's a problem for cities because many [of them] were already at gridlock transportation before COVID-19,” says Wagenschutz. “And so the thought of having even five to 15 percent more cars on the road is a really scary proposition.”

Slow streets could solve that problem. “The number one worry of most people when they’re out biking is whether or not a person driving a car will pose a threat to them,” says Wagenschutz. “What car-free streets or even slow streets offer is that immediate safety and comfort that people are seeking.” According to survey data by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about half of cyclists are dissatisfied with how their communities design (or don’t design) for bike safety.

On the closed Denver streets, Burke, the city spokesperson, says there are about two to four times more people biking and walking than normal. She says the city doesn’t have an end date for the closures planned, and will continue to monitor usage for the time being.

Slow streets could be a meaningful move toward reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The US Department of Transportation has found more than 50 percent of vehicle trips are 10 miles or fewer—a distance many could readily bike. And with vehicle transportation being a major source of pollution, making some of those short trips pedal-powered could help reduce carbon emissions and clean up our air.

[scootoaster]

The pandemic could make cities more bike-friendly—for good

Biking gets more popular when cities invest in infrastructure that makes it easier to cycle around. (Josh Bean/Unsplash/)

Confined at home and with gyms closed, an increasing number of Americans are hopping on their bikes. According to Eco-Counter, a company providing stationary sensors that count pedestrians and cyclists as they pass, there’s been a jump in cycling across much of the United States during the last two weeks compared to the same period last year.

To encourage those walking or rolling about their neighborhoods to maintain a buffer of space between themselves and other people, cities have increasingly taken the bold action of closing streets to through traffic, in what’s called “slow street” measures. Not only could these changes allow for socially-distanced exercise amid the pandemic, some of these closures may stick around into the future as officials try to curb America’s dependence on automobiles. “What we’re seeing is an unprecedented level of implementation [of slow street measures] happening,” says Kyle Wagenschutz, director of local innovation for the nonprofit PeopleForBikes.

A dozen or so cities have shut down sections of their streets to vehicles, and more may be poised to follow suit, according to Ken McLeod, policy director for the League of American Cyclists. These cities include Oakland, New York City, Denver, Portland, Burlington, and Madison. In Denver, officials announced the closures of stretches of eight roads totalling about 5.5 miles in early April. Heather Burke, spokesperson for the city’s department of transportation, says residents welcomed the change: “People were really excited and appreciated the extra space to get outside for a walk, bike ride or fresh air during this pandemic.”

While some cities are simply targeting the densest areas to ease crowding, others are essentially taking advantage of shutdowns to jumpstart their plans for bike and pedestrian infrastructure. One of the more-strategic cities is Oakland. There, officials announced they would close 74 miles of streets; as of May 1, almost 16 miles had been installed. These “soft closures” use signs, barricades, and cones to block a traffic lane, restricting cars from entering unless a driver’s final destination is along that closed street. McLeod says that the city identified the streets to close based on its 2019 bike plan, which had mapped out potential locations of new bike boulevards. “So while the specific barriers they’re using are probably unlikely to be permanent,” says McLeod. “It’s very likely in that case that some of those streets will see permanent changes that reflect this slow streets intervention.”

Slow streets are also accelerating internationally, points out Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman, urban anthropologist at Drexel University. Amid the lockdown, Paris announced plans to modify 400 miles of its streets with bikeways, and Rome plans to do the same for 93 miles of roads. “It gives us an opportunity, even though this is a terrible situation, to experiment and test,” says Johnston-Zimmerman, “then keep it afterwards and hopefully keep a lot of the environmental benefits that we're seeing going in the long term.”

Cities reducing vehicle access to tens or hundreds of miles in a short span not only would have been unimaginable a few months ago, it could facilitate a transportation shift on a scale that’s never been seen before. Wagenschutz explains that when cities build a mile or two of trails or bike lanes at a time, that has little effect on cycling. “The growth in cycling is going to take a very long time because the network is not comprehensive enough,” he says of these small developments. “What’s needed is to actually jumpstart a major shift in how people move around their cities.”

It appears that the trend will spread in coming months. Wagenschutz has talked with transportation officials from several cities who are also interested in implementing slow streets, and doing so in a way that would fit into their long-term plans to reduce car traffic. These cities include Lincoln, Nebraska, Memphis, Tennessee, and Columbus, Ohio. Chief among officials' concerns is that continued social distancing will reduce public transit use, and further increase dependence on cars as a result. “That's a problem for cities because many [of them] were already at gridlock transportation before COVID-19,” says Wagenschutz. “And so the thought of having even five to 15 percent more cars on the road is a really scary proposition.”

Slow streets could solve that problem. “The number one worry of most people when they’re out biking is whether or not a person driving a car will pose a threat to them,” says Wagenschutz. “What car-free streets or even slow streets offer is that immediate safety and comfort that people are seeking.” According to survey data by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about half of cyclists are dissatisfied with how their communities design (or don’t design) for bike safety.

On the closed Denver streets, Burke, the city spokesperson, says there are about two to four times more people biking and walking than normal. She says the city doesn’t have an end date for the closures planned, and will continue to monitor usage for the time being.

Slow streets could be a meaningful move toward reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The US Department of Transportation has found more than 50 percent of vehicle trips are 10 miles or fewer—a distance many could readily bike. And with vehicle transportation being a major source of pollution, making some of those short trips pedal-powered could help reduce carbon emissions and clean up our air.

[ankitkapoor11]

25 Top Android Mobile App Ideas to Follow in 2020

Can we imagine starting our day without a mobile application? We need an app for setting the alarm, one which reminds us of our meetings, another for playing songs, and even one mobile application for reading out news to us. So the moral is, mobile apps have taken a special place in our lives, and we cannot deny our reliability on them.

After seeing this essential reliability, android mobile app trends needed to upgrade in the year 2020. Mobile app development companies have come up with some more useful ideas and trends for android app development. Let’s discuss each in brief.

1- Augmented Reality is winning hearts:

Want to design your room? Or do you want to try a dress you saw on an online shopping app without buying it? Well then AR- Augmented Reality; is there to help you. Already a few websites like Pepperfry have started giving AR options where you can see which furniture will fit in your room. Mobile apps laced with AR features will be the top app trend to follow in 2020.

2- One Scan to make your PDF:

Keeping and carrying hard copies of your documents is so troublesome. But then what is the alternative? A mobile app that scans and converts all your documents into a single PDF file can help. This type of mobile apps will trend because of the mass digitization going on. People find carrying soft copies more convenient and safe than carrying hard copies of documents. Also, adding a cloud feature to this app will help in accessing the PDF on any platform.

3- Fitness apps are trendy:

People love fitness apps because it provides a one-stop solution to its users. It helps them organize their diet, track their footsteps, set health goals, and much more. Adding videos of yoga, exercise, and providing health consultants can enhance the beauty of such android mobile apps.

4- Say no to queues with Check-out apps:

No one likes to wait in a long queue at a retail store, and so Amazon came up with the self-check-out retail stores, Amazon Go. These types of apps will be increasingly used in the coming years. Amazon Go app allows users to scan the products on our mobile while shopping and make the payment online after checking out from the store. We just need to tap our phones just like we do on metro stations with metro cards.

5- Real-time translator apps:

It is almost impossible to mug up all the languages in the world. In such scenarios, real-time translator apps can save us. This app will listen to the other language and convert it into our language in real-time and also the vice-versa. Adding a memory feature can help the user in learning that language in the future if needed.

6- Let’s chat with bots:

Chat Bots are useful in playing the role of humans. They can interact like humans based on customer’s queries. These apps are based on Artificial intelligence technology, which is why they behave like humans. AI Chat Bots are helpful for any mobile app as they can support live chat without the need for human interference. Unlike humans, they never get exhausted and have the capability of interacting with any number of queries according to the user’s requirement.

7- Take me for a Bike Ride!

Due to increasing traffic and massive rates, cabs are losing their fans. The people who travel alone prefer to book bike rides rather than a car. The reason is pretty simple, it’s cheaper, can take shortcuts, and doesn’t get stuck in traffic jams, so it’s faster too. So hiring developers for getting a bike ride mobile app made is a great option. It will be a trend in 2020.

8- Safe Calling apps:

With the increase in spam calls, harassment, and forgery, Safe Calling mobile apps need to be used. Such apps will recognize the number if it is a spam or not based on the customer review database. Also, it will enable you to record the call and upload it to cyber crime cells helplines if needed. This will help you stay safe and also work as a preventive method in crimes over phone calls.

9- Scan and buy:

Imagine you visit your friend’s house, and you see a gorgeous center table in her living area. You also desire to buy that table, but you feel awkward in asking about it in detail from your friend. Now, what will you do? If you have a Scan and buy mobile app, you can scan that table, and it will show you all the results from where you can buy the same or a close substitute for that table. Such android mobile apps are useful as well as fun to use.

10- Criminal alert app:

Seeing a missing person or a wanted criminal on roads without knowing them can be a safety concern for all of us. The criminal alert app idea is such that the app will alert you of criminals in your area. This will save a life as well as help in catching the criminal whose pictures are there on the app.

11- Baby care and maternity app:

In the world where digital reliability is growing day by day, having an android mobile app for baby and mother care can help many lives. Such apps can be used by mom to be or even by men who are soon going to be a dad. These mobile apps will provide diet solutions for both baby and mother, exercise videos during pregnancy, nearby hospital routes, appointments of gynecologists or pediatricians, baby care products, and much more.

12- Stay away from crime:

Imagine having a mobile app that can tell you which area in your city is not safe and why. This is not fiction anymore. Such apps are a reality today and will trend in 2020. The heat map feature can also be added to this type of mobile apps to show the user the safe and unsafe areas of the city at a glance. Allowing users to report a crime on this app anonymously or with identity( as per the user’s choice) will enhance the quality and reliability of the app. And also help the surveillance cells to improve their services.

13- Food suggestion/blogging apps:

We all know how Zomato was started. Before starting with food delivery, it was a food blogging website and was known as Foodiebay.com, where people used to get hundreds of restaurant menus, reviews of eating joints, and recommendations. Such mobile apps will be a significant trend in 2020 as food blogging has come up as a career option for youth. Providing these bloggers with a separate mobile app will help them get better recognition too.

14- Find me a parking space:

We all will agree to the fact that finding a parking space whenever we go out is so annoying. What if an app will help us find a parking space in that area? It’ll solve a huge problem for us. Designers can design such mobile apps, which will help us find a registered parking space near us. Adding an e-parking ticket feature will take the mobile app to the next level.

15- Choose your table app:

We need privacy in a corner seat for a cozy date or need the central table for making a grand announcement, in restaurants, it’s sometimes challenging to get the desired seating arrangement for what we’ve planned. With a mobile app which has graphical views, we can choose the desired seats or table and book them for a specific time( just like bus ticket reservation).

16- Virtual group study app:

It’s not always safe to go to a friend’s place for group study. You can also consider if one of the friends might be sick/out of town, but you have to do your assignments? In group study apps, students can meet up on this forum and prepare for their exams/projects along with other students who are studying on the same subject. The app must provide them with study material, tools, video lectures, discussion helps, guides, etc. Users can also create a virtual room where only he and his friends can enter and video call while watching online lectures together virtually. Hire android developer if you are mesmerized by this idea and want to get it made for you.

17- An app for Language Lovers:

Many people wish to learn a new language but don’t find the perfect solution. To help such people, you can design android apps, which will enable the user to learn new languages thoroughly. Adding levels like basic, intermediate, and professional will increase user engagement on your mobile app.

18- Pet Care and adoption apps:

Since there are many pet lovers out there, they will be disappointed if the digitization of the world doesn’t consider their needs. Pet care companies or veterinarians can hire android developers to get an app made for pet care. People willing to adopt pets can also register on this app. Adding a section for the license(new or renewal) will be a cherry on the cake for dog owners since, from May 2019, it is a compulsion in India to have a license if you own a dog.

19- Gift Suggestion apps:

Whenever it comes to selecting a gift for our loved ones, we end up getting confused. This mobile app can look over the entire history of our friend’s social feed to suggest the best gift idea for our friend based upon the content they posted. Such mobile apps are developed, keeping in mind the concept of data analysis. Problem solver!

20-Food Wastage Prevention Apps:

We all have seen that once the parties are over, a lot of food is left untouched or unused. People even throw food in the dustbin, which leads to the wastage of food. This issue could be resolved. We can develop a mobile app that can inform the registered orphanage/nursing homes about the leftover untouched food so that they can come to get it as per their need.

21- Car rental apps:

How many names come to your mind when you think about car rental mobile apps? Just Zoomcar, isn’t it? This is because not many businesses think of starting an online car rental, but you must because Car rental apps in India have very little competition. If you already deal with car rental or tours and travel business, then you can hire android developers and get your business online.

22- Dating apps:

Dating apps never get out of date. They are going to rule the app world like ever before in 2020 too. The reason why dating apps gained so much popularity is that ‘when everything is going digital, then why not love?’ But dating apps are not a recent invention. The first-ever dating website, Match.com, was launched in 1995.

23- Student Assistance App:

The student assistant app is one of the top android app ideas to choose from. This app can be developed with features like writing projects or essays that will be of great help to the students.

Some ideas of Student Assistance App ideas are:

School project mobile app: With such kind of apps, students can look for group members to complete team projects and other academic projects which require students to collaborate.

Book stationery app: This app can help students in finding the nearest stationery shops and also in comparing the prices of books before buying. It will save both time and money.

24- Buying/renewal of policies/insurance apps:

We all will agree to the fact that policy renewals are a headache for us, and to top it all, we always tend to forget the renewal dates. Having a mobile app for Buying/renewal of policies/insurance will help us like Superman!

25- Event Management App:

Planning a perfect event is a Herculean task for all of us. But what if an app assists us throughout the planning procedure? It’ll be so easy for us to find solutions for each of our problems. The event management mobile apps must have information about venues, shops, caterers, and all that is needed to organize an event.

Summing up:

If you are a business owner then you must have a mobile application for your business. Having a mobile app will help in gaining recognition for your brand and making more customers. And if you are still confused and are planning to start a business with a mobile app, then you can choose any from the above mentioned 25 Top Android Mobile App Ideas. Also, if you need assistance in developing an app, you can hire android developers for your business. A professional developer will be able to assist you in the best ways possible. You can also improvise these ideas as per your needs. If you want to add more ideas to this list we made, do comment them below.

[45news]

JERUSALEM–Two decades of expanding operations against what United States Special Operations Command called a “global insurgency of state and non-state actors” has led to fatigue at home and questions abroad about U.S. strategy. Trump, Afghanistan, and ‘The Tweet of Damocles’The latest Trump administration deal with the Taliban, challenges to the U.S. role in Syria and Iraq, and a potential reduction of forces in Africa point to a global trend in how the U.S. will deal with counter-insurgency in the future. What we’re looking at is a global drawdown in U.S. forces committed to counter-terrorist operations at the same time President Donald Trump is demanding other countries, including NATO allies, do more. The idea is for the U.S. to focus on using technology, such as drones, while local forces do the fighting on the ground.This long-term shift has long-term consequences that mean countries such as Iran, China and Russia, which the U.S. sees as adversaries, will have a larger footprint in places where the U.S. is reducing its role. Outsourcing counter-terrorism to these countries may not have been the plan, but it is likely one outcome.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a tour of Africa on Feb. 16 in Senegal where the Flintlock 2020 exercise is underway with neighboring Mauritania. Some 1,600 soldiers from 30 African states and western allies are participating in the annual drill from February 17-28. The U.S. says it is the year’s “premier special operations” exercise that strengthens security across a swath of countries through what’s called the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership. The concept, pushed in 2018 via an act of Congress, was to improve the capabilities of countries to fight terror.But the picture is bleaker than past U.S. statements have indicated. Funding to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to fight terror spread across Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria and a dozen states from Senegal to Somalia hasn’t reduced terror and has resulted in Washington’s decision to reconsider what comes next. The U.S. pulled forces out of Libya in 2019 and three Americans were killed in an attack on a base in Kenya by Somalia’s Al-Shabab in January.The Other Attack on Americans That Has U.S. Forces Unnerved: KenyaAlthough Pompeo says that “we’ll get it right” in terms of U.S. commitment to a swath of African states, reports indicate the U.S. is reducing the footprint on the ground. Washington has “downgraded” efforts against extremists, the New York Times reported in mid-February. France, which sent hundreds more troops to the Sahel region recently, has warned this is a bad idea. The overall numbers could mean cutting in half the U.S. presence of 5,000 troops in a dozen locations.Changes in Africa strategy are only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger policy shift. On the one hand the U.S. National Defense Strategy wants to move away from counter-insurgency to competing against large states like Iran, China and Russia. The Pentagon believes that “inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security.” Since U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) expanded from 47,000 in 2007 to 80,000 today, it might be argued that the U.S. has reached peak strength in fighting terror and now can move on successfully. The problem is that from Afghanistan to the Philippines to Niger there has not been a major success.In Afghanistan, where the U.S. has been fighting the Taliban for almost 20 years, some sort of peace deal is in the works. President Donald Trump has sought to end such “endless wars,” and Democrats running to replace him also want to end this one. In Iraq and Syria the U.S. appears to be reducing its role as well. Trump twice announced a withdrawal from Syria only to relent and keep troops to protect “oil” while slowly walking away from America’s anti-ISIS partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces.Plans to use bases in neighboring Iraq to “watch Iran” have not panned out and the U.S. finds itself pressured to leave most of Iraq after tensions with Iran boiled over in January following U.S. decision to blow away near Baghdad airport Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.Meanwhile, rocket fire has targeted U.S. bases and forces near the U.S. embassy almost every week since October 2019.The long-term result in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and across Africa can be seen symbolically in what is already happening in the Philippines. For two decades Washington and Manila worked closely against extremist groups. Now Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement amid increasingly friendly relations with China.For a more isolationist-inclined American public that may not matter, but it does mean China and other countries will aid the Philippines in the fight against Islamist insurgents. That has implications across Asia and the Pacific. In Africa, Russian President Vladimir Putin has set his eyes on a larger role that includes priority access to vital mineral resources. He held a summit in October with African diplomats. Russia’s Wagner group and other contractors play an increasing role in Sudan, the Central African Republic, Libya and Mozambique.In each place where the U.S. seeks a smaller footprint there will be a competition to fill the vacuum.France will try to fill it in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the G5 countries it works with in the Sahel. But in many cases there won’t be NATO powers that share U.S. values doing the heavy lifting. Instead it will be Russia, Iran, China, Turkey, and even Saudi Arabia or India playing a bigger role. That means counter-insurgency that looks more like Riyadh’s campaign in Yemen, Russia’s in Syria and Chechnya, China’s in Xinjiang, Turkey’s in Afrin, or India’s in Kashmir. While that may fit the bill of a Trump administration that wants to spend less American treasure abroad and wants others to do more of the work, in the long term it means a fundamental change in the international role of the United States. It also means that in an attempt to shift resources to confronting major states, the U.S. will provide a vacuum for some of those states—China, Russia and Iran—to play a greater role in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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[teeky185]

JERUSALEM–Two decades of expanding operations against what United States Special Operations Command called a “global insurgency of state and non-state actors” has led to fatigue at home and questions abroad about U.S. strategy. Trump, Afghanistan, and ‘The Tweet of Damocles’The latest Trump administration deal with the Taliban, challenges to the U.S. role in Syria and Iraq, and a potential reduction of forces in Africa point to a global trend in how the U.S. will deal with counter-insurgency in the future. What we’re looking at is a global drawdown in U.S. forces committed to counter-terrorist operations at the same time President Donald Trump is demanding other countries, including NATO allies, do more. The idea is for the U.S. to focus on using technology, such as drones, while local forces do the fighting on the ground.This long-term shift has long-term consequences that mean countries such as Iran, China and Russia, which the U.S. sees as adversaries, will have a larger footprint in places where the U.S. is reducing its role. Outsourcing counter-terrorism to these countries may not have been the plan, but it is likely one outcome.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a tour of Africa on Feb. 16 in Senegal where the Flintlock 2020 exercise is underway with neighboring Mauritania. Some 1,600 soldiers from 30 African states and western allies are participating in the annual drill from February 17-28. The U.S. says it is the year’s “premier special operations” exercise that strengthens security across a swath of countries through what’s called the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership. The concept, pushed in 2018 via an act of Congress, was to improve the capabilities of countries to fight terror.But the picture is bleaker than past U.S. statements have indicated. Funding to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to fight terror spread across Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria and a dozen states from Senegal to Somalia hasn’t reduced terror and has resulted in Washington’s decision to reconsider what comes next. The U.S. pulled forces out of Libya in 2019 and three Americans were killed in an attack on a base in Kenya by Somalia’s Al-Shabab in January.The Other Attack on Americans That Has U.S. Forces Unnerved: KenyaAlthough Pompeo says that “we’ll get it right” in terms of U.S. commitment to a swath of African states, reports indicate the U.S. is reducing the footprint on the ground. Washington has “downgraded” efforts against extremists, the New York Times reported in mid-February. France, which sent hundreds more troops to the Sahel region recently, has warned this is a bad idea. The overall numbers could mean cutting in half the U.S. presence of 5,000 troops in a dozen locations.Changes in Africa strategy are only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger policy shift. On the one hand the U.S. National Defense Strategy wants to move away from counter-insurgency to competing against large states like Iran, China and Russia. The Pentagon believes that “inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security.” Since U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) expanded from 47,000 in 2007 to 80,000 today, it might be argued that the U.S. has reached peak strength in fighting terror and now can move on successfully. The problem is that from Afghanistan to the Philippines to Niger there has not been a major success.In Afghanistan, where the U.S. has been fighting the Taliban for almost 20 years, some sort of peace deal is in the works. President Donald Trump has sought to end such “endless wars,” and Democrats running to replace him also want to end this one. In Iraq and Syria the U.S. appears to be reducing its role as well. Trump twice announced a withdrawal from Syria only to relent and keep troops to protect “oil” while slowly walking away from America’s anti-ISIS partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces.Plans to use bases in neighboring Iraq to “watch Iran” have not panned out and the U.S. finds itself pressured to leave most of Iraq after tensions with Iran boiled over in January following U.S. decision to blow away near Baghdad airport Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.Meanwhile, rocket fire has targeted U.S. bases and forces near the U.S. embassy almost every week since October 2019.The long-term result in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and across Africa can be seen symbolically in what is already happening in the Philippines. For two decades Washington and Manila worked closely against extremist groups. Now Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement amid increasingly friendly relations with China.For a more isolationist-inclined American public that may not matter, but it does mean China and other countries will aid the Philippines in the fight against Islamist insurgents. That has implications across Asia and the Pacific. In Africa, Russian President Vladimir Putin has set his eyes on a larger role that includes priority access to vital mineral resources. He held a summit in October with African diplomats. Russia’s Wagner group and other contractors play an increasing role in Sudan, the Central African Republic, Libya and Mozambique.In each place where the U.S. seeks a smaller footprint there will be a competition to fill the vacuum.France will try to fill it in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the G5 countries it works with in the Sahel. But in many cases there won’t be NATO powers that share U.S. values doing the heavy lifting. Instead it will be Russia, Iran, China, Turkey, and even Saudi Arabia or India playing a bigger role. That means counter-insurgency that looks more like Riyadh’s campaign in Yemen, Russia’s in Syria and Chechnya, China’s in Xinjiang, Turkey’s in Afrin, or India’s in Kashmir. While that may fit the bill of a Trump administration that wants to spend less American treasure abroad and wants others to do more of the work, in the long term it means a fundamental change in the international role of the United States. It also means that in an attempt to shift resources to confronting major states, the U.S. will provide a vacuum for some of those states—China, Russia and Iran—to play a greater role in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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[beautytipsfor]

As Trump Gives Up on ‘Endless Wars,' Russia, China, and Iran Move In

JERUSALEM–Two decades of expanding operations against what United States Special Operations Command called a “global insurgency of state and non-state actors” has led to fatigue at home and questions abroad about U.S. strategy. Trump, Afghanistan, and ‘The Tweet of Damocles’The latest Trump administration deal with the Taliban, challenges to the U.S. role in Syria and Iraq, and a potential reduction of forces in Africa point to a global trend in how the U.S. will deal with counter-insurgency in the future. What we’re looking at is a global drawdown in U.S. forces committed to counter-terrorist operations at the same time President Donald Trump is demanding other countries, including NATO allies, do more. The idea is for the U.S. to focus on using technology, such as drones, while local forces do the fighting on the ground.This long-term shift has long-term consequences that mean countries such as Iran, China and Russia, which the U.S. sees as adversaries, will have a larger footprint in places where the U.S. is reducing its role. Outsourcing counter-terrorism to these countries may not have been the plan, but it is likely one outcome.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a tour of Africa on Feb. 16 in Senegal where the Flintlock 2020 exercise is underway with neighboring Mauritania. Some 1,600 soldiers from 30 African states and western allies are participating in the annual drill from February 17-28. The U.S. says it is the year’s “premier special operations” exercise that strengthens security across a swath of countries through what’s called the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership. The concept, pushed in 2018 via an act of Congress, was to improve the capabilities of countries to fight terror.But the picture is bleaker than past U.S. statements have indicated. Funding to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to fight terror spread across Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria and a dozen states from Senegal to Somalia hasn’t reduced terror and has resulted in Washington’s decision to reconsider what comes next. The U.S. pulled forces out of Libya in 2019 and three Americans were killed in an attack on a base in Kenya by Somalia’s Al-Shabab in January.The Other Attack on Americans That Has U.S. Forces Unnerved: KenyaAlthough Pompeo says that “we’ll get it right” in terms of U.S. commitment to a swath of African states, reports indicate the U.S. is reducing the footprint on the ground. Washington has “downgraded” efforts against extremists, the New York Times reported in mid-February. France, which sent hundreds more troops to the Sahel region recently, has warned this is a bad idea. The overall numbers could mean cutting in half the U.S. presence of 5,000 troops in a dozen locations.Changes in Africa strategy are only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger policy shift. On the one hand the U.S. National Defense Strategy wants to move away from counter-insurgency to competing against large states like Iran, China and Russia. The Pentagon believes that “inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security.” Since U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) expanded from 47,000 in 2007 to 80,000 today, it might be argued that the U.S. has reached peak strength in fighting terror and now can move on successfully. The problem is that from Afghanistan to the Philippines to Niger there has not been a major success.In Afghanistan, where the U.S. has been fighting the Taliban for almost 20 years, some sort of peace deal is in the works. President Donald Trump has sought to end such “endless wars,” and Democrats running to replace him also want to end this one. In Iraq and Syria the U.S. appears to be reducing its role as well. Trump twice announced a withdrawal from Syria only to relent and keep troops to protect “oil” while slowly walking away from America’s anti-ISIS partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces.Plans to use bases in neighboring Iraq to “watch Iran” have not panned out and the U.S. finds itself pressured to leave most of Iraq after tensions with Iran boiled over in January following U.S. decision to blow away near Baghdad airport Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.Meanwhile, rocket fire has targeted U.S. bases and forces near the U.S. embassy almost every week since October 2019.The long-term result in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and across Africa can be seen symbolically in what is already happening in the Philippines. For two decades Washington and Manila worked closely against extremist groups. Now Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement amid increasingly friendly relations with China.For a more isolationist-inclined American public that may not matter, but it does mean China and other countries will aid the Philippines in the fight against Islamist insurgents. That has implications across Asia and the Pacific. In Africa, Russian President Vladimir Putin has set his eyes on a larger role that includes priority access to vital mineral resources. He held a summit in October with African diplomats. Russia’s Wagner group and other contractors play an increasing role in Sudan, the Central African Republic, Libya and Mozambique.In each place where the U.S. seeks a smaller footprint there will be a competition to fill the vacuum.France will try to fill it in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the G5 countries it works with in the Sahel. But in many cases there won’t be NATO powers that share U.S. values doing the heavy lifting. Instead it will be Russia, Iran, China, Turkey, and even Saudi Arabia or India playing a bigger role. That means counter-insurgency that looks more like Riyadh’s campaign in Yemen, Russia’s in Syria and Chechnya, China’s in Xinjiang, Turkey’s in Afrin, or India’s in Kashmir. While that may fit the bill of a Trump administration that wants to spend less American treasure abroad and wants others to do more of the work, in the long term it means a fundamental change in the international role of the United States. It also means that in an attempt to shift resources to confronting major states, the U.S. will provide a vacuum for some of those states—China, Russia and Iran—to play a greater role in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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from Blogger https://ift.tt/39MMQik

[sweatygardencollectorblr]

JERUSALEM–Two decades of expanding operations against what United States Special Operations Command called a “global insurgency of state and non-state actors” has led to fatigue at home and questions abroad about U.S. strategy. Trump, Afghanistan, and ‘The Tweet of Damocles’The latest Trump administration deal with the Taliban, challenges to the U.S. role in Syria and Iraq, and a potential reduction of forces in Africa point to a global trend in how the U.S. will deal with counter-insurgency in the future. What we’re looking at is a global drawdown in U.S. forces committed to counter-terrorist operations at the same time President Donald Trump is demanding other countries, including NATO allies, do more. The idea is for the U.S. to focus on using technology, such as drones, while local forces do the fighting on the ground.This long-term shift has long-term consequences that mean countries such as Iran, China and Russia, which the U.S. sees as adversaries, will have a larger footprint in places where the U.S. is reducing its role. Outsourcing counter-terrorism to these countries may not have been the plan, but it is likely one outcome.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a tour of Africa on Feb. 16 in Senegal where the Flintlock 2020 exercise is underway with neighboring Mauritania. Some 1,600 soldiers from 30 African states and western allies are participating in the annual drill from February 17-28. The U.S. says it is the year’s “premier special operations” exercise that strengthens security across a swath of countries through what’s called the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership. The concept, pushed in 2018 via an act of Congress, was to improve the capabilities of countries to fight terror.But the picture is bleaker than past U.S. statements have indicated. Funding to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to fight terror spread across Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria and a dozen states from Senegal to Somalia hasn’t reduced terror and has resulted in Washington’s decision to reconsider what comes next. The U.S. pulled forces out of Libya in 2019 and three Americans were killed in an attack on a base in Kenya by Somalia’s Al-Shabab in January.The Other Attack on Americans That Has U.S. Forces Unnerved: KenyaAlthough Pompeo says that “we’ll get it right” in terms of U.S. commitment to a swath of African states, reports indicate the U.S. is reducing the footprint on the ground. Washington has “downgraded” efforts against extremists, the New York Times reported in mid-February. France, which sent hundreds more troops to the Sahel region recently, has warned this is a bad idea. The overall numbers could mean cutting in half the U.S. presence of 5,000 troops in a dozen locations.Changes in Africa strategy are only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger policy shift. On the one hand the U.S. National Defense Strategy wants to move away from counter-insurgency to competing against large states like Iran, China and Russia. The Pentagon believes that “inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security.” Since U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) expanded from 47,000 in 2007 to 80,000 today, it might be argued that the U.S. has reached peak strength in fighting terror and now can move on successfully. The problem is that from Afghanistan to the Philippines to Niger there has not been a major success.In Afghanistan, where the U.S. has been fighting the Taliban for almost 20 years, some sort of peace deal is in the works. President Donald Trump has sought to end such “endless wars,” and Democrats running to replace him also want to end this one. In Iraq and Syria the U.S. appears to be reducing its role as well. Trump twice announced a withdrawal from Syria only to relent and keep troops to protect “oil” while slowly walking away from America’s anti-ISIS partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces.Plans to use bases in neighboring Iraq to “watch Iran” have not panned out and the U.S. finds itself pressured to leave most of Iraq after tensions with Iran boiled over in January following U.S. decision to blow away near Baghdad airport Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.Meanwhile, rocket fire has targeted U.S. bases and forces near the U.S. embassy almost every week since October 2019.The long-term result in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and across Africa can be seen symbolically in what is already happening in the Philippines. For two decades Washington and Manila worked closely against extremist groups. Now Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement amid increasingly friendly relations with China.For a more isolationist-inclined American public that may not matter, but it does mean China and other countries will aid the Philippines in the fight against Islamist insurgents. That has implications across Asia and the Pacific. In Africa, Russian President Vladimir Putin has set his eyes on a larger role that includes priority access to vital mineral resources. He held a summit in October with African diplomats. Russia’s Wagner group and other contractors play an increasing role in Sudan, the Central African Republic, Libya and Mozambique.In each place where the U.S. seeks a smaller footprint there will be a competition to fill the vacuum.France will try to fill it in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the G5 countries it works with in the Sahel. But in many cases there won’t be NATO powers that share U.S. values doing the heavy lifting. Instead it will be Russia, Iran, China, Turkey, and even Saudi Arabia or India playing a bigger role. That means counter-insurgency that looks more like Riyadh’s campaign in Yemen, Russia’s in Syria and Chechnya, China’s in Xinjiang, Turkey’s in Afrin, or India’s in Kashmir. While that may fit the bill of a Trump administration that wants to spend less American treasure abroad and wants others to do more of the work, in the long term it means a fundamental change in the international role of the United States. It also means that in an attempt to shift resources to confronting major states, the U.S. will provide a vacuum for some of those states—China, Russia and Iran—to play a greater role in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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[orendrasingh]

JERUSALEM–Two decades of expanding operations against what United States Special Operations Command called a “global insurgency of state and non-state actors” has led to fatigue at home and questions abroad about U.S. strategy. Trump, Afghanistan, and ‘The Tweet of Damocles’The latest Trump administration deal with the Taliban, challenges to the U.S. role in Syria and Iraq, and a potential reduction of forces in Africa point to a global trend in how the U.S. will deal with counter-insurgency in the future. What we’re looking at is a global drawdown in U.S. forces committed to counter-terrorist operations at the same time President Donald Trump is demanding other countries, including NATO allies, do more. The idea is for the U.S. to focus on using technology, such as drones, while local forces do the fighting on the ground.This long-term shift has long-term consequences that mean countries such as Iran, China and Russia, which the U.S. sees as adversaries, will have a larger footprint in places where the U.S. is reducing its role. Outsourcing counter-terrorism to these countries may not have been the plan, but it is likely one outcome.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a tour of Africa on Feb. 16 in Senegal where the Flintlock 2020 exercise is underway with neighboring Mauritania. Some 1,600 soldiers from 30 African states and western allies are participating in the annual drill from February 17-28. The U.S. says it is the year’s “premier special operations” exercise that strengthens security across a swath of countries through what’s called the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership. The concept, pushed in 2018 via an act of Congress, was to improve the capabilities of countries to fight terror.But the picture is bleaker than past U.S. statements have indicated. Funding to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to fight terror spread across Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria and a dozen states from Senegal to Somalia hasn’t reduced terror and has resulted in Washington’s decision to reconsider what comes next. The U.S. pulled forces out of Libya in 2019 and three Americans were killed in an attack on a base in Kenya by Somalia’s Al-Shabab in January.The Other Attack on Americans That Has U.S. Forces Unnerved: KenyaAlthough Pompeo says that “we’ll get it right” in terms of U.S. commitment to a swath of African states, reports indicate the U.S. is reducing the footprint on the ground. Washington has “downgraded” efforts against extremists, the New York Times reported in mid-February. France, which sent hundreds more troops to the Sahel region recently, has warned this is a bad idea. The overall numbers could mean cutting in half the U.S. presence of 5,000 troops in a dozen locations.Changes in Africa strategy are only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger policy shift. On the one hand the U.S. National Defense Strategy wants to move away from counter-insurgency to competing against large states like Iran, China and Russia. The Pentagon believes that “inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security.” Since U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) expanded from 47,000 in 2007 to 80,000 today, it might be argued that the U.S. has reached peak strength in fighting terror and now can move on successfully. The problem is that from Afghanistan to the Philippines to Niger there has not been a major success.In Afghanistan, where the U.S. has been fighting the Taliban for almost 20 years, some sort of peace deal is in the works. President Donald Trump has sought to end such “endless wars,” and Democrats running to replace him also want to end this one. In Iraq and Syria the U.S. appears to be reducing its role as well. Trump twice announced a withdrawal from Syria only to relent and keep troops to protect “oil” while slowly walking away from America’s anti-ISIS partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces.Plans to use bases in neighboring Iraq to “watch Iran” have not panned out and the U.S. finds itself pressured to leave most of Iraq after tensions with Iran boiled over in January following U.S. decision to blow away near Baghdad airport Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.Meanwhile, rocket fire has targeted U.S. bases and forces near the U.S. embassy almost every week since October 2019.The long-term result in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and across Africa can be seen symbolically in what is already happening in the Philippines. For two decades Washington and Manila worked closely against extremist groups. Now Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement amid increasingly friendly relations with China.For a more isolationist-inclined American public that may not matter, but it does mean China and other countries will aid the Philippines in the fight against Islamist insurgents. That has implications across Asia and the Pacific. In Africa, Russian President Vladimir Putin has set his eyes on a larger role that includes priority access to vital mineral resources. He held a summit in October with African diplomats. Russia’s Wagner group and other contractors play an increasing role in Sudan, the Central African Republic, Libya and Mozambique.In each place where the U.S. seeks a smaller footprint there will be a competition to fill the vacuum.France will try to fill it in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the G5 countries it works with in the Sahel. But in many cases there won’t be NATO powers that share U.S. values doing the heavy lifting. Instead it will be Russia, Iran, China, Turkey, and even Saudi Arabia or India playing a bigger role. That means counter-insurgency that looks more like Riyadh’s campaign in Yemen, Russia’s in Syria and Chechnya, China’s in Xinjiang, Turkey’s in Afrin, or India’s in Kashmir. While that may fit the bill of a Trump administration that wants to spend less American treasure abroad and wants others to do more of the work, in the long term it means a fundamental change in the international role of the United States. It also means that in an attempt to shift resources to confronting major states, the U.S. will provide a vacuum for some of those states—China, Russia and Iran—to play a greater role in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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[kadobeclothing]

5 Brands Using Social Media To Grow Buzzworthy Online Communities

Every marketer is focused on bringing attention to their product or service by growing a strong following. But not all realize the effects building and nurturing an online community can have on your brand. Social media marketing has evolved and the need to build relationships with your followers has never been more important.

Online communities are groups of people who have a connection with your brand and/or each other. They communicate with you about your products and often share brand experiences. When that relationship is nurtured, they become your strongest advocates and biggest assets. However, many brands don’t know where or how to get started. Luckily, social platforms now offer useful features that can help build brand relationships, when used cleverly. Let’s take a look at some of these savvy brands, and how you too can start using social media to spark community growth.

Brands Using Social Media for Online Community Growth 1. Facebook groups: Peloton Facebook has gone through some major changes in recent years. In 2019, Mark Zuckerberg announced they were putting groups at the center of the app and there are now 400 million users belonging to a group. Groups give brands an excellent opportunity to build stronger relationships with their customers and develop more personal engagement. Peloton, the American exercise equipment brand, is one such brand seeing major success using Facebook Groups. Interestingly, their official Facebook Group began organically back in 2015, but in 2017 the brand began to moderate it. The group has since grown to a whopping 200,000+ members. The brand enjoys high levels of engagement as the nature of a closed group provides the user with a stronger sense of privacy. It’s a safe space, where they can ask questions and feel supported. Peloton group members share personal biking stories, weight loss journeys and offer each other advice. Engagement is so strong that any question posted is promptly answered by other members who act as advocates for the brand. At the same time, Peloton diligently facilitates conversations and participates by asking members to share their progress in campaigns like their Fall Launch Challenge. Other brands can learn from this by investing time and effort into building a strong Facebook Group. Not sure how to get started garnering engagement? Incentives such as coupons for top contributors could help kick-start growth and encourage initial participation. 2. Twitter Social Listening: Fitbit Most brands include Twitter in their social media mix, but not all use the platform to its full potential. Social listening is vital for brands to get a better understanding of their target audience and provide top notch customer service. Searching trending keywords will also return the latest tweets and give you the opportunity to jump in on a conversation and show them you care. Fitbit is one such brand that monitors Twitter to manage brand perception and deliver strong customer service. In a previous ”Focus on customer service” podcast episode, Allison Leahy, Fitbit’s former director of community, said they use social media listening to “resolve all customer issues, provide customers with a little more delight from the brand, and give customers a really fast support experience.” Fitbit also uses Twitter to discover new ideas from their community that can be implemented into their products. Interestingly, their “Reminders to move” feature — a notification that nudges you to walk at least 250 steps each hour — was suggested to them by a Fitbit user on social media. Brands like Fitbit provide excellent customer service by listening to their customers and experience strong support as a result. When a community knows a brand is listening to them, they’re more fully engaged. 3. Chatbots: Sephora According to Facebook, over 10 billion messages are sent between people and businesses on Messenger every month. It’s a great place for providing customer care by answering questions about your products or services that will encourage them to make a purchase. Chatbots can help take care of all of this and ensure your brand is replying to customer queries — even while you sleep. Remember: people are also 3.5 times more likely to open a Messenger message than a marketing email. Over the past few years, Sephora has been at the forefront of brands using chatbots to strengthen relationships with their online community. Using Facebook Messenger, the brand offers two bot-powered beauty tools. The Sephora Reservation Assistant encourages customers to make appointments at Sephora stores across the country, while Sephora Visual Artist offers the user recommendations for makeup shades that match their complexion and AR features allow them to virtually try it on. On Kik, their Sephora bot invites users to browse products and offers personalized beauty tips. By taking an initial quiz about your tastes, the bot will provide product recommendations, just like a sales assistant in a physical store. Kik users can then make purchases without even having to leave the app. This is a perfect example of a brand using social media features and tools to improve the relationship they have with their online customers. Not only does it provide a strong first impression to potential customers, but it also does a great job of nurturing them. The bot is developed to help the customer in a conversational way and ultimately lead them to making an appointment or purchase a product online. The more positive touch points your brand can have with its customers online, the more likely they will remain loyal and recommend your products and services to others. 4. Instagram Stories: National Geographic Another great tool for sparking conversations and building community is through Instagram Stories. With the recent introduction of Create mode, brands can easily run polls, post question stickers, and host live streams. The question stickers are particularly useful for increasing brand interactions, as you can invite followers to submit their queries or feedback on a particular product. These can then be shared with the wider audience. National geographic does a stellar job of using Instagram Stories to engage their social followers. They use the feature to help educate the follower by asking them questions and providing them with two possible answers. The social user is encouraged to click through to the next story to see if they got the question correct. They also use live Instagram stories to explore areas such as Yellowstone National Park. Viewers can then ask the expert any questions they may have and receive an answer in real-time. Trailers to new shows such as Gordon Ramsay’s “Uncharted,” give users a teaser of what to expect, while the ‘swipe up’ function invites them to visit the website to learn more. These features make the social user feel more connected to the brand and introduces them to other platforms that they may not have visited before. 5. Live Streaming: Buzzfeed The popularity of live video has exploded in the past couple of years and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, Tech Jury states that 87% of businesses now use live video as a marketing tool. Live streaming can help make your brand feel more real, and it’s an opportunity to share more authentic, less polished content. Buzzfeed is known for their use of live streaming, and their online following relishes in the iconic humorous approach. One of their very first Facebook live streams gained significant attention when the publisher asked how many rubber bands it would take to crush a watermelon. As they carried out the experiment live, viewers commented with predictions, reactions, and even started chatting with each other. Currently, the video has over 11 million views, and a massive 312,000 comments. More recently, Buzzfeed has shared live streams on YouTube where in-house artists compete in draw offs. Social users suggest how the drawings will look, often building on each other’s ideas. The Buzzfeed team pulls suggestions from social posts that use the hashtag #drawofflive. This idea works well for a brand like Buzzfeed, as it presents them in a down-to-earth manner and shows they like to have fun. It opens a dialogue between the brand and their online community while users leave comments on the live stream and tweet at them using the specific hashtag. Social users also feel like they are creating something unique with the brand that helps develop a strong bond. While social media platforms now offer features for helping you grow your community, brands should take the time to figure out what works best for them and their personality. One size doesn’t necessarily fit all. Carefully consider what platform your target audience is most active on and strategize from there. Want a deeper dive? Check out this guide to launching an online community.

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