My Mother is 100. She Does’t Need Andrew Weil’s ‘Healthy Aging’ You do – The Good Men Project

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Andrew Weil is Americas best-known revolutionary. You know him as a doctor a pioneer in what he calls Integrative Medicine who gets around in the very best media circles. Like the cover of Time Magazine, where he looks like a jolly Santa, with his bald head, big grin and a white beard just long enough to make you think he may someday play in ZZ Top. Hes a very reassuring guest on talk shows, where he speaks in praise of common sense and treatments that work, whatever their source. But dont be fooled Andrew Weil is a bomb-thrower.

Check out the book on Amazon here.

Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being is a bomb that may come as a shock to Boomers who tend to believe that life started with them and cannot go on without them and a total surprise for Millennials. Its newsflash: We all will die. There is no fountain of youth, no magic elixir that extends life. In 2002, when Weil turned sixty, he noted what that means: Sixty is about the time that organs of the body begin to fail, when the first signs of age-related disease begin to appear.

Can aging be reversed? No. But here comes the second bomb Dr.Weil throws in these pages and from his point-of-view, its pure good news: You can age gracefully. And if you are smart and careful and active and lucky, you will live as long and as well as possible, then have a rapid decline at the end of life. That is, youre healthy and vital right into your 80s and 90s, and then you get sick and die quickly, with your dignity and your wits intact. The goal, he reminds us, is compression of morbidity, not life extension.

How does he know? Well, hes studied widely. And hes seen his own mother who went toAntarctica at89 die at the end of a happy day when she was 93. [To buy the paperback from Amazon, click here. For the Kindle edition, click here.]

That personal story is welcome because its a stark contrast to the rest of the book, which is unusually technical for Dr. Weil. But youll want to slog through it. First, because it is your life a subject of plausible interest to you hes talking about.Second, because the science is in support of some very blunt statements about how to live and eat and medicate.

Among the new ideas I encountered in these pages:

Vitamins C and E and green tea extract block and perhaps undo some of the skin damage caused by the suns ultraviolet rays.

Those who are somewhat overweight in middle age may enjoy a healthier and longer old age than those who are not it is better to be fit and fat than lean and not fit.

Buy oils in small quantities.

Avoid all products containing high-fructose corn syrup.

The least processed tea is white tea from China. To remove most caffeine from tea, steep the tea in hot water for 30 seconds, then use the tea leaves (or bag) in your cup or pot. [To buy white tea leaves from Amazon, click here. For white tea bags, click here.]

Take Vitamin E daily it offers the best antioxidant protection against common age-related diseases. [To buy Vitamin E from Amazon, click here.]

Take 200 milligrams of Vitamin C a day your body cant easily absorb more. [To buy Vitamin C from Amazon, click here]

If you are taking a statin, you should also take 60 milligrams a day of CoQ10. [To buy COQ10 from Amazon, click here.]

Turmeric may help prevent Alzheimers disease. [To read about Turmeric on Head Butler and buy it from Amazon, click here.]

DHEA decreases abdominal fat in elderly men and women. [To buy DHEA from Amazon, click here.]

Theres much more. And then theres this: The magnificence of autumn foliage is the ripe period of the year, before the sleep of winter.

____

This article originally appeared on The Head Butler

Photo credit: Getty Images

Jesse Kornbluth is is a New York-based writer and editor of HeadButler.com, a cultural concierge site he launched in 2004. As a magazine journalist, he has been a contributing editor for Vanity Fair, New York and Architectural Digest. As an author, his books include Airborne: The Triumph and Struggle of Michael Jordan; Highly Confident: The Crime and Punishment of Michael Milken and Pre-Pop Warhol. As a screenwriter, he has written for Robert De Niro, Paul Newman and PBS. On the Web, he co-founded Bookreporter.com. From 1997 to 2002, he was Editorial Director of America Online.

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My Mother is 100. She Does't Need Andrew Weil's 'Healthy Aging' You do - The Good Men Project

Q&A: Chef Michel Gurard, a Pioneer of Low-Calorie Cuisine – TIME

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Michel Guerard, French chef of the restaurant Les Pres d'Eugenie, poses on September 26, 2013 at his restaurant at Eugenie-les-Bains, France. NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP/Getty Images

"The new gourmet law: hold the butter," reads the strapline of the European edition of TIME's Feb. 9 1976 issue, alongside a cartoon of the French culinary master Michel Gurard, then 42.

Fast forward four decades and the debate over butter and fat intake is still magazine-cover-worthy . But now it's a far more saturated conversation: evidence of links between certain fats and heart disease changes on a regular basis, as does the merit of plant-based dairy alternatives, made from almonds or coconut or walnuts. Thanks to prominent campaigns , the clean eating movement and savvy restaurateurs , healthy eating is more in the zeitgeist than ever before.

However, back in the 70s, Gurard's 'waist-not, want-not' approach was revolutionary. Considered a founding father of 'Nouvelle Cuisine' - a Japanese-inspired cooking style which emphazises freshness, lightness and flavor, Gurard eschewed the copious quantities of butter, large servings and cream-filled sauces ubiquitous with traditional French cooking while still maintaining the highest order of taste. Thanks to Gurard, reported TIME's George M. Taber in 1976, "no longer need a Frenchman dig his grave with a fork."

Gurard's main restaurant, Les Prs d'Eugnie, which specializes in low-calorie, full-flavour cooking, won the chef three Michelin stars: in 1974, 1975 and 1977. Now 83, he remains a key figure in educating and changing perceptions of healthy cuisine.

The pioneering chef celebrated the ruby anniversary of his three Michelin Stars this week. He spoke to TIME in an email interview about how the culinary industry has changed during his 69 years in the industry, clean eating and what he thinks of people's obsession with photographing their food.

TIME: How have attitudes towards healthy food changed during your career?

Michel Gurard: When I launched my slimming cuisine back in 1975, it triggered a wave of outrage within the culinary world. I will never forget my friend [chef] Paul Bocuse saying to everyone that if they go to Gurards, they should take their medical prescription with them. My attitude towards food did not make sense to chefs at the time; I was at worst an outcast and at best a crazy cook. Fortunately, I had two Michelin stars at that point, which spoke for my professionalism.

Today, health has become fashionable and it is reassuring to see that trendsetters have caught up with the idea. I was very appreciative of Michelle Obamas fight , for instance. I know that Im one of the people who have mattered the most in this realization. But I dont draw any pride in that: it was only a matter time before public health and governments were obliged to do something.

Although healthy food has been a hot topic for a while, it doesn't mean that all problems are solved. Healthy food remains something that wealthier people can enjoy; it excludes the poor and it will be a long time before they benefit from the trend.

And how is the world of haute cuisine different today?

Certainly the rise of the celebrity chef. We all got out of the kitchen and into the media. Today, you cannot take a walk without seeing chefs everywhere. The upside is that the move has meant a lot of people now choose to be a chef - when I started out, that was not the case. I understand that I contributed to this rise, but the media frenzy around cooks has become extreme and sometimes ridiculous.

Another change is that food and gastronomy have become a globalized product. I find it striking that you can eat exactly the same things in New York as you can in Paris. This was not the case 15 years ago and I dont know what to make of it. Should we fear this standardization of taste? I dont think so, but we should still remain cautious as some of our culinary heritage has been disappearing for some years. There is surely a risk that our national cuisines will one day fade to nothing.

Are there foods you think people should and shouldn't eat?

I am not a guru wholl tell you what to eat and what not to eat. As long as food comes from nature herself, I dont see why you shouldnt eat it - and just as a reminder, Dominos Pizza does not come from nature! I believe you can eat anything as long as you keep a balanced diet.

Which cuisines and ingredients excite you the most?

I am a big fan of Chinese cuisine, which is very precise with its seasonings. The Chinese have beautiful cooking, like Peking duck. When it is done the traditional way, it is like a piece of art.

I dont have a favourite food. But I like to work with ingredients that can surprise you. For instance, once I wanted to create something with oysters and I wondered for many months what taste or what other ingredient I could combine with their very particular flavor. Finally, I decided on green coffee. Served as a frothy chiboust like a cloud on an oyster, it is sumptuous and delicious.

What do you remember about your TIME interview in 1976?

I had previously done interviews with American media, but the TIME cover was a total surprise. To me, the only French people who would make a TIME cover were individuals like General de Gaulle. It was when I did the cover that I became aware of how unique what I was doing was; it made me realise that my work was important. The journalists who interviewed me had a premonition that health would become a cornerstone of cooking.

Do you think social media has changed the way people eat?

Professionally, my daughters [take photos of their food in restaurants] all the time, to feed our websites and digital accounts. It shows everyone that follows us what we do, who we are and what were working on for our guests. It entices people; its publicity.

But from a personal point of view, I have a hard time understanding what seems to have become an addiction. People are living by proxy through their phones. They want to show everyone how great their lives are, choosing carefully what they display. It makes sense in a way; its self-promotion that reflects the individualistic society we live in.

I find it a little bit sad that for some the picture has become more important than the food itself; the fact that the picture must be pretty has had a huge influence on cuisine and pastry. In most high-end restaurants, it is unthinkable to serve something that doesnt look great except what looks smart doesnt always taste nice.

Pastry has become a dog and pony show for desserts I mean cold desserts that can be made and dressed prettily in advance. Minute pastry, like souffl, is disappearing. And I think its a pity because the know-how is disappearing too. Some chefs are so attached to the way their dishes look that they refuse to change the recipe when people mention that they dislike the taste. They know it will end up on the Internet, so they want to make sure it looks the way it is supposed to.

If you were going to predict the biggest food craze in 50 years time, what would you say?

Ten years ago, we predicted a lot of funny things such as dried food like astronauts or even food tablets. But the act of eating is about much more than just filling a physiological need: it gives pleasure and its a social ritual. We will carry on eating as weve been doing for tens of thousands of years. However, Im sure healthy cooking will become even more important than it is now.

Finally, what would you choose as your last supper?

I would like this supper to be completely natural. The chef cooking it would have to have great experience, as well as a sensitivity which would allow him to play with his culinary creation freely and effortlessly. I would like to taste something that surprises me and would make me think: "How did I not come up with this this myself?".

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Q&A: Chef Michel Gurard, a Pioneer of Low-Calorie Cuisine - TIME

9 Ways the Grammys have Totally Blown It – Newsweek

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Every awardshows history is riddled with controversial selections andsnubs, but the Grammyspast is especially turbulent. Its voters have repeatedly proven that they areout of touch to a staggering degree. This was the case in the 60s, when they couldn't let go of Sinatra, in the 70s, when they favored disco over Elvis Costello and Debby Booneover "Hotel California," and in the 80s, which we'll get to. By the time the 90s arrived, the Grammys lost most of its cach. Just ask Homer.

Not much has changed.

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In anticipation of Sunday's ceremony, we'vecompiled some of the most egregious flubs in Grammys history, from crowining one-hit wonders as the Next Big Thingto all butignoring entire genres of music.

Related: Beyonc, Adele lead Grammy nominations

In 1985, the competition for Album of the Year seemed to be a tight race between Princes Purple Rainand Bruce Springsteens Born In the U.S.A.So it was surprising when the award went to...Lionel Richies Cant Slow Down.Sure, it was a solid recordAll Night Long (All Night) and Hello are perfect pop songsbut the album came out in 1983.Even though ittechnically qualified for Album of the Year based on the Grammys' seemingly arbitrary rules, it was certainly not the best album of thatyear.

But also, considering how well Princesand Springsteens work has held up respective to Richies, the decision is a spectacular misstep. These are the kind of brilliant classic records that one can argue in favor of just by adding curse words to their titles:Born In the God Damn U.S.A.! Purple Fucking Rain! See? End of shitting argument. Joe Veix

In 1981, RunD.M.C. and the Beastie Boys both formed in New York. That year the Grammys were busy fawning over Christopher Cross. As hip-hop emerged as the most significant musical and social movement of the 1980s, the Recording Academy was characteristically late to the party. The Best Rap Performance category was added in 1989, but it wasnt actually included in the televised ceremony, prompting nominees Will Smith, LL Cool J and Salt-n-Pepa to lead a Grammy boycott. (Some more politically charged rap acts, like N.W.A, were ignored altogether.) During the 1990s, seminal albums like Nass Illmatic and A Tribe Called Quests The Low End Theory were overlooked. It was not until 1999 that a hip-hop album finally won Album of the Year: Lauryn Hills The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Even in the Best Rap Album category, the Academy cant seem to get it right, with Macklemore famously responding to his own win with a sheepish texted apology to Kendrick Lamar.Zach Schonfeld

Santana's meme-friendly Supernatural edging out the Backstreet Boys, TLC, the Dixie Chicks and Diana Krall in 2000 was a portentous start to a decade that thoroughly confused Grammy voters. The following year, a thoroughly forgettable Steely Dan album was honored over Beck, Radiohead and Eminem. In 2002, the award was given to a motion picture soundtrack (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) over Outkast's Stankonia. A few years later, in 2005, a posthumous Ray Charles album won. This is fine, but it illustrates the Grammysinability to tap into the zeitgeist. This brings us to the decades most egregious snub. In 2006, a Herbie Hancocks jazz tribute to Joni Mitchell won over both Amy Winehouse's Back In Black and Kanye West's Graduation. And music lovers also groaned when U2 won for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb in 2006, an album best listened to in an iPod commercial. Ryan Bort

In 1989, Jethro Tull won Best Hard Rock/Metal Performanceover Metallica. This is "Jump Start," fromCrest Of A Knave, the album Jethro Tull won for:

This is "Harvester Of Sorrow," from Metallica's ...And Justice For All:

You be the judge of what qualifies as "metal/hard rock." (Hint: it's not the one with pan flute.) Ryan Bort

The Best New Artist category is, in theory, a well-intentioned idea: Give an award to a musician fresh on the scene, who might not be able to compete in the Best Album category against bigger acts like Michael Jackson or The Rolling Stones or Milli Vanilli. The only problem is the Grammys have a really bizarre definition of new. According to rule changes implemented by the Recording Academy in 2016, artists only become ineligible for the award after releasing more than three records (or 30 singles). Also, they cant have been nominated more than three times, and must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the eligibility period. So: not exactly new! A pedantic music nerd could make the case that multiple bands from the 70s could still be eligible.

Not surprisingly, this broad definition translates to some choices that are...unconventional. Just a few examples: Bon Iver won Best New Artist in 2012five years after his breakout debut For Emma, Forever Ago and two years after guesting on Kanye Wests My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Lauryn Hill won the award in 1999, even though she released two prior records with the Fugees years earlier. Going further back, the Beatles won in 1965, even though by then they werekind of a big deal. If the Grammyswere concerned about accuracy, the category should really be called Best Artist That the Recording Academys Kids Just Told Them About. Joe Veix

Its customary for the Grammys to acknowledge trailblazing weirdo geniuses decades late if at all. So when David Bowie was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, it felt more like an apologetic shrug than a wholehearted endorsement. Speaking of lifetime achievements, Bowie released 25 albums during his life. Only one of them, 1983s Lets Dance, was nominated in the most prestigious category: Album of the Year. (It lost.) The Grammys roundly ignored Bowie during the 1970s, when he arguably reached his creative peak (Ziggy Stardust, Low, etc). And even in death, the Thin White Duke is being snubbed: Blackstar, Bowies final album, was shut out of the top category and instead was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album,proving that alternative music is about as meaningless a phrase in 2017 as fake news.Zach Schonfeld

The 60s can claim arguably the richest musical output of any decade since someone first figured out how to run electricity through a guitar. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, the Velvet Underground, Led Zeppelin, the Who. The list goes on. Of all of these artists, only the Beatles would take home one of the decade's Best Album Grammys when they won in 1968 for Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. In fact, the Beatles were the only pop rock artists even nominated for the award. The same can be said for Song of the Year. The Beatles won in 1967 for "Michelle." In 66, "Yesterday" lost to Tony Bennetts "The Shadow Of Your Smile." The latter is a lovely song, but its win proves that Grammy votershave always been behind the times. Ryan Bort

Tony Bennett won Album of the Yearfor "The Shadow Of Your Smile" in 1966, and then again 30 years later in 1995, for his MTV Unplugged album, which was filled with old standards like "Fly Me to the Moon" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." These are great and all, but shouldnt the Grammys recognize the years achievements in original music? Shouldn't the winners be in some way indicative of the current moment? Do voters not want their choices to reflect the music that had the deepest cultural impact? Apparently not, which was evinced in an even more egregious fashion two years earlier... Ryan Bort

More proof that the Grammys are perennially 20 years stuck in the past: Eric Clapton was persona non grata during his Cream/Derek and the Dominos heyday but swept the 1993 ceremony with his live Unplugged recording. (Tears in Heaven, Claptons heartfelt tribute to his late son, garnered several prizes of its own that year.) Similarly, during this same era, Nirvana did not receive a Grammy win until the band softened its sound for its own MTV Unplugged in New York album. By this point, Kurt Cobain was already dead. Nevermindarguably the most culturally significant album of 1991was denied an Album of the Year nomination, perhaps to make room for Amy Grants Christian pop sensation Heart in Motion.Zach Schonfeld

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9 Ways the Grammys have Totally Blown It - Newsweek

Ava DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated ’13th’ documentary aims to unlock the truth – LA Daily News

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Ava DuVernay has been up until 12:30 a.m. shooting A Wrinkle in Time for Disney, but the director of Selma is enthused to finally talk about the Oscar-nominated documentary 13th.

The former publicist is the first woman of color to direct a live-action film with a production budget of more than $100 million. Last fall, she premiered her first television show, the well-received Queen Sugar, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

So DuVernay hasnt much time to discuss her powerful documentary released in October which is up for Oscar and BAFTA awards.

13th takes its title from the amendment that outlawed slavery in 1865, though with the caveat except as a punishment for a crime.

The documentary, available on Netflix, examines how that clause has led to a mass-incarceration system that disproportionately imprisons African-American men. In many of the for-profit institutions, inmates are then used as cheap labor, employed for pennies by major companies, creating a de facto form of slavery.

A note here: DuVernay and I were phone acquaintances in her PR days, although we never met. So it was a pleasure to finally meet her in person. What follows is an edited version of our conversation about 13, and what led her to do the film, including an emotional story from when she grew up in Compton.

Q Has the film been getting the response you were hoping for?

A I have been shocked. I really didnt think it would have this much attention, and I did not think that people react to it as emotionally as they have. It is an intimate topic. It is really about the way that we think about race in this country, regardless of who you are and how we engage with each other and what our belief system is. There are some things in this doc that challenge what we believed or even thought we knew. Its a little disconcerting when we realize what we dont know. I thought it would sit on Netflix as a resource for teachers. I really didnt think it would cross into a cultural zeitgeist kind of thing.

Q Are you getting response from legislators?

A Yes, as a teaching tool like Congressman John Lewis and Sen. Cory Booker. Those people are using it as an entry point to talk to their communities and constituents. I havent heard about any pushback from the other side. Havent heard anything from anyone on the right or any conservatives. Its been oddly quiet.

Q When you made this, it was before the presidential election and reforms were being pushed; now with President Trump in the White House, the film is more relevant than ever.

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A Stock in private prisons shot up the day after his election. The executive orders that hes signing signal his intention to bolster policies and practices that favor those who profit off of the least of us. Prisons are clearly in the bulls-eye for this. The deregulation through executive is moving to a place that will undo a lot of work that has been done by a bipartisan coalition taking steps toward reform.

Q What can be done?

A Its important that people continue to assert what they believe. I believe in the power people have and the power in the protest. That isnt just pie in the sky stuff. Three years ago, the Black Lives matter movement was happening and people thought this is a moment, but there has been a concerted, concentrated effort with deliberate action that has not stopped since that day. The Civil Rights Movement at its height was over 10 years. In the two weeks of Trumps presidency, weve seen spontaneous protests at airports and huge numbers at the womens marches all around the country expressing their dissent. Its going to be more crucial now than ever to continue do that, and for artists to continue to promote that and do what we can to amplify it.

Q How did you come to the project?

A I was an African American studies major at UCLA. We were encouraged to do a deep dive into the Constitution, and it has just kind of been putting together the pieces from there understanding there is a direct correlation between that clause and the mass incarceration that were experiencing now. At first, I hadnt done the research to connect the dots, but with some 2.3 million people behind bars it seemed there was something to that. So I began tracing and tracking it and really being able to get down to the kind of granular policies legislation signed that actually perpetuated it. It was important to break down the images of the war on drugs and what was perpetuated by the media. So the assignment for myself was to focus on prison for profit, the way that many companies are profiting on punishment.

Q You reached out to conservatives in the documentary, like Newt Gingrich.

A I know what I think, but it was important to reach out to Republicans and Democrats and liberals. I wanted this to be a conversation like a master class from people of all walks of life. Sometimes we learn from people who dont think anything like us.

Q Youve been pretty busy.

A These films are my children. I dont have kids, and Im not going to have kids. So this is what Im leaving behind. But for this film, I havent had a chance to go out there and beat the drum for it.

Q It seems like everyone in the black community Ive talked to feel connected to this film because of things that happened in their lives.

A Growing up in Compton, police aggression and issues of incarceration were all around. I have a very, very small family. So theres no one in my direct family involved, but when every black man you know has a police story, a lot of the people have been directly touched by it. I tell this story on this Netflix special I did with Oprah about my father being tackled in our backyard in Compton because the police were running through peoples backyards looking for someone else. My father was in the backyard watering the grass. Hes a very dignified man a beautiful, beautiful man. He was tackled to the ground like a criminal, handcuffed in front of his family, cursed at I saw all this berated and belittled because they thought he was a criminal. They had no respect for his property a man in his own backyard and they couldnt hear his protests. These are the kinds of incidences that many people of color in this country are scarred with, and so when I watch 13th, it has a particular vibe to it for me.

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Ava DuVernay's Oscar-nominated '13th' documentary aims to unlock the truth - LA Daily News

Bernie O’Rourke: An Irishman’s Passion for Business – Caldwell University News

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When Professor Bernard ORourke plans the itinerary for a Business Division study-abroad experience, he takes a good hard look at the nation his students will visit. Every country has a story, he says. I determine the essence of the countrys business to get its business zeitgeist. He frames each trip so students can learn through an immersion in a nations economic and business life.

Since 2001, ORourke, associate dean of the Business Division, has led short-term trips to Belgium, Holland, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Austria, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Panama. In setting the agenda, he reaches out to government agencies, which are often eager to help with appointments that showcase a countrys economic profile and direction, and networks with business contacts.

In Costa Rica students toured a coffee plantation and a free-trade zone. In Panama they explored the iconic Panama Canal. In Austria they visited the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. In the Czech Republic they saw the workings of the Skoda auto plant, which was regenerated when the country reverted to a free-market economy after overturning the communist regime. In the Dominican Republic they walked the floor of the Baldom food manufacturing company.

ORourkes taste for international business and travel began when he was a young man in Ireland in the 1970s. He was eager to help his homeland. What spurred me was the intent to move Ireland forward, to move it out of poverty, he says. Growing up in an impoverished region of Ireland, with little beyond farm and retail work available for most school leavers, I instinctively knew that Ireland needed to move forward with the times and somehow begin a new investment revolution to provide jobs for those who did not wish to emigrate to the U.K. or the U.S. as generations before had done.

The vision for a new Ireland was provided by an aggressive investment promotion program in which Ireland scoured the world for state-of-the-art industries that could generate good-paying, export-focused jobs for the rising generation of well-educated Irish men and women. ORourke knew he had to be a part of the movement to regenerate Ireland and help create opportunities so the country might become prosperous and self-sustaining and not just a source of talented immigrants for the rest of the world. It grabbed me and a lot of young people at the time, he says.

He had received an undergraduate degree in economics with a political science minor from the biggest university in Ireland, University College Dublin, and then a law degree from Kings Inns, Irelands oldest school of law, qualifying him to go as far as pleading a case in the Irish courts. But practicing law was not his interest; he had a drive to work in international business to raise Irelands profile in the global marketplace.

ORourke grew up in Inniskeen, a small village in County Monaghan just beside the border with Northern Ireland. The town was a farming community in the traditional Irish countryside. He and his seven younger brothers and sistersone of whom drowned at the age of twowere raised by their Catholic parents, who encouraged education. ORourke and his siblings attended grammar school in a two-room schoolhouse with 60 students. His father, a miller, sold cornmeal products for farm animals, and ORourke learned on the familys small farm how to gather potatoes and cut hay, barley, oats and wheat.

It was the 1950s, and he recalls how a few families in Inniskeen still rode horse-drawn carts to church on Sunday. Television became available when he was about 9 years old, but people had to go 25 miles to the other side of the mountain to pick up the hazy signals for British programs. It was still amazing, says ORourke. In his early teens Irelands Troubles were still years away, so he would ride his bicycle across the border into Northern Ireland where we could get better and richer candies and cheaper dairy products like butter. He was exposed to the big city of Dublin since the family frequently visited his grandparents there. After sixth grade he went to Castleknock College, a boarding prep school outside Dublin run by Vincentian priests.

After receiving his undergraduate and law degrees, ORourke worked for his father in Ireland for a short period, but it was evident that times were changing in farming. He took a legal position at the Irish Development Agency, hoping to bring foreign investors to the Emerald Isle to create jobs. The position gave him a nice taste of travel, he says, including a trip to Helsinki. Eventually he was offered a post in Manhattan. I was given territory in New England and had to find any companies interested in manufacturing in Ireland, and the government agency would give them grants and tax benefits. Then he began chasing textile companies in the South.

His professional journey next took him to managing Belleek china for the Waterford Crystal company where he gained legal, marketing and operational experience, learning to deal with computer software and to keep the books. He picked up his MBA along the way at Fordham and developed investments and marketing plans for Irish companies in America. After many years in business, ORourke started teaching international business at Fairleigh Dickinson University and found he enjoyed it. Doors opened for teaching at Caldwell, and he eventually made his way into higher education full time, sharing his multifaceted business experience with students.

ORourke has been a leader in advancing Caldwells Business Division, overseeing the department when it added programs including undergraduate degrees in financial economics, health care administration and sport management and masters in accounting and in business administration.

He is excited about the significant increase in enrollment in the undergraduate programs and about the new programs, including the bachelors in health care administration, a good fit because of our other health-related programs, the bachelors in sport management and the new online MBA program. ORourke hopes that the division can take the impact of technology to the next level with enhanced programs in IT and that it can pursue more international students for the MBA program.

His experience in international business makes him value the contributions of the divisions Business Advisory Council, which provides a bridge between the business community and the university and is made up of senior executives and business owners.

The council provides networking opportunities for students and professors and forums for showcasing faculty and student research and best practices in business and mentorship. We are fortunate that our Business Advisory Council members are supportive in facilitating student internships, says ORourke.

Most rewarding for him is seeing students developthe progress they make over the semester and how they grow in understanding and relating to the worldand then watching them receive their diplomas when they are ready to go out into the world of business.

ORourke is convinced Caldwell has something bigger schools dont, citing as an example a student who was eager to leave for a big-time university but who transferred back to Caldwell after two months. There will always be a need for the Caldwell ethos.

Every country has a story. I determine the essence of the countrys business to get its business zeitgeist.

As a young man working in Manhattan, he joined the New York Athletic Club rugby teama quick way to be integrated into a good group of people, even playing in a tournament in the Cayman Islands.

He and his wife Sheila, Caldwells vice president for institutional effectiveness, have two grown daughters, one grandson, Ronan, and another grandchild on the way.

He served as president of the West Essex and Essex Fells school boards combined for nearly 16 years. I ran three weeks after becoming a citizen. It helped me understand the school system. He testified before Congress on behalf of the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Why we should visit his Ireland: As my wife says, It will always live up to your expectations. There are 40 shades of green. People really are fun to deal with and enjoy. The scenery is fantastic.

It was almost a third world country when I was growing up. In the last 30 years, based on the economic development, it has become one of the richest countries in Europe. Thats not to say it doesnt have its problems; it has many problems; it certainly suffered in the last recession.

The party time and fun timethat exists as an authentic Irish experience.

Everybody deserves to go at least once.

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Bernie O'Rourke: An Irishman's Passion for Business - Caldwell University News

TEA & TWO SLICES | On Giant Snow Penises And Christy Clark’s Shudder-Worthy Interview – Scout Magazine (blog)

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by Sean Orr | So Christy Clark somehow thought it would be a good idea to go on Facebook Live. The results were as disastrous/totally benign as you might think.

Watch for yourself as a sea of angry emojis engulfs the premier while she doubles-down on her populist rhetoric in an exercise of pure agitprop. Watch as Vaughn Palmer lobs handpicked softballs from BC Liberal digital influencers.

Watch as she says I think we are implementing those recommendations regarding the recent report on the death of Alex Gervais while rejecting the idea of replacing herembattled B.C. childrens minister.

Watch as she says we are armed and ready to fight Trump on softwood while weve lost 30,000 forest jobs in this province since the B.C. Liberals took power due to a record number of raw log exports.

Watch as she says that Debt Free BC means we have the intention of getting there. Watch as she admits that job creation in Alberta had stalled because it hitched its entire economy to a single resource, and then just seconds later doubles down on LNG. Watch as she says LNG is clean. Again.

Watch as she actually thinks that British Columbians calmed down their fiery rhetoric to the Kinder Morgan pipeline just because it was Justin Trudeau who approved it. As though thousands of people didnt take to the streets.

Watch as she admits that there are two British Columbias, one that is falling behind because of their resource-based economies.

Watch her saywith a straight face that BC in fact does have a poverty reduction plan: Its called a jobs plan. Oh great, tell that to the disabled. Tell that to the mentally ill. Tell that to the addicted.

Take a drink every time she mentions jobs, as though shes never heard of precarious labour and ignoring the fact that were losing full-time jobs everywhereexcept in Vancouver and Victoria. People want to work! Yeah, just maybe not at the 24 Hour Tim Hortons on Abbott and Pender.

Watch as she intermingles the political and the personal with ease! (Dont talk about my son, Hamish. My Dad was an alcoholic). The problem with mental health issues is not just that people dont talk about them, its that governments do nothing about them until an election comes around.

Watch as she says that her stipend had suddenly become an issue and that she could do without the money as though it wasnt in The New York Times.

Watch as she says the NDP has said this is going to be the ugliest and dirtiest campaign weve ever seen when it was actually Liberal cabinet minister Bill Bennett who said that. Watch as she doubles down on the claim that her website was hacked despite the fact Mike Smyth found it in plain sight. As Palmer says (as he found his spine), perhaps it was Putin.

But what didnt Palmer ask about? He didnt ask about raising the rates. Didnt ask about the current lawsuit by First Nations against the government regarding Kinder Morgan. He didnt ask about the conflict of interest with the conflict of interest commissioner, probably because hes already defended him.

He didnt ask about the BCTF lawsuit. He didnt ask about the health care firings. He didnt ask about MSP premiums. He didnt ask about getting big money out of politics.

He didnt ask about the 25,502 unoccupied homes in Vancouver, more than double City Halls estimate.

Meanwhile, Patients in hallways as hospital space reserved for Kate Winslet movie. The movie is called The Mountain Between Us. Sort of like the mountain between us and the bureaucracy that thinks this was a good idea.

Some good news: Missing Canadian found undocumented in Brazil after years. When asked if he had found what he was looking for during his many years of wandering, Pilipa simply replied, Im still looking.

Introducing a new game called Vancouver snow bingo. Spaces include: someone saying the city just shuts down; someone with an umbrella; that one guy wearing shorts; someone from Alberta saying it isnt a big deal; someone from Ontariosaying they moved here to get away from this shit; a Dodge Caravan just spinning its wheels; someone complaining about bike lanes being ploughed;some one the Skytrain saying its not the snow that I hate, its the slush; someone calling it a snowpocalypse;and of course someone making an AirBnB out of a snow fort.

Other possibilities: Someone saying only in Canada: Only in Canada: Central Saanich man uses Zamboni to clear streets of snow, police say.

Exhibit B: Hapless Abbotsford burglars getaway van gets stuck in snow, asks for help from homeowner he ripped off.

Tweet of the day:

Bonus: VIDEO: Body Break TV stars are back, results are bloody brilliant.

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TEA & TWO SLICES | On Giant Snow Penises And Christy Clark's Shudder-Worthy Interview - Scout Magazine (blog)

When will Russia finally break its ‘resource curse’? – Russia Direct

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Despite constant talk about plans to boost the nations economic growth, experts remain skeptical about any efforts to wean the Russian economy off its dependence on oil.

Risks differ because they are possible to measure, while unpredictability is impossible to assess. And this bring about a sort of torpor among investors. Photo: RIA Novosti

As Russias top economic leaders prepare for the upcoming Russian Investment Forum in Sochi, scheduled on Feb. 27-28, there has been increased discussion among experts about what steps need to be taken this year to propel the Russian economy forward. For now, the focus seems to be on new investment projects for economic growth.

Yet, as Russian and foreign experts discussed at a Feb. 8 event at the Carnegie Moscow Center, it will take more than just new investment to jump-start the economy. As long as the Russian economy depends on oil and the gray market remains commonplace in the country, it will be challenging to carry out effective structural reforms, attract investors and boost economic growth.

This is the key message of the discussion that brought together the director of Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics Torbjorn Becker, the head of the Moscow-based Economic Expert Group Evsei Gurvich and Carnegie Moscow Center expert Andrei Movchan.

Gurvich argues that Russias key problem is the resource curse, which results from the cyclical nature of oil prices (with alternating cycles every 15 years or so). When prices rise, oil revenues also increase, which increases the rivalry among political elites for the control of the oil rent. In this situation, the authorities think not about the efficiency of the economy, but about grabbing a bigger slice of the pie. This is how the state assumes a greater control over the economy, in general.

Russian economic dependence is very deep on the macroeconomic level, Becker continues, adding that volatile changes in oil prices could have either negative or positive effects on Russias gross domestic product (GDP) and other economic indicators.

According to him, about 80-90 percent of forecast mistakes come from the fact the pundits and politicians cannot predict oil prices properly. For Russias policymakers, it means that they cannot control the economic situation in the country and this a big challenge for the authorities, said Becker.

Even though Russias sovereign wealth funds the Reserve Fund and the National Welfare Fund are good tools for rainy days, they primarily deal with short-term management of oil volatility. Thus, they cannot resolve the problem of unpredictability.

As Andrei Yakovlev, the director of the Institute for Industrial and Market Studies at the Higher School of Economics, told Russia Direct in a 2016 interview, investing in an unpredictable environment is highly difficult, because business is used to assessing risks.

Risks differ because they are possible to measure, while unpredictability is impossible to assess, he clarified. And this bring about a sort of torpor among investors.

Moreover, the unpredictability that stems from the volatility of oil prices is narrowing the planning horizon among those at the helm, said Gurvich. Thus, the Kremlin relegates any strategic thinking to the secondary agenda and prefers to think even shorter term. This cannot help affecting the countrys economic growth; it does create favorable environment for the budget deficit.

Not only does the oil-dependent economy create a great deal of uncertainty and make the authorities helpless during abrupt changes in oil prices, but also it affects the structure of Russias trade with its European partners by making it one-sided.

To illustrate this trend, Becker gives an example of the trade between Russia and Sweden, with oil exports comprising about 80 percent of the products from Russia and Swedish exports being more diversified. Russia should be careful about the danger of one-sided oil dependence. After all, it could affect the countrys economic growth and efficiency, said Becker.

However, Movchan looks at the resource curse from a different angle. He prefers to focus on the advantages that the commodity-based economy creates for the authorities and the population. Even though he sees oil dependence as a challenge for Russias economic and political future, Movchan admits that those who work for the government about 38 percent get their salaries from the state budget that depends on oil revenues. In other words, the Russian population itself is the key consumer of the resource curse, because its income is determined to a larger extent by oil prices.

Second, significant oil resources yield another advantage: very cheap energy. Movchan gives an example from day-to-day life: the average temperature in Russian houses is 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 degrees Fahrenheit), while American houses are heated to just 16-17 degrees Celsius (62 degrees Fahrenheit). In fact, the energy consumption (and economy) in Russia is adjusted to lower prices on hydrocarbons and it defines the key habit of Russians, which they are reluctant to change.

Moreover, the Russian army depends on low energy prices in the country and nobody even cares about the amount of money to maintain the countrys military forces. Given the fact that Russians sees these forces as a guarantor of political stability, territorial integrity and geopolitical influence, oil in this regard mobilizes people around the leader and creates a sort of stability, even if illusionary and ephemeral.

However, it doesnt necessary mean that oil is good for the nation per se. According to Movchan, the oil dependence is a curse, an evil for the long-term development of the country, but it is necessary to understand the short-term oil benefits for the Kremlin and the population to avoid many pitfalls on the path to structural reforms. It is also essential not to turn into another oil-dependent Venezuela, which is now on the verge of political collapse because of ill-thought-out economic initiatives.

Today, the Russian authorities are looking for political and economic stability. And if one looks at the situation from their perspective, they naturally shy away from any reforms, which could endanger their positions and this is a normal behavior, says Movchan. In order to foster the sweeping changes, they should stop being policymakers and turn into reformers who are ready to destroy the old system and build the new one. Obviously, this is not what the current Russian political elites are looking for now.

Thats why any forecast about higher oil prices is music to the ears of those in the Kremlin. After all, high oil prices (which translate into economic prosperity) boosted the approval ratings of Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev during their tenures. Meanwhile low prices on hydrocarbons (which led to economic woes) ruined the reputations of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and his successor Boris Yeltsin, in part, because their presidencies coincided with a period of low oil prices. Gurvich pointed out the correlation between their popularity and the oil cycles during his speech.

The expert believe that Russia will become a magnet for investors only when the oil dependence era will end, when oil revenues wont be relevant for the authorities anymore, when oil prices will drastically plummet. If it happens Russia will be forced to produce the goods that it imports now.

Thus, the Russian political elites will be ready to conduct the sweeping structural reforms, only if they will be faced with the existential threat for their stability and well being, Gurvich concluded.

The only problem is that when the Russian authorities have to deal with economic challenges, they arent ready to take the difficult next steps. Instead, they have a penchant for organizing lavishly funded economic forums that bring together top economists, politicians and diplomats from Russia and abroad.

There are at least five major economic forums that take place in Russia each year the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, the Gaidar Economic Forum, the Yalta International Economic Forum, and the Russian Investment Forum in Sochi. In a nutshell, their major goal is to create an intellectual and business platform for boosting the countrys economic growth and raising Russias global profile.

There is no unanimity about the efficiency and viability of such forums among experts and independent economists. While some see them as an opportunity to attract foreign investors and discuss the most urgent challenges while cutting important deals, others describe such forums as a convenient photo-op, a sort of party or talk show for pundits and politicians. Such platforms may be splashy, but are often inefficient. In short, they may promise more than they actually deliver.

For example, Oleg Buklemishev, an associate professor of Economics at Lomonosov Moscow State University, is skeptical about the impact of investment forums.

Do these many economic gatherings pay off? Im not sure, he told Russia Direct. But inertia and the benefits for organizers and the local communities in general outweigh the costs, which are usually spread between many and some of them cant vocally speak out (for example, the taxpayers).

At the same time, Buklemishev admits that these investment forums do perform some useful functions no matter how strange it may seem.

First, there are very few places where politicians have to address businesses and their everyday needs, explain their position, speculate about intentions and even logically justify them. Sometimes this is the easiest way to access the views of top government leaders and themselves personally, he clarified.

Second, these are platforms for communication between business leaders, to share news and challenges, forge practical contacts and relationships and get a feel for the atmosphere of the marketplace, he notes.

Third, this is a mechanism for the general audience to know something about the authorities views and economic perspective, Buklemishev concluded. Fourth, sometimes the discussions put forward some helpful ideas, which experts share with the bureaucrats and the business community. Fifth, this is a powerful way to support local hospitality industries hotels, restaurants, transportation and entertainment.

Pavel Koshkin is the Editor-in-Chief of Russia Direct. He has contributed to numerous publications, including Kommersant, the Moscow bureau of BBC and Russia Profile, specializing in politics, society, education and international affairs.

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When will Russia finally break its 'resource curse'? - Russia Direct

Left-Wing America Steps Up Calls For Free Money, Jobs Guarantee – Daily Caller

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5473153

Following a devastating election cycle where the American voting public sent a sharp rebuke to the status quo and policies of the Obama Administration, the left is now preparing to push for a universal basic income (UBI).

Left-leaning Americans are largely opposed to President Donald Trumps cabinet picks, all the way from Attorney General Jeff Sessions to the presidents pick to lead the Department of Labor: fast food executive Andy Puzder. (RELATED: Big Labor Curtails Spending As It Braces For Trump Presidency)

Labor unions have blasted Puzder for past comments about the future of low-wage workers in the fast food industry. Puzderwarned that the fight for a $15 minimum wage will hurt low-wage workers more than it can help, arguing that a better policy would be to encourage the private sector to create more middle class jobs.

Professors Mark Paul and William Darity, Jr. from Duke University, along with Darrick Hamilton from the Milano School of International Affairs, argued that the country needs a federal jobs guarantee in an article published recently in Jacobin Magazine, a self-proclaimed leading voice of the American left.

Supporters of a UBI argue that a government-subsidized wage guarantee to all citizens would stave off job loss from automation and advancements in technology.

Why We Need a Federal Job Guarantee, theorizes that giving everyone a job is the best way to democratize the economy and give workers leverage in the workplace.

Paul, Darity, and Hamilton argue that a UBI could successfully cover workers who have lost their jobs due to technological advancements. Existing social insurance programs are insufficient, the professors write. They offer five reasons in support a federal jobs guarantee, including the notion of preempting the problem before it is widespread. Robots havent taken over yet, they write, suggesting that getting ahead of the problem will reduce the number of poor Americans.

A UBI would redefine the relationship between individuals and the state by giving government the role of provider, said Orin Cass, domestic policy director for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign, inJune, 2016.It would make work optional and render self-reliance moot, he continued.

An underclass dependent on government handouts would no longer be one of societys greatest challenges but instead would be recast as one of its proudest achievements, Cass warned in a piece published by the National Review.

Labor experts seriously question free cash as sound economic policy, but some experts, including those who do not identify left, are not completely opposed to a jobs program.

Giving people cash is not the solution to improving opportunity, Aparna Mathur, a labor policy expert with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), told The Daily Caller News Foundation. Mathur did not rule out the idea of a federal jobs program but warned against unconditional handouts.

If cash transfers are conditional on work or job training, they are much more likely to be effective in improving mobility than if we simply give everybody an unconditional cash transfer, she told TheDCNF, refusing to rule out the idea of a federal jobs guarantee completely.

The professors said that a federal jobs guarantee could build an inclusive economy, and that it could provide socially useful goods and services.

The language fails to take into consideration the additional benefits that may compel a company to install automation for certain jobs.

Some jobs dont produce enough economic value to bear the increase [minimum wage], Puzder said to theWall Street Journalin 2014.

If we gave people the money without making it conditional on work, it might reduce their incentive to work, Mathur concluded.

Finland experimented with a UBI, with some unemployed Finnish citizens taking home a salary regardless of whether or not they are working.

The nations largest labor union, The Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), said that the policy might reduce the labor force. SAK also asserted that aUBI makes it easier for potential prospects to turn down unpleasant jobs, opting to just take the government handout instead.

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Left-Wing America Steps Up Calls For Free Money, Jobs Guarantee - Daily Caller

OPINION: Human rights, basic needs – The Guardian

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A basic income guarantee (B.I.G.) would transform the current social welfare system and policies to a system based on human rights and basic needs. Why is basic income especially important for people with disabilities?

A basic income guarantee would be a move away from determining a persons value based on their work. It would eliminate the discriminatory attitudethat people with disabilities are takers, not contributors, and challenge the harmful idea that wealth is for the blessed.

Disability and poverty are interlocking. Today, 70 per cent of people born with a moderate to severe disability will live their whole lives in poverty. The current social assistance system designed to support impoverished people is not working, and it is discriminatory in its effects. The statistics are astonishing: two-thirds of households in which social assistance is the main source of income are headed by people with disabilities, and almost three-fifths of persons with disabilities are unemployed or under-employed. The vast majority of Human Rights challenges on P.E.I. are related to disability and work.

When Islanders with disabilities talk about their experience, they say that many people with disabilities don't have enough to live on. Healthy food isn't affordable for people. Isolation is also something many people with disabilities face and housing is a huge issue. Too many people are living in unhealthy places, and this is making people sick. A basic income guarantee would allow people to live in healthier, safer places.

People with disabilities don't have equal access to jobs. Many are unemployed or underemployed. When people with disabilities do get jobs, they often have to be more qualified than other job-seekers in order to be hired. In the workforce, people with disabilities are often paid very little. Social Assistance rules claw back earnings above $75 per month, and this is unfair. People with disabilities, especially people with intellectual challenges, are sometimes expected to work for free.

A basic income guarantee would reduce discrimination against people with disabilities. If every Islander received a basic income guarantee, it would be a step towards true equality among people with different abilities. A basic income guarantee recognizes what people contribute to society just by being human as people who are valuable for themselves, valuable for their relationships and connections, valuable whether their contribution looks like a traditional job or not, valuable whether what they do is paid or unpaid in the workforce.

A basic income guarantee designed to meet peoples real day-to-day needs would, of course, need to recognize that the basic needs of a person with a disability may be different from others basic needs. A basic income guarantee could replace social assistance, for instance, but would not replace disability supports. For example, for some people with mobility issues, a wheelchair is a basic need. Disability supports are basic needs, not extras.

A basic income guarantee would promote inclusion, about including people better in society, and it is about equality and being treated fairly. A basic income guarantee could reduce isolation (make it more possible to use transit for instance) and make it easier to have a social life which is good for individuals mental health and good for all of society.

A basic income guarantee would celebrate all of our uniqueness, instead of pressuring people with different abilities to be normal. By valuing people as people, rather than just as earners, a basic income guarantee would help normalize differences.

- Marcia Carroll represents the P.E.I. Council of People with Disabilities and Leo Garland represents P.E.I. People First on the P.E.I. Working Group for a Livable Income.

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OPINION: Human rights, basic needs - The Guardian

Technobabble: Automation and the modern worker – CIO Dive

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Technobabble is our look at the weird, wonderful and wildly creative aspects of technology and the tech industry. If you have any babble, feel free to emaildirectly or reach out on Twitter.

For decades, pundits have discussed the plight of the American worker. Without fail, as technology has advanced and become more automated, some workers have been displaced.

Take the assembly line, for example. Workers en masse were employed to ensure every part of the manufacturing process kept up with industry standards. But as machines entered into the assembly line, work became automated and fewer employees were required, leading to layoffs and worker displacement.

Today, grim forecasts about the rise of automation and workforce losses abound. Forrester recently predicted the net loss of 6% of U.S. jobs by 2021, which could impact more than 7.5 million workers. But beyond transportation and logistics areas that were previously predicted to become more automated with self-driving cars automation is also expected to impact customer and consumer services areas.

In Japan, IBM Watson's artificial intelligence-based systems is helping a life insurance company replace human insurance claim workers. And another recent study from Oxford University anticipates that insurance underwriters, real estate brokers and loan officers could be replaced by automation within 10 years.

Through it all, man has an unparalleled ability to survive and thrive. Some thought tractors would kill the workforce, yet here we are. With the rise of machines, it is still necessary to program, build and fix them. As it turns out, humans are pretty good resources for that.

The forecasts do seem a bit dismal, but the rise of automation is leading to a new kind of worker. Technology is supposed to make tasks easier, so companies are rolling out innovative solutions and approaches to filling both the tech talent gap as well as solutions to make life easier for the average worker.

In a recent article, Wired declared coders the next blue-collar worker. These are the workers who will not become fantastically rich from their app-making prowess. Rather than plugging away at manufacturing work, these blue-collar workers can add code into the product assembly line at any company, whether that's a bank or an insurance company.

As Wired notes, "these sorts of coders won't have the deep knowledge to craft wild new algorithms for flash trading or neural networks. Why would they need to? That level of expertise is rarely necessary at a job."

Not only does the work pay well, but it also offers outlets for creativity and a steady, in-demand employment.

Sure, the average coding job does not seem glamorous. But for an employee looking for a well-paying job and a work-life balance, coding jobs may be the perfect fit.

Technology related jobs don't always require a four-year degree. Students can pick up programming skills from tinkering with the home computer or attending bootcamps.

To learn technology skills, emphasis has been placed on starting students early, rather than waiting for higher education. And with a glaring tech talent gap, with technology workers in high demand across sectors, this is more important than ever before.

Some nonprofits are working to introduce coding into high schools. The nonprofit ScriptEd is working with 31 high schools in New York City to teach students how to code, Fortune reports. With the help of professional software developers, students learn real-world engineering skills and receive assistance finding summer internships.

Nonprofits like ScriptEd also produces future technology talent for the workforce at any level, from assembly-line style coders to the innovative experts creating the companies of tomorrow.

Fear of worker displacement aside, technology can be pretty dang cool and help make our daily lives just a tad simpler.

Now, Microsoft's Cortana is making sure our scattered brains aren't forgetful. It sure beats tying a string around your finger, hoping you remember.

Cortana will now remind you of things you have promised to do in your emails by highlighting portions of an email and saying "don't forget you mentioned this," The Verge reports.

Whether that's a reminder to include an attachment or providing information to your boss, Cortana won't let you forget, thanks to machine learning. We can all celebrate the end of forgetfulness.

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Technobabble: Automation and the modern worker - CIO Dive

Yes, there’s a job creation argument for automation and technology … – The Hill (blog)

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It may not be obvious, but the U.S. presidential election offers critical lessons about how policy and technology leaders should think about the future of artificial intelligence. In fact, just days before Donald TrumpDonald TrumpEx-NH GOP chair calls Trump's voter fraud bluff with ,000 bet Assad: Trump's plan for safe zones in Syria 'not a realistic idea' Trump on report that Flynn talked sanctions with Russia: 'I don't know about that' MORE was sworn into office, these lessons were a focus of the Davos meeting of the global elite.

Technology executives expressed concern over a growing fear throughout the world that robots destroy jobs and discussed the possibility of a backlash against innovation. It was this same fear of job loss that has contributed to the recent backlash against trade agreements.

After all, proponents of trade agreements won every argument except one: that trade increases employment. That made killing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a central message of candidate Trumps campaign. It was one of the first things President Trump did after taking office.

The opportunity of automation is enormous. Consider that, as autonomous vehicles become the primary means of transportation, accidents will decline by 90 percent, saving lives and billions of dollars. Furthermore, automation will actually return jobs to the United States. One-quarter of the decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs is due to competition from China, driven largely by lower labor costs. But this offshoring is a station on the way to the new globally-competitive automated U.S. factories that are creating good paying jobs for skilled workers.

Of course, computer technology does affect the nature of work. It has eliminated some tasks and lowered demand for some workers. A recent study by McKinsey & Company estimates that almost half of all current tasks are subject to automation, providing fodder for arguments that widespread technological unemployment is near. But the story is more complex. Computers can eliminate all job-required tasks in only 5 percent of occupations, and there will still be plenty of tasks to perform in existing occupations, while many new tasks will be created.

Weve already seen the way automation creates efficiencies that lower production costs, thereby stimulating demand and creating more jobs. Recent history is filled with examples of lowering operating costs. ATM machines led to increased bank teller employment, and cost savings created by robots have actually increased human employment in warehouses. In the overall economy, automation has led to a greater need for non-routine, high-skill work that pays high wages and for low-skill work that pays lower wages.

While all this may be true, the reality is that the world is focused on bridging income divides and spreading economic opportunity. We have a responsibility to make certain that the bounty of automation can benefit everyone.

An important step is to match computers with human skills. On the computer side, this means creating programs that augment human skills. As described by IBM data scientists, humans and machines will need to collaborate to produce better results, each bringing their own superior skills to the partnership.

On the human side, people need to be trained for tasks computers cannot perform. This means prioritizing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. But thats not the only solution. Our computer-intensive work environment is creating high-paying jobs for those with credentialed skills from quality technical schools or training programs. Reauthorizing the career and technical education program with adequate funding will jump-start the programs that can match human skills with the new workplace, which has many unfilled jobs waiting for skilled workers.

Even with these efforts, some workers will not be able to gain the skills needed to flourish. A late-career truck driver without a college education cant be expected to become a coder. For many of these workers, a social safety net is essential, and that net can be supported by the wealth that technology generates. Policy and technology leaders must work together on programs that support the collective good.

Ultimately, technology can continue to create more jobs than it displaces, while driving U.S. economic gains. But the only way to achieve the full measure of this opportunity is to ensure that the benefits are clearly realized by those who see technology as more of a foe than a friend.

Mark M. MacCarthy is senior vice president of public policy at the Software & Information Industry Association. He has been a consultant on technology policy issues for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Aspen Institute. He is an adjunct professor of communication and technology at Georgetown University, where he teaches courses on artificial intelligence and the future of work.

The views of contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

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Yes, there's a job creation argument for automation and technology ... - The Hill (blog)

Most people are optimistic about workplace automation, social data suggests – ZDNet

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Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto

There's lots of prognosticating about what impact robotics and automation will have on the future of work -- with mostly dystopian depictions predicting displaced workers and increasing unemployment. But new social data from Adobe Digital Insights suggests that the average worker is far less cynical when it comes to welcoming robots into the workplace.

According to Adobe, most people are talking (on social media) about how robots are helping their work, not taking it away. Workers are also upbeat about being able to hand over mundane tasks to robots so human workers can do more meaningful jobs. Machine learning, artificial intelligence, and robots were the most discussed FOW topics.

Adobe's report is based on roughly 3 million social mentions captured from Twitter, news, blogs, and forums between January 2016 and January 2017. Interestingly, the FOW hashtag was mentioned twice as many times on Twitter than on workplace-focused LinkedIn.

Across social media, Future of Work (FOW) mentions are up 40 percent year over year, automation mentions have doubled year over year and average daily mentions of robots and jobs have increased 70 percent year over year.

"Overall, people seem to believe the FOW is promising, particularly when it comes to the automation of traditionally mundane tasks," wrote Joe Martin, head of social insights for Adobe, in a blog post. "Automating document and signature processes, for example, could open up new possibilities for people as the tech revolution advances. Work environments should continue to improve as employees demand more from their space."

How to Implement AI and Machine Learning

The next wave of IT innovation will be powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. We look at the ways companies can take advantage of it and how to get started.

VIDEO: Trump may bring jobs back to the US, but robots will get them

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Most people are optimistic about workplace automation, social data suggests - ZDNet

WorkWave Releases New Lead Management And Marketing … – PR Newswire (press release)

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"Closing the lead to revenue loop and creating a true end-to-end field service management solution is a game changer for us and our customers," said Chris Sullens, president and CEO of WorkWave. "Since acquiring Refgo and ContactUs.com in 2015, we have been hard at work building a set of integrated tools to allow WorkWave customers to tightly manage the sales process, automate marketing and drip email campaigns and to gain full visibility into the growth engine of their businesses. With these tools, WorkWave's PestPac customers can now calculate the true ROI of all marketing campaigns, both offline or online, without the spreadsheet gymnastics and guessing currently required by third party packages today."

WorkWave sees the new release as a way for their clients to effortlessly generate business from customers and prospects. Clients can do this by aligning with customer goals to bring complete and total efficiency to the markets they serve.

"Adding Lead Management and Marketing Automation provides a single vendor solution that eliminates third-party integration headaches for our customers and makes it far easier for them to track and manage key performance metrics across their entire business," said Malcolm Lewis, senior vice president of WorkWave's Marketing Solutions.

View more information about Lead Management at bit.ly/PestPacLM and Marketing Automation at bit.ly/PestPacMA. In conjunction with this release, WorkWave will also be hosting a roadshow series, led by their lead management experts, to demonstrate and consult on the product. Visit workwave.com/events for the future roadshow series schedule.

About WorkWave WorkWave is a fast-growing leader in field service and "last mile" delivery software a $45+ billion market worldwide. The company connects all aspects of its clients' businesses through its tightly integrated, mobile-first suite of software solutions, which include PestPac, WorkWave Service, ServiceCEO, WorkWave Route Manager, WorkWave GPS, WorkWave Marketing and ContactUs. WorkWave's solutions provide its 9,000+ clients with an unprecedented level of business insight and information, enabling them to increase revenue per employee and provide a five-star customer experience. Founded in 1984, WorkWave has been recognized with multiple awards for its outstanding growth and culture, including the Inc. 5000, SmartCEO Future 50, and Best Places to Work in New Jersey. For more information, visit http://www.workwave.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/workwave-releases-new-lead-management-and-marketing-automation-tools-300405597.html

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WorkWave Releases New Lead Management And Marketing ... - PR Newswire (press release)

‘We employ insane levels of automation’ Kris Canekeratne – Times of India

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Chennai: Over a year back, Kris Canekeratne struck a deal with Arun Jain, founder, Polaris to take over his company with a view to synergise his company Virtusa's tech strength with Polaris' banking expertise. As the integration efforts come to a close, Canekeratne talks to TOI about the progress the joint entity has made, the changes that the IT industry is going through and automation. Excerpts:

Citibank has been one of your largest accounts. How has the relationship progressed since the integration announcement.

When we did the Polaris integration, we had guided to a spend reduction for Citibank. Since then, we have seen good momentum with Citibank. While addressing spend reduction goals, we have also built a much stronger relationship. Citigroup has also seen the benefits of the combined entity, VirtusaPolaris.

The IT industry is facing headwind, not just from macro-economic factors. Can you give some perspective?

There is an evolution taking place in IT services, primarily because of the changes clients are going through as a result of 4th industrial revolution. There are multiple forces at work. Advanced technologies like cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and blockchain may have been around but have now reached a point where startups or companies are using them to disrupt the industry. We are also dealing with a much larger percentage of millennials within and outside of our organisations. Digital natives are driving a behavioural shift and everybody else is only a digital immigrant. We can live with and without digital technologies but natives need an advanced user experience. Over the last three years, over $50 billion has been invested towards fin-tech. Significant investment has been pumped into areas like fin-tech, insure-tech, health tech and media tech. What is interesting to note is that none of these factors are based on pure cost arbitrage. For an industry that has largely been built around this cost arbitrage, change is inevitable. Hence, while we are happy, there is significant work to be done

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'We employ insane levels of automation' Kris Canekeratne - Times of India

Automation ‘key’ to advancing Thai production – The Nation

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Kornchanok was one of more than 200 students from five Thai universities who recently took part in a training programme organised by Delta Electronics (Thailand)s Automation Academy, designed to familiarise third- and fourth-year students with the latest technology used in factories.

Besides KMUT North Bangkok, students from Chulongkorn University, Kasetsart University, KMUT Ladkrabang and KMUT Thonburi also participated in the training programme.

An increasing number of automation systems and industrial robots have been used in the automotive, electronics, food-processing and other industries in Thailand over recent years.

According to Kornchanok, automation technology will play a key role in advancing Thai factories towards the so-called Industry 4.0 era, with benefits including increased efficiency and productivity, environmental friendliness and higher national income.

Overall, this Thailand 4.0 modernisation programme is like a national development effort for all stakeholders to join forces to achieve results.

The modernisation will increase the competitiveness of Thai industries as it means we will use more advanced technology in the manufacturing sector to boost efficiency and competitiveness.

Automation and robots should be viewed positively, even though manual labour will be affected because routine and basic work in factories can be better done by robots and automation systems.

As a result, human workers need additional skills so that they can work alongside robots and supervise the machines.

In my opinion, Thailand is now quite ready to adopt more advanced technology, as evidenced by the growing partnership between the government and private sector.

For example, companies like Delta Electronics have helped Thai universities better educate students in the technology field, by providing advanced equipment and personnel to prepare students to use the new technology.

In my opinion, the Thailand 4.0 concept is an important national focus to drive the country forward. Previously, we started out from 1.0, which basically meant the development of the agricultural sector many decades ago. Then it was 2.0, or the era of light industries, and later 3.0, which meant more complicated and heavy industries.

Now, we aspire to use more advanced technology in the manufacturing and other sectors, which could be called the 4.0 era. Industry 4.0 means machines will be more autonomous and interconnected.

In fact, more intelligent machines or industrial robots are similar to humans in the sense that they have power from electricity, have sensors like our eyes, and have controller-software [which is the brain] written by humans.

If the private sector works closely with the government and educational institutes, we will be able to achieve progress in upgrading Thai industries under the Thailand 4.0 programme.

One of the highlights is the automotive industrys move into the era of electric cars, which is considered one of the new growth industries for Thailand, which already has the largest production capacity for automobiles among all Asean countries.

In agriculture, we have also seen more automation for seed planting, watering, and harvesting etc to boost efficiency while reducing manual labour and saving time.

In fact, the digital revolution makes available a huge amount of data on the Internet so we can focus on making sense out of the vast data and create new and innovative things in virtually all sectors.

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Automation 'key' to advancing Thai production - The Nation

Global Medical Automation Market to Reach Approximately $75.6 Billion by 2025 – By End User, Application … – PR Newswire (press release)

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The Global Medical Automation Market is poised to grow at a CAGR of around 8.7% over the next decade to reach approximately $75.6 billion by 2025.

This industry report analyzes the global markets for Medical Automation across all the given segments on global as well as regional levels presented in the research scope. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies.

With comprehensive market assessment across the major geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America and Rest of the world the report is a valuable asset for the existing players, new entrants and the future investors. Report Highlights:

Companies Mentioned:

Key Topics Covered:

1 Market Outline

2 Executive Summary

3 Market Overview

4 Medical Automation Market, By End User

5 Medical Automation Market, By Application

6 Medical Automation Market, By Geography

7 Leading Companies

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/dm75rw/global_medical

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-medical-automation-market-to-reach-approximately-756-billion-by-2025---by-end-user-application--geography---research-and-markets-300405652.html

SOURCE Research and Markets

http://www.researchandmarkets.com

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Global Medical Automation Market to Reach Approximately $75.6 Billion by 2025 - By End User, Application ... - PR Newswire (press release)

The Ripple – Olney Daily Mail

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I write to you this week just moments after being informed that one of my greatest mentors is preparing for death.

David Patient became my mentor in 2013. I met him in Mpumalanga, South Africa. He spoke to U.S. Peace Corps volunteers. His first words to us were, AIDS has been my greatest teacher.

I write to you this week just moments after being informed that one of my greatest mentors is preparing for death.

David Patient became my mentor in 2013. I met him in Mpumalanga, South Africa. He spoke to U.S. Peace Corps volunteers. His first words to us were, AIDS has been my greatest teacher.

David was one of the first people in the world to be diagnosed as HIV positive in 1983. The medical world knew little about the illness at the time.

As you read this, many are asking, Was David a homosexual man? Did he get the disease from drug use?

While I will not answer these questions, I will share about who and what he was.

David was a reflection of the troubled youth growing up in our communities.

He grew up feeling unloved. He dealt with the angry outrages of an alcoholic parent. By his teenage years, he believed he was worthless. He lived in emotional hell and wondered why he was alive at all.

David attempted suicide on numerous occasions. He numbed his pain with substances. Then he was diagnosed with HIV and told he would die soon. He watched many of his friends die.

Something shifted within him. One day he climbed to the top of a mountain with the goal of killing himself. Once alone atop the peak, he had an epiphany. He realized that his pain could become his power and purpose in life.

Over the next 30-plus years, David dedicated himself to health-care research, personal empowerment, and community development.

He became a consultant to the United Nations, and co-led a project that helped women from the Massai tribe of Kenya become economically active for the first time in history.

He donated years of his life to teaching people how to live longer and healthier lives in defiance of sickness.

He taught orphans how to grow their own food so they wouldnt starve.

He taught communities how to tackle their problems as a team.

He authored several books to teach others about how worthy they are and about our power to overcome lifes obstacles.

Thousands of people from all over the world are alive, healthy, and contributing to the greater good of humanity because of Davids touch in the world.

Today, his body is shutting down but his imprint in the world is vast and deep. Multiple nations have been uplifted by his legacy.

I cant tell you what happened for David that day atop the mountain. But I believe something divine sparked within him and helped him to feel the truth.

The truth is every single individual has a purpose in life.

Every individual is worthy of love.

We live in a world that tells us we are not good enough because we do not have this, or because we do not look like that.

We live in a world that justifies hatred over differences.

There is no justification for hatred.

Hatred is not our purpose.

Our purpose has something to do with love.

David made a difference in the world.

So do you whether you choose to judge and hate, or accept and love.

When your body is shutting down, and death is nearing, what kind of memories do you want rolling through your tired mind?

What kind of legacy do you wish to leave behind?

In what ways can we love ourselves and others more?

Do you criticize yourself/others?

Do you harm yourself with an unhealthy diet or destructive substances?

Have you thoughts about suicide?

Do you know others dealing with these issues?

Love is your purpose.

How can you love yourself and others more?

David Patient asked these simple questions. He let his heart guide him.

Is your heart guiding you?

The end of your book of life is being written by each thought you have, every word you speak, and every deed you do.

Was your last thought loving?

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The Ripple - Olney Daily Mail

The Problem With A ‘Shoppable’ Presidency – Forbes

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The Problem With A 'Shoppable' Presidency
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The Problem With A 'Shoppable' Presidency - Forbes

Hands-on: EVGA’s sensor-laden iCX technology revolutionizes … – PCWorld

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Graphics cards arent what they used to beand thats a good thing. Nvidias ferocious GeForce GTX 1080 blows the pants off its predecessor in sheer, overwhelming performance while actually drawing slightly less power, and generating only slightly more heat overall. But heres the thing about traditional video cards: A single sensor on the graphics processor determines how cooling is handled for the entire board.

Thats bad, popular hardware maker EVGA says, because the Pascal GPUs inside the GTX 10-series are so power-efficient that a graphics cards memory and voltage controllers actually generate more heat than the GPU itself. So today, EVGAs rolling out a revolutionary new iCX graphics card cooling solution that relies on not one, but ten different sensors to monitor and intelligently adjust how each and every part of the board dissipates heat.

The fancy new tech is debuting in several of EVGAs GTX 10-series models, which well dive into in more detail later. EVGA sent PCWorld one of its new GTX 1080 Superclocked 2 graphics cardsa cousin to the beastly GTX 1080 FTW that we loved so muchand an updated version of its Precision XOC software (which is also going live today) so we could dig deeper into the iCX cooling technology. Lets go!

The EVGA GTX 1080 Superclocked 2 with iCX cooling technology.

The story behind the story: The inspiration for EVGAs iCX cooling actually comes from a scandal surrounding the GTX 1080 FTW late last year. The Internet rioted when several of the cards died in explosive fashion. Subsequent sleuthing revealed that the hardware lacked cooling on its voltage regulator modules. EVGA acted quickly, offering free thermal pads and pushing out a BIOS update that increased fan speeds to lower on-board temperatures. Even though an internal investigation proved that the EVGA GTX 1080 FTW wasnt failing at a higher rate than previous-gen graphics cards, the tempest provoked EVGA to examine how graphics card cooling works in the Pascal era.

That really opened our eyes to take a deeper look at cooling on cards, and how we can improve the efficiency overall of cooling, EVGA product manager Jacob Freeman said in a phone interview. If you only focus on the GPU temperature, then youre really neglecting all the other components of the card, which would still run really hot. On the flip side, if you focus on those other components, then youre not offering the best noise level possible, because the GPU doesnt really need the fans to spin that fast.

The solution to the problem? Sensors, sensors everywhere.

EVGAs iCX cooling technology still includes a traditional GPU temperature sensor, of course, but it adds nine additional onesa sensor for the rear of the GPU, three for the graphics cards memory modules, and five for the power controllers. You can monitor them yourself, too. The updated version of Precision XOC shows the average temperature for each hardware category in its main interface, or you can see the temperatures for each and every sensor by clicking the newfound Sensor icon, which will cause a secondary window to open.

Those sensors affect how the two fans on the front of the graphics card behave. Unlike most video cards, which run their fans in tandem based on the temperature of the graphics processor alone, the EVGA GTX 1080 Superclocked 2 (like all iCX-equipped EVGA models) dedicates the left fan to cooling the GPU, and the right fan to cooling the memory and PWMs. Each fan changes speed dynamically to react to the temperatures being put out by those individual elements of the GPU. If the memorys heating up rapidly but the GPU itself is staying relatively cool (as was the case when I ran the Furmark torture test on the card for an extended period), the dedicated GPU fan maintains a slowerand thus quieterspeed, while the memory fan ramps up.

Its another lesson learned from the GTX 1080 FTWs overheating fiasco from late last year. The BIOS fix EVGA pushed to compensate for the lack of VRM cooling simply kicked both fans up a notch, and as a result the card wound up running louder, GamersNexus tests revealed. The improvements offered in iCXs asynchronous cooling addresses that design quirk and lets EVGA eat its cake and have it too. Precision XOC allows you to set custom, individualized fan curves for both the left and the right fan if you want to get fancy.

Precision XOCs new Sensor interface lets you see the exact temperature of each sensor on your EVGA iCX graphics card. (Click to enlarge.)

In my tests with the stock fan curve profiles, the iCX-equipped GTX 1080 Superclocked 2 ran noticeably quieter than the older EVGA GTX 1080 FTW, which uses the companys original ACX 3.0 cooling solution. The main GPU temperature topped out at 69 degrees Celsius running a lengthy Furmark test, a full 8 degrees lower than the 1080 FTWthough its important to note that comparing the GTX 1080 Superclocked 2 against a heavily overclocked GTX 1080 FTW is far from an apples-to-apples comparison. Nor am I equipped to test the heat output from the older GTX 1080 FTWs memory and PWMs, which is a major point of iCX. (PCWorlds FLIR thermal imaging camera is in our San Francisco office; I work from New England.)

EVGAs in-house tests showing the granular temperature differences between iCX- and ACX-equipped Superclocked graphics cards.

EVGA has all of the required testing equipment on hand, however. The company says that in its tests, the iCX cooling solution drops the main GPU temps by a few degrees, but other parts of the board see even bigger benefitsup to a 5- or 7-degree temperature decline in some components. Thats huge.

Update:JayzTwoCents tested the iCX-equipped EVGA GTX 1080 FTW 2 with a thermal camera, applying both an overclock and custom fan curves, comparing EVGA's new card against the GTX 1080 FTW with ACX 3.0. It's a great video that's well worth watching, but tl;dr EVGA's iCX technology functions as promised.

The iCX LED indicators on the side of the EVGA GTX 1080 Superclocked 2.

Even niftier, you can see the effects of iCX with your own eyes. The side of iCX-equipped models display separate RGB lights labeled G, P, and M, for the GPU, PWMs, and memory. The color of each indicator depends on how hot each type of hardware is running. A blue light means everythings nice and cool, a green light means youre actively using the graphics card but temperatures are in the safe range, and red means danger, Will Robinson!

Watching how the iCX technology affected the GTX 1080 Superclocked 2 as it hummed along in The Division wasnt it just insightful, it wasfunand I dig how EVGA managed to use RGB lighting for a practical purpose rather than simple aesthetics.

Diving into the new Thermal LED tab in Precision XOCs options lets you fine-tune the temperature ranges for each RGB indicator, as well as alter the color for every stage of each indicator. Click the image above to enlarge it if you want to see the interface up close.

The sensors, fans, and RGB lighting is just part of iCX. EVGAs radical cooling solution also overhauled the design of the cooler itself to keep your graphics card running cool.

The EVGA GTX 1080 Superclocked 2s backplate.

Both the baseplate and the backplate were designed to come into contact with all the crucial components of the card, allowing them to serve as quasi-heatsinks. Raised bumps on the backplate help add to the overall surface area, helping with heat dissipation, while numerous cut-outs help airflow through the body of the GTX 1080 Superclocked 2.

Tiny fin pins on the interior baseplate offer the same advantages as the backplates bumps.

The actual heatsink inside the card, between the graphics processor and the fans, has also been tweaked to optimize airflow. The fins were refined both toprovide more contact surface and achieve better airflow, and they were also perforated with tiny holes to allow air to flow horizontally throughout the card.

I asked Freeman if that reduced surface area harmed the cooling endeavor. He said that the increased airflow more than makes up for it, pointing to the temperature comparisons shown previously as evidence.

The iCX safety fuse.

Finally, iCX adds a unique safety feature inspired once more by the overheating debacle: An integrated safety fuse designed to protect your card in case that 0.01 percent chance of a catastrophic failure actually strikes. Youll still need to send your card back to EVGA for an RMA if the fuse blowsbut itll protect the core components of the graphics card from suffering a fiery death and possibly affecting the other hardware in your system.

One thing decidedly lacking in this write-up: Gaming performance results. I received my review sample from EVGA on Thursday, in the midst of a New England blizzard that was causing my power to flickernot exactly the ideal testing scenario. And as I said, comparing a beastly FTW model against the less-beastly Superclocked version isnt apples-to-apples.

This is the GeForce GTX 1080 youve been waiting for. The EVGA GTX 1080 FTW puts EVGA's personal touch on Nvidias beastly card, and it's a winner, from its high base clock and custom cooling to its extra 8-pin power connection.

But its not a major concern anyway, as Freeman says the iCX cooling technology isnt likely to provide much in the way of raw performance gains. Instead, the goal was to provide a more holistic and granular approach to cooling in order to drive down both temperatures and fan noise across all areas of the hardwarewhich it appears EVGA has succeeded in doing. I loved the ACX 3.0 cooler on the original GTX 1080 FTW (seen at right), and the iCX cooler on the GTX 1080 Superclocked 2 is even better. Freeman also says the enhanced cooling may increase the overall lifespan of iCX graphics cards, though thats borderline impossible to test.

The EVGA GTX 1080 Superclocked 2 looks very similar to the ACX-equipped version on the surface, but the lip on the top says iCX in tiny letters. Its also heavier and feelsdense.

Intrigued? EVGAs launching iCX-equipped models of its GTX 1060, GTX 1070, and GTX 1080 graphics cards Friday, albeit in limited quantity initially. EVGAs existing lineups with ACX 3.0 cooling will remain, but models with the iCX cooling solution will carry a 2 designation after their name, and iCX branding on the front of the box. For example, the GTX 1080 FTW will still pack an ACX 3.0 cooler. If you want the iCX variant, youll need to pick up a GTX 1080 FTW 2.

The extra sensors, swanky RGB indicators, redesigned hardware, and fancy fans dont come for free. Freeman says EVGAs iCX graphics cards will carry a premium of roughly $30 over their ACX-packing counterparts.EVGAs also launching a new step-up program where existing GTX 10-series owners can trade in their ACX 3.0-equipped graphics card for an iCX version for $99.

Thats nothing to sneeze at. Im guessing many people wont be interested in spending that sort of scratch for minimal performance gains, especially since EVGAs stock ACX 3.0 cooler already does such a bang-up job. This new iCX technology feels like a glimpse into the future, but Im not sure how enticing it will be in the present, arriving nearly a year after the GTX 10-series launch.

On the other hand, EVGAs iCX is more comprehensive than any other air-cooling solution youll find on the market today and a stunning response to the overheating fiasco (that wasnt). The iCX technologys cooler, quieter peace of mind may well be worth the upcharge for some folks. Overclocking and aftermarket water-cooling enthusiasts will likelyadore the level of information EVGAs new cooling technology provides.

And those RGB temperature indicators are just plain badass.

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Hands-on: EVGA's sensor-laden iCX technology revolutionizes ... - PCWorld

How Technology Is Improving Influencer Marketing (And Can Help Improve Your Brand) – Forbes

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How Technology Is Improving Influencer Marketing (And Can Help Improve Your Brand)
Forbes
If there's one area of digital marketing that's on the uphill swing, it's influencer marketing. Some of the biggest brands in the world regularly leverage top influencers on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to reach new customers and raise brand ...

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How Technology Is Improving Influencer Marketing (And Can Help Improve Your Brand) - Forbes