ShopDisney: Disney Fans, Rejoice

Most of us watched Disney movies and television shows growing up. It’s the perfect past time for us because we get entertained with these shows while passing time and our busy parents can finish whatever they need to do at home or work without us constantly bothering them. And as we (young children) grew up, we also made our kids watch the same shows (and more) we watched growing up, but this time, we also buy them Disney-related merchandise being sold in Disney stores in various parts of the globe.

Disney-themed apparel, toys, accessories, and so much more has captured the fancy of both parents and children alike. They are favorite gift ideas for just about any occasion and can be given to both the young and the old. As more and more people favor online shopping over traditional shopping, shops like that of Disney learned to innovate and embrace these new changes to reach a bigger market. Now, online stores can sell to virtually everyone on the planet who has access to the Internet, which means bigger profits too but it also meant a decline in sales in actual retail outlets.

Disney today launched its reimagined e-commerce site, ShopDisney, featuring a curated selection of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel products for fans of all ages across fashion, accessories, toys and home. At the same time, the entertainment megabrand is testing a new retail prototype in select locations around the world, including a 3,200-square-foot shop in Westfield Century City in Los Angeles that is set to bow at the mall’s grand reopening on Oct. 3.

“No one creates experiences like Disney and our pilot stores will be testing grounds for interactive features that will differentiate the Disney shopping experience in the changing retail landscape,” said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive. “Online, ShopDisney is the ultimate destination for the most extensive collection of curated merchandise from our stores, parks and licensed partners. This combination creates a powerful omnichannel experience that represents the next generation of Disney retail.”

(Via: http://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/disney-new-e-comm-platform-shop-disney-century-city-prototype-store-11004599/)

People aren’t just buying the merchandise but the memories they have of these characters and what they mean in their lives. But this time, shoppers will also get to purchase all things Disney from their select reimagined shops in different parts of the planet that are now made interactive for a better shopping experience. Their dream of offering the ultimate one-stop-shop is here and every Disney fan can’t wait to see what these shops have in store for them.

The redesign makes Disney’s stores a bit more like Disney’s theme parks. For instance, daily parades at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida will be streamed live to those colossal video screens. During the parades, store personnel will put out mats for shoppers to sit on and roll out souvenir carts stocked with cotton candy and light-up Mickey Mouse ears.

The screens could easily be used to stream other events, such as red-carpet arrivals for Disney movie premieres. That kind of programming could bolster foot traffic and thus sales — while also turning the stores into a more potent promotional platform for Disney’s films, television shows and theme parks.

(Via: https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/09/26/disney-store-revamp-aims-to-lure-customers-with-theme-park-experience.html)

Perhaps this move will not just improve the performance of physical Disney stores but as well as uplift the mood in the part of town where they are in and in turn trigger a domino effect that will also benefit neighboring businesses. To stay competitive in this day and age, Disney is proving to be aggressive in knowing the pulse of the people, so they can better meet their needs and stay relevant in the process. It is actually a win-win situation for them. After all, that’s how a business grows. You grow alongside all the changes in society and you fade into oblivion if you do not learn to innovate. Many stores have since closed down because the public no longer feels the need to make their purchase personally when they can do so from the comfort of the own homes.

ShopDisney: Disney Fans, Rejoice is courtesy of NewInfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/shopdisney-disney-fans-rejoice/

Sports And The American Life

Many people are into all types of sports wherever you are in the world. Usually, a certain country has that one favorite sport but still, the citizens enjoy a wide assortment of athletic activities that bring about enjoyment not only to the athlete/player himself but to the audience too. Watching sports activities is a favorite past time of many and it is something most Americans can relate to. Many like spending their free days either lounging at home in front of the television watching a game or two or heading out to the venue itself and watch a game played live.

These sports events do not come cheap, though. Getting a seat in a much-awaited game can hurt your wallet. Despite the financial challenge, many sports fans willingly shell out their hard-earned money and cheer for their idols from the bleachers. And you don’t only spend for the ticket itself but also for transportation/gas, food, and some nice hats to protect you from the harsh rays of the sun, among others. If you are an average Joe, it is unlikely for you to ever set foot inside big game venues like the NBA or the NFL because of ludicrously expensive ticket prices.

Did you just drop a few hundred bucks or more going to a professional sporting event over the weekend? You're not alone.

Consumers shelled out $56 billion to attend sporting events over the past year, according to a new study by CreditCards.com. The amount includes the cost of tickets, transportation, and food and drinks. By way of comparison, that's more than double the $27 billion-plus that Americans spent on book purchases in 2015, according data from the Association of American Publishers.

"The fact that people are spending this amount of money on sporting events shows the emphasis they're putting on experience and memories instead of just stuff," said Matt Schulz, senior industry analyst for CreditCards.com.

(Via: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/11/americans-spend-56-billion-on-sporting-events.html)

As this trend goes on, it becomes obvious then that lower-income generating families tend to avoid live game events and would rather watch from the comforts of their home. Sporting events are a multi-billion dollar industry that not everyone can afford but it continues to attract big audiences from the middle and upper class of society. Not only that, people spend on sporting goods and equipment too and this is more evident now as more and more people want to become fit and healthy and lead an active lifestyle.

The $2.6-billion stadium Rams owner Stan Kroenke is building in Inglewood will be the world’s costliest venue with a ticket pricing plan that would offer the most expensive seats in NFL history.

According to a document obtained by The Times, the highest priced personal seat licenses for Rams games could range from $175,000 to $225,000 per seat. It would far eclipse the $150,000 PSLs offered by the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

The license only entitles the owner to purchase a Rams season ticket after paying the one-time fee, which in a first for the NFL will be refundable — without interest — after 50 years. The buyer must then purchase a game ticket with the best club seats tentatively priced between $350 and $400 a game. The PSL can be sold to another party with permission from the Rams, a standard practice in the league.

(Via: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-rams-psl-20170831-story.html)

You don’t have much choice either but to spend a lot if you are a sports fanatic. Pay-per-view is as costly as a real live game. Both has its pros and cons. It’s all up to you what you like most. If it’s your favorite team, you’d likely go watch it live so you can support them in person but either way, watching on TV is great as well for those who do not want to inconvenience themselves with long lines and mingling with a big crowd. Whichever of the two, you’d still pay for it just to be able to watch your favorite sports game when you want it.

The following post Sports And The American Life was first published to https://www.newinfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/sports-and-the-american-life/

Senior Health: As Fragile As Their Aging Bodies

We understand that becoming sickly is quite expected as you age because your body degenerates over time. It is a fact of life. However, it does not mean that your quality of life deteriorates as well simply because you are aging. We are all expected to age, yet some manage to age gracefully and live a quality life in the twilight of their lives compared to others. Yet the majority of the elderly struggle in doing even the most basic of tasks and it has given everyone the notion that getting old is a major bummer.

Well, it is true in most cases since you move slower as you age as your physical body becomes more fragile than ever. It is the reason why the elderly are included in the vulnerable groups together with young children and pregnant women. It does not also come as a surprise that most elderly people take a lot of maintenance medications for a variety of health conditions they are diagnosed with. Most of us think that it is better for older people to take many meds to ensure they live longer and beat whatever diseases they have but it seems we are actually mistaken. Medicine is not always the cure nor is aggressive medical treatment.

Geriatricians like Taler come in, talk to the patient, examine their pills and make recommendations that ideally are aimed at the whole patient, not just his or her heart or lungs or pancreas. With a frail elderly patient who may not have many years to live, some of the established drugs and procedures don’t make sense anymore.

Are a diabetic patient’s other doctors pushing too hard to lower his blood sugar, raising the risk of a faint, which could result in a broken hip? Is an orthopedist recommending arthroscopic surgery—a procedure, research shows, that doesn’t cure arthritis? All those expensive Mohs procedures to remove precancerous growths—given how slow-growing they are, is it always worth the time, expense and strain on the patient to remove them so carefully?

“A lot of what we do is try to prevent harm by other providers,” said Sei Lee, associate medical director at the University of California Center for Geriatric Care in San Francisco. “The cultural norm in geriatrics is that we are trying to do more with less. We try to protect our patients from some of the iatrogenic harms. We were the choir when Choosing Wisely came out.”

(Via: http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/09/27/choosing-wisely-medical-care-costs-000527)

Doctors are changing their management approach when it comes to treating elderly patients. If you look closely at the long list of drugs and treatments that many elderly patients receive over the years, a lot of them are deemed unnecessary and may even be detrimental to the senior’s life (and health) one way or the other. Sometimes many medical providers push for aggressive treatment that the frail body of an elderly person can no longer take, making them more prone to certain accidents or infections rather than making them well again.

“Aging itself is not inevitably associated with a decline in mood and quality of life,” says Karl-Heinz Ladwig, summarizing the results in a release. “It is rather the case that psychosocial factors such as depression or anxiety impair subjective well-being.” Helmholtz Zentrum München, head of the Mental Health Research Group at the Institute of Epidemiology II, and professor of Psychosomatic Medicine at the TUM University Hospital adds, “And in the case of women, living alone also plays an important role.”

For the current study, Ladwig and his team relied on data derived from about 3,600 participants with an average age of 73 who had taken part in the population-based KORA-Age Study. “What made the study particularly interesting was the fact that the impact of stress on emotional well-being has barely been investigated in a broader, non-clinical context,” says Karoline Lukaschek, epidemiologist in the Mental Health Research Group and lead author of the paper. “Our study therefore explicitly included anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.”

(Via: http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2017/09/elderly-sleep-disorders-negative-effect-well-psychosocial-factors-biggest-impact/)

We can’t stop the hands of time. Your body goes through various changes as you live your life and the stress of all the past years takes its toll on your body. It is not just the wrinkles that line your face that causes you to feel down but the lack of sleep as well that often accompanies aging aside from all the other bothersome and painful symptoms of the conditions most seniors are diagnosed with. But with prompt and proper holistic treatment, the elderly people can still live independently and not always succumb to sickness.

Doctors should not just prescribe the first drug that comes to mind and think of the elderly patient in a context that is not limited to their condition but as a living and breathing human being that needs a balance of tender love and care along with the appropriate medical intervention.

Senior Health: As Fragile As Their Aging Bodies is courtesy of The New Influencers

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/senior-health-as-fragile-as-their-aging-bodies/

Just How Sane Is The President?

We can’t deny that President Trump won the election fair and square but still, he is the one that issued complaints of election fraud. His personality is as colorful as the life he has lived so far and he makes all his thoughts known to everyone in Twitter, even up to now that he is the most powerful man in America. Many start to wonder just how sane the president is because of his off comments, bigger than life personality, radical views, and just almost everything about him spells weird or out of the norm.

Despite winning the presidency, it has not stopped President Trump from being himself from then on until now. Hence the detractors are always busy writing up stories about him and critiquing the way he runs the nation. He promised to make America great again and it looks like it is far from becoming a reality with North Korea constantly issuing threats against the mainland US and Guam as of late as well as firing a test missile that landed in the Pacific that even passed by Japan’s northern part. So, it is but understandable for US citizens to be worried about the country if the president doesn’t seem to get his act together and can’t even unite the Republicans in the Congress to repeal his much loathed, the Affordable Care Act more popularly known as Obamacare.

So the 75-year-old Coronado resident and retired Duke University psychiatrist perks up when he hears the increasingly open speculation about whether President Trump has the disorder or some other form of mental illness.

His verdict: No.

But that doesn’t mean he approves of Trump’s behavior. Far from it, as he makes clear in a scathingly critical new book, “Twilight of American Sanity: A Psychiatrist Analyzes the Age of Trump,” due out Tuesday.

“Blaming Trump for all our troubles misses the deeper, underlying societal sickness that made possible his unlikely ascent,” Frances writes.

By societal sickness, he means the “delusions” that deny the impacts of climate change, overpopulation, resource depletion, income inequality — problems that will “bequeath to our children an unlivable planet.” He was concerned about those before last November’s election.

“I don’t think Trump is the problem,” Frances said. “He’s the symptom of the underlying disease.”

(Via: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/books/sd-me-trump-frances-20170831-story.html)

It is known by almost everyone how much people talk about the president’s current state of mental health. While it was refuted in this article, it does not normalize the president’s behavior either and acknowledges many of his wrongs that he consider as perfectly normal. Many are rallying up to push for resolutions citing how unfit the president is in leading the country as its highest elected official because of the many times he displayed erratic and weird behaviors. If this keeps up, his critics may be able to find a ground to have him ousted from office for real.

In his column “Using medical terms to mislabel Donald Trump won’t stop his mad presidency,” Allen Frances argues that mental illness and “bad behavior” are antithetical, with the suggestion that President Trump is “bad, not mad.”

We believe it does a disservice to public discussions of mental illness to create a false dichotomy between “mad” vs. “bad,” given that these kinds of behaviors and symptoms sometimes co-occur. It is certainly true that many individuals with mental illness do not manifest “bad” behaviors that harm others. Nevertheless, some mental disorders are characterized and even defined by behaviors that harm others — bad behaviors in Dr. Frances’ words.

(Via: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/28/readers-donald-trump-mental-health/609271001/)

It is not at all comforting for others to confirm that President’s Trump mental health is just fine and he is apparently as healthy as a horse. It even makes him more of a threat and a danger to a civilized society like America simply because of who he is. His unstable behavior may hinder his judgment and make him prone to making bad or biased decisions that aren't entirely for the best of the entire populace. The mere fact Trump isn’t at all bothered of his behavior is a big red flag to everyone.

Just How Sane Is The President? is republished from NewInfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/just-how-sane-is-the-president/

Kids Aren’t Safe From Sleep Apnea

We like to think that only adults suffer from the woes of sleep apnea. Well, it is a common misconception as we usually associate sleep disorders like sleep apnea with snoring sleeping adults but we’re about to be proved wrong. Sleep apnea affects people of all ages and sizes although your genes can predispose you to it even more. If you aren’t aware of it yet, children’s tonsils and adenoids (the glands in the throat at the back of the nose) are often removed because of sleep apnea as these body parts are often at their largest during the early years of life in contrast to the airway.

While it is hard to determine right away what medical conditions children are suffering from because of their failure to verbalize it or describe their symptoms properly, common symptoms of sleep apnea in kids include behavioral problems at school and daytime fatigue aside from the snoring sound when asleep, of course, if left untreated. A child will not only subsequently suffer from health complications but it is also common for kids to struggle with their studies as learning difficulties usually come hand in hand with sleep apnea among children.

Medical experts are warning parents that if you hear your young son or daughter snoring, it could potentially be a sign that the child is suffering from sleep apnea.

"It should raise a flag," Dr. Sydney Butts, an ear, nose and throat doctor in New York City told ABC News of snoring in children. "You should think about watching some other signs and symptoms that may kind of sound the alarm."

"It's not a problem restricted to adults," Butts added of sleep apnea. "It's actually one of the most common reasons why children need their tonsils or adenoids removed."

If untreated, sleep apnea can lead to chronic heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity and other health problems, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA).

(Via: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/parents-sleep-apnea-children/story?id=49831250)

Aside from that, kids will also show signs of ADHD along with delayed growth and development and heart problems. After all, sleeping is a major restorative process that does the human body a lot of good especially that of a growing child. Once nighttime falls, they will also exhibit loud snoring, breathing pauses that is the major danger in sleep apnea, and restlessness during sleeping.

CHILDREN who snore are more at risk of developing reduced intellectual abilities, high blood pressure and behaviour issues than sound sleepers.

Worrying new research shows snoring in children is leading to long-term harm far beyond broken sleep because lower oxygen levels during the night can cause brain damage and cardiovascular problems.

A study of more than 260 children by a Monash University team found blood pressure in snorers is 10 per cent higher than those who slept soundly.

It also found the snorers — who made up 30 per cent of the children studied — suffered reduced mental abilities and displayed poor behaviour.

(Via: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/new-data-shows-snoring-kids-face-higher-medical-risks/news-story/dedf743d8e806cae805a53eeb10954e2)

Snoring is nothing but harmless for kids. Parents should be alert and take action right away to get their kids checked by a doctor to determine what interventions are best suited for the child especially that such a condition like sleep apnea has detrimental (and possibly irreversible) effects to the heart and the brain. And remember, sleep apnea is characterized by countless breathing pauses in your sleep, so imagine your child lying in bed not breathing for quite some time. A disturbing thought, indeed.

Surgery is usually the best option for kids due to their enlarged tonsils and adenoids. For adults, CPAP is the ideal management but the use of anti-snoring mouthpieces can also be used to treat sleep apnea as they are also effective in correcting the anatomical deformity that predisposes a person to this sleep disorder. Prompt treatment is the key to prevent long-term complications that can make your child’s life difficult in the years to come.

Kids Aren’t Safe From Sleep Apnea was first published on Newinfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/kids-arent-safe-from-sleep-apnea/

Extending The Life Of Your Smartphone

Billions are connected to the web right now through their smartphones. It is a convenient and efficient way to go global without getting burdened by the often heavy and bulky laptops and computers that used to be the only devices we can use to access the web. The wireless Internet technology is almost a necessity now as people access the web each day because of the popularity of social media. No wonder smartgadgets have become staples because, for the majority, their virtual life is just as important as their personal life.

Yet as much as we love our gadgets, they can be a cause of concern at times especially that they have technical limitations that can annoy us from time to time. Storage and connection are common issues and most smartphones only work efficiently for a given number of years. After that, replacing it with a newer one is inevitable as many companies regularly release new models with better specs and features. It’s the reason why consumers often upgrade after a year of two because they are tempted of the specs these new models have that definitely improved the entire user experience.

We all know one of the biggest motivators to get a new smartphone is upgraded specs on a new phone's camera. But what if you could upgrade the camera without having to buy a whole new phone? In an effort to reduce waste, Fairphone now offers exactly that.

Launched in 2013, Fairphone bills itself as a more ethical smartphone company, which includes being transparent about where it sources its minerals (which, it admits, still aren't 100 percent conflict free), and encouraging users not to update their model if they don't need to. The company's second generation phone, which launched last year, has always been designed to be modular, but the camera is the first core function upgradeable by users.

(Via: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wjjkkw/the-fair-trade-smartphone-now-has-an-upgradeable-modular-camera)

While we have tech needs that we can’t just easily ignore today, we should also consider what our new habits do to our environment. E-waste is a growing threat to Mother Nature and now is the best time to take initiative about this while we still have time to act. If upgradeable smartphones indeed become accessible to the masses, it will significantly cut down our e-waste and help us save money too since we don’t have to constantly upgrade our gadgets in order to enjoy better specs.

The first upgradeable smartphone modules were announced today, a move that could save consumers money, reduce waste and shake up the business models of tech giants Apple and Samsung.

Fairphone’s 70,000 customers will be able to slot upgraded camera modules into their phones after they go on sale in September. Modular upgrades promise to keep phones up-to-date, extending their life and reducing waste, green groups say.

EEB waste policy expert Stephane Arditi said: “Well done Fairphone for pioneering modular upgrades and getting us a step closer to phones that last a lifetime. The big question now is whether the firm’s modularity will take a bite out of the rotten mainstream business models, or whether Apple, Samsung and others will join the revolution.

(Via: http://eeb.org/modularity/)

This concept may be the answer to many of the world’s present-day dilemma and may even put a halt to the rapid acceleration of climate change and global warming. However, we aren’t yet sure if major smartphone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung will embrace the idea knowing how their profits will go down even if it is the best option for the environment. Business is still a business. The people can only access such innovative products if it is sold affordably to the masses. If only a small company does this, it won’t likely be sold reasonably nor will it hit all the racks in most major cities. For now, just do what you can in caring for your smartphone, so you can still count on it to give you access to the online world whenever you want to.

Extending The Life Of Your Smartphone is available on NewInfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/extending-the-life-of-your-smartphone/

To Pop That Pill Or Not?

Mankind has survived centuries of life here on Earth. Although it may look effortless to us now, it was actually a struggle for our ancestors especially that the elements were far more unforgiving in the past and they lacked the modern conveniences we now enjoy. And as the years go by, men learned to adapt and manage common issues that affect humans. Aside from food, shelter, and protection, human health is a major cause of concern in the absence of modern medicine.

The medicines we now take saved countless of lives through the years. However, there is now such a thing as antibiotic resistance that we also have to deal with. So, it is no longer unusual that people opt not to take medicines whenever possible and rely on their body’s own immune system to fight off infections and build immunity. The question is, are we really doing our body a favor when we skip drinking these pills or do we really need them to stay healthy and well in this modern world plagued by viruses and bacteria that have likewise evolved?

THE World Health Organization (WHO) is challenging all member-states to work for the reduction of incidents where medicines cause harm, and sometimes death, to people. In a statement, the WHO said it is launching a global initiative to reduce severe, avoidable medication-associated harm in all countries by 50 percent for the next five years.

Although we often think of medicines as tools in promoting health and in treating diseases, at times they can also work to your disadvantage and be the reason for you to feel sick and unwell.

 The Challenge calls on countries to take early action to address key factors, including medicines with a high risk of harm if used improperly; patients who take multiple medications for different diseases and conditions; and patients going through transitions of care, in order to reduce medication errors and harm to patients. "Preventing errors and the harm that results requires putting systems and procedures in place to ensure the right patient receives the right medication at the right dose via the right route at the right time," said Chan.

(Via: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2017/03/30/who-wants-cut-medicine-related-harms-half-2022-533881)

However, if you need to take a medicine to treat a disease or a condition and it was prescribed by your doctor, don’t put it off and just pop that pill or see your health deteriorate right in front of your own eyes.

 There is an out-of-control epidemic in the United States that costs more and affects more people than any disease Americans currently worry about. It’s called nonadherence to prescribed medications, and it is — potentially, at least — 100 percent preventable by the very individuals it afflicts.

The numbers are staggering. “Studies have consistently shown that 20 percent to 30 percent of medication prescriptions are never filled, and that approximately 50 percent of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed,” according to a review in Annals of Internal Medicine. People who do take prescription medications — whether it’s for a simple infection or a life-threatening condition — typically take only about half the prescribed doses.

This lack of adherence, the Annals authors wrote, is estimated to cause approximately 125,000 deaths and at least 10 percent of hospitalizations, and to cost the American health care system between $100 billion and $289 billion a year.

(Via: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/17/well/the-cost-of-not-taking-your-medicine.html?_r=0)

One should take drinking medicines seriously to prevent developing a resistance to certain drugs and face even bigger problems later on. Human may be one of the strongest and most superior species in the planet but our health can also be so fragile especially when sick. Medicines came to be because they serve the purpose of improving our health when our immunity goes down. Most medicines are actually made from natural and organic substances while others are made from chemicals and manufactured in the labs that may do more harm than good when too much is taken.

The question whether to pop that pill or not is not a difficult one to answer at all. Take whatever your doctor has prescribed you, whether it is a medicine or supplement and take the desired drug and dose at the right time to achieve the desired effect. Other than that, you put your health at risk and even risk having the drug work the opposite for you if you don’t heed doctor’s order.

To Pop That Pill Or Not? was originally published on The New Influencers

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/to-pop-that-pill-or-not/