Happy Halloween! (spiderweb photo by Ginny O'Brien)
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Happy Halloween! | Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
Happy Halloween! (spiderweb photo by Ginny O'Brien)
New Kindle Oasis doesn't work well with water
It's 1 p.m. in the middle of a work day and I am taking a bath.
I'm testing the new $250 Kindle Oasis, the high-end e-reader from Amazon. After 10 years, the company has finally made a waterproof Kindle presumably so you can read at the beach, during a water-balloon fight, or in a tub.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/31/technology/gadgets/kindle-oasis-review/index.html
I'm testing the new $250 Kindle Oasis, the high-end e-reader from Amazon. After 10 years, the company has finally made a waterproof Kindle presumably so you can read at the beach, during a water-balloon fight, or in a tub.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/31/technology/gadgets/kindle-oasis-review/index.html
8 Tips for Boosting Revenue on the Top Offline Sales Day of the Year
Online shopping has become more popular, and is projected to grow even more so this holiday shopping season. According to a survey by Euclid, 42 percent of consumers plan to spend the bulk of their holiday budgets shopping online, up from 38 percent last year. But while Cyber Monday is projected to be the biggest shopping day of the year overall, the hottest shopping day for brick-and-mortar retailers is the day after Christmas.
Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of consumers in the survey say they’re likely to shop in a physical store the day after Christmas, compared to 60 percent and 56 percent who plan to do so on Black Friday and Super Saturday, respectively. How can your retail store get its share of those customers and turn them into loyal patrons?
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/replace-black-friday.html
Workplace touching: When it's OK, and when it's harassment
A handshake. A pat on the back. A hug. A shoulder rub.
When it comes to workplace contact, what's OK and what's not?
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/31/pf/workplace-touch-harassment/index.html
When it comes to workplace contact, what's OK and what's not?
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/31/pf/workplace-touch-harassment/index.html
iPhone X first impressions: The highs, lows and quirks
Will the iPhone X change your life for the better and usher you into the future, face first? Or is it just another smartphone with a giant screen and a strange little rectangle on top?
We've only had the phone since Monday morning. It's more than the few minutes of hands-on time reporters had when the device was launched, but a day is not enough time to fairly review the iPhone X. It's like deciding if you want to marry someone after one blind date.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/31/technology/gadgets/iphone-x-first-impressions/index.html
We've only had the phone since Monday morning. It's more than the few minutes of hands-on time reporters had when the device was launched, but a day is not enough time to fairly review the iPhone X. It's like deciding if you want to marry someone after one blind date.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/31/technology/gadgets/iphone-x-first-impressions/index.html
Monday, October 30, 2017
'House of Cards' ending after Season 6
"House of Cards" will conclude after its sixth season, which is currently in production, a source close to production tells CNN.
The announcement comes less than one day after star Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct by an actor who says he was a minor at the time of the alleged incident.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/30/media/house-of-cards-canceled-netflix/index.html
The announcement comes less than one day after star Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct by an actor who says he was a minor at the time of the alleged incident.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/30/media/house-of-cards-canceled-netflix/index.html
The Key to Influencer Marketing Success is Targeting the Right Audience
So you’ve created an influencer marketing campaign. You found an influencer with tons of followers. You crafted the perfect message. You gained lots of impressions. But you didn’t notice any real results for your brand. So what went wrong? In many cases, the answer is that the brand didn’t target the right audience.
Small Business Trends recently had the opportunity to speak with consultant Shane Barker at Influencer Marketing Days in New York City’s Times Square. Barker has been in the influencer marketing space since its early days, helping brands turn those relationships with key individuals into actual sales and results.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/audience-of-the-influencer.html
Google CEO addresses hamburger emoji debate
The burger emoji is sparking some controversy online.
Google's version of the emoji on Android shows the cheese beneath the burger and above the bun. While the cheese placement isn't new, a writer and media analyst started a debate that went viral over the weekend over whether or not it should be placed on top or below the burger.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/30/technology/google-cheeseburger-emoji/index.html
Google's version of the emoji on Android shows the cheese beneath the burger and above the bun. While the cheese placement isn't new, a writer and media analyst started a debate that went viral over the weekend over whether or not it should be placed on top or below the burger.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/30/technology/google-cheeseburger-emoji/index.html
AOC Portable 16-Inch Monitor Offers Options to Small Business Owners on the Go
If you are looking for a very slim, lightweight, and easy to use portable external monitor that is also affordable, the new AOC i1601fwux ticks all of those boxes. With people working outside of the office just as much as they do in it, portability is an important quality, even for an external monitor.
The i1601fwux is powered by a USB-C cable, which brings the 15.6 inch 1080p high-end IPS panel to life. This means you won’t have to lug additional cables to power the monitor. Plug the single USB-C into your laptop and you are ready to go.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/aoc-i1601fwux-monitor.html
Why One Startup CEO Thinks Tech will Drive the Future of the Workforce
To build a competitive workforce in the future, we need to support the students of today. That’s particularly true for computer science, which traditionally hasn’t been part of the curriculum in many schools but will touch virtually every job in the future. Hadi Partovi is the founder of Code.org, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented minorities. The organization works directly with school districts to provide curriculum and teacher resources to ensure that every student has the same opportunity to learn computer science, as they have to learn biology, chemistry, or algebra.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/tech-will-drive-the-future-of-the-workforce.html
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/tech-will-drive-the-future-of-the-workforce.html
5 Things Your Small Business Should Do Now to Prepare for a Winter Disaster
As the well-known catch phrase from the popular HBO series “Game of Thrones” warns, “Winter is coming.”
The first snow has already fallen in the Midwest and forecasts suggest a more severe winter storms than usual this year in parts of the country.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/preparing-your-business-for-a-winter-disaster.html
5 Pearls of Financial Wisdom for First Generation Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs are a rare breed.
They are the ones who question the status quo and come up with solutions for problems that trouble the world as a whole. Problems, sometimes which we don’t even realize to be a problem.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/tips-for-first-generation-entrepreneurs.html
4 Reasons Employee Recognition is Important to Your Business
Every human being wants to be recognized and appreciated for the work they do because they like to see the reward of their efforts. However, managers often wait until the annual performance review day to give their feedbacks and show their recognitions. Managers shouldn’t wait only one day of the year to recognize their employees. Instead, they should recognize them every day. This is only possible, if employee recognition becomes part of that company’s culture. It is recommended that every company makes employee recognition an essential part of their company cultures and below you can see its reasons.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/importance-of-employee-recognition-small-business.html
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/importance-of-employee-recognition-small-business.html
The Importance of Relationships Between Influencers and Brands
Brands that overlook the human element of influencer marketing are missing the point. It’s not about simple product placement. It’s about real relationships.
Small Business Trends had the opportunity to speak with Joe Gagliese of Viral Nation at the recent Influencer Marketing Days conference in New York City’s Times Square. Viral Nation is an influencer talent agency and marketing company that helps brands connect with the perfect influencers for their needs and actually builds relationships that bloom into effective marketing campaigns.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/relationships-between-influencers-and-brands.html
Week Before Thanksgiving a Travel Nightmare for Business Flights
If you’ve got to squeeze in a last-minute flight for your small business, you’ll want to avoid the week before Thanksgiving.
In new research from Concur, the busiest days for business travel this year will be Wednesday, November 15, and Thursday, November 16. On these days specifically, you can expect long lines at the airports and even the possibility of getting bumped from an overbooked flight.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/avoid-business-travel-before-thanksgiving.html
From Breakdown to Breakthrough: How to Weather an Organizational Crisis
Dealing with the conflict that naturally occurs in a business requires balancing the right amount of stress. If the relationships in your business slide too far to the extreme (either too much or too little stress), your business is at risk of becoming unproductive. From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Forging Business Relationships in the Heat of Change was designed to help leaders gauge and “course correct” the relationships in their workplace. By stepping in at the right time, leaders can help their teams reach a whole new level of performance beyond what they ever thought possible.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/from-breakdown-to-breakthrough-book-review.html
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/from-breakdown-to-breakthrough-book-review.html
10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business Without Making Major Changes
Not every change you make in your business has to be a major one. Even small adjustments can make a big difference over the long run — especially if you’re making the right changes. Members of the online small business community have plenty of experience growing businesses with these small changes. So they also have plenty of advice to share. Check out some top tips below.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/10-ways-grow-small-business-without-making-major-changes.html
Making Big Decisions Better is Book Consultants Don’t Want You to Read
Business strategy is one area that should be simple. All you have to do is pick your business goals and follow through. Yet, businesses struggle with this very simple process. This failure happens, despite consultants, magazines, articles, courses, workshops and SlideShare presentations. But why? Tim Lewko’s book, Making Big Decisions Better: How to Set and Simplify Business Strategy points the figure at a very simple answer. His book argues that we don’t understand what “strategy” really means, so we don’t know how to do strategy. Making Big Decisions Better shows how to correct this problem.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/making-big-decisions-better-book-review.html
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/making-big-decisions-better-book-review.html
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Religious Humor | The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Continuing our #Reformation fun today!
2. More about indulgences. They can be downright scary! #StillAboutJesus
#Reformation500
Saturday, October 28, 2017
iPhone X screen repair: That'll be $275
Hot tip for anyone running out to buy Apple's new $1,000 smartphone: Don't drop it.
The iPhone X, which hits store shelves November 3, is Apple's most expensive phone yet. But the higher price tag isn't reserved just for the phone. Repairs are more expensive, too.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/28/technology/gadgets/iphone-x-screen-repair-cost/index.html
The iPhone X, which hits store shelves November 3, is Apple's most expensive phone yet. But the higher price tag isn't reserved just for the phone. Repairs are more expensive, too.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/28/technology/gadgets/iphone-x-screen-repair-cost/index.html
You need to talk to your parents about their retirement
Is it time to have "the talk"?
Discussing finances with your parents can be as uncomfortable as the talk they gave you about the birds and the bees. But it still needs to happen.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/27/pf/retirement-questions-parents/index.html
Discussing finances with your parents can be as uncomfortable as the talk they gave you about the birds and the bees. But it still needs to happen.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/27/pf/retirement-questions-parents/index.html
10 Tips for Local Marketing on Mobile
A recent study says 47 percent of small retailers struggle to keep up with mobile marketing trends. Here are 10 tips for local marketing on mobile that will help.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/local-mobile-marketing-small-business.html
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/local-mobile-marketing-small-business.html
Top 5 Tips for Managing Your Small Business Debt (INFOGRAPHIC)
You need cash to grow your business, but too much debt can put your company at risk.
The simple solution is to adopt measures that can help you manage your debt efficiently. And to help you with that, Canada-based cash advance lender Eazy Cash has compiled a neat list of things to do.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/tips-for-managing-small-business-debt.html
End of the Iceberg Life Cycle | NASA Earth
End of the Iceberg Life Cycle
If Antarctic icebergs could talk, they would have epic stories to tell: calving, colliding, breaking apart, and drifting thousands of miles across the ocean. Since they don't talk, scientists rely on satellites to piece together the life stories of icebergs, some of which have been adrift for decades.
Four icebergs of various sizes and ages are visible in this image of the Southern Ocean, near the Weddell Sea (south) and the Drake Passage (north). It was acquired on October 20, 2017, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite. The fifth white feature in the image looks like an iceberg but is, in fact, a piece of land—Elephant Island—buried under snow and ice.
Icebergs are named based on the quadrant of Antarctica from which they calve. Most of the icebergs in this image—those that start with a ‘B’—come from the Ross Sea area and have drifted counter-clockwise around the continent. “A wicked cool part of the story is that this was a long trip for these bergs,” said Kelly Brunt, a glaciologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Iceberg B-09F is a fragment that broke from B-9 iceberg, which calved in 1987 from the Ross Ice Shelf in West Antarctica. It took the massive iceberg more than two decades to drift out of the Ross Sea and along the coast to the Mertz Glacier in East Antarctica. Along the way, it broke apart, and one segment became B-09B (not pictured), which in turn collided with the floating tongue of Mertz Glacier in February 2010 and formed the C-28 iceberg. C-28 subsequently broke apart into pieces including C-28B, pictured here.
The two other icebergs pictured—B-15T and B15Z—broke from B-15, the largest iceberg ever measured with satellite imagery, according to Brunt. When that berg calved from the Ross Ice Shelf in March 2000, it was almost as large as the state of Connecticut.
The icebergs in this image were carried to their present location by a combination of ocean currents: the coastal countercurrent, which flows counterclockwise close to Antarctica; and the Weddell Sea Gyre, which spins clockwise and pushes the bergs in the western Weddell Sea to the north.
As they continue to drift north, these bergs will probably get kicked back toward the east as they encounter the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current funneling through the Drake Passage. “The Drake keeps these bergs from continuing counter-clockwise around the continent,” Brunt said. From that point, icebergs quickly whip north toward the equator and rapidly melt.
“Glaciologists Doug MacAyeal and Ted Scambos have used this part of the iceberg life cycle as a sort of natural laboratory to watch how they ultimately break down,” Brunt said. “Spoiler alert: they tend to pond with water, which then works its way through the iceberg like a set of knives. This is often the end of the life cycle of a lot of Antarctic icebergs.”
https://go.nasa.gov/
Collecting a Gas Sample from a Fumarole on the Flank of Akutan Volcano | U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
A USGS study of geothermal potential in Akutan, Alaska, shows a volcano in the backyard isn’t always a bad thing: https://go.usa.gov/xnY2k
We're spending the entire month of October focusing on our #energy research! Check back here every day or follow us on Twitter @USGSEnergy to follow along!
Image shows USGS scientist Deborah Bergfeld collecting a gas sample from a fumarole on the flank of Akutan Volcano, Akutan Island, Alaska. Photograph by: Jennifer L. Lewicki , USGS #USGS#Science #Geothermal #Alaska
Suptercomputers at the Department of Energy | U.S. Department of Energy
#DidYouKnow the Energy Department's National Labs are home to some of the fastest supercomputers in the world?
Learn more about these amazing machines.
➡https://energy.gov/Crop Fires in Northern India | NASA Earth
Crop Fires in Northern India
When the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite passed over India on October 25, 2017, there were widespread crop fires in the province of Punjab. In the image above, red outlines show the approximate locations of active burning.
Download the image:
https://
Read more about crop fires in India:
https://
The Challenge of Making Sure Your Influencer’s Followers Are Human
When choosing influencers for influencer marketing campaigns, brands tend to look for people with a lot of reach. But if you only look at an influencer’s follower count, you might not be getting the full story.
That’s because some people, especially those trying to cash in on their influence, might try to inflate some of those numbers by buying followers or getting bots to follow them. And if you’re paying for an influencer marketing campaign, you want to make sure you’re paying for someone who has influence over actual humans.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/influencers-followers-are-human.html
Friday, October 27, 2017
Today We Celebrate the Birth of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt | Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Today we celebrate the birth of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. His legacy still endures in our country through the 150 National Forests, 51 Federal bird reserves, 4 National game preserves, 5 National Parks, and 18 National Monuments created during his administration.
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Tracking Harriet, the Osprey | Chesapeake Bay Field Office
Harriet, the osprey, is hanging tight to the coast of Puerto Rico. She has been in the same general area for 11 days now. This may be her final destination or a prolonged stay to recharge and eat. We will let you know if things change and she starts to move again.
Grand Staircase and Pink Cliffs | Bryce Canyon National Park
Looking not east, but south, down from over 9,000 ft upon the majestic expanse of the Grand Staircase and the warm glow of our “Pink Cliffs”, both the Bristlecone Loop and Yovimpa Point remain quietly kept secrets amongst sunset lovers here at Bryce. Where did you watch the evening fade last time you visited? (pd)
Autumn Park Exploration | U.S. Department of the Interior
Fall is the perfect season to explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. A short trip from Cleveland and Akron, the park offers hiking trails, wildlife viewing and horseback riding on bridle trails. Don’t forget to take your camera! Capturing one of the park’s scattered waterfalls framed by autumn colors is a wonderful souvenir. Photo courtesy ofCameron Schron Photography. — at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Libby Dam and Lake Koocanusa | U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
If you've been following the stories about selenium in Montana and British Columbia's Lake Koocanusa, we've got a new modeling framework that will hopefully enable managers and stakeholders of the lake understand the implications of different levels of selenium, and to explore alternative selenium criteria for waters in the Lake. Check it out!http://go.usa.gov/xngqp
The selenium is likely originating from waste rock due to coal mining in British Columbia. Although selenium is an important dietary element, too much of it can result in toxic effects.
We're spending the entire month of October focusing on our #energy research! Check back here every day or follow us on Twitter @USGSEnergy to follow along!
Image shows Libby Dam and Lake Koocanusa. Credit: US Army Corps of Engineers Libby Dam#USGS #Science #Montana #Canada
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Monday, October 23, 2017
Autumn Hike | USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System
There's nothing like a fall walk or hike on a national wildlife refuge. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin
https://www.fws.gov/
Photo: Larry Palmer
#Autumn #Wisconsin #WI
Little Glade Mill Pond | Blue Ridge Parkway
The stillness of the pond. The gentle ripples as it falls over the rocks. Looking beyond the winding road is not always about the majestic mountain vistas. Little Glade Mill Pond (MP 230.1) can provide the backdrop to a picnic lunch, a .3 mile leg stretcher around the pond, or just a place to relax.#blueridgeparkway #morethanaroad
A lovely fall view of the Green River above Kolb Camp | Dinosaur National Monument
A lovely fall view of the Green River above Kolb Camp thanks to Randy Fullbright!
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Check Out These Colors, Maine! | NASA Earth
Check Out These Colors, Maine!
As autumn progresses, so does the trail of color across New England. The reds, yellows, and oranges of the season typically emerge first on the deciduous trees and shrubs at higher latitudes and elevations. That was the case on October 13, 2017, when the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured these natural-color images of foliage in north-central Maine.
The top image shows the mountainous part of Baxter State Park, an 200,000-acre (809-square-kilometer) area of protected wilderness. The summit of Mount Katahdin rises to 5,269 feet (1,605 meters), the tallest point in the state. Vegetation growth is stunted on the mountain’s upper slopes and tablelands, which appear light tan. Moving down from the tree line you start to see evergreens, and then deciduous species with magnificent, colorful foliage. When the image was acquired, leaf color was at its local peak for 2017.
“Typically, northern Maine reaches peak conditions the last week of September into the first week of October,” according to the Maine Foliage Report. “The rest of the state’s progression of color will start occurring from north to south in mid-October. Coastal Maine typically reaches peak conditions mid-to-late October.”
About 25 miles (40 kilometers) east-northeast of Mount Katahdin, the town of Patten, Maine, is also bathed in fall color (bottom image). Notice how farm fields and pastures in this area stay light green in comparison to the dark green evergreens and golden deciduous trees.
Leaf color appears around the same time every year, when daylight grows shorter and triggers plants to slow and stop the production of chlorophyll. But for the best color, leaves need dry weather and cooler temperatures. According to news reports, New England’s foliage this year may not be as vibrant as other years. As of early October, many areas had not yet seen temperatures cool off much, causing leaves to go from green to brown.
https://go.nasa.gov/
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Morrow Point Dam | Bureau of Reclamation
A relaxing Scenic Saturday shot from Morrow Point Dam, our Dam of the Week, on the Gunnison River.
In the Great Lakes, Sea Lamprey are an Invasive Species | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region
In the Great Lakes, sea lamprey are an invasive species that preys on native fish, often causing wounds that become fatal due to infection or blood loss. We work to control sea lamprey populations to protect native fish!
Photo: Sea lamprey by Joanna Gilkeson/USFWS
The beauty of autumn attracts large numbers of sightseers to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia
The beauty of autumn attracts large numbers of sightseers to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia. People often ask when "peak" season will occur. In a park that is nearly 470 miles long and varies over 5,000 feet in elevation, there is no simple way to predict fall color. The intensity and timing of changes are determined by complex environmental factors and the genetic makeup of the plants themselves. For those with lucky timing, the view is incredible. Photo by Philip Varney (www.sharetheexperience.org). — at Blue Ridge Parkway.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Gila Cliff Dwellings has ranger-led tours at 1 pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the last weekend in October.
We have a hand-out so you can guide yourself through the cliff dwellings during the week and after October ends.
There are volunteers available to answer questions and give you an informal tour if staffing allows.
Gila Cliff Dwellings is open 365 days a year.
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