Research and Markets: Health Entertainment: Bringing the Fun to Wellness and Fitness
Posted: July 27, 2012 at 9:17 pm
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/lgk6mq/health_entertainme) has announced the addition of the "Health Entertainment: Bringing the Fun to Wellness and Fitness 3Q 2012" report to their offering.
This report analyzes the intersection of the entertainment world with human health and well being. It defines this unique industry sector with highlights of its value chain, major players, and various business models. It also analyzes major types of hardware and services and focuses on games, mobile apps, and new-generation fitness products and platforms. The report concludes with forecasts of market growth by users and end-user revenues.
"Health entertainment is a perfect example of technology's imprint on the science of human behavioral changes," said Harry Wang, Director of Mobile & Health Research at Parks Associates. Technology, in the form of attractive hardware and easy-to-use software and applications, is gradually re-inventing patient engagement models and making self-care less dreadful to most patients."
Key Topics Covered:
The Bottom Line
1.0 Report Summary
1.1 Purpose of Report
1.2 Scope of Report
1.3 Research Approach
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Research and Markets: Health Entertainment: Bringing the Fun to Wellness and Fitness
Girl Punished w/ Shock Collar, 3-Year-Old Kills Dad, Romney "Retroactive Retirement" – Video
Posted: at 9:17 pm
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Girl Punished w/ Shock Collar, 3-Year-Old Kills Dad, Romney "Retroactive Retirement" - Video
Unemployed at 60 With $100,000 in Retirement Savings
Posted: at 9:17 pm
I'm 60 years old, unemployed and have $100,000 saved for retirement. Given my circumstances, I can't afford any losses. So I'm considering converting this money to gold and cash. What do you think? -- Robin, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Given your circumstances, I think you would be making a big mistake moving your hundred grand to gold and cash.
Let's start with gold. For all the hype about gold being a safe haven, the reality is that it can lose value as easily as the stock market. If you had plowed all your money into gold last September when it was selling for just under $1,900 an ounce, for example, your $100,000 stash would only be worth a little more than $84,000 today, since gold now goes for around $1,600 an ounce.
So whatever other merits gold may have as an investment, shielding you against losses isn't one of them.
Cash, on the other hand, can provide such shelter. Stick your hundred thousand in an FDIC-insured bank money-market account and, barring the U.S. government reneging on its promises, you can be certain that you'll always be able to draw on your entire original principal, plus any interest you earn.
But that interest, or lack of it, is the problem. Today, federally-insured bank money-market accounts that give you ready access to your money pay only 0.5% on average.
You can find higher yields by shopping around or by going to CDs that charge a penalty if you withdraw money before maturity.
But the return you'd earn probably still wouldn't keep pace with inflation. Which means that even though you may not be losing money per se, you would likely be losing purchasing power as inflation erodes the real value of your $100,000.
So I recommend that you think about your situation in a different light. Instead of trying to avoid any loss of any size at any time, focus on preserving capital in a way that protects your hundred large from devastating setbacks, but allows it to grow before and during retirement.
That way, you'll have a better shot at being able to rely on your savings stash not just today, but down the road.
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Unemployed at 60 With $100,000 in Retirement Savings
Don't Waste Your Retirement
Posted: at 9:17 pm
When we make the transition from working stiff into the ranks of the retired, we assume the responsibility and freedom to do what we want to do when we want to do it. We can now occupy ourselves with whatever pursuit most appeals to us and no longer answer to the dictates of job and career responsibilities. Exactly how we plan to spend each day of the next twenty or thirty years may not be crystal clear, but we can figure it out along the way.
Many baby boomers view retirement as a time of new opportunity and the beginning of a whole new chapter in their lives. But maintaining some connection to the working world is also important to many people. Some seniors would like to go back and forth between periods of work and leisure. Perhaps they fear losing the stimulation and engagement that is part of work.
However, some people enter retirement with no plans beyond relaxing and getting away from it all. This lack of preparation can be viewed as wishful thinking. Retirement can quickly lose its luster as months roll into years and boredom begins to surface. If you're not exactly sure what you will be doing in your second act, here are some steps to avoid wasting your well-deserved retirement days:
A little routine can be a good thing. It helps to have a routine to follow in retirement. You certainly don't need to schedule every hour on a calendar, but it's useful to have a general course to navigate. Getting up by a certain time in the morning to start the day is one example. Obviously, in retirement, you can sleep in as long as you want to, but at some point you may begin to feel that you are wasting the day. If you are a morning person, why not get up at seven or eight and take advantage of your high-energy time of day? It is amazing what you can accomplish by noontime when others are just getting started. For the very organized, you can be as detailed as you want to in your daily scheduling.
During my trial retirement a few years ago, my morning started at 7am with breakfast and a newspaper. Then I spent two to three hours on the computer, mainly writing and researching (and often injecting thirty minutes in the garden to reset and refresh a bit), walked to the gym for an hour workout, and came back home for lunch. After all that was accomplished, the whole second half of the day was still awaiting.
Strive to do something worthwhile each day. Keeping busy and active is a worthy goal. But if at the end of the day you find you have done nothing of consequence, you cannot do it over. A more meaningful day can be experienced by consciously focusing on doing something worthwhile. Take the time to help someone in some way, start or complete a project that has stalled, improve yourself by reading or learning something new, or bring a smile to the face of a fellow human being. It could be as insignificant as cleaning the house. But when you look back at the end of the day, it helps to have accomplished something of substance.
Be good to yourself. As you age, it's essential to take care of yourself, including regular exercise and a healthy diet. Don't feel guilty if you need to listen to your body when it says to slow down a bit. And make time to do things that you enjoy doing, whether that means bungee jumping from a bridge in Costa Rica or curling up on the couch with a book.
Dave Bernard is author of Are You Just Existing and Calling it a Life?, which offers guidelines to discover your personal passion and live a life of purpose. Not yet retired, Dave has begun his due diligence to plan for a fulfilling retirement. With a focus on the non-financial aspects of retiring, he shares his discoveries and insights on his blog Retirement-Only the Beginning.
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Don't Waste Your Retirement
Opening ceremonies represent Boyle’s personal take on Britain
Posted: at 9:16 pm
When Danny Boyle was asked to produce the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics, he thought about his father.
My dad was a mad Olympics fan. I mean seriously lunatic, the acclaimed British film director told reporters Friday afternoon. Boyle recalled how his father, Frank, sat up late into the night, watching Games coverage from Mexico and other far off places. He introduced me to the Olympics, he said adding that Frank would have turned 91 Friday. Sadly he died about 18 months ago, he added. He didnt quite make it.
For Boyle the opening ceremonies represent a personal take on Britain, its history, culture and contributions to the world. And it is a varied rendition, covering everything from Shakespeare and the industrial revolution to Peter Pan, James Bond, pop music and even a tribute to the National Health Service.
We are almost unique in having universal health care, he explained.
Its very near and deer to peoples hearts.
Boyle said he created the show he wanted and didnt cater to the whims of politicians or organizers. You do it for yourselves, he said noting that he started planning the performance with three other people two years ago. I did it because Ive never done anything like this before. You want to keep testing yourself.
The program is certainly ambitious. It includes 10 separate scenes, 40 farm animals, 7,500 volunteer performers and 70,00 pixels for each member of the audience to wave and create special effects. Paul McCartney will sing Hey Jude, JK Rowling will read from Peter Pan and actor Rowan Atkinson will offer a skit. Theres also appearances by Mary Poppins, Cruella de Vil and Captain Hook.
Boyle said he knows not everyone will enjoy it and some will find parts genuinely baffling. He also had to cut out one sequence involving a bicycle routine because the show ran too long. And he had dust ups with Olympic organizers over camera positions and other artistic issues.
But he said his intention over all was to create a portrait of Britain as a proud, but modest country.
I hope the show feels gracious. I hope it doesnt feel bombastic or messaging, Boyle said. We have no agenda other than [to say] actually something that was true, values that we feel are true...Theres no bull in it.
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Opening ceremonies represent Boyle’s personal take on Britain
Why Disappointing Numbers Have Re-affirmed my Positive View on this Stock
Posted: at 9:16 pm
By Neha Chamaria - July 27, 2012 | Tickers: DD, HUN, MON, SYT, DOW | 0 Comments
Neha is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.
Top line misses, but bottom line beats. Yearly guidance range is re-affirmed, but forecast is skewed toward the lower end. That sums up DuPonts (NYSE: DD) second-quarter results, not for me but for everyone else. For I could actually see a handful of positives in its second quarter, enough to tell me this ones not worth a miss.
Green rules DuPonts agriculture divisions strong second-quarter performance didnt come as a surprise. The quarter coincided with the peak planting season in the United States, and the fact that corn plantations were at record highs this year isnt news anymore. Peer Monsantos (NYSE: MON) stellar numbers last month had already given us an idea of what to expect from DuPont. As was the case with the seed king, robust sale of corn and soybean seeds and traits drove DuPonts ag divisions sales up by 13% from the year-ago period.
It would be wrong not to give credit to the huge array of new products DuPont had launched in March through its Pioneer Hi-Bred seed business to tap the upcoming planting season. In fact, an amazing 75% of the higher pricing DuPont can demand from the market is driven by the innovation its products offera fact that speaks volumes of the high quality of its products.
Unearthing opportunities DuPonts innovation will continue to be visible in its products lined up for the next few years. Some, like its pest-resistant soybean varieties to be out by 2014, are specially targeted at high-potential markets like Brazil. Most players, including Monsanto and Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) are betting big on the Latin American market, with DuPont expecting strong business from the region in the second half of the year.
Another market with immense opportunities is Africa. DuPont is stepping into it in a big way by partnering with seed company Pannar Seeda move that must be giving sleepless nights to Syngenta, which dominates the market and was even eying Pannar to strengthen its foothold.
In fact, new products together with the emerging markets growth will be keys to DuPonts ag business performance moving on. Sales from these markets were up 11% during the second quarter, and look set to climb higher as DuPont innovates and expands.
The whites catching up Sales in DuPonts performance coatings and performance chemicals divisions didnt really grow as I had thought, but remained almost flat as high prices offset low volumes. Higher prices have almost become a norm with titanium dioxide producers since last year when they aggressively started passing-on-the-buck to consumers. Yet, the good news is the sequential improvement in volumes, thanks to stability in end markets like automotive. Momentum is in fact picking up fast in markets like Asia, particularly China (yes, DuPont feels the Chinese governments stimulus to boost consumption is working for the TiO2 market). These factors, along with shrinking industry TiO2 inventory levels, signal high chances of a bounce back.
Peer Huntsman (NYSE: HUN), which is about to report its second-quarter numbers next week, is also expecting better TiO2 volumes for the quarter. The company didnt even rule out further price increases for the rest of the year. Interestingly, while many are predicting the TiO2 market to remain soft for long, the worlds largest TiO2 producer remains bullish. Not only does DuPont expect volumes to grow sequentially in the forthcoming quarters, it even expects its performance chemicals division margins for the full year to come in at the same level as last year (i.e., 25% as pre-tax operating income margin).
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Why Disappointing Numbers Have Re-affirmed my Positive View on this Stock
Employees Doing Personal Chores at Work? Let Them!
Posted: at 9:16 pm
Research shows business owners are increasingly relaxed about employees doing personal tasks during the workday. Here's why that's the right approach.
shutterstock images
You pay your workers, obviously, to work. Sure, you understand that they also have busy lives outside of the office and, just like you, struggle to fit in all the errands, emails, trips to the bank, and kids' activities that clutter their calendars.
But if you catch members of your team doing personal chores during the workday, you're still going to be annoyed, right?
Wrong, argues a recent post on Knowledge@Wharton Today, which recommends business owners and managers make a conscious decision to chill out about their employees doing personal chores during company time. Why? First off, you'll be in increasingly good company, according to recent research. The post explains:
The study of 1,000 employees and employers from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, and Ireland found that many managers are taking an increasingly relaxed attitude toward how workers structure their days, in part because the bosses assume--correctly, according to the study results--that many are putting in time outside the office to finish work tasks.
Smart bosses, in other words, are starting to grasp that work is something you do, not a place or a set of hours. "In the pre-Internet world and in the manufacturing-based economy, your physical presence was really the thing that mattered," explains Wharton management professor Stewart Friedman in the post. "Performance management systems were created around the idea of time as the essential metric," he says. But time plays a different role these days in many businesses.
If you run a retail business, say, where physical presence is key, employees actually being available the entire workday is obviously essential. But if your business is about information, and productivity is measured in the output of the mind not the quantity of effort or amount of personal touch, then it's less of an issue if you're employees are slipping off to the bank in the middle of the afternoon.
As The Chief Happiness Officer blog has explained, the idea of productivity being a direct function of time is a relic of an industrial age when the longer you stood on the production line, the more widgets you'd produce. In the information economy, where inspiration is more valuable, new rules of productivity apply, according to the post. These dictate that longer hours don't always equal greater results, output varies wildly over time (and that's OK), and happiness is good for productivity.
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Employees Doing Personal Chores at Work? Let Them!
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Posted: at 9:15 pm
According to the draft guidelines issued by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) in May, travel, personal accident and critical illness (CI) covers will come under the health insurance segment. Health insurance business means the effecting of insurance contracts which provide for sickness benefits or medical, surgical or hospital expense benefits, travel health insurance and personal accident cover, said the IRDA draft.
At present, personal accident and CI covers come under miscellaneous business. The Health Insurance Act, which comprises health insurance, does not include travel, personal accident and CI covers. Hence to include these covers under the health insurance may require the approval of finance ministry.
Also, personal accident, CI and travel covers are offered only as standalone coversan insurance product that an individual buys to cover a specific risk or cost. It is the opposite of an insurance policy with broad coverage that applies to a number of risks in different scenarios. While, benefit covers (issued by life insurers) can be bought as an add-on on term plans. IRDA wants travel medical policies to be offered either as a standalone product or as an add-on cover to existing health policy as and when existing policyholder travels. Anshul Anand, CEO, PolicyMantra.com, said, In the draft guideline, IRDA has mentioned two options for travel insurancestandalone policy or as an add-on to the existing health insurance policy. Lifetime renewability is not applicable for travel insurance as it is provided for temporary visit and lifetime renewability is available only when there isuninterruptedrenewal hence this contradicts.
The renewability of health insurance policies (Chapter IV) of the draft, says, Benefit based policies where policies terminate on happening of the event as per the terms and conditions of the policy; renewability clause shall explicitly state such conditions in the promotion material and the policy documents. Ex. Critical illness benefits policies.
In case of CI, policy ceases once the benefit is paid while in health insurance continues even after the claim is made. CI are like riders or standalone cover which cannot be renewed like health insurance plans, added Mr Anand.
He further said, Portability thing is not clearly mentioned in the draft for CI and hence it will raise some concerns as CI works differently from mediclaim. We will be able to comment more only when IRDA supply further documents on CI. We have also discussed things with reinsurer and they too felt that more clarification is needed. The regulator has also disallowed assigning policies to anyone else. Thus, policyholders may not be able link any of the general insurance policies to loan.
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Business-Building Strong At HBA Global In New York
Posted: at 9:15 pm
NEW YORK, July 27,2012 /PRNewswire/ --With more than 81% of the HBA Global audience influencing the purchase of products and services for brand development of cosmetics, fragrances, personal care and skin care lines, the atmosphere at the event was all about business.More than 16,615 health and beauty professionals converged under one roof to source new suppliers, gain knowledge on industry trends, and develop new business relationships.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120727/NY47682-a) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120727/NY47682-b) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120426/NY95610LOGO)
Boasting a 4% increase in attendance, the recently concluded HBA Global took place from June 19-21 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. All the major brands were in attendance including Avon, Coty, Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, Revlon, Procter & Gamble, LVMH, and Unilever. In addition, HBA Global was an important forum for many emerging and niche brands and remains unmatched in providing information and resources needed to get new products to market.
"HBA Global has truly helped in the growth of my business by providing a number of useful resources, such as education, an array of exhibitors and a great place to network with my peers," said Tonya Tko, Manager, TKYOSKIN.
Attendees cited finding new suppliers a top objective at HBA Global and the event had a wide range of business services related to product and packaging development. More than 15 countries were represented as international resources with the majority from the United States.
"HBA Global is a great show for San-Mar Labs because it provides an excellent venue and a central meeting location to meet and greet current and new customers in a condensed couple of days making it more than convenient to do business," said Frank Penna, Vice President, San-Mar Laboratories Inc. of Elmsford, NY.
Several new features were added to the HBA exhibit floor and were popular among attendees. Innovation Pavilions in Anti-Aging Skincare, Eco & Sustainability as well as Tubes attracted more than 70% of the HBA Global audience.
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Business-Building Strong At HBA Global In New York
Seek out mentors in building your personal brand
Posted: at 9:15 pm
Ritas Career Corner With Rita B. Allen
Have mentors played an essential role in your professional and/or personal development? As you have advanced in your career, have you taken the time to mentor others whom you have worked with and/or managed? Having and being a mentor are two of the major milestones during ones career and contribute greatly to establishing and building your personal brand.
The typical image of a mentor is of someone in the workplace but mentors enter our lives from a variety of venues, each offering different learnings that speak to our many needs. Those needs can be quite diverse and filled by a variety of mentors, each offering wisdom and counsel in different ways. In fact, its important to search out multiple mentors to address our multiple needs. Be your own advocate and initiate these relationships rather than waiting to be mentored. Find your authentic self and personal brand by identifying what value you have to offer as well as what you aspire to achieve. Seek out potential mentors, trusted advisors as well as sponsors for support throughout the different phases of your career. In addition, welcome opportunities to mentor others throughout their careers.
A Five Step Model for Developing Mentor Relationships:
Step 1 First and foremost, identify what you need Set goals and objectives that you would like to achieve with each specific mentor. Be realistic and practical with your expectations being thoughtful and mindful of their time. Make sure that you are creating a partnership that is one of give and take. Offer your assistance, knowledge and resources to your mentors just as frequently as you ask for their help. It is all about relationship building what you put into the relationship is just as important, if not more so, than what you get out of the relationship. Approach each mentor in a sincere and authentic manner. Be clear and concise in communicating your needs and expectations. Ask them for their input and feedback.
Step 2 Reach out to a variety of mentors to meet diverse needs Establish mentor relationships with multiple individuals across many parts of your life. Mentors come in all shapes and sizes from all faucets of our world both personally and professionally. They can come in the form of role models, peers, colleagues, managers, leaders, professors, teachers, family members, friends, relatives, coaches and other contacts. We enter into these mentor relationships as well as maintain them in formal and informal ways. The key is to be diligent in establishing and nurturing long lasting relationships with all of the mentors in our lifetime. Be pro-active and strategic by identifying mentors that cross all of the different paths of your career and enhance your ability to develop and grow both personally and professionally.
Step 3 Create a strategy that offers your value-add and keeps mentors engaged Identify your personal brand and articulate it effectively. Prior to entering into any mentor relationship, do your homework. Prepare yourself for the difficult questions a mentor will ask you and be ready for the challenge. Enter into the relationship confident and empowered. Know yourself your strengths, weaknesses, skills, competencies, interests, values and priorities. Assess your short and long term goals for your career and life. Invest in your education and continued advancement. Be active in professional associations and involved in your community. Take on leadership roles that nourish and feed your passion(s)!
Step 4 Stay true to your vision and your goals Keep a formal plan that you update and visit regularly. You cannot stay true to yourself if you do not keep yourself accountable. The mentee is the driver for any mentor relationship it is important to be mindful of this and be diligent with your initiatives. Have a vision that spans over ten years at a minimum and revisit your goals on a regular basis. Make changes and adjustments as necessary. Keep an open mind to new possibilities while staying focused on your track.
Step 5 Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! Keep the channels of communication open throughout the entire mentor relationship and beyond. Let your mentor know of your progress your struggles, lessons learned, and successes. Be sure to give your mentor feedback on a regular basis by sharing the ways they are positively impacting you. Show your gratitude and appreciation. Be an active listener reflect on the feedback you receive and incorporate it into your strategies. Keep an open mind and be flexible to new opportunities and possibilities. Accept constructive criticism and offer concerns. Dont be afraid to show vulnerability and take some risks. Open and honest communications will set the foundation for building a trusting relationship and rapport for both mentor and mentee.
Mentors are an essential ingredient for career success! Be sure to include this important and valuable resource in your career planning and development strategies. Remember, it is every individuals job to manage their own career not their mentors!
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Seek out mentors in building your personal brand