A traumatic brain injury alters every aspect of a person’s life. Today, it is the leading cause of death and disability for those under the age of 45. In order to combat this issue, researchers of pathobiology have been working to develop neuroprotective strategies. The majority have been unsuccessful, but there are a few promising clinical findings that have led to advancements in the treatment of these injuries.
What Is Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injury can occur in a wide variety of ways, but is most often caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head. Any object that penetrates brain tissue, like a bullet or shattered piece of skill, will also result in this injury. A tackle in football, car accident, or serious fall can all be the culprit.
These brain injuries are measured from mild to severe, with the mild variety affecting brain cells temporarily. Those that are more severe often leave bruising, torn tissues, and bleeding in the brain, resulting in long-term symptoms. When an impact is serious enough, traumatic brain injury can lead to death. Symptoms include:
Loss of consciousness
Confusion, disorientation, or being in a daze
Headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Drowsiness and fatigue
Speech impairment
Sleep disturbances, either an inability to sleep or sleeping excessively
Dizziness often combined with a loss of balance and coordination
Sensory impairments like blurred vision or ringing in the ears
Light and sound sensitivity
Memory and mood impairments
Depression and anxiety
Comatose states
Advancements in Treatment
The majority of aid for traumatic brain injury focuses on prevention, like seatbelt legislation and helmet use. In cases of mild injury, the best prescription is often rest until they can slowly resume daily activities. For more severe injuries, relieving pressure inside the skull as well as clotted blood and skill fractures is vital.
Several medications are commonly employed, as well, ranging from anti-anxiety to anticonvulsants and stimulants. Various forms of therapy including physical, speech, and cognitive are also common treatments to help victims rehabilitate.
Occupational therapy and vocational counseling are newer forms of treatment for those with traumatic brain injuries. Occupational therapy focuses on helping individuals relearn day-to-day tasks they may have forgotten how to do from the injury, such as getting dressed or cooking.
Vocational counseling is designed to help patients get back to work. It also helps individuals find work opportunities and assists them in any challenges they may face upon returning to the workforce. Cognitive therapy has also seen advancements in treating attention, perception, and judgement impairments.
Seeking Aid
The first step in the recovery process is to seek medical attention and continue to follow the plan set forth by your doctor. When suffering a brain injury due to an accident, you may also be able to seek compensation to pay for any treatments, doctors visits, and medications.
Without intensive therapies and medication, even mild symptoms will become worse as they impact every facet of your daily life. It can take months to years to recover from more severe injuries, with some people experiencing alterations for the rest of their lives. As research continues, hopeful treatments continue to emerge.
Lorina and Jason Troy had a good life. They had a four-year-old son and Lorina had just given birth to their second. They lived in a nice house in Texas. Jason had a good, top-secret, job with the government. They thought all was well; however, that was soon to change.
Their newborn, JJ had been born with a larger than normal head and not long after the Lorina and Jason had brought him home from the hospital, he began vomiting excessively. Lorina took him to their pediatrician who diagnosed JJ with a stomach bug and sent them home with Pedialyte. Unfortunately, JJ didn’t get better. Lorina took him to urgent care and eventually a children’s hospital. Everyone focused on the vomiting but not JJ’s enlarged head, that was continuously getting bigger. Eventually Lorina convinced a doctor to do an MRI. This is when everything fell apart.
The MRI revealed that JJ had fluid built up in his cranium. This can be caused by a variety of medical issues, but the doctors immediately jumped to the most drastic possibility. They assumed JJ was being physically abused. Lorina asked for a second opinion but the doctors denied it. So, in May 2015, Lorina and Jason had their children removed from their home and placed in foster care.
As parents, they knew they had never hurt JJ or his older brother, but it was their word against the physicians. Lorina was only allowed to see her children twice a week, for only two hours per visit. Jason was charged with felony abuse, which caused him to lose his security clearance and thus his job. In order to pay for attorney fees, they had to sell their house. Even after doing so, they lost about $80,000 in legal fees, medical costs, and lost wages. The loss of their children, the trial, the costs, losing their home – it was a very traumatic time for the Lorina, Jason, and their children.
Two and a half years after this all began, Jason was exonerated when a doctor from Maryland finally managed to properly diagnose JJ with Benign External Hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the hollow places inside the brain. These hollow places are called ventricles. Cerebrospinal fluid is saltwater that’s made inside the ventricles. In normal conditions, it flows around the brain and spinal cord, cushioning them. It also sends nutrients to the brain and takes away waste. Then it’s absorbed into the bloodstream, and new, fresh CSF takes its place. However, a buildup of CSF can put pressure on the brain causing many symptoms including a rapid increase in head circumference, fussiness, tiredness, poor appetite, vomiting, eyes that stay looking down, seizures, and slowed development.
Hydrocephalus can be present at birth and is the result of genetic abnormalities, problems with fetal development, or complications at birth. Hydrocephalus is a relatively common neuropediatric condition, affecting about 1 in every 500 babies in the U.S. Unfortunately, a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the head can also be a symptom of a traumatic brain injury, most often caused in babies by severe blows to the head. This can be interpreted as physical abuse if other symptoms are not considered, as in the Troy family’s case.
The family is now trying to heal from the trauma of separation, legal battles, and financial loss. Lorina has become an advocate for families like hers that have experienced devastating results from a child’s misdiagnosis. She lobbies lawmakers in Texas, California, and Washington D.C. to change laws on getting second medical opinions and the role of CPS in instances like these. It’s very important to Lorina to make physicians, hospitals, judges, law enforcement and CPS aware that children can easily and quickly be misdiagnosed with child abuse when the child can have a medical condition. She believes a nationwide law needs to be passed that would give a parent the right to get a second opinion on their child’s health from a medical expert, especially when there is no evidence of child abuse
Lorina also talks to the press to raise awareness of Hydrocephalus and stories of misdiagnosis like hers and many other families across the country. Lorina says, “Our strength came from our faith, our prayer, and the love and support of family and friends. But we went through the most challenging events of our lives, and it has strengthened us.” She has now written a book, titled “Miracles of Faith,” that goes into the details of her family’s journey through the medical and legal systems and how their faith saw them through it all. It is available directly through the publishing company, Westbow Press, A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan.
Renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Jennifer Walden has released her own line of skincare products, calling it a bucket-list project that she always hoped to check off. The high-quality, medical-grade products Dr. Walden is offering have been designed to help repair and rejuvenate the natural beauty of the skin. These offerings include an enhancing lip plumper that helps support the look of fuller lips, a hydrating daily face moisturizer that provides intense hydration, a fresh tea face mist rich in antioxidants that help promote toning of the skin, a dark spot formula that helps to lighten dark pigmentations, and a detox nightwear cream that is meant to help recharge and restore a youthful glow to your skin. Dr. Walden also offers a line of private-label CBD products including nighttime ageless serum and daytime ageless moisturizer.
Dr. Walden’s offerings
also include a line of supplements geared towards both women and men. These
products contain evidence-based active ingredients and are some of the most frequently
requested products in her collection. This wide selection of supplements focuses
on the support and overall health of the patient, as well as weight loss and
energy supplements. Dr. Walden takes great pride in ensuring her skincare
products and supplements are in keeping with her overall mission to provide the
best quality, advanced medical-grade skincare and supplement line on the
market. On top of that, Dr. Walden and her team have partnered with several
charities so that the customer can feel good about every skincare product they
purchase.
Dr. Jennifer Walden is proud to announce that giving back is at the heart of her skincare and supplement lines and that for every purchase online, her team will donate 1% of all proceeds to the charity any customer selects. There are five different organizations that Dr. Walden’s team supports with their proceeds. The first is the Center for Child Protection, which is a children’s advocacy center with a mission to reduce the trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of crimes against them, including being victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and for children who have witnessed a violent crime. The second non-profit they support is Fighting Pretty, which aims to help women feel strong and beautiful during and after all kinds of cancer treatments. The third foundation they support is the Heifer Foundation, which works in 21 countries around the world alongside local famers and business owners to support them and their communities as they mobilize and realize their futures and increase their quality of produce. The fourth organization Dr. Jennifer Walden’s team supports is the National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation, which helps to inform, educate, and prevent violence and exploitation against women and children both nationally and internationally. Lastly, the fifth organization the team supports is Austin Fairy Godmothers, which aims to relieve the financial stress on ladies of all ages by helping them afford clothing for any formal event including prom, graduation, banquets, and other special events.
About Dr.
Jennifer Walden
Dr. Jennifer Walden was born in Austin, Texas to a dentist father and surgical nurse mother. She graduated from Anderson High School and went on to obtain her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Texas. Following her undergrad education, she received her MD from the University of Texas Medical Branch and graduated as salutatorian of her class.
Dr. Walden then went on to obtain a
fellowship in aesthetic surgery at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat
Hospital. She stayed on at the hospital following the end of her fellowship and
worked on New York City’s Upper East Side for seven and a half years.
During her tenure in New York, she participated in clinical trials that led to
the reintroduction of silicone breast implants.
In December 2011, Dr. Walden returned to
Austin, Texas and opened up a private practice in Westlake Hills. The
Doctor then opened a satellite office in Marble Falls, Texas in 2014.
She has also been recognized as one of “The Best Plastic Surgeons in
America” by American Way.
Dr. Jennifer Walden is known for using
Vectra, a 3-D imaging technology that has the ability to visualize a
patient’s look before surgery, and ThermiVa, a temperature-controlled,
radio-frequency system for vaginal tightening and rejuvenation. Walden has also
developed instruments for breast surgery, which are carried by Accurate
Scientific and Surgical Instruments (ASSI).
She is recognized as one of the first doctors to use laser machines to do a high volume of labiaplasties and vaginoplasties. Harper’s Bazaar listed Dr. Walden as one of the Best Beauty Surgeons in 2014. Walden is a member of Modern Aesthetics’ and Plastic Surgery Practice’s Editorial Board of Directors and is one of the few women to be elected to serve on the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Board of Directors.
Dr. Walden serves as a consultant for aesthetic companies including ThermiAesthetics, Venus Concept, Ideal Implant, and Sciton Inc. She has been a revered commentator on plastic surgery by ABC News, Fox News, VH1, E!, and Dr. 90210.
With the spread of novel coronavirus, many people find themselves faced with disappointment on a profound level. They’ve had to cancel travel plans made months ago, and some can’t get their money back for hotels and flights. Normal daily activities are out. For most, that means no more going to the gym, out to eat, or to a Friday night concert to blow off some steam. While there are pictures of people on spring break living it up on Florida beaches, most people around the U.S. are trying to stay home. Those who can are currently working from home. People who thrive on co-worker interaction or other social situations are suddenly feeling very cut off from other people. And even those with introverted personalities are starting to experience cabin fever, but Talkspace has some solutions.
To make matters worse,
with so many faced with unemployment, food insecurity, and catching COVID-19,
some may feel like they don’t have a right to feel disappointed. “It could
be so much worse,” they tell themselves.
They’re the lucky ones because they’re healthy, have savings, can work from
home, and have strong family support. So
they’re pushing those disappointing emotions
down, feeling ashamed that they have them.
But here’s the truth: No one is alone in this. Many people feel disappointed. Most people are afraid, sad, and angry. Those are healthy emotions in response to the current situation. People can manage them without bottling them up, which is very unhealthy. Rather, it’s important to talk about how you feel, and if you don’t have anyone who’ll listen, sometimes using a remote therapy service like Talkspace is the best solution.
Talkspace on Dealing With Disappointment Around COVID-19
Avoid
listening to or reading the same scary news over and over.
Avoid
neglecting their bodies and minds. Everyone needs exercise, adequate sleep, and
proper nutrition to improve immune system function and reduce stress.
Take
some alone time. This is especially hard for those with kids at home, but
people should try to give themselves at least 10–60 minutes a day to de-stress.
Stay
connected. People should speak with loved ones on the phone or via video chat,
especially older relatives and friends who need comfort.
Remember
that this is temporary, and most things can be rescheduled. There will be some
losses, but we’re all in this together.
Listening to Emotions and Attending
to Those Needs
The Talkspace community recommends that people:
Set
boundaries at home. If people are continually talking about coronavirus, and it
increases anxiety, people need to be able to share how they’re feeling. Right
now, everyone needs to work together to reduce stress at home. But each person
can only be responsible for themselves ultimately, so it’s important to
remember that you can’t control what others do.
Stick
with factual news sources. People should avoid fear-mongering voices and
conspiracy theorists. Most of these personalities get paid to stir people up.
That’s not what people need right now when anxiety levels are at their peak.
People need to work toward feeling safe and calm and helping others do the
same.
Speak
with a professional. Racing emotions can lead to dark thoughts or actions.
People should be aware of obsessive thinking and downward spirals and reach out
for help while they still have the forethought to do so.
Supporting Loved Ones
To care for loved ones,
people can:
Lead
by example. Help your kids express how they’re feeling and manage stress.
Children model their parents’ behavior, even into their teens. People shouldn’t
try to hide how they’re feeling, but they can show their children that they’re
working through their feelings.
Be
a voice of reason without discounting how people feel. People can help each
other talk it out and separate the real dangers from those that many are
creating in their minds.
Reassure
the elderly and those with compromised immune systems that they’re taking
precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Follow
CDC and local guidelines together.
Use
virtual tools like Skype and FaceTime to meet with loved ones virtually.
For First Responders and Those Supporting the Less Fortunate
Many people, like
healthcare providers, serve
their communities in essential roles. Like soldiers
on the front lines, they’re undoubtedly dealing with exceptional stress levels,
some of which may become traumatic. It’s essential for people in these roles to:
Accept this a traumatic event. It may have a long-lasting emotional impact on them.
Know the early symptoms of COVID-19, so they can both identify potential cases to reduce exposure and quickly quarantine patients if they develop symptoms.
Attend to personal care every day.
Keep a grateful journal. Write in it every morning or night. An old-fashioned journal and pen work best. If they’re having trouble sleeping, they can jot some things down before bed to ease their minds.
Remember, emotional responses impact people physically. The immune system and ability to help others are at their best when people care for themselves first. People can also choose to speak with a mental health professional like those on Talkspace. They can talk with licensed therapists on any device and through several convenient methods like text, video chat, phone call.
How Services Like Talkspace Can Help
Sometimes, just talking it out with someone who’ll listen can help. Professionals are available on services like Talkspace, so people don’t have to go anywhere to get the support they need.
Many may not realize that Talkspace or a similar remote therapy service may be available through their employers’ employee assistance programs. This may make it free of charge. And if not, these services are streamlined to keep their costs low, so they can charge less than the cost of traditional therapy.
Most people have never
seen this level of daily disruption in their lifetimes. It’s essential to
keep things in perspective and focus on caring for yourself first so that
you can better care for others. Work
to stay healthy and well, and don’t forget to
pay attention to your emotional health.
There’s nothing new about working
remotely, but a shift to an entirely remote workforce for an unforeseen period
of time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing businesses to implement
new strategies to ensure that communication remains smooth and workflow seamless during these uncertain times. Yanni Hufnagel, Founder and CEO of beverage startup Lemon Perfect is committed to maintaining a connection with his employees during the challenging days and months ahead – and using a number of digital tools to keep projects moving forward and responses timely. At times like these, Hufnagel advises, communication is key.
Regularly scheduled meetings, preferably by video conference, provide needed structure to the workweek for remote employees and present opportunities for employees to receive quick responses to issues that may be arising, as well as a needed dose of face time. Due to pervasive high anxiety levels and various stressors impacting workers at this moment, it’s ideal, Yanni Hufnagel has found, to begin these meetings with a less structured moment of check-in, where employees can share how they are feeling. That ability to just connect and engage in casual discussion before launching into the meeting’s agenda can help employees feel connected and valued and provide that necessary human interaction that’s in short supply with mandated stay-at-home orders.
And there are other digital tools that
are particularly useful right now for discrete groups within a company working
on team projects remotely – like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Asana. Whichever
platform is deemed the best fit for a particular company, Yanni Hufnagel
recommends that there be ample opportunity for employees to learn how to use it.
Companies can share available online tutorials and institute trial runs where employees
can work out any issues with a platform and ask questions. If one worker is
well-versed in a project management platform, consider designating him or her
the point person. A platform is only as useful as the buy-in of the
participants, Hufnagel notes. Providing ample opportunities for employees to
learn the ropes will pave the way for successful adoption.
Remember that nuance can be easily lost in typed communications, whether that’s on Slack, or via email or text. In other words, communications can unintentionally come across as blunt or stern without the benefit of eye contact and body language cues. That means managers have to double down on enthusiasm and positivity in their communications to remote employees, advises Yanni Hufnagel.
Hufnagel founded Lemon Perfect as a healthy alternative to existing high-sugar, high-calorie sports drinks with their added artificial colors and flavors. He wanted increasingly health-conscious consumers to have more beverage options and noted that many were beginning to drink lemon water, and loved the taste and benefits, but not the inconvenience. The beverage he created – Lemon Perfect – is a USDA-certified organic lemon drink from lemons hand-picked in Southern California and cold-pressed using high-pressure processing instead of heat to maintain the lemons’ many nutritional health benefits. Available in four fun flavors – Just Lemon, Blueberry Acai, Dragon Fruit Mango, and Peach Raspberry – the drinks replace lost electrolytes and provide needed hydration with only the best ingredients. And Lemon Perfect meets other strict certification standards as well—it is certified vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO Project verified. The company is also a member of 1% for the Planet, contributing at least 1% of annual sales to environmental causes.
Prior to founding his company, Hufnagel was a former basketball player and university-level basketball coach at schools like the University of Nevada Reno, University of California Berkeley, Vanderbilt University, and Harvard University. He brings high enthusiasm and positivity to his role leading his company and takes every opportunity to inspire his employees and recommit them to the company’s mission: “Democratize drinkable wellness.”
With a remote workforce, particularly in a time of such heightened anxiety and uncertainty, it’s important to find those opportunities to reconnect employees with the greater mission, Hufnagel says. This is a time where consistent, positive internal messaging is just as critical as the messaging going out to consumers via online ads and social media posts. Lemon Perfect is a beverage company, but it is also a wellness company, dedicated to health and the environment. Hufnagel is using this moment to remind employees of the importance of their larger mission – to provide healthy alternatives to sugary sodas, sports drinks, and juices, and reaffirm the importance of healthy living as people are self-isolating and looking for new ways to maintain their commitments to healthy eating and drinking.
Of
course, remote work still requires accountability. The best way to help remote
employees stay on task is to set reasonable expectations, work with them individually
to make sure they understand what is expected, and to provide opportunities for
regular check-ins to ensure that everyone is managing well and meeting small
goals. Daily check-ins can be incredibly effective, Hufnagel notes. Even just a
15-minute morning check-in to run through upcoming deliverables and gauge how
employees are doing can provide a steady compass to guide the company forward
through uncertain times.
And focusing on those deliverables, as opposed to more rigid schedules, is essential. Beyond the scheduled check-ins and virtual meetings, employees need a great deal of flexibility right now. Many are managing to work from home with children and need to work at odd hours and in shorter bursts to get their work accomplished. It’s important that CEOs and managers lead with compassion.
Yanni Hufnagel makes sure that his employees know they are valued and he has built a workplace that prioritizes openness and transparency. Bringing a perspective honed from his years coaching basketball teams, Hufnagel wants his employees, even if they are working remotely, to feel that they are a valued member of the Lemon Perfect team, and to know that the job of getting through the challenging months ahead will be a shared effort.
About Lemon Perfect Lemon Perfect is a naturally refreshing, zero sugar cold-pressed lemon water with antioxidants and electrolytes. Certified organic and full of flavor, Lemon Perfect is widely considered by industry insiders to be one of the most scalable, exciting and innovative emerging beverage concepts in the marketplace.
About Yanni Hufnagel
Yanni Hufnagel
Yanni Hufnagel is the Founder & CEO of Lemon Perfect, a naturally refreshing, zero sugar cold-pressed lemon water with essential antioxidants and hydrating electrolytes. Certified organic and full of flavor, Lemon Perfect – named “Best New Product” at BevNET’s Best of 2019 Awards – is widely considered by industry insiders to be one of the most scalable, exciting and innovative emerging beverage concepts in the marketplace.
Founded in 2017 and backed by an extraordinary team of investors, the company’s mission is to democratize drinkable wellness by making Lemon Perfect accessible for anyone, anytime, anywhere.
Before starting Lemon Perfect, Hufnagel served as an assistant men’s college basketball coach, with stops at Nevada, California, Vanderbilt, Harvard, and Oklahoma. Hufnagel earned the reputation as one of the most dogged recruiters in America, consistently lauded for signing nationally-ranked recruiting classes. In Hufnagel’s 10 years coaching college basketball, his teams reached the NCAA Tournament six times.
Though Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are decentralized and not issued by any bank, that doesn’t mean that you are off the hook when it comes to paying taxes.
You still have to report your Bitcoin holdings, trades and any profit. And, you’ll have to pay taxes depending on your return. It isn’t a currency, so how do you pay taxes on it? And if you are a professional and get paid in cryptocurrency?
This is how things get confusing.
In this article, I will go over the things you need to understand when it comes to cryptocurrency and your taxes.
How does the IRS view cryptocurrency?
As I already mentioned, the IRS does not consider Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency as a currency at all.
Once again, it is not issued by a central banking authority and cannot be considered money. So, what does the IRS consider cryptocurrency to be? Instead, it is an asset.
Any Bitcoin tax consultant needs to keep this in mind as assets are taxed much differently than income.
It’s very interesting that they consider it to be an asset as it is still used as a way to pay for things. In this sense, they think that using Bitcoin is another form of bartering. Imagine giving somebody your car in exchange for a good or service and you have an idea of how this became the designation.
Since Bitcoin is an asset, it is considered property so when you trade it, it is liable for a capital gains tax. And there are multiple ways to pay a capital gains tax so it depends on a few factors as to how much you will pay.
Keep good records
The entire history of your Bitcoin will need to be accounted for. Make sure that you are keeping accurate records of every transaction so your accountant can understand how much you should pay in taxes.
Aside from the fact that your Bitcoins will come under different tax codes for capital gains, there is also how they are acquired that factor into what you need to pay.
For instance, there are long term capital gains and short term. If you have your Bitcoin for over a year and then sell it, it will come under the long term capital gains tax. Short term for anything under a year.
If you mine your Bitcoins, it is considered a business income. When you mine your coins, there is considerable expense with the electricity you will use so the cost of this is deductible.
Now, if you are only buying and trading, then any profit from these transactions will fall under capital gains.
Conclusion
Even if you have a pretty firm grasp of how your taxes will be impacted when you invest or use Bitcoin, you still need to talk to a professional to make sure you don’t make any mistakes when you file.
Especially since your profit from Bitcoin is not very straightforward due to the volatility. You likely experienced some losses as well.
The Darien Dash race is an annual event that brings families and friends together for an exceptional experience. Over the years, the event has been used to connect people and give them another chance to have fun away from their busy schedules. The 20th annual race is scheduled for May 17, 2020, as from 8:00 am. Activity lineup for the day includes 1-mile, 5k, and 10k races. However, there will be plenty of other activities that will take place on the day to ensure you get as much fun as possible. Therefore, if you are yet to book your tickets, this is the right time to do so.
The Purpose Of The Darien Dash
Darien Dash is a sponsored fundraiser organized by the Darien Chamber of commerce. It focuses on celebrating Memorial Day and our veterans. Therefore, some of the proceeds benefit is given to benefit Darien Grade School or High School and a wounded veteran’s organization. However, for them to benefit from the collected proceeds, the institutions but have the highest number of registered participants in the event. If an institution registers at least 30 and above participants, they could be eligible to benefit from the event. The sponsors and partners of the Darien Chamber of Commerce are therefore responsible for the success of the event.
Where It Will Take Place
1001 Hinsbrook Ave is the location for the event. All participants will gather here at exactly 8:00 am for the briefing and commencing of the activities. The event will commence with a kid’s activity at precisely 8.00 am. The young once will line up for a warm-up race and impress the guest as the run. Participants for this event should be at least five years and below. After that, by 8.30 am, the 1-mile, 5k, & 10k race will kick off concurrently. All the 1001 Hinsbrook Ave streets will be in partial lockdown to facilitate the event and allow runners to have some quality time in all their respective races. There will be a lot of activities across 1702 Plainfield Road, Darien since this is the road that connects to the Darien City Hall. However, at the main Darien city hall, there will be plenty of other activities taking place for those who will not be running.
The activities will ensure that everyone will have something to be proud of the event. There will be a swag bag, jamming DJ, business EXPO with giveaways, and commemorative moisture-absorbing t-shirts for the first 300 registered participants, among others. The gathering will also enjoy the opportunity to dine with the runners at the pancake breakfast, which is sponsored by the Darien Swim & Recreation Club. However, this comes at an extra discounted fee.
Registration of the Event
Getting tickets is ongoing, and it is advisable you get yours now at a cheaper rate. The ticket prices are classified according to category and the event you intend to participate in:
• Kids’ fun run: This is the first category, and it focuses on kids between five years and bellow. Tickets are absolutely free. Therefore, feel encouraged to bring your kid to the event and enjoy as you nurture their running talent from a young age.
• 1-Mile race: The admission fee per entrant for this race will cost $30 for advance tickets. However, if you choose to register on the race day, the price will increase to $40.
• 5K: Advance tickets per entrant cost $35, which will change to $40 on the actual event day.
• 10k: For you to participate in this event, you are required to pay $40 for an advance ticket per entrant or $45 on the race day
For all the advanced tickets in any category, the exercise will run up to 11:59 pm on May 16, 2020. To avoid being locked out in the opportunity, get to the official Darien websites for tickets, and more registration details. CARA members will enjoy a $4 discount for any race category. After the race, the organizers have prepared awards for the top 3 participants in each category. Therefore, you are likely to get away with more than the initial registration fee. There will also be a Zumba warm-up where all participants get an opportunity to flex their muscles and have some fun.
Sequence of Events
Although the event is planned to take place on May 17, there are plenty of preparations that will take place prior to the main day. This is geared towards ensuring that the day is a success, and everything happens as planned. Therefore, on Friday, May 15, 2020, the race packet pickup will be available at the Darien City Hall from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. This makes it easy for the participants to understand the logistics of the event and the route to follow before the primary day. However, for those who will miss the packet pick up on the 15, will have an opportunity to go through the details on a material day.
The Darien Dash event is an essential activity for wounded veterans. As people come together to celebrate Memorial Day, the main focus is to ensure the veterans are accorded the necessary recognition due to their hard work. Therefore, as other people come together in different events within the same period, the Darien dash race focuses on giving the veterans exceptional support. Everything from the fundraiser to the sequence of events is geared toward appreciating all the veterans. Additionally, the semi-marathon races accommodate participants from all age groups, hence accommodating even the older people to participate in the run.
If you fell in
love with the colourful and mysterious culture of the Thai people and have
decided to make this tropical paradise your home, you certainly wouldn’t be
alone in your desire to experience the magical qualities that the Land of
Smiles offers. In order to help prepare you for this epic adventure, here are a
few important aspects to consider.
Thai Language – The key to understanding Thai culture lies in the language, and if you are planning to live in The Kingdom, learning to speak Thai is vitally important. Outside of the major tourist areas, English is not widely spoken in Thailand, therefore, you will need to be able to communicate. Enrol in a basic course and remember to practice as often as you can, as this is a critical element of language learning that is often overlooked, and if you plan on setting up a business and hiring Thai people, it is critical that you can communicate effectively.
Earning a Living – If you plan to reside and retire in Thailand, then earning a living is not an issue. You may opt to come on a Thailand long-term resident visa, or for everyone else with the matter of income, you can apply for skilled professions such as teaching English, provided you are degree qualified. Don’t expect a huge salary for teaching English, but you could live reasonably on $1,500 per month. While many expats live off their digital earnings, and with the advances in technology, many people work remotely or run an online business.
Entrepreneurs – If you plan to set up your own business in Thailand, there are agents that handle BOI company registration in Bangkok, and they can ensure that your company is fully compliant with Thai law. If you are planning to invest in Thailand, this brings with it many benefits and by talking to an English-speaking Thai lawyer, you can discover how to make the most out of your company registration.
Buddhism – Regardless of your religious beliefs, you should look into the main principles of Buddhism, as this will help you to gain a better understanding of Thai culture. It is, for example, considered impolite to express emotion in public, although things are changing, as Thai people absorb western ways and attitudes.
Location – Thailand has it all; stunning beaches in the south, mountainous in the north, and the northeast has a culture all of its own. If you want to have access to creature comforts, one of the premier beach towns like Hua Hin have much to offer the expat. The southern islands of Phuket and Samui are both very popular with expats, and then there is Bangkok, which might be your home if you are moving into business circles.
It is important that you
have adequate health insurance, as Thailand’s hospitals are far from cheap, and
any online broker can quote you for a range of insurance packages that cover
you while living in Thailand. With some research and planning, your experiences
in Thailand will be positive and you will remain in the Land of Smiles for many
years.
If you’re an entrepreneur, odds are, you’ve either crowdfunded a project before, or you’re thinking about crowdfunding one. In 2019 alone, there were nearly 6.5 billion crowdfunding campaigns launched worldwide. With a market this big, there’s plenty of potential, but there’s also increased competition for funding dollars. Ideazon is an expert crowdfunding agency, helping entrepreneurs successfully launch and fund their ventures. Today, they’re sharing what you need to know, to survive crowdfunding in 2020.
Have a game plan from the get-go
When you choose to crowdfund a project, you’re turning to the masses. What this means is that your ideas are very public. In order to successfully fund your venture, you want to make sure you know what you’re doing, and that you have a game plan, before you jump in with both feet. If you’re unsure of your crowdfunding plan, it’s very possible that you could make a critical error. Ideazon offers guidance for entrepreneurs, to help them come up with a comprehensive crowdfunding strategy.
Know how to leverage social media
Using crowdfunding platforms effectively is only part of the challenge when it comes to crowdfunding. Another massive component has to do with leveraging social media. Social media and crowdfunding are intertwined and go hand-in-hand. Knowing how to successfully market your campaign on social media gives you unlimited potential for success. With social media, it’s possible to go viral within minutes. Knowing how to work with social media is key when it comes to crowdfunding campaigns. That’s why Ideazon offers Facebook Marketing and Social Media Promotion to the entrepreneurs they work with.
Research and hit your target audience
When it comes to advertising for your crowdfunding campaign, you want to make sure you’re reaching the relevant people. That’s why it’s crucial to research your target audience. Who are you speaking to, who is your product for? If the right eyes see your venture, they’re much more willing to invest. But researching your target audience is only part of the challenge. Know how to hit it as well. Again, it’s crucial the right people see what you’re doing, because they’re the ones who will reach into their pockets and invest.
Make sure you have high quality images and videos
Because crowdfunding is embedded in the digital world, and in social media, it’s crucial to have high quality images and videos of your project. These digital assets need to be clear, eye catching, and really showcase your project, in order for you to reach your maximum funding potential. To create these digital assets, it’s usually best to turn to professionals. For example, Ideazon offers their entrepreneurs full Kickstarter Video Production, meaning that they produce videos of the highest quality for their crowdfunding campaigns.
About Ideazon Ideazon is a crowdfunding agency helping entrepreneurs launch successful crowdfunding campaigns. They were recently featured in Yahoo! Finance, and often share helpful tips, like how to take your business to the next level, and why crowdfunding may not work for your project. You can learn more about how Ideazon works, and reach out for a free consultation on Ideazon’s website.
Venture capital firms have provided the fuel behind the modern technological explosion. The backing of these firms can grant a host of benefits to entrepreneurs, including funding, go-to-market support, institutional experience, and more. But not all of these firms are created equal. To get a sense of how a prominent firm can truly encourage innovation and the development of new ideas in tech, we turned to the case of Shasta Ventures, a prominent venture capital firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Company background
Shasta Ventures, founded in 2004, is one of the leading early-stage venture capital firms working in tech today. Under the guidance of Managing Directors Jason Pressman and Ravi Mohan, Shasta has worked with more than 100 startups focusing on enterprise software and technologies. Mohan, one of the firm’s co-founders, has a keen interest in SaaS applications, data and analytics, and infrastructure, and has served as a key advisor many of the entrepreneurs that the firm supports.
In his role as the firm’s other Managing Director, Pressman draws upon his professional operational experience. Known as a company builder, he made his mark as the leader in charge of launching Walmart.com in 2000 and selling it back to the company five years later. Today, it is one of the largest online retail businesses. That experience helped develop his understanding of the work required to scale fast-growing businesses while improving operations through the use of software. In his present role, he often acts as an advocate and counselor to entrepreneurs who are seeking to grow their businesses at scale.
Policy of support
Through the influence of its leadership team, the company is known in the tech community for its strong partnerships with entrepreneurs. Their business style is evident in the small number of companies the firm partners with each year — typically about ten — and allows the firm’s partners to give each entrepreneur a level of attention that is most conducive to a favorable outlook. The approach prioritizes patience, grit and long-term success, empowering entrepreneurs to grow their companies at a rate that makes organic sense.
In the pursuit of these partnerships, the venture capital firm seeks out entrepreneurs who are brilliant and driven by what they do. An entrepreneur’s track record of strong iteration is a priority. Shasta Ventures believes that driven professionals who are pragmatic and able to iterate are best at adapting to the demands and realities of ever-changing markets and customer needs. This is of paramount importance in a world where the realities of daily life are continually shifting and businesses are on constant alert for the ways in which they must adapt.
Portfolio examples
To better understand the work of Shasta Ventures, which focuses on enterprise software, let’s take a look at two notable companies in its portfolio. The first brand we’ll highlight is AppSheet, which has made headlines of late for its recent acquisition by Google. The startup, founded in 2014, helps businesses build data-based apps without the need for large development teams. The company already serves thousands of customers including Solvay, American Electric Power, and Boom Technology. To date, companies have used the service for a range of needs including inventory management and customer relationship management. Its broad existing customer base includes companies in fields such as manufacturing, scientific research, and construction.
Another standout from the company’s portfolio is Zuora, which offers software that helps any company create a cloud-based subscription business. The platform offers a number of SaaS applications to help companies manage different aspects of their recurring revenue streams, including billing, quotes, and orders. The Zuora Marketplace offers companies a chance to browse prebuilt apps configured to be of use for a number of needs specific to role, industry, and geography. With a majority of consumers in many parts of the world demanding new consumption models based on the subscription economy, the need for the types of services offered by Zuora has never been greater, a recurring theme of the companies reflected in the venture capital firm’s portfolio.
Power of products
The two examples above form only a piece of the firm’s experience and expertise but help to illustrate a key part of what motivates the team. With the state of the economy ever-evolving to keep pace with consumer needs and desires, new approaches to business are of consistent importance. This deep understanding of the fabric of modern society is a driving force for the company’s passion to seek out entrepreneurs creating the next wave of powerful tech innovation in the workplace. This commitment to development not only helps support entrepreneurs in bringing their unique ideas to market, but it also helps contribute to the vibrancy of the economy and its ability to act as a force for positive change.
That concept has helped technology alter much about life in the modern world and the way that change is delivered to the everyday person in the workplace. This high bar is not just an aspiration, it also helps to serve as a metric for evaluating startups and their creations. To determine whether a product truly meets its standard for excellence, the firm looks to a few key factors. Can the product serve a single purpose exceptionally well, create an outstanding user experience, and have a lasting impact? Potential products that demonstrate these characteristics are candidates for the company’s exclusive portfolio and are poised to help contribute to its extensive legacy.
By looking to the above overview, one can begin to understand the traits that help set Shasta Ventures apart from its competitors in the field of tech and elsewhere. From the experience and passion of its leadership team to the relentless search for products that can improve our everyday quality of work-life, Shasta is willing to work hard to promote excellence. In light of past successes, and with many of its exciting startups already making breakthroughs, those interested in software innovation would do well to monitor the firm’s moves as it develops into the future.
