Corb7 International December 6th, 2023 Newsletter

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International Business

Editor's Note

Entrepreneur & Author
JeffCorbett.com

Be Aware of Cyber Scams!

The year-end holiday rush is upon us. Unfortunately, so is the risk of cyber attacks and scams. Take a few precautions to protect yourself.

In a relatively short period of time, the internet has changed the way people live. Things that might have been unimaginable as recently as a quarter century ago are now ingrained in daily life. For instance, few people in the late 1990s might have imagined a day when billions of people across the globe would be walking around with mini computers capable of taking hi-resolution photos in their pockets. But smartphones have long since become an accepted and vital part of life in the 21st century.

The internet has opened doors to new possibilities, but it's also left other doors open for cybercriminals. Any home with an internet connection is potentially vulnerable to internet scams. Recognition of that fact and awareness of the following scams can reduce the likelihood of being victimized by opportunistic cybercriminals.

· Disaster relief scams: Human beings' innate sense of compassion is on full display in the aftermath of natural disasters, when people across the globe typically donate hundreds of millions of dollars in an effort to help people whose lives have been turned upside down by hurricanes, tsunamis and other devastating events. But skilled cybercriminals prey on that compassion by setting up bogus relief efforts. Such efforts may involve fake charities with names that are similar but slightly different than well-known, legitimate nonprofit organizations. Operations such as Charity Navigator make it easy to verify if a charitable organization is legitimate, and would-be donors should utilize such resources prior to making any donations.

· Phishing scams: Phishing scams are among the oldest cyber scams, but they still nab victims every day. The Federal Trade Commission warns that many phishing scams are conducted via email or text messages and inform potential victims that there is an issue with their finances. Some may say there are issues with a bank account, credit card or even a tax return. Skeptics may wonder how anyone could fall for a phishing scam in the age of two-factor authentication and other security measures. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that phishing scams cost victims nearly $60 million in a recent report, indicating they're still a lucrative source of income for cybercriminals.

· Formjacking: Formjacking is a retail-based scam in which online shoppers' personal and financial information is stolen. In such instances, a retail website could be hacked without users' knowledge. When it comes time to purchase items they've placed in their carts, users are redirected to a fraudulent payment page, where they enter personal information, such as their credit card number, that cybercriminals then steal. When buying items online, shoppers should confirm that the URL on the payment page aligns with the retailer they're buying from. If the URL is missing even a single letter (think Amzon.com instead of Amazon.com), then chances are a formjacking scam is being operated.

Tech support scams, in which users are asked to download applications to fix an infected computer, and similar download-based fake antivirus software scams are some additional examples of cyber scams. Users are urged to be on the lookout for each of these types of scams and exercise caution whenever something doesn't seem right or authentic.

Here are a few precautions offered by Wells Fargo Technology.

Pay Securely: Use a reputable third-party pay service such as PayPal, Zelle or Venmo.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Only shop on a secured internet connection.

Update Your Software: New computer viruses circulate every day and the best way to stay ahead of them is to install regular updates.

Check Your Statements: Review banking and credit card statements regularly for discrepancies.
Use One Credit Card: This limits exposure to fraud and theft.

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International Business

Business Psychology

New Year's Resolutions to Benefit Your Brain

Did You Know?

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Resolutions made at the start of a new year often focus on personal improvement. Giving up poor habits like smoking or drinking too much alcohol and losing weight through diet and exercise are some popular resolutions.

Health and wellness certainly dominates the resolution landscape. Improvement-minded individuals interested in gaining long-term benefits from their resolutions this year may want to consider ways to improve brain health and function. Here are five ideas to consider.

1. Get moving: Exercise does the body good and even positively affects the brain. The American Academy of Neurology has found aerobic exercise may play a significant role in reversing and preventing cognitive decline. Researchers have found that even a little exercise each day can result in improved brain function in less than six months. Andrew E. Budson, M.D., a professor of neurology at Boston University, also says aerobic exercise releases growth factors in the brain, which can help grow new brain cells.

2. Start a new hobby: When doing the same activities over and over, you eventually learn how to do those activities better. But doctors can't confirm this is actually helping the brain in a meaningful way. Rather, there is evidence that doing new things can be beneficial to the brain. So learning a new hobby, taking a class, or even learning to play a musical instrument can push the brain to improve from a cognitive standpoint, indicates The Healthy, a Reader's Digest brand.

3. Make more time for fun: Repeated stress can have detrimental effects on the body and mind. Harvard Health says stress has been linked to cognitive problems and a higher risk for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Taking time to relax and enjoy oneself can tame stress, and in turn, alleviate issues affecting memory and cognition.

4. Practice mindfulness more often: Mindfulness is an exercise in paying attention to one's surroundings, senses and more. Too often people are multi-tasking and never fully devoting their attention to one thing. Mindfulness gives the brain a break and brings a person into the present.

5. Eat a better diet: The benefit of eating healthy foods extends beyond the waistline. Many of the foods that are good for the heart are important for preventing cognitive decline and dementias. A 2015 systemic review found strong evidence for a protective effect of the Mediterranean diet, according to researchers at Deakin University School of Medicine in Australia.

By making brain health a priority when coming up with New Year's resolutions this year, individuals can benefit for years to come.

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International Business

Business Relocation

Understanding Good Credit and Relocation

The art of the move.

by Morayma MaKay
Corporate Relocation Consultant & Coach
Get-Ready-Set-Move

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Relocating to a new place is like writing a new chapter in the book of life. Exciting opportunities await, from new job prospects to fresh adventures...but have you considered the role your credit plays in this journey?

Building and maintaining good credit before your relocation isn't just a box to check; it's a smart move that can ease your transition and open doors you might not have considered. So, why is it so crucial? Let's dive in.

1. Rental Applications:
When you arrive at your new destination, you'll likely need a place to live. Rental applications often include credit checks, and having good credit can make you a more attractive tenant. Landlords see it as a sign of financial responsibility, which could mean quicker approvals and better rental options.

2. Utility Hookups:
Good credit can also simplify the process of setting up utilities like electricity, water, and internet at your new residence. It may enable you to avoid hefty security deposits or connect services more quickly.

3. Financing Needs:
Whether you're purchasing a new home, leasing a car, or taking out a personal loan, good credit can significantly impact your ability to secure favorable terms and interest rates. It can potentially save you thousands of dollars over time.

4. Employment Background Checks:
Some employers include credit checks as part of their hiring process, especially for positions that involve financial responsibilities. A strong credit history can strengthen your candidacy.

5. Emergency Preparedness:
Life is unpredictable, and you might find yourself in a situation where you need access to credit quickly. Having good credit can be a financial safety net during unexpected emergencies.

How to Build Good Credit:

Now that you know why good credit is essential, here are some tips to help you build and maintain it:

Pay Bills On Time: Timely payments are one of the most crucial factors in your credit score.

Manage Debt Responsibly: Keep credit card balances low, and aim to pay them off in full each month.

Diversify Your Credit Mix: A mix of credit types (credit cards, loans, etc.) can positively impact your credit score.

Regularly Check Your Credit Report: Monitor your credit report for errors and discrepancies, and address any issues promptly.

Avoid Opening Too Many Accounts at Once: Each credit inquiry can slightly lower your credit score.

Relocation is a significant life event, and good credit can be your trusted companion along the way. It's an investment in your financial future, one that can make your transition smoother and your new beginnings even brighter. So, before you embark on your next adventure, make sure your credit is in tip-top shape. Your future self will thank you!

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International Business

Business Etiquette

Rebuilding Communication with Family

by Candace Smith
The Etiquette Blog
Candace Smith Etiquette


When the ties that bind us reach a breaking point, we know that rebuilding communications with family members is a priority. Communication bridges link us to one another, but they tend to rip apart when trust has been lost or compromised.

Someone didn’t keep their word, information was hidden, lies were told, a mistake was made and not admitted to – any of these occasions create a situation in the family when the harmed person withdraws or becomes defensive and unfriendly. When family members pull away it’s often the case that resentment has set in.

Restoring Trust

Even though the other person may have done something really awful, in rebuilding communications with family, acknowledging errors that you have made will be critical for your etiquette-ful approach in forgiveness and thinking long-term.

The only way to restore trust and go forward is through repaired communications. As you’ve taken on the role of initiating good relationship with the family member on the outs, the first things to ask yourself are:

1. Am I clear and confident in my purpose? (Part of which is to offer the hope of getting them talking again.)
2. Am I willing to leave a wide communication lane for the person so that they don’t misperceive the bridge to be one-sided only?
3. I approaching the whole restoration project with a heart of etiquette-fulness – with respect, kindness, ready to let the other person go first, letting go of any defensiveness I may have? Tools for Rebuilding Communications with Family

When the family member who has withdrawn agrees to meet and a time and place have been set, greet with a smile and thankfulness that they are willing to get together to talk. Aim to be direct and discreet.

• Choose an environment where it’s comfortable and communicate that you hope you each can feel safe to speak freely. (If you sense there will be a “rolling of the eyes” when you suggest this, you might come prepared to offer to use a timer. Ask the other person to play the role of timer.) Dialogue is the goal.
• Acknowledge there a problem. (Be sure to have thought this through.)
  “Joan, we’ve gone through some hard times. It feels ask if communication lines are totally down. I hope we can come to understand and make things better.”
  “Rory, somehow after Aunt Mary’s last Thanksgiving dinner, I’ve sensed that something was broken between us.”
• Their perceptions and feelings are as valid as yours. Be open.
• Share the emotions you’ve had around the issue of the withdrawal, but do not blame.
• Be ready for the fact that there might be many “agree to disagree” moments.
• Never raise your voice and avoid sighs of frustration.
• If a specific issue requires a decision, make compromise the goal.

You may need to establish what you need going forward: truthfulness, kindness, promise to RSVP invitations, and even agreement of what’s okay to post on social media pertaining to the family. But patience on your part with go a long way in rebuilding communications with family members.

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Lifestyle

Executive Fitness

Holiday Gift Ideas Your Athlete

Suggestions for the family athlete.

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Holiday shoppers know that few things can match the joy of finding the perfect gift for a loved one. Whether that loved one is a tiny tot who can't wait to unwrap this year's must-have toy or an adult hoping to find the latest gadget under the tree on Christmas morning, the thrill of giving a great gift is part of what makes the holiday season so enjoyable.

Friends and family members may fall into certain categories, and that can make holiday shopping a little easier. For example, loved ones who can't wait to sit down with a good book would no doubt appreciate a new e-reader or the latest bestseller. When it comes to gifting the family athlete, the following ideas can provide the inspiration shoppers need to put a smile on the face of fitness-minded friends and family members .

· Weighted vest: Weighted vests have gained popularity in recent years. Available from a variety of manufacturers and for athletes of varying skill levels, weighted vests can be ideal for athletes who want to burn more calories and build strength during their workouts. This can be an especially useful gift for endurance athletes who want their training sessions to mimic the challenges posed by nature or difficult competitive terrains.

· Noise-canceling headphones or earbuds: Many athletes relish their workouts not only as opportunities to zero in on their fitness goals, but also as chances to block out distractions and clear their heads for an hour or two each day. Noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds effectively block out external noises, allowing athletes to direct all of their focus on their workouts and training sessions.

· Energy drinks: Though it might not seem like the most exciting gift to unwrap on Christmas morning, energy drinks are vital to many fitness enthusiasts' athletic endeavors. For example, endurance athletes may appreciate a tub of Osmo Active Hydration Performance Drink Mix, which contains an optimal ratio of sucrose, glucose and electrolytes, helping athletes improve their endurance and power while reducing instances of cramping and fatigue. Energy drinks make for a perfect stocking stuffer.

· Home gym equipment: Pandemic-related gym closures turned athletes into their own personal trainers, and some may not want to return to local fitness facilities even now that they've safely reopened. Home gym equipment can help athletes continue to build their own private home gyms, making items like kettle bells, dumbbells, weight benches, and resistance bands great items to put under the tree this holiday season.

It's never been easier to shop for the family athlete during the holiday season. A heightened focus on fitness ensures there's something for every type of athlete on your holiday shopping list.

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Lifestyle

Spirits & Cuisine

Slow Cooking for Easy Holiday Meals

Crock-Pots since 1940.

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Kitchen gadgets come and go, but one mainstay continues to deliver tasty meals with ease.

The Crock-Pot®, dubbed the original slow cooker, was invented in 1940 by Irving Nachumsohn. This slow cooker was created to cook a traditional stew eaten on the Jewish sabbath. Because faithful Jews are forbidden from cooking on the sabbath, Nachumsohn found the stew could easily be prepared prior and allowed to cook unattended, then carried to dinner, meeting the sabbath requirements. It was another 30 years before the slow cooker garnered widespread acclaim. That newfound popularity developed when more women entered the workforce and needed convenient ways to prepare meals at home without affecting their work schedules.

While slow cookers can make for successful meals, knowing how to use them to their fullest potential can increase the propensity for delicious, easy dishes. Here are some tips and tricks.

· Prepare ingredients the night before. By handling the items for recipes the evening prior, you'll have everything you need ready to put in the slow cooker and set to cook for the day.

· Preheat the cooker. Add ingredients to a slow cooker that is already warmed up for best results.

· Arrange for easy cleanup. Specially designed slow cooker liners can cut washing time dramatically and help prolong the surface of the internal crock.

· Don't add dairy until the meal is almost finished cooking. Cooking dairy products for long periods of time can cause them to curdle. Save them for the last steps when using a slow cooker.

· Exercise caution with tender veggies. The same wait-until-later approach should also apply to vegetables, beans and pastas, which can lose their integrity and become mushy if cooked for hours. Leave them for last.

· Inexpensive cuts of meat are fine. Inexpensive cuts are often high in fat or connective tissue, which will break down during long, moist cooking. Consider browning meat before putting it in the cooker for even more flavor.

· Layer ingredients appropriately. Place hard ingredients like potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables at the bottom of the cooker where they will cook more readily.

· Stick to the low setting. As much as possible, cook using the low setting to allow for slow, gentle heat to bring out the flavors. Ginny Thomas, a training manager for Crock-Pot®, says she has been sticking with this advice for over a decade as a key tip.

Many traditionally prepared meals can be converted to slow cooker recipes. Utilize cookbooks and online resources to make delicious, slow-cooked meals.

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Lifestyle

Leisure

Prolong the Life of Your Poinsettias

Proper care tips.

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With proper care poinsettia plants can continue to thrive and bring warmth and beauty to a home long after the holiday decorations have been tucked away.

Poinsettias and their rich red, white or variegated color schemes are the ideal backdrop for Christmas celebrations. In fact, poinsettias are among the most popular decorative flowers during the holiday season.

According to a recent USDA Floriculture Statistics report, poinsettias accounted for about one-quarter (23 percent) of all flowering potted plant sales that year. Roughly 34 million poinsettia plants are sold in a given season. Indigenous to Central America, the plant was introduced to North America in the 1820s when Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, brought the red-and-green plant back with him from a trip abroad.

While millions of poinsettias will be purchased for the holiday season, many mistakenly think their utility ends once New Year's Day has come and gone. But with proper care poinsettia plants can continue to thrive and bring warmth and beauty to a home long after the holiday decorations have been tucked away.

· Choose a hearty plant. Experts with the University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science say that many people mistake the plant's leaves for its flowers. The red, white or pink bracts are actually modified leaves. The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center called "cyathia." Choose poinsettia plants that have buds which are, ideally, not yet open.

· Keep the temperature consistent. Poinsettias prefer a room temperature between 60 and 68 F during the day and 10 degrees cooler at night. Humidity levels between 20 and 50 percent are ideal. Group plants on water-filled trays full of pebbles to help increase humidity levels.

· Place near sunlight. The United Kingdom-based Perrywood floral company advises placing poinsettia plants near a bright windowsill but not in direct sunlight. Do not let a poinsettia touch cold window panes.

· Avoid drafts. The plants are sensitive to drafts and changes in temperature. So it's best to keep poinsettias away from drafty doors, windows, radiators, or fireplaces.

· Don't drown the roots. Wait until the surface of the compost dries out before watering the plant anew. Also, the decorative foil wrapper that covers pots can trap water and lead to root rot. Remove it or poke holes in the bottom to allow for drainage.

· Cut back plants. Come mid-March, cut back the plant by half to encourage new shoots, suggests the University of Illinois Extension. The plants also can be placed outside in the spring after the risk of frost has passed. Bring poinsettias back in around mid-September to early October to force them to bloom again.

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Lifestyle

Travel

How to Road Trip with EV

Electric car road trips require planning.

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Seasoned travelers know that few things match the excitement of taking to the open road. Whether you're heading off for parts unknown or following a carefully planned itinerary, a road trip promises to be a unique experience.

Drivers can up the uniqueness ante even further by taking an electric car on their next road trip. Many people who take driving vacations may fly into a new city or country and then rent a car as they prepare to hit the open road. Electric vehicles, or EVs, have become increasingly available in rental fleets in recent years. Travelers interested in trying something new may be intrigued by the chance to get behind the wheel of an EV on their next road trip. This can be a great chance for drivers who are interested in one day purchasing their own EVs to get their feet wet.

Some drivers may not know what to expect when taking a long trip in an EV. Though it's understandable to have some hesitation, the following are some ways to navigate your first extended trip in an EV.

· Determine the charging time of your vehicle. The automotive experts at J.D. Power note that EVs come with different types of charging systems. Level 1 are the most readily available EVs, and these come with a standard 120-volt three prong plug that's common in modern homes in the United States. That's convenient, but charging using a Level 1 outlet may take a significant amount of time and only provide a few miles per hour of charging. If you're renting an EV, confirm which type of car you're getting and emphasize to the rental agency that you prefer a car that can be charged easily and effectively. One that can be charged overnight and provide hundreds of miles of driving time after a full charge is ideal.

· Look for EV-friendly lodging. Many hotels now feature charging stations exclusively for guests with EVs. Some hotels include the cost of utilizing such stations in their parking fees, while others may charge an additional amount. Either way, the convenience of finding a hotel with its own charging station outweighs any extra costs, as cars can be charged overnight while guests are asleep, leaving more time to travel in a vehicle that's fully charged each morning.

· Find some RV parks along your route. RVs have required charging stations for years, so RV parks typically have these stations available for a nominal fee of around $50. RVs typically are Level 2, so EV drivers that require Level 2 charging systems should be able to charge their vehicles at RV parks. In addition, many RV parks now also provide charging stations for Level 1 vehicles, though drivers should confirm which parks have such offerings prior to embarking on their trips.

· Drive in moderate weather. The software experts at Geotab note that cold weather affects EV range. Though battery thermal management systems have been designed to keep batteries within an optimal temperature range to minimize loss in battery performance, battery range is adversely affected when driving in extreme cold. Geotab notes that 70 F is the trip efficiency sweet spot.

Drivers can embrace various strategies to keep electric vehicles running strong on long road trips.

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International Business

Business Tools

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Cutting-edge ideas.

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