Author: knjohn

Biodegradable Sneakers | Cool Business Ideas 

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They’re known as the first fully biodegradable shoe in the world. BLUEVIEW sneakers are made entirely with plant-based materials, proving that anything and everything can be sustainable if companies are bold enough to make it happen.

When exposed to air, every single part of these shoes will completely break down. It took scientists more than six years to work out a formula using plants to create a knitted upper material that could be used for shoes.

Additionally, the uppers used for these shoes are made from hemp and eucalyptus yarn. It’s a blend called Plant Knit and it’s the first plant-based, fully biodegradable machine knitted shoe uppers. Tencel and organic cotton are also used in the shoe uppers. The insoles and outsoles are made with plant-based foam that’s similar to polyurethane, but once again biodegradable.

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NASA’s Artemis moon mission won’t launch anytime soon | Mashable

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NASA will not slingshot a spacecraft around the moon this week following two previous called-off launch attempts, officials confirmed at a news conference Saturday evening.

That means the team will likely haul the gigantic, 322-foot Space Launch System rocket back to its hangar, the Vehicle Assembly Building, and perhaps take another shot at the moon in October. The U.S. space agency is bumping up against a launch blackout period and can’t conflict with a SpaceX flight carrying astronauts to the International Space Station in a few weeks.

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Twitter is finally testing an edit button | CNN

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After years of users clamoring for such a feature, Twitter is finally testing edited tweets.

Twitter (TWTR) said in — where else? — a tweet Thursday morning that some users may start seeing edited tweets in their feed because it is testing the long-awaited edit button.

“This is happening and you’ll be okay,” the company said.

In a Thursday blog post, the company said edited tweets are being tested internally and that the feature would expand to subscribers of its paid Twitter Blue service later this month. The test will first roll out to Twitter Blue subscribers in New Zealand, with Australia, Canada and the US to follow, according to the company. Users outside the test group will also be able to see edited tweets on the platform.

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Prebiotics vs probiotics: Differences, benefits and foods | Live Science

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Prebiotics vs probiotics: which is better for gastrointestinal health? A healthy gut plays a major role in our overall health and wellbeing, and taking prebiotics and probiotics — either in food or supplement form —is one way to support the digestive system and keep it working efficiently.

The gut microbiome (sometimes called the gut flora) consists of 100 trillion live bacterial microbes, both ‘good’ and ‘bad’, that influence nutrient absorption, our metabolism, immunity, mental health, how well we sleep and whether or not we get spots. A Harvard Medical School study(opens in new tab) found that a healthy gut could even prevent some cancers and autoimmune diseases.

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Entrepreneur or Small Business Owner: Which One Are You? | businessnewsdaily.com

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A new study finds that the difference between being an entrepreneur and a business owner lies in your company’s legal status.

  • According to a study in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, a business’s legal status is what separates entrepreneurs from other business owners.
  • Entrepreneurs tend to be incorporated, while small business owners are not.
  • Incorporated business owners reported an increase of $6,600 in median annual earnings compared to their previous salaries when they became entrepreneurs, according to study findings.

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Powerful Daily Routine Examples for a Healthier Life | Lifehack

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Big or small, healthy or unhealthy, our habits combine to form routines that play out every day for us. Most of this is done without us even having to think. That’s why, even though we understand the importance of having good habits, sometimes it’s tough to stick to a healthy daily routine.

Today, you’ll learn more about why setting a routine can be challenging. By understanding the root causes of your behaviors, you’ll learn how to make changes and stick with them. You’ll also discover some positive daily routines that can lead you to a healthier and happier life.

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Starbucks coffee illegally denied pay to union workers: NLRB | Fast Company

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The National Labor Relations Board has sided with workers who claim Starbucks broke labor law by withholding wages and benefits from unionized stores—the latest blow to its handling of baristas’ intensifying union drive.

Over 230 locations have now joined Starbucks Workers United’s union, helping make the world’s most recognizable coffee brand the corporate face of America’s union boom. Both Starbucks and longtime CEO Howard Schultz have now spent months attempting to aggressively thwart these efforts.

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Phone Prospecting Techniques to Get You Sales | AllBusiness.com

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It may be intimidating at times, but phone prospecting is an essential part of selling. Here are a few strategies to reach your prospects by phone to help you get a meeting or make a sale. How to make your phone prospecting more effective

1. Get past the gatekeeper

They’re called gatekeepers for a reason. Their job is to keep out people who waste decision makers’ time and let in those who can help. A quick way to make sure you’re seen as being in the latter category is to ask the operator a time-related question. If it’s early afternoon, you could say to an operator, “Hi. This is John Jones with XYZ company. Has Jim in information technology made it back from lunch yet, or is he still out?”

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Substantiating Business Driving the Right Way | Small Business Trends

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Small business owners may use their personal vehicles for business driving. This is perfectly advisable from a cost-saving perspective, and it’s permissible for tax purposes too. The only catch: in order to deduct the cost of business driving, you need to substantiate business use of the vehicle. The tax rules are very strict on what this means. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do it.

Records must be contemporaneous

This means required information must be noted in a logbook, app, or other record at or near the time of each business trip in the vehicle. In one case, a contractor created his mileage record solely for use when he was audited; the notations weren’t made contemporaneously with the business use of his Mercedes. What’s more, his record was a calendar with minimal notations about business appointments; not good enough as you’ll see.

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