Swatted: A Shooting Hoax Spree Is Terrorizing Schools Across the US | WIRED

October 7, 2022October 6, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

AT 1:15 PM on September 15, a man who identified himself as Tom Gomez called Sangamon County Central Dispatch in Illinois to report that two gunmen had shot a dozen students at Springfield High School. According to audio of the call obtained by WIRED, the man was specific. The caller, breathing heavily, told dispatchers that he was locked inside a math classroom with other students and that the two men, both dressed in blue pants and green jackets, were killing students in the adjacent classroom: room 219.

Within five minutes, Springfield Police were at the high school’s second floor, descending on the room where they were told a mass murder had occurred. The problem is that, according to police records, Springfield High doesn’t have a room 219. In fact, there was no shooting at all.

Drive-Thru Workers Slam Pay-It-Forward Chains: ‘Tip Instead’ | Entrepreneur

October 7, 2022October 6, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Doing a kind deed for others is usually a good thing, but in certain situations, it could inadvertently make things worse for others involved.

And according to a former Starbucks barista, “pay-it-forward” chains are one of those things that employees would like you to stop. In a video that has now garnered over 2.4 million views, TikTok’er “Tiffany” explained to viewers why it’s best to “break the chain.”

Pay-it-forward lines are simple in concept — one customer gets to the register at a drive-thru and offers to pay for the person behind them, thus inciting a chain of customers paying for one another.

5 Benefits of Email Marketing | Cool Business Ideas

October 6, 2022October 5, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ 1 Comment

As a business owner or marketing professional, you are likely aware of the importance of email marketing and the major role it can play in advertising for your company. While the importance of email marketing has been stressed by advertising professionals in recent years, some business executives still might not understand the countless benefits that email marketing can have for a company.

Here are some of the benefits of email marketing, which make it one of the most successful advertising tactics that any company can utilize.

Facebook is giving us a little bit more control over our feeds | Mashable

October 6, 2022October 5, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As someone who spends an unfortunately significant amount of time on Facebook, there are so many things I would like to see less often. Facebook’s parent company Meta has now, decades after its platform was released to the public, given us that option.

What we see in our Facebook feed is often fueled by the much-criticized algorithm. For instance, if you like a bunch of hiking Groups and Pages, interact with a ton of photos of the outdoors, and post about your backpacking adventures, you might be met with more recommended posts from creators and communities related to hiking. As Facebook puts it, “what you see in your Feed is uniquely personalized to your interests through machine learning.”

A surprisingly hard part of retirement: Spending what you worked so hard to save | CNN

October 5, 2022October 4, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You’ve been working and saving for decades for just this moment: retirement.

Even though you may be ready to stop working full-time, now comes the hard part: Actually letting yourself use your savings, since you no longer will be bringing in that paycheck, which until now has covered your monthly expenses.

Making the psychological shift from saver to spender – not to mention nest egg manager – is no small feat for most people.

“Now you have this lump sum and have to draw it down. For some it’s almost physically painful,” said David John, a senior strategic policy advisor at the AARP Public Policy Institute.

Should you exercise before you sleep? | Live Science

October 5, 2022October 4, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Sleep and exercise go hand in hand on any journey to optimal health. But should you exercise before you sleep? In years gone by, it was thought that exercising right before you hit the hay could have negative connotations. And at first glance, this thought process makes sense.

Whether it’s using the best exercise bikes or the best adjustable dumbbells, working out gets your heart rate pumping, which increases your body’s core temperature, and a rise in temperature can make it hard for you to fall asleep.

However, new and emerging research published in the European Journal of Sport Science(opens in new tab) has found that as long as you exercise at least 90 minutes before bedtime, you should be able to reap the rewards exercising before sleeping can bring.

How to Market Your Handmade Goods Business | businessnewsdaily.com

October 4, 2022October 2, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Getting your name out there as a handmade craft business can be tough. These marketing tips can help your shop stand out.

Building your own website is an important facet of growing and marketing your handmade business.
Stay ahead of the competition by exploring new and unique ways of selling your product.
Track the process of your sales, from initial interest to final transaction.
Choose branding strategies that are unique to your handmade product.
This article is for entrepreneurs who sell handmade products, such as arts and crafts, and want to develop effective marketing strategies.

Established businesses with large funding and significant revenue have the budgets for marketing and advertising firms. Tiny companies, like a jewelry-making business that started in a garage or a clothing line based in someone’s bedroom, don’t always have the ability to market the same way. However, there are many creative marketing options for businesses that sell handmade goods.

This guide offers tips for handmade businesses to help get the word out about artisanal products that many customers value over mass-produced goods.

Multitasking: Is It Good And Can You Actually Master It? | Lifehack

October 4, 2022October 2, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

For a moment, think about how many errands you juggle around in a day. From the moment you wake up till you lay your head on the pillow at night, you deal with a multitude of things, from helping kids with their homework to doing your office work at home, and from taking, and responding to emails while talking to your colleagues on the phone, etc. You are likely multitasking 24/7.

If you resonate with what was mentioned in the previous paragraph, you will be interested in the advice offered in this article.

This article aims at helping you master the art of multitasking by breaking things down so you can come to a useable solution. Buckle your belts to get answers to your queries and make your life simpler and enjoyable.

8 Causes of Miscommunication in the Workplace | AllBusiness.com

October 3, 2022October 2, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It doesn’t take a communications expert to realize that most organizations suffer from ineffective—and in some cases, downright destructive—communication at least some of the time. But pinpointing what makes a workplace’s communication “bad” is difficult, and improving that “bad” communication is even harder. That’s why I’ve put together this list of causes of miscommunication in workplaces so you can identify and correct communication problems that reduce efficiency, increase stress, and cost money.

What are the Pros and Cons of Franchising? | Small Business Trends

October 3, 2022October 2, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

There is no question that owning a franchise can be a very profitable venture. However, there are also a number of pros and cons to consider before making the decision to invest in a franchise. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the key advantages, and disadvantages of franchise businesses. By understanding both sides of the equation, you can make an informed decision about whether or not franchising is right for you. Let’s get started!

What Is Franchising?

Franchising allows businesses to expand their reach by partnering with independent business owners. Franchisees receive a business plan and branding from the franchisor and are able to open and operate the business under the franchisor’s name. This allows businesses to grow without creating new marketing materials or coming up with a new business model.