Category: Tools and Information

Why Are Dozens of US Teens Getting Sick After Vaping? | Live Science

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UPDATE: On Aug. 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that there are now 149 possible cases of severe lung illness associated with vaping reported in 15 states.

Vaping has sent nearly 100 people, mostly teens and young adults, to the hospital with lung illnesses in the last couple of weeks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating 94 possible cases of “severe lung illness associated with vaping,” which have been reported in 14 states as of Aug 17, according to a statement from the agency. It’s unclear what’s causing the illnesses or even if there is a link between patients’ symptoms and the kinds of products they used.

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8 Factors That Keep You From Getting a Business Loan | Business news Daily

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Business loans can be essential when you’re launching a startup or looking for additional funding to expand an existing company. The funds are used to secure inventory, purchase equipment, rent operational space, hire employees or cover a host of other expenses.

According to a report by the National Small Business Association, in 2017 nearly three-quarters of small businesses were able to access the funding they needed to grow. However, financing remained a challenge for 27% of U.S. businesses. According to the NSBA report, businesses that were unable to secure capital had to take difficult actions, including reducing the number of employees and deciding not to expand operations, finance increased sales, or increase inventory to meet demands.

Since loans can be so critical to your business success, it is worth learning the most common barriers borrowers face when looking to secure a business loan. Once you learn about these roadblocks, you can take the steps to circumvent them and find the right type of loan and lender for you.

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Why You Should Never Borrow Someone Else’s Charging Cable | Forbes

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We’ve all been there. Your smartphone or tablet is low on power and you’ve left your charging cable at home. There’s no harm in borrowing one from a fellow passenger in the airport departure lounge or from your hotel’s front desk clerk, right?

In 2019, that would be a huge mistake, say cybersecurity experts.

“There are certain things in life that you just don’t borrow,” says Charles Henderson, Global Managing Partner and Head of X-Force Red at IBM Security. “If you were on a trip and realized you forgot to pack underwear, you wouldn’t ask all your co-travelers if you could borrow their underwear. You’d go to a store and buy newma underwear.”

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How Self-Employment Affects Your Personal Finances | AllBusiness.com

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Are self-employed people better off financially?  Four out of five self-employed people surveyed in the QuickBooks Self-Employed 2019 Personal Finance Survey say they were “financially motivated” to become an entrepreneur. But is the financial side of self-employment all it’s cracked up to be? Find out how self-employment affects your personal finances. Here’s what the survey found.

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HIPAA Violation Penalties Could Have Major Financial Impact on SMBs | Small Business Trends

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One of the most personal types of data is medical information. And when it comes to protecting this information, the government doesn’t give anyone wiggle room to make excuses.

Armed with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has settled millions of dollars against violators.

The financial impact of HIPAA violations is especially burdensome on small businesses. This is why small firms have to take increased precaution to ensure they are not violating any HIPPA regulations. Whether you’re providing healthcare directly or support services, you are equally liable under HIPAA.

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Niche: Required or Overblown for Your Consulting Firm? | David A. Fields

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You’ve undoubtedly received plenty of advice to position your consulting firm in a narrow niche. Of course, you’ve also been advised to coat your daily diet with chocolate. (Maybe the latter advice was only from me, but it still counts.)

Niche, chocolate. Is either one really necessary?

Absolutely! Let’s look at some examples, a few benefits, and a very rough rule of thumb for consulting firm niches.

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Influencer Marketing May Be Losing Its Influence | Business

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“How to take a pic worthy of an Instagram influencer,” OnMilwaukee reported last week. “We asked Dallas influencers to explain what or whom they are influencing,” posted the Dallas Observer the same day. A few days later, Olivia Jade, beneficiary of the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, announced she’d be leaving the University of Southern California to become a full-time influencer.

At this point, it’s safe to say that influencer marketing is no longer the secret sauce it once was. There’s also some indication that the power of influencer marketing has peaked.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Review: A Weekend With A Giant | Digital Trends

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The Galaxy Note 10 Plus is in my hands. That’s hands — plural — because this is a hulking beast of a phone. Not just in size, but also in features.

I’ve only been using Samsung’s latest for a little more than two days, so consider this review a work-in-progress. I’ll be adding to it as the week goes on, and will have a final verdict as the August 23 launch date draws near. Until then, here are my thoughts so far.

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3 Small Business Expenses That Add up Quickly | The Startup Magazine

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As a small business owner, you know that it takes money to make money—and unfortunately, sometimes it takes more money than you’d think. From paying your employees to managing your utility bill, there are a lot of small business expenses that can quickly eat away at your take-home revenue if you’re not being proactive about it.

If you’re not sure how to evaluate your small business expenses or optimize them, look no further. In this article, we’re going to call out those expenses that tend to add up quickly and give you tips to help you regain financial control of your small business.

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