July 11, 2017
01. After G-20: Will US Become Global Pariah?
02. Will Millionaires Decide Our Health Care?
03. The Fight for Baby Charlie Gard’s Life
04. New Doc – Birthright: A War Story
05. World Travel – Would You Survive an Attack?
06. Got an Agent? They’re Not Just for Celebs Anymore
07. The Echo Chamber: How the Internet is Polarizing Us
08. Scared New Grads Make Bad Choices
09. It’s Family Reunion Time!
10. Which Is More Intimate, Money or Sex?
11. One-Third of the World is Overweight
12. Put Down the Supplements
13. Fun Ways to Prevent Summer Slide
14. Don’t Let Teens Ruin Your Summer
15. Water Rules – Summer Swim Safety
=======================================
1. ==> After G-20: Will US Become Global Pariah?
President Donald Trump is back in Washington from the
G20 summit but David Andelman says he managed to leave
behind a succession of landmines likely to explode in
the coming weeks and months. “With each explosion, the
United States is increasingly likely to find itself as
a pariah nation on the global stage.” From climate
change to trade and the ongoing Russia saga, Andelman
says, “Effectively, Trump left the G20 in precisely the
place he wanted, but as seen through a fun house
mirror. By turning his weekend’s focus to a succession
of bilateral schmooze fests, he left the leadership of
the rest of the world to the likes of Merkel, Xi,
Macron, even Putin.” David Andelman is the author of “A
Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay
Today.” He formerly served as a foreign correspondent
for The New York Times and Paris correspondent for CBS
News. Contact him at andelman@worldpolicy.org or
@davidandelman
2. ==> Will Millionaires Decide Our Health Care?
The Senate is back from its holiday recess and the
focus is back on health care. But what can we expect
now that lawmakers have returned? With our health care
in the hands of 51 millionaires, Steven Wightman says
the adjusted bill is likely to continue to benefit the
wealthy at the expense of the rest of us. “Why is
Washington dodging its responsibility to put health
into their health care plan?” he asks. The Senate bill
as presently written is a boon for the top 1 percent
who would receive lower incomes taxes while the bottom
40 percent would lose via higher premiums, deductibles,
and copays. States, employers and employees face higher
costs as well. Wightman is a veteran certified
financial planner, blogger and author of the upcoming
book, “Don’t be “Trumped: 7 Ways to Protect Your Assets
and Retirement Savings Now.” He is often quoted in the
press on financial topics like health insurance and
employee benefits. Reach him at (305) 340-1459;
stevenwightman@gmail.com
3. ==> The Fight for Baby Charlie Gard’s Life
The UK’s High Court will reconvene Thursday to hear new
medical evidence in the case of baby Charlie Gard,
whose parents are fighting doctors to keep him on life
support so they can take him to the United States for
experimental treatment for a rare genetic disorder. Dr.
Robert Klitzman says the story raises a host of
bioethical questions concerning who makes end of life
decisions. “Futility is among the most difficult
concepts in medicine to grasp and accept — the fact
that at a certain point, doctors cannot eliminate or
reduce disease and the prospect of death becomes
inevitable. In short, the best we can do is to make
patients comfortable.” He adds, “Charlie’s case should
inspire us to think about what we would do if we faced
such limited options for ourselves. In coming months
and years, we will surely see more cases like Charlie’s
concerning end-of-life care.” Robert Klitzman is a
professor of psychiatry and director of the Masters of
Bioethics Program at Columbia University. He is author
of “The Ethics Police? The Struggle to Make Human
Research Safe.” Contact him at (646) 774-6912;
rlk2@columbia.edu or @RobertKlitzman
4. ==> New Doc – Birthright: A War Story
The U.S. currently has the worst maternal death rate in
the developed world. According to a joint NPR and
ProPublica investigation on maternal mortality, “More
American women are dying of pregnancy-related
complications than any other developed country.” So
why, as maternal mortality declines around the world,
are American mothers dying at an alarming, rising rate?
Birthright: A War Story, a timely new documentary from
director Civia Tamarkin, shows that these stats are a
symptom of the ongoing war to take control of and
restrict reproductive health care. The feature length
documentary examines how women are being jailed,
physically violated and even put at risk of dying as a
radical movement tightens its grip across America. The
film opens in limited release this weekend. For
interviews contact Michelle DiMartino at (212)
445-7100; MichelleDiMartino@FalcoInk.com
5. ==> World Travel – Would You Survive an Attack?
It’s summertime and many Americans are taking trips to
unfamiliar and foreign places. It’s one thing to find
yourself the victim of a pickpocket, but there have
been numerous stories lately involving deadly
pedestrian attacks on busy city streets. Invite former
British Army Officer Chris Bird to share advice on
staying safe in an unfamiliar city, as well as what to
do if you find yourself in the middle of a dangerous or
deadly situation. Bird says everyone needs to be aware
of their surroundings at all times—but not to succumb
to fear. He’ll explain the 4Ds to avoid as well as why
you should only walk down streets in which there are
parked cars on the same side you are on or walk facing
traffic even on the sidewalk. He’ll detail what to do
if you absolutely must send a text or be on the phone
while on the street. Bird is the author of “Surviving a
Mass Killer Rampage” and a former San Antonio Express-
News crime reporter. Reach him at (210) 308-8191;
cjbird@satx.rr.com
6. ==> Got an Agent? They’re Not Just for Celebs
Anymore
You probably aren’t a rock star, a bestselling author,
a celebrity or a professional athlete—the types of
people you normally think of when it comes to having an
agent. But there’s a new kind of agent in town, one
that represents skilled business executives—including
those over 50 who might have been downsized right out
of their jobs. Like any good agent, Spunk Burke helps
these executives find work by determining the value
they can bring to companies on a per-project basis and
then helps them develop a project plan. He also acts as
a go-between with companies looking for gig workers who
make the sharing economy run. Spunk can be reached at
(978) 801-9010 or spunk@gigexecs.com
7. ==> The Echo Chamber: How the Internet is Polarizing
Us
Just because we can Google information, does not mean
the information is accurate. How do we know when
information is true? It’s becoming harder and harder
and Michael Patrick Lynch says it’s because we are
becoming a polarized society, not only in our opinions
or values, but in the facts we learn. Invite him to
discuss how wide swaths of the public live in very
different information bubbles, how the Internet
contributes to the problem, and why to solve this
knowledge polarization, we’ve got to understand that we
live in a common reality. Michael Patrick Lynch is the
director of the Humanities at the University
Connecticut and is leading UCONN’s Humility and
Conviction in Public Life project. He is also the
author of “The Internet of Us: Knowing More and
Understanding Less in the Age of Big Data.” Contact
Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137;
johanna@jrbcomm.com
8. ==> Scared New Grads Make Bad Choices
Whether from high school or college, graduation is an
exciting time for young people and their parents. But
it also a time in which expectations and fears are both
at unusually high levels making it difficult for the
graduates to make the best possible decisions on what
should come next. Rev. Dr. Rick Patterson can discuss
the role shame plays in the bad decisions people make
when they believe they aren’t smart enough or deserving
enough to get what they want. Patterson says new grads
often ask, “What will I become? What will my parents
think? Who am I really?” He’ll explain how this fear-
based thinking often leads to bad decisions and
potentially a lifetime of regrets about the path not
taken. Rick Patterson is the author of “Shame Unmasked:
Disarming the Hidden Driver Behind Our Destructive
Decisions.” His career has alternated between working
in corporate America and new church development and the
ministry. In his current job, he is responsible for
bringing new chemical solutions to the paper industry.
Contact him at (269) 217-7897;
rickpattersonconnects@gmail.com
9. ==> It’s Family Reunion Time!
Half of all family reunions take place in the summer
when children are out of school; weather conditions are
less restrictive; and people are more willing to travel
to meet up with cousins, uncles, aunts and assorted
other relatives they may see infrequently, if at all,
according to the travel booking website
GroupTravel.org. Event planner Lynn Fuhler is a big fan
of family reunions. “If they’re done right, they can
bridge the geographical and emotional distance in
today’s mobile society.” She adds, “Thanks to online
surveys and online invitations, pulling off a well-
received family reunion is now easier than ever!”
Invite Lynn and learn how long you should plan in
advance, great places to hold reunions for families of
all ages, and how to delegate tasks so you’re not doing
all the work! Lynn Fuhler is the former tourism
director of Clearwater Beach, Fla., and former chairman
of the largest free jazz festival in the Southeast. She
is the author of “Secrets to Successful Events: How to
Organize, Promote and Manage Exceptional Events and
Festivals,” which has been used as a college textbook.
Contact her at (336) 499-6372; contact-
lynn@lynnfuhler.com
10. ==> Which Is More Intimate, Money or Sex?
Whether their newlyweds or married decades, many
couples feel squeamish talking about money and
finances, making it one of the last marital taboos. A
2016 survey by Divorce Magazine found financial issues
to be the #1 cause of divorce. When American Express
asked its married customers about money discussions
they reported more than half their money talks turned
into arguments. “When you add together the inability to
talk about money with problems of handling it, you have
by far the largest cause of the destruction of
marriages and relationships,” says Mitchell Walker.
“It’s the 800 lb. gorilla in the bedroom that very few
seem to be able to drive out.” Walker will share how
couples can put together a simple financial plan that
will bring them together instead of driving them apart,
discuss the one question to ask yourself and your
future spouse that determines a person’s financial
personality (and future). You’ll also learn 3 things
that can practically divorce-proof your marriage.
Walker is a former vice president of finance for a
Berkshire Hathaway company. Twenty-five years ago, when
he was more than $100,000 in debt and had no assets, he
dug his way out by discovering and refining ‘The
PouchPlan.’ His book, “The PouchPlan Budget: The Simple
Way to Find Hidden Money, Improve Your Life, and Build
Wealth,” is based on his own extensive experience.
Contact him at (903) 563-3396; mwalker@PouchPlan.com
11. ==> One-Third of the World is Overweight
A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine
finds that one-third of the world’s population is
carrying excess weight. More startling to researchers
though, is the finding that deaths from cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, cancer, and other life-threatening
conditions are occurring almost as often in those
considered overweight as those considered obese.
Researchers say the problem is fueled by urbanization,
poor diets and reduced physical activity. Invite Renee
Jones to talk about the main reason so many people
struggle with weight loss. “It always goes back to
food. Working out helps in many ways, but it’s not the
key to weight loss. It’s a complex issue, but part of
our inability to lose and maintain that weight loss is
emotional/comfort/stress eating. When we stop eating
to make ourselves feel better, we save a whole bunch of
calories.” Renée Jones is a counselor and coach who
focuses on freeing others from comfort eating. She is
the author of “What’s Really Eating You: Overcome the
Triggers of Comfort Eating.” Contact her at (817)
938-6250; reneepj@yahoo.com
12. ==> Put Down the Supplements
Americans spend billions of dollars on supplements each
year. But what is more, these same supplements are
doing more than wasting people’s money. They are also
confusing people’s bodies, says Marie Knoetig, making
them lazy and stopping them from doing what their
bodies are born to do. A healing arts practitioner in
private practice, Marie says too many people are fooled
into thinking that if “it’s all-natural, it can’t hurt
them.” Some people take as many as 20 supplements a day
thinking that they will help them stop aging, improve
their skin and rid their body of toxins. She says they
buy into the concept of supplements without
understanding how they work or even if they work.
People who take magnesium supplements, for example,
which act like a relaxant, may have trouble getting up
off the couch, robbing them of the energy they need to
cook real food and exercise, while those who take
probiotics are unwittingly interfering with their
body’s natural way of digesting food. But more than
just pointing out the dangers of supplements, Marie can
explain ways of listening to your body that along with
a healthy diet and exercise can do a better job than
supplements without wasting money or ruining your
health. Marie is the author of the upcoming book “The
Missing Piece to Health and Aging Gracefully.” Reach
her at (603) 289-9015, marieknoetig@gmail.com
13. ==> Fun Ways to Prevent Summer Slide
Summer can mean vacations, pool time and relaxation,
but it can also mean summer learning loss – the
phenomenon where students can lose up to three months
of academic skills during the summer break. Adrian
Ridner, CEO and co-founder of Study.com believes that
not only can summer learning loss be prevented, but
students can even use the summer months to get ahead of
the academic year. Chat with Ridner about how students
(and their parents) can use quick and easy learning
tools on their smartphones to make progress on math,
reading and so much more, without giving up the
freedoms of summer. Ridner can also touch on how short
lessons and convenient video material can motivate
students to continue learning while in “summer mode.”
Fed up with the high cost of education, Adrian Ridner
started Study.com in 2002 with the mission of making
education affordable, effective and engaging. Today,
the company helps over 25 million students a month,
from middle school through college, with short video-
based online courses. Contact Chandni Brunamonti at
cbrunamonti@study.com
14. ==> Don’t Let Teens Ruin Your Summer
Summer is definitely here and parents and college
students are likely to have very different ideas of how
these few languid months should be spent. College
students, whether they are 18, or returning to live at
home for a few months, often face a barrage of
questions and expectations that clash with their
newfound independence. Invite Poppy and Geoff Spencer,
parenting experts, ‘Millennial Translators’, and
parents of five millennials who navigated the
transition during summer break, to offer tips to help
everyone get through the summer. From holding family
meetings to creating ‘practiced freedom’ and embracing
failure, Poppy says parents need to allow teens to make
mistakes. “We suggest that you use the summer months as
practice time to make decisions, pause to consider
options, while still providing a loving safety net at
home. Allowing failure can be one of the most loving
things you can give to your college student this
summer.” Poppy and Geoff Spencer, CPC, are licensed New
Life Story Coaches, relationship and parenting experts,
and the authors of “1 Billion Seconds,” based on years
of research on hundreds of people and offers a formula
for a flourishing relationship by developing
exceptional communication. Contact them at (941)
586-2911; poppyandgeoff@relationalexperts.com
15. ==> Water Rules – Summer Swim Safety
A big part of summer is being outside, playing at the
pool and beach, and swimming! But along with the sun
and fun comes countless horror stories about kids and
drowning incidents. Carolanne Caron says everyone
should be able to enjoy the water, but there are
definitely safety issues that need to be taught to
everyone, especially kids. She says, “Many children
don’t know what rules they should follow when they’re
near water and end up getting in a situation over their
skill level.” Carolanne, a swimming and water safety
expert, can share 10 rules to teach children to be
safer around the water. She’s the author of “Water
Safety with Swimmy” and “Swimmy’s Water Safety Coloring
Book.” Contact her at (603) 424-4100;
CoachCaron@SwimCoachCaron.com
Comments are closed.