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February 16, 2018

Generation Z prefer organic products

For the first time, Generation Z is emerging as an influencer in grocery spending and early indications suggests that they will favor more organic, healthy products as well as authentic and multicultural offerings, according to new research from Acosta.

The full service sales and marketing firm’s latest “Why behind the buy?” finds older Gen Zers, aged 12-21, are starting to grocery shop in earnest as they begin to leave their parents’ houses and graduate from college to start their lives on their own.

Currently, this group represents the smallest portion of shoppers and lowest spenders, according to Acosta. It reports Gen Z makes up only 7% of shoppers older than 18 years, compared to 27% of Millennials and 26% of Gen X. Likewise, they spend $269 on average per month on groceries, compared to $298 for Millennials and $380 for Gen X.

But even though this group is the smallest and spends the least, Acosta suggests retailers and manufacturers should not ignore them because their preferences will be the wave of the future.

Diversity drives demand for global flavors
One way that Gen Z likely will reshape merchandising is by demanding a more diverse selection to better represent their racial and cultural diversity, suggests Acosta.

“Generations are becoming more racially and culturally diverse; while only 21% of the population ages 75 and older are non-white, 46% of Gen Z shoppers … are non-white, including 22% who identify as Hispanic and 4% as multi-racial,” Acosta reports.

It adds, “From 2010 to 2020, 89% of US population growth is forecast to come from racial and multicultural growth (non-white), which is impacting what’s being purchased in stores as tastes continue to diversify.”

Healthy, fresh food is a top priority
Another way that Gen Z likely will influence what retailers stock is by further elevating the importance of healthy, natural and better-for-you products.


“Gen Z shoppers show high awareness of, and desire for, healthy food, with more than one-third of their grocery basket considered organic products on a typical trip,” Acosta notes.

Gen Z, like Millennials, tend to favor smaller more frequent trips – another factor that could influence how retailers stock store shelves, Acosta suggests.

Gen Z is heavily influenced by technology
Finally, Acosta notes that Gen Z is the first generation to have never known life without the Internet. As such, digital plays a big role in how they shop.

For example, 42% of Gen Z shoppers say they use a digital grocery list, Acosta reports.

In addition, “initial information indicates that some Gen Z consumers are getting brand information from online influencers (like well-known bloggers and other internet personalities), in addition to considering the brand recommendations of their family and friends,” Acosta reports.

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January 24, 2018

Alyssa Jagan is a Global Master Crafter of "Slime"

Slime time is all the time for Alyssa Jagan





The Toronto 16-year-old has an Instagram account with over 800,000 followers. She also has a book on her hobby ( Ultimate Slime-- published by Quarry Books last October) . It has since been translated into ten languages.

Buy on Amazon:-http://amzn.to/2GepvrV

Last January she was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal!

Alyssa Jagan is a slime-making master teacher and entrepreneur! (Instagram/@craftyslimecreator)

Are you all about the slime trend? For about a year now, tons of online recipes mixing school glue, dish soap, colours, lotions, and who-knows-what-else have resulted in handful after handful of delightfully disgusting homemade slime.


Perhaps you've made yourself a batch at home.Maybe you're even holding some slime right now!


Well, meet Toronto's Alyssa Jagan. Known as "alyssa j" to her Instagram followers (@craftyslimecreator), this 16year-old posts three videos a day of her work. This dedication to her craft has made her Canada's young queen of slime.

Started as a hobby

Alyssa's goop-making began as a simple hobby. But as she explained to Global News, the craft really hooked her quickly.

“It’s the crunches, the sounds [that it makes]…" she says. "It’s fun to poke, knead, pull and stretch, and do what you want to it.”

The teen began to move beyond basic recipes to make far more adventurous creations. They are colourful, textured, and sometimes, downright bizarre. But above all, her work is super crafty, adventurous, and makes for some great videos.


So much slime, so little time!

Yes, Alyssa is a real slime superstar. And watching her videos, it's easy to understand why. Playing with that stuff does look like a lot of fun! And if she messes up a batch, no biggie. She can always try again.


Of course, so can you! If you're interested in doing these recipes yourself, her book sounds like the best bet.

From Globe and Mail




Buy on Amazon:-http://amzn.to/2GepvrV

Description of Alyssa's book from AmazonReview
"If there’s anyone who knows how to make slime, one of the most popular trends for kids on YouTube and Instagram, it’s content creator Alyssa Jagan—AKA craftyslimecreator on Instagram. The sixteen-year-old has hundreds of thousands of followers who watch her slime videos regularly for inspiration and relaxation.

Jagan is now also the author of a DIY book that slime makers of all ages will love: Ultimate Slime.

Whether they’re looking for just the right slime recipe, ideas for making new kinds of slime, or even suggestions for new ways to play with it, this is the ultimate book for slime fanatics." - Kelly Knox for GeekMom.

About the Author
Alyssa Jagan is also known as Alyssa J of CraftySlimeCreator. The popular Instagram slimer is a 16-year-old high school student who lives with her family in Toronto. Alyssa posts new slime videos to her main Instagram account every day and sells her slime creations online. She recently attended the Global Young Leaders Academy, a pre-college program offered at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Visit Alyssa on Instagram at @CraftySlimeCreator and on YouTube at Alyssa J.

See BBC video on Alyssa.---http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/42781586 

January 20, 2018

Research shows singing sppeds up recovery from post natal depression




Singing 'speeds up' recovery from post-natal depression
9 January 2018


Singing could help mothers recover from post-natal depression more quickly, a study suggests.

Researchers found that women who took part in group singing sessions with their babies experienced a much faster improvement in their symptoms than those who did not.

The study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, looked at 134 mothers with post-natal depression.

Early recovery is seen to be crucial to limit effects on mother and baby.

Post-natal depression is estimated to affect one in eight new mothers.

Previous studies have indicated singing can help improve the mental health of older people and those with dementia, but this is the first controlled study of its effect on post-natal depression.

The women were placed into three groups:


  • one took part in group singing
  • another took part in in creative play sessions
  • a third group received their usual care, which could include family support, antidepressants or mindfulness



The singing workshops saw the mothers learning lullabies and songs from around the world with their babies and creating new songs together about motherhood.

And those with moderate to severe symptoms of post-natal depression reported a much faster improvement than mothers in the usual care and playgroups.

All the groups improved over the 10 weeks, but in the first six weeks the singing group had already reported an average 35% decrease in depressive symptoms.
Dr. Rosie Perkins

Principal investigator Dr Rosie Perkins said the study, although small, was significant because it was important to tackle the symptoms as quickly as possible.

"Post-natal depression is debilitating for mothers and their families, yet our research indicates that for some women something as accessible as singing with their baby could help to speed up recovery at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives," she said.


Lead author Dr Daisy Fancourt, from University College London, said singing was another useful therapy to offer women.

"Many mothers have concerns about taking depression medication whilst breastfeeding and uptake of psychological therapies with new mothers is relatively low," she said.

"So these results are really exciting as they suggest that something as simple as referring mothers to community activities could support their recovery."

Dr Trudi Seneviratne, who chairs the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Perinatal Faculty, said: "It's exciting to hear about the growing evidence base for novel psychosocial interventions such as singing to facilitate a more rapid recovery for women with post-natal depression.

"I look forward to more work in this area in the future, as it will be enjoyed by both mothers and their babies."

Since the study, Breathe Arts Health Research has started running singing workshops in partnership with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust for women with post-natal depression across the south London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.

BBC News


Hydrogen Powered Bicycles




French startup launches hydrogen-powered bicycles
Reuters Staff



PARIS (Reuters) - A French start-up has become the first company to start factory production of hydrogen-powered bicycles for use in corporate or municipal fleets.

Alpha bikes, first industrialised bicycle to use a hydrogen fuel cell, are displayed at the Pragma Industries factory in Biarritz, France, January 15, 2018.

Pragma Industries, which is based in Biarritz, France and makes fuel cells for military use, has sold some 60 hydrogen-powered bikes to French municipalities including Saint Lo, Cherbourg, Chambery and Bayonne.

At about 7,500 euros per bike, and at least 30,000 euros for a charging station, the bikes are too expensive for the consumer market, but Pragma is working to cut that to 5,000 euros, which would bring their price in line with premium electric bikes.


“Many others have made hydrogen bike prototypes, but we are the first to move to series production,” said founder and chief executive Pierre Forte.

The firm’s Alpha bike runs for about 100 km (62 miles) on a two-litre tank of hydrogen, a range similar to an electric bike, but a refill takes only minutes while e-bikes take hours to charge. One kilo of hydrogen holds about 600 times more energy than a one-kilo lithium battery.

Pierre Forte (R), founder and CEO of Pragma Industries, and Alexandre Blanc (L), operations director, check an Alpha bike, first industrialised bicycle to use a hydrogen fuel cell at the Pragma Industries factory in Biarritz, France, January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau
Pragma also sells refueling stations that produce hydrogen through the electrolysis of water as well cheaper tank-based stations.

The bikes, which look and ride the same as any normal bicycle, are aimed at bike-rental operators, delivery companies, and municipal or corporate bicycle fleets with intensive usage.


Pragma, which produced 100 hydrogen bikes last year, plans to manufacture 150 this year. It has received demand from Norway, the United States, Spain, Italy and Germany, Forte said.

With bike’s range limited by the size of the hydrogen tank, Pragma is also working on a bike that will convert plain water into hydrogen aboard the bike, using a chemical reaction between water and aluminium or magnesium powder to produce hydrogen gas.

“In the next two-three years we want to enter the consumer market and massively increase the scale of our operations,” said Forte.

Reporting by Geert De Clercq; editing by Luke Baker, William Maclean

© 2018 Reuters. All Rights Reserved.



August 10, 2017

doTerra essential oils--Jennifer Tu Angus, Ontario



Essential oils can help the neurons in our bodies to transmit and receive messages more efficiently because of their natural regenerative and soothing properties.

Oils from doTERRA are pure and powerful. For example, just x1 drop of Peppermint oil is equivalent to28 cups of Peppermint tea! So typically people use just x1 drop per application.

There are over 200 different essential oil companies in North America - but their products vary greatly in their chemical constituents. In fact, about 98% of these other companies are only interested in the aromatic effects of their oils - many of them use synthetics instead of natural ingredients to create that aroma. 

There are 3 reasons I chose to use doTERRA in my home and holistic nutrition business:

•All doTERRA oils are independently tested through 7 processes to ensure that the CPTG label represents the purest and most potent oils on the market today.

•The oils are sourced across the globe where the plant grows abundantly. That is where the highest chemical constituent will be found for that plant.

•The company culture is incredible. This was what drew me the most - I feel very aligned with the vision they have and the impact they are having on the world. I believe that your ‘vibe attracts your tribe’ and this is so evident in doTERRA.

I believe that it's because of these 3 things that doTerra has become the largest essential oil company in the world in just 8 years of operating. 

They have the respect of both the growing alternative natural health care community across the globe and the medical community where the opportunity to use a therapeutic grade oil is needed in research and practice.

I know once you take the caps off - you’ll see the difference right away. 

Jennifer Tu--Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant  Angus, Ontario, Canada 

August 8, 2017

Public MemorialService for late SRF President Sri Mrinalini Mata


Dear Friends,

We would like to share with you the announcement that a public memorial service to honor Sri Mrinalini Mata, president, and Sangha Matta of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, will be held during this year’s SRF World Convocation:
Friday, August 11, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. PST
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
404 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, 90071

Sri Mrinalini Mata passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 3, 2017, and we invite all SRF/YSS members and friends to join us in honoring this beloved disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda who made such a momentous contribution to his society. 

For those of you attending the SRF World Convocation, seating for the memorial service will be the same as your designated Convocation seating, in either the California or Pasadena Ballroom. For those who are not registered for Convocation, seating will be available in the Pasadena Ballroom. (Registration for the memorial service is not needed.)  

Live Video Streaming of Memorial Service

For all of our dear SRF members and friends around the world who are unable to attend the service at Convocation, live streaming of the memorial service will be available on the SRF YouTube channel.
Access the live video stream directly on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/YoganandaSRF/live
Note: Please use one of the following browsers to access the live video stream: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari. The live stream video will not play on Internet Explorer.
If you are not able to join for the live stream, the video will be available soon afterward on our website and the SRF YouTube channel so you can watch it at your convenience. Please check our website for a link to this video.

Services at Other Locations
Additionally, our temples and many of our centers around the world will be planning special services, to which you are invited. For information about when and where these services will be held, please contact your local temple or center directly. (Checking the temple or center website may be the quickest and easiest way to get this information, though in some cases it might be several days before they can schedule their events.) Temple websites are listed below. Phone numbers, email addresses, and locations can be found on our website here

Ongoing updates will be posted on our website in the coming days.

Quick links to Temple websites for information about special services to be scheduled:

Flowers

If you wish to send flowers, may we suggest that you consider instead a donation in memory of Sri Mrinalini Mata to Paramahansa Yogananda’s work, the cause that was nearest and dearest to her heart and soul.
https://www.yogananda-srf.org/
Measure
Measure


July 31, 2017

Choose a stunning luxury villa on fabulous Anguilla.

Bow Green is on Facebook! Visit us and join in celebrating Anguilla - one of the kept secrets in the travel world.
Bow Green villa is surrounded by a beautiful lush green garden.

Paradise found! Go to http://www.bowgreen.com to find out more.
Book yourself a stress-free vacation 


Bow Green is a private beach front villa on Rendezvous Bay Beach, Anguilla offering comfort and luxury, without the intrusion of other guests.
A short walk to one of the Caribbean's best private beaches. www.bowgreen.com

The Pool: The floodlit swimming pool has a large deck - perfect for entertaining...!

Savor the absolute luxury of this villa through our YouTube video.
Imagine your own private pool!