Author: TECH

Building a multi-million dollar Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brand without a single dollar of venture capital or institutional investment sounds like a pipe dream. Yet, scaling an e-commerce business into a $190 million-a-year powerhouse is entirely achievable through strategic cash flow management. When a direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand scales at hyper-speed, a paradox emerges: the more successful the brand becomes, the less cash sits in the bank account. Why? Because a rapidly growing company keeps its capital perpetually locked up in inventory. A successful bootstrap strategy requires navigating the delicate transition from e-commerce to major retail. Mastering the hidden mechanics of…

Social Security benefits are poised for a boost of around 3.8% next year, according to recent 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) projections from The Senior Citizens League. That isn’t likely to be game-changing for most seniors. It’ll only add about $79 to the average monthly benefit as of June 2026, but at least it’s something. For most people, this modest boost will provide at least some help with the rising costs they’ve faced throughout 2026. But for a few, it could actually trigger a higher tax bill that takes back their COLA and then some. Image source: Getty Images. Some seniors…

Artist’s impression of the CD-35 2722 system – credit, ESO/M. Kornmesser As soon as Aleksander Wolszczan confirmed the observation of the first planet outside of our solar system, he immediately reasoned that thousands more would be discovered in the coming decades. On that prediction the astronomer, now 80, was eminently correct, and the trend has expanded to the point that recent observation seems to include the first recorded moon outside our solar system. The presented evidence for a moon-like object in the CD-35 2722 star system, however, raises questions about what the word “moon” even means. That’s because unlike moons…

It’s quite common to experience a setback in your life. No matter how intelligent or experienced you are, things don’t always go as planned – and that’s alright. The attitude you adopt during or after these times can determine the kind of life you live. Part of life involves facing challenges.  What do you normally do when challenges or setbacks come knocking on your door? Do you spiral downward into sadness and depression? Do you get angry or frustrated and carry around negative emotions?  Have you given up on your wishes and dreams because of setbacks? Whether you experience something…

Years ago, I learned that understanding the brain does not protect you from mental illness. I had a Ph.D. in neuroscience and worked as a patent lawyer specializing in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. I understood neurotransmitters, stress physiology, sleep, and mood regulation. I also lived with bipolar I disorder. My illness eventually included a severe manic episode, treatment-resistant depression, psychiatric hospitalization, disability, job loss, and bankruptcy. Returning to a demanding professional career once seemed unlikely. Yet I eventually returned to legal work. Today, I practice law, teach a law school course on mental health and the legal profession, and speak and…

The average Social Security retiree could receive about $77 more per month in benefits in 2027, if current projections hold.But some advocates say that’s not enough to keep up with the cost of living, renewing calls for Congress to overhaul the formula used to calculate annual benefit increases.Experts are pushing for alternative ways to calculate annual Social Security increases, after projections showed that next year’s boost is likely to fall significantly short of the average older adult’s monthly living costs.The Senior Citizens’ League’s COLA Watch, which tracks projections for the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), forecasts a 3.8% increase in Social…

Life has a way of surprising us with both unforgettable highs and unexpected challenges. Some days everything seems to fall into place, while others feel like one obstacle after another. During those more difficult moments, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by stress, frustration, or simply the demands of everyday life. Fortunately, one simple thing has the power to lighten the load: laughter. Humor doesn’t erase our problems, but it can change the way we experience them. A funny joke, clever meme, or relatable moment can provide a welcome mental break, helping us step back, regain perspective, and remember that we’re…

Conservationists say a switch from real leopard skins to synthetic furs in traditional ceremonies has helped reduce poaching and boost leopard numbers in western Zambia Big cat conservationists in Zambia say leopard numbers are rebounding thanks in part to local communities swapping real furs for synthetic in traditional ceremonies. Leopards are revered by cultural and religious groups which use their prized pelts as ceremonial regalia. In western Zambia, during an annual event marking the onset of the flood season, 200 paddlers ferry the king of the Lozi people, the Litunga, on a barge. They wear skirts fashioned largely from leopard…

A career change may reduce workplace stress and create a healthier, more sustainable way of working.gettyA career change is often framed as a professional decision, but for many workers, it’s also a health decision. In a 2026 Careershifters survey of more than 11,500 active career changers, 73% said their work negatively affected their overall life satisfaction. Among those respondents, 91% said it harmed their mental health. The reasons people wanted to leave went far beyond pay. Unsupportive or unhealthy work environments ranked first, followed by poor work-life balance and values misalignment. Many respondents also said work was affecting their physical…

Refugees fleeing violence in Ethiopia’s Tigray region cross the Tekeze River into Sudan in November 2020. Credit: UNHCR/Hazim ElhagOpinion by Elizabeth Tan (geneva)Monday, July 27, 2026Inter Press ServiceElizabeth Tan is UNHCR’s Director of International Protection and Solutions GENEVA, July 27 (IPS) – Seventy-five years after the Refugee Convention was opened for signature on 28 July 1951, it remains the foundation of the international refugee protection system and one of the most consequential international legal instruments ever adopted. Born in the aftermath of the Second World War, it codified a simple but powerful principle: people forced to flee persecution, conflict or violence…