Abortion In The Eyes Of Trump

Many aren’t a fan of President Trump but they have no choice but to put up with him – seeing his face on TV every day and hearing about his policies – because he won the last Presidential election fair and square. He is known to voice out his distaste for people staying in the country illegally, which is why it wasn’t surprising that among his first policies upon assuming office involved travel bans and more travel bans.

He doesn’t take science seriously as well. So, EPA now has to say goodbye to government funding and there goes decades-worth of climate change initiatives down the drain. Now, he’s got his eyes set on abortion policies. Others may be torn about this restriction since abortion is morally wrong but it can technically be good depending on a woman’s medical circumstance.

The Trump administration today released new anti-abortion rules — including a policy name change — that will apply to almost $9 billion in global health funding, including a massive HIV/AIDS prevention program, the State Department announced on Monday.

The rules — dubbed the "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance" plan, and approved by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson — restrict any foreign non-governmental organization receiving US global health aid from using any of their other funding to "perform or actively promote abortions as a method of family planning," according to a senior administration official who briefed the press on the plan.

"Referrals for the termination of a pregnancy in cases of rape, incest, or endangerment of the life of the woman are not prohibited under this policy," the official added.

The Tillerson plan is a dramatic expansion of the Mexico City Policy, a Reagan-era restriction that's since been suspended by every Democrat in the White House and revived by every Republican. President Donald Trump signed a memo bringing back the restrictions on January 23.

(Via: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jinamoore/trumps-new-abortion-restrictions-will-affect-9-billion-in?utm_term=.dbbVz2yMa#.ulPR4vjQe)

Life is precious and that is what this abortion restriction is trying to highlight. The $9 billion funding can help spread this message across the nation and either discourage women from getting one or practicing safe sex instead.

President Donald Trump is moving forward with a plan to massively expand a ban on federal dollars going to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information.

Senior administration officials said Monday a plan to expand the so-called "Mexico City Policy" had gone into effect. The policy would apply broadly to organizations receiving U.S. global health assistance, compared with past versions of the ban which specifically targeted international family planning groups.

In all, about $8.8 billion in funding could be impacted, far more than the $600,000 covered under the previous version of the ban, which critics call the Global Gag Rule. The expanded policy is being dubbed "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance." The officials, who requested anonymity and were not authorized to speak on the record, said the ban would apply to groups working on HIV/AIDS, malaria, maternal and child health, reproductive issues and global health.

Officials said the new policy would be applied immediately to new funding issued and then to existing arrangements as they are amended. To receive funding, health organizations must pledge not to provide abortions or abortion information or provide support to any groups that do. There is an exemption in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is at risk.

(Via: http://www.wral.com/trump-details-anti-abortion-ban-over-us-global-health-aid/16703700/)

The goal of the policy is to provide American women easy access to the best health care there is in the country and in upholding the life of everyone, even those still in the womb. While many liberal-minded individuals may raise an eyebrow about these restrictions, pro-life advocates are glad in receiving this full support from the government.

The message is simple, if you are a woman and you don’t want to bother yourself with these abortion restrictions, take precautions during sexual intercourse. You have lots of options. From condom, pills, IUDs to implants, you don’t necessarily have to give up your sex life just to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancies. And no matter how much some of you hate (loathe is such a strong word) Trump, he may have done the right thing on this one.

The following blog article Abortion In The Eyes Of Trump was first seen on Brand Infiltration Blog

source https://www.brandinfiltration.com/abortion-in-the-eyes-of-trump/

Trump Doesn’t Take Science Seriously

There are many mysteries in this world that we won’t be able to uncover them all in our lifetime. Many questions will remain unanswered because we aren’t meant to know the answers in the first place. But despite the uncertainties of life, we continue to live and enjoy everything that life has to offer. Many of our questions actually have to deal with science. It’s quite obvious from the very beginning as we question the beginning of the world and of life that baffles us the most.

It’s funny, though, that we tend to forget the very essence of life and our own mortality as technology advances. We feel superior above other species on the planet because we feel that we know the answer to all of life’s questions. Money and power have a lot to do with this power trip. And it also happens that Donald Trump somehow is the closest personification to this that we can all relate to.

Donald Trump may be the US’ first “post-fact” president, but is he also the first “post-science” president? And should we be alarmed?

Ask many in the scientific community in the United States, and the answer is a deafening “Yes”.

Ask anyone looking for US leadership to constrain the environmental harm being done by climate change, and you would be deafened, too.

Scott Pruitt, Trump’s appointee as head of the Environmental Protection Agency, has sued the agency 13 times and repeatedly called for its dissolution. Its staff have created an “alt-site” to preserve data on global temperature trends in the face of threats to wipe government websites clean of such data.

Rick Perry, Trump’s new Energy Secretary, five years ago called for the Department of Energy to be disbanded. He is now tasked to head it.

(Via: http://www.scmp.com/business/global-economy/article/2094269/opinion-trumps-anti-science-policies-imperil-world)

The technological boom in the US, mainly from tech start-ups in Silicon Valley initially gained support from the US government looking for investments in the field of pure science. And over the years, the US has pioneered in many scientific and tech advancements that catapulted the country as a global scientific leader.

On Monday, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt declined to renew the terms of nine of the 18 scientists on the EPA's Board of Scientific Counselors. According to an EPA spokesperson, this change was made in order to bring different scientists into the mix, including industry ones.

This dismissal, which is unprecedented in recent presidential history, represents yet another data point in the Trump Administration's trend away from science as the backbone of the EPA and other key federal agencies. It is appropriate to have one representative from industry on the panel that reviews the EPA's work -- after all, those industry researchers know best how they will be affected by particular regulations.

But the remainder of the board should be made up of research scientists who understand the effects of chemicals and whose primary concern is ensuring standards that will not harm human health and the environment. Ongoing research and development cannot be dominated by those who have an economic interest in the outcome.

The dismissals are particularly troubling since they are one of a number of developments in an administration which appears to take a diminished view of science.

(Via: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/15/opinions/no-science-in-trump-administration-whitman/)

Aside from budget cuts including the EPA, the hiring of relatively junior and inexperienced scientists is detrimental to the environment and to America’s efforts in addressing global warming and climate change. After all, Trump has been quoted in the past to think of these issues as a mere hoax to get more money.

Two scientists who advised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have resigned over Donald Trump’s environmental policies. 

Dr Carlos Martin, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute, and Dr Peter Meyer, President and Chief Economist of The EP Systems Group, both resigned citing political reasons. 

As Mr Martin told The Independent, he simply could “not be a future prop for bad science".

Mr Martin posted their joint resignation letter on Twitter, and in it the pair said they felt the EPA was “watering down credible science” by putting politics where it did not belong. 

On several occasions, Mr Trump has called climate a "hoax" perpetrated by the Chinese and is considering withdrawing the US from the global Paris Agreement on climate change. The US is one of the world's top emitters of carbon dioxide. 

(Via: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/epa-scientists-resign-trump-climate-change-protest-a7733601.html)

Aside from the March for Science protest held last month, two EPA scientists also resigned from their post because they can no longer turn a blind eye to Trump’s disrespect of their cause and the lack of support they likewise receive especially when it comes to the funding important scientific programs.

The Trump administration continues to ignore the pressing issues of climate change but it does not mean it’s not real. We see and experience it first hand. Natural calamities get stronger each year and both lives and properties are lost to them in the absence of sufficient planning and preparation. We don’t want anything bad to happen to the country but we can’t help but wonder what the effects of Trump’s nonchalant attitude towards the sciences and how it will affect everybody’s lives over time.

Trump Doesn’t Take Science Seriously was originally published on BI

source https://www.brandinfiltration.com/trump-doesnt-take-science-seriously/

From Small Business To An Empire

Most successful empires today started small but their owners dreamed big and never stopped despite the challenges they faced. These tenacious entrepreneurs strived to reach their goals and even achieved more than they have dreamed of. While luck plays a big role in your business’s success, having a plan and sticking to it also matters. Making use of various marketing and technological tools used by most businesses today can likewise help you realize the business empire of your dreams.

The world is full of start-up businesses. Even in your own community, you’d see new names hanging outside street shops alongside popular franchises. Even when you go online, a lot of entrepreneurs take their businesses to the web to offset operation costs of running a physical shop, especially that they are just starting and money is an issue. Once they have a strong following on social media and they start making serious money, that’s when these entrepreneurs finally decide to open up an actual shop.

Small-business owners usually don’t have the time or money to routinely make big changes to their businesses. However, you can consider easy changes that have the potential to make a big difference to your company’s bottom line. Here are four tweaks you can make to help ensure you spend your money wisely and increase your success:

Use financial tools:

It’s hard to optimize your business if you don’t perform proper financial management for critical areas such as revenue, taxes and payroll. You can cut this seemingly daunting task down to size by using relatively inexpensive financial tools like quickbooks.

Businesses require more time to manage as they grow. Here are some ways to streamline your business and save yourself precious time and money:
1. Cut back on email.

2. Outsource.
3. Throttle meetings.
4. Hire expertise.

Revamp your image:

Does your marketing image provide the best return on investment. Perhaps you can tweak it to give your brand(s) more oomph. First, conduct an image audit to find out what customers (and demographics) think of your branding. Pick a new logo, font, colors and designs that are more relevant to your target audience. Update your website and employ the latest SEO techniques. Get involved in the community and listen to customer suggestions.

(Via: http://www.business2community.com/small-business/tweak-small-business-success-01815537#Rkzcrtuzk7FOTg0M.97)

While major businesses undermine the value of small businesses, a big number of the population actually make a living with the help of these small businesses and they serve as the economy’s backbone. They create 2 out of 3 jobs in America and the growth and determination of these small business owners fuel every community in the country.

In honor of National Small Business Week here in Illinois, the SBA and the Illinois Small Business Development Center Network will sponsor a series of panels, education sessions and networking events for entrepreneurs across the state. In Springfield, a branch office of the SBA teams with local partners year-round to host events and help small businesses succeed. The Illinois SBDC at Lincoln Land Community College, led by director Kevin Lust, provides one-on-one counseling and an extensive library of business and personal resources.

It is critical that the nation’s 28 million small businesses continue to thrive and their owners have the skills and resources for success. The SBA supports and advocates for them — whether they’re just starting, looking for financing or a mentor, or want to get to the next level — and we look forward to your continued support in doing the same.

(Via: http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20170428/guest-column-national-small-business-week-celebrating-what-makes-illinois-economy-thrive)

Starting your own business is a serious matter, so start with a clear purpose in mind or you may end up easily discouraged by the challenges you face at the onset of your new endeavor. If possible, stick with what you know and make the most of the resources you have on hand. Money is your biggest resource but working with like-minded entrepreneurs can also open up other resources you can tap for the benefit of your business like sharing co-working spaces and even equipment and ideas you can share.

As your business grows, make sure you have multiple streams of revenue so your success does not solely rely on just one product or service. And most importantly, small businesses become big empires because they deliver their 100% and enjoy the loyalty of satisfied and happy customers who raves about their business even without their prodding.

From Small Business To An Empire Find more on: BrandInfiltration.com Blog

source https://www.brandinfiltration.com/from-small-business-to-an-empire/

What You Need To Know About Local SEO

We’ve heard about search engine optimization as we browse the web in our day-to-day. Although it means nothing to us, average people, SEO is actually a big thing in the world of business. Entrepreneurs rely on effective SEO tools to grow and build their brand. And for good reason too. Google reported that keyword searches are increasing especially with mobile use. It means that more people now use the web for information and the majority of them do their searches using their smartphones or smart gadgets.

For small businesses with actual shops where they do business, the concept of local SEO shouldn’t be missed. However, it can leave entrepreneurs confused as to its difference from the existing SEO they now have in place. Back in the days, the Yellow Pages is everyone’s ultimate resource. However, as technology advances, looking up a particular shop through it seem like an ancient thing to do. Most people are now armed with a smart gadget in hand and it does everything for them, from serving as the main communication tool for doing basic searches on retail, work, school, or other web-related inquiries. The landscape has changed and entrepreneurs need to adjust to stay relevant amidst the changes.

Welcome to local SEO

Local SEO, or local search optimisation, helps small businesses attract local consumers online.

If you search for products or services online, search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo display not only traditional organic results, but also local results, which show businesses and maps in your area.

To do this, search engines will identify your current location via your IP Address and return the most relevant businesses within your immediate area.

Local Search Results

Local search results are probably already familiar to you. Google, Bing and Yahoo all return local results, and all have slight variations on the style and number of results featured. But for now, let’s look at Google:

(Via: https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2016/09/bright-local-introductory-guide-to-local-seo-for-small-business/)

Google searches have dramatically increased over the years. It is the reason why the company continually makes updates to adapt to all these changes. As of late, they even announced implementing paid results in local listings. It means businesses need to pay for their business to move forward and earn a spot in the “local finder page” even though the site lags on ranking.

If you’ve followed SEO strategies for any length of time, you know one thing: SEO changes all the time. When it comes to local SEO, it’s more important than ever that you optimize your on-site and off-site SEO strategies for clients and customers who may be searching for your local business. Local competition is heating up, and if you’re not on top of your rankings, you can bet your competitors will be.

Here are five solid local SEO tactics you can use this year to help your business rank higher for local search terms.

1. Title and meta description tags still matter

2. Online directories and citations

3. Google My Business: Claim and optimize

4. Online reviews matter

5. Use local structured data markup

(Via: http://searchengineland.com/local-seo-2017-5-simple-ways-dominate-local-search-268412)

Three factors encompass local SEO. They are local listings and citations, on-site local SEO optimization, and online reviews. Take the time to list your business on various online listings like Yelp, CitySearch, and many others. Also, include on your list other local directories like the local newspaper’s website or other popular listings in the community to reach a wider audience.

Small businesses have a bigger chance of succeeding and being able to compete against bigger brands with the help of local SEO. Providing accurate business data and customer service will eventually encourage consumers to write a positive review about your business, which will hopefully attract more customers. Also, make it a point to keep your website updated, so consumers know what to expect when they visit your site or buy something that you sell. Taking your business online is simply unavoidable these days as it is the medium preferred by everyone. So if you own a small business and want it to be a profitable one, local SEO is something you shouldn’t take for granted at all.

What You Need To Know About Local SEO was first published to The Brand Infiltration Blog

source https://www.brandinfiltration.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-local-seo/

The Other Side Of Youtube

In 2005, three buddies from Paypal introduced Youtube to the world. And since then, our lives have never been the same again. People can get lost in this video sharing site for hours because of a wide variety of interesting content you can watch for free at your convenience.

If you are a star at heart, you can even make Youtube as the platform for your stardom where you can regularly post videos on your channel and showcase your talents to the world. Aside from being free and sometimes helpful to society, one of the perks offered by Youtube is that you can make a career out of it. Famous Youtubers earn six-figures annually from ads placed on their channel. It is some serious money if you take Youtube just as seriously. However, it is not always rays of sunshine and butterflies, many shady videos are also all over Youtube.

“Social media companies’ failure to deal with illegal and dangerous material online is a disgrace. They have been asked repeatedly to come up with better systems to remove illegal material such as terrorist recruitment or online child abuse. Yet repeatedly they have failed to do so. It is shameful. These are among the biggest, richest and cleverest companies in the world, and their services have become a crucial part of people’s lives. This isn’t beyond them to solve, yet they are failing to do so. They continue to operate as platforms for hatred and extremism without even taking basic steps to make sure they can quickly stop illegal material, properly enforce their own community standards, or keep people safe.”

(Via: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/fiyaz-mughal/social-media-hate-crime_b_16355696.html)

While we get to watch reruns of shows or movies that we like or even follow famous Youtube personalities from time to time, there is another side to Youtube that worries people all over the world. Political hate videos abound the site and in plain access of everyone, even young kids who have their own iPads or tablets to help them pass time as their busy parents struggle to make both ends meet can watch it on demand.

MPs have accused social media giants of a "shameful" failure to tackle online terrorist propaganda and hate speech.

A hard-hitting report accused major firms of putting more effort into protecting their profits than keeping the public safe online.

Ministers should consider forcing firms to pay for the cost of policing on social media and introducing a system of sanctions with multimillion-pound fines, the Home Affairs Select Committee said.

The cross-party committee, which took evidence from Google, Facebook and Twitter, acknowledged that the technology giants had considered the impact that online hate, abuse and extremism can have on individuals and welcomed measures taken to tackle the problem.

But they said "nowhere near enough is being done".

The committee said it had found "repeated examples of social media companies failing to remove illegal content when asked to do so", including "dangerous" terrorist recruitment material, promotion of sexual abuse of children and incitement to racial hatred.

The report said: "The biggest companies have been repeatedly urged by governments, police forces, community leaders and the public to clean up their act, and to respond quickly and proactively to identify and remove illegal content. They have repeatedly failed to do so.

(Via: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/social-media-hate-speech-extremism-mps-facebook-twitter-google-youtube-terrorist-a7711051.html)

It is no longer acceptable for these major tech giants to keep ignoring or shrugging off the concerns of many responsible citizens.Racism, discrimination, and conflict still make the headlines all over the world and the threat of an impending World War 3 even looms on the horizon as hate speeches, racist posts and terrorist videos are everywhere, fueling anger and divisiveness among the people. Social media companies like Youtube and Facebook have a moral responsibility to uphold the morals of the public and not instigate conflict through the use of their social media channels.

They continue to disregard public safety simply because they make money from these hateful posts since ads still appear alongside them. Some of these extremist posts have actually been created by terrorists themselves to spread hate and to earn money especially once these inappropriate posts become viral. And sadly, this is still the reality we face every day. While for instance, Youtube has been ingenious in implementing stringent procedures in protecting copyright, they appear to be not as eager in addressing this hate issue that is all over their site. So, the burden now falls on you to avoid clicking these posts and remain impartial especially in issues that involve race and politics.

The Other Side Of Youtube is courtesy of BrandInfiltration.com

source https://www.brandinfiltration.com/the-other-side-of-youtube/