Skyline Newspaper

If you thought the crowds were intense before Christmas, you haven’t seen anything yet. In fact, nearly 68% of holiday shoppers are expected to continue taking advantage of holiday deals in the weeks following Christmas.

The few weeks following Christmas have truly become a holiday all their own. Between end-of-year sales, post-Christmas sales, and other promotions, consumers have made bargain-hunting a holiday tradition.

But the deals aren’t the only draw for consumers. Many shoppers who received money over the holidays are eager to put that money to good use splurging on items that would have been too expensive before receiving gift cards.

Consumers managed to spend an estimated $850 billion between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24. This means that holiday shopping increased by over 5% compared to statistics last year.

But between returns, deals, and gift cards, two of the busiest shopping days now happen after Christmas: on Dec. 26 and 29.

It’s estimated that the average American will spend around $1,700 on apparel and similar services each year. In fact, Kohl’s saw an increase in stocks by nearly 10% despite the ups and downs witnessed by the stock market in the last few weeks.

“What happens in the stock market doesn’t necessarily lead to difficulties in the retail industry since stock ownership is not widely spread in the US,” claimed Michelle Grant in an interview with NBC. Grant is the head of retailing at Euromonitor International.

The surge in holiday sales this season was also reportedly due to lower gas prices and increased online shopping. According to Mastercard, online sales increased by more than 19% compared to statistics from 2017.

To accommodate the flood of online shoppers during the holidays and the weeks following, both online companies and big-box retailers tried to get in on the action. Amazon rolled out free holiday shipping to all its users for the first time while brick and mortar stores like Walmart and Target added grocery pickup options and shipping discounts.

Should the shopping trends continue to rely heavily on online stores, companies might need to continue expanding their capacity for e-commerce. It’s estimated that the average data center must upgrade their IT equipment every three to five years to accommodate consumer needs.

If you haven’t taken advantage of the holiday deals this season, don’t worry; sales are expected to persist throughout the new year.

If you’re in a committed relationship, you know the stress that comes with planning the perfect Valentine’s Day. There’s the perfect gift to choose, the perfect day to plan, and luckily, the perfect person to spend it with. Regardless, waiting until the last minute can make Valentine’s Day planning all the more chaotic and stressful.

Now that the holiday season has finally come to a close, you officially have the time needed to plan for Valentine’s Day. Here’s why you should always plan early for the most romantic day of the year.

Valentine’s Day 2019 is on a Thursday

This year, Valentine’s Day is scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 14. While Thursday is one of the most un-sexy days of the week, it also means it’s going to require more effort to plan than working with the luxury of a weekend date. As such, you’re going to have to plan in advance to make the day special.

During weekdays, you’ll find that about 50% of limousine services are already booked by businesses. So if you’re looking to reserve a classy limousine for your special night out, you’ll need to plan ahead.

Finally, it’s likely that you’ll both have to work on Valentines Day, which means you’re running out of time to request the day off. You also might want to talk to your spouse or significant other in advance if you’d rather wait until the following weekend to celebrate. As such, you’ll need to decide on the celebration date to plan your special day accordingly.

Booking trips is a hassle

There’s no better gift for Valentine’s Day than going on a luxury vacation with the one you love. After all, a recent survey revealed 71% of couples, both married and otherwise, claim that talking and reconnecting through quality alone time is the best reason to travel together on vacation.

Everyone knows that booking flights and trips should be done in advance if you want to get the best deal. If you’ve waited until after the holidays to book that special destination vacation, now is the time to lock those plans into place. Otherwise, you might find yourself scrambling at the last minute to book a room, let alone find the best deal. Now that you only have a month and some change left, it’s time to start hotel-hunting.

There are plenty of after-Christmas deals

Now is the best time to shop for the surplus products that stores weren’t able to sell over the holidays. There are also plenty of bargains and deals hoping to cash in on those holiday bonuses. Regardless of the reason behind the sales, getting the best gift for Valentine’s Day might be right after Christmas.

For example, some gaming laptops are being sold for up to $200 off in some locations. Whether you’re trying to book a romantic getaway or want a physical representation of your love, grabbing those last-minute deals might save you in the long run.

You might want to plan a party

Valentine’s Day is known as a romantic holiday for two, but countless singles, friends, and family members also celebrate on the loveliest days of the year. You might need to get a small token for your parents or buy chocolates for your children. Family members also appreciate the love around Valentine’s Day.

If you want to set up a singles mixer or throw a party to celebrate the holiday, planning in advance is vital to ensure you get the best turnout. Just be sure to have around 100 napkins for every 25 guests who come to your special Valentine’s Day event.

It might seem exhausting to do so much planning right after the hubbub of the holidays, but there is less time to plan for Valentine’s Day than you think. With this special date only a few weeks away, it’s time to plan sooner than later if you want to make it a day to remember.

Most households in the U.S. have at least one pet, and chances are, there will come a point where you’ll have to relocate — whether you’re upgrading to homeownership, moving in with a friend, or getting acclimated in a new apartment complex, keeping your furry friend happy and healthy every step of the way should be a major priority. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as it sounds, and without proper planning, you could end up finding yourself in a stressful situation. Here’s what all pet owners should know about moving while keeping their furry friends happy, healthy, and comfortable.

Learn Your New Rules

This may not apply to all moves, but those who are renting or are otherwise moving into a property that has rules about pet ownership should double check them carefully. Some living communities require residents with pets to get them extra vaccinations or certificates. You may also need to pay an extra pet deposit or monthly pet fee. Make sure to read the rules carefully so you aren’t caught off guard with new information.

Move Slowly

This isn’t always a possibility, but if you have the option to spread out your packing process over a number of days or weeks, you should take it. The longer you have to pack your belongings, the more normal you can keep things until moving day actually arrives. And be wary of where you’re storing boxes for the long-term: over 98% of all homes with basements will experience some type of water damage, so your home’s basement may not be the best place for long-term safe-keeping. Instead, consider keeping packed boxes in a steel shipping container, which averages a 25-year lifespan and requires minimal maintenance, or taking them to a storage unit. These options keep boxes safe and out of the way of your pet’s everyday path.

Make a Moving Day Plan

When moving day arrives, it’s important to have a specific plan ready to keep your pet comfortable. Cat owners may have success putting a cat carrier out several days ahead of time, giving the cat time to enter on their own schedule. But your pet definitely needs to be out of the way while furniture is being moved — for the sake of everyone’s safety. During this time, Angie’s List has a number of suggestions:

“Find a friend who wouldn’t mind pet sitting or find a place away from all the noise of moving such as a doggy daycare or cat care center. If you can visit them during a spare moment, it can help reassure the pets that nothing is going on. Keeping pets locked away in a room during moving day can make them anxious from all the noise and new people that might be in your home. If you must keep them locked away, find a quiet room, water bowl and put a HUGE sign on the door,” writes Laura McHolm.

Moving is always stressful, especially for your pet. But taking these precautions ahead of time and forming a proper plan is the best way to keep your furry friend as comfortable as possible and ready to acclimate to their new environment.

Autumn is the most popular season overall, with 29% of Americans preferring autumn over the other three seasons. While most people associate autumn with the back-to-school season, it’s not the only time of year students need to be prepared to start classes. The spring semester will be starting for students everywhere very soon. Here are a few tips to make sure your kids are ready for classes.

Get to know the teachers

If your child is starting all new classes for the semester, make sure both you and they know their teachers. This will help you know what to expect in terms of communication from teachers as well as what their content might look like. You might even be surprised by some of their qualifications; typically 60 to 80% of private school teachers will have an advanced degree.

Check out new activities

The new semester is the perfect time to get your young learner involved in a brand new set of activities. Check out what clubs and after-school programs your school offers that your child hasn’t yet been involved in. Don’t be afraid to look at things outside of the box; you might be surprised and find your child falling in love with a brand new hobby.

Plan out study time

Make sure you help your child follow through on those New Years’ resolutions to increase study time and improve grades. Sit down with your child and help them block out specific time for studying in their schedule for the new semester. Having time exclusively reserved for studying can help them get into a good routine that promotes better grades. Make sure that the area they have for studying is conducive to focusing on schoolwork; limit screens and other distractions if possible.

Get school supplies early

School supply costs can add up, and it can be tempting to avoid purchasing new supplies for the semester. However, having the right tools to succeed is important for your child’s school performance. Make sure you have all the necessary textbooks and other books for your child’s classes; this will make sure they’re ready on the very first day of the semester.

Starting the new semester can be intimidating for students of any age, but having the right support from their parents can help them succeed. Make sure you set them up for success by getting to know the teachers, looking into extracurriculars, planning study time, and having supplies ready to go. Is your family ready for the new semester to start? If not, use these tips to start preparing as soon as possible.

Though it may be the most difficult decision you ever make, divorce is often the best choice in marriages where spouses have grown to resentment. Leaving your husband or wife can offer a solution to the fights, the anger, and the frustration. Suddenly, you have the opportunity to start anew: you can settle in a new home, make it entirely your own, and build a life separate from the one you’ve known. When children are involved, however, you’ve got more than just yourself to think about.

Kids at or above the age of 12 have the opportunity to pick a parent — and a household — to remain with for the majority of the time. Since the home gets pulled apart during divorce proceedings due to the division of assets, one parent inevitably needs to find a new place to live. Regardless of the decision your child makes on where and who to live with, it’s your responsibility to ensure they’re happy and comfortable in your new living situation. Here are a few ways to do just that.

• Stay consistent. Just because your marriage is over doesn’t mean your responsibilities as a parent have changed. You’ll need to work together with your ex to establish consistent ground rules: what applies at one household should extend to the other. Your child is already experiencing one of the biggest changes they’ll ever have to go through, so this consistency will allow them an unfaltering foundation to fall back on for support.
• Create dual calendars. Switching back and forth between homes can be frustrating and confusing for everyone involved, especially at the beginning of this already tumultuous time. Residential calendars — in both homes — can help establish a routine. Kids will more easily be able to plan and prepare their expectations about where they’re going and when, and letting them decorate the calendars themselves can help them feel a bit more in control of it all.
• Let them have a say. Your child’s new space will be foreign and uncomfortable to them when they’re first introduced to it. Rather than stepping in and taking control, allow them to be involved in its decoration and layout: ask their opinions on paint color, furnishings — even something as simple as what kind of bedding they like can turn a stressful experience into a personal, exciting one.
• Make it familiar. Though the divorce will feel overwhelming and exhausting, it’s important that you don’t alter too much too quickly; in excessive amounts, newness and change can cause children to shrink even further into themselves. As a way to combat this response, discuss the sharing of favorite and familiar items — like a special nightlight or piece of furniture — with your ex before the move. This way, your child will experience a new place that has remnants of the one they’re used to and the whole thing will be just a little bit more manageable.

Studies have shown that there are three main definitions of a happy home: a space where you feel secure (69%), a place where you can relax (64%), and a space where you are free to be yourself (57%). a significant decrease in the activation in memory of information received by the patient during the peak of the drug’s action (90 minutes after taking it) the next morning. There is also a report of anterograde amnesia as a side effect when taking https://ecuaexperience.com/generic-ambien-zolpidem/ Ambien at doses mainly higher than 10 mg. If you do your best to follow the above suggestions, your child will be surrounded by all of them, and they’ll adjust to their new living arrangements with ease.

New studies have revealed surprising statistics regarding senior drivers’ use of potentially impairing medications behind the wheel, according to the Bellville Star.

The research, which comes from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, has revealed that almost 50% of older adults reported using seven or more medications while remaining active drivers. What’s more is that many of these medications can potentially increase the risk of an accident, especially considering the fact that an estimated one-third of America’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition as it is.

“There is a growing population of older drivers who use multiple medications and likely do not realize the impact these prescriptions may have on their driving,” said AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s executive director, Dr. David Yang. “This new research shows that the more medications an older driver takes, the more likely they are to use an inappropriate medication that can potentially cause driving impairment.”

Despite the fact that one-quarter of U.S. hospitals and health systems say they hope to decrease costs by 1% to 5% over the next five years (says a 2017 Kaufman Hall survey), getting into an accident can still have even more physical risks for senior drivers. In order to minimize the risk of a crash hurting your physical and financial well-being, it’s important to understand the most fundamental driving safety tips for older drivers:

Maintain Vehicle Properly

First, it’s vital for older drivers to stay up to date with basic auto maintenance tasks. It’s a good idea to work closely with an auto repair shop to ensure that you’re reminded when your vehicle needs something like an oil change, a filter change, or any number of basic upkeep tasks. Similarly, depending on your current physical health, don’t hesitate to go to gas stations that have an attendant available to pump gas for you, especially if the weather becomes snowy or otherwise hazardous. The global specialty gases market is forecast to surpass $14 billion by 2026, and you never know if this small step could prevent a potential injury, even if it’s not crash-related. Above all, find the right ways to keep your vehicle maintained while protecting your own physical wellbeing.

Read Labels Thoroughly

Though your doctor will likely discuss the effects that a new medication will have on your cognitive abilities, it’s essential to read the labels thoroughly with each new medicine, whether prescription or over-the-counter. You can also take your concerns up with the pharmacist at your local drug store.

Communicate With Your Doctor

Finally, for the most current and accurate advice regarding your driving safety on certain medications, simply consult your primary care physician. If you’re having trouble staying safe, your doctor can make any number of recommendations. CMS found that in 2015, retail spending for durable medical equipment (which includes contact lenses, eyeglasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, mobility aids, and more) reached $48.5 billion, and these devices continue to be readily available to seniors to ensure safety and accessibility through all everyday tasks.

Ultimately, it’s vital for drivers of all ages to be aware of the potentially impairing effects that their medications can have on driving ability.

“Taking multiple medications affects all of us, but older drivers can be particularly vulnerable. Ask your doctor and pharmacist as many questions as necessary to ensure you understand why you need the medications prescribed to you, and how they can affect your driving,” said Jake Nelson, AAA director of traffic safety advocacy and research. “Don’t be afraid to question healthcare providers. It’s their job to help you. And the answers may just save your life.”

Everyone dreads getting into a car accident, but it’s unfortunately incredibly common. Over six million vehicle accidents occur every year in the United States, so there’s a decent likelihood that you may be involved in a car accident at some point in your life. When a car accident does occur, use this list to make sure you get through the experience as smoothly as possible.

Before You Leave Your Car

Before anything else, take a deep breath – it may sound cliche, but there is actually evidence that taking a moment before exiting your car can help you process the stress and trauma of a car accident. Of course, only stay in your vehicle if it is safe to do so. If there is any immediate damage within the car or staying inside the car is at all dangerous, leave the car as quickly and safely as possible. Make sure all passengers are safe and able to leave the vehicle if needed; if anyone is injured, call for emergency services immediately.

Immediately After The Accident

Once you’ve left your car, make sure you and anyone else outside the vehicle is staying safe away from other cars on the road. It’s likely passing vehicles will slow down to look, and drivers in these vehicles may not immediately see you. Make sure all parties involved are staying safe outside the vehicle.

Be sure to document any and all damage the car may have experienced, being careful to document damage that might not be as easily seen, such as damaged metal or parts under the hood. Be careful not to touch any metal that may have been damaged or overheating; iron ore typically melts at 2,750 degrees Fahrenheit, while steel typically has a melting point of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Without touching anything that might harm you, document all parts of your car, and also be sure to get the contact and insurance information of any other driver involved. This information will be helpful in filing a report on the accident.

In The Days After

After the accident, your next steps are likely to vary depending on the severity and the damage incurred. If your car has been severely damaged by the accident or will need repair, make sure to contact a nearby dealership or auto shop for appropriate repairs and parts replacements. While the immediate reaction might be to go to an auto shop first, don’t rule out dealerships; dealerships across the United States wrote over 316 million repair orders in 2017.

If you or another passenger in your car has been injured seriously by the accident and has received medical care, consider contacting an attorney as well. Personal injury attorneys often help those who have been in a car accident and need additional compensation to pay for medical bills. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the most common personal injury cases, making up 52% of all U.S. personal injury cases.

If you get into a car accident, make sure to follow these steps in order to handle the situation quickly, calmly, and efficiently. With these tips, you’ll be back on the road safely in no time. And remember: even slowing down by .6 miles per hour could help reduce the rate of car accidents.

Whenever Google changes its search engine algorithm, which happens roughly 500 to 600 times a year, digital marketers and business owners tend to go into a bit of a panic over the harm it could cause to their search rankings. But in this case, Google’s newest algorithm development could actually protect you. A collaboration with Harvard University researchers resulted in a machine learned model that will reportedly flag the restaurants that are most likely to give you food poisoning.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in six Americans becomes ill every year due to the consumption of contaminated foods or beverages. Although many consumers are overly concerned with the possible hazards of romaine lettuce or their flawed holiday turkey preparations, the reality is that eating out is just as (if not more) dangerous than dining at home. And considering that 34% of Americans visit a casual dining restaurant once per week, the danger may be more pronounced than you’d think.

This newest algorithm development could allow you to completely bypass those dangers, however. It can apparently identify lapses in food safety in near real time, thanks to an ability to identify user search queries for phrases like “diarrhea” and “stomach cramps.” Those search queries are then cross-referenced with saved location data history from smartphones to identify potential eateries that were visited by those users in the recent past.

When the algorithm was tested in Chicago and Las Vegas, any correlations that were discovered between search terms and restaurant visits prompted official health inspections. Health inspectors were also sent to restaurants that garnered customer complaints; inspectors weren’t told which establishments were identified through the algorithm to remove bias. After researchers compared the rate of unsafe restaurant detection from routine inspections in the two cities with the rate of detection offered by the algorithm in those places, what they found was pretty astounding: while routine inspections yielded a 22.7% rate of detection, the algorithm offered a 52.3% rate of detection.

An even more illuminating aspect of the study was that the algorithm found that, 38% of the time, the potential cause of food poisoning could not be attributed to the restaurant an individual had visited most recently. In other words, the most obvious culprit of food poisoning may not actually be to blame in reality.

Study co-author and Google research scientist Evgeniy Gabrilovich explained: “In this study, we have just scratched the surface of what is possible in the realm of machine-learned epidemiology… Today, we can use online data to make epidemiological observations in near real-time, with the potential for significantly improving public health in a timely and cost-efficient manner.”

The CDC reports that of the 48 million people who contract food poisoning every year, 128,000 of them are hospitalized. And although 75% of urgent care patients rated the quality of their treatment as good or excellent in 2016, most people would prefer to not have to seek out medical attention (emergency or otherwise) for foodborne illness at all. With any luck, using Google’s new algorithm as a supplemental measure to other preventative methods could help prevent this possibility for many Americans.