Month: September 2020

2020-09-24T08:01:00

(BPT) – As a new school year kicks into gear, many students — and their families — are adjusting to a different learning environment. While back-to-school preparations this year may include setting up space for virtual learning at home, going back to the classroom, or a combination model, they should also include making sure your child or children have health insurance. But if they don’t, it is not too late to get them covered!

Studies have shown that academic performance and health insurance go hand in hand. Children who have health coverage miss fewer classes and perform better in school than those who are uninsured. Even more, health coverage doesn’t just benefit students. Fewer missed days of school also mean fewer missed days of work for parents. With health coverage, children can get the routine and emergency care, immunizations, check-ups, eye exams, dental visits and mental health services they may need to fully participate in school and remain engaged in class. Health coverage also provides access to the seasonal flu vaccine and important care if children get sick or injured.

Nationwide, millions of children and teens qualify — and are enrolled — in free or low-cost health coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These health programs can provide vital access to care to keep students focused on learning and give parents the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children are covered inside and outside the classroom.

Over the last few months, many families may have postponed medical appointments due to COVID-19. Millions of school-aged children who do not have health coverage may qualify for Medicaid and CHIP. The start of the school year provides a good opportunity to catch up on important well-child visits and ensure children are up-to-date on their immunizations. Vaccinations, such as those for seasonal influenza, are particularly important this year. Not only can they protect children from getting sick and developing serious complications, they can also protect others who may be vulnerable to serious illness as a result of the flu, such as babies and other young children, older people, and people with pre-existing health conditions. Medicaid and CHIP cover recommended routine vaccinations, including the seasonal flu.

Medicaid and CHIP provide free or low-cost health insurance for eligible children and teens up to age 19. Eligibility is dependent on household size and income and varies by state. On average, a family of four earning up to $50,000 a year or more may qualify for Medicaid and CHIP. Enrollment is open all year but health coverage must be renewed annually.

You can apply online, over the phone, by mail or in-person with your state’s Medicaid or CHIP agency or visit the “Find Coverage for Your Family” section on InsureKidsNow.gov. For more information, call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669).

Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

2020-09-24T17:31:00

(BPT) – Memes, stans and DMs, oh my.

If your knowledge of the digital generation ends there — or if none of those words meant anything to you — this article is for you.

Advertisers are trying to understand them, thought leaders are desperate to reach them, and brands are bending over backward to appeal to them. Whether you realize it or not, Gen Z — or the global cohort of teenagers and young adults ages 15-25 — is next in line to inherit the complex world that is 2020.

Beyond the viral dance videos and the social media slang, however, lies a much deeper cultural tide to be uncovered. And as we look to the future, we’re all interested in getting to know the generation that will lead us there.

According to a Spotify survey, Gen Z is informed, progress-oriented and driven

In the year that shook the world, it seems that the youngest generations are getting ready to lead the charge for change.

New research from Spotify takes a closer look at the cultural force that is Gen Z, revealing them to be a passionate crew of young people taking the reins for their future — plugged-in, podcast-listening individuals who are streaming news podcasts The Daily, NPR News and The Journal. A progress-driven group more interested in moving forward than they are in political parties. A dynamic unit made up of independent thinkers, who intend to be their own bosses one day (if they aren’t already).

This study, part of the annual “Culture Next” report compiled by Spotify and others, looked into the issues, topics and trends driving culture for Gen Z and Millennials around the world.

The survey used a combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses to compare the attitudes and opinions of Gen Zs (15-25) and millennials (26-40) in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States during two distinct time periods — fall/winter 2019-2020 and July/August 2020.

Top trends defining Gen Z culture in 2020

Here are the top 5 insights Spotify uncovered — from politics and partisanship, to entrepreneurship, to the ways in which the youngest generations are engaging with and consuming audio content.

1. Progress Over Partisanship

• 65% of Gen Zs in the U.S. aged 18-25 said they are planning to vote in the upcoming U.S. election in January 2020. In August 2020, this increased to 72%.
• 71% of U.S. Zs and millennials are less interested in political parties than they are in moving forward.
• When we asked U.S. Zs and millennials what they want to see out of brands, 93% chose “purpose” over “politics.”

2. Gen Zs Globally Mean Business

• Globally, 1 in 3 Zs age 17 and under said they may not go to college and prefer to start a business instead.
• 89% of U.S. Zs considered an education plan other than a four-year degree immediately following high school.
• 65% of those Zs we spoke to globally said they plan to be, or already are, their own boss.
• And in July, more than 50% globally said they’re more inspired to start a business than they were before the pandemic.

3. Gen Zs and millennials in the U.S. Credit Sound as Therapeutic and a Force for Community Building

• Emotional, therapeutic, personal — when we asked Zs and millennials in the U.S. which qualities make sound powerful to them, those words rose to the top.
• 72% of American Zs and millennials surveyed said voice makes us more sentimental toward our devices, and 58% said sound is at the forefront of humanizing technology.
• 73% of U.S. Zs and millennials said they use audio to cope with stress and anxiety.
• Among Zs and millennials, audio was consistently identified as a powerful force for community-building: 80% said music streaming services offer a gateway to other cultures, and we’ve seen this — in one month last year, over 60% of Spotify users discovered an artist from a country outside their own. Plus, 69% believe music is a great way to find community.

4. Getting to Know (and Like) Mom & Dad Through Music & Podcasts

• More than ever, audio has been helping families connect — in July, 77% of U.S. parents told us music does exactly that, and the kids seem to agree.
• 64% of young people globally said listening to their parents’ music gives them a better sense of who their parents are, and 78% of parents globally said music is a way they bond with their kids.
• 86% of parents globally said technology has fueled their family’s discovery exponentially.
• 72% of parents globally said today’s kids are “light years” ahead of where they were at their age as a result.

5. Gen Z Listening Trends on Spotify in the U.S. This Year

• This year, the top 5 podcasts among Gen Z listeners are Call Her Daddy, The Daily, NPR News Now, Crime Junkie and The Journal.
• On the music front, Gen Z’s top playlists are Today’s Top Hits, followed by RapCaviar, and our Sleep playlist.

2020-09-24T05:01:00

(BPT) – Medicare Part D provides coverage for prescription drugs that save and extend lives for millions of older adults and people with disabilities, many of whom would otherwise struggle to afford their treatments. However, despite the important purpose it serves, some people on Medicare, especially those taking expensive medications, still struggle to fill their prescriptions and maintain their health.

Two key challenges facing Medicare beneficiaries include the fact that:

• Medicare Part D insurance does not have an annual cap on out-of-pocket costs, so people sometimes have to pay thousands of dollars for their life-saving prescriptions.
• For people taking expensive prescription drugs, there are very high out-of-pocket costs at the beginning of each calendar year, due to the way the Part D benefit is structured.

The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation, a national charity dedicated to increasing access to healthcare, is advocating for reforms to the program and encourages you to take action. Here are three ways you can help promote reforms to Medicare Part D that will lower out-of-pocket costs:

1. Learn more about the issues

The PAN Foundation offers many resources on www.panfoundation.org/advocate to help you learn more about Medicare Part D and potential reforms that could help you and others pay less at the pharmacy counter for your prescription medications.

Additionally, signing up for healthcare newsletters, like the PAN Foundation newsletter, National Council on Aging newsletter or the Medicare Rights Center newsletter, will help you stay involved and informed.

2. Write to your members of Congress

Send a letter directly to your representatives and senators to ask them to pass legislation to lower out-of-pocket costs in Medicare Part D, such as setting an annual limit and evenly distributing these costs throughout the year.

By using PAN’s “contact Congress” tool, you can quickly contact your elected officials and can even use a pre-written letter so that you don’t have to start from scratch.

Before hitting send, consider adding your own story to the letter. Real-life examples can explain why reforms are necessary, and the impact that lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs would have on your financial security and quality of life. Personal stories leave a lasting impression on legislators.

3. Share your story on social media

Another easy way to advocate for reforms to Medicare Part D is to share information on social media. This can help you stay informed while also spreading important information to your network.

Sharing your own story about how you are impacted by high out-of-pocket costs and tagging your elected officials will help inform your friends and family about the important changes needed to lower out-of-pocket costs for people on Medicare. The PAN Foundation has helpful resources for you to start advocating for changes to Medicare Part D on social media and encourage more people to contact their elected officials.

Take action

Without a limit on out-of-pocket costs, 45 million people on Medicare Part D will continue to struggle to fill their prescriptions and maintain their health.

The time for change is now: when we raise our voices and collectively call on our elected officials, we can help people living with serious illnesses afford their life-saving medications.

Take action on this important issue and ask Congress for lower out-of-pocket costs today.

2020-09-23T14:01:01

(BPT) – There’s a lot to know about rice, from what makes it delicious to its health benefits. However, sometimes what’s out there isn’t always accurate. Read below as RiceSelect separates fact from fiction about the world’s most popular grain.

For more information, find RiceSelect on Instagram or Facebook.

2020-09-23T18:01:00

(BPT) – Spending more time at home can be a great opportunity to find new avenues for expanding your horizons and learning more about the world — and beyond. Fortunately, there are plenty of enjoyable ways that you can explore different regions, cultures and even time periods from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Here are just a few ideas for fun and entertaining exploration:

Virtual travel

If you’ve been suffering from wanderlust over the past several months, it’s now possible to armchair travel to almost any location in the world, thanks to the internet. Hundreds of virtual tours of exciting and exotic foreign cities, colorful regions on every continent, fascinating historical sites and world-class museums are out there for you to discover. Choose some of your favorite countries or continents and let yourself experience the many wonders of the world — with no passport required!

Here are just a few examples:

• Scale the heights of the majestic Himalayas
• Feast your eyes on Peru’s Machu Picchu
• Explore the archaeological wonders of the Egyptian Pyramids
• Lose yourself in the mists of China’s Yellow Mountains
• Dive into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Immersive gaming

Through state-of-the-art visuals that transport you back in time as well as across the sea, new games like Port Royale 4 by Kalypso Media let you set sail with 17th-century galleons from Spain, England, France and the Netherlands toward the Caribbean islands. In Port Royale 4, you take control of a colony as a young, ambitious governor, eager to learn what it takes to manage and grow your settlement into a bustling city.

In this visually stunning game, you can hone your strategic skills, navigating detailed sea maps to avoid stormy weather or outwit pirates, then challenging privateers or fleets from other nations as you engage in hair-raising naval battles. You also learn how to develop production chains connecting multiple Caribbean islands and create complex trade routes as you earn more fame to help unlock town buildings, ships and more. In this game, you can take on four extensive single-player campaigns with a choice of four types of characters — Explorer, Merchant, Buccaneer and Pirate — each providing its own advantages and disadvantages as you follow each nation on its path to supremacy.

Check out all the entertaining and engaging game titles available at Kalypsomedia.com.

Discover outer space

This planet not enough? Check out these space-related websites to take you out of this world:

• The International Space Station website lets you spend time on the space station as well as getting a live view of the Earth from way up there.
• Keep up on the news about the latest rocket launches and space exploration, then immerse yourself in missions from Apollo 11 to the Mars Rover on NASA.gov.
• Visit Stellarium.org, which allows you to view a realistic night sky just as you might be able to see using a telescope — but with guidance to understand what stars and planets you’re seeing.
• Enjoy amazing views of outer space courtesy of the Hubble Space Telescope at Hubblesite.org.

Then you can expand on what you learn about outer space online by investing in a home telescope, allowing you to view nearby stellar or planetary phenomena from your backyard.

Don’t let staying at home limit your horizons. There’s plenty to explore and enjoy now, from right where you are.

2020-09-23T10:07:00

(BPT) – It may be a while before you can see the sights in France or climb Mount Fuji in Japan. But even if your bucket list is dominated by world travel and adventure, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on it altogether. Instead, think outside the box, or the bucket in this case. You may be surprised by what you can “check off” from the comforts of home.

If you’re not quite sure where to start, think about all those things you’ve always wanted to do, but never had time for. What would make the cut? Learning a new language? Redecorating your home? Honing your skills in the kitchen? In today’s uncertain times, a bucket half-full mindset is encouraged.

1. Witness a once-in-a-lifetime event

You may be feeling more inclined than ever before to take your curiosity outdoors. After all, it’s the perfect time to discover the world of celestial wonders. Perhaps you’d like to see a meteor shower up close? Or maybe a lunar eclipse? If there are too many city lights where you live, sneak off to an isolated spot outside of town with less light pollution where you can observe the stars while social distancing.

2. Learn a foreign language

Whether you’ve had an itch to learn Japanese or are hoping to brush up on your high school French, why not start now? There are a lot of virtual language learning options to choose from, but perhaps the best-known is Rosetta Stone.

With more than 25 years under its belt, Rosetta Stone’s offerings have evolved to include some of the best features and experiences the virtual learning world has to offer. For example, Rosetta Stone’s 20-minute Live Lessons help you practice listening and speaking with a native-speaking coach — because real-life conversation is the best way to hone your language skills. Best of all, Live Lessons are free — you don’t even need a subscription to participate in them.

3. Create wonders in the kitchen

Challenge yourself in the kitchen by taking your cooking skills to an international level. Learn what “chiffonade” and “umami” mean, and then put your new culinary know-how into practice. Start by focusing on one dish you’ve always wanted to make; then research all the different types of recipes for it. Let the great experimenting begin!

4. Take up a new hobby

There’s no time like quarantine to learn how to knit, make fishing lures, or play the piano. We recommend exploring hobbies that let you dive into other cultures, like Japanese brush painting or Norwegian wood carving. You can find tutorials on the internet for whatever you’d like to try. To get started, search for how-to videos and beginner articles on the hobby so you can uncover what types of supplies you’ll need.

5. Adopt a rescue animal

Feeling social distancing fatigue? Consider adopting a pet! But first, make sure your place is pet-ready for your fur-ever companion. Get your home dog-proofed or cat-proofed and make sure you’re stocked with all the necessary supplies.

6. Plan your next adventure

If you’re still trying to scratch your international travel bug itch, start researching the place you’d like to go next. Learn about that country’s geography, history, culture, food and language. Once you’ve mastered that destination’s native tongue, you’ll have all the tools you need to set forth and explore the world when international travel returns.

2020-09-23T08:11:00

(BPT) – When you’re short on time and the family’s hungry, it’s all too tempting — and too easy — to fall back on takeout. But the truth is, you can probably save yourself a trip by making those same takeout items at home. With some simple planning and the right ingredients, you’ll be able to whip up your favorite restaurant go-tos in record time.

Here’s how you can recreate your top takeout picks without ever leaving the comfort of your own home:

Asian

You don’t need a wok to make an Asian-inspired meal at home. You can start by making an easy dish with plain white rice (or precooked instant rice, if pressed for time) and any vegetables you have in the fridge.

For the veggies, toss in your favorite Asian seasonings — we recommend soy sauce, ginger, garlic, a little brown sugar for sweetness, plus a dash of sesame oil. You could even add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.

Place your stir-fried veggies and rice onto each plate and add a protein. SeaPak Orange Shrimp is a great option from the freezer aisle that keeps cook time and mess to a minimum. Using a pre-marinated protein can help you get that amazing Asian flavor you normally only find in a restaurant.

American

Salmon burgers are a great way to get a restaurant experience at home. Pre-made patties can make the experience quick and easy, and you can cook your salmon burgers in the broiler if you don’t have a grill handy. You can even bake them in the oven if you’re pressed for time. Consider creating an at-home burger bar by laying out hamburger buns, grilled onions, tomatoes, lettuce and condiments for everyone to pick and choose from. We suggest topping your salmon burgers with a fresh, lemon dill sauce or even Tzatziki sauce, both of which you can find available on the dressing aisle at your local grocery store. Don’t forget to make a side for your burgers, like frozen sweet potato fries, tater tots or coleslaw.

Italian

Everyone loves pasta, and you can prepare it at home in less time than it takes to wait for delivery. True, it might take hours to make the pasta from scratch, but there’s no need for that. Using pre-made ingredients, such as store-bought pasta and frozen seafood, like shrimp, scallops and mussels, makes the cooking go by much quicker. First, sauté some garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil and then add in your seafood. Next, mix in your favorite canned red Italian pasta sauce and some basil for additional flavor. Pro tip: Don’t skimp on the Parmesan cheese!

Put these items on your shopping list:

• Pre-made pasta, like spaghetti or linguine
• Frozen shrimp, scallops and mussels
• A flavorful pre-made red pasta sauce
• Grated Parmesan
• Basil (fresh or dried, the flavor is the same either way)

Mexican

Make “Taco Tuesday” a weeknight tradition by laying out all the right ingredients for DIY tacos. Most kids usually find the hard, stand-up taco shells or the soft, foldable tortillas the easiest to load up.

Shop for:

• Taco shells or soft tortillas
• Shrimp or white fish (like SeaPak Shrimp Scampi or Budweiser Beer Battered Cod)
• Lettuce and tomatoes
• Grated cheddar (or any other favorite cheese)
• Taco seasoning
• Sour cream and guacamole, for topping

In individual bowls, place the cooked seafood, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, grated cheese, taco seasoning, guacamole and sour cream. Arrange the bowls on the kitchen counter or dining room table and let everyone put together their own tacos. Make sure you have enough for seconds!

2020-09-23T10:01:00

(BPT) – According to a new research study, Goldfish crackers uncovered that 91% of Americans who live with or visit children regularly feel that they would like to spend even more quality time with their family than they currently do! To encourage these family moments, Goldfish will release a one-of-a-kind GOldFISH card game via an Instagram giveaway, to help inspire valuable family bonding time and bring smiles to people of all ages. The giveaway launches today, and consumers can enter to win through National Family Day on Sept. 26, 2020. Inspired by a love for creativity, imagination and of course, everyone’s favorite #SnackThatSmilesBack, the game includes a pack of custom playing cards in the shape of iconic Goldfish crackers and a bag of Goldfish Colors crackers for snacking on while playing the game at home with loved ones.

Goldfish also uncovered that 96% of respondents agree that the quality time they spend with their family is one of the most fun parts of their current day-to-day routine and nearly eight in ten (75%) Americans who regularly spend time with kids in their family are “extremely” or “very” interested in finding new activities that could be fun to do together. That’s why Goldfish crackers created a new, family-friendly activity that brings the two together. Want to enter? The brand will select 100 winners that visit @GoldfishSmiles on Instagram and tag someone who makes them smile in the comments of the GOldFISH Card Game giveaway post starting at 8 AM ET on 9/23/2020 through 11:59 PM ET on 9/26/2020. No Purchase Necessary, open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & DC, 18 years or older, void where prohibited.

METHODOLOGY: An online poll was conducted between Sept. 11–13, 2020 among U.S. Nationwide Sample of Adults, 18+ years-old, who currently live with at least one child <18, who is their relative or regularly (at least once a week) visits relatives (i.e. immediate or extended family) that have at least one child <18 living with them. n = 1,279

2020-09-23T16:55:00

(BPT) – Beef is a staple in cuisines worldwide, valued for its flavor and nutrition. However, recent conversations about sustainability and the beef industry’s commitment to continued improvement have led to research on the issue — which has only served to demonstrate that the beef industry does in fact employ sustainability practices throughout each stage of the production process.

Today’s farmers and ranchers supplying beef to the U.S. and around the world have been engaging in more sustainable practices than ever before. Studies conducted in recent years offer a bigger picture of the actual impact of beef production in the U.S., and how it compares to environmental challenges around the world.

Here are five surprising facts about beef production in the U.S. you may not know.

1. Far lower greenhouse gas emissions than other sources

Greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle only represent 2% of total emissions in the U.S., according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. By contrast, transportation accounts for 29% of GHG emissions, and electricity accounts for nearly 28% of GHG emissions in the United States. Beef cattle production as a whole, including production of animal feed, is responsible for only 3.7% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

Sources:

• EPA. 2019. Inventory of U. S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2017. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
• C. Alan Rotz, S. Asem-Hiablie, S. Place, G. Thoma., 2018. Environmental footprints of beef cattle production in the United States. Agricultural Systems Vol. 169, Feb. 2019. doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2018.11.005.

2. Lower global carbon footprint

The U.S. is a leader in sustainable beef production, with a carbon footprint 10-50 times lower than in other regions worldwide, despite being the third largest producer of beef globally. The U.S. produces 18% of the world’s beef — with only 6% of the world’s cattle.

Sources:

• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home.
• Herrero M., et al. Biomass use, production, feed efficiencies, and greenhouse gas emissions from global livestock systems. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2013. 110: 20888-20893.

3. Reduced emissions over 30 years

Between 1977 and 2007, the U.S. beef industry has reduced the carbon footprint of beef cattle by more than 16% while producing slightly more beef, thanks to continued improvement in sustainability practices and more effective use of resources.

Sources:

• USDA-NASS Quick Stats Tools. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/.
• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home.

4. Increased carbon storage

Today, U.S. grasslands utilized by the beef industry sequester and store 7.4 Pg carbon — which is the equivalent of taking 5.76 billion cars off the road. By 2050, grasslands are projected to sequester 8.2 Pg carbon, which is equivalent to removing 6.383 billion cars each year (average car emissions of 4.6 CO2e metric tons per year).

Sources:

• Using EPA’s GHG Equivalency Calculator and this study for the carbon stocks estimates: Total grassland carbon stocks in the conterminous U.S., estimated to be about 7.4 petagrams of carbon (Pg C) in 2005, are projected to increase to about 8.2 Pg C by 2050. Pendall, E., D. Bachelet, R.T. Conant, B. El Masri, L.B. Flanagan, A.K. Knapp, J. Liu, S. Liu and S.M. Schaeffer, 2018: Chapter 10: Grasslands. In Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR2): A Sustained Assessment Report [Cavallaro, N., G. Shrestha, R. Birdsey, M.A. Mayes, R.G. Najjar, S.C. Reed, P. Romero-Lankao, and Z. Zhu (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, D.C., pp. 399-427.
• Carbon2018.GlobalChange.gov: https://doi.org/10.7930/SOCCR2.2018.Ch10.

5. Plants converted to protein

Cattle not only upcycle, they recycle. Beef cattle generate more protein for the human food supply than would exist without them, because their unique digestive system allows them to convert human-inedible plants into high-quality protein. In the face of growing global population, animals like beef cattle are needed to help make more protein with less.

In addition, approximately 35% of the land in the contiguous U.S. is pasture and range land that is too rocky, steep or arid to support cultivated agriculture, yet this land supports cattle, sheep and goats — leading to protein upcycling.

Sources:

• Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. 1999. Animal Agriculture and Global Food Supply. Task force report N. 135 July 1999, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis. http://agrienvarchive.ca/bioenergy/download/anag.pdf.
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2016. Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle: Eighth Revised Edition. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/19014.

“In the face of a growing global population, we need ruminant animals, like beef cattle, to help make more protein with less, and we’ve proven in the U.S. that beef can be raised sustainably,” said Myriah Johnson, Senior Director of Sustainability Research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.

The U.S. industry leads the world in sustainable beef production while serving as a pillar of rural economies and providing a nutrient-rich source of protein for U.S. and worldwide consumers.

Learn more about beef and sustainability at BeefItsWhatsforDinner.com.