98% Of Greeks Consider Their Economic Situation As "Bad", Survey Says

Nearly a decade after the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, economic spirits are reviving, a PEW survey found. Economic spirits reviving everywhere? No. Not everywhere. Greeks remain pessimistic. No wonder about that, as they see no present and no future.

As KeepTalkingGreece,com reports, according to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, many Europeans, Japanese and Americans feel better today about their economies than they did before the financial crisis. More broadly, in 11 of 18 countries from across the globe that were surveyed in both 2016 and 2017, publics feel more positive about their economy than they did a year ago.

The Dutch, Germans, Swedes and Indians see their national economies in the most positive light. While global publics are increasingly upbeat about economic conditions, the overall view of the economy is still in negative territory in many countries. Overall, a median of only 46% in the 32 nations surveyed this year say their current economy is doing well.

But as the table below illustrates, a staggering 98% of Greeks view their current economic situation as "bad."

At the same time, many are concerned about the future: A median of just 41% believe that a child in their country today will grow up to be better off financially than their parents. The most pessimistic about prospects for the next generation are the French, Japanese and Greeks.

People in advanced economies are quite pessimistic about young people’s financial prospects, just 34% believe they will be better off than the current generation.

Such despair is particularly strong in Greece, Japan, France, Australia, Canada, Spain and the UK, where roughly seven-in-ten people say today’s children will be worse off.

Walking Beats Caffeine for Temporarily Boosting Energy

I am not a morning person, and coffee is my best friend. Sometimes afternoons don’t work for me either, so it’s back to the coffee pot. Some of you are probably the same way. But a new study shows that 10 minutes of walking could be more effective than caffeine at perking you up … at least temporarily.

Researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA) tested the effects of a simple exercise that can be done in an office setting, where workers have only a few minutes for breaks. Their results are published in Physiology and Behavior. [1]

For the study, 18 female college students – all chronically sleep-deprived – were asked to participate in workplace simulations for three days. One group of students took capsules containing either 50 mg of caffeine (about the equivalent of a can of cola) or a placebo. The other group spent 10 minutes walking up and down stairs at a low-intensity pace.

After the simulations, the researchers conducted verbal and computer-based tests on the participants to determine their mood and ability to complete certain cognitive tasks. Neither exercise nor caffeine significantly improved their attention or memory. However, after walking up and down the stairs, the students saw a small improvement in alertness. Caffeine also increased alertness, but to a smaller degree.

Source: The Blaze

Co-author Patrick J. O’Connor, a professor in UGA’s department of kinesiology, said:

“It was a temporary feeling, felt immediately after the exercise. But with the 50 milligrams of caffeine, we didn’t get as big an effect.” [1]

So, although walking for 10 minutes might not keep you energized and alert all day, a stroll up and down the stairs during your break might perk you up when you’re starting to feel drained. It’s encouraging to know that even lesser amounts of light exercise can be beneficial.

Related: How Walking – Power Walking – Can be so Beneficial

Consuming too much caffeine can cause you to “crash” and feel even more exhausted than you were when you brewed that first pot, whereas walking releases endorphins, a type of hormone which helps you de-stress and become less anxious. [2]

Source: Develop Good Habits

Said O’Connor:

“Office workers can go outside and walk, but weather can be less than ideal. It has never rained on me while walking the stairs. And a lot of people working in office buildings have access to stairs, so it’s an option to keep some fitness while taking a short break from work.” [2]

A study published in August 2016 found that you would have to exercise for one hour a day to make up for all the time you spend sitting all day. Might as well get started while you’re at work!

Sources:

[1] Real Simple

[2] Medical Daily

The Blaze

Develop Good Habits

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About Mike Barrett:
	Mike is the co-founder, editor, and researcher behind Natural Society. Studying the work of top natural health activists, and writing special reports for top 10 alternative health websites, Mike has written hundreds of articles and pages on how to obtain optimum wellness through natural health.

America's CEOs Have Never Been More "Optimistic"

It"s not just US consumer optimism that recently hit all time highs (even if, as UMichigan explained last week, it was largely split according to party lines). According to a recent analysis by Bank of America, in the current earnings season which is gradually coming to a close, despite tepid guidance, "one read on corporate optimism is at a record high."

As BofA"s Savita Subramanian writes, "guidance during 4Q earnings season is typically less positive than in other quarters as management sets a low bar for the year. While the ratio of above- vs. below consensus guidance has remained weak so far this month at 0.55, it is up from 0.44 in January and slightly above the post-2000 average of 0.48 for both months."

And yet, while managements’ official outlooks may be nothing to write home about, commentary on earnings calls has been notably optimistic. A simple count of mentions of the word “better” relative to mentions of “worse” or “weaker” on earnings calls is tracking its highest in over two years. And the word “optimistic” has been used on a record 51% of the calls this quarter, the highest ever in our data history.

Ironically the incidence of record high "optimism" mentions took place just one quarter after it hit a record low.

And while on the surface, this is great news for the future as it suggests companies may finally redirect their spending away from buybacks and dividends and into corporate growth, hiring and capex, it also means that the threshold for disappointment is the lowest it has ever been, and the pressure on both Trump and the Fed to deliver an environment that satisfied America"s CEO has never been higher.

Ohio State Offers Students An Inauguration Day "Safe Space"

As America"s precious millennial snowflakes continue to wrestle with the fact that Donald J. Trump is now the President of the United States, irrespective of how many tears have flooded college campuses around the country, Ohio State University has announced they will be providing a "safe space" for students to gather to contemplate and internalize Trump"s inauguration.  Hosted by "The Women"s Place", the "safe space" activities will include "poetry reading workshops, a community mural art project, and campus teach-ins"...because when you can"t handle a loss there"s no better cure than a group coloring project.

On January 20, 2017, the Student Life Multicultural Center (SL MCC) is hosting “I, too, am America” Inauguration Day 2017. Inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” this one-day event will include poetry reading workshops, a community mural art project, and campus teach-ins. The purpose of this event is to foster a safe space for the Ohio State campus community to connect with one another, support aspirations, and empower growth and change.

The MCC is currently reaching out to graduate students, faculty, and staff to host 45 minute teach-in sessions. After attending one of the programs, attendees will be able to:

• Define social justice and identify at least two social justice issues


• Identify at least one lesson, idea, tool, or strategy to apply to their academic and personal experiences


• Meet at least two new people as well as reconnect with at least one old friend/acquaintance


• Describe one point of inspiration, motivation or empowerment

According to the College Fix, the event will actually host several separate "safe spaces" with one reserved for viewing the inauguration festivities and another set aside to give OSU"s snowflakes the opportunity to “pause, reflect and share."

The “I, too, am America” event is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include three concurrent offerings from noon to 3 p.m.: a screening of the inauguration festivities in one room; another room set aside to “pause, reflect and share”; and a third swath of rooms for teach-ins by grad students, faculty and staff.

The event was reportedly inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too,” and will also include poetry reading workshops and a community mural art project.

Of course, OSU isn"t the only university forced to coddle their perpetually sensitive students today as the University of Connecticut and many others will host similar events all around the country.

Ohio State is not the only campus offering such a venue. The University of Connecticut will host “The People’s Inauguration,” slated to be held at the same time as the swearing in ceremony, oath of office and inaugural address.

Like at Ohio State, the goal of the UConn event is to promote social justice and solidarity as Trump takes office, event organizers said.

Other students plan to express themselves in a more aggressive manner. A student socialist group has organized a nationwide walkout on Friday to protest the presidential inauguration, claiming Trump is planning to “unleash a storm of attacks” on various segments of the American population. Students at dozens of colleges are expected to participate.

Enjoy your "safe spaces" while you can, millennials...at some point you"ll have to hop out of the playpen.