Element HOME 2019 SUMMER EDITION Give your team that
CREATIVE SPARK
HOMEMADE CRACKER JACKS A Summer Must!
Starting a
NEW JOB?
A DIVISION OF PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE INC
HEALTH in the NEWS High Blood Pressure
FLOWER POWER A Love Story
Give your team that
creative spark If you manage a team at work, you probably want creativity and innovation from every member. Here’s how to spark their creative drive, from experts in an article on the Forbes magazine website: MAKE IT PERSONAL. Find out what each team member is interested in, on the job and off. Encourage them to use their personal interests to generate ideas and explore new concepts.
BRAINSTORM REGULARLY.
FOCUS ON LEARNING.
Hold brainstorming meetings on a consistent schedule. This helps people get prepared to think about challenges and solutions around your organization.
Ask team members what they want to learn about. This encourages them to think outside their usual area of expertise, which may spark fresh thinking.
CREATE THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. People think creatively in a relaxed atmosphere. Dedicate a conference room to innovation by decorating it with colorful posters and stocking it with flip charts, markers, games, and more.
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SWITCH THINGS AROUND. Reassign team members to different desks, tasks, or roles to shake up their thought processes. Bring new people in often. Hold meetings outside the office—in a park or an art museum, perhaps.
How farming influenced language The words we use today are heavily influenced by the rise of farming some 6,000 years ago. That’s the theory of scientists from the University of Zürich, as reported on the Science News website. When humans eat tough food, such as game meat, their jaws shift to remove an overbite as they grow up. When they chew softer foods, the overbite remains— allowing them to make the “f” and “v” sounds, called labiodentals, more easily. Linguists studying the evolution of language have found that labiodentals began to increase around the world over the past 6,000–7,000 years, especially when milled and dairy products became more common due to farming. Computer simulations support the theory, showing that the shift from an edge-to-edge bite to a slight overbite makes it easier to pronounce labiodental sounds.
Customer Service A sales manager overheard a clerk tell a customer, Hmm. We haven’t had any for quite some time. We probably won’t get any until the end of the month.” The customer thanked the clerk and was headed to the exit when the manager rushed to him and said: “Come back next week. We should be restocked by then. If not, we might be able to make a special order for you.” The customer made a puzzled face and left. The clerk dropped his head in embarrassment. The manager approached to the clerk. “How many times have I told you not to let anyone walk out of this door without having a reason to come back? Even if it is something we no longer sell, give them a reason to come back. Now what was this customer asking about?” The clerk looked at his boss. “Rain.”
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Flower power
A dairy farmer in Japan, Toshiyuki Kuroki, found a novel way to help his wife, Yasuko, cope with her failing health. When complications from diabetes robbed her of her vision, he began planting shibazakura around their farm. It’s a species of phlox and a hearty ground cover that blossoms March and April.
It didn’t, for a while, and then something pretty wonderful happened.
Though he knew his wife of 30 years would no longer be able to see the beautiful fuchsia-colored petals, he hoped the sweet fragrance of the flowers would lure her outdoors and out of her deepening depression.
Everyone wanted to see the beautiful pink fields and walk among the spring flowers. With so many new and different people showing up on their land, the farmer’s wife began to wander outside and interact with the visitors. She was happy again.
As the farmer continued to plant more flowers, they thrived and spread across the farmland. People from surrounding areas, even tourists, began to visit the farm.
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For the past 25 years, the shibazakura fields that surround the home of Toshiyuki and Yasuko Kuroki have sparked joy and wonder in the hearts of many. The Kurokis receive about 7,000 visitors a year at the farm during March and April, and they no longer raise dairy cows. Their story is a reminder that love and flowers are a powerful healing force.
Homemade Cracker Jacks It is time for baseball and who doesn’t love some Cracker Jacks at the game? It may not come with a toy surprise, but this is worth missing out on the toy. Try this easy recipe and make your own delicious ballgame snack.
Ingredients 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup butter 3 tablespoons corn syrup 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 8 cups popcorn popped 1 cup peanuts
Directions Preheat oven to 300F. Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt over low heat until the butter is all melted. Cook without stirring for three minutes. Add the baking soda and vanilla. Mix the popcorn and peanuts.
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Pour hot syrup mixture over the peanuts and popcorn. Stir gently until evenly coated. Bake 15 minutes at 300 degrees. Break into pieces before serving. Store in airtight containers.
Health in the News Watch for these hidden causes of high blood pressure
tyramine, which can interact with medications like antidepressants, causing a spike in blood pressure.
Many factors affect your blood pressure, including genetics, diet, and even your sleeping patterns.
Pill offers an alternative to insulin injection
The Healthline website advises you to be mindful of these possible contributors to high blood pressure, as well:
OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS. Common medications used to address everyday aches and pains can increase one’s blood pressure. These include anti-inflammatory drugs like Aleve, Advil, and Tylenol, as well as decongestants. You don’t have to stop taking them, but check with your doctor.
People with type 2 diabetes may have a new alternative to insulin injections, according to the Science Daily website. A research team at MIT has developed a capsule that patients can take orally to receive their insulin through the stomach. The blueberry-size pill contains a tiny needle filled with compressed, freeze-dried insulin. The needle itself is made of a biodegradable substance and is attached to a compressed spring held in place by a disk of sugar.
CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL. Both of these can heighten your blood pressure. Limit yourself to less than 300 milligrams of caffeine a day—two to three cups of coffee— and one alcoholic beverage a day for women and two for men.
FOOD INGREDIENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS. Some herbal supplements, for example, use licorice, which can raise blood pressure. In addition, some cheeses, cured meats, and also soy products contain high levels of
The capsule is designed to orient itself so the needle can contact the lining of the stomach. When the needle is injected, the insulin dissolves at a controlled rate and then passes harmlessly through the digestive system. Tests in animals found that the device can deliver sufficient insulin to lower blood sugar at a rate comparable to injections through the skin. The device can also be adapted to deliver other medications.
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Take the risk out of exercising Often, we’re so eager to start getting into shape that we overdo it, exercising too hard and too fast. Whether you’re going to the gym or exercising at home, the American Council on Exercise offers these tips before you start your workout: • Stretch sufficiently. Not stretching before your workout is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Stretching at least five minutes before you exercise can reduce stress in the muscles and help prevent injuries. Stretching afterward is every bit as important; it helps your muscles recover. • Warm up. A warmup of five minutes or more will deliver needed blood and oxygen to your muscles. • Drink a lot of water. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty or dehydrated. Drink water throughout your workout.
Start your
new job right STARTING A NEW JOB? Congratulations. To get off on the right foot, remember this advice from the Top Résumé website:
DON’T MAKE DEMANDS. Be sure you understand the parameters of your job before you start so you don’t come in with unrealistic expectations. Don’t start telling your boss or co-workers what you will or won’t do. You have to earn their trust and respect before
you can start setting (and pushing) boundaries.
FOCUS ON YOUR OWN JOB. You’re naturally curious about your organization, and you probably want to advance quickly. Just don’t stick your head where it doesn’t belong. Concentrate on learning your job and doing it well before trying to branch out into other areas.
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CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES WISELY. From time to time you may come into conflict with your co-workers, or even your boss. Don’t turn every issue into total warfare. Decide what’s important to you, and let other problems pass. Save your energy for issues that really matter to you and your organization.
A DIVISION OF PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE INC
A HIGH POWERED MORTGAGE COMPANY
with a hometown feel
www.ElementFunding.com Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., DBA Element Funding, NMLS #3094. PRMI is an Equal Housing Lender. Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change and are subject to borrower(s) qualification. This is not a commitment to lend. Georgia Department of Banking and Finance 6521. Florida Office of Financial Regulation MLD646.