Top 4 Benefits of Television Advertising!   Advertising, Marketing, Business Planning a campaign can be difficult as it needs a lot of things that need to be kept in mind before framing a television advertisement. Well, television is a medium that is known to be a primary medium for grasping video content to many viewers. Although, with the arrival of many new mediums of advertising, like social media ads, etc., people's interests have seen a serious shift. This makes it even more important to put the effort into a television ad so that it can impact the users in the same manner as the social media ads. The very first thing which is essential while framing a social media ad is to be clear with the message of the ad. You as an advertiser need to be very sure and particular about the message which you want to make reach the audience. As an ad is an expensive medium for showcasing your brand to your audience, it becomes necessary to choose the content, timing, and target audience wisely. So, that you can reach the right audience at the right time. Today, in this blog you will be guided about the advantages of television ads so that you can have greater results with high turnover. Top 4 advantages of running a television ad! 1. Helps in attracting a large audience Well, a television ad reaches millions of homes and with that, it reaches thousands of minds. This can be helpful for your brand as it not just influences a large number of people towards your website but also compels them to take the decisions related to buying. The biggest advantage of a television ad is that it compels the audience to see the product even once and this is possible only when your ad is framed in a very interesting and engaging manner. 2. Visuals and sound go hand in hand When you are choosing graphics for your television ad, do not forget to choose the right sound effects. This is because a soundtrack makes a lot of difference in a video ad. It makes the audience stop and looks at the ad instead of leaving too soon. It also helps your audience to understand the message more deeply. Along with that, keep the pitch of your advertisement neutral and not too promotional. Why? Because people would not want to see promotions but engaging content. 3. Empathize with your audience As per a television commercial production company, if you frame a television ad in such a way that engages your audience and makes them relate to your ad, it proves to be the biggest factor for audience retention. Retaining your audience is a very tedious task and hence just making your content move in such a direction that makes your audience laugh, cry, happy, sad and thrilled. This way they will come to your platform again and again in search of more such content. 4. Build the brand’s legitimacy and reliability Well, when you advertise on a platform such as television, your audience thinks that you are an authentic and genuine brand. However, they might not trust the other mediums too easily as television is better than other platforms, any day. So, with the help of television ads, brand recognition can be done easily and with guaranteed results. Final Takeaway! Well, a television ad can be an expensive medium but it plays a vital role in taking the brand to the next level. If you are just starting up a new venture and want to gain rapid growth, then opting for television advertising would be the most feasible decision.

 

5 Tips for Creating the Best Website Content Strategy   Advertising, Business, Marketing See Why Now’s A Great Time To Update Your Website – And How Designing a website that drives conversions by giving potential customers what they want can be a long, difficult process. Among other things, it’s got to look great, the user interface has to be just right, and you have to find ways to say everything that needs to be said with as few words as possible. Believe it or not, even after two decades of designing websites, creating something that checks all those boxes still feels like no small feat. It requires patience, dedication, and a suite of specialized skills that’s nearly impossible for one person to master. So, I want to share some of what I’ve learned over the last 20 years. In this article, I’m going to explain how you can design the most effective website content strategy and ensure your website is on the right path, instead of on the road to nowhere. How to Create the Best Website Content Strategy 1) Do a Brand Analysis Just like a house, a great website content strategy requires a proper foundation. 1)So, the first thing you need to do is an analysis of your brand. This is the foundation upon which every part of your website is going to rest. A comprehensive brand analysis will be made up of many different aspects, including an assessment of your target audience(s), your unique selling points, and the pain points of potential customers. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when conducting the analysis of your brand: Who are my main competitors? What are the characteristics of my ideal customers? How can I establish an emotional connection with this audience? Which words can I use to establish that emotional connection? What types of images can I use to evoke an emotional response? Why should someone do business with me instead of my competition? What specific problems can I solve, or needs can I fulfill for my ideal customers? What are some of the struggles, obstacles, or problems potential customers are facing? You should go into as much detail as you can when answering these questions – the more information, the better. Then, once you’ve conducted this analysis, you’ve got everything you need to start creating your content. 2) Be Specific One of the most frustrating things for business owners is trying to figure out how to convey the right message in a way that’s succinct and straightforward. When we write or design something, it always seems to make sense to us, but no matter how captivating or concise we may think it is, what really matters is the perception of potential customers. This is why an initial brand analysis is so important. It’s a way to get inside the heads of your ideal customers and try to understand things from their perspective. For example, recently, my team and I have been working on a website for a payment processing company. One of the things we want to draw attention to on their home page is what sets them apart from the competition. But in our rush to push these points, the fact that this is a website about payment processing ended up getting buried, and we had to go back to the drawing board. So, make sure to be as specific as you can, and don’t ever assume your audience will understand what you’re trying to convey just because it makes sense to you. First and foremost, you need to consider things from the perspective of potential customers. There are countless things to consider when designing an effective website content strategy, so if you want to know more, this blog should provide some additional insight. This article will give you several things to consider when it comes to your website content, especially as it relates to search engine optimization concepts, including header tags, local search, and more. 3) Be Concise At this point, you’re probably wondering, “Why is it so important to be concise?” Well, I’m sure many of you are aware of Microsoft’s notorious study on the human attention span, but for those of you who aren’t familiar with it, let me explain. Back in 2015, Microsoft Canada conducted a study that attempted to analyze people’s attention spans through a combination of a series of games, a survey, and neurological research conducted using electroencephalography to monitor brain activity. The study had several key takeaways, but what ended up getting all the attention (and Microsoft ended up getting all the credit for) was actually data from a research institute called Statistic Brain that Microsoft referenced in the study. According to that data, the average human attention span is about eight seconds, which is, at least according to Statistic Brain, lower than the average attention span of a goldfish. In other words, you’ve got about eight seconds to capture a potential customer’s attention before they click away from your website. With that said, when you’re creating the copy for your website, you should try to restrict your writing to one-sentence paragraphs wherever possible. As sad as it is to say, people just don’t like to read, and when they see a huge block of text, their eyes are going to glaze over, they’re not going to read it, and you’ve already lost them. So, when you’re writing your website content, make sure to be as concise as you can, and in general, try to use as few words as possible. 4) Focus on Your Customers A favorite faux pas of many a business owner is to make everything about them and their brand. I’ve seen countless websites that read like this. They talk about how much the brand is dedicated to its mission, how much they love their customers, and how great their products and/or services are, but they fail to put any focus on their customers. As Donald Miller said in Building a StoryBrand, “The customer is the hero, not your brand.” Our client Yvonne of Douma Leadership immediately addresses her target audience with a promise of helping them with their business outcomes. This simple statement is one of the most powerful messages I’ve ever received, and it’s helped me to redefine the way I think about marketing. I’m not saying it’s bad to create a mission statement or discuss how you started your business on an about page, but the fact of the matter is very few people actually care about your company, its values, and how it got started. At the end of the day, what customers want in a website is something that puts the focus on them and tells them what you can do for them – what problems you can solve, what needs and desires you can fulfill. For most people, everything else is pretty much irrelevant. So, when you’re designing your website content strategy, try putting potential customers in the spotlight, and position yourself as the guide that’s going to help them on that long, arduous journey towards fulfilling their needs and desires, or solving their problems. 5) Conduct Keyword Research When you’re trying to target your ideal customers, nothing is more important than keywords. You can analyze your brand till the cows come home, be as succinct and specific as possible, and put the spotlight on potential customers all you want, but if the right people aren’t finding your website, all those efforts will be in vain. Luckily, once you’ve done your brand analysis, a lot of the work is already complete, as you’ve already defined your target audience(s). But now that you know which audiences to target, you’ve got to figure out what they’re searching for, so you know what keyword phrases to use. There are many tools you can use to conduct this keyword research, and whichever one you choose, the principles remain the same. First, you choose your target audience(s), and then you find out what they’re searching for. Next, you have to consider how that relates to your business and think about how you can inject those keyword phrases into your website content. But don’t be too broad. For example, if you’re a Vancouver-based plumber, and your target audience is made up of people who are looking for a plumber in the Vancouver area, it doesn’t make sense to target the term “plumber”, as this is way too general. Instead, what would make more sense is to target a much more specific phrase, like “plumber in Vancouver” or “Vancouver plumbing service”. In any case, no matter what keywords you’re trying to target, make sure to use them sparingly and inject them into your content in a way that is grammatically correct and sounds natural. Does this seem like too much work for you to handle? Designing an effective website content strategy can definitely be overwhelming, but when you work with a professional website marketing company you don’t have to do everything yourself. We can help design your website content to ensure your ideal customers can easily find you online.

 

Top Tips To Successfully Become Your Own Boss   Advice, Business, Career More and more people are choosing to leave salaried positions to explore the possibilities of becoming their own boss. During nationwide lockdowns, furlough schemes, redundancies, and a freefalling economy, people have begun to question their worth in society. With many people taking the chance to bring their dreams and aspirations to the forefront of their priorities, we take a look at some of the things you need to consider if you are to start working for yourself. Who Are You? This seems like such a simple question, but one that many new startups forget to ask themselves until it is too late. You need to know who you are as a business, as a competitor, and as a person. Whatever sector your new business falls under, you need to have a clear voice in a busy market so that you don’t get lost in the crowd. Unique Selling Point (USP) What makes you special, and why would consumers choose to come to your business over the competition? Customers are often overwhelmed with options and want to quickly identify which brand to choose to meet their needs. Your product or service does not need to be unique, but the way you sell it should be. Check Out The Competition Whatever your product or service, there will be others out there doing the same thing as you. Before you settle on a business plan, research the market and see what is working for your direct competitors, and more importantly - what is not. You wouldn’t want to enter a running race with a broken leg, so why start a business with the same disadvantage. Understanding them can also help to identify an edge over your competition, allowing you to have the best possible chance of being a success. Understand Your Target Market It is pointless trying to sell beef burgers to a vegan - know your market, and understand your customers/clients. You could be the very best in your field, but if you are pitching to the wrong people you will never make it a success. You need to look at buying habits and on-trend products that could help or hinder your business journey. Before you commit, try gathering consumer feedback and surveys so that you can tailor your business to your clients. Find out what they are looking for and what they are willing to pay. Not only will you find invaluable information, but if you play your cards right you will also secure loyal customers that are happy to shout about you to others. Branding Your brand is everything. You need to be instantly recognisable in a sea of competitors, whether it's your name, logo, catchphrases, or design. If done well, you can become synonymous with your product - like Hoover or Sellotape, or a household name like Roald Dahl or Linda McCartney. Get some professional advice when it comes to elements such as your logo. Having the right image can be the difference between success and failure. Costing Whether you are providing a service or a product, there will be a cost to you, before you make any money. Keep a tight record of every element of cost to your new business so you can accurately reflect this in how much you charge. Take into consideration your time, especially if you are providing a service rather than a product. Understand The Language Even if you are a sole trader that does not need to interact with other businesses, it is important for you to learn the common business terms and policies. Knowing these will give you a better sense of how to push your business forward. If you do not understand the basic terms in business, you run the risk of missing out on vital information, funds, and opportunities. ‘Here I Am!’ What is the point of starting a business if no one knows about you? In this day and age, word of mouth will only get you so far. Today you need to have an online presence in order to cater to the internet shopping culture. When people want to shop for a product or a service, the first thing they do is look online. Getting a website and learning how to maintain it allows you to tap into the worldwide market. Many online services allow you to create a website on your own, or you could seek a website designer to help you. Personal Touch If you are selling a product, it's the personal touches that make you memorable. Sending an item with a handwritten note - or service with a compliment slip - will gain your loyalty and make your customers/clients more likely to purchase again in future and recommend you to their friends. Enjoy Yourself! The road to owning your own business - or being your own boss - can be long and tedious. Stay focused, believe in your product/service, listen to advice, and enjoy the journey!

The Brazen Bull

 

What method of execution in history makes your hair stand on end?

The Brazen Bull.

It was allegedly used as a method of execution in ancient Greece. Frankly put, the Brazen Bull was comprised of bronze, hollow devices shaped exactly like a bull. It had a small door on one side, where you could lock in an unfortunate prisoner. Apparently, the Brazen Bull was modelled to be the exact same size as a real bull, with an intricate acoustic mechanism inside it that would make the screams of agony sound like the bellowing of a bull. When the bull was opened, the victim’s scorched bones “shone like jewels and were made into bracelets”.

You might be wondering, what makes a person scream when inside the bull? A fire is lit underneath the bull, roasting the person inside to death.

However, it’s not all grim and death with the Brazen Bull. There’s actually an interesting and amusing story that goes along with it:

The concept of the Brazen Bull was invented by the well-known Athenian bronze-maker: Perilous, as a way to execute criminals. He presented this idea to the tyrant of Acragas, Phalaris, and also informed him that the screams would sound like the “most melodious of bellowings”. Perilous expected to be rewarded for coming up with this unique method of execution, however, all he got in return was getting tricked to go into the bull and was immediately locked inside. Disgusted by the design, Phalaris wanted to use him to test the sound system of the bull, and thus a fire was set underneath. And thus, Perilous, the inventor of the Brazen Bull, ironically became its first victim.

Before Perilous died in the bull, he was taken out by Phalaris, only to be taken to the top of a hill and subsequently thrown off, killing him.

But the story doesn’t just end here. Phalaris himself was said to be thrown in and killed by the Brazen Bull when he was overthrown by Telemachus.

How do I identify a fake person?

 First, there will be that hello, hi, and how are you doing? Then I saw your picture and you are so pretty! From there he/she will work into I think I’m having feelings for you. BIG RED FLAGS! Next, he will give you a story of some kind of a sick family member who has a child and needs money 💰 to get help with the child.. There are so many companies that can help you with this. WhatEVER you do never send money to anyone on social media. YOU WILL HAVE A BROKEN HEART 💔 and your money is gone.

 

For a More Creative Brain Follow These 5 Steps

Nearly all great ideas follow a similar creative process and this article explains how this process works. Understanding this is important because creative thinking is one of the most useful skills you can possess. Nearly every problem you face at work and in life can benefit from innovative solutions, lateral thinking, and creative ideas.

Anyone can learn to be creative by using these five steps. That's not to say being creative is easy. Uncovering your creative genius requires courage and tons of practice. However, this five-step approach should help demystify the creative process and illuminate the path to more innovative thinking.

To explain how this process works, let me tell you a short story.

A Problem in Need of a Creative Solution

In the 1870s, newspapers and printers faced a very specific and very costly problem. Photography was a new and exciting medium at the time. Readers wanted to see more pictures, but nobody could figure out how to print images quickly and cheaply.

For example, if a newspaper wanted to print an image in the 1870s, they had to commission an engraver to etch a copy of the photograph onto a steel plate by hand. These plates were used to press the image onto the page, but they often broke after just a few uses. This process of photoengraving, you can imagine, was remarkably time-consuming and expensive.

The man who invented a solution to this problem was named Frederic Eugene Ives. He went on to become a trailblazer in the field of photography and held over 70 patents by the end of his career. His story of creativity and innovation, which I will share now, is a useful case study for understanding the 5 key steps of the creative process.

A Flash of Insight

Ives got his start as a printer’s apprentice in Ithaca, New York. After two years of learning the ins and outs of the printing process, he began managing the photographic laboratory at nearby Cornell University. He spent the rest of the decade experimenting with new photography techniques and learning about cameras, printers, and optics.

In 1881, Ives had a flash of insight regarding a better printing technique.

“While operating my photo stereotypes process in Ithaca, I studied the problem of the halftone process,” Ives said. “I went to bed one night in a state of brain fog over the problem, and the instant I woke in the morning saw before me, apparently projected on the ceiling, the completely worked out process and equipment in operation.”

Ives quickly translated his vision into reality and patented his printing approach in 1881. He spent the remainder of the decade improving upon it. By 1885, he had developed a simplified process that delivered even better results. As it came to be known, the Ives Process reduced the cost of printing images by 15x and remained the standard printing technique for the next 80 years.

Alright, now let's discuss what lessons we can learn from Ives about the creative process.

The printing process developed by Frederic Eugene Ives used a method called “halftone printing” to break a photograph down into a series of tiny dots. The image looks like a collection of dots up close, but when viewed from a normal distance the dots blend together to create a picture with varying shades of grey. (Source: Unknown.)

The 5 Stages of the Creative Process

In 1940, an advertising executive named James Webb Young published a short guide titled, A Technique for Producing Ideas. In this guide, he made a simple, but profound statement about generating creative ideas.

According to Young, innovative ideas happen when you develop new combinations of old elements. In other words, creative thinking is not about generating something new from a blank slate, but rather about taking what is already present and combining those bits and pieces in a way that has not been done previously.

Most importantly, the ability to generate new combinations hinges upon your ability to see the relationships between concepts. If you can form a new link between two old ideas, you have done something creative.

Young believed this process of creative connection always occurred in five steps.

1. Gather new material. At first, you learn. During this stage you focus on 1) learning specific material directly related to your task and 2) learning general material by becoming fascinated with a wide range of concepts.
2. Thoroughly work over the materials in your mind. During this stage, you examine what you have learned by looking at the facts from different angles and experimenting with fitting various ideas together.
3. Step away from the problem. Next, you put the problem completely out of your mind and go do something else that excites you and energizes you.
4. Let your idea return to you. At some point, but only after you have stopped thinking about it, your idea will come back to you with a flash of insight and renewed energy.
5. Shape and develop your idea based on feedback. For any idea to succeed, you must release it out into the world, submit it to criticism, and adapt it as needed.

The Idea in Practice

The creative process used by Frederic Eugene Ives offers a perfect example of these five steps in action.

First, Ives gathered new material. He spent two years working as a printer's apprentice and then four years running the photographic laboratory at Cornell University. These experiences gave him a lot of material to draw upon and make associations between photography and printing.

Second, Ives began to mentally work over everything he learned. By 1878, Ives was spending nearly all of his time experimenting with new techniques. He was constantly tinkering and experimenting with different ways of putting ideas together.

Third, Ives stepped away from the problem. In this case, he went to sleep for a few hours before his flash of insight. Letting creative challenges sit for longer periods can work as well. Regardless of how long you step away, you need to do something that interests you and takes your mind off of the problem.

Fourth, his idea returned to him. Ives awoke with the solution to his problem laid out before him. (On a personal note, I often find creative ideas hit me just as I am lying down for sleep. Once I give my brain permission to stop working for the day, the solution appears easily.)

Finally, Ives continued to revise his idea for years. In fact, he improved so many aspects of the process he filed a second patent. This is a critical point and is often overlooked. It can be easy to fall in love with the initial version of your idea, but great ideas always evolve.

The Creative Process in Short

“An idea is a feat of association, and the height of it is a good metaphor.”
—Robert Frost

The creative process is the act of making new connections between old ideas. Thus, we can say creative thinking is the task of recognizing relationships between concepts.

One way to approach creative challenges is by following the five-step process of 1) gathering material, 2) intensely working over the material in your mind, 3) stepping away from the problem, 4) allowing the idea to come back to you naturally, and 5) testing your idea in the real world and adjusting it based on feedback.

Being creative isn't about being the first (or only) person to think of an idea. More often, creativity is about connecting ideas

What is a REIT?

 What is a Reit? 

Investing in real estate can be an attractive way to put your money to work for you - but what if you don't have enough money to buy the property outright? One way to start investing in real estate without the need for a large chunk of capital is to buy shares of a real estate investment trust or REIT.

What is a real estate investment trust (REIT)?

A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns, finances or manages properties that generate income. This income can come from mortgage payments, for example, or the rents that the properties' tenants pay. Many REITs specialize in a specific type of property, but others have more diverse portfolios.

With a REIT, you have access to real estate investment opportunities without the need for a substantial amount to actually purchase property or buy into a real estate investment club.

There are publicly traded and non-traded REITs, but the majority are publicly traded. Like any other stock, shares of 

COVID: AstraZeneca vaccine remains unpopular in Germany

 In Germany, everyone who wants a coronavirus vaccine should receive one by September. But this plan will only work if millions of people accept the vaccine produced by AstraZeneca.

Many Germans have reservations about the AstraZeneca vaccine

Six security guards are standing on the wide, empty road leading to the disused Tegel Airport in Berlin. Their yellow high-visibility vests are glowing in the sun. The men are guarding the entrance to a coronavirus vaccination centre, which has been set up in what was once Terminal C of the airport.

They don't have much to do. Between three and five vaccination candidates arrive every hour, a guard says when asked. "That's all."

At Tegel, only the vaccine produced by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is available. Because of a lack of studies into its effects on older people, the vaccine has been approved in Germany for people younger than 65. In this age group, vaccinations are currently only available for people with underlying health conditions and members of groups with an increased risk of infection because of their occupations.

AstraZeneca remains on the shelves

Doctors, nurses and other medical staff often reject AstraZeneca because the vaccine is believed to be less effective against coronavirus mutations than the mRNA vaccines from BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna. Nationwide, only 87,000 of the 736,800 AstraZeneca vaccine doses delivered to date have been used, according to Germany's disease agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

The sound of an engine disturbs the peace in front of the vaccination centre. A shuttle bus approaches and drops off three young women, medical assistants who work in a Berlin doctor's office.

"I was sceptical about getting vaccinated with AstraZeneca," says one of the women, who has to show the security guards her invitation to get a vaccine and her appointment confirmation. She says her boss then provided her with comprehensive information and also referred to the positive opinion of Berlin-based virologist Christian Drosten.

"That convinced me," she explains, before boarding the shuttle bus that will take her to the vaccination centre.

Terminal C of Berlin's disused Tegel airport has been turned into a vaccination centre

Poor communication

AstraZeneca is far better than its reputation, Drosten explained in a recent episode of his podcast "Coronavirus Update." He believes there has been a lot of misunderstanding and communication problems surrounding the vaccine.

Politicians such as health expert Kordula Schulz-Asche from the Greens have a similar view. The scepticism among the population is due to "really disastrous communication," Schulz-Asche told the German daily newspaper, Die Welt. Too little has been explained, and "horror stories" about the effectiveness of the vaccine are running rampant.

"To say that the AstraZeneca vaccine is the second rate is completely off the mark, both scientifically and in terms of actual effects," Carsten Watzl of the German Society for Immunology said in an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. To improve acceptance of the vaccine, he suggested that those who receive AstraZeneca doses should be guaranteed a second shot with a different active ingredient.

"You can boost the immunity you triggered with the AstraZeneca vaccine again later with an mRNA vaccine without that causing any problems," he wrote.

Virologist Christian Drosten has said concerns about the ineffectiveness of AstraZeneca's vaccine are unfounded

Berlin abolishes freedom of choice

Klaus Reinhardt, president of the German Medical Association, has emphasized that AstraZeneca's vaccine prevents severe or fatal cases of COVID-19 "with similarly high efficacy" as those from BioNTech or Moderna. For physicians and nurses younger than 65 to insist on getting other vaccines is "inappropriate," he said. Those should be reserved for the elderly, given the overall vaccine shortage.

Until now, Berlin has been the only German state where people could choose their vaccine. But that has now changed.

"There is no freedom of choice about AstraZeneca," Dilek Kalayci, Berlin's top health official, said Wednesday. Different vaccines would still be issued in different vaccination centres, but people under 65 have no choice about which one they receive, she explained.

Kalayci's decision came after a recommendation by the commission on vaccination at the RKI. According to the institute, vaccines that are recommended only for people between 18 and 65 years of age should also be used "primarily" for these groups of people. However, this recommendation alone is unlikely to dispel scepticism about the British-Swedish vaccine and could lead to younger people being reluctant to be vaccinated at all.

Doctors also explain that side effects such as headaches and aching limbs or even fever are not uncommon after a COVID vaccination. In younger people, side effects occur more frequently because the immune system is still more active and reacts more aggressively to any vaccination than in older people.

Can the vaccination schedule still be maintained?

Meanwhile, the German Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance (ZI) is concerned that reservations about the AstraZeneca vaccine could considerably set back the vaccination schedule in Germany. Currently, the federal government expects that everyone who wants will be able to get a vaccination offer by the end of September. The ZI calculates that this schedule could be pushed back by up to two months if AstraZeneca's vaccine is not more widely accepted.

Meanwhile, in front of Berlin's Tegel vaccination centre, the shuttle bus taking the three medical assistants to their appointment has left. A second bus appears on the other side of the street, bringing two people back who have already been vaccinated.

The driver gets out, stands in the sun and lights a cigarette. He has time to spare. There are no new passengers with vaccine appointments in sight.

This article has been translated from German.

105-Year-Old COVID Survivor Credits Longevity to Gin-Soaked Golden Raisins

New Jersey resident Lucia DeClerck has lived through the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak and coronavirus pandemic.

Lucia DeClerck is an absolute marvel. The 105-year-old New Jersey resident lived through the devastating 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak and now she has not only survived the second global pandemic of her lifetime, but she powered through her own case of COVID-19. 

"I'm very fortunate," she told 6ABC from her residence at Mystic Meadows Rehab and Nursing Center in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. "I'm feeling wonderful." The outlet reports that DeClerck never displayed any symptoms of the respiratory illness, even after testing positive for coronavirus. (But she did spend 14 days in the COVID unit at Mystic Meadows.) 

When pushed for her 'secret' to her longevity—and her successful recovery from COVID—DeClerk initially shrugged the question off, and said that all she did was pray. "And [I] don't eat junk food," she added. 

But her granddaughter, Shawn Laws O'Neil, said that maybe there was something that helped DeClerk's lifespan stretch past the century mark: a daily serving of gin-soaked golden raisins. "She said it kept her free of disease," O'Neil said. "She's never had cancer. She has all her own teeth." According to The New York Times, DeClerck starts every day with a serving of nine of the alcohol-enhanced raisins, and the recipe couldn't be easier. "Fill a jar," she said. "Nine raisins a day after it sits for nine days."

DeClerck's daughter-in-law Lillie Jean Laws said that, during the decade that DeClerck lived with them, she also downed a mysterious drink that was kept in the back of the refrigerator. Laws didn't know everything that was in the "root-beer-looking" beverage, but it seemed to be a combination of aloe vera juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger, and "a little bit of gin." 

"I would watch her and I would just shudder when she drank this stuff," Laws told NJ.com. "When she got older, I started asking her, what did she put in that stuff? She was lasting better than we were."

DeClerck has two surviving sons (she has outlived one of her sons), five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. A little over a year ago, her family got together to celebrate her 104th birthday, but they postponed the party for her 105th until it is safer for them to be together. 

Mystic Meadows' oldest—and now possibly the most famous—resident has received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and we're among those who hope that she won't have to wait another year to blow out her birthday candles. We're also among those who will be buying a bottle of gin and a box of golden raisins on our next shopping trip. 

Zendaya & Tom Holland Are Done Lying To Us Now

 Now that we're fully in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the superhero franchise is speeding towards the release of its first film in the highly-anticipated action slate, which just happens to be another film about our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Rumours have flown about the cast and the plot of the upcoming Spidey project, but at least we now know its actual title — Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon broke the news on Twitter with a hilarious short clip in which they bemoaned the secrecy of the MCU, likely based on their leading man's past 

"They gave us a fake name again," sighs Holland after leaving director Jon Watts' office. "I just don't understand why he keeps doing this!"

"Really? You don't understand?" quips Zendaya.

"I think it's pretty obvious that you spoil things," Batalon chimes in.

The bickering trio pass by a whiteboard with scribbles all over, featuring a presumed brainstorm about the title of the third film. This reveal comes after Holland and the cast tricked fans with alternate titles on social media, sharing images with names like Spider-Man: Phone Home and Spider-Man: Homewrecker. (Personally, I liked Spider-Man: Homeslice, but I can understand why they went in another direction.)

No Way Home will see Holland returning as the eponymous superhero along with Zendaya and Batalon. But the cast of the upcoming film is also rumoured to be jam-packed with a number of unexpected actors. The MCU's youngest Avenger is said to be crossing paths with the Spider-Men that came before him, including Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Holland's Spidey will also be joined by Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina, who played baddies Electro and Doctor Octopus in the 20th Century Fox universe.

Doctor Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) has also been confirmed to star in No Way Home, which is probably a very big hint about the plot of the upcoming MCU blockbuster. As the Sorcerer Supreme and protector of the Time Stone, Doctor Strange's whole deal is that he's able to traverse dimensions and, likely, universes. If the storyline reunites Peter with two different versions of Spider-Man, their villains, and Doctor Strange, No Way Home is most likely a story of travelling through the multiverse.

Then again, you never know with Marvel. Either way, as the first film in the fourth phase, No Way Home is going to be essential viewing for anyone wondering how unique stories like The Eternals and the Blade remake fit into the MCU. It doesn't make sense now, but it will...maybe in like, 2024?

My husband wanted quick money so he used my son for 'sika duro'- Ghanaian mom reveals

 - Single mother of three, Rita Tetteh Korkor, has recounted how her husband used their son for money ritual 

- She revealed their son fell seriously ill as a result, so she reported the situation to her family

 - According to Tetteh Korkor, her husband told her he wanted quick money.

Rita Tetteh Korkor, a single mother of three kids, has given a chilling account of how her husband used their first child for money rituals known as 'sakawa.' In an interview with DJ Nyaami of SVTV Africa, Tetteh Korkor disclosed her husband told her about his plan to go in for money rituals but she vehemently advised against it. According to her, she stood against it because she knew the ritual would demand a human sacrifice and she did not want any part of it.

''He came home with an item, hanged it in the room, and warned us not to touch it,'' she said. Subsequently, their son fell seriously ill and she came to realise the ritual was the cause. Fearing for the outcome of the unknown, Tetter Korkor left their home. ''When my son fell ill, I realised he used my son for the money ritual. So I told my parents about it, and sought help for my son.'' For being a protective mother, her husband labeled her a witch for disrupting the ritual process. Tetter Korkor revealed that her husband was not supposed to inform anyone about his dealings, else, the money ritual would not yield results.

https://youtu.be/uReetcrLa4k