New Book, The H-Factor, a Business Guide to Positive Psychology and Happiness Published

Using the latest research from the most talented minds in the field of Positive Psychology, author Douglas Mason has written The H- Factor, A Business Guide to Positive Psychology.  Mason shows how increasing the happiness levels of employees will reduce expenses, increase profits, and help create a thriving organization.  Mason believes that leaders, supervisors, managers, and business owners need to use their positions to lead the way to happiness for their team since many employees do not actually know what will make them happy. 

Douglas Mason has over 35 years of experience in corporate consulting, retirement plan and healthcare sales, management, and customer service. He has received numerous sales awards and recognition throughout his successful career in corporate America.

The benefits of a happier workforce are significant and The H-Factor presents these benefits, as well as, specific steps to help employees become happier.  From the latest research, to thought provoking anecdotes and experiences, Doug charts a course that will give you the competitive edge by having The H-Factor as your secret advantage.

To learn more about The H-Factor, A Business Guide to Positive Psychology, visit http://www.thehfactor.biz where it is available for sale. The H-Factor is also available through Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com in both paperback and e-book format.

NY's New Tax Latest to "Punish" Smokers -- It's What the Public Wants

New York's proposed new additional tobacco tax of $1.60/pack, pushing the total price of a pack of cigarettes to over $10, is designed both to raise an additional $440 million in revenue and, according to some, to "punish" smokers, but it's simply the latest is a growing number of measures aimed at smokers many regard as punitive, and is in line with growing public sentiment to force smokers to pay a higher share of the costs of smoking, says Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

New York's new total tax of $4.35 per pack would be in line with other states which also have high taxes, including Rhode Island ($3.46), Connecticut ($3.00), New York state ($2.75), New Jersey ($2.70), Hawaii ($2.60), Wisconsin ($2.52), Massachusetts ($2.51), Vermont ($2.24), Washington ($2.025), Alaska ($2.00), Arizona ($2.00), Connecticut ($2.00), District of Columbia ($2.00) Maine ($2.00), Maryland ($2.00), Michigan ($2.00), Alaska ($2.00), Arizona ($2.00), District of Columbia ($2.00), Maine ($2.00), Maryland ($2.00), and Michigan ($2.00). [as of January 2010]

This growing trend to require smokers to pay in taxes at least a portion of the huge costs they impose on the economy -- almost $200 billion a year -- is also reflected in a recent national poll which finds that voters favor a $1/pack increase in state cigarette taxes by an overwhelming 67%-31% margin -- more than 2 to 1 -- with 53% saying they "strongly" support such a tax increase. The increase is favored by Democrats (70%), Republicans (58% percent), and Independents (64%).

It's also consistent with a recent study showing that almost half of all large U.S. companies penalize employees' unhealthy behavior (especially smoking at 64%) or plan to do so shortly. More than a dozen states already require their employees who smoke to pay more for health insurance, and one state charges smokers more under Medicaid.  A growing number of companies are following the lead of the W.H.O. and refusing to hire smokers; judges have issued orders in the large majority of states banning smoking in homes to protect children, and more and more states are prohibiting smoking in foster homes and in cars when kids are present.

Charging smokers more is also what the public wants, says public interest law professor John Banzhaf of ASH.

When MSNBC reported in August, 2009, on a plan by ASH to incorporate personal responsibility into the new health reform law by charging smokers more for health insurance, it noted that 57% of Americans favor higher health insurance premiums for smokers, as contrasted with only 36% favoring a similar surcharge on the obese. www.pr-inside.com/most-want-health-insurance-smoker-surcharge-r1 ..

Interestingly, the new health reform law does in fact permit charging smokers up to 50% more for their health insurance, but similar surcharges for other health factors such as obesity can be instituted only if they are part of a federally qualified "wellness" program, and then only up to a lower percentage.

At about the same time, the WorkTrends report noted that a majority of workers supported charging employees who smoke more for their health insurance (50% vs 47%), whereas they opposed similar charges for those who drink too much alcohol (43% vs. 54%), and strongly oppose such charges for workers who are very overweight (26% vs. 69%). www.heldrich.rutgers.edu/uploadedFiles/Publications/Heldrich_Cen ..

Interestingly, the same report said that workers also strongly oppose the use of financial incentives to promote healthier behaviors. "The notion that participation in a wellness program should be rewarded with extra pay or extra time off, however, is troubling to workers. . . . Two thirds of workers (66%) feel that employers should not provide extra pay to participants, and 6 in 10 (59%) say the same about extra time off."

A more recent survey by CNNMoney.com showed even more support for charging smokers higher rates for health insurance. Asked "should insurers penalize people for unhealthy behavior?," 31% said "yes, it promotes good health," and an additional 22% responded "only for very unhealthy things like smoking." In short, 53% would support such a surcharge, whereas only 31% favor using incentives instead. money.cnn.com/POLLSERVER/results/51174.html

A much higher percentage of employees would probably support charging smokers more for health insurance if they realized that each smoking employee can cost a company more than $10,000 a year in higher health care costs, disability payments, time lost from work, etc. -- money which otherwise could be used to provide better health insurance coverage for all employees, higher salaries, or for other purposes. ash.org/$12000.

PROFESSOR JOHN F. BANZHAF III
Professor of Public Interest Law at GWU,
FAMRI Dr. William Cahan Distinguished Professor,
FELLOW, World Technology Network, and
Executive Director and Chief Counsel
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
America’s First Antismoking Organization
2013 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006, USA
(202) 659-4310 // (703) 527-8418
http://ash.org/

Felixstowe Care Home Wins £9,000 Rational SelfCooking Center

Cotman House in Felixstowe is a care home for the elderly with 20 residents.  In a few months time it will be transformed: owners Colin and Louise Bentley have bought adjoining land and are constructing a major new ‘extension’ that will accommodate an additional 42 residents.  

Cotman House, formerly Coniston Garfield Road, is named after the architect (and brother of painter John Cotman) who built the original house in the early 20th century. It’s a very popular, owner-run home where the primary focus is on care in a safe, friendly, happy, ‘un-institutional’ environment.  The new build will feature the very latest facilities, including a cinema.  

To cope with the huge increase in catering it will also feature the very latest in cooking technology – a Rational SelfCooking Center combi steamer.  

“Currently we have a very conventional kitchen,” admits Colin Bentley.  “Our original plan was to install more of the same – the range, standard oven and so on.  But when we talked to our supplier, Gratte Brothers, they recommended we look at a combi, saying it would be better able to meet our needs.”  

“I was very sceptical initially,” says Louise Bentley.  “I couldn’t see the need.  But then Colin and I went to one of Rational’s TeamCooking Live (TCL) seminars and we were simply amazed.  The SelfCooking Center blows the lid off conventional cooking equipment.”  

David Sutton of Gratte Bros arranged for the Bentleys to attend the TCL at nearby Portman Road, home to Ipswich FC.   “One of the reasons we recommend Rational combis is that their support is terrific, for the whole life of the machine,” he comments.  

The Bentleys were so impressed they placed an order there and then, at the TCL, for a 10 grid SelfCooking Center.  However, they also entered a special prize draw for a six grid model – and a few weeks later found out they’d won.  They’ve decided to put the smaller unit in the new home’s satellite kitchen, with the ten grid in the main one.  

“It was the flexibility of the Rational that really sold us,” says Louise.  “We need to cope with a variety of dietary requirements – gluten free, vegetarian, low fat and so on.  The seminar showed that the SelfCooking Center will make it easier and quicker to get the food just right – and it will be healthier, with more nutrients, due to the way it’s cooked.”  

One thing that really impressed the Bentleys at the seminar was the relaxed atmosphere.  “The presentation was very professional but there was no hard sell,” says Louise.  “Plus, the food was delicious!  It’s worth pacing yourself, or you’ll find you’re too full at the end!”  

Going to the TCL meant the Bentleys saw unexpected benefits – such as the ability to expand their menu.  “For example, we don’t offer steak at the moment, because we need to be able to serve all 20 residents at the same time,” says Louise.  “Getting it just so is difficult with conventional equipment.  But getting 20 or even 60 steaks perfectly cooked, all at the same time, is really easy in the SelfCooking Center.”  

If there’s one meal that’s more popular with residents of Cotman House than any other it’s a roast dinner.  “The Rational will be just brilliant at them,” says Colin.  “The meat is succulent and we’ll be able to cook overnight using the SelfCooking Center’s slow cook technology.”

Louise strongly recommends going to a TCL seminar.  “Even if you talk to the sales people and read all the brochures, you really don't have any idea what the SelfCooking Center can do till you see it in action.  At one point they cooked a salmon and first asked us, did we want it poached or pan fried?  We thought, pan fried in an oven?  Yeah, right.  So they did it and it came out perfectly pan fried!  It’s an amazing machine.”    

For information and brochures, or to arrange to come to a free SelfCooking Center® ‘TeamCooking Live’ seminar, contact your dealer, freephone Rational UK on 0800 389 2944 or call +44 800 389 2944.  For product information and contact details see www.rational-UK.com.  For information about Club Rational, including recipes and combi cooking tips, visit http://www.club-rational.com/gb.  Follow Rational UK on Twitter and Facebook.
 
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‘SelfCooking Center’ and ‘TeamCooking Live’ are registered trademarks of Rational.

First Fortune Teller Credentialed by Washington State as a Certified Counselor

Alexandra Chauran, sole-proprietor of EarthShod.com in King County, is the first professional fortune teller who is also a Washington Department of Health Certified Counselor.  According to the state, counselors "assist or attempt to assist a person or persons to improve their mental, emotional, or behavioral problems" or use "techniques to achieve understanding and awareness of self and others and the growth of human potential” (RCW 18.19.020).  By law, those "practicing counseling for a fee must be credentialed" (WAC 246-810-031).  A Certified Counselor’s scope of practice is to "counsel and guide the client in adjusting to life situations, developing new skills, and making desired changes" (WAC 246-810-0201), a service that Chauran, and others like her, offer.  Chauran challenges: "I encourage all who do what I do, under any label, to get a state credential; not just because it may be a legal responsibility, but to foster regulation of our often-maligned industry, and to take on  mandatory reporting duties for situations of abuse and suicide-risk, of which we are often the first to be told."  

A new Washington state law created eight new counseling credentials on July 1st of 2009 and will abolish the previous Registered Counselor credential on July 1st of 2010, requiring counselors who have not received a new credential to stop practicing.  Though many professional psychics and intuitive readers operated under the old title alongside other professionals who counseled in other contexts, as of April 12th, 2010, the DOH Assistant Secretary Karen Jensen reported having received a total of only "5,321 out of a possible 12,000 applications" for all eight counseling professions, including:  Agency Affiliated Counselor, Certified Advisor, Certified Counselor, Chemical Dependency Professional Trainee, Marriage & Family Therapist - Associate, Mental Health Counselor - Associate, Social Worker Associate Advanced and Social Worker Associate Independent Clinical.  

Alexandra Chauran, who has been a Registered Counselor (RC00048344) in Washington state since October 28th of 2003 in good standing, met all application requirements for the Certified Counselor (CL60153740) credential.  This included completing coursework in risk assessment, ethics, appropriate screening and referral, Washington State Law and AIDS education, as well as having a consultant agreement with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and passing a Certified Counselor Exam.  Chauran holds a Master's degree in teaching from Seattle University and is a member of the Renton Chamber of Commerce and the Washington State Holistic Chamber of Commerce.  She does not plan to practice counseling outside the context of her fortune telling business, but maintains her credential to demonstrate a commitment to health and safety excellence for her clients.

Queen Awards a Double for Contact Lens Innovation

The group formed by two former school friends, J Keith Lomas, Group CEO, and John Clamp, Group COO, both aged 39, is expanding throughout the world with sales into more than 60 countries.

“To receive the Queen’s Award once is a serious achievement, but twice is out of this world” said Lomas. “We were improving people’s vision but now our team is taking our technologies to new levels and dramatically changing lives for the better for thousands more people every month”.

The Queen’s Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a UK company and was awarded specifically for KeraSoft®, patented soft and silicone hydrogel contact lenses for irregular corneas and keratoconus.

Patients can have irregular corneas for a number of reasons including disease, trauma, corneal transplants or failed laser surgery such as Lasik and other prescription changing operations. Standard contact lenses or spectacles do not successfully address such complexities so patients can have considerably reduced vision. The traditional approach was with hard or rigid gas permeable lenses, but the rigid surfaces on thinning tissue was often extremely uncomfortable and resulted in short wearing times or patients not even able to wear the rigid lenses at all; so minimal sight.

KeraSoft® lenses are a combination of the latest in soft and silicone hydrogel materials using geometries from complex mathematics to offer comfortable wear and excellent vision for all waking hours, engineered and developed by John Clamp. Optometrist Lynn White, Keratoconus Consultant, helped refine the design for a wide range of irregular cornea conditions through her close work with her patients.

“I had to persevere with rigid lenses for years as there used to be no alternative” said Gareth Beynon, a keratoconic patient from Rugby, Warwickshire. “I was limited to a maximum of six to eight hours of comfortable wear a day, five days a week so I had to choose when I could see; at home or at work. My life revolved around whether I could wear my lenses or not and had no spontaneity at all. I had to rely on others being present most of the time in case I had a problem with the lenses which was very frustrating. With the KeraSoft® lens, it’s like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. I can now see throughout all my waking hours, have resurrected my motor racing hobby and have got my life back. This is genuinely transformational for me and others. The more people who hear about this the better”.

KeraSoft® lenses are fitted and dispensed by optometrists and opticians in hospital departments, private and high street practices. Ophthalmologists are using the lenses both pre and post-operatively, following cross-linking surgery and as a safer and longer term solution than corneal transplants.

UltraVision CLPL states that KeraSoft® sales are growing by double digit percentages month on month. As well as launching directly in India with new dedicated operations in Trivandrum, Kerala, UltraVision CLPL is currently in licensing discussions with third parties to help accelerate the roll out of KeraSoft® around the world.

J Keith Lomas added “We’ve got game-changing technology here so need to maximise the positive impact on people’s lives wherever we can”.

Her Majesty The Queen will host a reception at Buckingham Palace later this year for the winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – 2010.