Items to Consider Before Opting for Cosmetic Surgery

Health & Fitness

Cosmetic surgery is far more popular these days than ever before, lower prices and far more surgeons have made this type of surgery much more accessible for the general public and as such, lots of people are choosing to augment, alter and improve their bodies. If you have been looking at the option of cosmetic surgery the you are going to need to think long and hard about whether it is a smart choice for you.

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I recently had a liposuction procedure to help aid my weight loss, something I’d been trying to do for years without success. I went to a clinic called Sono Bello who offered a form of liposuction called laser liposuction, it was non-invasive and had instant results. My decision to have surgery was not taken lightly and these are a few things that I considered before choosing this procedure.

The Clinic

Once I’d decided that I wanted to go in for my procedure, I meticulously researched the clinics that were available to me, I’d heard some horror stories about people whose procedures had gone wrong and I wanted to make sure that I chose the best clinic possible. I went and spoke to 3 or 4 different surgeons before deciding on the clinic where I would feel most comfortable. I not only visited several clinics but also read a great many reviews, it was the Sono Bello reviews that looked the best and after speaking to them I felt very comfortable and confident. When you choose your clinic ensure that you feel good and they give you the same confidence.

The Cost

Although cosmetic surgery is a great deal cheaper than it was in the past, it still can be quite expensive and as with any large purchase, you need to ensure that you can afford it. I see lots of people taking out loans and financial plans in order to get their surgery and whilst I can understand the haste, you should really try to make sure that you have the money to pay for it first. Taking out finance plans could cost you money in the long run and leave you under pressure financially.

Why do You Want it?

There are lots of different reasons why people elect cosmetic surgery, some do so to fix a hangup that they have about their bodies, others do so to keep up with latest fashion, some do it for medical reasons whilst others are looking to acquire their version of the perfect body. It is important that before you decide on surgery that you work out which bracket you fall into and understand why you want the surgery. Very often people have body image issues in their mind and no amount of surgery can fix it, this can lead to shelling out lots of money and time trying to find something that can’t be found. Speaking to your family and friends about your body can help you to decide whether or not cosmetic surgery is for you.

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Tips on What to Do with a Damaged iPhone

Tech

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If your iPhone is damaged, it is useful. Because it is such an intricate device, you simply can’t use it properly anymore, even if there is just a bit of damage to the screen. You must, therefore, find the best iPhone repair Tampa Fl has to offer. What you will find, however, is that it can be quite hard to find this, as well as expensive. Naturally, you could choose to repair your phone yourself.

Professional Repairs

If you choose to have a professional repair your iPhone, make sure it is someone with a solid reputation. You do not have to send your phone to Apple, however, unless you really want to pay a very high bill. Rather, you should look for a professional phone repair shop, where issues such as broken screens can quickly be repaired.

There are numerous solutions offered to you when going to a professional repair shop. You do, however, have to make sure they have a professional attitude and a lot of experience. Check, for starters, that they offer Apple repairs. These products are very different from any other device, so you need to make sure they know what they are doing.

Then, you have to consider price. You went to a local shop because you wanted to save money. While inexpensive is good, cheap should be avoided. You do get what you pay for, so if you find a company that charger much less than any other store, it is likely that their service will be equally cheap.

Do also look into the store’s reputation. Speak to people within the community about the store, check the internet, and go to social media. If a store is doing a good job, it shouldn’t be difficult to find out about it.

DIY Repairs

The other option is to repair the phone yourself. The problem with DIY projects is that you could end up damaging your phone even more. Hence, you must be very careful if you want to attempt this. Make sure you have a video guide beside you that you have watched several times before you touch your iPhone. If you aren’t 100% convinced that you can do it, then don’t. The damage you do by doing it wrong can be so hard to fix that it would be cheaper to just buy a new phone.

Naturally, the best thing is to not damage your iPhone in the first place. You need to put it in a cover and have a screen protector in place so that you don’t have to pay for repairs. If you do this, you won’t have to worry about damaging your device either. Prevention is always better than cure, after all. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, accidents do happen. If one happens to you, luckily there are iPhone repair shops in Tampa, FL that you can turn to in order to have the issue resolved and your phone returned to you as good as new.

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Finding Medical Supplies for Diabetics Online

Shopping

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Diabetes is a lifelong disease that requires careful management. In order to do this properly, patients must make significant changes to their lifestyle. They also have to regularly monitor their blood sugar, and follow a specific diet. Many also require medication. This means that they require medical supplies, and therefore have to be in contact with a medical supply company. Thanks to the emergence of the internet, however, finding such a company has never been easier.

Shopping Online for Medical Supplies

Nowadays, you can simply shop online for all your diabetes supplies. Not only are the prices generally much lower than anywhere else, you also have the opportunity to use some of the most technologically advanced tools and products available. Your local pharmacies are likely to stock the same products, but that means taking the time out to go there, speak to pharmacists, pick things up, travel backwards and forwards, and more. All of these things can be done online instead.

Useful Tips for Buying Diabetes Supplies Online

Before you buy anything, you have to make sure that you have a proper treatment plan in place, which you must write together with your physician. They will prescribe the different supplies that you require in order to manage your condition. You should review this list carefully, working out which supplies you need and how often they need to be replenished.

One problem with the internet is that it is also very easy for bogus companies to target you to get your money. Medical supplies are required for your health and wellbeing, so you must make sure that your supplier is reliable. Check reviews, therefore, and do also make sure they have excellent customer service policies.

One important way to make sure that your purchase is safe is that they have an SSL certificate. This means that all communication is secure, and that your personal data cannot be accessed by others. You should not give anybody your personal information directly, after all. You can also check by making sure the URL starts with “https”, with the “s” meaning that it is secure.

Check the different payment options the supplier gives you as well. As a minimum, they should accept all the major credit cards. Others now also offer Google checkout and PayPal. None should ask for your bank details directly, however.

The customer service should be reachable around the clock. After all, diabetes management can become urgent, particularly if you struggle to stabilize your blood sugar levels. It should be easy to contact the company, therefore. The best ones offer telephone support, live chat, email tickets, and more. You have to be able to have all your questions answered, and you must be provided with solutions should you find that there is a problem with your order. Looking into independent customer reviews is a good way to check up on a company, but also by speaking to your physician and your pharmacist.

Once you have done all of this, you should be able to get the best medical supplies to manage your diabetes.

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6 tips for creating the most compelling signage a retail store can have

Business

Looking for tips for creating the most compelling signage a retail store can have? We got 'em.
Photo by CC user Ray Moore on Flickr

Want to pull in new customers off the sidewalk by the dozens? By creating a compelling pitch on a visually attractive sign, you can do just that.

When you are looking for signage design Perth that can help you accomplish this goal, you may be tempted to rush off to a sign creator like Kingman Visual with your order based on a few hunches you might have.

However, we recommend that you keep the following pointers in mind if you want to get killer results for your business.

1) Make sure it can be seen by your customers

This one may seem obvious, but you would be shocked by the number of amateurish signs that you’ll see at the average intersection.

Built far too small for anyone lacking superhuman vision, the message of the entrepreneur goes unnoticed, despite the capital and time put into their creation.

When you create signage for your business, keep your target audience in mind. If your goal is to be seen by pedestrians walking down the sidewalk, the size of the letters won’t need to be as large as they would if you want motorists to read your message, as they are in motion and are further away from your sign.

For example, if you want your message read clearly from 100 feet away, your letters should be at least 10 inches tall.

2) Don’t make it too busy

Concise messaging is another key component for shop owners looking to create compelling signage for their business.

Often, there is a compulsion to stuff a sign with as much information as possible. This is the wrong approach, as your pitch can get lost in an ocean of unnecessary detail. Most people are busy rushing off to somewhere else, so keeping it simple is of paramount importance.

Also, don’t forget to leave plenty of whitespace: experts recommend that as much as 40% of the sign should be left blank to create added focus on the message you are trying to get across.

3) Use appropriate font faces and colors

The colors and the type face you employ can induce a variety of emotions in your prospects, so choose wisely when you are laying out your sign.

For example, yellow is synonymous with friendliness and optimism, black is associated with seriousness and authority, Times New Roman gives the reader a feeling of tradition, while Helvetica grants a feeling of stability and reliability.

Use these design features to create the emotions you want to evoke, while avoiding ones that conflict with your intended message.

4) Add relevant images

To add even greater impact to your signage, consider adding images that are congruent with the message you are trying to get across.

For instance, if you are starting a chicken noodle soup street cart, having some imagery depicting noodles, a soup bowl, and/or a chicken will make it crystal clear in the minds of passersby what you have to offer.

5) Make sure the font and background color contrast well with each other

Some colors play better than others. Black on white, which is the scheme used in this blog and many others, is among the most popular.

Black on yellow is the one with the best contrast overall, which explains why caution signs on roadways in North America are colored the way they are.

On the other hand, combinations such as green on red and red on yellow are as appealing as nails scratching on a chalkboard. Avoid these and similar color combos at all costs.

6) Write killer copy

Get your message across in two short sentences … minimum. What pain does the customer have, and what is your solution?

Example: “Cold day? Warm your insides with our dark chocolate cocoa … on now for $0.99 a cup!” Bait the hook, and reel them in!

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Thinking of filing for bankruptcy? Here’s what you need to know…

Money

Thinking of filing for bankruptcy? There may be another way (or not)
Photo by CC user geralt on Pixabay

In debt up to your eyeballs? If you can’t even come up with enough money to cover your monthly minimums, you might have to file for bankruptcy through a firm like Olympia Law PC.

However, the process of defaulting on your financial obligations is no simple matter. Below, we’ll discuss what you need to know before filing for bankruptcy.

You may not even need to file for bankruptcy

Virtually all people that consider filing for bankruptcy are in a mental space of overwhelm when it comes to dealing with their debts.

They think that their income will never be sufficient enough to repay the loans they hold, so they think that waving the white flag is the only option available to them.

However, by doing things like changing your mindset and negotiating a lower interest rate from your creditors, a situation that might have seemed unmanageable at first glance can become resolvable over a period of time.

Given the destructive effects that bankruptcy can have on your credit rating, opting for a protracted repayment plan (even if it takes years) is the preferable option.

Can I file for bankruptcy?

Even if you have a desire to file for bankruptcy, there might be legal roadblocks that may prevent you from doing that.

The most basic test that you must pass to file for bankruptcy is that you must owe more than $1,000, and lack the ability to make payments on that debt when it is due (i.e. you are insolvent).

However, it gets more complicated than that, as there are certain types of debt that cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.

If you owe alimony, child support, student loans (if you are less than seven years removed from graduation), legal fines, or if your debt came about due to illegal activity, you will not be able to make these obligations go away by filing for bankruptcy.

Additionally, secured loans such as mortgages and car loans may not be able to be discharged, although you might be able to renegotiate payment terms with your creditors to better fit your financial situation.
If you hold unsecured debt through credit cards, pay day loans, etc though, you may be able to get these debts dismissed or restructured through bankruptcy proceedings.

If you do, pick a trustee dedicated to your cause

Your creditors will do everything they can to limit the damage caused by your default, so it is important that you have competent representation throughout the entire bankruptcy process.

They are responsible for drawing up the paperwork, negotiating an amenable settlement with the parties to which you owe money, and to provide you with expert advice on how you should manage your finances going forward into the future.

By choosing one who executes their duties professionally, this stressful process can proceed smoother and with better outcomes for you and your family.

You have duties during this process: fulfill them

Declaring bankruptcy isn’t as simple as hiring a trustee and calling it a day. You have important duties to carry out before the process can proceed to its conclusion.

Generally, you must provide them with proof of your monthly income each month, attend credit counseling sessions, and pay any surplus income to your trustee during the time you are in bankruptcy, among other responsibilities.

Know that you’ll have a long road back to respectability after discharge

Even after you’ve eliminated your debts, your life won’t be easy after emerging from bankruptcy. The fact that you opted to default on what you owed will act as an anchor on your credit score for as long as seven years, plunging it anywhere between 160 to 220 points from wherever it was before you declared insolvency.

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How to become a pro cyclist

Sports

Wondering how to become a pro cyclist? This post lays it out for you
Photo by CC user Flowizm on Flickr

Love the feeling you get from riding your bike around your local area? Want to make it into a career like British rider Joshua Hunt has? It’s not an easy path, but by following the steps below, you’ll give yourself the chance to see if you have what it takes to make it happen.

1) Train hard (almost) every day

If you wish to compete at elite levels in cycling, you will have to adopt a professional attitude towards physical training.

This doesn’t just mean finding the time to ride your bike everyday, but it also means taking part in regular resistance training sessions to build up strength in your core and lower body.

To give yourself the fuel you’ll need to power yourself through all these physical activity, you will also need to pay close attention to your diet as well.

Avoid junk carbs, and seek out a diet rich in complex carbs, protein and vegetables. Race days are an exception to this ban on simple carb consumption, as you will need plenty of quick fuel to power your way to victory.

2) Join a cycling club in your area

After you have improved your fitness to the point where you can withstand long rides with little difficulty, go ahead and join a cycling club in your area.

Doing so will not only give you people to compare yourself against, but it will also provide you with fellowship that you won’t be able to find riding around town on your own.

With your new-found friends, you’ll be able to motivate them, and they will do the same when you go out on rides together.

3) Get a personal coach

As much as riding regularly with a bunch of cycling enthusiasts will help you fine tune your technique, there is no substitute for hiring your own personal coach if you want to become a professional cyclist.

Under the close supervision of an expert, you will gain insights into your form that amateurs rarely pick up on. By incorporating their suggestions into your game plan, you will get the edge that is needed to break into professional riding.

4) Find a job that is compatible with cycling

Unlike major pro sports, only a handful of pro cyclists makes enough money from racing to make it their career. The rest of the field holds down real world jobs when they aren’t racing in order to make ends meet.

As such, you will need an employer that will allow you to schedule work around your events and training sessions. While this is easier said than done, there are semi-pro athletes are doing this as we speak, so it is possible.

5) Enter local races

Now that you have secured a job that allows you to pursue your dreams part-time, the time has come to dip your toe into the pro racing pool.

Find a local race that offers cash prizes for the top finishers and buy in. Now that you have skin in the game, train hard and prepare yourself for the biggest race in your life to date. You are now a pro cyclist!

6) Seek out sponsorships

As you progress in skill, you may find yourself wanting to compete in races with bigger prize pools. However, lacking the ability to pay these entry fees up front is a common obstacle for racers that are looking to move up.

By securing sponsorships, you can solicit financial assistance from businesses that are looking to get their brand more exposure.

Use this money to compete in bigger races, and you’ll get the opportunity to move further up the pro-cycling ladder.

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Biomedical engineering: is it for you?

Education

Is Biomedical engineering for you?
Photo by CC user ucdaviscoe on Flickr

While some professions have stagnated or declined in recent decades, there is no slowdown in the demand for biomedical engineers.

Professionals such as Akash Monpara know this all too well, as he and his colleagues enjoy above average pay, meaningful work, and bright prospects for the future.

Is biomedical engineering for you? This article will explore this field in detail, from the work they do to academic requirements and income prospects.

What is biomedical engineering?

Biomedical engineering occupies the space between engineering and medicine. Professionals in this field take common engineering principles and apply them to solve problems in health care and biology-centered professions.

Where do biomedical engineers work?

There are many different work environments where you will find biomedical engineers. While you will find most in hospitals and in biomedical research facilities, they can also be found in manufacturing plants (e.g. where prostheses are assembled), government departments, universities, and working as freelance consultants.

How much do they make?

Given their status as subject matter experts in an industry that is experiencing medium to long-term growth, biomedical engineers command a healthy salary.

The median earnings for this field was $86,220 in 2015, meaning that half of all engineers earned more than this figure and half earned less.

The top 10% of engineers in this field took home $139,520 that year, which indicates a great deal of long-term upside in this profession.

Which courses will I be taking?

When you go to college to become a biomedical engineer, there are a specific series of courses that you will need if you want to have success in this field.

Be sure to seek out schools that offer a specifically tailored degree in biomedical engineering, as many employers seek out candidates with this exact academic credential when they have an opening.

If you are still in high school, focus on science (biology, chemistry, physics) and mathematics prior to applying to colleges with biomedical engineering programs.

When beginning your undergraduate career, you will take courses in organic and biochemistry, mechanics, molecular biology, electronic circuits, and genetics as part of your mandatory core courses.

If you are taking your Masters, expect to take on topic areas such as biomedical instrumentation, neuroengineering, or nanotechnology when you are in pursuit of your thesis.

Will biomedical engineers be in demand in the future?

There are a pair of factors that are driving the demand in the biomedical field: the continued aging of the population, and the movement of high technology into medicine.

As boomers age, this population cohort is clamoring for solutions to the reductions in mobility that they are suffering.

At the same time, the Big Data revolution and work on decoding the human genome has made it profitable for technology companies to move into the healthcare sector.

With loads of actionable data that wasn’t there five years ago, there is an opening for biomedical engineers to offer their expertise. The stats bear this out, as it is expected that there will be a 23% increase in the number of jobs over the net decade.

This rate of growth is much faster than other professions, making this a great field for ambitious, scientifically-minded individuals.

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Preparing to Conceive – Some Things to Consider

Health & Fitness

When Preparing to Conceive, there are things you should know
Photo by CC user JenniferBayers on Pixabay

Deciding that you are ready to start a family is a big decision, and like any other life-altering decision, preparing is very important. Often, pregnancy doesn’t occur easily or right away, and after a year of trying to conceive you might want consult a reproductive expert like Dr. Kwang Yul Cha. However, even for couples with no fertility issues, some preparation can be helpful to ensure that conception happens without too much time or stress!

Know the Odds

One of the things can make it harder to conceive is stress about not conceiving. Take some of that stress off your shoulders by having a realistic idea about your odds of conceiving. This will be based on a woman’s age more than anything else – there is no question that fertility decreases with age, and after 30 the odds begin to go down. After 40, the odds of conceiving without intervention fall very quickly. If you have been on birth control medication, it is possible to conceive immediately upon stopping, but it might take a bit of time before normal ovulation resumes.

Get Your Timing Sorted Out, Within Reason

Especially as you get older and conception odds begin to fall, it is important to understand when chances of conception are highest. This involves paying attention to the menstrual cycle, and more particularly, learning to recognize the 1-2 window of opportunity before ovulation when the odds of conception are the highest. Ovulation tests are easily available that can help. At the same time, don’t get too hung up on dates or windows – not only does this create the possibility that sex becomes a stressful chore (with implications potentially for your relationship and for your chances of conception) but it also potentially closes a window of opportunity if the cycle is off by a few days.

Get Healthy

Preparing for conception should involve giving up habits that make that less likely, or that cause stress. Now is the time to quit drinking and smoking, and to pay attention to pre-natal health. Not only are these habits dangerous during pregnancy, but they can also reduce your fertility. Now is also a good time to reduce your intake of caffeine which can trigger miscarriages. Be sure you are getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients (especially folic acid) to support a healthy pregnancy before you come pregnant. Try to maintain active habits and a healthy weight. Get lots of sleep.

Talk with your Partner

Sometimes, we can be surprised by differences of opinion with our partners over things like how to parent, or what religion to raise a child within, or whether breastfeeding or staying home from work is equally important to both. These things will eventually get worked out, but it is ideal if this happens before a pregnancy rather than during or after. Worry about these issues, or money, or parenting anxiety even before a baby is on the way can cause the very stress that can make conception more difficult.

Preparing to start a family, especially if you are trying for your first child, can be an exhilarating and stressful time. Above all, be patient and kind to yourself and with each, and increase your odds of conceiving naturally with a bit of advance preparation.

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Things to Look for When Choosing a Mechanic

Auto

What are the Things to Look for When Choosing a Mechanic?
Photo by CC user Interiot on English Wikipedia

Few things in life are guaranteed beyond death and taxes – and one of those things is that if you own a car, you will eventually need to find a good mechanic. Finding a good a mechanic shouldn’t left to luck. There are some things that you can ask to help you narrow your search for a qualified mechanic that you can trust in a reliable shop. Honda owners can check out Omega Auto Care, but no matter what kind of car you drive, these tips can help you find the right mechanic for you.

Is the mechanic certified?

This is the most obvious way to know if a mechanic is qualified. There are number of certifications that a mechanic can hold, including manufacturer’s certifications which confirm a mechanic’s ability to work on a particular make of car. Mechanics may also be certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE certification means that a mechanic has been tested for knowledge and skills, and also has the required amount of experience. It is important to bear in mind that individuals rather than shops receive ASE certification, and so you will need to ask about the credentials of the particular mechanic who will be working on your car.

Does the shop have reputable affiliations?

Look for a sign indicating that the shop you are considering is AAA Approved Auto Repair (AAR) affiliated. These shops are monitored for the quality of their service, and must use only certified mechanics. If you are not able to identify beforehand who will be working on your car, you will at least be sure that the mechanic will be certified if the shop has an AAR affiliation.

Does the mechanic take the time to explain things?

Especially if you are not familiar with the inner workings of your car, it can be overwhelming to sort through a lot of technical jargon as the mechanic explains what is wrong with your car and what it will take to fix. A good mechanic will be a good communicator, and will take the time required to make sure that you understand the details of your situation, and will answer questions to your satisfaction.

Does the mechanic have a good reputation?

Knowing that a mechanic is certified and works in a reputable shop provides a basic degree of assurance that the mechanic has the skills necessary to expertly service your car. However, there is more to being a good mechanic than simply knowing your way around a car. You want to know that a mechanic is honest and reliable, that the quotes are going to be accurate, and that the work will be completed on time. You also want to know that your mechanic is a good communicator, and a fast diagnostician. These sorts of qualities are harder to evaluate without references, and it is always a good idea to check those references. But in the end, you should be sure to talk with your mechanic and go with your gut – if you don’t get a positive feeling from that conversation, then move on.

A car is a big investment, and the last thing you want to do is entrust it to just any mechanic. Make sure you take the time to properly research the mechanics in your area to make sure that your investment is in the right hands!

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Why Should We Care About High Oil Prices?

Business

Why Should We Care About High Oil Prices?
Photo by CC user skeeze on Pixabay.

As any expert in the oil gas industry like Cody Winters can explain, there are many reasons why consumers should care about the price of oil. Even if you ride your bike everywhere and heat your home with solar panels, you are affected by the price of oil, even if you are not aware of it. Here are some of the main ways that high oil prices affect us all.

Oil Prices Impact Us Directly

This is basically a reference to the shock that we get at the pump when we fill up. For many of us, eliminating our use of cars for transportation is not an option – we can try to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels by carpooling, using public transit, planning trips more efficiently, and eventually perhaps shifting to an electric car. However, for most of us there is a limit to far we can reduce the use of our cars and for that reason, after a certain point we cannot escape the immediate effect on our wallets every time we fill up.

Oil Prices Impact Us Indirectly

The same pinch that we feel at the pump is shared by every producer in every industry. The costs of moving finished products to the consumer and the price of moving inputs to the production site, whether by air, sea or road, will be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices.

Economic Growth Suffers

With high costs of oil, there are spill-overs into economy as a whole. Larger portions of consumers’ budgets are taken up by increased prices on goods, and increased direct costs of transportation and heating. This leaves a smaller portion of disposable income available for discretionary spending. As consumer spending goes down, businesses begin to struggle. Larger production costs mean that to a point businesses will need to raise prices for consumers to break even. However, if consumers have reduced resources as well, it is not long before spending grinds to a halt.

Innovation Suffers

On one level, high prices for oil can spur investment in new technologies or more efficient processes to compensation for the increased cost of oil. However, in the short to medium term, the research and development budgets of companies will be eaten up by increased costs of doing business, leaving less for innovation.

Government Finances Take a Huge Hit

Although prices of a whole range of goods increases, there is downward pressure on wages as businesses begin to feel the pinch of reduced spending. This vicious cycle hits government directly in the form of demands for increased social spending in the form of subsidies and unemployment assistance. At the same, the government’s largest sources of income – direct taxes (in the form of personal and corporate income taxes) and indirect taxes (in the form of taxes on the sale of goods and services) – begins to decline.

Of course, the story is not all about doom and gloom. High oil prices can also attract heavy investment which might not be attractive at lower prices, and this in turn can fuel both innovation and energy security in the long run.

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