The following article‚ I Cannot Afford To Live: Americans Get Emotional As The U.S. Economy Goes Off The Rails‚ was first published on Conservative Firing Line.As we approach what is likely to be the most chaotic presidential election in U.S. history‚ trouble signs are starting to erupt for the U.S. economy. In fact‚ CNNis actually admittingthat the long-predicted storm clouds in the economy may actually be forming. I cant remember the last time that I saw a CNN article with Continue reading I Cannot Afford To Live: Americans Get Emotional As The U.S. Economy Goes Off The Rails ...

Everyone wants to know how long they will live and there are many indicators that can show whether someone is thriving or on the decline. But people have yet to develop a magic formula to determine exactly how long someone should expect to live.However‚ a doctor recently featured on the ";Today"; show says a straightforward test can reveal the likelihood that someone aged 51 to 80 will die in the near future.NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar was on the ";Today"; show on March 8 and demonstrated how to perform the simple sit to stand test (aka sit-rising test or SRT) that can help determine the longevity of someone between 51 to 80.The test is pretty simple. Go from standing to sitting cross-legged‚ and then go back to standing without using any parts of your body besides your legs and core to help you get up and down. The test measures multiple longevity factors‚ including heart health‚ balance‚ agility‚ core and leg strength and flexibility.You begin the test with a score of 10 and subtract points on your way up and down for doing the following:Hand used for support: -1 pointKnee used for support: -1 pointForearm used for support: -1 pointOne hand on knee or thigh: -1 pointSide of leg used for support: -1 pointNone (@) A 2012 study published by the European Society of Cardiology found a correlation between the SRT score and how long people live. The study was conducted on 2002 people‚ 68% of whom were men‚ who performed the SRT test and were followed by researchers in the coming years. The study found that Musculoskeletal fitness‚ as assessed by SRT‚ was a significant predictor of mortality in 5180-year-old subjects.Those who scored in the lowest range‚ 0 to 3‚ had up to a 6 times greater chance of dying than those in the highest scores (8 to 10). About 40% of those in the 0 to 3 range died within 11 years of the study.Azar distilled the study on ";Today‚"; saying: ";The study found that the lower the score‚ you were seven times more likely to die in the next six years.";Eight points or higher is what you want‚"; Azar said. ";As we get older‚ we spend time talking cardiovascular health and aerobic fitness‚ but balance‚ flexibility and agility are also really important‚"; she stressed.One should note that the people who scored lowest on the test were the oldest‚ giving them an elevated risk of death.Dr. Greg Hartley‚ Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and associate professor at the University of Miami‚ told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that we should take the study with a grain of salt. Frailty‚ strength‚ muscle mass‚ physical performancethose things are all correlated to mortality‚ but I would caution everybody that correlation doesnt mean causation‚ he said.And of course‚ the test doesn';t take into account injuries or disabilities that may make doing the test impossible. But one of the study';s authors says that the study is a call to take our mobility seriously.The more active we are the better we can accommodate stressors‚ the more likely we are to handle something bad that happens down the road‚ Dr. Claudio Gil Araujo‚ told USA Today.This article originally appeared on 3.10.23

For most musicians‚ creating a hit song and making it big on the international stage would be living the dream. For Gotye‚ it turned out to be a bit of a nightmare. Gotye is the stage name of Wouter ";Wally"; De Backer‚ the singer-songwriter behind the 2011 smash hit song‚ ";Somebody That I Used to Know."; The music video for the song becoming one of YouTube';s most-liked videos‚ and with 2.2 billion views‚ the video could have earned over $10 million in ad revenue. But De Backer has refused to place ads on it‚ saying‚ ";I';m not interested in selling my music. That';s the reason I don';t put ads on my YouTube channel‚ which seems strange to people in today';s climate‚ but that is a decision you can make. I';m like that with all my music."; It was the fame that came with the virality of the song that was the bigger issue for the artist‚ however. It';s a simple enough thing to turn down money‚ but there';s not much you can do to stop a viral wave.The song took six months to write and produce‚ and when the video leaked a week before its official release‚ it quickly caught fire. At first‚ De Backer was just excited that his song was being played on the radio. Then the virality online took hold and that was also exciting for a while. From the start‚ De Backer was grateful for the song';s success‚ but he also managed to stayed simple and humble. He didn';t buy anything large or luxurious with the money he made from song sales‚ being content to drive his old van. And when he was asked what was the best thing that happened in the previous year‚ he responded‚ ";It probably wouldn';t be anything to do with a marker of success of my song or my album. More something like a really great swim I took at Summer';s Beach near where I live."; Soon the covers and parodies of the ";Somebody That I Used to Know"; grew more widespread and the quality of them began to wane‚ De Backer began to feel ";burnt out"; on it all. He had no control over people connecting name with whatever they were hearing done to his song‚ which was frustrating. He started to feel the pressures that come with fame‚ to have a certain personality or to follow up his huge hit with another huge hit. And he missed feeling like he had a personal connection with his audience‚ which becomes difficult at a certain scale. He even began to feel self-conscious about the popularity of the song due to its themetwo people who had broken up and couldn';t work out their differences. The fact that so many people were celebrating it so fiercely was uncomfortable for him; he didn';t want to be responsible for spreading more angst or bitterness in the world. And then came the ";overplayed"; and ";annoying"; era of oversaturation. He even apologized to people for having to hear the song so often because radios wouldn';t stop playing it.Ultimately‚ he ceased putting out music as a solo artist and focused on making music with his long-time band‚ The Basics. There is a possibility for another solo Gotye project sometime in the next decade‚ but he';s probably hoping he doesn';t end up with a big hit next time around.Watch SunnyV2 tell the story of Gotye';s ";one hit wonder"; experience and how it impacted his musical career:It';s a cautionary tale for anyone who thinks they want to be famous or wishes they';d have a song go viral. Parts of that experience can be great‚ but fame isn';t always everything it';s cracked up to be.

If you are having thoughts about taking your own life‚ or know of anyone who is in need of help‚ please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (273-8255) or text ";HOME"; to the Crisis Text Line: 741741.Theres an old Hebrew saying that if you save one life‚ you save the world entire. Who knows if Brooke Lacey‚ 22‚ had that lofty goal when she began a campaign in 2020 to help uplift peoples spirits during the first COVID-19 wave.But her kind efforts may have done just that. Lacey has struggled with mental health issues throughout her life and she knew that people like her were going to have a really hard time during COVID-19 lockdowns. A study from May 2021 found that the New Zealand population had higher depression and anxiety compared with population norms. The study also found that younger people and those most at risk of COVID-19 reported poorer mental health.To help those who may be struggling‚ Lacey printed 600 stickers with an uplifting message and posted them around places where people may take their lives‚ including trains‚ bridges and large bodies of water in Wellington‚ New Zealand. She also made a bumper sticker with the same message for her car.The stickers spoke directly to those who may be contemplating taking their own life. Please dont take your life today‚ the stickers read. The world is so much better with you in it. More than you realize‚ stay.Earlier this month‚ Lacey parked her car in her universitys lot and when she returned to her vehicle to leave‚ she noticed a note was affixed to the windshield. Thinking it was someone complaining about how she parked or a ticket‚ she prepared for the worst but wound up being blindsided by the positive message.A driver\u2019s bumper sticker has saved a stranger\u2019s life.\n\nAfter her own battle with depression 22-year-old university student Brooke Lacey was inspired to create a batch of 600 signs to inspire those battling mental illness.\n\n#StarFMNews919 @Star919FMpic.twitter.com/0SSHhUvyvK StarFMNews919 (@StarFMNews919) 1645525333A 22 year New Zealand student called Brooke Lacey‚ who';d suffered with depression created some bumper stickers to help others who might be going through a similar experience. Recently she found a heartfelt note under her windscreen wiper to thank herpic.twitter.com/kFfu9wtXnN Giles Paley-Phillips (@Giles Paley-Phillips) 1645468625I left my house with a plan and asked for a sign‚ any sign‚ I was doing the right thing when I saw your car in the parking lot. Thank you‚ the note read. At first‚ Lacey wasnt sure what the person was referring to‚ then she remembered her homemade bumper sticker.I had these made so long ago‚ put one on my car and forgot about them‚ until now‚ she tweeted on her since deactivated account. I am so glad whoever you are chose to stay today. You never know who needs this reminder.Now‚ its unclear exactly what the persons plan was‚ but there';s no doubt that Laceys bumper sticker inspired them to choose life. Lets hope that the sticker also inspired them to seek professional help for whatever difficulties they are going through.Whether it was intentional or not‚ Laceys sticker was effective because it followed one of the most important strategies that people use at suicide hotlines. According to Science.org‚ its of utmost importance that people contemplating suicide are handled with respect and empathy.Lacey';s story is a beautiful reminder of the power that one simple‚ thoughtful gesture can have on another persons life. Every day‚ there are people all around us who are looking for a sign to give them a reason keep going. Whether its a hug‚ a smile or the right message in the right place at the right time‚ we should all be like Lacey and make sure everyone knows that the world is better with them in it. In fact‚ much more than they ever realize.This article originally appeared on 02.24.22

Hall Aflame‚ a band led byMetal Church guitaristKurdt Vanderhoof‚ will release its sophomore album‚Amplifire‚ on May 3rd. The albums lead single isThe Same Gutter.Originally formed in 89‚Hall Aflame released its debut effort which found some success‚ but they and their album soon got pushed aside by Grunge. The band went on a lengthy hiatus but reunited in late 23.This album (Amplifire) came about as a project to document all the songs that we had written for the second album that never came to be‚ offered Vanderhoof.Amplifire Tracks:01.Helltown02.Ripcord03.197404.This Aint Love05.The Same Gutter06.It Aint Enough07.Gunnin08.Pullin Me Apart09.Long Way Down10.Keeping Them All Away11.Cowboy(bonus track) (CD and digital)12.Paradise On Ice(bonus track) (CD and digital)In addition to Vanderhoof‚ Hall Aflame hasoriginal bassistBrian Smith‚ along with drummerBill Raymondand vocalistScott Nutter.The post Metal Church Guitarists Other Band To Release Sophomore Album appeared first on RockinTown.