Karl Kandt: Community Context Behind Small Town Holiday Bell Ringing

Salvation Army's Red Kettle bell ringer

photo credit: Dwight Burdette / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 – cropped (link)

Key Takeaways

  • The Red Kettle bell-ringing tradition remains a visible and trusted part of small-town holiday seasons.
  • Local volunteers and familiar locations help build credibility and encourage community participation.
  • In-person kettles complement digital donations by fitting naturally into everyday errands.
  • Funds raised through local kettles typically stay in the community to support essential services.
  • Consistent volunteer coverage is crucial to keeping the campaign effective throughout the season.
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Dyan Gershman: NYC Bar Statement Highlights Risks of Politicized Prosecutions

Politicized prosecutions

Key Takeaways

  • The NYC Bar issued a statement warning against politically motivated prosecutions that threaten judicial independence.
  • The warning followed the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James after prior rulings against Donald Trump.
  • The NYC Bar described the case as part of a broader pattern of weaponizing the justice system.
  • Legal institutions rely on public trust, which is weakened when prosecutions appear driven by political pressure.
  • Business and legal leaders are urged to defend the rule of law and institutional independence.
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Michele Zormeier: Understanding What Liposuction Can and Cannot Achieve

Liposuction

photo credit: Dmitriy Ganin / Pexels

Key Takeaways

  • Liposuction is designed for targeted body contouring, not for weight loss.
  • The procedure removes localized fat deposits but does not tighten loose skin or treat cellulite.
  • Good candidates typically have stable weight, localized fat, and sufficient skin elasticity.
  • Results develop gradually, and long-term shape depends on maintaining a stable weight.
  • Careful consultation helps match the procedure to realistic goals and anatomy.
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Warren Petersen: Senate Bill 1131 and Tax Relief for Arizona Renters

Rental tax relief

Key Takeaways

  • Arizona Senate Bill 1131 eliminates tenant-paid rental taxes starting in 2025, reducing monthly housing costs for renters.
  • The law requires landlords to pass the tax savings directly to tenants by lowering asking rents.
  • The bill was initially vetoed but later revised and passed as part of broader negotiations over Proposition 400.
  • Supporters view the law as needed relief amid rapidly rising rents and growing rent-burdened households.
  • Opponents warn of significant municipal revenue losses and potential cuts to city services.
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David Steinbok: Understanding the Foundations of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

psychoanalytic psychotherapy

Key Takeaways

  • Psychoanalytic psychotherapy focuses on understanding unconscious patterns that shape thoughts, emotions, and relationships.
  • It integrates multiple theories, including drive theory, ego psychology, object relations, attachment theory, and self-psychology.
  • The therapeutic relationship, including transference and interpretation, is a central tool for emotional insight and change.
  • Treatment is typically long-term and aims for deep, lasting psychological growth rather than short-term symptom relief.
  • This approach can help with anxiety, depression, trauma, personality patterns, and long-standing relationship difficulties.
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3 Unique Business Insights from the Scrap Metal Recycling Industry

Scrap metal recycling

Key Takeaways

  • Highly fragmented markets can still be profitable with strong differentiation and operational excellence.
  • Specializing in high-value segments can unlock growth even in mature, commoditized industries.
  • Scrap recyclers compete on speed, service, logistics, and transparency rather than brand alone.
  • High-volume operations become strategic advantages when supported by efficient systems and processes.
  • The recycling industry offers transferable lessons for many other competitive and operationally complex sectors.
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Scott Mullady: Key Phases in the Lifecycle of a Qualified Retirement Plan

Qualified retirement plan

Key Takeaways

  • Qualified retirement plans move through defined phases from design and adoption to administration and termination.
  • Proper plan documentation and setup are essential before any contributions begin.
  • Ongoing administration requires fiduciary oversight, accurate recordkeeping, and annual compliance testing.
  • Reporting and disclosure obligations, including Form 5500, are required throughout the plan’s life.
  • Errors can be corrected through IRS programs, and plan termination requires a structured, compliant process.
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Joff Philossaint: Data-Driven Business Development Strategies for Founders

Business development

Key Takeaways

  • Business development combines market insight, strategy, execution, and partnerships to drive scalable growth.
  • Founders should validate product-market fit before scaling sales efforts.
  • Data-driven sales systems and CRMs help turn growth into a repeatable process.
  • Retention, onboarding, and customer success are as important as acquisition.
  • Pricing and experimentation play a critical role in long-term profitability.
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Legacy Probate International: Forensic Genealogy Support for Probate Heirship

Forensic genealogy

Key Takeaways

  • Forensic genealogy is used in probate to identify, verify, and locate legal heirs.
  • It combines historical records, legal standards, and sometimes DNA evidence.
  • This approach is especially important in intestate or complex estates.
  • Professional researchers can locate beneficiaries across countries and continents.
  • Early heir identification reduces delays, disputes, and fiduciary risk.
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Gunnari Auvinen: How Non-Engineers Build AI Tools Themselves

AI tools for small business owners

Key Takeaways

  • Low-code and no-code AI platforms now let non-engineers build functional models using visual tools.
  • Business teams can prototype forecasts, classifications, and analytics without waiting for engineering resources.
  • These platforms automate training and optimization while hiding technical complexity from users.
  • Good results still depend on data quality, clear problem definitions, and careful interpretation.
  • Organizations need governance and review processes as AI tools become part of everyday workflows.
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