With U.S. retail diesel prices topping $6 a gallon this month for the first time, a worldwide shortage fueled by conflicts in Iran and Ukraine shows little sign of easing before next year, according to Reuters.

U.S. diesel stockpiles stood at 107.9 million barrels as of September 11 — a figure that, for that point in the calendar year, has not been matched since the EIA began keeping records in 1982. According to the EIA’s own public projections, distillate fuel oil stocks — a category that includes diesel — are set to drop under 100 million barrels in September and stay beneath the five-year low through all of 2026 and into most of 2027. The agency projects U.S. retail diesel prices will average $5.55 a gallon in the fourth quarter of 2026 and $4.40 a gallon in 2027.

Storage market data reinforces that outlook. October bookings for leasable diesel storage across North America and the Caribbean Islands reached 13 million barrels — a four-year peak — compared with just 11 million barrels available back in June, Steven Barsamian, chief operating officer of storage broker The Tank Tiger, told Reuters. Barsamian said that leases are going unsigned because there is little diesel available to store, adding that falling inventories alongside rising tank availability together suggest traders anticipate supplies will stay tight well into at least early next year.

The shortage stems from supply disruptions on two fronts. Conflict in the Middle East has restricted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, cutting crude flows and constraining refinery output, while Ukrainian strikes on Russian refining infrastructure have compounded those losses. The EIA said it estimates refinery outages in Russia will continue to affect the global distillate market through the first half of 2027.

European and Asian inventories are also strained. At the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub, July inventory levels sat roughly 16% under the five-year average, Insights Global data showed, according to Reuters. Singapore’s distillate holdings have lately run around 8.2 million barrels on average, trailing the 9.6 million-barrel pace recorded through 2025.

The price surge is rippling through freight, agriculture, and home heating. Carmit Glik, CEO of Ship4wd, said diesel costs move through “freight rates, farm equipment, food delivery, and home heating — anything that touches a truck at some point in its journey,” according to Reuters. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, warned that households dependent on heating oil — concentrated in the Northeast — could face bills as much as 31% higher this winter if diesel prices hold at current levels.

Some relief could emerge. The EIA’s September Short-Term Energy Outlook expects most Middle East crude production to return to near pre-conflict averages by the second quarter of 2027, which the agency said would boost refinery output and allow distillate inventories to rebuild. Analysts also expect record diesel refining margins to encourage more production.

Nevertheless, a flare-up in either the Middle East or the Russia-Ukraine war, or an unexpected refinery disruption, could send prices sharply higher again. Alex Hodes, director of energy market strategy at StoneX, put it plainly to Reuters: “Current fundamentals point to higher prices staying here for a while.”

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Diesel Shortage to Last appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

There’s something oddly engaging about listening to a stranger’s murder while unloading the dishwasher or walking the dog. That’s not a judgment—it’s an observation. The popularity of true crime media, especially among women, has become one of the most enduring entertainment trends of the past decade. Podcasts like Crime Junkie, Morbid, and My Favorite Murder, documentaries like Making a Murderer, and dramatizations like American Murder: Gabby Petito and Monster are more than just entertainment—they’re part of how we understand the world.

True crime media has evolved from a niche curiosity to a mainstream obsession, particularly among women. Its popularity isn’t just about morbid curiosity—true crime offers insights into fear, control, emotional regulation, and human connection.

Why Women Love True Crime

True crime, often described as both frightening and comforting, presents a paradox that aligns with our lived experiences. For women, who statistically face a higher risk of violent crimes, true crime media can serve as a form of psychological rehearsal. By hearing others’ stories, they can gain a sense of control, feeling better equipped to recognize warning signs or respond to risk. This is not fear-mongering, but a form of threat management.

True crime also has a strong social dimension. Communities formed around true crime provide spaces for women to share their own stories, feel seen, and connect with others who understand. These communities offer a platform to explore vulnerability, justice, and identity, transforming true crime from mere entertainment into a tool for coping, connection, and collective healing.

Are There Psychological Benefits to True Crime?

According to theories such as Uses and Gratifications, we select media that serve specific psychological functions (Rubin, 2002). Through this lens, true crime meets several human needs:

Understanding and mastery: Humans are storytelling creatures wired to seek patterns, motives, and closure. Crime stories offer puzzles with emotional stakes.

Safety: Oddly enough, learning about crimes can make people feel safer. Dissecting what went wrong helps us feel more informed—and more prepared.

Emotional regulation: True crime delivers strong emotions like fear, anger, and outrage in a structured arc, helping us manage those feelings productively.

Social connection: Listeners often describe podcast hosts as friends. These parasocial relationships may be one-sided, but they still fulfill social needs and foster trust.

Modern Formats Enable Deeper Engagement

The format matters as much as the story. Modern true crime media, such as podcasts, streaming series, and social platforms, offer intimacy and immersion that older formats never could. These aren’t just stories; they’re shared emotional experiences, a blend of entertainment, education, and empathy.

Streaming provides on-demand justice, emotional investment, and cinematic pacing. Bingeable series let us regulate emotions and feel a sense of control.

Podcasts fit easily into multitasking lives and build closeness with narrators. A host’s voice in your ear creates an intimate, almost companionable experience.

Social media transforms passive consumers into active participants. Platforms like Reddit and TikTok are filled with amateur sleuths who analyze cold cases and form global justice communities. Online fandoms foster belonging and shared identity.

Algorithms create a self-reinforcing cycle by feeding users content that matches existing interests, increasing both engagement and emotional dependency.

True Crime at the Tipping Point: Fascination or Fatigue?

True crime isn’t going away, but have we reached a point of over-saturation? The genre’s ubiquity has raised growing concerns, both ethical and psychological.

• Being a true crime enthusiast can have negative effects. Cognitive biases and repeated exposure to emotionally intense narratives can lead to beliefs that the world is more dangerous than it actually is (Gerbner & Gross, 1976). This can lead to overestimating personal risk, reduced trust in strangers or institutions, and chronic hyper-vigilance or anxiety. Even in the face of declining crime rates, true crime content can create perceptions of increased threat. Algorithm-driven platforms widen this gap, reinforcing fear-based narratives.
• As true crime content floods podcasts, streaming platforms, and social media feeds, the line between storytelling and sensationalism has become dangerously blurred. A lot of money is made from dramatized “documentaries” that are often heavily scripted and stylized, leaving the viewer with little ability to distinguish fact from fiction. These blurred lines can desensitize audiences to real-life atrocities, shifting the focus from justice and truth to entertainment value. In the pursuit of gripping narratives, respect and empathy for victims can get lost.
• The glorification of criminals, some of whom are elevated to near-celebrity status, can undermine public understanding of crime as harmful and traumatic, perpetuate harmful myths, bias juries, and reduce the likelihood of impartial justice.
• High consumption of true crime fuels a culture of online speculation. Social media platforms become echo chambers for “armchair detectives,” who may inadvertently disrupt legal proceedings or bias public opinion, including potential jurors. These ripple effects underscore how media narratives can shape into real-world consequences.

Ethical Approaches to True Crime

As true crime continues to gain popularity, there are growing voices for more ethical approaches that prioritize victims, justice, and systemic accountability. This shift can build audience awareness, help promote empathy for victims, and encourage more responsible consumption of true crime content. Call it true crime literacy.

TikTok and Reddit communities were vocal in their criticism of shows like Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story for exploiting victim trauma without family consent. Podcasts such as Crime Junkie and My Favorite Murder have faced community backlash, and lost listeners to more respectful and accurate programs, for failing to cite sources or for joking about real victims. A 2024 YouGov poll found that over 60% of U.S. adults believed creators should get consent from victims and their families before producing content.

Still, sensationalism remains a powerful force. Emotionally charged content is more memorable and more clickable, often overshadowing more balanced, investigative reporting. True crime content also tends to spike during times of political or social instability. Crime programming surged in the late 1960s as Americans sought to make sense of growing violence and uncertainty, turning crime narratives into a lens for understanding societal breakdown (Dominick, 1973). Perhaps it’s no surprise we’re seeing it grow in popularity now. True crime follows a reassuring narrative arc with the promise of justice and resolution. When real-world systems feel chaotic or unjust, these stories offer a sense of closure, moral clarity, control and a little escapism—an antidote to the ambiguity of everyday life.

More than Sensationalism?

True crime reflects how people seek meaning, manage fear, and build emotional resilience. It can fulfill needs for safety, understanding, and belonging. But like any media, it’s worth pausing to ask: Is our true crime consumption making us feel better, or is it making the world feel meaner?

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post True Crime in Media appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

When you’re spending time outdoors, it’s easy to forget the possibility of being stung. Driving in a convertible while wearing bright colors on your way to a photo shoot in a field of flowers doesn’t sound like a bad way to spend an afternoon! But if you implement these 12 tips for how to avoid bee stings, you’re more likely to have a good time outside.

#1 AVOID BEE STINGS BY STAYING STILL

The first rule when a bee or wasp approaches is to stay still. Remember, beekeepers wear protective clothing and move slowly for a reason!

#2 NEVER SLAP A BEE OR WASP

Avoid bee stings by never slapping or brushing off an insect with a stinger. It will not sting unless frightened or antagonized.

#3 CAREFULLY PICK UP ITEMS OUTDOORS

Be careful when you shake out clothing that was left on the ground. Wasps or other stinging insects could be in the folds of the clothing. The same advice works for any item you touch outdoors. Be mindful.

#4 AVOID LARGE, BLOOMING FIELDS

Avoid orchards in bloom, clover fields, and any areas that are abundant with flowers, especially if you’re allergic to bees! If you go to one of these spots, keep these other general rules to prevent being stung.

#5 BE THOUGHTFUL OF WHAT YOU WEAR TO AVOID BEE STINGS

Don’t wear bright clothing, perfume, or hair sprays outside for long periods. Or, at least, don’t wear them in large, blooming fields. All of these items attract stinging insects.

#6 DON’T DO HIGH-RISK ACTIVITIES IF YOU’RE ALLERGIC TO BEE STINGS

Do not mow lawns, trim hedges, or prune trees during spring and summer if you can help it. Take lots of precautions if you do!

If you haven’t already, talk to a local medical provider about venom immunotherapy. This treatment is up to 98% effective in preventing systemic allergic reactions to insect stings.

#7 CAUTIOUSLY CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLISION

Bees can accidentally sting you if you collide with them. Activities like running, riding horses, bicycling, or motorcycle riding are opportunities for a collision. A convertible automobile with the top down is especially hazardous if you have a bee sting allergy.

#8 BE PREPARED TO PREVENT A STING IN THE CAR

Keep a cloth in your car (even in an enclosed vehicle!) to trap frightened insects before they sting. Or keep an insecticide spray in the glove compartment.

#9 NEVER THROW ITEMS AT BEES

Remind children not to throw stones or sticks at insect nests. Adults, well, they should know better!

#10 INSPECT YOUR PROPERTY TO AVOID BEE STINGS

Inspect property in the early spring. Then, continue to make periodic inspections all summer until the frost comes. Also, don’t just look in obvious places! Make sure to check for damage in your siding or other structural aspects. Bees love to build their nests there.

#11 ASK FOR HELP REMOVING NESTS

Use the skills of an exterminator or the local fire department to remove hornet nests. Beekeepers will often be glad to come to your property and relocate a bee colony, too. To find local solutions, ask around on social media or in your social circles.

#12 DON’T USE YOUR HANDS TO REMOVE A NEST

Wasp nests can be knocked down with a broom handle after spraying the nest with an insecticide. Of course, tip #11 is the best method for avoiding a bee sting, though.

PROTECTION AGAINST SHOCK

If you experience a severe reaction to the venom of bees and wasps, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Then, consult an allergist who can determine your specific allergy and provide treatment appropriate treatment, like venom immunotherapy. Your allergist can also provide you with a self-administered epinephrine auto-injector, which you should carry at all times. Lastly, medical alert tags or bracelets ensure prompt and proper treatment in case you lose consciousness.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Bee Sting Prevention appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

Just as you give your house a good spring cleaning to freshen it up after a long winter, you can take a similar approach to getting your garden in shape for the warmer months. Tackle all your outdoor tasks like a pro with this spring gardening checklist. It’s divided into early, middle, and late spring tasks to help you pace yourself as you get your flowerbeds, trees, shrubs, and other garden areas ready for the growing season. That way, you’ll be sure to hit each area of your landscape before summer arrives.

Early Spring

Though the official first day of spring is in March, gardeners often go by the weather to decide that spring has started. Think of early spring as the time when temperatures begin trending upward and stay consistently above freezing if you live in a cold climate. In temperate regions, most plants are just about to break dormancy but haven’t started actively growing yet.

1. Clean up flowerbeds.

Clear away dead leaves or any other winter debris from the soil surfaces where you’re planning to plant annual flowers and vegetables. Remove protective winter mulch from around perennials and ornamental grasses (hedge trimmers make it easy to give grass clumps a clean, even look), and cut back last year’s dried foliage. To protect yourself from cuts and scrapes, remember to wear gardening gloves, especially when working with plants with prickly leaves.

2. Divide your perennials.

A good time to divide many perennials is just before spring growth begins. Dividing perennials is a budget-friendly way to add more plants to your garden, or to share extras with friends. It also aids in keeping your existing perennials healthy. After a few years, if your plants grow in a large clump, the middle can thin out, leaving a bare spot. Dividing the clump will encourage new growth.

3. Add mulch around perennials.

One of the easiest ways to make your yard look polished is to add a fresh layer of mulch around the garden beds. This also helps the soil retain moisture and keeps down weeds. It often takes more mulch than you imagine to cover a bed, so it’s a good idea to buy a little more than you think you’ll need. Spread the mulch evenly with your gloved hands or use a rake, being careful not to layer it on too thickly or too close to your plants, which can cause diseases. Keeping the mulch level also helps it stay in place during heavy rains or wind. If you have downspouts that tend to wash away mulch, one fix is to replace it with river rocks.

4. Prune trees and shrubs.

If you didn’t prune in winter, now is the time to trim your fruit trees. Prune before the buds begin to break into bloom, or you’ll stress the tree and get a tiny crop (or possibly none). It’s also a good time to prune evergreen trees and shrubs.

5. Perform basic maintenance on your hardscaping.

Check stonework for frost heaves, particularly in paths and edging. Check the general condition of your deck or patio and make any needed repairs. Clean off outdoor furniture so it’s ready when you are for relaxing after a busy day in the garden.

6. Plant vegetables.

Hardy, cool-season vegetables, like potatoes, artichokes, peas, and some lettuces, germinate best in cool soil, so plant them in early spring, once the soil has thawed. They should be ready to harvest by early summer.

Mid Spring

Halfway through the season, you should start to see your spring landscape take shape, as more and more bulbs, perennials, shrubs, and trees start growing, possibly even blooming. With most of the cleanup completed, you can get started adding new plants.

1. Clean bird feeders.

Some people like to take down their bird feeders in spring and store them away until fall. If you want to leave them up year-round, now’s a good time to empty and wash them out. Then fill your feeders with fresh seed.

2. Make notes as you watch the spring show.

Some of your spring bulbs should be starting to flower. Enjoy the blooms, and take note of any empty spots where you’ll want to plant bulbs later in the fall.

3. Plant new perennials and cold-hardy annuals.

Freshly planted perennials need a little time to get settled and grow new roots before hot summer weather hits. For some quick garden color, add a few cool-season annuals, like pansies or snapdragons. They also work well in containers, where they’ll brighten your front porch.

4. Add new trees and shrubs.

Plant as soon as the ground is no longer frozen. The earlier you can do this, the better, so your trees and shrubs have enough time to grow new roots before temperatures start getting hot.

5. Apply fresh mulch.

Once you’re finished planting, add a fresh layer of mulch around all your new plants. If you mulch now, before weeds have a chance to sprout, you’ll have next-to-no weeding come summer.

Late Spring

In late spring, you can start cleaning up flowers that have already bloomed. It’s also time to get planting in earnest to fill out your garden.

1. Deadhead flowering bulbs.

Remove spent blossoms from spring-flowering bulbs; this encourages the plants to store energy for next year rather than expend it to make seeds. Let the foliage die back on its own, and don’t remove it until it’s completely yellow or dried up.

2. Shop for summer annuals.

Pick out flats of your favorite summer annuals, like petunias, impatiens, and zinnias. Choose plants that aren’t yet in bloom, because they’ll be stronger.

3. Start warm-season vegetables.

While you’re harvesting the radishes and lettuces you sowed early in the spring, you can transplant seedlings of warm-season crops, like tomatoes, peppers, and all sorts of herbs.

4. Plant summer-blooming bulbs.

While spring-blooming bulbs should be planted in the fall, summer-blooming bulbs, like dahlias and gladiolus, should be planted once there’s no more threat of frost. Check your area’s average last frost date for a general idea of when to plant these bulbs, then get them in the ground once the soil has warmed up.

Use this spring gardening checklist, and you’ll have one of the best-looking yards on the block. While there are still a few maintenance chores you should do every season, once you power through these spring tasks early in the growing season, you’ll have more time to kick back and enjoy your landscape throughout summer.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Spring Gardening Tips appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

In business, a crisis lurking right around the corner could hit without warning at any time. Because such events are, by definition, unexpected—often impossible to imagine, much less predict—leaders need to develop solid strategies for quickly responding to any crisis that might arise to ensure that their businesses can survive and continue to thrive. 

Crises can come in so many different forms that creating a comprehensive plan to deal with every issue you might encounter isn’t a viable option. Fortunately, smart leaders understand how to build a flexible crisis management strategy that can be adapted to meet the needs of swiftly evolving situations.

Here are a few steps you can take to design and implement an effective crisis management strategy for your company.

1. Learn Resilience And Accept Vulnerability

To overcome a crisis, leaders need to be agile and learn resilience. This includes making difficult decisions with limited information and being prepared to lead through the outcomes that arise based on these quick decisions. Gaining the confidence to lead your organization and team will be imperative. Embracing vulnerability is also essential, as you must recognize that not all decisions will lead to the desired outcome.

2. Practice A ‘What Would Happen If…’ Exercise

Preparation is key. When I was in a former airline role, our crisis management strategy was to not only document our plans, but also prepare for crisis or disaster by practicing a “what would happen if…” exercise. For a business, that may mean ensuring a pipeline for succession, acknowledging that, as important as process is, people matter even more. During a crisis, act quickly, reassure the team and do what is right, even if it’s not easy.

3. Change According To The Times And Your People

Business leaders need to acknowledge that crisis management affects everyone in the company. When developing a strategy, it is important to understand the times you are in and the people you serve. The strategy cannot be based on a situation that occurred 20 years ago because business personalities and the makeup of companies have changed, and so should the approach.

4. Form A Crisis Management Team

Form a crisis management team made up of stakeholders from various departments, product lines and locations. Include someone gifted in communications, an IT leader, someone representing your talent and someone close to your clients. Gather that group to brainstorm a list of potential crises you may face. Then, prioritize those to identify the most likely crises this group should plan for first.

5. Identify Your Key Risks

The primary step toward developing a solid crisis management strategy is determining where you are at risk. In today’s environment, the way we conduct business has introduced a far greater field of risk, but it’s also brought more options. If you know your key risks, you can create a solid strategy that will keep you in business and out of long-term recovery.

6. Prioritize A ‘Crisis Focus’ With The Team

Meet with your team to create a “crisis focus.” Leaders typically juggle too much, and a crisis sucks up attention and resources. This causes balls to drop. Decide what your priority needs to be throughout the crisis. Keep it in line with your long-term vision and values. Identify what balls you will drop or set down and how. Clarify the steps needed to accomplish your priority objectives.

7. Forget Traditional Hierarchical Barriers

Rip up the organizational chart and remove traditional hierarchical barriers. Pull in the leaders with the knowledge, experience and passion for the work that needs to be done, regardless of their titles or roles. Then, create a flexible strategy that empowers everyone to do what needs to be done to address the crisis.

8. Outsource The Development Of A Framework

Outsource the creation of a crisis management framework to experts in the field. This is not your company’s core competency. Invest in a framework and a plan, and then get your organization’s input. Your teams can provide more detail, identify more potential crises, and help ensure that the plan will meet all stakeholders’ needs. Finally, task an internal team with rolling the plan out to all levels of personnel in the company. Be sure to update the plan annually.

9. Plan On Adjusting To Many Unknowns 

A solid crisis management plan needs to cover many dimensions. Ensure that you are evaluating critical infrastructure needs, process impacts and people impacts. Recognize that you cannot plan for everything. A good plan includes monitoring how the crisis itself shifts, and then replanning as details are uncovered. It’s not just about the actions you’ll take, but also how you plan to adjust to myriad unknowns.

10. Document Processes And Do Drills

Asking tough questions to see what is on the other side of the mountain is essential. Ask yourself about every possible pitfall, problem and detour that can (and will) happen, and then plan for them. Document workflows and processes, role play and do spontaneous drills involving a variety of team members who will take on different lead roles in the crisis to boost their problem-solving momentum and critical thinking.

11. Work Backward On A Plan To Fail

Define everything you need to fail. Then, determine with your people what’s needed to avoid those things that would lead you to fail and work backward. Then, move forward into actions to avoid failure. Watch how your people’s creativity helps your efforts soar to success. Then, watch how your team comes together as a result!

12. Share A Communication Plan With All Teams

Creating a solid communication plan that clearly identifies the team members involved and their roles is one of the most important steps to take in crisis management. This plan should be integrated into an overall contingency plan, and it should be shared with all team members. The desired outcome happens so much faster when you focus on finding effective solutions.

13. Take Responsibility For Any Crisis

Take responsibility for any crisis that is happening, could happen or might happen. Procrastination and neglect will be costly. Developing a crisis management strategy involves research to inform preparations, leadership and team building to ensure responsiveness and resiliency, and systems and processes to implement the strategy and maximize talents.

14. Stress-Test Your Strategy Regularly

A solid crisis management strategy should be stress-tested at least once a year. Have organizational leaders and/or a crisis team review the strategy by conducting a “fire drill” to spot any gaps in the plan. Also, ensure that all new employees, managers and leaders are trained on the key components of the crisis management plan you put in place. They should understand what their roles will be in the case of a business disruption.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Crisis Management Strategies appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

For years, investors have turned to both gold and silver because it may provide a hedge in a potential economic or market downturn, as well as during sustained periods of rising inflation. Understanding the different uses of the two metals, their economic sensitivities and technical characteristics can help you determine which metal may benefit your portfolio.

Here are four factors to consider when deciding to invest in gold or silver:

Silver May Be More Tied to the Global Economy

More than half of all silver’s  demand comes from heavy industry and high technology, including smartphones, tablets, automobile electrical systems, solar-panel cells and many other products and applications, according to the World Silver Survey. As a result, silver tends to be more responsive to economic changes compared to gold. When economies take off, demand tends to grow for silver.

Silver Is More Volatile than Gold

The volatility in silver prices can be two to three times greater than that of gold on a given day. While some traders see this as an opportunity, such volatility can be challenging when managing portfolio risk.

Gold Has Been a More Powerful Diversifier than Silver

While silver may diversify your portfolio with moderately weak positive correlation to stocks, bonds and commodities, gold is considered a more powerful diversifier. The yellow metal has been consistently uncorrelated to stocks and has had very low correlations with other major asset classes—and with good reason: Unlike silver and industrial base metals, gold is less affected by economic declines because it has fewer industrial uses. 

Silver Currently Trades at a Lower Price than Gold

Per ounce,silver tends to be less expensive than gold, which recently hit record highs, making silver more accessible to small retail investors who wish to own the precious metals as physical assets. Gains in silver value tend to lag those of gold.

How You Can Invest in Gold and Silver

One of the attractions of these precious metals is that there are many ways to invest in them:

Physical Metals: Unlike stocks and bonds, you can purchase gold and silver as physical assets, as either bars and coins held as part of a Morgan Stanley brokerage account or as American Eagle coins held in a retirement account. The metals would be held by a third-party depository, not Morgan Stanley, though investors can take physical delivery if they want to store it themselves.

Holding bars and coins can have downside, though. For one, investors often pay a premium over the metal spot price on gold and silver coins because of manufacturing and distribution markups. You should also consider storage and even insurance costs. 

Exchange-Traded Funds: ETFs have become a popular way for investors to gain exposure to gold and silver, without the responsibility of storing a physical asset. You can buy shares and keep them in a traditional brokerage account. The fund’s operator is responsible for handling the costs of holding a physical supply of gold or silver and charging an expense ratio. But investing in an ETF doesn’t give investors access to the underlying metals. Also, some precious-metal ETFs are taxed as collectibles and don’t benefit from lower long-term capital gains rates.

Mining Stocks and Funds: Some investors see opportunity in owning shares of companies that mine for gold and silver, or mutual funds that hold portfolios of these miners.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Gold and Silver Investing appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

1. The Military Will Prep for an Arctic Incursion

Canada’s military is finally treating the Arctic like the wild frontier it is: strategically positioned, resource-rich and increasingly crowded. China is coveting the North’s vast deposits of copper, nickel, lithium and cobalt, while melting sea ice is opening new shipping lanes through the Northwest Passage, giving Chinese submarines and research vessels (a.k.a. spy ships) new routes through Canadian waters. (Russia, too, is known to deploy “ghost” ships to snoop.) Canada is gearing up with new helicopters, rapid-response navy capabilities and a joint project with Australia to build a next-gen Arctic radar system.

2. While Carney Will Invest Billions in Defense

If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that our relationship with our southern neighbor is nowhere near as friendly as we thought it was. Our false sense of security has put us way behind on our NATO-prescribed military spending. In June, Mark Carney, alongside all other NATO nations, pledged to devote at least five per cent of the national GDP to defense by 2035—and his first federal budget is a strong start, boosting military spending by $84 billion over five years, the largest line item outside of infrastructure and productivity investments. On the shopping list: new armored vehicles, drone-tech improvements and cyber defense infrastructure, along with funds for recruiting personnel and expanding Canada’s defense industry.

3. Nation-Building Will Commence

First up in Carney’s sovereignty project is a massive effort to create new infrastructure and diversify trade. Created under the Building Canada Act, the Major Projects Office will cut red tape, align regulators and coordinate some $116 billion worth of investment. In September, it announced its first slate of priority projects: doubling LNG production in Kitimat, B.C., building a small modular nuclear reactor in Darlington, Ontario, expanding Montreal’s container terminal in Contrecœur, and boosting copper output at McIlvenna Bay in Saskatchewan and Red Chris in B.C. Two months later, it added more mining, LNG and hydro projects to the mix.

4. Political Deepfakes Will Hit Your Feed

In the past year, AI-powered deepfake videos have erroneously depicted Mark Carney sharing investment tips and Justin Trudeau having affairs with members of his cabinet, all with chilling realism. Manitoba has already moved to legislate against them: its new election-misinformation bill would ban the use of altered audio or video designed to influence voters, with penalties of up to $20,000 per day for non-compliance. Beyond that, analysts warn Canada’s patchwork response is too slow, and that without a coordinated national strategy, future elections could be flooded with lies.

5. Alberta Will Ponder Secession

Last year, renegade Alberta Premier Danielle Smith lowered the threshold of signatures required to trigger a referendum on secession from 20 per cent of registered voters down to 10 per cent; around the same time, polls showed that 36 per cent of Albertans supported separation. A group called the Alberta Prosperity Project has hungrily taken up the Wexit cause, while a rival organization called Forever Canadian has already collected more than 450,000 signatures in favor of staying put.

6. The Notwithstanding Clause Will Get Its Day in Court

Section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms—a.k.a. the notwithstanding clause—has become a golden ticket for Canadian premiers, who have the power to invoke it whenever they want to pass laws that infringe on Charter rights. In 2026, the Supreme Court will hear two appeals protesting its use: one against the government of Saskatchewan, which is trying to ban students from changing pronouns without parental consent, and one against Quebec, which is seeking to bar public servants from wearing religious symbols. Both cases will test where Charter rights end and provincial powers begin.

7. Alberta Will Put Citizenship on Display

Starting in late 2026, Alberta will become the first Canadian province to add citizenship markers to driver’s licenses and provincial ID cards—a move Premier Danielle Smith bills as a win for convenience and security. Albertans, she argues, won’t need to juggle passports or paperwork to prove they’re Canadian, and the province says the change will streamline services and cut red tape. But tucked inside the policy is a political edge: Smith says the new marker will help safeguard elections by making it easier to verify who is eligible to vote. Critics warn it could create a visible divide between citizens and non-citizens and turn everyday identification into a proxy for immigration status.

8. Japan Will Become Our Next Big Trading Partner

Japan has almost completely cut off Russian oil and coal imports, and it’s eyeing Canada as a reliable, democratic replacement. It also wants more Canadian LNG—Mitsubishi already owns 15 per cent of LNG Canada, which began shipping to Asia in June—and is hungry for critical minerals to feed its EV battery factories. Hitachi, meanwhile, is helping Canada build its first small modular reactor. As Carney pushes to reduce Canada’s dependence on the U.S., a Pacific partnership suddenly seems inevitable.

9. The Feds Will Try to Clear the Immigration Backlog

The government may have slashed its immigration targets, but the pipeline is as full as ever: there are currently 2.2 million applications and more than 900,000 overdue. To speed things up, the feds are leaning on tech that lets officers rifle through up to a thousand cases at once, though they insist humans still make the final call. The result? Refusal letters that read like they were spat out by a bot. Lawyers have reported cases being denied due to missing documents that were in fact submitted, as well as financially secure applicants being rejected for supposedly having insufficient funds. In response, applicants will be clogging the federal court system with challenges.

10. Carney and Ford Will Face Off

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has made his name as an outspoken Trump critic, blasting his tariffs as “unjustified, unfair and frankly illegal,” threatening to cut electricity exports and calling out what he sees as trade bullying. Meanwhile, the PM is focused on calm diplomacy: quietly negotiating border agreements, coordinating with provinces on energy security and smoothing tensions over North American supply chains. Ford’s high‑octane public rebukes risk undermining Carney’s careful back-channel maneuvers. Expect fireworks as Canada balances principle and pragmatism, with each approach appealing to different voters. As for which one works better on Trump? We’re still not sure.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Canada 2026 Predictions appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

If you’re interested in aging and longevity innovations, you may have heard of NMN, which stands for nicotinamide mononucleotide.

It’s a molecule your body makes naturally, but some people also take it as a supplement. Researchers are currently investigating its promising potential benefits for many different areas of health, including longevity, heart health, and exercise training.

Research on the effects of NMN supplements is still emerging, and more investigation is needed. Learn what we know so far about its potential benefits, optimal dosage, side effects, and safety.

What is nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)?

Put simply, NMN is a naturally occurring molecule that helps power your body.

NMN is a type of molecule called a nucleotide. Nucleotides play many roles in your body, including as the building blocks of DNA.

Within your cells, NMN is converted into another molecule known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). Your body needs NAD for a variety of functions involved in metabolism and energy production.

You might think of NMN as raw material and NAD as the refined version that your body can actually use.

The amount of NAD your body can make depends on the amount of NMN available in your body.

What does NMN do in the body?

All the cells in your body use NAD and therefore require NMN, its precursor, to function properly. NAD helps cells regulate a number of essential functions that help keep your cells running smoothly, including:

• energy metabolism
• DNA repair
• gene expression
• cellular stress responses

It’s essential that your cells have plenty of NMN to produce enough NAD to support these functions.

Your NMN levels naturally decline over time, and, as a result, your levels of NAD decline, too. This may contribute to some of the health effects you might experience during aging.

For example, research has shown that people with different age-related conditions, including diabetes and liver diseases, may have lower levels of NMN and NAD.

Potential benefits of NAD

Since taking NMN may help your body produce more NAD, it’s also important to consider the research behind the benefits of NAD. Studies investigating NAD shed light on its potential benefits:

• It may increase longevity. In your cells, NAD activates a group of proteins called sirtuins, which help repair your DNA. The activity of sirtuins is linked to longevity. On the flip side, low-NAD levels are associated with age-related diseases.
• It may have protective effects on the brain. NAD is thought to regulate the production of a protein that helps guard cells against oxidative stress. These cellular stressors are related to some neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
• It may protect against cancer. Elevated NAD levels may help protect cells against oxidative stress and DNA damage, which are associated with cancer development.
• It may help with jet lag. Research suggests NAD may help adjust your internal clock, potentially helping ease jet lag or other circadian rhythm disorders.

It’s important to note that these benefits were found for NAD, not for NMN specifically. More research on the benefits of NMN and NAD is needed.

Recent research has found that taking NAD as a supplement doesn’t lead to the same potential benefits — but taking NMN can.

“The real breakthrough that occurred recently is our understanding of how to get NAD levels closer to those of our youth,” says Professor Andrew Salzman, MD, a Harvard Medical School alumni and a prominent drug inventor who’s leading NAD and NMN research at Wonderfeel.

“We now know that it can’t be done by delivering NAD either orally or by IV — because NAD has no mechanism for entering the cell.

“However, it can be done by providing the starting material for NAD, which is NMN. Cells have evolved a receptor for NMN — it’s a special protein on the surface of the cell which attaches to NMN and shuttles it into the cell. Once inside, NMN is converted by cellular enzymes to create NAD.”

What are the benefits of taking an NMN supplement?

Given the benefits of NMN on human health, some experts believe that taking an NMN supplement can help reverse the effects of aging. Some even claim that NMN is a proverbial “fountain of youth,” at least as shown in animal models.

Here we take a closer look at the human research on NMN supplementation, including potential benefits, safety risks, and available data on the most effective dosage.

Does NMN supplementation work?

Studies in animal models, especially mice, suggest that NMN supplements can provide various benefits, including reversing aging and improving cognitive health.

But does NMN supplementation actually work in humans?

That’s a hard question to answer at this point. Research on the effects of NMN supplementation in people is relatively new, and very few clinical trials (the gold standard for demonstrating a clinical benefit) have been published.

One study looked at the effects of taking 250 milligrams (mg) of NMN per day for 10 weeks in postmenopausal people with prediabetes and overweight or obesity. Those who took NMN had increased insulin sensitivity and signaling.

Note that two of the authors involved in this study are listed as inventors on patents involving the use of NMN.

Another recent study examined the effects of NMN on sleep quality in Japanese adults 65 years old or older. Participants received either 250 mg of NMN or a placebo control for 12 weeks.

Although taking NMN supplements did not appear to improve sleep quality, the researchers did see improvements in overall drowsiness and muscle responsiveness in the people who received NMN in the afternoon compared with the placebo group or those who took it in the morning.

Can it help with aging?

NMN and NAD levels naturally decline with age, so many researchers have suggested that taking NMN supplements may help with age-related health concerns.

A study in 10 Japanese men found that taking NMN (100, 250, or 500 mg) increased levels of NMN byproducts in the blood, including NAD.

Insulin resistance can develop with age and is one of the reasons diabetes is more common in older adults. Although studies haven’t specifically looked at the effects of taking NMN supplements, the research available suggests that it may help you maintain or regain insulin sensitivity with age.

More studies on these effects in humans are needed to investigate this potential benefit.

How can I increase my NMN naturally?

NMN is found naturally in a variety of foods, but. Some NMN-rich dietary sources include:

• avocados — 0.36 to 1.60 mg per 100 grams
• broccoli — 0.25 to 1.12 mg per 100 grams
• cabbage — up to 0.9 mg per 100 grams
• tomatoes — 0.26 to 0.30 mg per 100 grams
• raw beef — 0.06 to 0.42 mg per 100 grams

Small amounts of NMN are also found in cow’s milk, cucumbers, and edamame.

Is NMN safe, and does it have side effects?

NMN is an ideal supplement to increase cellular levels of NAD because it’s well-tolerated, and both human and animal studies have observed it had minimal side effects.

Research in humans has shown that doses of up to 1,200 mg daily are safe to consume.

Before adding any supplements to your diet, it’s important to talk with a healthcare professional about your unique situation and the potential risks and benefits you should consider.

What dosage of NMN should I take?

Given the limited data available on taking NMN supplements, it’s difficult to determine the ideal dose. Studies have found health benefits with doses as low as 250 mg of NMN per day, up to a maximum of 900 mg daily.

Only three studies, including those described above, have looked at the effects of taking NMN supplements over multiple doses. Importantly, safety does not appear to differ across different doses of NMN used.

In a study involving amateur runners, the aerobic benefits of NMN supplementation were greater with higher doses of NMN (1,200 mg) compared with lower doses (300 mg). But there was no difference observed in the benefits observed at a high dose compared with a medium dose (600 mg).

Takeaway

Many people, including experts, suggest that taking NMN supplements may provide a variety of health benefits. While animal studies have found the supplement reversed many age-related health effects, the evidence in humans is still limited.

Early studies suggest taking NMN supplements at doses of up to 1,200 mg per day may provide health benefits related to insulin sensitivity, aerobic function, and fatigue, with minimal risk of undesirable side effects.

Before adding any supplements to your diet, it’s important to talk with a healthcare professional about your unique situation and the potential risks and benefits you should consider.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post The Benefits of NMN appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

In the spirit of Halloween we are asking the question, are ghosts real? For centuries people from every corner of the world have answered that question with stories, rituals, and sometimes fear. Today we’ll look at what different cultures say, what science explains, and why belief in spirits remains so widespread.

In Japan, ghost stories center on the yūrei — spirits of the dead who return when funeral rites are incomplete or when they have unfinished business. Yūrei appear in classical theatre and art as pale, long-haired figures dressed in white, and occupy a clear place in Japanese rituals like Obon.

In Latin America one of the most famous spirits is La Llorona, the weeping woman who mourns the children she lost and is said to haunt rivers and canals — a tale used across generations to scare children away from danger and to explain tragic loss. This legend has countless local versions across Mexico and the Hispanic world.

Across much of the Muslim world the idea of invisible beings called jinn has long explained misfortune, possession, and strange phenomena — creatures mentioned in scripture and folklore that can be benevolent or dangerous, depending on tradition. For many believers, encounters with jinn are the culturally appropriate way to describe ghost-like experiences.

Science doesn’t find evidence for spirits that survive death, but it does offer explanations for many ghost experiences. One of the most well documented is sleep paralysis — a temporary state between sleep and wakefulness where the body stays immobile while the mind is conscious, often producing vivid, terrifying hallucinations of intruders, pressure on the chest, or figures in the room. Cross-cultural studies show these episodes are often interpreted as ghosts, demons, or jinn depending on local beliefs.

Other explanations include illusions caused by low-frequency electromagnetic fields, carbon monoxide poisoning, or the brain’s pattern-matching trying to make sense of vague stimuli — all of which can create the sense of a presence without any supernatural agent.

Belief in ghosts also fulfills social and psychological roles. Ghost stories comfort by giving meaning to loss, enforce cultural norms, and create collective cautionary tales. In times of stress, grief, or uncertainty people are more likely to interpret ambiguous events as supernatural. Surveys show belief is common: around four in ten adults in some countries say they believe in ghosts, and belief levels vary widely by nation and culture.

History shows organized movements around ghosts too — Victorian spiritualism, for example, turned séance-going and mediumship into a social phenomenon in the 19th century, blending grief, science, and entertainment.

Across the globe there are famous haunted places and repeatable reports: unexplained sounds in old houses, cold spots, and objects that seem to move. Investigators sometimes document odd audio, video artifacts, or electromagnetic spikes — but these findings rarely stand up to controlled testing. In contrast, many haunting claims are later linked to environmental causes, pranksters, or psychological suggestion. Sleep-paralysis and mass social priming can also turn a rumor into a local ‘epidemic’ of sightings.

So, are ghosts real? The short answer: not in the scientific sense as disembodied minds proven to persist after death — but ghost experiences are very real to the people who have them. Culture, brain states, environment, and social meaning all shape how we interpret those experiences. Whether you call them spirits, jinn, yūrei, or hallucinations, they tell us something powerful about how humans process loss, danger, and mystery.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Are Ghosts Real? appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech—the right to express opinions without government restraint—is a democratic ideal that dates back to ancient Greece. In the United States, the First Amendment guarantees free speech, though the United States, like all modern democracies, places limits on this freedom. In a series of landmark cases, the U.S. Supreme Court over the years has helped to define what types of speech are—and aren’t—protected under U.S. law.

The ancient Greeks pioneered freedom of expression as a democratic principle. The ancient Greek word “parrhesia” means “free speech,” or “to speak candidly.” The term first appeared in Greek literature around the end of the fifth century B.C.

During the classical period, parrhesia became a fundamental part of the democracy of Athens. Leaders, philosophers, playwrights and everyday Athenians were free to openly discuss politics and religion and to criticize the government in some settings.

First Amendment

In the United States, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech.

The First Amendment was adopted on December 15, 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. The Bill of Rights provides constitutional protection for certain individual liberties, including freedoms of speech, assembly and worship.

The First Amendment doesn’t specify what exactly is meant by freedom of speech. Defining what types of speech should and shouldn’t be protected by law has fallen largely to the courts.

In general, the First Amendment guarantees the right to express ideas and information. On a basic level, it means that people can express an opinion (even an unpopular or unsavory one) without fear of government censorship.

It protects all forms of communication, from speeches to art and other media.

Flag Burning

While freedom of speech pertains mostly to the spoken or written word, it also protects some forms of symbolic speech. Symbolic speech is an action that expresses an idea.

Flag burning is an example of symbolic speech that is protected under the First Amendment. Gregory Lee Johnson, a youth communist, burned a flag during the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas to protest the Reagan administration.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in 1990, reversed a Texas court’s conviction that Johnson broke the law by desecrating the flag. Texas v. Johnson invalidated statutes in Texas and 47 other states prohibiting flag burning.

When Isn’t Speech Protected?

Not all speech is protected under the First Amendment.

Forms of speech that aren’t protected include:

• Obscene material such as child pornography
• Plagiarism of copyrighted material
• Defamation (libel and slander)
• True threats

Speech inciting illegal actions or soliciting others to commit crimes aren’t protected under the First Amendment, either.

The Supreme Court decided a series of cases in 1919 that helped to define the limitations of free speech. Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917, shortly after the United States entered into World War I. The law prohibited interference in military operations or recruitment.

Socialist Party activist Charles Schenck was arrested under the Espionage Act after he distributed fliers urging young men to dodge the draft. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction by creating the “clear and present danger” standard, explaining when the government is allowed to limit free speech. In this case, they viewed draft resistant as dangerous to national security.

American labor leader and Socialist Party activist Eugene Debs also was arrested under the Espionage Act after giving a speech in 1918 encouraging others not to join the military. Debs argued that he was exercising his right to free speech and that the Espionage Act of 1917 was unconstitutional. In Debs v. United States the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Espionage Act.

Freedom of Expression

The Supreme Court has interpreted artistic freedom broadly as a form of free speech.

In most cases, freedom of expression may be restricted only if it will cause direct and imminent harm. Shouting “fire!” in a crowded theater and causing a stampede would be an example of direct and imminent harm.

In deciding cases involving artistic freedom of expression the Supreme Court leans on a principle called “content neutrality.” Content neutrality means the government can’t censor or restrict expression just because some segment of the population finds the content offensive.

Free Speech in Schools

In 1965, students at a public high school in Des Moines, Iowa, organized a silent protest against the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands to protest the fighting. The students were suspended from school. The principal argued that the armbands were a distraction and could possibly lead to danger for the students.

The Supreme Court didn’t bite—they ruled in favor of the students’ right to wear the armbands as a form of free speech in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District. The case set the standard for free speech in schools. However, First Amendment rights typically don’t apply in private schools.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Freedom of Speech appeared first on Precision Background Screening.