Lily Chang, autor en Bean watcher

Jan

23

2026

Hydration: signs you’re drinking less than you need

Don’t Get Parched: Signs Your Body Needs More Water

Why hydration mattersWater is essential to every cell, tissue, and organ, playing roles that include regulating temperature, transporting nutrients, eliminating waste, sustaining blood volume and pressure, and enabling biochemical processes. Even minor fluid deficits can influence physical performance, mental clarity, digestion, and overall mood. Since the sensation of thirst often appears after the body already needs fluids, many individuals remain mildly dehydrated without realizing their gradual decline in function.How much fluid do you really need?Guidelines shift according to age, gender, activity level, climate, and individual health. Common benchmarks include:Average daily total water intake (foods + beverages): about 3.7 liters for…

Jan

23

2026

By Lily Chang

NASA astronaut Suni Williams retires months after return from troubled mission to orbit

Suni Williams Retires from NASA After Problematic Orbit Mission

Science and Technology

Following nearly thirty years of distinguished service, NASA astronaut Suni Williams has revealed her retirement, drawing to a close a career shaped by resilience, leadership, and groundbreaking accomplishments. Her final assignment, an unforeseen nine-month stretch in orbit during Boeing’s Starliner test mission, has risen as a defining moment in contemporary space exploration.The announcement, confirmed by NASA on Tuesday, formally ends Williams’ tenure in the astronaut corps and transforms what was meant to be a short-duration test flight into her final journey to space. While the agency did not specify the precise timing behind her decision, the retirement caps a career…

Jan

23

2026

By Lily Chang

Germany: How Mittelstand-style management builds long-term competitiveness

Mittelstand’s Impact: Driving German Economic Competitiveness

Economy

Germany’s economic strength and industrial prominence stem not so much from major multinational giants as from a broad network of medium-sized firms that favor durability over immediate returns. This article outlines the structural and managerial approaches sustaining that long-range competitiveness, provides specific examples supported by data, and highlights key insights for both managers and policymakers.Defining characteristics of the mid-sized enterprise modelOwnership orientation: Many businesses remain family-controlled or guided by their founders, operating with long-term perspectives instead of prioritizing short-term earnings reports.Specialization and niche dominance: Companies direct their efforts toward narrowly defined product or process areas, frequently emerging as worldwide leaders…

Jan

23

2026

By Lily Chang

Cuba: services CSR advancing training and community well-being projects

CSR Initiatives in Cuba: Training for Community Well-being

Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Cuba focuses on bridging skills gaps, strengthening public services, and improving community well-being through partnerships among state institutions, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and community groups. Given Cuba’s strong baseline in health and education, CSR initiatives concentrate on modernizing services, expanding vocational opportunities, and building resilience in rural and marginalized communities. Effective CSR in Cuba blends technical training, social services delivery, and local economic development to produce measurable improvements in livelihoods and social indicators.Context and enabling factorsDemographic and social baseline: Cuba has a population of about 11 million, high literacy rates, near-universal basic education, and historically strong…