Posts by Jaime Ortega-Simo:

    Reasons You Should Keep an Ultrasonic Mist Humidifier Around

    December 13th, 2021

    Water vapor is important for humidity and contributes to the comfort of our indoor environment. The Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier moisturizes dry air by producing fine invisible droplets or mist which are suspended in the air due to ultrasonic vibration.

    1) Ultrasonic mist humidifier reduces static electricity

    Static electricity, also known as “electric shock” can be positively charged or negatively charged. They come from your clothes every time you touch them because your clothes create an electrical charge that attracts particles. 

    Static electricity occurs when there is a difference between materials on an object’s surface that causes one type of atom to have fewer electrons than others, making it more positive. When two objects with opposite charges meet, they will attract others. 

    Positively charged items will be pulled towards negatively charged items, and vice versa. The sparks that fly from your fingertips when you touch a metal object in winter are an example of static electricity.

    Another place you might see static electricity is in your home. Particularly in the winter, when the air is dry, your hair might stand up on end or you might get a shock when touching something metal. This is because static electricity is more common in drier air. One way to reduce static electricity in your home is to use an ultrasonic mist humidifier.

    Ultrasonic mist humidifiers produce ultrasonic vibrations that create an invisible mist. This ultrasonic mist helps to add moisture to the air and reduce static electricity build-up.

    2) Ultrasonic mist humidifier prevents sickness

    Dry air can cause you to get a cold or the flu more easily because dry air is less effective in trapping infectious particles. The ultrasonic mist humidifier adds moisture to the air and helps to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses.

    3) Ultrasonic mist humidifier eases allergies

    Allergies are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to allergens in the environment. One-way ultrasonic mist humidifiers can help ease allergies is by adding moisture to the air which helps to reduce dust mites. 

    Dust mites are tiny creatures that thrive in moist environments. They feed on skin flakes and their droppings can trigger asthma attacks and other allergy symptoms. Adding moisture to the air with an ultrasonic mist humidifier can help to reduce the number of dust mites in your home.

    4) Ultrasonic mist humidifier helps you sleep better

    A dry throat and mouth are common symptoms of snoring and sleep apnea. When you breathe through a dry mouth, the air passing over the soft tissues in your throat makes a noise called snoring. 

    Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing for short periods during sleep. A study published in the journal Chest found that using an ultrasonic mist humidifier at night can help reduce snoring and improve sleep quality.

    The ultrasonic mist humidifier adds moisture to the air which helps to keep your throat and mouth moist. A moist throat and mouth are less likely to vibrate during sleep.

    5) Ultrasonic mist humidifier keeps your skin hydrated

    Dry air can suck moisture out of your skin, leaving it scaly as you age. It also makes it hard for lotions to penetrate the skin’s surface. As an ultrasonic humidifier adds moisture to the air, it helps keep your skin soft and supple by maintaining its natural hydration levels.

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    New Opportunities Grow for Remote Workers

    December 6th, 2021

    Working habits aren’t ones that go through regular change, and it takes something substantial to cause a shift, and that’s exactly what happened eighteen months ago with the global health crisis and a major shift to working habits occurred with remote working becoming a possibility on a more permanent basis. The change led to many countries around the world launching new remote working visas and allowing professionals easier travel with guides at digitalnomads.world identifying the best places to visit and the best ways to visit them, but what does this mean for the new opportunities available to remote workers, and are they likely to be a permanent fixture?

    The first thing to note may be the more temporary changes and the trial periods that are going on – the first being the proposed change to a four-day working week particularly amongst remote employees. It has been trialled in a number of different countries and by a number of different business to great success, but for many may only look to be a temporary adjustment in the well-established five-day week. For digital nomads and location independent business, however, the opportunity to change is much easier and may become something more unique to this lifestyle, and those who are able to have more freedom over their working time and may be able to pursue this option.

    Location comes in a second, the increased number of different remote working visas for different countries and the flexibility they offer has been key to offer new opportunities, some that have emerged are more on the expensive side and individuals looking to explore these options must have rather substantial income to make it viable, but there are many cheaper options out there too. For those looking to travel whilst working, these remote working visas will only look to expand further as the approach becomes normalised and are welcome to accepting new visitors – particularly post COVID where it may help surrounding local business and other industries too. 

    Finally come the changing work opportunities – businesses around the world are looking to expand hiring to locations that they may not have done so before as hiring practices have changed with remote working making it increasingly possible for many to keep their jobs at home whilst on the road, or even find jobs very far afield when in a different country entirely.

    It’s an exciting period of opportunities for workers in general as there’s a big shift occurring for more a focus on work life balance, with the life portion becoming more important – experts have suggested this is just the start of change too, with possibility for big adjustments to come in the future.

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    How to prepare for JEE in 4 months

    November 30th, 2021


    JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) is a national-based engineering entrance exam conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) for the admission of students to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and engineering colleges aided by the government throughout India. Earlier, JEE was conducted by CBSE, but from the year 2019 onwards, JEE is organised by NTA (National Testing Agency) twice a year. NTA is an autonomous organisation by the Ministry of Human Resource Development for taking entrance exams. The JEE was formerly known as the All India Engineering Entrance Examination. JEE is divided into two different examinations, which are JEE Main and JEE Advanced. JEE Main is the first phase of the entrance examination in order to be admitted to engineering courses in NITs, IIITs, and engineering insitutions funded by state and central governments. The JEE Main is also the eligibility exam for the second phase of the exam, i.e., the JEE Advanced exam. The JEE Advanced examination is taken for the admission of students to the IITs and other engineering institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) in Bengaluru, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISERs). JEE Advanced was formerly known as IIT-JEE (Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination) until 2013, when it was renamed to JEE Advanced.

    If students want to get into an engineering institution but have only 4 months until the examination, then they should take note of these tips and start preparing so that they can crack the examination. Because JEE is not an easy exam to crack, it requires a lot of struggle. The following are the tips suggested to the students to follow:

    • The students are required to get hold of the syllabus. The syllabus is really huge and the student should be an expert on each topic in detail. It is suggested that students make a list of the essential topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

    • The candidates should clear their concepts of Class 11 and 12 because it would help them to understand the syllabus for JEE in an easier and simpler manner.

    • The students are advised to establish a routine because they have much less time than the majority of the candidates who began earlier. The deal is to study smartly and prove the point that quality of time is more important than quantity of time.

    • It is suggested that the candidates stay focused and limit their resources, as having too many resources would only add stress. They should analyse and list their resources so that they study in a planned manner and stick to the plans. It must be noted that students can not complete everything, so they have to keep it proper and in a simple way.

    • Aspirants should make a division in their schedule because they are not in a state to afford studying without any deadlines. They have to allot their topics to certain days and have to finish them before the deadline.

    • It is suggested to the students that they go through the information they get from the class. The notes that are given in class are very crucial because they turn out to be the root steps for preparation, and class is the only place where concepts get clear through the interaction among students and teachers.

    • The students should go through the solved question papers of the previous years, which turned out to be a great resource. The question papers can be found online. JEE QUESTION PAPER If a student practises these and other test series, they tend to be in a better place than most candidates preparing for JEE.

     • Students should give time towards revision as well, because if a student keeps revising until the last second, it will be tough for him to remember everything during exams. 

    • It is suggested that they revise properly and stay away from unnecessary stress before the commencement of the exam.

    • Students are also suggested to get the important books that are required for exams. The first preference should be the NCERT books because they are easy to understand. They can also get help from the Internet by using e-books and apps for their preparation.

    • Mock tests are the game changers for aspirants because they help them to recognise their strengths and weaknesses. Mock tests are just like the dummy of the original exams. It also tests the management of time and how accurate they are with their exams and how much they are prepared for the big day.

    • In the midst of all the stress regarding preparation, the aspirants are suggested to keep themselves motivated and take good care of their health, to eat and sleep properly because it would help them to concentrate during the examination.

    • The students are also suggested to be confident in their understanding and to stop worrying about how they will perform.

    • The students must have a certain way to answer their examination. All the factors like time management, accuracy, and question selection work with each other for success in the exam. The students should have a clear vision of which questions they can answer and which they cannot.

    • There is another suggestion for the students: they should attempt the question paper in sequence. It is up to the student’s convenience in which sequence they want to answer. They can start with the subject they feel comfortable with. It will save time for the topics they find tougher. 

    • Students can prepare flash cards which would help them to revise the definitions and revisit the formulae.

    With these suggestions for the students, it will be easier for them to prepare within 4 months and get success in their JEE examination.

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    Download NCERT Books for Class 12 in PDF

    November 30th, 2021

    The National Council of Educational Research and Training is popularly known as NCERT. It is a governing body established in 1961, that focuses on publishing books for various subjects. These books include texts and questions with practice solutions. The books issued by NCERT are mostly recommended for CBSE boards as it helps in building a strong foundation of education in schools.

    Why NCERT?

    NCERT books are trusted across several schools and boards for giving effective knowledge to students that help them to face new challenges in their favourite topics. The important aspects of this autonomous body are:

    • It is popularly known for providing concepts in a detailed manner.
    • The content in these books is in simple language. 
    • The authenticity and accuracy of the subject matter are very high.
    • It gives perfection in the syllabus to students preparing for board examinations.

    Where to look for NCERT Books

    If you are preparing for your boards or want expertise in your subject, you might be searching for books on different shops. The search is not easy with every book looking almost similar. In addition, the stress of going and buying books from different shops is quite high. 

    At this crucial time of a pandemic, it would be exciting for you to know that now, you can get your subject book and solution online. The online websites today are doing a great job to supply the study material for you wherever and whenever you need it. NCERT Books are more common today on these websites. You can easily download the books in PDF form. These are available for each subject, topic-wise. 

    NCERT is known for the provision of study material for almost every subject especially for classes 9 to 12. NCERT Books for Class 12 All Subjects are available online on different sites. The most popular sites should be on your search first.

    These websites provide free study material for students as well as various courses with teachers and experts. You can access video material and theory for your preparation.

    What does NCERT Provide?

    The medium of books published by NCERT is English. These Books come in different purposes:

    • They will give solutions to questions.
    • Previous year papers with solutions 
    • Sample papers for your practice.
    • Revision Notes
    • Important Questions for perfection.

    Subjects under NCERT

    NCERT is known for coverage of almost all subject papers. It gives books for different subjects that include English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Business Study, Biology, etc. A brief overview of subjects and topics covered under NCERT are:

    • Mathematics

    Integration, differentiation, complex numbers, trigonometric solutions, each topic is covered and explained in the books very concisely. The approach used to solve questions is easy to understand and practice. The questions cover almost every topic that has the probability to come into the examination. 

    It gives detailed information to students on how to prepare better for exams by learning from their mistakes. It removes the fear of Mathematics from the student’s mind so that he can understand it thoroughly.

    • English

    NCERT has 2 sets for class 12 English that are Flamingo and Vistas. Out of which, Flamingo includes prose and poetry while short stories are covered in Vistas. It provides a unique approach for the student towards the text and gives a diverse way of thinking to them.

    The Chapters are arranged in such a manner that students are interested in reading the texts and focus on details through perception. The students give their literature paper much better if prepared by these books.

    • Physics

    The books have the perfect blend of theories, laws, and phenomena for students of Physics. A subject like this is not prepared by memorization. Conceptual knowledge plays a vital role in this field. NCERT performs best in giving simplified solutions step by step that helps students to perform better. 

    Wave optics, atoms, electromagnetic induction, each topic is discussed in a simple way that makes these books perfect for students. 

    • Chemistry

    In the NCERT class 12 books for chemistry, both subjective and objective content is taken into consideration. Chemistry is the subject where one can score highest by the simple understanding of concepts. These PDFs help the student to practice every equation and also give last-minute revision topics. Solid State, electrochemistry, biomolecules, each of these topics has a separate PDF available for class 12 students.

    • Biology

    Biology is the most important subject for students that want to go for a medical or pharmaceutical field. Every chapter including plant biology, human physiology, biotechnology, etc. has a detailed explanation for students that helps them to clear all their doubts. 

    Class 12 NCERT books include all the important information related to the syllabus in their books. The diagrams are provided that help to make the subject interesting and easier to grasp.

    • Economics

    Class 12 Economics books are published in two parts- microeconomics and macroeconomics. These help the students to understand different concepts and methodologies more clearly. 

    The focus of the book is kept on discussing the fundamentals of the subject so that study is not made complex for new students. The explanation of key topics is in such a way that students are confident and clear in their knowledge. 

    • Accountancy

    Class 12 students can attain full marks in Accountancy if they do continuous practice and correct their mistakes. NCERT books give accuracy to students in the subject. The material is provided in such a way that students get a chance to solve each type of problem with precision. 

    The book has two parts in it that are – Partnership Accounts, Company Accounts, and Analysis of Financial Statements that help students in their preparation.

    • Business Studies

    Business studies is a subject that is crucial not only for boards but also for future students who want to pursue their careers in business. Consistent guidance is provided to students so that they can achieve greatness in the examination. NCERT books help students to understand the subject in detail without mugging up. 

    These Class 12 NCERT books provide concise and informative content for the CBSE syllabus. These online study materials provide the best opportunity for students for gaining tremendous knowledge. 

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    Score 90% in class 9 with these tips

    November 30th, 2021

    Score 90% in class 9 with these tips

    Class 9 plays an important role in the student’s life. It is the foundation for higher classes. It is not an easy task to score 90% in CBSE class 9 exams. It requires proper preparation strategy and smart work. 

    This article will provide you the tips to follow during the preparation to score 90% in the CBSE Class 9 exams. 

    1.Follow the Syllabus: Students should have a complete idea about the CBSE Class 9 Syllabus since all the questions for the exam will be asked only from the syllabus. The syllabus for each subject is very basic. It will help you to prepare a proper study plan for your preparation. You will know which chapters to concentrate more based on the marks’ weightage.

    2.Make a timetable for Your Study: Students should start the preparation beforehand as it will give them enough time for revision and practice. An effective study plan is required to score well in the exam. Make sure you stick to the plan strictly. Studying seriously for 5-6 hours per day is maximum enough for Class 9 exam preparation. Make sure you spend the hours wisely. Spend 2 hours on math since it requires a lot of practice. For science papers, you can spend 1-1.5 hours daily. Spend 1.5 hours on social science papers. For Hindi and English, you can allot 1 hour. Take a break in between the schedules. 

    3.NCERT Books: Students should strictly follow the NCERT books to prepare for the exam since it covers the entire syllabus. It is highly sufficient for the preparation. Students thoroughly read all the chapters and solve all the questions given in the textbook to check how well they have understood the chapter. You can verify the answers by referring to the NCERT solutions. 

    4.Subject wise strategy: 

    Science: This is a subject that requires you to understand each and every concept from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. You can learn difficult topics easily through YouTube videos. Make short notes in your own words for important definitions, experiments, formulas, reactions, equations, etc. It is a must to solve all the questions given at the end of the chapters.

    Maths: Students should practice maths regularly. This will help them to improve problem-solving abilities, speed, and accuracy. Understand the theorems and concepts, learn the formulas and apply them to problems to know how well you have understood. Practice all the questions twice from NCERT including the examples, solved, and unsolved questions. 

    Social Science: It includes History, Geography, and Civics. This subject requires you to read thoroughly and remember a lot of names and terms. Students should develop a story-telling ability to perform well in the exam. Make notes of important information like years, names of rivers, events, etc. 

    Literature: Often, students ignore scoring subjects like English and Hindi while they spend hours on other subjects. It is highly recommended to focus on these subjects as well as they can help you to increase your overall percentage since they are easy to learn. You can spend 1 hour daily studying English and Hindi/Sanskrit. For the grammar part, you can refer to standard reference books.

    6.Identify Your Weak Areas: You should know the topics where you are facing difficulty or not up to the mark. Spend time on these topics and try to improve. This will help you not to lose confidence. This way you will not be able to skip any concepts. 

    7.Clear Your Concepts Instead of Mugging: Students should avoid mugging up as later there is a chance for them to forget what they have read. All the topics in the NCERT books are explained in simple language. So, it is recommended to understand the concepts and write notes in your own words as it will help you to remember for a longer time. 

    8.Practice Sample Papers and Previous Year Papers: You must spend the last 10 days before exams solving as many previous and sample papers as much as you can to track your performance level. This is the best way for you to revise. You will get familiar with the exam pattern as well as the type of questions that will be asked in the exam. You can improve your speed, accuracy, problem-solving skills as well as time management skills. You should set a time for 3 hours and solve the paper. You will get to know your mistakes. Make sure you don’t repeat it every time you solve the new sample paper. Analyze the questions and identify from which chapters very short, short, long questions are being asked. 

    9.Revise: Once you complete studying a chapter, revise the chapter once again and then study the next chapter. This is the best way for you to memorize and remember all the concepts, important formulas, theories, etc. It is better if you revise the entire syllabus once after studying all the subjects. 

    10.Stay Away from distraction: It is important for you to stay away from mobile phones etc until you finish your exams. Time is very precious. So it’s crucial to spend time in a useful way. This will also help you to concentrate better during studying. Unnecessary messages from the phone will make you lose focus and interest. 

    9.How to attempt the exam: Before writing the exam, read the question paper twice. Write the key points in the rough sheet so that you won’t miss any major points while writing the answers. After completing the exam, check whether you attempted all the questions or not. If you have time left, verify the answers twice before submitting the paper. Students should make sure that their handwriting is neat. Do not scribble or strike out multiple times. Make sure you attempt the question paper in order-wise.

    Follow these tips strictly and have confidence in your preparation. Try not to feel stressed before the exam. Be calm and relaxed as it will help you not to forget anything. All the Best!!


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    HOW TO MAKE POLITICAL SCIENCE INTERESTING?

    November 30th, 2021

    Political science was first derived from middle French “Politiques” and hence taken from politicus, then again it was derived from the Greek word “ Polis”  which means city- state and the Latin words “Scire” which means science or to know more. Those terms during ancient times were first coined by Aristotle who is also known as the Father of Political Science, he was the first one to give a valid definition of Political science. And as for India Arthashastra of Chanakya which was written around 3rd century BC is one of the earliest written Political Science works in India.

    People usually misunderstand Politics with Political Science, both the terms are used interchangeably, and there is a line of distinction between the both. Politics generally is known as the study of the State and Government and simple words politics are used to describe the activities of public officials for example how they are chosen, their promotions and all other activities. On the other hand Political science is a body of knowledge about the state in its various manifestations, and while politics refers to actual operation of a Political system. Political science is concerned with the fundamental principles of state and government, and as such, it is more of a science.

    In today’s world many people hate political science or even assume that a student is into dirty politics because he/she studies Political science. People assume that politics are basically those activities which are aimed at improving someone’s status or increasing power within an organization but in reality political science is much more than that. Without understanding politics first then moving into Political science can lead to many different scenarios, one may think that it is dirty politics, only people with status are entitled into politics, there is no equality and so on. Since politics doesn’t cover everything just about the state and government but political science gives one the whole idea about the workings both inside and outside. As a whole one should have a clear understanding about politics because it is heavily reflected in our society and hence it is very important to know what is going around us.

    Students might be confused thinking what are the various options/ fields available for them if they take up political science. These are the following options/ fields available:

    1. Political Theory is the philosophy which studies the doctrines and theories on the inception, behavior, forms and the views of the state and government, for which it is also known as Political Philosophy. 
    2. Public Law is the branch of political science which centers on the legal rules and principles of the governing states, governments, and individuals which are related with each other.
    3. Government is the branch which eyes on the structure and works of both the national and local governments in the factor of a state or country.
    4. Comparative Government is the branch which analyzes the resemblances and distinctions among the states that are relative to their executive, legislative, and judicial fields of the government, and their fundamental laws, functions, political traditions and cultures as well.
    5. International Relations is the branch of Political Science which studies the foreign strategies of countries, international organizations, and international law.
    6. Public Administration is the field which deals with the real management of the government in the domain of administrative organization, human resource and personnel management, fiscal management, and management of public policies.
    7. Legislature is the field which is focused in the role of law making body in rule making and politics as well.
    8. Geopolitics is based on critically studying the influences of population, its resources, and the physical environment on its local and international politics of a country. 

    All those above topics are  the subtopics of political science and hence students can learn such a vast variety of topics all together and how to do that? How can one complete such a vast variety of topics? And most importantly how to study political science?

    • Find a partner to study with : wondering why do students need a partner? It is because in Political science everyone has their own opinions some are right wing some are left wing and it is very important to look from every aspect and note down every single details, it will help the students to have a clear understanding about the topic and also  NCERT class 11 Political science book can be the students first guide in students’ understanding about Political science. Every student has his/her own opinion be it on international relations or Indian Government, what is important is how do students tally both the opinions. One can give positive opinions and the other can give negative opinions but this doesn’t mean that only one is right, both sides are right. Political science doesn’t mean actual science where there is only one conclusion involved, political science is all about opinions.
    • Newspaper: Students studying political science must make a habit to read the newspaper everyday. If you ask the question, why? The answer is simple: newspapers help students gain more knowledge not only about the present but also about the future. The present topics in newspapers give a review as to how our future political sphere will be.
    • Never start from the middle:  Starting from the middle or your favourite chapter is like just reading and not understanding anything. Political science books are designed in such a way that they cover all the topics and are systematically arranged. If a student skips the first chapter he/she may not understand what political science is and directly skip to the government without knowing the basics. Political science is just like mathematics, if one is not able to understand mathematics basics he/she may not be able to move to greater topics. Every subject had its basics be it economics or science. Always start from the first chapter and go with the flow.

    If a student is able to follow those simple three points one can easily ace political science.

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    How To Have The Best Remote Work Vacation This Year

    September 2nd, 2021

    The new normal is daunting in many ways, specifically when working from home for the long haul. Many employers have decided to go remote indefinitely, and employees are not really happy with the situation. But you could see the silver lining too because this is your opportunity to work while you travel. The idea of an extended working holiday is alluring, and it is doable too. You need not worry about missing the office or using your paid leaves as you can work from anywhere. Here are some tips to have the best remote work vacation this year.

    Pick a safe destination

    The most crucial aspect of travel planning this year is safety. Plan a trip only after you get your vaccine because it assures safety against the virus. At the same time, research the destination to get a fair idea of the status of the virus there. Also, go through the travel regulations and norms so that you can avoid unnecessary complications. Think long-term and choose wisely.

    Choose your accommodation wisely

    When you plan a work vacation, you need to be extra conscious about choosing your accommodation. It should be peaceful because you will expect to steer clear of distractions during office hours. WiFi connectivity is non-negotiable as you have to be connected to the office. Also, make sure that the place fits into your budget if you plan an extended stay. Vacation homes make an ideal option for such holidays.

    Create a schedule

    Balancing leisure with work requires you to create a realistic schedule for the vacation. Does your job require you to be there 9 to 5, or do you have flexible schedules? Are you expected to be available around the clock? Is there a time zone difference between your workplace and holiday destination? Consider these questions and come up with a schedule that enables you to manage work and have fun.

    Pack your favorites

    Packing for a long work holiday requires some good thinking. You will want to carry everything you love. If you are a fitness buff, carry your exercise mat and running shoes. You may want to have a good time at a 420-friendly resort, enjoying long sessions every evening after work. Pack the cannabis strains you like along with a discreet nectar collector glass to keep you happy and relaxed. Make sure you choose a legal destination where you can replenish your cannabis supplies from the local market.

    Follow the safety and wellness rules

    Making your work vacation successful is also about following the safety and wellness rules. You may be vaccinated, but it is still vital to wear a mask and avoid crowds to stay safe from infection. Go the extra mile with mental wellness, and do not make the holiday only about work. Exercise, relax and spend quality time with your companions. Stay connected with loved ones back home if traveling solo.

    Remote work vacation is a chance you shouldn’t miss out on this year. Follow these tips, and you can make the holiday an unforgettable experience. 

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    Before the Boom: Sportsbooks by Hand

    March 9th, 2021

    Since sports have been around, there have been fans willing to wager on the outcome of an event. From the ancient days of the Greek Olympiads to the modern gladiators of the UK’s Premier League, winning big on a favored athlete or team can be the highlight of a punter’s life.

    In the past century, sports betting has taken off due to advances in technology. The advent of Wi-Fi and smartphones means that many sports fans can place wagers with their favorite sportsbook with a few clicks. Aside from technology, legal developments have also helped revolutionize the industry.

    Though countries like the UK and Canada have had a robust betting market for decades, the US only recently opened to bookmakers beyond the confines of Nevada in 2018. Since then, groups that offer trusted analysis and competitive wagers on popular leagues and events at home and abroad have found their footing with American punters, leading to new trends in the industry.

    Unlike the bookmakers of yore, who focused on horse racing alone, today’s top bookies worldwide offer a wide array of bets. To cater to tech-minded punters, leading sportsbooks also come with seamless mobile platforms, live betting options, and a diverse range of expert opinions to dive into. 

    But the bookies of yesteryear had to make do with little more than paper and a pencil. Instead of adopting a mobile platform to handle thousands upon thousands of user bets, lone bookies would organize wagers and payouts for hundreds of punters using only quick math skills and an eye for detail.

    Ye Old Ledger 

    The old days of sports betting revolved around horseracing, and the home of the bookie was near the Grand Stand (in most cases). During the 1600s in England, the first modern iterations of sportsbooks popped up to cater to men who wanted to bet on three factors: win, place, and show.

    A win required the bettor to choose the winning horse; a place required them to choose a horse that finished second or third; and a show required they select a horse that finishes either first, second, or third.

    In the past two centuries, bookies have typically used a five-column ledger. Though each bookie had their own system, many surviving ledgers indicate a standard practice was to write a horse’s name to the left-hand side and record wagers to the right, divided by type of wager.

    From there, a bookie would record the type of wager, the amount wagered, and then a winning payout should the punter correctly predict the race’s outcome. For the modern bettor, this system may sound familiar—after all, the importance of keeping the books balanced transcends the world of sports betting.

    Today, many regular punters choose to keep track of their bets in order to gauge their expenditure, as well as identify any successful betting patterns. There are even Excel spreadsheets specifically designed for modern sports fan to tally their winnings.

    Tic-Tac Men

    For the bookie of yore, the main priority was to correctly and quickly record bets and accept wagers. However, he was also responsible for recording payouts after the results of each race came in. To do this, many bookies stuck to a single spot near the Grand Stand and relied on workers known as ‘tic-tac men’ to communicate the results of each race.

    From the earliest days of betting on horseracing in the UK at races like Epsom and Ascot, bookies began employing tic-tac men to communicate race results instantly. But each bookie (and news agency, as time went on) employed their own tic-tac man, who relied on tools like handkerchiefs and hats to covertly communicate ahead of the competition.

    Today’s remaining tic-tac men use a standardized language of the hands, though each region has its own variation. Additionally, tic-tac men evolved to display the odds of each race over time, rather than communicate the result to bookies and news agencies.

    Tic-tac men became responsible for notifying changes to the odds to other associates that may be at a far corner of the racetrack. In other words, they served as the control center for the once-wireless race track.  

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    Beginners Guide on Cashing Out a Bitcoin Wallet

    March 9th, 2021


    Bitcoin has been the talk of the town for the past couple of months. The crypto recently hit $50,000, prompting people to start once again thinking about investing in it. If you’re interested in investing in this crypto, you are not late to the party. However, there are a couple of things that you should know to make the best choices.

    There are a couple of crypto coins available right now. However, most of them are not as valuable as bitcoin. You should also know that cryptocurrencies are very volatile, meaning that their value can change unexpectedly. Without further ado, here are pro tips to guide you when investing in bitcoin.

    P2P Platforms

    P2P, aka peer-to-peer trading platforms, are another way you can purchase bitcoin. These websites connect buyers and sellers. They work in an almost similar manner to exchange accounts. For instance, if you’re looking to cash out bitcoins, you can advertise on the website and set your selling price. The P2P platform will then try to link you with a buyer who is interested in bitcoin.

    You can choose how you want to be paid, either via bank account or PayPal. Once you confirm receipt of payment, the bitcoin is released to the other party. The P2P websites will charge a certain percentage to facilitate the transaction. Most people prefer using the P2P platforms because the transactions are faster than on exchange accounts.

    Using a Crypto-Wallet

    Crypto-wallets are online accounts where you can safely store your bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. Some do offer the same services as an exchange account. They offer bitcoin to cash swap services and bitcoin to other cryptos trades and the options are plenty. When choosing an e-wallet service, go for one that provides swap services too. Also, check if it supports different types of payment. An excellent example of a crypto wallet that you should consider is nakitcoins.com. It offers a wide variety of services, accepts various payment modes, and its transaction charges are quite favorable.

    Open an Exchange Account

    There are various cryptocurrency exchange platforms available. Make sure you read the reviews before signing up for an account. The exchange platform allows you to buy and trade crypto coins. Most platforms allow various forms of payment. You can choose to buy bitcoin using cash from your bank account or use your credit or debit card.

    When opening an exchange account, you will be asked to show proof of identity. In some cases, your ID, passport, or driver’s license will be sufficient. Another tip to keep in mind is that set a strong password to keep your account safe. Ensure that you use a private or secure network when accessing your account. If you happen to live in New Zealand or Australia, the cryptocurrency exchange services and features you can find on https://swyftx.com/nz/ will suit you perfectly

    Bottom Line

    Those who trusted their instincts and invested in bitcoin back in 2010, when it was worth around $100, have made a fortune from their cash out bitcoin wallets. Nonetheless, you can still invest in bitcoin right now and reap big in the future.

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    7 Ways Gyms Can Increase the Quality and Quantity of Their Online Reviews

    February 24th, 2021

    These days, more people are becoming conscious of their health. They start eating healthy, and others even plan to go to the gym. They understand the need to be in great physical shape. This pandemic highlighted the need for a healthy body. For fitness gyms owners, it means that there should be more effort to attract people to enroll. While there are lots of potential clients, there are also several gyms that offer the same services. Receiving quality reviews online is an excellent idea for attracting more people. When they see these good reviews, they will most likely choose that fitness gym over the other options. The good thing is that there are gym management software reviews available. It’s easier to determine the presence of reviews about a specific fitness gym and respond to them. These are some ways for gym owners to increase the quantity and quality of reviews made by existing clients.

    1. Improve the gym

    The best way for people to feel encouraged to leave a review is by offering the best fitness gym ever. They won’t hesitate to say something good if there’s a reason to do it. Some fitness gym qualities that people love are adequate space, modern equipment, cleanliness, and quality trainers. These factors should be included on your grand opening event checklist should you decide to open a new and improvised gym. Focus on these areas so that more people will decide to enroll. Remember that there are other fitness gyms out there. If they provide better services, people won’t have any reason to jump ship.

    2. Encourage reviews

    Most people are willing to leave reviews. They just don’t know how to do it. They also forget to leave one, considering how busy they are. Therefore, there should be a serious effort to encourage them to leave positive reviews. If they receive reminders over emails or other platforms, they might decide to do it. According to studies, existing clients who feel satisfied with the services received don’t mind leaving reviews. If they get a reminder and constant encouragement, they will do it.

    3. Use social media

    Facebook is the biggest social media platform available today. It has millions of users worldwide. Facebook also allows people to leave reviews about the services obtained from different businesses. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a strong social media strategy, especially on Facebook. Companies would be behind a game without a strong social media campaign. Reminders about leaving reviews can be on social media. Also, the reviews aren’t only about the fitness gym services. It can also be about customer service or how the business treats its clients. If there’s an active engagement on Facebook and other platforms, people may say something good about it. If the business is crafting a social media strategy, increasing positive reviews should be part of it.

    4. Encourage reviews from suppliers

    There’s no rule that only clients can leave positive reviews. Suppliers can also do the same. If the business works with different suppliers, they should have an opportunity to say something good. In return, the company can also say positive reviews for the suppliers. The good thing is that it will increase online visibility. Besides, receiving more reviews will help increase search engine rankings. Even if the review didn’t come from a gym member, it’s okay. Google will still consider it in ranking the website. With a higher search engine ranking, more people can see the page and consider membership.

    5. Interact with the members

    If some gym members left reviews on different platforms, they deserve a response. It doesn’t matter which platform they chose to use. It also doesn’t matter if they said something good or bad about the company. They deserve an immediate response.

    For members who left positive reviews, it would be great to say thank you and highlight the good words said. It will encourage other people to consider enrolling in the gym since there are positive testimonials. However, if the reviews are mostly negative, there should be an acknowledgment of the problem. If the concerns are real, the company should say sorry and promise to do better. There can also be a consultation with these unsatisfied members when they visit the gym to discuss the problems further. If the issues are incorrect and didn’t happen, there should be an explanation of the facts. Other people need to know what really happened to have a better impression of the fittest gym. Otherwise, the false narrative will win the day.

    6. Always be polite

    It’s easy to respond negatively to people who said something terrible about the fitness gym. Business owners who worked hard to put up the company might not easily accept these negative reviews. It’s important to remember that people are free to express their thoughts. They might feel that way, and they deserve respect. Even if they weren’t polite in expressing their views, the company should remain calm and diplomatic. Again, it’s not only for the member who said something bad. It’s also for other people who might read the exchange. They need to know that the business is professional and will treat all its members with respect.

    7. Establish a good relationship with members

    The good thing about running a fitness gym is that the employees can establish a relationship with the members. They will visit the gym to use the equipment. When the employees and members have an excellent relationship, it’s easy to leave positive reviews. Customers wouldn’t mind saying something good if they felt great as a member. They also feel comfortable saying their ideas since they know it wouldn’t get taken against them. 

    Gym management software reviews are important

    Responding to all these reviews isn’t easy but essential. There should be an effort to respond to them immediately. The good thing is that with the help of gym management software reviews, spotting the existing reviews wouldn’t be a problem. The company can also work with online reputation management agencies. They know how to boost the company’s reputation and make it more popular online. They will also prevent negative information and impression from spreading to other people. Gyms rely on having a good reputation to succeed. Without a good strategy, it’s not going to be easy.

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    How a Worker’s Suicide Can Impact a Business

    February 24th, 2021

    Companies should want what’s best for their employees. If a business entity’s workers are happy, they will probably stay with that company, and employee retention is vital. If your business cannot keep the same workers, you need to spend all of your time head hunting, interviewing, and onboarding.

    As a business owner, you also want to keep your employees safe. If anything happens to them, their family might sue you for unsafe work conditions. A wrongful death lawsuit can cost you millions, and it can also give your company a bad reputation within your niche.

    Many business owners never consider what might happen if one of their workers commits suicide. It is definitely an interesting question from a legal standpoint, and it’s what we’ll talk about in the following article.

    How Bad is the Suicide Issue?

    The first thing that business owners should understand is that suicide is a bigger problem than most people expect when you take the time to look at the numbers. Suicide rates are going up. In 2018, for instance, the suicide rate was more than two and half times that of the homicide rate.

    There are different reasons why people commit suicide. However, mental health professionals point to undiagnosed mental issues, drug problems, financial problems, and political strife.

    The pandemic certainly has not helped matters. During the past year, many individuals have not seen their families as much because of social distancing requirements. This means they have not had the support network access that might have helped them.

    These individuals can seek deeper into despair, and they may feel more isolated. If they don’t have the tools to help them, whether those are therapy appointments, prescription drugs, and so forth, they may start to regard suicide as an increasingly attractive option.

    What About Suicide at Work?

    As for people committing suicide at work, it happens sometimes, but frankly, it’s seldom that big of an issue because people rarely have the opportunity to do the deed in a workplace setting. 

    It’s hard to swallow an excess number of pills and go long enough without being discovered while on the job so that they can take effect. If you’re doing construction or something of that sort, you might be able to go up somewhere high and jump off, but this sort of thing happens only rarely.

    Suicide while at home or somewhere other than a worksite is more common. That still doesn’t answer the question, though, of whether the law can hold an employer responsible if someone takes their own life.

    Reasonably Foreseeable Circumstances

    The reality is that there’s no real precedent under the law regarding whether a family can hold a company accountable for an individual’s suicide, regardless of whether that suicide took place on the business’s premises or not. The law is going to judge that on a case-by-case basis.

    The most critical factor is probably going to be whether the company could have predicted the suicide. In these sorts of trials, if the individual’s family decides to bring a lawsuit, you might hear the term “reasonably foreseeable circumstance.” That means whether the business saw warning signs that this person had mental or emotional issues and whether they did anything about it.

    There is one more factor as well. Maybe a jury will not hold a business liable if other employees or this person’s boss saw that the worker in question was unhappy or seemed to be exhibiting unhealthy behaviors. They might also factor in whether the workplace itself was the emotional distress’s cause.

    In other words, a jury is probably more likely to hold a company liable if the person who committed suicide not only showed that they were unhappy, but the business itself was at least part of that unhappiness’s cause. If someone kills themselves, and it’s because of problems at home, the company could not have reasonably expected to know about those. If the person was feeling overworked because of challenging assignments or because their coworkers were making fun of them, the jury might hold the company liable because of that.

    If a company sees that workers are unhappy, it’s in their best interest not to ignore that. If they do, and the person commits suicide, whether on the business’s property or not, the worker’s family might try to bring a lawsuit against that company. If a jury determines that the company was partially or wholly responsible, they might very well face a significant monetary penalty.

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    Why the Risks of Cerebral Palsy Are Higher in Twins

    December 7th, 2020


    Pregnancy always comes with a certain amount of risk. Fortunately, since delivering a baby is a part of the medical profession that goes back to the beginning of our species, doctors have seen everything when it comes to childbirth. As a result, medical technology has continuously evolved to make pregnancy safer. However, dangers still occur, and when giving birth to twins, many of those dangers are doubled.

    Giving birth to twins increases risks across the board. Cerebral palsy is just one of a plethora of things that can go wrong. At the same time, though, cerebral palsy is often one of the most easily avoided possible consequences and often comes down to the competence of the medical staff assisting in the birth.

    How Risk Is Increased

    One of the main reasons that giving birth to twins has the potential to lead to so many unwanted complications is the fact that twins are often born prematurely. Babies being born before they have fully developed means that they are forced to attempt to adjust to the outside world before they have all the tools they would ideally have when leaving the womb. They are more delicate than babies that reach full term and more vulnerable to a birth injury.

    Another risk factor for twins when it comes to the potential of developing cerebral palsy is that even those who do reach full term are often underweight. There is also increased danger when one of the twins dies in the womb. The risk of a twin being born with cerebral palsy is over five times higher than the risk of a single-birth baby being born with the condition.

    What Is Cerebral Palsy?

    Cerebral palsy is a group of movement disorders that are caused by brain damage. Cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder that affects a baby at some point between while still in the womb and the first couple of years of a child’s life. There is currently no cure for cerebral palsy, and the condition will continue to affect a child for their entire life.

    Early detection of cerebral palsy is vital. Despite there being no cure for the disorder, there are many treatments to minimize the impact on your child as much as possible. Disabling effects cannot be reversed, but avoiding advancement is often possible.

    Cerebral palsy ranges from a minor condition involving poor functioning of a single limb to severe cases involving full-body mobility issues as well as cognitive issues that affect upper-level brain functions.

    There are four types of cerebral palsy:

    • Spastic cerebral palsy
    • Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
    • Ataxic cerebral palsy
    • Mixed cerebral palsy

    Spastic Cerebral Palsy

    Spastic cerebral palsy is by far the most common type of the disorder, with about 80% of cases falling into this category. Spastic CP involves stiff muscles and awkward body movements caused by increased muscle tone. 

    Spastic CP can be broken down further into these subcategories:

    • Spastic diplegia/diparesis – primarily affects the legs. The upper body is only mildly affected or is fully functioning
    • Spastic hemiplegia – impacts one side of the body and typically has more of an effect on the arm than the leg
    • Spastic quadriplegia – Affects all four limbs as well as the body and the face. Other complications can include intellectual disabilities, seizures, difficulty speaking, hearing problems, and partial or full blindness

    Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

    Dyskinetic cerebral palsy affects a person’s ability to control limb movement. People with dyskinetic CP often have difficulty sitting and walking. In some people, the face and tongue are also impacted, resulting in difficulties with talking, swallowing, and facial expressions. Dyskinetic CP involves muscle tone that varies between too tight and too loose and can switch between the two multiple times within the same day.

    Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

    Ataxic cerebral palsy is a more mild form of the disorder. Ataxic CP affects balance and coordination. Those affected might have difficulty walking or performing tasks that require precision or quick movements.

    Mixed Cerebral Palsy

    Mixed cerebral palsy is a combination of multiple types of CP.

    Talk to an Attorney

    Those who have had a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy might want to consider bringing legal action against the hospital where they gave birth or the doctor that delivered their children. However, before filing your claim, get informed about your child’s diagnosis. An independent medical professional might be able to help you to determine whether your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice or another condition.

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    Debt Consolidation Loans And Other Ways To Pay Off Your Debt

    December 7th, 2020


    It is quite easy to fall into a pattern of spending, without realizing that your debt is getting out of control. Using credit cards for payments, making late payments for your loans can all lead you to a life of debt. There are many kinds of debts such as student loans, credit card bills, mortgages, medical bills, business debt or even personal loans. No matter what kind of debt you are in, it can take you decades to get out of such a situation. It is not easy to figure out how to handle your debt, especially if you’re falling behind on your monthly payments. Falling behind in dealing with your debt has severe consequences and paying it off can be filled with a lot of hard work. Fortunately for all of us, there are a few tried and tested strategies that can help you get out of debt faster. 

    The strategic use of debt consolidation loans

    Not a lot of people know that they have the possibility of taking out a new loan for the sole purpose of debt consolidation. These loans are usually fixed-rate loans that offer a significantly lower APR than others such as credit cards or short-term loans. Such loans require a reasonable credit score, allowing you to pay off all other debts with the money obtained from this loan. It is much easier to handle paying one monthly payment rather than paying three or four once a month. You can click here to learn about debt consolidation and how it can benefit you in the long run. These loans can even provide a boost to your credit score by helping you make payments on time.

    Pay off more than your minimum payment for each debt

    An average credit card payment will include a typical 15% APR, which can take a long time to pay back. No matter what kind of debt you are carrying, be it personal loans, student loans or credit card debt, one of the best ways to pay them off early is to actually make more than the minimum monthly payment. This will assist you in saving interest on each of these loans throughout the life of your loan. This will not only speed up your repayments but also get you out of debt faster. You can even use some free online debt repayment tools such as Unbury.Me in order to help you track your progress.

    Pick up extra work

    Having some extra income every month can help you pay off your debt much faster. It is a hard route but it can amplify your efforts quite a lot. Almost all of us have at least one skill that you can use for some extra cash, even babysitting and mowing lawns can help you earn a small amount. It’s easy to find a way to earn money part-time sitting at home with sites such as Upwork.com. The key is to budget strategically so that you use this extra money to pay off your loans.

    Optimize your budget and consider living with a bare-bones budget

    It is of the utmost importance to consider cutting down on your expenses as much as you can. A tool that can help you accomplish this is a bare-bones budget. This strategy helps you cut down all your expenses as low as you can and live on the bare minimum for as long as possible. This includes cutting out every “extra” in your expenditure such as cable television, going out to eat or even unnecessary shopping. This will help you save more in order to pay off your debts. This strategy is only temporary in order to help you catch up with your payments. Once you are closer to your goal, you can slowly start spending more money.

    Keep a garage sale

    You can sell off everything that you do not need in order to earn some cash quickly. A lot of us have things lying around the house that we never even use and that can be sold off for a handsome amount. A good old-fashioned garage sale may be just the strategy you need. This is one of the cheapest ways to sell off your extra stuff and make a good amount of profit.

    Negotiate the interest rates on your credit cards and other bills

    If you feel that the only reason you’re drowning in credit card debt is the high interest rate, it might be a good idea to call your card issuer and negotiate. If you have a good record of paying your bills on time, you might even get a much more reasonable interest rate. 

    Cut down on your expensive habits

    If you have trouble dealing with your monthly expenses and are always struggling to make payments, maybe you should consider evaluating your lifestyle and habits. It makes sense to introspect on where you spend money daily. It helps you evaluate what purchases are essential and which ones can be dropped. A study revealed that most Americans spend around $2,292 per year on cigarettes. Quitting will help you save quite a lot of money which can go towards paying off your debts. Small things such as making coffee at home rather than spending money in a café every day can help you save a ton of money in the long run.

    Pay off balances with ‘found money’

    ‘Found money’ can be in the form of an annual raise, some inheritance or even a bonus at work. Using these to repay debts can help you reach the goal of becoming debt-free much faster. You can use them to either pay off your smallest loans so that you only have to make fewer monthly payments, or even use this money for early repayments of big loans so that your interest for it decreases significantly.

    Financial management can seem easy to plan but the execution is the hard part. Make sure you are updated on the various ways that are available to help you with financial management. Go through the aforementioned points to get some clarity and insight into this issue.

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    6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know Your Mac Could Do

    December 7th, 2020

    Mac’s popularity and their track record as robust devices have never been in question. Generally speaking, they are nice machines for work and play with lots of tools and features packaged into the OS. There is no sign of this slowing down with the release of the Big Sur looking to improve that experience. Whether it is about filling in forms, browsing, playing music, or editing files, Mac won’t disappoint. That’s just a scratch of the surface, though! We have created this guide to shine the light on some of the things you probably didn’t know your Mac could do.

    Sign Documents

    Several Mac users don’t actually know that they can digitally sign documents using their Mac device. After all, digital signatures are now growing important in a world going paperless. If you are using a Mac, there is no need to pay for an expensive editor or go the tedious way of printing and rescanning your document. Mac offers an easier way to capture and use your signature to sign documents whenever the need arises. The process is simple and you don’t need a lot of technical skill to use the feature. 

    First, sign on a piece of paper so that you can capture it using your Mac’s Webcam. Open the “Preview” on your Mac laptop and navigate to the “Preference” menu. Choose “Signatures,” then hit the “Create Signature” option and hold your signature in the right position for the Webcam to capture. Click “Accept” to save the captured signature on your Mac. Whenever you need to sign your documents, simply drag and drop your saved signature onto the respective document.

    Make your Desktop Folder Icons as Emoji

    Well, turning your desktop folder icons into emoji may not have much impact on your Mac productivity. Still, many people do it just for fun! You can imagine how your desktop looks stylish and unique with a variety of diverse emojis. 

    Nevertheless, using different emoji for different folders will help you differentiate and access folders much faster. Doing this is actually quite easy. Just download emoji of your choice or fetch them from the best emoji apps and then double-click to open it in Preview. Click the markup icon to make your image transparent and ready for use. Now copy the image by pressing the Command + C. Go to the folder you want to change, right-click it and select “Get Info.” Locate and click the small folder on the info panel, then paste the emoji you just copied. Repeat the same procedure for the other folder icons you want to replace with an emoji.

    Work Together with your iPhone

    Mac and iPhone often work together quite well because they both come from the same manufacturer, i.e Apple. If you didn’t know, there are myriad useful functions you can use together on your Mac and iPhone. Provided you are signed in with the same iCloud account, you are free to collaborate and work together on these two platforms. Some of these collaboration avenues include copy and paste content between your Mac and iPhone, pause and resume tasks on any device, play content from your iPhone on Mac, move Mp3 to iPhone from your Mac and vice versa, share an internet connection, and unlock your Mac using your iPhone. There are plenty of ways you can work together with your iPhone on Mac. Provided you are signed in with the same account, your Mac and iPhone can always work together if you want. 

    Do Math with Spotlight

    While Spotlight is an excellent feature in Mac, many users still underestimate its capabilities. Maybe because you haven’t discovered yet how much it can offer?  Spotlight is one of the free Mac apps that will find anything for you on Mac. However, it does more than search and is improving with every new version of MacOS! If you find it surprising, it is worth knowing that you can use Spotlight to do some calculations. Whether you want to carry out basic math calculations or unit conversion, Spotlight will carry out with ease. The simplest way to open Spotlight is via Command + Space. To do math calculations, just type the Command such as 2+2, and the answer will appear as the search result. For unit conversion, type the respective Command, for example, 10 meters to feet, and again the answer will be displayed as the search result.

    Customize Keyboard Shortcuts

    Knowing keyboard shortcuts can lessen the time you take to navigate on your Mac in a way that can boost your productivity. That said, Mac has predefined keyboard shortcuts, and there is no single shortcut for every menu. The good news is that Mac allows you to customize or create keyboard shortcuts for anything you want. To do this, just navigate to the “System Preferences” > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts. Here, click the “+” icon, and a dialog box will pop up. Select the application you want to create the shortcut, the respective menu command’s name, and the desired keyboard shortcut. When you are satisfied with your selections, click “Add” to finish.

    Let your Mac Read it for You

    If you are exhausted and don’t feel like reading a document, you can always tell your Mac to read it aloud for you. That sounds great because you won’t strain following the lines, especially if it is a lengthy document. Just select the text you want the Mac to read aloud, then click the “Edit” tab at the top of the page. From the displayed options, select “Speech” and subsequently hit the “Start Speaking” option. If you are not impressed by the narrator’s voice, you have the license to change. Go to “System Preferences” > ” Dictation & Speech” and choose a suitable voice. You can pick a voice like the Princess or Bad News or Vicky.

    Wrap up

    We hope our quick guide has highlighted some of the useful things you probably didn’t know your Mac could do. You can always explore to find out more and improve your experience on Mac. Yes, there are a lot of hacks that will make your life far much easier and fun!

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    The Best Types of Debt for Consolidation

    December 7th, 2020

    The Best Types of Debt for Consolidation

    Although carrying debt is a very common experience in America, there’s no universal way to get out of it. What works for one person may not for their neighbor. The most fitting way to deal with debt depends on factors like the amounts owed, types of debt, the credit score of the borrower and more.

    Debt consolidation is one potential way to streamline debts and possible pay them off in less time at less expense. Want to know if debt consolidation is a possible path forward for you? Start by considering the types of debt you have — then see if they match up with the best types of debt for consolidation. 

    Four Types of Debt It May Make Sense to Consolidate

    The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to a specialized debt consolidation service is it primarily works on unsecured debts — those not backed by collateral — rather than secured ones.

    Examples of unsecured debts eligible for consolidation include:

    • Credit Card Balances: Credit cards are known for having high average interest rates, so it often makes sense to consolidate these if you can qualify for a loan at a lower interest rate or transfer existing balances to a new card with better terms. 
    • Medical Bills: The first step is usually trying to negotiate charges down with the provider or applying for hardship assistance, but getting a person loan is a possible solution to dealing with steep medical debt too. Another option is consolidating medical bills onto a zero-percent interest credit card, according to NerdWallet — but only if you can pay the entire balance before the introductory period expires.
    • High-Interest Loans: Say you took out a high-interest loan in the past, but have since improved your credit standing — or have seen interest rates drop in general since last time you borrowed. You might be able to get a new loan with a lower annual percentage rate (APR) to pay off the old one, saving you money on interest charges.
    • Student Loans: Many borrowers with student loans end up juggling multiple loans, each with its own terms and interest rate. You may be able to streamline here, making the monthly repayment process easier and saving money if you qualify for a competitive interest rate.

    As we mentioned earlier, consolidation generally applies to unsecured loans rather than secured ones, like auto loans and mortgages. You’ll notice these types of loans generally carry lower interest rates— because tying the loan to a physical asset reduces lenders’ risk. Therefore, replacing them with a personal loan usually doesn’t make financial sense.

    When Does Debt Consolidation Make Sense?

    According to Value Penguin, here are a few situations in which debt consolidation may make sense:

    • Trying to stay on top of unsecured debts is making it difficult to afford essential living expenses.
    • Your credit score is good or excellent so you’re able to qualify for low interest rates on loans or a balance transfer credit card. Borrowers with fair or bad credit may be better suited to a debt management plan or other solution.
    • You’re able to create a budget, reduce your expenses and stick to this spending plan for as long as it takes to consolidate. Consolidating without changing your spending behaviors can unfortunately beget even more debt.

    The rule of thumb to keep in mind when it comes to debt consolidation is to consider it for streamlining unsecured debts with higher interest rates than you can get on a consolidation loan or balance transfer credit card. The best-case scenario upon consolidating is streamlining your debts for the sake of convenience and reducing the amount you end up paying in interest charges — possibly by hundreds or thousands of dollars.

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    Test

    November 26th, 2020

    Test

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    5 Things You Need to Do After Being Denied a Business Term Loan

    August 5th, 2020

     

    Starting a business from the ground up takes a lot of work. You do your research, create a foolproof business plan, apply for business term loans, put everything together, and hope for the best. But despite your efforts, you still hit a major setback – your small business loan application got rejected. 

    Business loan rejections can be devastating, especially if you’re tight in cash. If it offers any solace, only one out of four business owners qualify for a loan. There are numerous reasons why your application got rejected. If you can figure out why you were denied a loan, you can work on improving your application and apply the second time around. Additionally, you can apply for alternative business loans suitable for your business. 

    To help you get started, here are five things you need to do after being denied a business term loan:

    1. Know Why Your Loan Application Got Rejected

    Lending money to entrepreneurs is a risky business. To lower the lender’s risks on the loans they make, they set loan requirements and match them against applications. There’s a reason why you didn’t qualify and there’s no better to ask than your lender. If your loan application got rejected, lenders will notify you in writing as to why you didn’t qualify. For instance, the letter might mention that you don’t have enough collateral or you have a poor credit rating. Knowing the reason for your rejection is crucial if you want to qualify for a loan the next time you apply. 

    1. Work on Your Credit Score

    Believe it or not, more than half of small business owners in the country don’t know their credit scores. This can be troubling considering how important credit rating is when applying for a business loan. Aside from your personal credit score, potential lenders will assess your business credit history as well. In this way, they’ll get a clear picture of how you handle your finances. 

    Similar to a personal credit score, a business credit score is based on your company’s credit obligations, payment history, legal filings, number of years in business, size, and type of business, and repayment performance compared to similar companies. You can improve your credit rating by applying for business credit cards, working with supplies who report payments, and separating personal and business finances. 

    1. Improve Your Company’s Financial Standing

    Along with your business and personal credit scores, your company’s financials is also a major factor when it comes to loan qualifications. Pay attention to the strength of your yearly revenue, cash flow, and profitability. To better improve your financial standing, assess your financial standing from a lender’s perspective. You can choose a loan that will best fit your company’s financials.

    1. Consider Alternative Financing Options

    If you’ve been denied a loan from one lender, it doesn’t mean it’s a hard “no” for the others. Loan qualifications and requirements vary from lender to lender. The type of loan you’re applying for and the terms of your financing can affect your application as well. Even if you don’t make drastic changes to your credit or cash flow, you can still qualify for a small business loan if you check your options thoroughly. 

    1. Think Long-Term

    You can fix your credit rating or issues in business finances overnight. To qualify for more favorable loan terms, it’s important to make long-term financial changes. Aside from improving your credit rating, you should also do the following:

    • Make Payments on Time: If you’re behind on loan payments, make sure to remedy it ASAP so your credit can recover. You don’t have to repay all the debt you owe, but you can contact your lenders and discuss a payment plan that favors both parties. 
    • Increase Your Income: Who doesn’t want to increase their monthly earning? Increasing your income is easier said than done, but if you’re planning to borrow money, it’s important to pay attention to your profitability. If you plan on making major changes to your business, it’s better to pursue them after you’ve qualified for a loan. 
    • Slowly Pay Existing Debt: If you have existing loans, this could affect your ability to qualify for small business loans. Lenders will look at your debt and your income. By minimizing your debt, you also reduce your debt-to-income ratio. As a result, this makes you look like you’re financially capable to handle another loan. 

    Learn More About Business Term Loans Before You Reapply

    Qualifying for business term loans from traditional lenders is not as grim as it sounds. The key is to find a loan product that’s suitable for your needs and to work with a reputable and experienced lender. In the meantime, there are alternative financing options that have a more lenient application process.

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    4 Tips on How to Spend Less in 2020

    June 18th, 2020

     

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    People love spending a lot on anything that they want. Especially nowadays since the internet and technology are very useful to us, it’s very easy to transact and spend on whatever we want. Even with this known pandemic happening around the world, people are bored from their home and most of us are using different platforms as past time adding anything to cart, buying anything online whenever they want even if it’s not necessary.  

    People get so caught up in their lifestyles that they fail to realize they are spending money on things that don’t even fit into their value system. You have to rethink your values, specifically those related to money. One important way to reduce your spending is to cut back slightly in every area. You have to start with making your life simple.

    Since COVID-19-related lockdown restrictions began, the financial status of many Americans fluctuates. Since the US ranks the highest number of cases globally, people begin to change their spending lifestyles to financially live the economic consequence of this pandemic. There are quite many online budget tools accessible to help people manage their money, and saving sites like Billry provide gadgets and awesome content to help people clean up their bills. It is a marketing lead generator that gives convenient access to third-party lenders. 

    Now is the right time to do the right thing. 

    Here are 4 tips on how you can spend less this year.

    Cut Unnecessary Expenses

    This strategy is essential to lessen your spending. You have to cut your spending on the things that are not essentially necessary. Think many times if you really need that thing before deciding on buying. Look for expenses that you do not care about. It could be the coffee you get before work or something else. You have to find a way to lower that expense. Your goal is not to stop your spending, but to be well planned with your spending. Always remember to not be impulsive.

    Pay Bills Online

    Consider paying your bills online. Making use of that can be more efficient and effective than paying by check or going directly to the bank, saving you not only money but also time in the process. Nowadays people can even set up many bills to be paid automatically, decreasing the odds of paying their bill late. Thanks to paying your bills online you won’t have to pay postage charges and you will have an electronic record of your banking activity – making everything hassle-free.

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    Use Coupons

    You can surely save a lot of money and spend less by using coupons or waiting for sale prices. It is available in different magazines and leaflets from stores or you may look for it before checking out in online stores. This helps you get free shipping, discounts, and some other great deals. It is popular especially in the US because there are lots of people doing extreme couponing.

    Make Gifts Instead of Buying

    It’s easy to spend money on birthday and holiday gifts if you have a lot of money. But you can save and spend less by making your own DIY gift. There are lots of DIY ideas and tutorials on the internet that you can try like if you are handy with fabric and have a sewing machine, you can make simple clothes and garments. You can also try making your own candles, soaps, or any craft you’re good at or even bake goodies and it shows a lot of appreciation for the person you’re making it for because of the time and effort you put into it. In this way, you spend less, enhance your creativity, and become more appreciated yourself.

    Having a less expensive lifestyle doesn’t always mean you are living less. Being practical, especially financially, is essential as this will help you achieve your goals better and make your life stable.

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    How to Write a Dissertation in College

    October 1st, 2019

    Many colleges require students to submit a dissertation before graduating it has been the main hurdle for many people to their graduations. Dissertation writing is not like any other form of writing which are mainly designed to test students’ mastery of a subject or course. Rather, a dissertation is supposed to generate new information derived from research using scientific research processes. 

    What is a Thesis Paper?

    A thesis dissertation is a long piece of writing based on your own ideas and extensive research that you do as part of a university degree, especially a higher degree such as a Ph.D. The most important step in this writing process is coming up with a befitting topic that you will be exploring. The topic must be unambiguous and it should not have an obvious ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. 

    You can ask about useful dissertation help

    This task can be overwhelming and a hand can really be useful. You can check with essay writing services Canada and join thousands of other students who have sought help from them. These are professionals and experts in their respective fields and have been helping students to write their dissertations in record time. They have a long list of satisfied customers who can attest to the indispensability of their services. You can ask how to write a thesis proposal which is a very important step in dissertation writing.

    General Structure

    The general structure on how to write a dissertation may vary slightly from different institutions but they must have the following sections: introductory, literature review, methodology; summary & analysis, and conclusion. The structure may vary greatly among many colleges but as a rule of thumb these sections must be present in a research paper. A more detailed structure adopted by many institutions must have the following sections and subsections;

    • Title page;
    • Abstract (summary);
    • The table of contents;
    • Introductory paragraph;
    • Literature review;
    • Methods and materials;
    • Results;
    • Discussion;
    • Conclusion;
    • Acknowledgments;
    • Recommendations;
    • Bibliography;
    • Appendices.

    Write thesis acknowledgments

    Thesis acknowledgments is a section dedicated to thanking the people who supported you in doing the thesis dissertation. They may include your colleagues, family, supervisors, etc. In the acknowledgement section, include the names of these people and you if possible, describe how they helped you. Writing a dissertation is not an easy task and giving a shout out to your support network who encouraged, advised, proofread, or assisted in any other way is a generally accepted norm. 

    Literature review

    This is one of the most important sections of the research paper. It is the review of the related literature which has several functions. Firstly, it helps direct your research. There are other people who have carried out researches similar to your own and reading their works can help you refine your topic and draw inspiration from the way they authored their content. Secondly, the literature review helps to understand the best methodology to carry out your research. 

    Plan your writing time

    To hack the process of writing a dissertation, planning your time is imperative. A dissertation is not like any other paper that you can write on the due date. For a dissertation, a student must plan on how to write the sections and dedicate sufficient time for the same. Some sections might run concurrently to save on time. For example, it is recommended to continually write the literature review as you conduct the research. Secondly, you have to plan meticulously on how to conduct the research. In some cases, the research is affected by weather elements and especially if the research is longitudinal, proper planning of time is very important. For example, writing on how a topic that is weather specific like attendance of school in summer means that if you do not plan yourself in advance to conduct the research during the ll have to wait till the next summer.

    How to arrange references

    A reference list is very important for any dissertation. Remember you dedicated a whole chapter (literature review) towards researching existing literature on any information related to your research. All this information must be included in the references. Additionally, the references must be arranged in a particular manner. Each college has a specific way that it expects the students to adhere to. There are common reference formatting styles i.e Chicago, APA, MLA, Harvard, etc. Each of these formatting styles portrays the references differently. A student must learn how to arrange references to their dissertation paper that is in line with the expectations of his/her college.

    A helpful college thesis sample

    Sometimes it is hard to comprehensively understand what to do to put down your research. You can find a sample in your area of study and follow the format outlined therein. Most dissertation formats do have a general structure and therefore it can help you form your own structure. However, it is also very important to ensure that you do not plagiarize that work as it could have a catastrophic impact on your education. 

    Final words

    Hopefully, this article has highlighted the key things that you need to know when writing a college dissertation. It is a collection of proven tools that have helped many students to take down this task with ease. However, writing your dissertation is not the end of everything, you may find yourself needing a resume. For that, you can also check out our resume writing department. We got you all the way to your first day in the office and you can contact us to help you deliver a Resume That Works.

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    The US hidden card against Russian and Chinese gold reserves?

    October 22nd, 2018

    By Jaime Ortega. 

    Precious metals are undervalued compared to the US dollar because the US runs trade deficits which keep the artificial price of the dollar high making it the world reserve currency.  The US dollar remains the most liquid fiat currency in the money supply given its popularity and tangibility, easy to exchange in any market, its trade volume is second to none.

    The goal of the US dollar was to tare the popularity away from silver and gold so trade could centralized and manipulated by a central bank that could issue new loans to investors in exchange for higher interest rates.

    Gold and silver are both speculative assets but serve as units of accounts. Precious metals cannot be centralized since they cannot be created, they can be mined and dugout the earth. Any major central bank knows precious metals are a kryptonite to paper currency since gold and silver have historically remained the survivors of economics bust and booms.

    Whether or not the Federal Reserve holds gold reserves in its vaults it’s a question of speculation and rumors. But for the US to remain competent in the market where outside players like Russia and china have acquired precious metals to devalue the US dollar, it most hold assets in its vaults whether or not it has gold and silver.

    There is one asset class that can compete with precious metals and that is precious stones. If gold and silver are scarce assets, gems and diamonds are scarcer. Little is known about the price volatility of stones relative to the artificial value of US notes, since unlike precious metals they are not traded in an exchange and rarely listed on indexes. A table full of precious diamonds might be worth a basketball court of Russian and Chinese precious metals.

    In my opinion the US might hold a vast reserve of precious stones used as special insurance to hedge risk aversion against a comeback of precious metals – the kryptonite of the money supply – that would weaken the artificially bloated US dollar.  Gold can only compete with other asset classes relative to its scarce value within its market volume, including its historical appreciation rate, which means diamonds could easily overtake gold prices if investors jump from debt to equity markets during a credit crisis. Historically, the purchasing power of diamonds in exchanges is far greater than that of any precious metal known to man. In fact, diamonds are the most stable asset class in the world with the least volatility in price fluctuations relative to inflation.

    If the US bond market collapses to the value of Chinese and Russian bonds pegged by precious metals, the US could issue the debt to its investors with precious stones as it underlying asset would skyrocket once the US dollar devalues. Such tradable exchange would mean that a devaluation of the US dollar, would be an appreciation of the nominal value of precious stones worldwide which would be many times greater than that of gold.

    If a new exchange for precious stones was created it could potentially destabilize the speculative price of precious metals and halt the rise of crypto-currencies, hurting both gold-silver prices and Bitcoin. The only way the US could avoid a total meltdown of its currency, is by pegging precious stones with the total money supply in circulation and use contractionary monetary policy to shrink bank created money into a one thousand year bond of debt of repayment pegged by precious stones — or the promise it would dig for more diamonds in during the life spam of the long term debt — ending the Federal Reserve power to create interest.

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