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Stop Hurting Your Pocket: Learn These Fuel Saving Tips

Nancy Clayson
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Stop Hurting Your Pocket: Learn These Fuel Saving Tips

With the rising prices of gas in the market, car users and manufacturers are adapting to situations where they try to improve your ride’s fuel economy per mileage traveled.

Whether you’re driving a  tiny fuel efficient car or a luxurious SUV, one thing remains constant, that is, you still consume gallons of fuel. Increase your fuel efficiency and travel extra mileage by simply following these tips that have been proven effective over the years.

Slow Down and Avoid Unnecessary Accelerations

adult, auto, automobile

Maintaining an average or reduced speed is the best way to save gas. Lately, car manufacturers have been designing units that run on this principle. Fuel economy will decrease when a car speeds up since its engine burns more fuel. Unnecessary acceleration will stress out the engine and forces it to burn gas to cope with the change of speed.

Apply The Recommended Tire Pressure

automobile, automotive, car

It is always advised to check the pressure and condition of the car tires. Use the user’s  manual to have the idea of the proper tire pressure settings and adjustments for your vehicle. As you travel, the tires are losing an amount of air pressure and in due time will make it under-inflated.

Under-inflated tires will increase the car’s drag which will also increase the engine’s pressure to keep it moving and eventually leads to consuming more gas than it normally does when you have the right tire condition.

Consider Tuning Up

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When you can no longer remember when was your car has been last checked by an expert mechanic, you probably been wasting a sizable sum of money on fuel for your day to day ride. Proper vehicle maintenance is the main thing. Your car engine’s performance will tell you a lot about how efficient your car is.

Regular tunes up allow your car to have increased efficiency per mileage. Having the car engine and air filters clean will allow free flowing engine performance. Also when by changing car fluids, engine oils, and brake fluids, you can make sure that you’re getting the most out of the fuel your engine is taking up.

Clean It Up

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Have everything in your car tidy and neat. While it ‘s great to have sent out on the car wash, it is better also to have the interior clean and orderly. Unloading unnecessary things, especially those on the trunk, will lighten your car’s load. It may not affect the efficiency of your fuel rating, but it will guarantee a safer and healthier drive for you and your passengers.

Make Sure Everything is in Place

car interior dash steering wheel racing parts automotive gauges

When you’re experiencing unnecessary noises like squeaks and vibrations on certain parts of your car, try to check your user’s manual and see if everything is in place. Vibrations are signals that something loosens up or not in place and will tend to lower your car’s performance and the worst it might bring you to situations like accidents.

Instances like having malfunctioning doors and window levers or even just a loose bolt will increase your risk of getting into accidents. When you arrive with these problems, it is a good thing to have a service and experienced mechanics near you.

Decide on Going Green

Sometimes it wiser nowadays to purchase new car models than riding your good old ride. You can save a considerable amount of money from maintenance while the new car models had been designed to be more fuel-efficient than ever. The emergence of tiny cars is hitting the road hard because of affordability, low maintenance cost, and excellent fuel efficiency.

Takeaway

It is always better to have a track on how much you spend on your car’s fuel than just being surprised by the fact that it was taking up a significant part of your budget. Keeping these tips in mind will not only save you amounts of cash but will also allow you to contribute to the efforts of maximizing the use of diminishing fuel energy.

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5 Ways To Completely Sabotage Client Trust In Business

Dana R
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5 Ways To Completely Sabotage Client Trust In Business

In the competitive world of modern business, gaining trust from the customers is everything. Without it, you’ll never gain the sales revenue needed for sustained success. As such, letting those standards slide could bring irreparable damage.

Being aware of the most common mistakes should help you avoid them. In turn, this allows you to focus on the factors that will drive your business forward. Here’s all you need to know.

Source:

#1. Be Too Secretive

When potential customers find your business and its services, they will conduct some research before buying. Unfortunately, if the necessary information is difficult to find, it can get the alarm bells ringing.

Your website should show info including telephone numbers, email accounts, and office addresses. If the business is a home-based operation, you may want to hire a virtual office address. After all, some clients may look negatively on the fact that your company operates from a residential address.

It’s not all about addresses, though. Having clear returns policies should be considered equally essential. When customers know exactly where they stand, they’ll have far less reason to doubt the trustworthiness of the venture.

#2. Let Fraudsters Win

One of the harshest realities of modern business is that it only takes one negative episode for customers to lose their trust in the company. Consequently, it’s imperative that your operation is suitably protected on a 24/7 basis. Otherwise, those errors could haunt your company for years.

Investing in the right CCTV and alarm systems should help prevent burglaries and trespassing. In today’s climate, though, digital data breaches are an even bigger threat. Using secure identity verification protects the company’s assets. More importantly, it gives clients the confidence needed to enjoy long-term relations with your brand.

Those potential dangers also extend to intellectual property. If someone else tries to make money off of your name, it can hit your profits badly. Moreover, customers may start to question the authenticity and quality of your products due to seeing fakes on the market. Once that trust is lost, regaining it is very tough indeed.

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#3. Go Back On Promises

Customers have very good memories, and they will not respect a company that lies. Therefore, you must ensure that anything you say in business is accurate. Because if you leave a consumer feeling conned, they will take their custom elsewhere. Furthermore, they’ll probably encourage friends and family to do the same.

Marketing is a crucial aspect of any business venture, and should be used to grab the attention and drum up interest. However, you’re going to promise rewards or discounts, you must provide them. Even if you’ve only suggested that you’ll be releasing a new blog post, it’s important that you do it. Because if people think you cannot be trusted to stick to your word on trivial matters, they’ll struggle to believe you with the important things.

This is especially true in today’s climate due to the instant nature of social media. Everything stated in the public domain should be carefully considered. Fail to do this, and you could be asking for major problems.

#4. Provide Poor Customer Care

Sustained success relies heavily on your ability to keep customers coming back for more. Without that loyalty, it becomes a lot harder to achieve your goals. Given that communication is at the heart of all modern business, you must perfect this area. Once again, one bad experience could cost you a customer forever.

Face-to-face interactions are the preference but may not always be possible. Using social media enables you to address many customers at once while having an FAQ on your site can help too. Most importantly, though, you should invest in a good telephone customer care game. In the absence of human interaction, this is the next best thing.

Most clients will forgive mistakes as long as you show a genuine desire to rectify those problems. Conversely, those companies that let themselves down here often find that retention levels fall.

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#5. Work Without Consistency

Customers need to resonate with the company, but that’s very difficult when it sounds out mixed messages. Therefore, one of the worst things you can do is allow your staff to do what they want. Of course, it’s good for them to use their initiative. Still, following company procedures with consistency is key.

This is what ensures clients receive a fair, honest, and clear customer service at all times. First off, you must keep employees satisfied. Secondly, you should use staff training in an effective manner. When you do this, your employees will be sure to work in the right manner. In turn, that should enable you to maintain their trust for the long haul.

Trust alone won’t guarantee success, and you’ll still need to provide great products and services. Nonetheless, trust is one of the key fundamentals that will establish a stronger platform going forward. Underestimate it at your peril.

Want to Innovate More? Then Stress Less!

Dana R
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Want to Innovate More? Then Stress Less!

Are you feeling stressed? There are continuous warnings of money being in short supply, bills having to be paid, contracts that have to be maintained, and so on. Unfortunately, if you want to innovate, you will need more than good idea management software. You will also need a harmonious environment in which people don’t feel stressed. People who experience high levels of stress are not like to be very creative, simply because they have too many other things on their mind.

The Science Behind Stress and Creativity

A study has been completed at the University of London, where scientists looked that the impact of improving well-being and lowering stress had on their ability to come up with innovative ideas. Participants in the trial were asked to take part in a three-part course in which they learned about overall well-being and stress. It was found that this reasonably simple course encouraged people to put better solutions in place to manage their own stress levels. Interestingly, doing so also made them more creative, ensuring they could come up with innovative ideas in the workplace.

This isn’t the first time that this type of research has been conducted and that these results have been shown. Instead, numerous pieces of research and studies have shown that calm and relaxed people are much more likely to come up with new and innovative ideas. People who were stressed out, by contrast, seemed to stop thinking creatively. This makes sense, as these people are likely to simply have too much on their mind to think outside of the box as well.

How to Stress Less

There are numerous ways in which people can figure out how to stress less and become creative one again. Lots of this information is available online. Additionally, there are now numerous companies that have developed programs in which employees can learn how to reduce their stress levels, many of which are based on the three-part course used by the University of London in their research.

One way to help people stress less, interestingly, is to make sure that they learn something new and interesting every day, something that is not necessarily related to their actual work. Doing so gives them the opportunity to just turn their mind away from their stress, even if it is just for a short period of time. It is easy enough to send a company-wide message out at the end of each day with a titbit of interesting information.

Here’s one to get you started: did you know people often work for companies of which the initials match those of their name? The chance of your first initial matching that of the company you work for is actually one in nine, more than 10%, in other words. That is significant! Psychologically speaking, it is believed that this is because people find it easier to identify with something that starts with the same initials, and when people can identify with something, they are more likely to trust it as well.

Music Production – A Fantastic Sub-Specialization in the Business

Dana R
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Music Production – A Fantastic Sub-Specialization in the Business

The field of music production is one of the most successful in the world. If you believe that you have a revolutionary idea and love working with new technologies, and if you are truly passionate about music, then you should consider obtaining a music business degree education and really make your dreams come true. You don’t need to be a professional to be talented. In fact, talent is perhaps more important than anything else.

However, as the fact that programs like X Factor, Sing, The Voice, and American Idol have been running for many seasons and each season produces new participants proves, there are plenty of people with talent out there. This is why you also have to become professional, and that is precisely what a degree can do for you.

When studying music business, you will learn a number of key things of important. You will study important theories and gain business that is applicable across the industry. At the same time, it is a creative degree as it focuses on music, meaning that you can really let your creativity shine. Below are some of the benefits of enrolling in such a degree.

music
Photo Source: hellostage.com

Professional Benefits of Completing a Music Business Degree

  1. You will be a more successful songwriter. As part of your degree, you will learn about a variety of different musical “rules”, which could be translated as the grammar of music, if music is a language. You will know what works and what doesn’t work, and what sounds good with each style.
  2. You will learn how to quickly record your own music or that of others, particularly if you take elective courses in audio engineering, for instance. Even if you don’t learn the technical side of music recording, you will learn about the hows and whys, and that is important in and of itself.
  3. You will learn how to manage artists, which is perhaps the biggest dream role for those with a music business degree. This is where you will learn how to deal with the divas, those with the real hearts, the greatest rising stars, and those who have fallen from grace. You will be responsible for essentially managing their lives, ensuring they get gigs, that they show up, that they behave themselves in public, that they sound good, that they live a healthy lifestyle, and so on.

The Issue of Competition

There are two realities in the world of music and that is that luck goes a long way and that who you know is perhaps more important than what you know. You have to be ready, therefore, to try and try and try again, and still be rejected every step of the way. At the same time, however, there will come a time when it is between you and one other person, and what will stand out at that time is that you have a music business degree. Add to that the fact that you will get lots of transferable skills, and it quickly becomes clear why this is such a fantastic degree.

Sam Shepard Dies Aged 73

Sonia Pantiss
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Sam Shepard Dies Aged 73

Actor and playwright Sam Shepard has passed away at the age of 73.

Sam Shepard wrote more than 40 plays and won the Pulitzer Prize for drama for Buried Child in 1979.

He went on to be nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar for 1983’s The Right Stuff and starred in movies like Black Hawk Down as well as co-writing 1984’s Paris, Texas.

Sam Shepard died at home in Kentucky on July 27, his family have confirmed.

His death came after he experienced complications from motor neuron disease, also known as ALS.

Image source Wikimedia

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Sam Shepar’s first major acting role was in Terrence Malik’s Days of Heaven in 1978, in which he starred alongside Richard Gere.

Other movie credits include Steel Magnolias, The Pelican Brief and The Accidental Husband.

More recently, Sam Shepard was seen as Robert Rayburn in two series of Netflix thriller Bloodline.

He also appears in psychological thriller Never Here, which had its premiere last month.

Sam Shepard was nominated for two other Pulitzers, for Broadway plays Fool for Love and True West. He was also nominated for two Tony Awards.

His final play was A Particle of Dread, which was first performed in New York in 2014.

Sam Shepard wrote the screenplay for Robert Altman’s big screen adaptation of his play Fool for Love. His novel, The One Inside, was published earlier this year.

A spokesman said Sam Shepard’s family was with him when he died. He is survived by children Jesse, Hannah and Walker Shepard and sisters Sandy and Roxanne Rogers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3D9uekK2wQ

Cristiano Ronaldo Appears in Spanish Court for Tax Evasion

Clyde K. Valle
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Cristiano Ronaldo Appears in Spanish Court for Tax Evasion

Cristiano Ronaldo has appeared at a Spanish court where he was facing allegations he evaded millions in tax.

Prosecutors accuse the soccer star, reported to be the world’s highest paid athlete, of evading €14.7 million ($17.3 million) in tax.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 32, had been expected to make a statement after the pre-trial hearing, but left without saying a word.

The Real Madrid player has previously denied the allegations, saying his “conscience is clear”.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the latest in a string of soccer players to be pursued by the Spanish tax authorities.

Image source Wikimedia

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Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona, was handed a 21-month prison sentence after being found guilty of the same charge last year.

Earlier this month, the court ruled he could pay €252,000 in place of jail time.

However, Lionel Messi was only accused of evading €4.1 million in tax, €10.6 million less than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo spent an hour-and-a-half giving evidence to judges at a court in the Madrid suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón on July 31, dodging the media camped outside by arriving and leaving via an underground garage.

According to prosecutors, Cristiano Ronaldo allegedly took “advantage of a company structure created in 2010 to hide income generated in Spain from his image rights from tax authorities”, which was a “voluntary and conscious breach of his fiscal obligations in Spain”.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s management has also denied the allegations.

However, if the case is sent to trial and Cristiano Ronaldo is found guilty, the Portuguese forward could face a fine of “at least €28 million” and a prison sentence of three-and-a-half years, the Gestha union of experts at Spain’s Inland Revenue says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoCgCYHU8w8

Princess Diana Private Tapes: Channel 4 Urged Not to Broadcast Controversial Tapes

Lisa.Felice
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Princess Diana Private Tapes: Channel 4 Urged Not to Broadcast Controversial Tapes

Channel 4 has been urged by Princess Diana’s friends not to broadcast controversial video tapes of her talking about her troubled marriage.

The documentary, Diana: In Her Own Words, is due to be aired ahead of the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death.

The tapes, recorded by Diana’s speech coach, have never been seen in the UK.

Channel 4 said they “provide a unique insight”. However, Diana’s close friend Rosa Monckton said they were a betrayal of the late princess’s privacy.

Rosa Monckton is writing to Channel 4 to ask them not to air the tapes. She told The Guardian: “This doesn’t belong in the public domain.

“It is a betrayal of her privacy and of the family’s privacy.”

The footage was recorded by Peter Settelen, who was hired by Princess Diana between 1992 and 1993 to help with her public speaking voice.

Image source Wikipedia

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The Princess of Wales was filmed at Kensington Palace and is seen talking about her marriage to Prince Charles, their intimate life and how she confronted him about his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Duchess of Cornwall.

The tapes were returned to Peter Settelen in 2004 after a dispute with Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer, who said they belonged to him. They had initially been held by Scotland Yard after being seized in 2001 in a raid on the home of former royal butler Paul Burrell.

Excerpts were broadcast in the US later in 2004 after being sold to American broadcaster NBC.

The BBC was reportedly planning to show the tapes as part of a documentary in 2007, the year of the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, but scrapped the project.

Channel 4’s deputy chief creative officer Ralph Lee described the tapes as an “amazing historical document” that “allows us to create a new portrait of Diana”.

A Channel 4 spokesman said the subjects covered in the tapes were “a matter of public record and provide a unique insight into the preparations Diana undertook to gain a public voice and tell her own personal story”.

Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVMLzgRpk4k

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Venezuela Assembly Elections: Nicolas Maduro Claims Victory as Opposition Calls for Protests

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela Assembly Elections: Nicolas Maduro Claims Victory as Opposition Calls for Protests

According to Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), the turnout in the controversial election for a constituent assembly was 41.5%, a figure disputed by the opposition.

The opposition coalition said 88% of voters abstained and it refused to recognize the election. It also called for more protests on July 31.

July 30 election was marred by violence, with widespread protests and at least 10 people killed.

President Nicolás Maduro hailed the poll as a “vote for the revolution”.

Venezuelans were asked to choose the more than 500 representatives who will make up a constituent assembly.

The constituent assembly was convened by Nicolas Maduro to rewrite the existing constitution, which was drafted and passed in 1999 when his mentor, President Hugo Chávez, was in office.

On July 31, the head of the CNE, Tibisay Lucena, announced that there had been an “extraordinary turnout” of more than eight million voters.

She also announced that President Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, was among those elected as representatives, as well as the president’s close allies Diosdado Cabello, Iris Varela and Delcy Rodríguez.

Image source Wikipedia

The announcement was met with outrage and derision by the opposition, who boycotted the vote.

Opposition politician Henry Ramos Allup said their figures suggested fewer than 2.5 million Venezuelans had turned out to vote.

With the opposition boycotting the election from the start and not fielding any candidates, it was always less about who would be elected and more about how many Venezuelans would take part in the voting.

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The opposition held an unofficial referendum two weeks before the election asking Venezuelans whether they wanted a constituent assembly at all. According to opposition figures, more than seven million Venezuelans rejected the constituent assembly in that vote.

The opposition urged Venezuelans to stay at home and even some Chavistas (supporters of the socialist movement created by President Hugo Chávez and of which Nicolas Maduro is a part) said they objected to the constituent assembly and would not vote.

There were widespread reports of public sector workers being told by their bosses to go and vote or face being sacked.

How many people turned out was therefore seen as a key indicator of support for the government.

The opposition claims that the figures are unverifiable because a number of procedures which have been in place at previous elections were not followed.

For example, voters’ little fingers were not marked with indelible ink to prevent them from trying to vote multiple times.

There were also no independent observers.

However, Tibisay Lucena said voting had proceeded “normally” and that violent outbreaks at a small number of polling stations had been controlled.

Nicolas Maduro convened the constituent assembly on 1 May amid fierce anti-government protests.

The president argued the constituent assembly would promote “reconciliation and peace”, however he did not give details of exactly how rewriting the constitution would achieve such broad aims.

Government critics fear that President Maduro wants to use the constituent assembly to maximize his power and cling on to it for longer.

As the constituent assembly will be drawing up a new constitution it has the potential to fundamentally change how Venezuela is run.

The last time a constituent assembly met in 1999, the legislature was suspended while the constitution was debated.

The opposition has called for fresh protests on July 31.

On July 30, at least 10 people were killed in protests across the country, prompting opposition leader Henrique Capriles to speak of a “massacre”.

Despite a government ban on protests and the threat of jail terms of up to 10 years for anyone disrupting the electoral process, streets were barricaded and a number of polling stations attacked ahead of the vote.

Tensions are likely to increase further on July 31 and ahead of the swearing-in of the constituent assembly members on August 2.

Chester Bennington Funeral Held in Palos Verdes

Sonia Pantiss
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Chester Bennington Funeral Held in Palos Verdes

Chester Bennington’s funeral has taken place in California ten days after his death at the age of 41.

According to TMZ, the private service was held near Linkin Park’s singer’s home in Palos Verdes Estates.

Guests were given wristbands and access passes similar to VIP concert passes, featuring an image of Chester Bennington.

The singer’s body was found at a private home in Los Angeles on July 20. A coroner said Chester Bennington apparently hanged himself.

A stage with a drum kit was set up at the funeral.

Image source Wikimedia

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About 200 family members, friends and musicians attended the service.

Linkin Park have now become the first US band in 50 years to secure three albums in the top 10.

The band paid tribute to Chester Bennington in a statement last week.

“Our hearts are broken. The shock waves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened,” the statement read.

“You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized.”

Formed in 1996, Linkin Park have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and won two Grammy Awards.

Linkin Park had a string of hits including Faint, In The End and Crawling, and collaborated with Jay-Z.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LivDwyWvUiI

Noisy Car Issues: Here Are Signals That Your Car Needs Early Repairing

Nancy Clayson
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Noisy Car Issues: Here Are Signals That Your Car Needs Early Repairing

While newly designed cars are more reliable than ever, sometimes glitches on manufacturing tend to surface on some units. One obvious sign that your vehicle needs early and minor repair even if you just bought it is by noticing how its engine or other parts sounds.

Any unusual sound needs to be checked out, the louder and the constant the noise, the more urgent you need to pay attention to it and subject it for a maintenance check up. These conditions may arise when your car has been in the service for how many years already, but it does not exempt those you just recently bought.

In case you are not particular with the noise that your car was making, here are some sounds that are more likely to occur and what they indicate.

 

Screeching Noise When Applying Brakes

car blue wheels audi luxury

When hearing this kind of sound, it is usually a sign that your brake pads and other parts are worn, resulting in a pad not applying as it should be thereby causing excessive noise and heat. Some vehicle has this weak brake indicator signaling that you already need to replace your car’s brake pads.

This condition needs immediate attention since it is hazardous when your car can’t properly stop when you need it to be. Also if this you will not take action to address this as soon as possible, further damage to your tires and suspension may occur.

You can solve this problem by just asking your mechanic to replace a new set of brake pads and putting the recommended amount of brake fluids.

Rattling and Rumbling Exhaust Noise

car auto vehicle travel trip green grass park outdoor

If you notice that your car sounds unnecessarily louder than it should be and the sound may have come from the underneath the vehicle, chances are this is a hole somewhere in the exhausts pipes or anywhere in its system.

Attending to this issue is easy as changing the exhaust pipe and replacing the corroded section with a new muffler. Serious problems like poor engine performance or breakage may arise if this is left unattended for an extended period.

Noises From Aerodynamic Interference

Most cars are designed to minimize air turbulence resulting in reduced noise coming from the outside of the vehicle as you drive along the road. There may arise unwanted aerodynamic interference when some parts of your car are loosened up over time or been damaged by debris.

A most typical example is a loose door noob or a broken trunk lock. Noises arising from this factor depends on your driving speed and may grow more irritating as you go faster. You can address these problems by having it fixed by a mobile mechanic.

You will surely notice a better ride experience when you resolve this issue right away.

Engine Piston Noise

If you notice an unnecessary noise under the hood, it may be caused by the piston to miscalibrated or having timing issues. This problem needs immediate and severe attention. If not addressed as soon as possible, more and more parts of the engine will slowly crumble down, and you will not like it if it turns into total breakage.

To prevent this issue from happening in your car, make it a habit to regularly change engine oil and be more accurate when shifting gears.

Takeaway

Noises coming out from your car are signals that it needs immediate attention for repair and maintenance. Except saving you a ton of cash from worse damages, maintaining your vehicle in its proper shape will reduce your risk of you getting yourself into accidents. Be more vigilant when it comes to your safety and never let any of these signs pass your attention.

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Jeanne Moreau Dies Aged 89

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Jeanne Moreau Dies Aged 89

French cinema icon Jeanne Moreau has died at the age of 89.

Jeanne Moreau is best known for her role in Francois Truffaut’s 1962 new wave film Jules et Jim.

She won a number of awards including the best actress prize at Cannes for Moderato Cantabile in 1960.

Jeanne Moreau also worked with Orson Welles on several movies and won the BAFTA Award for best foreign actress for Viva Maria! in 1967.

Image source Wikimedia

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She was found dead at her home in Paris, the district’s mayor told the AFP.

Paying tribute, French President Emmanuel Macron said Jeanne Moreau had “embodied cinema” and was a free spirit who “always rebelled against the established order”.

Jeanne Moreau had a prolific career and continued acting into her 80s.

The actress’ other movie included 1961’s La Notte, directed by Michelangelo Antonioni; Luis Bunuel’s Diary of a Chambermaid (1964); and Tony Richardson’s Mademoiselle (1966).

She famously turned down Mike Nichols’ invitation to play Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate, and instead reunited with Francois Truffaut for 1968’s The Bride Wore Black, an homage to Alfred Hitchcock.

Jeanne Moreau won one of France’s highest acting honors, a Cesar for best actress, for The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea in 1992.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRyOma8c8eY

It Does Matter: 3 Reasons Why It’s Best for a Company to Have an HMO

Nancy Clayson
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0
It Does Matter: 3 Reasons Why It’s Best for a Company to Have an HMO

Our world as we know it is always evolving. Due to this constant change, a lot of people have to keep up. Large scale companies and enterprises are surely keeping up because the demand for workers is high. Even though there are sufficient people to consider as a proper work force, a lot of individuals still find themselves entrenched in overtime.

Due to the strain brought on by work and the unhealthy surroundings that every one of us has to endure, a lot of us get sick. From simple colds to life-threatening conditions, it’s safe to assume that everyone isn’t safe from experiencing this ordeal. Sooner or later an employee will need to have medical attention and health care. What happens then?

Here is the answer: HMO’s, in a nutshell, is an insurance organization which aims to provide a broad range of medical services from professional health workers and physicians to employees of a company registered with them. Aside from complying with laws and regulations, an enterprise can significantly benefit from having a Health Maintenance Organization.

According to the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973, an employer who has 25 or more people in the workforce should give them HMO options. Here are three reasons why a company is better off with a certified HMO.

Having an HMO Boosts Business

business, charts, commerce

Even though U.S. provisions tell us that a company who has 25 or more employees should offer health insurance, those who don’t meet the numbers should also do so to avail of certain benefits. It’s always a good idea to put value not just in the work that employees bring but putting a value for their well being as well.

Employers who contribute to health insurance premiums are tax-deductible which means lesser taxes to cut from the overall profits of a company. To be more specific, those companies who invest in an HMO plan for their employees can qualify and take advantage of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.

HMO not only Attracts Quantity, but it also Attracts Quality

Person Holding Black and Grey Pen

A lot of people will certainly look for jobs everywhere. It’s important to know that having an HMO is a make or break decision for some of these applicants. According to a study done by the Society for Human Resource Management or SHRM, almost 90% of those who applied for a job said that a company that had an HMO was a big factor for them in applying.

It only does not increase the number of people applying for a job in your business, but it also increases the chance of an individual with high talent or exceptional qualities to do so. Having the best from the rest isn’t such a bad idea considering that the world is in a state of cut-throat competition wherein people who have exceptional talent are rarities

Employee’s Morale Increases Exponentially

adult, business, choices

Those businesses that invest in certified HMOs enable their employees to have a sense of importance and belongingness within the workplace. Due to this reason, employees make it a point to work hard to stay with the company for a long time. These people believe that the company treats them more than just workers but partners as well.

Due to this increase in morale, performance increases, which in turn, makes more productivity within the company. Another benefit that raises confidence are the extensive services that are openly available and provided by HMO’s. These services include free screenings, processing of meditouch costs, health lectures, etc.

Having a good HMO also decreases the company’s loss due to most employees who call in sick for work. According to the CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated $226 billion in losses was due to these absences. There have also been links confirming that those who missed work did not have any HMO’s or coverage at all.

A good reason why employees work hard when there is an HMO is that the beneficiaries aren’t solely for them, but for their immediate family members too. HMO’s in a way is the company’s way of putting a value on their workers.

This gesture says a lot on how a company treats their employees. These individuals, in turn, do all they can to stay in an environment that not only takes care of them but their family as well.

Takeaway

HMO is indeed a good way for companies to take care of their employees. Whether a requirement or not, it is highly advisable for businesses, regardless of the number of staff to provide an HMO and health insurance. Investing in a certified HMO is more beneficial in the long run due to the benefits that the government gives to those who invest.

Employees would also feel elated that their company has an HMO. For them, this means that the company is giving them the importance and treats them more than just ordinary workers. In fact, an HMO increases an employee’s morale and productivity. More importantly, an HMO reduces the chances of an employee from calling in sick.

Salvează

Salvează

Russia Expels 755 US Diplomatic Staff

Roy Siemens
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0
Russia Expels 755 US Diplomatic Staff

President Vladimir Putin has ordered 755 US diplomatic staff to leave Russia, in retaliation for new US sanctions against Moscow.

The decision to expel staff was made on July 29 , but President Putin has now confirmed the number who must go by September 1.

It brings staff levels to 455, the same as Russia’s complement in Washington.

This is thought to be the largest expulsion of diplomats from any country in modern history.

The number includes Russian employees of the US diplomatic missions across Russia.

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Staff in the embassy in Moscow as well as the consulates in Ekaterinburg, Vladivostok and St. Petersburg are affected.

Vladimir Putin did strike a conciliatory note, saying he did not want to impose more measures, but also said he could not see ties changing “anytime soon”.

The president told Russian TV: “More than 1,000 people were working and are still working” at the US embassy and consulates, and that “755 people must stop their activities in Russia.”

Russia has also said it is seizing holiday properties and a warehouse used by US diplomats.

Vladimir Putin suggested he could consider more measures, but said: “I am against it as of today.”

The Russian president also noted the creation of a de-escalation zone in southern Syria as an example of a concrete result of working together.

However, in terms of general relations, Vladimir Putin added: “We have waited long enough, hoping that the situation would perhaps change for the better.

“But it seems that even if the situation is changing, it’s not for anytime soon.”

The new US sanctions were in retaliation both for Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Russian interference in the US election.

In December, the Obama administration ordered the seizure of two Russian diplomatic compounds and expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response to alleged hacking of the US Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

The new US sanctions on Russia were overwhelmingly approved by both houses of Congress despite objections from the White House.

US intelligence agencies believe Russia tried to sway the election in favor of President Donald Trump and now there are several investigations looking into whether anyone from his campaign helped.

Russia has always denied interfering and Donald Trump insists there was no collusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq6rriUjtHM

Venezuela Assembly Elections: Two Officials Killed Before Voting

Diane A. Wade
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0
Venezuela Assembly Elections: Two Officials Killed Before Voting

A candidate in Venezuela’s assembly elections and an opposition activist have been killed on July 30.

The killings took place before voting started to elect a new assembly with powers to rewrite the constitution.

The opposition says it is a power grab by President Nicolás Maduro and is boycotting the vote.

Venezeula’s government says the constituent assembly is the only way to bring peace back to the country after months of violent protests.

José Felix Pineda, a 39-year-old lawyer running in the election, was shot in his home on the night before the election day, a senior Venezuelan minister said.

Ricardo Campos, a youth secretary with the opposition Acción Democrática party, was shot dead during a protest, the head of the national assembly said.

A soldier in the National Guard was also killed in protests in the western town of La Grita, officials and media reports said.

Image source Wikipedia

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The El Nacional newspaper said 13 people had been killed across Venezuela in the past 24 hours.

Protests have continued in defiance of a ban on them taking place. An explosion near one demonstration in Caracas injured several police officers and set a number of their motorbikes on fire.

The security forces have used armored vehicles to dispel protesters in the Caracas district of El Paraíso amid the sound of gunfire, AFP says, citing local reports.

President Maduro cast his own ballot shortly after polling stations opened at 06:00.

In a TV speech, the president predicted a “big victory”, calling the vote “the most important election held in Venezuela’s political system”.

However, electoral council chief Tibisay Lucena acknowledged that some voting machines had been attacked and burned in parts of Venezuela.

Four months of protests against President Maduro and his plans for the assembly have left more than 100 people dead.

The election has been heavily criticized by other Latin American countries as well as the EU and the US, which last week imposed new sanctions on members of President Maduro’s government.

Venezuela, a major oil producer, is gripped by a political crisis, with soaring inflation and daily food shortages.

Many residents in Caracas were stocking up on essential items on July 29 in case unrest left shops closed into July 31, correspondents said.

Europe Bridge: World’s Longest Hanging Bridge Opens near Zermatt

Nancy Clayson
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Europe Bridge: World’s Longest Hanging Bridge Opens near Zermatt

A 1,640ft bridge for hikers billed as the longest hanging pedestrian bridge in the world has opened near Zermatt, Switzerland.

The 494m bridge, named the Europabrücke (Europe Bridge), hangs up to 85m above the Grabengufer ravine.

The Zermatt Tourist Board says it is the world’s longest, although a 405m bridge in Reutte in Austria hangs 110m higher above the ground.

Image source EPA

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The new bridge replaces a previous one that had been damaged by rock falls.

The Europe Bridge, whose cables weigh about eight tonnes, is equipped with a system to prevent it from swinging, the Zermatt Tourist Board said.

The new bridge forms part of a two-day hiking route between Zermatt and Grächen in southern Switzerland with views of the Matterhorn mountain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8iuwWHduKQ

Timeless Beauty Trends Guide

Lisa.Felice
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Timeless Beauty Trends Guide

When it comes to beauty, there are a few styles that will simply never go out of fashion. These timeless looks will allow you to stay beautiful, looking chic and feeling confident, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. While the 80’s shell suits and blue eyeshadow look of the 90’s will probably never venture into the beauty guide ever again (we hope), there are a number of timeless beauty trends that you should remember. Here, we’re taking a look at some of the most timeless makeup and beauty trends for you to consider.

Cat-Eye Liner

The beautiful cat-eye is a look that you can pull off no matter what you’re doing. Whether you’re on a night out and you want a dramatic look of heavy eyeliner and smoky eyes, or you want a day-to-day look to freshen up your face, the cat-eye should never be overlooked. An expertly flicked wing in the corner of your eye lid can really help to attract attention to your eyes and make you seem more awake too. There are a number of products on the market that can provide you with the look that you are looking for, and if you’re looking for something a little more outrageous, you can choose a colour or glitter style eyeliner to really change up your look!

Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is almost certain to never go out of style, and with breast augmentation having been the most popular cosmetic procedure for a number of years, it is a choice for you to consider if you are unhappy with the size of your breasts. However, you don’t always have to go for such an extreme plastic surgery option, as there are a number of minimally-invasive procedures that you can choose too, to help you feel more confident in your own skin.

Image source Pexels

Red Lipstick

This timeless classic really does have the power to enhance your facial features, and you can dress it up or dress it down. No matter how you decide to wear it, you’re certain to attract a lot of attention as it highlights all of the right areas of your face. The best part about red lipstick is that you can get in a shade that suits absolutely any skin tone, no matter how pale or tanned you are. Red lipstick is one of the most versatile colours out there, and it is a timeless staple for your make-up kit.

Soft Hair Waves

Sleek hair waves are an extremely important trend to make sure your hair looks gorgeous. Another option for you to dress up or dress down, soft hair waves really are a great option if you’re looking for a versatile look. You can leave your hair unwashed, style with oil, curlers, straighteners, however you wish to do it! All you need is a little bit of hairspray and your soft hair waves are certain to remain in style all year round. No matter the era, you can be sure that soft hair waves will stay in fashion at all times.

Air France Buys 31% of Virgin Atlantic for $286 Million

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Air France Buys 31% of Virgin Atlantic for $286 Million

Air France-KLM is buying 31% of Virgin Atlantic, leaving Richard Branson’s parent company, Virgin Group, with a minority stake in the airline he founded.

Air France-KLM is taking the £220 million ($286 million)-stake in Virgin Atlantic as part of a four-way joint-venture with Delta.

Virgin Group’s share will fall from 51% to 20%, while Delta will retain 49%.

Richard Branson said he would remain “very much involved” after the deal.

In an open letter, he said that the new joint-venture would be “extremely beneficial” to the airline, customers and the brand, and recalled key moments in Virgin Atlantic’s history, striking a valedictory tone.

Image source Wikimedia

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Air France-KLM CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac said the deal would give customers “even more choice between Europe, UK and the United States via twelve hubs on both sides of the Atlantic”.

Virgin and Delta have operated a joint-venture for almost five years, plying the busy routes between Europe and the US.

Competition has intensified in recent years, with newcomers including Norwegian and British Airways’ low-cost Level service offering no-frills long-haul flights.

The new venture, which will also include troubled Italian carrier Alitalia, will operate 300 transatlantic flights per day.

In a joint press release Virgin and its partners said the venture would offer “convenient flight schedules with competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers”.

Virgin Atlantic, set up in 1984, was one of the earliest companies in Richard Branson’s Virgin brand portfolio.

In his open letter, Richard Branson recalled its eventful rivalry with British Airways, the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the financial crisis.

Richard Branson wrote that as he got older he was keen to ensure that “all the necessary building blocks are in place for Virgin Atlantic to continue to prosper and grow for the next 50 years”.

While transatlantic routes are among the most lucrative, Virgin has had mixed fortunes in recent years.

In 2016, Virgin reported its best profits for five years, but the company warned earlier this year that it was likely to go into the red again in 2017 as the weaker pound pushed up costs and put off holiday-makers.

Porsche Forced to Recall 22,000 Cars over Illegal Emissions-Controlling Software

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Porsche Forced to Recall 22,000 Cars over Illegal Emissions-Controlling Software

Porsche has been told by the German transport minister to recall of 22,000 cars to remove what he says is illegal emissions-controlling software.

He said that Porsche would bear the cost of the recalls of the affected 3-liter Cayenne models.

It comes as Porsche’s sister company Volkswagen says it will refit almost a million more diesel cars in Germany.

VW admitted in 2015 that some of its diesel cars were fitted with a “defeat device” to cheat on emissions tests.

Allegations about Porsche first emerged in German magazine Der Spiegel last month.

The magazine said it was told by a source that the Porsche Cayenne had a “warm up mode” whose true purpose was to comply with emissions requirements. It said tests showed that once the car was confronted with small bends or a slope it switched to a different mode and emissions were higher.

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on July 27: “There is no explanation why this software was in this vehicle.

“These vehicles are equipped with modern emissions-controlling technology so we think these vehicles are technically able to stick to emissions limits and we therefore believe Porsche will quickly be in a position to bring the software into conformity (with the law).”

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Meanwhile, VW will “offer to refit four million vehicles and thereby significantly reduce emissions,” CEO Matthias Mueller said on July 27 after meeting Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks.

Some 2.5 million VW cars are already covered by a recall of diesel vehicles introduced after the firm first owned up to cheating regulatory emissions tests.

Last week it was announced that VW subsidiary Audi would be offering a free software upgrade for 850,000 diesel cars across Europe, some 600,000 of them in Germany.

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That leaves close to a million other cars to be included in the new refit plans. These include models from subsidiary Porsche, VW’s Touareg sport utility vehicles, and some of its Transporter vans.

Separately, VW has been forced to defend its record after allegations that it teamed up with other German car giants to breach EU cartel rules.

Volkswagen said it was normal for manufacturers to exchange technical information to speed up innovation.

However, the company declined to comment on specific allegations that five German auto makers colluded on price and technology.

Daimler has also called the allegations speculative.

EU and German anti-trust regulators are looking at allegations that BMW, Daimler and VW, including its subsidiaries Audi and Porsche, collaborated for decades on many aspects of development and production, disadvantaging customers and suppliers.

Ohio State Fair Accident: One Killed and Five Injured on Fireball Ride

Nancy Clayson
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0
Ohio State Fair Accident: One Killed and Five Injured on Fireball Ride

One person died and five others are critically injured after a reported ride malfunction at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus.

Fire chief Steve Martin told local media outlets that victims were thrown from the “fireball” spinning pendulum ride.

Ohio Governor John Kasich confirmed at least one death, and said he had ordered all fair rides shut until safety inspections were carried out.

The governor also said a full investigation would be carried out.

The fireball ride swings from side to side while simultaneously spinning passengers in circles at high speed. It is known by the name “afterburner” in European markets.

Speaking to reporters, a doctor treating some victims said: “Passengers were ejected at high speed with high energy, many feet – at least 20 or 30, if not more – into the air, and then crashed at a significant distance from the ride.”

He said the speed of the impact could be similar to a vehicle crash.

Image source Wikimedia

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A video circulating online appeared to show one passenger carriage breaking loose near the bottom of its pendulum swing, tossing passengers into the air as it rose again.

The video has not been independently verified.

The Ohio State Fair confirmed on Twitter that there was “a report of a ride incident” but provided no further details.

Local NBC affiliate WCMH reported that one of the injured is a 13-year-old child. Multiple local news outlets have said the deceased is an 18-year-old.

The accident took place on July 26, the opening day of the fair.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that safety inspections of the rides had taken place earlier in the week.

Chief inspector Mike Vartorella said: “My grandchildren ride this equipment… our guys do not rush through this stuff. We look at it, we take care of it, we pretend it’s our own.”

Mike Vartorella said the ride was inspected “three or four times” in the past two days by both his own inspectors and a “third party”.

Donald Trump Bans Transgenders from US Military

Diane A. Wade
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0
Donald Trump Bans Transgenders from US Military

President Donald Trump has announced that the government will not accept or allow transgender people to serve in the US military.

The White House has not yet decided how it will implement the ban.

President Trump’s surprise Twitter announcement on July 26 has been met with criticism from rights groups.

Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the administration would work alongside the Pentagon to decide how to proceed.

It is not yet clear how the announcement will affect current transgender service personnel.

“The United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US military,” President Trump tweeted.

“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

Asked at a press briefing if troops on battlefields would be immediately sent back, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the policy had yet to be worked out.

She said: “The decision is based on a military decision. It’s not meant to be anything more than that.”

Image source Flickr

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However, some media outlets questioned the spending justification. The Washington Post drew attention to an analysis that the US military spends almost $42 million a year on the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra – several times the total estimated cost of transgender medical support.

Meanwhile, Politico reports that the move was prompted by threats from Republican hardliners over a spending bill which would provide funding for President Trump’s promised military spending and border wall plans.

One Republican lawmaker had already tabled an amendment to the spending bill to prevent the military paying for transgender surgical procedures.

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The decision to allow transgender people to serve openly in the military was made by the Obama administration in 2016, with a one-year review period allowed for its implementation.

The policy included a provision for the military to provide medical help for service members wanting to change gender.

However, last month, Defense Secretary James Mattis agreed to a further six-month delay.

In 2016, the independent Rand Corporation estimated that about 4,000 US active-duty and reserve service members are transgender, although some campaigners put the figure higher than 10,000.

Rand Corporation also predicted that the inclusion of transgender people in the military would lead to a 0.13% increase in healthcare spending (approximately $8.4 million).

President Trump said his decision was based on consultation with his generals, but there has been a mixed reaction.

Broadening Horizons – Your Best Bet Of Surviving Today’s Job Market

Dana R
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0
Broadening Horizons – Your Best Bet Of Surviving Today’s Job Market

The job market at the moment is unpredictable, we can all agree with that. Graduates are coming out with student debt only to find themselves unable to land a position where they want. People of all levels of experience and training are struggling to find the place for them and choosing to settle. Many want to change careers only to find their options seem limited. That doesn’t have to be the case, however. Let’s look at how savvy job seekers are broadening their horizons so that they don’t stay as job seekers for long.

Pic sourced by Pixabay

Don’t stick to traditional job-seeking methods

We’re all aware of the most obvious of job-seeking methods: looking at listings and applying for whatever jobs appeal to you. However, if you relegate your job search to only those methods, you might be missing more opportunities than you find. There’s no reliable number as to how many jobs aren’t advertised, but it’s enough that taking a different approach can make a real difference. Networking, whether in your own personal group of past colleagues, family members, and alumni can open a lot of doors. Recruitment agencies can often help people with very specialized skills better find a position that suits those skills. If there’s an industry you want to work in, don’t be shy about simply asking to be considered for a place and leaving your resume with them, tailored to the skills relevant to what they do.

Look across the sea

If you have training in a specific industry or method of work, then you aren’t just limited to the market at home. It’s a good idea to look at the industries and skill sets that other countries are looking to build. You can find more job opportunities in a different locale and many are even willing to speed up the visa application and approval process to get you over there. Even the English language is proving a highly marketable skill, with an online ESL masters giving you the qualifications and opportunity to teach abroad. This could fulfill the dreams of many looking to teach in places like Japan, Korea, Italy, or Thailand. You could land safely in a career and experience a whole new culture at the same time.

computers

Pic sourced by Tranmautritam

Take charge of your own career

If you have marketable skills, then you can go about selling them yourself. The internet has allowed more people than ever before to become their own boss and start a career in freelancing. In particular, freelance writers, marketers, graphic designers, web designers, and coders play an important part of the online economy. But your freelance career can involve you doing just about anything, even if it’s working in an administrative role as a virtual assistant for different companies and individuals.  Not everyone is suited to the challenges of a freelancer’s career, but the freedom of working for yourself and the fact you can build your wealth solely off your own success makes it an increasingly attractive prospect.

Put the odds in your favor

There are, of course, careers that are always going to be more likely to land you a job. If you’re considering a career switch, then look at the jobs most in demand nowadays. For instance, many fear that we’re seeing a decrease of trained tradesmen, which could mean that plumbing, electrician work, and construction jobs could end up being more lucrative than in the past. As mentioned, marketing is also becoming a growing force thanks to the online world, but you don’t have to work for yourself if you don’t have the drive. There are plenty of marketing agencies, big and small, looking for creative people.

writing-notes

Pic sourced by Startup Stock Photos

Skills: keep learning and keep evaluating

You might already have skills that make you a fit for more careers than you imagine. For instance, people who have enjoyed some success in engineering roles also tend to make for effective project managers in any other field. Teachers often go on to have a lot of success in corporate training. Managers in organizations can go on to become consultants. Besides evaluating your skills, you should look for opportunities to keep gathering new ones. If you’re unemployed and on the job search, consider looking for internships and apprenticeships. Many of them pay, but even if they don’t, they make sure you keep working on your employability with practical skills instead of just waiting to find a job.

With all the options, looking online can be your best friend. You can find remote working opportunities, networking groups, online learning services and much more. Stay connected and stay hungry. Take the initiative and your chances are a lot better of finding the career you want.

House Votes to Impose Fresh Sanctions on Russia

Diane A. Wade
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0
House Votes to Impose Fresh Sanctions on Russia

The House has voted to impose fresh sanctions on Russia, despite President Donald Trump objecting to the legislation.

Senior Russian officials will be targeted in retaliation for alleged Moscow interference in the US 2016 election.

The bill is likely to complicate President Trump’s hopes of improving relations with Russia.

Russia said the vote could destroy the possibility of “normalizing relations” between the two countries.

The bill needs to be passed through the Senate before it can be sent on to President Trump to be signed.

The White House says it is reviewing the bill, and it is unclear whether President Trump will veto it.

“While the president supports tough sanctions on North Korea, Iran and Russia, the White House is reviewing the House legislation and awaits a final legislative package for the president’s desk,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.

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Russia’s relationship with President Trump has dogged his first six months in office, amid allegations Moscow interfered to help him get elected.

Donald Trump has also piled pressure on his attorney general over the Russia inquiry. He has publicly labeled Jeff Sessions “weak” and said he was “disappointed” in Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the investigation.

Image NBC News

The legislation, which passed by 419 to three, was described by House Speaker Paul Ryan as a sanctions package that “tightens the screws on our most dangerous adversaries in order to keep Americans safe”.

The sanctions on Russia were drawn up in part to further punish its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. If passed, they would:

  • Penalize companies, including those in Europe, that contribute to Russian energy development, affecting companies involved the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany;
  • Shorten the duration of loans to Russian banks and Russian oil and gas companies;
  • Freeze assets of state-owned mining and railway companies;
  • Codify existing sanctions to make them more difficult to lift in the future;
  • Stop President Donald Trump being able to singlehandedly ease the sanctions.

The US already has a range of sanctions in place against Russian individuals and companies over Crimea.

At the end of last year, following claims of election hacking, then-President Barack Obama expelled 35 diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in the US.

The bill will also see fresh sanctions against North Korea and Iran over ballistic missile tests.

However, the new measures against Russia have been criticized in Europe. On July 26, a spokesman for the Germany foreign ministry expressed concern, saying US politicians were conducting industrial policy under the guise of sanctions, according to Reuters.

This version of the legislation still needs to be approved by the Senate, but it is not yet clear when it will consider the bill.

However, if it passes through the Senate mostly intact, the bill would provide a headache for President Trump, who has signaled a more conciliatory approach towards Moscow.

If the two chambers pass similar but slightly different bills, a committee will draw up a compromise version for approval.

Once both House and Senate have approved a bill, it goes to the president to be signed into law.

President Trump could veto the bill, but in doing so would fuel suspicion that he is too supportive of the Kremlin, correspondents say.

The bill has widespread support from both major parties in both Houses – making a veto a potentially unpopular political move.

Additionally, a presidential veto can be ignored if two thirds of both the House and Senate vote to override the president.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Trump is “going to study that legislation and see what the final product looks like.”

The Kremlin continues to insist it did not interfere in the US elections. One Russian newspaper has described the latest sanctions as “punishment, without a crime”.

UK Could Ban New Diesel and Gasoline Cars from 2040

Clyde K. Valle
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0
UK Could Ban New Diesel and Gasoline Cars from 2040

The UK’s government is set to announce that new diesel and gasoline cars and vans will be banned in the country from 2040 in a bid to tackle air pollution.

Ministers will also unveil a £255 million ($332 million) fund to help councils tackle emissions from diesel vehicles, as part of a £3 billion ($3.9 billion) package of spending on air quality.

The government will later publish its clean air strategy, favoring electric cars, before a High Court deadline.

Campaigners said the measures were promising, but more detail was needed.

They had wanted government-funded and mandated clean air zones, with charges for the most-polluting vehicles to enter areas with high pollution, included in the plans.

Image source Geograph

After a protracted legal battle, the UK’s government was ordered by the courts to produce new plans to tackle illegal levels of harmful pollutant nitrogen dioxide.

Judges agreed with environmental campaigners that previous plans were insufficient to meet EU pollution limits.

Ministers had to set out their draft clean air strategy plans in May, with the final measures due by July 31.

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UK’s Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the government would give more than £200 million ($260 million) to local authorities to draw up plans to tackle particular roads with high pollution.

Local measures could include altering buses and other transport to make them cleaner, changing road layouts, altering features such as speed humps, and re-programming traffic lights to make vehicle-flow smoother.

It is thought ministers will consult on a scrappage scheme later this year, but there is no firm commitment.

Ministers have been wary of being seen to “punish” drivers of diesel cars, who, they argue, bought the vehicles after being encouraged to by the last Labour government because they produced lower carbon emissions.

The industry trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said it was important to avoid outright bans on diesels, which would hurt the sector.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles was growing but still at a very low level.

The AA said significant investment would be needed to install charging points across the UK and warned the National Grid would come under pressure with a mass switch-on of recharging after the rush hour.

The UK announcement comes amid signs of an accelerating shift towards electric cars instead of petrol and diesel ones, at home and abroad.

 

ObamaCare Repeal: Senate Votes to Start Debating New Republican Healthcare Bill

Diane A. Wade
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0
ObamaCare Repeal: Senate Votes to Start Debating New Republican Healthcare Bill

In a major step forward for President Donald Trump’s attempts to repeal ObamaCare, the Senate has voted to start debating a new Republican healthcare bill.

In a tight vote, several Republicans previously opposed to aspects of the plan changed their minds.

Prior attempts to replace ObamaCare have collapsed in recent weeks due to divisions in the GOP.

President Donald Trump had made scrapping the policy a key campaign pledge.

On July 25, the Senate began the debate-and-vote process which is expected to last a number of days. Nine Republicans voted against the first amendment – to repeal and replace ObamaCare – and it failed to pass.

Earlier, President Trump had warned GOP’s senators of the repercussions of not pushing through the measures to repeal and replace ObamaCare, known formally as the Affordable Care Act.

Image source Wikimedia

ObamaCare Repeal: President Trump Asks GOP Senators to Stand Behind Their Bill

The GOP, which needed a majority for the motion to go ahead, secured 51 votes after Vice-President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaker in support of the legislation.

Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor, received a standing ovation as he returned to Congress to cast his “Yes” vote.

Donald Trump tweeted his thanks to the Arizona senator for playing “such a vital role” in the vote: “Congrats to all Rep. We can now deliver grt [great] healthcare to all Americans.”

It remains unclear what measure senators will now debate and vote on.

There appear to be two choices – either a repeal-and-replace bill that has already struggled to win support across the party, or a bill that enacts repeal with a two-year delay, in the hope of finding agreement before that time elapses.

However, senators have also considered a “skinny bill”, a far narrower measure that would scale back some of the more controversial elements in an effort to get a wider consensus.

Republicans have long railed against ObamaCare as government overreach, criticizing the system for introducing government-run marketplaces, where premiums have risen sharply for some people.

The GOP’s proposed alternative includes steep cuts to Medicaid, a healthcare program for the poor and disabled.

It removes ObamaCare’s individual mandate requiring all Americans to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty.

About 20 million people gained health insurance under former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

The non-partisan Congressional Budgetary Office (CBO) found the bill would strip 22 million Americans of health insurance over the next decade.

If Republican senators elect to repeal key provisions of ObamaCare without immediately replacing it, the CBO estimates about 32 million consumers would lose insurance over the next 10 years.

The UK’s Gig Economy: Why Is It A Problem?

Dana R
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The UK’s Gig Economy: Why Is It A Problem?

gig-economy

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Over the past few months, criticism has been increasing through the UK job market over the so-called “gig economy”. With the UK focused on Brexit, many financial minds in the country have been obsessing over how robust the floundering economy as a whole can be, as they prepare to enter an incredibly turbulent period.

On the surface, everything looks fairly decent. Spending is down and growth is slowing for the UK, but it’s far from the immediate and catastrophic recession that many predicted a year ago in the wake of the Brexit vote. While it’s largely expected that things will get worse before they get better, there is still one great bastion for those who insist Brexit has been nothing but a good thing: the unemployment number.

UK Unemployment

The level of unemployment is usually a big signifier of how well an economy is performing. For the UK government, the current unemployment is an outrider, the one positive speck of financial hope in the midst of an otherwise unclear picture. The percentage of people who are unemployed has been primarily falling since 2012, with 4.5% the most recent figure, the same as the USA.

So what’s the problem? The more people employed, the higher the tax take, people spend more because they are earning, thus the better the economy will perform – right?

Not quite.

The Gig Economy

The problem comes with how people are technically defined as in employment. There has been a huge leap in insecure work in the UK, i.e. people who are defined as “self employed” who actually work for a company on a gig-by-gig basis.

Uber drivers, for example, are part of the gig economy. Deliveroo is another; motorcycle riders deliver food from restaurants direct to people’s doors. There’s no hourly rate; workers are only paid on each job.

From that payment, they have to be responsible for their own sick and holiday pay. They have to pay for their own insurance in case of a car or motorcycle accident while at work. They have to manage their own accounts and pay their own tax. For all this, they can also be fired with little to no notice due to the terms of employment.

Why Is This A Problem?

Capitalist economies – such as the one the UK has – depend heavily on people feeling that they have the freedom to spend money. If they don’t, the economy grinds to a halt – and there’s a sign that the UK consumer confidence is falling. This is due in no small part to the insecure nature of the work that millions of people find themselves in.

Then there is also the fact that while these people may be technically employed, they’re not necessarily earning much money. The UK’s personal income tax threshold is £11,500, so while many people may be employed, that doesn’t mean that they’re going to be paying income tax.

This is why the gig economy is under fire, with the UK – and other countries – examining the employment laws that gig businesses rely on to function. It seems that a low unemployment figure is far from a sign that a country’s economy is healthy, despite the fact it has always been portrayed as such.

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