Sunday, February 8, 2026
Newsletter
Home Blog Page 116

8 Awesome Things to Do in Phuket, Thailand

Dana R
-
0
8 Awesome Things to Do in Phuket, Thailand

Phuket is Thailand’s biggest island. It’s a truly magical place, famous for its beaches, luxe resorts, cultural heritage, and friendly people. Millions of visitors travel to Thailand every year, and many of those head straight to Phuket. Whether you are after Full Moon beach parties and go-go bars or historic temples and deserted beaches, Phuket has a lot to offer.

First, you need to book flights and accommodation. Phuket may be an island, but it has an international airport, which is 32 kilometres from Phuket City. Flights are available from most major airports around the world, so shop around for the best deals. It’s also worth booking flights to Bangkok and spending a few days there first. You can catch a connection from Bangkok to Phuket on various local carriers, including Bangkok Airways and Thai Smile.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

With flights in hand, accommodation is easy enough to find. There are numerous beach resorts, backpacker hostels, and small hotels for tourists. If you have plans to travel with family and friends, look at luxury Phuket rentals. You’ll find beautiful duplexes and villas with fabulous views and amazing amenities. Make your vacation a trip to remember and book a luxury rental in Phuket!

Now you have flights and accommodation all sewn up, here is our guide to the top eight things to do when you arrive.

1. Become a Beach Bum

Phuket has some amazing beaches. There are more than 30 stretches of sand dotted around the island, so you will be spoiled for choice. Some are livelier than others, so decide what your priorities are – people watching or solitude – and make your pick. Kata Beach is a top choice with many tourists. There is plenty of space to pitch your towel, plus a few amenities. Other popular beaches include Freedom Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Paradise Beach, and Ya Nui Beach.

2. Take a Trip to Phi Phi Island

Have you seen the Leonardo di Caprio movie, The Beach? If so, you’ll want to visit Phi Phi. This is where the famous ‘beach’ is located. Towering limestone cliffs loom over the idyllic beach, flanked by dense jungle. It’s a beautiful place. There are, in fact, two Phi Phi islands – Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. Both are beautiful and both will capture your heart and soul. Take a ferry from Phuket Town or book a private speedboat charter if you have a larger budget.

3. Visit the Similan Islands

While we are on the topic of island hopping, it would be remiss not to mention the stunning Similan Islands north-west of Phuket. If you love scuba diving, this is an unmissable destination. The dive sites around the Similan Islands are among the best in the world. The landscape on the islands is also pretty spectacular. Giant boulders teeter precariously on piles of stones. Beneath the waves is where it’s at though. There are amazing underwater caverns to explore, populated with extraordinary marine life. The islands are not open all year, so if you want to plan a visit, make sure you come to Phuket between October and May.

4. Go Shopping in the Night Markets

Most people choose to go shopping at night when the sun has gone down and it’s a bit cooler. Phuket’s night markets are famous. There are lots to choose from, each offering a wonderful and eclectic selection of trinkets, souvenirs, clothing, local arts and crafts, and more. While shopping, you can soak up the atmosphere, listen to music and watch street performers. It’s also a good opportunity to sample some delicious street food. Some of the best night markets on Phuket include Chillva Market, Phuket Walking Street, Phuket Weekend Market, and Malin Plaza Patong in Patong Beach.

5. Visit the Temples

You can’t come to Phuket without spending at least one day exploring some of the island’s cultural highlights. Wat Chalong is Phuket’s best-known and most important temple; it’s also the spiritual center of Phuket. It’s beautifully decorated with glass and has many glittering pagodas. There are no admission charges when you visit these amazing shrines, but you must dress in a respectful manner. This means no revealing clothing or beachwear. Cover up and respect the holiness of the temples. Remember, you will be asked to remove your shoes before you enter.

6. Take a Trip to Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay enjoyed a starring role in the movie, The Man with the Golden Gun. The huge rocky pinnacle in the bay is still called James Bond Island for this reason. As is common around Phuket (and Thailand), huge limestone cliffs jut out of the water, providing a spectacular backdrop to the beach. You can’t get too close to James Bond Island, but you can rent a boat and sail around it. Have lunch at Kho Panyee and explore the caves inside Koh Ping Ghan. It’s hard not to be impressed by the sheer beauty of the place.

7. Check Out the Nightlife on Bangla Road in Patong Beach

During the day, Bangla Road is relatively quiet, but when the sun goes down, the area comes to life in a glorious, technicolor blaze of neon lights and loud music. Bangla Road is not the faint-hearted. Every sense will be assailed as you walk down the strip. There are beer bars rubbing shoulders with sleazy go-go bars and street performers show off their skills every night. Expect to be hassled by touts selling tickets to shows. Drink lots of beer, enjoy the delirious atmosphere, and end your night with a boogie at Seduction Night Club or the new Tiger Disco.

8. Drive to the Big Buddha

Hiring a car is easy on Phuket. Once you have transport, drive out to the Big Buddha on top of the Nakkerd Hills, at the southern end of the island. This iconic landmark is hard to miss and is visible for miles. Climb to the top and check out the amazing views. There are maps available, to help you identify some of the landmarks on the horizon.

Other attractions include the Phuket FantaSea Show and elephant Sanctuaries – if you visit one make, sure it’s an ethical sanctuary.

Divorce and Business Ownership in Georgia

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Divorce and Business Ownership in Georgia

The division of property is one of the most important and disputed issues of divorce, along with child custody. This process can cause many difficulties, not only if the divorce is contested, but also if the spouses are sincerely ready to negotiate and reach an agreement.

In the US, there are so-called equitable distribution states and the community property states.  In the equitable distribution states, property acquired during the marriage typically belongs to the spouse who earned it, and in a divorce, all the property should be divided in an equitable and fair way, considering the plenty of factors of a particular divorce case. The community property states follow the rule that all assets acquired during the marriage are considered to be community property, and in most cases, they are to be divided between the spouses in half.

Usually, only the common property is subject to division (all that was acquired by the spouses during the marriage). Therefore, it’s rather important to determine which property is common and which is separate. After that, the court appoints the value of each property so that it is convenient to divide it in monetary equivalent. All the property is to be divided between the spouses fairly, but not necessarily equally.
Actually, in Georgia, there are no strict rules regarding the division of the property, and each case of divorce is really unique. The court divides only the common property while not touching the separate one. Separate property is everything that was acquired by each spouse before the marriage or due to inheritance or gift from third parties, and it remains to belong to the initial owner.

So, what steps are being taken when dividing a business in a divorce?

  • Marital, separate or commingled?

The first thing that spouses must do if they want to arrange an uncontested divorce and resolve property issues out of court is to determine which property is common and which is separate. Also, you should notice that sometimes, marital and separate property can be mixed together, what is called “commingling property.” Some spouses combine their assets intentionally, and others do so without thinking of the consequences. Anyway, commingling property is particularly tricky to evaluate and, therefore, to divide.

The most frequent occurrence is such a “commingling” of business. No matter if both spouses are the partial owners of the business, or only the one spouse was initially the owner of the business, but after marriage, the second spouse contributed to its development and increase of its value, in Georgia, the court will consider all these factors.

  • Evaluate the property

The value of small businesses, such as medical practice, a law firm, or even a corporation if its shares are not traded, can be particularly challenging to assess in the process of divorce. The difficulty lies in the fact that the business is not for sale, or because most assets are intangible, but in order to ensure an equitable division of marital property, the actual value must still be established.
In Georgia, even if the divorce is uncontested, this process should involve the forensic accountant, business appraisers, and sometimes, financial and legal experts need to work together to conduct a judicial assessment of the business. And surely, if one party intends to block access to the records or move money in violation of a court decision, then you can’t do without a strong legal representation.

In general, there are two ways to handle the business-related issue in a divorce. If neither spouse wants to keep the business going, liquidation is one of the simpler options. This simplifies business valuation (as there is no need to forecast future income), and therefore the judge can share the income from the sale of the business given the list of factors contained in the state family law, as if it concerns bank accounts, income from the sale of real estate, and so on.

If the business is not for sale, in most cases the ownership of the business remains with only one party. However, it is worth considering that the value of a business can play a role in determining the division of other property (for example, real estate) or in ordering spousal support (alimony).
But of course, the most reliable ways to protect a business should be thought out in advance – before the divorce, or even before the marriage. These include:

  • Prenuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement is the most comfortable and affordable way to protect the business in the event of a divorce. It allows settling in advance different financial issues which may arise in the process of divorce. What’s really good, is that the premarital agreement allows taking into account the individual wishes of the parties and intentions to divide their business in some special way not guided only by the state rules. Please notice, that according to the recent opinion polls, %15 of divorced Americans regret not making a prenuptial agreement.

  • Shareholder use, partnership or purchase/sale agreement.

Such agreements may include the requirement that unwed shareholders provide the business with a marriage contract before the marriage, as well as a waiver from the future husband/wife that removes them from any future business interest.

Also, these agreements provide an opportunity to prohibit the transfer of shares without the approval of any other shareholders or to agree that they have the right to purchase shares or shares of one or both spouses in a case of dissolution of the marriage.

  • Postnuptial agreements

Postnuptial agreements are often used as updates to existing prenups, however, if the parties don’t have a prenup, a postnup still may be an option. Although it is usually signed after marriage and therefore has less authority, it contains nearly the same information about assets and property, as a prenup does.

In the postnup, you can point out that if there’s a dissolution of the marriage, each party is entitled to a set amount of money or, for example, a portion of assets before a specific date.

Employee Background Checks: Everything You Need to Know

Dana R
-
0
Employee Background Checks: Everything You Need to Know

When people decide to do an employee background check, it’s because they want to be sure of a candidate – of its criminal records, driving records, or if they’re on a terror watch list or even sex offender registry. It’s important to do this when you choose people to work for you. Checkthem.com is the best site on the internet for this job.

How much does it cost?

Background checks generally cost between $30 and $80. The price depends on how much info you’re trying to find out, and how fast you need that info. Job history verification, license verification and credit checks usually cost extra.

How to do it?

Have a consistent policy on how to perform background checks

It’s best to have a flow chart, so that everyone will know which step to make and when to make it. Some of them can cause legal issues if not done properly.

Get legal advice on how to use background checks

Background checks can sometimes mean finding sensitive information, and in some states, legally, you cannot find certain information about a person. You need to talk to a lawyer to make sure you know that your background check does not mess with the law, causing legal issues for your company.

Give your candidates the benefit of the doubt

Sometimes, you may find incorrect info about a person. It’s best to give your candidates the benefit of the doubt and let them explain the incorrect info you got after the background check. The person standing in front of you might be a good person, so let him or her prove that before you exclude him or her from your list.

Use services that are FCRA compliant

FCRA stands for Fair Credit Reporting Act and it shows what the things you can or cannot do when performing a background check are. The document gives you info about how you should treat the info according to the perspective of the candidate. Almost all of the background checks are done by FCRA, but it’s good to keep in mind that there are many other laws that might affect them – it all depends on the region or state. Let’s take a clear example: in some states, it’s okay to use criminal background checks or credit for any employee, in other states, only certain employees can be checked.

When it comes to reference checks

A reference check usually happens when you contact a person, like a former employer, to make sure you got the facts right – employment dates and the position held. They’re pretty easy to do. When you reject a candidate because of the info you got in the investigative consumer report, you must give your candidate a copy of that report.

Essential Characteristics to Look For in a Potential Watch Purchase

Dana R
-
0
Essential Characteristics to Look For in a Potential Watch Purchase

If you are like most people, you work extremely hard for your paycheck. While living on a strict budget is a great way to save money from your paycheck, you need to treat yourself on occasion.

For some people, buying a new watch is something they enjoy greatly. Putting together a collection of high-quality and appealing watches is a great investment. When properly cared for, watches will maintain their value over time.

Each year, Americans spend nearly $11 million on watches. If you are in the market for a new watch, make sure you take some time to research all of your options. Getting in a hurry during the watch buying process will generally lead to mistakes being made.

The following are some of the essential characteristics you need to look for in a potential watch purchase.

Consider the Materials Used to Construct the Watch

Before deciding whether or not to buy a particular watch, be sure to find out more about the materials used to construct it. If you are looking for a durable watch, choosing a timepiece that is made from either ceramics or titanium is preferable.

While titanium and ceramic watches are durable, they generally carry a large price tag as well. Opting for a stainless steel watch will provide you with a high level of resiliency and a lower purchase price.

If you are looking at a silver or gold watch, be sure to ask whether it has a PVD coating on it. Without this type of coating, your new watch will slowly become discolored over time. You can usually get a breakdown of the materials used in the construction of a watch by looking at its backing.

A Quality Watch Glass is Important

When trying to assess how well-made a particular watch is, you should pay attention to the type of glass it has. According to seasoned watch professionals at https://www.watchshopping.com/iwc, sapphire glass is one of the most appealing and resilient glasses used in the watchmaking process. This type of clear will stay clear for a long time and will not scratch even in the roughest of conditions.

If you are unable to afford a watch with this type of glass, you need to look for the next best thing which is crystal or mineral glass. Generally, watches with this type of glass will be much cheaper. However, mineral and crystal glass have a higher chance of getting scratched over time. If you are confused about which timepiece to purchase, be sure to consult with a knowledgeable supplier.

Choose a Watch with a Quartz or Mechanical Movement

Most of the battery powered watches on the market will feature a quartz movement. Most new collectors like quartz movement watches because they feature far fewer moving parts. Often times, this makes these watches more affordable and extremely accurate.

Buyers looking for quality over price will usually seek out watches with mechanical movements. Over the years, these types of watches have become hard to find. This is because most movements are machined by computers. Getting a mechanical movement in a handmade watch will be quite costly.

 Consider How Water Resistant the Watch Is

If you do a lot of swimming or diving, then choosing a watch that features a high level of water resistance. The last thing you want is for a new watch to get damaged when exposed to water, which is why spending good money on a water resistant watch is a good idea.

Generally, these watches will feature heavy-duty gaskets that are used to seal up and protect the internal parts of the timepiece. Many standard watches are water resistant for up to 50 meters. Divers generally look for watches that are water resistant for up to 100 meters or more. These watches do cost more, but it is worth it for diving enthusiasts.

Selecting a Watch Made By a Reputable Brand

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a new watch collector is investing in timepieces from unknown watchmakers. Often times, this mistake will lead to you getting a watch that does not function very well.

Before spending your hard-earned money on a new watch, you need to thoroughly vet the company that makes it. Tried and true watch brands like Rolex, Timex and Casio are able to command higher prices for their products because of their reputation. When buying a watch from one of these companies, you can rest assured it will work correctly on a consistent basis.

Newcomers to the watch buying world need to focus on finding the right watch supplier. An experienced supplier can offer you guidance that can make the watch buying process much easier. Attempting to make this important decision without professional help can lead to you wasting a lot of money on a watch that simply isn’t worth it.

Robert Lloyd Schellenberg: Canadian Sentenced to Death in China

Roy Siemens
-
0
Robert Lloyd Schellenberg: Canadian Sentenced to Death in China

Canadian citizen Robert Lloyd Schellenberg has been sentenced to death for drug smuggling in China in a ruling which will worsen a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Last year, Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was originally given a 15-year jail term but after an appeal the court said the sentence was too lenient.

Today’s ruling comes weeks after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a top official at Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, on a request from the US.

Canada condemned the latest ruling.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said: “It is of extreme concern to us as a government, as it should be to all our international friends and allies, that China has chosen to begin to arbitrarily apply the death penalty, as in this case facing a Canadian.”

China was angered by the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, 46, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, and the case has soured its relations with both Canada and the US. She was granted bail in December.

Huawei Dispute: Two Canadians Detained in China

Meng Wanzhou: Huawei CFO Arrested in Canada

Huawei denies spying for Chinese government

China has since detained two Canadian nationals, accusing them of endangering national security.

Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, who is believed to be 36, was arrested in 2014 and accused of planning to smuggle almost 500lb of methamphetamine from China to Australia.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in November 2018. However, following an appeal, a high court in the north-eastern city of Dalian on January 14 sentenced the Canadian national to death.

The court also ruled that all of Robert Lloyd Schellenberg’s financial assets must be confiscated.

“I am not a drug smuggler. I came to China as a tourist,” he said just before the verdict was announced, the AFP news agency reports.

Robert Lloyd Schellenberg has 10 days to appeal.

China has denied that it is using its legal system to take hostages as bargaining chips in the Huawei case.

Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver on December 1, but was granted bail by a Canadian court several days later.

A judge in Vancouver ruled that Meng Wanzhou would be under surveillance 24 hours a day and must wear an electronic ankle tag.

Meng Wanzhou is accused in the US of using a Huawei subsidiary called Skycom to evade sanctions on Iran between 2009 and 2014.

She denies any wrongdoing and says she will contest the allegations.

President Donald Trump has said he is willing to intervene in the case.

Meng Wanzhou’s arrest came against the background of an increasingly acrimonious trade dispute between the US and China.

President Donald Trump Denies Working for Russia

Diane A. Wade
-
0
President Donald Trump Denies Working for Russia

President Donald Trump has denied working for Russia, playing down a Washington Post report that he had concealed a translation of a meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Addressing reporters at the White House as he left for Louisiana, the president said: “I never worked for Russia.”

According to the New York Times meanwhile, the FBI launched a hitherto unreported inquiry into the president.

According to the newspaper, the FBI’s suspicions were raised after President Trump fired its director, James Comey, in May 2017.

That FBI inquiry, reports the New York Times, was taken over by justice department special counsel Robert Mueller.

Robert Mueller is leading an ongoing investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Trump-Putin Summit: Donald Trump Defends Russia over Claims of Election Interference

Trump-Putin Talks Will Go Ahead Despite Russian Intelligence Officers Indictment

President Donald Trump Prepared to Be Questioned by Robert Mueller

On January 14, asked outside the White House if he was working for Russia, President Trump denied it outright before adding: “I think it’s a disgrace that you even ask that question because it’s a whole big fat hoax.”

President Trump was posed the same question by a Fox News host on January 12, and called it “the most insulting thing I’ve ever been asked”.

The New York Times notes in its own report no evidence has emerged publicly that President Trump took direction from Russian government officials.

On January 13, the president said his dismissal of James Comey was “a great service I did for our country”, while railing against FBI investigators as “known scoundrels” and “dirty cops”.

It was also reported at the weekend that President Trump had confiscated the notes of his own interpreter after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the Washington Post, President Trump ordered the translator not to discuss the details of what was said.

However, on January 14, President Trump defended his nearly hour long discussion with President Putin in July 2017 on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.

“It’s a lot of fake news,” he said, as he left to address a farming convention in New Orleans.

“That was a very good meeting. It was actually a very successful meeting.”

President Trump said he and Vladimir Putin discussed Israel and a German-Russian pipeline, adding: “We have those meetings all the time no big deal.”

ABC News reports that Democratic congressmen are considering issuing subpoenas to interpreters who attended President Trump’s meetings with Vladimir Putin.

On January 14, former Democratic White House candidate Hillary Clinton could not resist reminding Twitter users that during a campaign debate she had called Donald Trump the Russian leader’s puppet.

Pawel Adamowicz: Gdansk Mayor Dies in Hospital after Being Stabbed at Charity Event

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Pawel Adamowicz: Gdansk Mayor Dies in Hospital after Being Stabbed at Charity Event

Polish mayor Pawel Adamowicz has died in hospital, a day after being stabbed at a charity event in his city, Gdansk.

The 53-year-old was attacked on stage in front of hundreds of people on January 13.

Pawel Adamowicz was taken to hospital for stab injuries and underwent five hours of surgery at a local hospital.

Doctors said the victim sustained injuries to his heart, as well as cuts to his diaphragm and abdomen.

Surgeons said he was given 41 units of blood during a five-hour operation on January 13.

After news of the severity of his condition broke, local residents queued at the hospital to donate blood.

Polish media say the suspect is a 27-year-old with a criminal record named Stefan – but his full identity has so far been withheld.

Police believe the suspect used a media pass to gain access to the stage.

On January 14, Poland’s health minister confirmed Pawel Adamowicz had died.

Thousands attended vigils across Polish cities, including in Gdansk.

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda described the attack as an “evil hard to imagine”.

He said the day of Pawel Adamowicz’s funeral would be observed as a day of national mourning.

Paris Mass Stabbing: One Killed and Four Wounded in Place De L’Opera Knife Attack

Minnesota Mall Stabbing Attack: Eight Wounded Before Suspect Being Shot Dead

The mayor was stabbed while attending the Great Orchestra of Christmas charity – an annual event where volunteers raise money for medical equipment in hospitals.

Moments before he was attacked, Pawel Adamowicz posted a picture from the stage on Instagram.

TV footage from the event showed the suspect rushing the stage and stabbing the mayor several times.

He then shouted to the crowd before being tackled to the ground and arrested.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate Pawel Adamowicz at the scene, before transferring him to a hospital.

A police spokesman said the suspect had a long criminal history, including a bank robbery and an attack on a police officer.

Police also confirmed that he was released from prison late last year.

While on stage, the suspect reportedly shouted “Adamowicz is dead” and said the Civic Platform party, which led the previous government and had supported Pawel Adamowicz’s re-election, had wrongfully imprisoned him.

He also alleged he had been tortured behind bars.

The suspect will undergo psychological assessment to see whether he can be held criminally responsible for the attack, prosecutor Krzysztof Sierak said at a press conference on January 30.

Mayor Pawel Adamowicz was a popular figure – known best for his liberal political views and extensive tenure as mayor.

The father-of-two was from Gdansk and had held the position for two decades.

Pawel Adamowicz first came to power in 1998 – and had been re-elected four times since, including in November.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdgYAsARn0Q

Ecommerce Sales on the Rise: Here are 3 Shipping Tactics for Business Success

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Ecommerce Sales on the Rise: Here are 3 Shipping Tactics for Business Success

Ecommerce is booming and the momentum doesn’t seem to be showing signs of slowing anytime soon. The year over year growth is astounding with estimated ecommerce sales expected to reach $700 billion by 2022, according to data by Statista.

However, as the ecommerce industry grows, more competition is at the table to get a slice of the multi-billion dollar pie. This competition has led to unprecedented changes in shipping products purchased online. There are now free shipping options, free returns options, and more offered by online retailers to sweeten the deal for consumers.

This has led to larger gaps in profit margins for small ecommerce businesses trying to compete with big box retailers with an online sales platform, as well as ecommerce giants like Jeff Bezos’ Amazon and eBay.

There are however, ways to master shipping in 2019 businesses can consider. The following ecommerce shipping tactics can serve as your playbook. Let’s dive in!

1. Automate the Ecommerce Shipping Process

Unlike big box retailers and leading ecommerce sites, you don’t have thousands of employees tending to your shipping process. This can make it difficult to compete, but by automating the process you can streamline shipping. This can have an impact on your profits, since less mistakes are made and more time can be allocated to building your ecommerce business for long-term growth and success.

Automating the shipping process is also a lot less complicated as it sounds. It is simply just setting up rules that keep everything running smoothly. For instance, you can automate label shipping by having a shipping options available on your checkout/cart web page, like shipping category and saved carrier selections.

This reduces the need to pull up shipping orders and process them manually in order to create the shipping label on every purchase. This saves a lot of time and decreases costly mistakes.

2. Make International Shipping Easier

International shipping is another pain point for ecommerce businesses, whether shipping to customers, or receiving product to sell in your country. You would think this isn’t such a big deal, but international shipping costs and international shipping regulations can be very costly, depending on the country you are doing business in.

“Many U.S. online retailers and auction site sellers do not ship purchases overseas, charge too much for international shipping, or do not accept international credit cards,” according to BluePostal, an international shipping solution provider for consumers and businesses.

There are now a lot of solutions ecommerce businesses can utilize when it comes to international shipping. For example, there is dropshipping of course, but there are also intermediary companies that will take the leg work out of international shipping for you at a pretty affordable shipping rate with reduced international taxes.

This can open up a whole new marketplace for ecommerce businesses, since it gives you the opportunity to compete with the likes of Amazon and eBay, companies that have global online sales shipping reach.

3. Cut Costs to Serve Up Free Shipping Options

Maybe one of the most challenging obstacles ecommerce businesses have when it comes to competing with large ecommerce sites and big box retailers is free shipping for online purchases. As you know, shipping any product can be costly, especially when you want to keep your product prices low enough to compel consumers to buy from you and not competitors.

So how can you offer free shipping like the big ecommerce players? This is in fact a million dollar question. One of the best ways is to find a way to cut your operation costs to lower shipping prices or serve up free shipping on all products. This can be very hard, but not impossible.

If you are receiving product from manufacturers overseas, maybe you can order more product at a discounted rate in order to offset shipping costs to your customers. This of course only works if you have the storage space. You can also just eat the cost on your end if the math tells you that more sales via free shipping would actually increase your bottom line over a fiscal year. You just need to find that cost cut somewhere.

In Conclusion . . .

The above three shipping tactics for business success are only the tip of the iceberg. There are certainly more tactics you can identify and employ in 2019 to make shipping easier, cheaper, and work for your profit margins. From automation to opening up international markets, how you approach shipping can be the key to exponential growth this year.

What Are The Most Common Causes Of Semi-Truck Accidents In 2019?

Nancy Clayson
-
0
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Semi-Truck Accidents In 2019?

Truck drivers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. There are many factors that they have to deal with while they are driving. From truck maintenance to traffic congestion, truck drivers have to make safety a top priority. Unfortunately, there are still thousands of semi-truck accidents and fatalities every year. Many accidents were caused by common factors. Here are the dangerous causes of semi-truck accidents.

Speeding To Meet Deadlines

Many truck drivers who speed to meet deadlines can cause deadly accidents. By driving faster than the flow of normal traffic, these drivers put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk. Since the truck usually weight several times more than other vehicles, truck drivers should be driving within the speed limit. However, when truck operate on deadlines that are too tight, they end up speeding. In the past, this has led to preventable truck accidents. It is up to the trucking companies and drivers to create manageable and safe timelines for deliveries.

Lack Of Driver Training

Despite what most people think, truck drivers must undergo a significant amount of training. In addition to obtaining a CDL license, trucking companies usually provide additional resources and safety information. According to the Girardi | Keese website, a truck accident lawyer, “Truck drivers and companies are required to follow strict federal safety guidelines.” Companies must ensure that drivers follow these guidelines through proper training. Additionally, truck drivers in reputed companies might be required to complete a defensive driving course. If a novice truck driver is not properly trained, they could end up making a costly mistake on the road. In many instances, newer truck drivers have caused accidents due to inadequate training. Ways to help this include using DOT compliance services to provide fleets with proper expectations around safety and compliance.

Image source Pixabay

Road Traffic Conditions

It is a common misconception that many of these fatalities are due to driving in bad weather. In fact, trucks drive fairly well in the rain or snow because of their tires. Most of the accidents or fatalities reported take place during the summer months. This is because more people are on the road, and there is a lot more traffic. People also tend to cut in front of trucks, thinking that they move slower than other cars. But because of the intense weight carried by trucks, they are not able to break as fast as cars, causing accidents. In fact, large trucks weigh 20-30 times more than passenger vehicles which takes much longer to stop. When there is more traffic on the road, passenger cars can increase the chances of an accident.

Poor Sleep Patterns

One thing that all truckers struggle with is poor sleep patterns. Truck drivers work extensive hours, and they can range between different times throughout the day. Because of this, these drivers work with inconsistent sleep schedules. Drivers also tend to take less sleep breaks because they are not getting paid when they are not driving. This lack of sleep greatly affects how a person drives and could make the truck driver liable in an accident. It also negatively affects the person’s health. While being a truck driver is already a stressful job, doing it with sleep deprivation increases an individual’s sensitivity to stress. These poor sleep patterns greatly contribute to the dangers of being a truck driver.

Loading And Unloading Locations

Additionally, many truck accidents happen at loading stations. Truckers that help load or unload their truck commonly get injured by equipment on the docks. Other loading stations may be in dangerous areas. There have been some cases in which drivers have been hurt due to unsafe factors of the areas they are delivering to. Even truck stops can be dangerous. While the drivers are walking to or from their trucks, they need to keep a look out for other trucks in the area. If they were to walk in the blind spot of another driver, they could get seriously injured. These specific working conditions can greatly affect the driver during their jobs.

Overall, trucking is seen as one of the most dangerous jobs because of the high number of fatalities. There are many factors that contribute to truck accidents. Firstly, speeding with a truck is very dangerous. If an inexperienced truck driver does not have enough training, they could cause an accident. Depending on the time of year, traffic congestion is another cause for major truck accidents. On a personal level, drivers have to sleep properly and exercise caution at loading areas. These are contributing factors to accidents that could be avoided.

3 Reasons To Do New Things

Dana R
-
0
3 Reasons To Do New Things

How much of your daily life is made up of routine? When you stop to think about it, the answer is probably a lot of it – if not all of it. While this is great at ensuring that everything gets done on time and to a good standard, and you don’t miss out on anything, it can also become extremely boring.

After a while, you’ll be yearning to do something else, and when this happens your productivity levels will fall, and you simply won’t be as happy as you could and should be. That’s why breaking up your routine and trying new things can be such a good idea – here are some more reasons why this is important for a happy life.

Fear Won’t Be A Factor

Life is full of things that make us afraid, whether we realise it or not. It is this fear that most often holds us back from trying new things, but if we can get over that fear – and the fear of failure that so often comes with it – then we will be more willing to try new things in the future, whether that’s finally getting around to booking fantastic holidays or taking up a new hobby. You could, for example, learn a new skillset that’s fun like making signs (with positive messages on it) or a variety of other things using an engraver. You can see some ideas on the review for Boss Laser.

Taking a trip and being out of your comfort zone is a great way to broaden your horizons. If you have had your sights set on a trip away but never had the chance, find the time and put yourself first. Discover the best destinations in Europe and explore Mediterranean hotspots, with holidays in Cyprus or Greece, for example, and mentally reset. You will instantly notice the difference upon your return.

Although it will take some effort to get over the fear, to begin with, once you have started you will be able to try any new thing that comes your way, and your life will be richer and more exciting for it. That initial step is all it takes, and the benefits that come from it are huge.

You Get To Know Yourself

You might that think that you know yourself extremely well, perhaps only by virtue of actually being yourself. However, do you really know yourself as much as you think you do? When you really delve down into it, that question can be a scary one, perhaps even an unanswerable one – many people never really get to know themselves and what they are truly capable of.

Yet there is something you can do to at least start answering that question and getting to know yourself better; you can try something new. Trying something doesn’t guarantee that you will enjoy it, but equally it doesn’t mean that you will dislike it. What it does guarantee is that you will discover a lot more about yourself, particularly in terms of what you like and dislike, and this can help you choose a direction in life at a later date.

You’ll Gain More Skills

You can never have enough skills in life, and adding more to your repertoire is only ever going to benefit you. When you try new things you are sure to pick up new skills in the process, giving you a much more well-rounded way of living. You can use those skills in all kinds of ways, some which may surprise you, and you may even be able to get closer to your true goals in life because you have picked up so many skills from trying new things along the way.

5 Ways to Customize Your Portfolio to Suit Your Goals

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
5 Ways to Customize Your Portfolio to Suit Your Goals

You might think that risk-rated funds are the only solution for the core hold of your portfolio. After all, it is what you would normally hear from others. But, in reality, the secret to ensuring their assets match the ones you aim for is to supplement them with so-called “satellite” funds and shares.

Fortunately, it is not too late to turn things around. Here are some tips on how to customize your portfolio to suit your goals. Be sure to keep them in mind from now on!

#1. Cheap Is Not Necessarily Cheerful

Believe it or not, many tend to focus more on fund charges, which seem to be the trend since time immemorial. But what you may not know is that most, if not all, are not necessary. Some might have a charge for the platform or advice, especially if you are taking it. More importantly, there is always a charge for the investment funds.

Remember that a cheap fund does not necessarily mean it fits your purpose. The same thing can be said for an expensive fund – it does not convey superiority. Your best course of action is to look out for performance-related charges, as well as those platform costs (i.e. when trying to move money around).

#2. Always Identify Your Goals

It holds true that your appetite for risk is – and always will be – a significant consideration. But do not forget that there are other contributing factors involved. This is the point where you need to ask yourself: “What are my investment goals?” Do you require a short- or long-term objective? Or perhaps you are in need of a certain amount just to guarantee an annual growth for your investment goal in the stock market?

These questions, while all may not necessarily apply to your current situation, can help you gain concrete knowledge about your stand. Even more so, it will help you realize the fact that there is more importance emphasis when it comes to risk analysis. The latter, in particular, conveys the message that your fund may either underperform or take too much risk.

#3. Keep Everything in One Place

Do you know what a balanced portfolio should be? Well, it is the type that holds bonds, cash, and even shares. As soon as you achieve a solid core portfolio, expect a great number of adventurous investors to add riskier holdings in order to diversify. You may find it difficult to acquire this type of ideas, but as long as you are willing to think outside the box, you will be introduced to more tantalizing investments.

Being a professional means utilizing a wide range of left-of-field investments – a crucial element in achieving diversification. This includes, but not limited to, private equity, currencies, commodities, and student housing.

#4. Remember To Consider All Assets

A lot of investors these days tend to consider their investment portfolio as something that is merely their shares and/or composite funds. Unfortunately, this is a worn-down idea that needs an overhaul. Why exactly? That is because there are other factors involved, and they may refer to cash accounts and properties. All of them, regardless of size and shape, are to be accounted as assets as well.

Let’s say you own multiple properties. This is where you want to be extremely wary of purchasing a fund, particularly the type that comes with property exposure. Likewise, if you hold a lot of cash, it is imperative that you find a liquid fund which is totally invested. Otherwise, there is a possibility that you will be hit by extremely low-interest rates.

#5. Regularly Review Your Holdings

This is definitely a no-brainer. It is even something that you should always consider. Keep in mind that risk-rated funds – no matter how you perceive them – are a one-stop-shop for life. Your goals will have the potential to change as time passes by. As such, you must ensure to review all of them as you would with investments. A general rule of thumb is to look at your portfolio at least once a year, though doing it twice has become a more acceptable narrative.

Sure, you may not find the need to purchase or sell funds, say, as often as twice or thrice a year. But, in one way or another, you will chance upon certain life stages that will force you to consider tweaking your portfolio. It could be about purchasing a property or simply becoming a parent.

White House 2020: Democrats Julian Castro and Tulsi Gabbard Announce Presidential Bid

Diane A. Wade
-
0
White House 2020: Democrats Julian Castro and Tulsi Gabbard Announce Presidential Bid

Democrats Julian Castro and Tulsi Gabbard have announced that they will challenge for the US presidency in 2020.

Julian Castro launched his campaign on January 12, and Tulsi Gabbard has said she will make a formal announcement within a week.

The ex-Obama Housing Chief is expected to be the only Latino in the race, and Tulsi Gabbard is the first Hindu member of Congress.

Both enter what could be a crowded field of Democrats vying to challenge President Donald Trump.

Until now only former congressman John Delaney has formally launched a campaign, more than a year ago.

However, Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren announced last month she was setting up an exploratory committee to consider a run.

Julian Castro, 44, made his announcement in his home town of San Antonio, Texas, where he was mayor from 2009 to 2014.

Long seen as a rising star in the party, Julian Castro served as housing secretary under President Barack Obama and was on the list of Hillary Clinton’s potential running mates for the 2016 election.

President Trump Could Declare National Emergency to Build Mexican Border Wall

Oval Office Battle: President Trump Clashes with Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi over Border Wall Funding

Having a Mexican grandmother, he has used his background to criticize Donald Trump’s calls to build a wall to keep out migrants from Latin America.

Launching his bid under the slogan “One nation, one destiny”, Julian Castro said: “We say no to the construction of the wall and yes to the construction of communities.”

Julian Castro said his grandmother would have been amazed at his success and that of his brother Joaquin, a member of the US Congress.

Analysts say Julian Castro does not have widespread name recognition and may struggle to make an impression in a crowded field.

The Benefits of Hiring General Contractors to Take the Lead on Projects

Dana R
-
0
The Benefits of Hiring General Contractors to Take the Lead on Projects

When it comes to contractors, there are specialist contractors and general contractors. Specialist contractors work on one or more aspects of the work. Therefore, on a home renovation or construction project, they might work on the electrical and plumbing side of things only. This compares to a general contractor who is responsible for the complete project. They oversee it and act as project manager leading the contractors to ensure everything gets completed on time.

Royalty Free Photo

Here are a few of the benefits of hiring general contractors and how they work for you.

Leading from the Front

A general contractor takes control of the project. Instead of the home developer or homeowner having to deal with each individual contractor one by one and juggle different responsibilities, that’s the general contractor’s job. What they say goes and other contractors report directly to the general contractor who in turn reports to the owner of the project. The buck stops with them. They’re also legally responsible and may also bear the responsibility and risk connected to what contractors below them have done or not done on the project.

Head in the Details, Not in the Clouds

The larger the building or renovation project, the more difficult it is to manage all the aspects simultaneously. Rather than the owner of the land or the property needing to get up to speed on what every contractor does, the general contracts already knows.

They look at what supplies are needed and source the right quality for a good price to keep on budget. They’ll usually have some good contacts with preferential deals on supplies compared to what the homeowner can access alone.

Good Communicators

As a general contractor, they’re required to speak the customer’s language and not only that of the contractors. They’re the point person to the developer or homeowner. While it’s difficult to talk with many contractors, the general contractor is the public face that pulls all the relevant information together to speak informatively and accurately about how the project is going and what difficulties are being experienced.

Responsible for Recruiting Other Contractors

Hiring specialist contractors is difficult because you have the experience to know what you’re looking for exactly. This makes it hard to find the right people. A general contractor understands the different specializations and how certain contractors can help complete projects better or sooner than expected. They also know the pitfalls of making a bad hiring call. They plan and make the hires and take care of the firings too.

Less Stress

When you have a general contractor on your building project, it’s far less stressful. Taking on the project and making it their responsibility is a huge burden off your shoulders. This allows you to relax about how things are progressing and place your focus elsewhere. You’ll still receive regular updates on progress, setbacks and delivery timelines, but your mind will be clearer.

Hiring a general contractor means that you no longer must micromanage each specialist contractor that you hire. They’re the team player with construction and home renovation knowledge, plus project management skills to keep everything on-track. Once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.

DR Congo Elections: Defeated Candidate Martin Fayulu to Challenge Result in Court

Diane A. Wade
-
0
DR Congo Elections: Defeated Candidate Martin Fayulu to Challenge Result in Court

Martin Fayulu, the defeated opposition candidate in DR Congo’s presidential election, has vowed to challenge the result in court.

Felix Tshisekedi, another opposition candidate, was declared the winner amid accusations of a power-sharing deal with the outgoing president.

Several deaths and injuries have been reported in the wake of the results.

The election was to choose a successor to Joseph Kabila, who has been in office for 18 years.

The result if confirmed would create the first orderly transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

The influential Catholic Church, which posted 40,000 election observers, said the result did not match its findings.

Democratic Republic of Congo claims victory over M23 rebels

Ebola Outbreak Declared in DR Congo

Thousands of supporters of Felix Tshisekedi took to the streets to celebrate but those who backed Martin Fayulu also came out in protest.

Violent scenes were reported in Kikwit, where at least two policemen and two civilians were said to have been killed.

There were reports of several hundred students protesting against the result and being dispersed by tear gas in the town of Mbandaka.

Protests were also reported in Kisangani but the south, where Felix Tshisekedi has broad support, was mainly in celebration.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged all sides “to refrain from violence” and widespread unrest has not yet been reported.

According to the National Electoral Commission (CENI), Felix Tshisekedi received 38.5% of the vote in the December 30 election.

The full results were: Felix Tshisekedi – 7 million votes; Martin Fayulu – 6.4 million votes and Emmanuel Shadary – 4.4 million votes.

Turnout was reported to be 48%.

6 Most Profitable Affiliate Marketing Programs To Invest In Today

Nancy Clayson
-
0
6 Most Profitable Affiliate Marketing Programs To Invest In Today

Affiliate marketing allows blogs to earn commission from sales. Nowadays, it has become a vital source of income for professional bloggers. With its massive industry, online businesses are also becoming more involved in this strategy; which in return gives more opportunities for bloggers.

If you’re a blogger then you might be looking for the highest paying affiliate marketing programs with the highest commission to monetize your blog. You can visit the website journalreview.org net worth for online businesses.

Here are 6 affiliate marketing programs to invest in today:

1. Plus500

Being the biggest CFD trading platform in Europe, Plus500 boasts that they offer the highest profits for affiliate marketers in the finance industry. The program offers its affiliates a $200 to $800 commission per trader referral. The price will also depend on which country it originated and the number of referrals made per month. Their affiliates also have the option to earn 20% to 30% of the monthly revenue made by the people they referred into the platform.

Here are some of the benefits of affiliating with Plus500:

  • Highest payouts in the finance niche.
  • Recognized Internationally
  • PayPal payouts
  • $150 payout threshold
  • Dedicated management team for affiliates

2. LiquidWeb

LiquidWeb is a web hosting company for small and large scale online businesses. It runs its affiliate marketing programs through Impact Radius and CJ Affiliates — making it accessible for those familiar in the said networks. The program offers a $100 to $900 commission per sale, depending on the referred product sale. However, the average commission per sale is higher than most affiliate programs, with commissions averaging at $230.

Here are some of the benefits of affiliating with LiquidWeb:

  • Uniform commission rates
  • Payments can be converted into web hosting credits
  • Dedicated management team for affiliates

3. Villiers

If you’re in the luxury travel niche, then you can take advantage of this program. Villiers is a private aircraft company that offers luxury jets for people to fly around the world. This company also provides its travel affiliates the highest payouts compared to other companies in the same niche.

The Villiers affiliate program offers a 30% commission for each booking for the duration of the referred client’s lifetime. One client referral will give you a chance to earn a six-digit commission on a repeated basis.

 Here are some of the benefits of affiliating with Villiers:

  • Higher commission rate in the luxury travel niche
  • Chance for a recurring income
  • Real-time payout tracking

4.    Udemy

Udemy is famous for their excellent online courses, they offer courses on Web development, design, business, IT & software, marketing, personal development, and photography. This website also offers an affiliate program which promotes a wide variety of online courses. This affiliate program run through LinkShare doesn’t give specific commission rates. However, Udemy affiliates report competitive commission rates ranging from 40% to 50%.

 Here are some of the benefits of affiliating with Udemy:

  • Wide variety of products
  • Exclusive discounts for online courses
  • Multiple Niches

5. Template Monster

If you’re good at promoting WordPress templates, Template Monster has the perfect affiliate program for you.  With a wide variety of products offered in multiple languages, this program gives its affiliates countless opportunities. The Template Monster affiliate program offers commission rates between 30% to 50%. The commission rate in this program will also adjust depending on your referral sales per month. With products averaging 90$, you will be earning $27 to $45 on each product sale.

 Here are some of the benefits of affiliating with Template Monster:

  • Over 50,000 products to promote
  • 365-day cookies tracking
  • Multiple payout options such as Payoneer, PayPal, and more
  • 5% lifetime commission on referred affiliates
  • Dedicated management team for affiliates
  • Template discounts

6. SEMRush

SEMRush is an all-in-one marketing toolbox for digital marketing professionals. They offer everything a digital marketer needs to be successful online. They also have a high paying affiliate program called BeRush. This affiliate program offers a 40 % commission per referred subscription sale. This means that you’ll get a continuous monthly commission as long as the customer pays.

 Here are some of the benefits of affiliating with SEMRush:

  • Recurring commissions
  • 10-year cookie lifespan
  • Payments are available through wire transfer or PayPal, twice every month.
  • Promotional materials available in multiple languages
  • $50 payout threshold

Closing thoughts

Don’t be under the impression that a high ticket product will be the best option for you. Creating compelling content on a niche that you don’t value can be difficult. Look for an affiliate program with a niche that you value, then study and learn the strategies of successful affiliates. Determine what works best for them and try it for yourself.

New York Traffic Deaths Hit Record Low, But Stricter Enforcement To Come

Nancy Clayson
-
0
New York Traffic Deaths Hit Record Low, But Stricter Enforcement To Come

Traffic in New York is pretty intense, but maybe it’s not as bad as you think. According to new data from city officials, New York traffic deaths have hit a record low in over a century. In 2018, the number of traffic fatalities fell below 200. Within six months into 2018, there were only 81 deaths in the city.

Is Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero Plan Making New York Streets Safer?

This is definitely a plus. However, the steep decline in traffic deaths come with stricter traffic enforcement. It’s part of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan to make traffic fatalities non-existent.

“With this action plan, the City is making a bold new commitment to improve street safety in every neighborhood and in every borough – with expanded enforcement against dangerous moving violations like speeding and failing to yield to pedestrians, new street designs and configurations to improve safety, broad public outreach and communications, and a sweeping legislative agenda to increase penalties for dangerous drivers and give New York City control over the safety of our own streets,” the Vision Zero plan explained.

The Vision Zero plan has made some pretty big improvements since its inception. The traffic death rate in New York was hovering around 299 deaths in 2013. But since has dipped below 200 fatalities in 2018. Not a bad five year reduction. So the plan is working — right?

There is still some work to do when it comes to making the streets of New York safer. One of the biggest catalysts for the decrease in traffic deaths could be attributed to the lowering of the speed limit on nearly all city streets to 25 miles per hour. There are also other more stringent laws being enforced with the Vision Zero plan, like yielding to pedestrians, and the addition of 20 plus miles of protected bicycle lanes.

This is important, since bicycle and pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle continue to be an issue. “Drivers haven’t taken their responsibility to yield very seriously,” Mayor de Blasio told the New York Times. “There has been a lot of enforcement, and there will be more.”

More Enforcement Coming For New York Drivers, And It Could Get Pretty Serious

With less traffic deaths and a focus on making New York streets safer for everyone comes with stricter enforcement. This was made pretty clear by Mayor de Blasio and the Vision Zero objectives. So what does this mean for New Yorkers on the road?

One of the biggest enforcements already affecting drivers in the city are cell phone violations. This enforcement is aimed at keeping drivers alert while behind the wheel, able to avoid pedestrian, bicyclist, and vehicle accidents that could be fatal. According to the New York DMV, “If you use a portable electronic device while you drive (except to call 911 or to contact medical, fire or police personnel about an emergency), you can receive a traffic ticket and be subject to a fine and a surcharge.”

Driving under the influence is another big enforcement initiative part of the Vision Zero plan. “If you are found to have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher,you will be charged with a DWI,” according to New York traffic lawyer, Michael Block. “A BAC of more than 0.05 but less than 0.07 can yield a charge for Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol (DWAI/Alcohol). A Zero Tolerance Law can be charged to any driver under the age of 21 found to have a BAC of 0.02 – 0.07.”

What You Can Do When Driving In New York

Staying safe behind the wheel is not solely for drivers. You also need to ensure you are making the roads safe for all. Yes, this is definitely easier said then practiced, but you can take a few safety precautions while driving.

First and foremost, don’t have your cell phone in your hand. This includes GPS use. Not only can you avoid a potential accident, but also avoid a pricey ticket. Getting a traffic infraction for using your phone while driving can result in a fine over $200 with 5 points added to your license.

Drinking and driving can obviously be costly. Speeding tickets, failure to yield to pedestrians, reckless driving, failure to stop for school busses, and illegal lane changes should all be avoided. And if you do get a ticket or if you get into a car accident, always call a lawyer. What do you think about the Vision Zero plan? We want to hear from you.

How to Reduce Stress and Anxiety in NYC

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
How to Reduce Stress and Anxiety in NYC

It’s well-known that living in New York City can be extremely stressful. With so much going on around you, it’s hard to find a time to relax and catch your breath, especially if you’re also dealing with school or work-related stress. With that in mind, here are some ways to reduce stress and anxiety while living in NYC.

Find a therapist

First, try enlisting the help of a professional. A simple online search, such as “therapist in NYC,” or “therapist near me” will yield a multitude of results. You can also try asking friends and family for recommendations. Talking to a therapist will help you get to the root of your anxiety. You’ll learn coping mechanisms to use anytime you start feeling overwhelmed. In addition to helping you fight stress and anxiety, therapy can provide you with a ton of other benefits.

Your therapist will also provide guidance on how to make sure your body is prepared to handle any stress that might come your way. Stress and anxiety can weaken your body and cause physical symptoms if left untreated — in fact, too much stress can actually make you sick. Eating healthy, drinking enough water, and setting aside time to focus on yourself are all essential.

Get enough sleep

Since noise pollution is rampant throughout the city, it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep. Noise pollution is disruptive and can keep your body in high alert when you should be asleep. When you’re experiencing a lack of sleep, you’ll become more easily distressed, as well as irritable and restless. Noise pollution has been attributed to increased rates of cardiovascular disease, psychological issues, and other negative stress responses.

You should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. You can reduce noise in your apartment by sleeping with earplugs, hanging heavy curtains or sealing your windows, and hanging coverings on your walls to block and absorb the noise. To help you fall asleep, you may choose to visit your doctor who might recommend melatonin or meditating for a few minutes before bed. Remember to put away your phone at least a half-hour before you plan on going to bed.

Hit the gym

Try to find time to hit the gym. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress by boosting your brain’s production of endorphins. Along with making you feel good in the moment, regular physical activity helps increase self-confidence and reduces symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Exercise can also be helpful in falling asleep easier.

The gym is also a great way to meditate because it’ll force you to concentrate on your body’s movements rather than what happened the other day at work. Once you begin regularly going to the gym, your brain will become used to focusing on a single task, which can be a useful skill in most things you do. If you’re hesitant to go alone, ask a friend or co-worker to come with you.

Find things that make you happy

It’s easy to feel suffocated when all you do is go to work, come home, and sleep. Find activities that you enjoy and make time for them. Whether it’s shopping, checking out a museum, or creating art, the possibilities are virtually endless in NYC. You’re in the center of everything, so try picking up some new hobbies and making new acquaintances and friends. Finding things that make you feel content will help reduce stress and anxiety as well as allow you to dedicate time toward bettering yourself.

Overcoming the stress and anxiety of living in NYC can seem like a monumental task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple lifestyle changes, you can start feeling happier and learn how to effectively deal with feeling overwhelmed. All in all, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.

Understanding Finance: Everything You Need to Know When It Comes to Your Credit Rating

Dana R
-
0
Understanding Finance: Everything You Need to Know When It Comes to Your Credit Rating

Understanding your credit rating is one of the most essential things when it comes to your financial horizons, but unfortunately, there is so much misleading information and confusion out there that getting the right image about it can be quite challenging. To shed some light on the matter, we’ll share some valuable tips about it in the paragraphs below:

Eighteen people have been charged with stealing at least $200 million in a credit card fraud ring, possibly one of the largest in US history

1. There are 5 factors that influence it

While the exact percentages of how each of these affects your credit rating are rather much a mystery, it’s a fact the following factors all play a role in it:

– Payment history

– Average credit age

– The frequency of inquiries

– Credit utilization

– Account mix

2. There are many credit ratings

Quite surprisingly, your credit rating depends on where you check. Most notably, FICO is usually referred to as the golden standard and the so-called ‘true rating’ you’re probably looking for.

3. Negative hits against your score don’t last forever

You’ve probably had your fair share of dents in your credit score, but these won’t affect it for your entire life. As a matter of fact, after 7 years have passed, they will no longer play a role in determining it or show up in your credit reports.

4. Checking your own credit score won’t lower it

You might have heard that your credit score takes a hit when a lender checks it, for instance. This is true; however, if you just want to know where you stand, checking your own won’t have any negative consequences on it.

5. Don’t max out your credit card

The best practice is to avoid pushing the limits. Even if you get one of the best credit cards for fair credit, don’t go beyond 30%, or it may have a negative effect on your credit score.

6. Having a low credit score may cost you thousands of dollars in the long run

Even if you manage to get approved for a loan, for example, the interest rates may be higher due to having a lower credit score. There are many examples like this, and over the course of time, this can amount to thousands upon thousands of dollars.

7. Joint accounts will affect your credit score

Although there is no such thing as joint scores, what your partner does on your joint loan or credit account will affect your credit score as well.

8. Being responsible with your finances is the best way to keep your credit score in good standing

In other words, making your payments on time, not spending more than you can afford, and not being a financial risk when dealing with companies will get you far.

Conclusion

Although the topic of credit rating goes far beyond what the scope of this article can cover, these are the bare essentials of what you need to know about it and how to handle your finances responsibly. In the end, it’s important to understand that managing your finances the smart way will not only affect how companies and potential business partners view you, but also define the quality of your life.

Methods To Customize Your Jewelry Collection

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Methods To Customize Your Jewelry Collection

For most of us, a lavish gift is not what matters the most. It is the sentiment enveloping the gift. A personalized piece of jewelry is different in each person’s perspective. Some may prefer their jewelry embedded with their birthstones, others their name engraved on their rings. Others would even go as far as putting their own DNA in the precious stones.

Customizing your jewelry will add a great sentimental value to a stylish and artistic masterpiece. Personalized jewelry represents an organic idea which originated from your mind and is a thing to be acknowledged for a thousand lifetimes.

 Here are the ways on how you can customize your jewelry collection:

DNA Embedded Jewelries

The mind behind putting DNA inside a piece of jewelry was from a man named Robert Grass. He was trying to find a unique gift for his wife who just gave birth to their first baby. Since nothing met his standards, he thought of embedding his own DNA inside his wife’s ring.

This was a daring and exclusive gesture to customize a ring and it also makes his wife comfortable since he is always close to her whenever she puts on her ring. Today, this brilliant idea has become a new line of jewelry collection. This method of ring customization is really extraordinary and gives a whole new meaning to the saying “diamonds are forever.”

Diamonds From The Dead

This way of ring personalization is crazy and bizarre but, surprisingly a lot of people are doing it. Carbon retrieved from the ashes of a dead loved one is used to create artificial diamonds. This sounds insane but there is a deeper science to it and its use is spreading. People find a profound connection by using a bereaved one’s ashes to create beautiful and shiny stones they will cherish and love.

Image source Wikimedia

Jewelry With Your Initials

Another way of customizing your jewelry without embedding a part of you inside the ring is by using your initials as a band to cater your diamonds. Necklaces, bracelets, and rings can be made to mold the initials of your loved one.

Whether it is a pendant shaped in the form of their initials or a diamond bracelet with their name, a piece of jewelry integrating their initials will give the style and shine of high quality diamonds with a gentle touch of personality. Therefore, it is the most ideal way of letting your special someone know that they are always on your mind.

Engraved Jewelries

Compared to the previous methods of customizing your jewelry, the next one is a lot more subtle. A very charming way to customize your diamond jewelry collection is by engraving a sweet message or word in them. This method does not visibly alter your jewel nor is there a foreign object embedded in the piece.

At the same time, a romantic message can be discreetly put behind the precious stone, the setting, or inside the band which lets your loved one know that this piece of exquisite jewelry is specially made just for them.

Although most of us are attracted to expensive items, our humanity will always remain craving for love and passion. Adding a bit of character to your gifts will go a long way. Your diamonds and jewelry collection are intended to last forever.

Even when they are not being worn, jewelry can always be passed down to the younger generation. A customized piece of jewelry is important to its wearer today, but it will tell a story and can be a priceless family heirloom in the future.

4 Ways Even the Most Hardcore of Smokers Can Break Their Unhealthy Habit

Dana R
-
0
4 Ways Even the Most Hardcore of Smokers Can Break Their Unhealthy Habit

How long have you been a smoker? While having that cigarette can be immensely satisfying at the moment, we know that a temporary nicotine fix is the only benefit. Cigarettes are detrimental to our health, the health of those around us, and are quite expensive.

Are you ready to clean up your act and save money? Here are four ways you can become a non-smoker today, no matter how long you’ve been smoking.

1. Cold Turkey.

“Just stop smoking.” It sounds outrageous, but this has been the method that has worked for thousands of people for the past century. Certain motivational programs have you set a date to quit and stick to it. You remain aware of when it is you’re most likely to want to smoke and distract yourself during these times.

The most difficult part is making it through withdrawal. The symptoms can be more intense, considering you’ve stopped all nicotine consumption at once. The effects one may feel include irritability, anxiety, depression, dizziness, headaches, and weight gain, to name a few.

2. E-Cigarettes.

Cigarettes are much more than just nicotine. In the average tobacco cigarette, you’ll also find carbon monoxide, ammonia, acetone, toluene, and more. These, along with the literal burning tobacco entering your lungs, are arguably more damaging than nicotine alone. Therefore, many simply use vaporized nicotine in a device like the Smok Stick V8.

E-liquid is placed inside of a chamber – usually a tank – and heated by a Li-Ion battery. This produces the nicotine vapor you inhale. The biggest advantage is that you can control the amount of nicotine you get, choosing liquids with specific concentrations which allow you to reduce dependency. You can even vape for the hand-mouth satisfaction after you’ve eliminated nicotine if that helps keep you “clean”.

3. Medications and Other Nicotine Replacements.

For some, the hand-mouth action provided by e-cigs is too tempting. They’ll remain very attached to the action, which means they’ll think nothing of resorting to a tobacco cigarette when their electronic device falters or is otherwise unavailable.

That’s why a nicotine patch or gum may be a better option for them. These provide specific amounts of nicotine to satiate the smoker, with patches typically being part of a step-down program to reduce dependency. Medications, which inhibit nicotine receptors in the brain, can also eliminate dependency, but come with many side effects.

4. Hypnosis.

It won’t work for everyone, naturally, but people who are highly suggestible have some success through hypnosis. This method may be best for smokers who already despise cigarettes, but need that message to sink into their minds a little deeper.

The goal of anti-smoking hypnosis is to access the subconscious. It helps to identify the underlying cause or trigger that leads one to smoke. From there, we can change the way we view cigarettes, absorbing the subconscious message that tobacco is poisonous and undesirable.

Stop spending your money on harmful chemicals, and say goodbye to hacking coughs, yellow fingernails, and bad breath forever. Reduce your risk of deadly disease and clean up the air around you with one of these four methods. If you find that one method isn’t effective in breaking your addiction, try another. With persistence, you can join the one-million-plus people who kick the habit every year.

Tips to remember while editing your photos

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Tips to remember while editing your photos

Earlier it was not easy to get a perfect picture but nowadays it has become simple because of numerous photo editing applications. Today, photographs are incomplete without editing. The reason is when we capture any photograph whether it is from the high-quality camera or low quality, the picture still will have some issues in it like scratches, blemishes or unwanted element so photo editing becomes necessary these days. There are a number of photo editing apps which offers you a lot of editing features and makes your picture more beautiful. But editing is done only by a person who knows editing techniques. Some of the basic editing tips are mentioned below:

•    Cropping of images: This feature is the most used and common in every editing app. Many a times, we click picture and see some unwanted element in the picture that distracts the attention of people seeing the photo. So if you want to remove that unwanted part from your photograph then elect the crop tool from editing menu and select the area which you want to remove. It is easy as it sounds.

•    Clean the lenses: Always remember before you start clicking the pictures you must clean the sensor of the camera if there is any dust or other particles because if you capture your pictures with dirty lenses your photographs will come out dull and gloomy which will not look good anymore. For removing these particles from the images choose healing brush from the editing menu.

•    Rise the level of saturation: Well if you want your pictures to be more colorful then editing apps give you the best options for this. If you want to add different colors to your photographs then you just have to choose the saturation option from your editing menu and you can adjust the level of saturation according to the needs of your photographs.

•    Sharpen your images: Well this feature totally depends upon on which screen you want to see your image. If you want to see your image on your mobile phone then there is no need to sharpen up your image but if you wants to appear it on the screen or to take print out of it then you must use this feature as it will make your picture more clear and attractive.

•    Change your image into black and white: Black and white is an awesome option in some cases. As some photographs look more attractive and beautiful if it is being converted from a colorful picture to mono picture. But remember you should not remove highlights and shadows from the picture if you do so your pictures will look dull.

•    Contrasting: If you want to contrast your image then you must choose the picture and adjust the levels according to your needs. Contrasting your image will make your image for more attractive. All you must remember is to brighten the highlights and darken the shadows.

Once you complete your editing save your image and also rename it to the different folder. So these are the simple tips you must follow while editing. If you are looking for any good editing app, photo app retouchme.com will make you look picture perfect.

President Trump Could Declare National Emergency to Build Mexican Border Wall

Diane A. Wade
-
0
President Trump Could Declare National Emergency to Build Mexican Border Wall

President Donald Trump has announced he could declare a national emergency in order to build the Mexican border wall without the approval of Congress.

The announcement came after the president met senior Democrats, who refused his requests for funding.

The stand-off has seen President Trump withhold support for a bill to fully fund the government until he gets money for the border wall.

Donald Trump said he was prepared for the partial government shutdown – now in its third week – to last years.

Around 800,000 federal workers have been without pay since December 22.

President Trump’s aides and lawmakers will meet on January 5 in a fresh bid to resolve the impasse.

Nancy Pelosi Elected House Speaker

Oval Office Battle: President Trump Clashes with Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi over Border Wall Funding

Donald Trump to Close Down Government If Necessary to Build Mexico Border Wall

Mexico Wall: President Trump Talks Up Solar Panel Plan

The president initially gave a positive account of the 90-minute meeting at the White House, describing it as “very productive”.

However, when asked whether he had considered using emergency presidential powers to bypass congressional approval of funding, President Trump said he had.

He said: “I may do it. We can call a national emergency and build it very quickly. That’s another way of doing it.”

“I’m very proud of doing what I’m doing,” President Trump added.

“I don’t call it a shutdown, I call it doing what you have to do for the benefit and safety of our country.”

On January 4, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the meeting had been “contentious”, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: “We told the president we needed the government open. He resisted.”

Democrats, who now hold the majority in the House, passed spending bills on January 3 to reopen the government, including $1.3 billion of border security funds until February 8.

However, the legislation cannot take effect unless it passes the Republican-controlled Senate, where leader Mitch McConnell said his party would not back any measure without President Trump’s support.

Nancy Pelosi Elected House Speaker

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Nancy Pelosi Elected House Speaker

Nancy Pelosi has again been elected as the House Speaker – the third most powerful role in Washington.

The 78-yar-old California Democrat reclaimed the gavel after the most diverse class of lawmakers were sworn in and as Democrats took control of the House after mid-term elections gains.

Her victory came as the government remained partly shut down in a row over funds for the president’s border wall.

Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to end the shutdown but will not support the wall.

She said: “I’m particularly proud to be a woman speaker of the house of this Congress, which marks the 100th year of women having the right to vote.

“And, that we all have the ability and the privilege to serve with over 100 women members of Congress – the largest number in history. “

Midterms 2018: President Trump Hails Big Victory as Republicans Consolidate Senate Grip

Nancy Pelosi seized the gavel as the House welcomed more women than ever before in the 116th Congress.

As of January 3, 102 women serve in the House, an all-time high, including 36 newly elected members and a record 43 women of color.

While Republican women marked some firsts this past election season – like Marsha Blackburn becoming the first female Tennessee Senator – the vast majority of these new lawmakers are Democrats.

Among them are the first Muslim congresswomen – Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib and Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar – and the first Native American women to serve – New Mexico’s Debra Haaland and Kansas’ Sharice Davids.

Chang’e-4: China Mission Lands on Moon’s Far Side

James J. Williams
-
0
Chang’e-4: China Mission Lands on Moon’s Far Side

China has announced it successfully landed a robotic spacecraft on the far side of the Moon, the first ever such attempt and landing.

According to state media, at 10:26 Beijing time, the un-crewed Chang’e-4 probe touched down in the South Pole-Aitken Basin.

The Chang’e-4 probe is carrying instruments to analyze the unexplored region’s geology, as well to conduct biological experiments.

The landing is being seen as a major milestone in space exploration.

There have been numerous missions to the Moon in recent years, but the vast majority have been to orbit, fly by or impact. The last crewed landing was Apollo 17 in 1972.

The Chang’e-4 probe has already sent back its first pictures from the surface, which were shared by state media.

With no direct communication link possible, all pictures and data have to be bounced off a separate satellite before being relayed to Earth.

Jade Rabbit: China’s First Moon Mission Shuts Down After 31 Months

Ebb and Flow gravity satellites end their mission to the Moon

Previous Moon missions have landed on the Earth-facing side, but this is the first time any craft has landed successfully on the unexplored and rugged far side.

Some spacecraft have crashed into the far side, either after system failures, or after they had completed their mission.

The Chang’e-4 was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China on December 7; it arrived in lunar orbit on December 12.

The mission was then directed to lower itself toward the Moon, being careful to identify and avoid obstacles, Chinese state media say.

The Chang’e-4 probe is aiming to explore a place called the Von Kármán crater, located within the much larger South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin – thought to have been formed by a giant impact early in the Moon’s history.

1...115116117...1,243Page 116 of 1,243