What Type of Door Is Best for an Exterior Door?

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February 24, 2021

Exterior Door — Source: Kobyco Windows and Doors

All exterior ones must withstand for many years different weather conditions, such as rain, snow, scorching sun and everything else that damages the material from which they are made.

Also, the doors have to protect us from these external influences. They also serve as insulation, to keep the heat in the house and the cold outside. They must be very strong and safe, in order to reduce the possibility of burglary. A large percentage of burglars, as many as 35 percent, use exactly the entrance door to break into a house, more than they use a garage and windows, which are otherwise considered the most vulnerable places.

Also, they have an aesthetic role. They must be visually appealing, because they are very visible and therefore will significantly affect the overall appearance of the house. After all, it is the first impression your house will leave on someone. While once wood was practically the only material used, today they are being made from a variety of materials that all have their advantages and disadvantages. To shorten your search, we will analyze each type and material, so it will be easy for you to conclude what type is best for an exterior door.

Best materials available

There are various different types, but only thing that makes a big difference is the material it is made of. Also, many doors are made of several different materials, so for example it differs from what the frame is made of and so on. We will present you some of the best available so that you can more easily decide which one is ideal for you.

Wood

We will start with wood which is the most popular material and has been used the longest. It can also be said that it is a traditional choice because it has been used for hundreds and even thousands of years for various types of gates and doors. What makes it so popular, among other things, is that it is very customizable. There are so many different types of wood available, that you can choose literally everything, price, look, shape and everything else. Some of the most commonly used are oak, cherry, walnut, maple and pine, and you can also find mahogany if you want really luxurious, then fir and many other types.

The price varies greatly, so you can find a combination of real wood and artificial materials for a few hundred dollars, and it can cost you ten thousand dollars if it is mahogany. If you want a perfect look and quality then choose wood, but if durability is most important to you, then there are definitely better options. As you know wood is a natural material and that is why it tends to decay faster than steel, for example. If you carry out regular maintenance, which includes repainting, wooden ones will definitely serve you for many years. If you want to find out more about how external wooden doors can be more durable, visit klarwindows.co.uk. Another way to extend their service life is to install a storm door.

Steel

If security is your primary concern, then steel doors are a great choice. As you know, steel is a very solid material and burglars will have a very difficult task when they try to break into your house. Also, they are the most durable of all. They can be any color you want, but the look and shapes themselves do not vary as much and are therefore not as attractive as wooden ones. However, this should not worry you much, because although they are not equally beautiful, the design has been significantly improved, so the difference in appearance is getting smaller. And when we know how much security they provide, then they are a great choice.

You need a very strong frame to hold them, as they are very heavy. Although they are so durable, dents and maybe rust will appear over time, and the problem is that it is practically impossible to fix. One solution is to replace and install new ones. However, since they are not very expensive and will take a long time, the replacement should not be a big expense for you.

Fiberglass

New materials have brought a revolution, and this is where fiberglass stands out the most. If you want to strike a balance between the beauty provided by wood and safety and the durability provided by steel, then fiberglass is the right choice. They can look very similar to wooden ones and do not need any maintenance.

They can only fade, nothing else can happen to them. Also, they are very well insulated, so they are energy efficient. Because of all these benefits, they cost like higher-end wood doors, but since they are offering you all in one, you will not go wrong if you spend more money on fiberglass door, because it will pay off many times over. You won’t have to change them for decades, and your electricity bill will be lower. So in the long run they are actually the most affordable option, and they are the most expensive only at the time of installation.

Glass

Glass ones are very attractive looking and will provide you with plenty of daylight. However, if privacy is important to you, then they are not a good choice, because everyone will be able to see what is happening inside your house. Also, they are generally not very good when it comes to insulation. Consider pairing them with a door made of some other material and then it can be a great combination.

Aluminum

Aluminum does not differ too much from steel and fiberglass when it comes to characteristics. However, they are used less often, and most often you will see them as storm doors. If you are wondering what storm doors are, as we have already mentioned it, they are doors that are usually placed in front of entry doors, to further improve insulation, allow more daylight, prevent insects from entering and protect entry doors, which is especially important if they are made of wood.

Conclusion:

As you can see, it is difficult to choose a winner, although fiberglass seems to be the closest to the first place. It is up to you to choose according to your wishes, budget and needs, and do not forget that you can combine.

What is the Difference Between FSBOs and Flat Fee MLS?

By

Дмитра Врачарић

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February 23, 2021

Are you tired of paying that extravagant amount of money to the agents? It hurts me a lot when I pay 5% to 6% of commission rates to the agents for the listing process. Why is this listing process so hard? Or is it just a fault thought that we are having in our minds regarding listing?

Don’t press hard on yourself! I have solutions to all of your questions.

Listing is hard for those who have no idea how to proceed with it. If you are a person who deliberately wants to sell your house for sale by owner or want to hire flat fee MLS services, then you can visit houzeo.com.

There are two ways from where you can save your commission rates at a certain level. One is that you can do all listing process on your terms you responsibility for each listing process second way is you can hire flat fee MLS services well if you are in search of the best for sale by owner platform, then I will suggest you go for the above link, and if you want the best platform to hire flat fee MLS service then you should refer the services.

So, for your convenience, let’s have a quick overview of both services so you can determine which services are best as per your choice to save some amount of commission.

What is for sale by the owner?

The services For sale by the owner is also abbreviated by the term FSBO,s. It is the process of listing in which the homeowner will list their property on their own without paying any commission fees to any agent, and the owner can save up to 6% commission rate of the house. Here in this process the owner is responsible for all losses and profit.

Yes, the owner is responsible for every listing process. If the owner makes a mistake, he may lose a good amount of money at the table. You have to work smartly, with confidence, and professionalism. The owner has to look at all the processes such as market analysis, setting rates, visiting the neighborhood, adding details of listing, fixing all essential repairs, taking photographs, advertising and marketing, comparing offers, and at last, doing paperwork.

Most of the time, sellers decided to go along with this process they might think that it’s the easiest process that they can process with, but it’s not because if you work with confidence and look professional, also don’t forget to follow all listing process because that’s the only way to achieve desired rates of your listing.

What are flat fee MLS services?

As their name can determine what kind of services they are providing to you, flat fee MLS listing will list your listing at different platforms, and you have to pay fees instead of the commission that you can determine at the beginning of the task. Here you have to hire an agent to perform listing updating. You will do the rest process. You have all control over your listing. You can manage it on your terms and set the rate as per your choice.

The agent will list your property at local MLS platforms because online agents can upload their listing, and only affiliated agents have access to the local MLS. For this purpose, you are hiring a flat fee agent.

The more interesting thing about the flat fee is you can list your property at big listing portals such as Zillow and Trulia.

You might get the idea of for sale by owner working and flat fee MLS services, but here you might be wondering what the benefits of using these services are so let them discuss too. I know it will help us provide more Knowledge about these services.

Benefits of using for sale by owner services

You will get rid of listing agent commission, and it’s the most common reason that makes for sale by owner services more preferable. You have to pay 6% of the commission at the end of the deal that is a good amount of money. Whether you are purchasing or setting to sell your house, you have to hire an agent that will get a commission but selling and buying through redfin will save this process.
A second most important benefit is you will get total control so you can process with all the listing proceed s as per your choice without working with any agent you care about working as a sole partner that means you are the one who has to make the decision.
Managing a schedule is a hard visiting process that always disturbs your schedule, but working as a for sale owner survives, then this is quite easy. You can schedule a meeting as per choice. No agent will suggest you on time and ask you to come on time. You are the boss here.
You are the one who will negotiate on rates and tell the buyer I am not comfortable with the offering of the rates here. All you have to do is work a bit tricker and professional, and you will get your house’s price. Agents can not interrupt your listing process.
You are the expert of your neighborhood, and you know the location where your listing is placed, and you will guide the visitors to proceed with your work. And how good did the neighborhoods. You are that person who is going to show the community if you share the best and accurate Knowledge with them. He will get impressed with how loyal services you are providing, and maybe he will agree on your rates by seeing the neighborhood and having your best guide services.

Benefits of hiring flat fee MLS services

The saving process is easier here, so you can save more in deluxe packages. It includes all marketing, photos, and guidelines through closing, and you have whole control on what is listed here you have to pay a very less amount of money to the agent that will decide before the agent will set your prices.

Wrapping up

That’s all for the post. I hope this information helps you decide which method is providing you with the best listing services. Also, you can get more ideas if you Google it and gather more Knowledge about these processes.

What to Expect from Your First Driving Lesson – 2024 Guide

By

Дмитра Врачарић

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February 23, 2021

Congratulations! The day of obtaining a learner driver’s license is a big day in everyone’s life. The moment you have this one in your hands, you are ready to start driving lessons. This is a really big moment for every person since this is the day when you are going to get in the seat and you will continue to do it for the rest of your life.

From the moment you get up, you can feel the excitement. Sure, you certainly have a lot of questions regarding your first day of driving lessons, and we are perfectly aware of how this can be important for every person. It goes without saying that your first day is going to be way more relaxed than other days. The first day will serve mainly for introduction to the basic concepts, therefore, you shouldn’t be nervous.

After you’ve completed all the basic training, you can be sure that you will have the opportunity for some real action. However, it is an absolute must for you to complete all the basic things first. In case you are interested in enrolling in a course where you can learn a lot about these, you can check out aDriving. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the things you can expect from your first driving lesson.

An Instructor and Cars

During the first couple of lessons, you can expect to see that every vehicle has dual control cars. The reason is the candidate is still completely unaware of all the things needed for proper driving. Therefore, to have complete control over the vehicle, an instructor will have a pair of control that ensure that he or she can prevent any unpleasant situations. At the same time, both an instructor and a candidate will have complete confidence during the first couple of rides.

When it comes to the instructors, you can be sure that you will not be rushed in any way. We are talking about professionals who have a lot of experience in this field, and they usually know what needs to be done in a particular situation. They are more aware of your progress than you. So, they will be able to prevent any scenarios that will not be good. At the same time, they will decide when you are ready to drive without their help.

Showing the Ropes

The first time you enter the vehicle, you can be sure that your instructor will provide you with some essential information about all the components. You can be sure that you will be asked to adjust your seat and both of the mirrors in order to have a proper vision. This maybe sounds like a rather simple thing to do, but you should know that this is something that is essential every time you sit in a car. We believe that this is not the most interesting thing you will see, but it’s a vital one.

To save as much time as you can during the first driving lesson, you can use your parent’s vehicle to practice. That way, you will feel much more comfortable the first time you sit in a car. Anyway, you can be sure that the instructor will be there to show you how everything works, and provide you with some instructions that you will find useful during the actual process of driving. If by any surprise, you have a clutch in your car, you can be sure that you will need these instructions, for certain.

Source: U Drive School of motoring driving lessons in Newcastle upon Tyne

Driving and Stalling

One of the most frequent questions is “Will I drive on the first day?” Yeah, you can count on that. However, how much time you will spend behind the wheel completely depends on your comfortability, and your ability to get a glimpse of the situation. At the same time, this time depends on how capable you are to get a hold of all the components in the car. Naturally, this is nothing that you should be scared of since these controls are not complicated. However, you need to introduce yourself to them and know them by heart.

Don’t get us wrong, we are talking about a highly automatized process, and you will be able to do all of these things without thinking about them first. According to some expert’s opinions, we can see that around half an hour is probably the commonest amount of time needed before anyone is completely aware of all the things in your car. But, if you are a person who learns quickly, you can be sure that you can get a hold of the wheel much earlier. The conclusion is that this is something that depends on you.

The First One Will Not be Perfect

It goes without saying that you are going to have some problems during the first lesson. This is nothing that should scare you. This is a perfectly normal thing to expect from the first time you sit in the car. At the same time, you can be sure that you will have the instructor beside you all the time, and you are going to be able to rely on his help during the first lesson.

If you are lucky enough to have someone who has a lot of experience and patience, then you will have a pleasant ride, you can be sure of that. Surely, it can happen that you get someone who’s not compatible with you and you can get uncomfortable. However, whatever is the case, you can be sure that you will receive the essential information about the process.

Source: learntodrivedrivingschool.com.au

In Conclusion

Obtaining a learner driver’s license means that you finally are able to get in the seat. The first lesson you are going to get is the moment when you will learn all the basics. We can see that many people are unsure about what they can expect from it. Therefore, we’ve decided to provide you with what you can expect. Here are some of the rudimentary things you can expect from your first session. We hope that you will find it helpful.

How to Make a VLOG on Phone? A Beginner Guide for Vlogging Lovers

By

Дмитра Врачарић

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February 23, 2021

The craze of making video blogs is becoming unstoppable since 2018. Everyone is now looking out for different ways to make a vlog regardless of the accessories they’ve got.

In such scenario, it’s a well-known fact that no one can afford an expensive camera or an expensive tripod for making vlogs.

So, what’s the alternative? You might ask;

Well, the alternative lies in your pocket. Yeah, you got that right.

Today, we’ll address an important question, i.e., “How to make a VLOG on Phone?”

Besides, I’ll also discuss some tricks to make your vlog catchier and intriguing at the same time.

Let us, therefore, move right towards the main topic:

Phone Vlogging Setup for Beginners:

1. Mobile Phone:

Any android or iOS phone will do the job for you. However, an iPhone would be a plus point.

To be more specific, iPhone 7 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S7 Plus are the two phones that you should consider.

Both of them cost nothing more than $300 and are easily available in the market.

2. External Microphone:

The importance of an external microphone could not be ignored.

Never rely on the built-in audio of your mobile phone as the integrated speaker in it could not catch HD audio quality.

Hence, invest in an external microphone. Will cost you no more than $50 to $60.

Hear me out: You could explore some of the best external microphone deals and updates at microphonereview.net. So, finding a perfect fit won’t be an issue.

3. Smartphone Tripod;

To add proper stabilization and balance in your video shoot, invest in a smartphone tripod.

No need to buy an expensive tripod. A mini tripod costing as low as $20 would do the job perfectly as well.

4. Video Editing Apps:

Video editing apps such as VideoProc, Quik, Kinemaster, and Filmora Go will help you improve the overall quality of your vlog.

These apps are available on Google Playstore and Apple AppStore absolutely free.

However, you’ll have to spend a few bucks to enjoy premium features. No need for that if you are a beginner though.

5. Powerbank:

Not necessary especially if you have a new smartphone with improved battery performance.

However, I’ll recommend purchasing a powerbank, if you want to make a vlog with an iPhone.

Ta-da! Those were some of the necessary things for making a phone vlog.

The important part comes now. That is, how to make a vlog with the phone?

Take a look:

Instructions to Follow While Making a Phone Vlog:

1. Make an Outline:

First things first, making an outline of a vlog is as important as breathing is for life.

You don’t make an outline, you should not expect your vlog to perform well among your competitors.

Spend as much time as you can but your outline must be rock solid.

You’ll not perform well in the beginning but it will get better with time.

Simply take a pen and paper or a diary and write down the things you want to include in your vlog.

Arrange them in ascending order and add other necessary things that you forgot in the first place.

Your outline must consist of an Intro, Body, Important Highlights, Conclusion, and Outro.

That’s the simplest outline I’ve shared with you guys.

2. Video Shooting:

Adjust your mobile phone on the tripod.

Insert the external microphone and now you have to capture videos on your mobile.

You can enhance the camera settings as per your preferences.

Make sure that there isn’t any shakiness or blurriness in the video. A smartphone tripod will also take care of these issues.

While shooting your video, make sure that you are looking at the camera and not at the mobile phone. This way, you’ll directly communicate with your audience without any frustration.

3. Editing Video Clips:

The story doesn’t end here.

You now have to edit the video clips in an editing app.

You can use the softwares I’ve recommended above.

Cut blank video clips or where you think the audience will get bored.

Don’t forget to add royalty-free music in the background. You could find a large royalty-free music library on YouTube and from other third-party websites as well.

Spend a good amount of time editing your video and save it in your mobile’s internal storage.

4. Uploading on YouTube:

After saving, the next step is to upload the vlog on your YouTube channel.

Before uploading, make sure that you rename your video file with the exact title you want on YouTube.

While uploading the video, make sure that your YouTube channel is properly set. Update your channel’s logo, clipart, and About section info for a better first impression.

Make a catchy title and a clickbait thumbnail for your video. I’m not talking about the negative clickbait or the one that doesn’t comply with YouTube’s Privacy Policy.

Analyze your competitors and see what they are doing to grab the attention of their audience.

Add relevant tags and you are good to go.

Finally, publish the video on YouTube!

5. Social Sharing:

Social sharing works as an initial boost for a video blog.

When done with publishing video, share it on all relevant platforms including Facebook, Tumblr, Reddit, Instagram, Twitter, and Whatsapp, etc.

Ask your friends to give a try to your vlog and subscribe to your channel if they like your content.

Some Tips for Becoming Popular on YouTube:

I know the hurdles one has to face while starting vlogging from scratch. Follow these tips to overcome the initial hurdles:

Consistency: Be as much consistent as you can. Give extra time to video shooting, editing, and YouTube optimization. Upload at least 3 videos in a week for a month and then slow it down while maintaining the quality.

Don’t Be Shy: Say goodbye to shyness as it won’t work when you want to promote your content across different platforms.

Take Help from Family: Ask your relatives to subscribe to your channel and watch your vlogs on YouTube. Take as much help from your family and relatives as you can.

Keep Hustling: No one gained success with shortcuts be it PewDiePie or Casey Neistat. So, avoid shortcuts and keep hustling and grinding until you get yourself acknowledged on YouTube.

To Sum It Up:

Making a video blog with a phone is no rocket science. It all comes down to how you want to get advantage of your phone and other vlogging accessories.

Follow the techniques I’ve mentioned above and I assure you that no one could stop you from becoming the next Vlogging Sensation!

7 Tips to Know Before Playing Online Casino

By

Дмитра Врачарић

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February 23, 2021

Online casinos have won the hearts of thousands of gamblers over the years. People are intrigued by the flexibility and comfort attached to it. There are so many advantages online casinos have over land-based ones. A prominent one is the “gaming-from-home” ability. People don’t have to go through the stress of driving on highways to mortar and brick casinos to gamble again.

Online casinos offer fun just like land-based casinos. However, there are tips to know before we jump into playing online casinos. These tips would boost your online gaming experience and open your understanding of some little errors most people commit. After considering the tips I am about to share, the best nettikasinot in Finland like Kasinohai will provide some of the best casinos for you to make your choices.

Shall we? Okay.

Tips to Know Before Playing

1. Check for Your Choice of Games

A wide variety of games is one of the main advantages of online casinos over mortar and brick casinos. Online casinos offer hundreds of games for gamblers to pick from. A few popular examples of the games are Blackjack, Roulette, Video Poker, Bingo, Baccarat, Slots, etc. Not all online casinos offer these games; that is why it is very important to check for your choice before registration.

As an advanced player, you should know your choice of games already. All you have to do is to check the categories. But as a beginner, you need to try the demo version of these games to know the ones you are good at.

2. Map Out Your Budget Plan

As entertaining as gambling can be, you need to watch out for your spending. Before playing an online casino game, draw a budget for yourself. Make sure this budget does not affect every other area of your life concerning expenditures. In short, don’t spend more than you can afford.

Great men and celebrities have gone back to a mediocre lifestyle due to excessive spending on gambling. No matter the winnings at hand, don’t ever be tempted to stake more than your budget. On the other hand, no matter the amount you have lost, always learn to stop and try again another day.

3. Access the Bonuses, Offers, and Promotions

Bonuses are also part of the fun in online casinos. They are used to attract gamblers; no one won’t be interested in bonuses. These bonuses help you reduce the amount of money you spend on stakes. The popular bonuses online casinos are Welcome Bonuses, VIP Bonuses, Match Bonuses, Reload Bonuses, etc.

You need to understand these bonuses and what they entail. Nevertheless, not all online casinos offer rich bonuses. Some might offer two, others offer up to four. Check for casinos that offer rich bonuses and enjoy them. On some online casinos, the welcome bonuses are not good, so you need to carefully read the terms and conditions attached to them.

4. Avoid Getting Intoxicated While Playing

This is a very important tip to take note of as a gambler. Study shows that a greater percentage of addicted gamblers are also addicted, alcoholics. That is, there is every tendency that you want to drink while gambling on online casinos. It is very bad and people are vehemently advised against it.

In mortar and brick casinos, the stewards regulate your drinking in order not to experience any harm. But for online casinos, there is nobody to caution you while taking strong drinks on your bed. Alcohols affect your thinking while gambling, i.e. it gives opponents an advantage to cheat you without your knowledge. Learn how to caution yourself while playing.

5. Peruse the Terms and Conditions

Everything that has to do with a registration process comes with terms and conditions. However, many people just ignore the reading and just go ahead to tap the ‘agree’ button. There are important things to notice in terms; these things can affect the functionality of the website, application, etc. Most times, you can’t go back to alter anything once you have clicked the button.

Online casinos, Bonuses, Offers, all come with terms and conditions. You must read through them before accepting the offer. Some casinos offer the best terms to suit lots of gamblers locally and internationally.

6. Avoid Long Sessions Gaming

Time is very precious; a moment spent can’t be recovered again. You need to be conscious of the sessions you play, there should be a limit. Like I explained earlier, online casino gaming can be so entertaining and engrossing. Gamblers can get carried away while playing and this has negative effects on your day’s plan. Set a time limit for your playing sessions, don’t overspend time on gaming.

Some games are short sessions, some are long sessions. On some days, you might not have much time to spare for gambling, try to play short session games. You don’t have to spend time playing long sessions; it can ruin your day. Remember, moderation is key.

7. Study Strategies

It is generally known that a casino is a game of luck/chance. But there are strategies to evade avoidable losses and increase winning streaks. Each game has its peculiar strategies. Games like Baccarat have special strategies to maximize your winning possibilities. All you need to do is to research these strategies, study them and make use of them.

On the web, many sites give fake strategies. They try to convince you that there is a constant pattern to play a game, don’t be deceived! People usually provide fake tips to drive crowds towards their sites. Access reliable sources for information.

Online casinos are generating huge revenue for the gaming industry. There are many online casinos without a license, meaning you are susceptible to scam. Casinos are operated under certain regulations by the appropriate bodies. Be careful when choosing an online casino, also ensure you use the tips provided to source for the best casinos.

There are reviews for you to read to be sure of what you are choosing. Casino gaming can be fun, trust me, but there are also pitfalls. Make the right choice.

7 Best Tech Stocks to Invest In 2024

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

February 23, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has done a number on the global economy, causing investors to flee in terror and severely limiting investment opportunities. While the markets will almost surely bounce back, people with free capital have been left desperate for what to do with their money until they do. One sector that sailed through the recession almost unscathed is technology. The tech companies not only didn’t suffer any major losses, some of them even thrived during the pandemic. As such, they are a prime target for investors, as witnessed by a huge interest for their shares on the world’s stock exchanges.

1. Microsoft

When Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in 1975, they probably couldn’t have imagined the success the company will have. Their Windows operating systems became synonymous with personal computers worldwide and accompanying the software (well, apart from the Internet Explorer) was also wildly successful. In the recent decade, following the departure of Mr. Gates, the company has managed to pivot to cloud computing, moving all of its software solutions online. The move was executed perfectly, leaving Microsoft perfectly positioned for the upcoming challenges. Under the leadership of the current CEO Satya Nadella, the company has managed to weather the Covid-19 pandemic and come out even stronger than before.

2. Playtech

Playtech’s star is on the rise, as is the entire iGaming industry since the pandemic started. One of the leaders in gambling and casino software, according to AskGamblers.com, Playtech has been around since 1999. Even if you are an infrequent visitor of online casinos, chances are you have played one or more of their games. Virtue Fusion is its bingo platform, one of the most popular bingo solutions in the industry. Through their subsidiary Playtech BGT Sports, they offer sports betting solutions to bookmakers. They also have a highly successful poker platform, imaginatively called iPoker. It was designed by Geoff Hall, one of the world’s premier developers of gambling solutions. Playtech is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a part of the FTSE 250 Index.

3. Amazon

The world’s leading online retailer and e-commerce platform, Amazon seems to be going from strength to strength. Even the founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’s divorce last year failed to have any impact on the value of their stocks. Even if the divorce managed to knock him off from the top spot of the richest people on the planet, during the pandemic his wealth increased by some $24 billion, mostly due to Amazon working in overdrive to meet the demand of online shoppers. Apart from retail, the company has become a leader in cloud computing, overtaking both Google and Microsoft, its closest rivals. All in all, Amazon is always a great investment opportunity.

4. Apple

Many feared that the death of Steve Jobs would mean imminent Apple’s demise, but the events proved them wrong. The Cupertino company issued their 14th iPhone last year, equipped with 5G technology Even though the customers seem to be prolonging the replacement interval between swapping their old devices for the latest ones issued by Apple, the sales are still going strong. Apple services are a huge moneymaker, earning $14.5 billion for the company in September 2024 alone. One thing that could be a fly in the ointment is the antitrust investigations they are faced in both the United States and Europe. Even if those come to fruition, the worst is that Apple will pay a fine. Regardless of how hefty it is, they will be able to shrug it off and continue with operations.

5. Alphabet

Google’s parent company, Alphabet represents one of the most valuable companies in the world. Their stock price reflects that status and that may be one thing stopping small investors from investing in it. The entry point is just too high. On the other hand, judging from the last year’s performance, it is hard to imagine anything slowing Alphabet’s growth. Even with the drop in online advertisement due to the pandemic, the company managed to stay in the black, bringing profit to its shareholders. As the world’s economy rebounds, so will Google’s main source of income increase. Their shares are already on the rise, following up strong predictions for 2024. Apart from their core business, the Alphabet’s other operations are also showing strength. Cloud computing and consumer hardware products represent a significant portion of their revenue.

6. Facebook

Facebook is without doubt the largest social media company in the world. With Instagram, which it owns, they have more than 2 billion users, most of which are active daily on either of the platforms. However, Facebook is facing strong opposition in the United States over the links between Mark Zuckerberg and Donald Trump. There are voices demanding the company to be held responsible for fake news shared through their network and even outright calls for its division. While all of that is still in the future, it reflects on the price of their stock. If you believe in the company’s future, now may be a good time to invest.

7. Netflix

The pioneer of Internet television and streaming services, Netflix has become of one the world’s biggest video producers. Every year, they invest billions in new content, shared with the users through their streaming service. The driving idea in the last few years has been to create a worldwide users base, by investing in expanding and localizing their content. At the same time, the company has invested heavily in creating content with local producers. The hope is to become a major global video content supplier, with streaming service just a method of delivery. In general, the idea sounds good, but what is worrying the shareholders is that Netflix is doing it too fast, even at the expense of profits. However, with several competitors breeding down its neck, it is easy to understand the need for speed.

Best CFD Trading Brokers in Africa (Revealed)

By

Lilith Pope

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February 23, 2021

Before African traders can start trading in global financial markets, they must first undergo the process of evaluating and selecting a broker through which trading activities will commence.

There are numerous brokers who offer CFD trading to African traders and although most African countries allow trading, traders must heed caution where unregulated brokers are concerned along with scam brokers.

There are many fraudulent and illegitimate brokers who seek to target unsuspecting traders into investing their funds, with no intention of using funds towards trading activities.

When traders try to make withdrawals, such brokers often inform the trader that issues have occurred during their withdrawal, or the trading account is mysteriously depleted of funds that the broker claimed went to hidden fees and charges.

When choosing a CFD broker, African traders are therefore urged to make use of reputable and well-regulated brokers that have a history of built-up trustworthiness, a good reputation, and excellent services.

Brokers that are well-regulated are required to keep client funds in separate, or segregated, accounts with top-tier banks. These funds are only used for trading activities and traders can withdraw their funds at any given time says Louis Schoeman, Senior Forex Analyst from Forexsuggest.com.

In addition, should traders have issues with a regulated broker, they are backed by a regulatory framework. It also provides traders with some assurance that they can get their funds back should the broker be unable to fulfill their financial obligations.

AvaTrade

AvaTrade is one of the most popular names in the trading industry. As a multi-award-winning Market Maker and STP broker offering a vast variety of CFDs, AvaTrade is suited for both beginner and Expert African traders seeking a competitive edge to their trading.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Well-regulated	US Clients not allowed
Award-winning broker	Variable spreads not offered
Fast trade execution	Only one account type for either retail or professionals
Competitive trading conditions
Social trading offered

City Index

City Index is a leading CFD and forex trading broker offering African traders with the trade-in of more than 12,000 financial instruments. With City Index, traders can expect fast trade execution, award-winning trading platforms, innovative trading technology, and competitive trading conditions.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Strict regulation	US clients not accepted
Negative balance protection	Limited payment methods
Advanced trading platforms	No fixed spreads
Trading signals

Trading 212

Trading 212 is a reputable mobile trading platform that caters to traders from several African countries. With Trading 212, traders have access to zero-commission trading, more than 2,000 financial instruments, access to innovative trading technology, and a low minimum deposit requirement.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Well-regulated	US Clients not accepted
FSCS member	Limited leverage for retail clients
Commission-free trading	MetaTrader not offered
Intuitive and user-friendly trading platform
Low minimum deposit requirement

ActivTrades

ActivTrades is an award-winning online broker offering traders from around the world the opportunity to trade in more than 500 financial instruments spanning across several asset classes. African traders have access to negative balance protection, commission-free trading, and exclusive trading tools to their disposal.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Well-regulated	US Clients not accepted
Negative balance protection	Limited account types
ICS Member	No fixed spreads
Exclusive trading tools
Commission-free trading

eToro

eToro is another popular name in the industry along with being the lead social trading platform. With eToro, African traders have limitless social trading opportunities and a vast online community. eToro also offers competitive trading conditions and a powerful proprietary trading platform that can be used over a variety of devices.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Strictly regulated	US Clients not accepted
Commission-free trading	Limited leverage for retail traders
Large online community	No fixed spreads
Competitive trading conditions	MetaTrader not offered

Plus500

Plus500 is a multi-regulated and popular CFD broker which offers more than 2,000 tradable financial instruments to African traders. In addition, Plus500 also has low trading and non-trading fees, tight and competitive spreads, and low commission charges on trades.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
>Multiple regulations	Limited account options
Multilingual support	Desktop version of trading platform not available
Large variety of tradeable financial instruments	High inactivity fee
Low trading fees, tight spreads, and low commissions	Withdrawal fees charged
Adequate leverage offered	Limited payment options supported

HotForex

As a Cyprus-based broker that is multi-regulated and reputable, HotForex offers African traders some of the best trading conditions in the industry and an array of bonuses and promotions, getting traders started on the right foot in CFD trading.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Strictly and well-regulated	US Clients not allowed
Strong international presence
Competitive trading conditions offered
Vast variety of account types offered

Alpari

Alpari has been offering its comprehensive trading services and solutions since 1998 and is a reputable STP and ECN broker. Alpari boasts more than 2 million registered traders from 150 countries, including several African countries. Alpari is constantly working to expand its client base, offering traders from all over the world competitive trading conditions.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Well-regulated	Restriction on traders from some countries
MetaTrader 4 and 5 offered	Limited financial instruments offered
PAMM Accounts offered	Fixed spread accounts not offered

Exness

Exness was established in 2008 and is a popular and reputable broker catering to various traders despite their trading needs, objectives, levels of experience, and styles. With Exness, African traders have access to a vast range of markets, powerful trading platforms, and low trading and non-trading fees.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Strictly regulated	US Clients not allowed
High maximum leverage offered	Accounts not multi-currency
Powerful trading platforms
Variety of financial instruments

XM

XM is a well-established ECN and STP broker which features a rich history in providing traders with comprehensive trading solutions. When trading with XM, traders have access to an impressive range of markets, competitive conditions, a variety of account types, negative balance protection, and access to some of the most innovative, powerful trading platforms.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Well-regulated	US Clients not allowed
Negative balance protection offered	Fixed spreads not offered
Competitive trading conditions

Cultural Nature of Gambling in Asia

By

Дмитра Врачарић

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February 23, 2021

Gambling activities have a long history in the Asia region. Interestingly, traditional gambling has appeared in 3000 BC in Asia. Some historical evidence confirms that the Chinese were betting on unearthed tiles. That was actually in the period of 2300 BC. When we are talking about the gambling market nowadays, we can say certainly that Asia is a place where gambling is taking its place the most. Interest in gambling activities is increasing every single day. We will transfer this into a statistic, so you can have a clear insight into how popular gambling is in Asia since ancient times. Approximately 32.7% of the global gambling market is recorded in this region.

However, the cultural nature of gambling in Asia is not just old; it is also specific. That is the reason why we need to make an in-depth analysis of it.

Legalization of gambling

As evidence shows, gambling activities were very important for the Asian population. There are many destinations where gambling in traditional casinos is a legal activity. Some of them are Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines. On the other hand countries such as China, North Korea, India, Kuwait do not allow legal gambling. However, in countries where gambling is legal, there are also some specific rules.

For instance, Singapore allows only two legal casinos. Logically, they share the gambling monopoly in the country. One more interesting thing is that sports betting and some lucky games are under the control of two supervisors. In some countries, gambling is legal only for tourists. The main reason why gambling is mostly illegal in the Asia region is the fact that most of the countries are Islamic. Even though people are very interested in gambling, religion makes trouble in regulating legalization.

However, one gambling option is more and more popular across the globe, especially in Asia. As technology develops, many new options are available to us, and they to make our lifestyle easier. One of the things that advanced technology brings is online gambling. If you want to find out the best online casinos, you can check out DarkSnow. That is the best possible alternative people where traditional gambling is illegal have.

What makes the Asian population so committed to gambling?

If you are wondering why is gambling so popular in these parts, you will find the answer in their cultural believes. The Asian population is very committed to believing in luck and inducing positive energy. For that reason, their culture created through years different superstitions that are popular even today. People who do not live in that region consider those superstitions as a very interesting phenomenon. In further text, you will find out some of the most specific ones. Moreover, this is a perfect example to show you how important gambling is for Asians.

Wear red before going to a casino, preferably a red underwear

Some people who are gambling can understand and identify with Asians who think that red color brings luck and positive outcome. However, no population believes in this superstition more than Asians. In their culture, the red color symbolizes good fortune and joy. For that reason, if you are wearing red while you are gambling, luck and joy will follow you. This applies mostly to wearing red underwear.

Believing in feng shui

Everyone heard of how the power of feng shui can influence good luck. In other words, they think that they can manipulate with energy and cause positiveness. This especially counts for Chineses. For instance, they avoid entering the casino on the main door because they think they are cursed by masters of feng shui. Interestingly, many Asians who believe in feng shui do not realize the fact that they would never win on gambling because of feng shui. The ancient philosophy and culture do not allow gambling and it is considered as bad luck and damnation.

Praying to the gambling gods is important for the outcome

Praying to the gambling gods is a very important thing for gamblers across Asia. Moreover, they actually have specific circumstances when they are allowed to pray to these gods. Gamblers consider them as gambling spirits. When they are referring to them before going to attempt their luck, they feel very encouraged to think they are going to win. They think that, if they show to gods commitment, those gambling gods will help them in achieving good results.

Two specific rules while Asians are gambling

People from the West will say that this sounds really weird, however, Asians do not allow anyone to touch their shoulder before they are going to the casino. Despite that, it is forbidden to mention any book to the gamblers people. They think these things bring bad luck. The book for Asians has a similar translation as the word “lose”. On the other hand, they think touching someone else’s shoulder is a very unclear gesture.

Women are gambling when they have menstruation

This superstition refers to women, so the male population will not understand it. Women consider that luck will follow them if they gamble while they are having the period. Even though the menstruation period lasts for a couple of days, women use that opportunity to attempt their luck. If they are leaking – it is a big chance for luck “to leak” as well.

Washing hands before gambling influence the destiny

One more interesting superstition that is very popular among Asians is to think that washing their hands can change the direction of luck. If they are in the middle of the game and they are losing, the key is to run away to the nearest bathroom and wash the hands. In that way, they are washing bad luck from them. On the other hand, if luck follows you while you are on the gambling table, you should not wash your hands at all. If you wash them, you can wash the good luck away. Interestingly, this superstition is now popular even in the West.

They do not have sex before gambling

Even though it is hard to believe in this, Asians are very superstitious about having sex before they gamble. They are thinking in this way – if they want to get lucky and to score on the gambling, they should not experience luck in the bed and satisfaction. Those things just do not go together.

How to Personalise Your Windows 10 Laptop Experience

By

Дмитра Врачарић

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February 23, 2021

Our laptops are very personal items to us and are something that many of us use day in, day out for hours at a time. Because of this, it is only fair that we have the option to customize our user experience. Thankfully, Windows offers a whole bunch of features that means users can do just that – you just have to know where to find them and how to use them.

This piece will show you exactly how to do that! Some of them might even surprise you.

Change Your Theme

If you are well acquainted with Windows, you will know that their signature theme is blue-based, which comes as a staple with all laptops. However, if this is not your jam, you can change your theme to something that suits your personality and mood much better.

This can include how apps and fonts look, and almost everything can be changed right down to your mouse cursor colour!

Windows laptops do now come with a variety of stunning landscapes and images to use as your lock screen and background, but if you are fed up with staring at somewhere you can’t be right now, then why not opt for a picture of something else you can’t see instead? Like your family or your favourite band? You can change it to anything your heart desires.

To change your theme, simply click on the Start menu and select Settings. On the settings bar, you will find an icon called “Personalization“ with an icon of a paintbrush over a computer screen, a fitting image for this. In this, you will uncover a list of all the areas that you can change on your laptop, from the background to the colours you use. Head down to “Themes” and choose from the selection of Mythemes and Windows Default Themes and start personalising your laptop.

Go Dark

Windows 10 gives its users the option to now enjoy “dark mode” on their laptop, essentially where all the traditional backgrounds are turned dark. This is mostly a personal preference, though some might find that one of the benefits of dark mode is that it helps lessen eye strain by having a dimmer interface. It also makes you feel like you are in a spy movie.

This couldn’t be simpler to do; on the same menu as before on settings, head to “Personalization,” and this time click on their option “Colors.” Here you will find a tick button option that allows you to select dark mode.

Create a Virtual Desktop

If you, like everybody else, can’t help but drift off to the personal side of your laptop when you are desperately trying to keep doing your work, then here is a cool tip.

You can create a virtual desktop by simply pressing the Windows key and Tab. This will bring up all of your current running windows, and in the top left-hand corner of your screen on a lenovo, you will find the option to create a new desktop, which will allow you to flip between, work, play, and whatever else you would need a separate desktop for.

Sort Out Your Display

Your display can also be personalised to give you a much more comfortable user experience. An example of what you could do includes changing the size of the apps, text, and other items on your screen, which can be found in the advanced display settings under System. You can also adjust your text resolution, which is brilliant for those who struggle to read off a screen or have mild short-sighted myopia. Do not feel afraid to play around with the effects, as many Windows laptops will show you a preview of what you are changing before you commit to the change. You can always change any of these preferences back if you want to.

If you ever feel frustrated by the taskbar and its location, the good news is that you can change this too. Move it to the top of the screen or to the side to make using your laptop a breeze.

View Your Pictures Throughout the Day Easily

We’ve all been there; when the day has been busy and tiring, and we want nothing more than to finish up what we are doing and spend some time with our loved ones. Well, thanks to this handy personalisation option on Windows 10, you can feel as though your loved ones are with you during the working day by displaying their pictures on your desktop. If you right-click on the desktop screen and click “Personalize,” or head to settings and select “Personalization,” and head to the option “Background,” you can choose a still image from your photo album.

If you can’t choose between your pictures, you could try your hand at making a collage. However, this is a lot of work, so why not let Windows 10 do the work for you by selecting the option Slideshow? Place as many photos as you want into a folder and browse your PC for this and select your album. The great thing is that you can set the length of time between each picture, whether you want it on shuffle and if you still want this to display when your battery is running low, so you can really make this your own. You can then enjoy seeing wonderful memories throughout the working day.

Change Your Start Menu

We need everything to be much faster in this day and age, including the length of time it takes to find an app and open it during the working day. This is why this option of personalisation is so great. If you don’t like the options the start menu offers, you can easily change this to suit you, whether this is to make starting work easier. Simply right-click and unpin an app or a folder you don’t want from the menu. Then choose the folders you want to be displayed, such as programmes, apps, music, and more. You can do this in Settings. Slide across the digital switch to turn it orange, and this folder will display on your startup menu.

5 Best Yoga Retreat in Russia

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

February 23, 2021

We have collected Russia’s top theme hotels and rehab centers for those who want to practice yoga and refresh their energy. These places are located on the outskirts of Moscow and the most beautiful places in Russia. Go check it out!

1. The “Abrau-Yoga” center of the “Abrau-Dyurso” resort

The “Abrau-Dyurso” resort not far from Novorossiysk and the Black Sea is not only the center of Russia’s grape growing, but also a good place for relaxation. There is a “HotelImperial&Champagne SPA” hotel, on the hills and in the vineyards, there are many health trails for walking therapy, and a “Abrau-Yoga” center opened recently.

The demolition center is surrounded by mountains, between the sea and the “Abrau-Durso” lake, surrounded by ancient forests. Usually courses are held in the hall. But when the weather is good, there will also be cleaning classes in the open-air square of the “Sahasrara” yoga studio. This yoga studio is a two-story wooden pavilion from which you can enjoy panoramic views of mountains, forests and the sea.

In the timetable, there are regular classes with local coaches, and training classes with invited yoga teachers and other class teachers. In the “Abrau-Yoga” center, classes will be held for newcomers, children and yoga therapy projects, as well as two-person yoga (Acroyoga) and art yoga (Artyoga) courses. There are also some classic courses: Hathayoga, YogaNidra and Meditation. Individual customized courses can also be provided. The fee for group lectures starts at 300 rubles, the fee for individual lectures starts at 1000 rubles, and the fee for seminars starts at 1500 rubles.

Organizing everyone to live in “Round Lake Manor” is very convenient. Tourists who come here for yoga repairs will like it here. During the rest of the yoga class, you can swim in the heated swimming pool, enjoy the steam bath, play billiards, and grill some delicious things on the grill. Next to the manor is a stable, which houses a unique pony breed from Iceland-because they are not tall, they can be easily controlled by children and adults who have never ridden a horse.

If you’d like to visit Abrau Dyurso, don’t forget to get your Russian visa at visaexpress.com first.

2. At the “Yoga Villa” in Pereslavl-Zalessky

In the village of Gorodishche (Gorodishche) on the shore of Lake Pleshcheyevo in the northern outskirts of Pereslavl-Zalessky, there is a “yoga villa”.

On weekends, coaches from Moscow and Yaroslavl Region will come here to teach. Courses are conducted in a spacious and bright hall with panoramic windows. In good weather, classes can be conducted on the wooden terrace or on the lawn.

It is surrounded by churches and monasteries. Shavasana yoga. Maybe one day it will be the Orthodox bells that time yoga instead of the Tibetan cups or the Chinese gongs.

During the course break, you can go to Lake Preseyevo, or to the Pereslavl-Zalessky Center. And visit the Kremlin, Flatiron Museum, “Goritsky” Monastery and other attractions there.

3. Eco hotel “Altika” in Altai

South of Gorno-Altaysk, between Ust’-Muny and Barangol, on the banks of the Katun River There is an “Altika” eco hotel. When constructing this small Scandinavian style building, only natural materials and innovative technology were used. You can stay in the main body of the house that looks like flying above the ground and trapped in red pine.

The hotel welcomes guests who support environmental protection and participate in spiritual and physical practice-specifically, yoga and vegetarianism. A comfortable practice hall and outdoor pavilion are provided for yoga classes. The hotel has a spa and sauna center. If you have children, you can take them to the children’s playground on the banks of the cartoon river. If you feel that you don’t have enough training in the yoga class, you can go to the gym.

4. “Ecological Camp” in Crimea

“EcoCamp” mountainous ecological camp in Central Crimea has been offering yoga, qigong, Ayurveda, massage, breathing techniques, Vedas, Shamanism practice, Tibetan and Chinese medicine training for several years class. It organizes summer camps for children to develop creativity and thinking, study nature, learn foreign languages and folk crafts.

EcoCamp is waiting for people and vegetarians who support ecological lifestyles and use alternative energy sources. The owners are engaged in green building and landscape design, organic and biological agronomy, and agricultural activities.

In order to hold various courses, there are two halls. There is also a vegetarian cafe open. In addition, there are tea pavilions, children’s playground, swimming pool and steam bath. Although the location is far away, electricity and Wi-Fi are always available. During the course, you can live in tent camps, reed bungalows, comfortable huts or ecological houses. In the entire camp, smoking, drinking and eating meat are not welcome.

The “EcoCamp” ecological camp is located on a slope in the “Belbek” valley, surrounded by a nature reserve. Surrounded by the Mangup Kale cave fortress (Mangup Kale), the ancient city of EskiKermen (EskiKermen), cave monasteries that have gone through thousands of years-Kachi Kalon (Kachi Kalon), Boyka Mountain (Boyka), Kerry Mia Grand Canyon, Falcon Rocks, Uzundzha Canyon. The camp is located in the ancient settlement of Calro, built by Christians in the eighth century. They are descendants of German nomads and later incorporated into the Crimean Khanate. There are many legends in this place. The host and locals will be happy to tell you these stories.

There is an apple orchard in the camp, surrounded by grassy grasses, broad-leaved forests, cypress bushes, and ancient red pine forests with blooming flowers and herbs. The nearest settlement “Novoul’yanovka” is four kilometers away. There is a clean mountain lake. Because of the limestone, its bottom and embankment are white, and the color of the water is emerald.

5. In the “Lago-Naki” nursing home in the Adygea Republic

The sanatorium and boarding house “Lago-Naki” is only a few kilometers away from Maykop, the capital of The Republic of Adygea, at the foot of the “Lago-Naki” nature reserve. The nursing home focuses on spa, medical and beauty projects. Modern rooms are provided for guests in the main building and several cottages. For refreshment and yoga classes, there is a comfortable practice hall and an open field.

The kitchen of the nursing home will definitely take your dietary preferences into consideration. There are two open-air swimming pools for adults and children, as well as cafes and restaurants. For horse riding enthusiasts, the stables are open. You can relax by the river when the weather is good. But usually, there will be massage and other classes between yoga classes. The local doctors are very good at spondylopathy and are always ready to provide some treatments for guests-such as “anti-stress plan” and weight loss treatments.