What Are The Different Types of Assets?

By

-

December 3, 2020

When people think of assets, what generally comes to mind are houses, cars, cash, and jewelry. While this may be true in part, assets are not only tangible possessions as it can also take the form of non-physical substances that have long-term wealth.

Personal assets have an inherent value that tracking and understanding its types won’t only provide you an estimate of your net worth but may also compel you to care and protect such assets for yourself and your family.

Asset Types

An asset is anything that has monetary value that an individual possesses and can be converted into cash. Personal assets have current or future value and are owned by an individual or a household.

Those that can be seen or perceived are termed as tangible assets–in the form of houses, cars, cash and currencies, jewelry and precious coins, and even artwork and antiques. On the other hand, those that don’t have a physical presence such as patents, copyright, trademark, and tradenames, franchise or lease agreements, intellectual property, and accounts receivable are classified as intangible assets and have long-term value.

Tangible assets can be further distinguished by their ability to gain or lose value over time. Antiques, jewelry, precious coins, artwork, and real property increase their value throughout the years. On the other hand, vehicles and electronics depreciate the moment it’s used. In business, equipment and machinery are also considered as depreciating assets.

Financial Assets

These have inherent monetary value and are rated based on contractual rights or ownership. These may come in the form of:

Cash
Checking and/or savings accounts
Bonds
Stocks
Certificates of Deposit
Mutual funds
Retirement accounts

One can accumulate a number of assets in a lifetime as long as it necessitates proper asset planning to manage cash and investments. This entails an inventory of all known assets and formulating a plan to ensure the protection of such assets.

To expound, here are the different types of assets that you may invest in:

1. Cash

Cash refers to the money available for use that can be used to exchange goods and services. Cash can be obtained through the practice of a profession or the operation of a business. Cash on hand is often called “petty cash.”

2. Checking/Savings Account

A checking account is a type of bank account that allows a person to deposit money to maintain a balance, and afterward withdraw money by writing a check. A savings bank account also allows one to keep money in the bank and earn interest.

Funds can be withdrawn from a savings account through over-the-counter, ATM machines, and through fund transfers.

3. Bonds

A bond is similar to an IOU in the sense that the borrower agrees to pay interest until it reaches an agreed-upon date. A bond or equity is issued by large corporations, cities, and national governments to fund short-term projects. The lender is called the bond holder and will indicate how much money is borrowed, the attached interest, and the bond’s maturity date. Once the bond matures, the principal amount is returned.

There are several types of bonds that vary based on who uses them, the length until maturity, interest rate, and risk involved.

U.S. Treasury bills are short-term bonds that pay minimal interest. Longer-term treasury bonds, such as the 10-year note, produces higher yields, while TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Security) bonds protect against inflation.

Cities and localities also issue bonds, which are called municipal bonds. Companies that issue corporate bonds are riskier than government bonds but a subtype called junk bonds pays higher interests.

Bonds can be profitable investments as it allows one to earn additional income through interest payments. Waiting until the bond reaches maturity date allows one to receive the principal in full while reselling the bond can give you additional income. A downside of bonds is that it has lower returns than stocks and the bond yields can decrease.

4. Stocks

Stock or equity is a form of security that represents a portion of ownership in a corporation. A unit of stock is called a ‘share’ and the number of shares owned determines how much claim the owner has on the company. Owning stocks is a good investment because it can result in dividends if the company profits or it can result in reinvestment that increases earnings.

There are two types of stocks: common and preferred. Common stocks endow its owner with the power to vote in shareholders’ meetings and to receive dividends. On the other hand, preferred stockholders don’t have the same privilege but have higher claims on the assets and profit of the corporation. In certain companies, preferred stockholders are given preference in the distribution of dividends.

Investing in stocks has definite advantages. Stocks have higher returns over bonds and shareholders may benefit once the stock’s price increases. There’s also an opportunity to gain dividends that can be reinvested to the company to increase one’s shares.

5. Certificate of Deposit (CD)

A certificate of deposit (CD) allows an investor to deposit money in a bank for a designated time period with a guaranteed interest rate. The interest rates are paid monthly. CDs often span between three months to five years.

6. Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are a combination of securities (bonds and stocks) incorporated into a single unit or share. Income from a mutual fund is derived from a pay-out issued by the fund from all the earnings gained from both stocks and bonds.

As in the case of stocks, mutual fund shareholders also have the option to reinvest earnings and sell mutual fund shares in the market.

7. Retirement Accounts

Retirement accounts allow one to save money in preparation for one’s retirement. Depending on how you are employed, typical retirement accounts include employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as the 401(k), an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or plans designed for small business owners or self-employed.

While these vary in the amount of contribution, the main goal of a retirement account is to ensure that one can live a comfortable life during retirement.

Current Versus Long-Term Assets

The above-mentioned financial assets can be divided as current and long-term assets based on the ease of how these can be converted to cash. Assets that can be converted within a year such as cash, savings, and checking account, stocks, bonds, and mutual bonds are included as current assets. Long-term assets are not as easily converted to cash compared to current assets. Examples of long-term assets include insurance policies and annuities with cash value.

Wise asset management entails that incomes and profits grow in time to increase net worth and, at the same time, have a prepared plan to guard assets against possible financial troubles in the future.

7 Benefits Of Using Infrared Heating Panel

By

Billy Voss

-

December 3, 2020

Infrared heating is a relatively new concept among the home heating options, as it has become more popular only in the last fifteen years, especially in some European countries like Germany, France, and the UK. However, in the last couple of years it has spread globally, even in the less developed countries.

Although it has experienced the above-mentioned boom recently, this type of heating existed… well, since the creation of the world. Surprised? You shouldn’t be, as its biggest source is the Sun itself. Have you ever felt warm even on a freezy day in the middle of winter when you go out? Common sense would tell us that if the outside temperature is low, we should also feel cold. Yet, we aren’t – and the main reason for this is infrared rays. They travel unimpeded and warm up every single object they hit, including our bodies.

To put it simply, infrared is a form of energy emission with electromagnetic radiation as its key process. The same principle applies to this type of warming at homes, but before we see what its benefits are, let’s see the difference between this and the conventional one.

Conventional heating works by warming up the air around us. At first, the warm air rises up and, with time, as it starts to cool down, it drops down back to the ground level. This process keeps repeating again and again. On the other hand, infrared is emitted from the heater and then travels undisturbed through the air until it hits an object, which then absorbs the radiation, producing warmth eventually. If the waves come in contact with a human body, they’ll touch us only a little bit, but enough to provide a feeling of pleasure. They will radiate it onto all objects in pretty much the same way the sun would.

Now that we explained how it works, in the further text, we give you seven reasons why you should consider using infrared panels for heating purposes.

1. Quick warming

We already explained the process of traditional and IR systems, and said that the infrared ones provide even spread of warmth.

While radiators, for example, take time to warm up a room, infrared gives almost an immediate effect so you don’t need to wait for it to reach a comfortable temperature. This happens precisely because of IR panels that have almost instant effect.

However, another side to that benefit says that, when the panels are turned off, the hotness subsides more quickly as well, unlike conventional radiators for instance.

2. Lower costs

The costs of running an IR panel are substantially less than the conventional system. It’s evidenced that an average IR panel produces the same level of warmth as a three times ‘stronger’ conventional one. This means that you can significantly lower your costs, which will affect positively on your home budget.

It’s also good to know that there’s a smaller cost difference between an IR system and a gas-powered system, mainly because of the lower gas price.

3. Infrared panels reduce mold

We already explained the concept of the panels and mentioned that objects in the room are heated in addition to the air around them. Because of this, they can be directed towards damp walls and help by drying them out – and this would reduce the formation of mold.

Again, they have the same effect as the sun, so using such units feels like taking advantage of the effective power of the sun in your own home. It’s also important to mention that the cause of the mold issue should be solved first before using the units to reduce damp.

4. Ease of installation

IR boards simply run on electricity so there’s no need for additional and complex systems of pipes or boilers. They take less time to install than the conventional ones, and just because they are so convenient and easy to install and run, you can choose to place them across the entire house or only a separate room. – it’s all up to you. Some companies like futofolia.hu even produce aesthetically designed boards so they fit into furniture, or even hang from a wall like mirrors!

5. IR boards are healthier

Since IR waves don’t rely on air as on a transmission medium, like the conventional systems do, there’s less circulation in the air which means that allergens and dust don’t circulate around. People with breathing issues or respiratory diseases would certainly benefit from this. There are also confirmations that, since the IR heat is absorbed by the body directly, it also improves blood circulation.

6. Maximizing living space and great flexibility

IR boards can help you maximize living space and also improve heating depending on where they are placed.

Unlike radiators that need to be installed on the floor, which can take a lot of precious space, the IR ones can hang from the ceiling so you don’t lose any floor area. Placed like this, they also provide much more coverage than the ones fixed on a wall, for example. Yet, they are very thin – so even if they’re placed on a wall they won’t take too much space.

7. High quality and low maintenance

If you decide to keep going with the IR heating panels, you can rest assured that they’ll likely last for a long time. Also, if you purchase a high-quality board, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll need any maintenance in the warranty period. And even if so, they are very easy to maintain and only need to be replaced every five to ten years. That’s the reason why most companies that sell these will provide a warranty period from 5 years (for the common ones) to 10 years (for more quality ones).

From everything that has been said so far, it’s evident that infrared heating panels are the most energy-efficient warming solution for households. If you opt for this method, you should, however, ensure that you purchase a right-sized panel, in order to make your house area more cosy and not to waste any energy. We hope our list of perks has at least made you wish to try these and that you’ll remember all these benefits while building your home!

Video Production Services: How to Create Engaging Social Media Marketing Videos

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

December 2, 2020

Social Media Marketing Videos — Source: Medium.com

One of the most effective ways to reach out and convert your target audience is by using social media. An average of 3 hours is spent per day on social media networks. Nowadays, most users consume video content more than any other format online. YouTube is used extensively with more than 5billion videos being watched every day and 100 million hours of Facebook videos watched per day.

Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms to connect with your audience, build your brand, generate your website traffic, or increase sales. With this in mind, it is essential to acquire effective video production services that will increase your social media traffic. There are various types of social media videos ranging from tutorials, events videos, product-demo, user-generated, or storytelling videos. Once you have discovered the potential audience for your goods and services, you must put together quality video strategies that suit their needs.

When producing videos for marketing purposes, you will always want them to be of high quality and professional too, but not necessarily expensive. An effective social media video should be concise and engaging as well. Here are some tips to improve your video production plan.

Tips on Creating a Successful Video Marketing Strategy

1. Plan Your Videos

Before you make your online video, it is very important to define your goal. You should establish what you are looking to achieve at the end of the video production. Also, you must plan carefully for your videos by researching widely and understanding your audience’s needs. Once you identify your target audience it will be easier to identify how you will write your script, shoot your video as well as convey your emotions. Often, the use of emotions in a video may lure your viewers to follow your call for action. Writing a script helps you to have an organized flow of words. If possible, you can use a teleprompter to help you deliver your words.

2. Tell a Captivating Story

Most social media users prefer to scroll down their threads quickly, searching keenly for things that interest them. If your video doesn’t grab their attention, they will dismiss it immediately and move on to the next post. Your tone of personality should be per the emotions you want to convey in your video. Create a compelling first 5 seconds that will ignite your viewers’ attention and improve your video marketing skills. Avoid mistakes such as:

Repetition
Lack of originality
Lack of tone variation
Long stories

Telling a captivating story will no doubt boost your engagement as well as increase your followers.

3. Use a Steady Camera

According to Thrive Agency, you don’t have to pay for professional video production services to make your social media videos. You can still produce your high-quality videos with the aid of a good camera or smartphone. One important tip is to ensure that the camera is steady, this can be ensured by using a tripod stand for extra grip.

The use of multiple cameras when filming may look more professional, as the different angles increase more attention to the viewer. However, you can still achieve the best results using one camera by simply switching your camera and filming from alternative perspectives; or you can change the background settings and add transitions. The more dynamic your video is, the more interesting it will be for your viewers to watch.

4. Add Background Music to Your Story

Unless you are doing an informative video, it is necessary to add some background music to spice up your video. Music also helps in the projection of emotion towards your story. Depending on the nature of your video, you might not need to play your music through-out. However, background music generates attention and sets the mood for your video. The choice of music you chose for your video will depend on the type of video produced. It is important to match the mood accordingly.

5. Use of Creative Editing Styles

Editing is a post-production process that enhances your videos. Great video editing will help your videos look more professional and look high-quality. Lack of good editing exposes your video to too long pauses, unwanted scenes, and clumsy transitions.

Video editing enables you to avoid fluff, it gives you an option to change overlay audio, add subtitles, and add graphics. The good thing about editing is that you don’t need to hire an expert to edit for you. By using professional software and effects, you can get impressive results by yourself.

6. Include a Call to Action

What do you want your viewers to do after they have finished watching your videos? You need to ensure that you include a call to action. It induces a viewer to perform a specific action after an instruction or directive; one that you may have given out on your video. There are two ways of implementing a successful CTA. They include:

Include an auditory request that indicates what the viewer should do next
Include on the screen, often at the end or during the video indicating what the viewer should do next.

Even if your video is conversation-oriented, you still need to give a call to action but mostly, one that is persuasive.

Importance of Using Videos for Social Media Marketing

One of the most important things in social media marketing is capturing the viewer’s attention. The main reason a video is the best format is the fact that it gives us a real-life picture of what’s going on. It is also easy to share across multiple platforms. Most viewers prefer videos because they are easy to digest, enjoyable, and engaging. Most marketers like using videos because they can give a potentially huge return of investment (ROI) through as many channels as possible. To make an impressive video, you have to make sure your content stands out and is attractive too. Acquiring effective video production services helps you perfect your video to promote your brand and get people watching and looking out for more.

What Happens When You File a Civil Rights Complaint?

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

December 2, 2020

If your civil rights have been violated at work, in school, or in any other setting in the United States, the law is your side. Read on to understand your rights, where you can file a civil rights complaint, and what that process will look like.

The good news is that although your complaint may take time to process and be dealt with, the law gives you the right to seek monetary damages for what you went through and the opportunity for the government to respond, investigate the violations, and pursue justice for both the offender and the victim.

Civil Rights and The Law: Knowing Your Rights

The Constitution gives all Americans as well as all other individuals in the US the rights to freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and a right to privacy. The Supreme Court has ruled in interpreting the Constitution that depriving an individual of these rights, particularly on the basis of their individual characteristics, is a civil rights violation.

Civil rights violations in the US can occur in a number of arenas, each of which often has a legal department of a federal agency available to respond to and investigate civil rights complaints.

The law permits two key areas of recourse for the victims of civil rights violations.

Civil Rights Office Investigation

The first is an investigation by the federal government’s relevant civil rights office, of which there are numerous, which may result in punishment for the offender. Some of these offices, however, may only relate to discrimination that occurs within their direct purview or by federal employees, while others cover a wider scope, such as the civil rights arm of the Department of Education, which has a mandate to respond to civil rights violations in any school setting.

Compensation by Court Order

Second, individuals who have been subject to a violation of their civil rights may also sue for damages in court and be compensated by court order or in a settlement by the offending party.

Civil rights amendments were first passed in the years immediately following the end of slavery, with the second wave of amendments in the 1960s specifically addressing equal opportunity and treatment based on race, religion, sex, and national origin.

Since then, additional federal law has been passed by Congress outlawing discrimination in schools, the workplace, and within federal agencies based on gender, race, and disabilities, among others.

What Constitutes a Civil Rights Violation?

Any type of discrimination that a person is subjected to on the basis of their gender, race, sexual orientation religion, ethnic identiy, or national origins may be considered a civil rights violation

Types of civil rights complaints that may qualify for a successful lawsuit include:

Racial discrimination in the hiring process;
Being denied federal loans or grants based on religious or ethnic identity or gender;
Rejection from a university on the basis of sexual orientation;
Getting fired from work as a result of a physical handicap;
Not being provided equal access to sports facilities at school on the basis of gender.

How to File

In order to file a civil rights complaint, you first must find the right agency by finding which federal civil rights office is appropriate given the nature and location of the civil rights violation.

Some examples of areas where discrimination may occur and the right agencies to respond to civil rights complaints in those areas include:

Education – The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights;
Healthcare – The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights;
The workplace – The US Equal Opportunity Commission;
Residential – The Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Civil Rights;
Farming and agriculture – The Department of Agriculture’s Office of Civil Rights.

You can find more relevant agency offices and file general complaints through the Justice Department at their civil rights website here.

In general, civil rights complaints need to be filed within 180 days of the discrimination taking place. If the violation occurred more than six months ago, you may also be able to request a waiver in some cases.

Source: Detroit Institute of Arts Museum

File a Suit for Damages

The best outcome for a complainant in a civil rights case is often the settlement or court ordered payments for damages incurred or suffered as a result of the discrimination.

In discrimination cases, an opportunity has often been denied to the victim prior in the course of the civil rights violation. Monetizing that opportunity can yield big compensatory damages from a judge or jury.

Take housing as an example. If a plaintiff can prove in court that their rent was raised unfairly because of their ethnic identity, and not for, say, other white tenants, a judge may award the equivalent back pay amount that they were overcharged since the time the rent was raised.

The same could apply for a work discrimination case. If you were deliberately passed over for a raise because of your gender or sexual identity, you may be entitled in the eyes of the court to receive the equivalent pay in compensation that you should have been owed.

What are My Chances of Success in Court?

In theory, the more evidence you have that a civil rights violation did occur and proof that you suffered harm as a result, the more successful your case should be. In reality, whether or not one see’s a successful outcome usually depends on the abilities of their attorney.

While civil right rights attorneys are often highly practiced and, predictably, expensive to retain, there are a number of high profile civil rights lawyers who routinely take on clients for free. This is referred to as pro bono work.

Mr. Crump dedicates a large part of his practice to taking pro bono civil rights cases. Click here to learn more.

If you or someone you care about has suffered any level of harmful discrimination on the basis of individual identity, justice needs to be served.

Luckily, the legal framework exists in this country for you to a) see that a federal agency investigates the case thoroughly and punishes any guilty party to prevent such discrimination from happening again, and b) have the opportunity to bring your case to court to be potentially awarded money damages to, in part, right the wrongs of discrimination.

Make-up Games and Femininity: Why Gender Roles Aren’t Cancelled

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

December 2, 2020

While just the words “gender roles” often brings up some mixed- and contentious- feelings, femininity is timeless and here to stay.

Makeup is a part of our culture, and it has been since pre-biblical times. From ancient Egypt and Greece to modern Milan and New York- Makeup has been a recurring theme throughout history. Take a quick peek at any social platform, Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube, or Facebook- and you’ll surely find the bright face of some brilliant person teaching you the best ways to blend, blush, and plump.

Men and women, boys and girls, perhaps the single greatest thing about makeup is that it’s actually gender fluid- and has been throughout even our history. Elvis wore makeup. The likes of David Bowie and Kiss built entire personas on makeup. In modern society, we have so many male makeup influencers, their numbers almost begin to match those of female makeup influencers. And for good reason- these boys know their makeup.

It’s funny how men are so afraid of the idea of wearing makeup, because literally every single man you see on Television, social media or Youtube, wear tons of makeup. It just gives that professional “finished look” that makes you look way more professional than other people. I swear, if all men would show up to do their business deals with makeup on, they would get more respect and be seen as higher value men, and would probably close more deals and make more money. So guys, would you be willing to wear makeup if it would give you a $50 000 salary raise each year? Probably right?

So, what is it about makeup that is just so darn exciting? What do makeup games so quickly picks our interest? Check out Prinxy for an example. What is it that draws young and old, male and female, superstar and pauper to this incredible medium? Well, that’s actually a pretty difficult question to answer.

Why We Wear Makeup

Whether it is war paint or the “full face” glam look, makeup has become a part of our social and cultural identity. In India, on her wedding day a bride is adorned with beautiful henna drawings, in the Chou dynasty of ancient China, makeup was an indicator of social class. Globally, almost every culture has some relationship with makeup- and that relationship has transpired into the makeup culture of today. Becoming the icon of artistic expression that is accessible to nearly anyone.

While there are still many that contend makeup is merely a ploy of big business, or the ever-present specter of the patriarchy, to force an unreasonable standard of beauty onto women. However, this sentiment is easily dismissed when looking at the incredible creations for both men and women- that cosmetics can create. Feathered eyelashes, shocking colors, and exaggerated angles aren’t necessarily a function of traditional beauty- but instead a true expression of art. An artistic medium that even those that have been left without the inborn skills necessary to draw, paint, or sculpt, can easily explore their creativity in. So, the question of “why we wear makeup” sorely misses the mark. As it’s something more individual than that. Something better suited to the query “why do you wear makeup”.

What Makeup Games Can Teach Our Children

Make-up games can teach your child- whether girl or boy- how to freely express artistic creativity. Learning how to hone things like spatial reasoning skills, and organizational talents by using makeup to match an outfit, or fit the appropriateness of the imagined social situation. The greatest things that make-up games can offer our children isn’t a simple tutorial on how to apply eyeliner- but instead a way to explore their relationship with colors, shapes, and people, with absolutely no boundaries.

Building an identity early, and helping to refine personal tastes and preferences. Creating a bonding experience between parents and children, as well as children and children. Make-up games also often offer simple storylines with engaging characters and plots, helping to further entice your little one to practice their reading skills, and put their reading comprehension to use. They also offer something few other children’s games do- a non-violent way to play, that has all the skill-building tools available, without the overt pressures of a staunchly educational game.

Of course, what I recommend here is to keep it in moderation. We’ve all seen those underage beauty pageants in the USA where girls are almost sexualized by wearing makeup and sexy outfits… I’m not talking about that here, I’m talking about using makeup in moderation to enhance your look and face.

Imagination Without Borders

So often, particularly now as the covid-19 outbreak has firmly shaken our standard methods of education and we’ve seen tons of parenting apps come out too, and challenged our base feelings toward screen time; we want to ensure that whatever games our children are playing are filled with the learning fundamentals we so desperately want them to have. However, strictly educational games are often boring or confining. Rarely presenting much real-world application, and instead of having you perform mathematics in order to build a caterpillar- or some other type of useful- but lifeless and perfunctory skill.

Makeup games and other types of games for girls and boys in mind offer similar skill-building exercises but encased the unexpected paradigm of relatable “real life” scenarios. Letting your child instead decorate their virtual room, or run a digital cafe, or paint a princess with makeup to gain a firmer grip on these fundamentals. Improving computer literacy, hand-eye coordination, reading skills, and social skills in imagined situations with a context they can actually relate to.

In summary, makeup has been here for centuries, and both males, females, and kids have been using it and still use it today. It’s fun, it can teach you about art, precision, motor skills, and make you look more handsome or pretty!

Thanks for reading this article and write your comments related to make up in the comment boxes below.

Have a nice day!

10 Greatest Technological Advancements of the Last 10 Years

By

Anne Kelly

-

December 2, 2020

Technology has evolved at a rapid rate over the past decade, and it is expected to keep advancing for the foreseeable future.

The current landscape looks a lot different than back in 2010, so read on as we look at ten of the most significant technological developments of the last ten years.

1. Digital Payments

Digital payments have undergone a seismic shift in recent years and are now the ‘go-to’ method for millions of people and businesses around the world.

The advancements have been driven by increased demand for safe and secure payment methods, and this trend is unlikely to slow down any time soon.

PayPal was one of the earliest electronic money transfer services to launch back in 1999, but there are now dozens of different options to choose from.

According to ComputingNews.com, the likes of Amazon Pay, Google Pay, TransferWise, Payoneer and Skrill are amongst a plethora of platforms worth considering.

2. Instagram

Instagram is undoubtedly one of the biggest tech success stories of recent years, ending the decade as the fourth most downloaded mobile app of the decade.

First launched in 2010, the photo and video sharing service was acquired by Facebook for approximately $1 billion in cash and stock just two years later.

Instagram passed one billion registered users in June 2018 and is firmly established as one of the big guns on the social networking scene.

The photo-editing and sharing app has turned people into amateur photographers and transformed the way we share our experiences with the world.

3. Twitch

Twitch was initially an off-shoot of general-interest streaming platform Justin.tv, but it has since grown into a global phenomenon in its own right.

It focuses on video game live streaming and has been the driving force behind the emergence of eSports as a mainstream entertainment activity.

The service was acquired by Amazon for $970 million in 2014 and has since gone on to attract around three million broadcasters monthly.

Twitch ended the decade by signing exclusivity deals with high-profile streamers such as DrLupo, TimTheTatman and Lirik, who had a combined 10.36m followers at the time.

4. Slack

Team messaging service Slack has helped to facilitate a significant shift towards remote working since its launch back in August 2013.

Its intuitive interface, custom channels and integrations have transformed the way that we interact with colleagues, making businesses much more efficient.

The service has also been adopted as a community platform, largely replacing message boards or social media groups.

Slack went public without an initial public offering during April 2019 and saw its shares soar to a valuation of $21bn.

5. Oculus VR

The launch of the Oculus Virtual Reality (VR) headset in 2012 created a buzz in the tech industry that continued throughout the rest of the decade.

Oculus was subsequently acquired by Facebook for $2.3bn in 2014, and its products have continued to generate plenty of excitement.

VR has been tipped to impact numerous sectors, including video gaming, online gaming, real estate and construction, highlighting the scope of its possibilities.

According to a study by Statista, the AR (augmented reality) and VR market will boom over the next few years, from $16.8bn in 2019 to $160bn by 2024.

6. Apple Watch

The Apple Watch wasn’t the first smartwatch to arrive on the scene when first launched in 2015, but it redefined the way subsequent products were made.

It quickly became the best-selling wearable device in the world, with more than four million sold during the second quarter of that year.

The company has often been coy about releasing sales figures, but analysts estimated that Apple Watch was already a $10bn business inside 12 months.

The tech advanced swiftly during the rest of the decade, with the sixth-generation model including features such as measuring the sound around you in decibels and menstrual tracking.

7. PlayStation 4 & Xbox One

The launch of the next-generation game consoles towards the end of 2024 brought back memories of an epic battle from seven years ago.

Sony and Microsoft went head-to-head for supremacy in the market in 2013 as they launched the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.

The fight was expected to be a close one, but the PS4 blew its rival out of the water by shifting more than double in units by the end of 2019.

However, both consoles revolutionized the gaming sector, and it would be no surprise to see the latest incarnations achieve the same feat.

8. Amazon Echo

If you had shouted ‘Alexa’ at a speaker in your home before November 2014, the rest of your family might well have thought you were losing the plot.
The impact made by Amazon Echo since then has been staggering, with the device now a permanent feature in households across the world.

From playing music to streaming podcasts or searching for real-time information, Echo devices have almost become a part of the family.

While Google Assistant, Cortana and Siri all provide some stiff competition, Alexa is the cream of the crop when it comes to voice assistants.

9. Machine Learning

img source: digitaltransformationtrends.com

Machine learning (ML) is the study of computer algorithms that improve automatically through experience and has links with numerous other tech advancements.
These include AI, data mining, optimisation and statistics, each of which can make specified tasks run far more smoothly.

However, one of the most exciting ML developments of the past decade was the discovery that it could be used to fight cyberattacks.

It operates on real-time data to immediately identify new and emerging dangers to industrial control systems and the Internet of Things.

10. Health Trackers

Increased awareness of the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle has led to the development of thousands of associated tech products.

One of the best products was the HeartGuide wristwatch – a wearable oscillometric wrist blood pressure monitor that was the first to receive FDA clearance.

Its key feature is a flexible synthetic band that is designed to inflate and maintain its shape when taking a blood pressure reading while remaining comfortable on the wrist.

The HeartGuide also tracks other metrics of health, including daily steps and sleep quality, all of which are supported by an educational mobile app.

4 Reasons to Buy an Aquarium for Your Kids

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

December 2, 2020

People are different, but despite the differences, many people decide to do the same. Here we’re talking about buying an aquarium. There are numerous reasons why an individual would want to have one inside of his house. For one, it is a great way to solve the interiors design issues on one part of your home. It also could be for a hobby you love and one you’ll be willing to dedicate time and money to. Taking care of fish inside an aquarium is a favorite pastime for many.

Another great reason why you should pursue this idea is that it is a great way to bring your child into the animal kingdom – make a fish their first pet. Taking care of a fish tank isn’t too complicated, and it could have a significant effect on your child growing up. If they’re at an age when having a pet is their main preoccupation, buying them a goldfish could be the best thing you could do to make your loved ones happy. If you still have doubts about this idea, please see our four reasons to buy an aquarium for your kids. Check out some great fish equipment and care tips on PureGoldfish.

1. Health

If you haven’t thought about this, you probably can’t figure out how precisely an aquarium and a fish inside make anyone happy. Well, for once, you have allergies. People who are allergic to animal hair can hardly have a furry pet – it is out of the question. Having a pet they can love without causing sneezing, or even worse allergic reactions could be ideal for your child if it suffers from similar conditions. Even if you’re doubtful, trust us, a fish tank and a couple of beautiful fish can be a replacement for cats and dogs.

Furthermore, it can also have a psychological effect. It is known that watching fish inside their artificial home can have a relaxing effect. It merely makes all people calm regardless of their age. If you didn’t know, it not only reduces stress, but it also can regulate blood pressure and keep it in check. The speed at which the world around our children evolves affects even them, and it is not uncommon to have children suffering from stress and anxiety. Having a fish tank inside your house can help you deal with these issues when they arise and prevent them.

2. A Chance to Learn

Children, unlike their grown selves, love to learn and explore. New things can easily captivate their attention. We’re not lying when we say that aquariums have precisely this effect on the young ones. It would be an excellent experience for them to observe the fish and learn as much as they can about the fish and how they can take care of them, and what responsibility is. Unfortunately, children, these days spend too much time on computers, smartphones, tablets, TV, and other electronic devices. This way, their brains become numb to nature as they get too used to computer-generated images. Having such a small piece of nature inside your house can be truly beneficial for their growing up. Nature is fascinating, and they can learn this first hand inside their homes. This is why it is crucial to position your tank in a place where it’s going to be able to attract a child’s attention. Children are curious, and we’re sure they’ll love to learn about water, fish, and underwater plants. Once they grasp the hold of the fish and naval flora and fauna, they could turn their attention towards biology, which could be their future calling.

5. Learning Responsibility

Once you have the fish inside your tank, you are officially a fishkeeper. If you make your children one, you will also be teaching them a valuable lesson in responsibility. Fish are just like any other pet you might have; they need care – food and clean water above all. First-time owners often forget about their new pets, and this is lethal for fish. There are people who get bored, and fish pays it with their lives. This is why it is essential to introduce your child to all the chores that having fish brings with itself. The good news is that fish are easy to maintain, unlike cats, dogs, or squirrels. Despite this, you need to have time for them, and habits of taking care of them need to be installed on your loved one early on. You’ll love to hear that children can do most things regarding fish. This is what makes them such reliable pets. With your children learning about fish and how to care for them, you’ll set them up for future challenges in life.

4. Bonding Time

If you have children, you probably encountered the difficult task of being a parent and having a steady full-time job. This is the main reason why so many parents spend too much time away from their children. At the end of the day, money needs to be earned. Even if you spend long hours away from home, quality time can still be spent together. Having an aquarium inside the house, as a place where you’ll spend time with your loved one, is a fantastic idea. As we said, this is a great hobby, but a relaxing one, which can animate both of you. If you make it a tradition to clear out the water from the tank and feed the fish together, you can bond more than ever. Together you can talk about what you did during your day, have was their day, and learn about the fish and the marine world. When you deeply think about it, there isn’t a reason in the world you shouldn’t get yourself an aquarium.

Now that you know all of this, all that is left is to pick a proper aquarium for yourself and your family. This isn’t hard if you know where to look. If you don’t have an idea, you can read more if you click the previous link and get educated on the subject.

11 Ways to Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

December 2, 2020

The discussion of how to live sustainably has started coining in on us. The need to consume mindfully to preserve for our future generations is the main focus.

Moreover, everything we do in our daily errands has an impact on the planet. Some of the lifestyle activities under review include the cars we drive, our diet, the energy sources we use in our homes and offices, and the products we purchase for our daily use.

However, this discussion should not make us start consuming vegetables only or ride bicycles to work. Instead, it would be best if you considered consuming less fatty and meaty products.

While it always keeps in mind that although these actions and activities seem to be minute, they have a significant impact on environmental preservation in the long run. Let us discuss the meaning of sustainable living, how to live sustainably, and the importance.

What does Sustainable Living Mean?

Sustainable living involves individuals attempting to reduce pressure on Earth’s natural resources to protect it. The quest to live sustainably consists of putting the measure into your daily activities to impact the planet significantly.

Additionally, while keeping tabs with tour activities, we can also attempt to replace the resources we consume.

The Importance of Living Sustainable

Research shows that due to increased human activities, the rate of resource production using energy has tripled. The causal effect is the exponential creation of wastes.

This process has led to massive environmental issues such as climatic changes and pollution, which harm humans, wildlife, and the environment.

Ways to Live a Sustainable Lifestyle

Below are some of the tips to follow in your quest to live a sustainable lifestyle.

1. Purchase of Reusable Products

Products such as plastics, which are single use upon disposing, end up in water bodies and littering landscapes. Once they land in the ocean, they cause devastating effects on the aquatic environment.

Moreover, these products are not biodegradable. Once they are buried deep in the ground, the casual result is destroying essential soil nutrients. Experts recommend the use of eco friendly products that are recyclable.

2. Use of Energy Savers

Currently, the topic of discussion in all climatic conservation forums is energy conservation. Our responsibility is to participate either directly or indirectly in activities geared towards reducing the usage of less energy to control carbon emissions.

These activities or habits include turning down our heaters when not in use, hanging your clothes in the sun to dry instead of using a drier, switching off lights when not in use, and turning off standby appliances when not in use.

3. Donation of Items not in Use

In the process of waste generation and measures to mitigate its donation is among the best alternatives.

You can donate those clothing pieces that you no longer wear to a charity home or a needy society member. Furthermore, you can give out furniture and other office or home appliances to recycling centers instead of disposing of them.

4. Recycle and Reuse of Items

Do it yourself (DIY) home improvement activities are best done by recycling old and unused items, thus giving your home a facelift. Grab some tools and start a new, fun activity for the whole family.

Always put your rubbish in appropriate bins which have been earmarked. Nevertheless, before binning things, make sure they have been recycled as much as possible.

5. Go Paperless

In our bid to reduce cutting down of trees to manufacture paper, use mailing to receive letters and reports. Moreover, for our purchases, to avoid printing the receipt, ask the attendant to send it via email.

Alternatively, maximize the use of photographs to capture information that previously was printed. Currently, 45% of the world’s population owns a smartphone to take excellent and clear pictures, reducing printing by capturing picture form information.

6. Grow and Consume your Produce

Growing and consuming your vegetables and fruits aids in less usage of pesticides and other chemicals that cause air and water pollution.

Moreover, this idea has a ripple effect on reducing the usage of fossil fuels used in the transportation of these fam products to the market.

7. Use of Renewable Energy in our Homes and Workplaces

Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting bulbs as an alternative to incandescent lighting helps conserve energy. Moreover, we ought to consider powering our homes with renewable energy such as solar to reduce carbon emissions.

Currently, car manufacturers are burning the midnight candle to produce electric cars that will replace diesel-fueled vehicles. Why not replace your diesel-powered vehicle with an electric vehicle?

8. Save Water

Saving water can be achieved by turning off and repairing leaking taps. Alternatively, you can install a water recycling machine to put your use to maximum usage. Moreover, to avoid wastage of drinking water, make use of greywater.

9. Ensuring your Bulk Shopping have Massive Environmental Benefits

Big purchases for home appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, or driers ensure they have been certified with an Energy Star label.

Moreover, you can cut off the money used on gas and reduce your carbon emission footprint by purchasing electric cars. Additionally, buy products that are recyclable or biodegradable upon disposal.

10. Preparation of Home-Made Meals as Opposed to Take-Away

During our outings or picnics, carrying home-cooked meals helps you cut on unnecessary costs of buying takeaways. Moreover, to avoid food poisoning or allergic reactions from taking away, home-cooked meals are the best option.

11. Reduced Consumption of Beef Products

Research shows that the production of meat is among the leading contributors to climatic changes. Moreover, it causes pollution in waterways and landscapes. You would probably be wondering how?

While digesting grasses and plants, cows and other ruminant animals emit methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. As you move down the food chain, the effect is passed on; thus, fewer beef products consume to control Earth’s impact.

The discussion on sustainable living is far much broader than explained in the above points. For us to attain the recommended levels, the mandate starts with individual habits and lifestyles.

Moreover, to live sustainably is attainable by making small positive strides in our daily errands. The use of eco-friendly products reduces the release of harmful chemicals and substances into the environment. Choose today to live a sustainable life and have a better tomorrow!

6 Ways To Save Money On Your Bills As A Small Business

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

December 1, 2020

Are you thinking of going ahead and opening your very own small business? With many incentives flying around for small business owners in the hopes of speeding up the economic recovery, now could be the best time to consider opening up!

Online or Offline?

Opening any new business this year or next year is risky, especially when so many smaller businesses fail. Still, if you have the determination to succeed and a strong business plan, you can overcome the odds. However, the question remains, should you open online or offline? Maybe both?

As we’ve seen from the global health crisis, opening an online business is sensible to diversify your audience and keep trading during lockdowns, but by the end of the year, many citizens will be feeling the cabin fever of being stuck inside, which means brick and mortar businesses will be the place to go again.

We’ve all been missing the contact of friends and family, which means at any given chance, people are likely to want to visit bricks and mortar shops and stores again, putting you in a great position for increased footfall. So how do you ensure that you can save money on your new small business? Simple. You save money on your bills.

How to Save Money

Business expenses can be expensive, and it’s worth trying to start off on the right footing. Using a company like Utility Bidder to ensure you have the best deal on your business utilities is a great way to start to save money on all your bills, especially your water rates. Also, don’t forget to get an energy audit before you go for the best deal to make sure you’re saving as much money as possible!

Once you’re settled into your new business and new building, you can enjoy implementing these six tips for saving money on your utility bills.

1. Buy Energy Efficient

When you’re shopping for new appliances for your home like a fridge, freezer, or washing machine, you always look for the energy-efficient version, right? Why not do the same for your office or store equipment?

Investing in energy-efficient versions of appliances ensures you’re saving money in the long-run.

2. Lighting

Businesses can be guilty of keeping the lights on unnecessarily, which will waste energy. There is definitely a good reason to have security lights on, but for your standard light bulbs, make sure they are turned off when they’re not in use.

Why not invest in some motion sensing lights? These will turn off when no motion is detected, saving you money without even thinking about it!

While we’re on the subject of light bulbs, make sure you switch any lightbulbs you do have to energy-efficient LED versions, you’ll really see an impact on your electricity bill when you do.

3. Switch Off To Save

It’s not just the odd light bulb left on that costs you money; computer equipment and electricals left on ‘standby’ will also be leeching electricity and ensuring your profits go straight back to the electricity company if you’re not careful.

The obvious ones here are laptops and computers, but what about other devices you leave on overnight? The TV in your waiting area? Your touch-screen till? Even your microwave in the staff area could be costing you money.

Get into the habit every evening of ensuring all electricals that don’t need to be kept on (like fridges and freezers) are switched off overnight and only switched on again when they’re needed. Even get into the habit of turning off the taps to ensure you aren’t overusing your water.

4. Heating and cooling

Keeping your business area at a bearable temperature can be a tough one, especially in freak weather conditions such as a sudden temperature drop in winter or a heatwave in summer, but in order to save energy (and save money), you’ll need to ensure that you’ve thought ahead.

If your location doesn’t get very hot in the summer, but it does in the summer, invest in a good heating and good insulation but buy a fan or two for those days when it’s warmer. If you are in a hotter climate, it might be worth investing in passive cooling options such as shutters for windows, fans, or even stone floors. Of course in very hot climates an air conditioning system is a must, as is the training to employees to let them know how to use it properly and efficiently.

Controlling the heating and cooling of your building also covers aspects such as radiators and thermostats. Some of the newer heating and cooling systems come with individual room zones and thermostatic sensors to really give you better control over your heating and cooling in your building.

5. Think About Demand

It’s a long time since the world worked Monday-Friday 9-5. In today’s always-on culture and always connected landscape, we’re used to working all sorts of hours. So the question is, why does your business stick to ‘business hours’?

If you run a retail or food outlet, you may have set hours on your lease, but for other types of businesses, you may want to think outside of business hours to save you money on your bills and to reach new audiences.

If you run a beauty business, for example, you may want to look into working in the evenings. This could mean getting new customers that wouldn’t normally be able to attend a session and saving money. A hair salon might be able to open when water rates are lower.

For more office-based businesses, why not consider staggering the start time and finish time of your employees? This could have great advantages of being able to go global with your business and attracting talent to work for you who are at their most productive at different times of the day.

Having different business hours can be tough, depending on your industry, but the financial benefits of working on cheaper tariffs could work out substantially.

6. Get Everyone Involved

There’s something to be said for teamwork and camaraderie! Get your staff involved in saving energy, water, and more, but present it as a fun and attractive thing to do. Encouraging them to turn the tap off while washing their hands and turn off the lights when they are the last one to leave the room can make a world of difference.

Why not split them into teams and give bonuses for which team does best? Or at least educate them on the issues of climate change behind your sudden turn to the green-side.

Source: https://www.businessenergyuk.com.

5 Things to Consider Before Buying New Cookware

By

Billy Voss

-

December 1, 2020

When it comes to buying cookware, there are certain boxes you need to tick off before making the purchase. Cookware is something that will last you for your whole life; if the product is quality.

So American Dream Realty PM says it should go without saying that quality is the most important factor to consider. But that’s not all of it. If you want to know exactly the things you should be considering when buying new cookware, then make sure to stick around.

With all that said, let’s start.

1. Know Your Budget

When it comes to buying anything, you can eighter get it for a lot of money or you can get it for very cheap. And this isn’t something you should be lowering your budget for. But ultimately, it’s important to have a budget to start off.

The budget will depend solely on you. You can decide how much you can spend on cookware. Some of you might go for what you can afford, while others will have greater financial freedom.

Just remember that you don’t need to be shopping for new cookware every five years. This is something that lasts a lifetime and it’s better to spend more than to purchase low-quality products.

2. The Material

This is the first thing you will need to think long and hard about. Namely, there isn’t a more important thing to consider when purchasing new cookware. The material solely dictates what quality the product is. And do know that you have a couple of options; four to be precise.

You need to make a decision based on what suits you best and what fills your budget.

As you would expect, each material comes with its own set of pros and cons. Let’s discuss that a bit.

· Stainless Steel

When it comes to stainless steel, there isn’t a more popular option out there. This is partly due to the fact that stainless steel offers excellent durability and unprecedentedly easy maintenance. On the other hand, stainless steel is a very poor conductor of heat and thus the contents will take longer to make.

· Aluminum

Aluminum is very cheap; probably the cheapest on this list. On top of that, aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat but it not very durable.

· Cast Iron

Cast iron is probably the worst option of the bunch as it cookware made from it is very heavy and requires a lot of maintenance.

· Copper

Copper is the most expensive option but it’s a piece of cake to heat up the contents inside. When it comes to contact with acidic food, it can react negatively.

This is the general rundown of the pros and cons of each material. The good thing is that you’re now familiarized with each one, but you will need to make a decision based on that.

If you’re looking for an excellent source where you can determine the best ones based on your needs, then make sure to visit cookwares.co.

3. What Type of Cooking Do You Mostly Do?

Once you’ve settled on the material and the budget, it’s time to make a very important decision; what cookware will you actually buy?

If most of your cooking revolves around cooking meats, then that’s significantly different than cooking vegetables. So, naturally, the choice of cookware will be much different.

From the basic list, you’ve got pans, woks, skillets, griddles, saucepans, and more.

Make sure that you know exactly what you need in order to prevent the costly mistake of buying what you don’t need.

4. Types of Stove

It’s not only the type of cookware that you need to consider; you also need to take a long hard look at the cooktops. What this means is that different cooktops might or might not be suitable for different types of heat sources.

Open flame cooking is probably the one that you’ll be doing. But it’s safe to say that glass and ceramic cooktops aren’t very suitable for this type of cooking.

5. Sets vs Individual Items

A very important thing to consider is whether or not you’re buying a set or buying each item individually. And to give you a precise answer on this one; it really depends on the type of cooking you do.

If you’re a jack of all trades, then buying a whole set is probably the better option. If you’re a specialist in one type of cooking, or you need it for work, then you should probably buy each cookware individually based on what cookware you need.

Buying individually might seem like the cheaper option, but plenty of manufacturers offer sets that come off as very inexpensive and sometimes even cheap.

And if you are buying a set, then here are a couple of things you should also consider.

· What’s Included in the Set?

The most important question to ask, you have to take a long hard look at what items are actually included. Some companies will try to play to your shortcomings and will not include the items you most need.

· What’s Missing in the Set?

And an equally important question to ask, you have to take a look at what items are actually missing. If you’re in need of a stockpot to make soup, then make sure that the item isn’t missing from the set. If it is, then that could be a potential deal-breaker as then you’ll need to go out of your way and spend more money to purchase a stockpot.

· Avoid the “Number of Pieces” Trap

Buying more is certainly more tempting than buying less. And while buying an 8-piece set might sound better than a 5-piece set, it’s really not what it looks like when you look at what’s actually included in the set.

If the 8-piece set contains 4 pots and 4 lids, then is it really an 8-piece set? This is a scam that cookware companies make in order to lure you into buying their products. Always make sure that you’re not buying something that’s been advertised falsely.