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Is a Real Estate Agent Worth the Cost?

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The real estate market is complex and intimidating at the best of times. When selling property, it helps to have an experienced agent at your side.

Doesn’t it?

Not everyone thinks so. In fact, FSBO (“for sale by owner”) transactions are fairly common as many sellers prefer to forgo the cost of hiring an agent in favor of braving the market on their own. The question is, do these people have the right idea or are they putting themselves at a disadvantage?

The truth is that there is no easy answer. Whether or not working with an agent is right for you is affected by a number of factors, not the least of which is your own knowledge of and experience within real estate, as well as your financial situation and how much time and effort you’re willing to expend on learning in the ins and outs of the market.

Some will say that a real estate agent can help you sell your home for a higher price, while others will say that going it alone allows you to make more money by cutting out the middleman. A study by researchers at Northwestern University, however, suggests that both FSBO and agent-facilitated transactions produce roughly equivalent profits. In other words, neither seems to really have an edge in terms of netting you more money.

The real cost of either approach, then, is found not in the bottom line but in the fine print.

Hiring a real estate agent costs money. That much is obvious. Most commonly, an agent makes 6% of the sale price for whatever property they helped you sell. That may seem like a lot, but that 6% is not set in stone. Different agents take different percentages, some more and some less, so it pays to shop around when looking for an agent.

What’s more, negotiation is always an option. An agent might be willing to lower their percentage considerably depending on the sale price of your property, or if you can guarantee them repeat business, either by having them represent you as a buyer or as a seller of another property.

The benefits of having an agent are, of course, the experience and resources that they bring to the table. Some of the services which agents provide, and which are covered by the percentage they make off the sale of your property, would cost you considerable amounts of money to undertake yourself. Listing a piece of real estate and advertising it in the relevant markets is not cheap and might not be something every seller has the knowledge, or the time, to do on their own.

Calculating the cost of selling a house can be surprisingly easy, but there are other obstacles that can trip up an inexperienced seller making a go at doing it themselves. From being familiar with the legal intricacies of real estate to keeping track of fluctuations in property values to setting up open houses to wading through piles of paperwork, there’s more to being an agent than putting a “for sale” sign out on the front lawn.

That’s not to say that any of these things are beyond the capabilities of the average seller. Rather, it’s to say that these are some of the things that selling any property requires. Determining whether or not you need an agent mainly comes down to determining whether you prefer a more hands-on role or a more hands-off one.

In other words, the only person who can truthfully answer the question “Is a real estate agent worth the cost?” is you.

The Best Online Games For Girls

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If you’re searching for some of the most engaging new games to play during your down time, you’ve come to the right place. Simply continue reading to discover a list of some of the best online games for girls. Whether you prefer fashion games, survival games or casino games, you’ll be sure to discover a new game that’s well worth adding to your collection of games.

The Best Online Games For Girls:

Covet:

If you’re a self confessed fashionista you’ll love playing Covet as you’ll get to put together entire outfits for different occasions. As an example in one challenge you may have to dress up your character to attend a charity ball, while in other challenge you may have to dress up your character for a weekend ski trip. Better yet, all of the clothes which feature in Covet are from real designers.

If you have a competitive streak it’s well worth joining a fashion house as you’ll get to work with your teammates in order to beat a series of challenges in order to win rare prizes. Such as new clothing and hair accessories.

13Wins:

13Wins is an online casino site where you’ll be able to play real money by playing fun casino games such as slots and roulette. If you’re feeling lucky it’s well worth checking out the super casino promotions on 13Wins. As 13Wins regularly offers promotions to encourage new players to join in on the fun. Playing slots and roulette is a great idea if you get bored easily and enjoying being able to access quick and easy games to play when you want to kill a bit of time.

Fortnite 2:

If you have a great aim and enjoy shooters it’s definitely well worth joining in on the craze that is Fortnite 2. The heavily awaited sequel to Fortnite, the survival shooter that took the world by storm. If you have a Playstation 4, you’ll even be able to play Fortnite 2’s split screen co-op mode, which will allow you to team up with a friend in order to take down other teams of two from around the world. Part of the fun of playing Fortnite is getting to select a fun skin for your character and exploring Fortnite 2’s extensive map.

If you’re keen to check out Fortnite 2, make sure to use your fishing rod to try and pull a heavy duty weapon out of a lake or river. Just be careful not to get shot by a sniper while you’re fishing for new weapons.

Dead By Daylight:

If you’re the type of girl who enjoys watching horror films, you’ll quickly become addicted to Dead By Daylight. An online multiplayer survival game where four players will get to play as survivors and one player will be assigned the role of the murderer. If you think that you could outwit a would be murderer or that you’d be able to lure survivors into clever traps, it’s well worth playing Dead By Daylight.

So no matter what types of games you enjoy playing, it’s definitely well worth testing out a few of the fun games which are listed above. As there’s a game listed above to suit every type of female gamer.

 

What Are Rainforests and Why Are They Important? A Guide for Teaching Kids

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Caring for nature is one of the most important things children should learn about and develop as a habit. Regardless of one’s age, everyone should be more eco-friendly and be proactive in saving the planet.

Although there are numerous concepts children have to learn about, teaching them about rainforests, the essential roles they play, and how everyone can help save them is something that educators and even parents should prioritize.

A tropical rainforest encounter for students is one of the most unique, fun and effective strategies educators and schools can consider for teaching children the importance of these ecosystems.

By giving kids an immersive experience to cap off their classroom lectures and other activities, they will understand and appreciate these biomes better. They will become more inspired to lend a hand in saving the rainforests as well.

If you are looking for ideas for helping young children in Dubai learn about rainforests, below are some concepts that you have to cover or include in your lesson plan:

What Are Rainforests?

Rainforests are the planet’s oldest living ecosystems that cover around six percent of the earth’s surface. They are tall, compact jungles that receive high amounts of rainfall every year. Temperatures in these biomes are both hot and humid.

There are different types of rainforests, but the largest are the tropical and temperate ones.

Tropical rainforests are warm and wet. They are found in locations with equatorial or tropical rainforest climates, such as Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands.

Temperate rainforests, on the other hand, are cool and wet. They are located in temperate regions, such as North America, Europe, and New Zealand.

Montane, lowland, and flooded are the other types of rainforests.

All rainforests have four layers. These are the:

Forest floor

The forest floor is the lowest layer of a rainforest. The surface is covered with a thin film of fallen leaves and decaying fruits, seeds, and branches. It receives less than two percent of sunlight and that is why only plants that adapt to low light grow here. This layer is where the biggest animals in the biome can be seen.

Understory

This layer can be found between the forest floor and the canopy layer. It consists of leafy bushes, small trees, saplings, and vines. It is a dark place that receives two to 15 percent of sunlight. This layer is the habitat of boas, ants and other bugs.

Canopy

The canopy is made up of the branches and leaves of the biome’s trees. Ninety-nine percent of sunlight falls on this layer. It is home to 90 percent of all the plant and animal species that live in the rainforest, most of which seek the light in the treetops. You will find monkeys, birds, and various mammals and reptiles in this layer.

Emergent

The branches of the tallest trees in the rainforest make up the emergent layer. It is breezy when it is raining and extremely hot during the warmest part of the day. It also lacks shelter, and as such, it is mostly birds that dwell in this layer.

Where Are the Biggest Rainforests in the World Found?

There are dozens of rainforests scattered around the globe. However, the largest and most popular ones can be found in:

South America

The biggest and most well-known tropical rainforest, which is the Amazon, covers 40 percent of South America and spans nine countries:

  • Brazil
  • Bolivia
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • French Guiana
  • Guyana
  • Peru
  • Suriname
  • Venezuela

The Amazon, which is approximately 5,500,000km2 wide, is home to over half of the earth’s remaining rainforests and around 390 billion trees divided into thousands of different classes. A tenth of all known flora and fauna species live here as well.

Central Africa

The Congolese rainforest, which spans an area of 1,780,000km2, covers six countries:

  • Cameroon
  • The Central African Republic
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Gabon
  • Republic of the Congo

The rainforest covers the Congo Basin and has a variety of rivers, forests, flooded woodland, swamps, and savannahs.

New Guinea

The New Guinea Rainforest is over 288,000km2 wide and is located in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It is the largest rainforest in the Asia-Pacific region.

The rainforest covers numerous forests and coastal mangroves. You will find many of the world’s most unique plants and animals here, including the most number of orchid species in the world.

Chile, Argentina, Borneo, USA, Canada, and Australia also have vast rainforests that serve as home to thousands of species of flora and fauna.

Why Are Rainforests Important?

The rainforests found in different parts of the world are crucial ecosystems that have several significant roles:

They produce clean air for all living things to inhale.

Rainforests are sometimes called the “lungs” of the Earth. The trees in these ecosystems absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release healthy and safe oxygen for humans and animals to breathe in.

They help maintain the earth’s climate.

Since rainforests absorb carbon dioxide, which is a chief factor in climate change, they reduce its unhealthy effects. Additionally, they absorb tropical heat and moisture; when these two accumulate, they can make storms and tornadoes stronger.

They provide shelter and protection to thousands of species of flora and fauna.

Different types of animals and plants of various sizes live in rainforests. Many of these species are endangered; if their biomes are destroyed, they will be wiped out as well.

They supply food and raw materials for medicines and other products.

Lastly, rainforests are sources of various items that you eat and use almost daily. Cocoa, which is used for making chocolates and other by-products, bananas, pineapples, and other fruits and vegetables come from tropical forests. Many rainforests plants are used for medicines, as well.

How Can You Help Protect the Rainforest?

Every year, the rainforests from different parts of the world are getting smaller and smaller. They are under constant threats including deforestation, illegal logging, large-scale farming and ranching, development, and mining.

Everyone, even young students, can help save the rainforests. You can do this by:

  • Using less paper. Additionally, recycle and reuse paper instead of throwing them after only one use.
  • Asking your parents to buy food products that are grown sustainably. These foodstuffs are cultivated in ways that are more eco-friendly and safer for the environment and wildlife.
  • Requesting your parents to purchase wooden furniture pieces that are not made of threatened rainforest woods. Mahogany, ebony, and rosewood are some of the types of timber everyone should avoid buying.
  • Participating in bake garage sales and other fundraising events that aim to raise money which will go to an organization that helps conserve rainforests. The additional funds will help sustain their operations.
  • Joining and organizing events that promote awareness of preserving rainforests. These can include a film showing, online petitions, and visits to artificial biodomes and other places where you can learn more about the wildlife in forests.

With all rainforests under the threat of destruction, everyone, including young children, need to pitch in to help save them. This should be something you encourage your students to do, not only during their lessons but throughout their lives.

 

7 Things You Can Do to Support Your Children’s Cognitive Development

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The human brain is amazing. It starts developing in the womb and keeps on growing as the child starts to form more complex thoughts.

 

Intelligence may be inherited, but brain development can be supported, enhanced, and optimized. As parents, we try our best to promote cognitive growth so that children hit their cognitive milestones on time. The good news is, we can do this in different ways.

Tips for Promoting Cognitive Growth

 

Studies say that the first three years of life are critical to brain development. So what can you do to encourage it?

 

Proper nourishment is certainly imperative. However, besides giving them the best brain food, what other efforts can we make as parents, and which other areas can we explore, to support cognitive development during nursery or early years education?

 

1. Music

 

You can use music to help children learn several things, from letters and numbers to colors and shapes – all the basic concepts and more. From hearing educational songs over and over again, they’ll pick up the tune as well as the words and what they mean. Songs are definitely a great aid in developing memory and language skills.

 

2. Educational Games and Toys

 

You can reinforce the learning by using other tools and activities such as flash cards and puzzles. There are plenty of affordable options, but you can also make them, using materials you already have on hand.

 

You can even just make a game using the items around you as they are. For instance, you can make a habit of counting things that come in multiples, spotting letters and numbers in the room, or touching the color that you call out.

 

3. Sounds

 

This is a fun way for children to learn how to identify objects. By associating the sounds they hear with the corresponding sources, they are able to add to their knowledge. By imitating sounds, they get better command of the muscles in their mouth, which helps in speech development.

 

4. Choices

 

This is important in teaching independence. By letting them choose which snack they will eat or which outfit they will wear, they realize that they have a say in their life. It gives them opportunities for exercising control, building confidence, and understanding consequences.

 

When they’re really young, just offer them two things of your own choosing. Don’t give them free rein in the kitchen or their closet. This way, you can guarantee that their choice is healthy or appropriate.

 

5. Questions

 

Your children will come up with a plethora of questions as they learn about the world. It’s important to pay attention. Reply accordingly when you know the answer, and when you don’t, demonstrate your interest in their learning by helping them figure out the answer. Search engines are a gift, in this sense.

 

Besides receiving questions, pose them as well. Encourage your children to think, work out problems, discover solutions, and form opinions. Just by asking simple questions, you get to stimulate their thoughts and challenge their minds.

 

6. Spaces

 

Let them explore new places. This doesn’t have to be exotic destinations or expensive parks. Children are curious. They’ll be fascinated by the most mundane things. The mall, the market, the local park, the church, the office — the options are endless. These are all avenues that will add to their observations and learning.

 

7. Activities

 

If you can afford baby and toddler classes, that’s good. An early start on skills training does give them an advantage.

 

You can also take them to playgrounds, play with pets, go on playdates, meet different people, watch free shows, and engage in outdoor activities. As long as they keep on having new experiences, you can be certain that they’re enriching their lives with more learning.

 

Understanding Your Influence

 

Whether nature or nurture, parents play a significant role in how children’s cognitive abilities develop. You can’t do much about genetics, but you definitely have a huge say on their environment. Make sure that it is conducive to optimized brain development, especially in the critical years.

Author Bio

Alan Williamson is the Chief Education Officer at Kings’ Education, a premium school brand in Dubai which leads a fantastic group of premium UK curriculum schools, including Child’s Play Nursery. As well as being passionate about teaching and learning, Alan has been actively involved in school leadership related to Special Educational Needs.

Online Studying: 5 Ways It Can Benefit You

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There are all sorts of reasons why you may want to go back into education. Whether it’s to gain new skills, network with others, or climb the career ladder, each person’s journey is different. With many of us working long hours in the office, finding the time to commit to a full-time course can be challenging, making online studying more attractive than ever for students across the world. If you’re interested in going back into learning, here are five ways online studying can benefit you.

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Freedom & Flexibility

Many of us don’t have the time to attend lectures and seminars. If you’re serious about going back into education but you have duties that you can’t move around, picking an online course instead can provide you with the freedom and flexibility you crave. Whether you’re holding down a full-time job or looking after the kids, you will be able to find windows of opportunity to get stuck into your learning.

Lower Total Costs

Once you’ve completed a degree, the last thing you want is to be burdened with a mountain of debt. Unlike a traditional college or university where you will not only have to factor in course fees but accommodation and transport too, online courses tend to be much cheaper overall, meaning you can go into employment without worrying about a snowball of debt.

Study at Your Own Pace

Being in a classroom environment can be too much for some people. Being among those in the same boat as you may hinder your learning and make you worry that you aren’t on the same page as everyone else. If you aren’t good with pressure, why not study from home instead? Not only will you be in an environment you know and love, but you can study at your own rate and pace.

Teaches Self-Discipline

With no professors breathing down your neck to complete coursework, it’s up to you to get everything done within the set deadline. In the working world, you may be set all sorts of projects and tasks that need completing within a timeframe, so learning about self-discipline and time management are key traits that you can take with you into the workplace.

Variety of Course Topics

Unlike in the past where the choice of course topics was slim, there are tons of subjects that you can pick from nowadays. Whether you would like to go into business, healthcare, IT, construction or preparing for the SAT test, there are plenty of courses and degrees that you can study that will equip you with the skills, qualifications, and credentials you need to go far. You can visit providers such as Everglades University, where you can read student reviews. Getting an honest account from those who have been there and done it will make you feel more confident when choosing what degree is right for you.

Whether you prefer to work from the comfort of your own home or you like the idea of slotting your studying in around your work and family commitments, these are just a couple of reasons why online studying may benefit you.

 

Mugshot Malpractice?

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Getting arrested is bad enough, especially if you haven’t done anything. But to know that your mugshot is freely available online or might be broadcast on the nightly news is even worse. What if someone misuses their access to your mugshot to ruin your reputation or your chance for a job? How did we get here, and is there any such thing as “mugshot malpractice?”

Why Are Mugshots Public Records?

If it’s your mugshot that’s out there, naturally you’re concerned; but it’s important to know why mug shots are public records in the first place. It all goes back to America’s founding as an answer to the kind of totalitarian government systems that had been the norm for human societies before 1776.

The History Of Public Records

For most of human history, tyrants and other power abusers were happy to make people simply disappear. Tyrant kings and political parties picked up their enemies in secret at night, and even local law enforcement was largely free to do whatever they felt like. In America, making all kinds of records public was designed to change all that.

The primary reason you can so easily look up Kane county mugshots today is to protect people in Kane county, and every county, from abuse of power. Public records exist to keep the government honest, ensure lawful arrests (as much as possible), and give every arrested person a fair shake at getting a fair trial.

How Mugshots Entered The Picture

Of course, mugshots didn’t exist when public record laws were first enacted, so why are they included in public records now? Once mugshots became a routine part of making an arrest, there were three reasons authorities ultimately decided to make them public record:

  • To protect the arrested person from ever being “disappeared.”
  • To allow law enforcement to release mugshots to the public when hunting for a dangerous fugitive.
  • To shame criminals, in the hopes that they would give up their life of crime.
The Modern Public Record Dilemma

Of course, things have changed a lot in the last 240 years. Our founders couldn’t have foreseen a world where people could sit in bed in their pajamas and access every public record from a personal computer.

And the real problem comes when people misuse their access to public records for extortion or to infringe on the rights of others. That’s when it might become possible to sue, and malpractice lawyers are the legal professionals in the best position to lead the way.

Here are some ways mugshots have been misused:

By Law Enforcement

Photo by Rosemary Ketchum from Pexels

Law enforcement has access to all mugshots, but the way they use those mugshots has to be legal. When the police show mugshots to a victim, there are key rules that must be followed. When those rules are violated, people can be falsely accused or even falsely convicted.

By Websites

Because mugshots are public records, they can be put on the internet. Legitimate background check websites include them along with other elements of a background check, and there’s nothing illegal or unethical about this. But some sites, like the former Mugshots.com, have less innocent motives, like extortion, fraud, and identify theft.

By Private Parties

It’s not unheard of for malicious individuals to use a mugshot to ruin another person’s reputation or destroy their livelihood. Whether it’s an ex-spouse or the owner of a competing business down the street, abuse is real and can have long-reaching effects.

How To Fight Abuse

A defamation lawsuit is the only current defense against someone using a mugshot to ruin your reputation. The key to winning such a lawsuit is being able to claim a false statement; for example, that the person in the mugshot is a criminal when they actually acquitted. You must also prove the false statement has done real harm.

Mugshots are public records, but right now there isn’t one clear answer for balancing the need for transparency with the demand for privacy. Lawmakers and lawyers are working towards a solution. One day soon, we could see our first “mugshot malpractice”

 

Essential Considerations When Choosing a Nursery for Your Child

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There is no denying that the nursery years are the most important in terms of development as they set the standard for your child’s future learning and success.

Many parents opt to send their offspring to a nursery because they know that – even at this age – a positive learning environment can make a significant difference to their child’s development. Therefore, as a parent, you want to make sure that you find the right place for your child to blossom. Take the necessary time to choose; after all, this is your child’s future!

From your family’s goals to a well-rounded curriculum, the importance of safety measures to the benefits of outdoor play, read on for the essential considerations when choosing a nursery for your child. These will ensure your child receives the best foundation for their future learning.

1. The Purpose

Before you start looking into potential nurseries for your child, you first want to consider what you are hoping your child will gain from the experience. There is a wide variety of benefits that come from sending your child to a nursery. Also, all parents have their personal reasons; there is no right or wrong answer. However, to ensure you are selecting the right one for your family, you need to reflect on your own purposes.

Some of the benefits of sending your child to nursery include helping them develop their social and emotional skills through play-based teaching methods and giving them opportunities to spend time with other children, as well as developing their language skills. Moreover, sending your child to nursery helps them to prepare for their formal education as they provide a fantastic foundation for later learning. At an early age, children are able to absorb a plethora of information, which is why it is crucial that you open them up to new knowledge as soon as possible and do not forgo early learning for your little one.

2. The Curriculum

While there are various methods for teaching young ones, one of the most revered is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). For children up to age five, this stage refers to the time in which they are first presented with new ideas and styles of thinking. EYFS focuses on seven areas of learning and development:

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Communication and Language Development
  • Physical Development
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding The World
  • Arts and Design

The three prime areas (Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language; Physical Development) help prepare children for their future and emerge through the relationships and experiences they have in the nursery. The four specific areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Arts and Design) ensure that children are establishing the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their future education.

Therefore, when looking for a nursery for your child, you want to think long and hard about the style of curriculum that they offer. You can be assured that a nursery that has EYFS at its core is going to be providing your child with a well-rounded education.

3. Safety and Security Measures

While there may be some separation anxiety at first, in reality, attending nursery should be an exciting time for both you and your child. However, if you aren’t comfortable with the safety and security measures at the nursery you choose, then it is going to be challenging for you to get through the days. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you consider health and safety with as much regard as the curriculum.

When looking at potential nurseries, make sure to inquire about the design and materials of the building, as well as the level of comfort for each child. Speak with other parents (or read reviews) about their views on the standard of teachers and caregivers. The educators within the nursery must be appropriately qualified and experienced. Plus, working with young children should be their passion. When visiting potential nurseries, you will be able to tell if that is the case.

You want your chosen nursery to have dependable learning tools (you don’t want to see broken equipment) and a superior standard of cleanliness. Moreover, child-friendly design (such as having gates to protect your child from falling off stairs) and unobstructed fire emergency procedures are also necessities.

Make sure to inquire as much as you want when it comes to safety and security. Don’t settle until you have found a nursery that satisfies your questions and adequately demonstrates that all necessary steps have been taken to minimize potential risks.

4. Outdoor Play

In addition to the classroom offerings, you also want to consider the options for outdoor play that a nursery provides. Just as important as education, outdoor play yields a multitude of benefits for your child.

First and foremost, outdoor play enables your child to engage in physical activities on a regular basis. It is harmful for a young one to spend all their time inside, doing sedentary activities; instead, they need to have time to play outdoors. The exposure to nature (and moderate sun) that they will have during these periods will help with bone growth, better immunity, and an increase in serotonin production.

Furthermore, outdoor play helps to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and reduces the risk of developing anxiety. Just as adults need to be physically active for both physical and mental reasons, children also benefit from outdoor activities in the same way.

Last but not least, it is during outdoor playtime that children are more prone to making friends and improving their cognitive, social, and emotional skills. These are all crucial skills for them to develop at a young age.

It is for all these reasons that the best nurseries and early learning centres incorporate outdoor play into their curriculum.

Are you currently looking for a nursery for your child? What aspects are you most concerned about? Are you having a hard time finding a nursery that fulfills your requirements? Alternatively, if you have recently gone through the nursery selection period, do you have any tips for other parents? Let us know your thoughts and any relevant experiences in the comments below.

AUTHOR BIO

Ayesha Hoda is a marketing and communications specialist working at Step By Step Nursery Group in the UAE. She holds an MBA degree from a leading business school in Pakistan and has more than 13 years of experience in corporate communications and journalism. She has worked in both agency and client-side roles, designing communication strategies for multinational clients, nonprofits and small businesses in various industries, such as education and healthcare.

Hidden Features of Windows 10

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Windows 10 is the latest Operating System released by Microsoft which runs in the personal computers. Windows 10 was released in July 2015. Since then, it has become the most popular Windows OS being used in PCs with share of 33.92%. Although a lot of users are running Windows 10 in their machines, some of them are not familiar with its hidden features. Let’s have a look on its attributes:

  1. Hidden Start Menu:Windows 10 provides a Shortcut Menu to some powerful tools which give access to many options to handle some functions. Pressing Right Click on Start Menu Icon or Windows Key + X pops up a menu which has access to many functions such as Power Options, Task Manager, Mobility Center, etc. A user may have an easy-to-do facility with this feature of Windows 10.
  2. Minimizing All Windows Except the Active One: 

    As clear from the above title, Windows 10 facilitates with a feature to minimize rest of the windows at once while keeping active window on display. This feature is called as Shaking. To use this, you simply have to Left-click on the title bar of a window and dragging the mouse back and forth while keep pressing the left mouse button. Many a times, this feature is not already set to use. You can turn it on manually by searching Local Group in Search Bar, an option comes with the name Edit Group Policy, open it up, and go to Administrative Templates >> Desktop and double click on Desktop option. Then look for the “Turn off Aero Shake window minimizing mouse gesture”, a new dialogue box appears, click on the Disabled and there you go…

  3. Touchpad Gestures:Just like Apple’s OS-X supports touchpad gestures in its laptops, so do the Windows 10 provides trackpad gestures which prevent a user from a typical routine of Clicking the Mouse Buttons. Some of the gestures are as follows:
  4. 1-Finger tap: Works as Left Mouse Button and selects an item.
  5. 2-Fingers tap: Works as Right Mouse Button and shows Context Menu.
  6. 3-Fingers tap: Opens up Cortana.
  7. 4-Fingers tap: Opens up Notification Panel.
  8. 2-Fingers Swipe works as a Scrolling tool.
  9. 3-Fingers Swipe gives facility to switch between any of the tasks being run on the same desktop as same as Alt Key + Tab Key do.
  10. 4-Fingers Swipe let you switch between the Virtual Desktops opened in the device.
  11. Pinching in or Stretching out two fingers Zooms out or Zoom in respectively.

 

  1. Cortana:Cortana

    is actually a virtual assistant being provided by Microsoft in its Windows 10 just like Apple facilitates with Siri and Amazon offers Alexa. Cortana can be enabled manually. It helps in performing many functions as well as it covers many areas from searching a thing offline in computer to perform various Google’s online commands. Cortana can bring weather news for you, can be used as a reminder for events, can play music or radio of your taste, can open any app in the computer on your command and can also be used to do chit chat and to play games. You can set Cortana’s Voice Recognition quality to only to your own self, otherwise it will work for anyone. Select its ‘Respond Best’ to ‘To Me’ and teach Cortana your voice and you are all set…

  2. God Mode:

    As per the name speaks, the ultimate ‘God Mode’, it gives access to all the settings and managements that can alter the software of a computer. God Mode is also known as Windows Master Control Panel shortcut. When you have to alter any property of a driver related to any hardware, you usually go to Control Panel. Different options have been categorized in different sub-folder in Control Panel. But in this Mode, all of the options are shown in the same page with easy-scrolling from one category to another one unlike the control panel where you have to go to specific sub-folder to gain access to these functions. Enabling God Mode is very easy, all what it demands is a New Folder on the desktop. So, create a New Folder on the Desktop, and name it “GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}”. A new folder is generated with same icon as of Control panel that contains more than 200 settings ordered alphabetically.
  3. The Slide Shutdown:
  4. Since Windows 10 has the latest UI and advance features like touchpad gestures, Cortana, and many other properties, some people like to set Slide to Shutdown option for their ease though it is not that much worthy. There are two options to set it, first Manually and second Downloading an already built shortcut to shut down. To create it manually, go to the Desktop, and create a Shortcut from Context Menu by clicking Right Mouse Button on any blank space on the desktop. After that, a dialogue box appears which demands a Location of the Item, and write the given code in there: “%windir%\System32\SlideToShutDown.exe” and save it. You can also update its icon from its properties. When you click on it, the Slide comes from the above and requires to drag it down while clicking and holding the left mouse button.
  5. Transparent Command Prompt:Command Prompt is basically a Line Interpreter with Command Line Interface that comes pre-installed in most of the computers which runs many commands provided by the user. You can access this from the Start Menu searching the keyword CMD or you can create its shortcut from the Context Menu by giving code conhost.exe and saving it. Here, we are to talk about its feature of Transparency. Command Prompt can be made transparent in two ways; first – from its Properties, second – by Hotkeys. Open the CMD, Right-Click the Top Border and select Properties. Make sure that the Use Legacy Console box is unchecked. Then move to the Color option and adjust the Opacity on a scale from 0 to 100%. On the other hand, one can adjust the opacity using hotkeys. To increase transparency, use CTRL + SHIFT + Plus (+) and to decrease transparency, use CTRL + SHIFT + Minus (-).

How to Host a Successful Event in the Heart of England

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Hosting an event in Birmingham can be a challenging task if you are not prepared.

There are hundreds of different aspects to planning a successful event and many ways for it to go wrong. However, it doesn’t have to be that hard.

You can host a successful event in Birmingham if you plan your event with enough time and follow some essential advice of event planning.

For example, one of the most important aspects of hosting a memorable event is choosing the right location for your event. Luckily, Birmingham has hundreds of them.

From state-of-the-art facilities to traditional locations with years of history, Birmingham is one of the most exciting cities in England and one of the most exciting places to host an event.

Conferences, meetings, weddings, festivals, and any other kind of event that you’re hosting can be much more exciting if hosted in one of the many venues in Birmingham.

Follow the tips included in this article, and you will be able to host a successful event in the heart of England.

Best Practices

Although every event is different and you cannot plan a wedding the same way you would host a business conference, the basics are the same regardless of what you wish to accomplish.

In this section, you will find three simple recommendations that will help you make your event successful.

  • Plan Ahead: Save Time, Effort and Money

The more time you have to plan the details of your event, the higher the chances are of success. With enough time, you will be able to check all the locations you like for your event, instead of picking from a reduced list of available venues.

You can go over every detail and plan accordingly for anything that can go wrong during execution, so you can focus on the implementation without having to stress out about coming up with a solution on-the-go.

Moreover, the cost of the event can go down since you will have more time to compare prices and reserve places in advance.

  • Picking the Right Location

With hundreds of venues in Birmingham, choosing the right one can become a headache.

You could go for some of the exclusive and modern locations built especially for hosting events, or try your hand with traditional venues, appealing at the beauty of history and tradition.

However, with so many options available, you can lose sight of an essential thing to do when choosing event venues. How can the location help your event be successful?

If you have the goals and details of your event, you probably have a list of requirements, and that is what will ultimately determine the location you need.

Maybe you need comfortable accommodations for your guests, a dining hall to host the party dinner, or a large room with excellent accessibility to host a sales exhibition. These requirements are your main goal when deciding the venue for your special occasion.

Now, if several venues match your requirements, then it’s a matter of personal taste, budget, and making sure the place is available by your planned date.

  • Don’t Hesitate to Ask For Help

One of the critical reasons why events go wrong is the lack of experience in event planning.

You might think about saving money by running the event yourself, but sometimes hiring an event planner is the best way to save time and money.

Event planners know all the ins-and-outs of the job, they know where to cut costs, how to save money, and more importantly, how to host a successful event.

If your goal is a memorable event, but you don’t know where to start, articles like this can be handy, but hiring an event planner might be your best option.

Where to Find the Best Venue for Your Event

If you’re looking for the best venues in Birmingham, you have to check out Venuefinder, one of the best sites to find locations in the city.

With hundreds of venues and a useful search function to filter through venue features, Venuefinder will help you choose a location according to your requirements.

You can also ask your event planner for venue options; they’ve hosted similar events and know what would work best for your special occasion.

A Successful Event Leaves the Right Impression

Birmingham is a beautiful city with hundreds of exciting locations for every type of event, and you should seize the range of places to pick the perfect venue for your event.

With so many incredible venues in Birmingham, don’t settle for the first place you see, there are dozens of amazing places that could make your event leave the perfect impression on your attendees.

Always remember, the only way to ensure your event is successful is by planning ahead of time. An improvised event with little planning is easy to spot. It will leave a wrong impression on your guests, regardless if it is a business event or a party.

When you start planning your next event, make sure to note down all the details so you can choose the perfect venue and have a successful special occasion.

 

 

 

 

Benefits of Owning a Smart Car

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In a time when everywhere you look, things are getting bigger – houses, buildings, phones, gadgets, and cars – it seems the only way to fit in is to go smaller. Cities are fast becoming congested, thereby making commuting a dreadful daily activity. Smart cars are a product of Daimler AG, the producer of Mercedes Benz. They are small, classy, and efficient. Daimler AG is renowned for producing quality cars. And this is no exception. Some other benefits include the following.

Fuel Efficiency

There are two types of smart cars in terms of energy consumption. People have the option of going with fuel or electric. Electric cars are more eco-friendly. The UK is part of the global program trying to reduce the emission of harmful gases that attribute to global warming. By choosing an electric smart car, you would be doing your little part in helping to save the planet. Smart cars have great fuel efficiency. In a 2018 report, it was reported that the average distance of a smart Fortwo car is up 58.9 MPG with an average gas emission of 114.1 g CO2/km, which is well within the UK recommended standard (130 g CO2/km). In an urban city, a full tank could last you well over a week if all you do is travel to work and run a few errands.

Easy Parking

Parking in most cities in the UK can be a hassle. With narrow streets and congested parking areas, car owners easily get frustrated. Smart cars are small and compact. Which means they can fit into smaller, tighter spaces that regular cars cannot. This gives you an advantage wherever you find yourself.

Low Maintenance

True to its name, smart cars are technologically advanced. Made with the latest automobile technology and innovative engineering, they provide utmost convenience to the owner. They are highly reliable and easy to maintain. Sandown-Group being an authorized dealer in all things Mercedes Benz has over 30 years of experience servicing and selling Mercedes products. Instead of using the road-side mechanic for repairs and replacement parts, you may visit any of the Sandown outlets to get your smart car parts and for routine maintenance.

Style and Safety Combined

When it comes to style in the automobile industry without any compromise in safety, Mercedes Benz comes to mind first. Smart cars exhibit the same attributes. Even though they appear to be small, they are highly stylish. The smart EQ coupé, EQ range, and EQ Cabrio are perfect for both men and women. They come in Fortwo and Forfour options. And for those who prefer an elegant look, the smart EQ business is the perfect option. It usually comes in shiny black shade – a right combination of sober, classy, stylish and elegant.

Summary

While owning a small smart car may not be for everyone, it is truly a rewarding experience for those who choose to get one. It has a great fuel economy. It costs very little to maintain. It has the same elegant effects of a Mercedes Benz without the price tag, and it is perfect for city life.