The benefits and setbacks of a newly built house

Architecture

Bhok Thompson

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May 16, 2019

glass house design, hipster — *When you start from scratch you can build your dreams fresh and not deal with the old toxic paint and plumbing from owners of the past.*

In today’s market, home buyers have different options for buying a new home, like a reclaim or a resale. There are a number of possibilities from which they can choose what type of house do they need for them and their family.

Also, there are a number of benefits for the “new homeowners” that will let them save a great amount of money rather than buying an old house and then spending their money on renovation.

Home Warranties

In a newly built home the warranties are started from the closing date of the home. Usually, appliances have a 1-year warranty from builders and manufacturers of these appliances often extend warranties for their separate appliances included to it.

The thought of having a new home where everything is warranted for at least 20 years for appliances such as roofing or structural systems is definitely appealing for the most home buyers. If you have a warranty that covers your appliances, you are protected against defects in the home after purchase.

Customization

When you decide to buy a new home, you can always have the choice to customize your flooring, paint colors, appliances and other design elements and create a look for your home that depicts your eco-lifestyle.

Most home builders let the buyers take part in the process of designing their property, that will help them in creating a living space that is tailored to the taste of the home buyer.

Why energy efficient homes are more ecological

Newly built houses tend to use energy more efficiently in two ways, first of all, they have a tighter-sealed building envelope which lets you prevent your air conditioning i.e. cool in the summer, warm in the winter. This is a huge cost saving for the buyer who is buying a newly built home. But buying an older home might make more sense if you want land for the kids to play and avoid spending your free time looking for parks in the city when nature can be your babysitter and kids best friend.

Green appliances lower energy bills

The more mechanics of energy-efficient for the house also help lower the bills for new home buyers says an expert. Newly built houses often have green appliances and systems like refrigerators, air conditioning units, water heater, furnaces, efficiency stoves or washing machines that many old houses may not have in them.

Current homeowners can always get their property or buy higher-efficiency appliances, but in doing so requires a potentially important expense.

Green homes need fewer repairs

When buying a new house buyer will not have to spend much on repairs. There will be fewer repairs. While opting for a resale house there can be few things like appliances or carpets etc. to update the house that can incur a great amount of money to replace or repair.

Financing for sustainable homes

New house buyers are able to take the benefit of mortgage financing perks that may be available through their builder. New home buyers have their own preferences regarding lenders that may offer benefits such as closing costs or paying points and buy down certain prices for you. Re-sale home seller is basically not going to do it for the buyer.

You may also be drawn to the newly built home for some not so obvious reasons:

Building a Community Together: A fresh community is one of the benefits for the newly built homes. When families shift to a subclass at the same time, mostly long-lasting friendship bonds are formed immediately. No one is the new child on the block and most home builders organize parties for the blocks newly developed to help the owners meet each other and get in touch.

Amenities: Mostly, old societies do not offer amenities. Buying a newly built home in today’s societies may bring many interesting amenities such as tennis, lakes, swimming pools, walking trails, clubhouses, courts and community areas that let the new homeowner get lasting bonds from their neighbors.

New Open Floor Plans: Mostly, new home communities lack the open floor plans that are great for entertainment. Open floor plans include kitchens that are open for the rooms and entertainment becomes a breeze in these amazing open plans.

More Advanced Wiring: A few years back, builders lacked the concept of the electronic age that is today’s consumer. When you buy a newly built house it is possible to adjust advanced technology for TV, internet and mobile phones. Wiring can be done to meet the needs of the individual homeowner.

Newly built homes can offer fewer hassles, increased customization, and higher efficiency and you will not have to spend extra money on the repair or rebuild.

It’s time to decide: Find your ideal home and start building your future. Do not forget that your choice will be crucial for the welfare of your family, so take into account this information so that the purchase of your property is everything you expected.

Water. Homes in the United States and Canada are being sold without a promise that you will have access to clean water. As droughts rise in areas like California and Texas, homeowners are getting stuck with homes that no longer access water. A home with a healthy well is better than relying on infrastructure and conditions that are up to third parties.

Farmer’s everywhere: download the UN guide on fighting soil erosion

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Food

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May 15, 2019

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Farmer’s everywhere: download the UN guide on fighting soil erosion

Wind, rain and industrial farming techniques accelerates soil erosion and can be mitigated before the world faces calamitous losses in terms of agricultural yields and critical ecosystem functions.

“The negative impacts of soil erosion are ever more evident and the need to work jointly ever more urgent,” FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources, Maria Helena Semedo, said today while opening a three-day symposium focusing on enhancing how the world measures and manages soil erosion as well as its economic costs.

“We have solutions,” she said. “Preventing soil erosion through education, advocacy and concrete actions in the field are the best way to maintain healthy soils and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Today the equivalent of one soccer pitch of soil is eroded every five seconds, and the planet is on a path that could lead to the degradation of more than 90 percent of all the Earth’s soils by 2050, Semedo said. Erosion, triggered by intensive agriculture, tillage, mono-cropping, overgrazing, urban sprawl, deforestation and industrial and mining activities, all contribute to accelerating soil erosion, which can result in crop yield losses of up to 50 percent, she added.

As organic carbon particles are the most vulnerable to being washed or blown away, erosion also reduces soil’s potential to help mitigate and adapt to climate change, triggering a “vicious cycle” in which extreme weather events and soil erosion reinforce each other, Semedo said.

The Global Symposium on Soil Erosion is co-organized by FAO, the Global Soil Partnership, the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and a joint programme run by FAO with the International Atomic Energy Association to develop uses for nuclear techniques for food and agriculture.

Amid 20 sessions and more than 100 presentations, speakers include scientists, academic experts, farmers, government officials and even an astronaut describing soil erosion from space.

The greatest challenge

FAO launched Soil erosion: the greatest challenge for sustainable soil management, at the symposium.

The 100-page book, with Dan Pennock, professor at Canada’s University of Saskatchewan as its lead author, takes stock of the current state of knowledge regarding soil erosion. More research has been published on the topic in the past three years than in the entire 20^th century.

While knowledge of how soil erosion occurs and how to control it is firmly established, more research is needed on how to measure soil loss rates and budget for measures to reduce them – remain under debate. Indeed, there is disagreement over whether erosion turns soil into a source or sink for carbon emissions, as well as rival formulas to assess the relationship between the size of raindrop splashes and the likelihood that they detach soil particles and remove them from the landscape.

Still, evidence is clear that soil erosion rates on conventionally ploughed agricultural land or intensively grazed pasturelands are notably greater than erosion under native vegetation – and much higher than soil formation rates – implying that we are depleting a non-renewable resource.

Vegetation cover – including shrubs, trees, resistant grasses, cover crops and stubble -can reduce wind erosion by more than 80 percent and also enhance water absorption capacity, mitigating soil compaction and impeding the creation of rills and gulleys that impede agricultural work. Reduced or no-till practices are also effective, especially in drier regions.

For many farmers, erosion-control measures take a long time to bear fruit. Indeed, terracing, a capital-intensive and highly effective approach practiced for thousands of years, today is prone to failure due to poor management and design as well as abandonment, which is widespread in almost all regions where they are found, making natural solutions a logical tool for soil governance.

At the same time, many of erosion’s impacts occur far from the source, as demonstrated by agrochemical runoff that can pollute and eutrophize water sources downstream, which further raises the importance of considering soil erosion control as an issue warranting tangible public support.

Among the planned outcomes of the symposium are the identification of “global hotspots” warranting priority actions in soil management, a data base on the best erosion control practices, and more consensus on how to carry out cost-benefit analyses of prospective interventions to prevent, remediate and mitigate soil erosion.

Aleph Farms engineers lab-grown steaks from cattle cells, secures $12 million

Food

Karin Kloosterman

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May 15, 2019

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While the Impossible Burger is taking on the world of beef Whoppers by storm and sorts of vegetable or insect-derived solutions are cropping up to give vegans and our future selves an alternative to meat, an Israeli company has just secured $12 million to grow real beef in the lab. Like Evogene which is growing tiny plants to hybridize them faster, Aleph is still only growing steaks big enough for Lilliputians but with the right R&D the company hopes to scale.

It’s been about five years since we heard about the first lab-grown hamburger. Since researchers have been able to dramatically improve upon the process of growing meat. What they haven’t been able to do well is to copy the texture and structure of the specific cuts you’d find at a butcher, like a steak.

This is what Aleph claims to have done. The company managed this using a bio-engineering platform from theTechnion – Israel Institute of Technology. The steak in the video below took a few weeks to grow and it cost about $50.

Aleph Farms is co-founded by The Kitchen Hub. Among the investors in a new $12 million round is VisVires New Protein (VVNP), Singapore; with Cargill, USA; and M-Industry – the industrial group of Migros, Switzerland, as new investors. Existing investors also joining this round include Strauss Group, Israel; Peregrine Ventures, Israel; CPT Capital, UK; Jesselson investments, Israel; New Crop Capital, USA and Technion Investment Opportunity Fund, Israel.

Aleph Farms’ unique non-GMO technology, co-developed with Professor Shulamit Levenberg of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, relies on a natural process occurring in cows to regenerate and build muscle tissues.

The company discovered a way to isolate the cells responsible for that process and grow them outside of the animal to form the same muscle tissue typical to steaks. Consumers are not willing to compromise on taste, which is the driving force behind this startup’s goal to create, juicy, delicious steaks without harm to animals or the environment.

The injection of capital will allow Aleph Farms to accelerate product development of its slaughter-free meat and to transform Aleph’s prototype (released last December) into a commercial product. Its cultured meat will grow in large, clean bio-farm facilities similar to a dairy facility.

“This round has been highly successful and includes diverse food companies and VCs from multiple regions around the world,” says Matthieu Vermersch, Founder and Managing Partner of VisVires New Protein. “This is a vote of confidence in Aleph Farms’ leading 3D technology and its capabilities for growing real beef steaks. Strategic partners from the food industry are important because we need to build a sustainable ecosystem for cultured meat.”

Key concerns of the meat industry and regulators include sustainability of meat production, antibiotics resistance, and food-borne illnesses. Aleph Farms and other cell-based meat startups are providing new tools to address those challenges and to feed the growing world population without harming any animals.

“We will be part of the long-term solution,” declares Didier Toubia, Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. “We intend to lead an open dialog with farmers and food and feed producers. In addition, we continue to work closely with the regulators to ensure our products will be completely safe, healthy and properly labelled. We welcome the collaboration with the USDA and FDA as an opportunity to promote transparency and build trust with all stakeholders.”

Die-hard environmentalists may not be for this solution and will suggest we just cut back on our appetite for meat. That if we want to eat healthfully and heartily (and biodynamically!) we should raise our own meat from farm to table, eat all parts, or be brave like my girlfriends Kari and Raven; and friends Randy and Dave in Northern, Ontario and just hunt for our own food. Simply to stay away from anything engineered in any way, including complicated vegan cheeses and what have you.

According to Jewish Law hunting is not permitted so kosher meat, might need to evolve into the lab. Who knows.

I feel growing meat in a lab is much like growing food using hydroponics. It’s a good solution for the interim (as we flail and people starve in some parts of the world) but where we are going is to regenerative, biodynamic agriculture where are parts feed into the whole.

Make Small Changes to Help the Environment

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Tech

Bhok Thompson

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May 14, 2019

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Helping the environment is something that many people would love to do. However, some people don’t feel they have the time or knowledge to get involved with environmental issues but it is actually very simple to make small changes in your life that can help to benefit the environment.

By making some simple changes at home, you can help to do your part when it comes to the environment, but you can also look forward to a range of other benefits. For example, some of these changes can help you to save money, which means that you can reduce the cost of your electric bill as well as help the environment. In this article, you will be able to see what type of changes you can make when it comes to your home and habits.

Some of the Actions You Should Take

So, what are some steps you should take if you want to do your part and save money? Well, one thing you need to do is keep an eye on your energy usage, as this can have a damaging effect on the environment as well as on your finances. If you want to reduce energy usage and cut the amount you have to pay out to your energy company, there are various steps you can take. For instance, you can use energy-saving bulbs, make sure you turn lights off when you are not using the room, invest in energy-efficient appliances and heating, and make sure your home is properly insulated.

Another thing you should do is look at your car usage and see whether you can reduce the amount you drive your vehicle. There may be some cases where you have to drive which is understandable, not everybody lives close enough to walk or bike to work. However, whenever it may be possible to forget about using the car and walk to where you need to go you can cut back on your carbon footprint by doing so. This could be the local shops, the park, visiting friends that do not live too far, and more. All of this will enable you to reduce the amount of money you spend on gas while also helping to reduce emissions released from your vehicle.

Water wastage is another common thing that is seen in households and this is something that you can address with ease and convenience. For instance, by only filling the kettle as much as you need to, you can reduce water usage and avoid wasting electricity by having to boil the kettle for longer. Making sure you turn off the taps while brushing your teeth can also help. Even little things such as fixing dripping taps can help to make a difference.

As you can see, there are various ways in which you can reduce your carbon footprint by making some small changes when it comes to your home and habits. You can then enjoy knowing that you are contributing your part in a worthy cause.

Evogene takes gene science to cannabis with AI platform and years of experience

Karin Kloosterman

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May 13, 2019

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evogene cannabis canonic — A new cannabis subsidiary of leading gene company working for companies like Monsanto and Bayer, will focus on creating higher quality cannabis plants, initially for PTSD, severe chronic pain and cancer

Cannabis is one of those new markets where everyone and his brother is racing in to make a quick buck. About 500 cannabis-related companies are listed on exchanges in countries like Canada, yet only a handful of those companies are involved in serious biotech endeavors or research. The rest of them, about 90% of those companies are selling recreational products with claims and products that lack medical or scientific backing.

Are they worth investing in? Only if you are willing to take big risks. In the early days crypto investors made millions, but the market went bust last year and well? There is still so much uncertainty there. My friends who were investing in cannabis Canada say it’s too late. The best opportunities are over. But can that be true in a very, very new market just starting to play out? Of course not. But I want to help you see a bit about where I think things are going from my perspective as both Israeli and Canadian writing on pharma/biotech and agtech for 20 years.

Canada is recreationally legal when it comes to cannabis, yet still you will have a hard time getting cannabis at a hospital or clinic there. I know, I tried when my dad was dying from cancer last fall. Yeah people are hotboxing in their cars all over the place and smoking their faces off anywhere you go (it’s legal!!!), but if you want pain relief from cancerous tumors or arthritis, good luck. You might get your hands on some “weed” through a clinic, but you will never figure out how the product, dosing and strain will make sense with your body and condition unless you have an expert by your side and are willing to experiment. I was there, with the world’s biggest expert in my pocket and it was a complete disaster. Only a handful of people in the world have experience and advice I would touch and even with that it’s still trial and error.

The medical establishment in Canada, well those who run it, are still leery of how the research angle will play out with federal and institutional funding that they aren’t investing in medical cannabis research yet. For similar reasons in the United States too. That’s why interest in cannabis has piqued so much in Israel where researchers have been studying the compounds and effects of the plant since the 60s. I was one of the first to write about Professor Raphael Mechoulam, who discovered and isolated THC and CBD decades ago. Yet Americans and Canadians with financing are saying, let’s start a company, let’s bring the money and rely on Israeli research — in medical or agriculture – to base our claims. Because let’s face it, without IP or patents or both, you don’t have much. Cannabis is easy to grow and easy to get your hands on. Where the money is exactly what Evogene, an Israeli company is about to do.

So if you aren’t going to get your hands into biomedical research in pharma or drug delivery devices and you aren’t going to be creating technologies for growing (like flux) or technologies for growing ideal strains like Evogene which I am going to talk about below, better put your money into software (SAAS), the kind of software that has helped other industries grow.

One company I am excited about from Israel that I think might be worth investing in is Evogene ((NASDAQ: EVGN) (TASE: EVGN). The company is long established as a genomics company that has worked with the largest agriculture and chemical companies in the world.

Evogene is an Israeli seed company that uses research and development to improve crop performance. The company uses plant genomics and biotechnology to create plants and biofuels that carry desirable traits such as resistance to stress or pests. Evogene is transferring genes between plants from the same family rather using transgenics, or GMOs. Seed giant Monsanto has a stake in the company now traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

One of their inventions is a mini plant, a Lilliput plant, that let’s them grow tomato plants quicker so they can cycle through desirable plant qualities faster, and weed out what they don’t want.

Evogene is taking the knowledge accumulated from modern genome research with classical farming methods, such as crossbreeding, which is used to improve the positive qualities of plants. If, for example, a particular plant thrives on salty water, this property can be enhanced by breeding this trait so that it will grow in salty soil, like that of Israel’s Negev Desert.

The same approach can be taken to cannabis. And last month it announced it will open a new subsidiary called Canonic to develop next generation medical cannabis products. Evogene issued a report that it has been evaluating the medical cannabis field for more than a year, including market evaluation, obtaining governmental approvals for its research program and the establishment of a research facility, technology assessment and initial product line planning.

Canonic’s initial activities will focus on creating improved cannabis varieties by addressing the current developmental roadblocks of yield, stability and specific metabolite composition. These development efforts will be based on the utilization of Evogene’s big data software platform, which has in the past demonstrated success in addressing similar objectives for other crops.

See presentation here PPT

Evogene says that they are looking at $13 billion cannabis market, which is expected to grow to $24 billion by 2025. Although the cannabis market is growing rapidly, it is well recognized that next generation products will need to address the current limitations of:

(i) low metabolite yield – causing high costs for patients

(ii) low variety stability – causing inconsistent products that have become unreliable as a medical treatment and

(iii) uncertainty in connecting cannabis metabolite profile to specific medical indications.

Evogene is uniquely positioned to provide a significant competitive advantage in the resolution of these development roadblocks through its software platform and its recognized capabilities as a leader in the area of plant genomics.

These products have been developed and utilized for more than a decade through multiple collaborations with world leading agritech companies such as BASF, Bayer, and Monsanto focusing on crop improvement via plant genomics and are now expected to allow Evogene’s newly established subsidiary, Canonic, to not only meet the challenges but also to accelerate the product development process through its predictive science driven approach.

Does this mean the big ag companies will dive into cannabis through Evogene? We can only hint so much.

Canonic’s current business aims to go in this direction creating three main product types, through a non-GMO approach:

(i) high metabolite yield cannabis varieties

(ii) stable varieties with consistent metabolite performance and

(iii) cannabis varieties with a unique metabolite profile tailored to specific medical indications. The indications that the company will currently address are: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe chronic pain and cancer.

Dr. Arnon Heyman is the new Canonic CEO.

“The field of medical cannabis fits perfectly within both our plant genomics activities and our human therapeutics activities. We have been evaluating this field and our relevant competitive advantages for over a year, and now, with the establishment of Canonic, we expect the new company to advance rapidly in executing its mission of developing next generation medical cannabis products and to create substantial value in a relatively short time,” said Ofer Haviv, Evogene President and CEO in a public statement issued to the press.

“This expectation is based largely on Evogene’s capabilities in plant genomics and computational know-how that will allow Canonic to uniquely address the major challenges in this large and rapidly growing field,” he added.

What we like about Canonic is that Evogene is already established in the market and it seems to be quietly helping the large ag players step into this potential megabusiness of cannabis with sound data and serious science behind it. That’s investable.

Want to read more about Israeli cannabis companies you can invest in?

Israel’s Cannbit recruits cannabis pioneer Raphael Mechoulam

Sodastream’s CEO moves into cannabis extracts with Seedo investment

The Ultimate Oman Travel Guide

Travel

Bhok Thompson

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May 10, 2019

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Oman is known as a hidden gem in the Arabian Peninsula, a beautiful and very safe place to travel to. It’s also pretty easy to get here so add this spectacular place in your travel bucket list. Usually, it’s overlooked because most tourists head to glamorous Dubai or glitzy Abu Dhabi. Because of that, it tends to be rather peaceful. The best part is that Oman has preserved its heritage and ethnic values so well that it gives us a chance to experience the Arabic Kingdom without any distortions caused by modernization and excessive luxury.

My own trip to Oman

I was actually visiting Dubai when I heard about how beautiful Oman was. Just the pictures I saw online made me decide to head over there. It’s like an Arabian Oasis straight out of some Arabian fairy tales. The historic touch as well as the naturally beautiful spots, all of it made my trip there quite adventurous. My visit was short though so after some time I managed to find discounted flights going to Oman and then took my sweet time exploring it.

Safety and ease of travel

It’s a great place for first-time travellers to get used to the Arabian culture without getting overwhelmed. Compared to other Middle-Eastern countries, it’s a humble place that still retains its traditional charm. However, keep in mind that it’s a wealthy country thanks to all the oil reserves so if you’re used to travelling in luxury, there are high-end facilities and hotels available. The transport network is also very good allowing to get around easily.

Safety wise, you can relax because Oman is probably the safest country in all of Middle-East. Locals here also speak a bit of English and there are many immigrants a well so communicating with them isn’t all that hard either.

When to visit?

Since it’s located on the Arabian Peninsula, you can expect sweltering hot summers with pleasant winters. So I Suggest you visit here in colder months because all the natural beauty can be experienced outdoors. However, check weather forecasts because this place is prone to flash floods. Winter also tends to be a wet time to be careful on the more mountainous areas.

Where to stay?

There is a wide range of places, suitable for most budgets in Muscat, but outside the capital, there are hardly any good places. You’re most likely to find ridiculously pricey hotels outside the capital so try to stay in the bigger city and go for day trips in order to explore about. You can look up different districts though, and choose the one that suits you.

Omani food

Since it lies along ancient spice-trade routes, Omani cuisine comprises of Persian, North African, Indian and Arabic flavours. The fragrant dishes, as well as the traditional desserts soaked in honey or rosewater, are simply delicious. However, you’ll be disappointed to know that the few choices for authentic food are pretty expensive so you’ll have to stick to fast food in food courts or chain restaurants. There are old rustic looking eateries but don’t get your hopes up.

Best places to see

Muttrah Souq

A local traditional market located in Muscat. It’s a great place to buy traditional Omani items. And even if you don’t wish to buy anything, simply check it out. The cacophony of colours and the lively atmosphere will put you in a good mood. It’s a great place to take pictures at since the traditional metal pots and kettles along with the dull yet colourful lights, makes for a great picture background.

Beaches in Musandam

If you wish to relax at beautiful sandy beaches then head to the far northern side of Oman, to Musandam. It happens to be surrounded by the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf hence you can find many beautiful beaches here. While some may be crowded due to their popularity, you can find rather isolated beaches for a peaceful time. Make sure you only go in the evening or during winter time otherwise you’ll get nasty sunburns.

Wadi Bani Khalid

This little patch of natural beauty is an absolute must-see. Located in the Al Sharqiyah Region, it has many water pools and springs that keep the water flowing in the valley all year round. If you’ve ever seen an Arabic themed painting with a small blue water body surrounded by date trees, then this place is probably the inspiration for that. There are also small villages scattered about as well as colourful plantation and red rock formation. One of the most picturesque places one can visit in Oman.

Forts and castles

Oman has a very rich heritage and you can find out more about them by visiting the many well-preserved forts and castles around. I suppose if you happen to like exploring historical places then this place is perfect for you. The country also has respect for its culture and tradition which is apparent from these old buildings. You can find a fort in most corners so look up online and make sure you explore at least a few of them on your visit there. Some of the more popular ones are Nakhal Fort, Nizwa Fort, Jibreen Castle, Al Hazm Fort, and Al Rustaq Fort so you can visit one of them to get started.

Salalah

Another beautiful city located in the Dhofar Region in southern Oman that’s a very tranquil place. It’s most popular for hosting the Khareef Festival, which lasts from July to September every year. It makes the whole city seem lush green with different plants and palm trees spread about as well as lovely weather. It’s simply a beautiful natural escape with gentle rains and vibrant greenery.

Bimmah Sinkhole

Also known as Dabab sinkhole, it’s located in eastern Oman near Muscat. It was naturally formed when the lower layers of lime-stones dissolved away over time causing the upper surface to collapse creating this big hole. It’s a very beautiful place though with crystalline turquoise water surrounded by a huge rock formation. Stains haven be built so you can get up close to the water safely. A great tranquil place to relax at for a while.

Eco-Traveling: Mistakes to Avoid When Trying to Be a Responsible Traveler

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Travel

Bhok Thompson

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May 8, 2019

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Are you someone that your friends and family label as a “tree-hugger?” If so, wear the title as a badge of honor. There’s nothing wrong with loving the planet you live on and want to make it a better place environmentally. Whether you go around picking up trash a couple of times per month or ride a bike instead of driving a car, your contribution to the environment does make a difference.

There’s all kinds of reasons to embrace a greener lifestyle. People tend to think that living green only applies in their home or the area in which you live… Living green can be incorporated in all aspects of your life, even when you travel!

Now, traveling does do harm on the environment but the world of travel is something that’s not going away. We, as humans, crave seeing different worlds, learning different languages, and eating the authentic cuisines that we can’t get anywhere except the actual country.

Although we can’t really make flying less damaging on the environment, we can reduce the impact of our travels by planning them carefully and conscientiously. In fact, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) stated that 2017 would be the year of sustainable travel and has actually set standards that are being recognized as standards for hotels and tour operators.

If you want to fulfill your passion for travel and learn how to become a responsible traveler, yet not leave a damaging mark on the environment, take a look at how you can make the world a better place by avoiding these eco-traveling mistakes.

Eco-Travel Mistake #1: Not Working From Home

In order to travel you need to have money, right? Of course, so how do most people make money? By getting up and traveling to their job. This might sound a little silly to some people but a survey was conducted in 2015 that revealed that traveling (commuting) made up 5% of global carbon emissions. Working from home cuts down on carbon emissions from commuting back and forth to work.

A lot of people are starting their own business giving themselves the freedom to work a flexible schedule. What this essentially means is that you’ll be able to work as little or as much as you want, all without needing to leave your home. You’ll be able to help the environment and make money while doing it, to fund your sustainable trip!

Eco-Travel Mistake #2: Littering

Littering isn’t cool whether you’re in your hometown or in a foreign country. A lot of people have no idea just how damaging throwing a plastic bag on the ground can be. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), out of all the trash in the world, trash made from plastic has the greatest damaging effect on the environment.

Plastic trash has the potential to do serious damage to not only the environment but can also be harmful to humans and wildlife. We see plastic pollution every day too. You’ve seen plastic bottles floating in just about any body of water and the worst part is seeing wildlife getting caught up and tangled in those plastic soda separators.

These are just a few ways that trash impacts the environment. When you’re out on your travels, do your best to put your trash in the appropriate receptacles… just because you might be traveling for a vacation, that doesn’t mean that you eco-friendly habits have to go on vacation too.

Eco-Travel Mistake #3: Wasting of Any Kind

As a child, when your parents would prepare a meal for you and you don’t “clean your plate,” would they ever tell you something like “You need to eat all of your food because there are kids in Africa starving.” Parents would say this as a guilt trip to get you to eat all your food because there are indeed kids all over the world starving… even kids in your own neighborhood that don’t have the privilege to enjoy a filling meal on a daily basis.

When traveling abroad, wasting of any kind is unacceptable and a big no-no! If you can avoid it at all costs, do so. The key in this scenario is to be conscientious of what you’re using and how much of it you actually need. For instance, if you’re traveling to a destination that has a major shortage of water, you need to be very aware of how much water you’re using.

Wasting isn’t just limited to food and water either during your travels. Take a look at other ways we hurt the environment by wasting.

Leaving the lights on when you’re not using them.
Leaving on the air conditioner in your hotel room when you don’t need it.
Buying bottled waters when your hotel offers refillable water.
Leaving appliance plugged in when you’re not using them (hairdryer/coffee maker).

Eco-Travel Mistake #4: Disturbing Wildlife

For those people who love traveling and everything associated with travel, including wildlife, it’s important that you practice major restraint in your responsible traveler efforts. We all love seeing those cute or majestic animals we see on our travels and to be able to get a close-up picture with them is a travel blogger’s dream. It’s not only a dream for travel bloggers either… it’s a dream for travelers in general.

Imagine being able to show all your family and friends on Facebook and Instagram just how close you were able to get to an elephant on your safari adventure. There are not enough “likes” and “shares” in the world worth putting your life in danger like that, especially without the direction of a certified tour guide that deems it appropriate to do so.

Although there are certain destinations and locations where it’s not uncommon for bears and mountain lions to show up in your back yard or go for a swim in your pool, that doesn’t mean that you have the right to go exploring in their habitats on your own. This is a situation where you have to use your better judgment and think smart… thinking smart is a huge part of being a responsible traveler, so apply this logic in all of your responsible traveling adventures.

7 things you can learn from the best restaurant marketing

Food

Bhok Thompson

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May 2, 2019

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7 things you can learn from the best restaurant marketing

vegawarian, flexitarian vegan sandwich, black bread with vegetables held by a woman wearing a vegan t shirt — We love vegan burgers. New research shows how good veganism is for land use. Want to make your new vegan restaurant a hit? Learn marketing and grow a sustainable business.

As the world becomes smaller and competition becomes larger, marketing is becoming an increasingly crucial tool for the success of any business. With trends like eating local or eating even vegan food, you need to stay aware to changing and evolving customer tastes.

For restaurants especially, using the right tricks & tactics has become more important than ever with new spots to feed hungry customers popping up almost every day. Creating a distinct brand & identity has become a restaurant’s only saving grace in this overcrowded environment. Though every business works differently, there are certain things that every restaurant must keep in mind while devising their marketing strategies. Here are 7 sure-fire tips to give your restaurant’s marketing a much-needed boost.

Seamless User Experience:

Your customers are what make you, and also what can break you. User experience is often neglected by restaurants as they think they have bigger fish to fry, but here’s the “secret” – no matter how trendy your restaurant or how delicious your food is, if it’s not simple, convenient and accessible for the users, it’s going nowhere.

Ensuring that customers have easy access to details and information about the restaurant is the best way to create brand awareness & enable conversions. Customers are much more likely to visit a restaurant they can find everything about in a matter of minutes.

One of the best way to increase user accessibility for your restaurant is to set up a restaurant reservation system. Nowadays, consumers are on a lookout for everything instant – instant food, instant delivery and similarly – instant restaurant reservations. By having an instant reservation system, you are giving your customers an easy and quick channel to reach you, therefore creating a seamless user experience leading to a higher conversion rate.

Make your restaurant “Insta-Friendly”

foods from eucalyptus cookbook — How to make sustainable food choices Instagram friendly

The rise of the digital age or the “Instagram age” has peaked the importance of a restaurant’s visual appeal. “Insta-worthy” has officially become a term used to categorize restaurants and not spotting someone snapping their food at a restaurant has become a rare occurrence. Food & restaurant photos dominate the world of social media, which is why paying attention to how your food & restaurant looks has become more important than ever.

Be on top of trends at all times to ensure your restaurant remains visually relevant while standing out in crowded social feeds. Catering business owners often look into options for sustainable marketing for restaurants as eco-consciousness shapes customer expectations and influences where people choose to dine. Aligning visual branding with responsible practices can strengthen credibility and encourage repeat visits from values-driven customers. Consistency between presentation, messaging, and actions helps restaurants build a lasting impression beyond a single photo moment.

User-Generated Content

The popularity of platforms like Instagram & Snapchat has given rise to a new marketing tool: user-generated content. Customers all over the world are sharing information and images of their food via these platforms, indirectly creating valuable content for the restaurants.

This user generated content is one of the best sources of e-WOM for the business. Ensure that you use this content to it’s maximum potential by integrating it into your restaurant’s marketing strategies and combining it with other social media marketing tools like #hashtags to create a powerful marketing tool at essentially no cost

Focus on customer loyalty

The challenge for any restaurant is not to acquire customers, but to retain them. How can you guarantee that a customer comes back? That’s the golden ticket.

Loyalty comes from a lot of things – great customer service, delicious food, enjoyable environment. But a real sense of loyalty is enabled through loyalty programs – these are point based programs for customers that reward them with offers, deals and discounts leading to repetitive returns from customers resulting in higher customer retention.

Features like special birthday offers, cashback on every purchase and regular discounts are great for encouraging customers to visit your restaurant again and again.

Get on board the Influencer train

Influencers are the new celebrities, except that they are one of the consumers, which makes them that extra bit relatable. This relatability is the reason why influencer opinions have become so impactful. Growing number of industries are hiring influencers to market their products, F&B being on top of that chart.

Influencers are a great way to gain traction and increase brand awareness for your restaurant. It’s important to ensure that the influencers you partner with reflect your brand well and will help you reach your target market. Using them strategically can give your restaurant a huge leap.

Run Ads!

Ads have become the driving force for businesses – everywhere you go, you see ads. Online Ads may seem complicated but are easy to set up and have a low barrier to entry.

Try your hands on Facebook, Instagram & Google Ads for your restaurant. The key to running successful ads is to have a targeted ROI and to monitor your ads carefully for ensuring that you are reaching the right people and not spending too much

Don’t forget discovery websites!

Restaurant discovery websites like TripAdvisor and Zomato are becoming increasingly popular with customers. Thousands of users use these websites to find the right places to dine in.

Make sure that your restaurant is listed in all the discovery platforms in your region and keep it updated with relevant information and images to make sure that you are reaching as many potential customers as possible. You can also hire a press release distribution service to announce your ground opening for your restaurant to get the best result.

The plant that transforms wastewater into clean water

Tech

Kevin Packer - Zavit

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April 29, 2019

2

The plant that transforms wastewater into clean water

An Israeli researcher has come up with a biomimicry method for solving the wastewater problem by using nature’s wisdom.

Due to the low availability of water in the Middle East, Israel has become one of the world leaders in water reuse, recycling nearly 90% of its entire wastewater, primarily for agricultural purposes. Recently, a novel system has emerged aiming to further advance Israel’s efforts to supply its rapidly growing population with enough water.

“We gathered several existing technologies into a very efficient biomimicry method to treat this water,” said Dr. Ezra Orlofsky, an Israeli researcher of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Biomimicry is an approach to innovation seeking sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies. In the process developed by Orlofsky and his colleagues, the draining properties of the soil and the absorptive capacities of the plants are used to purify the brownish residual water produced by livestock industries, leaving it crystal clear and ready to reuse.

Aside from meat, milk, and eggs, livestock industries produce wastes that are harmful to the environment if not well managed. The production and accumulation of large volumes of waste have increased as a result of the quest for profit maximization by farmers in the face of the growing demand for their products. However, the disposal of these wastes continues to be a challenge from the standpoints of cost, environmental safety, and biosecurity.

The amount of waste produced by livestock and poultry in factory farms in the United States, for example, is almost 13 times higher than that of the entire human population. In the United Kingdom, every year, 150 million tons of livestock waste is dumped directly in the environment. But where does all of this waste end up?

Wastewater treatment facility

Orlofsky’s research takes place in Kiryat Shmona, in the North of Israel at a wastewater treatment facility that consists of a series of physical and biological stages. During the first steps, solid waste is filtered from the wastewater and separated for composting, while the liquid part flows through three individual artificial wetlands and eventually comes out as clean irrigation water.

Artificial wetlands are engineered systems that use natural functions from the soil, vegetation, and other organisms and are typically used to treat wastewater, greywater or stormwater runoff.

In a case study, Orlofsky’s and his team focused on the elimination of sodium in the wastewater. At the outset, the raw wastewater appeared brownish and cloudy, but after it went through the wetlands, it is crystal clear and odorless.

So how does it work? The plant roots acidify the soil with their eliminated carbon dioxide, which leads to sodium removal, while the plant itself takes up sodium from the soil for its own vital processes.

Orlofsky’s objective is to provide a closed system to circulate agro-industrial wastewater on the site on which it is produced while also complying with the standards for the reuse of treated wastewater.

The scientists believe that the new system might help solve the problem of wastewater treatment in regions with lower levels of infrastructure while simultaneously creating a source of clean water for crop irrigation.

The project was first presented at the Dahlia Greidinger International Symposium on March 2019 at the Israel Institute of Technology. This annual conference, organized and supported by The Dahlia Greidinger Memorial Fund, focuses on topics around sustainable food production, in this case, soil-water and environmental conservation. Every year, researchers from all over the world attend the international symposium.

One of the most significant findings of the study is the plant that the researchers found to be most suitable for the wastewater recycling process. This plant (Sesuvium portulacastrum, commonly known as shoreline purslane) – a succulent plant that grows in coastal areas throughout many parts of the world – turned out to also have cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.

Value-added byproducts

In addition to cleaning wastewater and producing a source of irrigation water, there are some value-added byproducts generated by the plant during the purification process: antioxidant and emollients.

Seventeen bioactive compounds were identified, including squalene and vitamin E (emollients). “Truly one of nature’s greatest emollients, squalene is quickly and efficiently absorbed deep into the skin, restoring healthy suppleness and flexibility without leaving an oily residue” repeated Orlofsky from what Zih-Rou Huang had previously written in his scientific publication. “We are trying to find out if we can make a commercial value out of this byproducts as the plant itself is basically a no-cost crop,” stated Dr. Orlofsky.

“What we are proposing is a change of paradigm, from a linear to a circular agro-industrial economy,” says Orlofsky, who is interested in avoiding the dumping of wastewater. “In the linear concept there is a food input so that a product is made, and consequently there is a solid or liquid waste; while in the circular approach, farm animals are fed to generate the main product (meat, milk, eggs, etc.), which later leads to resource mining and waste valorization, and you also get a value-added byproduct”.

The problem: untreated wastewater

Orlofsky’s biomimicry method may not only be a solution to the intractable problems of wastewater treatment but, it could also have a positive effect on public health.

The disposal of municipal wastewater poses a threat to human health as drinking water sources potentially become contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms and toxic chemicals.

Transmission of diseases to humans through meat or dairy products from cattle or sheep grazing on wastewater-irrigated fields may happen. Also, irrigating crops that are often consumed uncooked, with raw untreated wastewater may lead to parasite infections in humans. Health problems can appear among sewage farm workers and population groups residing near wastewater-irrigated fields.

Therefore, the proper treatment and sanitary handling of wastewater should be of high priority if we are to protect public health and preserve the ecosystem services.

Yet, Orlofsky’s solution is simple: “the cattle are fed, the main product is created, and the residue is resource-mined. Thus, waste is valorized, and value-added byproducts are generated”.

ZAVIT – Science and Environment News Agency

5 Factors to Consider When Deciding on a Countertop Material

Bhok Thompson

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April 29, 2019

0

5 Factors to Consider When Deciding on a Countertop Material

There’s a time in every homeowner’s life that he or she must face: The remodel.

If you’re looking at homeowner statistics, you’ll see that the two rooms that are remodeled the most are the kitchen and bathroom; this probably has something to do with the amount you and your significant other, family member, or roommate use these rooms. Here, we’re going to focus on the kitchen remodel. The further we get into the article; the more detail we’ll find.

What’s the Focal Point to Your Remodel?

Remodels start with two components: Budget and focal points. We’ll tackle budgets a little later in the article, and we’ll focus on focal points now.

Every kitchen is unique, and all the current trends change almost yearly. With that being said, you’ll have to consider flooring, cabinet materials, backsplash, and countertops for your kitchen remodel. The decisions you make should fit together as a unit to display a sufficient and sophisticated look (how in-depth you get is your choice).

For the remainder of this article, we’re going to get into countertop material selection. Countertops are incredibly vital to your kitchen, considering most of your prepping, cooking, and eating happen on these surfaces. Let’s start to answer the basic questions before we begin discussing the materialistic options we have.

The Beginning: Questions to Ask Yourself

Before diving headfirst into your remodeling project, you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions regarding your countertops. First, start with this one: How do you choose what’s right for you? To determine what’s right for you, you’ll have to consider things like durability, cost, appearance, and maintenance of these surfaces. Ask yourself these questions:

– How much am I willing to spend?

– How much material will I need?

– Who typically uses the kitchen?

– What’s the maintenance like?

– Is what I’m choosing eco-friendly? Does this matter?

These questions and answers will guide you in the right direction. Jot them down on a piece of notebook paper and always consider your first answers from the beginning of the remodeling project. We’ll tackle each question with potential solutions separately below.

Durability – What Surface is Right for Me?

The most common surfaces that homeowners choose from are granite, marble, quartz, soapstone, and laminate. Each option has their pros and cons that you’ll have to consider before purchasing.

Granite is a hard, one of a kind stone. The surface will not burn, scratch or stain, but the size of the pieces are unique and limited, resulting in sporadic seams across the top. Fortunately, the stone is also heat and wear resistant. If you have a high traffic kitchen, you’ll want to lean away from this option, as you’ll have to seal its surface at least once a year. Granite requires sealing because of its porous surface.

Marble is extremely versatile and offers an array of colors. On the con side of things, marble is vulnerable to scratching and stains.

Quartz can withstand high traffic in your kitchen. This countertop does not require sealing as often as granite does and does not scratch and stain quickly, as it’s made from engineered stone. A quartz surface is long-lasting.

Soapstone countertops are known for their heavy-duty durability. Typically, these surfaces have a honed finish. Honed finishes do not have a high gloss shine as most granite countertops do. Most of the time, soapstone comes in a dark gray color, and over time it may darken and/or crack. These countertops are susceptible to stains without polish and can easily scratch by a fingernail.

Laminate is an old favorite that’s super easy to keep clean. Unfortunately, if you scratch these surfaces, you will not be able to sand or buffer the marks out; the scratch will be present until you replace the entire countertop.

Cost – What’s Your Budget Like?

Don’t break the bank with this one; stick to your initial budget and don’t go over it. The worst thing about remodeling is the unfortunate outcome of debt. Plan out the materials you’ll need and the square footage before you make your purchase, don’t just go to a remodeling store and pick out the prettiest surface that catches your eye.

Granite is very affordable, especially in comparison to marble and quartz countertops, which are the most expensive. Soapstone is comparable in price to granite, and laminates are constructed to look like some of the more expensive granite options. If you’re looking to cut costs where you can, lean towards the solid surface countertops; these creative man-made surfaces are made from natural materials and acrylic polymer. The result is a durable, nonporous countertop that is easily fixable if stains or scratches appear. What’s more, is that this option is 20% less expensive than any stone option you were considering.

Visual Appearance – What Design Do You Want in Your Kitchen?

The visual appearance should focus on complimenting the kitchen cabinets and appliances throughout the room. Some homeowners prefer to have a unique kitchen look, whereas others prefer to adopt a more natural look.

If you’re aiming to create a clean and natural look, go with granite. If you’d rather have a contrast in your kitchen, choose dark countertops and make your kitchen cabinets white.

Maintenance – How Much Work Are You Willing to Put in?

Ask yourself this question first: Do you have a busy kitchen?

If you do have a busy kitchen, you may want to consider the amount of maintenance you’re willing to put into your countertops. We suggest you choose a countertop that requires minimal maintenance when you have a busy kitchen.

Granite countertops require the most maintenance, considering they’ll need a yearly sealing to keep the stains and bacteria out of their porous surfaces. On the other hand, engineered stone countertops like marble and quartz do not require sealing processes. Natural wood countertops will require an oil sealant every six months to a year, too.

Eco-Friendly – Does This Matter to You?

Some homeowners like to consider eco-friendly options for their countertops. If this sounds like an option you’d be willing to lean towards, you might want to start considering surfaces like recycled glass and reclaimed wood.

Keep in mind, these materials do require a lot more maintenance than traditional countertop surfaces.

Start Remodeling

Weigh all your options carefully. Take notes if you think that will help out. Once you’ve concluded, you can start your remodeling.

One final hint: You don’t need to use the same countertop options throughout your kitchen. If you’re trying to make a statement or save some extra money, you can switch up your countertop styles. Use one option for your island and another underneath your cabinets; believe it or not, mixing materials is in style for the 21st century! Have fun with it and don’t be shy; kitchens can be as creative as you’d like.

EaseUS Data Recovery Software Review

Tech

Karin Kloosterman

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April 27, 2019

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It can happen to anyone. What happens when your hard drive fails and you lose precious vacation photos and videos?

They say the most valuable commodity in today’s world is data, and with the permeation of computers into every sphere of life, the claim certainly feels like a legitimate one. We use computers to store every kind of data today, from our memories to business data to even some incredible images and videos (*cough cough), our reliance on data has never been greater in all of history than it is today. Which is why it’s especially important that we safeguard our data from all potential threats, even loss.

Losing important data can prove to be quite troublesome what with all the damage the absence of the data can end up causing. This is why we have data recovery software on the market to help us recover data stored in the deep archives of our hard drives and storage media, invisible to us but not truly lost. And perhaps the best data recovery software out in the market today is EaseUS Data Recovery.

What can you do with the software?

Data loss can occur in several ways, but it seems that whatever the cause of data loss was, EaseUS is packed with all the functionalities needed to handle any data loss situation. More specifically, EaseUS data recovery software lets you recover data in all of the following scenarios:

1 – Accidentally deleted files

We’ve all done this at least once in our lives. For example, you spend hours on end writing that article on EaseUS data recovery software, but when it comes to posting the article finally, you end up accidentally pressing SHIFT + DELETE (because you’re so used to permanently deleting files). Now, if a utility like EaseUS data recovery software weren’t by your side, you’d be in a pretty tight spot, won’t you?

2 – Formatted hard drive and RAW partition recovery

We like to think of formatting our hard drives as wiping the slate completely clean and starting with a completely new hard drive. In reality, the formatted data is never truly lost, which is lucky if you accidentally formatted the wrong drive, since EaseUS data recovery lets you recover entire formatted sections (as well as unassigned RAW sections) with, well, ease.

3 – Damaged hard drive or bad sectors

These two scenarios can be a little tough to re-extract data from since it is the physical hardware that has been compromised causing data loss or inability to access. Most people may give up hope in these cases, but with EaseUS you have a real shot of recovering valuable data from the damaged drive.

4 – Virus attack recovery

While antivirus have become quite robust over the years, there are still a few viruses that avoid detection and can cause major data loss to your system. Not to worry though, since EaseUS has your back in this case too, helping you recover any data that was lost or corrupted in the event of a malware attack.

5 – OS crash recovery

Don’t you hate it when your system crashes? Even more so when it happens right as you were saving an important file or editing a document. Well, with EaseUS data recovery by your side, you won’t have to worry about permanent data loss from these crashes (though you should get your OS checked out for bugs and issues).

To conclude

EaseUS has got your back no matter what your data recovery needs. It’s no wonder that so many people use it around the world, and even businesses rely on the software to help keep their data safe. By the way, users can get the Pro version at the lowest price now 50% off for all users.

Discover Miami’s Best Outdoor Group Retreats

Travel

Bhok Thompson

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April 22, 2019

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Miami offers some great scenery for everyone. Whether it’s the calming beaches or the thriving party district, Miami offers a great excuse for you to pack your bags and go for a long drive. Group retreats were borne out of this exact idea. A vacation with your friends and colleagues where you get to know each other personally and end up building a team, without people even knowing about it.

So, how do you go about arranging for the group retreat? Keep the following checklist in handy

1. Book a transportation

Do you want to go in a long stretch of cars? Do you want a Miami charter tour bus rental? Bus rentals are amazing for larger groups, while, a stretch of cars might be more suited to a group of close family. Remember to check out maps in advance and plan whether you want a driver or not. Remember Miami drives can become unbearably hot and can take hours, so, you might need some professional help at the end of the day.

Whatever transport you book, remember to plan ahead and map out plans. Miami can get pretty busy during the holidays and you don’t want to be stuck in a jam for long hours.

2. Don’t miss these places

Miami is filled with pockets where you can party and let your hair down, and with serene beaches all along the way. Here are some attractions you won’t want to miss.

Art Deco Historic District – A unique experience with art deco buildings and neon signs which grew around the 1930s still attracts visitors today. It’s the sunny side of the city, where everything is colorful. You’ll be greeted with posh hotels and buildings, all restored after the hurricane of 1926, you can even choose to stay at one of these spots if you’re planning an overnight stay. Or if in the Middle East, Miami recommends this!
Vizcaya Museum – Built by James Deering, this is a prestigious National Landmark. With art and furniture dating back to the 15th century, check out the ultra luxurious lives the rich people lived back in the day. Check out the various styles of fountains and pools in the gardens too.
Everglades – Everglades is a National Park dedicated to protecting swamplands. If you plan to visit the area, we recommend taking some time to trek through the terrain and discover the local attractions that distinguish this park. The green and clean atmosphere is a welcome break from the claustrophobic cities.
Little Havana – If you’re looking some unique restaurant experience and some enjoyment with a cultural extravaganza thrown in, Little Havana would be your Cuban Heaven. Dotted with Cuban restaurants and specialized merchandise, this is the space where you can learn more about our neighbors and their lifestyles.
Miami Zoo – Let’s face it. Having a group retreat without kids is a little bit cruel. The zoo is one of the places where you can bond with the kids in your group and have some fun time with your friends as well. There are play areas for the kids to play too if you want to talk shop here.

Check out other places too. Mix up your Miami adventure and keep the beach as a focus for the end of the day when you can just let your hair down and party.

3. Book ahead

So, you’re planning to visit the great outdoors and enjoy more things. To make your experience more seamless, plan ahead and book the tours from ahead. Most websites have booking options available for guides and other things. Also, remember to reserve the food table from ahead, since, a large group can cause problems.

How to Save Energy When Living in an Apartment

Energy

Bhok Thompson

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April 18, 2019

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Whether you’re moving into a new apartment in Berlin or California, or you’re just inspired to go green, there are many ways to save energy and money. Small, practical steps can help you cut your bills down substantially while also saving the environment. Want to get started?

Choose the most eco friendly city

If you live in a city like Toronto in Canada, for instance, you will need to rely on heavy heating for the winter and to make your humid house liveable in the summer near the lake, air conditioning. LA, for instance, you will save on heating costs in the winter, a huge plus, and if you find a home with passive cooling you can also save on cooling it in the summer. Looking? See apartments for rent in California.

Replace your Light Bulbs

Whenever you move into a new apartment, check the light fixtures for incandescent lights. Swap these out for more efficient, longer lasting LED lights. You can save up to 70% on electric costs and save more money because you’ll replace the bulbs far less frequently.

Air Dry your Clothes

When you live in a dry climate, air-drying your clothes is a simple, logical, money-saving step. You can make a few clothing lines in your yard or home, or you can hang your clothes on a drying rack. If you need to dry your clothes in the dryer, make sure that the lint collector has been cleaned to increase efficiency.

Start an Indoor Garden

If you live in a spacious modern apartment, you can dedicate an area or an entire room to healthy eating. You’ll save money at the grocery store, transportation energy, and more while also learning a great new skill. Scallions, radishes, spinach, tomatoes, and strawberries all grow great indoors with sufficient light and water.

Cut Down on Water Usage

To use less water in your toilet, you can either use a small brick or a plastic bottle filled with gravel. Place the object in the back of your toilet tank, and it will save its area worth of water with each flush.

A low-flow showerhead can also save money by decreasing the amount of water it expels with each shower. It saves energy and will pay for itself over time.

Finally, don’t forget to turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth. That water use adds up when you brush your teeth twice daily, and you can save hundreds of gallons of water each year.

Turn Down your Thermostat

The amount of energy we use to heat our homes each year continues to rise. You can make a huge difference by dropping your heat down a few degrees—as much as 2% of your heating bill with each degree lowered. If you can bundle up with blankets and hoodies, you’ll be able to drop your thermostat even more.

Properly Insulate your Windows

If you have an apartment with outdated windows, you’ll find yourself up against a draft, but even the best windows tend to let in some cold air. You can easily insulate your windows using a convenient draft stopper. Alternatively, you can line your window with plastic wrap and use double-sided tape to hold it in place to keep out the heat or cold.

Tips for More Efficient Business Travel

Travel

Bhok Thompson

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April 17, 2019

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While travelling for your job can appear extremely glamorous from an outsider’s point of view, the reality can be far from it. Experiencing new destinations, dining in fancy restaurants on the business and being paid to do it. Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it? Except, it most cases, travelling for work can be stressful, tiring and consist of all work and very little play.

Early morning flights, a jam-packed schedule, minimal downtime and a list of work waiting on your desk for your return are all common when it comes to business travel. That being said, there are ways in which you can efficiently manage your work trips, so you aren’t left feeling burnt out and overworked.

Book your travel in advance

Booking your travel in advance has many benefits, not only will you be able to enjoy cheap flights (leaving you more company expenses to enjoy on your trip), it will relieve the stress and last-minute panic of trying to organise timings and avoid having to reschedule any meetings due to a full flight. It’s also worth pre-booking your transfer from the airport too, this will save you a lot of time and hassle once you land, giving you more time to get to the hotel and freshen up before heading to your first meeting.

Ace your packing

Are you guilty of over-packing when you head away? We often have a habit of taking unnecessary items ‘just in case’ and this needs to be avoided where possible. For efficient business travel, it’s best to condense your items down to hand-luggage size so that you don’t have to check any suitcases in.

This will save a great amount of time each side of your flight, and you won’t risk any lost baggage issues which could really throw a spanner in the works. Pack neutral colours, your favourite staple items, and roll don’t fold for extra room. Have your liquids pre-packed in a clear zip-lock bag for a smooth journey from check-in to boarding.

Download handy travel apps

In a world of a million apps, it’s hard to know which ones are worthy of precious storage on your smartphone. There are a select number of travel apps which are a must-have for efficient business travel and will help to ensure your trip is as smooth as possible.

Tripit is a great app which will allow you to take your organisation to the next level with daily itineraries, flight alerts and maps. Another useful app for if you’re heading to a country where you’re not familiar with the native language is TripLingo, which teaches you basic phrases and can greatly improve your trip.

Join a Frequent Flyer Programme

If business travel becomes a regular occurrence for you, then it’s well worth joining a frequent flyer programme to unlock a host of benefits. In exchange for your brand loyalty, you can benefit from a number of perks such as access to a comfortable business lounge, free upgrades and special offers. You’ll soon rack up the air miles, and perhaps you can enjoy free flights on your next holiday abroad.

5 Things You Need to Know About Mobile Security

Tech

Bhok Thompson

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April 12, 2019

0

Paris love locks — *Whistleblowers or anyone critical of their governments and who live in regimes like China, Russia or Iran — if you can read this then you should be using a VPN.*

According to Statista, the number of smartphone users in the world will pass the five billion mark this year. It’s not difficult to see why – both smart and connected, these pocket devices have become the epitome of accessibility and convenience. But because of this, they are also treasure troves of sensitive information.

Every device that is connected to the internet is vulnerable to cyberattacks, including smartphones. When it comes to malware infections, PC outnumbers mobile 40:1, but the number of affected phones has been growing at an alarming rate with a 27% increase in 2017. However, there are ways to protect your Android device and here’s five of them.

Third-Party Apps Are the Biggest Threat to Mobile Security

The majority of mobile cyberattacks happen due to third-party apps.

Third-party Android apps are the ones that are not in the official Google Play Store. They are not all malicious, of course. The problem is, with no one to oversee their distribution, there’s no surefire way of telling if an app is malicious.

A common cybercriminal trick is to copycat and pirate an app from the Google Play Store, infect it with hidden malware, and list it somewhere else for free download. This is how cybercriminals exploit the fact that Android is an open system that allows devices to run third-party apps.

Through this crack in the wall, intruders can record your location, monitor your activity, and steal sensitive information. They can do so unnoticed for days, which is why prevention is the best cure. Avoid using third-party apps at all cost and download apps only from the Google Play Store.

Dangerous Mobile Malware Can Stay Unnoticed for Weeks

Finally, you need to know that it is very difficult to spot infection on your smartphone. An unusual spike in data usage, short battery life, or sudden slow performance are the three most common telltale signs that your phone has been infected with malware.

Removing malware is not a problem. The problem is that a bug might remain rooted in your device for weeks without you realizing. While there, it may steal all kinds of sensitive information: your passwords, contacts, or business documents.

That’s why prevention is the only viable protection. Keep your Android smartphone safe and secure by following the tips mentioned above. Stay away from third-party apps, be wary of phishing attempts, try implementing a mobile American VPN in your daily browsing activities, keep your OS up-to-date, and make sure to check your device for malware from time to time. Changing your location can also help you get discounts on travel when booking a hotel, renting a car. In some cases, choosing a VPN in countries like Japan might even get you better rates.

Fraudulent Phishing Attacks Target Smartphone Users Too

Phishing is a type of cyberattack that targets gullible users with fraudulent links and dummy websites to steal their passwords. Intruders mainly use email, where they introduce themselves as reps working for a bank or any other company that has you as their client.

Falling for such scams leads to all types of consequences. For instance, a combination of third-party apps and phishing is used to trick victims into leaving their credentials in a fake app. Those apps are called mobile banking Trojans.

The best way to avoid phishing via email or SMS is to stay informed and vigilant. Don’t trust any strangers that email or text you, especially if they ask you to follow a link to a suspicious website. Also, only use the official app or a browser to access your mobile banking account.

Public WiFi Hotspots Make You Vulnerable to Intruders

Public WiFi networks are usually unencrypted. This means that virtually anyone can see all the data you send, even if they are not connected to the network. It’s extremely dangerous to share sensitive information while connected to public WiFi. But it’s also risky to even browse the web or use social media – it can lead to identity theft and other attacks.

There’s a lot of undetected snooping on public networks, so never use them for any online activity that involves your name and passwords. If you absolutely need to make yourself vulnerable, use a reliable mobile VPN.

Virtual private networks mask your IP address and encrypt your data. This allows you to use public WiFi on your smartphone and minimize the risk of being exposed to intruders.

Android Patches Are Known to Lag Behind Cybercriminals

Unlike iOS, which runs only on Apple devices, Android is used by many different smartphone brands. HTC, Huawei, LG, Samsung, and Xiaomi all use Android OS and rely on Google’s official patches and updates for security.

Unfortunately, it takes time for these Android patches to get to a Xiaomi device, for instance. In that time, the Xiaomi phone runs on an outdated OS that isn’t able to withstand new types of cyberattacks.

Android users can do two things about this. First is to opt for Google’s own devices, such as Pixel. The second is to buy smartphones from brands that release Android patches quickly. From quickest to slowest, they are LG, Motorola, HTC, Sony, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Samsung.

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Eco-Travel Mistake #1: Not Working From Home

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