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3 benefits of solo travel

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When most people think of an overseas adventure, they usually picture it with a group of friends, family, or with a romantic partner. However, travelling overseas alone has become a more popular option in recent years as people realise the unique benefits it has over going with a group of people.

This is not a selfish decision, as you can always go travelling with someone else at a later date. Solo travel experiences can be enriching and are not just for people who prefer to do things alone.

Let’s look at 3 benefits of solo travel.

1.   A unique experience

One of the best things about solo travel is that it feels more like a movie or a video game experience. You see, hear, and experience things inside your own head rather than a shared commentary with other people. This makes the whole thing feel more like a real adventure you can get lost in.

2.   Do things at your own pace

Of course, an obvious benefit of solo travel is that you won’t be delayed by companions. If you are the kind of person who likes to power through things, then travelling with people who take their time to take photos of everything will be frustrating for you. When you travel alone, you can stay as long as you feel like at a specific art exhibit, and you can stick to your schedule without waiting for others who may be less reliable.

3.   Save money

When you travel solo, you can save a lot of money since you can hire much smaller rooms and potentially less lavish ones. When you travel with others, you need to accommodate their standard and wishes, but when you go alone, the choice of what you want to pay for is entirely yours.

Matthew Bussard Reveals The Best Technologies to Keep Seniors Active and Healthy

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Staying healthy at any age is important, especially for those embracing senior living. To live a long life, seniors should prioritize their health and continuously seek ways to better their well-being. Addressing health during these later years of life will help elders find more meaning and purpose and enjoy their day-to-day activities. Technology makes it easier to stay on track with goals, and seniors, who take advantage of it, can have peace of mind about their self-care and fitness efforts. In this article, Matthew Bussard shares his insights on the best four pieces of technology every senior should use.

Matthew Bussard, a financial services broker offering Medicare support, finds that the majority of his clientele over the age of sixty-five ask him questions regarding how to stay active and healthy. Bussard always recommends these technologies and devices to seniors so that they can keep track of their health:

  1. VitalBand

From a cloud-based platform, VitalTech uses connected care to enhance patient wellness and health. VitalTech released its product, the VitalBand, as a part of VitalTech’s VitalCare Brand. The VitalBand is a great technology tool that will benefit seniors with features like tracking heart and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, sleep quality, and physical activity. In addition to medication reminders, VitalBand also is described as the emergency voice call-out and fall-detection watch, giving a way to monitor falls with a more low-key approach.

  1. Fitbit Versa 2

Not only is Fitbit Versa 2 a versatile watch, but it also is a health monitor that allows seniors to have access to their health constantly. The Fitbit Versa 2 tracks sleep and heart rate at all hours of the day. Another advantage to this groovy watch is the ability to set alarms, listen to music, and track weather. Older adults can get in necessary cardio through exercise like walking, and a walk is much more enjoyable with a watch that plays music, tracks heart rate, and provides weather updates.

  1. Hero

Hero is a pill dispenser that will dispense medication daily at the proper time to take it. With the ability to hold any pill no matter the shape or size, a Hero can hold up to ten types of tablets. However, sticky dissoluble pills, gummies, half pills do not work with Hero since those specifics pose a contamination risk. The leap in at-home technology was designed with senior citizens in mind. Some seniors have difficulty remembering to take medication, and Hero can help ease the stress and take the thought away with its customizable medication schedule. Hero also keeps account of pill doses and intake.

  1. Intuition Robotics

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and technology gadgets produced by companies like Intuition Robotics help address mental well-being. Poor health can be the result of seniors who socially isolate themselves and experience loneliness. Intuition Robotics created a robot named ElliQ, which is also known at the company as “a sidekick for happier aging.” The robot, or proactive cognitive artificial intelligence tool, assists older adults with staying engaged in conversation and healthy behaviors. ElliQ can also voice reminders when it is time to take a medication. The mood-boosting machine starts a conversation with seniors and can say “good morning” in one hundred and seventeen different ways.

Taking care of yourself at an older age can be simplified and enhanced by technology. Try at least one of the technologies recommended by Matthew Bussard, and you will notice that staying healthy can be easy and fun.

About Matthew Bussard

Matthew Bussard is a financial services broker offering support to Medicare users in Rhode Island. He is passionate about creating a difference in his clients’ lives by helping them enroll in Medicare with professionalism and care. Mr. Bussard volunteers with Medicare recipients at Oak Street Health Clinics, providing efficient, continual guidance to clients every step of the way. Matthew also participates in various charitable activities, including The Hunger Project, the MDRT Foundation, local clean-ups, and little league coaching. He donates to local charities and makes a difference in his community in every way possible.

Why Green Tech Is Becoming More Popular

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The latest buzz world in the technology industry, “green tech”, this is because more and more people are caring about the globe and are aware of the negative impact they are having on the climate. As the population continues to grow, there are more people impacting the world, so something needs to be done about this, before it is too late and humans have left irreversible damage.

This means that more people are going green, which can mean a lot of different things. But the main part of going green is that a person is trying to live more eco-friendly. Living more eco-friendly can be achieved in a lot of different ways, some certainly having a bigger impact than others. This could include, catching public transport instead of driving your car, consuming only locally sourced foods, using solar panels or using sustainable products.

There are a lot of different reasons as to why green tech is becoming more popular, have a read on below to find out more:

Improved Efficiency

A lot of green tech products not only help save the environment, but they are also pretty efficient as well, which could mean that you end up saving money in the long run. The perfect example of this is solar panels, when they were first invented, they weren’t particular efficient, but now they certainly are. As well as this, while it does cost a bit of money to get solar panels installed, in the long run you will probably save money on your electricity bill.

Greater Availability

As technology has advanced, it is helped to improve the availability of these products. More and more companies are realizing this is something that consumers actually want, so they are producing more products that are friendly to the environment. For example, take electronic cars, only a decade ago this wasn’t something greatly available, but now it is a lot more common to see this type of car on the road.

Climate Change Impacts

There are scientists and governments, and even people themselves can see that the climate is changing at a fairly rapid rate. We are told that if we don’t do something about this now we may not be able to reverse what we have done to the globe. This has made people more aware of their own behavior and therefore a looking to purchase more “green” products, which his led to the rise in popularity of green tech.

Need for Renewable Energy

Energy from coal or fossil fuels, etc. will eventually run out, once it is used we cannot get it back. So now there is a quickly growing need for renewable energy sources, like wind or solar, and scientists are looking for other different renewable energy sources that can help power the world. This needs to be done pretty fast, because when we run out of non-renewable energy sources, there won’t be anymore.

An Asset

As green tech becomes more popular it is quickly becoming an add value asset to your home or any property. Having a green building does indeed increase the value of the property and people are willing to pay more because they know it will cost less to run the property, i.e. have the lights or heating on won’t cost as much.

Affordability

With an increase in accessibility comes an increase in affordability as well. Having your property decked out in the latest green tech devices has never been cheaper. As well as this, people also know that it can save them money in the long run and add value to their property.

How common is divorce and why is it so common?

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Divorce is unfortunately very common in these modern times within our society. Every day, there are couples who will file for divorce at their local courthouse. But why is it so common? There has been a lot of research done as to why people file for divorce, as well as why it is so common.

Divorce rates in western countries are around 50%. That’s 1 in 2 couples that are married will divorce at some point in their life. The divorce rate for couples that subsequently married is even higher. This is a very high rate of divorce, with marriages likely to end.

But why is divorce so common nowadays? What changed that made the divorce rates increase to the amount that they are at now?

The answer is to do with societies changing views and stigmas. In the past, divorce was frowned upon, and was much more difficult to obtain due to the legal process, as well as religious purposes. With the population moving away from religion, divorce has become normalized and does not carry a stigma with it. It is common for people to know more than one person who is a child of divorce, whereas this was fairly uncommon in the past. In the past, because of legal issues, a divorce was hard to obtain. This resulted in many being stuck in relationships they were not happy in, which is not healthy at all.

In conclusion, divorce rates are very high in these modern times. This is because it is much easier to access and can be granted in a shorter time. In the past, it was harder to obtain a divorce, and thereby divorce rates were low but many were stuck in unhappy relationships. The stigma of divorce is removed and it is considered normal nowadays.

Why the gun debate is so contentious in the United States

Over the last few decades, the United States has witnessed especially horrific acts of gun-related violence. In fact, approximately 35% to 42% of American households own a firearm of some description, and the US remains the country with the highest number of guns per capita in the world. The right to bear arms and the need for further gun control has been a contentious debate in US politics for decades now, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to dwindle anytime soon. So, why is gun control in the United States such a sensitive and contentious topic? Let’s find out.

The big problem – the Constitution

guns usaThe reason why successive US administrations have struggled to implement significant gun control changes is mostly to do with the US Constitution, specifically the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment stipulates that ‘a well regulated militia’ is necessary to the ‘security of a free State”, and as a result, ‘the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed’. Because of this, pro-gun supporters argue that possessing weapons is a necessary civil right in the face of state tyranny or totalitarianism.

The other problem – the Congress

The other major problem is the legislative process of enacting laws through Congress. Congress must pass the law with a 2/3 majority, which is often quite tricky given the polarization of both parties. While most Republicans are against most forms of gun control, not all Democrats are necessarily supportive of gun control measures. Because of this lack of consensus, passing impactful laws can be incredibly difficult.

The President’s role

The President also has the final say on the bill, in the sense that they can either approve or reject the bill. The President’s legacy and future success could be defined by such a decision, making it an issue that no President genuinely wants to engage in.

How to be a true friend

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While being a friend can come easy to a lot of us, this is usually because we have not been confronted with any significant challenges in the friendships we have. While going out and chatting with someone is part of friendship, there is another part of it that separates casual friendship from true and meaningful friendship.

While you might have lots of people, you talk to and enjoy the company of, how many of them are going to be there for you when times are tough? Similarly, how far are you willing to go to inconvenience yourself on behalf of someone you consider a friend?

The following will look at what being a true friend really is.

Listening to their problems

Even if you don’t have any solutions, part of being a true friend is sacrificing your time to listen to the problems of your friend. Most people just want a way to vent their issues and have them validated by another person. They don’t expect you to have all the answers, especially when it’s a delicate issue (like a problem in their romantic relationship) that you don’t feel comfortable making authoritative judgements on.

Giving honest advice

Being a true friend means giving honest advice to your friends when you think you can help them by telling them some hard truths. Allowing your friend to continue with self-destructive behaviour because you don’t want to deal with confrontation is not being a true friend. While they may get mad at you initially for telling them something they don’t want to hear, they will thank you later for opening their eyes to the issue.

Being conscious of their feelings

Part of being a true friend is acknowledging the feelings of the other person in everything you do with or around them. For example, if your buddy is having trouble in their love life, then ignoring them at a party to chat up someone you are interested in is going to make them feel horrible. Sometimes being a true friend means sacrificing your own desires to be supportive of them so that they don’t feel left behind.

Commons signs you have a cavity

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Let’s face it – no one likes going to the dentist. However, it’s hard to argue against going. Having your teeth checked at least once a year will ensure that your teeth remain healthy and more durable for longer. Tooth decay is one of the most common oral diseases in the world. It’s a condition that is often linked to poor diet, ineffective brushing and limited flossing.

A cavity is an area of permanent damage in your teeth, which is will it is so essential to prevent them as best as you can. If they aren’t treated early, you’ll end up with a more severe problem, like an abscess, infection and likely loss of a tooth. Here are some of the most common signs you might have a cavity or early tooth decay.

Toothache

A toothache is the most obvious sign that something is wrong with that tooth. Hopefully, it’s just a cavity, which can be easily treated by a dentist with a filling. However, it could be a sign of something more serious (like an infected nerve or pulp). This requires a root canal procedure. The pain could be a low ache or spontaneous and sharp. Either way, go and see your dentist to get it checked out.

Sensitivity

A sensitive tooth could be a sign that the enamel has worth away slightly, exposing other parts of the tooth, which can be vulnerable. If you notice your tooth is painful or sensitive to cold or warm beverages, consider switching to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. If it persists, see a dentist.

Visible marks

A visible brown or black mark on a tooth is often a sign of a cavity. This staining could imply that a hole has formed in the tooth and that the inside is decaying. Even if you have no pain, it’s certainly worth getting it checked.

Chef’s secrets to cooking a perfect steak

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Nothing can impress someone more than a perfectly cooked steak, and there’s rarely anything that tastes better. But where so many people try, so many people also fail. Cooking a good steak is simple, but difficult to do.

This is how the chefs do it.

First off, take the steak out of the fridge and leave it for an hour, you should not cook it straight out of the fridge.

Secondly, pat the meat try before cooking.

Thirdly, season it excessively.

Fourth, get the pan hot, but not over-the-top hot.

Fifth, cook with garlic and butter for extra flavour.

Finally, heat it high at first to sear the outside, then move the temperature lower to a moderate heat for the middle. When cooking the steak, cook for 1 to 2 minutes until seared, then another minute till it is cooked halfway up the steak, then flip and cook for another minute.

And that’s all, the perfect steak. The cooking is of course contextual to how big the steak is, but the method generally works.

Enjoy.

Best Tech Stocks to Buy This Year

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Tech stocks are widely considered to be some of the best type of stocks to invest in. However, there are a lot of different tech companies that you can actually buy shares in, so that begs the question, which ones are the best to buy. Technology is certainly a rapidly changing industry, so if you don’t get on board with something quickly, you may miss the boat.

The best tech stocks to buy also depend on what type of investment you are looking for. Some people are just looking to ride the trends and make a quick buck, while others are looking for more long-term investments. The type of investment you want will determine which companies you invest in, i.e. new and emerging companies, or companies that are better known and established.

So, if you are looking to try your hand at stock investments and you like the idea of purchasing tech stocks, then have a read on below at some of the best tech related stocks you should consider buying in 2020:

Adobe

For a couple of years now, Adobe has been one of the best tech stocks to purchase. The company includes apps like Acrobat, Photoshop, InDesign, etc., which are really important pieces of software and is used by a significant amount of businesses as well. The stock itself is growing pretty fast, so if you have the funds, it is best to get on this stock sooner rather than later.

The Rubicon Project / Magnite

While you may not have heard of this company before and the stocks can be a little bit volatile at times, it is still certainly worth considering. This company works in the online advertising space. It has recently merged with another company called Telaria, so it is worth putting some of your money into this stock. This is the stock for you if you are looking at high risk, high reward kind of investment.

Microsoft Corp

If you are looking for more of a long term investment, then you really shouldn’t look past Microsoft. Now, that’s not to say they aren’t growing quickly, but this stock is a pretty stable one, so the risk is lower then some other tech stocks. Microsoft is probably one of the most highly recognized tech brands in the world. The company itself is expanding and making great investments, which are reflective in the growth of the stock as well.

AT&T

You have probably already heard of the communication company AT&T, it is a highly used brand. While it isn’t really growing at the same rate as some of the other tech stocks, it does pay a fairly sustainable dividend, which is worth looking into. Now would be the great time to purchase AT&T stocks because the company has taken a hit in 2020, but it is expected to bounce back.

Facebook

Although being in the spotlight for the wrong reasons more recently, Facebook is still a very valuable stock that you should consider buying. Facebook is one of the biggest social media platforms in the world and it is seeing considerable growth each and every year. The company is making smart investments, like purchasing another large social media platform, Instagram, which is boosting their stock prices.

Dell Technologies

Another reasonably big player in the tech market and the shares from Dell tend to be a pretty safe bet. Dell is diversifying their portfolio, which is why it is one of the best tech stocks to buy in 2020. Dell doesn’t just make and sell computers anymore, and they have a lot of new and interesting projects on the horizon.

How to assess the potential of a renovation project

It can be easy to be eager to start a new renovation project; however this can leave you spending money on something that may not actually have a lot of potential. When you’re out and about doing your home inspections looking for a potential new renovation project, there are some things that you should be looking out for, in order to assess the potential of property.

Here are some things to look for when assessing the potential of a renovation project.

Location is important

When looking for a new property, location is almost everything. Location will already determine its base value, and with renovations, a property in a good location could be worth a lot. Ensure that the property is within proximity to schools, shopping centres and other local amenities.

Look up the maximum value of the street

It is important to know the maximum value of the houses on the street. The reason for this is to know your return on investment once you have given the house its renovation makeover.

Look for defects

You must keep an eye out for any defects that the house contains. These can cost a lot to repair and may make the property not worth renovating. These are things such as repairing a roof, mould and missing tiles. If you are to purchase a property, always get a building and pest inspection done, in order to find any hidden defects that could be within the property.

A new renovation project is tempting, but when on the lookout for new properties, be sure to assess the potential properly by following the steps above, or you may end up spending more than what you will be making. Or you may be making a very low return on investment.