When you have a loved one who is about to make the move to an assisted living community, you want to be 100% sure that it is the right place for him or her. This is a very important decision for them and for you. You need to know if they will be taken care of properly and that the retirement home facilities are excellent. There are many things for you to consider before deciding on the move. Let’s take a look at some of the best tips to help you make this decision.
Author: Jay Bird
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5 Methods I Use to Care for My Leather Briefcase
Think a leather briefcase is only for your grandfather? Think again!
Remember the old adage of what’s old is new again? Well, the same idea can be attributed to leather briefcases. Not only can you obtain the same classic style of leather briefcases, you can also take advantage of the updated styles and materials with today’s products. Everything from the quality of the leather – full-grain or top-grain – to the right briefcase for your needs – hard-sided or soft-sided – there are just so many styles for you to choose from.
Of course, one of the reasons why so many of today’s young professionals are hesitant about purchasing a leather briefcase, or even using their grandpa’s bag, is the work that goes with caring for the item. Don’t worry, it can be done without too much time or resources.
Here are five tips for caring for your leather briefcase:
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5 Features I Love About My Patio Furniture
Whether you spend most time on your deck with your children, your partner, or with a group of people when you host parties and barbeques, you want to make sure that your patio furniture meets your needs. While most people think the furniture on your patio is nothing but a place to eat or sit down, the set you choose is so much more than that.
It plays a significant role in accentuating your space and providing comfort. When looking at options for patio furniture, there are certain factors to be considered and 5 are described below.
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4 Plumbing Mishaps That I’ve Experienced (and How to Avoid Them!)
As a homeowner, the day will come when you will have plumbing issues. Perhaps you’ve already been there and done that. Plumbing problems can be as simple as a clog or a nightmare, such as a flood. When plumbing problems occur, how you handle it will play a big part in reducing anything bad from happening.
There’s a right way and a wrong way (unfortunately, a wrong way may look right to someone inexperienced). Here are some common plumbing mistakes that you may be guilty of and hopefully, those who have yet to tackle a plumbing problem will be saved from committing these mistakes.
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6 Benefits Since I Installed Hardwood Flooring in My Home
Unlike many years ago, homeowners now enjoy the luxury of choosing from a wide variety of flooring materials. In the past, flooring options were pretty much limited to carpet, laminate, and linoleum. Today, the market has greatly expanded to include hardwood flooring and it has become a popular choice for flooring in homes. There are many reasons why hardwood flooring should always be a consideration when installing flooring in a home.
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5 Security Testing Guidelines for Your Mobile Application
Not even mobile applications are immune from unscrupulous hackers and groups. Because of how ubiquitous they are, whether these apps are designed for Apple and/or Android, many attackers will target these applications and infiltrate them, leaving behind a bug. Once you download this app, or you fail to update the app, you will be vulnerable to data breaches.
Yes, the hacker is to blame, but it is the sole responsibility of the app developer to ensure that the app is safe. From the development to the testing to the release, it is vital to ensure the app is benign. How can you know that the mobile app is well protected from the evildoers? The simple measure to employ is to perform a series of security tests on a regular basis, from beginning to end. Here are some helpful guidelines for security testing services:
1. Think Like a Hacker
One of the reasons why certain mobile apps have pristine records is because the developers think like a hacker. They put on that hacking cap and they start to look for things that a typical hacker would. Once they incorporate this measure into their strategies, the can shield their app.
2. Analyze Your App All the Time
Another reason why many apps maintain impeccable ratings is because they analyze their apps all the time. We’re not talking about quarterly reviews, but rather daily monitoring.
This is key because the Internet is constantly evolving, whether it’s language or technology. The unscrupulous are always coming up with clever techniques to infiltrate a mobile app.
If you analyze your app, whether it’s the coding or the hosting, you can ensure it’s protected at all times. You may not have the time or resources to perform this function daily, but you should do it at least every week.
3. Enforce Better Password Creation
Oftentimes, people have their email accounts compromised because they use horrid passwords.
Yes, even in 2017, Internet users are utilizing “password,” “abc123” and “password1.”
Perhaps they need a little bit of encouragement. When someone establishes an account, perhaps it would be wise to request that the user insert letters, numbers, symbols and capitals in their passwords. By doing this, you protect your users and you potentially defend your application.
4. Publish Updates – And Test Those Updates
Microsoft is always releasing updates to Windows. Apple is always releasing updates to its mobile operating system. Google is always releasing updates for Chrome. You should follow suit: regularly publish updates.
But don’t just release updates. You should test those updates, too. That is key. If you’re not testing the updates then you won’t really know if they’ll be successful in fighting bad code.
5. Install Precautions to Your SQL Injections
We all make mistakes. Sometimes, as coders, errors will be made. Unfortunately, attackers can exploit this by inserting odious SQL statements into a text entry field and then steal the contents of the application’s database. Without the right precautions or coding, hackers can change or delete records, something that produces a vulnerability to your mobile app.
Hackers are always on the prowl. They’re trying to attack binary code, mobile app vulnerabilities and customer accounts. They won’t be satisfied unless they extract every single thing from an app. This can give you some pause before you click the publish button, but it should not deter you at all. In fact, it should encourage you to do the best job possible and beat the hackers.
In today’s world, you always need to be one step ahead of the attackers. This is done by thinking like them, constantly testing your apps and being cautious about the smallest of errors. If you do this, you will survive and thrive in the global mobile app market.
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10 Most Iconic Sports Mascots of My Childhood
Sports mascots are appreciated by kids and adults alike, and original mascot costumes are all it takes to transform any individuals into beloved iconic figures. Here are the 10 most popular sports mascots of all time!
1. Mr. Met of the New York Mets
#MascotMadness Major League Baseball seed 2: Mr. Met of the New York Mets. @MrMet @Mets pic.twitter.com/Wv43fhfqmk
— World Mascot Hall (@worldmascothall) February 21, 2016
Mr. Mets, the mascot of the New York Mets, is now 55 years old. With his large baseball for a head, he is regarded as the first mascot in the MLB, and he is still very popular today among baseball fans.
2. San Diego Chicken of the San Diego Padres
Ep. 69: @SanDiegoChicken! We discuss his role in #chickemmcnuggets, and his run in w/Elvis https://t.co/ynVAYDbo3c pic.twitter.com/oFS8Y22R7u
— Fascinating Nouns (@FascinatingNoun) August 25, 2016
With his fluffy yellow, orange and blue feathers, the San Diego Chicken of the San Diego Padres was the first mascot to taunt an opposing team and to be featured on a baseball card. He was created in 1974.
3. Phillie Phanatic of the Philadelphia Phillies
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXN9aBUFGIo/?hl=en&taken-by=philliephanatic
Phillie Phanatic, the beloved mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies, is a big feathery green blob. He was created in 1978, and he has been immortalized in the Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as in the popular show The Simpsons.
4. Go the Gorilla of the Phoenix Suns
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTpH0poDVPH/?hl=en&tagged=gothegorilla
Go the Gorilla debuted in 1980 as the first mascot in the NBA. The hairy gorilla mascot of the Phoenix Suns is known for his great dunks and other athletic feats, and he is featured in the Mascot Hall of Fame.
5. Youppi of the Montreal Expos and the Montreal Canadiens
#NationalMascotDay its gotta be Youppi of the @CanadiensMTL and @Montreal_Expos pic.twitter.com/NKJpLzmboa
— Benjamin Smart (@TxHabsfanBlog) June 16, 2016
This friendly furry orange creature first started his career as the mascot of the Montreal Expos in 1979. After the Expos dissolved, Youppi developed an interest in hockey and eventually became the mascot of the Montreal Canadiens.
6. Paws of the Detroit Tigers
Paws of the Detroit Tigers shows up at Starr Detroit Academy to help stamp out bullying!!! pic.twitter.com/9MvlTjJhdQ
— Jeremy Vidito (@JeremyVidito) October 31, 2014
Paws, the mascot of the Detroit Tigers, is a giant tiger wearing the team’s jersey and hat. He made his debut in 1995, and he has already been seen in a Santa Claus outfit and an Easter Bunny costume.
7. Raptor of the Toronto Raptors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs8E_IPzBZE
The red mascot of the Toronto Raptors has been wearing either a regular mascot costume or an inflatable costume. Raptor is a great dancer, he is athletic, and his funny video skits are enjoyed by his fans.
8. The Orioles Bird of the Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles Bird of the Baltimore Orioles is a large black and orange bird wearing a baseball hat. He has been in service since 1979, and was inspired, just like the team’s name, by the state bird of Maryland.
9. Wild Wing of the Anaheim Ducks
https://twitter.com/davidkalan/status/410237236827783168
Wild Wing, the mascot of the Anaheim Ducks, was inspired by Disney’s The Mighty Ducks movie and debuted in 1993. Despite his slightly menacing hockey mask, Wild Wing is a very kid-friendly mascot.
10. Rocky of the Denver Nuggets
Supermascot Rocky of the Denver Nuggets is in the house. #NBAAllStarTO pic.twitter.com/bdKCiedCKw
— Neil Davidson (@NeilMDavidson) February 13, 2016
This friendly mountain lion joined the Denver Nuggets in 1990. Rocky is a popular NBA mascot who is known for attempting a backwards half-court shot in the second half of each game to try to predict if the Nuggets will win.
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4 Reasons Why I Think The Print Industry Will Survive
Many people cry the blues over the print industry being a dying breed and that it will inevitably be stomped out by the digital new kid on the block. However, the truth is that there are certain aspects of the print industry (like trade magazines and legacy newsroom publications) that are still thriving and strong. Any other part of the print industry isn’t exactly dying a slow death either, it’s just changing. For example, many companies are switching print advertising to the online realm with varying results.
This news may seem to counter-intuitive to what publishing industry watchers are telling the public and that print products have no future in an efficient and green future, but responsible and recyclable printing practices keep the industry alive. Here are a few other reasons why the print industry will be alive and well for a while more:
1. Digital may be the future, but so is digital printing
Printing has undergone many innovations that make the process a lot faster and cheaper. Digital printing, for example, provides a very low-cost method of carrying out low-quantity printing jobs. This method of printing has been around since the 1990’s and has been normalized in office spaces and conveniently from the comfort of our own homes.
Some of the benefits that printing with digital means is the flexibility and time effectiveness of the method (allowing companies to churn out their publications quickly and with fewer steps so that the most updated documents can be printed with little alterations necessary to change the look of the product) and cost-effectiveness (paying the price for printing plates isn’t necessary).
It is also a simple process that any working person can take on, unlike the intricacies of web design that may have your company hiring web experts to actually lay out the advertising and content. In order to print, all you need is a business printer, after which your operations are officially up and running.
2. Print has the benefit of being tangible
When you get a product, there’s a significant level of satisfaction with holding it in your hands. This has been one of the main appeals related to the print industry for a while and it’s very well the reason many people won’t let go of their newspapers in favour of digital variants. There’s definitely more of a connection that customers and clients have with solid products.
3. Direct-mail marketing has more of an edge than e-mail marketing
When companies put their advertisements, promotions and offers in e-mail, it more often than not ends up in the spam folder. Many online ads are often overlooked or are completely filtered out using an ad-blocker. Using physical, direct-mail ads and catalogs will more likely get you the circulation and readership your company is looking for. This is another benefit the print industry has over digital publishing.
4. Printed advertising is seamlessly integrated into printed content
Most printed magazines in circulation right now have sponsored content that blend in with the rest of the content, making it less of an eyesore to engage with. When readers consume online content, not only are they annoyed by jarring online ads, but they actively try to avoid them, using ad-blockers or scrolling past them (no matter how animated they may be), not taking a single ad in. Online advertisements are seen merely as a nuisance whereas advertisements with print products (or advertisements in the form of print products) are consumed more as an art form. This is why most companies are still using print advertising and promotions.
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5 Friendly Reminders Before Renting a Furnished Apartment
Are you one of those young people who are never home and just out and about with your friends? Are you a business professional who slaves away at the office or travels all the time? We know: you’re a globetrotter, hopping from place to place, aren’t you? What do these three kinds of people have in common? They’re rarely at home, and when they are in their fortresses of solitude, they’re simply in bed sleeping. That’s it, nothing else.
So, the key question is: is a furnished apartment right for you? The answer to that query really depends on you and your situation. Whether you are in a committed relationship or you have limited finances, there are a multitude of factors to mull over to determine if you should rent a furnished apartment, which has plenty of fixings for you to enjoy.
Before you make that giant leap into the furnished rental market, ask some questions. Here are five friendly reminders that you need to think about when renting furnished apartments:
1. How Furnished is the Apartment?
Not all furnished apartments are created equal. Some furnished apartments provide the bare minimum: sofas, beds, chairs and tables. Other furnished apartments provide a lot more: sofas, beds, chairs, tables, coffee makers, television sets, Netflix, carpet, sheets and so on.
You may want the former, you may want the latter. It’s important to find out in advance what the apartment is going to be furnished with.
2. How Much Would It Cost?
Depending on what part of the city you’re going to live in, a furnished apartment may come with an above-average monthly price tag, while another one will be about average.
It is imperative to calculate how much a furnished apartment would cost you compared to an unfurnished apartment. The budgetary costs should also include how much it would be to furnish your home for the next 13 months.
Money isn’t finite, and it is important to count your loonies and toonies.
3. Can Multiple People Live in Furnished Suites?
Be careful…it can be hard to live with multiple people in a furnished apartment.
Since you will be reliable for any damage to the furniture, the more people who have living with you, the greater the risk there will be of damages. If you have at least two other roommates with you, then you must implement safeguards to ensure the sofa and chair won’t be hurt.
4. Should Downsizing be Considered?
One of the benefits of living in a furnished apartment is that you don’t need too much stuff, except for your essentials, like clothing, bathroom products and hangers.
That said, if you have way too many things, and you’re moving into a furnished suite, then you should think about downsizing. This ensures that you won’t be too crammed in the apartment.
5. How Clean Do You Have to Be?
You’re not a slob and you value maintaining a clean residence. Who wants to live in a pig sty?
Well, when you have someone else’s furniture inside the apartment, then you need to be extra vigilant. You must incorporate detailed cleaning policies, you must clean up spills that happen right away and you must prevent foul odours from latching onto the furniture (we’re looking at you, pet owners!).
Remember, when you have multiple roommates, it will be harder to keep the place clean.
Furnished apartments are great for university students, traveling businessmen and globetrotters. These three parties are the least likely to have any furniture, and this saves them time, money and energy – not everyone wants to go to Ikea every weekend and spend hundreds of dollars.
Ask questions, answer those questions and determine if a furnished apartment is right for you.