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Monthly Archives: November 2020

Five Amazon Prime Series You Might Not Have Considered

No matter how many television and streaming services have launched in recent years, it always feels like there’s nothing on. You might settle down on the sofa in the evening with every intention of soaking up some great television, but half an hour spent scrolling through the live television listings doesn’t result in you finding anything you’re interested in watching. You open Netflix or Amazon Prime instead, but there are so many TV shows and movies to watch that you don’t even know where to start. Frustrated, you either give up, or you find something else to do with your time, probably taking a moment to wonder why you bother paying for so many subscription packages.

We don’t blame you if you find the range of options available on streaming services to be a little overwhelming. The way they present their attractions is modeled on online slots websites, where hundreds (in some cases, thousands) of online slots with free spins no deposit from every imaginable genre are gathered together under one roof. There, the idea is to provide at least a few online slots to appeal to every type of player, but without a guide to tell you what’s good and what isn’t, you can find yourself unable to see the woods for the trees. There is one more important similarity to note between streaming services and online slots, though. Just when you think your luck is out and there’s nothing there for you, something good comes along out of nowhere.

We promise that there’s good content to be found on all of the big streaming services – it’s just a case of knowing where to look for it. Today, we’ll be focusing on Amazon Prime. If you’re a subscriber and you feel like you’ve seen all the best shows it has to offer already, here are a few that might have passed you by.

Fleabag

This British sitcom, written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is the very definition of a hidden gem. The British press went crazy for it when it was being aired and is still mourning the fact that Waller-Bridge decided to end it after just two seasons. The searingly funny and honest comedy, written from a female perspective, tells the tale of ‘Fleabag’ – a down-on-her-luck 30-something singleton living in London who drinks and parties too much and makes regrettable (and often disastrous) decisions in her personal life that often have enormous impacts on the people around her. Oscar-winning actor Olivia Coleman is especially delightful as the central character’s mother-in-law, and big laughs are guaranteed in every episode.

A Very English Scandal

Have you ever wondered what happened to Hugh Grant after he appeared in “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Notting Hill?” He didn’t disappear, his career just moved from the big screen to the small one, and he got his best reviews in years playing Jeremy Thorpe in “A Very English Scandal” in 2018. This true-life drama, based on a sex scandal that rocked the British establishment to its core during the 1970s, is compelling viewing from start to finish. When a power-crazed politician decides that he needs to silence a much less powerful man who knows too much about his private life by any means necessary, sparks fly. It’s a serious subject, and yet writer Russell T. Davies has managed to find more than a small dose of humor in it.

The Man In The High Castle

What would have happened if the Allies had lost the Second World War and Hitler had won? What would the world have looked like in the years that followed? That’s a question that many fiction writers have tried to answer in the past seventy years, but perhaps nobody ever painted as convincing a picture of it as Philip K. Dick did when he wrote “The Man In The High Castle” in 1962. Ridley Scott, best known for his Hollywood science-fiction movies, thought so much of the original text and the screenplay that he decided it was worth his time to produce the show for television – and the results don’t disappoint. The United States of America is run by Germany and Japan, but a secret videotape is found that appears to show a world where the Allies won. Where did it come from, and what could it mean?

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Female comedians have a hard time coming up through the club circuit now, so we can only imagine how difficult it must have been for them during the 1950s. We don’t have to imagine, though, because Amy Sherman-Palladino of “Gilmore Girls” fame has done all the imagining for us. Mrs. Maisel is a stereotypical 1950s housewife who gets drunk one night, ends up on a stage with a microphone in her hand, and discovers she has a talent for making people laugh. As New York changes and modernizes around her, she finds herself the unlikely – and very funny – voice of social progress in the city. It’s just a shame that nobody other than her manager agrees with her new career choice.

The Terror

Big ships and icebergs are a match made in Hell. We know that because we’ve all heard of the Titanic, and we’ve seen its tale told in the movie that launched the careers of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio into the stratosphere. “The Terror” takes the same premise but tells us a much darker and far scarier tale. This is a story that belongs firmly to the horror genre, and one that you’re probably not going to watch late at night when you’re on your own. Jared Harris stars as the captain of a ship that’s stuck fast in the ice, can’t break free and is days away from any potential rescue. As the crew tries to wait things out in Arctic conditions, strange things begin to happen aboard his vessel. There’s a mist that never lifts, and not everyone who walks into it is seen again. This is guaranteed to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

Between the five recommendations we’ve just made, we hope we’ve given you at least one or two weeks of binge-watching to get through. That ought to keep you occupied for a while! When you’re done, come back and visit us again. We might just have some more recommendations for you by then.

 

Avoid Making These Common Productivity Mistakes in Your Business

Running a business is a rewarding but challenging task, and as you try to grow larger, the risk of making mistakes becomes a lot more commonplace. For many business leaders, attempting to be more productive and efficient can often backfire when their actions are not well thought through. To avoid falling into these common errors, read on to find out what you should avoid.

Avoid trying to do it all yourself

This is often a common mistake for entrepreneurs who have grown their business from scratch, often from their own hard labor. While the early days of a start-up demand a lot of intensive effort and sacrifice from the individual, as a business grows, it becomes more important to embrace the art of delegation.

This does not simply mean assigning tasks to other people and attempting to micro-manage their every step. This will actually only make the process more difficult as employees will be unable to implement their own ideas to solve tasks. Instead, to delegate effectively, you will need to allow others to take on responsibility for certain tasks and projects and enjoy greater ownership of them. In doing so, you can start to help the business grow as a group.

Invest in the right places

One of the most common causes of complaints and frustration in many workplaces is slow, inefficient equipment or technology, especially if this is a primary tool for people to get their work done. When employees see valuable funds that could be used to update and improve technology diverted towards unnecessary expenses, it only causes further acrimony and unhappiness.

Review where you invest your funds in your business and talk to employees. If your IT tech needs upgrading, consider managed services from Online Computers to find an affordable and cost-effective solution. This will not only improve the technical functionality of your business but also help people to feel valued and appreciated in their roles.

Encourage a healthy work-life balance

We all want our employees to feel motivated to work hard and do their best, but pushing people to work longer hours will often backfire. Instead, this will only lead to greater stress and pressure and will impact productivity negatively.

A healthy work-life balance is essential to a successful and thriving business and is something that should be encouraged through all levels of the business. This can be done in many ways depending on individual employee preferences and the values of the business itself. You may want to encourage flexible working hours that allow people to accommodate personal commitments to family or other things around their workday, or establish fun team activities that allow people to connect on a social level, outside of their professional roles. You can also make efforts to cultivate and emphasize a healthier lifestyle in the workplace, for example, by providing fresh, healthy food and snacks, encouraging regular breaks away from the desk, and ensuring employees take their designated breaks appropriately.

5 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Real Estate

For those that are savvy about making smart investment choices, putting money into real estate is often one of the best decisions to make. While the property market has certainly had its ups and downs over the recent years, it still remains a great opportunity for investors who have the resources and ability to purchase property. Read on for some reasons why investing in real estate is a smart choice.

The growth of the rental market is a great opportunity

The US, like many other economies, has seen a growth in foreclosures across the country, as homeowners have struggled to meet mortgage payments and costs, with rising unemployment, health concerns, and more. This has led to a boom in the rental market and can present a great opportunity for investors, as it can provide what is essentially a source of passive income for the buyer.

Rental properties can be a fast and effective way to invest your money, and it is often a fast-moving market. If you’re considering this as a possibility, you may want to keep private money lenders on hand to help you snap up a great property as soon as the opportunity arises.

Real estate has a more secure asset value

Unlike investing in stocks or bonds, where share prices can fluctuate greatly with changes in demand, real estate has a much more stable and higher value. Land and property will always be worth something, and this is a tangible value that you can have confidence in over a long period of time, making it an ideal long-term investment.

Real estate will increase in value over time

Some forms of investment, such as cars, technology or stocks, can depreciate over time, particularly as trends or demands change. However, while real estate has seen highs and lows over the recent years, overall, it tends to increase in value over time.

As a result, investors who are able to hold on to their properties to weather any short-term economic challenges can often end up far better off in the end and make significant amounts of money from their properties.

It can come with some useful tax benefits

Laws around tax can vary according to different states, but overall, property investments can pose some great tax benefits. You may be entitled to tax deductions on various costs, such as operational expenses and costs, property taxes, mortgage interest and home insurance.

It can help diversify your portfolio

A wise and shrewd investor will opt for as diverse a portfolio as possible, to help spread and mitigate the risk of loss. Real estate has many advantages, and as a long-term investment with many other benefits attached, it can provide a great complement to more volatile investments in your portfolio.

If you are not sure about the right mix of investments to choose from, it is always worth asking for professional advice to help you find the best investments for your personal goals and objectives.

What You Must Remember When Moving Home

Moving home is one of the most stressful tasks you can do. With such a long list of responsibilities, it’s easy to forget everything you need to tick off the list. It’s important to make sure you get it all done, though, as this will reduce stress and create a smoother move.

Reduce Your Items

Moving is the perfect opportunity for a big de-cluttering. Before you’ve even started packing up, you should go through your belongings and decide what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of. There are plenty of options of where they can go — recycling, donating, a yard sale. By purging your items, you will have much less to move on the day, which can save you a lot of time and effort.

Have Enough Boxes

You don’t want to start packing and realize that you haven’t bought enough boxes. Make sure there are plenty to pack your stuff into: you’ll use more than you think! You can even get creative with it and use household items as boxes. For example, your clothes basket is fit enough to hold a bunch of your stuff!

Hire Movers in Advance

There’s nothing worse than the stress of waiting for a moving van you’re not sure will deliver. By using trusted movers and booking them in advance, you minimize that worry. Also, when you hire professionals, your workload will lessen as they will help you load everything into the van.

Change Medical Practices

Unless you’re moving local, you don’t want to forget to change your medical practices. Your dentist and your doctor will have to be updated, so make sure you let your old practices know you won’t be returning and sign up for new ones in your area.

Label Your Boxes

You won’t want to forget this one! When packing, avoid throwing a mixture of items inside your boxes and hoping for the best on the other end. Do your future self a favor and label everything (yes, everything!). If you remember to do this, then unpacking in your new home will be much easier. You don’t want to lug a heavy box of pots and pans up to your new bathroom, after all!

Eat Your Fridge and Cupboards Clean

Minimize your moving load by eating everything that you have in – especially from your fridge! There are handy websites that will help you come up with recipes to use up everything you already have. It might be a little experimental, but at least it’ll lessen your moving load!

Update Your Address

This one can be time-consuming, but it is best to get it done in one go. The tedious task of updating your home address for your work, bank, and other online areas can be daunting, but once it’s done, it’s done. Make a list of every place you need to update and go through it one by one.

Moving house is always going to be a little frantic, but by making sure you don’t forget everything you need to do, you will lessen the stress.

 

How To Choose The Right Motorhome For Your Family

If you haven’t yet got a motorhome that you use for your family getaways, you are seriously missing out. Motorhome trips are the perfect getaway and once you purchase one, all you need to do is pack up and leave once you are ready to go on your next adventure. Of course, purchasing the right motorhome isn’t easy, especially if you have never bought one before.

In this article, we are going to give you some of our tips for choosing the right motorhome for your family. Read on to find out more about this.

What is Your Budget?

One of the first things that you are going to need to consider when you are choosing a motorhome for your family is your budget. Motorhomes aren’t exactly cheap to buy and you might be tempted to hire one. However, if you buy a motorhome, you will only need to pay to maintain it so the cost evens out over time. When looking at your budget, make sure that you don’t set it too low as you’ll want a motorhome that lasts for a long time.

Choosing The Right Brand

There are plenty of motorhome brands that you can choose from depending on where you are based. For those in Scotland, Carado is one of the most notable brands for offering a high-quality product that is built to last. You can usually find some great Carado motorhomes Scotland based if you check with the right dealers. We also recommend looking into Hymer as a brand.

Is It Big Enough?

If you have a big family, you are going to need a motorhome that can fit everyone inside comfortably. You might find that you need to invest in a larger model to achieve this and this will usually increase the price tag on the motorhome. Take a look at the size of the motorhomes on offer and consider the living space. There may be enough beds for everyone to sleep in but will it be too cramped? Usually, you can view the dimensions so make sure to have a look at this.

Extra Features

Finally, when choosing a motorhome for your family, you should make sure to look out for the extra features. Something that you might look for include an integrated shower, a sunroof and even air conditioning. Remember that you will need to be comfortable in this motorhome and so the extra features matter. Reverse cameras can also come in handy, especially if you have never driven a motorhome before!

Get Hunting

Buying a motorhome can be a great investment for your family so make sure that you are not rushing into this decision. As long as you spend time using your motorhome regularly for your trips, you will find that the cost is worth it in the end. Follow the tips that we have given you and you should be able to make the right decision.

 

5 Ways Technology Can Help Your Business Boost Profits

Technology has compounded the advancements in possibilities for business over the past decade. The rapid development of today’s technology is a formidable force that your business can’t afford to go without.

Learning new ways to harness the power of technology will help make your business more successful, and more importantly, more profitable.

Take a moment to read through a few ways in which the right technology can help boost your operation’s profitability, and consider how you can apply these suggestions in your business.

A healthy digital visibility

The internet is a huge part of the lives of millions of people around the globe, and your business wants to be a part of the digital hustle and bustle. Start down the road to profitability by creating a well-designed business website, so users have a place to see everything your operation has to offer.

Your business website is a foundational part of building digital visibility, and the words you use within the design make an impact on how easily users can find your pages. Targeted keywords will help make your pages more visible. If your business offers nitrogen generator rental equipment, you would want to use those keywords throughout the design of your website.

Big data storage

The web also grants business owners the ability to have more data at their fingertips than ever before in history. Access to information and widespread knowledge is power in business, and power equals money.

When you have targeted data at your disposal, your business can easily weed out things that aren’t working and place more energy towards the things that work best.

Remote communications

Cloud computing makes it possible for your business to run with no brick-and-mortar overhead at all. You’ll make more money by spending far less money when your business takes full advantage of remote communications. Keep your employees connected by considering computer rental.

You can capitalize on the skill of freelancers, and your business can be working towards high profits no matter what time of day or night.

Automated social media marketing

You likely don’t need to be told that social media is a great place for business marketing, but is your operation taking full advantage of the opportunity presented?

You need a strong social media presence to make the most of your digital impact, and technology offers various tools to make it easier to achieve. Programs like Hootsuite give business owners a single platform to manage several different social media pages in one place.

Mobile applications

There’s an app for just about anything you could imagine, and your small business could benefit from the development of a complimentary app as well. Put yourself in the place of consumers, and work with a development firm to create a mobile app that makes doing business with your company easier.

How to Make Your Business a Better Place to Work

As a business owner, there are many things to think about, but making sure your business has a great reputation with industry professionals as well as your consumers is important. One way to help make sure your company is seen in a positive light is by making sure it’s a great place to work. Keeping your employees happy will not only help your reputation, but it will also increase productivity and help you to retain staff and avoid high turnover rates. If you want to make sure your business is a great place to work, here are some suggestions to help you improve the office environment.

Create Opportunities

It’s important for employees to grow professionally and to know that they have career progression opportunities at your company. A good way to make sure this happens is by providing quality training and support them when it comes to progressing within the company. Make sure that there is room for your staff to move up to more senior positions in your business to keep them motivated.

Listen to Employees

Your staff works hard at their jobs every day, and it’s important to listen to their feedback to better understand what they need to perform properly in their roles and to manage their workload more efficiently. Hold regular appraisals with your employees to discuss their development and to allow them to discuss with you any concerns they might have privately. You could also send out employee surveys each year as another way to collect their feedback and use that to improve your business operations.

Consider Flexible Working Hours

With many people having to work from home in 2020, many businesses have discovered the benefits of flexible and remote working. Where possible, think about how you can implement more flexible working hours for your employees to make sure you’re getting the best out of them each day. Allow them some more freedom when it comes to managing their work schedules. For employees with children or other commitments that require their time, this will be greatly appreciated.

Support Your Local Community

A great way to boost your business’s reputation and make it a place people can be proud to work is by supporting your local community. Sponsor a local sports team, or arrange fundraising events for charities once a year and give something back. You could also look into getting your employees to donate for the holidays by encouraging them to get involved in a charity gift donation scheme rather than the traditional Secret Santa game during the festive period.

Reward Your Staff

Finally, make sure you’re showing your appreciation for your staff by rewarding them for their hard work. This could be through treating them to breakfast or lunch on Fridays or running an ‘employee of the month’ scheme. You could even organize a fun workday out to the theatre or a theme park once a year if you have the budget to do so.

It’s important to make sure your business is a great way to work to keep up with a good reputation, but also to show your employees how much you appreciate them and that they do matter.