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Month: February 2019

  • Best Portable Generators for Your Money

    Best Portable Generators for Your Money

    Portable generators are awesome if you’re looking to go camping or just have a backup in case of an emergency. However, they can be a bit pricey, so it’s often hard to tell whether a given generator is worth buying. Today we’re breaking down the best portable generators so you can rest assured that you’re making a good purchase.

    Best Portable Generators

    WEN 56200i

    This lightweight generator is great pick for a number of reasons. For one thing, it sports a quiet performance, coming in at just 51 decibels. You won’t have to shout to be heard over it. It’s also quite light, weighing only 48 pounds. This makes it ideal for camping or other outdoorsy activities.

    Another great aspect of the WEN 56200i is that it’s got a 5V USB port, two three-prong 120V inputs, and a 12V DC input. That way you not only have lots of ports to charge your devices, but also a ton of options when it comes to your power needs.

    5735 GP17500E

    This generator is great if you need to power a whole house. Consider opting for this massive generator if you’re worried about the power getting knocked out for a while and needing a backup to keep the house online. This is a great generator for people who live in remote areas and want a great backup in case of emergencies.

    This is a 17500-watt unit that is capable of putting out a ton of power. It’s also a favorite at construction job sites to keep appliances powered. This all comes at a price, of course. The unit is quite expensive, and extremely heavy, at a massive 390 pounds. However, it does have wheels so you can wheel it around more easily.

    Honda EU2000i

    This Honda generator is a great pick for those who want a durable and easy-to-use generator. This one is ideal for people who like camping or going outdoors, as it’s a great battery to throw in the back of a car. It weighs just under 50 pounds, and it runs rather quietly.

    Impressively, the battery can put out 2,000 watts of starting power and 1,600 watts of running power. That makes it a tough little generator for its size. Note, however, that you get what you pay for. This generator is awesome, but it’s a little pricey. Consider it a worthy splurge if you’re looking to upgrade to a really great portable generator.

  • Best Cars for New Drivers: What Should Your Teenager Drive?

    Best Cars for New Drivers: What Should Your Teenager Drive?

    If your teenager is about to get ready to start driving, you’re probably wondering what the best cars for new drivers are. Well, that’s a great question. There are a lot of factors that go into making a car great for a new driver. Namely, we’re looking at cars that are easy to drive and loaded with safety features. Let’s look at some of the best cars for new drivers.

    Best Cars for New Drivers

    Toyota Corolla

    The inexpensive starting tag for a new Toyota Corolla is a great draw to this vehicle. It starts at $17,000, and it’s quite reliable on top of that. Five-star safety rating, ample security features and eight airbags all make this a very safe car for your teen.

    The Corolla also has a reputation for reliability: it’s unlikely your kiddo will be getting stranded somewhere with the car not wanting to start. There’s even a tire pressure monitoring system so they don’t get caught out by a flat tire. How cool is that?

    Hyundai Elantra

    A great pick that looks beautiful on the road, the Hyundai Elantra is a stylish car for a new driver. Starting right around $17,000, it’s in the same price range as the Corolla. This is also a very safe vehicle, and earned the IIHS “Top Safety Pick” in 2015.

    You can likely find 2014 or 2015 Elantras used for a great price if you’re trying to be budget-conscious. Older cars are also less expensive to insure, so we often recommend getting an older vehicle for a new driver. After all, if they’re less experienced, they’re more likely to get into an accident.

    Don’t forget about the ample safety features in the Elantra, either. It sports a traction system that helps the driver stay on the road, as well as six standard airbags. That, coupled with the safe design, mean that even in the event of an accident, the driver is unlikely to be harmed.

    Ford Focus

    Another IIHS Top Safety Pick, the Ford Focus is in the same price range as the other vehicles on this list. Once again, it’s a stylish little vehicle with ample safety features to help protect a newer driver. The car sports seven airbags, making sure that the driver is protected from all sides.

    This vehicle even sports steel beams, top-of-the-line boron, in the frame. That way even in side-impact accidents, the driver is that much safer than in another vehicle. There are also rear-view cameras to make backing up or parallel parking that much easier.

  • How LinkedIn Can Help You Find a New Job

    How LinkedIn Can Help You Find a New Job

    There’s no way to sugarcoat it: trying to find a new job is really, really difficult. It’s hard to even know where to begin. Who’s hiring? Who has good benefits and a good work environment? If you’re not using some kind of job board or have a ton of connections, you’re running in blind.

    That’s where LinkedIn comes in. More than just being a simple job board site, LinkedIn is the best social media app for meeting professional connections. After all, it’s much easier to get ahead in a crowded job market when you know the right people. Here’s how to have LinkedIn work for you.

    LinkedIn

    Take it Seriously

    LinkedIn might be a social networking site, but you should take it seriously. It’s not quite the same as Facebook or Instagram. It’s an opportunity to present yourself in a professional and well-curated way for potential employers and colleagues.

    As such, you should make sure you present your best self on LinkedIn. Make sure your pictures aren’t ones of you and your buddies hanging loose and partying. Make sure you’re well-dressed and well-groomed in your pictures!

    Use it Often

    Make sure to use LinkedIn often. Even if you’re employed and like your job, it’s good to have connections that you cultivate. If you only use the app when you’re looking for a new job, you’ll be out of luck. It’s not enough just to run to it in an emergency: you need to keep up to date!

    By using the app often, you ensure that you’ve got a presence online that potential employers and professional connections can see. This is essentially an ad for yourself as an employee. Take pride in it, and make sure everyone knows just how good of an employee you are.

    Resume

    Make sure you keep a well-formatted, up-to-date copy of your resume easily accessible on your LinkedIn. You never know when a recruiter or hiring manager might come along and see your profile. If they do, you want to make sure your info is all up-to-date and accurate!

    There’s no reason to potentially miss out on a great job just because you’ve got some goofy typos on your resume. Make sure you keep everything connected to your business page tight and well-formatted. This is an easy step to take that will take you only a few minutes, so don’t put it off!

    If you’re looking to make lasting businesses connections, LinkedIn is where it’s at. Get your profile active and looking great today.

  • Fix that Cracked Phone Screen Today

    Fix that Cracked Phone Screen Today

    A lot of people rock around this world with a cracked phone screen. However, you really shouldn’t. It’s not only bad for your phone, but it’s bad for your wallet and even your well-being. You need to get that cracked phone screen fixed, sooner rather than later! Don’t believe us? Check out these crazy facts about cracked phone screens.

    Fix that Cracked Phone Screen

    It Looks Bad

    Firstly, it looks really unsophisticated to roll around with that spiderweb crack in your phone. If you’re going to a job interview or meeting new networking connections, you really don’t want them to think you’re clumsy and irresponsible. You don’t want to look like the kind of person who can’t be bothered to get their phone fixed.

    Health Hazards

    It’s much harder to read what’s on a screen if the screen is badly cracked. If you’re squinting and trying to discern what’s on your phone screen, then you’re likely putting too much strain on your eyes. Another health hazard of a cracked screen is that, if it’s badly cracked, you could accidentally slice your finger open on the glass. Why put your health at risk instead of getting the phone screen fixed?

    Hardware Problems

    If you’re got a newer smartphone, odds are good that both the front and back are glass. If the back glass is cracked, this is still an issue. Newer smartphones are waterproof and dust-resistant. However, when they have cracks in the glass, both of these defenses are down.

    You need a vacuum seal from both the front and back of the phone in order for the water proofing and dust resistance to work. If you’re gotten accustomed to being able to dunk your phone underwater, this might come as an unwelcome surprise.

    Resale Value

    When you go to trade your phone in for a new one, you’ll get a lot less if it has a cracked screen. Often, this difference in resale value is more than it would have been for you to just get the phone’s screen fixed. In short, it’s literally bad for your wallet to leave your screen broken.

    Structure

    Even if you’re not planning on trading the phone in soon, why put off getting the screen fixed? It’s worse than just unsightly. If your phone is cracked, further drops could result in even more severe damage. A small crack can turn into spiderwebbing. A spiderweb crack can result in the screen busting out of its housing entirely.

    In short, just get your screen fixed. What’s stopping you?

  • Fix that Cracked Phone Screen Today

    A lot of people rock around this world with a cracked phone screen. However, you really shouldn’t. It’s not only bad for your phone, but it’s bad for your wallet and even your well-being. You need to get that cracked phone screen fixed, sooner rather than later! Don’t believe us? Check out these crazy facts about cracked phone screens.

    Fix that Cracked Phone Screen

    It Looks Bad

    Firstly, it looks really unsophisticated to roll around with that spiderweb crack in your phone. If you’re going to a job interview or meeting new networking connections, you really don’t want them to think you’re clumsy and irresponsible. You don’t want to look like the kind of person who can’t be bothered to get their phone fixed.

    Health Hazards

    It’s much harder to read what’s on a screen if the screen is badly cracked. If you’re squinting and trying to discern what’s on your phone screen, then you’re likely putting too much strain on your eyes. Another health hazard of a cracked screen is that, if it’s badly cracked, you could accidentally slice your finger open on the glass. Why put your health at risk instead of getting the phone screen fixed?

    Hardware Problems

    If you’re got a newer smartphone, odds are good that both the front and back are glass. If the back glass is cracked, this is still an issue. Newer smartphones are waterproof and dust-resistant. However, when they have cracks in the glass, both of these defenses are down.

    You need a vacuum seal from both the front and back of the phone in order for the water proofing and dust resistance to work. If you’re gotten accustomed to being able to dunk your phone underwater, this might come as an unwelcome surprise.

    Resale Value

    When you go to trade your phone in for a new one, you’ll get a lot less if it has a cracked screen. Often, this difference in resale value is more than it would have been for you to just get the phone’s screen fixed. In short, it’s literally bad for your wallet to leave your screen broken.

    Structure

    Even if you’re not planning on trading the phone in soon, why put off getting the screen fixed? It’s worse than just unsightly. If your phone is cracked, further drops could result in even more severe damage. A small crack can turn into spiderwebbing. A spiderweb crack can result in the screen busting out of its housing entirely.

    In short, just get your screen fixed. What’s stopping you?

  • Exciting New TVs Seen at CES 2019

    Exciting New TVs Seen at CES 2019

    CES 2019 was a great showcase of some of the best upcoming TV technology we’ve seen in years. With the imminent jump to 8K displays and crazy advances in technology, we’re excited for the future of TVs. Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting new TVs seen at CES 2019. Between 8K images and rollable displays, there’s a lot to be excited about.

    Exciting New TVs Seen at CES 2019

    Sony ZG9

    Sony’s new ZG9 Master Series will sport 8K picture quality and come in both 88- and 95-inch sizes. This means that the screens will not only look more real than real life, but will also be undeniably massive. The Master Series is going to use backlit LEDs instead of OLEDs, making it a departure from existing TV tech.

    Software in the ZG9’s will allow them to upscale 4K images and help them to look much sharper on the larger display. This is a great feature for future-proofing, as most 4K content is still new, and there is no 8K content currently available. As such, having a sharp 4K image, too, is important for the Master Series to be useful.

    Panasonic GZ2000

    This straightforward design from Panasonic wasn’t a head-turned at the show like some of the other high-concept displays. However, it does have some very interesting things going for it. For instance, the screen sports a state-of-the-art processor that works to clean up images and make high frame-rate image look even smoother.

    The screen will also use this processor for integration with Dolby Atmos, helping to keep the images and sounds synced up perfectly. While this isn’t going to be the flashiest TV on the market in 2019, it will have a competitive price point. We love things that can defy expectations, and this Panasonic looks set to do just that.

    LG OLED65R9

    Finally, the most impressive TV at the show was the LG OLED65R9. The TV can be rolled up and stored away easily when not in use, making it the first consumer application of the roll-able screen tech we’ve been hearing about for years.  LG is set to bring this incredible tech to the market by mid-2019.

    What’s even better, the screen stows away in a Dolby Atmos speaker when it’s not being used. This makes for a great portable TV, as you can tote it easily to a different spot when it’s rolled up. The OLED screen looks great, and it has a great speaker attached to boot.

  • Important Info You Need to Know about Blood Thinners

    Important Info You Need to Know about Blood Thinners

    Blood thinners are commonly prescribed for people with atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolisms. Common blood thinners, or anticoagulants, are coumadin and warfarin. These medications can be very important, but they do have some side effects that people, especially older men, need to be aware of. Here’s the important info you need to know about blood thinners.

    Important Info on Blood Thinners

    What They’re For

    Blood thinners are commonly prescribed for atrial fibrillation. A fib, as it’s commonly shortened to, is a condition that causes the patient’s heart to beat irregularly. Defibrillation pads are also commonly used to address an acute incident of fibrillation, essentially stopping and restarting a heart that is beating irregularly.

    Blood thinners are also prescribed for those suffering from pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the arteries of your lung. This is a problem, of course, as the lung is where your blood goes to receive oxygen. Blood thinners prevent your blood from clotting, thus breaking up the embolism.

    Prescription

    You can only get blood thinners via prescriptions. They’re not available over the counter. That’s because they have a lot of side effects that you should be aware of, and you should only take blood thinners as directed by your doctor. Blood thinners don’t actually thin your blood: they’re more accurately referred to as anticoagulants.

    That’s because coumadin and warfarin primarily are given to prevent blood from clotting as easily. These medicines do so by blocking certain proteins in the blood from doing their job, preventing your platelets from clotting up.

    Side Effects

    As you may be guessing, there are some notable side effects to this type of medication. Since it prevents your blood from clotting, when you’re on anticoagulants, you need to avoid becoming injured. That might seem like silly advice, as you would of course normally avoid injury. However, being on anticoagulants means you should shift your priorities.

    Since your body can’t create blood clots, you need to avoid any strenuous or dangerous activity altogether. Something as simple as a cut from a kitchen knife could be deadly if you can’t stop bleeding. This goes double for internal injuries. If you were to get in a car accident and had internal bleeding, it would be incredibly difficult to get it to stop.

    If you do become injured while on blood thinners, wrap the injury and apply pressure to it, then call your doctor. If the bleeding is severe, call an ambulance and go to the emergency room. The same goes if you think you may have internal bleeding: don’t waste any time. Call an ambulance and get medical help as soon as possible.

  • What You Should Know Before You Remodel your Kitchen

    What You Should Know Before You Remodel your Kitchen

    If you’re serious about your house looking its best, one of the first places to focus is the kitchen. Who wants to have an old, worn-out looking kitchen? Certainly not us! If you’re looking into getting a kitchen remodel, here are the top things to keep in mind.

    What You Should Know Before You Remodel your Kitchen

    Research the Contractor

    When you start with any project like this, make sure you know who you want to do it. If you’re looking at certain contractors, make sure they’re experienced and accredited. You don’t want some shady contractor coming in and charging you too much for shoddy work.

    Make sure you know up front how the contractor charges. Do they accept a flat fee up front? Do they charge by the hour? These are details you want to have before they walk into your home. Also, make sure you know their policy on unexpected wrinkles. How do they handle unexpected damage, or if one of their guys breaks something?

    Make sure the contractor is also experienced in the kind of work you want done. If they’ve never redone floor tiles, then maybe you should consider someone else for your floor-tile centered remodel. You want a contractor who knows the work you want done.

    Costs

    It’s important you make sure you know what the project is likely to cost. Get in touch with a contractor and see if you can get a good ballpark estimate of how much you can expect the project to set you back. Of course, this is going to be an estimate at first.

    The cost of the project will be directly related to just how much you want done. If you just want new cabinets, that shouldn’t run you too much. If you’re get new counters, new flooring and new appliances, too, then expect to spend a pretty penny.

    Get a Time Table

    Make sure you know before the contractor gets started just how long to expect the work to take. How will the contractor company handle it if one of their workers falls ill or has an emergency? What is their contingency plan if some unexpected damage occurs?

    Another important thing to know is whether there will be parts of your house inaccessible, and for how long. It’s hard to plan around contractors as-is, let alone without knowing when your kitchen might be inaccessible. Get this info up-front so there’s no surprises. That way you can plan your weeks around the schedule of the remodel!

  • Recruitment Tools to Make Your Hiring Process Easier

    Recruitment Tools to Make Your Hiring Process Easier

    Finding the time to sort through all of your applications can be difficult. Even if you do have the time, how do you find the best people? It’s a huge hassle, to be sure. Where do you even start when you’re looking for the right candidate for the job?

    Today we’re looking at some of the top recruiting tools to help your make hiring a breeze. Find the right candidate, fast, with some of these awesome hiring tools. These are some of our top-rated recruitment sites.

    Recruitment Tools to Make Your Hiring Process Easier

    Recruitment CRM Programs

    CRM, or Candidate Relationship Management, programs are a great new trend among businesses. These CRMs are dedicated to keeping the relationship between employer and employee at a high satisfaction level. They’re often used for both onboarding and back-end relationship management.

    Some examples of CRMs are Avature, Ascendify, Yello, Smashfly and Beamery. The main goal of these sites is to keep the company’s image and values fresh in the minds of employees and candidates while they engage with the company’s content.

    Testing Sites

    Testing sites are overlooked by a lot of companies despite being excellent ways to sort candidates. Those positions that require raw talent in fields like pattern recognition or math benefit greatly from this type of candidate sorting.

    Pymetrics offers game-like activities that score candidates using algortithms. The site prides itself on being “bias-free,” using finely tuned metrics to weigh each candidate fairly.

    Self Management Group, available in over 40 languages, is a straightforward test of science-based knowledge. The tests given on the site are a great way to quickly gauge a candidate’s knowledge for a given position, which can be quite valuable for certain jobs.

    HackerRank is a site that helps to quickly learn about a programmer’s skill. If you’re hiring for a programming position, you really just need someone who has skills. The good news for you is that HackerRank is great at weeding out the wanna-be’s from the really skilled programmers.

    Job Boards

    The most straightforward job recruitment tools are job boards. These boards account for sixty percent of all hires in the US, so they’ve got to be doing something right!

    Indeed is the go-to job board site in the US. It offers ample features for both applicants and employers and is responsible for putting hundreds of thousands of people into their new jobs. Other notable job boards are Career Builder and Google for Jobs.

    You can’t go wrong with any of these job board sites. They all offer ample resources to sort and find the candidate that is right for the position you’re hiring for. You got this!


  • Make What You’re Worth: Top Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree

    Make What You’re Worth: Top Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree

    College isn’t always right for everyone. That’s just the way life is. Not everyone can afford it, and some people can take the time off to got to school when they have bills to pay. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make decent money without a college degree. There are tons of great jobs out there for those looking to move up without a college degree.

    Top Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree

    Retail Management

    It might sound strange, but retail management is a great path for those looking to move up without a degree. While you might have to bust your tail working hard in the entry level retail positions, good retailers notice hard work. Those who work hard and keep their sights on moving up tend to get promoted pretty quickly to higher positions.

    A job as a manager in a retail environment provides a lot of the same benefits that most degree-requiring jobs do. This includes time-off, insurance and full-time hours that are all critical to moving forward in life. Keep in mind, however, that retail and customer service isn’t for everyone.

    Web Developer

    Maybe you didn’t go to college but you’re killer at making web pages. If so, a job as a web developer would be a great fit for you. In fact, you can make great money designing webpages as either a contractor or an employee.

    Many web developers like the freedom and flexibility of working as a contractor. Others, however, prefer the benefits and security of working for a company. In any event, usually web development positions are entirely based on merit. If you can design a good page, you’re likely a cinch for the job.

    Hotel Management

    Hotel work is great for people without college degrees. After all, they’re consistent jobs with opportunities for advancement and tons of demand. Every city has hotels, and hotels need managers! Getting in on the ground floor with a hotel isn’t terribly difficult, as they always need people to mind the front desk, perform night audits and otherwise cover the administration of the building.

    Promotion to higher positions in hotels is comparable to that found in retail. Those who are on time, good at their jobs and cultivate good relationships with their bosses find themselves promoted to higher positions readily. Much like retail, management affords benefits like medical and paid time off, making it a great path for many without degrees.

    Don’t feel as though you have to go to college if you don’t want to or can’t afford it. Remember, there are tons of opportunities out there for people of all education levels.