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Arnon Dror and Other People Who Inspire Me

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I have always felt that looking around to people who have found success and learning from how they have gone about it, has been one of the things that serves to motivate me. Around the world there are all kinds of inspirational people who’s life, opinions and actions can greatly help you to stay motivated and to reach your goals. I try not to have too many heroes but rather people who inspire me to go on and do as much as I can with my life. Today I want to talk to you about 3 of the most inspirational people in my life right now, and why they keep me inspired.

Arnon Dror

I first heard about the incredible Arnon Dror when I did a case study on him in my business class. Arnon is a senior operations executive who studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At a young age Dror go his MBA in finance and an M.A. in Micro Economics. This high level professional reached VP level in Xerox and he is arguably one of the greatest business minds here in Portland, Oregon. Even beyond Portland, Oregon I would say that this man is incredibly smart and successful, and a real inspiration. I was fortunate enough to watch him give a speech here in Portland, where he discussed his love for business and the Boston Celtics, truly a man after my own heart. Check out the career of Arnon Dror for more inspiration.

Mark Zuckerberg

There is very little about the Facebook CEO which is not inspirational and his story continues to inspire me daily. Whilst studying at Harvard, Zuckerberg fell upon the idea for the social media page which would go on to change the world, so he quit the prestigious university to commit to his idea. Since Facebook blew up, Zuckerberg has not just shaped the company but has gone on to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful CEOs on the planet, who is using his power for good. Advertising trafficking on the site has set new models for marketers everywhere and there are very few industries which have not been re-shaped thanks to this man.

Steve Jobs

The reason why I am so heavily inspired by the late Steve Jobs is not just the success he found, or the incredible products which he helped to design. What I really like about Steve is his constant search for perfection, his attention to detail and most importantly, his ability to bounceback from failure. Steve’s first stint at Apple didn’t end well and he was forced out of the company, undeterred he went away to find further success and then cam back to Apple with a boom, and changed the world with devices like the iPhone and the iPad. Steve’s life, both personally and professionally has long been a great source of inspiration for me.

CBI Tulsa on Value Improvement After Home Renovations

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A lot of people believe that the minute they renovate their property, it becomes a lot more valuable. This is true to a degree comma but CBI Tulsa believes it is equally important to really do the math. If a home improvement, for example, cost $50,000, and the value of the home increases by $30,000 as a result, the reality is that there is no return on investment. One of the things this highlights the importance of knowing exactly why someone may want to do a home improvement.

 

CHI Tulsa on Reasons for Home Improvement

 

The vast majority of people invest in a home improvement not because they want to increase the value of their home but because they want to increase their own enjoyment of the property. Different reasons for Renovations bring with them different methods of renovating. Indeed, what matters to want may not be what matters to the other and this further complicates the determination of whether or not there is a return on investment by increasing the value of the home. Some reasons for renovation include:

 

  1.  To increase how much rent a landlord can ask for their property.
  2.  To sell a property for a greater value.
  3.  To modernize a property and thereby make it more comfortable to live in.
  4.  To add space to a property, thereby avoiding the need for elderly care period

 

Clearly, these are all very different reasons for home improvement comma making it more difficult to determine whether or not these improvements really make a property more valuable. Not just that, the reasons behind the need for renovation but also determine what a good budget is. For instance, someone who wishes to sell a property for greater value could do renovation as easy as repainting walls. The mathematical calculations also become a lot more complicated if someone ends up holding onto their property. For example, if somebody adds a granny annexe, this might be a significant initial expense, but if that means they’re elderly relative does not have to move into assisted living, thereby saving high monthly cost for many years, the high expense will be worth it.

 

In essence, any renovation add value to a home. However, not any renovation provide a return on investment. For instance, changing double glazing in a property will significantly increase the value of the home, but usually not by as much as the cost of the windows. This is why the recommendation is to change the windows several years before selling the property, as the added value will hold and the return of investment will therefore come by the reduction in energy bills while you still live in your property.

 

To other home renovations that certainly increase the value of a home are a kitchen renovation and a bathroom renovation. Both can be done reasonably cheaply, which would lead to a return on investment. If you, however, decide to put a kitchen in with the most modern appliances possible, then it is unlikely that you will see a full return on investment.

Gary Friedman Explains Luxury Home Decor

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Luxury home decor is designed to create a home in which the lifestyle of the Property Owner is fully reflective. It tells others that the Property Owner is comfortable and locks of nothing, and update put quality before price. It means the home is filled with artistic and tasteful contents that has been carefully placed in the right position. Additionally, it means there has been involvement of people such as Gary Friedman, who has ensured the furniture is to both the tastes and needs of the individual.

 

Luxury Home Decor According to Gary Friedman

 

Luxury home decor is all about being both beautiful and convenient. It ensures that the homeowner is completely comfortable at all times. Hence, it must also be individualized. Some people want to have smart homes with the latest tech all around them whereas others prefer items from the Victorian era that have been artfully restored. Then there are those who prefer the minimalist style and others like oriental styles. Luxury home decor, therefore, isn’t a fixed style. Rather, it is about ensuring that the homeowner is in style that they prefer and that all items are of the highest possible quality.

 

There are five key things that brings luxury home decor together however at all times come out these five elements focus on the accessories, the ambience, and furnishings. The five pointers are:

 

  1.  That it is unique. No luxury home decor is an exact copy or replica of something that everybody else has already. It stresses uniqueness and individuality that cannot be found anywhere else. Anyone who views this type of home should leave with a lasting impression.
  2.  That it is artistic. Luxury homes contains items that can be functional when used but they should also be pleasing to the eye. In all elements of the home, beauty and class should be made apparent.
  3.  That it is designed to the most professional standards. Indeed, this is where people like Gary Friedman come in, who have the advanced knowledge and experience in current trends, materials, restoration, and so on.
  4.  That the designer has a keen eye for detail. A luxury home, everything is fine tuned to the personality and taste of the homeowner. No stone is left unturned to make things absolutely perfect.
  5.  That the property has attitude. Luxury living is about being a connoisseur not a patron. This means acting according to a certain class as well. Those who believe that the best things in life are not luxuries but necessities are the ones who can create true luxury homes.

 

These are the five key points that should be followed in the creation of a luxury home. Every item of furnishing and decoration used in the property should be of the highest possible quality, made with true professional workmanship and craftsmanship. No flat pack piece or MDF should be given a place in these types of homes. Instead, each item is unique and made of the best materials money can buy.

How To Combat Fat Loss Once And For All

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It’s one of the biggest problems of modern-day life (you don’t have to check the obesity statistics to see this in its full glory), and unfortunately it’s not going away anytime soon. From both a general health and aesthetics point of view losing fat is a big deal for millions of people – which is quite surprising when the equation to rid your body of it is actually quite simple.

We’re not going to bore you with the technicalities of the calories burned versus those consumed calculation. We all know it exists, but translating it into actionable advice is quite difficult.

Therefore, it’s that “actionable advice” that we are now going to turn to. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to shed your fat for good.

It’s not just about what you eat

According to Sono Bello, one of the main reasons patients check into their clinic with obesity-related problems is because they are stressed. Of course, this isn’t the only reason, but the correlation between stress and weight gain is plain for all to see – and there is scientific backing as well.

It has been found that higher stress levels result in increased cortisol. The upshot of this is that your appetite will be on the rise, while you are more likely to have abdominal fat.

As such, one of your primary tasks should be reducing that day-to-day stress. There are umpteen ways to achieve this, we’re not going to speculate, but you might be surprised at the overall effect to your waistline.

Resistance training can be your best friend

Something that seems to be drilled into a lot of our minds is that cardiovascular training is absolutely essential if we are to burn the dreaded fat.

Well, let’s put this myth to bed for good.

Sure, cardio training has its place, but to say that it has to be at the centre of all of your training in your quest to burn fat is a gross exaggeration. In actual fact, one of the best forms of training is with weights.

Weight training is something that can gradually increase your rate of metabolism through the course of the day, meaning that you will continue to burn calories hours and hours after your actual workout concluded.

None of us get enough sleep

Sleep might sound “lazy”, but used correctly it’s one of your most powerful weapons. Unfortunately, very few of us get anywhere near as much sleep as we really need.

Countless studies have shown that without sufficient sleep, your waistline is going to balloon. Not only that, but these very same studies have shown that most of the population don’t get anywhere near the right amount – which is thought to be in the region of eight hours per night.

The problem is heightened for those of you who train as well; your body doesn’t have enough time to recover and this just impacts your results no-end.

Save Money By Avoiding Common Car Maintenance Problems

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Cars today come in a greater range of sizes and shapes than ever before, the choice is simply mind-boggling, and becomes greater every day. However, one common theme runs through them all, and that is increased complexity. In response to our demands for more power, more luxury and more gadgets, the cars manufactured today are more complex than ever. Most are run by powerful computers, and problems are diagnosed by them as well, making it more and more difficult to repair them yourselves!

In turn, the motorist of today is much less well educated about car maintenance than the driver of 30-40 years ago, simply because in that time they broke down so often you had to know how to fix them! Despite the DVLA adding in more mechanical parts to the driving test, such as changing oil and other fluids, it seems we are even more clueless that ever. Some might say this is a general theme with the younger generation, who are far more adept on their phones and online that with their hands!

However, despite the complexity of the modern car and the seeming lack of interest of the modern driver to fix them, there are still basics that everyone should know in case of emergency. These include simple fixes, but also what to look out for in order to diagnose more complex problems, which might turn into a serious accident if not fixed. We have compiled the most common car problems and some simple advice of what to do:

Won’t Start
– If the car wont turn over at all, the battery is likely dead. Jump start
– If the car does turn over but wont start, it could be the starter motor or a problem with the fuel. Call a garage

Steering
– If the steering feels very heavy, you may be low on fluid. Check power steering fluid, wheel alignment and tyre pressure
– If the steering feels light, check tyre wear and pressure

Braking
– If the brake pedal is stuck down or up, the brake booster likely needs work. Call a garage
– If the brakes feel spongy, check brake fluid levels
– If the stopping distance increases, or the car veers off to one side under braking, brake pads may need replacing

The AA has an excellent reference section on their website to diagnose simple car problems, and this infographic from Autodoc gives more detailed information and is a handy take away guide to possible braking problems.

YouTube VS Twitch: Which Live Streaming Platform Is Best For Poker?

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“A New Era For Twitch?” (CC BY 2.0) by BagoGames
Caption: Twitch or YouTube; which is the best poker livestreaming platform?

There are few elements of human history that have changed the world quite as much as the introduction of the internet. Over the last few decades, the world wide web has become an intricate part of our lives, with over 4 billion people, 54% of the world’s total population, using the internet on a regular basis.

How Poker Streaming Started

With every passing year, there is more to discover and more corners of the web to explore, but there are some staples that continue to thrive despite how quickly the internet evolves. One such staple is live streaming, which began all the way back in 2007 with the introduction of a platform aptly titled Livestream. While this specific website may no longer be quite as popular as it used to be, there are more live streaming platforms than ever including DaCast, Upstream, Bambuser and Showcaster. However, the two most popular live streaming websites are without a doubt YouTube Live and Twitch, boasting 315,000 and 800,000 active users on average respectively.

Of course, not everyone in these audiences is interested in the same subjects, which has led to a wonderfully diverse number of topics being livestreamed on a regular basis. On both YouTube and Twitch, PC and video games appear to be the leading genre that most people are interested in. That said, there are also communities centred on music, food, painting, dance, cosplay, knitting, paper craft, makeup, sculpting and almost any other hobby you could possibly imagine.

One genre that has been gaining significant amounts of popularity over the last few years has been poker. Anyone who was around at the turn of the millennium will of course remember televised poker, which began in March 2003 with the inaugural World Poker Tournament that aired on the Travel Channel. This was swiftly followed by the 2003 WSOP Main Event, broadcast on ESPN, and before we knew it poker was being regularly televised for all to enjoy.

Around this same time, online casinos were gaining attention and the iGaming industry was already born. Before long, playing online poker became a pastime that thousands of people around the world would enjoy, which is the situation we find ourselves in today. It made sense then, to introduce poker to the world of livestreaming – especially since platforms like YouTube and Twitch are now receiving as many daily viewers as leading television news channels.

This leads us to the topic of the day: which is better for livestreaming poker, YouTube or Twitch?

YouTube Live

Ever since August 2005, YouTube has dominated the world of online video. However, while YouTube may have 30 million daily viewers, not all of these visitors are engaging in livestreams, which has enabled Twitch to become the dominant livestreaming platform. Still, YouTube Live has a lot of potential and with such a large audience to tap into it’s no surprise that poker has entered the fray.

To set up a livestream, all you have to do is set up an account and head to the stream option in settings. That’s all you have to do (assuming you already have the correct equipment and video know-how to set up in a livestream), and you simply wait for viewers to roll in. There’s not really a lot more to say about it. Many of the most popular poker live streams on YouTube are hosted by big companies, so it certainly may be difficult for newbies with no followers to gain any traction.

Twitch

Watch $1000 THRILLLAAA. Last stream before Montreal MILLIONS. LET’S GET THAT W. !pokershares !888 @tonkaaaaP from tonkaaaaP on www.twitch.tv
With so many different categories already available on Twitch, it can be difficult for any specific genre to break out. Fortunately for poker, it is very much a game and there’s nothing Twitch users love more than watching livestreamed games. This may be one of the reasons why the Twitch Poker hub has grown by leaps and bounds over the last two years, swiftly becoming the go-to place for poker livestreams.

Poker professionals often tend to lean towards creating streams that are very similar to the poker we would recognize on television, especially if there’s a big company involved. They also tend to offer premium subscribers Videos on Demand (VoDs) – after all, they know how this business works. Take Parker “TonkaaaaP” Talbot, for example, one of Twitch’s hottest poker players, who recently partnered to stream with 888poker. As well as streaming poker at least five times a week on regular basis, he also offers numerous clips and VoDs to his dedicated subscribers who tune in to watch him play and explain Texas Hold’em on $20-$50 buy-in tournaments.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the poker chip, Twitch encourages newer potential poker livestreamers to join by offering the Twitch Partner program that helps you set up your account and even gives you access to Scott Ball, Global Head of Poker Partnerships. It appears that Twitch genuinely wants more poker livestreamers to use their platform and give newcomers all the help they could want and need, within reason. This is also great news for viewers as everyone wants to watch a happy individual or group enjoying themselves, who has been offered the best advice when it comes to video quality, direction and how they should go moving forward.

Conclusion

It appears then that both Twitch and YouTube have their own benefits when it comes to livestreaming poker, but we should also make it clear that they share the same downsides. Most importantly, if you’re a streamer there is a lot of competition on both of these sites which will probably make it more difficult for any new poker streamer to gather a loyal audience quickly. You could choose to go to a smaller site but as YouTube and Twitch do have the largest audience and so have the most potential. Viewers will experience a similar problem in that there is so much content to watch on both platforms it can be difficult to find the livestreams you will enjoy most. The simple fix for this is just to google a list of the best poker streamers and take it from there.

So, if you have the choice of just YouTube Live or Twitch, which one do we think is the best? We have to go with Twitch as not only do they support professionals, but they also give a lot of help to newbies looking to start their own channels. YouTube certainly has its positives, but we think the video platform is best suited for pre-recorded poker games that viewers can click and watch whenever they want.

What do you think? Do you agree with our decision, or does YouTube Live offer something that we’ve missed? Do you have a favourite poker livestreamer or a channel you’d like us to check out? Leave a comment below.

Technology Hacks For Moving Houses

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Use Shiply to find a low-cost removal company

Shiply is a great place to find a removal company because the registered companies usually have prices up to 75% cheaper than going direct.

Companies on Shiply are able to offer lower prices because they are fitting in their Shiply jobs with their existing work. This means you’re only paying for the spare capacity needed for the vehicle rather than what it would cost for an empty vehicle driving to your home, doing the job, then driving back empty to the depot. On Shiply you just input the details of the move and the type of service you’re looking for (whether you just need a van and a driver, or a full-service complete with packing and unpacking) and wait for the quotes to arrive in your inbox.

Use apps to split your bills

If you’re living with other people, you’ll need to be doing a lot of cost-splitting. There’s the obvious stuff like rent and bills, but you might also like to split the cost of new furniture, your weekly food shop or concert tickets. It might be easy to just use a spreadsheet if there are only two of you, but for three or more housemates there are several apps around that can make life a lot easier like Acasa and Splitwise. Before you know it, you’ll be using it to split costs for all sorts of other situations like holidays with friends, stag/hen parties and splitting the cost of birthday presents.

Have people help you via TaskRabbit

Moving home can be a stressful time, and if you’re not a well-practised DIYer it can be a frustrating and drawn-out time before you’re settled with everything where you’d like it to be. Luckily there’s an app for that! There are a several apps where people can register as a tasker and be paid to do odd jobs for people – this includes things like putting up shelves or assembling furniture. If you think you’ll struggle to find the time and/or patience for this, there’ll be someone else to give you a hand.

Let your shopping come to you!

There’s a subscription service for everything now. Perfect for busy people (everyone) and means less time shopping for essentials. For food there’s HelloFresh where you can get recipes and their corresponding ingredients delivered every week. You even get to choose which recipes you want to receive in advance from the weekly menu. These services mean you can spend more time enjoying your new home and less time planning meals and visiting the supermarket.

With non-food items, there are many companies do deliveries now from clothes to contact lenses and beauty products.

Green your home

If you’re looking to make your new home an environmentally-friendly zone, there are so many companies around now that can make this easier for you. Many of these companies are also subscriptions which post everything to your door regularly – be it weekly, monthly or quarterly depending on the product. Types of green companies include those for bamboo toothbrushes (not plastic) and recycled toilet paper – you’ll never be caught short again!

All About IRS Form W7

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The IRS form W7 is an application form provided by the internal revenue services for people who are not subjected to possess the SSN that is the social security number. The W7 form is meant for receiving the ITIN from the IRS so that one can file for the income tax returns successfully. The ITIN number is used by the income tax officers to identify people who pay taxes so that they can easily sort out the list, calculate the revenue and charge people who do not pay taxes on time. The IRS form W7 is subjected to complete and cover two major tasks-

  • To apply for a new itin (individual taxpayer id number).
  • To renew an itin that has either already expired or will be expiring in the near future before one would have to file for the income tac returns for the year.

People who already use the SSN for filing income tax returns doe not have to think or worry about the tax id number because it does not apply for candidates who have SSN. This is meant for those people who do not pass for the SSN regardless of their immigration status. Each and every individual whop earns above a certain amount is liable to file income tax returns once every year to provide the government with their share of revenue.

People who have been paying the income tax also doe not have to worry about applying for an itin but must always be careful about the expiry date of the same. It is recommended to apply for the individual tax id number before it expires or before it is time to file for the tax returns. For those who are new on the list of income tax payers and are stressed out about the various legal formalities to be completed and are wondering how to apply for itin here are the details.

The Irs form w7 helps one in applying for the individual tax id number. This form is available online. One can simply log on to the official web site and find the form there. The web site is very used friendly and easy to understand. It carries answers to all the question a candidate might ever need to know. If there is something one feels like asking about that is not present in the frequently asked question list, then one can simply chat with the customer support online or can also give them a call and get the queries sorted.

One can find the list of documents that are needed for the verification by IRS. The alternative options are also provided. The instruction to fill up the form and arrange the documents are more than enough to apply for the itin. One needs to fill up the IRS form W7 and attach the documents along with the form and send it to the IRS mailing address which is also listed in the web site. Once the verification is done the ITIN will be mailed to the candidate.

4 Interesting Reasons Why You Should Buy Samsung 65 Series 7 Premium TV

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Are you in search for the best home TV? Look no further and buy a Samsung 65 Series 7 Premium TV from Harvey Norman. For a sleek and stylish television and top-quality watching experience with your loved ones, you won’t definitely go wrong with it.

Samsung’s 65-inch MU7000 series is an exceptional, mid-range 4K TV. It is worth paying for because of its outstanding features and specifications. Sitting in your living room or home theater conveniently with this TV is just an awesome experience to look forward to.

Listed below are a few important reasons why it is time to purchase your own Samsung 65 Series 7 Premium TV:

Samsung 65 Series 7 Premium TV is future-proofed

Upgrading your TV is a wise move if you haven’t bought a new one for years. In case you are looking for a more high-tech television, then this future-proofed for most formats Samsung 65 Series 7 is the ideal one to purchase. It is a smart TV that does not only deliver 4K resolution, rather High Dynamic Range compatibility. As a result, you can easily watch all HDR10 content from various websites, like Amazon and Netflix.

Samsung 65 Series 7 Premium TV is budget-friendly

For some, it might be an expensive piece of technology. But if you take a look at its features, you would know that it is definitely on the budget-friendly side of the company’s mid-range products. Samsung truly creates offerings, especially televisions that stand out from the crowd. If you are to buy one, be sure to consider the overall package and not the price alone.

Samsung 65 Series 7 Premium TV has a first-rate black level

When you are planning to buy a new TV, make it a point to check the picture quality. It is also important to note that this Samsung TV has an excellent black level or shadow production because it is built upon a superb foundation and contrast performance. This means you can see favorably dark shadows in TV shows, cinematic movies, or anything you are watching.

Samsung 65 Series 7 Premium TV has balanced grayscale and precise colors

Another great thing about this Samsung mid-range TV offering is that it exceeds regular dynamic range color expectations. It creates saturated blues, greens, and reds, which are used to make other colors in a TV. As a result, you will be satisfied watching any content and won’t be disappointed in any way.

Samsung is known to produce amazing offerings since it started. Up to this day, it continues to strive hard to bring the best technology to people from across the globe. One of which is the Samsung 65 Series 7 Premium TV. Simply take a look at these reasons why you should purchase one and you will be convinced that it is worth your hard-earned money. It is absolutely a great buy, especially if you love watching TV and you want to level up your entertainment or gaming experience. As guaranteed, your TV experience will be top-notch with Samsung’s 65-inch MU7000 series.

Nearing Retirement? Make Sure You Won’t Run Out Of Money

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Are you nearing retirement? Wondering how to make sure you won’t run out of money during your old age?

The simplest recommendation is most likely the idea of waiting until you’re 70 to claim Social Security and then use the IRS’ required minimum distribution table to know how much you could withdraw from your savings each and every year. Based on information provided by a research scholar from Stanford Center on Longevity, this might be the best approach for people who have saved anywhere between $100 000 and $1 million.

The traditional way has long been that you should withdraw 4 percent of your retirement savings in the first year and increase the amount yearly depending on rate of inflation.

Some people try not to use the money at all, using it only as an emergency fund and some people do pretty much the opposite, using their retirement funds as a checking account. Neither of these versions are too reasonable.

Whether this recommendation is the way to go for you, we can’t really say. It could be great but we couldn’t give you a definitive answer. However, it is definitely reasonable to make a retirement plan and think through it all logically. That’s the very minimum all of us should be doing, independent of the age. Financial planning is important to make sure you don’t run out of money too soon, or to make sure you had any in the first place.

Working during your first theoretical retirement years is also a good idea, especially for some people who are used to and still capable of being active, for them to keep doing some work is the best idea. Not just because of money, but just to keep themselves active. For other people, like me, can i buy powerball tickets online might be the first question that comes to my mind when I start thinking about financial planning. Meaning, I would usually just think about anything else than planning and money and hope to get lucky.