Daily Share Tools: Productivity

Clinton Says She'll Call Trump Unfit To Handle Economy

Unknown 0 Communication, Job, Productivity, Social Media 12:41 PM

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Hillary Clinton told USA TODAY on Wednesday she plans to make the case for why Donald Trump is "temperamentally unfit" to manage the nation's economy and pledged to end a tax loophole for wealthy Americans by executive action if necessary in a preview of a second major policy address, scheduled for next week, that casts the real estate mogul as dangerous and unqualified.<br />
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In her first interview after meeting with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday night in Washington, Clinton also did not rule out one of his key demands as his Democratic presidential bid winds down: that party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz be replaced. While Clinton praised Wasserman Schultz for her commitment to defeating Donald Trump, she noted that she had not appointed the Florida congresswoman to head the Democratic National Committee and vowed that Democrats would go forward  "with a new and invigorated party."<br />
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<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/2016/06/02/hillary-clinton-attack-donald-trump-unfit-lead-nation/85284902/">Earlier this month in San Diego</a>, Clinton delivered a blistering speech that cast Trump as too dangerous to serve as the nation’s commander in chief due to his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, lack of foreign policy knowledge and his temperament. She's continued those attacks in the days following Sunday's Orlando nightclub massacre, the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.<br />
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In a speech in Columbus next Wednesday, Clinton said she will make "a similar case on the economy that I did on foreign policy: that Donald Trump is erratic and temperamentally unfit to be responsible for the world's largest economy."<br />
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Clinton pointed to one example of Trump's "incoherent" economic argument by noting that the billionaire has built his populist appeal around leveling the playing field for lower-income Americans, even though she said his tax plan gives a $3 trillion break to millionaires and billionaires over the next 10 years.<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/06/14/clinton-trump-orlando-response/85869074/"><img alt=" Clinton Says She'll Call Trump Unfit To Handle Economy" height="400" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/9065941e142eb769bb76794c742e08d1e14ee558/r=300/http/www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/9065941e142eb769bb76794c742e08d1e14ee558/r=300/http/www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/0b8cc30cce00c99f70f886edfc1a305c7f967d81/c=540-0-3345-2805/local/-/media/2016/06/14/USATODAY/USATODAY/636015059102873370-AP-DEM-2016-Clinton.jpg" title=" Clinton Says She'll Call Trump Unfit To Handle Economy" width="400" /><br /></a><br />
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She pointed out that his proposal would lower rates for hedge-fund and private equity managers by creating a new, lower 15% bracket.  "They would actually see their carried interest rate cut by one-third, making the loophole worse rather than closing it," she said. Previewing her speech next week, she said, "He's either completely incoherent or he hasn't thought one bit about his plan."<br />
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Clinton said she’ll pledge that, if Congress does not act, as president she'll ask the Treasury Department to use its regulatory authority to end a tax advantage, commonly referred to as the carried-interest loophole, that allows hedge-fund managers to pay a lower rate than other taxpayers by counting their income as investment income. Clinton will unveil a middle-class tax cut plan at a later date, according to her campaign.<br />
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Clinton’s speech will seek to undercut Trump’s appeal to middle- and lower-income Americans who’ve been drawn to his populist pledges to bring back manufacturing and coal jobs by slapping fines on China and cutting better trade deals.<br />
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The goal is to demonstrate how his rhetoric does not match his policies, which would disproportionately favor wealthier Americans, according to the campaign. The tax plan could be a ripe target since Trump initially indicated a willingness to raise taxes on the wealthy, then subsequently backed off those comments.<br />
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Regarding the meeting with Sanders, the presumptive Democratic nominee left open the door to several of his demands as he refuses to concede the race to Clinton, including changes to superdelegates and that Wasserman Schultz step down. Clinton and Sanders met after she carried the final Democratic primary in Washington, D.C.<br />
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“I’ve seen how committed she is to making sure Donald Trump is not the president,” Clinton said of Wasserman Schultz. “I’ve not heard any conversations in the party about changes,” she added, noting the Florida congresswoman was appointed by President Obama. "Obviously, we're going to go forward after this election with a new and invigorated party," she said.<br />
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As her campaign vets potential vice presidential candidates, Clinton gave another nod to Sanders, indicating she is prioritizing those with a progressive profile. “We've got a great group of Democrats that are progressive and who agree with me about the direction of the country,” she said, also noting that she is “just beginning” the process.<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/14/bernie-sanders-meet-senate-democrats-hillary-clinton/85826716/"><img alt=" Clinton Says She'll Call Trump Unfit To Handle Economy" height="400" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/9065941e142eb769bb76794c742e08d1e14ee558/r=300/http/www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/9065941e142eb769bb76794c742e08d1e14ee558/r=300/http/www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/8f272cedaee5bc1c5edd2dbe9b2098218083910f/c=768-0-3840-3072/local/-/media/2016/06/14/USATODAY/USATODAY/636015174137488142-AP-DEM-2016-Sanders.jpg" title=" Clinton Says She'll Call Trump Unfit To Handle Economy" width="400" /><br /></a><br />
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As for Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee has doubled down on his proposed temporary ban on Muslims following the Orlando shootings and even proposed broadening it. Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have been critical of the proposal, yet they have not withdrawn their endorsement of Trump as the party’s nominee.<br />
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"It's something that not just Democrats and the press are noticing but a lot of Republicans are noticing as well," Clinton said.<br />
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"Now he is accusing our president of somehow encouraging terrorists and it is really offensive, even pathetic," she said. "And I do wonder how Republican leaders like House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can stay silent while their presumptive party nominee suggests that the President of the United States supports terrorists."<br />
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Finally, Clinton said she still has not heard from the FBI regarding its investigation into her private server as secretary of State. "I just hope they wrap it up soon," she said.<br />
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<img alt=" Clinton Says She'll Call Trump Unfit To Handle Economy" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/43607b3a0ae8ddf1032622efe3a95067daed10b0/c=154-0-4132-2991&r=x393&c=520x390/local/-/media/2015/08/26/USATODAY/USATODAY/635762048836482948-AP-DEM-2016-Clinton.jpg" title=" Clinton Says She'll Call Trump Unfit To Handle Economy" /><br />
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Clinton meets with local residents at the Jones St. Java House on April 14, 2015, in LeClaire, Iowa.  Charlie Neibergall, AP<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">credit:usatoday</span>

Clinton Says She'll Call Trump Unfit To Handle Economy

Hillary Clinton told USA TODAY on Wednesday she plans to make the case for why Donald Trump is "temperamentally unfit" to mana...

Everything You Need

Unknown 0 Business, Productivity 1:26 AM

We can get various types of watches for men in women and we do accept orders from different parts of the country!! Take your time relax and choose what you feel can be best for you!! WELCOME<br />
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Everything You Need

We can get various types of watches for men in women and we do accept orders from different parts of the country!! Take your time relax and ...

Next iPhone To Ditch Headphone Jack

Unknown 0 Business, Communication, iPhone, Productivity, Technology 9:18 AM

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<br />NEW YORK— Is the headphone jack on the iPhone going the way of the iPod? According to the latest rumors, the answer is yes.<br /><br />Although the latest iPhone 6S and 6S Plus are bound to be popular gifts this holiday season, that hasn't stopped the Internet from speculating on what will be in Apple's next iPhone. According to Japanese blog Macotakara, Apple will be getting rid of the 3.5 mm headphone jack that has been standard on iPhones and other devices for years.<br /><br />Macotakara has been accurate in the past, most recently correctly predicting that the iPhone 6 would come in a 4.7-inch version and 5.5-inch 6 Plus variant.<br /><br />According to the report's "reliable source," Apple will be replacing the included Earpods with those that plug in through the device's Lightning port. Users could also use Bluetooth wireless headphones, which have become increasingly more popular over the years. Those with older headphones will likely still be able to use them, though they would likely need an adapter that plugs into the Lightning port.<br /><br />The move is said to allow Apple to make the next iPhone even thinner, which is in line with what the company has traditionally done following an "S" year like this past one was.<br /><br />As usual with early rumors like this one, Apple has remained mum on the topic.<br /><br />The move to change the headphone jack or ports on the iPhone is also not unprecedented for Apple. The first iPhone in 2007 had a recessed headphone jack that was deeper into the phone than most devices and required an adapter to work with many headphones. This part of the iPhone was largely criticized by critics and users and Apple returned to a standard port with the iPhone 3G in 2008.<br /><br />The company switched to the now standard Lightning port in 2012 with the iPhone 5 after using the larger 30-pin connector on its iPhones, iPads and iPods. That move was initially met with a tepid response, though users and accessory makers quickly adapted.<br /><br />The headphone rumor is one of many early iPhone 7 theories. Others that have popped up in recent days include an Apple patent that would allow the phone to be used with gloves (something rival Android and Windows phones can already do) and that the company has a patent to make the phones more water resistant.<br /><br />If recent history holds true Apple will likely unveil the next iPhone in the fall of 2016, with plenty of rumors and speculation happening between now and then.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">credit:usatoday </span>

Next iPhone To Ditch Headphone Jack

NEW YORK— Is the headphone jack on the iPhone going the way of the iPod? According to the latest rumors, the answer is yes. Although the l...

Sote Tuseme Hivi...............

Unknown 0 Communication, Productivity, Social Media 7:14 AM

<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="Sote Tuseme Hivi..............." id="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeI9tSDrP_4p1ypnL_54-H6iI-4IgJ8pdnpK6q_3VB25ipnROh-00yJDvdxZ9bxmu_1OBdsa9UlFEc-sQdJbgk0wI35_dVeTg2Ak_OnV-nO9rwXcVeV13xe6zVu9_oj4nx3C7pYbKMWX0/s1600/lowasa.jpg" style="height: 498px; width: 399px;" title="Sote Tuseme Hivi..............." />  <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Itabidi tuseme msemo mmoja wa marekani.........</span><br />
****<span style="font-size: x-large;">WHETHER HE WILL BRING DEVELOPMENT OR NOT WE WILL CHOOSE OBAMA TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT AMERICA IS FOR EVERYONE</span>****<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Na sisi tunasema...............</span><br />
****<span style="font-size: x-large;">WHETHER HE WILL BRING DEVELOPMENT OR NOT WE WILL CHOOSE LOWASA FROM UKAWA TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT TANZANIA IS FOR EVERYONE, NOT CCM ONLY</span>****<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tunachotaka sio stori ni mabadiliko maana bila kuwa mabadiliko, hatutakuwa na maendeleo!!!!!</span><br />
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Sote Tuseme Hivi...............

Itabidi tuseme msemo mmoja wa marekani......... **** WHETHER HE WILL BRING DEVELOPMENT OR NOT WE WILL CHOOSE OBAMA TO SHOW THE WORLD...

The New Rules of Success

Unknown 0 Business, Health, Productivity 9:01 AM

<img alt="The New Rules of Success" height="400" src="https://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/default/files/styles/article-inline-half/public/field_blog_entry_images/thumb-328420_640.jpg?itok=KbXeK4xJ" title="The New Rules of Success" width="377" /><br /><br />Many people have been taught everything from algebra to zoology but not the keys to real-world success. <br /><br />Some are time-honored, others reflect modern times. <br /><br />Work long. An old saw is, "Work smart, not long."  Alas, today's truth is that, in many workplaces, especially in prestigious organizations, working long is also key to being promoted and not "laid off." <br /><br />Be low-maintenance. In a kinder world, bosses and coworkers would be particularly supportive of employees in need: who suffer from mental illness, have a family member with cancer, and simply who need tasks reexplained. But I'd be less than honest than to encourage you to open up about such things. In many workplaces, especially in prestigious organizations, everyone feels pressure to do more with less and so if you're perceived as high-maintenance, you become a candidate for being marginalized, shunted aside where others won't have to deal with your issues. <br /><br />Alas, the rule for getting ahead in many if not most of today's workplaces: Be preternaturally pleasant. No, not necessarily chirpy, just moderately upbeat nearly all the time. <br /><br />Get technical.  The days are rapidly ending when you can afford to say "I'm not a math person" or "I'm not technical."  While soft skills such as communication and organization are widely important, increasingly, they're valued only in concert with technical skills. <br /><br />Attend You U.  The old rule was "Degrees are worth it"  But now, their price tag has gone throug the roof. At the same time, good courses are now available nearly free online (Udemy, Udacity, Coursera, edX, etc. In addition, there are free, time-effective YouTube and other online videos, and Google-findiable articles on every imaginable subject. All that has made You U an often-wiser choice: Create a curriculum personalized to your needs and that of your employer. You U enables you to learn what you want, when you want, far faster, and at dramatically lower cost. Just make sure your job applications make clear how your You U education not only was more practical but is evidence of your being a cost-conscious self-starter. <br /><br />Learn how to play team ball. Individual initiative is largely being replaced by team effort. The successful team member must learn to express disagreement in ways that while tactful, gets the point across, be patient in the face of the inefficiency common in team efforts, and accept that credit must be shared, even often with those who didn't pull their weight. <br /><br />As you move up, you must learn how to run a crisp meeting: tight agenda, friendly but professional tone, subtly encouraging conciseness, learning when to rely on consensus and when to make a leaderly decision, and ensuring that commitments made in the meeting are kept. <br /><br />Communicate deftly. People are ever more sensitive to slights. So you must weigh whether the upside of providing feedback is worth the possible alienation. If so, with most people, you must exert great care in how you couch a suggestion. Except in extreme situations, you must prioritize letting them save face. So rather than, "I think you should do X because of Y," you're on safer ground if you say, "Because of Y, I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to do X. What do you think?" <br /><br />Remember the Triple Bottom Line. In the old days, it was all about the bottom line: what will enhance profitability. Today, in a growing percentage of workplaces, there is a triple bottom line: profits, people, planet. As you make your decisions, it's wise to consider all three. <br /><br />Beware The Third Rail.  Race and gender are ever more difficult to discuss candidly. You may wish to be silent on the issue. Or if you speak up, it's much safer to opine in the politically correct direction: that you advocate reallocating more to women, people of color, the disabied, and LBGTs .The workplace highway is littered with people killed because they dared question that Orthodoxy. <br /><br />Focus on The Other. Almost 100 years ago now, Dale Carnegie wrote the highly influential, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Its core advice is as valid today as ever: Focus on the other person. Let them talk; ask about them; help them get their needs met. <br /><br />For example, perhaps the best question you could ask a coworker and especially your boss is, "How Could I Make Your Life Easier?" As legendary sales trainer Zig Ziglar said, To get what you want, help people get what they want."<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">credit:psychologytoday </span>

The New Rules of Success

Many people have been taught everything from algebra to zoology but not the keys to real-world success. Some are time-honored, others reflec...

25 Websites To Help You Make More Money In Between Gigs

Unknown 0 Business, Productivity 12:44 AM

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<br /><br />Yesterday, over 100 million dollars was made by people without a job. How did they do it? They had something to share. Remember in grade school when you shared your sandwich with the kid next to you? Well, there are now websites that hook you up with those who want what you have (apartments, cars, theater tickets, spouses, you name it), making helping others profitable. You can earn money if you have spare time, a spare room, or a spare tire.   <br /><br />Now, when I travel, I stay with delightful people in their homes, use their neighbors’ car, and call on Uber to take me to the airport.  I also make money on the home I’ve vacated, renting it out through a service that does that sort of thing. I’ve gone from spending money on vacation to making money on vacation. I even found a great graphic designer on Elance.com (link is external) and found my book editor from her Craigslist (link is external) ad. <br /><br />So, if your Kickstarter campaign didn’t turn your venture into Google, if you’ve aged out of the workplace, or you’re waiting for your big break, here are some ways you can take advantage of the new sharing economy.  <br /><br />1. Airbnb (link is external) out a room — Yes, ‘Airbnb’ is now used as a verb, just like Google. If you live in or near a desirable location (you can lie about your age and your weight, but this is harder) and have an extra room (or don't mind sleeping on the couch) you can earn around $100 a night hosting travelers. Minus some fees, that brings in something like 35K a year! (Also check out: Misterbnb (link is external) (a gay-friendly take on Airbnb), VacationRentals (link is external), and VRBO (link is external)).  <br /><br />2. Walk a dog. According to Rover.com (link is external) (ready to be your best friend), you can make $40 a day by dog-sitting. Take in two dogs and do the math. If you commit to 4 days a week, that comes to almost $17K a year. (Other ideas: DogVacay (link is external), Care.com, (link is external) and Fetch! Pet Care (link is external)).  <br /><br />3. Do you look cute in a chauffeur’s hat? Drive people around. If you’ve got a full house, you may want to get out for a few hours and go for a drive. Why not get paid for it? Uber (link is external) drivers who work just a few hours a night, five nights a week earn over $26K a year. (Check out Lyft (link is external) and SideCar (link is external), as well). <br /><br />4. Sell stuff on eBay. (link is external)We all have shoes we no longer wear, sweaters we’re sick of, a fondue set or Turkish coffee maker we never use. There are folks willing to buy just about anything. Got a hobby? If not, get one, and then start monetizing it on sites like eBay (link is external), Amazon, (link is external) Craigslist (link is external), Etsy (link is external), and Threadflip (link is external). Even the most unlikely hobby can fatten up your bank account. Someone I know fixes old watches and then sells them on eBay, bringing in up to $100 a week. I know another guy that made $20K one year by reselling paint-by-number kits. (Hint: People love old crap. The kitschier, the better. Earn some green for that spring clean).  <br /><br />5. Help someone. Lend a helping hand and TaskRabbit (link is external)will put some cash in it. This site outsources people’s errands (grocery shopping, housekeeping, repairs, etc). The user lists a task and others post bids. What you earn depends on the task, but even just a few errands a week could bring in $15K a year. FancyHands (link is external) and Craigslist (link is external) offer a similar deal. If you're great with kids, check out Care.com (link is external) and SitterCity (link is external) (I know someone who charges $25 an hour-- IN CASH!) If you're interested in branding and advertisement, Gigwalk (link is external) is a cool way to get paid for helping companies do market research. <br /><br />6. Can you write? Are you tech-savvy? Got an hour or two to spare? Become a freelancer and earn money for your skills, without even leaving the couch (or putting on pants!) Sites such as oDesk (link is external), Elance (link is external), PeoplePerHour (link is external), Freelancer (link is external) and Guru (link is external) list 100,000+ jobs every month within a wide range of job categories. The best part is its flexibility: long-term, short-term, pay-by-hour, pay-by-project - there's something for literally everyone. How much you make depends on the kind of work you're doing, but even writing up a short blurb for a website can earn you $50 or more.  <br /><br />Now, SHARE this with your friends and followers so they, too, can cash in on the SHARING economy!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">credit:psychologytoday </span>

25 Websites To Help You Make More Money In Between Gigs

Yesterday, over 100 million dollars was made by people without a job. How did they do it? They had something to share. Remember in grade s...

Does Eating Your Carrots Make You More Creative?

Unknown 0 Health, Productivity 12:40 AM

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHdBMZOe3gu_Cu5enNtUSrbFLj72YbqSVmzk2QWSuQufe2NSQNqubWdODWcVuhecbcHsinWaqTcYTGbz5xkk2TBiY-sK4uBSfm7QgHF0GYftbiX-QBhCurydu-2bnmbmyc8RnNgtd6LU/s1600/Vegetables.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Does Eating Your Carrots Make You More Creative?" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHdBMZOe3gu_Cu5enNtUSrbFLj72YbqSVmzk2QWSuQufe2NSQNqubWdODWcVuhecbcHsinWaqTcYTGbz5xkk2TBiY-sK4uBSfm7QgHF0GYftbiX-QBhCurydu-2bnmbmyc8RnNgtd6LU/s400/Vegetables.jpg" title="Does Eating Your Carrots Make You More Creative?" width="400" /></a><br />
Eating my veggies always makes me feel self-nurturing and virtuous, and that’s a boost to my happiness and self-esteem. But the mental health benefits of a well-nourished mind don’t end there. A new study hints that eating fruits and vegetables might also make me more curious and creative. <br />
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In previous studies, people who ate more fruits and vegetables reported feeling happier and more satisfied with their lives. This relationship persisted even when researchers controlled for factors such as income, education and physical activity. <br />
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In the new study (link is external), more than 400 young adults completed daily online diaries for two weeks. Each day, they recorded what they were eating, feeling and doing. Below, lead researcher Tamlin Conner (link is external), Ph.D., a psychology lecturer at the University of Otago in New Zealand, explains what the results revealed. <br />
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What were the key findings of your study? <br />
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Dr. Conner: On days when people ate more fruits and vegetables, they reported feeling much happier than they normally did. But even more strongly than happiness, daily fruit and vegetable consumption predicted states of eudaemonic well-being — how engaged and inspired people felt that day, how interested and curious they were in their environment and how creative they felt. In fact, these patterns for flourishing were almost twice as strong as the patterns found with happiness. <br />
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Might it be that people who ate fruits and veggies also tended to stay healthier and exercise more, and that’s what helped them flourish psychologically? <br />
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Dr. Conner: This is a good question. If people were having a healthy day, they might eat better, exercise more and feel better because of the exercise, not the diet. However, in follow-up analyses, I controlled for daily exercise and daily health ratings, and the original findings still held. <br />
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How could eating fruits and vegetables enhance someone’s psychological well-being? <br />
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Dr. Conner: I think there is likely to be a connection between fruit and vegetable consumption and the motivation or drive to engage in daily life — approach motivation, in scientific terms. There are biologically plausible pathways by why fruits and vegetables could promote engagement. <br />
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Vitamin C might be a key pathway here. It is an important co-factor in the production of dopamine, which is critical to mood and motivational drive. A recent study (link is external) found increased vitamin C levels in the blood following kiwifruit consumption, with corresponding improvements in emotional vitality. <br />
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B-vitamins and complex carbohydrates in fruits and vegetables also promote the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin, which are important to daily mood. At this stage, however, I cannot say exactly what the mechanism might be. <br />
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Because your research was correlational, it wasn’t possible to show causality. Could it be that feeling engaged and curious led to choosing healthier foods? <br />
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Dr. Conner: Yes, that’s very possible. There is a growing awareness that happiness and health are tightly linked, and the connection is bidirectional. This is why I’m shifting into intervention research, so that I can test for causal patterns and biochemical mediators. <br />
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I have a study running right now that aims to increase young adults’ fruit and vegetable consumption over a two-week period. This will allow me to test the causal effects of eating more fruits and vegetables on mood, engagement and curiosity. I will also be looking at a few select biochemical mediators, including vitamin C. <br />
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In the meantime, what are the practical implications of your research? <br />
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Dr. Conner: Pay attention to what you eat each day for a week, and then try to incorporate more plant foods the following week. Although at this stage I cannot say with certainty that eating carrots will make you more creative or that fruit will help you flourish, the evidentiary base is growing. So it probably wouldn’t hurt to hedge your bets and opt for a carrot rather than a candy bar if you want to feel better.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">credit:psychologytoday</span>

Does Eating Your Carrots Make You More Creative?

Eating my veggies always makes me feel self-nurturing and virtuous, and that’s a boost to my happiness and self-esteem. But the mental he...

Facebook Investors Find Out True Cost Of WhatsApp Deal

Unknown 0 Business, Productivity 5:36 AM

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yYsasEYY5Ql8mV2cjJtjhs1OuJLWNcg8Dw9vvXvujm7SigUnjmh2VMgcTO3Ev7AQVaqCcjyc8BU3cu-zOaKeK6qekKdCtPVNWayB3aCYiao3-UiiWKy5hE9zOBzeYWWe9BPbp40LkT8/s1600/635653250039141929-whatsApp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Facebook Investors Find Out True Cost Of WhatsApp Deal" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yYsasEYY5Ql8mV2cjJtjhs1OuJLWNcg8Dw9vvXvujm7SigUnjmh2VMgcTO3Ev7AQVaqCcjyc8BU3cu-zOaKeK6qekKdCtPVNWayB3aCYiao3-UiiWKy5hE9zOBzeYWWe9BPbp40LkT8/s1600/635653250039141929-whatsApp.JPG" title="Facebook Investors Find Out True Cost Of WhatsApp Deal" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />SAN FRANCISCO — When Facebook executives told investors in January that the giant social network would spend a lot more, they weren't kidding.<br /><br />Quarterly results out late Wednesday showed stock-compensation shot through the roof. And payouts to employees at WhatsApp, the popular global messaging service it bought for $19 billion last year, were part of the reason.<br /><br />The company said late Wednesday that first-quarter expenses rose a whopping 83%, about twice as fast as revenue growth of 42%.<br /><br />Operating income fell 13%, while the company's operating margin shrank to 26% of revenue from 43% a year ago.<br /><br />That spooked investors enough to send Facebook FB shares down as much as 3% in late trading, even though the results largely met Wall Street expectations.<br /><br />The stock rebounded a bit after the company lowered the top end of its operating expense growth forecast. But it's not operational spending alone that's surging.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">credit:usatoday </span>

Facebook Investors Find Out True Cost Of WhatsApp Deal

SAN FRANCISCO — When Facebook executives told investors in January that the giant social network would spend a lot more, they weren't ...

Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May

Unknown 0 Productivity, Social Media 4:43 AM

<br /><br />Each month, Netflix adds some <a href="http://entertainthis.usatoday.com/2015/04/22/netflix-may-movies-shows/">new movies and shows</a> to the mix. Of course, that means some movies have to go. Farewell, films!<br /><br />Hurry and stream these titles before they’re off Netflix in May. Some highlights:<br />A Knight’s Tale<br /><img alt="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " src="https://usatlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/xxx_b03_knight_16__cci__a_knight_s_tale_.jpg?w=1000&h=663" title="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " /><br /><br />(Columbia Pictures)<br /><br />One more chance to see Heath Ledger joust! The movie’s gone May 1.<br />Airplane!<br /><img alt="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " src="https://usatlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/d_jabbar_airfilms.jpg?w=1000&h=1465" title="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " /><br /><br />(The Kobal Collection/Paramount)<br /><br />Surely, they can’t be serious?! Well, they are. Airplane! and Airplane II are gone by May 1.<br />BASEketball<br /><img alt="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " src="https://usatlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/xxx_ib08g1look20_32p9_x_26_lines.jpg?w=1000&h=671" title="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " /><br /><br />(Universal Pictures)<br /><br />Who doesn’t love the basketball/baseball hybrid sport? Play before May 1.<br />Flight<br /><img alt="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " src="https://usatlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/etab_2flight-mov_03.jpg?w=1000&h=416" title="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " /><br /><br />(Paramount Pictures)<br /><br />See why Denzel Washington got his sixth Oscar nomination before May 2.<br />Funny Face<br /><img alt="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " src="https://usatlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/b02_gap_hepburn_24.jpg?w=1000&h=1556" title="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " /><br /><br />(Jill Markey)<br /><br />It’s Fred Astaire AND Audrey Hepburn, and it’s gone May 1.<br />Skyfall<br /><img alt="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " src="https://usatlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/xxx_skyfall.jpg?w=1000&h=667" title="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " /><br /><br />(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures)<br /><br />The 2012 Bond film is falling from your queue on May 5.<br />The New Guy<br /><img alt="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " src="https://usatlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/xxx_d_griffin_qualls_new_guy_mov.jpg?w=1000&h=669" title="Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May " /><br /><br />(Van Redin Revolution Studios)<br /><br />Remember this 2002 movie? No? You can re-watch before May 28.<br />THE FULL LIST:<br /><br />Leaving May 1<br /><br />6 Bullets (2012)<br />12 Dogs of Christmas: Great Puppy Rescue (2012)<br />A Knight’s Tale (2001)<br />Airplane! (1980)<br />Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)<br />All I Want for Christmas (1991)<br />Along Came Polly (2004)<br />An American Haunting (2006)<br />Baby Genius: The Four Seasons<br />Baby Genius: Underwater Adventures<br />BASEketball (1998)<br />Bitter Moon (1992)<br />Boys Don’t Cry (1999)<br />Bratz: Babyz: The Movie (2005)<br />Call Me Claus (2001)<br />Call Me Crazy: A Five Film (2013)<br />Cecil B. Demented (2000)<br />Deuces Wild (2002)<br />Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood (2002)<br />Fantastic Voyage (1966)<br />Finding Forrester (2000)<br />Friday the 13th: Part 7: The New Blood (1988)<br />Funny Face (1957)<br />Ichi the Killer (2001)<br />Into the Blue 2: The Reef (2009)<br />Life Is Beautiful (1997)<br />RoboCop (1987)<br />Romancing the Stone (1984)<br />Sabrina (1954)<br />Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)<br />The Accused (1988)<br />The Brothers Bloom (2008)<br />The Jewel of the Nile (1985)<br />The Secret of NIMH (1982)<br />True Justice: Season 1<br />Valkyrie (2008)<br /><br />Leaving May 2<br /><br />Flight (2012)<br /><br />Leaving May 3<br />The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)<br /><br />Leaving May 5<br />Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2011)<br />Frank Skinner StandUp: Live from Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena (2008)<br />Grumpy Old Women Live (2008)<br />Russell Kane: Smokescreens & Castles Live (2011)<br />Skyfall (2012)<br /><br />Leaving May 6<br />1428 (2009)<br /><br />Leaving May 12<br /><br />Grimm’s Snow White (2012)<br />Robot & Frank (2012)<br /><br />Leaving May 13<br />Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2011)<br /><br />Leaving May 15<br />Buffalo Girls (2012)<br /><br />Leaving May 16<br />Fun Size (2012)<br /><br />Leaving May 17<br />Bridezillas: Season 9<br />Cloud 9 (2014)<br />Dane Cook: Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden (2007)<br /><br />Leaving May 19<br />Red Dawn (2012)<br /><br />Leaving May 20<br />No Woman, No Cry (2010)<br /><br />Leaving May 23<br />Silent House (2011)<br /><br /><br />Leaving May 2<br />The New Guy (2002)<br /><br />Leaving May 31<br />The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)<br /><br /> credit:usatoday

Quick! Watch These Netflix Movies Before They're Gone In May

Each month, Netflix adds some new movies and shows to the mix. Of course, that means some movies have to go. Farewell, films! Hurry and str...

Things To Know In Life

Unknown 0 Productivity 10:01 AM

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVZeBsr-XtW6aIqpa6wTwcgtyJRmqLcZSbaIzRkds_9OHY2kgyHTrgajNNYwEUs2nXpMRJTYHTMKzAekDSAO385ImM6RuDjoLzmKHGjsiWUn3WzhqQYpS2NwvG1etnMlDRS67DQNKvlw/s1600/Life-Quotes-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Things To Know In Life" border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVZeBsr-XtW6aIqpa6wTwcgtyJRmqLcZSbaIzRkds_9OHY2kgyHTrgajNNYwEUs2nXpMRJTYHTMKzAekDSAO385ImM6RuDjoLzmKHGjsiWUn3WzhqQYpS2NwvG1etnMlDRS67DQNKvlw/s1600/Life-Quotes-30.jpg" title="Things To Know In Life" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />What are the top 10 things we need to know in life? “Life is short, you need to…blah blah blah….” I knew this already, anything I haven’t been informed yet? Justin Freeman got us an answer on Quora:<br /><br /><div>
1. Realize that nobody cares, and if they do, you shouldn’t care that they care.<br /><br />Got a new car? Nobody cares. You’ll get some gawkers for a couple of weeks—they don’t care. They’re curious. Three weeks in it’ll be just another shiny blob among all the thousands of others crawling down the freeway and sitting in garages and driveways up and down your street. People will care about your car just as much as you care about all of those. Got a new gewgaw? New wardrobe? Went to a swanky restaurant? Exotic vacation? Nobody cares. Don’t base your happiness on people’s caring, because they won’t. And if they do, they either want your stuff or hate you for it.<br /></div>
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2. Some rulebreakers will break rule number one.<br /><br />Occasionally, people in your life will defy the odds and actually care about you. Still not your stuff, sorry. But if they value you, they’ll value that you value it, and they’ll listen. When you talk about all of those things that nobody else cares about, they will look into your eyes and consume your words, and in that moment you will know that every part of them is there with you.<br /></div>
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3. Spend your life with rulebreakers.<br /><br />Marry them. Befriend them. Work with them. Spend weekends with them. No matter how much power you become possessed of, you’ll never be able to make someone care—so gather close the caring.<br /></div>
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4. Money is cheap.<br /><br />I mean, there’s a lot of it—trillions upon trillions of dollars floating around the world, largely made up of cash whose value is made up and ascribed to it, anyway. Don’t engineer your life around getting a slightly less tiny portion of this pile, and make your spirit of generosity reflect this principle. I knew a man who became driven by the desire to amass six figures in savings, so he worked and scrimped and sacrificed to get there. And he did… right before he died of cancer. I’m sure his wife’s new husband appreciated his diligence.<br /></div>
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5. Money is expensive.<br /><br />I mean, it’s difficult to get your hands on sometimes—and you never know when someone’s going to pull the floorboards out from under you—so don’t be stupid with it. Avoid debt on depreciating assets, and never incur debt in order to assuage your vanity (see rule number one). Debt has become normative, but don’t blithely accept it as a rite of passage into adulthood—debt represents imbalance and, in some sense, often a resignation of control. Student loan debt isn’t always avoidable, but it isn’t a given—my wife and I completed a combined ten years of college with zero debt between us. If you can’t avoid it, though, make sure that your degree is an investment rather than a liability—I mourn a bit for all of the people going tens of thousands of dollars in debt in pursuit of vague liberal arts degrees with no idea of what they want out of life. If you’re just dropping tuition dollars for lack of a better idea at the moment, just withdraw and go wander around Europe for a few weeks—I guarantee you’ll spend less and learn more in the process.<br /></div>
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6. Learn the ancient art of rhetoric.<br /><br />The elements of rhetoric, in all of their forms, are what make the world go around—because they are what prompt the decisions people make. If you develop an understanding of how they work, while everyone else is frightened by flames and booming voices, you will be able to see behind veils of communication and see what levers little men are pulling. Not only will you develop immunity from all manner of commercials, marketing, hucksters and salesmen, to the beautiful speeches of liars and thieves, you’ll also find yourself able to craft your speech in ways that influence people. When you know how to speak in order to change someone’s mind, to instill confidence in someone, to quiet the fears of a child, then you will know this power firsthand. However, bear in mind as you use it that your opponent in any debate is not the other person, but ignorance.<br /></div>
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7. You are responsible to everyone, but you’re responsible for yourself.<br /><br />I believe we’re responsible to everyone for something, even if it’s something as basic as an affirmation of their humanity. However, it should most often go far beyond that and manifest itself in service to others, to being a voice for the voiceless. If you’re reading this, there are those around you who toil under burdens larger than yours, who stand in need of touch and respect and chances. Conversely, though, you’re responsible for yourself. Nobody else is going to find success for you, and nobody else is going to instill happiness into you from the outside. That’s on you.<br /></div>
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8. Learn to see reality in terms of systems.<br /><br />When you understand the world around you as a massive web of interconnected, largely interdependent systems, things get much less mystifying—and the less we either ascribe to magic or allow to exist behind a fog, the less susceptible we’ll be to all manner of being taken advantage of. However…<br /></div>
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9. Account for the threat of black swan events.<br /><br />Sometimes chaos consumes the most meticulous of plans, and if you live life with no margins in a financial, emotional, or any other sense, you will be subject to its whims. Take risks, but backstop them with something—I strongly suspect these people who say having a Plan B is a sign of weak commitment aren’t living hand to mouth. Do what you need to in order to keep your footing.<br /></div>
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10. You both need and don’t need other people.<br /><br />You need others in a sense that you need to be part of a community—there’s a reason we reflexively pity hermits. Regardless of your theory of anthropogenesis, it’s hard to deny that we are built for community, and that ‘we’ is always more than ‘me.’ However, you don’t need another person to make your life have meaning—this idea that Disney has shoved through our eyeballs, that there’s someone out there for all of us if we’ll just believe hard enough and never stop searching, is hokum… because of arithmetic, if nothing else. Establish your own life—then, if there’s a particular person that you can’t help but integrate, believe me, you’ll know.<br /></div>
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11. Always give more than is required of you.<br /><br />Ask yourself these questions if you don't believe in your life: 10 Questions That Prove You’re Doing Better Than You Think</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">credit:hacklife</span></div>

Things To Know In Life

What are the top 10 things we need to know in life? “Life is short, you need to…blah blah blah….” I knew this already, anything I haven’t ...

12 Tricks You Probably Don’t Know About iPhone 6

Unknown 0 iPhone, Productivity, Technology 1:26 PM

With the iPhone 6 firmly established as the must have smartphone this winter, you will most likely be looking to purchase one in time for Christmas. If this is the case, however, you should learn as much as you can about the new handset and the iOS 8 as this will help you to enjoy the most beneficial user experience possible. Here are some of the top tricks and tips for getting the most from your brand new iPhone and iOS 8 software:<div>
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Securing your iPhone</h2>
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1. Disable Control Center Access when Using iOS 7</h4>
Security is a huge issue for any smartphone user, especially when you consider the rising prominence of m-commerce and contactless payment solutions. From a total online spend of £24.2 billion between May and July, a staggering £8.7 million was spent through smartphones and tablet devices, and this makes it imperative that you operate safely when browsing through a mobile interface. Users of iOS 7 software must be particularly careful, as it was recently revealed that a flaw in this platform means that the trademark iPhone lock screen can be bypassed in seconds. There is a trick to avoid this, however, as users are most vulnerable if access to the Control Center is enabled from the lock screen. By accessing ‘Settings’ and disabling Control Center access, you can safeguard your handset until you upgrade to the iOS 8 platform.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/ControlCenter-580-100.jpg"><img src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/ControlCenter-580-100.jpg" /></a></div>
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2. Turn on the Accessibility Feature if you have Young Children</h4>
For anyone with young children or nephews, it will come as no surprise that youngsters love nothing better than playing with iPhones. This can be problematic, however, especially if your child accesses your phone and accidentally deletes an invaluable piece of data or contact information. To avoid this, simply access your settings and click on the ‘General’ tab. Then select ‘Accessibility’ and enable ‘Guided Access’ on your device. This is a little known feature, but once that can prevent your phone from accidental harm when in the hands of infants and children.</div>
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3. Enable Longer and More Complex Passcodes</h4>
Following the recent breach of iCloud security, there is a growing emphasis on the importance of protecting your most sensitive data as an Apple customer. One of the best but most underrated ways of protecting your iPhone is to create a longer, alpha-numeric passcode that is far more difficult to bypass. All that you are required to do it disable the default ‘Simple Passcode’ setting, which restricts you to a basic four number sequence. This feature can be accessed through ‘Settings’ and clicking on ‘General’, before accessing ‘Passcode Lock’ and making your change.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/Passcode.jpeg"><img src="http://cdn-media-2.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/Passcode.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Using Siri</h3>
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4. Guide Siri on how to Pronounce Certain Words</h4>
Siri has emerged as a key feature of the iOS 7 and iOS 8 software, as it is a smart personal assistant and knowledge navigator that can answer user questions in real-time. While it utilizes a natural language user interface to answer verbal queries, however, it occasionally mispronounces words or misunderstands to original question. You can help to negate this with a little known trick, simply by saying, ‘That is not how you pronounce’ a specific word after Siri has responded to a question. This will correct the error and reveal a list of alternative words for you to select from.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/125cf26c4064b61e1b0ab96803706dd1.png"><img height="566" src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/125cf26c4064b61e1b0ab96803706dd1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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5. Use Siri as a Central Entertainment Platform</h4>
While Siri is revered as an intelligent, personal assistant, it is also connected to a host of additional online services. This means that it can be effectively used as a centrally accessible entertainment platform, from which you can check the latest sports scores, access real-time cinema listings and even source local restaurants to book a romantic dinner. As many of these requests require your iPhone to recognition its precise geographical location, however, you will need to enable ‘Location Services’ by accessing your settings and clicking on ‘Privacy’. The default setting for this feature is off, but this is the only way to activate a GPS signal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/Siri1.jpg"><img height="568" src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/Siri1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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6. Use Siri to Establish Relationships with your Connections</h4>
Perception can often be misleading and Apple’ Siri feature provides a relevant case in point. While many users are aware of the fact that it can respond to questions, for example, fewer individuals have explored its capacity for establishing relationships between connections. By activating Siri and verbally explaining the unique relationships the relationships that you have with selected individuals (while also taking care to pronounce each name exactly as it appears in your contact screen) you can establish replicate real-world connections on your iPhone. Once you have instructed Siri, simply say ‘Yes’ when prompted by the program and the relationship will be confirmed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/add_relationship_siri_howto_updated.jpg"><img height="640" src="http://cdn-media-2.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/add_relationship_siri_howto_updated-904x1024.jpg" width="565" /></a></div>
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Operation and Functionality</h3>
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7. Charge your iPhone Quicker Using an iPad adaptor</h4>
It is easy to lose track of the remaining charge on your iPhone battery, so there may be occasions where you need to power your device as quickly as possible. There is a trick to achieve this with the iPhone 6, however, as a typical iPad adaptor can be used to deliver a quicker and more efficient charge. According to an article in iLounge, research found that both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were able to effectively use 2.1 Amp power under certain circumstances. So long as you commit to charging your iPhone in short and sharp bursts with the more powerful adapter, you can get it working quickly without damaging its long-term performance.<br /><br /><a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/iphone-6-plus-battery.jpg"><img height="480" src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/iphone-6-plus-battery-1024x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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8. Access the Battery Usage Feature that is New to the iOS 8</h4>
Battery life is certainly a significant selling point for contemporary smartphones, while this was also an area where the iPhone series was considered inferior to Samsung’s Galaxy range of handsets. The iOS 8 has been designed with a brand new feature to counter this, however, as the Battery Usage tool offers a clear and concise breakdown of which apps consume the majority of your power on a daily basis. Although it is a relatively simple and functional feature, it has huge value and can help you to optimize your battery life and save energy. Simply access your setting and click on ‘General’, before opening the ‘Usage’ page and selecting ‘Battery Usage’. You can review your daily activity and close the apps that are draining your power!<br /><br /><a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/battery-life-phil-schiller.png"><img src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/battery-life-phil-schiller.png" /></a></div>
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<br /><h4>
9. Access your Email Drafts and Composes Messages Quicker</h4>
Many of the improvements made in the iOS 8 have been subtle and yet significant, especially when it comes the creation and composition of emails. To begin with, there is a new ‘Undo’ feature available on the iPhone 6 that enables you to redress and error made when typing a new message. Simply shake your iPhone and this option will appear on-screen. In addition to this, you can now access every single draft message stored in your email account by holding down the ‘Compose’ icon for a period of at least three seconds. This will present messages in a list format and negate the need to move in and out of separate folders and compositions.<br /><br /><a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/6df4840dc211c7b4722cc7c1b382d01b.jpeg"><img src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/6df4840dc211c7b4722cc7c1b382d01b.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Getting the Most from your Camera, Video and Online Streaming</span></h3>
<h4>
10. Holding down the Capture Button will Take a Series of Images Simultaneously</h4>
The iPhone 6 has an excellent camera app, which has subsequently been embellished with a number of additional features. There is now the opportunity to take multiple photographs simultaneously, for example, simply by accessing the camera app and holding down the ‘Capture’ icon when framing the image. In theory, this feature is ideal for keen photographers and should enable you to capture the perfect shot within the series of images that you take.<br /><br /><a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/ed6818015398e67a36c506465015fdf9.gif"><img src="http://cdn-media-2.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/ed6818015398e67a36c506465015fdf9.gif" /></a></div>
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<br /><h4>
11. Access the New iOS 8 Time Lapse Guide</h4>
On a similar note, the iOS 8 and iPhone 6 also boast a brand new feature called the ‘Time Lapse Guide’. This also enables you to capture a series of images with the click of a single icon, but the difference is that each shot can be snapped at specific intervals to suit your purpose. It is ideal for capturing a scene with movement, as these individually taken images can then be combined and edited to showcase something in motion. To utilize this feature, simply swipe left along the tabs at the bottom of the camera app until your arrive at ‘Time Lapse’. You can then use the presented clock dial to set the intervals at which the camera will capture images before initiating the process.<br /><br /><a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/iPhone-6-Plus-Review-Photo7.jpg"><img src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/iPhone-6-Plus-Review-Photo7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /><h4>
12. Adjust the Scrubbing Rate when Streaming Videos</h4>
Thanks to the improved performance of the iPhone 6 and the larger screen of the iPhone 6 Plus, streaming audio visual material should be a more enjoyable experience than ever before as an Apple customer. Streaming videos through your iPhone 6 has also been made more enjoyable with the integration of a new feature that allows you to adjust the scrubbing rate when viewing content, simply by moving your finger up and down the screen as required. This effectively means that you can skip through advertisements and selected sections of the video up to four times quicker than usual, or much slower if you want to revisit a particular moment.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/c2eae36383c361904142c106e5521fd3.png"><img src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/10/c2eae36383c361904142c106e5521fd3.png" /></a></div>
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</div>

12 Tricks You Probably Don’t Know About iPhone 6

With the iPhone 6 firmly established as the must have smartphone this winter, you will most likely be looking to purchase one in time for Ch...

11 Best Ways to Protect Your Privacy Online

Unknown 0 Productivity, Technology 12:07 PM

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Protecting your privacy online is harder now than ever. Whether it is “Big Brother” or “Big Data,” it seems everyone wants to collect as much data as possible on every human on Earth. We are all being tracked all the time. For some, this may seem like an inevitable fact of digital life. However, there are steps you can take to protect yourself online and at the very least become much less of a target for cyber criminals and marauding bands of internet marketers.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1. Lock down your social media.</span></h2>
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Most people signup for a Facebook account and just start using it. When someone invites them to play a game or join a group, they just click the button to give those apps authorization to access and use their account information, their list of friends, etc. This data is later used by companies to create network graphs of all of the relationships a person has with others.</div>
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<strong>Our suggestions:</strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, San-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 18px 25px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #575756; font-family: 'Pt serif', Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Use privacy controls in your Facebook settings.</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #575756; font-family: 'Pt serif', Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Pay close attention to which “apps” you give permission to use your information.</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #575756; font-family: 'Pt serif', Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Read through the many settings and options. It is worth taking 10 minutes to read each one on Facebook.</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #575756; font-family: 'Pt serif', Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIN and others all have privacy and security settings. Take advantage of them.</li>
</ul>
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<span class="lazy-div aligncenter size-full wp-image-161843" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 5px; max-width: 1871px;"><span class="lazy-div-placeholder" style="display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 298.609375px; position: relative;"><span class="bttrlazyloading-wrapper bttrlazyloading-loaded" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: table;"><img alt="Screen Shot 2014-06-11 at 10.50.22 AM" bgcolor="#5e5e5e" class="lazy-img aligncenter size-full wp-image-161843 animated fadeIn" data-bttrlazyloading-lg="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.22-AM.png","width":1871,"height":873}" data-bttrlazyloading-md="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.22-AM-1024x477.png","width":1024,"height":477}" data-bttrlazyloading-sm="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.22-AM-380x177.png","width":380,"height":177}" data-bttrlazyloading-xs="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.22-AM-380x177.png","width":380,"height":177}" src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/06/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.22-AM-1024x477.png" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; color: white; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 30px; max-width: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: middle; width: 640px;" /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">2. Use a secure browser.</span></h2>
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Unfortunately, Microsoft has consistently shown that it is a favorite target of hackers. Use an alternative browser to Internet Explorer. Safari, Firefox, and Google Chrome are all better choices. Whichever browser you are using, also look into its security menu, extensions and privacy (in Safari) and set the security choices you are comfortable with.</div>
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<strong>Our suggestions:</strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, San-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 18px 25px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #575756; font-family: 'Pt serif', Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Block pop-up windows by default.</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #575756; font-family: 'Pt serif', Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Warn when visiting fraudulent websites.</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #575756; font-family: 'Pt serif', Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Block cookies and website data from third parties and advertisers.</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #575756; font-family: 'Pt serif', Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 10px;">“Do Not Track” should be selected.</li>
</ul>
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Remember, this will NOT protect you from all of the techniques that are used to track you with a web browser, but it is MUCH better than letting even the sloppiest of advertisers and companies track your every move.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3. Protect the data on your mobile phone.</span></h2>
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If you want full protection, choose an iPhone from Apple. 99% of all mobile malware is on the Android platform. 92% of all Android phones are susceptible to known attacks. The Apps marketplaces for Android are wide open and filled with malware, spyware and viruses. Apple has been criticized for being very strict in their review and quality control of Apps that are allowed to be installed on an iPhone, but this has created the safest mobile environment that exists.</div>
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Additionally, Apple just announced even more privacy features in iOS 8 due out this fall. This includes a security tool that stops Apps from tracking your GPS location unless you are actively using the App. Their iMessages App is extremely secure. Even the NSA doesn’t like it. Also, they have deployed the first, highly reliable, and very secure biometric thumbprint scanner. This last week they also announced they would allow developers to start implementing using your thumbprint for authentication of various secure logins and more.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">4. Be cautious of the word “FREE” in software, apps, and services.</span></h2>
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Like your momma told you, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. People have clamored to get their hands on many “free” online tools and services without asking a simple question, “If this is ‘free,’ how do they pay for all the people and computers that make this service work?” The answer is that they are most likely selling YOU. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to easily tell which apps are tracking everything you do on your mobile device or computer. The best advice is to delete apps you don’t really use regularly and ALWAYS read the warnings that ask for your permission to let the software do something.</div>
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Recently, Google and Facebook both added features to let them use your microphone and camera on your computer or mobile device. While they could use your mic and camera for only legitimate reasons, consider turning off their access when you don’t absolutely need those apps to have it. For example, you can easily allows/disallow access to your “Location Services” on an iPhone or iPad, quickly turning it on for the Maps app when you need directions.</div>
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<span class="lazy-div aligncenter size-full wp-image-161844" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 5px; max-width: 1597px;"><span class="lazy-div-placeholder" style="display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 211.1875px; position: relative;"><span class="bttrlazyloading-wrapper bttrlazyloading-loaded" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: table;"><img alt="Screen Shot 2014-06-11 at 10.50.15 AM" bgcolor="#a2a2a2" class="lazy-img aligncenter size-full wp-image-161844 animated fadeIn" data-bttrlazyloading-lg="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.15-AM.png","width":1597,"height":527}" data-bttrlazyloading-md="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.15-AM-1024x337.png","width":1024,"height":337}" data-bttrlazyloading-sm="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.15-AM-380x125.png","width":380,"height":125}" data-bttrlazyloading-xs="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.15-AM-380x125.png","width":380,"height":125}" src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/06/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.15-AM-1024x337.png" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; color: white; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 30px; max-width: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: middle; width: 640px;" /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">5. Develop a password strategy.</span></h2>
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Passwords have become a pain in the butt for many people. Forgetting a password when you need to get into something is a serious inconvenience, especially when so many different password policies exist. One simple solution is to come up with a PHRASE instead of a word or character string. Instead of “Bobby1989″ try using “Bobby was born in 1989!” These will often be easier to remember and much harder to crack. Note that it even uses a special character “!”, upper case letters, lower case letters and numbers.</div>
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An additional strategy is to develop some system for using a slightly different variation of your main password on every site you use it on. For example, you could use the same phrase, “Bobby was born in 1989!” on <a class="tracker-binded" href="http://hotmail.com/" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Hotmail.com</a> and count the number of characters in the website domain name (7) and choose the first and last letters of the name (HL) and append that to your phrase “Bobby was born in 1989!7HL” On <a class="tracker-binded" href="http://chase.com/" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Chase.com</a> that would be “Bobby was born in 1989!5CE”.</div>
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An attacker would need to gain access to several of your different passwords to figure out what additional pattern you use to change it from site to site.</div>
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A tool to check the strength of your passwords is at:<a class="tracker-binded" href="http://www.passwordmeter.com/" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.passwordmeter.com</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">6. Change your IP address with a tool like ICLOAK™ Stik.</span></h2>
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ICLOAK Stik is a USB device that renders your web browsing sessions invisible to everyone on the Internet. The same device also automatically spoofs your Machine Address Code (MAC) of the computer you are using ICLOAK on so that it doesn’t broadcast this identifier to every website you visit. You can learn more at <a class="tracker-binded" href="https://icloak.org/" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://icloak.org</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">7. Use a VPN service to connect to the Internet.</span></h2>
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A VPN (Virtual Private Network) can encrypt all of your web traffic from your computer to the destination site making it very unlikely for anyone to intercept your information as it will all be encrypted as soon as it leaves your browser. There are many VPN services available at a nominal cost to use them.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">8. Learn about and use Crypto Currency, like Bitcoin.</span></h2>
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Although Bitcoin is still a young technology, it has the potential to really allow individuals to make anonymous purchases online. Every time you use a credit card, there is a digital footprint made by that transaction. With crypto-currencies, they can be used anonymously.</div>
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<span class="lazy-div aligncenter size-full wp-image-161845" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 5px; max-width: 1932px;"><span class="lazy-div-placeholder" style="display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 316.03125px; position: relative;"><span class="bttrlazyloading-wrapper bttrlazyloading-loaded" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: table;"><img alt="Screen Shot 2014-06-11 at 10.50.02 AM" bgcolor="#858585" class="lazy-img aligncenter size-full wp-image-161845 animated fadeIn" data-bttrlazyloading-lg="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.02-AM.png","width":1932,"height":954}" data-bttrlazyloading-md="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.02-AM-1024x505.png","width":1024,"height":505}" data-bttrlazyloading-sm="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.02-AM-380x187.png","width":380,"height":187}" data-bttrlazyloading-xs="{"src":"http:\/\/cdn-media-1.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2014\/06\/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.02-AM-380x187.png","width":380,"height":187}" src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/06/Screen-Shot-2014-06-11-at-10.50.02-AM-1024x505.png" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; color: white; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px auto 30px; max-width: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: middle; width: 640px;" /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">9. Encrypt your email and files that you send across the Internet with GnuPG.</span></h2>
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GnuPG is the GNU project’s complete and free implementation of the OpenPGP standard. You can find more information including free software tools here:<a class="tracker-binded" href="https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/frontends.html" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.gnupg.org/related_software/frontends.html</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">10. Pay in cash more often.</span></h2>
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We have all become accustomed to the convenience of paying with plastic. However, this is becoming more and more dangerous as card thieves have discovered ingenious ways to get and use your cards. Alternatively, use the features provided by some major banks that will issue temporary, unique Credit Card numbers for a single online transaction. At Chase they are called Single Use Accounts.</div>
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<strong>You can learn more here:</strong></div>
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Chase Bank</div>
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<a class="tracker-binded" href="https://www.chase.com/commercial-bank/treasury-management/single-use-accounts" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.chase.com/commercial-bank/treasury-management/single-use-accounts</a></div>
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Bank of America</div>
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<a class="tracker-binded" href="https://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/accounts-cards/shopsafe.go" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/accounts-cards/shopsafe.go</a></div>
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Citi</div>
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<a class="tracker-binded" href="https://www.citibank.com/us/cards/gen-content/messages/van/index.htm" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.citibank.com/us/cards/gen-content/messages/van/index.htm</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">11. Keep your antivirus software updated.</span></h2>
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The Internet’s viruses are similar to real viruses in that they are always changing and adapting. The best thing that you can do to prevent an attack on your computer is to keep your antivirus software updated. There are several free antivirus solutions available; however, the one I have found most recommended by IT pro’s like <a class="tracker-binded" href="http://www.digithinkit.com/blog/7" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Eric B. Delisle</a> is the antivirus solution produced by Kaspersky Labs. You can find more about them at:<a class="tracker-binded" href="http://usa.kaspersky.com/" sl-processed="1" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://usa.kaspersky.com</a></div>
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As a final note, there are passionate people working every day to guard against ever encroaching government and business interests into our personal lives. However, their jobs are made harder by ordinary people who are just too lazy to bother doing even the simplest things to keep themselves safe. Don’t be an easy victim of anyone who would ignore your right to your own data and your own privacy by ignoring these great tips. Instead, commit to giving yourself 30 minutes each day for a week to implement some of these suggestions and at the end of one week, you will be infinitely safer.</div>
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It is a known fact that by simply placing a FAKE “This property is protected by a monitored alarm system” sticker on your window or one of those Brinks signs in your yard, that the average, neighborhood burglar will simply skip your house and go to your neighbor who didn’t bother to do something so simple as put a sticker on their window.</div>
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You have been warned. Good luck.</div>
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<span class="credit" style="color: #888888; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">Featured photo credit: <a class="tracker-binded" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssoosay/5762345557" sl-processed="1" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Flickr via flickr.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>credit: lifehack.org</i></span></div>
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11 Best Ways to Protect Your Privacy Online

Protecting your privacy online is harder now than ever. Whether it is “Big Brother” or “Big Data,” it seems everyone wants to collect as mu...

8 Tools to Start an Online Business without Ruining Your Budget

Unknown 0 Business, Productivity 8:26 AM

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5QnaGWnuglJnm_OWhVWppElcICgHGpiE-8p-p5cFwqNpoF3FknFJqjFDFHCNdlchyphenhyphenYKaeykrSTxDyTq8mi0JKM-iHCOvMMME8JBDZJ3T0PqVM-Q_uONcrNh6p8xXhMbqrhArwWc54OJG/s1600/11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5QnaGWnuglJnm_OWhVWppElcICgHGpiE-8p-p5cFwqNpoF3FknFJqjFDFHCNdlchyphenhyphenYKaeykrSTxDyTq8mi0JKM-iHCOvMMME8JBDZJ3T0PqVM-Q_uONcrNh6p8xXhMbqrhArwWc54OJG/s1600/11.png" /></a></div>
<br />Deep down, you know you want this. You want to taste the freedom that other entrepreneurs have. You want to follow your passion and hopefully also make a living at it. You want to…start an online business.<br /><br />But here’s the thing: Instead of jumping on the bandwagon to start an online business, make sure you do your homework first. Most people launch a product and market it later. Big mistake!<br /><br />You want to do the opposite – study the market first, launch next. How? Since it’s going to be an online business, start looking at online forums, comment sections of your competitor sites and what people are searching in Google (using Google Keyword Tool).<br /><br />Once you pass stage one successfully, you can think about launching a website/product/service. That’s where the real magic happens.<br /><br />Here’s what comes next:<br />Writing content<br />Starting a blog<br />Having a presence on social media<br />Establishing an expert status for yourself<br />Email marketing<br />Outsourcing tasks you don’t have the time or inclination for<br />Following influencers closely<br />Launching a product or paid service<br /><br />The list is unending.<br /><br />It’s easy to get burned out in the sea of tasks and strategies when starting an online business. Thankfully, there are tools available to help you get off the hamster wheel and launch a successful online business.<br /><br />The best part? You don’t have to spend a fortune on these tools. Here are eight tools to start an online business without breaking the bank: <div>
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1. Hostt</h4>
An online business needs a website domain name and space to “host it”. Hosting is an ongoing expense for your business and it usually incurs a monthly cost with an option to pay it upfront on a yearly basis.<br /><br />And that’s where <a href="http://www.hostt.com/">Hostt.com</a> is revolutionizing the hosting world. What I love about Hostt is that it offers free hosting for all your websites. They also have a 24/7 tech support and a cpanel that makes website management quick and painless.<br /><br />There is no catch – no ads. The hosting is 100% free. They only ask you to have one domain name with them (which costs $13.95 a year).</div>
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2. WordPress/Shopify</h4>
Once your website is set up and hosted, you’re ready to install a CMS or a platform on which your web pages and content will sit.<br /><br />WordPress, originally a blogging platform, is the most popular solution in existence today. Most top bloggers use and recommend WordPress. The best part? It’s free to use.<br /><br />Once you have your website hosted (see #1 above), your hosting company’s cpanel should let you install WordPress using the “1-click install” functionality.<br /><br /><a href="https://wordpress.org/">WordPress</a> is great for any type of website; but, if you want to create mainly an e-commerce store (in other words, an online store with a checkout shopping cart), you have better options out there.<br /><br />Although WordPress is pretty flexible and a full-blown CMS now, it was originally built for blogging, not for e-commerce purposes. If you predict having a large product catalog and lots of e-commerce relevant features, try a service such as <a href="http://www.shopify.com/">Shopify</a>.<br /><br />Most e-commerce experts will advise you against WordPress for an online store. Shopify is highly customizable, robust and affordable for a professional shopping cart. There are other alternatives available in the marker too, so make sure you do your research before launching a web-store.<br />3. BuzzSumo<br /><br />Once you have a platform ready, you need content. And not just any content but good, solid content one that your readers find educative, interesting and engaging.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.buzzsumo.com/">BuzzSumo</a> is a neat little tool that analyzes what works for your readers. It helps you find content and topics that will do best for your type of audience.<br /><br />Just open their webpage and enter your main keywords in the top search bar. You can also add a domain name to see what’s working well for them.<br /><br />BuzzSumo returns a list of articles with the number of shares (so you know what is popular and can get ideas from those topics for your own website).<br /><br />Super-helpful from SEO perspective also. So go on, give it a try!</div>
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4. MailChimp</h4>
But you can’t just stop after creating juicy content. The next step in line is to promote your content and one of the best ways to do it is email marketing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mailchimp.com/">Mailchimp</a> is an email newsletter service that is used by more than 7 million people. You can get started with their “free forever” plan if you have fewer than 2,000 subscribers and send less than 12,000 emails per month (which is very likely when you’re starting out).<br /><br />To get add-ons such as autoresponders and delivery by time zones, you can upgrade for as little as $10 per month. I’ve been using MailChimp for years now for my own websites and that of my clients, and have no regrets.</div>
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5. Buffer</h4>
Apart from promoting content and educating your readers via email, you can also use social media to share and push your new posts out there.<br /><br /><a href="https://bufferapp.com/app">Buffer</a> is a nice little tool to schedule all your posts across different social media. The clean and easy to use interface is one of the reasons it’s so popular. What I personally love is their “Suggestions” tab on the dashboard.<br /><br />Buffer scours the web for best posts on other websites that you can instantly use to share with your own followers. When I’m low on the shareable content reserve, this feature is super-handy – all I have to do is read the suggested article and (if I like it) click the link to share or schedule it for my own channels.</div>
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6. ClickMeeting</h4>
If you are in a freelance/service-provider business model like I am, you have a constant need to communicate with your clients or collaborate with your team all over the world.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.clickmeeting.com/">ClickMeeting</a> is a platform to meet and record audio and video conferencing with your clients (for up to 25 participants). It’s perfect for briefing and presentation purposes. You can also brand all your meetings and impress your clients like a pro. Plus, they have a translation service if you’re exploring international markets.<br /><br />They also offer a sister-product called ClickWebinar to conduct virtual trainings (for up to 1,000 participants) and webinars with your audience.</div>
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7. FancyHands</h4>
Let’s face it – despite all the tools in the world, you will still need external help. That’s where services such as <a href="https://www.fancyhands.com/">FancyHands</a> come into picture.<br /><br />FancyHands brings you a team of virtual assistants who can do a lot of things at less than $1 a day, if you’re using their basic plan that costs $29.99/mo.<br /><br />Here are some services for which people have requested in the past (as per the company’s website):<br /><br /> My co-worker is in the hospital after a bad car accident. Can you call the gift shop there and ask them if they sell fun things to do to pass the time that they could send in a gift basket type of thing to him? Crossword puzzles, trashy magazines, stuff like that. I’d like to spend about $50. If they don’t do that sort of thing, please find a place that can.<br /><br />Please make a lunch reservation at Barolo under my name for Friday at 1pm and call Jennifer Wilson’s office and let her know that the meeting is confirmed. Please add it to my schedule as well.<br /><br />Please fill me in on the top 5 trending topics on Twitter today, both worldwide and locally in Los Angeles.<br /><br />A fun way to get your time back, right?</div>
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8. Xoom</h4>
I saved the best for last – getting paid. <a href="https://www.xoom.com/">Xoom</a> is a perfect alternative to Paypal. Where Paypal is notorious for charging hefty transaction fees (try <a href="http://ppfeecalc.com/">this calculator</a> to find how much you’re being charged), Xoom charges a flat fee of $4.99 for up to $2,999.<br /><br />With their 24/7 customer support and faster money transfers, Xoom is one of the easiest ways to send money.<br />Your Turn<br /><br />Are you starting an online business? Which one of the above tools is your favorite? Would you like to add more? Tells us your thoughts in the comments below!</div>
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credit: <a href="http://lifehack.org/">lifehack.org</a></div>

8 Tools to Start an Online Business without Ruining Your Budget

Deep down, you know you want this. You want to taste the freedom that other entrepreneurs have. You want to follow your passion and hopefu...

Which Programming Language Should I Learn First?

Unknown 0 Productivity, Programming, Technology 7:57 AM

I’ve always wanted to learn a programming language, but have never had the time. If I ever did get a respite from my busy daily life, I’d use this infographic as a starting off point, and I’d suggest you do so too if you are looking at getting into coding.<br /><br />To get an idea of what learning how to program a computer is like, imagine putting together a novel or academic book, or building a small motorboat with your bare hands and a basic set of instructions. Nether of which are easy tasks, and thus, it’s easy to see why so many shy away from learning the intricacies of the mathematical engines that drive our computers.<br /><br />My advice would be to take it slow. While I haven’t learned a programming language to any respectable extent, I havetaken courses about how they work, and am familiar with basic coding concepts. So, before you even choose a language to learn in the infographic below, read up on the history of coding and how it works to make pieces of silicon perform calculations that can manipulate the pixels on your screen.<br /><br />With that knowledge, you’ll be more than ready to slowly chip away at one of the programming languages below. Good luck. For any of you who took courses on how to code, or do it as a profession, feel free to share your experiences in the comments below!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Which Programming Language Should I Learn First?" height="640" src="http://cdn-media-2.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2015/03/programminginfoz1.png" title="Which Programming Language Should I Learn First?" width="579" /></div>
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Which Programming Language Should I Learn First?

I’ve always wanted to learn a programming language, but have never had the time. If I ever did get a respite from my busy daily life, I’d us...

Top 20 Website Mistakes To Avoid

Unknown 0 Blogging, Productivity, Technology 7:35 AM

<br /><img src="http://www.webii.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/happy-website-owner-glasses.jpg" /><br />There are some areas of life where mistakes should best be avoided, and this is true when it comes to operating a website. You can certainly learn from your mistakes when you have a website, but if you take the time to do your homework, you can avoid making mistakes altogether. So what are some of the most common website mistakes, and how can you deftly sidestep them?<div>
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1. Don’t Under-Plan Your Website</h3>
You wouldn’t open a restaurant without first exhaustively creating a business plan. From its very inception, to its target market, promotion, launch and ongoing growth, you would certainly research each and every conceivable stage of operations. It needs to be the same when you start a website.<br /><br />Perhaps the single most component of successfully growing a website is content marketing. Original quality content is key for building awareness of your page, establishing your credibility and authority in your chosen area, as well as improving your search engine rankings. Quality content is king, and marketing is a proven way of establishing dominance.</div>
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2. Don’t Assume that Longer Pages are Better</h3>
The rest of the internet, with its cute kitten videos and celebrity gossip, is just one short click away. It’s important not to demand too much concentration from your audience, and pages that are too long can be a definite turn off. A long page with a huge amount of text can be too much effort, meaning that you’ll simply be unable to hold your audience’s attention for long enough to deliver your intended message.<br /><br />Your text should be well-written, and displayed in easy to digest chunks. You may even benefit from breaking up the content into appropriate sub groupings, which can then be allocated their own pages. It’s important to understand that many readers will ultimately just skim the page, so don’t underestimate the importance of subheadings and bullet points.</div>
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3. Don’t Exclusively Focus on Your Products or Services</h4>
Yes, the likelihood is that your website exists solely to sell a product or service, which makes it like countless other websites in your area of expertise. What makes you different? A straightforward website that simply offers the product or service in question will fail to differentiate itself from its competitors. What makes your website (and by extension, you and/or your company) unique?<br /><br />Pay attention to branding, and don’t be afraid to inject your personality into your web based enterprise. Do you have a company or personal philosophy, or a particular reason why you decided to start offering the product or service? Personalisation makes for a far more unique experience for the consumer.</div>
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4. Don’t Forget That You Need a Clear Call to Action</h3>
Users have found your website, and the heartiest of congratulations to you, but the battle is far from over. What do you want from them now? Whether it’s a purchase, a lead, or a subscription, you need to clearly nudge them in the direction of the next step. The design and content of your website will have hooked their interest if they’ve made it this far, and yet you need to add a progression to the next level of interaction by including a decisive call to action – a simple and straightforward next step for your relationship with the user.<br />5. Don’t Use Slideshows If You Want Your Homepage to Work<br /><br />Slideshows might be aesthetically pleasing, but that’s about it. In terms of delivering a message, they’re inefficient. The information is certainly there, but don’t assume that a viewer will be looking at the slideshow from the moment the page loads. They might glance at it and begin to read it, only to have the slideshow move to the next segment. It’s far from a certainty that the viewer will attempt to go back and read the item, so it’s best to do without this method of displaying information. They look pretty, but they’re pretty useless, and they can diffuse your ultimate message. Your website can do without them.</div>
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6. Don’t Write for All 100% of Your Website Traffic</h3>
Well crafted copy should be aimed at a specific market, so attempting to write something that is aimed at 100% of all users who arrive at your website can result in a message that is unfocused and bland. Write content specifically for the smaller number of visitors who are likely to be conversions. A message that is targeted at your niche group is far more likely to result in a higher conversion rate.<br />7. Don’t Forget That Your NAP (Name, Address, Telephone Number) Needs to Be up to Date<br /><br />It’s a fairly simple step, and yet it can be easily overlooked. Has your company or any internal departments undergone a change of name? Have you moved to a new location or changed phone numbers? Your NAP needs to be clearly displayed and updated as needed, since it’s so easy to lose a customer forever should they be directed to an incorrect location, or are unable to contact you via a method of their choosing.</div>
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8. Don’t Overlook the Importance of Your Site’s Blog</h3>
Your website’s blog is an integral part of your overall success. A blog is where you can personalise your site, and therefore, differentiate yourself from your competitors. It’s where you can add fresh and interesting content that engages with your potential conversions in the way that a straightforward ecommerce platform cannot. Your blog should have regular scheduled updates, with content that is relevant and well-written.<br /><br />A blog is an aspect of operations that many websites outsource, and if you’re incapable of producing an interesting blog, then you should certainly consider farming the task out to a professional writer. A good writer will be able to create engaging headlines and titles, with an article that is written utilising SEO, and yet is still personable and promotional (but not too promotional – a blog is different from an advertorial).</div>
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9. Don’t Forget About Your Internal Pages</h3>
It’s not all about the homepage! Do your internal pages contain titles and content that is relevant? Internal pages need to be rich with information, as these individual pages can actually figure into your search engine rankings. With a lack of usable information, these internal pages are essentially dead weight. Make these pages work for you by including the relevant information about your product or service that would be expected on a specifically titled internal page.</div>
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10. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Mobile Traffic</h3>
It’s amazing how many people are glued to their smartphones while out and about. You might see a group of people at a bar, totally ignoring each other as they intently tap away at their phone. They might be shopping for a new product or service, but are you prepared to receive them? Your website needs to be responsive to smartphone based web browsers, meaning it needs to be configured to load quickly and display quickly on a screen of any size. If your page cannot be adequately navigated using a smartphone, then you could potentially be missing out on a significant amount of traffic and conversions.</div>
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11. Don’t Fall Victim to the Poor Navigation Trap</h3>
Having a website that is difficult to navigate is like inviting guests to your home, letting them get lost, become bored, and leave – never to return. Your website design needs to allow for quick and simplistic navigation, meaning that a user should never become lost. If a user becomes lost, you’re bound to lose them as a potential customer, and this is simply unacceptable. A clearly visible navigation bar needs to be present, prominently placed so that it can be seen on a screen of any size. Don’t forget the sitemap either – this should allow users to quickly and easily jump to any page within your site.</div>
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12. Don’t Use Poor Quality Photos and Images</h3>
Your website might be the first introduction a potential customer has to your company, and so any imagery used on your website needs to be top quality. Ensure that photos and images are crisp, and anything that is blurry or pixelated should not be used. If you need original photos to illustrate a product on offer, ensure that the subsequent images are of the highest quality – even if it means you’ll need the services of a professional photographer. For other images, you can utilise many of the free online databases that provide stock photos that are free of copyright. Don’t simply “borrow” images freely from the internet, as this is not only illegal, but it can make you look unprofessional.</div>
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13. Don’t Use Videos That Are Too Long</h3>
Well-made videos that are on-message can certainly enhance your website. The video can be redundant if it’s too long, no matter how well-made it might be. The video exists to engage your audience, not to test their patience. If you have a long message that you feel needs to be conveyed to your audience, consider breaking it into shorter videos of an episodic nature. Videos that follow a logical narrative structure, such as an instructional video, can comfortably be a few minutes in length. Anything else should only run for around 60 to 90 seconds.</div>
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14. Don’t Even Think About Starting a Website Without SEO</h3>
Your website looks great, is easy to navigate and makes for a highly pleasurable browsing experience. If you haven’t considered SEO in your website design, then your beautiful website is likely to become adrift in the vast seas of the internet. SEO needs to be factored into website design from the very beginning. A SEO expert will be able to help you with the discoverability of your website, and build this into its very design. Think of SEO as being the foundation of your website, and not its roof.</div>
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15. Don’t Forget That Users Value the Need for Speed</h3>
How quickly does your page load? If It’s more than a few seconds, there’s a strong possibility that your users won’t wait, and they will in fact become your competitor’s users. A few factors are out of your hands, such as the device being used to access your page, as well as the speed of their internet connection. You need to make it as quick and easy as possible for your users to get to the content they need, and as such, some redesign might be necessary. Does your homepage need quite so much imagery or that introductory flash animation? A page that loads slowly is a page that can be a major hinderance.</div>
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16. Don’t Be Tempted by Keyword Over-Optimization</h3>
Imagine a group of primitive villagers living in the shadow of a volcano. The volcano erupts and the villagers are terrified. What have they done? How can they appease the angry volcano spirits? If you go down the road of keyword over-optimization, you’re one of the villagers, and you might end up feeling the wrath of the angry volcano spirits, also known as Google.<br /><br />A sacrifice is in order, and the sacrifice is generally the offending website. Keyword stuffing seems almost logical, but is best avoided. Do not stuff a page with keywords in order to achieve a higher page ranking. Google’s algorithm is highly effective at identifying pages that add extraneous keywords to content, and in some cases, it can lead to the page being removed from Google search results.</div>
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17. Don’t Include Unnatural Links</h3>
Buying links is not a great way to boost your page’s ranking. The quality of inbound links can play a significant role in increasing your ranking, and yet these purchased links are not of sufficient quality to be of use, and can in fact be highly detrimental. Google views these purchased links as “unnatural” and in a similar fashion to the way they deal with pages who indulge in keyword stuffing, they can remove pages from their search results if the page has blatantly built unnatural links via purchase. Focus on natural, Google-friendly link building through methods such as guest blogging.</div>
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18. Don’t Forget About Google Analytics</h3>
Google Analytics are free to use, and yet the tool perhaps has a tendency to fade into the background. It’s there, it’s free, it’s a very recognizable brand, and yet it’s easy to forget that it’s available. It’s a vital, ever-present tool that can be your best friend when it comes to gauging success and seeing where you need work. If you don’t know so much about analytics, then Google is a great place to start. It’s user friendly and customizable, and the data can be as exhaustive as you want.<br />19. Don’t Be Anti Social When It Comes to Social Media<br /><br />If your website was a person at a party, would it be meeting new people and networking, or would it be lurking in the corner (wishing it was at home eating chips on the sofa)? You need to unlock the potential of social media by being… well, sociable. If you’re not active on social media, then you’re missing out on potential traffic.<br /><br />Your website needs a well-maintained social media presence; one that links to your website. Social media is a vital way to reach new customers, many of whom might not otherwise find your page via a traditional search. You can advertise your page with paid advertisement but there are many ways and tricks on how to promote your blog or website for free</div>
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20. Don’t Use Headlines That Directly Talk About Your Product or Service</h3>
Users generally visit your website looking to solve a problem. If you’re selling a piece of exercise equipment, then the headline needs to be alluring, so “Here’s how you can be trim and toned in just 5 minutes per day” works far better than something like, “Acme Ab Master 5000.” It’s really that simple.<br /><br />There you have it! Make sure you follow these simply tips when you work on your own or on your client’s website and you won’t have problems. Do you have questions? Leave a comment below.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">credit: lifehack.org/</span></i></div>

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