We’ve all been there before, you start to feel little sniffle, a pain in the back and you head to Google to find out what these symptoms mean. It is perfectly natural to be curious of course, but my physician, the great Margaret Salmon MD, is constantly telling me that this is a bad idea and something which I shouldn’t do. Here reasons for this make a lot of sense and whilst I do still check from time to time to see what my symptoms mean, I have certainly taken Margaret’s advice on board. Here then, is exactly why you shouldn’t use Dr. Google to find out what is wrong with you.

Reliability of The Source

The first reason why you shouldn’t do this is because in most cases we have no idea how reliable a website is or who is contributing the information. There are some great sites out there like WebMD which uses doctors to provide the information and facts, but most are not websites which you should trust. The key point here is that there isn’t a way to find out just how reliable a site really is.

You May Be Missing Out

There is a very real danger that you feel symptoms, check them online and then decide based on what you have found that there is nothing wrong with you. This may or may not be true but if you use the information you’ve read online to decide that there is nothing wrong with you when there is, you could be missing out on vital diagnosis and treatment. This is why it is always best to consult your local doctor before you decide whether or not there is anything wrong.

I’m Dying

The early symptoms for a huge range of diseases can be exactly the same and problems like headaches, nausea, fever and aching muscles could be a common cold or a brain tumor. Unfortunately if you start looking online to find out what your symptoms mean, you can very easily diagnose yourself as having some rare and incurable disease, when the probabilities are that you have something very minor. If you fall into the trap of Googling your symptoms then you won’t have to look for very long before you diagnose yourself with something extreme, in any case you will still have to make that doctors appointment.

Anxiety and Stress

If you have a doctors appointment next week and you start looking at your symptoms online now, you may very well give yourself a lot of stress and anxiety which isn’t necessary. If you think that you have something sinister because of the information that you have found online then you are going to spend the day in the lead up to your appointment very worried and scared, and in most cases this is going to be completely unnecessary. Even if you do have something severe, there is no point worrying about it until you know for sure.

The lesson then, as Margaret often tells me, is don’t look online for your symptoms.

 

Each week my buddy Alexis Fecteau and I have a movie night and over the years we must have watched over 100 movies together, of all different genres. Alexis and I are also avid readers and I really enjoy discussing books we have read together. Alexis and I have been locked in a debate recently about whether or not you should put a book down or stop watching a movie if you don’t enjoy it. My feeling is that you absolutely should, he of course disagrees. Here is exactly why I think that you should cut and run if you have given a movie or a book enough time to breathe, and you just aren’t enjoying it.

Why Continue?

The biggest reason why I think that you shouldn’t carry on is that there just aren’t enough reasons to continue reading through a book or watching a movie that you just don’t enjoy. Even if there is some massive plot twist at the end, do you really want to suffer just to see this bait and switch? The answer fo me is not at all and whilst many think that there is some kind of twisted nobility in continuing, for me the bravest decision that you can make is to stop, and move on to something else.

Time

We only live once and I always try to make sure that I maximize as many minutes in my life as I possibly can. With this in mind, I don’t want to waste my time on something that I am not enjoying, especially when I can use that time to watch another movie or read another book which I am much more confident that I am going to enjoy. This is another big reason why I’ll happily leave what I’m doing and try something else if I’m not having fun or if I find a book or a movie to be a struggle.

Reviews

A lot of reasons why people persevere even when they are not enjoying what they are doing is because a friend or a critic has given a glowing review of a certain book or movie, and people don’t want to go against the grain and say that they couldn’t get to the end. For me this is nonsense and even reviews should always be taken with a pinch of salt because everyone has different tastes and opinions. In fact some of my favorite movies have terrible scores on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, indicating just how far apart people’s opinions can be. Simply because someone has recommended something doesn’t make it good, and this is why it is pointless ploughing on with a movie or book, even if someone has recommended it.

The next time that you are reading or watching, don’t feel duty bound to finish the piece, give it enough time and if you just don’t like it, leave it alone and move on with your life.

 

Back when I first started working at the Automatic Training Network there was a group of us who would go out almost weekly to catch a live band or a big music event, and during that time we see saw of the best groups and artists on the planet. My buddy Mark Gilbert ATN founder would often grab the tickets and they were never overpriced. In recent years however things have changed and because music artists make more money from touring than they do from actually selling music, the prices of the tickets have gone up. Despite this, Mark and I still regularly go to concerts and here is why I believe that despite the inflated costs, it is well worth doing.

The Experience

For me heading to a concert is not just about watching a band or an artist play through their set, it is about the experience on the whole. Mark and I will generally head out for something to eat in our favorite restaurant before taking a drink in a bar close to the arena, and then we will mull around for a while and drink in the atmosphere before the show starts. At the end of the night we’ll head back to one of our places for a nightcap and discuss the gig, and that completes the night. The gig itself is one thing but there is much more to the concert experience than just the music.

As It Should Be

When we hear music through digital, CD or vinyl, we are hearing these songs which have been heavily produced, cleaned up and packaged in a way that sounds the best. This is all well and could but sometimes you just want to hear the rawness of a band or an artist as they sing and play their songs live. When you see a band live there is no filter, it is just you, the singer and the instruments and beyond that you are hearing the music as it should be played.

Connection

I am not a superstitious person by any means but there is something incredibly powerful which you feel when you go to a concert. There is a palpable connection between all of the crowd and the artist and there is something which you just can’t put your finger on. When a band or artist plays a song that everyone knows, and everyone begins to sing in unison, it creates an energy which feels as though it could lift you up in the sky, and this for me is why I believe that the ticket cost is absolutely worthwhile.

Discovery

I have discovered some of my favorite bands by going to concerts of bands I didn’t know, and through seeing bands who have been support acts. When you see these groups and singers live, you get a better sense of what they are all about and it will help you to be introduced to new groups and acts.

A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is an arrangement of interactive components such as icons and other graphical objects that assist a user to interact with computer software, such as an operating system. A GUI is believed to be more user-friendly than a command-line interface which is text based, such as MS-DOS, or the shell of Unix-like operating systems.

A GUI is also an interface through which a user relates with electronic devices such as computers, hand-held devices as well as other appliances. This interface displays information graphically and related user controls. This is as opposed to text-based interfaces, where data and commands are in text format. GUI representations are manipulated by using a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus or – alternatively – a finger on a touchscreen.

The requirement for GUI became apparent as the first human/computer text interface was through keyboard text creation using what is named a prompt (or DOS prompt). Commands were typed onto a keyboard at the DOS prompt in order to introduce responses from a computer. Using these commands, and the need for exact spelling, created a cumbersome and inefficient interface.

What are the benefits of a GUI?

The major advantage of a GUI is that systems which make use of one are available to individuals of all levels of knowledge, from an utter beginner to an advanced software developer or other tech-savvy people. GUIs make it easy for anyone to:

• Open menus,
• Move files,
• Launch programs, or
• Search the Internet – without having to tell the computer using the command line – to carry out a function.

GUIs also give instant feedback. By click on an icon, this action will open it up in real-time. By using a command-line interface, you won’t know if it’s a valid entry until you hit <ENTER>. If it’s not valid, nothing will happen.

A computer with a GUI that is well designed can be used by almost anybody. This is regardless of how technically savvy the person might be. Consider the cash management systems, or computerised cash registers, that are used in stores and restaurants today. Inputting information is as easy as pressing numbers or images on a touchscreen to place orders and calculate payments.

The process of inputting information is simple and practically anybody can be trained to do it from SEO’s to web developers and marketers. The system can store all the sales data for later analysis in countless ways as well as for digital marketing purposes. This type of data collection was far more labour-intensive before GUI interfaces.

Here are some more benefits or advantages of GUI Interface:

• A GUI interface requires just a click on the simple picture or image to use its functionalities.
• A GUI interface is very easy to use by a beginning – as we’ve said before – because it is user friendly and easy for any person to use who want to have better interface for their digital marketing strategy.
• Simple icons in the GUI interface use numerous instructions in the back-end. This means that it is easy for the programmer to code in GUI as compared to other non-GUI-based programming languages.
• Programmers or users do not need to understand the workings of a computer system in order to successfully navigate a GUI.
• A GUI looks very attractive and multi-coloured and it is much better than command-driven interface which has many drawbacks.
• The user can switch quickly between tasks on the GUI interface.
• Fullscreen interaction is also possible with quick and wholesome access to anywhere on the screen.

GUIs are utilised for the majority of computer operating systems, mobile operating systems as well as software that is on the market today. Although a few operating systems, such as Linux, still use command-line interfaces, this feature makes them less mainstream as they are only suitable for those who have an in-depth knowledge of commands and programming.

 

You need a lot of supplies to pull off a big wedding day. Party rentals Los Angeles, such as Archive Vintage Party Rentals, make this easy, but how do you know which one to hire? There are several qualifications to look for, and you should definitely call around before settling on one company that will handle all of the major aspects of the big day.

Good Reputation

First and foremost, you want to hire a company that has a lot of experience providing supplies for weddings. If you do not know where to start, then you should talk to family members and friends to see who they hired. They will tell you what was good about a certain service and what could have used some work. You can weigh the pros and cons of each one until you reach a consensus. Ideally, you want to find a company that goes above and beyond the call of duty to help pull off everything you want for your wedding.

Broad Spectrum of Services and Products

The party rentals San Diego you look into should have everything you need. After all, it would not make sense to hire services from several different companies to get everything you need. Some of the supplies you will likely need include backdrops, lights, dining tables, centerpieces, lounge chairs and other accessories to make your big day special. If a company does not have everything you need, then you likely want to keep searching.

Attention to Detail

A great wedding rental company will work with a lot of different clients simultaneously. A lesser company would drop the ball juggling all of these responsibilities at the same time. However, you want a company that will give you the same time and attention as if you were the sole client. A good company should listen to you and work tirelessly to make your vision come to life. They should provide personal attention to all of your wedding needs without making you feel like you are demanding too much.

Service-Oriented Staff

The supplies are important, but more than that, you want a company with a friendly, courteous staff. The people behind the company should be knowledgeable and willing to lend a helping hand just in case there are any issues. You should ask about the experience of all of the staff members before hiring anyone. Anyone working for the company should be able to give you a solid, clear answer whenever a question arises. Additionally, the staff should be there on the actual day to help your guests feel more at home. The people make the biggest difference of all.

You need to take your time hiring the right wedding rental company. Start looking well in advance so that you do not feel like you have to rush into a decision. Once you find the right company, your mind will be at ease, and you will feel more confident about your wedding day going off without a hitch. Contact a wedding rental company near you to hear about their services to see if it is the best fit for you.

 

Are you fond of day trips? For folks in the Lion City, one of the best places to have one is in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Crossing the Johor-Singapore Causeway via bus or train from the Woodlands Checkpoint, you can reach “JB” in just a few minutes. This gives you plenty of time to look around and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. What’s more, it’s easy to find accommodations if you want to stay the night or longer. Just search “Hotel JB,” and you’ll get a list of popular options. Of course, Johor Bahru is also a great foodie destination. In fact, you can spend your entire day here just exploring the restaurants and the food stalls.

That being said, you wouldn’t want to go to Johor Bahru without even a modicum of idea about what to do for the day. To this end, we present you with this short list of things to see and do in JB on a day trip that doesn’t involve temple hopping.

Legoland Malaysia

If you’re a kid at heart or simply love Lego, then it’s definitely a must to visit Legoland Malaysia. It’s the first of its kind in Asia, the first international theme park in Malaysia, and the sixth Legoland in the world. The theme park has eight zones that cater to both kids and adults: The Beginning, Lego Ninjago World, Miniland, Imagination, Lego Technic, Lego Kingdom, Land of Adventure, and Lego City. There’s also a hotel and resort inside, perfect if you want to explore both the theme park AND the water park.

For those just visiting the theme park, there are plenty of rides and activities for the little ones at Legoland Malaysia. Still, adults can have a perfectly great time. For example, you can see Lego recreations of various landmarks across the world, like the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. There’s also one of the Merlion, so Singaporeans should definitely drop by and take a photo. For building enthusiasts, you may want to check out Lego Technic to build robots and more. There’s also Lego Star Wars, with over 2,000 Lego figurines of the characters and scenes from the movie franchise. Of course, there are also plenty of food choices and souvenir stores here. If you don’t want to lug your purchases around, however, you can ask the store to send your purchase to the exit so you can just collect it there when you leave.

Sanrio Hello Kitty Town

Are you a 90s kid? Do you love Hello Kitty? If you answered yes to one or both of those questions, then you’ll love Sanrio Hello Kitty Town in Puteri Harbour. Here, you can take photos, pose in costumes and Sanrio outfits, make your own souvenirs, tour Hello Kitty’s home, watch live performances, and even get to meet and greet Hello Kitty and her friends. You can easily spend a couple of hours here to revel in the cuteness, and still have enough time to visit other destinations.

Angry Birds Theme Park

Yet another theme park in Johor Bahru, for both the young and the young at heart, is the Angry Birds Theme Park located in KOMTAR JBCC. The sprawling indoor theme park has rides, games, and other attractions inspired by the popular video game. If you feel like you can’t keep up with the young ones, there’s also a Parents Lounge where you can just sit down and marvel at how kids seem to have infinite energy. Another great thing about Angry Birds Theme Park? It’s open until 10:00 PM, so you can arrive a little late and still have a lot of time to enjoy everything.

Pasar Karat

Johor Bahru has a lot of malls, sure, but if you want to really shop ‘til you drop, wait for Pasar Karat to open at about 8:00 PM. This pasar malam (night market) boasts of a wide selection of goods, including independent clothing brands in Malaysia and even shops that sell antiques. What’s more, like many street and night markets across Asia, haggling is expected and very much welcome. There’s also a live band every night to provide some entertainment. Across the bridge, you can find an array of food carts to keep your energy up as you scour the stalls for the best bargains.

Pasir Gudang Kite Museum

If you’re an avid fan of museums and are looking for something unique, why not visit the Pasir Gudang Kite Museum? It opened in 2002 and is the first museum in Malaysia to be entirely about the history of kites and how they’ve become an important cultural element through the years. The galleries and displays here include actual kites, along with kite-making materials, posters, and videos. You can even learn how to make your own kites! They also hold an annual International Kite Festival around late February to early March. Muzium Layang-Layang also has another unique feature outside: a huge windmill on the roof. This is not just a quirky design element, though, since it actually provides the museum electricity!

Salahuddin Bakery

For some tasty treats to eat and take back home—as well as a trip back in history—visit Salahuddin Bakery. It’s been in operation since 1937, and there hasn’t been much change in the bakery’s interiors. If you want to see how bakeries looked like during those times, Salahuddin Bakery will not disappoint. Of course, their pastries are quite delicious, too! The most popular ones are the curry puffs, which can be considered a tourist attraction in themselves. These curry puffs are traditional Malay snacks, composed of a flaky crust and a filling made from vegetables and curried meat. Be sure to take some home for your friends and family.

Ready for a quick but well-deserved break? Get on that bus or train, and visit Johor Bahru for a day! You’ll be glad you did.

 

Taurine deficiency is a very common condition among certain dog breeds. Here’s how to know when your dog has it, and what you can do about it.

Taurine is probably the most important nutrient for dog wellness that you’ve never heard of. You’ve likely never thought about this amino acid because most dogs synthesize it naturally from other nutrients, so there’s no need to focus on supplementing your dog’s diet with it – your dog just makes it.

But what if they didn’t make it?

Certain dog breeds, due to a flaw in their genetic makeup, are physically incapable of producing taurine. When this is the case, and the dog doesn’t get taurine from their food supply, they are susceptible to taurine deficiency-related illnesses, the most common being dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM. This is a fairly serious condition, that if left untreated, can compromise the quality of your dog’s life, and even shorten it.

So, what is taurine, anyway?

Taurine is an amino acid and a protein building block that supports the proper functioning of the muscles, brain, heart, and eyes. Taurine deficiency doesn’t present identifiable symptoms, but the breeds that are predisposed to it include:

• American cocker spaniel
• Golden retriever
• Labrador retriever
• Boxer
• English setter
• Saint Bernard
• Newfoundland

If you have one of the above breeds, you should talk to your vet about potential taurine deficiency, and possible dietary programs that will enable your dog to get the taurine they need from dietary sources. Zignature taurine rich pet foods use all-natural, meat-forward formulas that help dogs maintain their proper nutrient balance. However, you should talk to your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet, so that any other underlying health concerns aren’t exacerbated.

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The average homeowner spends almost $5,000 each year on home repairs and improvements.

$5,000 is a large chunk of money, especially when it comes to unexpected, emergency repairs. But instead of running to the bank to take out a home improvement loan, roll up your sleeves and attempt to DIY the repair.

Not every home repair requires the help of a costly professional. Keep reading to learn how to do these DIY home repairs and save yourself a lot of money!

1. Patch a Hole

Accidents happen — and many accidents in your home have the potential to end with a hole in your drywall. Whether you fail to pivot when moving a heavy couch or slam a door open too forcefully, now you have an ugly hole in your drywall.

Luckily, patching a hole in drywall is one of the easiest DIY home repairs.

For small homes, home improvement stores sell patching kits. These come with a self-adhesive mesh patch to place directly over the hole. Then, cover the patch with the provided compound using a drywall tool or spatula.

You can apply two counts of the compound to secure the patch. Then, once dry, sand the compound down until the area is smooth and even with your wall. To finish, paint over the area to match the rest of your wall.

For larger holes, you can cut a piece of drywall to size to use instead of the mesh patch.

2. Stop a Leaking Pipe

Don’t let the drip, drip, drip of your bathroom pipes become the constant background music in your home. A leaking pipe is an easy fix that you can accomplish on your own.

For leaking pipes, start by turning off the water with your home’s water shut off valve. For the next steps, you’ll want to put an empty bucket under the pipes to collect the water so you don’t end up with a mess.

Then, untighten the white pieces that have ridges on them, these are your compression nuts. Tightening these compression nuts will remove that portion of the pipe from the rest of your piping. Then, you can switch out the worn-out plastic washer and reattach the piece of pipe by tightening the compression nuts.

3. Fix a Stuck Window

If your home is a little older, you’ve probably encountered a stuck window that just won’t budge. Instead of cutting your losses and giving up the fresh air, there are ways you can fix this on your own!

To start, apply a lubricant, like WD-40, into the channel area where your window frames meet. Then, grab a putty knife or a pizza cutter and run the blade along the edges of the window frame to loosen up any dirt or paint.

After this, you should be able to get the window open with a little force. You’ll want to immediately clean all around the window to remove dust and debris to prevent it from sticking again. If you’ve got a lot of excess paint that’s causing the issue, grab some paint thinner and wipe down the window frame.

At a certain point, you should consider completely replacing residential windows. If the window glass is cracked or shattered, hire an expert to replace the window immediately. Also, consider getting new windows if you have large gaps between your window frame and walls.

4. Unclog a Toilet

Clogged toilets happen to everyone, and it’s not always your fault. Instead of getting embarrassed and working up the courage to call the plumber, fix the problem yourself!

There are so many methods beyond the traditional plunger that can help unclog the mess. One of the easiest ways involves dish soap.

Pour about one-fourth of a cup of dish soap into the toilet bowl. Let this sit in the bowl for about ten minutes. Then, add hot, but not boiling, water to the mixture and let it sit another five minutes.

After sitting, the soap and hot water combination should dissolve any clog in your toilet. All you’ll have to do is flush the mess away.

You can also try this method with one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar if the dish soap doesn’t do the job.

5. Clean and Repair Gutters

A home improvement project that many homeowners neglect is cleaning and repairing their own gutters.

To keep your gutters, and your roof, in working order, you should clean out your gutters at the beginning of each season. Grab a sturdy ladder, a pair of gloves, and a large bucket to collect debris. Then, it’s as simple as moving the debris from your gutter into the bucket.

This prevents debris buildup that leads to overflowing gutters and a weakened roofline.

While you’re up there, you can even perform some simple gutter repairs if necessary.

If your gutters are drooping or becoming disconnected from your home, take the time to reattach them. Buy a few hanging brackets and use a drill to reconnect the gutter to the siding of your home.

Then, you can nail some simple gutter covers to the edge of your roof to prevent further debris buildup.

Save Money with These DIY Home Repairs

The next time your home encounters an emergency, use these tips to save money with DIY home repairs.

Obviously, there are some home repair projects that should be left to the professionals. In those cases, you may wish to consider getting a home improvement loan. Anything that involves electrical wiring should only be done by an expert. Attempting these projects on your own can lead to even more costly repairs.

For more great advice on keeping your home and family in tip-top shape, bookmark the Tips section of this blog and check back often for new content.

Are you a self-employed, work-from-home mom? Then you should do your homework on self-employment taxes in order to avoid any nasty surprises down the road. Check out the basics you need to know below!  

Self-Employment Tax 101

First of all, all self-employed individuals must pay self-employment taxes (SE taxes) if they have at least $400 in annual net earnings. Specifically, you are self-employed if:

• You do business as an independent contractor or sole proprietor
• You’re a member of a business partnership
• You are in business for yourself in any other way

Filling Your Self-Employment Taxes as a Work-From-Home Mom

The categories above are really broad and encompass all sorts of freelancing and part-time gigs. In fact, more than 15 million Americans are self-employed. So, if you meet the criteria, you have to file a Schedule C (Form 1040) income tax return annually.

Using the 1040 form, you will have to make quarterly estimated tax payments. You will need to use last year’s tax returns to fill out your 1040, so make sure to track your yearly returns.

At the end of the fiscal year, you will have to file your annual tax return. To do so, you have to report your profit (or your loss). Simple enough, right?

Self-Employment Tax Breaks and Deductions

Thankfully for self-employed moms, you are taxed on your net income. This means that lots of business-related expenses are tax-deductible. Those write-offs will play a crucial role in making your work-from-home operations profitable.

Especially if you are transitioning from full-time employment to the realm of freelancing, you have to squeeze tax deductions as much as possible. The deductible expenses include:

• Startup costs
• Legal costs
• Business equipment and supplies
• Marketing and advertising
• Transportation and vehicle expenses
• Home office costs
• Health insurance and medical care premiums
• Several other house-related expenses for people who work from home

With such a long list, it’s easy to miss some obscure write-off. That’s why it’s important to either use tax software, or team up with an accountant to figure out what’s tax-deductible for you.

Moreover, you should look into pay stubs to keep your operations tidy. Pay stubs are a way to keep track of paid taxes, overtime, and business expenses. Want to generate pay stubs instantly? Check out ThePayStubs for the simplest way to create pay stubs online!

Finally, since 2018, business owners whose profits and losses go through their personal tax returns are eligible for the 20% pass-through tax deduction. This tax deduction allows work-from-home moms that qualify to reduce their taxable income by an additional 20% after deducting business expenses!

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Self-employment taxes may seem like a hassle, but hopefully, you now know where to start!

We are dedicated to help you navigate life and find more time to enjoy with your loved ones. So, if you liked our article, come on in and check out more useful articles on business, as well as a range of other topics, including lifestyle, family, food and more!