Business

Buying an ice cream truck – make things work for little money!

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Hi, my name is Tim and for the past two years I have made a living as an ice cream vendor in Boston. I remember when I first had the idea of ​​running an ice cream truck business, I was put off by the mistaken belief that the upfront costs involved – the truck, equipment, and inventory – would make it unfeasible for my budget. However, after doing some research on the different options available, I found that this was not the case; in fact, there are many options available that make getting started easy and affordable. Here are two things anyone thinking of buying an ice cream truck should know:

First of all, you don’t have to buy your truck outright; To be honest, I wouldn’t suggest buying a vehicle unless you’re committed to making this a long-term business venture. If you want to buy your truck, a good place to start is Craigslist. With a little research and persistence, you can find some really incredible deals by searching the site from your local area. If you keep going like this, you should be able to find a truck that will cost you no more than $ 3000- $ 5000.

The second mistake many people often make is thinking that ice cream trucks are made for a purpose. The truth is that very few of these trucks were built to sell ice cream. Most of them, including mine, are just pickup trucks and pickup trucks. Converting a truck or van is a relatively simple process, all you really need is a side window and your freezer bolted to the vehicle’s body and you’re good to go. It’s probably best to have a professional do the conversion for you, but if you’re mechanically inclined and have the right tools, it’s definitely a do-it-yourself project. If you search hard enough, you should be able to find a used truck for less than $ 1,000. Estimate another $ 1,000 at least for a cold plate freezer (I have some tips on my site for making a cheap freezer if you don’t want to get a cold plate) and another hundreds to install your service window and buy paint to paint your truck. Make sure you buy thick Plexiglass for your service window (I got 1/4-inch from Home Depot) and note the size of the Plexiglass you can buy before cutting the window hole so that you only have to buy one piece (what will). it will probably cost around $ 100).

Relationship

Dutch oven bonfire recipes: the devil’s cherry cobbler

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It’s your turn to cook the campfire on this weekend’s outdoor camping trip and you already have all your campfire recipes ready, trying to decide which ones to use. You want to impress your fellow campers with your expert culinary skills, but you also don’t want to get stuck in the camp kitchen while they have fun. This 1-pot, 1-step dinner dessert will have you remembered. And it’s so easy, you can make it in 5 minutes, put it on the fire, and forget about it until it’s done. The result will be a desert of bonfires that they will talk about for years.

Devil’s Cherry Cobbler dessert is cooked in a cast iron Dutch oven and served as well. Less mess, less cleaning. The only kitchen utensils you will need are a cast iron Dutch oven and a large serving spoon.

Devil’s Cherry Cobbler Ingredients:

  • 2 – 18-19 oz. Devils Food cake mix boxes
  • 3 – 22 oz. cans of cherry pie filling
  • 1 – 20 oz. Dr. Pepper bottle
  • 1 – stick butter
  • 1 ounce. cooking oil

preparation:

  • Open Dr. Pepper ahead of time to get the carbonation out, you don’t need fizz for this campfire recipe.
  • Per 1 oz. of cooking oil into a clean cast iron pot and use a paper towel to wipe the inside of the pot. Leave the remaining oil in the pot.
  • Open the cans of cherry pie filling and pour into the pot.
  • Go ahead and drink about half the Dr. Pepper, you only need half a bottle for this recipe. For that in the pot too.
  • Pour both boxes of Devils Food Cake Mix on top of the Dr. Pepper and cherry filling. DO NOT REVOLVE!
  • Cut the stick of butter into patties and spread them over the top of the dry cake mix.
  • Put the lid on the Dutch oven, – You’re done.

Cooking:

With this cake-like campfire recipe, you’ll want your Dutch oven to function like an oven, so make sure you have plenty of hot campfire embers to use. You will need a good bed of charcoal, at least the same diameter as your Dutch oven, with enough leftover to form a good layer on the Dutch oven lid.

This recipe will take 35-45 minutes to cook. After 20 minutes, lift the pot and turn it about 90 degrees one way, and turn the lid 90 degrees the other way. Check the embers on the lid; they may need to be replenished.

After 30 minutes, lift the lid and look inside, the cake should look semi-dry all over and start to peel off the walls of the pot at the top. When the cake looks dry and separates from the sides of the pot completely, the dessert is ready. Remove from the heat and throw the embers from the lid.

One last tip:

When placing each slice on your outdoor camping partner’s plates, be sure to “flip” the slice so the top of the cake lands on the bottom with the cherries on top. This is the culminating touch that makes it a true camp shoemaker.

This campfire recipe will serve about 15 campers, and maybe a little leftover for a few seconds. And there will be requests for seconds! This is a camping wilderness that never fails and always leaves them talking about how good you are as a camp cook. And you have time to enjoy their praise because all you had to do to clean up was turn the Dutch oven back on and let it bake on its own.

Gaming

A seaplane adventure to Dry Tortugas National Park

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Accessible only by boat or seaplane, only about 60,000 visitors arrive at the Dry Tortugas National Park each year. Compare that to the more than 300 million people who visited America’s national parks last year. But it’s really no surprise when you consider what it takes just to get there. The starting point is Key West, Florida, and from there, you can choose between an all-day boat trip and full-day or half-day seaplane trips, assuming you don’t have your own boat.

Preflight

I opted for the seaplane flight and checked in at the Key West Seaplane Adventures office at 7:30 AM for an 8:00 AM flight. Even though it was the end of March, the sun was rising, filtered by wisps of pink and orange clouds. When the remaining nine passengers arrived, we received our report, were introduced to our pilot, Gary, and then we took to the tarmac together to board the DHC-3 DeHavilland Turbine Otter Amphibian. The plane can carry 10 passengers plus the pilot … and when Gary offered the co-pilot seat, I literally jumped at the opportunity!

Gary has been flying to and from the Dry Tortugas for years. That day he would make five trips to and from the Dry Tortugas … and his early morning flight back to Key West would be solo.

Ready to take off

Once we fastened our seat belts and, perhaps most importantly, our headphones on, Gary began to narrate our morning adventure as we rolled onto the track. I turned on my video camera … and before I knew it we were airborne heading east toward the morning sun, and just as quickly turning south, then west for a bird’s-eye view of Key West . It was only then that I realized that I would sit in a place that I had only been able to conjure up in my imagination: turquoise waters, green sea turtles, bright coral, frigates, shipwrecks and a coastal fortress almost 170 meters high. years.

The passenger seat offered the perfect view of Key West, its hotels, Duvall Street and Mallory Square, which quickly disappeared from view. Gary put some music on our headphones … although he wasn’t quite sure what to make of his first selection: “Free Fallin ‘” by Tom Petty!

Flying to Dry Tortugas

Flying at 130 knots, we swiftly passed over an area called the “Flats,” a shallow body of water just 3-5 feet deep that stretches nearly 20 miles to the west. Flying just 500 feet above the water, these shoals are teeming with loggerhead turtles and dozens of them could be clearly seen swimming as we navigated overhead.

40 kilometers away, we flew directly over the Marquesas Islands, a coral atoll … and then over an area called “quicksand”. The water here is 30 feet deep with an ever-changing seabed of sand dunes. This is where treasure hunter Mel Fisher found the Spanish galleons Antocha and Margarita, and more than $ 500 million in gold and silver scattered over an eight-mile area. They continue to work on the site, and even today, there are regular finds of huge Spanish Emeralds.

But it wasn’t long from my vantage point in the cockpit before I could begin to make out Fort Jefferson at Garden Key, Bush Key, and further west, the lighthouse at Loggerhead Key.

A little story

Once Florida was acquired from Spain (1819-1821), the United States found it important to protect the 75-mile stretch connecting the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Ocean, as anyone occupying the area could control trade along the Gulf Coast.

Construction of Fort Jefferson began on Garden Key in 1847, and although more than $ 250,000 had been spent by 1860, the fort was never finished. As the largest American masonry coastal fort of the 19th century, it also served as a remote prison during the Civil War. The most famous prisoner was Dr. Samuel Mudd, who put John Wilkes Booth’s leg after the assassination of President Lincoln. Mudd was convicted of conspiracy and was incarcerated in the Dry Tortugas from 1865 to 1869. The fort continued to serve as a military prison until 1874.

Almost there

Gary turned the de Havilland to the right, providing a spectacular view of the islands and Fort Jefferson, steering the seaplane into the wind for the smoothest landing ever, on land or sea, gently skimming the surface and we glided effortlessly . turquoise waters and heading to shore. One more roar of the engines, one quick turn, and we were on the beach ready to disembark.

We arrived around 8:30 a.m. M. … and aside from the 10 passengers on board, half a dozen campers at one end of Garden Key, and a few National Park Service employees, we had the island to ourselves.

As I watched the seaplane take off, heading back to Key West, I realized how isolated we were in this remote oceanic wilderness.

It was still quite cold, but the sun and the temperature were rising rapidly. Taking advantage of the morning light, I headed inside the fort, climbed the spiral staircase, and exited the old Garden Key lighthouse built in 1825. The lighthouse is no longer in use, as the “new” 167 foot lighthouse. height at Loggerhead Key, completed in 1858, continues to illuminate its beacon to sailors, warning of shallow water.

The view from the top of Fort Jefferson provided a spectacular 360-degree panorama. And besides the few strips of land that make up the park, there was nothing but sky and sea in all directions.

About the park

The Dry Tortugas National Park, located at the far end of the Florida Keys, is closer to Cuba than to the American continent. A group of seven islands, made up mostly of sand and coral reefs, only 93 of the park’s 64,000 acres are on water. The three easternmost keys are simply splinters of white coral sand, while the 49-acre Loggerhead Key, three miles away, marks the western edge of the island chain. The park’s sandy keys are in a state of constant change, shaped by tides and currents, time and climate. In fact, four islands completely disappeared between 1875 and 1935, testimony to the fragility of the ecosystem.

Final approach to Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson

The surrounding coral reefs make up the third largest barrier reef system outside of Australia and Belize.

Dry Tortugas are renowned for their near-pristine natural resources, including seagrass beds, fishing, and nesting habitat for sea turtles and birds.

Bush Key, just about 100 yards from Fort Jefferson is home to a wide variety of birds that frequent the islands and features a mix of mangroves, sea oats, bay cedar, sea grape and prickly pear, reflecting the character original of the islands. .

A great spectacle of wildlife occurs each year between the months of February and September, up to 100,000 black terns travel from the Caribbean Sea and the central-western Atlantic Ocean to nest on the islands of the Dry Tortugas. Brown nodies, pink terns, double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans, and the Magnificent frigatebird, with its 7-foot wingspan, nest here as well. Although Bush Key was closed to visitors, hundreds, if not thousands, of birds filled the skies and the sounds of their screeches and calls filled the peaceful surroundings.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Fort Jefferson National Monument under the Antiquities Act on January 4, 1935. Expanded to its current size in 1983, the monument was redesignated by an act of Congress as Dry Tortugas National Park on October 26. 1992 to protect the island and the marine environment, to preserve Fort Jefferson and submerged cultural resources such as shipwrecks.

There is no water, food, bathing facilities, supplies, or public accommodation (other than camping on Garden Key) in the park. All visitors, campers, and boaters are required to pack whatever they are carrying, so the National Park Service has created a wi-fi hotspot, just at the pier, where you can scan a QR code and download a variety of files. PDF to your phone or tablet. It’s an idea that’s sure to catch on across so many mobile devices, reducing the need to print (and discard) paper brochures. Inside Fort Jefferson, a small visitor center has some exhibits and shows a short video. I walked through the entrance and found an equally small office that houses the National Park Service employees who maintain and manage the park.

Almost 500 years ago …

I figured the islands didn’t look much different to the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, who is credited with discovering the islands in 1531. He called them Las Tortugas, or “Las Tortugas,” since the islands and the surrounding waters They were hot with loggerhead, hawksbill, leatherback and green turtles. For nearly three hundred years, pirates not only raided passing ships, but relied on turtles for meat and eggs and also stole the nests of sooty terns and rattlesnakes. Nautical charts began to show that Las Tortugas were dry, due to a lack of fresh water, and eventually the islands were renamed Las Tortugas Secas.

New world shipping, trade and riches

The explorers sailed through the Dry Tortugas and the route was frequented by Spanish ships returning to the European continent from the Gulf coast of Florida, Veracruz and the Caribbean. Dry Tortugas turned out to be a major trade route … and served as an important marker for ships used to navigate the Gulf Coast. While Florida remained under Spanish rule, merchants used this route to transport coffee, tobacco, cotton, meat, cattle, and merchandise across the Atlantic in exchange for New World silver and gold.

Some of the best snorkeling spots in North America

Although I was only on the half-day seaplane trip, I still had plenty of time to swim and snorkel on the west side of Garden Key.

In the late 19th century, the US Navy built docks and coal warehouses to refuel, but severe storms destroyed them, leaving only their foundations. These piles, and the deeper water of the dredged channel, now offer an excellent opportunity to see larger fish such as tarpon, groupers, barracudas … as well as the occasional shark.

I have had my GoPro for years, but had never used it underwater and was pleasantly surprised when I entered the water. Multicolored sea fans swayed in the gentle current. The colorful reef fish, with their vivid and boldly patterned reds, yellows, greens and blues, are camouflaged among the bright corals and seagrasses. Today, turtle populations have declined, but you may still be able to see green, loggerhead, hawksbill, and leatherback sea turtles.

As I was walking back to the changing rooms at the dock, the seaplane for my return flight was landing and I realized that my time at Dry Tortugas was coming to an end. If I ever get a chance to go back I would definitely go for the full day trip.

A week later, after returning home to Colorado and shoveling snow from the driveway, a small plane passed overhead and I suddenly thought of my flight to the Dry Tortugas: the bright sun, the crystal clear waters, the abundant life, up and down. the surface of the water, a surreal landscape that now seemed much more distant. So captivating, so remote, that even having seen it with my own eyes, I could still somehow barely imagine it.

Health Fitness

The dimensions of a bottle of wine

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If you are thinking of transforming your basement into a home cellar, you are not alone. Home cellar setup is a booming business, especially in the luxury home market. When mapping your winery, you may want to know the size of a standard bottle of wine. Ninety percent of your home’s wine collection will likely consist of standard-size bottles.

The first dimension to consider is the height of a standard wine bottle. Some shelving companies make shelves only ten inches deep, which does not protect the full 11½-inch height of a standard bottle. Be sure to accommodate the full height from a standard wine bottle, because you don’t want your precious wine bottles to fall off your neck.

The other dimensions of a wine bottle

A standard wine bottle contains 750 milliliters of wine and is approximately 11.5 inches tall. At the base, its diameter is 27/8 to 3 inches. From bottom to top, its sides are straight, but near the top, about three-quarters of the way up, it has a rounded shoulder. Bordeaux bottle because it is the usual size and shape of a bottle of red wine from that region of France.

The contents of a standard bottle equals approximately 25 ounces, so if you are serving five-ounce servings, one bottle will produce approximately five glasses of wine. The size of a serving is arbitrary, but according to the American Medical Association, “… A standard drink is any drink that contains approximately half an ounce (13.7 grams or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. amount of pure alcohol is found in five ounces of wine. “

Non-standard wine bottle sizes

Divisions and halves: Some bottlers and vineyards offer smaller sizes equivalent to half a bottle or even a quarter bottle. A “split” is a standard quarter bottle, containing about six ounces of wine, a little more than one serving. Divisions are 7 inches tall and 2 inches in diameter. Half, as you can imagine, is half the volume of a standard bottle, which contains 13 ounces of wine. It is 9½ inches tall with a 2¼ “diameter at the base.

Magnum: One magnum of wine equals two bottles, or about 50 ounces. The magnum is 13½ inches tall and requires a special shelf in its wine cellar. The base of the magnum is 4 inches in diameter.

Big bottle: If you are entertaining a lot of friends, you may want to open a Jeroboam. This is the older brother of the magnum. One bottle of Jeroboam holds three liters of wine, which is equivalent to four standard bottles or 20 glasses.

The shapes of wine bottles

The steep “shoulder” of the Bordeaux bottle may have evolved to help trap sediment in aged wines. While this may be true, the shapes of wine bottles have more to do with their region of origin than a functional characteristic. Different wine regions gradually developed their own bottle shapes, and it is not necessary for a certain type of wine to occupy a certain bottle shape. To avoid consumer confusion, most bottlers adhere to the conventions.

Besides the Bordeaux bottle, another commonly used form for red wine is the Bordeaux bottle. It has more sloping shoulders and a slightly wider base. It is also 11½ inches tall, but has a diameter of 3½ inches at the base. Since Chardonnay is also made in Burgundy, you will find this varietal in a Burgundy-shaped bottle. The same is true for Pinot Noir.

German winemakers use a taller and slimmer bottle. These long-necked bottles can hold the sweet dessert wines of that region, including Riesling and Gewürztraminer. The fourth type of bottle is used in the Champagne region and is a heavier bottle with a wider base that must be able to withstand the pressure of the bubbles inside.

Additional question: What is a Punt?

There is an indentation in the bottom of some wine and champagne bottles, and it is not designed to mislead the consumer as to the amount of liquid in the bottle. This hollow area is called bat, and there are various theories as to why it is there. Some say it aided in shipping bottles in boxes because they could line up with the top of one bottle placed on the tray of another. A more likely theory is that when bottles are blown by hand, imperfections in the bottom can make the bottle unstable. To minimize the chances of a rocky bottle, the glass maker would bleed the bottom. The word probably comes from punty gold pontil, a glass blowing tool.

Legal Law

Employment Law – Excessive Working Hours – Breach of Duty of Care

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In Mark Hone v. Six Continents Retail Limited (2005), a bar owner who collapsed due to overwork successfully sued his former employers in County Court for breach of duty of care.

Mr. Hone, the plaintiff, began working for Bass (now Six Continents) as a pub manager in 1995 and in 1998 he was awarded “Pub Manager of the Year”. However, in 1999 he began working at The Old Moat House, where he found himself working 13 hours a day.

He repeatedly complained to his employers that he was working excessively, but the employers took no action. He had no assistant manager and other staff members, who left, including two chefs and a clerical worker, were never replaced.

Hone, who had refused to sign a clause that excluded EU law limiting the number of hours an employee works, began to suffer from headaches and insomnia. In May 2000, she collapsed at work due to an anxiety disorder. In 2004, Mr. Hone sued Bass for violating his duty of care as an employee.

The trial court (Swansea County Court) held that:

Bass had failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that Mr. Hone worked no more than 48 hours, which would likely cause harm to his health, and that resources were available to hire more support staff for him; and

Bass should pay Mr Hone £ 21,000 in damages.

Six Continents (formerly Bass) appealed this decision to the Court of Appeal, which upheld the Swansea County Court ruling.

Comment: This case highlights the importance of not imposing excessive working hours on employees and ensuring that employees have sufficient support from staff.

If you need more information contact us at [email protected]

© RT COOPERS, 2005. This Information Note does not provide an exhaustive or complete statement of the law related to the topics discussed, nor does it constitute legal advice. Its sole purpose is to highlight general issues. Specialized legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.

Lifestyle Fashion

Check out these weekend getaways from New York

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Sure, there is so much to do in the Big Apple that it will never catch up with all of us, but trust us, weekend getaways from New York are something your blood pressure will thank you for. That slower pace of life is relaxing, refreshing, rejuvenating; When the noise of the city disappears, you will be amazed at what you can hear. These three weekend getaways are just a hop, a hop, and a hop from the city, a maximum of three hours by car from downtown Manhattan.

The North Fork of Long Island

A great alternative for anyone who has been burned in the Hamptons (South Fork), Long Island’s North Fork has been a vacation mecca since the 1920s, when its grand hotels lined the boardwalk from Jamesport to Orient Point, attracting travelers from up and down the east coast. . Today North Fork is famous for its vineyards, roadside produce stands, and restaurants showcasing the bounty of local farms. Stay at one of the few historic inns, run by the Oysterponds Historical Society, that can rightfully boast: George Washington slept here. Or attend one of the many wine tasting events at the regional wineries, where you can also listen to jazz and see artwork by local artists.

New Paltz, Ulster County

The oldest residential road in the United States is Huguenot Street in New Paltz, which still looks a lot like what it was in the late 17th century when Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France and the Netherlands first settled here. time. One of the best weekend getaways from New York for any history buff is a trip here between May and October, when you can tour the 250-year-old houses every day of the week except Wednesdays. New Paltz is also home to the largest private nature preserve in New York State, the 7,000-acre Mohonk Preserve, open from dusk to dawn, where you can hike, horseback, and bike, and in winter, ski. , or just hang out and commune with nature.

Block Island, Rhode Island

If you crave the ocean, consider a trip to unspoiled little Block Island. You won’t find any fast food franchises or souvenir shops selling I Heart RI duffel bags. What you’ll find are beaches – miles and miles of white sand dotted with rustic cabins and sudden patches of wildflowers. Rent a bike – you can ride the entire 11-mile island in just a couple of hours. The best time to visit is during the spring and summer, when six ferries a day depart from nearby Newport and Point Judith, a thirty-minute journey.

There are many weekend getaway deals from New York for Vacation Club members who can also enjoy personalized attention to their vacation needs from travel concierge specialists.

Pets

Distinctive behaviors of boxer dogs

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Boxer dogs are a popular breed of dog and they have a few distinctive behaviors of their own. However, Boxers do not have many canine problems that are common among other dog breeds. Common distinctive behaviors found in boxer dogs are:

  • Loyalty and self-confidence – the boxer is friendly and very loyal to his owners, he is content to be with them and lying at their feet. Boxer dog owners appreciate the devotion this breed gives them. Most swear that they will never own another breed of dog. The Boxer is a strong and noble breed that radiates self-confidence.
  • Affectionate -Natural protector of children- The boxer dog adores most children and will naturally become a playmate and protector of children. Boxers show devoted affection for their owners and strangers when properly introduced and socialized.
  • The Woo Woo- The “woo woo” is a vocalization that boxer dogs usually do during the game, which is an invitation to play with them or if you have something that they want. It is quite comical in nature. The boxer is often referred to as the dog breed clown.
  • The Wiggle Butt: The “Wiggle Butt” is an excessive movement of the hindquarters that boxer dogs exhibit. It’s an exciting gesture, happy to see you, as well as a trade-off in communicating body language to show friendly motives to others, including dogs. Boxers are a docked breed, with their tails docked, this behavior serves as an excessive exaggeration of the friendly wagging of the tail so that others know they mean no harm.
  • Oooo- This is definitely something every boxer owner has said when the boxer expels flatus (gas) both silently and loudly in their proximity. The boxer is quite intelligent and will often get away from the bad smell before the owners.
  • Boxing – The boxer likes to play using his front legs in a boxing move, looking very much like a boxer would in the ring.
  • Mouth: The boxer dog can be seen playing mouth with another dog or human, making a distinctive whine vocalization and a side-to-side tilt movement of the head with its mouth wide open. It is not a sign of aggression. Young boxer puppies as young as 3-4 weeks old will begin this behavior with their littermates. It is a natural play gesture for boxer dogs.
  • Hugging: The boxer likes to hug (from the back with the paws on the shoulders) and should be taught at an early age not to. Especially in homes with children and older adults.

These are NOT common behaviors seen in boxer dogs:

  • Excessive Barking – Barking is a form of communication in dogs and boxers do not overcompensate for this. Boxers generally only bark to alert the arrival of new visitors, protecting their territory or during the game. They are not excessive thieves like toy breeds or hunting / hound breeds. They do not bark for unknown reasons.
  • Aggression – Boxers may look mean and tough, but they are not aggressive dogs. They have a very retractable guard behavior, they will alert visitors and will be able to defend their territory if real threats are presented. If aggression appears in a boxer, it is usually manifested by poor breeding (genetics), medical conditions and mistreatment by humans or other dogs. Aggression can be seen in any breed of dog that is not spayed or neutered, is not properly socialized, or is fearful and unsure of the situation. Stressful and painful situations and the protection of valuable resources are also common ways that dogs display aggression.
  • Fear Phobias – Some boxers can display phobias of fear of people, thunderstorms, and loud noises, although this is not common in the breed. Phobias can manifest themselves from lack of socialization and trauma at an early age, for unknown reasons.
  • Jumping on people: This is not a common behavior for boxers unless improper training has occurred or excitable behaviors are encouraged, hugging is not the same but it is also not desirable for most people.
  • Training Problems – The Boxer is an easy dog ​​to train with the right motivation. Consistent and humane methods are favored.
  • Separation anxiety – The boxer thrives in a social setting with his family. Some boxers can show separation anxiety if left to their own devices and they get bored. Behaviors such as chewing, digging, destroying property, dirtying the house, whining, and barking excessively for no apparent reason to their owners are common signs of separation anxiety. Boxers will show no signs of these behaviors if they are properly exercised, trained, and their social needs met.
  • Obsessive Licking – Most boxers aren’t licked per se, but you will occasionally find one that is, trying to show their submissive side to their owners and friends. Often times this behavior occurs due to the uncertainty of the boxers in a given situation or too harsh treatment by the owners. They may lick in an effort to obtain food or water.
  • Submissive urination: It is unusual behavior for a boxer to show submissive urination, that is, urinate when approached or aroused. Those showing signs of submissive urination problems should be examined by a veterinarian to rule out medical conditions. This dog behavior problem is often a sign of an underlying medical problem, excessive arousal, and / or trauma.

The distinctive behaviors common to the boxer dog make it a true all-season dog and loved around the world by thousands, possibly millions of humans. If you have a Boxer that exhibits any of those troublesome dog behaviors that are not common among this breed, contact a trainer, behavior specialist, canine behavior advisor, and / or veterinarian for help.

Real Estate

High Rise Vs Low Rise Condo

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We all know that condos offer a level of comfort that you don’t get with a home. You still get the space and comfort of home without all the yard work. But which one should you choose? Do you want a tall or short building? Read on to find out what the differences are between the two condos and what are the advantages of each type.

There really is no consensus on what defines each type of condo. Generally speaking, a garden-style condo is one with an exterior entrance / exit that opens onto a central patio or garden. Think of it as a very low-rise unit.

These condos are generally one to three stories high, although in some areas the building is slightly taller, up to six stories. They are usually accessed from the outside, either by climbing a short flight of steps or by climbing several flights of stairs. It’s easy to mistake low-rise condos for townhomes.

Low-rise condos tend to be less expensive than high-rise ones because they don’t have the security team that monitors access 24/7 and they don’t have the small shops or amenities. However, the locations where these condos are located are often much quieter and more private than cities that are home to high-rise units. That said, they can involve a daily commute to work or entertainment that you don’t have in a skyscraper.

A high-rise condo often features stunning views of the city, nearby mountains, or the surrounding countryside, depending on its location. Their central location makes them more convenient to live and work close to where the restaurants and theaters you love are located. They also usually have a central lobby where a security station is installed. Monitoring and secure access to units makes things much safer, particularly for city homes. However, this can make it more difficult for guests who want to visit.

They also often have elevators, which simplifies moving and increases shopping. All entrances are accessed from the inside, making them great options in areas with bad weather. All maintenance is covered by your lease or condo fees. They may also have laundry and dry cleaning services on site, as well as common areas, gyms, and swimming pools.

All those extra features that skyscrapers have come at a price. They usually have more expensive condo fees to pay for those features. They also house many more residents, so they will be busier and less private than low-rise condos. Also note that the relative amount of patio space to the number of units will be greatly reduced starting with a low-rise building.

So how do you choose which one is best for you? The best way is to choose a Realtor or Realtor who is willing to show you multiple units. That way, you can see what layout you like, what building height you like, and which part of the city suits you best.

Shopping Product Reviews

Apple responds to the market with new products

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New products are on the way from Apple. The tech firm made it clear that they have many items in their portfolio at their WWDC Conference this month.

First, there’s the company’s answer to the Amazon Echo and Google’s Home called the HomePod. It’s a seven-inch device that will integrate Siri into an Echo / Home-like case. You can use it to check the news, weather, and control your smart home devices.

HomePod will offer an enhanced music experience. A feature called “Musicologist” will work with Apple Music and stream the songs you request to Siri. The sound is designed to fill the room and take it to a level beyond what Amazon and Google offer.

The device will be available in black or white. The price is around $ 349. The launch date is scheduled for December, just in time for the holiday season.

Do you need a new desktop computer? Apple is updating its iMac with improved Retina displays, a boost in graphics, Kaby Lake processors, and a USB-C plug-in.

An iMac Pro is also on the way. This high-end machine has a 5K screen with improved cooling capacity and an 8-core Xeon processor that can be upgraded up to 18 cores. It also includes up to 4TB SSD, up to 128GB of ECC memory, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and built-in 10GB Ethernet.

The price is what you would expect from Apple. The new iMac starts at $ 1,099 for the 21.5-inch model and $ 1,299 for the 4K model. MacBook Pro starts at $ 1,299, which includes the upgraded Kaby Lake processor. For those with deep pockets, the iMac Pro with the Xeon processor starts at a whopping $ 4,999. Again a December shipping date is expected.

Speaking of “Pros”, how about a new iPad Pro? The device will be available in three sizes, including a new 10.5-inch model. Like the iPhone 7, it comes with a 12-megapixel camera and a 7MP selfie camera.

IPad Pro supports USB 3.0 with 10 hours of battery life. A new feature called ProMotion reduces the latency of the Apple Pencil to 20 milliseconds. It adjusts the refresh rate based on what you’re watching and can double it down to 120Hz. The 10.5-inch iPad Pro starts out with a 64GB configuration. Pricing starts at $ 649. You can pick one up now.

Also noteworthy is Apple’s new operating system, iOS11. It is in beta and has been released to developers. One area that will improve is multitasking on the iPad. Users will be able to open an application from the dock and drag it to the screen in the split screen version. Like on a MacBook, you can use touch to hold and drag folders, files, or photos. You can even put them in a different app, like Mail or iMessage. The Apple Pencil will also allow searching for handwritten text from within the Notes application.

The Apple Watch is also getting a “facelift.” New faces will display new bits of information, like reminders from Siri. An update to Fitness Focus enables data sharing with NFC with gym equipment. Pair the two and you’ve got the ultimate level of activity and calorie burn.

Apple is letting developers know that its tree is full of exciting new products and updates. It will be interesting to see how the public responds in this latest round of Apple selection.

Sports

Writers often get the short part of the pencil

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“No matter what achievement you have … someone helped you.” Aretha Gipson

Many years ago, one of Hollywood’s most powerful movie producers proclaimed, “Don’t let writers have power!”

From: Current.com:

The writers seem to be unrecognized and underestimated by the general masses as a result of Hollywood attitudes. TV and movie fans are quick to congratulate actors on a beautiful performance, but forget that it couldn’t have existed without someone formulating the concept, etc.

A few years ago I wrote a comedy script and for a few years I tried to sell it with no luck. Some people in the movie industry liked it … but not the cigars! During this time, I tried to learn as much as I could about the screenwriting business, and what I did learn was pretty daunting news for the writer, etc.

One of the main things that irritated me was that once a writer sold the script to the studio, they no longer wanted it and he was not even allowed to be on set during production. The writer may or may not get the first rewrite of a script, depending on the contract. And I read several stories where the writer sold a script to the studio … and the directors, producers, and other screenwriters wrote and rewrote the script so many times that the original writer didn’t even recognize their script. The actors even jumped into action and offered two cents as well. Talk about frustration for the writer! If the movie is a success … credit goes to the director, producer, and actors! But if the movie is a bomb or a flop … the writer is to blame!

I also learned about age discrimination in Hollywood, and there is so much for everyone. There is a lot of selfishness and greed in Hollywood, so I decided to do something else with my script. I disassembled the script and used ideas from my website and articles. There is too much ugliness in Hollywood for me!

“Imagination is the highest kite you can fly.” Lauren bacall

From: BRE Magazine.com:

Stevie wonder; Carol King; John Lennon; Smokey Robinson; Lionel Richie, etc. What do these people have in common? They are all accomplished composers … highly skilled in the art of creating the very foundation of our musical landscape. In today’s music scene, a group of different producers are called upon to shape the current musical offering and have been praised with more credit. The projects are driven by the producers and there is little respect for the creators of the project – the songwriters!

Like millions of people across the country, I have been to a few concerts in my day. I have seen very few singers or band members give credit to the author of the song, unless it is one of their own, etc. I’ve seen singers who don’t even introduce their band members to the audience. The singer is the center of attention and the large amount of money … and the songwriter usually gets the shorter part of the pencil, as usual.

Humor writers! Erma Bombeck was once quoted as saying that writing humor is 50 times harder than writing anything else. I agree! I’ve been in the humor business for over 50 years, so I think I know a bit about humor, and it will be the audience that will judge whether or not my work is fun!

How many late night talk show hosts would be a lot of fun without their army of humor writers, putting everything together behind the scenes? In the recent writers’ strike (2007-08), the live shows did not even go on the air, but were quickly replaced by reruns as soon as the strike began. And who makes so much money? The talk show host, of course! It’s easy to be funny when someone else writes the material. Comedy writers are never recognized or recognized. Are you kidding … do you recognize a writer?

From: Hope Is My Anchor.com:

“Our need is not to feel that writing has to be a career to be worth it … nor that it has to be prepared through formal study before it can be satisfying to the writer. If you feel you have an unrecognized talent for writing, or if you just love to write, and want to, my advice is to write. But write without ambition, pride … which makes you feel like it is a “waste” that will never be published. Write to communicate with someone, even if it is literally a person. It is not a waste to write beautiful prose or poetry for one person’s eyes only. ” Edith schaeffer

Funny or not … good writers are good storytellers, and I don’t care if you’re writing a poem; a piece of humor; or a technical article … you have to tell the story. The writer left the plans … the frame of the film; the song or the ad, etc. Because without the writer … there is not much to say!