Shopping Product Reviews

Portable Battery Charger: 7 Tips for Choosing the Right Charger

Many of our electronic devices come with their own plug-in charger, but it’s not designed to charge when there’s no power. How should you choose the best portable battery charger to work with your device? What you need is a guide or some tips to help you choose the right charger for your device. This article provides 7 great tips for choosing the right portable battery charger.

If you have an iPhone device, the choice is quite easy. Portable battery chargers must be designed specifically for iPhone and are therefore automatically compatible. One thing to look up, though, is your iPhone model to make sure the connection and amps are compatible.

What if it’s another portable device besides an iPhone? That’s where some help is needed.

7 tips for choosing the right portable battery charger

1. Portable battery charger

The first thing to consider is the voltage and amps. Your device should come with some specifications on how many input volts and amps are required to charge the device. Sometimes, like in the case of a GPS or rechargeable flashlight, this specification may be printed near the charging port. Sometimes it will print inside the battery compartment if you have one for rechargeable batteries. In many others you will have to find the manual or search online.

Pay close attention to what you are charging. MP3 players and other small devices with minimal power requirements will be easy to charge with any portable charger. Larger items like laptops, some mobile phones, and portable DVD players may need a larger portable charger or you must use your car to charge them.

Advice: The most important specification is the amps. If you try to charge your delicate electronic device with an amperage that is too high for the device, you may damage the batteries or even the device. Make sure the amperage is close to the requirements of the device. The next most important is voltage. Make sure the voltage is equal to or higher than the specification of the device for the batteries to charge. Otherwise, it may damage or discharge the batteries instead of charging them.

2. Duration of the trip

If you’re going to the local mall or park, you can probably get away with simply charging at home or using a car wall charger to keep your device powered up. Not all devices have compatible car outlet chargers, so this is something to keep in mind.

Many of us have 12V outlets in the car now, but what if it’s a long trip with multiple devices used by multiple family members and part of the trip will be hiking through Yosemite National Park or another destination? suitable vacation or adventure? That’s where the portable battery charger comes in.

A portable battery charger usually has its own internal battery pack that must be kept recharged to provide power.

Advice: Create an energy strategy for your trip ahead of time. Consider bringing a couple of portable battery chargers that can be plugged into your car’s 12V outlets to keep them charged until you need them. That way, whether you’re staying in the car or taking an extended jaunt away from the trusty SUV, you’ll have the power you need for all your devices. Many newer chargers come with multiple outlets and multiple outlet types to service multiple electronic requirements.

3.Solar

Solar panel chargers are becoming more popular as they come down in price and offer more power per dollar. For the most part they don’t put out that much power and of course it depends on the available light. But, they can be a good plug and forget about the charger for non-emergency charging.

Tip: This could be a good option to power that second battery pack on a long trip. Kids can use the outlets while solar power takes care of the battery pack for you. You just need to keep the panel in as much sun as possible, which is typically found on the dashboard of a car or SUV. Also, make sure any solar panel charger you buy comes with a smart controller so you don’t accidentally overcharge your batteries.

4. Fast boot capability

Believe it or not, many of the newer jump starters also double as portable battery chargers. Both can start your car and often have built in outlets for DC or possibly inverter outlets for AC.

Advice: This is a useful device in emergencies that can start the car, turn on emergency lights, emergency radios and mobile devices.

5. Connectors and adapters

Make sure you have the proper outlets to power all of your devices. These days, devices are all over the place in their requirements for a power connection. It can be AC, DC, USB, etc.

Advice: Estimate your charging needs ahead of time and purchase the appropriate outlet adapters to avoid having to have those outlets on your portable battery charger. It will save you money and the adapters are available in kits to save you even more money.

6. Dimensions

Batteries are heavy and a portable battery charger is mostly made up of batteries. Also, the more features and power a charger has, the bigger and heavier it will be. Always check the dimensions before purchasing and make sure it fits your plans both in function and size.

Advice: Portable chargers need to charge themselves, so when planning long trips, consider keeping your portable chargers charged.

7. Readings

Your portable battery charger may be just a lump that provides no information about what’s going on, or it may have meters, LEDs, knobs, and dials to provide exactly what’s going on so you’re never in the dark.

Tip: Opt for a battery charger that gives you basic information about when charging is complete. Some chargers, especially larger ones, may overcharge your devices. Try to get a device that has a microprocessor controller to automatically protect your devices from damage. That’s how you set it and forget it!

I hope this article has given you an idea of ​​how to choose and use a portable battery charger.

Sports

How your business can function like a football team

Crisp fall days, the roar of the crowd, the smell of barbecues in the parking lot. If you don’t already know, I’m a football fanatic. I love the game, from my days playing in high school to watching my favorite teams, training and watching my two sons, I love all things soccer.

So it’s no wonder you see so many similarities between the way a great football team works and a great business. Soccer is the best team game, and successful companies are not successful without great teamwork. Let’s look at five ways you can make your business run like the most successful football teams.

No football team, whether college or professional, gets anywhere on the field without first putting together a roster of top talent. Isaac Cheifetz, in “NFL Hiring Secrets,” points out that on every NFL football team, management needs to know what the “true requirements” of each position are. Usually it involves a variety of skills and behaviors. For example, a quarterback must have great composition, awareness, and be calm under pressure. Likewise, in the business world, a star salesperson must have great tenacity, communication skills, and professionalism.

Let’s compare how the top college and professional football teams select talent for their roster with how your company selects its talent. Professional soccer teams, especially, subject their potential employees to extensive analysis and measurement in every way. They don’t just measure physical attributes or experience, they spend hours upon hours interviewing candidates, their former coaches, teammates, and others with relevant information about their past behavior and performance.

How much time do you spend recruiting new employees for your business? I’m sure he’s interviewing and checking qualifications. But is he really digging into what makes them better or worse than other candidates? How long are your interviews? What assessment tools do you use to confirm your interview findings? How do you measure the appropriateness to your culture and environment?

Several years ago, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conducted a study on the habits of most hiring managers. They found that in the vast majority, over 65%, hiring decisions occurred within the first 4.3 minutes of an interview. They also found that only 11% of these hires lasted more than 6 months in the company. It’s not a great track record.

Soccer is the best game of teamwork. No other game I’ve played before has relied so heavily on every player on the field. Each one has to play their part exceptionally to be successful. Not even the most physically gifted running back or quarterback can do well with an offensive line that wipes out too many plays, or just doesn’t feel like working today.

I have been lucky enough to be able to coach youth soccer for many years, starting with kids as young as eight. It never fails that after the first game, the two or three players who actually moved the ball into the end zone for a touchdown immediately feel like they suddenly did it all themselves. That doesn’t work very well on my teams and they soon realize they didn’t come alone. Touchdowns happen because of eleven men on the field (twelve if you play Canadian football).

How similar are our businesses? Do the salespeople who close the big sales really come alone? What about the great work done by marketing, or the outstanding customer service representatives? And don’t forget the production departments or engineers who create and produce the quality materials that generate great word of mouth for the sales team.

The best soccer teams are those that have a lot of depth in their key positions. When a star player gets hurt or traded, he has top-notch talent ready to step up and take his turn to be the hero.

A great example of this is the NFL’s Houston Texans. During the 2011 season, they had to deal with a season-ending injury to their All-Pro quarterback. This was bad, but they were lucky to have an extremely capable second-string quarterback with a lot of talent and command of his offense. Three-quarters of the way into the next game, the second-row quarterback also missed due to a season-ending injury. However, due to tremendous foresight from team management, the Texans drafted a rookie quarterback who was ideally suited to run the team’s offense and were able to not only make the playoffs for the first time, but also win Game 1. of franchise playoffs. .

Your company must also look forward to who will be able to move up and play key roles within your organization. Hopefully, you won’t lose anyone to injury, but what about retirement, health issues, turnover, and other changes? You can do a better job of determining what talents and skills your current employees have and how they will be used in the future. Establish mentoring programs that transfer the knowledge and experience of your key players to those who have the raw material for future success.

Strong leadership is a vital part of any successful soccer team. Every successful team has several key “field generals” who keep the team moving in the right direction. In fact, football teams always have half a dozen or more captains who act as leaders on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. When I think of leaders on the football field, I think of Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis, Dan Marino, Mike Singletary and Warren Moon. Each of these players not only led during games, but were noted for inspiring their teammates to practice more, study harder, and give it their all in every situation. But never, nobody surpassed them. They always led by example.

Your managers and supervisors are the captains of your business. How committed are they to the success and long-term future of their business? In fact, there are no other positions in your company that affect the retention and development of high-performing employees more than managers and supervisors. People leave people, not companies, and your internal leaders are key to attracting and retaining the kind of employees you need. As we talked about recruiting earlier, even the best recruiting efforts will be destroyed by poor leadership.

Which brings us to our last point. Outstanding soccer teams have powerful coaches and are constantly teaching and learning. The unexpected success of this year’s Super Bowl champion New York Giants shouldn’t be as surprising as it seems. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin is one of the game’s consummate masters. He is known as someone who is completely dedicated to his players, helping them learn and develop their skills to the fullest.

How interested are we in our employees as business owners or executives? Are we consumed with trying to help them improve their skill and ability or just going through the motions? Our key players will know. They will know if we are truly committed to helping them learn and develop their talents for their sake and the sake of the business. Great coaches understand that it has to contain elements of both. Great leaders and managers seek a win/win approach to learning and development.

Just like soccer, business is a team sport. The goal is to do more together than we could on our own and harness the talents of employees for the benefit of customers, owners and shareholders alike. And just like in football, when a team meets in the boardroom it all becomes more fun. Hard work, long hours, pain and suffering become a pleasurable experience in the field with a group you have bonded with and enjoy being with. Wouldn’t it be great if every day at work was like this too?

Tours Travel

Best Weekend Getaways: 6 Affordable US and International Destinations

If a long weekend is coming up and you want to take advantage of that extra day off, why not go on a trip for a few days? What’s the use of staying home when there are so many places waiting to be explored? These days, traveling doesn’t involve much planning ahead. You can put together a two or three day itinerary very easily. There may also be some last minute deals for you to take advantage of. Where should you go? Here are some of the best weekend getaways right now (domestic):

Tucson, Arizona

If you don’t mind the desert heat, Tucson is a nice and affordable place to visit. There is plenty to do outdoors, such as visiting Saguaro National Park and visiting the Historic Quarter. Head to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum to see native plants and animals in a stunning landscape. It is VERY easy to find a good hotel in this city for less than $100 a night.

Kansas City, MO

Smack in the middle of America, Kansas City is an affordable destination that offers plenty of fun for a weekend getaway. Many of the attractions like the art museum are free to visit. If you’re a sports fan, head to Kauffman Stadium or Arrowhead Stadium to catch a game.

austin, texas

One of the best weekend getaways in Texas is the city of Austin. It is especially fun to visit if you like music. On Sixth Street you will find both famous bands and new bands performing their best songs. Go to the Austin Zoo if you want to see all kinds of creatures: scaly, furry and feathered. There are many cheap hotels with free breakfast.

Here is one of the best weekend getaways in international destinations:

Guadalajara Mexico

This is a cheap destination if you are flying from a major US city. There is no shortage of affordable accommodation. It’s usually cheaper if you opt for a vacation package that includes airfare and a hotel room. There are plenty of fun things to do, including exploring cultural institutions like Zapopan’s Huichol Wixarica Museum and Clemente Orozco Museum.

Brussels, Belgium

Airlines like WOWAir offer affordable airfares to European destinations. Brussels in particular is an affordable getaway, with over 500 hotels. It’s easy to find a four-star hotel for $100 or less a night. This beautiful and historic city is definitely worth a visit.

Santo Domingo Dominican Republic

While there are plenty of affordable destinations in the Caribbean, the best weekend getaways right now are in Santo Domingo. Airfare, lodging, food, and activities fit any budget. This city is a mix of modern Latin flair and old world charm. You’ll find an incredible mix of historic forts and palaces mixed with 21st-century shopping and nightlife.

Let travel websites be your primary source for the best weekend getaways and travel discounts. Whether you already have a destination in mind or want to explore all the current deals, there may be an online discount code you can use to save even more.

Technology

Women’s Fashion Inventions of 1940

Women’s fashion in the 1940s was a time of great restrictions on design, fabric, and trim materials. The war forced clothing designs to be simple, but it also forced manufacturers to get creative with what they could use and invent new materials. The 1940s brought new women’s fashion inventions, many of which still exist today.

  1. the girdle Prior to the 1940s, women’s shaping was done with corsets made of metal bones. In the 1940s, the girdle was invented as a form of tummy tuck underwear. It shaped from the middle to the hips and created the smooth hourglass silhouette associated with vintage fashion. The girdle was uncomfortable and was eventually replaced by nylon stockings or non-shape undergarments. Today the girdle returns with shapewear, control stockings, control underwear and other base garments to suck and smooth. They may have changed names, but these garments are just updated girdles in disguise.
  2. Wedge shoes. Leather and wood were needed for warfare, so shoe designs had to be creative. The solution was cork. A cork sole was used for the heels of the shoes and then wrapped in pretty fabric, mesh, or even reptile skin. It was inexpensive and allowed for a higher heel than what was considered a safe high-heeled shoe. Today, wedges come in and out of style, especially in the summer when wedge sandals hit the beaches.
  3. Lightning. If you didn’t know, rayon is a synthetic fabric. It was invented and became very popular in the 1940s. Until then, wool, silk, and cotton were what clothes were made of. Silk and cotton were needed for warfare, so Beam was used instead. It can be light as silk or heavy as wool. Today, rayon is still used in fine fabrics, especially in the summer.
  4. nylon stockings. Before the 1940s, women’s stockings were made of silk. They were very delicate and needed frequent grooming and hand washing. Dupont later invented nylon, and thus “Nylons” became a brand name for stockings. Today, nylon is still used to make all kinds of hosiery and fabrics.
  5. The zipper. Thanks to new inventions in the 1940s, women were able to zip up clothes instead of using buttons, snaps, or drawstrings.
  6. The plastic. Although various forms of plastic had been around since the 1920s, it wasn’t until the 1940s that they really took center stage in the fashion world. The jewelry was made from Bakelite plastic in large colorful designs. Handbags, makeup cases, and household items were made from Lucite. You may not recognize these plastic names, but I’m sure you know that plastic is in fashion everywhere, from cute barrettes to zippers to bag handles.
  7. Shoulder pads. You might think that the 1980s were the first decade to wear shoulder bags. They actually date back much further than the 1940s, but as a regular fashion accessory for women, the 1940s were the first. They used shoulder pads on dresses, jackets, and blouses to square the shoulder for a boxy military feel. The 1980s were heavily influenced by 1940s fashion and thus shoulder pads came back into fashion.
Business

Inventory Management: Ten Ways to Use Accounting Software to Improve Efficiency

one. Integrate order entry.
Do your processes include writing down your customer orders, only to have someone else enter the information again to create an invoice? If so, you are spending more money and time than necessary by paying two people to do virtually the same job. You can save time and increase the accuracy of your orders by implementing order entry in your system. Using order entry allows one person to enter and save an order, and that same order can be turned into an invoice when it’s ready. You’ll save money and also reduce human error, increasing customer satisfaction.

two. Automate the sale of different units of measure.
Some customers want a box, some want a full pallet, and some just want one of the same item. Sounds familiar? Do you have to ‘trick’ your software into handling this scenario or end up making inventory adjustments? You can solve this costly problem by setting up an inventory item with multiple units of measure. By setting up the sales units you need for each item, you can have your system calculate how many you have in stock per unit, and you can easily buy, sell, and store your items as you choose. This can save you a lot of time and will also give you a more accurate picture of how many items you actually have in stock. More importantly, you can quickly tell your customer how many you have available in the unit of measure they choose.

3. Configure and use assemblies to build or ‘equip’ items.
Do you put multiple items together and sell them as a kit? Or do you make something made up of many raw materials? Do you put up with the laborious process of entering each piece of the end item separately into your accounting system? If so, you can drastically reduce time and increase accuracy by setting these items up as “assemblies”. Setting up an assembly allows you to place a finished product on an order, and will pull all of your out-of-stock components behind the scenes. This reduces data entry and keeps inventory counts and costs accurate.

Four. Take a physical inventory more often.
Having an accurate count of the items in your inventory can save your business money, and your customers will be happy to get a quick and accurate answer on whether an item is available. You can make your physical inventory process easier by using a system that allows you to continue selling products while you count. The sales staff is happy that they can keep selling, the warehouse manager is happy that the counts are accurate, and the customer is happy to receive accurate information in a timely manner.

5. Track inventory by location.
Is that item in back storage? On the retail floor? Or is it in one of the delivery trucks? If you store items in more than one location, you should be able to quickly see exactly where you are by location. You can achieve this by setting up more than one inventory location in your software. If you have the ability to set up unlimited inventory locations, you can even set up (for example) a delivery truck as your own location. Configuring multiple warehouses saves you search time and can also reduce costly shrinkage.

6. Automate item tracking with serial and lot number.
Still tracking your serial or lot numbered items on paper or in a spreadsheet? Not only does this make receiving those items time consuming, but there is no trace associating your customers with the serial or lot numbers of the items they purchase. You can configure your system to capture and store the serial or lot numbers of your inventory upon receipt. Then, when you enter your customers’ orders, you can choose which serial/lot numbers they have purchased. Your business will save a lot of time by keeping track of those numbers in one system, and you’ll keep your customers happy by being able to quickly access the serial or lot numbers of the items they’ve purchased. This also helps you easily keep track of warranty information.

7. Let your software system keep track of customer prices.
Tired of flipping through files to find what your customer paid for last time, hoping only that the top page is the most up-to-date? You can eliminate this hassle by setting up your customer prices in your software system. By setting up customer prices in the software, you’ll ensure greater accuracy, keep your customers happy, and also save yourself time and hassle.

8. Track the profitability of inventory items.
How easy is it for you to see which items are the most profitable? How do you know which items you promote or sell the most generate the most revenue? With the ability to run reports that show the profitability (gross profit margin) for each individual item, you can check back frequently to make sure you’re selling the right items. By easily accessing this information, you can focus your sales and marketing departments on selling and promoting the most profitable items, allowing you to improve your bottom line.

9. Enter purchase orders from order entry.
Have you ever run out of an item and forgot to order it for your customer? You can have your system prompt you to enter a purchase order directly from the order entry screen. By doing this, you will ensure that you get the items for your order, keeping your customer happy. You’ll also save time by taking care of both functions at once.

10 Know what items you have so you can keep the right number in stock.
Are you surprised when you run out of an item? But what happens when you find a large overstock? Set your system to maintain a minimum and maximum quantity for each item. Then you can easily run a report at any time, showing what you’re running low on so you can order more before you run out. You can rest assured that you won’t be wasting valuable shelf space by stocking excess items. This will also speed up the purchase order process, saving your company hours of time.

Auto

Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla – The differences between fame and oblivion

I recently saw the movie “The Prestige”. The story is about two fiercely rival wizards and is set in the 1890s. A subplot in the film concerns the largely forgotten rivalry between scientists and inventors Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. Entrepreneurs today can learn a lot from the Edison/Tesla saga.

Thomas Edison is one of the most famous and revered Americans of all time, and with good reason. Schoolchildren are taught that he harnessed electricity, invented the light bulb and the phonograph. He was granted 1,093 patents during his long and rewarding creative life. His summer lab in Fort Myer, Florida, remains a major tourist destination. Additionally, Edison made millions of dollars marketing his patents and product innovations. To this day we have all benefited from his genius.

Nikola Tesla, on the other hand, is virtually unknown today. He was born in Serbia, moved to the United States and became one of the most renowned scientists of his time. He was, in many ways, the prototype of the “mad scientist” so often depicted in books and movies. His eccentricity and his poor business decisions were the stuff of legends. And yet, Tesla’s inventions and scientific advances are just as important in our contemporary life as Edison’s.

As a young immigrant scientist, Tesla worked for Edison. Edison held the patent for direct current (DC) and, as always, was aggressively pursuing the commercialization of his patents. Famed banker JP Morgan was an early financial backer of Edison’s DC. Edison built a generator in New York City that could provide the miracle of light in homes, including Morgan’s Murray Hill mansion. It was considered a wonder of the day.

However, Tesla recognized that DC had serious limitations, specifically in supplying electricity over a vast network. He championed alternating current (AC). Edison was furious. AC was a direct attack on his patents. He had no business right to AC power generation. Tesla left Edison and the two great scientists became enemies for life.

Tesla presented his AC theories to George Westinghouse, another enemy of Edison. The two became partners and a race between AC and DC devotees began. Westinghouse and Tesla believed that AC was superior to DC due to the arc and the larger power footprint the system could deliver.

Edison, an unusual combination of a man of science and an excellent businessman, carried out an aggressive; some say the public relations campaign was savage to support his conviction that DC was the best technology. He performed public electrocutions of animals in an effort to demonstrate that DC was a safer, cleaner source of energy. He even allowed DC to be used in the first electrocution of a criminal sentenced to death. This public display was botched and the criminal was horribly re-electrocuted. The audience was shocked.

Meanwhile, Westinghouse commissioned Tesla to harness the power of Niagara Falls to generate safe and widespread electricity using AC technology. Testing and subsequent network performance confirmed that AC was the superior technology. Morgan and Edison were forced to buy shares in AC.

Thomas Edison prospered for the rest of his days. His connections with JP Morgan led to the establishment of General Electric, one of the world’s great companies to this day. He died rich, revered and famous.

Tesla was a great contributor to the evolution of our modern energy system. The many scientific endeavors involved in the electrification of the United States and the world would have occurred much more slowly without his inventions and creativity. Tesla was crucial to the perfection and acceptance of AC, the standard used to this day. And yet Tesla died bankrupt, alone, nervous.

Edison invented the light bulb. However, without widely distributed, safe, and affordable electricity, the light bulb was worth little. A car without an internal combustion engine is a wagon. Similarly, the perfection of Tesla’s AC was the tool that made the light bulb so valuable. Tesla’s success inadvertently affirmed Edison’s legacy.

Edison could sell. He was a genius at self-promotion. He could seek and obtain capital based on his reputation. He had charm and charisma. Edison created a legend for himself.

Tesla had none of these qualities. He made bad business decisions. His reputation for being difficult closed many promising business doors. Tesla was dark and tough. English was his second language and he was never comfortable in a public format. The science of it has been clouded by the many futuristic predictions of it. Much of today’s modern pseudoscience and UFO acolytes are based on tidbits of Tesla’s preaching.

The ability to commercialize inventions is the key difference between creative types and successful entrepreneurs. We all know people with a vibrant imagination and inventiveness. We all also know that few of these people succeed in turning imagination into reality.

A successful entrepreneur needs a variety of skills and talents to overcome the din of our highly competitive marketplace. Successful designers and engineers are often great employees, unless they can communicate, sell, market, and strategize. The inventor who lacks these skills has many other potential routes to success. Licensing, partnerships and alliances are viable options.

Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, and Ray Kroc are stellar examples of what it takes to be successful. They are versatile, adaptable and visionary. Nikola Tesla was a genius, but only in one area. The science of it is invaluable. Today, Tesla’s personal, business, and historical legacy is largely forgotten. Every student learns about Thomas Edison. It took me an afternoon at the movies to be fleetingly reminded of the important contributions of Nikola Tesla.

Digital Marketing

Why use foam material to make dimensional letters, logos or signs

The foam is all around us. There are countless products made from foam, specifically polystyrene (also known as EPS or expanded polystyrene), from the crown molding in your home to that exhibit you just saw at the museum or that cool sign at the store you just bought from. .

But why would a manufacturer choose to use foam when they clearly have other material options, such as metals, aluminum, plastics, PVC, acrylics, or wood?

Dimensional letters can be used as directional and architectural signage, affixed to a building, office entrances, or on walls to mark a message. Fabrication and sign shops have been using various materials to create dimensional letters, logos, and signs for retail stores, businesses, stages, weddings, trade shows, conventions, and for any event. But imagine making metal letters to go on stage.

Metals and wood are considerably heavy and inconvenient to transport and handle when moving from one place to another. Wood can produce a great finished look, but it is also heavy and time consuming to work with. And plastics and PVCs are not an easy material to mold and machine. Therefore, more and more manufacturers are using foam, which is a lightweight substance, as a source to create large letters.

There are many ways to create the dimensional letters. They can be left as white raw material if required. They can be coated in a matt, semi-gloss or gloss finish. Letters can be painted with special paints to look like wood, or with faux bronze paint to add a metal look. They can be laminated, vinyl coated, fabric or even backlit for a light effect.

Acrylic can be laminated to the front of the letters to match a specific logo color or to make a sign look colorful. It seems that acrylic cut letters have become one of the most popular choices for indoor sign letters.

Acrylic is cut with a laser cutter and it produces a fairly precise cut. Still, foam is the most cost-effective solution for creating signs, logos, lettering, and accessories.

Since the raw foam material itself is brittle and can be damaged by water, humidity, and sun exposure, the coating can protect it. Different types of coating can be used depending on the application and the use that is needed.

They can be topcoated with a light coat such as epoxy, a sprayable, buffable or brushable midcoat such as Styrospray1000, or a jet sprayed polyurea hardcoat. The coating not only protects the letters, logo or sign, but also gives them a much longer durability – they can last up to a lifetime once coated.

An EPS foam block is typically 4 by 4 by 8 feet. Therefore, the most convenient size to create the project is up to 4 feet. However, there is no size limit when creating and manufacturing letters. If they need to be larger, they can be sectioned off and glued together, and by sanding down the glued pieces, the seam is almost completely removed.

The letters are cut using a CNC hot wire foam cutter. The foam is used to add dimension to the letters.

Foam letters are a great option, for example, if you want depth in a lobby wall sign.

They are actually 2D which may look like a 3D project.

By giving it enough thickness, they can be “stand-alone” letters on a stage. For example, a 4 foot letter must be made a minimum of 8 inches thick to be able to stand on its own.

Foam can be cut pretty quickly. A few passes of the hot wire melting into the material can create a letter in no time. Another advantage of foam substrate is that it is easy to cut, shape, mold, carve and sand for a smoother finish.

Round letters can be made flat on the bottom so they stand on their own.

The manufacturer can create a base for the letters, either from the same foam material or from acrylic, which is transparent, so it serves as a great invisible support.

Weights can also be placed inside the foam itself to support the weight of the card and prevent it from tipping over.

If it is necessary to hang the letters, a double-sided tape can be attached to hang them on a wall, for example. In case they are large and heavy, metal rods and suspensions can be placed on them or they can be attached to hooks or hung from the ceiling.

Dimensional letters will help a business attract customers and be more attractive.

Yes, there are certainly many options and sometimes it can be confusing trying to figure them out. I’d say if you’re on a budget but still want a quality sign, foam letters and logos are one of your best options.

Dimensional foam lettering, logos and signs are a great way to enhance the character and depth of your message or logo and build brand recognition.

Relationship

Dads, give them the housework

You have a task to do at home and you

the children want to help. you know it could be nice

for help, but you feel a bit impatient.

And you know it could turn into a two hour project,

with a big mess to clean up. A disaster that could be

avoid if you did it yourself.

We’ve all been there, right?

It can be much easier to do housework and

projects without the help of your little friends.

After all, who in the world today has time to make a

project longer than necessary?

You do.

Why is it important to include your children in household chores?

Occasionally, there is some research that reveals

something so important and relevant that it cries out

parents to listen.

Researcher Marty Rossman, from the University of Minnesota,

studied a group of young adults from when they were

Small children. The initial results of the study were

that young adults who had participated in the home

housework when they were 3 and 4 years old, they were more successful as

adults than those who did not.

Specifically, these young adults were more likely to

complete their education, get a good start in a career,

develop adult relationships and avoid drug use.

Early involvement in household chores was considered

more important to your success than any other factor,

including IQ.

On the other hand, if the children did not begin to participate

in housework until adolescence,

the experience seemed to backfire and had a negative effect

about their success as young adults, using those same

measures.

What does this really mean?

When your little kids feel like their dad (or mom)

believe they are capable of handling simple tasks

around the house, it’s an incredibly powerful message

them

Dad thinks I can do it!

If your kids think that’s how you feel about them when

walk through life, you will also be the father of a confidant,

responsible and happy children. That is what is created when

you choose to see your children as capable and show them

you believe in them.

But it’s not as easy as simply seeing them as capable. You

You also have to be patient when tackling these tasks.

Can’t take care of them when they fight, or “correct”

what did you do. Often, it’s what you don’t do that

Communicate that you believe in them.

Imagine the difference you can make with your children by

allowing their participation in family chores.

Imagine the difference in your children’s esteem when

feel like a productive participant in the family from a

early age.

You have time to include your children in the tasks and

home projects. Tell all the other fathers and mothers that

know that they also have time.

It’s too important not to.

Health Fitness

The seven steps to get healthy and stay fit

Life is constantly expanding, just like us humans, with our continual quest for better health and fitness. Today, there are countless new training methods that claim to be the best for maximum weight loss or the fastest ways to get a six pack. It’s endless, if you surf the net, there are countless sites that propagate numerous workout routines, diet recipes, and a wealth of information, making it even more difficult to understand what works best for you. In order for you to choose what works best for you, you need to examine your current fitness program. First of all, ask yourself, “Does your fitness program rejuvenate your body, revitalize your life, keep you fit and fit, here and now, and well into your old age?” Here are seven practical steps you can take to ensure your everyday lifestyle moves you closer to better health and a brighter future.

Step 1- Understand your body

Your body is made up of 206 bones, more than 600 muscles, lungs, brain, nerves, various parts and systems that work in perfect harmony and cooperation. The wonderful and amazing human body is the temple of your soul, and you are the guardian of this precious body.

Step 2 – You are a product of Evolution

Your body has evolved from a microscopic cell to what you are now. As nature takes its course, you will age and die. Plan in your current state to stay fit and healthy as you approach old age. There are many benefits to reap from a lean and agile body, an alert active mind, and a joyful and energetic life. This is your birthright!

Step 3 – Maintain correct posture

Always be aware of your body, your movements and your posture. This may seem insignificant to you, but over a long period of time, having good posture can bring you countless benefits. It’s just a matter of building the habit, and habits are often formed through repetition. Keep your head up, your body upright, and your back straight. Avoid slouching and leaning forward. Remember, to keep your earlobes in line with your shoulders, your shoulders in line with your knees, and your back straight and with your tummy tucked in.

Step 4 – Breath

Deep breathing is a simple and effective habit to improve your well-being. Take deep breaths from time to time. Breathe out, pressing down on your stomach muscles, until your lungs are empty. Then inhale, pushing your stomach forward, until your lungs are full. Deep breathing provides the body with much-needed oxygen, which nourishes every cell in the body, and slow exhalation helps the body get rid of the accumulated toxin in the lungs. Conscious breathing calms the mind, increases vital capacity, and energizes the entire body.

Step 5 – Cultivate good eating habits

It should come as no surprise that good eating habits are an important component of not only losing weight, but also maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eat balanced, nutritious meals, avoiding processed foods like fast food, microwaveable foods, and foods wrapped in plastic. Processed foods have gone through numerous processes before ending up for sale. These foods have lost their natural content and have little or no nutritional value to replenish the body. Make sure you chew your food well. Eat slowly as 80% of digestion takes place in the mouth and only the remaining 20% ​​in the stomach. Eating slowly is a method that can help you lose weight. This is because it takes 20 minutes for the brain to signal to the body that it is already full from the food you ate.

Step 6 – A good fitness program

A good fitness program should be a combination of calisthenics, isometrics, biotonics, pranayama, yoga postures, and meditation. A complete and effective program will give you:
(a) Cardiovascular conditioning through aerobic exercise to keep the heart healthy and increase endurance and vitality.

(b) Abdominal fitness through toning exercises to keep fat in the abdomen, aid digestion, elimination, circulation and weight control.

(c) Muscular strength by isometric exercises. All muscle groups must be ‘tightened’ in order to strengthen them. Body aches, back pain, and poor posture are the result of poor muscle conditioning.

(d) Flexibility by Yoga will give you a flexible body with a full range of motion of all joints. Yoga postures massage the internal organs, tone the endocrine system, slow down the aging process and ensure mobility in old age.

(e) Relaxation by allowing your body and brain to rest in a state of calm. We suffer from the stresses and strains of modern life. Stress-induced illnesses can be prevented through deep and systematic relaxation. Regular meditation “sessions” will relax your body, mind and bring joy into your life.

Step 7 – Gain Knowledge

Read books, listen to talks, watch TV programs about Yoga, health and exercises. As the saying goes, “knowledge is not power, but the application of knowledge is power.” Consult a yoga expert and create a program suited to her needs and age using the informed choice app.

Legal Law

Obtain compensation for unpaid earnings

They can also help set high standards so that other employers aren’t tempted to take advantage of their employees in the future. Don’t be nervous about speaking up because you can’t be fired for filing such a claim. There is a good chance that many other people who work there also need to talk to the unpaid overtime attorney about their own situation. If they’re doing it to one person, they’re probably doing it to many.

supply information

It is important to document as much as you can when dealing with these types of cases. The unpaid overtime attorney will have to prove that you worked those hours and were not paid. This tends to be easier to do than in other cases because there must be a clock in/out system at work. In other scenarios, computer logins and logouts can also provide that information.

Any agreements regarding your job pay and other stipulations must be on file with the human resources office. Your unpaid overtime attorney can request these documents at any time. This is important information that you should read. You can check if you are an hourly or salary employee. If you have a salary, you cannot make a claim against them for unpaid overtime.

With a salary, you agree that you will receive a set amount of pay for the work you do. It does not depend on the hours you work. The way your employment contract is written can influence the laws and how they are applied.

Liquidation request

Once the unpaid overtime attorney evaluates the information and feels there is a basis to file a claim, they will do so. They may come up with a dollar amount that they feel is owed to you that was earned but not paid. This will be part of the liquidation request. If the company agrees to pay it, then the case can move quickly and be completed.

They must also agree to make changes to the way they pay for overtime in the future. This will prevent the problem from happening again. If it appears that they were negligent and not fraudulent, they may also be able to avoid all the legal consequences of the result in addition to reimbursing you.
If they refuse to pay the settlement, be prepared to go to court against them. If the company has intentionally failed to pay overtime, you may face legal ramifications including a fine and an audit.

Inquiry

The initial consultation with an unpaid overtime attorney will usually be completed free of charge. If they agree that you have a good case, they can discuss the details with you. They may be willing to do the job with no money up front. The stipulation with this will be that once a settlement is made, they will keep a percentage of that money.

This is a great way to get the legal representation you need without worrying about where the money to pay them will come from. With this type of settlement, if you don’t win the case, you owe the attorney nothing. They are going to fight for a winning result for justice and to get paid!