Business

Why Steve Ballmer’s vision is right for Microsoft

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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s moves to prepare for the upcoming head-to-head battle with Apple and Google have sparked a flurry of media comment and industry analysis. Most of these have been highly critical, both of Microsoft and of Ballmer personally.

Few of them, however, show any signs of real strategic analysis of Microsoft’s position, or even gawking at the nature of the battle ahead. Some analysts have even preferred to ‘wait and see’, even though they are paid to make market predictions.

Commentators like Computer Weekly have reduced Microsoft’s problems to relatively trivial product issues. Others, such as the Financial Times and the Telegraph, have emphasized what they see as Microsoft’s inability to adapt to changing market circumstances, such as the recent drop in PC sales. What none of them have done is assess how Microsoft’s current global dominance influences the future evolution of smartphones and how this will affect the desktop.

Events in the world of Microsoft are currently determined by four key market forces. They are the impact of touch screen technology; the adoption of free cloud services like Skydrive; security concerns surrounding the rise of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in the corporate world; and the impact of mobile work on office practices.

touch screen technology

Rob Epstein, Microsoft’s UK manager for Windows, recently recounted how his company had a booth at The Gadget Show, showcasing a range of traditional PCs and some touchscreen devices. It was, he says, the kids who went straight for touchscreen devices and the adults who picked up a mouse.

Picking up a mouse is a surprisingly easy habit to break: all it takes is a touchscreen smartphone. It was Apple that first broke our habit, followed by Google with Android. By doing this, they were taking an early position of dominance in smartphones. But inadvertently, they were doing something with an even bigger long-term impact: freeing us from the desktop altogether by making the classic Start screen redundant.

Anyone who seriously uses a touch screen will ‘get’ Windows 8. Anyone who doesn’t (and this seems to include many of the commenters mentioned above) doesn’t get it, and joins the howler monkey chorus of those who describe Windows 8 as a technological failure and Steve Ballmer as a visionless leader.

The crucial point here is that, whether they want to or not, everyone who uses a digital device will, in the near future, find themselves using a touch screen, simply because the next device they buy will be based on that interface technology. Trying to buy a PC with a mouse will be like trying to buy a typewriter.

Everyone on the planet who buys a smartphone or any other screen-based device in the future will take the essential first step in wanting a smarter, more responsive interface, just like the one on their smartphone.

Crucially, too, everyone will want the interface on their phone to be the same as the interface on their PC or laptop and their laptop or tablet. There is only one established technology that answers this request and it is called Windows.

cloud technology

Having discovered that they want the same interface on all their digital devices, users will inevitably take a second step in the same direction. They will want complete and immediate synchronization of their applications and data files across all their devices.

We are currently emerging from a brief period in which commercial providers attempted to monetize cloud sync and entering an era where cloud services are universally available for free. Microsoft’s Skydrive, for example, currently has 250 million users (and, by the way, its subsidiary Skype has 633 million users, making it the second largest social network after Facebook).

It is not necessary to look very deeply to discover the reasons for this success. Skydrive and Skype are free for Windows users and are integrated with Windows devices. And, most important of all, you can set all your Windows 8 devices to automatically sync using a single account sign-in.

As I write these words, they are simultaneously available on my laptop, my Windows Phone, and my Windows tablet. Now I can walk out my office door, hop on a train, and pick up where I left off on another device, doing nothing. It is not possible to do this on anything other than Windows devices.

Bring your own device

The third major market driver is the emerging practice of Bringing Your Own Device (BYOD). There are many issues for corporate IT departments related to BYOD practices, but none more pressing than the security of corporate business data.

In the past, large companies issued secure laptops to their senior staff or provided secure software downloads for approved laptops. Now anyone can access your company email account from their own smartphone or tablet. The problem for companies is that some of these devices have serious security problems.

However, there is an operating system that is already very familiar to corporate IT departments, that has been exposed to all kinds of security threats and has already formed a defense in depth, and that is available on all kinds of digital devices, from phones to PC: Windows. .

Android in particular has experienced some very public flaws in the security department. Bluebox Security CTO Jeff Forristal recently said, “This vulnerability… could affect any Android phone released in the last four years, or nearly 900 million devices.” This is 99 percent of Android phones in use.

Apple has relied heavily so far on the fact that so few people use Apple machines that it’s hardly worth hackers bothering to change malware.

Telecommuting and office internships

Journalists like myself have been writing about remote work for many years and there have been encouraging signs of early adoption with many different kinds of benefits for both companies and their staff. But now all the elements have finally been fully integrated so that this telework becomes a universal reality.

At least they have been fully integrated for Windows device users. The vast majority of corporate users share most of their data through Microsoft Office products like Word, Excel spreadsheets, Powerpoint presentations, etc. Office documents can be read and edited directly on all Windows 8 devices, including smartphones, because Office is an integral part of these devices. For many (perhaps most) companies, this will be a no-brainer, once they’ve thought about it.

Windows Legacy Market

The market in which these changes are taking place is already dominated by Windows.

There are 1.2 billion Windows users, about a sixth of the world’s population. Most of them also use Office applications. About 60 percent of corporate users have already upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7. The rest are hanging around PC World, scratching their heads and wondering what to do next. 100 million of them have purchased Windows 8 licenses. Windows Phone 8 has already overtaken Windows Phone 7 in global market share.

The next phase of the corporate Windows migration will also be an organic process, just like the last two, taking perhaps five years. But it’s almost unbelievable that anyone would seriously think that mainstream corporate computer users would even consider Android or iOS as an operating system on which to base any part of their business operations. Try to imagine Exxon, Walmart, Barclays, or Volkswagen running their businesses on Android screens and it quickly becomes obvious that thinking about anything other than Windows is crazy.

The panorama

None of these important market indicators are hidden or hard to find, which begs the question; Why exactly have so many media pundits and market analysts missed the mark or turned a blind eye to the obvious?

One explanation is that many who have written on this topic are (literally) out of touch with the technologies they describe. Unless you use touchscreen technology in a daily business routine, it’s unlikely you’ll ‘get’ Windows 8. Another is that many don’t actually do their jobs using mobile technology, and therefore experience little impact from not having Office applications available in Muevete.

When faced with the need to edit their presentation on the way to the conference or to edit and email a PDF, they simply shrug it off and take comfort in the fact that it has always been impossible. This, of course, is the classic default position of individuals and companies about to be relegated to market oblivion by smarter, more agile competitors.

One way to get a first-hand appreciation of how things are changing (as I recently did myself) is to make a personal Skype video call on a Windows Phone to a friend or family member, phone to phone, in a faraway country. When you sit on a train and talk face-to-face with your partner standing outside the White House, you “get” what the world of Windows is becoming. SF’s beloved videophone has become a reality by an unexpected route: its reach is global and it’s free.

Another reason for not seeing what the future holds in the medium term is the inability of many Western critics, especially in Europe, to appreciate the enormous production capacity and quick response of Eastern manufacturers, such as Samsung, HTC, LG and especially Huawei. the largest telecommunications manufacturer in the world. They’re all licensed Windows 8, and they’ve all gotten in the water with low-end devices, or expressed an interest in doing so.

Currently, Nokia is propping up the Windows phone market virtually single-handedly, for the same strategic reasons as Microsoft. When the sales numbers show Windows Phone taking off, these manufacturers will simply ‘Push’ on their incredible manufacturing resources, just as they did with Windows PCs and laptops when the market was there. When this will be depends on whether you are pessimistic or optimistic. Canalys says that Windows Phone will catch up with the iPhone in 2017. Other analysts believe that Windows Phone will reach parity with Apple sooner.

In many respects, there is not much difference between Microsoft, Google and Apple. But there is one. All of them are selling technology related things for profit. All of them have identified smartphones as the most lucrative consumer toy. All of them have tremendous powers of design and manufacturing. But only Microsoft has a strategy that integrates what it does with what companies and individuals need to do business, as opposed to what they want for Christmas.

They all make children’s toys. Microsoft also makes toys for adults.

Home Kitchen

How to restore laminate cabinets

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Many people assume that laminate cabinets cannot be restored, but this is far from the truth! There is no need to replace laminate cabinets because they are old or out of date. Instead, you can simply restore them! Instantly brighten, modernize and alter the look of your laminate kitchen cabinets, all within your budget. It is important to review the correct process for refinishing laminate cabinets to achieve the best possible results. For those who are uncomfortable with manual DIY work, there is no need to worry; you can hire a professional contractor and still stay on budget! Read on for a brief guide to refinishing laminate kitchen cabinets and who to call for a professional kitchen remodeling general contractor job in your city!

Laminate kitchen cabinets

If you’re determined to refinish your laminate kitchen cabinets on your own, good for you! Take a look at the guide below to learn about some of the main components and key points of these particular projects. Be sure to prepare by first gathering all the supplies and tools needed to do the job right. These include:

  • Paint and paint primer (based on water)
  • foam rollers
  • rolling pans
  • painter’s tape
  • sandpaper (240 and 150 grit sheets)
  • Old sheets or cloths
  • Disinfectant Spray
  • clean rags
  • microfiber clothing
  • Permanent marker
  • screwdriver

For an even more up-to-date look, you can purchase and install new, more modern-looking cabinet handles. These are available for a variety of designs and prices at any hardware or home store. If any laminate is peeling or cracking, it will need to be replaced entirely. Do not refinish chipped or cracked laminate cabinets. However, if it is only slightly peeling in one corner, you can simply sand the exposed area behind the laminate and then re-attach it with a waterproof adhesive. Use duct tape to hold it in place while it dries. This works best for small areas and corners. Once you’ve stocked up on all the tools and supplies you need, you’re ready to go.

That is how:

Clean all the cabinets first. Dust them with the microfiber cloth to remove solids, then give them a thorough cleaning with the disinfectant spray. This provides greater primer adhesion and ensures a cleaner, more even finish.

Using the screwdriver, remove each face of the cabinet and its handle while keeping track of where each one goes. Use the permanent marker to label each one so you remember where to replace it later.

Place the cabinet faces on the drop cloths, making sure the edges remain exposed and accessible. Make sure the tarps cover enough surface area to protect the surrounding environment from the paint.

Use painter’s tape to line the inside edges of the cabinet faces to prevent paint from dripping. Take your time on this step to ensure accuracy.

Use the 240 grit sandpaper sheets to hand sand the cabinet faces. You may choose to use a portable handheld sander if you are familiar with how it works. Just make sure you don’t sand too hard.

After sanding, use your microfiber cloth to wipe off residual dust and sanding debris. Do it thoroughly and remove as much dust as possible.

Using your foam roller, apply a coat of water-based paint primer to each face of the cabinet. Allow this to dry completely, usually 8-12 hours depending on the brand.

Once the primer has been applied and has dried completely, sand each face of the cabinet again with 150-grit sandpaper. Remove any excess sanding dust with your microfiber cloth afterwards.

Do steps 7 and 8 again.

Once both primer coats have been applied and dried, it’s time to apply the water-based paint of your choice with the second foam roller. Be sure to use V-strokes during application to promote even paint distribution and markings.

Repeat step 10.

Allow cabinets to dry for at least 72 hours before reattaching hardware and reassembling in place. This ensures that the paint has completely dried and hardened.

Not a DIY type of person? No problem!

You may choose to hire a professional painting contractor instead of tackling this project on our own. If you are not familiar with manual work and have never painted before, it may be the smartest choice. And you can still stay within a profitable budget when you hire professionals for the job.

Auto

The Kia Optima Hybrid braves a true northern winter

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Many people love the idea of ​​a hybrid, but are concerned about hybrid performance in the dead of winter. To answer this question, I took a Kia Hybrid for an extended 2-day demo. Lots of people write about how the Kia Hybrid performs in winter in places like Vancouver or Chicago, but Winnipegians will only trust a real Winnipeg test, so now we’re giving you the real Winnipeg test in January. By the way, Winnipeg’s average temperature in January is between -23 and -13 degrees C.

The Kia Optima Hybrid I drove was a 2012 hybrid that had an MSRP of $30,895 plus freight, fees and taxes. Currently, as of this writing, Kia is showing a $3,400 rebate on this vehicle that puts it on par with its non-hybrid counterpart.

When I was given the keys to this vehicle, it was 6pm, so it was already dark. The car was parked in the back lot where it hadn’t been used for the last 30 days or so. It was a cold January afternoon (-18 degrees C) and the car was sitting under 6 inches of snow and parked behind a row of 8-inch-high snow plows. After cleaning the windshield and driver’s door, I jumped in and hit the quick start button. It started up immediately and the seat quickly adjusted to the preset position. I let it warm up for a minute while I shoveled the rest of the snow off the top of the vehicle. When I got back in the vehicle, I turned off the traction control and pulled out of the snow I was parked in. I drove the car up to the building and put a license plate on it. When I got back to the car it was already warm. This went much faster than I expected and I was impressed.

The first thing customers want to know when it comes to a hybrid is what the fuel economy is. Will you save enough fuel to pay for yourself? The second is how long will the battery last and how much will it cost to replace it?

Let me address the second point first. In Canada, Kia has put a 96-month, 100,000-mile limited warranty on the entire hybrid system. So if your battery fails within the first 8 years or 100,000 miles, you’ll be covered. This will mean that for most consumers battery life and replacement value are not issues.

Kia Optima Hybrid is in the Guinness Book of World Records for “Lowest Fuel Consumption, US 48 States – Gasoline Hybrid Car” as verified by a Guinness World Records adjudicator. In this exhibition they achieved an average of 3.3l/100km. The only thing we find in Winnipeg in January driving through the heart of the city is that you can throw the energy ratings out the window. Regardless of the vehicle you drive, the ratings will actually be about 75% of the actual gas mileage. Others may argue this, but with my driving style and vehicle use, I generally find these numbers to be accurate no matter what vehicle I drive. This was true with the Optima Hybrid. Energuide ratings for this vehicle are 5.8 l/100 km for city driving. Energuide ratings for the non-hybrid Optima are 8.6 l/100 km. The actual mileage I found for these two vehicles in this condition was 8.1 for the Hybrid and 11.7 for the GDI Optima. The Optima Hybrid continues to save a considerable amount of fuel in Winnipeg in the winter compared to its non-hybrid sibling. However, a disclaimer is that the vehicle did not function as an electric vehicle until about 17 km into the trip, so it was sitting at 11-12 l/100 km until the last km where it started to function fully with the EV and average gas mileage plummeted.

So for those wondering if the Hybrid will pay for itself, in this app the answer is a resounding yes. Current rebates on the hybrid make this vehicle similar in price to the Optima EX. So the purchase costs are about the same regardless of whether you choose Hybrid or Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). If the vehicle travels 100,000 km with this difference in fuel consumption, the savings will amount to $3,780. This number is based on fuel at $1.05/liter. The savings will be greater at higher gas prices. Remember this is based on winter driving only. This will increase for anyone traveling more than 20 km per trip. As stated, the EV motor kicked in after 17km, so gas mileage started to improve considerably. At the other end of the spectrum, if you use your car only to go to the store and buy a loaf of bread, you may not notice any winter savings. I will point out that while driving the Hybrid in the summer, it was running full EV when I went around the block.

So for all of you asking me if a hybrid can withstand our Winnipeg winters, I’ll say “definitely.” It started to get cold after a long stop, handled well on snow-covered roads, saved fuel in the long run, and is priced competitively with the non-hybrid version.

Digital Marketing

Top 5 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Website

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With thousands of websites currently available, attracting users to your company or business website can be very demanding. But for the productivity of your company it is necessary to have a high traffic to your website, so you just have to solve this problem. Below are basic proven tips on how you can improve traffic to your website.

search engine optimization; To gain traffic to your website, you must use search engine optimization correctly. Search engine optimization, without the technicalities involved, are ways to get high visibility in search engines, like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. You can use SEO effectively by firstly structuring your website for search engine descriptions, like in this website design company where attention is paid to creating the website structure based on search engine requirements for search engine optimization. Second, make use of popular keywords related to your industry. Third, by link building, which links your website to another popular website in your field to generate more traffic.

Set up a blog; Blogging is a classic method of improving traffic to your website. Blogging is an additional way to use keywords related to your industry to drive more traffic to your website. It also gives your viewers important content to keep them coming back to your site. Having interesting content on your blog not only keeps your viewers engaged. Blogging, in the long run, increases traffic to your website.

paid advertisements; Paid ads are a productive way to increase traffic to your website. Although it is expensive, if used correctly it can be very effective. If you have the budget for paid ads, I suggest you go for it. It is proven to be a faster way to improve traffic and is easy to track for effectiveness.

social networks; With social media currently used by billions of people, it makes sense that it would be a very effective tool for increasing your website traffic. Start with the common ones available like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Involve your social media accounts with your website, by constantly posting and sharing things related to your website, while doing so make sure to create a link that links back to your website.

Track your traffic; In order for you to make proper use of the steps above, you’ll need to track their efficiency to analyze what works and what doesn’t. For any of the above methods, there are ways you can track them down. In general, you should also keep track of the general traffic to your website. Most of the website design companies use Google Analytics which is an easy means of tracking your website traffic.

Keep in mind that driving traffic to your website takes time, so when using the tips above, be patient and diligent.

Relationship

Fun facts about Dominica: the natural island of the world!

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Welcome to Dominica, the land of the Sisserou Parrot!

Ecotourism

Did you know- One of the most attractive natural wonders for visitors to the Island is the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to being home to abundant tropical forests and wildlife, this park boasts the second largest boiling lake on Earth. However, the island has other amazing landscapes: for example, amazing beaches, waterfalls, rivers, old towns and spectacular mountains. Dominica’s coastline is also rich in marine life. Finally, about 70 percent of the island consists of protected tropical forests, one of the highest of the world’s developing countries, along with Suriname and Gabon.

Democracy

Did you know- The Island has more than 30 years of democratic governance, a great example in the Third World, where there are few democratic states. Meanwhile, it also has one of the most peaceful societies in the Western Hemisphere.

Geography

Did you know- The island of Dominica, shaped like a tobacco leaf, is located in the eastern Caribbean (Americas). The Commonwealth of Dominica covers an area of ​​300 square miles (754 km2), making it the 188th largest country on the planet (between the Netherlands Antilles and the Kingdom of Tonga). This English-speaking country is made up mostly of mountains and rainforests, while much of the rest of the island is covered in spectacular beaches. There are many lakes and rivers. Finally, Dominica should not be confused with the Dominican Republic, a Spanish-speaking country in the Caribbean.

Rosseau

Did you know- Rosseau is the capital city of the Caribbean island. Most of the population of Dominica lives in the capital.

wild birds

Did you know- The island is home to one of the largest varieties of birds on the continent, including Planes, Grey-Tyrants, Red-necked Warblers, Frigatebirds, Whistlers, Barn Owls, Brown Pelicans, Yellow Warblers and Plumed Warblers. The Sisserou Parrot, the national bird of Dominica, is one of several exotic bird species that can be found on the small island of Dominica. This exotic bird is one of the largest parrots on the planet.

Human development

Did you know- The year 1997 was a great year for Dominica. Why? For its exemplary democratic system and its education and social welfare, this English-speaking island ranked 41st out of 175 countries and territories on the United Nations Human Development Index. Since then, it has been a great victory for developing countries, especially those in the Caribbean.

Jerome Romain – A National Hero

Did you know- In the mid-1990s, surprisingly, the Dominican athlete Jerome Romain won the triple jump bronze medal – with a fantastic jump of 17.59 meters – at the IAFF World Championships in Sweden (Gothenburg). He also won a silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

International organizations

Did you know- At the end of 1978, the Island entered the United Nations. Additionally, Dominica is one of the 53 Commonwealth countries. On the other hand, it also belongs to the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Population

Did you know- The Commonwealth of Dominica has an estimated total population of 72,660 people (as of July 2009).

The Margaret Thatcher of the Caribbean!

Did you know- In the early 1980s, Mary Eugenia Charles made international headlines when she became the first woman to be elected Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, at a time when women could not hope to win democratic elections in the third World. During this time period, there were only four female leaders on Earth: Iceland (Vigdis Finnbogadottir), India (Indira Gandhi), Margaret Thatcher (Great Britain), and Dominica. At the same time, she was the first black woman to win a democratic election in the world (in the mid-1970s, Madame Elisabeth Domitien had been appointed Prime Minister by Central African dictator Jean-Bedell Bokassa). Under her leadership, Dominica became a democratic state in the Caribbean, a region that has been plagued by dictatorships. For most of the next decade, she was an environmental activist in Dominica. Historically, the Island’s Prime Minister, Charles, was one of the most influential leaders in the Caribbean. Since Charles became leader, more than five women have been elected leaders in the Caribbean: Barbados (Nita Barrow, 1991-95), Bermuda (Jennifer Smith, 1998-2003), Haiti (Ertha Pascal Trouillot, 1990-91 ), Jamaica (Portia Simpson-Miller, 2006-07), Netherlands Antilles (Maria Liberia Peters, 1984-86 and 1988-94) and Puerto Rico (Sila Calderón, 2001-2005).

Health Fitness

Use your office time to stay in good shape

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The benefits of exercise in reducing stress and supporting your body’s overall health are well known. If you sit in an office at a desk all day, then you may feel compelled to exercise alone outside of work hours by walking, running, or participating in a fitness program at a gym. While this is certainly useful, it stays fixed on your desktop for hours on end every day. Essentially, you have a sedentary lifestyle interrupted by intense periods of exercise.

If you can add small amounts of exercise to your day, throughout the day, the health benefits multiply. Keeping your muscles and heart working harder at various intervals throughout the day helps reduce stress and builds endurance. Some people have developed a set of specific exercise routines that you can do while sitting at your desk. That may work, but engaging in a workout routine that distracts you from work where you count reps, breathe heavily, and rack up sweat can attract unwanted attention from your bosses and co-workers.

You can make a few small adjustments to your work routine that will keep your body moving and add plenty of minutes of exercise to your daily life. Start with where you park your car at work. Don’t pick the closest spot you can find next to the building. Park your car on the far corner so you have to walk a hundred yards each way. If your office is on the lower level of a skyscraper, take the stairs when going up. Climbing three flights of stairs may take your breath away at first, but soon your muscles will strengthen and climbing will be much easier.

If your office is on the twelfth floor, go up the first few floors and take the elevator from there. Of course, going down a few more flights of stairs is much easier. Since we’re talking about the stairs, every time you get up to use the bathroom, choose a bathroom two floors above or below yours. Take the stairs to the bathroom and you’ll be more relaxed when you get there. You will also feel stronger when you return.

If you spend hours on the phone every day, try standing up while you talk. You’ll use more muscle and energy when you stand up than when you’re sitting down, and your voice will project better on the phone as your diaphragm relaxes. If you can make it work, replace your chair for as many hours as possible with a large inflatable exercise ball. Sitting on this ball while working out keeps the muscles in your legs, ankles, and abdomen working for balance and forces you to maintain good posture.

If you take breaks for lunch or coffee, add a ten-minute walk as part of the break. Better yet, use ten-minute walks as a quick stress-relief tool and as a way to talk about an important or urgent topic with another person. There’s no need to sit at your desk and feel your stress level rise as the topic is presented when you can keep your stress low while getting some exercise by walking and talking at the same time. Stay calm, be creative and keep moving for better health and optimal performance throughout the day.

Legal Law

If you are traveling to Chicago, learn the details of Chicago’s traffic rules and signs

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Chicago speed limits vary, and on most city streets it is 30 mph. however, interstate highways, but for congested areas, accept a speed limit of 55 mph. In Chicago, at a red light, it is allowed to turn right after stopping when there is no oncoming traffic, but make sure there are no posted restrictions. When in doubt, wait patiently for the green. Cameras are installed at most major intersections in the city to catch drivers running red lights and causing other violations. Chicago is full of several one-way streets, particularly in and around the Loop, so it’s very important to watch for warning signs as well as other cars.

Also, the drunk driving laws in Illinois are quite strict. Anyone caught with .08 or more blood alcohol content while driving will have their license automatically seized and a ticket will be issued. In fact, the authorities of the states of origin will also be notified. Drivers holding Illinois driver’s licenses may have their licenses suspended on the first offense for three months.

Traveling to Chicago involves following several rules and one is that passengers must wear seat belts and even children under the age of eight can wear the strap on child safety seats. This city also does not allow the use of portable cell phone devices and it is considered illegal while driving in the city. Of course these restrictions are not the same in the suburbs, it varies. It is a must for the headlights in case you are using the wipers. Radar detectors are legal in Illinois.

Visiting Chicago is interesting, if you are willing to walk short distances. Most tourist attractions are nearby and can be explored on foot or by public transport. But, if you want to drive here, you have to be prepared to accept Chicago’s rules. However, Chicago is relatively easy to find, as it is a logically designed city. Although there are traffic jams at rush hour and it’s frustrating like in other big cities, you have to accept the fact that the traffic runs smoothly most of the day. Chicagoans are always ready for unexpected delays and one thing is for sure: During the summer and spring months, at least a few downtown streets or one major highway is sure to be under repair. That’s why Chicago is commonly said to have two seasons, construction and winter.

Driving in Chicago, be sure to take a drive along the stretch between the Museum Campus and North Avenue, as it is truly impressive. However, do not miss the posted driving rules. Always be prepared for a taxi from time to time to cut off or make an unexpected turn without giving any signal. Generally, at the yellow light, drivers here pick up speed and therefore honks are common, especially if you can’t make a mad dash before the light turns red. Unsurprisingly, the price of parking is premium and street parking throughout the city center is limited to 2 hours, but get a ticket from the designated pay box and stick it on your board.

Lifestyle Fashion

A Message from Your New Governor – That Speech in Full – Part One

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Greetings British!

As you know, my predecessor, Gordonicus Laborius (also known as “Gordonicus the terrible because he was, well, bloody terrible) has kindly bowed down on his sword and it has been my honour, along with my Coalitium Desperandum cohorts, to have been chosen by to the Emperor for his elevation to high office through the Festival of Dupus Electus. Consequently, I have taken the reins of power in this troubled Province.

It seems appropriate at this time to address you, the commoner masses, directly now that I have only a few weeks in office and things are proceeding as smoothly as a loose cart on a steep incline and the high hopes awaiting my assumption of office. the governorate have completed their traditional evaporation.

The first thing I should point out – and let me be very clear about this – is that when I used the term “reins of power”, I was of course speaking symbolically: I have discovered that my high office does not actually exercise power as such, except the power to follow the dictates and edicts of his majesty Caesar Nefarius Vexus and the Illuminati of his imperial council, the Hiddum Agendum.

To tell the truth, I didn’t know until I took office that there was an Emperor or a Hiddum Agendum, although I do remember with nostalgia the heady days when my responsibilities were merrily confined to sardonically heaping contempt for the hapless Gordonicus, sagely watching the footsteps of the Senate and dreaming up policies that sounded different than the ones that already had the state’s galley leaking below the waterline and sinking fast, I’m not sure how I managed to miss the glaringly obvious.

The fact that almost everyone else in the country knew about it, thanks to the irresponsible agitations of the renegade faction, Conspiricus Theorus, who got the land’s slaves, artisans, commoners, and petty merchants to hurl insults at the Televisium, was particularly annoying. .

Why the hell didn’t anyone think to mention it to me? I can imagine the ousted Gordonicus having a laugh at my expense now that I’m well loaded.

But that’s life. I couldn’t be expected to know everything and there was little time in my busy schedule to gain an understanding of economics, the real world we live in, or indeed the people who inhabit it. Furthermore, we have hundreds of years of history to attest to the fact that these are not necessary skills for the leaders of nations.

Be that as it may, now that the Emperor has made himself known to me and the realities of life have been imprinted on me in no uncertain terms, I have had to make some minor adjustments to the plans that I and my co-governor, Nickus Cleggus, created when we thought that we would be in actual control of a sovereign nation, rather than provincial administrators acting on behalf of the Empire (known as “The Union” or “Democracy”).

The main, very minor, adjustment in our thinking has been to change from making decisions and trying to direct things to not making any decisions or doing anything unless the Emperor or his parent agencies, such as the World Debt Emporium or Complex Militaria, do so. indicate. Industry.

Fortunately, many of our policies, known as “Adjustmens Cosmetix,” were more or less the same policies already used by Gordonicus and his predecessors: political and economic measures that had been so successful in the bloodless subjugation of Britannia, their renunciation of the will to live and its consequent incorporation into the Empire.

As such, these policies already bore the imperial seal of approval and Her Majesty likes to see people come up with creative ideas on how to disguise the verbiage surrounding them, or even hide them. That’s why I was chosen to be elected: the Emperor wants the regional administrators to represent his interests, deflecting the wrath of the natives and the like, so that they at least look like they can be blamed.

Very little had to change then, beyond dropping any great ideas we might have had about our position in the grand scheme of things and once we did that, we managed to fit happily but nonetheless disappointed into the smooth-spinning gears and grinding stones. of the imperial mill.

Our huge, sweeping vision that ignited the public imagination and set a majestic new horizon for the nation, to “balance the books by cutting all non-essential services like hospitals, schools, and the police, and pushing the citizenry of this great nation hardship”, had to go – well, at least the “balancing the books” part, which we’ve been told is actually impossible. The rest of our grand vision remains intact, and so we plan to push ahead with sweeping reforms that, like all the best reforms, will avoid bringing real change to the equation, except, of course, where we can make things worse.

Therefore, we are confident that we can reverse the failures of Gordonicus, whose rule caused the province to sink to the 15th most powerful place in the Empire. We fully intend to see Britannia sweep to 16th or 17th position, though ultimately the fate of any given province largely depends on who, if anyone, the Emperor likes at the time.

Be that as it may, it is now up to me to address you as your Governor and inform you about all the great advances that the Empire to which it is subjugated has made and my immediate plans for this Province.

There is a lot of positive news to pass on to them, news that, while it may not be cause for celebration, will at least convince you to keep your head down and refrain from rocking the boat.

The Loan sharks Guild and its global network of Debt Emporia have continued to prosper beyond all dreams of greed, while the agents of Onerus Incumtax, the Imperial Proconsul for Threats and Extortion, have devised ever more ingenious ways to get the money out of the commoner money that the aforementioned plebs would have wasted on food and clothing.

The apothecaries of the Pharmacopoeia, from whose ubiquitous dispensaries spew magic pills and potions, known in popular parlance as Serius Sideffex, have thrown their doors wide open to the nation’s children and thus prosper beyond belief. Or at least they would, if those very pills and potions didn’t rob their recipients of their onerous capacity for imagination.

It’s a similar success story for makers of fortifications, pitchforks, claymores, slave collars, and tombstones, all of whom report skyrocketing profits.

Which brings us to our peacekeeping operations: Britannia auxiliaries continue to defy friendly fire in their selfless and, indeed, often futile sacrifice in support of the legions of the Complex Militaria Industria, who fight tirelessly against hordes barbarians who, under their leader Holdus Toransum, threaten at any moment to sweep the Empire and impose the ignominy of not invading anyone. That support, I must add, shames the one that comes from other provinces like Gaul and Germania, which seem quite incapable of getting into the spirit of the thing.

Critics may argue that our peacekeeping efforts have resulted in prolonged and incessant warfare, but that is surely a small price to pay for our peace of mind, not to mention that it gives the population something to think about other than hanging their masters and lords. Furthermore, the peaceful sandal maker of today could easily become the blood-crazed terrorist of tomorrow, unless we take firm steps to prevent it, preferably before the thought has crossed his mind.

(This address continues in the second part)

Pets

Is anyone using a wireless device to listen to it right now?

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Sniffing and eavesdropping are happening more often these days and someone could be spying on you right now. What is the definition of espionage? Merriam-Webster defines passive or alone eavesdrop like listening to a private conversation. Another source defines it as the real-time unauthorized interception of a private communication. Obviously, there are several ways one can describe eavesdropping. Well, is it legal or illegal to eavesdrop? According to espionage laws, it is a crime if a person secretly uses an electronic device to record, listen to or transmit a private conversation without the consent of the parties to listen to what is said. The new law passed by Illinois makes it illegal to participate in the recording, transcription or surreptitious recording of a private communication without the permission of all parties. The law is quite clear: without prior consent, eavesdropping is a crime and is punishable as such. Here are some indicators to determine if there are bugs in your home:

1) Do you often hear sirens when you say something about the FBI? 2) Do you hear a small plane flying over your house at the oddest and earliest times, if you are restless in bed? 3) Do you hear cars going up and down your street very early in the morning, if you get up to go to the bathroom? 4) If you criticize the US government, do you hear increased traffic around your house? 5) If you say something provocative, do you hear sirens almost immediately? 6) If you make a critical comment about the FBI, does anyone in your family get defensive? (Your family, under pressure, may be planting bugs behind your back, inside your bag or backpack, etc.)

If you I think some people are eavesdroppingdon’t rule out the possibility that your nearest neighbor may be involved in illegal listening. So what can you do if there are bugs in your house? You have few options. You can buy a bug detector, which I personally did to no avail – the bug detector I bought was unable to zero in on planted bugs. Or you can hire a professional bug sweeper. Don’t hire a researcher who provides a debugging service, as they do so only part-time and probably aren’t using state-of-the-art debugging equipment. Hire only a company that specializes in debugging; The company may charge more, but it will do a better job of giving you a report summarizing what was found in your home. You want a professional bug sweeper. With the proof, you can now move on to the next step and consult your attorney about the legal proceedings. Without proof that someone is eavesdropping, no attorney can do anything for you. You need hard evidence to show that illegal wiretapping is taking place at your residence. So, get the proof and then act.

Real Estate

Greypages Directory – What is a Greypages Directory?

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HAS gray pages directory is a phone book that differs from a standard phone book in that entries are listed by phone number instead of name. A gray page directory is also known as a reverse phone lookup directory, reverse phone directory, reverse lookup directory, reverse phone listing, reverse phone directory, cross directory, and other similar close derivatives.

While you can easily find a free gray pages directory that contains landline numbers, you won’t have as much luck with cell phone numbers. This is because information related to cell phone owners cannot be found in the public domain, but is scattered throughout the databases of many cell phone companies.

Savvy entrepreneurs spotted the demand for gray page directories (re: cell phone numbers) and consequently various reverse phone lookup Companies have sprung up in the US over the last decade or two. These companies have collected information about the owners of mobile phone numbers from various sources and offer online lookup services, for a price of course. Many of these companies offer a basic search function to identify the name and address of the owner of a cell phone (or landline number, even those not listed) and supplement this service by offering additional information, such as criminal background check, background check, details about neighbors, relative etc. You get what you pay for as always.

You may find some companies that offer free reverse cell phone lookup features, but you will find that such free features end with no information other than the name of the phone company and provider. You will then be invited to pay for any useful information.

Of course, gray page directories are used by the police, other law enforcement agencies, and emergency services, but their directories are off limits to the public.