You may need credit bureau phone numbers to request a free credit report if you have been turned down or would like to opt out of pre-approved credit card offers. Place security freezes, fraud alerts or get information about business credit services. You will need contact information for Equifax, Trans Union and Experian.
If you have children you'll want to make sure no one is using their social numbers to fraudulently apply for credit. This has become very common over the past few years. Unfortunately many people don't find out until the children turn 18 and apply for a credit card or car loan on their own. Finding out after the fact when there are pages of fraudulent defaulted credit makes it difficult to get corrected. In fact sometimes it takes months or even years to correct a credit report due to undetected identity theft. The sooner it is caught the easier it is to fix
Many credit monitoring and identity theft protection services offer free monitoring for your children's social security numbers and whole family plans. Check with all three bureaus directly or make sure the monitoring company you choose checks all three.
If you are turned down for credit the creditor must provide you with a denial letter listing the reason why and the credit bureau phone number (toll-free). You can use this letter to request a free copy of you report even if you have already gotten a copy of your free annual report.
In order to avoid identity theft it is a good idea to opt-out of pre-approved offers and mailing lists. You can use credit bureau phone numbers to contact all three. If you don't opt out make sure your mail box is secure and you don't throw away mail with sensitive information, like social security numbers of you or your children.
If you had been living in another world until now you would have thought that, going by the name, the Iphone was just a phone. Those who are familiar with the ever updating world of technology know that it is so much more. With a touch screen, users can surf the net on the most advanced web browser on a portable device as well as multitask, allowing the user to send an email or browse the internet while making a call.
Users of the Iphone are also able to play music, view video clips through the internet or the phone, send and find street or satellite maps through Google Maps. High tech users will like the other features such as a proximity sensor that switches the display off when the Iphone becomes close to your ear, as well as an accelerometer, detecting when the Iphone's orientation is rotated and with that detection will change the display of the images, videos and other display items. Handy, eh?
The buildup to the release of the Apple Iphone in the United States on June 29, 2007 was massive, and so when the release date came, stores were filled with hungry buyers needing to get their hands on one. It was named the Invention of the Year by Times Magazine, and later it was released in other countries in November 2007.
Storage on the Iphone can be decided, with a choice between a 4gb or 8gb flash memory Iphone. These Iphone's have a 8.9cm screen set at a resolution at 320×480 pixels.
Other specifications include:
Camera: 2 megapixel
Size: 115×61×11.6 mm
Weight: 135 g (4.8 oz)
The 2nd generation Iphone, the 3G Iphone, will come with better features at a better price for the amount of features, as the Iphone still lacks some features, such as no Flash or Java for the internet, and there are many bugs.
If you haven't yet purchased an Iphone, I advise you to hold off until the second generation Iphone is released. As well as having many new and improved features that the first Iphone lacked, it will come at a lower price, due to the competition from other phone companies and the lower cost of the components. Purchasing one now would be a mistake, as you will probably find yourself forking out another $500 for the same products with the odd new or updated feature in a couple of months time, $500 that you probably can't afford to just be throwing away.
The Iphone is a great product and the features make it a joy to use, but it just lacks a little.
If you want evidence of how President Donald Trump's trade war is affecting investor nerves, look no further than the widespread damage inflicted upon US stocks in recent days.
Beyond that, if you're looking for a hint as to what the future holds, an even more ominous signal is forming in the Treasury market.
The metric in question is the spread between two- and 10-year Treasury yields, which has fallen to its lowest level since 2007 — the period immediately preceding the most recent financial crisis.
Business Insider / Joe Ciolli, data from Bloomberg
While short-term interest rates are almost always lower than their long-term counterparts, the difference between the two tends to tighten when investors are paying more for near-term protection. That flight to safety would seem to match the spike in investor nervousness seen as trade-war fears have escalated.
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This dynamic is reflected in the chart above, which shows the so-called yield curve is not only flattening but nearing negative territory. If the two-year were to start yielding more than the 10-year — a rare occurrence known as inversion — it would signal that a recession is near, according to historical precedent.
This cautious behavior from investors would seem to match the recent adjustments made to forecasts across Wall Street.
Late last week, Morgan Stanley said 10-year Treasury yields peaked for the year when they hit 3.12% in mid-May, going as far as to recommend that investors buy 10-year notes at 2.9%. This conflicts with the widespread expectation that yields will climb well above the key 3% level by the end of 2018. Note that bullish trades on Treasurys are actually wagers that their yields will fall.
And while Morgan Stanley still stands mostly alone in its view, JPMorgan followed suit somewhat, recently trimming its year-end forecast for 10-year Treasury yields to 3.2% from 3.3%. The actions of both firms reflect the degree to which risk-off sentiment is dictating investor behavior.
Recession warnings ringing loud
The possibility of an inverted yield curve may be the recession indicator of the moment for investors, but strategists across Wall Street have long been sounding the alarm on an impending economic meltdown.
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Last week, Joseph Song, the senior US economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, calculated the negative effect a full-on trade war would have on US gross domestic product. He found that the annualized growth rate of real GDP would decline by 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points relative to the baseline in the first year and then shave an additional 0.5 to 0.6 percentage points off in the second year.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Elsewhere, experts have been crying foul on what they say is an exorbitant amount of leverage being built up in the market by the likes of private-equity firms. In their mind, cash-rich professional investors are being afflicted by a need build out their portfolios, even if those opportunities may not be as appealing under normal circumstances.
That matches recent comments made by John Normand, JPMorgan's head of cross-asset fundamental strategy. He recently argued the record levels of debt in the US were a clear late-cycle indicator, meaning a reckoning was on the horizon.
Of course, another hallmark of a late-cycle environment is the stubborn insistence by some market participants that robust returns will last forever. That's why popular positions are able to get extended to the point that they're vulnerable to a painful downturn.
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It's all part of a massive puzzle investors and experts are trying to piece together. At this point, only one thing is for sure: The cries for a recession are getting louder, and risk-off behavior is getting more pronounced.
José, left, and his young son, right, have been staying at the Catholic Charities respite center in McAllen, Texas, after crossing the US-Mexico border several days ago. Business Insider/Daniel Brown
MCALLEN, TEXAS — As José and his young son made their way to the United States last week from their home country of Honduras, they prayed to God that the rumored family separations at the border wouldn't happen to them.
"God, I ask you to keep me with my child, I ask that you keep in mind that I am traveling for safety and that you allow it to continue to be so," José recalled saying.
Fresh from a shower and a hot meal at the Catholic Charities respite center in McAllen, Texas, he sat with his arms clasped around his son.
José, who asked to be identified only by his first name, told Business Insider through a translator that he had been warned in advance it was possible immigration authorities would take his child from him at the border but that to him there was no other option.
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He and his little boy couldn't return to Honduras, he said, so he put the matter in God's hands.
"By the time I arrived, Donald Trump had a change of heart and decided to allow children to continue to stay with their parents, so I was able to stay with my child," José said.
The reversal José spoke of came in the form of the executive order President Donald Trump signed last Wednesday, intended to halt his administration's practice of splitting up families that had illegally crossed the US-Mexico border.
Under the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy of criminally prosecuting all adult migrants detained at the border, more than 2,300 children were separated from their parents, funneled into the Health and Human Services' shelter system and flown to states across the country. Their parents remained in immigration detention and in some cases were deported back to their home countries without their kids.
But José didn't know the ins and outs of the Trump administration's border policy when he and his son fled their country, traveling by bus, truck, and boat for six days to reach Texas.
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He only knew Honduras wasn't safe. He said he had previously stumbled across opportunities to move to the US but chose to stay in Honduras until recently, only when it became "unbearable."
Three of José's brothers were killed, and he had even received threats from the police, he said. He felt he had no choice but to take his son and go.
'I've felt welcome'
José held his young son on his lap while speaking with Business Insider about their journey to the US from Honduras. Business Insider/Daniel Brown
Nathaly Arriola, who works at the Catholic Charities center, said José's story was common.
Now that he's in the US seeing asylum, he could wait years for their cases to wind their way through a backlogged immigration court system.
"A lot of them will have a difficult path forward," Arriola said. "But their stories, where they're coming from, and their realities is what I hope will allow them to stay in this country with the protections they deserve, as the law indicates. The administration at the moment, unlike any other administration, has been extremely unfriendly and frankly does not align with the values that America is all about."
In hindsight, José says he made the right decision to flee. Against the recent odds, he and his son remain together, and he said they had been treated well by everyone so far.
Even the Border Patrol agents who arrested him were kind and made his son feel safe, he said. After spending three days inside an ice-cold holding facility, commonly known by migrants as "hieleras," Spanish for "icebox," they came to the respite center on Sunday.
"I am surprised by the treatment I got in the center and the treatment I've gotten in this country," he said. "My son has been taken care of — I've felt welcome. At the center, I've been fed, I've been given vitamins and medicine. I'm just thankful to be here in America."
Michelle Mark contributed reporting from New York.
The medical industry is said to be recession-proof. Regardless of the country's economic condition, it will continue to strive. This is because people do not stop getting sick when the economy is down. Thus, it is of grave importance that clinics and hospitals continue to be ready to cater to the needs of patients 24/7. One of the means to ensure that the medical industry remains ready for patients is to implement office automation, primarily an answering service.
An answering service is a software that works tirelessly to provide basic information and to link patients directly to their doctors. With an efficient answering service, patients can contact their doctor at any time of day. However, an answering service does not only benefit patients. It also unloads some of your medical staff's time-consuming jobs, so giving them more time to focus on the more urgent tasks at hand.
'20% of all incoming calls are left unanswered '
Studies conclude that about in the medical industry, 20% of all incoming calls are unanswered because the medical receptionist is not around or because the medical receptionist is busy with other tasks.
Another fact that has been disclosed is that most of the unanswered calls are made after business hours. There is no way to stop patients from feeling sick and making emergency appointments in the wee hours of the morning or in the dead of night. Sickness comes and goes and there is no way to predict when that happens.
Opening your phone lines for longer periods of time by using an answering service would help patients flag that of the symptoms that they're experiencing. As such, you can advise them to go to the hospital for emergency cases.
'Linked to text and email'
In most cases, an answering service is linked to both the practitioner's and patients' text and email services. What this means is if you're the practitioner, you will be alerted via text or email if a patient has left an urgent message for you. And even if the message is not considered urgent, you will still get the notification. This feature also allows you to track the appointments that have been set or canceled via the system.
For the patients though, they have the option to link their mobile numbers and / or emails to their appointments. That way, should there be changes or a need to remind them of their schedules, it would be easier to communicate to them. Frequent and updated communication also assures patients that they will be well taken care of.
'Better customer service'
An efficient answering service also improves the quality of your services. Since your staff do not have to spend a lot of time on the phone answering calls and appointment requests, they can focus on more important aspects of their job. Then they can better assist all walk-in patients and treat them with the warmth and hospitality that they need to feel a bit better even before seeing the doctor.
An answering service can still be considered new technology so there's a lot of learning along the way for you and your patients too.
My introduction to Chattanooga, Tennessee hinted at what I'd find during my visit there. Mayor Andy Berke, who's led the city since 2013, visited my New York office in March accompanied by Bellhops CEO Luke Marklin, whose moving company has raised $30 million. They told me the story of the city's startup-fueled revival, and when I visited it in May, for AOL cofounder Steve Case's "Rise of the Rest" bus trip, I saw that the mayor's publicity tour alongside a local success story represented a bigger story.
Chattanooga is a fairly small city, with a population of 175,000 — and a greater metro area of more than half a million (Nashville's population is around 684,000) — but it's using that to its advantage. After speaking with the mayor, leaders in the chamber of commerce, about a dozen local entrepreneurs and hearing from more, I saw how passionately everyone wants each other to succeed, and how intimately involved the mayor is. George Brown is the founder of Aegle Gear, which wants to be the Under Armour of performance medical scrubs, and he told me that one of the reasons he loves the city is because he can get the mayor on the phone.
Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke has made startups a pillar of his tenure. Richard Feloni/Business Insider
Berke prioritizes this image of Chattanooga, especially because of where the city has been. "The city that I grew up in was a city that was dying," Berke said, of Chattanooga during its troubled post-industrialization period in the latter half of the 20th century. There's been more than $1 billion invested in the city's downtown over the last few years, and a large portion of it has benefited the startup scene.
A pillar of Berke's mayorship is the growth of an "Innovation District" tailored to entrepreneur's needs, and that also takes advantage of the city-controlled fiber optic network, providing some of the fastest internet speeds in the US.
Chattanooga's startup scene is still in its nascent stage, but so far it's been an excellent example of what Case and his team envision.
For the past four years, Case has been leading Rise of the Rest bus tours across the United States through his Washington, DC-based venture capital firm Revolution, stopping to explore and invest $100,000 in the winner of a pitch contest. Case is convinced that while Silicon Valley, New York City, and Boston (where 75% of all venture capital in the US goes) will continue to be hotbeds of innovation, America's startup future is going to thrive across the country, as the "Internet of Things" becomes the "Internet of Everything." That is, we're shifting focus from things like light bulbs that you can control with a smartphone app to things like entirely new ways of tracking agricultural data in real time.
The Rise of the Rest bus tour, spearheaded by JD Vance, second from left, and Steve Case, third from left, spent a day in Chattanooga in May. Richard Feloni/Business Insider
To facilitate his thesis, Case has built a network of 38 cities across 26 states, and put former Valley investor and "Hillbilly Elegy" author JD Vance in charge of a $150 million seed fund. The goal is not to make a bunch of mini Valleys throughout America, but to support ecosystems that play on existing industries and networks, thriving through partnerships.
FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller won the Rise of the Rest pitch contest. Revolution
"I see what's going on in the next wave of innovation, the next wave of technological change, as really depending on things that places like Chattanooga are good at, as opposed to the things that Silicon Valley are good at," Vance told the audience at a breakfast event during the Rise of the Rest bus stop.
It makes sense, then, that the Revolution team picked FreightWaves, a freight market data company, as the winner of the pitch contest that evening. Founder and CEO Craig Fuller is the son of the cofounder of US Xpress, the largest freight company in the US and the firm largely responsible for making Chattanooga a freight hub. Fuller started his own company, which provides real-time data on freight markets throughout North America, in Texas but moved it to his hometown last year. FreightWaves is now a Chattanooga success story: Fuller said it's on track for $13 million in revenue this year, it closed a $15.75 million Series A round a few weeks after the tour, and Fuller intends for it to be the first Chattanooga company worth $1 billion.
That's not to say that the city only cares about companies like Bellhops and FreightWaves. In fact, the entrepreneurial ecosystem is working to educate and propel founders who otherwise would have remained hobbyists or small business owners, unaware of their potential to build a company to scale. CPR Wrap founder and CEO Felicia Jackson is an ideal test case.
CPR Wrap founder and CEO Felicia Jackson has used the city's entrepreneurial resources to their potential. Richard Feloni/Business Insider
Jackson has had a full career as a physical therapist and is trained in CPR. But, back in 2002, when her two-year-old son went into cardiac arrest after choking, she froze. Thankfully, her husband was able to resuscitate their child. It triggered an idea for a medical accessory that could be placed over a person's mouth and chest, providing instructions for performing CPR.
It wasn't until 2015 that Jackson turned this idea into a company with the help of Chattanooga's startup accelerator, Co.Lab, which started in 2008. She then received further training from the entrepreneur city Launch (which began in 2010, and then the Incubator (which Hamilton County opened in 2011).
Jackson sold $30,000 of her product last year and has made distribution deals with both Walmart and one of America's largest airlines. She told me that the city's resources empowered her to be the entrepreneur she otherwise never would have become, noting that while her startup path was unconventional, "Don't underestimate the power of a mother."
During the Rise of the Rest trip, the mayor and founders were open about the ways Chattanooga's startup scene needs to improve. Aside from the need for establishing a national reputation for the city, Chattanoogans who aren't involved or excited about the startup scene either don't know it exists, or are wary of it.
Co.Lab CEO Marcus Shaw is a champion of Chattanooga, and acted as an emcee throughout the Rise of the Rest bus tour. Richard Feloni/Business Insider
It's a matter now of convincing them that both the FreightWaves and CPR Wraps that are growing will provide jobs and income for the city, without sacrificing the small town feel and natural beauty of the city, which won Outside magazine's "Best place to live in the US" twice.
And if the scene's growth continues, at some point the exceptionally supportive network that has allowed Chattanooga to transform may become more competitive, and thus less exceptional.
But for now, the small Tennessee city with the memorable name and old-time hit song about a "choo-choo" is out to prove itself, and doing a good job. "This is special," Rise of the Rest partner David Hall told me. "It's got everything. I'm shocked at how well it all works out."
"Once you've been stamped as a city of entrepreneurs," Co.Lab CEO Marcus Shaw said, "you can't stop this train."
Facebook and other social networking sites are incredibly popular. One reason for this might be the wide variety of things that one can do with Facebook. Not only can you connect with friends and share pictures and video, but you can also join lots of different online communities, support your favorite performers, musicians, and politicians, and even play games with other users from across the country and around the globe. In fact, there are some things that you can do with Facebook that might surprise you. For instance, many users may not know that Facebook is a great way to access phone numbers and phone number information.
Facebook is, of course, not designed around phone numbers, but it does allow for users to share their phone numbers when they so wish. In fact, there's a link from the friends list page that actually allows users to view a phone book of their online contacts, making it easy to find phone numbers in lots of situations. For instance, if you recently were forced to replace your phone, and lost your cell phone contacts, you could check phone numbers you no longer recognize against Facebook to find out who they belong to.
But of course, to use Facebook to find phone number information, you essentially have to have friends with the person whose phone number you happened to be researching, which usually is not the case. But when you need phone number information for individuals who are not part of your online entourage, a great way to search is through a reverse phone lookup. Reverse phone lookups let you access the address and the name of most phone owners, including cell phone owners. That means that you can extend beyond Facebook, and find directory style information for millions of phone owners.
Since it's clear to see how a phone number search can keep you safe from all kinds of mysterious calls. So if you suspect that a number might belong to a friend, checking Facebook first may not be a bad idea. But if this proves to be unsuccessful, the next step has a much higher success rate over all, if you make that next step using a reverse phone lookup.
Toy Story Land has been open for one day and the fan favorite item to purchase is already sold out.
INSIDER is down at Walt Disney World for the opening of the new themed land and everywhere you look are lovable aliens from the beloved franchise.
Alien popcorn buckets are in the arms, strollers, and around the necks of park guests on matching alien-themed lanyards.
The little guy was everywhere I went.
He joined me on an excruciatingly long line to get into Toy Story Land. Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER He followed me to lunch at Woody's Lunchbox. Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER The alien was with people of all ages, male and female. Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER He even followed me to other areas of the park. Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER
The $20 buckets come with popcorn. If you want refills throughout the day, they aren't free. That's another $1.59 per refill. The alien's mouth opens wide for hands to reach inside and eat the popcorn out of his mouth.
Here's how the little guys looked on display across Hollywood Studios. Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER While the Woody bucket cost $9.39, the alien popcorn bucket cost $20. Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER
Around 10 a.m. the aliens were still available for purchase at kiosks around the park. They could be seen on display in the rear of the park outside Toy Story Land at a wagon outpost.
One location in Hollywood Studios where you could purchase an alien popcorn bucket. Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER
But by 1 p.m. an employee in Disney World's Hollywood Studios was telling fans they were already sold out across the park.
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The little aliens are a staple of the "Toy Story" franchise. First introduced in the 1995 movie, three of them were won out of a crane machine by villain Sid and were later adopted by Mr. And Mrs. Potato Head in the sequel. They're known for saying phrases including, "Thank you for saving our lives. We are eternally grateful."
Mrs. Potato Head falls for the little green guys instantly, just like the Disney World parkgoers. Disney/Pixar
This isn't the first time the alien popcorn bucket has been available at Disney Parks. It launched in April at California's Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks. It quickly sold out there as well. People reportedly waited ras long as three hours for them in the spring. We didn't see any long waits, but at least one person said they waited 45 minutes to get their alien popcorn bucket Saturday morning.
One reason we noticed the merchandise goes so fast is because there doesn't appear to be a limit on how many you can purchase. People are taking advantage of that. I saw numerous individuals and families with bags of the aliens held in strollers and being carried around the park.
This should not be allowed. Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER
Hours after the little green guys vanished around the park, they could be found on eBay ranging in price from $24.60 all the way to $225 and everything in between.
This is the listing for $225.eBay
If you really want one stat, you can find them online if you're willing to pay. Or you can hope Hollywood Studios will replenish its stock for newcomers to the park.
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If you're going to the parks and still want a cool souvenir with the green alien, cups featuring the aliens are still available. Unlike the popcorn buckets, these light up.
You can get a tinier alien instead ... in a cup! Kirsten Acuna/INSIDER
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on aboard Air Force One en route to Bedminster, New Jersey, from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., June 29, 2018. Reuters/Eric Thayer
President Donald Trump is little more than one week from deciding on his Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement on Wednesday.
Trump tweeted on Saturday he would make the decision on July 9, and the White House has said his choice will come from the shortlist of 25 candidates he had compiled during his campaign and added to last year.
Though Trump is known for frequently breaking with tradition, making decisions on impulse, and ignoring the guidance of his advisors, he is reportedly listening closely to the advice of the White House counsel Don McGahn and his judicial adviser Leonard Leo, who serves as the executive vice president of the conservative Federalist Society.
One adviser told The Washington Post that Trump is set on selecting candidate with three main qualities:
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Firstly, Trump has said he wants an "extraordinarily well qualified" nominee with sterling credentials on his or her resume.
Trump has reportedly sought to pick someone with a law degree from either Harvard or Yale, and the adviser told The Post that Trump wants the candidate to have an impressive portfolio of academic writing. The adviser acknowledged, however, that Trump has no desire to read the candidate's writing — only to know that it exists.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Neil Gorsuch, his choice for Supreme Court associate justice in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Associated Press/Carolyn Kaster
Secondly, the adviser told The Post that the nominee cannot be "weak," and must demonstrate the wherewithal to resist "the political and social fashions of the day."
Lastly, the adviser said Trump wants his pick to "interpret the Constitution the way the framers meant it to be."
The final point echoes the legal philosophy of Trump's last Supreme Court pick, Justice Neil Gorsuch, a renowned textualist, meaning someone who seeks to interpret laws according to their plain text over the intent of their writers or the laws' consequences.
From the 25-member shortlist, Trump said Friday he had already narrowed down his choices to "about five" candidates.
According to The Post, those five include US Appeals Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana, US Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh of Maryland, US Circuit Judge Raymond Kethledge of Michigan, US Appeals Court Judge Amul Thapar of Kentucky, and US Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman, whom Trump had strongly considered when he was choosing his first Supreme Court nominee.
"We have to pick a great one," Trump said at a North Dakota rally on Wednesday. "You know, there's so many elements go into the making of a great justice of the Supreme Court. You've got to hit every one of them."
Phone systems are absolutely essential for businesses to operate successfully. They create an interconnected system that can support multiple phones and telephonic features, including conference calls, call handling, call transferring, and more. While every business can agree on the essential nature of these networks, not all come to the same conclusion about how they should function.
When installing phone systems, the user has two main choices. The first is known as the Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN. Through this traditional method, analog data is transferred through an international network of copper wires. However, this method can present complications that lead to a disruption of business. This is why most professionals are switching over to Voice-over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. VoIP allows voice data packets to be sent over the Internet. This is a much more reliable and cost effective way for a business to operate.
When it comes to running a successful business, everything is about money. This is one of the major reasons why more people are moving towards VoIP systems. Since this type of phone system operates over the Internet, there are no additional charges for each call made. One simple payment of the standard Internet usage fee is enough to keep a VoIP system operational. In comparison, PSTN incurs a charge every time a call is made, regardless of whether it is a local or international call. In addition, many of the services that businesses rely on, such as call waiting and call forwarding, are only available at an extra cost when using PSTN. VoIP services, on the other hand, typically offer these and other useful features for no additional fee.
Another advantage VoIP has over PSTN is scalability. While PSTN services require the installation of new lines and hardware to increase operations, VoIP only requires simple software updates, coupled with an increase in bandwidth. This is a much simpler and more cost efficient method. PSTN also requires a significantly higher amount of bandwidth to operate, and each line requires about 64 kbps in each direction. However, VoIP requires a mere 10kbps to compress of a voice data packet. This reduction in bandwidth usage reduces the amount of bandwidth a business needs to purchase.
As you can see, VoIP offers a multitude of benefits over the traditional PSTN. VoIP was known for having some performance issues in the past, but since then these services have advanced significantly. Cost and bandwidth reduction are two of the major benefits of using this type of system, as well as increased scalability and more reliable services. As we move further into the technological age, VoIP phone systems are becoming the way of the future.
Starsky Robotics wants to make self-driving big rigs that a human can take over by remote control. Starsky Robotics
You've probably never heard of Starsky Robotics, a San Francisco startup that wants to put driverless semi-trailer trucks on the road later this year.
The company faces significant competition from transportation juggernauts such as Waymo, Uber, and Tesla, who are also working on big rigs that drive themselves.
But Stefan Seltz-Axmacher, the 28-year-old cofounder and CEO of Starsky Robotics, says he isn't worried, simply because he doesn't think trucking is a priority for his rivals.
"I don't think Tesla's in the race. Honestly, I think Waymo, Tesla, and Uber all have their leftover people working on trucks, or maybe their up-and-comers who are trying to make a name for themselves on a less important team," Seltz-Axmacher said.
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Founded in 2015, Starsky Robotics — named for the trucking slang term for when drivers work in teams, like the title characters of the '70s TV series "Starsky & Hutch" — aims to have driverless semi-trailer trucks on the road before the end of 2018, Seltz-Axmacher said.
It could be a first, beating all those rivals.
The system they're building has big rigs drive themselves in simple highway conditions and has human drivers take remote control from miles away when the trucks encounter anything weird or complicated. The plan is to eventually hire dozens of drivers, who will each monitor several trucks at once from the safety of a computer screen.
Before the year's end, Seltz-Axmacher says Starsky Robotics will beat Tesla to putting self-driving semi-trucks on the road — without a human in the driver seat.
The company may already be halfway there. Starsky Robotics has been hauling freight for other companies and making money since April 2017, with a small number of self-driving-but-manned vehicles operating in southeastern parts of the US.
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Starsky Robotics employs seven drivers, and its trucks cover about 150 miles every day, according to Seltz-Axmacher.
Stefan Seltz-Axmacher of Starsky Robotics. Starsky Robotics
And while its competitors are focused on ride-hailing, electric vehicles, and self-driving cars, Seltz-Axmacher says Starsky Robotics has eyes on long-haul trucking only.
"Saying that we're better than Tesla is like an average baseball player saying that they're better at baseball than Michael Jordan," Seltz-Axmacher said. "I don't know if we're going to be better at basketball, but I don't really care about basketball in this case."
'Least qualified person in this entire industry'
The entrepreneur describes himself as the "least qualified person in this entire industry" to disrupt long-haul trucking. He became interested in trucking as a college student and intern at a manufacturing company based outside Philadelphia.
One day on the job, he learned that buying a new, diesel semi-trailer Class 8 truck will set you back $150,000, and that most drivers buy their own vehicles. By comparison, some Lamborghinis start at $200,000.
The cost of getting into the business, combined with poor working conditions, solitude, and life-threatening job hazards, makes long-haul trucking one of the least desirable jobs in America. For these reasons and more, there's a dire shortage of truckers nationwide, pushing up freight costs and, in turn, raising retail prices.
Seltz-Axmacher thinks self-driving semi-trucks can help.
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Starsky Robotics employs regular truck drivers, who are familiar with operating these vehicles, to drive using a remote-controlled steering wheel and pedals from inside a Starsky Robotics office. For now, the company also puts a human in the driver seat.
The goal is not to replace the human behind the wheel, the company says, but to relocate them to a driving simulator. Seltz-Axmacher hopes those drivers will spend more time with their families and friends — and avoid the accidents and injuries that befall long-haul truckers all too often.
Trucking rivals
Starsky isn't the only one working on building this future.
Tesla is getting into trucking with its electric Tesla Semi. Alexis Georgeson/Tesla
Rival Uber's self-driving trucks have been hauling freight on Arizona highways for several months now. The ride-hailing giant said in March that it was not ready for driverless.
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Tesla revealed its hulking hauler, which has electric motors and a 500-mile range, at a splashy unveiling in November. The vehicle made its first cargo trip in March, carrying battery packs from Gigafactory 1, in Nevada, to Tesla's Fremont factory, in California.
The all-electric truck, called the Semi, isn't supposed to go into production until 2019.
Starsky Robotics has been hauling freight for other companies and making money since April 2017, with a small number of self-driving-but-manned vehicles operating in southeastern parts of the US. Starsky Robotics
Tesla has hit a rough patch. The electric-car giant on Monday announced plans to lay off about 9% of its employees amid efforts to restructure the organization and turn a profit. Tesla has already slashed its Model 3-production targets for the year as it struggles to fill orders.
Even so, Seltz-Axmacher says he has no desire to bad-mouth Tesla's Elon Musk.
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"It's all fun to talk about how Goliath sucks when Goliath's doing great and you're the little David," he said. "But when Goliath is, like, on their knees and can't walk and is using a cane, picking on them, that's not the best use of my time."
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a comprehensive identification for a family of communication technologies used for the conveyance of voice and or data communications when routed through IP networks such as the Internet or separate packet-switched data networks. Shared terms associated to VoIP may be recognized as: IP Telephony, voice over broadband, broadband phone, Internet telephony, or Broadband telephony.
When placing a phone call utilizing a VoIP Phone Service, the dialed number is delivered to a voice gateway. The voice gateway then decodes the dialed digits and concludes the destination IP address of the gateway that will be capable to service the dialed phone number. The remote gateway now notifies the intended party of an incoming call via ringing the intended phone number.
When the phone is picked up on the other end, a communication is dispatched among the gateways and a virtual path is delivered between the gateways. The virtual path now receives the audio communication, converges the signal to digital form, compresses and packages and rendered information, including the destination gateway address for each packet dispatched, then routes the packets via the Internet to the destination gateway. In conclusion, the packages are converted from digital audio back to their original form of analog.
Getting Started With a VoIP Phone Service
You have three basic types of phone alternatives to select from when choosing a VoIP phone service.
- PC based softphone - Dedicated VoIP Phone - Analog Telephone Adapter
PC based Softphones - The cheapest selection of the three is the application of a PC Based Softphone (also identified as digital phones or Internet Phones). The user must first install a software program onto their computer that enables VoIP calling without the need for dedicated hardware.
Typical fulfillment of a softphone is to execute calls between an Internet telephony service provider to existing softphones, or to conventional telephones. At present, some VoIP phone service providers may offer PC-to-PC calls at no extra charge; but take note that most PC-to-phone and phone-to-PC calls are typically charged a fee for usage, be sure to check with your Internet service provider as offers may vary.
The greater part of softphones that are being implemented today are designed to function similar to conventional telephones. The image of a phone appears on the users computer screen as a representation of a traditional phone, displaying a panel with buttons enabling the user to interact with the same way they would when placing a call on a conventional phone.
Your computer must be connected to the Internet during the period period for making and receiving phone calls.
A headset is then plugged into a USB port or PC sound card to place or receive phone calls. To heighten call voice quality, it is suggested that you invest into a good quality headset that is capable of delivering clear voice recognition. Cheaper heads deliver unreliable voice clarity with back feeds and echo's.
Currently, there are three Internet telephony service providers for PC based softphones; Vonage, Skype, and Google Talk that supply proprietary software to their end users. The software used by these companies is locked and can not be shared with other providers disallowing phone calls between them.
Dedicated VoIP Phone - Dedicated VoIP phones support VoIP calls without the results of a computer. In appearance, they parallel your traditional desktop phone set or mobile phone. No adapters or computers are needed for this type of VoIP phone service. The transmission of phone calls is routed directly to an IP network via a connection of an Ethernet port and cable or WiFi service. Service is established by way of a VoIP provider that is accounting for routing your calls through the network making this type of VoIP phone system the most expensive to operate.
VoIP phones may also be known as SIP phones. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a common protocol that is widely used to support the administration of multimedia communication sessions, voice data, and video calls over IP (Internet Protocol). Some of the applications that may use this technology are online gaming, video conferencing, streaming multimedia, and instant messaging.
Dedicated VoIP Phones main advantages are that most incorporate XML based applications; large LCD screens for user input that may display keypads and or touch pads, display messages and caller-ID information, Ethernet or wireless network hardware to send and receive messages on data network, voice mail functions, and finally, provide an excellent choice for voice quality for the end user.
Analog Telephone Adapter - Analog Telephone Adapters (ATA) Incorporate an Ethernet port on one end and a RJ11 phone jack on the other which are used to link one or more standard analog phones to a digital or non-standard phone system such as a Voice over IP based network.
The Ethernet port connects to your router that is used in a broadband connection for an IP network, and the RJ11 phone jack plugs into your house phone. Your computer does not need to be turned on to place phone calls. Most ATA phone systems offer acceptable voice quality but, may require the end user to adjust their phone to minimizeize echo in the background and back feed issues which sometimes may be present.
This type of VoIP phone service is primarily offered by broadband Internet providers, cable companies, and traditional telephone companies at a significantly lower rate when in comparison to conventional telephone services.
Finally, VoIP phone services provide a variety of plans, services, and features. Be sure to research a VoIP phone service that will benefit your needs and desires for your home or business.
New York's biggest unicorn was sold to AT&T. Robert Libetti/Business Insider
When news began circulating of an imminent acquisition deal between AT&T and AppNexus during Cannes Lions, the companies demurred, noting that rumors abound at the event. But just a few days later, AT&T confirmed it had finally scooped up the programmatic advertising marketplace.
The news ricocheted through a giddy ad-tech industry.
"This is one of the largest deals in the space ever," digital ad veteran/investor Eric Franchi told Business Insider, pointing to a dearth of unicorns in the New York tech scene despite its reputation as a burgeoning hub for start ups.
And New York just sold its biggest one.
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The deal has not yet closed, but it's been reported that the exit price will land around $1.6 billion.
AT&T and AppNexus did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The reported deal price has split executives and venture capitalists who work in the ad-tech industry into two camps: those that believe the deal was excellent, and those that think it could've been better.
Is a $1.6 billion deal good or bad?
"Overall, exits are rare; this is great," Semil Shah, a venture partner at Lightspeed, told Business Insider. "Most are way under 100 million so to get to $1.5 or $2 billion is amazing."
AppNexus' reported deal price sets it among some of the largest ad tech acquisitions in history, falling behind Microsoft's $6 billion acquisition of digital ad agency aQuantive, and Google's $3.1 billion deal for online advertiser DoubleClick. Both the aQuantive and DoubleClick acquisitions happened over a decade ago in 2007.
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The estimated revenue multiple on a $1.6 billion deal has some in the industry praising the deal.
"The exit represents a healthy 6 or 7x multiple," said Michael Katz, CEO of customer data platform mParticle. AppNexus doesn't make it's financial figures publicly available, but revenues are likely around $300 million, according to Business Insider estimates.
"The deal is great for the New York tech ecosystem," Katz said. "It strengthens the community."
Shutterstock/Alexey Lesik
'It's good, but not as good as if they went public.'
Some investors believe while the deal was overall good, it could've been a little better.
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"Could it have gone higher? Sure," a tech investor told Business Insider. "But there is lots of carnage in adtech, there are lots of bad deals and walking dead. To be bought out by AT&T as a foundational element for its big, multibillion dollar push into advertising," is impressive, he continued.
Others are not so convinced.
"Is this a good valuation? No," a New York venture capitalist told Business Insider. "It's below the last price they raised a round at," he said, noting the $1.8 billion valuation AppNexus had in 2015.
And comparisons to competitors add another layer to consider when weighing the reported $1.6 billion acquisition price. Ad-tech competitor Trade Desk has a market valuation of $3.9 billion.
"Given that they were the biggest company in this space in awhile and I assume they are close in revenue to Trade Desk, the fact they are valued at half Trade Desk is not good," the New York venture capitalist said. "I'm surprised they didn't try and go public," he continued. "It's good, but not as good as if they went public."
The AppNexus IPO that never was
AppNexus has been promising an IPO since 2013. Its reticence to enter the space may be partially due to the dismal results of tech IPOs in recent years. For instance, the ad-tech firm Rubicon's 2014 IPO was largely seen a failure, losing 90% of its value after it went public. Similarly, the company Rocket Fuel was once valued at $2 billion - and sold last year for just north of $125 million.
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Snap's IPO failure also spooked bankers advising on deals, Business Insider's Jim Edwards reported.
Some believe that AT&T actually overpaid for the company. "AT&T is f****** crazy," a West Coast VC told Business Insider. "It completely overpaid paid two times as much or three times as much as AppNexus was worth." The VC pointed to the fact that despite having high revenues, it has low margins.
"If someone didn't buy them it would've died. What is that horribly low margin business worth?" The VC said.
The longer startups wait, the more antsy investors get
The news of AppNexus' acquisition spurred excitement in the industry in part due to the relative infrequence of such events.
"It's more another reminder that exits of that size take a long time when they happen in traditionally out of favor categories," Shah said. "People aren't rushing into ad-tech categories."
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And waiting tends to make investors, eager to see a return, anxious. Venrock led the first institutional round a decade ago, investing $5.7 million for more than 20% ownership.
"The VCs were probably getting a little antsy because of the 10 year life on funds, so when AT&T came around they said let's do something," the New York venture capitalist said.
To some, the conjecture around the deal price is just uninformed noise.
"That's just armchair quarterbacking," Katz said. "Prognosticating by people that don't have definitive knowledge. Management and lead investors thought good deal, and the numbers accurately reflect that."
If you have an older iPhone whose contract is over or because you bought a newer version, you can continue using it as an iPod touch. A support article in Apple lists out instructions to convert your iPhone that can be used as an iPod touch with Wi-fi support facility. Once you go for a newer model for your iPhone or cancel your tariff/wireless service account for your iPhone, now it is still possible for you to continue with your older iPhone use without an active cellular service. You can do this by using it with your Wi-Fi.
For older versions of iPhone such as 1G/2G, what you need to have is original SIM card for technical support. This is important without which it would be of no use. However, 3G iPhone and 3GS iPhone can use any SIM card to activate the phone that is to be used for your iPod Touch. So do not throw away or sell that old iPhone. Instead, why not create a nice surprise gift for someone who has been waiting to get an iPod Touch.
It may be that you have now brand new 32GB iPod touch. You have been playing with its trendy features, installing applications, and listening to your favorite music. There are so many interesting things that you will love to do by discovering it for the first time in your brand new 32GB iPod touch. You can expect a lot of tips and tricks in your favorite online tech support forum.
For instance, you were looking for an application that will allow you to take screen shots on your iPhone/iPod touch. However, you did not find anyone. Taking screenshots in your iPhone is now easily possible. You can take a screenshot on your brand new 32 GB iPod touch for your iPhone by pressing power button on the top and the home button together. Once you do that, your phone will flicker for a second and you will hear a sound. With a touch of a button together, surprisingly, you have completed the process of taking your screenshot. Your photo will be saved in your new album named as "Saved Photos".
Your iPhone/iPod Touch can be affected by malicious software worms. A recent report in a popular tech support forum suggested that a worm has affected jailbroken iPhone users. This malicious software specifically affects devices that are installed with OpenSSH on your iPhone.
In order to avoid such malicious worm, you first go to Cydia and install Terminal. Next, open the terminal app. You will now be shown the command line terminal. Type "su" in it and press enter. Once completed, you will see the default OpenSSH password to login as root. Enter the password into the terminal window. Now, enter your new password and click enter. Once you reconfirm your password, you are now safe from being affected by the rogue worm on your jailbroken iPhone device.
However, information technology experts at your computer forum do not endorse users jailbreaking their iPhones. The above fix to avoid worm that affects your iPod or iPhone is just for informational purpose.
Today, iPhone is part and parcel of your high-quality lifestyle. There is lot more you can do with recent iPhone/iPod Touch. There are many interesting models on the offerings such as one with that comes with pillows and comforters.
Voice over internet protocol involves phone service provided over an internet connection. People with an adequate connection can typically receive this service instead of contracting through a local phone company. As you prepare to make a final choice, consider your options in VOIP service providers to find one that fits your needs and budget.
Consider Your Necessary Options
Review your current account to determine what options you need and which ones you may be able to omit from your monthly bill. Typical features include call waiting, caller ID, three-way calling, and call forwarding. Note your current bill amount to enable you to compare this cost with the costs you will have after changing your account. It is likely that you will save money by making this change. It is common for VOIP service providers to offer bundling options, but you also must compare each price carefully to ensure that you do not pay more than you would pay for each separate option. Ask for a demonstration if you do not understand any features offered. If you determine that you don't need features, keep looking until you find a plan that fits your needs precisely.
Research Companies and Terms
Explore different VOIP service providers to learn about these companies. Take notes as you gather information, so you can remember the different features that each company offers. Examine money-back guarantees, details about contract terms, equipment provided, and policies about returning the equipment. Never consider a firm that does not offer at least a 30-day satisfaction guarantee to ensure that you will have recourse if you are not happy with the service. Some companies will use offers of free service to get customers to sign lengthy contracts. It's optimal if you don't have to sign any contract at all because this gives you the most protection and flexibility.
Number Portability
Find out whether a company offers number portability, which will enable you to maintain your current number instead of changing to a new number. Most firms provide this feature. Unless you're willing to update all your contacts about your new number, keep looking until you find a company that will enable you to keep your current number.
Network Test
You might not know whether your internet connection is fast enough to enable VOIP. The problems that people experience with VOIP often pertain to the speed of their connection and not with issues with the company. Therefore, before you proceed, request a network test to evaluate your network. The business should help you conduct this diagnostic test to evaluate your network. A business that does not offer this test may not have the knowledge and expertise to deliver quality assistance.
Technical Support
Issues and problems will invariably arise. As you consider various VOIP service providers, check into the technical support and maintenance provided by each firm. Optimally, the firm needs a system for resolving issues quickly with a team of experts standing by to assist customers.
With due diligence and careful research, you can find a business that will serve your connectivity needs to keep your phones connected at all times.
Millions of people around the world have been forced from their home countries due to war, genocide, or persecution.
They come from conflict-ridden countries like Syria, Somalia, and Sudan, and they wait for years in refugee camps before they can secure a spot in safe countries.
The United States takes in just a tiny fraction of the world's refugees — but it maintains perhaps the strictest, most rigorous vetting process.
Here's a look at where the world's refugees come from and what they endure to make it to safety in the United States:
After more than a year of speculation, Amazon just gave a clear indication that it's interested in getting into the pharmaceutical business.
On Thursday, it acquired PillPack, a small startup that mails prescriptions to people who take multiple medications. The news sent a whole host of pharmaceutical and drug-wholesaler stocks tumbling.
For Amazon, that clears up a couple of hurdles that had hindered its ability to get into the pharmaceutical market. PillPack's physical pharmacy is in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the startup can ship medications anywhere in the US except for Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Amazon had applied for some wholesale pharmacy licenses in the past, but those ambitions hit a snag in December when its Maine license was canceled.
PillPack has also already figured out the logistics of how to distribute medications in complex cases where people may have multiple prescriptions.
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Once the deal closes, Amazon could start selling prescription drugs directly through its site, delivering them via mail and affecting retail pharmacies.
In February, the Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes laid out three possible ways Amazon could get into healthcare:
Amazon could purchase a pharmacy benefit manager, an organization responsible for negotiating lower prices for prescriptions.
Amazon could partner with another healthcare organization to be the mail-order portion of a health plan — for example, working with UnitedHealthcare's OptumRx PBM division.
Amazon could also go it alone and create a mail-order system, selling that to employers that can add it to their health benefits.
The PillPack acquisition most closely aligns with the idea of Amazon going at it alone — though instead of building a mail-order system from scratch, Amazon can now theoretically just plug in PillPack.
Amazon's joint venture with JPMorgan and Berkshire Hathaway could also lend itself to the strategy of working directly with employers. By banding these three self-insured employers together, Amazon may not have to rely on partners or acquisitions of pharmacy benefit managers for its roadmap into the prescription-drug business. Instead, Amazon could have leverage to persuade employers, starting with these three organizations, to buy into its mail service.
The approach of working with employers could put pharmacy benefit managers like Express Scripts or CVS Health in a tough spot. If employers decide to build their own transparent PBM, they might rely less on those services. National account employers make up about 21% of Express Scripts' gross margin, according to Bernstein.
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Wholesalers, which are in charge of shipping drugs to pharmacies and hospitals, have been feeling the effects of Amazon's Thursday announcement — the three largest wholesalers, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, and McKesson, all fell by more than 5%. While PillPack isn't a wholesaler, that's something Amazon, with its distribution expertise, could tackle next. These companies could face direct competition from Amazon if it chooses to distribute prescription drugs.
And if Amazon, with the help of PillPack, can send along prescriptions in the mail directly to people, it could mean a lot less foot traffic for brick-and-mortar pharmacies, hurting the retail pharmacy business.
Robert Handfield, a professor of supply-chain management at North Carolina State University, told Business Insider in October that the amount of money that prescriptions bring into pharmacies isn't all that much. What makes pharmacies a booming business is what else people buy there — things like snacks, drinks, or beauty products.
Say that prescription portion went online — it would be much harder for retail pharmacies to compete with convenience stores, grocery stores, and anyone else selling things like candy bars and deodorant, much of which Amazon is already selling.
Earlier this month, CVS announced plans to offer a delivery service for prescriptions, a move that could buffer some of the effects of Amazon's push.
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"PillPack's visionary team has a combination of deep pharmacy experience and a focus on technology," Jeff Wilke, Amazon's CEO of worldwide consumer, said in a release. "PillPack is meaningfully improving its customers' lives, and we want to help them continue making it easy for people to save time, simplify their lives, and feel healthier."
While it remains to be seen how that will play out, one thing's clear: With Amazon officially in the game, the pharmaceutical industry is in for a shakeup.
Ask any sales and marketing specialist and they'll all concur about all of the studies that have been made concerning client mindset and behavior towards a product or service. Almost 95% with the sale pushing through is because the customer was "emotionally motivate" and not just "logically provoked" Exactly what does this suggest in lay man terms?
Envision yourself in the department store, you go in and also you're considering you need to buy a new t-shirt or a new dress. Contemplate it for a moment, do you go right to the product and look at the price and select the cheapest little bit of clothing there is? Well, from a practical stand point that might seem the 'logical' thing to do, correct? Obtain the most inexpensive item to spend less. But that is not just how we people are wired to operate.
You'll likely method a shirt or dress that you like. You base your final decision based on the color, the type. 'Will I look nice in this?' 'Will My partner and I look trendy?' 'Will my pals be impressed?' are just some of the questions that are circling your thoughts as you view it. Then you consider the tag price and see if the item is within your budget. If it exceeds, we also try to justify to ourselves that price is trivial if you are a happy and got what you would like. And then, a sale is manufactured. Yup, emotions run the actual show here.
That is why Apple products have this particular uncanny pull over the customer. Analyzer says it is because the way the apple iPhone, Macbook, iPad, iPod, etc is promoted. They are excessively laced with emotions. You are regarded as 'cool' if you own an iPod. You've 'made it' if you tapping an iPad tablet instead of a standard PC. It's a power play created on constructing emotions and Apple is at a successful streak in spite of some rather apparent merchandise flaws.
Insurance for iPhone has been very popular in the UK, probably the most offered insurance policy across any gadget. Since iPhone insurance UK will guarantee security and peace of mind that their iPhone will be replaced in case it was stolen, lost or damaged beyond fix people get one immediately after purchasing their own new iPhones.
Along with iPhone insurance at the top list of policies for gadget, you can currently sense exactly how profitable Apple has become in packaging and also marketing their product lines. When Nokia, Microsoft and RIM ever plan of by taking your sweet spot that Apple currently is enjoying, they far better get an 'emotionally driven' advertising consultant, if you get just what I mean.
Dr. Pimple Popper —otherwise known as Dr. Sandra Lee — is famous for her cringeworthy but oddly satisfying viral videos where she tackles everything from blackheads to large cysts to stretched-out earlobes.
Recently, the doctor has been expanding beyond her YouTube channel to TV. Earlier this year, TLC aired a one-hour special featuring Lee. And now, she'll be getting her own 12-episode series on the network, called "Dr. Pimple Popper."
The show will air on TLC on July 11, and according to Refinery 29, an open casting call is going on for the show right now.
Participating in the call is pretty easy. If you have severe acne and blackheads, large growths, lipoma, cysts, or any other undiagnosed skin issues, simply email a selfie along with a photo documenting your skin condition and a description of how it impacts your life to popper@aberrantcreative.com.
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Refinery 29 reports that travel, accommodations, and medical care will all be covered for those who are chosen to appear on the show. Shooting will start early next month.
There's also a $500 finders fee for anyone who refers someone who makes it onto the show, according to Refinery 29.
It sounds like the show will provide a pretty comprehensive look at the lives of the patients who end up being featured. The show will talk to patients' family and friends and will give viewers a glimpse into their hometown and day to day life.
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NBA free agency this summer presents two very different storylines — the chase for LeBron James and the relative lack of big names and teams with cap space.
James and his next destination and whether he can team up with any star players will be the top story of the offseason. Once James lands, it may be a quiet summer, as it's relatively shallow free agent class and few teams have money to spend.
It's an unbalanced class — some elite superstars, some intriguing young players, and a healthy dose of role players who may have to take small deals so they can re-enter free agency again in one year.
Free agency begins July 1. Here are the top players available:
Search Engine Optimization has become one of the most complicated aspects of having an online presence.
The variables that are key to earning your rank constantly update and change and there are many things that can go wrong.
Moreover, SEO for service-based businesses have goals that are not necessarily going to be achieved through strategies built for other types of businesses. In this article we're going to look at 3 pitfalls you should avoid when marketing your service-based business online.
Your business's online presence will only help you if it's aligned with guidelines and expectations laid out by Google and any website you use to help rank your website.
Make sure you've got these all covered!
1. Google My Business
We previously reviewed the Google My Business service to let you know that you need to claim your business, mark its location on Google Maps, and fill everything out. If you haven't done this yet or even if you have and just want to review it, it's important to get it done right.
Make sure you have the exact right location. Inputting any location incorrectly will not only mislead users but Google will eventually find out. You'll get caught either through a user complaint or their own algorithm and you'll lose your listing placement in the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) if not the listing entirely.
Also make sure you've got the right business type category filled in. This is an often-missed element some businesses don't even touch. Make sure you've got your category, address, and every other element filled in properly and have great photos.
Google presents this info to users to help them find the right business so misleading the user in any way with the wrong information will severely impact your online marketing and website ranking efforts.
2. Don't Overdo It
You have your keywords (if you don't please review this post) and you want Google to know you want to rank for them. That's great and it's definitely essential to have those keywords on your website in the copy and the various meta tags.
Too much though will raise a flag with Google. SEO has a big problem with fraud. There are too many fraudulent agencies all over the world who define themselves by their ability to abuse Google and falsify ranking signals.
One technique that unfortunately did work years ago was keyword stuffing. That was a long time ago though and now Google can see clearly when someone is overstating their relevance.
Use the keywords but only enough to state it. Once you have made the point with your page that it's about that subject, start looking at semantic variations. The copy should flow well and be easily readable, so write your copy first and then edit it for SEO terms.
It's a good idea to limit the term to 3 - 5 instances depending on the length of the page. For service-based businesses who deal locally this definitely applies to your location serviced.
Don't overdo it or Google will think you're being dishonest.
3. Be consistent
Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) needs to be the same on all listings. If you have several locations, make unique listings for each when adding your business to websites like yp.com, superpages.com, and Yelp.
If you only have the one location, then you just have to be very careful that each location listing has identical contact information. Scrutinize this heavily because some websites may display elements slightly differently and some fields can get filled in wrong.
Review these so you're not sending mixed signals to Google and to users.
Don't panic if you're guilty of any of these pitfalls. They're easy problems to fix and once you have them right, you'll be in much better shape to earn higher placement in Google. They'll also help your users by providing the right information, and in a way that doesn't seem like you're misleading them in any way.
If you've got all these done right and you're working on earning rank but finding there is just too much to do or you can't figure it all out, then please let us know. Our SEO professionals will review your entire online presence, goals, and use those to develop a strategy that works to earn your website rank for the terms you want it to rank for.
The crown jewel of Disney's Hollywood Studios new Toy Story Land is undoubtedly the Slinky Dog Dash. But is it worth the hype?
I had the chance to check out this highly anticipated roller coaster on opening day and I can confirm it's great. Here's what you can expect.
Me waiting in line for the ride. Heather Concannon
Before the ride even starts, expect a long and relatively grueling wait.
I waited over an hour for the coaster in an outdoor queue without any interactive elements. This was kind of disappointing considering that most Disney attractions' queues are so immersive these days. It's a good thing we all now have our phones to keep us entertained.
Except for a covered area that was designed like the packaging of a toy box, there is zero shade in the queue, making those hot Florida days even more brutal. Although there are fans scattered throughout the line, I would highly recommend bringing water and a fan with you. I know I'm glad I did.
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Although there aren't any games to play while waiting, there are adorable larger-than-life drawings and colorings by Andy that surround the queue.
The huge drawings that surround the queue area are great. Heather Concannon
There is a Fast Pass option for Slinky Dog Dash. However, I imagine it will be hard to come by unless you have a reservation at a Walt Disney World Resort where you can book Fast Passes months in advanced.
When you finally get through the queue and approach the coaster, you'll see the vehicle looks just like the iconic Slinky Dog character in "Toy Story." It seats 18 people at a time — consisting of nine rows of two.
This roller coaster was way better than I expected. Heather Concannon
The Slinky Dog Dash really surprised me —in a good way.
I underestimated this coaster. It may not look as intimidating as other steel coasters in the Orlando area, but Slinky Dog Dash definitely has some oomph.
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Right out of the gates, riders speedily accelerate up to the coaster's highest point. It's a bold and exciting way to start the coaster and immediately many riders including myself excited.
There's a lot of acceleration right out of the gate. Heather Concannon
Midway through the coaster, the Slinky dog stops and revs up again, blasting you uphill to a fabulous view of the construction for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge park opening in the late fall of 2019. So if any Star Wars fans are looking for a sneak-peak, definitely make sure to take a ride.
The ride was especially smooth. Heather Concannon
The rest of the track weaves, drops, and glides — similar to the movements of an actual slinky toy. As an avid roller coaster fan, I admire how smooth the coaster is and fell in love with its playful track. There are many coasters that have left me with whiplash, so this really felt like a treat.
The ending is perfect. Heather Concannon
The big finish of Slinky Dog Dash involves a joyous rendition of the classic "You've Got a Friend in Me" by none other than a giant animatronic of everyone's favorite singing penguin, Wheezy. He's the perfect way to end a rather flawless coaster.
Everyone clapped at the end of the ride. Heather Concannon
The ride lasts about two minutes and I am not kidding when I tell you that I smiled the entire time. When the ride was finished, everyone applauded. Although this is a totally normal thing to do after riding attractions in other parks, it's a rarity in Disney World.
It's good for the whole family, but still has a thrill factor.
As far as speed and intensity go, I would compare the intensity level of Slinky Dog Dash to something in between The Barnstormer or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the Magic Kingdom. In other words, Slinky Dog Dash is great for the whole family but still provides a notable thrill factor.
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But don't just take it from me — there was a younger child who rode in the row in front of me who screamed the entire time but begged her mom to go on again after the ride was finished. It's that great.
It's well worth the wait. Heather Concannon
Overall, Slinky Dog Dash is a really exciting new coaster, with adorable theming and is definitely worth the long hot wait. I honestly can't wait to go back.
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