Fintech Beat Podcast Recap: Dr. Chris Brummer Interviewed by Henrique DuBugras, Founder and Co-CEO of Brex

The Fintech Beat Podcast shook things up a couple weeks ago with an episode titled “Brex founder and co-CEO Henrique DuBugras co-hosts Fintech Beat to discuss regulatory diversity,” as we heard Henrique DuBugras, founder and co-CEO of Brex, a company that provides a new kind of financial OS to businesses, step up as co-host to interview the podcast’s regular host, Dr. Chris Brummer. 

Before I get ahead of myself, a quick rundown: Fintech Beat, for those who don’t know, is a financial policy podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Brummer, a law professor and faculty director of Georgetown’s Institute of International Economic Law. Recorded at CQ Roll Call’s studio in Washington, DC, Fintech Week is designed to explore the future of finance and the “rapidly transforming banking and financial services sector.” Week to week, Dr. Brummer covers topics related to financial policy and technology – as well as how those industries overlap – through rundowns and interviews with various experts in these fields.

But in this particular episode, we heard Dr. Brummer shift from host to interviewee, as DuBugras says, for the first time. DuBugras goes on to say that he is excited to interview Chris not only because he and those at his company appreciate the Fintech Beat podcast, but also Dr. Brummer’s own research and work into fintech, fintech regulation, and diversity. 

Thus explains the change in format. Dr. Chris Brummer is known for his research in fintech particularly in regards to policy and diversity. He has been featured on CNN, Bloomberg, Forbes, and countless others, though a major focus of this podcast episode rests on a paper he wrote called, “What Do the Data Reveal About (Black) Financial Regulators?” published by Brookings, where Dr. Brummer calls out the “virtual absence of African American financial regulators.”

In the episode’s discussion of the paper’s topic, DuBugras first asks about Dr. Brummer’s background, particularly in regards to how he got into the space of fintech with a focus on both legal and cultural elements within it. Dr. Brummer, after thanking DuBugras for the opportunity to talk with him in this format, speaks on what brought him to his interest in fintech. Put briefly, it was his own curiosity, an excitement about fintech as an industry and all the industries that intersect with it. Dr. Brummer goes on to say that fintech is an ecosystem that spans “cybersecurity to cryptocurrency, democratizing financial services, financial inclusion,” and that “breaking down barriers” was a theme that stood out to him. He found it to be an interesting space to think about both as an academic and concretely.

When DuBugras brings up the paper specifically, he mentions that 3% of financial regulators in the US have been Black, a key statistic shared in Dr. Brummer’s paper. DuBugras brings up another key statistic from Dr. Brummer’s paper that “no federal financial regulatory agency has more than three African Americans participate as members over the course of their entire existence, and that when that is averaged out over the last 9 years, this translates to approximately one African American being appointed to a federal financial regulatory agency every 10 years.”

After DuBugras states these numbers, Dr. Brummer talks more about the inception of his paper, stating that the conversations around diversity in the industry often don’t take regulators into account, despite the fact that they help to standardize and set expectations. He wanted to know what the historical representation looked like, and it didn’t look good: out of 327 financial regulators, only 10 were Black, and the stats have gotten worse. What’s more, as Dr. Brummer states in the episode, there has also never been a Black chair of SEC, or the federal reserve, or CFTC. Beyond what this shows about diversity within these roles, Dr. Brummer was also interested in the impact this has had on the implication for people’s expectations and how this trickles down into policy leadership.

In the follow up questions on this research, DuBugras asks Dr. Brummer if the trends seen in these results are contained to the US, and Dr. Brummer noted that following the article’s publication in September, 2020, many regulators from all over the world reached out to talk to him about his findings. The two go on to talk about how one is appointed as a federal regulator, and some of the theories that have emerged to explain the low numbers in regards to inclusion. Dr. Brummer commented on two theories, the first being that these positions tend to be given to staffers in the Senate, so if there are fewer Black staffers in the senate, there will inevitably be fewer Black regulators. To challenge this, Dr. Brummer points out that not all financial regulators did have Senate experience. Another theory Dr. Brummer commented on in the episode was the qualifications theory, implying that there are few qualified black candidates, but when he tested that theory he found the Black financial regulators tended to have better credentials.

The episode wrapped up with a slight divergence from Dr. Chris Brummer’s inclusion and diversity research, with DuBugras asking him what trends he was anticipating or excited for looking ahead to 2021. Dr. Brummer cited central banking and digital currencies in regards to regulation, as well as big data and the impact on fairness, ethics, and how the economy will be restructured (already considering the impacts of COVID-19). The podcast ended with Dr. Brummer’s perspective on financial regulation in Washington, DC.

To learn more about Dr. Chris Brummer’s research, click here. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Five Student Loan Forgiveness Programs You May Qualify For

The cost of attending college is constantly increasing in the United States. Things like tuition, bookstore supplies, and, in some places, even rent are being raised each year. 

Due to increased expenses, it is almost impossible for anyone outside of the top one percent to graduate from college without accumulating loans over just a few years. 

Ideally, those loans can be paid off not long after graduation if a job that pays well has already been lined up. However, fewer college graduates are finding lucrative jobs right after college. 

Fortunately, there is help available. If you are one of these many college graduates without well-paying work or with an astronomical amount of debt, you may qualify for a form of student loan forgiveness, which is the best kind of relief you can receive for such debt. Keep reading to determine whether you qualify for any of these student loan forgiveness programs. 

Five Student Loan Forgiveness Programs that Might Be For You 

Please note that only some federal student loan debt can be forgiven, although there are other ways to manage private loans. 

If you have a federal loan (or a few), here are five student loan forgiveness programs that might work for you.

Income-Driven Repayment Plan

If your monthly payments are very strenuous to your budget, you may be eligible for an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan. An IDR plan is generally the best option for anyone working in a field with low pay and struggling with a large amount of student loan debt. 

You must reiterate your income and reapply annually, but there is no fee for applying and the paperwork can be completed without assistance. 

An IDR plan will stretch your student loan payment period from ten years to twenty or twenty-five years. These plans also cap your payment at ten or fifteen percent of the income that goes directly to you. So long as you make all of your payments during the twenty years, the remainder of your loan debt will be forgiven. 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are a government or nonprofit employee, you may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). The only way to truly benefit from this program is to also be enrolled in an IDR plan, as your debt will not be forgiven under PSLF until you have made one hundred and twenty payments, which takes at least ten years for most people. 

Without having payments reduced with IDR, the entire loan would end up being repaid with no forgiveness. This program is not an option if you are a recent graduate, as you will not have enough payments made to qualify. 

Please be aware that many people have had trouble getting approved for PSLF due to misleading loan servicers or small technicalities. At the very least, attempt to enroll in an IDR plan.

State-Sponsored Repayment Forgiveness 

In some states, if you are a certified doctor, lawyer, nurse, or teacher, you may be able to apply for programs that will aid you in paying your student loan debt.

Take a look at some programs: https://thecollegeinvestor.com/578/ways-to-get-student-loan-forgiveness/.

• Minnesota, for instance, has numerous state assistance programs for physical and mental health care providers, including dentists, midwives, therapists, and social workers. In this state, health care providers may be forgiven for up to twenty-five thousand dollars annually in exchange for their service. 
• In Mississippi, a program for teachers will pay up to three thousand dollars towards their student loan debt per year for at least four years if they are willing to teach a specific subject full-time. 

To determine if your residential state has any such Repayment Assistance Programs (RAPs), contact your state department of higher education, healthcare board, or legal committee. Some of this information is also readily available through Google search, so it can be beneficial to do both. 

Teacher Loan Forgiveness 

While there are many options for teachers in terms of loan forgiveness, most of them are not very generous. In addition to certain RAP programs mentioned above, if you are considered a “highly qualified” teacher, meaning that you are state-certified and possess no less than a Bachelor’s degree, some of your loan debt may be forgiven. Also, you cannot receive this form of loan forgiveness until you have taught full-time for at least five years. 

Math and science teachers for the secondary level, as well as special education teachers at the primary or secondary school level, are the only teachers that may have up to seventeen thousand dollars in debt forgiven. For all other teachers, forgiveness is capped at five thousand dollars. 

Military Student Loan Forgiveness 

If you are a member of a branch of the United States military, including the Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and National Guard, there are several exclusive student loan forgiveness programs that you may be eligible for. 

For instance, any of these military members may qualify for the National Defense Student Loan Discharge. This program enables a military member in a hostile area of impending danger to have anywhere from half to all of their student loan forgiven, depending on when your service started. The National Guard has a Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) that may pay for up to fifty thousand dollars in loan debt. 

Contact your loan servicer for more information. You may also be able to defer your student loan payments if you are on active duty. 

Some Potential Risks 

Most forgiven loans are considered a taxable form of income unless you have to work for a specific employer or in a particular field to be eligible for said loan. Forgiveness under an IDR plan is taxable, for instance, but forgiveness from PSLF is not. All of these stipulations can be misleading or overwhelming. Be sure to ask about taxes when applying for a forgiveness program. 

It is also important to realize that there are no fees for applying to legitimate, government-sponsored student loan forgiveness programs. Some scammers will bill you for several costs up-front and then depart with your money, leaving you more in financial trouble than ever. Avoid any companies that want money from you for forgiveness programs. 

Important Information to Take Away 

While student loan debt can be an overwhelming burden, even for college graduates with lucrative jobs, student loan forgiveness programs offer some degree of relief. In a few specific situations, such as if you are a military member in immediate danger, you may have all of your debt forgiven. 

However, each student loan forgiveness program has specific conditions that need to be met, and some of them are not very helpful unless you manage to meet very high criteria or avoid technicalities. Criteria for some student loan forgiveness programs vary by state. Income-Driven Repayment plans tend to be the most helpful if you qualify for those. Be mindful of scams, as well as any debt forgiveness that may qualify as taxable. 

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How to Prepare Your Commercial Truck Fleet for the Winter

Winter can be tough on a truck business. It can be tough on drivers, fleet owners and the trucks themselves. 

Even if your drivers are careful and attentive, the inclement weather can spell disaster. Your trucks may need engine rebuilds or tire replacement, in which case fleet owners need to be financially prepared. And the trucks themselves need to be routinely inspected and maintained throughout the winter to ensure they are operating smoothly and efficiently. 

To avoid breakdowns, accidents and cash flow issues, follow these three easy tips.  

Ensure Drivers Follow These Key Safety Steps

A study published a few years ago found that, of the roughly 6 million motor vehicle accidents in the United States, nearly half a million involved large trucks and buses – that’s around 8%. It might seem like a small figure until you consider that large trucks account for just 4% of all registered vehicles. 

These stats underscore the continuing importance of vehicle safety, especially in the winter when roads are icy and slick and visibility is diminished. If you run a truck fleet, it is best practice to put clear, comprehensive safety policies in place. For your drivers’ safety and the safety of others on the road, include the following: 

• Make seatbelts absolutely mandatory.
• Ensure drivers give at least 20-feet additional distance for safe stopping.
• Require drivers to carry an emergency kit that includes water and non-perishable food items.
• Be mindful of common warning signs on the dashboard, and report maintenance issues immediately.
• Ensure every driver understands proper braking protocol for winter weather conditions.

These are a few of the basic safety steps. Build out your personal safety policy with advice from the Commercial Vehicle Operators’ Safety Manual.

Explore Financing Solutions for Major Repairs

Accidents happen. Breakdowns happen. Unforeseeable repairs happen. And they happen with unusual frequency in the winter. 

To make sure your commercial fleet doesn’t get mired in costly repair fees, be proactive and contact a commercial equipment financing company. Lending partners like Capital Hands offer turnkey financing solutions, leveraging great relationships with several lenders to get you the best deals on loans for major repairs. They also streamline the process, eliminating the need for exhausting piles of paperwork and long wait times for approval. 

Winter driving can be risky – but applying for commercial vehicle financing doesn’t have to be.  

Regularly Inspect Your Fleet for These Common Issues 

Regular, thorough fleet maintenance is the single most effective safety net a trucking company has. If maintenance issues are left to persist and worsen, they can become exponentially more costly. To prepare for winter’s impact on your trucking operations, create a maintenance checklist and frequently refer to it.

Check the belts, hoses and radiator for failures. Track your tire inflation against the temperature (every 10-degree Fahrenheit change in temperature affects tire pressure by roughly two psi). Regularly check the battery, which can inordinately drain in cold weather. Periodically check all fluids. Ensure that windshield wipers are working effectively, free of streaking. And stay on top of draining your fuel water separator. Additionally, you can consult this winter maintenance checklist for commercial trucks, which touches on a few more common issues. 

With robust safety policies, regular fleet maintenance and the help of a great commercial equipment financing company, your commercial truck fleet will thrive this winter. No matter what the winter throws at you!

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Facts Concerning Science Education For Kids Three and Up

It is always cool to learn about science stuff, so let the education begin. Below one will find six scientific facts that will brighten one’s day. One should try to remember these six facts because these facts all have a bearing on one’s life. Benjamin Harow enjoys speniding time with his children.  More than 2,000 thunderstorms are happening every minute on this earth. How cool is that? Think about this for a second. While one is enjoying one’s crafts there is a thunderstorm going happening. One could call this “crafts and storm”. Now the actual number might have increased this year. One has to remember that one is in the middle of a climate crisis. One also has to remember how volatile the weather has been of late. Time to talk about the wind for a second. One should know that the wind stays silent until it comes up against something. One can feel the wind every time one goes outside one’s home. It stands to reason that the wind is there. The wind is moving when everyone else is staying still. Think about this for a second too. The only time one actually notices the wind is when it is blowing. Outside of that, no one really pays attention to this fact.

Another interesting fact one should note is tornado activity. More than 1200 tornadoes moving across the country every year. Once again, this year might be a bit different. Activity is more prominent this year due to global warming and climate change (the two go hand in hand). As climate change becomes more of a dangerous and serious threat to the world, one will have to deal with more. One needs to keep that in mind if one lives in areas that are prone to tornado activity. Here is an interesting cloud fact that one should know. The glaring white color that comes off the cloud is being caused by the sun. The sunlight is hitting the cloud from all sides. That is why clouds have that extra loud white color to them. One should take a look the next time one is out. One will see the evidence up close and personal.

Here is an interesting fact about rain. One should know that rain contains Vitamin B12. Rain is water. Water is healthy for one to drink and hydrate one’s body. The next time one is getting soaked by the rain, one should remember how much Vitamin B12 is going to be benefiting one’s body. Does one know that getting hit by a bolt of lightning is five times hotter than the sun’s energy? That is why so many suffer after getting hit by lightning. Getting hit by lighting should not be on one’s bucket list. It can cause major damage to one’s body. Benjamin Harow recommends teaching kids about science. 

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The Benefits Of Having A Skilled Lawyer

Life’s ups and downs that may consist of disagreements, accidents, the domestic events will bring the law into play at some point for most citizens. Lawyers like Diego Ruiz Duran can change people’s lives. It can be exacerbated or relieved by having someone in one’s corner who is experienced with all things law related. Circumstances can be positive and transformed by work done by a good lawyer not just any attorney. Many times through life no one would expect to need legal counsel though one wrong move, motivation, or decision and there it is, a life changing outcome. Feeling inadequate or ignorant to the laws and rights can work against the notion of innocence, justice, retribution requiring assistance.

Difference Between Good

When it comes to being “good” words such as profitable, positive or quality come to mind and attaching those to lawyers means there is a good chance to get the desired results with things going in ones favor. A good capable lawyer is an asset that can make or break the case. With their dedication to take all information considering while listening to clients, all court participants; it is up to them to make an analysis then create a winning plan of action.

The Life You Save May Be…

This advocate can save the day in so many ways. When dealing with things like:

• Contracts/Wills
• Personal/Professional Conflict
• Accidents/DUI
• Custody
• and More

Any of these scenarios can be life-changing and good counsel cannot be stressed enough. Attempting to resolve these important facets of life solo often are more costly, stressful, and offer a negative versus positive outcome. Law is a complicated discipline that governs society, ones lives and change often without the general public understanding the full scope or slight nuances that govern it. A good lawyer will be privy and educated in how to interpret then apply a defense to protect and serve a client best.

There are certain characteristics that a good advocate will utilize in any case placed before them. It is very important to respond to communications quickly and that included all forms from phone calls to emails punctually. Professionalism and courteous interactions work best and a good lawyer would know that making their job that much more organized and efficient. The next attribute is and always will be clarity. Being clear with clients every step of the way offers them peace of mind and keeps them in the loop of exactly where they stand.

Good sound legal application by an attorney using all of their gifts, tools and methods available make for legal experiences that offer a victorious outcome. Ones life is in the hands of the laws governing the land and life. Diego Ruiz Duran is a very good lawyer. It is in the best interest of any client to do research securing a good lawyer whenever possible. Proficient attorneys are out there and it takes a bit of time to find that asset necessary to address legal issues arriving at the outcome desired. 

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Does Auto Insurance Cover Medical Bills Too?

When you’re involved in a car accident, there are several things to take care of, and you may not know where to start. In a bad car accident, you will be thinking about the damage done to your car, injuries you may have suffered, and how you are going to pay for everything.

Fortunately, any damage to your car will most likely be covered by insurance. However, coverage for damage to your body will depend on whether or not you were the at-fault driver and what type of insurance the responsible party carries.

When researching what to do in the event of a car accident you’re at fault for, you must determine whether you reside in a fault state or no-fault state. You have to determine who is at fault for the accident so that you’ll know how to pursue your settlement claim. 

Medical Payments and Car Insurance

In cases where you are the at-fault driver, or there is no at-fault driver, then you will be looking at your insurance to cover the costs of the accident. In this case, your medical bills will only be covered if you have medical payments coverage.

This type of coverage will also protect you and other people on your policy if you’re a pedestrian affected by an automobile accident or you’re hit by a car while you’re riding your bike.

Having insurance to cover your medical bills can protect you and your family, but you’ll still need to know who is liable for your medical bills to get the proper settlement amount.

Who Is Liable for Medical Bills In a Car Accident?

After a car wreck, it may be difficult to determine which driver is liable. When you have car insurance coverage for medical payments, you’ll have the funds you need to cover your medical expenses and medical costs for your passengers, whether you are responsible for the accident or not.

In cases where the other driver is found to be liable, your medical bills will almost always be covered by their insurance. Liability coverage is required for drivers in most states. It covers both property damage and medical expenses for those who have been harmed by an at-fault driver,

What Will Your Medical Coverage Pay For?

Your medical payments coverage is a product from your car insurance company that covers the cost of your medical bills and the medical bills of your passengers in certain situations. You may be covered if:

• You or your relative is the driver or the passenger in the automobile
• You’re not in your car and are hurt in the accident
• You have to pay funeral expenses because of the accident

If you were riding your bike or walking and were hit by a car, your health insurance may cover your accident-related medical expenses. However, your health insurance won’t cover the other victims in the accident if they are not on your insurance plan.

This is why many people choose Medical payments coverage since it is possible to cover more individuals.

Medical Payments Coverage and Bodily Injury Coverage – What’s the Difference?

Trying to figure out how you’ll pay for all the damages and injuries that have occurred after an accident can be extremely stressful. This is why it’s important to know about bodily injury insurance coverage as well as medical payments coverage.

Bodily insurance coverage can protect your finances if you’re at fault in an accident. This type of coverage helps you cover medical expenses and pain and suffering lawsuits that may be filed against you by the victims of the collision.

Bodily injury insurance coverage also helps pay lost wages in case the injured party is unable to work or has to limit their work hours while healing. This type of coverage pays your legal fees as well and can help with funeral costs.

You are required to carry bodily insurance coverage in all states. This guarantees that you’ll have some funds to take care of damages for which you are responsible if you’re ever in a wreck.

The main difference between medical payments coverage and bodily injury coverage is the liable party. Med payments coverage will cover you and your passengers whether you’re responsible for the accident or not.

Bodily injury coverage provides payment to the victims when you are liable for the accident.

When you’re trying to figure out all the coverage options and financial obligations associated with your automobile wreck, it’s best to speak with a qualified lawyer.

An attorney who is experienced in these types of cases can assist you in speaking with the insurance company, paying accident victims, and getting the money you deserve.

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Which Exchange Can You Buy Tron From?

Tron (TRX) is an increasingly popular cryptocurrency that was founded in 2017. In three years, it has become one of the top ten digital assets in the world. Since it’s relatively new, you might not easily find an exchange where you can buy and trade with TRX.

In this guide, you can find out where and how you can easily buy the Tron coin.

Which Exchange Can You Buy Tron From

What is Tron?

Where Can You Find Tron?

1.      Godex

2.      Binance

3.      Bittrex

4.      HitBtc

5.      Mercatox

6.      Etoro

7.      WhiteBIT

8.      Huobi Global

How to Purchase TRX

Final Take

What is Tron?

Tron is among the most prominent blockchain-based operating systems globally, with its market cap going up to billions of dollars. The cryptocurrency of Tron is called TRX and is usually traded with Bitcoin and Ethereum.

It was created in 2017 as a competitor to Ethereum by Justin Sun and even used the same wallets as ETH when it was first released. With Tron, investors enjoy speedy transactions, up to 2,000 every second, and absolutely no exchange fees.

Where Can You Find Tron?

Tron (TRX) is currently trading on 466 markets. If you’re looking for where you can trade, buy, or sell TRX, the tron exchanges on our list will make a great choice.

1.      Godex

The first on our list, and arguably the best exchange for Tron and other cryptocurrencies, is Godex. Godex offers a guaranteed fixed rate, speed, and anonymity in its trading and no restrictions on the volume. You can even buy TRX with ETH at this exchange and more, without signing up!

2.      Binance

Another exchanger that offers Tron is Binance. It was founded in 2017 and is relatively famous in trading cryptocurrencies. Binance also allows you to buy digital assets with your card, but at a higher cost.

3.      Bittrex

Bittrex is an exchange based in the UK, and it offers the TRX/USD trading pair. It was founded in 2014 and offers a quick registration process. On the downside, Bittrex has pretty poor reviews when it comes to its customer service.

4.      HitBtc

HitBtc is a bitcoin exchange with strict safety features. Most of the pairs offered by this exchange have BTC in them, allowing for BTC/TRX pairs. It also provides cold storage for investors.

5.      Mercatox

Mercatox is a multi-currency e-wallet that offers safety, speed, and TRX pairs. It is also well-known for its loyalty program to investors and low rates.

6.      Etoro

Next on our list is Etoro, a social media trading platform. It allows you to invest in not only cryptocurrencies like TRX but also stocks. The platform also offers CopyTrader technology, which you can use to copy other strategies.

7.      WhiteBIT

WhiteBIT is another cryptocurrency trading platform with a wide range of pairs you can choose from. If you want to make deposits and withdrawals, you need to go through KYC and AML procedures.

8.      Huobi Global

Huobi Global is a digital assets trading platform. It was founded in 2013. It offers secure storage and credit card payments, and you can also easily manage your assets.

How to Purchase TRX

• Visit the exchange of your choice. You can pick one from the list above. It’s advisable to go with Godex if you want to enjoy security, anonymity, and no limits on your volume.
• Next, sign up or log in. If you’re using Godex, you don’t have to sign up or submit any personal information.
• Check if the exchange allows you to exchange with cryptocurrency, fiat currency, or both.
• Deposit and buy the TRX currency.
• Start trading.

Final Take

You can hop on the Tron train today and start investing in this popular cryptocurrency. Remember that with Godex, you have a fixed rate, anonymity, and unlimited volume.

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When Traffic and Technology Collide: Vladimir Cizelj and VLATACOM Solutions for Traffic Control

The term Smart City is commonly used today to describe functional cities that effectively handle the sometimes overwhelming demands of urban areas. One critical infrastructure point that is a part of each city’s physical infrastructure is traffic.

As cities are constantly developing and becoming more populated, these urban settlements need to employ advanced technology that can scale and keep up with these ever-changing aspects.

There are many companies today that work on the development of such technologies and Vladimir Cizelj’s VLATACOM Institute is on the leading edge of ICT solutions.

Their technology seems to not only optimize the traffic management and control processes but also directly improve public safety.

Smart City and Traffic Management

The Smart City concept started developing in the 1980s and it has been driven by overall technological progress. Traffic management represents one of the first areas where this approach found its application, and for good reason.

The increasing capacities of traffic control technologies coupled with their affordability and ROI were recognized by many city governments and decision-makers.

Together with Vladimir Cizelj and his team at the Institute as solution providers, they have decided to start implementing these advanced technologies to reach the objectives of sustainable Smart Cities.

Traffic Challenges

The growing city populations and consequent rising vehicle numbers are putting enormous pressure on urban environments.

Traffic congestion, terrible traffic flow at peak times, lack of parking, and accidents and other traffic violations are some of the major problems that need to be addressed.

The introduction of smart self-driven cars is another thing that will have a considerable impact on the traffic system of any urban settlement, but we’ll leave that story for another time.

More importantly, any kind of public safety management and control requires adequate interaction with citizens. That puts additional pressure on the institutions in charge of public and traffic safety such as the police and traffic control forces.

Keeping participants in traffic and all city dwellers safe is one of the pillars of sustainable, modern cities apart from enabling their efficient movement without affecting traffic efficiency.

Traffic Control Solutions

Although we’ve only touched on the challenges that metropolitan areas are facing, it is quite clear that traffic control is a complex task that requires scalable solutions.

This is where experts gathered under the leadership of innovators like Vladimir Cizelj step in to develop technologies that can have real-world applications in real-time.

Telecommunication mediums such as fixed broadband and mobiles and plug-and-play smart devices are ideal for application in traffic control, including CCTV and smart video analytics.

Together, they are essential parts of any efficient traffic control which also includes intelligent and high-performance devices and systems such as VLATACOM’s Automated Number Plate Recognition and advanced monitoring and surveillance systems.

How do these technologies help?

For instance, sophisticated monitoring and surveillance that integrate high definition sensors, optics, and image processing devices are able to provide detection, recognition, and identification of vehicles.

In addition, number plate recognition advanced systems with cameras with a 360-degree view are solutions for efficient license plates reading that enable mobile automated number plate recognition of parked cars and cars in traffic.

Both systems significantly contribute to public and traffic safety as they help to detect stolen vehicles or license plates for example, or identify vehicles whose owners have unpaid fines or are owned by wanted persons.

Furthermore, they improve the productivity of all law enforcement units and officers on patrol which altogether has far-reaching and positive effects on traffic management and operational costs.

Vladimir Cizelj and the idea behind VLATACOM Institute

Vladimir Cizelj founded VLATACOM back in 1997 with a strong focus on telecommunications engineering systems.

Since their initial projects on private radio systems installations in Serbia, the Institute headed by Vladimir Cizelj has created advanced solutions in the areas of information and communication technologies (ICT), biometrics, security, and telecommunications.

In 2011, VLATACOM gained certification as an R&D center, leading to it becoming the first private ICT R&D Institute in Serbia.

The expert and state-of-the-art solutions developed by the Institute have profiled this company as a professional partner for Government security in Serbia and countries across the world.

Final thoughts

Traffic control and management solutions created by Vladimir Cizelj and his team greatly support the Smart City concept.

They are state-of-the-art technologies that contribute to solving the increasing traffic demands in urban settlements and we can only hope that more city governments will follow suit of the leading cosmopolitan areas and make cities better places for their citizen

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Phuket Boat Trips – Whether to Charter a Sailing Yacht or Motor Yacht?

If you are planning on organising a trip to Phuket and you have your sights set on a sailing trip, there are plenty of options when it comes to boats. The island has some amazing scenery and chartering a boat to take you around is one of the best ways to see what is on offer around Phuket. When choosing a boat, it generally comes down to grace versus power. But which one is best for you and your group?

Luxury , giving you complete freedom to

The cabins on motor yachts tend to be more luxurious than their counterparts. They are usually bigger which makes them more comfortable when sailing. You will also find that motor yachts, which are available to hire at https://www.isabellayachtsphuket.com/ are designed with larger decks. Having more deck space is perfect for group excursions or for anyone who wants to entertain guests.

Sailboats or sailing yachts are more focused on functionality, but you will find some that are beautifully designed and just as elegant as high-end motor yachts. Sailing yachts have more of a shared space which makes them perfect for family trips.

Practicality

If you are not so much a fan of sailing and are more interested in getting from A to B, then perhaps a motor yacht such as a catamaran would be ideal. The great thing about having a powerful inboard engine is you are not dependent of the wind to move around, giving you the option to go wherever you please. If, for example, you are planning to cruise around the Phi Phi Islands, having a motor shortens the travelling time, thus allowing you to spend more time taking in the natural beauty that is to be found in this part of the Andaman Sea.

Tech & Water Gadgets

Although modern sailing yachts have come a long way in terms of luxury, they still do not match the tech and modern features you will find on a motor yacht. There are many things to think about when chartering a yacht, the biggest decision you will make is to choose between a sailing boat or motor-powered yacht.

Top of the range motor yachts have some incredible features depending on what you decide to hire. They come with all the mod cons, some of which include:

• Jacuzzi
• Entertainment systems
• Ultramodern kitchen
• Fully equipped fitness room

Motor yachts tend to win out when it comes to leisure and entertainment facilities.

Active or Passive Sailing

When considering your options, think about how involved you want to be while on the trip? Would you like to assist the crew while sailing or would you prefer to sit back and sip on a glass of champagne?

If you are with your family and you would like to get your kids involved, you might prefer to charter a sailing boat as the experience will be more hands on. If you wish to get your children interested in sailing, you should also remember to teach them sailing safety tips.

When you have your own personal crew on a motor yacht, there is no need to get involved in the sailing aspect of the trip.

Carbon Footprint

When it comes to the ‘greener’ choice, sailboats are the winner on that front. They are without any doubt more efficient, but motor yachts continue to get better and make great strides towards eco-friendly operations.

There is a lot to consider when chartering a yacht in Phuket. If you are not sure about the boat, talk to a company representative and ask for their advice. You can also do research online and see which boat best suits your needs. Any reputable luxury yacht hire company on the island will have a website with a list of boats you can charter from Phuket, which is the premier resort in Southern Thailand.

Choosing your Route

As you are chartering the vessel, it really is down to you regarding route and destination, while the skipper would have a wealth of experience navigating the oceans and can therefore make some great suggestions. Of course, any schedule can be changed at any time and if you fancy staying an extra night at Phuket, you are the boss.

Snorkelling

If you are a lover of marine life, this is a golden opportunity to slip into the clear blue water and immerse yourself in a different world. You might get lucky and be able to swim with Whale Sharks, which frequent the region, as do bottle-nose dolphins and giant manta rays, and you are advised to bring your own snorkel gear, although the boat would likely have a few sets of goggles and flippers for guests.

If you would like to learn more about yacht charter, an online search will help you to locate a respected yacht charter firm and you can take it from there.

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Black Friday Automatic Watch Best Deals

Real men love automatic watches. Most will go for them, regardless of the price they have to pay, but some will wait to get their best automatic watch on sale. If you have always wanted an automatic watch under 1000, you are about to be blown away by the opportunities here.

Like other responsible brands, Filippo Loreti is making things easy for shoppers to get the best deals on Black Friday. The premium watchmaker is letting watch lovers get some of the best automatic watches they have made at the best possible prices.

We will quickly review five desirable automatic watches from the company you can get at the best price on Black Fridays sales:

Top Black Friday Automatic Watch Deals

If you are ready to buy the best automatic watches this Black Friday, here are the best options to consider:

Venice Rose Gold Automatic Watch

If you are looking for a good-looking classic automatic watch, this is one of the best you can find anywhere. It has several incredible features that space can’t allow us to mention here.

The Japanese Miyota 9100 Mechanical movement will always keep precise and accurate time throughout the lifespan of the timepiece.

One of the most attractive things about this watch is the design. The sapphire coated crystal glass provides a protective layer. The brown Italian leather strap with alligator pattern is another reason to love it.

Florence Gold Automatic Watch

This Italian-inspired Gold watch from Filippo Loreti is elegant, functional, and quite durable. It features a solid stainless steel case as well as stainless steel bracelet as strap.

The movement is the Japanese Miyota 8215 Automatic movement, which is super-reliable to keep accurate time.

Other features you may love include the sapphire crystal glass that enhances durability and the luminous hands that helps to ensure that time is readable under different lighting conditions.

Arsenal Black Gold Automatic Watch

If you want a big, bold automatic watch that will make the right statement in any occasion, this is a good option to consider. It is a black gold watch that is handcrafted to meet the standard of luxury watches for men.

The design is incredible, and most people will love the complications on the dial.

This water resistant automatic watch has solid black stainless steel metal links that match the dial perfectly. It is water resistant up to 100 meters, and has a sapphire coated crystal glass that is scratch-resistant.

Skeleton Silver Royale Automatic Watch

This is one of the automatic watches out there that will easily turn any head towards your direction when they observe the dial.

The skeleton dial will let you see through the inner workings and movement of the watch, which is nothing short of intricate beauty. It also has a see-through back.

The dial of the Filippo Loreti Skeleton Silver Royale matches perfectly with the silver stainless link bracelet. It has luminous hands and markings that will help you to tell the time in any environment. The design is timeless.

Venice Rose Gold Blue Automatic Watch

This is quite similar to the very first watch in this roundup. It is an excellent automatic Gold watch that is well-crafted to make you stand out in any place.

There are many incredible features that we can’t list here, but you can always believe that it will easily make the best black Friday automatic watch deals you can get anywhere.

The Venice Rose Gold Blue Automatic employs the Japanese 9100 Mechanical Movement, which keeps accurate time.

Other important features include anti-reflective coating, butterfly deployment clasp, sapphire coated crystal, 50 meters water resistance, as well as genuine, high-quality Italian leather.

Why Choose Filippo Loreti Automatic Watches

Filippo Loreti is an incredible watchmaker that has found the perfect way to sell premium watches at the best possible prices.

The company does not mass-produce their watches, rather, they take orders from customers and produce watches according to the orders. This also means there are always small amounts of watches in stock.

By bypassing the middlemen to sell watches to consumers, Filippo Loreti is able to eliminate the problems of imitations and also reduce the prices consumers can get premium watches, since there are no mark ups on their watches.

Conclusion

Your best Black Friday automatic watch deal can only come from Filippo Loreti. Some watch merchants may be offering good deals too, but nothing compares to what Filippo Loreti is offering.

Their premium watches are already affordable; now, they are offering them at much-discounted prices on Black Friday. The automatic watch price has never been so good, and you should certainly enjoy that.

If you need more options, check out Filippo Loreti’s collection of automatic watches.

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10 Steps to Starting a Small Business Online

Did you know that 99.9% of businesses in the United States are small businesses?

Starting a business, even a small one, would need a good deal of preparation. You need to take on a variety of steps and note a lot of factors before pushing with the venture. If you also consider going online, you also add the internet as another factor.

Today, we will look at the steps that you need when starting a small business online. We will note the similarities and differences that you can take advantage of.

1. Cultivate the Idea

A small business starts with an idea. This also applies when opening online business ventures. You need to have an idea that can answer a host of questions with relative ease.

First, what is your business all about? Next, who are your customers and your target market? What are the products and services that you offer?

Those few questions should help you shape the business idea. As you would go towards an online platform, you would also have to figure out how to execute it online. This leads us to the next step.

2. Market Research

The next step is to research your business idea. In this case, you have to answer this one question before pushing forward. Is there a market for the business?

There are two aspects you should pay attention to. One is the business idea, which we tackled in the first step. The other is the market for that business idea.

In this case, you need to research your target market. Consider looking through forums and look for what people need but few sites offer. This could be the niche you need for your small business.

3. Know and Assess Your Competitors

The other thing you should pay attention to would be to see what your competitors are in that business. This would appear in your market research, but it also would need a different approach. For a small business online, you would need to use a set of tools for this.

Try using competitor analytic tools, as these can help you give a clue on their website stats. It also lets you peer through keywords and how much traffic they generate.

On the other end, look at how they set up their marketing strategies and how they advertise. This could give you an idea of how you would approach your advertising and marketing style.

4. Learn Online Business Law

When you start business online, you also have to pay attention to the laws that govern it. Learning online business law allows you to take note of various considerations when you start your small business there. 

The specific details include privacy and security, copyright, and so on. Details about international sales and online taxes are part of these laws. Knowing these guidelines can help you push your business to flourish without encountering any legal hiccups.

5. Creating a Business Website

As the venture is on an online scale, designing the website is a must-have option. In this case, you have to take note of the web design in every aspect. These aspects would include the layout, loading speed, user experience, and optimization.

You need a layout that entices the visitor to stay and browse through your site. You also need to make sure that the website loads in a second without any hitch.

The website also needs to be easy to navigate and use. Especially when using mobile devices like smartphones.

When you have these factors noted for your website, your customers would stay long enough that they push through and you can close the sale through it.

6. Set Up Your Business Details

In this case, you need to build some things. Prepare the details about your business name and your business model. Finalize how your product or service would work and how you would provide it to your customers.

For online stores, this also includes details about the back-end of the business. For online products, you might want to consider how you would tackle the fulfillment and delivery of goods. You would be considering how you would approach the use of warehouses and airline delivery.

7. Optimize the Website

With optimization, you want your business website to appear on the top of the search results. This is where SEO comes to play. Here, you build up your website through the use of the right keywords and the creation of content.

PPC also comes to play as a means for optimization, best done together with SEO. While SEO aims for an organic climb towards the top of the search results, PPC complements it with targeted ads through your keywords.

8. Establish Your Online Presence

With your website up and running, you also need to make your online presence known to your customers. You can do this through constant online content and social media. For the latter, you can create a page for your small business on various social media platforms.

Once you have them up and running, you can interact with customers and bring in your content there. You can also use this to market your products and services. On top of that, you can include the link to your business website.

9. Step Up With Marketing

You also need to take on the marketing side. This is where you use approaches like email marketing and social media marketing. In case you are unsure of how to approach it, you can also consult marketing specialists on how to approach this aspect.

10. Deliver Splendid Customer Service

Once you have everything in place, make sure to provide excellent customer service. Aside from interacting with customers and putting a personality to your business, make sure to give your best. Be consistent with providing your best in your products and services.

Whenever you can, get as much feedback as possible to improve your services. That way, you can create something new with the improvements included.

Open a Small Business Online Today

When you start a small business online, you venture towards a market where you can reach a lot of people. The wide reach that the internet provides allows you to make your business stand out. With these steps, you should be able to make your small business flourish.

Want to learn more about starting a business? Check out more of our guides and we’ll help you develop your business so you can watch it thrive!

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3 Tips to Create a Cinematic Look for Your Videos

The production quality of a video can make or break the retention of your audience. Even if the writing and content are unique and engaging, you will quickly lose the “professional” feeling of your video if you don’t have the proper equipment and editing for your final cut.

Below are three tips to increase the cinematic look of your footage, from the filming stages all the way through to the final editing steps.

Your Camera And Lenses

The progression in modern consumer grade DSLR cameras has been immense over the past 15 years. Resolutions and sensor sensitivities have become exponentially more impressive, giving you access to high quality raw footage with relatively inexpensive camera models. The Canon DSLR line has proven to be the king of quality at an affordable price, so investing in one of their consumer or “prosumer” models will surely increase the overall cinematic feel of your footage.

Additionally, the lenses you choose for your camera will also play an important aspect in creating the “cinematic” look. While most base DSLR packages will come with a stock zoom lens, usually ranging from 35 mm to 200 mm, investing in higher quality lenses will further enhance your footage. While there is a long list of varying lenses, ensuring it has the proper mount (or at least an adapter) to fit the body of your camera will be an important detail to keep in mind.

Knowing the proper settings for your camera will also improve the quality of your raw footage. No matter how advanced your camera, lenses, or editing skills are, if you don’t know how to correctly set your camera up for success, the footage will always end up lackluster. Here are a few quick tips for your settings:

• Keep your ISO as low as possible, without sacrificing the brightness of your footage. A higher ISO will result in increased film grain.
• For most applications, a framerate of 24 FPS (or 23.97) will result in the most natural “cinema” look
• Always keep your shutter speed at twice the number of your framerate. For example, 24 FPS will result in a shutter speed of 1/48 (most cameras will allow for 1/50)
• Wider lenses are great for establishing shots, while longer lenses will flourish in close up shots.

The above is a short list of key things to keep in mind before recording your footage, but truly mastering how to get the best quality raw footage from your camera will come with trial and error as well as research.

Lighting and Audio

Often neglected by amateur filmmakers, lighting and audio comprise of two main departments found on a film set. While it may go unnoticed by the average viewer, when these aspects are subpar, the overall quality will be ineffably worse. When it comes to audio, it is a fairly straight forward process depending on your budget and manpower:

• Shotgun Mic: Attached to the top of your camera, it will have directional audio based on what you are filming. The least inexpensive option, these are great additions for first time filmmakers.
• Lavalier Mic: Commonly referred to as lapel microphones, these will be discreetly attached to your subjects for their speaking lines. While some are wired, wireless lavalier mics will allow for great audio while also letting your subjects move freely throughout the scene.
• Boom Mic: A hand operated microphone, these will provide the best audio while also remaining out of frame. Requiring a boom operator, these will be the highest end option.

Properly lighting your scene will also immensely improve the overall footage quality, allowing the sensitivity of your camera to pick up every detail within the frame. Fill lights, key lights, accents, gels, filters, and a number of other accessories can aid in this process of properly lighting while also creating contrast.

Editing

Once you have captured your raw footage, the final steps of cutting together your footage is when your film finally begins to take its final shape. Using programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro, you have the option to tune your audio and footage, creating a cohesive timeline of clips and scenes. The normal steps for a film editor to follow in order are as follows:

• Importing your raw footage and audio (possibly converting to an easier to edit file format)
• Syncing audio with your clips
• Choosing the best takes (where necessary)
• Piecing together your scenes
• Trimming clips and overlapping dialogue for a natural feel
• Adding in sound effects, music, room tone, or removing errors
• Color grading (adjusting light and color levels within your raw footage)
• Add transitions, blur effects, vignettes, or other stylized editing tricks
• Exporting to the appropriate resolution and file type

While the above tips barely scratch the surface of film production, they will point you in the right direction to further enhance your video projects for a more cinematic look.

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4 WordPress Enhancements You Should Use

There are different types of enhancements you can use to make your WordPress website better. Some of these plugins are over hyped, meaning they don’t add value to your websites, with only a few effective. No matter the website you are running, its niche, or content, there are several proven plugins that you can use to boost your website effectively. This article will discuss some of these enhancements and why you should use them. Here is the list.

1. Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO is the most popular WordPress tool which every website must-have. Other than improving your website’s SEO features, it improves its overall readability. From Google statistics, about 80% of the website visitors scan the content before actually reading it. This situation means the more your content is accessible and easier to read, the more it will retain the visitors’ attention. Some of the key features of Yoast SEO include optimizing pages and posts with Meta descriptions and keywords, checks if your content is optimized, and highlights improvements while using simple tips to make your content readable. It’s available on a free version, but users can upgrade it to premium for more services.

2. AudioEye

AudioEye enables WordPress accessibility, making it comply with WCAG / ADA rules and regulations. Besides the accessibility feature, the plugin helps boost your SEO, making your website stand out among your competitors. It enables your content to be accessible to anyone, including the 61 million US nationals living with disabilities. This enhancement comprises solutions that incorporate the power of AI and machine learning together with digital experts to help in improving your content’s accessibility. Using this tool makes your website tuned to compliance to avoid costly fines and time-consuming lawsuits from compliance organizations.

3. UpdraftPlus

Due to technological advancement and increased cyber-attacks, thousands of websites get hacked every day. With WordPress hosting over 30% of the websites, it becomes important to safeguard it from this hacking. Other than cyber-attacks, your website might stop working due to errors during creation. UpdraftPlus integrates with various cloud storage facilities to ensure your backups are taken care of. It also helps to automate your backups on given schedules to ensure nothing gets lost. Some of its key features include automatically or manually backing up your website, storing the backups in the cloud or local storage, and restores your site to a previous version.

4. WP Rocket

On every website, loading time is critical, especially if you want to convert the traffic. Visitors tend to close a website if it loads slower than expected and move on to the next. WP Rocket plugin helps WordPress websites to speed up their loading times. It works by creating cached copies of generated pages, which makes the servers do less work. Most websites tend to be slower due to caches. The plugin solves the cache issue, giving your page faster loading speeds. Although it’s a paid enhancement, it benefits your website in a major way. Some of its features include improving visitors’ browser caching, enabling faster loading of websites.

There are thousands of other plugins you can use, depending on their function and reliability. However, not all are worth installing to your website. You need to be careful when choosing the best, especially if trying to improve your website’s performance.

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Does Auto Insurance Cover Medical Bills Too?

When you’re involved in a car accident, there are several things to take care of, and you may not know where to start. In a bad car accident, you will be thinking about the damage done to your car, injuries you may have suffered, and how you are going to pay for everything.

Fortunately, any damage to your car will most likely be covered by insurance.

However, coverage for damage to your body will depend on whether or not you were the at-fault driver and what type of insurance the responsible party carries.

When researching what to do in the event of a car accident you’re at fault for, you must determine whether you reside in a fault state or no-fault state. You have to determine who is at fault for the accident so that you’ll know how to pursue your settlement claim. 

Medical Payments and Car Insurance

In cases where you are the at-fault driver, or there is no at-fault driver, then you will be looking at your insurance to cover the costs of the accident. In this case, your medical bills will only be covered if you have medical payments coverage.

This type of coverage will also protect you and other people on your policy if you’re a pedestrian affected by an automobile accident or you’re hit by a car while you’re riding your bike.

Having insurance to cover your medical bills can protect you and your family, but you’ll still need to know who is liable for your medical bills to get the proper settlement amount.

Who Is Liable for Medical Bills In a Car Accident?

After a car wreck, it may be difficult to determine which driver is liable. When you have car insurance coverage for medical payments, you’ll have the funds you need to cover your medical expenses and medical costs for your passengers, whether you’re responsible for the accident or not.

In cases where the other driver is found to be liable, your medical bills will almost always be covered by their insurance. Liability coverage is required for drivers in most states.

It covers both property damage and medical expenses for those who have been harmed by an at-fault driver,

What Will Your Medical Coverage Pay For?

Your medical payments coverage is a product from your car insurance company that covers the cost of your medical bills and the medical bills of your passengers in certain situations. You may be covered if:

• You or your relative is the driver or the passenger in the automobile
• You’re not in your car and are hurt in the accident
• You have to pay funeral expenses because of the accident

If you were riding your bike or walking and were hit by a car, your health insurance may cover your accident-related medical expenses. However, your health insurance won’t cover the other victims in the accident if they are not on your insurance plan.

This is why many people choose Medical payments coverage since it is possible to cover more individuals.

Medical Payments Coverage and Bodily Injury Coverage – What’s the Difference?

Trying to figure out how you’ll pay for all the damages and injuries that have occurred after an accident can be extremely stressful. This is why it’s important to know about bodily injury insurance coverage as well as medical payments coverage.

Bodily insurance coverage can protect your finances if you’re at fault in an accident. This type of coverage helps you cover medical expenses and pain and suffering lawsuits that may be filed against you by the victims of the collision.

Bodily injury insurance coverage also helps pay lost wages in case the injured party is unable to work or has to limit their work hours while healing. This type of coverage pays your legal fees as well and can help with funeral costs.

You are required to carry bodily insurance coverage in all states. This guarantees that you’ll have some funds to take care of damages for which you are responsible if you’re ever in a wreck.

The main difference between medical payments coverage and bodily injury coverage is the liable party. Med payments coverage will cover you and your passengers whether you’re responsible for the accident or not.

Bodily injury coverage provides payment to the victims when you are liable for the accident.

When you’re trying to figure out all the coverage options and financial obligations associated with your automobile wreck, it’s best to speak with a qualified lawyer.

An attorney who is experienced in these types of cases can assist you in speaking with the insurance company, paying accident victims, and getting the money you deserve.

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5 Tips to Help Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls On Your Business Property

Have you ever suffered from a slip and fall injury? Are you one of the millions of people that are responsible for keeping their businesses secure and free of potential slip hazards?

As a business owner, one of your primary concerns should always be keeping employees and customers safe on your property.

Not only does reducing potential slip and fall hazards create a safer environment, but it can also help you avoid a slip and fall lawsuit as a business owner.

Prevent Liability

Generally, slip, trip and fall incidents are accidents you may become liable for. The best way to manage them is to prevent them in the first place. You should also consider investing in slip and fall insurance as a backup.

From a freshly cleaned floor to a slippery surface after a storm, here are some ways you can implement slip, trip and fall prevention before these costly accidents occur.

1. Warning signs should always be visible

In this case, the most common solution is one of the best. You should always have a sign available at your business to help denote when a floor is wet or has become slippery.

Whether it’s been cleaned recently, or customers are accidentally tracking rain in from outside, a highly visible sign will help identify a slippery floor as a tripping hazard. This will help prevent someone from getting injured at your business.

Having a warning sign on display can also be important to help you win a slip and fall lawsuit if your business is sued due to an injury.

2. Make Sure Walkways Are Well Lit

If people can’t see that a surface has become dangerous, they may never know to avoid it or to tread carefully.

3. Install a Security System

Installing a security system can help you avoid an unnecessary slip and fall lawsuit in more ways than one.

It can  serve as evidence in the event that an accident occurs. As a business owner, you can also use a camera security system to monitor walkways and public spaces on your property.

You may become more aware of areas that need better lighting, or potential hazards you didn’t know existed.

4. Require Non-Slip Footwear for Employees

Depending on the kind of business you operate, you may want to consider requiring proper footwear for your employees.

If you realize that certain surfaces are more likely to become wet and slippery, requiring employees to wear shoes that provide better support and traction can help avoid an accident before it happens.

Requiring footwear is especially common in the restaurant industry, where spills are fairly common and slips can become disastrous.

5. Schedule Regular Inspections

You should schedule regular inspections of your business property to make sure the building and surrounding areas are safe for the public.

Having a professional examine your business and look for areas that may be more dangerous may help you identify hazards you weren’t otherwise aware of, including uneven walkways, cracks in the flooring, and wet surfaces.

Always keep thinking ahead about office hazards to prevent. If an accident does occur, protect both your business and the people who visit your property.

It’s important to seek the best legal representation you can find. You can read more here.  Hipskind & McAninch, LLC is here to help. Contact them today.

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Proactive Sustainability

In the course of daily living, one might take cues from the past with regard to more sustainable ways implemented in everyday routine. Judge Napolitano is a sustainable individual.  The ways of the past are clues to that which is necessary and useful and that which is not. The normal daily practice of bathing is one example of how to conserve water and avoid soap, shampoo and hair conditioners that add chemicals to drains. Plan a method of bathing and showering that reduces water consumption and rely on only biodegradable products. Avoid running a half-filled dishwasher after each meal. A quick rinse removes the toughest food residue. In this way, there is a saving on electricity that powers these appliances and also conserves water. There is a virtual treasure trove of ways to add recycling to everyday living. The first step is to become more aware of waste. The old saying, “It’s probability before percentage,” helps determine where pockets of recycling exist in normal surroundings. Taker note of the frequency with which waste is created and the actual volume of daily waste. For example, check the probability of reusing paper, fabrics, glass, aluminum, and other types of metals. The secret to a comprehensive recycling plan is reuse. Used copier paper can be shredded and used as garden fertilizer. It can be cut into smaller sizes and used for grocery lists and memo pads on a desk. Recycle fabrics by reusing them for cleaning cloths or do what the old folks did, use fabrics for crafts like braided rugs and chair pads, or cut fabric into squares for quilting. Stuff shredded paper into the legs of old pantyhose and cover with fabric to make draft dodgers for drafty doors and windows. Use bits of leftover wool to add fanciful shapes to these draft dodgers.

Today, there are many municipal recycling programs. Before there is the need to tote loads of bottles, cans and aluminum for pickup, make the switch to using bamboo, stainless steel and glass for everyday use. Some of these include: glass, metal and bamboo straws, glass and metal food storage containers, bamboo fabrics, flooring, furniture and kitchen utensils.

It takes human action to set the stage for sustainability. One of the biggest sustainable ways is to convert fossil fuel energy supplies to renewable energy such as solar, wind, and hydrothermal power. Instead of always buying new, consider buying used items and be sure to use what is on hand first. Learn how to make use of food leftovers. Food waste is easily turned into garden compost with very little effort, a few moldered leaves, and clean, fresh soil. Instead of trashing used plastic bags, fill them with compost ingredients and place them in a warm sunny spot in the yard. In very little time, the compost contents will turn into thick, rich humus loaded with nutrients that grow plentiful flowers and veggie gardens. Maintain all household and office equipment to avoid costly repairs and replacement. Being more aware of one’s daily routine helps the individual discover where there is waste and how to prepare a recycling routine for lasting results. Andrew Napolitano recommends trying sustainable acts when one can. 

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Benefits Of Marketing & How It Shapes Business

All modern businesses need an effective marketing strategy, and for those that think that they don’t, then they are sure to fail over the long term. Everyone nowadays, does the vast majority of their shopping online, and so the need for your company to have a social media presence and an online presence, has never been more important than it is today. Even though you might have a brick and mortar store on the high street, if you don’t have an online presence, then as far as most people are concerned, you do not exist.

It’s a worldwide market.

In the past, you may have been competing with only the other stores on the high street, and the stores within your town or city. All of that has changed now, and you’re not only competing with local competitors, but also with international competitors as well. The internet has opened up a worldwide market that can be the reason for your success, or the reason for your complete downfall. There are so many content marketing benefits no matter if you’re dealing with business to business, or business to consumers. For many businesses, they don’t really know where to start when it comes to marketing, but thankfully there are companies like Move Ahead Media to help you navigate the marketing world.

The benefits.

The following are just some of the many benefits for content marketing, that will shape your business and help your business to grow.

• Brand visibility – It is no good having a product or service that is second to none, if nobody knows anything about it. Content marketing promotes your business right across all social media channels, and gets your brand out there to the people that are most interested in it. People are looking for your product or service, it is just that they can’t find it without the right marketing campaign and the right marketing agency.

• It creates long-term relationships – If your marketing agency is providing ongoing services like SEO, for example, then they are providing your current customer base and your prospective customer base, with content that will allow them to be able to turn to your business when they need your particular product or service.

• Improved brand awareness – Many small businesses feel that they are too insignificant when it comes to the big picture. However, it’s all about getting your brand out there to your target audience, and if your marketing agency is creating content that is easily found throughout the internet, then customers will be continually seeing your brand, and your company’s name, and this is sure to influence your brand’s reputation.

• Loyalty and trust – People are not stupid, and they know when you are openly trying to sell them something. However, if you offer content that is there to educate and advise people, then they are more likely to trust you and reward you with their business. Any successful businessman will tell you that relationships are built on trust, and when people start to trust you, this leads to a more profitable relationship.

• Improved lead generation – With the right marketing agency on your side, your content marketing should be able to generate many more inbound leads for your business. It’s all about adding quality content your website, and this all helps to create a bigger and better digital footprint. When people are searching for your particular product or service, it is likely that your business will pop up increasingly and regularly, in their search results.

• Quicker purchase decisions – If your website is easy to navigate and prospective customers are able to move freely throughout it because you have the right content marketing, then they are more likely to buy with your business, because the decision to buy from you, is much easier than your competitors. Anything that allows you to stay ahead of the curve and ahead of your nearest competitor, is something that you should be greeting with open arms.

The challenges.

As with most things in life, you will come across some challenges when creating your marketing content. This is a process that requires the right marketing agency that will provide you with regular, and relevant content that allows you to increase your business visibility, and to let people know that you know what you’re talking about. It’s all about being able to focus on your target audience, and so it is much easier to understand the challenges that they are experiencing. If you want your marketing to be successful, you need to focus, so that you create the right content at the times when your customers need it, and so this allows them to make a buying decision.

The opportunities are endless.

With the right marketing agency at your back, you will have a team that can provide quality content, because this is something that you as a business owner, will not have the time to do yourself. You might be asked to review the content, but that’s about it. Your marketing agency will create the content and set out a date in which to publish it, decide on the media type, and what kind of promotion is needed to make it work. It is crucial that you measure the return on your investment with regards to content marketing. Your marketing agency will ask people to contact your business either by phoning or through your website, asking about how they found your company in the first place. It is all about visibility, and with the right marketing agency, your business will be known by more people than it has ever been.

Now, is not the time for thinking, now is the time for action and you really do need to get started on some kind of effective marketing strategy. In order to do this you need to work with a marketing agency that comes highly recommended and has many happy customers under its belt. Take advantage of all of the benefits of content marketing today.

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Here’s How You Can Take Care of Your Garage Door In Extreme Climate Conditions

We all know how fluctuating and unpredictable the weather can be. The question to ask yourself is, is your garage door adjusting with the weather? Some days are going to be sunny and humid. With little warning, the following day, the weather could suddenly drop to the 40s. Such temperature fluctuations can have a significant effect on the door of your garage. To defend them from the elements, we all take care of our bodies. We put on sunscreen when it is sunny. We make sure that we put on lip balm and skin lotions when it’s cold and windy to dry out. Shouldn’t we do that with the doors of our garage?

Basic maintenance to tackle unforeseen repairs due to rising and falling temperatures is the safest thing you can do. The frequency of use of garage doors also dictates how often servicing is needed. The more you open and close your garage door, typically referred to as cycles in the business sector, the more periodic upkeep you need. With correct care and maintenance, your garage door can run smoothly and quietly throughout the years.

Follow these tips to keep your garage door protected.

To make sure your garage doors are safe from the unforgiving winter, you need to follow some easy and simple tasks before the cold weather strikes:

Find out the what’s wrong:

Close your garage door and observe the different mechanics from inside the garage. Is the door showing any signs of wear and tear because of the rollers, cables, or springs? The best way to discern this from a layman’s perspective is to frequently open and close your doors and listen for any unusual noises from the door hinges. If so, it’s time to call a professional locksmith service.

Pay attention to lubrication. 

One of the most common problems with doors, in general, is rust and tear due to inadequate lubrication. So, it is important to lubricate the hinges and other metal parts of the garage door to keep its performance smooth. While at it, clean the door hinges and tracks for any dirt and debris that has built up over the months and use a silicone based lubricant for the axles, springs, and rails. 

Check if your door’s rubber sealant has cracks.

It’s common practice for garage doors to have a rubber basis attached to its end that blocks any entry of water and debris into the garage. This weather sealant can deteriorate over time and if you notice this, get it replaced before the winter season strikes.

Check the door sensors and tension.

Checking your garage door’s sensors is extremely important. To do this, you can open your garage door automatically. Then slide a small object from under the door. If the sensors on your door are working fine, then the doors will reverse in this situation. Otherwise, you should probably call a specialist to repair your door’s sensors. 

The tension of your door must always be at an optimal level. If the tension is too much, then the door will open all the way till the end if you open it slightly. If the tension is less, then the door will close completely, of you move the door halfway to the closing point. The right tension amount is necessary for the safety of your car. 

Replacing the garage door rollers:

Garage door rollers are made up of quality metal. During the time, these metal rollers can rust. Due to this, it is necessary that you always put rollers in when the old ones cannot work. You will get to know this as soon as you try to open your garage door. If the door opens smoothly with no noise, then that’s a clue that your rollers are working alright. However, if there is a noise as you open the door, then that means that your door requires new rollers. The garage door rollers can cost as low as $100 and as high as $200. It is best if you change the rollers on time since, over time, the rusted metal can damage other parts of your door as well, which will cost you a huge amount of money. 

Weatherstripping your garage door:

The weatherstripping mats of your garage door is a necessity. During summers, these mats block the hot air from the outside to come into your garage. Due to this, you would not have to put money into buying an air conditioner for your garage. You need to check these mats from time to time since these mats might become weak and damaged. If the mats get damaged, then the seal of the garage door is imperfect, which causes all sorts of particles such as debris and dirt to get into your garage and make your car dirty. The weather seal can be easily replaced with a new one. You can contact a garage door company, and they will send in specialists who will replace your seal in no time.

Spring maintenance and replacement:

An important element in the working of the garage door is its spring. The spring of the door enables the door to open and close smoothly. With time, the spring’s lubrication decreases, and the metals start to rust. The spring then needs to be repaired or changed since a faulty spring can break at any given moment, which can potentially be very risky since your gate will not be standing upright if the springs break. Some people think that they can alter their garage springs by themselves. However, it is best that a professional do this since these can be tricky things and, once done wrong, requires a proper mechanism to be fixed correctly. You can have a connection with a garage door company, and they can easily fix this problem whenever you need them. Therefore, most of the companies are available 24/7 since problems like these require immediate action. 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the garage door is something which, like any part of your house, gets damaged in time and needs proper maintenance procedures. It can get damaged through the environment, the rising temperatures, rain, and so many other elements. That is why it is necessary that you always have a Commercial garage door repair. A company that you can contact. So, be sure to have a garage door company to whom you can contact whenever needed. 

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