Month: February 2018
Iraq & the Wounds That Never Heal
The purpose of documentaries is often to bring us a step closer to understanding distant or alien realities, to give us a nuanced sense of what is going on in some particularly knotted human relations and complicated unfolding events. But Nowhere to Hide does more than that, pulling its viewers into the war, making us stumble over burned body parts. It’s not an explanatory lesson about war, it does not provide answers; rather, it deepens the questions.
The gender pay gap is smaller for millennials than other age…
How To Ace Your Apartment Hunt
Finding an apartment to move into is an exciting experience. Well, that’s if you’re fully prepared.
In the same way that you go shopping for clothes, you will want to find an apartment that will fit your lifestyle. Knowing the size that you need, the amount you want to pay, and where to look are the key factors that make an apartment hunt go smoothly.
To make sure you enjoy the experience, here are 8 tips to help you in finding an apartment.
Make a List
Before you even begin your search, we advise you to make a list. Make sure that it includes two categories: your wants and your needs.
Be realistic with your list and be willing to bend.
For example, not being able to find an apartment in your chosen location is alright as long as the apartment is big enough to accommodate all your things.
See Also: Here’s What Millennials Want When They Buy A Home
Prepare a Budget
In the same manner that you made your previous list, you should now prepare your budget. Determine the highest amount you can afford, including the cost of utilities, parking, public transportation, and Homeowner Association (HOA) fees. You should also determine the highest amount you can afford without those fees included.
Then, outside of your budget, you will want to set aside some money for the extra fees. This includes the security deposit and the registration fee for your pet.
Finally, depending on where you are looking, you may even need to set aside some money for a broker’s fee. A broker is necessary when a landlord won’t deal directly with tenants.
Take note that a broker’s fee can be quite expensive. In some cases, it’s equivalent to a month’s rental fee.
One good tip you can use to lower that fee is to find an apartment in a newly constructed building. Most developers will want to fill in all the empty apartments fast that they are willing to cover the broker’s fee. Looking for a place during the winter season can also lower your rental cost.
Narrow down your preferred location
Before you begin looking at rental properties, you may first want to select one or two neighborhoods to begin looking in.
Do you have a friend or family member who already lives in the area? Or are you selecting a neighborhood because it sounds like a great place to live in?
Try and do some quick research beforehand so that you’re not running all over the city.
Create a checklist
Being ready with an apartment hunt checklist will help you keep track of what you are going to see, especially if you have scheduled multiple visits in one day. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, consider bringing a friend. Chances are he or she will want to have input on your place, too.
Second, have your previous wants and needs list attached to your checklist. Include an area where you can write down your comments.
Check off the features you are getting, such as washer, dryer, and easy access to public transit. Acknowledge the things you won’t be getting, too.
As you take a look around, make sure to also take pictures. Otherwise, when you get home, all the apartments will start to blur together and you won’t remember which one was which.
See Also: Changing Trends in the Way Families Buy Homes
Feel free to snoop
When you are looking around the apartment you want, it’s important for you to know that you’re getting your money’s worth. So, push those buttons on the dishwasher, run all the faucets to check how long it takes to get some hot water, and don’t be shy to check out each closet.
If this is going to be your next home, you don’t want to be caught off guard when you move in. And while snooping, feel free to talk with the tenants next door about what it’s like to live in the building and with the current landlord.
Know how much space you will need
Do you have a king-size bed and a large dresser? If that is the case, you’re going to need a bedroom that will fit them both.
To make sure you don’t end up guessing, include those measurements on your checklist and be sure to bring a measuring tape with you. Don’t be afraid to pull it out to verify the measurements of a room.
Sometimes, a room might look big but with the location of the window and closet, you will find that there isn’t enough wall space for you to fit all of your furniture. While you’re at it, make sure that your large couch will also fit the door.
Arrive prepared
Just because you believe that you are simply looking for an apartment doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be prepared and be presentable. In a sense, the landlord is interviewing you in a similar way that an employer would.
It wouldn’t hurt to create a resume or file of all the necessary details your possible future landlord would need. Even if the property manager requires you to fill up a lease application form, having your resume to add to that will highlight your good character.
You will want to include all your up-to-date information, such as your contact numbers, employer information, previous landlord, and even checks for security deposits.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate a better rental price either if you think you can give the landlord something in return, such as a long-term lease. You might even be able to negotiate the security deposit if you can prove that you are a good tenant.
Get it in writing
If your apartment hunt progresses swiftly and you end up finding a place that you like, take a moment to write down the details. Make sure that it includes the rental fee, security deposit, and any visual damages that they’ll repair for you for free.
Remember to secure copies of everything that you sign. Confirm that you can make the changes you want, such as painting the walls or updating the floor. Wait for him to sign the agreement before initiating the changes.
Make it count
Being prepared is only half the battle when finding an apartment. Hopefully, this list of tips can help make the process a lot easier for you.
The post How To Ace Your Apartment Hunt appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Are you excited for the Winter Olympics? How about winter at…
Are you excited for the Winter Olympics? How about winter at Olympic National Park in Washington? With amazing chances to ski and skate – plus breathtaking views along Hurricane Ridge – this park is a gold medal winner! Photo by Megan Juran, National Park Service.
The B&N Podcast: Melissa Albert
Every author has a story beyond the one that they put down on paper. The Barnes & Noble Podcast goes between the lines with today’s most interesting writers, exploring what inspires them, what confounds them, and what they were thinking when they wrote the books we’re talking about.
It’s been more than 200 years since the Grimm Brothers first defined the “fairy tale” as we now know it, but its atmosphere of enchantment, peril, hunger, desire and transformation still fascinates. In her bestselling debut novel The Hazel Wood, YA author Melissa Albert deploys humor, thriller-level excitement, and a head full of bewitching tales to fashion a coming-of-age story for the haunted teenager inside us all. She joins Bill Tipper on this episode to talk about her love of the uncanny and the strange adventure of 17-year-old Alice Proserpine.
Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: Her mother is stolen away—by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother’s stories are set. Alice’s only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”
Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother’s tales began—and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.
Like this podcast? Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher to discover intriguing new conversations every week.
Author photo of Melissa Albert (c) Laura Etheredge
The post The B&N Podcast: Melissa Albert appeared first on The Barnes & Noble Review.
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Save Hundreds of Dollars By Growing These 7 Plants
You may not be ready to buy an acre lot, build a chicken coop, and start living off the land. But, with a small yard or even a sunny balcony, you can start growing your own fresh food and save hundreds of dollars each year in supermarket bills. But which plants to have in your garden?
Check out this really quick list.
Herbs
I cringe every time I spend $3 on a tiny plastic case of herbs.
Rosemary, thyme, and oregano can be tucked in any sunny corner of your yard. They require almost no maintenance and can be harvested throughout the year.
When it comes to saving money, basil is the king. 2 plants are enough to provide you with several batches of pesto and fresh leaves throughout the spring and summer.
Basil can be grown in a pot on a sunny balcony or windowsill.
Summer Squash
Summer squash includes zucchini and yellow squash. Having them in your garden means being able to test out squash casseroles and zucchini bread recipes anytime you want.
Check your plants every other day for new fruit. Remember to harvest them when they are about the size of your hand. They quickly get huge and tough so make sure to keep an eye out for them.
Cucumbers
Like summer squash, cucumber plants are prolific producers. You can save space by growing the plants vertically on a trellis.
There are two broad categories of cucumbers: slicing and pickling.
Slicing cucumbers are the ones commonly found in stores. They are large and meant to be eaten fresh.
Pickling cucumbers, on the other hand, are usually smaller, more difficult to find.
I have seen jars of “gourmet” pickles sold for over $15.
With your own cucumbers, some vinegar, salt, and homegrown herbs, you can create your own pickles better than any “gourmet” ones.
Lettuce
Instead of spending $4 a week on a sealed bag of lettuce, grow your own. 10 plants are enough for a family’s salad needs.
Harvest the outer leaves and in about one week, the plant will be ready for another harvest.
Remember this:
Lettuce likes cool weather and will die once the heat of summer arrives.
Sugar Snap Peas
These are the peas with an edible pod that can be eaten right off the vine. Pea vines grow rapidly and the more you harvest, the more they produce.
Their sugar content starts to turn to starch once harvested. They taste the sweetest when freshly picked.
Tomatoes
After you taste a tomato picked from your own vine, you will never buy from the store again.
Expect to harvest anywhere from 10 to 30 lbs of medium sized tomatoes in its growing season. At the store, tomatoes run $3 to $4 per lb. It’s like growing money.
Hot Peppers
If you like to put hot sauce on everything, start growing your own peppers. They are small and easy to grow.
Experimenting with novel varieties like the Carolina Reaper (currently the hottest pepper in the world) is fun and saves extra money. Create your own chili powder, hot sauces, and chili oils for even more savings and to give as gifts.
More Ways to Save Money in the Garden
Preserve your harvest: Fruit and vegetable prices spike when out of season. Save even more money by preserving your harvest. This can include freezing basil pesto, canning tomato sauce, and making chili oil.
Mulch: Mulch can be any organic material that covers the soil around your plants, such as straw, wood chips or fallen leaves. It prevents evaporation and will save you money on your water bill. Conserve even more water by installing drip irrigation.
Start plants from seed: Seed packs run around $3 and can contain hundreds of seeds. Furthermore, you will have access to a much wider variety of produce.
Garden on a Friday Night: Gardening is fun! Skip going out and spending money. Instead, spend the weekend with your plants or host a garden party.
The best place for any new gardener to start is by growing food you love to eat. This will save you extra money as you buy less of them. With these 7 plants to have in your garden, you might enjoy growing your own food so much that you end up buying that acre lot after all.
The post Save Hundreds of Dollars By Growing These 7 Plants appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Trump: Making Golf Horrible Again
Golf’s leading figures have run straight into the arms of Trump, a man who embodies the culture that so narrowed the game’s appeal in the first place. There will be a price to pay for such stupidity and cowardice. A broad swath of America simply rolls its eyes at Trump’s golfing obsession. But if the indifference of non-golf-playing public is understandable, the complicity of the golfing elite is unforgivable.
How to Read Like a CEO Without Breaking a Sweat: 47 Books a Year
You’re reading How to Read Like a CEO Without Breaking a Sweat: 47 Books a Year, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
“I read a book one day and my whole life changed” – Orhan Pamuk
Yes, it’s true. You can a read like a CEO without breaking a sweat. And I know this because I do it.
And it’s easy. I didn’t believe it at first but a year and 47 books later, it became true.
Let me first tell you that an average CEO reads about 40 books a year while an average person reads less than 10 books a year. And the difference in income is more than 400 times bigger.
But this is the info you already know. You want to know how so let’s go into it.
Create a system for book reading
You decide you want to start doing something. You know it will transform your life for better. And you start doing it.
Day 1 goes great, Day 2 ok and on Day 3 you are already quitting.
Day 7 and you totally forget about that thing you wanted to do.
Does this sound like you or everyone that you probably know? Of course, because this is how we usually operate. We rely on our willpower which depletes quickly. And because of that, we quit.
Only relying on our willpower will bring us nowhere. So we started to create systems. Systems which would shift the focus from ourselves and our willpower to the system.
Here is an example:
Imagine that you have a job. And you need to get up at 7:00 AM to go to work. You hate it, grudge but you still do it. Because you HAVE to.
Imagine now that you are starting your own company. And you need to get up at 7:00 AM to start working. You hate it and you just hit snooze on your alarm. You still have to do it but it’s gonna be there even if I wake up at 9:00 AM. So you postpone it.
To change this, we need a system.
A simple system consists of 3 things:
- Easy Daily Action
- Tracking
- Measuring
And that’s it. You just need these 3 things to have a system. And here are the details on each and every one of them
Easy Daily Action
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
To have an efficient system, we need to base it on a daily action. We will take book reading as an example here.
The point of daily actions is to make it a habit. And habits are all about repetition.
It is not about doing a lot of work in the small amount of time, it is about doing a small amount of work but doing it consistently. That’s why it’s important for the action to be easy. If you had to read 5 hours every single day, you wouldn’t even start. But 30 min a day? It sounds like nothing. And it adds up over time and at some point, it becomes our character and we do it automatically.
An example:
“I run every day.”, ” I read books every day.”
or
“I’m a runner”, “I’m a bookworm.”
Tracking
“What gets tracked, gets done” – Peter Drucker
The system needs to be easy to track. I constantly see people who make their trackers so complicated that it makes me and them sick. And of course, they create them once and never open them again.
When you track what you do, you know that you are on the right track. You know how much of that activity you did, when did you do it, how much impact it had, how much time it took you etc.
That’s why we love games.
We know when we did progress because that bar moved or we leveled up. Companies already started to leverage this through gamification so why not use it on yourself.
The system needs to be simple and easy to use. You don’t want to spend 50 minutes reading every day and then spending an extra 50 minutes filling out your system. The system is there to help you save time and be efficient, not spend it.
Measuring
“What gets measured gets improved” – Robin Sharma
There are 3 ways of measuring book reading and here are the examples:
- I will read ___ pages of a book daily
- I will read ___ minutes daily
- Did I do my best to read today
The first one is measured by a number of pages you read. I do this for my book reading and it’s 20 pages minimum a day.
The second one is measured by the number of minutes you read daily. Keep this number low, between 30-60 min. Remember, it’s about consistency, not intensity.
The third one is measured from 1-10 and it falls into the category of self-assessment. There are days when you swamped with a lot of things and maybe you only read 5 pages or read for 10 minutes but it was the maximum you could do on that day.
So you give yourself a grade of 10 there.
Other days, like a nice Sunday afternoon with no obligation and you can read 100 pages or read for 5 hours and give yourself a grade of 9. It depends on your daily schedule.
My system
I read a minimum of 20 pages of a book every single day. With this, I would read 7300 pages in a year.
Considering that an average book has around 200 pages, I would read 37 books in a year.
So I started on 20th of December of 2016. I’ve read my 20th book on 5th of June 2017.
And once I created a system, it was easy following it. I’m a slow reader so it usually takes me around 50 minutes for 20 pages of a book.
Sometimes I read more, sometimes less but here are the overall statistics after a year:
365 days
9273 pages read
47 books
25.4 pages a day on average
And it was easy. You can do it too.
Just create a system and let me know how’s it going.
Cheers,
-Bruno
You’ve read How to Read Like a CEO Without Breaking a Sweat: 47 Books a Year, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
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450-Year-Old Wood Column Tied Into a Knot Is a Logic-Defying Art Installation
Known for his mind-bending installation art, Alex Chinneck has moved indoors for his latest art installation, tying a 450-year-old wood column into a knot. With Birth, Death, and a Midlife Crisis, the British sculptor has conceived another stunning piece of optical illusion art, one that sees him installing an indoor sculpture for the first time in five years.
After his hovering stone building and seemingly melted building facade, both in England, Chinneck brings his unique background in architecture, sculpture, engineering, and set design to the interior of a German museum. Located in the small town of Kirchheim Unter Teck, the museum’s historic wooden columns served as the inspiration for Chinneck’s artwork.
His knotted column seems to defy logic—even when one knows it’s simply an art installation, it’s impossible not to feel as though it fits perfectly into place within the gallery. Indeed, Chinneck’s approach was purposely sensitive, teasing out the illusion while paying respect to the surroundings.
“I wanted to create the impression that we had only changed what was already physically present in the museum and the work was born through the manipulation, rather than introduction, of material,” Chinneck shares. “With this approach, the objective was to produce something sculpturally bold but contextually sensitive.”
The result is a startling, yet fascinating, work of art that blends in flawlessly with the environment, demonstrating Chinneck’s ability to transition between exterior and interior spaces. In addition to the knotted pillar, the artist also added a straight column in order to give the overall installation balance and symmetry. It’s this attention to detail that helps bring the illusion to life.
“I like to give fluidity to typically inflexible things, transcending their material nature. The columns are the prominent feature in the 450-year-old museum and this intervention took an opportunity to defy logic and distort history.”
For his newest logic-defying art installation, Alex Chinneck has created a knot in a 450-year-old wood column.
Alex Chinneck: Website | Instagram
All photos by Charles Emerson. My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Alex Chinneck.
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The post 450-Year-Old Wood Column Tied Into a Knot Is a Logic-Defying Art Installation appeared first on My Modern Met.
Sig Nordal 