Digital photography has changed the way that we take pictures. What used to be a specialized skill that not anyone could do has now become so much easier for the layman to take advantage of. Instant development, nearly unlimited picture-taking capacity, and the ability to get high quality photographs with little-to-no preparation has created a revolution in photography. You can still go a long way on old-fashioned skills, but they are no longer an absolute necessity. However, creating canvas prints from digital photography is a little taller order. Instead of just taking a good digital picture, you can create canvas portraits for a variety of different reasons and uses. But doing so will require the help of a specialist. Luckily, there are highly trained individuals capable of meeting your needs. Here are four great ways they can turn your digital photographs into high-class works of art:Turn your hobby or obsession into canvas portraits worthy of hanging on a wall: If you are a hobbyist photographer, who likes to go out and see what you can capture on a camera, either in natural or urban environments, you can benefit from the expertise of a professional, who specializes in producing canvas art prints from your creations. Imagine hanging your beautiful photographs as canvas portraits in your dining or living area, and the envy they will receive when your answer to where it came from is from your very own skills.Immortalize the everyday: A professional who knows how to turn canvas prints from your digital photography can help you to immortalize the everyday in stunning canvas portraits that are perfect décor for any apartment or home. There is a huge following for slice-of-life imagery, and you never can tell who your work might attract or inspire.Honor your loved ones: Do you have any photographs of your dearly departed loved ones that you would like to create canvas portraits from? This is a great way to bring back some of your favorite memories in a quality, durable, modern way that will tell the stories of your past to future generations. Or maybe you have family photos that you would like to do something special with: make it a new tradition that every family photo taken ends up as quality canvas art prints.Create unique gift ideas: Wedding pictures or pictures of the grandkids for your parents is another great way to turn canvas prints from digital photography. For virtually any gift-giving occasion, canvas portraits make great ideas because they tell the recipient just how important you are to them – not only in making a gift of your memory, but also in the time and care needed to produce quality canvas prints from digital photography. You can have an airbrushed look or perhaps something a little new wave and Warhol-esque. Maybe mosaic effects catch your eye or simple illustrations. No matter what your choice, there is a creative way to do it!Canvas prints from digital photography offer many possibilities for your camera roll. Just make sure that you hold on to your originals, research reputations, and only accept the very best. Your memories deserve it!
Japan’s History – A Book Review
Are you looking for a very good book, one which will help you learn about the history of Japan? If so, there is a very good book I would like to recommend to you, one which is in my personal library, and one that I believe will give you with the overview you need to understand modern Japan. If you don’t understand the history – you probably won’t understand the culture, people, or even how Japan came to be what it is today – the name of the book is;”A History of Japan – From Stone Age to Superpower” by Kenneth G. Henshall, professor of Japanese studies at the University of Waikato, New Zealand; Published by St. Martin’s Press, New York, New York, 1999. ISBN: 0-312-21986-5.This is a complete history book of Japan from ancient times, including all of their ancient myths to the present, or the year 2000. It takes us from the very earliest of inhabitants, which are thought to be circa 13,000 BC and all the way through this Stone Age of hunter gatherers. This book is broken into six parts in all. Part two takes us through 700 to 1600 BC where the reader will learn about the Nara, Heian, the warrior state or the Kamakura Period, and the Muromachi Period, as well as the Azuchi-Momoyama Period.In part three we learn about a closed country, drawn inwardly between 1600 and 1868, and in part four we watch as the nation of Japan is building into a modern country. We watch the economic development as well as the war and the politics. In part five we watch the preparation for war and the lead up to the war; and finally the war itself, which changed the Japanese Empire forever.Lastly, in this six part we see the incredible resurgence of a strong people who rebuilt their country into the second largest economic power house on the planet, something incredible for an island nation. You will understand why the Japanese are so proud, and how Japan came to be. I would recommend reading this book prior to reading any history in the last decade in Japan. This way you will have an overview, you can understand that context better. Indeed, hope you will please consider all this.
Colleges Fail to Turn Out Enough Computer and Information Technology Graduates
The computer and information technology field is one of today’s highest demand employment fields. The Federal Government projects an increase of 22% in the total number of jobs between now and 2020. The trend is expected to continue.Industry experts say that private and public sector employers are searching for qualified people to work as web developers, security analysts, network administrators, computer support specialists and other specialized computer-related employment jobs.College graduates with the skills and knowledge that are needed in information technology can have numerous job opportunities. The demand is widespread.The fact remains, however, that colleges and universities in the United States are failing to prepare enough people to fill the vacancies. Evidence that employers are experiencing difficulty in finding qualified Americans to work in the computer-related occupations can be found in the continuing demand for H-1B visas for foreign workers.The Brookings Institute reports that U.S. companies continue to face a shortage of available workers in the science and technology fields. Computer occupations remain among the job classifications for which H-1B visas are being sought. Brookings recommends that the Federal Government immediately adjust caps so that employment needs by region can be filled as soon as possible. The Institute further suggests that the fees charged to apply for H-1B visa applications be spent on programs that train U.S. workers in the high demand occupations that are currently being filled by workers from other countries.Cisco, a major global networking company, confirms that the demand for qualified workers exceeds the supply. Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president and general manager of Learning at Cisco, recently said in a Forbes magazine article, “Absolutely, there is a skills gap in I.T. It’s where the jobs will be in the future.”William Kamela, senior director for education and the workforce at Microsoft’s Law and Corporate Affairs Office, said “Nationally, there are about 40,000 computer science graduates a year but the nation needs 122,000.” Kazmela adds, “Microsoft can’t find enough people to fill all its positions.”The demand for information technology workers is high and the compensation for computer technology workers is above average. Modern society and economies are literally driven by computer technology. Hundreds of thousands of information specialists are needed to make it work.A serious disconnect appears to exist among employment demand, educational institutions and students. One educational leader says, “The educational system in the U.S. has failed to address employment demand. School administrators talk a good game but ignore reality. Existing undergraduate curriculum tends to be too broad. Students have to take the responsibility and inform themselves about career opportunities. Most schools avoid doing so. An individual who obtains the information technology skills and knowledge that are in demand can recession proof his or her future. The sky is the limit.”The facts confirm that the U.S. has a shortage of qualified information technology workers. The demand for such workers is strong. Industry leaders continue to complain that qualified workers are difficult to find. Universities and colleges are failing to fill the demand. The job opportunities in information technology are abundant.
What to Do With a Distressed Commercial Property
A commercial loan restructure can reduce the amount of interest paid by a borrower or even lower the remaining principal amount still owed on a loan. A loan restructure is available to both businesses and individuals that own commercial properties such as office buildings, shopping centers, strip-malls, hotels, apartment buildings, industrial complexes, and even some properties still in the construction phase.Obtaining a loan restructure can be difficult, especially if the loan is what’s known as a commercial mortgage-backed securities loan or CMBS loan.CMBS are bonds that are sold on Wall Street to investors all around the world. The bonds are used to fund investments on portfolios of commercial loans. The income stream from the property is passed from the property owner to the bond holders.Many of the problems we are seeing today with CMBS loans are due to the fact that years ago underwriting standards became relaxed as intense lending competition resulted from a race for a diminishing population of qualified borrowers. Ratings agencies gave CMBS bonds A-A-A ratings. But the subsequent losses in the CMBS market led to the seizure of that (CMBS) market at the end of 2007.Once a commercial property goes into default, that CMBS loan is then usually managed by a type of specialist known as a special servicer who represents those bond holders. CMBS loans are often more difficult to modify, as the original issuer of the loan is no longer involved and the beneficiaries are individual and institutional investors that sometimes are located over many states and countries around the world.Going It AloneIt is difficult for a struggling commercial-property owner to obtain a loan restructure on his own, as most commercial-mortgage borrowers don’t know the proper procedure to present and ask for a restructure. A commercial property modification for a distressed property involves difficult negotiations, in-depth market research, financial analysis and hours of tedious data collection, discovery, verification and reporting. Most of this work is alien to the commercial property owners.Commercial property loans are often times structured as portfolio loans since they are generally not securitized like single family residential loans. This structure makes the actual note holder more readily identifiable and approachable permitting an experienced commercial property loss mitigation professional to be much more effective in negotiating a solution that is beneficial to both parties.For a commercial loan restructure to be negotiated successfully, the bank or special servicer agrees with the borrower to permanently (or sometimes temporarily) alter the terms of an original note allowing the monthly payment to be reduced. This agreement can be reached through a series of several strategies including (but not limited to) a straight interest rate reduction, modifying the loan from principle and interest to interest only, a principle reduction, a longer amortization schedule or some combination of these strategies.Call In the CalvaryThere are two crucial factors to make sure that the negotiations for a commercial loan restructure will yield positive results. The first of these is getting the advice of professionals and experts who are very familiar dealing with troubled assets; and the second important factor is being proactive. By being proactive is meant that the commercial property owner has to have the foresight regarding foreseeable problems in the future-the longer he waits to address a looming bad situation or the longer he waits to get help, the more difficult the situation becomes to handle.The most important thing an owner of a distress commercial property can do is to be proactive by seeking the help of professionals and experts in the commercial property restructuring industry.Commercial property loan restructure professionals are familiar with the complexities of a commercial loan modification and knowledgeable in the kinds of information and documents that special servicers and banks require when a property owner applies for a loan restructuring.The services offered by a commercial restructure consultant would include a go-forward plan to salvage the owners’ investment in the property. Every case is different, and the services offered would depend on the needs of the client.Possible outcomes for commercial restructure include:· Term extension: This is when the bank agrees to extend the maturity on a loan that cannot be refinanced because of high loan-to-value (LTV), but has cash flow sufficient to service the debt.· Permanent modification: Often, a complex transaction that the bank is reluctant to do as it often reduces the value of the asset on the banks books.· Principal reduction: These are usually only done in relation to a short sale or short refinance where the bank accepts less than the full value to settle the debt. The bank won’t reduce the principal so the property owner can make a profit.· New equity partner: The bank is more likely to work with a borrower that is willing to release equity in the property to a new investor that comes in with cash.· Bankruptcy: Unlike residential property, when an individual is in bankruptcy, the judge can “cram down” or reduce the principal or otherwise modify the terms of the mortgage.A professional who knows the ropes will minimize the stress for the property owner, but more importantly, certainly improve the chances of success, and speed up the negotiation process. Commercial loss mitigation experts with a solid track record in executing successful loan workouts are worth their fees, as they more often accomplish their primary objective, which is to avoid the repossession of the commercial property.Jeramie Concklin
Posted in Finance
Tagged Commercial Loans, Credit, Credit Tips, Currency Trading, Finance, Leases Leasing, loans, Personal Finance, Personal Loans, Student Loans
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Tips For Buying Wooden Garden Furniture
Wooden garden furniture can add a touch of class and elegance to your home. You just have to make sure that you choose the right type of garden furniture. It should go well with the décor of your home, withstand the climatic conditions of your area, and meet your requirements.Here we discuss some tips for buying wooden furniture.Decide the Type of Wood You WantWooden garden furniture sets are available in different types of wood like teak, cedar, mahogany, eucalyptus, oak, pine, and bamboo. If you want something that can withstand rough weather conditions and last longer, you should choose teak. Teak furniture requires minimal maintenance and is resistant to moulds and termites. But, it is expensive. Eucalyptus is another good choice for outdoor furniture. It is sturdy and looks great in natural finish. Pine garden furniture is aesthetically beautiful, but can get damaged easily if kept in sun or rain for long. Cedar outdoor garden furniture is quite popular. It does not warp and split with aging. Moreover, it is resistant to insects. Whichever wood you choose, you should ensure that you cover your furniture when not in use. Paint it regularly to keep it looking new for years.Decide the Purpose Of Buying FurnitureIf you want furniture just for relaxing and spending some time with your family and friends in garden, you could think of a small table with a few chairs. If you intend to throw garden parties, you will need huge benches and tables that can comfortably accommodate your guests as well as food. For those who love reading and soaking in sun outdoors, a lounge chair or comfortable sofa is perfect.Measure the Space Available For FurnitureBefore you go shopping for your furniture, you should measure the space available for it. Avoid overcrowding your garden area with over-sized tables, armchairs, and swings. You should leave adequate space for people to move around. If you have limited space, you should choose space-saving furniture items like folding chairs.Decide What Style You WantIt is available in different styles like traditional and contemporary. You should choose a style that complements your garden area and also the décor of the rest of your home. For instance, for giving a wooded ambience to your garden, you should choose from teak furniture in traditional styles. But if you want to give trendy look to your garden area, you should choose from contemporary styles that are sleek and classy.Before you invest in outdoor garden furniture, you should properly assess your requirements. This will help you in selecting the right outdoor furniture. Apart from paying attention to style, size, and wood, you should also check how durable the furniture is and how much maintenance it would require.Nowadays, you can buy wooden garden furniture and patio furniture through online stores. Not only they offer good quality products at reasonable rates, but also have a wide range to suit different needs and tastes. Before placing your order, you should always check the shipping costs, delivery time, and return and exchange policy of the online dealer.
Payday Loans – Get the Facts
Payday loans are very common these days. With over 10,000 payday loan companies in the US alone, they are a convenient way to get “quick cash”. Many people have heard of these. Some have seen them advertised on TV or on the radio. Maybe they came across an ad in the paper or on the internet. Either way there are a lot out there “to help assist those who need it”. Many call themselves banking alternatives. This, in some cases, is true. There are many that offer other things like longer hours than a bank so that you can cash your check later or pay bills. The government has been taking an increasingly deeper look at these payday loan centers. They are concerned that they are taking advantage of low-income families. These companies respond by saying that they are just helping where there is a need. There are a lot of FAQs related to this topic, so let’s get to it.FAQs
What is a payday loan?
It is a high interest short term loan usually between the amounts of $50 and $500.
What else can it be called?
It can be called a check advance loan, cash advance loan, deferred deposit check loan, or a post dated check loan.
Why would I need one?
If you have a financial emergency like an unexpected car repair or an emergency hospital bill, or an emergency utilities bill, or even regular expenses like food, gas, or travel costs.
What is the interest rate?
This can vary from company to company, usually above 100% APR.
Will they check my credit?
No. There is no credit check for most payday loans.
Where can I apply for one?
You can apply in person at a branch or over the phone, and many allow you to apply online.
How long is the application process?
Usually less than 20 minutes.
When will I receive the money?
It will usually be direct deposited to your bank account within 24 hours.
Is there a down payment?
There are no upfront costs for a payday loan.
Will they share my information?
No. This is a private transaction, they will not share your financial information with anyone.
How long do I have to pay it back?
This varies from company to company. You usually will have to pay it back the next week, but if you cannot pay for the whole amount the next week some companies will allow you to extend or roll-over your loan. This will usually mean more interest and more cost for you.
Is there other options?
You could borrow from a family member or friend. You could use a credit card, or you could try to take out a conventional loan or apply for a/another credit card.
Make sure to look into the company too. There are many people out there to scam you. If you are unsure of the company check with your local BBB or community business review board. They will often tell you if this company is for real. Also be aware of the interest. What you will be paying back on the loan. Make sure you check the fees associated with it and ALWAYS make sure you have the money to pay it back. To avoid having to use a payday loan try to set some aside every week to build an emergency cushion. This will help in those times of need. If you set aside $25/week for 20 weeks you will have $500. My mom always says if you do not see it you will not spend it. Some banks will automatically take a designated amount from your checking account on a certain day and deposit it into a savings for you. Hence, if you do not see it, you will not spend it.
Employer Branding 101 – Three Actions To Build Your Employer Brand And Attract And Retain Talent
So just why should be develop an employer brand? Is it worth the time, effort and resources?With the ever increasing challenge to hire and retain great people, especially in professional services firms where your people are in fact the product you sell, it is critical that we put in place strategies to attract and retain great talent.The 2007 International Workplace Survey from Robert Half identified that the reasons organisations in the UK are developing and implementing an employer brand strategy included:- to support retention of their current employees (24%)- to maintain a positive reputation in their industry (19%)- to attract new people to their business (18%)- to connect employee commitment to organizational goals (17%).The survey was conducted with over 5000 HR and finance managers in 17 countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan and the United States.Only 23% of companies surveyed with fewer than 50 members of staff had a formal employer branding strategy versus 69% of businesses employing more than 200 people. Yet both types of organisation are in the market for essentially the same talent.In the UK, 44% of the HR and finance managers survey stated that their company has a formal employer brand strategy in place compared to a worldwide average of just 32%.Globally 32% of companies have a formal employer branding policy, and the companies included in the research indicated that over the next 2 years:- 20% intend to implement such a strategy in the next two years- while 35% have no intention of developing an employer branding strategy.Developing a compelling and magnetic employer brand supports the building of your reputation as an employer of choice.Increasingly candidates not only take into account the salary and benefits you provide, but assess:1. the company’s culture (what is it like to work with you)2. the company’s reputation (what will their friends, family and colleagues say about them working with you and how will it look on their CV or resume)3. the company’s values (does the company have values that they can connect with and buy into).With 35% of companies not planning to pay attention to building their employer brand strategy, there is probably no better time to get to work on nurturing your employer brand so that you win the war for talent versus your competition.YOUR EMPLOYER BRAND ACTION STEPSAre you clear about how your employer brand is perceived by both candidates that you would like to attract to your business and your current employees?If you want to create a compelling employer brand here are three actions you can take to assess how your employer brand is currently perceived:1. Ask Recruiters – Connect with recruitment consultants and executive recruiters that you work with and ask for their insights to your employer brands strengths and weaknesses versus your competition.2. Ask Your Current Staff – Access insights from your current employees on why they choose to stay with you. I highly recommend doing this through focus groups with a trained employer branding facilitator so that you access the true perception of your employer brand. If you have a multi-generational workforce, it is important to segment your focus groups to ensure that you access insights from the different communities.3. Ask Potential Employees – Undertake focus groups with candidates who would be potential employees. Using ‘projective exercises’ you can access what they think of your company and your reputation and if you would be a company they would consider joining to further their career. Again, segmenting these groups by function, demographics and geography will unearth rich data on which you can take action.
Posted in Employment
Tagged casual employment, employ employment, employment, employment at will, employment bond, employment contract, employment gap, employment law, employment lawyer, employment news, gaps employment, the employment
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Meditation Yoga – The Basics
Yoga and Meditation can not be understood separately. It is the primary level which consists of bodily exercises to build a ground for Meditation. Yoga and meditation techniques are proven tools for stress management; the bottom line is that yoga and meditation techniques can help you to relax your body.Meditation yoga is known as the purest form of soul searching and food of the soul. It took years of research, and knowledge for this practice to emerge as the present day perfect form of body mind yoga exercises. Practicing this form of fitness can yield a large array of health benefits for many people. The benefits may vary based on which poses are practiced, the intensity, and the frequency of practice. Practicing yoga regularly will tone and firm your body, reduce body fat, and create long, lean muscles.Practicing mindfulness though yoga for meditation allows for better awareness of your mind and body. This will create benefits beyond the physical and make you more relaxed and able to better react to stress. Practicing Yoga means paying attention to your whole life. Practice of Yoga with an incense stick and soft music proves fruitful.Yoga meditation is the practice through which there is constant observation of the mind. It requires your mind to focus on any one thing and control its thought process. Yoga meditation is a powerful meditation technique that anyone can use to increase physiological balance, clarity of mind and awareness. Guided meditation connects us with the essence of our being, increasing our mind-body-spirit awareness and inviting us to slow down and make our moments vital as they unfold. Yoga meditation is not merely about the physical postures. The modern day Yoga class focus on merely the postures.Yoga Meditation is not a religion, although some of the principles are contained within the various religions. It can be practiced in many aspects of the everyday life and is a low impact exercise practice that can easily be performed by anyone interested in learning yoga and meditation to improve the quality of their life. Yoga meditation is the key that opens the inner door. It is the direct path to enlightenment. Yoga meditation is one of the five principles of yoga. It is one of the essential techniques in order to achieve mental stability and health.Yoga meditation is popular among celebrities, athletes and professionals. This art form works the physical, mental and spiritual nature of the individual, providing a well-rounded exercise. Yoga meditation is a complete process within itself, only a small but very useful part of which relates to the physical body. There are many centers in the world operating yoga and meditation classes where they teach yoga and meditation. Yoga meditation is one of the oldest aspects of yoga. In fact, before many of the poses associated with yoga today were developed, basic seated poses were emphasized for mental focus.Yoga meditation refers to a certain state of consciousness as well as to methods that help one reach that goal or state of union with the divine.
Posted in Health
Tagged Acne, Anti Aging, Beauty, Cosmetic Surgery, Diabetes, Drug Abuse, Health and Fitness, Massage, Meditation, Nutrition, Personal Training, Popular Diets, Skin Care, Spa and Wellness, Speech Pathology, Weight Loss, Yoga
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Keep These 5 Rules in Mind for Successful Commercial Designing
Who doesn’t want an excellent commercial design? Excellent commercial design is important to maintain the reputation and brand image of the company. As it is said, the first impression is the last impression, a good impression always attracts potential customers. It’s obvious no one would ever love to walk in a congested environment with bad lighting.
Bad design and interiors deteriorate the productivity of the employees. It can be a confusing task when planning a commercial designing project for the first time, hiring expert Commercial Architects Melbourne can be the best option to know about the latest trends and perfect matching designs.
This blog is about some basic rules to consider for making the commercial project successful.
Keep structures versatile
When it comes to transforming any commercial space, focusing on convertibility and keeping office interior decor versatile can be the best option. It can be done by implementing a versatile structure to spaces such as cafeterias, offices, and many more. Everyone gives preference to comfort hence, focusing on spatial and versatile design will help to complete commercial designing projects in an optimal way.
Consider the latest technology implementations
Technology plays a supportive role to enhance the commercial designing project. Moving forward with the latest technology is important to execute any business smoothly because technologies make the work much easier and comfortable for the employee as well as organizations. Implementing centralized and decentralized digital control is much needed in any commercial design.
Keep office aesthetics updated
Good aesthetics and interiors impact the overall representation of the office and make the place functional and attractive. Hire a reputed designer for modern décor and furniture ideas. Hiring a designer reduces half of the project stress and helps to meet the contemporary fashion and latest trends. They can help to choose the perfect theme that blends well with the office decor, atmosphere, and colour.
Provide personalized space to prevent congestion
Majority of customer prefers personalized space such as different seating to seat comfortably and do the personal work. Personalized space is one of the crucial factors for customer-based service offices such as hotels and cafeterias to provide an ambient and comfortable place.
Always keep safety first
Safety is the central feature of every construction and designing project. Hence, it’s the high-priority factor to keep the aesthetic and functional safety at the working place. It can be compromised for interior decoration and design purposes but it’s not at all affordable to compromise for safety purposes.
Following the above useful ideas can easily help in the successful completion of a commercial designing project in a safe and pleasing way. In today’s, modern construction, reliability, and comfort is also an equally important factor.
Final words,
It’s important to hire the experienced Building designer Melbourne to make the commercial designing project worthy. Hope the above rules helped you to scale up your interior designing projects with a better outcome. Follow the above tips for any renovation or remodelling project and surely you will get award-winning and achieve a better office experience.