Month: January 2020

Shuffling Off This Mortal Coil: Practical And Personal Ways To Prepare For Death

- Roshan

It may cross your mind every single day or it may not. As we get older there could be a fear of death that starts to become a part of who we are. But when we truly start to think about this in the round and what we need to do before we shuffle off this mortal coil, is there anything we should prepare for? Not just practically, but personally as well.

Preparing Your Will

This seems to be the obstacle that many of us think that is a sign we should prepare to die soon. In fact, preparing a will is just common sense regardless of how old you are. It’s purely a way to stop anybody that inherits your goods or debt from fighting over it. Consulting a probate attorney will give you the information that you really need to know. Preparing your will can be, believe it or not, quite therapeutic. It can make you think about your life but also how your funeral is going to be. Some people consider this to be a very grim way of thinking but when you start to look at preparing your funeral it’s all about it being a celebration of your life. Some people love the idea of the relatives wailing in the aisles but others want it to be a colorful and vibrant affair. And preparing your will is essential from a legal standpoint but it’s something that can be quite fun!

Fixing Your Debt

From the perspective of anyone who thinks that they haven’t got long left on this planet, it can seem incredibly futile to sort out debt and bills. But the reason to do this is purely to make sure that nobody inherits your debt. Fixing your debt doesn’t have to be something that takes up all of your time. In fact, when you pass on, your estate could be used to pay off certain debts. But you’ve got to keep on top of your will in this respect. If you can fix your debt early on in life, as well as your assets, you can enjoy everything so much more. As they say, you can’t take it with you when you go.

Understanding How To Make Peace

When you consult any of those lists that show people’s regrets in life, the main regret is always not having the courage to be true to themselves. It’s something that we all know deep down after so many years on this planet. We all know that we have to be true to ourselves but we find ourselves avoiding this for whatever reason. When in school we look at making an impact on our peers. This then translates later in life into fitting a certain social construct. But if we can start to make peace with ourselves, this is when we are ready to move on. Some of us spent so long trying to please others that the moment we let it all go is when we are ready to shuffle off this mortal coil. But peace is something that we can all attain within ourselves. Part of it is about being forgiving rather than holding onto anger or bile that makes us unwell. It’s also about realizing that making peace is a key to life.

You Only Have One Life

We don’t listen to our elders. In fact, a lot of us think them a nuisance but when we realize that we only have one life to lead and we spent the vast majority of it focusing on pointless things we could do something about it and turn our lives around or we can think that it’s too late and continue down the path that we’ve already trod. The fact of the matter is that it’s a cliché that we only have one life to lead but when we start to think about this journey they call living it’s amazing how many people decide to live a life of sheer misery. Perhaps part of preparing to leave is about understanding those regrets that people have later in life and using them right now. One of the main regrets of people that are dying is that they didn’t let themselves be happy. If we can give ourselves permission to feel happier despite our circumstances we are preparing to go on our terms.

It’s hardly something that can be encapsulated in a handful of thoughts but when you hear so many of those clichés about regrets in life and preparing for death the same things continue to come up time and again. Surely this means that we’ve got to just pay attention to those things and implement these pointers into our lives?

Hotel Booked For 4 Nights

- Roshan

So I have finally, finally booked a hotel room for 4 days and 4 nights. It’s not one of three places that I was hoping for but the more I thought about, this one is pretty good. I was hoping that the rates for a couple of other places would go down as it had seemed that some others went down a week before the actual dates of booking but they didn’t.

I had almost settled on a cheaper place, with some good rooms and great ratings online, in Angamaly but finally decided against going there. I guess I will pick them next time. Another place I really wanted was over my budget – well I could have taken it but I wasn’t willing to pay that much. Again, perhaps another time I will pick them as I really do want to stay in that hotel.

So I picked a reliable and decently rated hotel room. I do not get free breakfast as when I checked it would be almost Rs.500 more just for free breakfast! I don’t think my breakfast & coffee per day would be more than that daily. Oh I must say that I did get Rs.1800 off from my bill for paying with my HDFC credit card. That’s good. They do have free Wifi and a bar.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

- Roshan

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a 2019 comedy-drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Produced by Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Heyday Films, and Visiona Romantica and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is a co-production between the United States and the United Kingdom. It features a large ensemble cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie. Set in 1969 Los Angeles, the film follows an actor and his stunt double, as they navigate the changing film industry, and features “multiple storylines in a modern fairy tale tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age”.

In February 1969, veteran Hollywood actor Rick Dalton, star of 1950s Western television series Bounty Law, fears his career is coming to an end. Casting agent Marvin Schwarz advises him to travel to Italy to make Spaghetti Westerns, which Dalton feels are beneath him. Dalton’s best friend and stunt double, Cliff Booth —– a war veteran skilled in hand-to-hand combat who lives in a tiny trailer with his pit bull, Brandy —– drives Dalton around Los Angeles because Dalton’s drinking has resulted in several DUI tickets. Booth struggles to find stunt work in Hollywood due to rumors that he murdered his wife. Actress Sharon Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski, have moved next door to Dalton, who dreams of befriending them as a means of reviving his declining acting career. That night, Tate and Polanski attend a celebrity-filled party at the Playboy Mansion.

Booth reminisces about a sparring contest he had with Bruce Lee on the set of The Green Hornet which resulted in Booth being fired. Meanwhile, Charles Manson stops by the Polanski residence looking for music producer Terry Melcher, who used to live there, but is turned away by Jay Sebring. Tate goes for errands and stops at a movie theater to watch herself in the film The Wrecking Crew. While driving Dalton’s car, Booth picks up a female hitchhiker named Pussycat, whom he takes to Spahn Ranch, where Booth once worked on the set of Bounty Law. He takes notice of the many hippies living there (the Manson Family). Suspecting they may be taking advantage of the ranch’s owner, George Spahn, Booth insists on checking on him despite “Squeaky” Fromme’s objections. Booth finally speaks with Spahn, who dismisses his concerns. Upon leaving, Booth discovers that Steve “Clem” Grogan has slashed a tire on Dalton’s car; Booth beats him and forces him to change the tire. Tex Watson is summoned to deal with the situation but he arrives as Booth is driving away.

Dalton is cast to play the villain in the pilot of Lancer, and strikes up a conversation with his eight-year-old co-star, Trudi Fraser. Dalton struggles to remember his lines and later suffers a breakdown in his trailer. He subsequently delivers a performance that impresses Fraser and the director, Sam Wanamaker, bolstering his confidence. After watching Dalton’s guest performance on an episode of The F.B.I., Schwarz books him as the lead in Sergio Corbucci’s next Spaghetti Western, Nebraska Jim. Dalton takes Booth with him for a six-month stint in Italy, during which he appears in two additional Westerns and a Eurospy comedy, and marries Italian starlet Francesca Capucci. With a new wife, Dalton informs Booth he can no longer afford his services.Their first day back in Los Angeles, Dalton and Booth go out for drinks to commemorate their time working together and then return to Dalton’s house. Tate and Sebring go out for dinner with friends and then return to Tate’s house.

Booth smokes an acid-laced cigarette purchased from a hippy girl in the street and takes Brandy for a walk while Dalton prepares drinks. Manson Family members Tex, Sadie, Flower Child, and Katie arrive outside in preparation to murder everyone in Tate’s house. Dalton hears the car and orders them to get off his street. Changing their plans, the Manson Family members decide to instead kill Dalton after Sadie reasons that Hollywood has “taught them to murder”. Flower Child deserts the group, speeding off with their car. They break into Dalton’s house and confront Capucci and Booth, who recognizes them from his visit to Spahn Ranch. Booth orders Brandy to attack, and together they kill Katie and Tex and injure Sadie, though Booth is stabbed and knocked unconscious in the altercation. Sadie stumbles outside, alarming Dalton, who is in his pool listening to music on headphones, oblivious to the mayhem. Dalton retrieves a flamethrower that he had previously used in a movie and incinerates Sadie. After Booth is taken to the hospital to treat his injuries, Sebring engages Dalton in conversation outside and Dalton receives an invitation to have a drink with Tate and her friends at her house, which he accepts.

I find it a mess of things not connected to the actual storyline, which is kinda like an alternate timeline of the murder of Sharon Tate and her friends – here they survive because the hippies decide to go after Dalton & Booth instead. Which I feel is not fair to a tragic incident that happened to the then pregnant actress. And to put down Bruce Lee!! What the fuck! 7.5 mainly due to the acting of Pitt & DiCaprio, who are clearly having a ball here.

Arsenal 1 Sheffield United 1

- Roshan

Sheffield United’s outstanding first season back in the Premier League continued as John Fleck hit a late equaliser at Arsenal. The Blades were typically organised and threatening throughout but looked set for defeat when 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli steered in an opener for the hosts. Arsenal dropped deeper as the game wore on and struggled to create too much, although Nicolas Pepe thought he should have been awarded a penalty after the break. And Chris Wilder’s attacking substitutions were rewarded when Fleck hit a deflected shot into the far corner to keep the seventh-placed Blades four points clear of the Gunners.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was facing a stacked in-tray for his first job in management and the Spaniard has now overseen one win in his first five league games in charge. Without suspended captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the Gunners were always likely to be lacking a goal threat. After all, the Gabon forward had scored 48% of their league goals this season. But Alexandre Lacazette – his replacement as skipper – is hardly a novice, and with Mesut Ozil and Pepe in support the Gunners could still boast a £160m strikeforce. But it was Martinelli, just 18 and making his fourth league start, who was the pick. He volleyed wide from a smart Pepe cross, shot into the side-netting after more quick feet from the winger, and then gambled to convert the opener after makeshift left-back Bukayo Saka saw his cross loop up into the goalmouth.

The watching Aubameyang was moved to declare him a “superstar” in waiting in a post on social media. Arteta could point to his side having over 60% of the possession, but Blades keeper Dean Henderson was largely untroubled – making just three saves. If Arsenal’s expensively assembled attack failed to add much spark, it was the other end of the pitch which showed where work is needed in this and future transfer windows. Alarm bells were ringing for some Gunners fans with the arrival of the teamsheets. Two wingers, a perennial scapegoat and David Luiz made up a back four of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Saka, Shkodran Mustafi and the Brazil centre-back.

Tips For Adding An Extension To Your Home

- Roshan

An extension on your home might be something that’s needed. Whether it’s for a growing household or because you want to boost the value of your home. Here are some tips for adding an extension to your home.

Check Planning Permissions

Firstly, planning permissions and regulations for your home are the first obstacle to get past. There may be a few snagging points that you’ll want to flag up now and now whilst you’re in the midst of knocking down walls or building the foundations. So think about what can be done on your property by getting in touch with your local council. Be sure you have the go-ahead before putting up any cement board siding or the groundwork for your new extension. While you’re at it, it’s worth checking in with your neighbours to make sure that what you’re doing is alright with them too. This is especially the case if there’s going to be a negative impact on their view or the noise is going to be a little loud and over a long period of time.

Set A Budget

Knowing the budget, you’re working with is very important because that’s really going to dictate what you can do with your extension. An extension can be costly and depending on the size, you may want to solidify your budget in detail so that you know exactly how much you need to spend and where you don’t want to start overspending. Having a budget will also help with you not going overboard and spending so much money that it puts you in a significant amount of debt. That won’t give you that happy ending you wanted with this extension otherwise.

Know What You Want To Create

What do you want from the extension? Is it a conservatory or do you want to build onto a room that already exists? It’s good to know exactly what your plans are because you’ll need to communicate these plans with whoever is responsible for building the desired extension on your home. The same goes for any interior designer or architect that might be hired to have an influence over the design and furnishing aspects. Have the idea of what you want confirmed for you and your household first before you start doing any work. It’s a lot of money to spend and then realises what you’re trying to achieve isn’t going the way you hoped.

Consider The Logistics

The logistics of building an extension are whether you’ll be without certain areas of your home for a brief or long period of time? Perhaps you’re knocking down your kitchen, or setting up new windows and doors, and therefore you’ll need a temporary situation to make sure you can still function in your home. Consider all these elements before you start anything because you’ll want to put a few things in place beforehand, no doubt.

Adding an extension to your home is exciting, so make sure you’ve thought it through, planned out a budget and considered all the finer details needed for it to go smoothly  and without a hitch.

Picking A Hotel Room

- Roshan

Picking a hotel to spend my holiday in is harder than I thought. I have some money that I can spare but I am not willing to blow my entire budget on just the room, even if it comes with nice amenities. I have been at it for a few days and have narrowed it down to 3 hotels. Others are equally affordable and within my budget but – they do not have a bar in their premises which means I would have to go and buy a bottle from outside and drink it in my room.

I want a nice big comfortable bed, ac (ofcourse), free wifi (which is a given), a mini-fridge, a nice bathroom with a decent shower, tv with cable and room service.And ofcourse the hotel must have good food with a variety in their menu and a bar. Those are required. I also want a nice chair and table so I can sit and use my laptop and usually these hotels have an electric kettle with sugar and coffee/tea pouches in the room as well. But ofcourse as they don’t have milk in the rooms, I usually do end up ordering in some coffee.

Last year I stayed in Abaam hotel for 3 days and 3 nights and thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I ordered in mostly and only day 3 did I go down to the bar when my cousin visited. Otherwise I took full advantage of their room service but yeah I had to go down to their buffet for breakfast. I spent some time online watching Youtube videos but slept a lot and hardly watched any tv. I watched, I think a few episode of Friends on my laptop as their cable channels sucked. I will finalize my choice by Saturday or Sunday at the most.

Seven Top Tips For Buying Property Abroad

- Roshan

Buying a property can be a bit of a minefield even when you’re buying in your local area, so buying abroad is even more of a challenge. Buying property when you’re not in the same country can be hard, but it’s not impossible. And when you arrive you realize that you may need to make changes like a door or window replacement. You need to do your research first and make sure you know what you’re doing.

  1. Ask questions about where the property you’re considering has been built. For example, you should know if the property has been built on an area that should have been set aside for land agriculture or a green belt.
  2. Take advice from an independent lawyer, who speaks both English and the local language of where you’re buying. If you’re looking into something like Dominican Republic real estate, then you’ll need someone locally who can help make sense of local laws and make sure you’re getting a fair deal. They can also protect you from potential permit issues.
  3. Research the background of the location you’re buying in to avoid any nasty surprises. You need to know if you’re looking at property in an area with earthquakes or volcanic activity. You should also do some research into the neighbourhood you’re looking at it, so you know whether noise or traffic will be a problem.
  4. Check the planning permission you might need to make any changes to your new property and make sure you’ve looked into what licenses your property should have. Without the correct licenses you may not be able to live there legally or get the proper utilities set up.
  5. In some countries, poor construction can be a problem. To avoid being burned by shoddy construction, make sure you always get an independent valuation from a professional surveyor who is an expert in the country you’re buying in. Even a new build should be checked over to make sure there aren’t any problems. You should check for properties built on poor soil, insufficient foundations, substandard building materials or built on dubious locations like flood areas.
  6. When you’re purchasing abroad, you need to know what you’re doing when it comes to contracts. It’s common to only get one contract in the local language, so you make sure to get a professional translation done. If you get a copy in the local language and one in English, get the translation checked so you know for sure what you’re signing.
  7. If you’re buying a property to rent out, make sure you consider the cost of maintaining the property as well as the cost of purchasing it. You should decide if it would be better to manage the property yourself or employ a managing agent to look after it for. Make sure you can earn enough profit on renting the property to cover the costs of this. You also need to factor in the cost of wear and tear from long-term lets.

Buying abroad should be considered carefully before you do it, as there are plenty of potential pitfalls for buyers who don’t do their homework first.

Train To Busan

- Roshan

Train to Busan is a 2016 South Korean zombie apocalypse action thriller film directed by Yeon Sang-ho and starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, and Ma Dong-seok. The film mostly takes place on a train to Busan as a zombie apocalypse suddenly breaks out in the country and threatens the safety of the passengers.

Seok-woo, a divorced fund manager, is a workaholic and absentee father to his young daughter Su-an. For her birthday, she asks her father to take her to Busan to see her mother. The next day, they board the KTX 101 at Seoul Station. Other passengers include Sang-hwa and his pregnant wife Seong-kyeong, a high school baseball team, the rich and egotistical COO Yon-suk, elderly sisters In-gil and Jon-gil, and a traumatised homeless man. As the train departs, a convulsing young woman boards the train with a bite wound. She turns into a zombie and attacks a train attendant, who also turns. The virus quickly spreads throughout the train as newly-turned zombies continue to consume uninfected people. Baseball player Yong-guk, cheerleader Jin-hee, who has a crush on him, and others escape to another car and lock the doors.

News broadcasts report zombie outbreaks nationwide; while the South Korean military is containing several of the outbreaks, new cases are constantly emerging; the situation very quickly turns into a pandemic. After the train stops at Daejeon Station, the surviving passengers find the city overrun and hastily retreat back to the train, splitting up into different train cars in the chaos. The conductor takes the train toward Busan, where a quarantine zone has been established. Seok-woo, Sang-hwa and Yong-guk, who have become separated from their loved ones, fight their way to where Su-an and Seong-kyeong are hiding with In-gil and the homeless man. Once regrouped, they struggle through the zombie horde to the front train car, where the rest of the passengers are sheltered. At the instigation of Yon-suk, the passengers prevent the survivors from entering, fearing that they are infected. Sang-hwa sacrifices himself to give the others time to force open the door and enter the car, and In-gil turns into a zombie.

Yon-suk demands that the survivors isolate themselves in the vestibule. This turns out to save the survivors as Jong-gil deliberately opens the door to be with her zombified sister, and the zombies enter and kill the rest of the passengers, leaving Seok-woo, Su-an, Seong-kyeong, Yong-guk, Jin-hee and the homeless man safe. Yon-suk and the train attendant escape by hiding in the bathroom. A blocked track at East Daegu train station forces the survivors to stop and search for another train. Yon-suk escapes after pushing the train attendant into the zombies, then does the same with Jin-hee. Heartbroken, Yong-guk stays with Jin-hee until she turns, and is bitten by her. The train conductor is also killed whilst trying to save Yon-suk. The homeless man sacrifices himself to let Su-an and Seong-kyeong escape with Seok-woo into the train the conductor had activated. They encounter Yon-suk on the verge of turning into a zombie, having been bitten when the conductor saved him. Seok-woo fights him off, but is bitten.

He puts Su-an and Seong-kyeong inside the engine room, teaches Seong-kyeong how to operate the train, and says goodbye to his sobbing daughter before moving outside. As he zombifies, he thinks of the first time he held his daughter in his arms and throws himself off the locomotive with a smile. Su-an and Seong-kyeong get off at Busan and begin walking through a train tunnel. On the other side are soldiers stationed to defend the perimeter against zombies. The soldiers are instructed to shoot them. After hearing Su-an singing, they realize the newcomers are human. Su-an tearfully sings the song “Aloha ?Oe” that she had wanted to perform for her father at the beginning of the film.

A wonderful film that is sad and touching at the end and is pretty good as far as zombie movies go. This is better than most American/Canadian made zombie films that I have seen. 8.5 outta 10!

Smart Ways To Make Money Playing Video Games

- Roshan

Gaming is an incredibly fun past-time, allowing you to escape the stresses of everyday life. From board games to video games, and even role-playing games, playing is among the best parts of life. Turning this hobby into a full-time income is countless people’s wildest dream. Thankfully, making money from video games is more than possible. In fact, you could even earn more than a traditional job. With that in mind, here are six smart ways to make money playing video games.

1.Test New Video Games

A video game must survive many development stages before you find it on the shelves. An O.G. idea for making money with gaming is to play it during these stages. Game developers must make improvements to the game, so pay game testers to try it out. While doing so, the tester has to look for bugs, glitches, and other issues. This might sound fun, but it can be quite boring.

2. Stream All Gameplay Live

Rather than playing for yourself, you should try streaming any gameplay for the entire world to see. Streaming sites, like Twitch, allow you to do so easily. However, that doesn’t mean that making money is necessarily simple. An issue that many games face is building up a large audience. Having only a handful of viewers watching your content won’t make you much money.

3. Win At Online Casinos

There are various platforms that pay you for playing online games. Nonetheless, the biggest potential winnings come from online casinos. With Monkey Casino’s live gaming promo, you can get set up and start playing blackjack or roulette in little to no time. Although you could potentially win hundreds, you must remember that gambling is a risk and doesn’t always offer any reward.

4. Become A Gaming Coach

While gaming skills come naturally to some, other people struggle to get the hang of it. If you consider yourself an experienced gamer, you could offer services as a gaming coach. Whether you recruit students privately or use gaming coach websites, people will pay for your advice. Before they do, however, they will want to see your skills, so streaming gameplay is helpful.

5. Write Video Game Guides

Having experience gaming doesn’t mean you want to teach students one-on-one. Thankfully, there are other options to consider. Starting a gaming blog would allow you to publish guides for specific skills, levels, or games. This would put some distance between yourself and your audience, but could still earn you an income. Having ads on your posts is one way to do that.

6. Make Game-Inspired Merch

Enjoying gaming doesn’t mean you’re good at it. If you would like to make money with video games but aren’t the best player yourself, you could make merch instead. Etsy is a brilliant platform to start your own small business. Whatever game or games you choose, there are many products that you could create, including t-shirts, coffee mugs, posters, and figurines.

Gaming offers unlimited fun, but with the advice above, you can make money with this hobby too.

What’s Next For Empty Nesters?

- Roshan

When you have spent so much of your life raising and supporting your children, it can leave you feeling anxious once they have flown the nest. Your big house might suddenly seem unnecessarily big, your life suddenly has gaps where taking the kids to various activities used to take up time. Many parents go through a strange period, almost like mourning, as their life changes.

But this is not a time to give up. As we are living longer, the chapter after children can be just as fun and exciting as the chapter leading up to them. Indeed, many people choose to move to residential areas like 55+ Communities in Johns Creek so that they can be around their peers, almost like going back to college.

So, what are your options?

Move to a New Community

If you need a change of scenery, selling your house and moving on could be a good option. However, don’t make this decision hastily. Consider where your friends are and what you are looking for in your new area. Moving from your current home because you are bored isn’t a good enough reason to go. Aim for something positive instead.

So, if you are looking at a new community, think about the sort of place you are looking for. Communities specifically for people who have retired often offer a broad range of entertainment options. However, you might not want that just yet. In this case, think about what sort of amenities you want to have within walking distance such as cafes and shops. Do think about the long term implications of moving as well – the older you get, the harder it will be, so there is a balance to be had.

Make the Most of Your Time

Having an empty nest can leave you with a lot of time on your hands and when you retire, that time expands even further. In years gone by, people retired because they simply couldn’t work anymore but you have the luxury of being able to do things without having to worry about money. This is one of the best opportunities modern life provides and you would be mad not to make the most of it!

Adult learning courses mean that you can go back to college if you want or you could take a short course and learn a new skill. Going to classes is a great way to meet people of your own age and make new friends too. In fact, lots of people in their fifties and over are now going back to their education.

Of course, learning isn’t the only option. You might decide that this is the perfect time to travel the world or maybe you are quite happy to settle into a new routine of dinner parties and golf. Whatever you choose to do, you have an opportunity to fill your time with activities and people who make you happy. Don’t sit around at home – you still have years ahead of you and they are likely to be some of the best of your life.

21st-Century Problems You Must Consider Before Investing In Real Estate

- Roshan

Investing in real estate has been around since the dawn of time, so it’s an opportunity you should always consider. Of course, it isn’t a sure thing that is guaranteed to boost your return on investment. If anything, the recent problems since the Housing Crash have made it harder to turn a profit. It’s not impossible, but you do need to take specific factors into account that you didn’t before. Some people have an interest in glass door or vinyl windows. So, to help, there is a list of the most vital ones you shouldn’t overlook below.

In real estate, there are never any guarantees, but negating the following should make your goals easier to hit.

Fluctuating Interest Rates

Before 2008, interest rates were pretty steady. Now, they go up and down like a yo-yo, and it’s potentially harmful to your property investment. The reason is simple: each fluctuation impacts demand. Should it go up, the cost of a mortgage will rise too, but the competition in the market will fall. On the flip side, low demand means competition will increase as mortgages become cheaper. Therefore, understanding whether you’ll A) get the mortgage you want, and B) land your dream property depends on interest rates somewhat. A mortgage broker can clear things up if you’re unsure.

Renters Vs Buyers

Finding tenants could be a significant part of your plan to pay off a second mortgage and sell the property later down the line for a considerable profit. In that case, you should perform a credit check and top-up your insurance policy. Easy Property has advice if you want more inspiration. Selling is different because millennials don’t have the resources to buy outright, and baby boomers are already on the property ladder. As a result, your ability to flip a house for a quick profit might be compromised if you don’t reevaluate your investment plan.

Environmental Issues

Global warming is here, and it’s not going away any time soon. Whatever you think about the new phenomenon, there’s no doubt that the change in climate affects homes around the world. To buy a beachfront property is a mistake as the tide will wash it away in years. Of course, houses out of the blast zone aren’t always available, which is why you must consider extra protection. Gulf Coast Modular Homes builds their custom designs to withstand hurricane winds of 180 MPH. This is an excellent example of an out-of-the-box feature you have to factor into your decision in 2020 as global warming worsens.

New Governments

Gone are the days when presidents served two terms and handed over to their replacements. Now, it seems as if some of them are lucky to get through one unscathed. As a result, you shouldn’t rely on bursaries and subsidies that exist now. Yes, Trump has been good to investors and will continue to do so if he stays in power, yet it’s impossible to tell. With his approval ratings and the mid-term results, the Republicans could be replaced come 2021.

Do you think about abstract features before investing? You should as they could be the difference between success and failure.

5 More Strange Things About Denmark

- Roshan

6. Let Happiness Reign

Feeling down? Then make Denmark your next travel destination as the UN’s World Happiness Report 2016 ranks it as the happiest country in the world (while the USA came in at number 17). The European nation has been topping the happiness chart since 2013, and though there are many instances of depression during the gray winter months, overall the quality of life Danes enjoy has allowed them to hold this title year after year (this despite the fact that they have some of the highest taxes in the world). Maybe if you’re there, some of the bliss will rub off on you.

7. FYI, Porn is Legal and Widely Available Here

Maybe this is why they’re so damn happy? The Danes are a little more relaxed when it comes to sexually explicit images than some other countries. In 1969, Denmark became the world’s first country to legalize pornography. You can purchase it in just about every neighborhood convenience store or gas station, and there’s a TV station that freely broadcasts hardcore material with no barriers to access it. They do have some basic guidelines, however. Pornographic magazines must be displayed out of eyesight of children, and may not be sold to those under 15 years of age.

8. Family Trumps Food

If you want to throw a party in Denmark, expect to spend a pretty penny. Hosts can spend up to six months’ salary on one formal celebration and that covers rent, drinks, food, and entertainment (especially for “round” birthdays like 30, 40 or 50). They love to eat and drink socially and tend to prefer traditional meals like smørrebrød when they do. The interesting thing is that is that spending time with friends and family outshines what’s being consumed. That being said, New Nordic Cuisine has become a globally respected culinary trend, and the Copenhagen restaurant Noma was voted Best Restaurant in the World in four different years.

9. Hiding In Plain Sight

Flashy cars, diamonds that can be seen from outer space, and other gaudy shows of affluence have no place in Danish culture. High social position and wealth, while recognized by individuals of a similar economic position, are usually understated otherwise. This is because of the “Jante Law”—a code of morality formulated by author Aksel Sandemose in his 1933 novel A Refugee Crosses His Tracks. It emphasizes that an individual shouldn’t display material or other portrayals of superiority, and boasting in public should be avoided. So that guy in the black jeans, scuffed boots, and grey sweatshirt could be a multi-millionaire and you’d never know, unless you know.

10. This Might Drive You Batty

Creeped out by a bat in the house? They’re protected by law, so don’t dare whack it with a broom. You cannot harm or kill a flagermus. One Danish family had to vacate their house for a year because they could not get rid of these flying rats and just couldn’t take it anymore.

What’s On Your Reading List For 2020?

- Roshan

I have mentioned this before, I do not read books the way I used to. From being a voracious reader during my childhood and teenage years and being a frequent reader (3-4 novels in a month) in my 20s and once I started working to even a few books a year in my early 30s. But by the time I hit 34-35 I stopped reading as much.

I prefer to get entertained via Youtube these days and I do not plan on reading much. The last time I read a bunch was in 2010 when my old desktop computer died and I had to wait 3 weeks for my salary, for which I was getting a substantial raise as well, hit and I could pay for a new laptop. During that time I read a lot of books and Reader’s Digest had these large books with shorter versions of novels or something and I read through all of them. Ofcourse I also slept a lot, went out to coffeeshops a lot and watched a lot of tv.

This upcoming 9 day vacation that I have I plan to read just one book. I will be spending a few days in a hotel room and I plan to re-read my favourite novel of all time, Stephen King’s It. I don’t think I will have time for more. But I do hope to read a few more books this year. I will try to make it 1 per month or is that too ambitious?

Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 1

- Roshan

Jordan Ayew’s deflected equaliser earned Crystal Palace a point at home against Arsenal, who had goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sent off by the video assistant referee (VAR). Captain Aubameyang had put his side ahead with a well-worked team goal as Mikel Arteta’s side dominated the first half. But Ayew brought Palace level after the break, his goal-bound effort leaving Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno with little chance after bouncing off David Luiz. Aubameyang was then sent off following a lunging tackle which caught Max Meyer on the left ankle, VAR overturning the initial yellow card he was awarded by referee Paul Tierney. This fixture had heralded 28 goals in the previous seven meetings between the two sides but little could separate them this time around, though both James Tomkins and Nicolas Pepe went close to winners for their respective teams.

The Eagles could consider themselves lucky to end the match with 11 players with Tomkins narrowly avoiding a red card after a late challenge on Gabriel Martinelli, in what was a feisty first London derby of 2020. Arsenal manager Arteta – who was not even born when Palace boss Roy Hodgson started his managerial career – remains without an away win in the league since taking over as manager on 20 December. Palace, meanwhile, remain ninth in the Premier League table, one place above the Gunners. Just seven days ago, Arsenal had been stunned by a dominant Leeds United in the first half of their FA Cup third round win, but the opening 45 minutes at Selhurst Park couldn’t have been more different. Unchanged from the win over Manchester United on New Year’s Day, they dictated the opening exchanges at Palace, enjoying almost 80% of possession during the first 10 minutes.

That was rewarded when clever link-up play between Luiz, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette helped Aubameyang open the scoring, a punt from Lacazette putting the Gabon striker through with only Vicente Guaita to beat for his 14th league goal of the season. After the break, Luiz could do little about his helping hand in Palace’s goal but he almost immediately made up for it, heading onto the roof of the net from a corner. But Arsenal suffered a huge blow when top scorer Aubameyang was sent off for the tackle that left Meyer unable to continue, loan signing Cenk Tosun coming on in his place. There was an audible gasp inside Selhurst Park when a replay was shown on the big screens after the VAR decision had been made.

Pepe thought he had hit the winner with 10 minutes remaining but his blistering left-footed effort was superbly tipped on to the post by Guaita who then spread himself at the feet of Lacazette when the ball rebounded back into the middle of the penalty box. In the end, this match echoed the last time these teams met, Arsenal letting a two-goal cushion slip as Palace fought back to draw 2-2 in October. Arsenal have now failed to win five league matches this season after leading at half-time.