Fireworks Safety Guide

Homes from Around the World

When Houses Become Homes

Everyone’s idea of a home is different. Some people live in apartments while others choose houses, boats or even caves. No matter the form, it holds a special place in everyone’s heart. Here are some inspiring quotes about the idea of home as well as some photos of what people consider a home around the world.

Source: Danielle S.

50 of The Best Keyboard Shortcuts; Windows, Mac & Chrome

Whether you use a computer for work or pleasure, these 50 shortcuts will make your computer experience faster and more productive. This handy chart has tips for PC and Mac users, Word and Excel, and internet browsers Chrome and Safari. Once you master these, you'll be wondering how you managed before.

Ten Good Reasons to Take that Power Nap

10 Reasons to Power Nap

There's no better energy than the one we gain from a good night's sleep. However, there are many benefits that come from taking a short power nap as well. JFK, Churchill, and Edison were fond of napping in between running their respective countries and laboratories, and recent research has unveiled that short power naps are good for both body and mind.

1. Increased productivity Progressive companies like Zappos, Nike and Google have designated nap rooms for their employees. In Japan, the law requires workers to rest after lunch. Why? Because studies have repeatedly shown that power naps improve productivity. Nowadays, people tend to work more hours than ever before and are increasingly 'burning out'. An afternoon nap counters this with a boost of energy. If you work the regular 9-5 shift, it’s best to avoid a nap in the late afternoon, as this can affect your nighttime sleep. Experts recommend a 10-30 minute snooze in the middle of the day. 2. An energy boost without stimulants Most people reach for a cup of coffee or a sugary energy drink when they’re a little low on energy, but caffeine and sugar are short-term boosts. They are inevitably followed by crashes, making you less productive and even more tired later in the day. These temporary energy fixes can also wreak havoc on your health, especially energy drinks, which put pressure on your heart while dehydrating you. A power nap offers a much healthier choice for a shot of energy. 3. Clarity of thought Research into short sleep cycles suggests a power nap is beneficial to your cognitive functions. During sleep, the brain does its ‘housekeeping’. It spends time classifying data and consolidating memories. After you wake up, your mind will be less jumbled and you will be left with more organized thoughts.  4. Increased alertness Everyone who works during the day should be familiar with the afternoon slump. Naturally, people experience a drop in energy 8 hours after waking, usually between 2 and 4 pm. Research suggests that taking a nap after lunch can give you a jolt of energy and circumvent this. 5. Safety A healthy person requires 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day. Many people cope with 6 or less, but you're likely to be grouchy and make mistakes. With less than 6 hours of sleep, the risk of car and work accidents triples. A power nap can improve your reaction time and reduce those risks. 6. Improved memory Napping can be restorative for learning and memory retention. Several studies have found that students who took naps before exams scored significantly higher on their tests. The reason? During sleep, the hippocampus, the part of the brain that consolidates our short-term memories, uses the time to transfer information to the long-term memory, thus making sure we don't forget what we just learned. 7. Elevated mood Sleep is, simply put, a relaxing activity, and can have similar effects on your mood to that of physical activity. A power nap isn’t a substitute for a full night’s rest, but it can certainly bolster a grumpy mood and reduce the stress caused by sleepiness. Even if you’ve had a decent night’s sleep, a nap won’t leave you groggy because the short period of time you were asleep didn't allow you to fall into a deep sleep, the type that leaves your senses addled.

8. More creativity Creativity comes in different forms, and while some tasks may not seem like they require much creativity, everybody needs and uses it in some capacity. A good power nap affords your brain time to process information. This time also allows the brain to slot thoughts into the relevant crevices and, when you wake up, you will more capable ofcreatively combining ideas. Things will suddenly click together. 9. Less stress Power naps also work to counter the negative effects of stress and everyday anxiety. Researchers found that the restful breathing we do during sleep relaxes tension in our backs and shoulders and lowers our blood pressure. Some people find they’re not able to nap at work, but they can get away with meditating. Although not as powerful as a nap, meditation produces slower brain waves, similar to those produced during sleep, which reduce stress and clear the mind. 10. Better health The power nap not only makes you a healthy worker during the day, but it also affects your overall health too. Researchers have found that regular 'power nappers' have a lower risk of developing heart disease and getting depressed. Naps have also been shown to help people better process carbohydrates and to balance hormone levels. So, take 30 minutes of your day to have a good nap. It can do wonders for your everyday feeling!

10 Easy Changes Will Help You Lose Weight

We all know that being overweight can cause serious health problems. Many of us don't always have the time to exercise and that, in part, leads to the high obesity rates we see in the western world. At the moment, adult obesity rates in western countries has climbed to record levels, passing 25% of the population - that's one in four people! According to the CDC, being overweight can lead to many potential health issues: Coronary heart disease Type 2 diabetes Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon) Hypertension (high blood pressure) Dyslipidemia (high cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides) Stroke Liver and gallbladder disease Sleep apnea and breathing problems Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of the cartilage and bone within a joint) Gynecological problems (abnormal periods, infertility) What many people don’t know is that by making ten minor changes in your daily routine, you can start losing weight quickly.

1. Don’t stress Stress is the enemy of caloric-burn. A stressed body reduces the amount of calories it burns and changes the way it metabolizes food. A recent research at Ohio State University showed that women who report stress burn an average of 100 calories less than women who weren’t under stress. Consider doing Yoga, as it both helps you relax and burn calories. 2. Stay cool Keeping the room temperature between 16–25 °c (62-77 °f) forces your body to burn calories in-order to warm up. If you drink cold water, you’ll burn 25% more calories than if you drink room-temperature water. 3. Drop the mid-morning snack for a mid-afternoon one Most nutritionists recommend splitting your meals into smaller ones throughout the day. The Journal of the American Diabetic Associationreports that a recent study found that a mid-afternoon snack works better than a mid-morning snack when trying to lose weight. 4. Use your non-dominant hand when you eat By switching hands, you’re more likely to eat less - a finding reported by the University of Southern California. The reason is that much of our hunger and eating is based on habits. By breaking these habits we become more aware of what we’re doing, and reduce the automatic eating patterns we've developed. 5. Sniff a banana or a green apple Yup, don’t eat them, just sniff them! The smell of bananas and greenapples suppress appetite just like how sizzling steak or fresh bread awakens it. Scientists aren’t sure why it happens, but the common theory is that taste is 90% smell, so smelling food confuses the body into thinking it’s been eating. 6. Do your exercise in the morning A research in Brigham Young University found that women who exercise in the morning are less hungry and more physically active. However, the hunger-suppression effect only lasts while the body temperature is high (which happens when you exercise), so you should also perform small workouts throughout the day (take the stairs, walk home, etc.) to maintain a higher body temperature. 7. Eat with men Women tend to be more self-conscious around men, leading them to eat less by an average of 100 calories. 8. “Low Fat” is a lie The University of Cornell found that, on average, people will eat 50% more food if it’s labeled “low fat”. The researchers believe that it’s a psychological effect – you see a food is “healthier”, so you feel you can eat more of it. When you see a product with “low fat” or “diet” written on it, eat it as if it’s full fat and you’ll start shedding away your weight. 9. Get prunes in your diet Eating 5-6 prunes a day helps you lose about 4.4 lb (2 kg) in 12 weeks. This was found by the University of Liverpool, and the researchers are speculating that the weight is lost thanks to “increased bowel activity”, but without any adverse effects. So, add prunes to your diet, your body will thank you for that. 10. More proteins Proteins take longer to break down compared to carbs and fat, forcing the body to increase its metabolism rate by 20%. The slow digestion also means you get full faster and stay full for longer periods of time. So add an egg, a piece of chicken or fish, or some lean beef to your meal - it will give you plenty of protein, with a diet that doesn’t feel like a diet!

H/T: prevention.com

Find Your Smart Phone, Download You Tube Videos and More

13 Computer Tips Everyone Should Know

The world of computers and the internet is enormous and complex, but as big as it is – it is also filled with tricks and shortcuts you can take to get what you want. These tricks will save you time and frustration, transforming your experience into a much more enjoyable one.

1. Repeat and Download YouTube Videos YouTube is the world’s most popular website for video sharing, and almost everyone uses it for various reasons: From watching cute cat videos, tutorials on how to do almost anything, to watching full-length documentaries. However, sometimes you find a video you really want to save or listen to non-stop, and these two tips will help with that. To download videos from YouTube, go to this website:en.savefrom.net/1-how-to-download-youtube-video/ and place the YouTube page address in the search bar. Now you can save the video to your computer by clicking the green “download” button.

If you found a piece of music you’d like to listen to over and over again, change the link from youtube to listenonrepeat. 2. YouTube Shortcuts The good people at YouTube added some keyboard shortcuts to make using their site easier. You can stop and start a video by using the spacebar or the K key. You can skip 10 seconds back or forward by using the J and L keys. You can play the video in full-screen by using the F key. 3. Find Your Smartphone We hear many stories about people who lost their device or had it stolen, and this simple trick is a true lifesaver in such cases. Thanks to modern technology, locating your phone only takes a few moments and a couple of steps that can be performed on every computer. Android users: go to google.com and type in the search bar Find My Phone. If your phone is powered up and has reception, you’ll see its location on the map. At this point, you can lock it, make it ring non-stop for 5 minutes, or even erase the data if you must. iPhone users: Apple has a similar solution to Google’s, called Find My iPhone, which works through their service – the iCloud. You activate the service through Apple’s website. Apple offers similar tools, such as playing sounds, locking the device, or even erasing your data.

4. Quickly Erase Text You may be able to type fast, but can you quickly delete as well? This handy little trick does just that – instead of deleting one character at a time, you can delete whole words. All you need to do is keep the Ctrl key down, and at the same time press the Backspace key. 5. Quick Access to the Browser’s Address Bar Need to type in a new web address but can’t find your mouse pointer for some reason? Look at the top line of keys on your keyboard, and locate the F6 key. Pressing this key will allow you to delete the current address and input a new one instead. 6. The “Secret” Key The Windows key on your keyboard can be used to access various functions on your computer quickly. Click on this link to see all the uses for the Windows key. 7. Reopen Closed Tab Modern Internet browsers allow us to open multiple tabs to switch between websites with ease, but sometimes we accidentally close a tab we didn’t mean to, and even worse – are not sure which tab it was. The solution is very simple, but many people are just not aware of it: Hold theCtrl + Shift + T keys and it will reopen the last tab you closed. This can be repeated for older tabs. 8. Pin a Tab If you are worried that you might close a tab, you can “pin” it, which will make the ‘x’ that closes the tab disappear. To pin a tab, right-click on it, then select “pin tab”. To close the tab, right-click on it and select “Unpin tab”.

9. Check How Secured a Website is If you don’t trust a website, fearing it may be a malicious site, you can ask Google to check its level of safety. First, copy this line: http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=(site address), and replace the (site address) with the actual site you wish to test’s address. 10. Not Sure How to Pronounce a Word? A great, free service that Google offers is Google Translate. Other than translating back and forth from various languages, it can also read you the word (or even sentence) aloud, so you can hear the correct pronunciation.

11. Go to Space! You probably know about Google Earth – Google’s global mapping service that lets you see a satellite image of anywhere on Earth. Well, now there’s also Google Sky – a service that lets you see as much of the known universe as possible. Click here to visit the site. 12. Quickly Go to a Website Did you know that when you enter a website’s address, you don’t have to type the whole thing in? Modern web browsers don’t need the whole address (example: http://www.google.com), it’s enough just to input the name, and add a .com at the end (example: google.com). Another shortcut is to type in just the name and press Ctrl + Enter, which will automatically add the www and the .com. 13. Use Google as a Timer Many people don’t know it, but you can use Google as a timer. If you’re worried that your cake will get burnt or that you’ll miss your favorite TV show, go to the Google website and search for the word “timer”.  You’ll get a box where you can input however much time you need. If you want even more Google tips and tricks, click here.

Is an owner entitled to money losses for wrongful foreclosure

Is an owner entitled to money losses for wrongful foreclosure caused by a misrepresentation made in a mortgage modification agreement?

Facts: A property owner obtains an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). When the monthly payment increases, the owner enters into a permanent mortgage modification agreement with the mortgage holder, increasing the mortgage balance but reducing the monthly payments. The owner makes a payment under the new agreement and the mortgage holder issues a statement stating it will no longer honor the agreement. The mortgage holder provides several revised agreements increasing the balance of the mortgage and entices the owner to send additional payments under assurance the mortgage holder will provide permanent modification terms. The owner ignores the revised agreements and continues making payments under the initial modification agreement. The mortgage holder serves the owner with notices of default and trustee’s sale and forecloses on the property.

Claim: The owner seeks money losses from the mortgage holder, claiming the mortgage holder wrongfully foreclosed since it misrepresented the initial and subsequent mortgage modification agreements.

Counterclaim: The mortgage holder claims it did not wrongfully foreclose since each revised mortgage modification agreement pertained to future performances which the owner ignored, thus, the foreclosure sale was valid.

Holding: A California court of appeals holds the owner is entitled to money losses since the mortgage holder reneged the terms of its initial mortgage modification agreement and failed to provide the promised changes to subsequent agreements, thus misrepresenting the agreements and wrongfully foreclosing the property. [Miles v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (2015) CA 4th G050294]

Read the text of the case.

Residential rents outpace home prices

Ask the average renter why they rent instead of own, and chances are they’ll tell you it’s because renting is all they can afford at present. Seldom do people rent due to an actual preference for renting, according to a nationwide survey of renters.

But what happens when renting also becomes too cost prohibitive? Here in California, we may be about to find out.

Zillow’s rent index for California is up 7.5% from a year earlier, as of April 2015. Compare this with a year-over-year increase of 5.25% in their California home price index in April 2015. This reflects a nationwide trend of rising home prices, but more quickly rising rents.

Today’s high demand for rentals and low supply of new rental housing is giving landlords the incentive to increase rents. Renters are forced to pay – unless they have the financial wherewithal and down payment savings to join the ranks of homebuyers. But since the lack of appropriate finances is the number one reason why renters rent in the first place, that response is pretty rare.

As rents continue to rise at an epic pace, you’ll see one of two situations play out:

1. homeownership will be put off longer (not by choice — by necessity); or
2. more first-time homebuyers will turn to mortgages with low down payment options.

In the first scenario, those forced to rent at today’s rising price of rent will move to less expensive homes in less desirable areas. Otherwise, more of their paycheck will go into making rent, less into making purchases and saving for a new home — a vicious cycle. This is bad for real estate agents and bad for the economy.

The alternative is to forego saving for a full 20% down payment altogether before buying.

Of course, it’s always better to have 20% down, as this demonstrates skin in the game (decreasing the risk of default) and eliminates the need for costly mortgage insurance. But choosing a low down payment option — like a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured mortgage or conventional financing with private mortgage insurance — might be a good financial choice if the circumstances are right.

For instance, these minimal down payment options are good options if the homebuyer:

• has a solid credit history and steady employment;
• isn’t already overburdened with debt;
• resides in a community where rents are rising more rapidly than home prices; and
• plans to occupy the property for several years.

A warning: the additional cost of mortgage insurance will increase the homebuyer’s total interest rate, meaning even more of their payment goes toward paying off interest than paying principal. This initially equals less house for their money.

However, as interest rates inevitably rise over the coming decades, the cost of borrowing funds to buy a home will become more expensive. So, today’s extra cost of mortgage insurance may just beat waiting years until a down payment can be saved, since mortgage rates will be higher then anyway.

To fix the problem on a broader scale, builders will need to build more multi-family rental housing. Multi-family construction is slowly taking off, but not yet at the pace needed to meet new population growth. City officials could help by making zoning changes more accommodating to new multi-family buildings, but effecting zoning changes is a long, belabored and often futile process. All the while, demand will continue to rise, carrying rents along with it, and savings will remain dismally low.

Smart House - Does your home do enough for you?

Does your home do enough for you? Consider these upgrades to make your house
a smarter home.

Automated home security system – Arm and disarm your home security system remotely from your smart device or computer. Access security cameras, keep tabs on who enters with personalized access codes, receive notifications each time the system is turned on or off –– and by whom –– for peace of mind when 
you’re away.

Video doorbell – Think caller ID for your front door. With a video doorbell, you can screen or even video chat with visitors before you answer the door. When you’re not home, the video doorbell can be set to take the picture of anyone who rings your doorbell when you’re away.

Automated smart lock – Smart locks use keyless technology to keep your home secure. From your smart device, you can check to make sure you’ve locked the door, allow for remote entry by guests or unlock your door as you pull up. 

Automated garage door opener – Say goodbye to remote controls! You can remotely open and close your garage door with your smart device

Remote heating and AC controls – Access your heating and AC controls from your smart device to turn on your heater or AC, and have the house comfortable when you arrive home from work or vacation.

Smart lighting – A smart lighting system lets you wake up naturally by setting your lights to gradually illuminate in the morning. Adjust the quality of lighting, set the mood, or simply configure your lighting needs to automatically turn on and off at set times.

Remote irrigation control – Turn the irrigation system on or off with your smart device when you’re on vacation, or adjust it remotely on those unexpected rainy days.

Automated gardening assistant – As an extension to your remote irrigation control, an automated gardening assistant incorporates sensors in your garden that send you updates on soil humidity, air temperature, pH and more.

Here's why Taylor Swift can do what she does

With the bad blood behind them, will Apple Music have Taylor Swift's hit album, "1989," when it launches on June 30 or not?

An Apple spokesperson deferred that question Monday to Swift's record label, "Big Machine," which has given no answer.

On Sunday, a blog post by Swift went viral that explained that "1989" would not be on Apple's new streaming music service due to the company not paying artists during the service's three month free trial.

And Swift's latest move comes just months after she pulled her music off Spotify over a dispute about the streaming service properly compensating artists.

The outcry led Apple to reverse its decision late Sunday night.

Swift's action garnered support from fellow artists and the Recording Academy who in a statement Monday said it applauded her "for taking a lead role in voicing the concerns of songwriters, artists, and producers."

With Apple's turnaround, Swift seemingly has no reason to keep the multi-platinum "1989" from the service, but as this weekend showed the 25-year-old Swift holds a lot of power in the music industry.

"You're talking about an artist here that has probably got more influence than any current other artist out there right now," said David Bakula, SVP of industry insights at Nielsen. "What you got here is an artist that's absolutely at the top of the game. Not just her game. She's on top of the game."

Swift's blog post on Sunday, "To Apple, Love Taylor," was tweeted to her 59.3 million followers, where it was retweeted nearly 40,000 times.

Away from her success in music ("1989" has sold 4.93 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music.) and social media reach, Swift has proven a smash hit from a branding context.

According to Nielsen's N-Score -- a metric that measures artist's public perception value -- no popular performer rates higher in terms of public awareness and likability than Swift.

With these type of favorable ratings and sales, Swift has placed herself in a position to possibly set the terms with retailers like Apple and Spotify as the industry adjusts to a streaming music landscape.

So even after Apple seemingly bent to Swift's will, it's ultimately her choice (and the choice of artists like her) to release music on the Apple service.

"Swift won the battle to get Apple to pay artists for the 90 days, and that was a bold statement," Bakula said. "Now we'll see if the financial aspects are good enough for Taylor and other artists to move forward."