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4 ways to Enjoy the Holiday Season this Year

OK, so this year hasn’t exactly been the best. While we all had great hopes for 2020, the pandemic had other plans. The holiday season is normally all about socializing, but this year we’ll have to withhold big gatherings and see loved ones from a safe distance.

However, all is not lost. While the holiday season will look a little different, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy it and feel festive. Here are some suggestions.

Road trip

Traveling abroad hasn’t really been possible this year, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking a vacation. What about going on a festive road trip? There will be plenty of sparkly decorations to feast your eyes on and festive food venues along the way. Just make sure to check your vehicle beforehand and prepare for any treacherous weather. Driving in winter can be dangerous and accidents can happen more often than normal. If you’ve been affected, contact this Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyer for further information. Always drive safely, especially in ice and snow.

Socially distanced walks

The holiday season is all about spending time with loved ones. While you might not be able to do so indoors, why not go on some socially distanced walks? It’s a great opportunity to improve your physical fitness and enjoy some fresh air. Winter walks are wonderful, especially in the snow. Everything glimmers and sparkles in the sun – and you could even go sledding. Plus, the more exercise you do, the more room you’ll make for festive snacks.

Online parties

The festive season tends to see an influx of office parties. They give everyone a chance to let their hair down and celebrate the end of a hard-working year. This year, you might be feeling down about a lack of parties. But you don’t have to. While you won’t be able to get all your friends or colleagues in one room, you can still have a virtual party. Encourage everyone to dress up, make their own cocktails and plan a few games. You’ll feel festive in no time. No one needs to clear up and you don’t have to worry about the price of your cab home.   

Helping those in need

The holiday season is always a great time to appreciate what you have and give something back. This year has been particularly difficult, with many of us losing loved ones, being made redundant and struggling with our mental health. This makes 2020 a perfect year to help those in need. But what can you do? While Covid means that you may not be able to volunteer in a care home or soup kitchen, you can still do your part. Doing shopping for an elderly neighbor, giving money to charity or simply spreading Christmas cheer will help your community and lift spirits at the end of a difficult year.

 

 

Most Common Truck Towing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them


Image credit: imagesource.io

Towing truck companies are life saviors in emergencies and desperate times when all of a sudden, your car breaks down. Ironically, cars mostly break down at odd times or in the middle of nowhere; in both scenarios, help is difficult to find, but calling a tow truck company can save you from a lot of hassle. But not all towing companies are as reliable as www.fastmelbournetowing.com.au and may make mistakes while towing your car, resulting in further damages and unwanted expenses. Following are some of the most common mistakes that truck towing services usually make and how they can be avoided.

Weight Distribution

This is the most common mistake made by towing trucks; they miscalculate the weight of the client’s car and also their truck’s. Undoubtedly towing trucks are massive and strong, but they cannot defy the laws of physics. Miscalculating weight can lead to further damages and put a dent in your finances. Before delivering the service, it is better to know the weight of the truck and the automobile that is about to get towed.

Check Brakes

Towed cars suffer further damage during the transport if brakes are not taken care of properly. This is a fairly common mistake made by tow truck drivers; they fail to check up on brake oil and the health of the breaks. Tow trucks move massive weights so that a faulty brake can lead to a serious accident. It is recommended to always check the brake oil and other parts before leaving the garage.

Check Tire Pressure

Just like checking for brakes, checking for tire pressure should also be considered a ritual before leaving. Low tire pressure can cause an accident or fail to move the towed car due to its weight. Tow truck tires can also puncture or burst, causing more agony. These trucks are only called during emergencies to avoid any further problems. One should check for the tires and tire pressure, as it will ensure the tow truck’s safety and the damaged car.

Right Ball mount

So most of the time, when a car is towed, it’s done through ball mounts. Ball mounts are the devices that help to tow an automobile with the truck. So the right size is always important. Certain tow truck companies compromise on this equipment to give fast service. A ball mount meant for towing a truck will never tow a light vehicle, so consider the right type of ball mount whenever it’s required.

Lubrication

Tow trucks are machines that move huge weights, so wearing and tearing down the line is inevitable. Most tow truck companies fail to maintain their trucks since it is a machine it requires constant lubrication to reduce wear and tear. No company would want their tow truck to break down in the middle of the road. To avoid embarrassing situations, it’s better to keep those parts lubricated and repair or replace them when necessary.   

The truck towing business demands a lot of responsibility, and room for errors is nonexistent. This service is always in demand because of the frequent breaking down of the trucks on highways. So before getting these services, make sure all the above requirements have been met by the company.

Overcoming the Social Stigma of Wearing Hearing Aids

A social stigma is a sign of disapproval of a particular person. Human society creates a sense of shame in the minds of the people it signals out. In this post we explore this theory in the context of hearing aid stigma… CONTINUE READING >> 

A social stigma is a sign of disapproval of a particular person. Human society creates a sense of shame in the minds of the people it signals out. This represents one of the cruelest sides of humanity.

The person or group affected is inevitably from a minority category. Only the brave few fight back. The rest of us try to remain as unobtrusive as possible when in the presence of the people we perceive as judging us unfairly. In this post we apply this theory in the context of hearing aid stigma.

How Hearing Aid Stigma is a Two-Way Street

If we were picked on when we were kids – and who wasn’t at some time in their lives – we learned the best way out was to ignore it so the bully didn’t get what they wanted, which is a reaction to their enticement.

We think it’s likely hard-of-hearing kids get picked on at school with taunts like ‘those hearing aids look bad like you’re a nerd’ or something similar.  This can so easily create a sense of shame in the mind of a child and that’s a horrible thing to do.

Some Adults We Know Still Think Hearing Aids Look Bad

One of our team did a bit of psychology at college and we asked them how this works. Most of us wanted to be like the prettiest girl or the handsomest boy at school, they explained. We’d search out any ‘defects’ in the mirror and were ashamed when we inevitably discovered one.

Hearing aid stigma works the same way too, even if we are ‘mature adults’ which we never seem to reach. Our social programming tells us anything that makes us different from our ideal role model is wrong, but the point is we do it to ourselves.

We Apply the Stigma of Hearing Aids to Ourselves!

That’s right! Folks with an acceptable level of hearing don’t go around looking for hearing aid users so they can single them out and embarrass them. It’s only when we age and our hearing diminishes that we become interested in them.

If we are considering hearing aids for ourselves or a friend, we may start to notice them. But not because we think hearing aids look bad. If anything we are surprised they are so small and unobtrusive.

I Think My Friend Has This Hearing Aid Stigma

The stigma of hearing aids can play out in various ways. It’s important to understand where your friend is coming from, and not try to ‘force’ your own opinions.

Are naturally vain people always fussing over their looks?

Try explaining that they won’t even notice their hearing aids in the mirror unless they deliberately focus on them. When did they last notice a person wearing hearing aids? How often does this happen?

However, we don’t suggest you try explaining how hearing aid stigma works. Instead, if they remember noticing hearings aids on people ask them, ‘Did those hearing aids look bad, or did they quickly fade into the background of their appearance?” And maybe the stigma is just built only because someone can’t hear great, not even because of their hearing aids. Many, like the Eargo neo are barely noticeable to begin with, especially on women or men with long and shaggy hair.

Are they hesitating over hearing aids ‘because of what other people think’?

Try explaining how common hearing loss in America, with hardly anyone not affected in some way. According to National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders:

    1. Some 15% of American adults report some trouble with hearing. That’s 35 million of our family, friends and peers.
    2. Some 18% of us have speech-frequency hearing loss in both ears from loud noise.
    3. Age is a powerful indicator. The greatest amount of hearing loss in the 60 to 69 age group.

It follows most Americans have personal experience of deaf people they know and respect. If they think about hearing aids they are most likely to regard them as a good idea.

Are they fussing over hearing aids costing too much?

That’s a reasonable concern, judging by the ridiculously high prices in the United States hearing aid industry. There’s only one explanation why people pay more for them in the U.S. than many other developed economies.

Tell your friend Blue Angels sells discreet hearing aids that don’t stand out like some others do. But what does stand out is the price. Would you believe they could still purchase decent behind-the-ear aids for under $200 a pair including shipping? It’s true you, TENS of THOUSANDS of Americans do so every year.

Tell your friend the Blue Angels offer (while stocks last) includes a money-back guarantee (conditions apply) if they don’t like the product when it arrives. However, it’s more likely they will take to them like a duck to water after someone says ‘Gosh what nice hearing aids you have’.

More good news…

How Hearing Aids Can Change Your Life

Best Hearing Aids For The Money

Deck the Halls, or in Our Case, Deck the Decks

Over the weekend we decided to decorate the boat.
What do you think?
Did we miss the mark?
Is it fun and festive?
Does it look like a Charlie Brown tree?
CONTINUE READING >> 

Life on our little boat doesn’t actually involve any halls, but we were determined to do our best to deck the good ship Gaviota out for the holidays.

So let’s start with a “before” picture.

Here is the view off of our back deck.

Last year, our first Christmas on the boat, when it came to decorating we pretty much just strung lights everywhere we could.

This year we wanted to try something different. Something that is more recognizable as a symbol of the season.

As always, the first step is to untangle all of the lights.

Here we see Veronica giving it her best shot. As a reward she got to open a gift… NEW SHOES!!!

Our friends at Therafit were kind enough to send us each a pair to make sure our feet were extra happy as we strung our lights.

By the end of the day we managed to get the strings unstrung, but still had a long way to go before our creation would look like anything more than a blob of bulbs.

It may not look like it, but there was a plan.

The next day we returned to the scene of what very much looked like a crime and got back to it.

Not to be left out, at that point David wanted to open his present. Perhaps not much of a surprise at this point, but still a great gift… some slip on walking shoes also from Therafit.

After much raising and lowering of our rigging while attaching and arranging (wait for it…) a boatload of strands of colorful lights, we think that we were reasonably successful at creating…

TA DAAAAA!!!!!

A Christmas Tree.

Happy Holidays to all and may 2021 be a whole lot better than 2020!

David and Veronica, GypsyNester.com

What do you think?

Did we miss the mark?

Is it fun and festive?

Does it look like a Charlie Brown tree?

Calling All Foodies: 5 Delicious Hawaiian Dishes You Have to Try

Are you a major foodie? Are you always looking for cultural dishes from as many locations as possible? Have you ever tried Hawaiian food?

Hawaiian food is often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. These dishes pack a major flavorful punch that you’ll be sure to love. But which ones are the best of the best? What should you try first?

We’ve narrowed it down to a few of our favorites. Please keep reading for five of our favorite Hawaiian dishes that you need to try.

1. Poke

Poke is probably the most well-known Hawaiian food on the mainland, especially now that many places all over have started poke restaurants of their own.

While this isn’t always true, in general, poke refers to cubes of raw seafood marinated in sesame oil and soy sauce and tossed with ingredients like nori, sesame seeds, radish, and more.

Not all poke has to be seafood. There are even vegetarian versions of poke, so don’t feel limited by your diet!

2. Shave Ice

We’ve all had the shaved ice that comes from a machine and then gets drizzled with too-sweet brightly colored syrups, right?

This is a bit different. This ice is shaved until it’s smooth and soft, unlike the chunky machine ice that you’re used to. It’s flavored with natural syrups and juices and topped with local fruits.

This tasty snack is a can’t-miss dish.

3. Spam Musubi

Yes, this is made from the same spam you get in a can at the grocery store. Don’t be so quick to judge!

In Hawaii, this salty meat is layered on top and underneath sticky white rice. It’s bound together by nori, otherwise known as seaweed. You eat it all in one piece like a sandwich. The bland rice mixed with salty processed meat is a great combination.

4. Saimin

How do you feel about noodle dishes?

You’re probably familiar with ramen, the popular Japanese dish. Most people are more familiar with the instant form, but ramen is a full dish with toppings and a rich broth when you make it at home or buy it from a restaurant.

Saimin is similar. It still has the broth and toppings of ramen, but it uses Japanese egg noodles instead of the classic ramen noodles. This dish will warm you up on a chilly night (and it’s fun to slurp).

You’ll often be seeing broths made from pork, miso, and coconut milk.

5. Lau Lau

Have you seen the images of the roast pigs from Hawaii? That’s lau lau.

Whole pigs are wrapped in leaves and placed into an underground hot rock oven. It cooks all day long. By the end, the pork is soft and tender and ready to eat. Despite the simple cooking method it isn’t lacking in flavor Punta Mita vacation rentals

Have You Tried Any of These Hawaiian Dishes?

These Hawaiian dishes are our favorites; what are yours?

Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat, some great seafood, or the savory saltiness of spam, there’s something for you on a Hawaiian islands food tour.

For more articles about your favorite travel destinations, check out the rest of our site!

Click and Done!! Hotel Interactions Gone Digital

With COVID-19 halting the day-to-day life of billions of people worldwide, the reliance on digital technology is increasing. We have limitless options, such as Skype, Zoom, media streaming, social media, or digital apps, to transfer information from one another. Like any other industry, hospitality too wasn’t immune to the pandemic.

While face-to-face interactions ruled the hospitality industry, relying on those methods amidst growing virus concerns was not something that the industry could afford anymore. So, adopting new measures to adjust to the “new normal” became a necessity. Precisely why the industry saw a change in their traditional business operating model.

Digitalization flourished, which enabled travelers to control their experiences and room environments without compromising their security. Here’s how digital technology is redefining the hotel experience now.

IoTs Transforming Experiences With Smart Hotel Rooms

The level of technology adoption is increasing, so customers expect a seamless experience in every business today. It’s no different when it comes to the hotel industry too. Guests expect to get the full experience and value. Using a smart room enables guests to control their room environment using Hospitality Apps. These apps turn out to be virtual remote control where guests can simply snap a QR code and get connected.

The same app helps guests control TV, temperature, lights, curtains, and a lot more. And that too, without any worries about contracting the virus.

Artificial intelligence Improving Guest Experience

AI solutions with ML algorithms are providing businesses to improve their decision-making abilities. For instance, using chatbots to help guests at every step is resulting in better reviews. Hotel chatbots are helping hotel businesses to create personalized experiences. Plus, guests can quickly get their queries answered without hindering their stay.

Additionally, the same technology helps the hotel industry streamline their booking process and related workflows without missing out on important details. No last-minute cancellations from providers anymore!!

Mobile Applications Driving Next-generation Hotel Experience

With the virus surviving on surfaces for approximately 72 hours, using traditional printed menus or means might be risky. But with technology, guests can easily use their own handheld devices to view their menus and order as per their convenience. It is a perfect solution to give your guests to enjoy their favorite meals without impacting their health. A mobile application is a two-way communication to improve experiences and stay in touch every step of the way.

Besides the restaurant menus, the same app can offer booking options, chat with staff, information about guest services, and other queries. That way, customers can adjust to the “new normal” easily.

A Great Example-Swedish Hotel Guests Enjoying Their Stay With Mobile Access

More than 3,000 rooms at six Nordic Choice Hotels are boasting their uninterrupted customer service with mobile access. The solution is helping customers to check and use their smartphones as room keys.

No-touch required at all! The mobile solution is helping staff to take care of customers’ unique needs. Isn’t that amazing when everyone wants to limit social interactions without limiting their fun moments?

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s creating a smart room and implementing modern technology to improve the hotel experience’s core aspects, COVID-19 is reinventing the hotel experience now. So, travelers who wish to change their day-to-day life must leverage digital technology to improve their experiences. That way, you can enable yourself to follow social distancing parameters and other necessary measures without compromising the required interactions.

So, are you ready to travel to your favorite destination?

How do I set up and use VR on my phone?

Nowadays, VR technology is being exploited to the hilt not only in the gaming industry but also across other sectors. Starting from automobile engineers to architects to healthcare employees and almost every other professional are reaping the benefits of VR. Nevertheless, it was the gaming realm that first exploited VR on a broad basis, thereby catalyzing the technology’s use in nearly all spheres of human activity.

The interface of VR and gaming (i.e., video games and computer games) has evolved dramatically over the years. Headsets like Oculus Quest, Valve Index and HTC Vive revolutionized this field. Contrary to what many gamers believe, these days, you can enjoy VR even on your smartphone, besides the PC or game console. Yes, the state-of-the-art VR headset models tend to be more versatile, letting you pair them with your iPhone or Android phone for playing VR.

You don’t have any expensive video game console or any costly accessories for setting up your smartphone with a VR headset. You can straightaway connect a compatible VR headset with your Android smartphone or iPhone, and you’re ready to go.  In this article, we’ll walk you through how to set up your smartphone with a VR headset for an immersive gaming experience. 

VR Headsets

At the outset, you’ll indispensably need a VR headset for playing and enjoying VR-enabled games on your mobile phone. Of course, once you connect the smartphone with the VR headset, you’ll be able to use VR for other purposes as well. Talking about VR headsets, those hefty black goggles serve as your window to the world of virtual reality.

With the VR headset, you can see and explore everything that is occurring in the VR realm. Apart from the headset, you’ll also require efficient hand controllers and a set of top-quality headphones. The hand controllers available in different variants like gamepads, paddles, and joysticks let you take advantage of and control gameplay features.

On the other hand, a quality headphone set goes a long way in guaranteeing a riveting gaming experience by fully reproducing the 3D audio effect. 

VR Headsets Perfectly Compatible with Smartphones

The latest batches of VR headsets are designed keeping in mind the interests of the different types of gamers. Simply put, the most recent VR headset brands are supremely companionable for use with both iPhones and Android smartphones. The Samsung Gear VR is one of the bestselling VR headsets that is compatible with some of the Galaxy Note phones as well as with Samsung S7 and S6 series.

Google Cardboard is the most affordable VR headset that pairs with Android phones and iPhones. Other VR headset brands that are compatible with smartphones are Merge VR Goggles, DESTEK V4, BNEXT VR Pro, and Mattel View-Master.

VR Ready Smartphones  

If you don’t have a VR compatible smartphone and are looking for one, you’ll find many. For a start, you have the Samsung S10 Series; you can also check out the Google Pixels right from 2G models and above. On the other hand, all iPhones starting from iPhone 6 and beyond are VR ready.

You can do a quick Google search for having a list of all VR companionable smartphones.

Pairing Your Android Smartphone or iPhone with VR Headset   

You’ll invariably need a VR headset for pairing the device with your smartphone. Once you procure a VR headset, you will need to follow the steps mentioned below for completing the linkage:-

1st step 

You’ll first have to tap into the VR software app on your smartphone. In case you do not have the VR app on your phone, then you can easily download the same from the App Store or the (Google) Play Store. You’ll have to key in “VR” or “VR Apps,” and the web browser will display a variety of software.

Just choose one app for downloading to your phone and then installing it. However, you’ll have first to make sure that your phone is companionable with VR. Towards that context, you’ll also come across apps that can help establish whether your phone is VR-ready or not.  

2nd step 

Once you’re through with downloading and installing the VR app, the next step requires you to position your phone inside the headset. The majority of VR headsets available out there open from the front, thus allowing you to place the phone comfortably. Make sure that the front side of the phone or its display is facing you while positioning it inside the headset.

Before closing the VR headset and wearing it, ensure that the phone is stably placed within the mount. Detach the protective casing if you find that the phone is not wedged in properly.  

3rd step 

Access the VR app you downloaded on the phone a little while ago using the hand controller. However, you’ll first have to connect the hand controller with your smartphone through Bluetooth before you can install it.

4th step 

After gaining access to the VR app, you’ll find a line running through the middle of the screen or display. This line corresponds to equal halves of the screens of the smartphone and the VR headset. You’ll have to bring this line in alignment with the headset mount’s center so that you can equally view both the left and right halves.  

5th step 

Once you’re sure that the pairing and alignment are perfect, you’re ready to put on the VR headset. Wearing the headset is very much like putting on a pair of traditional goggles- position the headset in front of your forehead and keep on adjusting the straps till you feel entirely comfortable. While placing the headset, you have the option of changing or setting the distance between the two lenses.

You can adjust the spacing between the lenses turning the roller atop the headset. Additionally, you’ll need to set the button on one side of the VR headset for fine-tuning the focus.   

6th step 

Now you’re fully prepared to enjoy an FPS or MPS game in VR!