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What to Consider When Searching for a Mini Bus Rental Atlanta Company

There’s nothing better than showing up to a special event in style. Depending on your specific personality, maybe to you the word “style” means rolling up in a Rolls Royce, or perhaps a sleek limousine is more your taste. We asked about what “riding in style” means to Atlanta locals, and many of them answered with the same thing: a mini bus.

It doesn’t matter what your upcoming event is, there is nothing quite like hitting the streets in a decked out mini bus with all of your closest friends. Whether you’re heading to senior prom or making memories on your wedding day, here’s what you should consider before booking the right mini bus rental.

Browse Around

When you Google search “mini bus rental Atlanta”, there are quite a few pages of results. This is probably the case no matter where you live (if it is considered to be a major city). The first step is to browse through your options. A great way to gauge which ones are the best mini bus providers are to read reviews.

If a rental company has not reviews to its name, try to avoid booking with that one. The more reviews, the better. And obviously the more positive the reviews are, the best. Don’t trust reviews that come solely from the company’s website, but try to see what’s up on a variety of sites. Reviews on the company’s private website are often fabricated.

Consider Amenities

What’s the point of renting a mini bus if you aren’t given an experience of luxury? Once you’ve narrowed down a few rental company options by reading reviews, see what the actual mini buses are like. What’s included with the rental? Is it strictly a ride from point A to point B (or access to rides for a certain number of hours) or is there more to it?

Try not to assume that every company is the same. Amenities vary greatly from company to company, and even from minibus to minibus within a company. Read into the details and specifics to see what’s included in the bus rental, like reclining seats, entertainment options (TV screens/DVD players), and luggage storage. Depending on the event, you might even have access to alcoholic beverages or the company might have a BYOB policy in place.

Safety Comes First

The rental company’s top priority should be on the safety of its passengers. Find a company that has nothing less than a 100% safety record. Many rental companies require their drivers to receive background checks as well as pass a series of driving tests before hiring, so make sure this is the case for the one that you choose.

Number of Passengers

Lastly, how many people are planning on riding the mini bus? Most mini buses can carry at least 16 passengers, but this is not always the case. Get a final head count for the number of people planning on riding and confirm with the rental agency that a bus is available that can cater to that amount.

 

5 Helpful Tools Used by Professional Resume Writers

As you settle into your comfy desk chair, fully caffeinated from this morning’s 3 cups of coffee, you might feel ready to conquer the resume you are about to write. That is, until you immediately experience writer’s block and don’t even know where to begin.

This is a common occurrence for even the best resume writers in the world. It is normal to feel at a loss for words when writing your own – or someone else’s – resume. To make the process a bit easier, a few resume-writing tools have been released in recent years. According to resume writing professionals, these are the most helpful resources to assist you in writing a superior resume.

Readability Score

There’s not point in delivering a resume if the person looking it over can’t even read it. There’s a little thing called readability, which means that the content on the page is easy to read. This is extremely important for resume writing. If a recruiter or potential employee can’t even make out what you’re trying to say, the page will be tossed in the garbage.

A tool called Readability Score can help. Basically once you’re resume is completed, you’ll run it through the Readability Score software and will score your resume based on its ease of reading. The software tells you why it isn’t readable if you rank low, and this allows you to make the necessary changes to up the readability score.

Hemingway Editor

Hemingway Editor is similar to the popular tool called Grammarly, except this one seems to be better suited to resume writing. With Hemingway Editor, the software will catch any little mistakes in grammar, punctuation, or overall language that you accidentally brushed over. It can be difficult to edit your own content, so even if you don’t use Hemingway, have a friend or colleague take a peek at your resume draft before sending it out.

Career Igniter

Career Igniter will help you to build your resume from scratch. Some of the top resume creators in the world have worked together on building Career Igniter, making resume writing easier than ever. All of the formatting is provided for you, all you need to do is input the words and you’re good to go.

Online CV Generator

A lot of people are confused about the difference between a resume and CV. To put things simply, they are essentially the same thing. Similar to Career Igniter, Online CV Generator allows you to create your CV (or resume) following a step-by-step guide. Just follow their steps provided and eventually you’ll end up with a top-of-the-line resume.

Do You Buzz

If you’ve got all the words in your head, but can’t seem to figure out the proper format, try using Do You Buzz. Do You Buzz provides its users with a series of templates to choose from, ranging from classic to more modern looks. Once your resume has been completed, Do You Buzz even gives you the option to consult with a professional to go over the final draft.

 

5 Things You Should Know about Blockchain in Healthcare

The technological revolution of this century has provided stale industries with an extraordinary amount of innovation. In healthcare, patients can reserve a doctor’s appointment or manage their prescriptions with the ease of a smartphone, but this easy access comes with a cost.

Like many highly secure industries that existed before the technological boom, the healthcare industry is struggling to keep up with advanced forms of cyber attacks.

This is extremely dangerous for both patients and professionals alike. Without proper cybersecurity, patients’ medical data can be stolen and sold on the black market, and practice can incur thousands of dollars in fines from HIPAA(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) noncompliance penalties.

The healthcare industry is now making moves to incorporate blockchain into its cybersecurity.

Blockchain, most commonly associated with cryptocurrency, is a type of secure, public ledger that connects digital records, called blocks, to other blocks. These blocks are highly encrypted, time-stamped and continuous updated with data from transactions.

Here are 5 ways the industry can use blockchain technology to support their cybersecurity as well as their patients, operations, and personnel

Smart Contracts

A major benefit to blockchain technology is its use of smart contracts. A smart contract eliminates middlemen from negotiations by digitally facilitating, verifying, or enforcing the terms of a contract.

The smart contract works on an if-then premise. An example is a simple expiration date: once this date arrives, then the smart contract will alert all parties of the expiration and terminate the contract itself.

In healthcare, this means that health organizations and insurance providers can automate payment processes using an artificial third party.

Smart contracts are transparent to all parties, so patients could also use them to easily switch hospitals without needing to fill out forms for their prior hospital – the physicians would know just by viewing the contract.

Data Compilation

Pharma gathers data that are stored in silos from many different sources. This process of organization in time-consuming and inefficient for data analytics in healthcare.

Using blockchain could help healthcare companies with their large data analytics, especially when the data comes from several departments.

Patients use apps that gather medical data and transfer it to other devices and medical providers, which is not always kept safe.

When their information is not kept secure in one location, it becomes easier for their data to be given to the wrong people. If insurance providers get their hands on private medical information, the cost of health coverage can unjustly fluctuate.

Encryption is one of the most important factors for effective cybersecurity in healthcare, and with blockchain’s extensive data encryption, the safety and privacy of a patient’s information are guaranteed.

Patients can know where their data is being transferred to and who has a right to view it, making sure that their data is transferred to the appropriate recipients.

Clinical Trials

There is a lot of manual work needed to scout out appropriate patients for clinical trials. The amount of paperwork is enormous, and it’s very likely that perfectly suitable candidates get regularly overlooked.

With blockchain, researchers can easily search for the qualifications needed to acquire potential candidates without having to worry about receiving misinformation.

The clinical studies data can be kept private and organized using blockchain, which is necessary for the HIPAA compliances that Pharma companies must adhere to.

Since all records entered in blockchain have to be verified and each patients’ data gets a unique ID, information cannot be duplicated by accident which wastes time and manpower.

Companies and organizations can also use blockchain for keeping financial records and other bookkeeping needs.

Doctor’s Access and Security

Blockchain can help to transfer secured data between devices for health service providers.

Instead of patients having the onus of transferring paper records from physician to physician, blockchain can allow easy and instant access to medical records between medical professionals.

The US Department of Health and Human Services found that instead of using a localized server or paper documents, it’s actually safer to store patient’s information in a HIPAA compliant cloud server.

Not only does blockchain improve patients’ privacy, but the ability for professionals to easily access patients’ records actually improves diagnosis and patient care, as well.

Transparency with blockchain also comes into play here, as anyone with access to the records can see changes that were made which increases overall understanding of patients’ health.

Patient’s Access and Security

The last and certainly not least useful feature of blockchain in healthcare is the ability for patients to access their own medical records.

In fact, the way that providers would even have access to a patients’ records is because the patients would verify who has access and who doesn’t.

This gives the patients more control of their own medical records. They have the ability to access them at any time or even sell them to healthcare providers, researchers, and insurers.

Cybersecurity threats and data breaches introduce the possibility of medical identity theft, where hackers can steal a person’s medical information, or even their social security number, and sell it on the black market.

When patients use blockchain, they are given the ability to take what hackers want and safely make their own profits on their own terms.

The list above shows just a snippet of the benefits that blockchain technology has for the healthcare industry, especially as the world becomes increasingly digitized.

The healthcare industry is finding that its cybersecurity is slipping through the cracks, and HIPAA Journal reports that each month of 2018, there were about 30 healthcare data breaches reported, and that number has increased to an average of 37 per month in 2019

Blockchain technology is an all-encompassing solution to the security, research, and access problems that patients and professionals face. It allows clinical researchers and medical professionals to organize their data with transparency and accuracy.

This technology is also appealing to patients, as the ability to access and share their medical data as they please results in better diagnosis and possible monetization.

Overall, blockchain solutions are effective in the healthcare industry and their usage is growing with time. It is important for healthcare companies to get involved with this growing trend in order to operate efficiently.

This article was written by Julian Gnatenco @ JGBilling a medical coding company

 

How to Set up Company Payroll for Your Small Business

Nearly half of the people who responded to a recent survey said they would start looking for a new job after only two payroll errors.

Replacing employees is time-consuming and expensive so it’s important that you manage your small business payroll properly. Let’s look at how to set up your company payroll.

Options for Managing Company Payroll

You have several choices for dealing with your small business payroll:

  1. Manage it by hand
  2. Outsource your payroll management
  3. Use payroll software

1. Managing Payroll by Hand

Doing it by hand is the least expensive way to manage payroll, at least as far as the up-front costs are concerned. You won’t have to pay for software or pay someone to do the work for you. Instead, you’ll do all the calculations to figure out deductions, IRS remittances, and everything else you need to calculate.

This is also the most time-intensive option. Before you choose this option as a way to save money, think about what your time is worth. Is managing your payroll the best way to spend your time? And do you know enough about it to be sure you’re not making any mistakes?

2. Outsourcing Your Payroll

The second option is to outsource your payroll management, either to an accountant or bookkeeper or through a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) service. With a PEO service, the employee works for them and gets sub-contracted to your small business. That way they handle all the payroll work.

Outsourcing your payroll takes the least time on your part but is the most expensive option. It may be worth the cost though, considering the time you save and the fact that these professionals will be much less likely to make errors that can lead to lost employees and IRS fines.

3. Payroll Software

Payroll software is a middle ground between the first two options. You can manage your own payroll this way but the software does most of the heavy lifting for you. It calculates everything based on up-to-date payroll tables and if it’s tied into your accounting software, and it can generate all the necessary documents for the IRS and state tax departments.

You can also use a combination of different software packages to manage the various parts of your small business accounting. You might use a spreadsheet tracking system for most of it along with a service like The Pay Stubs to generate professional pay stubs for your employees’ paychecks.

Keep Good Records

Whatever solution you settle on to manage your company payroll, make sure you keep good records. If your business is ever audited for its payroll remittances, you need to be able to back everything up with documentation. The last thing you want to do is have to go back and reconstruct years of payroll information ahead of a meeting with the auditor.

Don’t stress over how to do payroll; spending some time researching your options before settling on a solution is time well-spent.

Check back often for more helpful posts like this one.

Planning a Private New York City Group Bus Tour

New York, the city that never sleeps. New York is bumbling with opportunity for work and fun. The city is home to Broadway, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Bridge and many other equally famous locations. It is an ideal location for a group tour and what better way to travel with a group than in a bus.

Booking a charter bus in New York is the easiest way to tour the city. It saves you from having to navigate while traveling which makes your vacation a lot more relaxing.

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Plan your travel

Staying ahead of the loop by planning your travel is one way to make sure that you don’t end up running around last minute to make arrangements. It is important to analyse your group size and their needs before you begin planning. These are a few steps that can make it easier for you to plan your trip.

Analyse how big your group is and how big it can get. A lot of times people bring along others that you did not expect but now you cannot say no to them out of sheer politeness. According to this decided the sort of bus you will need to rent. If your group is around twenty members then a mini coach bus would be an ideal fit for you however if it’s larger than 40 you may need a luxury coach bus.

Decide your group type. Are you traveling with your in-laws, friends, or colleagues? Depending on your group, your needs might change. For example your colleagues may require a constant WiFi network to stay connected to the HQ.

Decide on an itinerary if you plan on booking a bus for a ride through the city for a tour. Make sure you account for all your member’s health needs. Some elderly members may require more sleep than the younger ones and hence they might want to start the day late.

Plan pit stops. If your travel is going to be long it is imperative for you have a pit stops to get gas and for your group members to get bathroom breaks if there is not one on the bus already.

Where to go in New York city

A New York trip is filled with possibilities but it is only possible to go to so many places in limited time. New York is rich in terms of arts and culture so it is often difficult to choose where to go when in New York. It is however not impossible here is a comprehensive list of places you must visit if you are in New York.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most popular museums across the world. With more than 2 million pieces of art to its name the museum is the largest one in the United States. It is the third most visited museum with approximately 6 million visitors every single day. Go for a magical and overwhelming experience as an art lover.

If your group wants to experience some Broadway this vacation it is a great idea to visit the production of Mean Girls. It has excellent songs and beautiful performances and it is truly an entertaining experience.

If your group and you are people who want to be in awe of the wonders of modern architecture then a trip to the empire state building is a must.

New York is a great travel destination if you plan your trip well it can be a great experience for you and everyone that you are traveling with as well. So book yourself a charter bus, plan out your itinerary and then sit back and enjoy.

 

Top 5 Best Prepaid Cards of 2019

Surveys show that nearly 75% of prepaid credit users are very or even extremely satisfied with their cards. The fact that they can’t overspend combined with the convenience and safety of using a card instead of cash means there’s a lot to like.

Choosing a prepaid card can be a bit of a challenge, however. There are lots of different card providers with a wide range of fees. Let’s look at the best prepaid cards available today.

Advantages of Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards offer several advantages over traditional credit cards, including:

  • No chance of overspending
  • Often no credit check is necessary
  • Poor or no credit history won’t limit your options
  • Limited exposure to fraud

All three major credit card companies offer prepaid cards – Visa, American Express, and MasterCard. You can use them anywhere that accepts those cards so they’re as convenient and easy to use as a credit card would be. You can even use them for online purchases, something that often isn’t possible with a regular debit card.

The following five cards are our picks for the best options.

1. American Express Serve Cash Back Prepaid Card

The Amex Serve cash back card offers a 1% cash back reward for every purchase. The reward gets added to your card immediately after the transaction is complete and you can redeem your rewards anytime.

The Serve card offers free ATM withdrawals through any ATM in the MoneyPass network. Out-of-network withdrawals will have a $2.50 fee.

There’s no fee for adding funds to the card through direct deposit and cash reloads will cost up to $3.95, depending on where you are reloading the card. The card itself is free through Amex’s website or $3.95 to purchase in retail locations.

There’s a $7.95 monthly fee for the Serve card. If you spend more than $800 per month on the card, you’ll be ahead of the game with the cash-back rewards.

2. Starbucks Rewards Visa Prepaid Card

The Starbucks Rewards Visa card lets you earn Starbucks Rewards on every purchase. You’ll earn one star for every $10 you spend. You can redeem the stars at Starbucks to get free drinks, food, or other items. The stars you earn won’t expire as long as your account is active so you can save as many as you want to get higher-priced rewards.

The Starbucks prepaid Visa has no monthly or annual fees and doesn’t charge any reload fees. The main disadvantage compared to other cards is that you can’t withdraw cash through an ATM.

If you’re a Starbucks fan and aren’t concerned with being able to withdraw cash from your prepaid card, this is a hard one to beat.

3. Kroger REWARDS Prepaid Visa Card

The Kroger REWARDS prepaid Visa is another rewards card, this time for Kroger shoppers. You’ll earn points for every purchase, which will convert to a coupon that you can use at Kroger.

All purchases earn 1 point per dollar, purchases at Kroger earn 2 points per dollar, and if you buy Kroger store-brand items, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent. When you accumulate 1,000 points, a $5 Kroger coupon will automatically get applied on the card for your next purchase in the store.

You can load up to $5,000 on the card through direct deposit for free or up to $1,000 cash at Krogers for $3. A $10 “signing” bonus will be applied to your card for signing up for direct deposit as well.

There’s no credit check required to sign up and Kroger offers a free mobile app to manage your card. The monthly fee is $4.95 so if you spend enough to earn 1,000 points in a month, the $5 coupon will offset the cost of the card.

4. 24k Prepaid Visa RushCard

The 24K Visa RushCard doesn’t need a credit check and there’s no minimum balance required to maintain your account. The funds on the card are protected by Visa’s Zero Liability policy so even if you lose your card or it is stolen, your funds are protected.

The RushCard offers online bill payments as well as real-time alerts for activity on your account or when the card is getting low on funds. The real-time alerts are a great fraud protection feature since you’ll know immediately if someone is using your card without your permission.

You can reload the card through MoneyGram, Western Union, and direct deposit from other institutions like this bank. You can either pay a $7.95 monthly fee for unlimited transactions or if you only use the card occasionally, you can pay $1 per transaction instead.

5. FamZoo Prepaid Debit Card

The FamZoo prepaid Mastercard offers a unique spin on prepaid cards. Their prepaid cards are meant to be shared with members of your family, particularly kids. The goal is to help teach your kids how to manage their money properly.

These cards have less risk associated with them than a typical checking account would. You can create parent and child roles that limit access and features on particular cards. You can transfer money between cards and even set up recurring transfers, to manage your child’s allowance, for example.

Parents can lock specific cards for fraud protection or to control access to the funds available. You can even tie chores to rewards and penalties on your kids’ cards.

A paid FamZoo subscription (at $5.99 per month) provides you with four cards. You can add more for $2 each. There’s no reload fee for direct deposit and the fee for cash reloads varies, depending on the provider. There’s no fee to transfer funds between cards.

How to Choose the Best Prepaid Cards for Your Needs

The cards we’ve listed all have advantages and disadvantages. The best prepaid cards are the ones that suit your particular needs and lifestyle. If you want to put your kids on the right financial path, the FamZoo option might suit you better.

The key to picking the best prepaid card is to look at the fees and the benefits to figure out which combination suits you best. Most prepaid cards charge a monthly fee and those that don’t have other limitations. But if you choose wisely, the fee can be offset by your use of the card, making it free or even profitable to use.

Check back often for more helpful posts like this one.

Entrepreneurs on the Road: Self-Employment Ideas for Digital Nomads

Are you looking to get a self-employed online career that pays well? Is your being well-versed with the latest technology your best asset? If you answered yes to both questions, your future career might be in our list below.

According to research, millennials make up 35% of the American labor force. This makes them the largest generation in the US labor force today. This means that they’re most likely looking for jobs that cater to their digital skills.

Millennial or not, you can check out our list of awesome self employment ideas below.

1. Graphic Design

Do you have a knack for making creative visual projects? One of the best self employment ideas for artistic individuals is graphic design. You’ll only need a dedicated computer, design software, and the drive to make others’ dream logos, posters, etc. come true.

2. SEO Consultant

If you’ve had experience with search engine optimization (SEO), this is one profitable idea for you. If you don’t have the experience or knowledge, learn about SEO online. As more websites compete to rank in online searches, you gain more potential clients.

3. Blogging

If you find writing about things to be fun, you can always make money out of it. The secret to profitable blogging includes ad revenue, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts. It won’t be easy to establish a reader base at first but it can grow to become worthwhile later. 

4. Digital Marketing and PR

Some awesome ideas for self-employment are digital marketing and press relations. This is a great chance for individuals with a gift in selling and promoting things. With this, your job is to promote a client’s website and manage their social media platforms.

5. App Design

How many times have you wished there was an app for something? Well, why not create those apps yourself? Chances are there are some people out there who might be looking for what you’ll be creating as well.

6. Web Design and/or Development

More websites are popping up on the internet. If you want to be able to help small businesses make their dream websites come true, be a web designer or developer. You can even start a consulting firm for the business if you want.

7. Freelance Bookkeeping

Though this isn’t a new self-employment idea, it’s of the lesser known ones. You don’t need to be a Certified Public Accountant to start a freelance bookkeeping business. What you need is the accounting know-how to do the job right.

8. Starting Your Own eCommerce Business for Self Employment Ideas

Do you want to manage an online shop or store? There are tons of good online business ideas like starting a vape shop or a fashion product market. If your business grows and you hire employees, you can use Pay Stub Creator for their paystubs. 

Love and Enjoy Work

That’s our list of awesome self employment ideas for you. We hope we gave you inspiration for pursuing your dream career. Remember to consider your skills and limitations when you decide what you want to do.

If you enjoyed our topic on online careers, feel free to check out our other blog posts for more guides like this.

Programming Languages Worth Learning in the 21st Century

 

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As human dependence on technology increases and we visualize a world that is much more advanced than the world today, we often fail to recognize that influence of programming languages on our world as we know it. For instance, one of the most anticipated advancement in technology is Artificial Intelligence which is being developed depending largely on one programming language, Python.

What Languages Are Important?

But that is just one example of how much potential programming languages have of leading the development. In fact, there are several of these languages that possess this potential and hence Artificial Intelligence these languages will help you achieve much more than you already do. But, what are the languages that are worth learning in the 21st century?

Here are some that will definitely give you an edge:

Python

We have already mentioned how important Python really is to the field of machine learning and artificial intelligence. What we did not tell you is that Python has several other applications in Operating Systems, GUI, Web Frameworks, Prototyping and so on. This makes Python one of the most loved programming language around the world with it being the favorite language.

The biggest reason for its popularity, however, remains the fact that it has applications in two of the biggest fields around the world, that is, gaming and artificial Intelligence. With new advancements being made every day there is no stopping Python from being the force for success over the next couple of years. As a result, Python is also believed to one of the most value-adding points to a resume because of its diverse implementation.

Java

Java is one of the biggest competitors of Python in terms of popularity. Where the biggest strength of Java is the fact that it allows much faster processing and is a more powerful tool. However, this comes from the fact that Java has a slightly more difficult syntax that is more machine friendly. This allows the machine to understand it faster and hence processing speeds increase. Moreover, Java is statically typed – performs typing checks during compilation instead of when it is being typed. Python, on the other hand, is typed dynamically which translates to it performing its typing checks during typing.

Java, too has a role to play in the realm of Artificial Intelligence but its greatest influence is in Android development. This language is the best language to learn in terms of the number of assets with the number reaching up to 17000.

C++

Apart from Java and Python, which are the most popular languages at present, C++ is also a language worth learning. C++ is taught in introductory level programming courses to allow a grasp of the concepts in programming, with concepts such as arrays and memory management, and therefore forms an essential basis for learning other languages. Moreover, it has a degree of influence over the field of gaming and in developing interactive applications. Some might say it is impossible learning other languages without the help of languages such as C++

 

delightful Voices: 8 Famous Radio Hosts Of British Talk Radio, And How They Influenced English Culture

Talk radio has been part of the English culture for many decades with great presenters playing a big part of it. Over the years, different radio hosts have left their imprint in the English Culture. The most famous radio hosts in the United Kingdom have played a big role in what we get on the airwaves today.

Top talk show hosts all have some uniqueness about them. Talk radio UK still pulls a large audience to this day. However, it takes great skill to get an audience that is loyal to your show. 

There are many talk radio shows, and the only way to stand out from the rest is by offering something unique and appealing. A top radio talk show will highly depend on its host. Some names are synonymous to UK talk radio. 

These are names that when mentioned, bring up memories. The influence of these individuals on radio and music in the UK is undeniable.

1. Terry Wogan

Terry Wogan spent decades on radio, helping brighten everyone’s morning. Wogan started his career in the 1970s hosting the Terry Wogan Show on BBC Radio 2. Terry’s sense of humour pulled a large audience to his shows. 

In 2017, a poll by the Radio Times named him the greatest BBC radio presenter of the last 50 years. In 1980, he played a big role in raising money for BBC Childen in Need. He helped raise over €600 million during his tenure as the face of Children in Need.

2. Tim Westwood

The influence of Westwood, especially on the UK rap scene, is impressive. Tim has earned the respect of some of the biggest musicians in the world over his career. Since starting his career in the 1980s, Tim has played a big role in bringing hip hop to the airwaves and making it appealing. 

Rap is currently a big part of the UK entertainment scene with artist like Stormzy and Dave on the forefront. Tim has had his share of controversy including criticism from some rappers, but his influence of the UK rap culture undisputed. Westwood has done interviews with big-name artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj.

3. John Peel

John Peel brought a unique feel to the radio. He played a big role in bringing progressive rock and psychedelic rock to the UK radio airwaves. Peel began his career in 1967 at Radio London. 

Later on, he joined BBC Radio 1 after the closure of Radio London. His wide range of music was unique at the time. John had one of the best late-night radio talk shows in the country. 

In 1993, he won the Sony Broadcaster of the year. John Peel is a big part of the wide range of music genres that get airplay on the radio.

4. Annie Nightingale

Annie Nightingale was BBC Radio 1 first female radio host in 1970. Nightingale is one of the longest serving radio hosts in the UK. In 2002, her services to radio broadcasting got her inducted as a member of the Order of the British Empire.

 She was also the first female DJ from Radio 1 to enter the Radio Academy Hall of Fame. Annie opened up the path for female presenters to succeed in both radio and DJ in the UK. She also had one of the most popular radio shows in the country. 

The other notable female presenter is Sue perkins. Sue Perkins is one of the funniest and creative presenters in the country. Get more about her here.

5. Kenny Everett

Kenny Everett is one of the most popular talk show hosts in the UK. He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1967. He would, however, get fired in 1970 due to remarks he made about a minister’s wife. 

Kenny spoke openly on his political beliefs, including supporting the British Conservative party.  He later joined Capital Radio. Kenny comedic approach to radio made his show famous although some jokes got him in trouble. He died in 1995 after contracting AIDS. 

6. Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn has been in the airwaves since the 1960s. He started his career at Radio Caroline and Radio London. Tony later joined BBC Radio 1 when it launched in 1967.

 The Radio Academy has awarded him two-lifetime achievement awards. Tony also had a singing career. In 1981, he played a big role in popularizing soul music through his weekend show on BBC Radio London. Tony is also one of the most influential DJs in the UK.

7. Jane Garvey

Jane Garvey currently hosts Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4. She started her career at BBC Radio 5 Live. She was part of the weekday afternoon Drive Show with Peter Allen.

 The drive show won four Gold Awards. She is among the highest paid presenters on BBC’s roster. Jane openly speaks about issues, especially the ones affecting women. 

In 2018, she was involved in a controversial interview that focused on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court. Brett had a sexual assault accusation during his nomination.

8. Jeremy Vine

Jeremy Vine is one of the most influential radio host currently. His show on BBC Radio 2 focuses on current news including live interviews with guests and music. The show also has segments on health and well-being.

 In 2018, he took a pay cut in help bridge the pay gap between male and female presenters at BBC. Tony won the Sony Interview of the award after an impressive interview with the then prime minister Gordon Brown. Jeremy uses his platform to educate his audience on different issues well.

Most Famous Radio Hosts

If you have an event and need a host, then presenters come in handy. Radio is one of the industries that will last for a very long time. Moreover, technology has allowed the creation of a podcast, which borrows from the radio show model.

 Most famous radio hosts are setting up their podcasts on the side where they share their views openly. The current radio and podcast scene owe a lot to the individuals mentioned above, their influence on how things occur today is irrefutable.

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Solar Savings: How Much Money Can I Save by Switching to Solar Panels?

Did you know that the solar market grew 29.3 percent in 2017?

There’s a reason that more people are opting for solar power. Solar panels help the environment, they’re a unique way to get power, and you can save money in the long run.

Keep reading to learn how you too can  take advantage of solar savings like other people are already doing.

Solar Savings: Can I Save by Switching to Solar Panels?

Switching to solar sounds great because after all, you’re getting your free power from the sun. I’m sure by now you’ve heard about solar companies like https://PoweredPortableSolar.com, everywhere from the news to magazines and even billboards.

The question is usually “Will I truly save money by installing solar?” People are curious because electricity rates seem to keep rising. There are a few things you want to look at and consider before setting up your solar install to figure out if you will save money or not.

Electric Bill

First thing you want to do is pull up your statements from your electric company. Usually, the rule of thumb when installing solar is that the higher your bill is the more money you will save by making the switch. If your bill is only $50 a month then it might not be worth it because of the upfront cost of installing your system.

Now if your bill is higher, let’s say $300-$500 monthly, then you will be even with what you paid to have your system installed much sooner than if you normally have a $50 bill. This is because solar panels generate their own power which means they offset a huge chunk of your monthly electricity bill if not all of it.

How Is the Sunlight Exposure in Your Home?

Something you want to take into consideration is how much sunlight your home sees on a daily basis? Are you in a location that you have quite a few hours of the sun directly hitting your home? Are you in an area with a ton of trees that are covering your home and keeping it in the shade?

If your answer was the latter then maybe going solar isn’t the best option for you. When you install solar panels you need the sun to be able to power them and it’s more difficult to do it through any trees that are in the way.

Upfront Costs

You want to take into consideration how much it’s going to cost you to install solar in your home. This is the largest expense when going solar. The Center for Sustainable Energy mentions that the average cost for a 5-kW residential solar system is between $15,000-$25,000. 

Calling installers in your area and figuring out your upfront costs will allow you to see how many months of not paying your current electric bill would it take to break even with your upfront installation costs.

Like we mentioned earlier if it’s only you in your home and your bill is $50 a month then it will take a long time to break even if you make a $15,000 investment.

Net Metering

This is a great policy that will benefit those with a solar system. This policy states that if your solar panels produced extra energy that you didn’t use it sends it to the grid in exchange for credits on your electric bill.

Basically, this means that when the sun isn’t shining either because it’s nighttime or a rainy day then you can draw energy from the grid and not pay anything extra as long as you take back the same amount that was taken from you originally.

Keep in mind that not every state has the net metering policy in place. You will want to double check to see if your state has this available when calculating if you can save money with a solar install.

Property Value

Another place that you will see a financial benefit to installing solar is your property value. Even if you don’t plan on selling your home in the near future or years down the road, your property value will go up. This is good news in case you have to sell for some reason unexpectedly.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that your property value will increase $20 for every $1 you’re saving on utilities annually. Doing the math this means that with a 5 kW unit installed you can see your property increase by a minimum of $20,000.

Tax Incentives

You have to take into consideration the tax savings that installing your solar will bring. Some states offer their own incentives on top of the government’s federal tax credit. Currently, the tax credit allows taxpayers to claim 30% of installation costs for systems installed by December 31, 2019. 

The tax incentives might be enough to say “YES” to installing solar power in your home. Some homeowners have been able to save up to 50% off their costs thanks to tax incentives and their state’s rebates.

Solar Time

Now that you have learned quite a bit about different ways that you will be able to enjoy solar savings by installing solar power in your home it’s time to gather potential installers in your area. If you live in an area that you have high electric rates and you have great sun exposure than solar panels will save you money in the long run.

Research is your best friend before choosing a company and signing on the dotted line. Ask friends and family for referrals and make sure to understand what you will be paying upfront.

Make sure to check out our home and garden section for more ideas and tips for your house.

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