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5 Best Things About Living In Texas: 2nd Largest State In US

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5 Best Things About Living In Texas: 2nd Largest State In US

Other than being the second largest state in the US, what else comes to your mind when someone mentions Texas? It draws quite a number of new residents each year due to its diversity, fast growth, warm weather, and much more. Still not convinced?

Well, some of the things that can make the Lone Star State stand out for you might include:

1) Lower Costs of Living

The cost of living in Texas is relatively lower than the US average, with Houston being the region’s cheapest. Things such as consumer goods, transport, and utilities are critical to the middle-class population. Most importantly, the land is cheaper and the process of acquiring a piece is also efficient. The state worked so hard to keep the housing sector from the housing market crash. In addition, Texas has low taxes and quite a number of tax incentives for businesses, plus, the residents here don’t pay personal state income tax.

2) Delicious Food

Texas is known to have invented barbeque, and its residents adore a good barbeque and Tex-Mex food. Some of the best BBQs you need to visit include Pecan Lodge, Louie Mueller Barbecue, Snow’s BBQ, Franklin Barbecue, Tyler’s Barbecue, and much more. There is no chili that compares to the spicy Texas chili, and chips and queso have become everyone’s favorite appetizers. Sparkling wines and beers that are made in Texas grace several occasions and restaurants throughout the state.

3) Jobs

Texas has experienced growth in the job market, especially with the rise of the oil and gas industry. Growth has also been experienced in the business services, tech, and manufacturing sectors. The state offers several white collar jobs for graduates and a wide variety of high-wage blue collar jobs. If you are looking for high-wage jobs, then you should probably not settle in New York, Seattle, and San Francisco. Since 2009, Texas has contributed 40 percent of all new jobs in the US.  

4) Natural Beauty and Warm Weather

Texas is full of natural beauty and wonders. Some of the sites to visit include the Palo Duro Canyon, the 6th Street, Big Thicket National Preserve, Doug Sahm Hill, and much more. If you want a less conservative environment, Austin would be a perfect choice. The Austin City Limits keeps the city cool, entertaining, and weird, and that’s why the residents love the city. Many small communities within larger communities have everything to satisfy your work, play, and life needs, including luxury and sustainable homes, versatile corporate offices, wide-open green spaces, specialty retails, and much more.

5) Top Notch Sports Teams

Top Notch Sports Teams in Texas

Do you love sports? Texas is a home to many sports league franchises such as the Houston Texans for football, Houston Rockets, the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars for hockey, the Dallas Cowboys for football, the A&M Aggies, several high school squads, and so on. It also hosts the largest and most popular rodeo shows in the world.   Texas has a strong higher education system, is family friendly, and has fewer rules. All these features attract new arrivals every single day while the current residents can’t get enough of what the state has to offer, so they stick around for quite a while.

Is Scrap Copper Metal Recycling Supply Meeting Demands

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Is Scrap Copper Metal Recycling Supply Meeting Demands

Most people today know that copper is a valuable metal that is sought after by many industries, as well as scrappers, who are looking to either make a living or supplement their income. In the recycling industry, there tends to be an ebb and flow for certain types of metals over time, and copper is no exception.

In the last several years, copper recycling has become increasingly popular due to the value of this metal. It is used for a wide variety of consumer products including building materials, housewares, industrial products, and even electronics. Copper has many uses and that has created a steady demand for the material in both the foreign and domestic markets.

The domestic demand for copper has increased lately due to the decreasing demand from countries like China that have backed away from copper imports lately according to a recent article in Recycling Today. The U.S. has a steady demand for copper most notably in the construction industry which is enjoying steady growth. Industry professionals overseeing scrapping operations regionally are reporting increased copper scrap values which are sparking additional interest in recycling copper. The COMEX price is linked to the increase of obsolete copper supply lately.

An interesting point to note in relation to the current price of copper is its difference in scrap prices as opposed to the commodity exchange prices which have continued to gain in recent times according to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). Experts say that the demand for different grades of copper varies, for instance, no. 1 copper is in demand, but bare bright copper is not. In all, however, the domestic market is having a hard time keeping up with the total demand, and that is attracting scrappers all over the country to try their hand at making some extra money.

Copper coins recycle

Before bringing in scrap copper to sell, individuals who are seeking to make some additional money should check the market value currently and compare it to the price the scrap yard is offering to ensure that they are getting a fair price. Most reputable recycling facilities offer a fair price, but it is wise to check ahead of time to make sure. Facilities vary across the country, but once you find one that is easy to work with and honest, you should keep doing business with them in the future.

There are recycling centers located all over the country in most small and medium-sized towns and cities. Some of these recycling centers such as Gardner Metal Recycling that offer the highest market value price for copper scrap, and looks forward to working with the citizens of the community to help do their part to supply the demand for copper in this country. Gardner Metal Recycling is located in Austin, Texas, and is one of the state’s premier metal recycling facilities. People who are interested in getting the most for their scrap copper are encouraged to take it to Gardner Metal Recycling so they can get the most money for their offerings.

Jenna Mancinni has a passion for helping people understand and learn what it means to ‘lessen their carbon footprint’. She speaks publicly to grade schools and teaches kids the benefits of recycling  and the importance of the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle”. She also enjoys putting used products into her, one of a kind, art pieces.

Payday Loan Firms And Companies Are Still Struggling In UK

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Payday Loan Firms And Companies Are Still Struggling In UK

Even though payday loans have been roundly criticised in recent times, some people still find this to be the best way for them to obtain money at short notice. However, it would seem as though this is changing and many people are turning against the use of payday loans, which is strongly impacting on the market.

The biggest payday loan company in the United Kingdom is Wonga and the firm doesn’t have its troubles to seek of late. The company has recently announced pre-tax losses of close to £65 for 2016, a figure that will make many people wince. However, the company is keen to say that it is on the up, claiming that the business has been transformed. It has certainly been a rough time in recent years for the company, with the payday loan firm previously admitting that they have lost their way. Wonga has also received a great deal of criticism in allegedly targeting vulnerable people.

The company has received huge criticism for these actions but they say are looking to provide loan products that are much more flexible these days and that they look to provide responsible lending to their clients. Given the public backlash the company, and payday loan firms, receive in general, it is no surprise to see that there has been a downturn in the firm’s fortune. Wonga seems to think that this is just a short term issue and they have announced that they expect to return to profit for the 2017 figures, which will be issued in 2018.

Wonga has struggled of late

That remains to be seen but there is no denying that the company has had to make a lot of changes in recent times. There is an almost universal disapproval of payday loans in the media, and this has changed the way that people think about this option. While it is fair to say that the loan rates associated with these companies aren’t as bad as they used to be, it is clear that things still aren’t as positive as they should be for the majority of people.

The company has also had to deal with the fact that the Financial Conduct Authority, the FCA, has brought much stricter rules regarding the payday loan sector into play. This means that Wonga and companies like them have not been able to act in the manner that they used to. A big change came with the number of times a client was able to roll their loans over, and with this having been removed it is a very different landscape in the payday loan sector.

Wonga has had to pay out a lot of money

Another issue that the company has had to deal with is a £2.6m payout. This had to be made to more than 45,000 customers and it was down to the fact that threatening letters were sent out to customers from law firms that didn’t exist. Wonga also had a compensation issue to deal when close to 200,000 people ended up overpaying down to system errors. It is not just in the UK that Wonga have struggled because the company has also had issues in South Africa. It is fair to say that Wonga has enjoyed much better times than they are enduring now and it remains to be seen what the future holds for them.

There is a stigma attached to the payday loan market that means many people are not willing to work with these organisations. Of course, if someone is looking to obtain a payday loan, they probably have a poor credit score and they need money in a hurry, which limits their options when it comes to finding a suitable loan. Thankfully though, there are still some options available to people and even people with a poor credit score will find that help is on offer to them.

An example of a loan option that will suit many people is a guarantor loan. This style of loan has received a much better level of praise and focus in the media and the presence of the guarantor makes a big difference. This is down to the fact that the guarantor offers the lender confidence which in turns helps to keep the APR to a more reasonable level. This is definitely something that people can benefit from, and it is no surprise that many people are looking for this option.

Wonga is definitely struggling but they’ll hope that the future brings better fortune for them.

Starting A New Photography Business?

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Starting A New Photography Business

If you’ve dreamed of being a photographer for years, and you’ve decided to take the leap now, well done! You’ve made a brave decision, but it is one which will reap great rewards if you heed advice and take the right steps.

It’s always a good idea to listen to professionals in the business, those who have been doing this for a long time, and have probably made all the mistakes for you. Listening to their advice means that you can avoid the mistakes they made, and this clears the road to success for you.

To help you on your path to photography success, here are a few tips to bear in mind.

Create a website as your first step

Nobody gets anywhere without an online portfolio these days, because everyone looks on the Internet when they are trying to hire someone, for any job at all. Make sure your site is professional, it looks the part, and it shows your best work. Remember to have clear contact details, and keep updating regularly.

Freelance on the side first

It’s all very well and good being gung-ho and quitting your day job, sure in the knowledge that you’re going to succeed, but you need a back up plan, and you need to also see if this is going to work for you first. Slowly slowly is always the best plan of action. On top of this, it’s very easy for a creative mind to get overloaded from time to time, so having your main job is something which will help you keep balance in your mind.

Answer queries straight away

Don’t hand around waiting to answer someone’s query; the longer you wait, the more chance there is of them going somewhere else. Answering a question won’t take long, but it could be the difference between getting that gig, or it going to someone else.

You are going to fail, and you are going to miss jobs

You need to make peace with the fact that you’re going to make the odd mistake from time to time, and it’s okay. You will learn harsh lessons in any creative profession, especially such a competitive one, but you need to learn from them every time.

Streamline your equipment

Yes, you need the odd bit of equipment for specialist jobs, but really, if you have a top quality camera, you don’t need all manner of added extras, it just complicates things. Narrow your lenses down to three, or you could even go as far as two, provided you know how to use them in the best possible way. You don’t want to be carrying more heavy equipment from job to job than is necessary!

Always back up your work

Do not rely on technology, it breaks at some point! Back up any work you do on a memory stick or in an online cloud, and this will give you total peace of mind.

You will be a jack of all trades

When you are a photographer, you’re not just the guy or girl taking the photos, you are your own manager, your own decision maker, your own book-keeper, your own website manager, you’re basically everything, and you need to prioritize your time accordingly. As your business grows, as it surely will, it might be an idea to consider hiring someone who can help you, perhaps with your website needs, if this is not something which is your strong point.

It’s about how you treat people

Photography is a very hands-on and personalized job, and you will be dealing with people in real situations, sometimes personal situations, such as a wedding day, for example. For this reason, the most basic of things needs to be in your mind – manners and personality. This could be the difference between a word of mouth referral to someone else, resulting in another job, or negative feedback, which can be very damaging indeed.

With more than 30 years of confirmed efficiency and effects, all of us pride ourselves at Philip O’Neill Photography with a dedication to top quality with each customer we work together with. Visit them site at www.philiponeillphotography.com.

Creative, Business, Online Essay Writing Tips for Beginners

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Creative, Business, Online Essay Writing Tips for Beginners

How to write better?

  • Don’t delve into complexities; simpler words are more user friendly because not everybody’s putting as much efforts as you are in learning them.
  • Try not using adjectives unless you have just started creative writing skills in school, instead try using metaphors or phrases.
  • Grammar which is not paid attention to by many (not all) in the new generation, must not be avoided, at least the basics. It’s good to know why you write a certain way and what would you do in similar situations. Knowledge of grammar is like your own set of tools which can be borrowed but it’s better to own your own set.
  • You must be aware of basic terminologies to know their significance. Like a clause is a sentence with a subject and a predicate and a sentence is constituted of a clause at times one or two. You should know what a subject and a predicate is. A subject is a noun or a noun substitute which is being talked about and the predicate is that what is spoken about the subject.
  • Certain verbs should be used carefully like is, seem, will be, has been etc. they are known as linking verbs. They unlike showing an action show a state of being, a certain verb can be and cannot be a linking verb as per its usage. For e.g. The plant grew in size and His popularity grew.
  • Combining clauses pose a serious problem among writers, avoid long sentences and use proper punctuations. Errors in joining clauses are called run-on and comma splice. They occur when a sentence consists of two independent clauses which have not been connected. For e.g. He played she sang, it consists of two independent clauses viz. he played and she sang but they have to be connected to form a sentence. The clauses can be joined like He played while she sang. This is a simple example but it does help enhancing the credibility of your command over the language.
  • While writing quote certain authors and site some phrases, this adds weight age to your piece. Mention the source to avoid plagiarism.

What is the difference between practice and practise?

The difference is all in the grammar practice is noun for e.g. Law is a practice whereas practise is a verb where you are executing a task of practising something. The same trend is followed in exercise and exercise, and licence and license. Now how can this mild difference be kept in mind. Like always a mnemonic is the solution or I shall say it only CaN SaVe you .Where you have a C is a noun and words which have a S is a verb.

What is the right spelling stationary or stationery?

Some spellings are doomed to let us commit mistakes. This is definitely one of those, with all due respect to our ignorant souls both these spellings are right. Stationary is for objects that do not move and are positioned at a place, whereas stationery is the shop which sells paper, pencils, drawing instruments and well stationery items. Now how can this be remembered. Stationary with an ‘a’ is for a standing body with a prominent ‘a’ and thus it is for fixed bodies and stationery with an ‘e’ is where you find a cutter with an ‘e’.