Peptides are the naturally synthesized structures that are made from the amino acids into strings or chains. Peptides are produced by the body to help in rebuilding tissues, fight inflammation and infection, and aid in effective healing. Even cell duplication and generation needs the help of peptides. Due to the almost infinite number of structural combinations of the amino acid, peptides have uses that vary from sweetening coffee, lessening wrinkles, to finding tumors.

Want to know more about the most common uses of peptides? Read on to find out about it, and don’t forget to click here as well, while you are at it.

Anti-aging serums and creams

The anti-aging products have a number of peptides in them, and these are often strains drawn from plants like sea jasmine, sea fennel, and sea beet. There is enough medical evidence that suggests a relation between abundant peptides that surround injury or inflammation in your body and the production of collagen.

The skin gets its elasticity from collagen. With peptides being externally absorbed in the skin, collagen production goes in high gear, and so, the skin has more elasticity and fewer fine lines and wrinkles.

Antimicrobial treatments

When the skin is damaged due to sun exposure, acne or injury, your body mounts up the usual defenses that it has to prepare for the invasion of the ambient microbes. The lesions caused by the damage let in such an invasion. The body, in reaction to this, floods the damaged area with antimicrobial peptides and WBCs.

Topical application of peptides on such an area can be a good idea in this case because it functions almost like antibiotics, and helps the body keeps up its walls of defense.

Body imaging

Dyes are sent through the bloodstream for body scan and these fluoresce when in contact with particular tissues. The amount of concentrated dye in an area can be helpful in spotting problems like tumor or inflammation.

Peptides get drawn to hypoxic and acidic tissues, which are both found in inflammation and tumor sites. Using peptides to cause fluoresce helps in the early detection of tumors. Thus, peptides can be an important weapon to the doctors in fighting life-threating cancers in the early stages.

Aspartame

The zero calorie sweetener that you find in most of the diet beverages these days is also a form of synthesized peptide called aspartame. It was made in the laboratory during the trial runs of anti-ulcer medications when phenylalanine and asparatic acid were combined. It led to the formation of a dipeptide bond which was two hundred times sweeter compared to sugar.

Chemist James M. Schlatter had unconsciously licked this new substance from his fingers leading to the discovery of this fact. Neither phenylalanine nor asparatic acid is sweet on its own.

So, did you ever think that peptides can be everything from your anti-aging cream to your daily sweetener? The multiple uses and the amazing benefits of element truly leaves one surprised after all!

Did you know there is a method that is even better than incineration? For many years, incineration was regarded as the best method to handle hazardous and infectious medical waste disposal. While it is still a viable method, in the following article we will discuss why using another, more modern approach can be even more beneficial for medical facilities who need treat dangerous waste on a daily basis.

Infectious medical waste disposal through incineration: why has it become obsolete?

As for the disposal of hazardous medical waste, incineration was indeed one of the most prominent method in use. While there are still many who choose to go with this technique, other solutions have gained a tremendous popularity in the last years.

So why was incineration such a popular infectious waste disposal method? Because it worked of course! Its effectiveness is still unrefuted today. While the pros to this approach are crystal clear, it is its cons which have led to the success of other, more modern techniques. One of the main issues in today’s world is environmental preservation and the sustainment of green practices, and incineration certainly doesn’t help in this regard, since it emits a significant amount of atmospheric pollution into the air, such as smoke, ash, toxic gases, not to mention bad odors, which are just plain bothersome.

Another significant disadvantage is the fact that incinerators require high investment and operating costs. So in the 21^st century, it is understandable that a method that isn’t optimal from either an economic or environmental side, cannot be considered as the best anymore.

So what method could be considered as being “the best” today?

The rise of infectious medical waste shredders: safe and fast on-site disposal

On-site medical waste shredders are a perfect example of what could be considered one the best ways to tackle issue of hazardous medical waste disposal. Especially if you use a model that incorporates steam sterilization as well: the most modern models are essentially a 2-in-1 solution, by combining the benefits of autoclaves with shredding.

Compared to incinerators, they are also much cheaper to operate, and produce zero harmful emissions. Not to mention the complete lack of any bad odors. What’s more, a medical waste shredder is also extremely user-friendly, as it completes the sterilization and shredding process completely automatically: you don’t even have to close the door yourself!

Of course, it’s not just a matter of being more cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and easy to use. Cutting edge technology also allows medical waste shredders to work more effectively than incinerators. Even if you put dangerous infectious medical waste like sharps inside the vessel of the machine, after the disposal process it will be completely sterile, and roughly 20% its original size. After that, you can just get rid of it like any other kind of “normal” waste!

Medical waste shredders are also highly efficient at completely destroying heat-resistant chemicals, drugs, and toxic medical waste, an area in which the efficiency of incinerators cannot be 100% guaranteed.

One of the advantages of the development of the cannabis industry is the fact that cannabinoids like CBD are widespread and now available in various CBD infused products. Oil formats, vaporisers, edibles, or topical products, each customer can find CBD option that will suit his or her preferences and body needs. Whether you are a beginner or advanced CBD user, you should know the correct ways how to store your CBD. In this guide, you will explore the difference in a variety of CBD products & get the main recommendations to the right products’ storage.

Cannabidiol (or simply CBD) is everywhere nowadays, helping people around the globe to treat different medical conditions, disorders and ailments. Multiple beneficial effects, healing properties and potential uses make CBD products worth considering as an aid to various issues: from sleep deprivation, stress and depression, to inflamed skin areas, severe diseases and post-workout recovery.

CBD is considered a food and health supplement, which requires simple rules similar to storing traditional dietary supplements. Knowing how to store each type of CBD product properly allows consumers to prolong the shelf life of their products and enjoy CBD benefits for a longer period.

Careful storage of CBD not only helps protect its effectiveness, while also saving the vital cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other components in the composition of particular CBD item. Also, the way you store your CBD products is your priority to safe consumption and risk-free CBD treatment.

CBD Capsules It’s recommended to store CBD capsules in a cool, dry and dark place. The capsules are usually packed in opaque or dark bottles or jars to help protect content from possible sunlight, moisture and heat.

Also, you can store your CBD capsules in a refrigerator, yet make sure you keep the required temperature often provided on the bottle. This is a great option for people that live in an area where homes are very hot and humid.

CBD Topicals

Proper storage of CBD topical products may differ, depending on the purchased type of topicals and how they were made.

CBD topical creams can be stored in the refrigerator if you prefer a more cooling sensation during application. Applying such cream to face or body parts can be refreshing and tonic, especially in the morning.

If your CBD products include beeswax or you use salve or rub, the general rule is to keep them in a cool and dry place to prevent from melting and maintain special solid consistency.

CBD Vape

If you prefer to use a disposable CBD vape pen, a pre-filled cartridge or add CBD vape liquid to different vaping devices, all products should be kept a cool, dark place.

If you are purchasing CBD vape juices, make sure the bottle is dark and opaque and stored in heat, moisture and light-free place.

When you aren’t using your CBD vape, consider to store it upside down while mouthpiece should be facing the bottom. This can help to keep the liquid away from the heating system, prevent leaks, device breakage and other dysfunctions. Whenever you want to use your vape, turn it in an upright position, allowing the liquid to flow down toward the heating

element. Wait until the liquid finally reaches the element. Don’t press the button to heat it before the liquid has completely filled the element.

CBD Tinctures

When it comes to keeping CBD tinctures, the rule is simple – just store these products in a cool and dark place. You can also keep tinctures in the refrigerator unless the manufacturer specified otherwise. If you decided to keep your CBD tinctures in your fridge, hold them under warm water for a few seconds before use and then shake well to avoid thickening.

Most CBD manufacturers prefer to use dark coloured bottles due to the sensitivity of hemp CBD extract to light. Consider choosing the dark CBD bottles to help protect the liquid inside from spoilage caused by sunlight and heat.

CBD Edibles

As for CBD edible products, recommendations for the right storage depends on the type of edible. CBD beverages are best to keep in your refrigerator. Baked CBD edibles such as cookies, chocolate and others should be stored in a cool, dry place or in the fridge, similarly no non-CBD goods of the same kind. CBD infused candies and gummies can be kept at room temperature, away from heat and light.

Due to variety of CBD based products, suggestions for storage of certain product may differ. Let’s draw attention to standard rules and best options of keeping your items safely.

Basic Rules For Storing Your CBD Products Correctly:

1. Keep CBD Out Of Direct Light

CBD products might lose their potency when exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged time. Keep them away from the counter, car dashboard and windows that have sun exposure.

The most suitable place to store CBD is a pantry, low cabinet, refrigerator, cellar, or a basement that are dark, dry, and cool. Also, you can wrap CBD item with aluminium foil for additional protection.

2. Store CBD Away From Heat

Heat can also damage your CBD products as well as change the properties of the CBD content. Store CBD away from extreme heat, direct sun rays, window, stove, range, oven or equipment that gives off heat. _{3. Prevent Exposure To Air}

Much like heat and light, exposure to air can degrade the product and its effectiveness. Most CBD products are packed in airtight containers that were specially designed to avoid contact with air and safe content from environmental factors.

Try to keep purchased products in the original packaging that was tested for quality assurance. After every use, ensure to seal the packaging tightly to prevent air from entering.

4. Use Adequate Containers

If you would like to transfer your CBD product, make sure the new container is made of glass, dark, durable and appropriate for long-term storage. Plastic containers might damage the integrity of a CBD infused product in case of extended storage.

Final Thoughts On CBD Storage

Now when you know how to store each CBD product properly, it can help you prevent them from crystallising or spoiling. Keeping your CBD products with proper care is useful for preserving their quality and protecting the beneficial ingredients in the product.

The best way to keep any CBD product fresh and safe is to keep it in an upright position in a place with a permissible and stable temperature, away from light, heat, or moisture.

If the CBD seller offers storage suggestions on the product label or the website, it’s advised to follow those recommendations and storage techniques, which are always tested for effectiveness.

Once your CBD item seems to have an unpleasant or strange smell, consider to refrain from the use of such product and replace it with a new fresh one.

It doesn’t really matter if according to John Hopkins University coronavirus map only 4 out of 100 people with coronavirus can expect a fatality. You have to stay at home as that is what every health department in every country around the world is recommending. In this guide, we will take a look at some of the ways in which you can stay at home and not get sick with boredom. In other words, this is the guide for people who want to keep entertainment while they wait out the coronavirus.

The first piece of advice would be to try and do nothing. Yes. Sometimes, doing nothing and sitting for a while can clear up your mind in ways you would never expect. For some, just sitting down and thinking about non-work related things brings all the benefits of expensive therapy.

Of course, this is not the first time people have been told to stay at home because of dangers outside. Just a few short years ago when the California wildfires caused the quality of air in the state to rise to dangerous levels, people eventually did find ways to keep busy and entertain themselves while at home.

Here are the best 3 ways to keep yourself entertained that don’t involve you sitting down and doing nothing.

Watch Movies

If you have been putting off watching movies because of work, now would be the perfect time to catch up on them. Of course, you are going to have to renew your subscription to either Amazon Prime Video or Netflix. Academy Award-winning movie Parasite, reportedly, is great and you can stream it via Amazon Prime, Vudu and/or Google Play. For Hulu subscribers, it will be available no earlier than April 8.

And if you are in the mood to watch something with your family then you can’t go wrong with Disney Plus that just added Toy Story 4 to the library.

Maybe you want something consistent with the current unsettling times. In other words, horror movies. Believe it or not, watching horror movies can sometimes be consolatory and even cathartic. Modern horror movies do a tremendous job of using made-up fictional scenarios to scare the life out of audiences. There is no doubt that coronavirus sounds scary.

However, for all the fear surrounding the virus, there is absolutely zero chance of zombies rising up and coming to eat us all. That means TV series like the Walking Dead are out. What we want you to watch is Get Out. Or A Quiet Place. Both are horror movies that do not make use of ugly monsters or spirits to scare you.

According to firestickblog.com you can install tons of official and “unofficial” apps on a Firestick and FireTV so you can stream almost anything you want.

Use Social Media Apps

Whether a man is a social animal or not isn’t something we’re interested in discussing here. But what research has shown time and time again is that socializing can improve health and longevity. So try and keep in touch with your friends and family. Sometimes, reconnecting with an old friend that you forgot to keep in touch with is a great way to feel good about everything. Yes, this is a perfect time to use phones. Or try out something more modern like Skype and FaceTime. If you have enough time and are willing to put in some effort, then writing a letter or an email message can do wonder as well. Make use of the many social media platforms in positive ways that provide you with thoughtful content. Places like Reddit and Quora are great for finding out more about what your interests and hobbies are.

Bonus: Exercise

There is plenty of exercise stuff you can do at home. Pushups are a crowd favorite. You can also try out Yoga without any weird sun salutations. There are many apps and YouTube videos that help you with working out at home. Places like Buzzfeed even have a guide on how to do the best Yoga possible at home.

 

In case you have been searching for the perfect background music for your project, search no more. Discover an excellent collection of royalty-free music designed for your project when you subscribe to the music library. The platform offers tracks ideal for projects such as social media, ads, games, websites, software, apps, podcasts and many more.

TakeTones offers stunning music tracks as well as the best artworks to help you save time from searching and selecting. All you need is to type the keyword on the search bar and the search algorithm will showcase what your ideal track. In case you are not sure whether the track you have selected is perfect for your project, they provide options for all versions on offer.

Tired of music libraries that offer cloned generic music? They offer unique, fresh and new tones that always give you the chance to discover the perfect tune for you and in the shortest time possible. All the music available on the platform is free from any legal issues or loyalty fees. They offer 5 types of licenses that allow you to use the music perfect for your project.

Customize your background track

The platform is a royalty-free music library that enables you to select well-developed music genres. The platform offers a selection of excellent licensed tracks to ensure that you don’t get into trouble with copyright violations. They also offer you a diverse range of loops and shorts where each track can be personalized to suit your needs. You can try a few parts of a track; cut them the way you want and produce a customized and generic sound ideal for your project. Irrespective of the type of license that you select, you do not have to worry about frequent communication with the composers of the music for your project.

If you are looking for a fascinating short track for your project, the music library is your go-to place. The platform also allows you to select light and inspiring tracks to help your project deliver the feeling of love with a customized royalty-free track. They have a list of special tracks ideal for any project to help you customize the project the way you want and even much better.

Some of the benefits that you can enjoy when you subscribe to the music library include; a convenient selection of tracks, unlimited subscription downloads, and constantly updated track collections.

If you have a project that requires unique and high-quality royalty-free music, I can recommend that you check out the platform any day and you’ll enjoy their services and music collection. For more information, you can check on their website at taketones.com.

In life, it may seem like you are constantly footing the bill for one expensive thing after another. And unless you were born with a silver spoon in your life, you will probably have to find a way to pay for these kinds of moments. Knowing what types of loans are available out there is a good start. Here are some of the loans you will probably have to take out in your life, so it is best to be prepared for them when the need arises.

Car Loan

The car loan is probably the first loan you will take out in your life. It seems that once your senior year comes around in high school, you get that itch to get your own vehicle. Along with it comes the need for a job, too, of course. There will definitely be a need for your parents to cosign this loan as well. The real world will hit you and you will probably start paying off that car loan even before you reach your 18th birthday. Welcome to adulthood!

College Loans

If you choose to pursue college after graduating from high school (in this world, you may be just fine avoiding college and picking up learning a trade instead), you can count on some expensive college loans. Isn’t it crazy to borrow $15,000 a year for the next four years to simply land a job that pays you $30,000 a year to start? You could be paying off those college loans well into your forties! If you choose to go to college, there is no shame going with a junior college for the first couple of years. You could cut your loan amount significantly if you do!

Mortgage

This is the big one, so choose the financial institution that is providing this loan carefully. They may try to sell you on a 30-year mortgage, but a 15-year mortgage will not cost you that much more per month and it will end 15 years earlier. Shop wisely and find a place that will give you the lowest interest rate. This will probably be the biggest purchase in your life as houses don’t come cheap, so be prepared.

Other Loans

You may also eventually need a personal loan, small business loan, or even a payday loan down the line. Look everywhere you can for the best rates. Luckily, you can find loans in Montreal that are pretty competitive.

We live in a tech-savvy world in which digital technologies have touched every corner of our lives – yet it pays not to be too arrogant. There are still a fair few lessons we can learn from the past. Indeed, the very best books have a timeless quality. They might have been written in an era well before many of today’s inventions were even thought of, yet are still able to tell us something about the present world.

Here’s five books from the past that we can all read and learn from today…

Edwin Lefèvre’s ‘Reminiscences of a Stock Operator’

First on this list is a book that has some genuinely useful tips for the modern-day trader. We might all think of the world of finance as being a high-end advanced world fuelled by technology – and that’s right – but this book speaks across the ages to things all traders still encounter. Edwin Lefèvre’s ‘Reminiscences of a Stock Operator’ featured prominently in IG’s Top Ten Trading Books, with the company’s specialists saying that it contains valuable lessons for people opening up trading accounts for the first time today.

Well-written – and, in reality a biography of legendary trader Jesse Livermore – the people reading this book will recognise the self-same challenges, failures and successes from near-100 years ago as posed by the markets to people learning how to trade today.

IG Dealer Ludwik Chodzho-Zajko said: “It’s fascinating to read about someone that lived so long ago that basically goes through the same thoughts and emotions that you would today if you’re just starting out as a trader.”

Sun Tzu’s Art of War

On face value, this is a 2,500-year-old military text. Yet looks can be deceiving. There’s a reason why this book features high on the reading lists of business leaders and politicians to this day – and that’s because of the key life lessons it teaches us.

Again, don’t be fooled by the military aspect of the text. As Patrick Kim notes, the lessons it contains are relevant for us all and include:

• Knowing when to pick your battles
• Taking the opportunities posed by change
• How success breeds success

It’s a competitive world out there – and the Art of War can get you ready for it.

Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations

This 1776 text sets out the fundamental foundations for economics and, given the turbulent financial world we’re now living in, it pays for us all to understand this a little better. If you want to understand why so many people value the ‘free market’ and still fiercely want to protect it from government interference, Smith is the man to turn to.

As Investopedia notes: “The core of Smith’s thesis was that humans’ natural tendency toward self-interest (or in modern terms, looking out for yourself) results in prosperity. Smith argued that by giving everyone freedom to produce and exchange goods as they pleased (free trade) and opening the markets up to domestic and foreign competition, people’s natural self-interest would promote greater prosperity than with stringent government regulations.”

Others might have picked at Smith’s thesis – but no-one could argue that his words aren’t still influential to this day.

George Orwell’s 1984

It’s hard to think of a book that’s done as much to inform and shape modern culture as Orwell’s dystopian novel. In the digital age, issues surrounding surveillance, freedom of speech, ‘fake news’ and authoritarianism are even more marked than ever – and Orwell’s work has certainly stood the test of time as a warning against the potential dangers of all of those trends.

Such is the cultural impact of the book that Dorian Lynskey even wrote a biography of it. In a piece for the Observer, he explained: “Nineteen Eighty-Four has not just sold tens of millions of copies – it has infiltrated the consciousness of countless people who have never read it. The phrases and concepts that Orwell minted have become essential fixtures of political language, still potent after decades of use and misuse: newspeak, Big Brother, the thought police, Room 101, the two minutes’ hate, doublethink, unperson, memory hole, telescreen, 2+2=5 and the ministry of truth. Its title came to define a calendar year, while the word Orwellian has turned the author’s own name into a capacious synonym for everything he hated and feared.”

Mary Wollstonecraft’s The Vindication of the Rights of Women

We might like to think that we live in enlightened times in the modern era, but the fight for equality goes on – especially when it comes to closing the gender pay gap, getting diversity into modern boardrooms and giving disabled people better access to the workplace.

A timely – and timeless – reminder of that comes from Mary Wollstonecraft. In selecting this as one of their ’50 books that changed the world’, OEDB hailed this as the ‘first great treatise on feminism’. It wrote: “She argued that women are deserving of an education that is proportionate to their position in society, that of educators and companions. Wollstonecraft demonstrated that inequality is not only morally and ethically wrong, but is also economically and socially irresponsible.”

This engaging account offers a useful shot in the arm to anyone who may have become complacent about the march of progress.

Roger Wolfson is a former Senate aide (Kerry, Lieberman, Wellstone, and Ted Kennedy) and current TV writer (Law and Order: SVU, The Closer, Saving Grace) who has written speeches for members of Congress, Senators, Governors, and Presidential candidates.

Here’s my hope.  That those of you who watch this on TV, or find this video online, please recommend it to the first Republican you can think of.  Because I’m trying to do something that is increasingly rare in this day and age.  I’m trying to reach across the aisle.  Across the great and unfortunate divide of this nation.

I’m inspired by a great American experiment from years back, something called the Pepsi Challenge.  Where Pepsi had the brilliant idea to go into malls and fairs and town centers, set up a card table, pour some Pepsi and Coke into unlabeled paper cups, then let consumers with already established brand loyalty discover for themselves which product they actually preferred.

Kind of an intriguing idea, wasn’t it?  First, the challenge removed all labels and identifiers from the two dominate players in an American arena where choices are traditionally based on entrenched habit, commonality, and loyalty.  Where preferences are passed down from parent to child, parent to child.  Where one brand is signified by the color red; the other by the color Blue.   The challenge distilled both brands down to their unadorned essence, taking Americans behind the curtain of image, appearance, and – indeed – ideology.  Only then, did the challenge asked them to choose.

The analogy seems to work politically, too.  Both political parties have distinct, refined brands, fashioned over the years by brilliant people at great expense.  They’ve been focus-grouped and sold to the American people at a cost of billions of dollars a year.  The result is: we think that the differences between the parties are personal differences.  We are taught to think that there is something wrong with people who affiliate with the “other” party.  We come up with ways to separate ourselves from them.  Increasingly, most of the people in our neighborhood, our workplace, our schools – and certainly our Congressional districts – belong to our party, not the other.

We drink Coke.  Or we drink Pepsi.

But when is the last time any of us asked ourselves what the point of a political party really is?  Is it a means of allowing us to stand apart from others?  Is it a means of broadcasting our personal set of individual preferences?  Or – is the point of a political party to present an effective method of governing our Nation?

As much as brands like Coke and Pepsi may want you to think that their products can define your persona and set you apart from others, isn’t the purpose of drinking a soft drink really just to quench your thirst in an appetizing way? And as much as political parties may want you to believe that belonging to a party is a great way to define who you are, isn’t the purpose of a political party to govern well?

So I decided to put together a challenge for myself.  Simply put, I do believe that the purpose of a political party is to govern, effectively.  And effective government, as it turns out, is something that can be measured.

So, I asked a bipartisan group of researchers to come up with metrics that define effective governance and put together this test.  And I’m going to take that test now. I invite you to join me. As you can see, I have two blank cups here.  I’m going to ask a short series of questions that have nothing to do with image, that only have to do with results.  I’ll keep track of my answers, and I ask that you do the same.

I’m going to call this the Party challenge.

First up.  The economy – perhaps the most important political issue for most Americans.  One simple, clear, and relatively accepted measure of whether the government is managing the economy effectively is whether the stock market goes up or down while a party is in power.  As it turns out, over the last fifty years, one political party has had a significantly better impact on the stock market than the other.  So – without knowing which party is which, are you the kind of person who prefers the stock market go up?  Yes or no?

Another important indicator of effective governance is the ability to balance the budget.  Over the last fifty years, one party has slowed the increase of the deficit, and even created a surplus, much more often and consistently than the other party.  So – do you prefer the government balance the budget?  Yes or no?

How about education.  Under the rule of one party, American students have increased their level of excellence in relation to the rest of the world, while under the rule of the other party, our students have lowered their standing.  Do you prefer American students to do better in comparison with students around the world?

Now we come to the middle class.  Are you the kind of person who prefers the American middle class to grow – without causing any harm to the wealthy?

On a related note, do you prefer the incomes of working families to go up?

Now let’s take a question that addresses our values.  Some values actually can be measured numerically.  For example, there are some states that are traditionally Democratic and other states that are traditionally Republican.  And in one set of those states, divorce rates and teen births are lower than the other. Based on your values, do you prefer that divorce rates and teen births stay down?

OK.  If you said no to a majority of these questions, then you are aligned with the party written on the back of this cup, here.  If you said yes to a majority of these questions – like I did – then wherever you are from, whatever you believe, and however you have voted in the past – you (and I) are actually aligned with what the party written on the back on this cup has actually done.

(Reveal it’s the Democrats).

No judgment.  No advertising.  Just facts, the source of which you can find posted on my website.  Over the last fifty years, under Democratic Presidents, with Democratic Congresses, the stock market has risen higher and remained stronger than when we have Republican Presidencies and Republican Congressional control.  The Government has actually spent less money.  American Students have done better compared to their international counterparts, the Middle Class has grown more rapidly or at least declined less rapidly, with no loss in value for the wealthy, and the incomes of working families have risen faster, or declined less.

So – can we all ask ourselves – does it really matter what a political party’s brand says about that party?  Or should it matter more what that party actually does?

We’ve gone to war less often when under Democratic control.  Our deficit has grown less, or even been turned into a surplus, under Democratic control.  Our trade deficit has grown less, too, meaning we’ve done better compared to the rest of the world.

Are you against crime?  Violent crime is lower in states under Democratic rule, and goes down nation-wide under Democrat rule.  Which matters more to you – the amount of taxes you pay, or the amount of money you end up with after taxes?   Because while nationally taxes may go up under Democratic rule, actual take-home pay rises even faster.  Are you for jobs?  Over the last fifty years, Democratic Presidents have created twice as many jobs as Republican Presidents.

The results are clear.  There are many reasons, and may differences in approach, that lead to those results. But to me, the simplest reason is perhaps the most important.  I don’t believe Democrats are better or smarter or more patriotic or more principled than Republicans.  But Democrats, even if they have reservations about the government, tend not to hate or disparage the Government, like so many of my friends do, even respectfully so, in the Republican party.

We all agree that the government works for us.  It’s our employee.  Let me ask the small business owners among us: who is the better manager – the one who dislikes his employees?  Or the one who respects, seeks to understand, and seeks to work with his employees?  And – which manager is going to consistently get better results?

I put it to you, I put it to my colleagues, I put it to all of us. Take this challenge.  Ignore the commercials, the advertising, the slogans.  Focus on the results.  It is perhaps the greatest act of courage to set aside our pre-conceived notions, especially those we consider to be defining characteristics. I’m asking that level of bravery. I’m asking for your valuable minds and valiant efforts. Because this country isn’t getting any younger – none of us are – and we don’t need branding, anymore.  We don’t need divisiveness anymore.  We need help, we need results, and we need you.

Smart homeowners are always finding new ways to be responsible with their money so they can pay down their mortgages faster. Being responsible with your finances begins with having a stable income. However, it’s crucial to find ways to make your money grow so you can invest in your future.

Having an offset mortgage is one way to invest in your future by reducing the amount of money paid on your home loan. An offset mortgage blends a traditional mortgage with a special savings account held with the same financial institution. The money held in that savings account is used to offset your mortgage balance.

If you’re a homeowner and you haven’t considered opening an offset mortgage account, you’re missing out on a great way to save money. With a significant savings account, you could end up paying twice as much on your mortgage in just a few years.

Curious about how it works? Here’s what you need to know about this special kind of account.

1. You can pay down the principal rather than the interest

Paying back a mortgage loan requires paying a significant amount of interest. With an offset mortgage, you can make small payments on the principal instead of just paying down the interest. The more payments you make, the smaller your principal gets, which means your interest payments are also reduced.

For an in-depth understand of how an offset mortgage works, read this detailed guide published by Investopedia.

2. Interest is calculated less the amount in your offset savings account(s)

What makes an offset mortgage so attractive is the fact that the interest is calculated on the remaining balance of the mortgage minus the amount of money in the offset savings account(s). You will always have access to your offset savings account. However, you don’t want to withdraw money from the account. Withdrawing money from your offset savings account will cause your next mortgage payment to be calculated on a higher principal balance.

Use this offset mortgage calculator to see what you’re likely to save using this special program.

3. Family members can link their savings accounts to offset your mortgage

Provided your family members hold a savings account with the same financial institution as your mortgage, they can connect their savings accounts to help offset your mortgage. If your family members are willing to connect their accounts and they don’t touch the money in those accounts, you could reduce your mortgage payments by a significant amount each month.

Having family members connect their accounts is a likely scenario if everyone lives under the same roof. Even family members don’t live under the same roof might be willing to help out if they don’t need immediate access to their savings.

If your family members need to use some of their money in savings, with a high enough balance you’ll still save more money than if their savings account wasn’t connected to offset your mortgage.

4. You don’t have to pay tax on the interest you save

An offset mortgage comes with some great tax breaks. When you have an offset mortgage, you won’t be paying tax on the interest you save. This simple tax break can save you thousands.

A word of caution to U.S. citizens

An offset mortgage is a wonderful option, but tax laws prohibit this practice in the United States. However, CNN Money reported that two U.S.-based companies created a similar program that does comply with IRS regulations.

The program that works in the U.S. is taking out an adjustable-rate mortgage and depositing your paycheck into your mortgage account. Technically, this offsets your principal and lowers the amount of interest you pay. This system mostly benefits people who get large bonuses they don’t need to use for daily survival.

In other words, you’ll only benefit when you don’t need to use the money you put in your mortgage account. This method functions like an offset savings account, but you’re depositing money directly into your mortgage account.

Always check the interest rates first

While the idea of using your savings account balance to offset your mortgage is a wonderful idea, sometimes the interest rates are higher. However, banks are starting to offer better deals, at least to those with large mortgages. Larger loans are more profitable to banks so it makes sense for banks to favor those with large home loans.

Before signing any papers, make sure the interest rate you’re agreeing will make a difference. If you weren’t offered a special interest rate for having a large mortgage, be diligent about the details.

By comparing the very first slot to the modern video machines now available, we can easily claim that the casino industry has never stopped evolving and making big steps forward.

Many people wonder what the future of online casino will be and whether the online slot industry will stop growing eventually and what the consequences of this can be. Try some slots spil gratis here.

History of slots

We cannot answer the question regarding the future of online slots without talking about their history first. It was 1884 when the first slot appeared in the market. Called Liberty Bell, the first machine was a one-armed bandit launched by the American Charles Fey.

Very easy to use, the very first slot was formed by 3 reels and 3 pay lines. You just needed to pull the lever down to start playing.

At the beginning of 1900, due to the strict control of crime on the casino industry, slot machines suffered from a setback. We have to wait for 1950 to see the first electromechanical machines and for 1975 for the first video machines.

The 21st century has marked the end of an era and the start of another one. Since the first online casinos were launched, playing slots has become a comfortable experience. More than ever.

From the physical casinos to the bet rooms

The growth of online casinos has made slot machines accessible to everybody. Any time they want. Another great introduction that has made playing games more entertaining than ever has been the launch of bet rooms.

Far away from crowdy casinos, players can play slots and enjoy themselves in a more relaxed environment. And maybe get some new friends too.

The growth of ‘mobile casinos’

In the last years, the mobile revolution has made casino games loadable on any device including smartphones and tablets.

It is now possible to sign in to your favourite casino and play the games you like the most on your mobile phone whenever and any time you want.

This has also had an impact on the target of people who play these games. The initial restricted target has evolved. Everybody plays now, from the millennials to the older generations, and statistics show they belong to every social class.

New developments in technology

The latest advancements in technology like the virtual and augmented reality, the rise of cryptocurrency and virtual money which have made making payments safer and quicker and the development of a more advanced (and stunning) graphics have had an impact on slots too.

You can now live an immersive (and unforgettable) experience by playing your usual game in virtual reality while remaining enchanted by their perfect graphics and its addictive special effects. All of this with the maximum level of safety. Thanks to blockchain, your personal data are inaccessible by other people (as well as your payment information).

So, is there an end to the growth of the online slot industry? Moving hand in hand with technology advancements, it’s hard to predict a possible end. Also, the appreciation they have gained by casino players makes unlikely to believe they’re near to a decline.