Guide to Buying a Flat-Screen TV
Guide to Buying a Flat-Screen TV

The living room is incomplete without a TV. With television technology growing leaps and bounds, TV viewing experience has reached new heights. There is a wide choice of flat-screen TVs that offer superior picture quality. That is why it can be confusing to select the best TV for your home. Here is what you need to consider when you decide to buy a TV for your home:

Room size

Factoring your budget, the TV screen size must be in sync with your room size. Bigger sized rooms can accommodate big screens, as big as 65-inch flat screen TV, whereas if the size of your room is small, you may have to settle for a smaller screen, say a 32 inch or a 40 inch TV.

Display type

When you choose to buy a flat-screen TV, you have a choice of 3 displays; LCD, LED and Plasma. While Plasma TVs offer the highest resolution with excellent picture quality, they are very expensive. Panasonic, LG and Samsung manufacture Plasma flat screen TVs. Plasma TVs have a bigger screen size—42 inches, 65-inch flat screen TV and many in between. When it comes to affordability, LCDs fit the bill. You can find LCD flat screen TVs in smaller screen sizes—42 inches and less. Suitable to be installed in bright rooms and consuming less power, LCD TVs, however, offer minimum viewing angles. LCD flat screen TVs are the popular choice and a number of brands offer LCD flat screen TVs at competitive prices. LED TVs are similar to LCDs, but with added backlighting. They are energy efficient compared to LCD TVs and have super thin panels with better picture quality. The colors are vibrant. Of course, when it comes to picture quality, nothing can beat the Plasma 65-inch flat screen TV.

Best flat-screen TVs

With myriad choices of flat screen TVs, it is indeed tough making a buying decision. Here is the list of the best and top rated flat screen TVs.

Vizio M701d-A3R

This is a high definition smart TV that features an improved user interface. Being a smart TV, it offers internet connectivity, enabling you to access a multitude of online apps. The TV delivers full HD viewing in high resolution, with its 3D technology offering cinema-like quality. The refresh rate at 240Hz eliminates blurring and as a viewer what you get is unparalleled, crisp and rich viewing experience.

LG47LN5700

One of the best in 65-inch flat screen TV, this smart TV offers excellent internet connectivity enabling you to streamline content of your choice. Whichever external device you choose, this smart TV offers seamless access. There is also the option to personalize the dashboard. So, your favorite channels can be easily reached. What you get from this TV is an excellent 1080p resolution in high definition. This LED flat screen TV comes with inbuilt Wi-Fi technology allowing you access to NetFlix, Amazon Videos, YouTube and Hulu Plus. On top of all these standout features, there is also an intuitive magic remote. With this remote, you can use gestures and voice to control the video content.

Samsung UN40EH5000

Coming from the home of the most trusted name in electronics, this LED 65-inch flat screen TV scores high on the green factor. The components used do not harm the environment. It is energy efficient as well. When it comes to picture clarity, nothing can beat this Samsung model. The Eco light sensor gets in the auto-configuring mode to tune the picture quality according to the levels of brightness in the room. If high action movies are your choice, this TV features Clear Motion Rate 120 that nullifies the blurriness. It also features a USB connection enabling you to view photos and play music and movies directly on the TV.

You can fulfill your entertainment needs by buying a quality 65-inch flat screen TV. Choose the best, sit back and enjoy the visual treat.

  • How to communicate with your child

    A baby is a wonderful addition to any family and it brings on much laughter and so many challenges for the new parents. Starting from taking care of an infant to rearing a feisty little toddler who is forever testing the waters (and your patience), there are a number of things that go into becoming a parent to a wonderful child who blossoms well.

    Communication is one of the key traits that all parents need to have. There are many new parents who are mistaken when they think that communication starts only at the toddler phase. In reality, the way you begin to communicate with your infant is what will set the tone for the bond between you and the child when the child starts to grow up. So follow these steps for setting the right tone and forging a good communication pattern with your infant and toddler.

    The Needs of an Infant: The infant has many needs which cannot be well articulated. You will have to learn to listen and decipher the cries of this little one because that is all he or she has when it comes to asking for attention. Mostly, an infant cries when it needs feeding, diaper changing, or is colicky which is also gas that most infants go through at a particular time of the day. This can make them cranky.

    Communicate to soothe: At this phase, it is important for the parent and the baby to feel comfortable with each other. If you panic and get hassled, the infant will only get more cranky as this is the cue that he or she will get from your mood. Instead, you must seek to soothe. When the baby cries, you may want to lift him or her in your arms and talk in a soft soothing voice with encouraging words, or even sing to the baby. You must also develop a night time routine at this phase so that the child knows that it is time to sleep. A massage, a bath or some singing will generally help lull the child into peaceful slumber.

    The Toddler: As your toddler begins to come of age, you will that he or she will try and assert his or her personality in a certain way. This can turn out to be a pretty trying time for most parents, who will find themselves at the receiving end of many tantrums and also, they will find that they are constantly saying no.

    Setting Boundaries with Love: Here, communication is all about body language too. You will need to stoop and meet the young one’s eyes to carefully explain why he or she cannot do a certain thing. Also, develop a bond with play where the child gets to lead you, and read plenty of stories at bed time. Also, start doing activities which the child shows interest in. Take the child on various outings and teach him or her many different kinds of words which can build the vocabulary.

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  • 3 popular online tax calculators

    With the tax season approaching, it is time to assess your income, deductions, and exemptions for filing your federal taxes. With the new tax bill overhauling the entire existing income tax brackets and deductions, it can be quite confusing for some to understand how to calculate their taxes. This is when online tax calculators can be helpful in simplifying the tax calculation process. Here are 3 commonly used tax calculators that have incorporated the new tax brackets, tax rates, and deductions.

    TaxCaster
    This free tax calculator makes it convenient to calculate your federal taxes. It has been updated with the new tax laws. This tool gives an estimation of federal income taxes and provides accurate information regarding how much a person would get back or how much they might owe the state. TaxCaster is an online tax calculator that is available as an app for Android and iOS phones. The app is available in the App Store and in the Google Play Store as well.

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    NerdWallet’s Federal Tax Calculator
    This is one of the simplest online tax calculators. The interface is very easy to use; the form has helpful prompts on the side that makes it simple to give the most accurate information regarding your income, credits, and deductions. The form requires you to provide information about your filing status, income, age, dependents, 401k contributions, and IRA contributions. The form is pre-filled with the standard deductions that are applicable to most people. The deductions field is editable so you can enter whatever deductions apply to you. This tax calculator also requires information regarding previously paid taxes or the amount of money withheld by an employer on an employee’s behalf.

    H&R Block’s Free Tax Calculator
    This online tax calculator is quite a popular tax tool. This free calculator has a simple format; in three simple steps, it easily calculates how much tax you have to pay. This free tax calculator asks questions about your marital status, age, number of dependents, your income, and your expenses. Based on your answers, the tool will calculate the amount of tax you will have to pay or the amount you might get back.

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  • Types of solar panel systems you can choose from

    There are several solar panels available for home installation you can choose from. Following are the types of solar system panels that can be used for powering up several home appliances.

    Monocrystalline
    The type that started it all, monocrystalline panels, originated in the 1950s. The cells are cut from silicon in a cylindrical fashion, each cell resembles the shape of wafer. A group of tens of wafers make up a monocrystalline panel. Monocrystalline panels are generally constructed from high-quality silicon, giving them the highest performance rates in the industry, usually up to 21 percent. Monocrystalline panels outperform thin film as they make wise use of space, offering a high-power yield per square foot.
    Warranties often last for 25 years, as these panels perform better in low-light conditions than their polycrystalline counterparts. Since they are of a superior quality, these panels are also costly. The manufacturing process produces significant waste.

    Polycrystalline
    Unlike cutting silicon in the form of wafer shapes, manufacturers pour silicon into a mold to form polycrystalline panels. Polycrystalline types of panels are a good option for many residential solar panel systems. The manufacturing process produces little waste, and the technology allows for a cost-effective panel. Efficiency is lower, than its other counterparts. The panels require more space when installed to produce the same electrical output as a panel constructed from monocrystalline.

    Thin film
    Thin-film solar panels are manufactured by putting down multiple layers of a photo-voltaic element, such as amorphous silicon or organic photo-voltaic cells. Thin film solar panels are lightweight, and are not affected by factors like shading or obstructions. These panels are easy to mass manufacture, hence they are an affordable option. Most thin-film panels offer very low performance, swinging between 7 and 13 percent, they have an average operating efficiency of about 9 percent. These panels generally require a lot of space. As a result, they are not fit for commercial applications. For most residential installations, with strict space constraints, thin film solar panel systems don’t work well.
    In most cases, thin-film panels don’t last long and quickly succumb to the effects of weather conditions. Hence typically a manufacturer may not offer a long warranty to go along with a thin-film panel.

    There are a number of websites on the Internet that you can use to compare and buy a particular type of panel. Some of the popular websites include wholesalesolar.com, gogreensolar.com, etimates.solar etc.

     

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  • Causes of hair thinning and how to treat it

    Hair thinning is not a pleasant experience, and dealing with it could be a long, complicated and even painful process. Hair thinning mainly and chiefly occurs nowadays due to a combination of stress, hormone imbalance and bad diet.

    Causes

    • The primary cause of hair thinning for both women and men is genetics and heredity and even sex hormones.
    • Hair loss is a permanent feature for women during pregnancy. It also occurs throughout the menopause stage, where one might experience irregular hair thinning.
    • Health issues like Hypothyroidism, Lupus skin disorders, ringworm, aging and scalp infections cause hair fall. Critical diseases like Heart problem, Chemotherapy, Anemia. depression, High blood pressure, and Arthritis can also act out in the form of hair thinning.
    • Vigorous hair styling and hair treatment can also cause hair fall. These include putting the hair in hair weaves, tight braids and twisted buns regularly, as well as applying chemical relaxers to straighten the hair. Even regular use of hair dryers and hair straighteners could cause hair to weaken and fall. Getting hot oil treatments etc. affects the roots and irregular hair growth would occur.
    • Hair coloring is another action which damages the hair. Most of the hair coloring products in town include some or the other forms of chemical agent. If the hair color lasts for three weeks, then it contains chemicals which have been added to strengthen their effects. Hair color opens the hair cuticle, coat the color into the inner layer of hair strands, leading to dryness and lack of luster.

    Treatments
    Some of the most effective treatments for hair thinning include –

    • Using shampoos with mild ingredients, leading a stress-less lifestyle and eating a healthy diet with omega 3s are the easiest ways to care for your hair.
    • Maintaining the hair with gentle, mild organic hair care products will control the hair thinning and hair fall.
    • One can also consult with a doctor if they suffer from serious hair fall for a prolonged time even after taking enough care of their hair.
    • Using natural coloring agents on one’s hair rather than the chemical-based colors will help to control hair thinning to some extent.

    Hair thinning is a reality in today’s stressful times. The key to dealing with it is catching it and taking preventive measures early.

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  • 4 reasons to buy an Apple Macbook instead of a personal computer

    Ever wondered what makes a Macbook special and why they have such a devout group of followers? For those who are new to Apple products, it can be a little daunting to get used to what makes Macbooks different from PCs. Why have they considered a good alternative to buying a full-sized desktop?
    For starters, if you like electronic beauty, in a nutshell, you’d find that in most Apple products. Apple is best known for mixing design, technology, and aesthetics.

    If you’ve always wondered why would anyone in the world want to pay more for a Mac when they can get similarly priced desktops, you’re on the right page.
    To answer your question, let’s take a look at the top four reasons why users prefer buying a Mac.
    Awesome UI
    The Macbook offers a UI which is streamlined, easy to use for new users, and it looks good. It’s simple to figure out how to use, stable and looks uncomplicated. Apple focuses more on the end-user experience rather than technical details. This means its design can make your work experience or personal experience a lot more satisfying.

    Extra Security
    Macbooks are less prone to cyber attacks than their Windows-based counterparts. Its fingerprint sensors and biometric security systems ensure optimal security for new users. You can store up to five fingerprints and switch between user accounts seamlessly with this security system.

    Amazing Apps
    Most apps for Windows have to be purchased and are not included in the package. However, if you want an all-around user experience, you’d find it a pleasant surprise to discover that Macbooks offer the complete package in terms of software. They come with photo and video editing apps, FaceTime, iTunes, iMovie, and much more.
    You’ll be able to make videos, compose music, create playlists, video conference, chat online with friends, and do a lot more on the creative side without any extra purchases. You can listen to music, play games, and frankly speaking, the wide plethora of inbuilt apps make the whole experience a lot richer for users.
    There’s an Apple Store online from which you can download various apps. The Apple Macbook can even run Windows apps, including word processing applications like MS Word, and spreadsheet apps like MS Excel without a problem.

    Installs Windows
    This is the icing on the cake. You can install a Windows OS right into a Macbook, alongside the Mac OS X. This can be a great investment since you can get the best of both worlds at the same time.
    Macbooks are designed to look beautiful, function seamlessly blends design and function artistically. Find your Apple laptops sale locally and make your next PC a Mac.

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  • Top multivitamins of 2018 for women

    From calcium to vitamin D, women tend to miss out on an array of vital vitamins while engaging in the usual rush. This is all the more relevant for women with dietary restrictions, pregnant women, and aging women. Of course, adding certain foods to your diet will be beneficial, but having multivitamins in addition to that is another alternative to ensuring that your body gets all the essential nutrients. So, which are the best women’s multivitamins in 2021? Let us find out. 

    Garden of Life Multivitamin for Women
    We have heard several nutritionists refer to this brand repeatedly. So we can say for sure, this one is indeed one of the best women’s multivitamins in 2021. It is a multivitamin supplement that utilizes raw vegetables and fruits as its sole ingredients and offers women the required nutrition. The Garden of Life is also vital for maintaining women’s reproductive health, all thanks to the presence of folic acid. What’s more? It is an exclusive multivitamin brand that boasts dual certification – non-GMO Project Verified and USDA certified. Additionally, it is a gluten-free, vegan product, and enriched with nineteen essential vitamins and minerals.

    MegaFood Women’s One Daily
    Another great option is the MegaFood Women’s One Daily tablet. It is designed to balance your mood, fill in the nutritional gaps, and boost a healthy stress response. It is the perfect pick for women who are adhering to a specific dietary guideline. These multivitamin tablets do not contain soy, dairy, and gluten. They are also non-GMO, kosher, and vegan. It aids in promoting a healthy response to changes arising from normal hormone fluctuations. In addition, the presence of B vitamins in the tablet boosts nervous system health and supports cellular energy production. 

    Performance Lab Whole-Food Women’s Multi
    Performance Lab is a renowned supplement brand, and their multivitamins are just as good. The Performance Lab Whole-Food Women’s Multi is an affordable and great pick to cater to women’s hormonal and dietary needs. It can offer your body 100% (maybe even more) of your daily requirement of eighteen nutrients, along with ten other nutrients in a generous quantity. Owing to its industry-recognized production standard in manufacturing and quality, it is hugely popular and widely recommended. In addition, it contains no synthetic additives, gluten, soy, GMO, and is allergen and vegan-friendly.

    Rainbow Light Women’s One
    Lastly, we have Rainbow Light’s once-daily multivitamin, packed with an array of health benefits. It will boost your immune health and provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron and vitamin D. It is free from soy and gluten and contains no preservatives, sweeteners, or flavorings. 

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  • Money-wise advice for your 20s

    The 20s are an important time period in one’s lives it’s a time when you’ve begun earning or are pretty much into your first or second job, you have the spending power. However, handling money is not something all of us are equipped with and we need advice and tips lest we are left wanting later in our lives.

    Here are some well-worn money tips for your 20s:

    Negotiate your salary right: If you don’t do this right, your earning potential for the rest of your career will be affected. Make the right connections and seek them out to vouch for you during evaluation. Be proactive and ask for a review six months into the job. This way you will know if you want to stick to the job or not or what else can be done to solve the bump along the way.
    Take advantage of your credit cards: Research and zero-in on a card that will give you rewards you actually benefit from. But that would mean that you would need to pay back in full every month. Balances that are untended to, can mean accumulating interest. So if planned well, you could be covered through the month without hassles and earning rewards like discount and gift card along the way!
    Avoid being fleeced on ATM fees: Avoid withdrawing money from ATMs other than your bank’s ATM. Little costs tend to add up. Withdraw $20 every time you are paid. This will cover for some small and big expenses like meals, tips, paying the valet, etc. Even better, download an app that helps you track the right ATM easily.
    Start saving early: consider saving $100 a month in your twenties, so that you have more than a million by the time you are in your 60’s. but you start saving only during your 30’s you might end up with 50% less than that. Also, start early on a 401k, a Roth or an IRA and, with a good broker, it is never too late to put some money in the stocks.
    Save more: As long as you don’t have a house to pay for or kids to raise, it isn’t much to save 20% of your earnings. This will put you ahead when you want to buy that dream house or have kids who want to go to college. Also, avoid putting money in a stable fund and invest in an equity instead. An equity might seem like a risk, but a stable fund will not see you through inflation.

    Lastly, take charge, be accountable for everything you spend. Once you start noting everything you spend dollars on, you will easily be able to recognize the expenses that are simply a drain on your finances and the ones that are absolutely necessary.

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  • 5 ways teachers can have a great holiday

    To be a good teacher, you must be passionate about educating children and have tons of energy. To keep your energy levels up, taking a holiday from time to time is a must. And there is nothing like budget deals that will help you add a few days of fun to an out of town conference trip or plan a summer holiday. There are some deals though designed just for teachers as a thank you for their services.

    Hotel discount for teachers
    Many hotels offer discounted rates for teachers, lecturers, and professors. In addition, if you work at a public school or at a government funded college, you could ask for government rates which are considerably lower than normal hotel rates. If you have an International Teacher Identity Card you could be eligible for hotel discounts as well as discounts on entry tickets to resorts. Hence, be sure to carry your identification card and to check rates with hotels before you check in.

    Car rentals
    You don’t always have to fly to a far off destination to enjoy a holiday. If you’re planning a short holiday or weekend break, you could consider driving down to one of the towns on the outskirts of your city. Your affiliation to teacher unions and membership such as the NEA can get you great discounts on car rentals, thus giving you the option of picking a more luxurious car. Additionally, you could also get unlimited mileage, assured roadside assistance and much more.

    Take a cruise
    Looking for something different? School teachers and college faculty are often offered special deals by cruise lines. This applies to both active teachers and retired teachers. This discounted cost is inclusive of all your meals and accommodation, so it is more economical than a regular hotel stay as long as you do not add on any excursions or extra services.

    Educator discount programs
    While some holiday resorts and attractions are merely entertaining, others offer a learning opportunity as well. Places like Sea World, the Kennedy Space Center, Legoland and the Art Institute of Chicago run educator discount programs a number of times through the year that gives teachers a discounted or free entry. A quick Google search can tell you if there is any such program running during the time of your vacation or you could call them and find out.

    Travel with your students
    While the idea of a holiday is to relax without stress, planning a trip with your students could be a great way to get a change of scenery and see a new place. Many tour companies offer a free airfare and hotel stay for a teacher accompanying students on excursions. Alternatively, some tour companies may also offer a free training trip for a teacher before an excursion with your students.

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