Everything You Need to Know About Car Loans in AU

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You will seldom come across a person who does not drive his own car. Owning one saves you a lot of time and prevents you from getting tired through travelling. It is often seen that most of the people cannot afford to buy a brand-new four-wheeler outright. They have to opt for a car loan in order to finance a portion of the total price of the car.

If you are also planning to buy your own car, there are several steps you need to follow in order to buy one. First of all, you need to do a thorough research on the car you need to buy. Once that is done, the next big step is choosing the right car loan from a suitable lender. This is where most of you falter badly since majority of you do not know how Buttonwood Finance car loans actually work.

Does Down Payment Have A Significant Effect on Your Car Loan?

You should keep in mind that you can certainly opt for a used or new car without going for a down payment. However, that is not recommended at all. Car dealers do not mind if you do not opt for a down payment. However, this could end up with you paying a large sum of money in interest. When you talk about the down payment, it basically refers to the money that you pay from your own pocket on your new car. The larger the down payment, the better is will be for you. The loan that you will require will be the total price of the car minus the down payment that you make on the vehicle.

What Do You Mean by The Interest Rate?

It is very important that you understand everything about the interest rate on the car loan and how it can affect your auto loan. When you talk about the Balance, it primarily refers to an interest rate as a specific percentage of the principle amount charged by the lender on the actual amount that you borrow. The principle is the total money that you borrow from the lender.

Lenders cover their own costs and also make a profit with the help of this interest rate. There are several factors on which lenders calculate the interest rate that you need to pay along with the loan amount. These factors include your credit score, credit history, loan term, down payment, and type of vehicle.

What Do You Mean by Car Loan Terms?

When you go for a car loan, it simply does not signify the maximum amount you can spend each month in terms of the monthly installments. You will also have to consider the duration for which you wish to pay the monthly installments. When you talk about the terms of a car loan, it simply signifies the time duration it will take you to pay back the loan amount to the lender. These terms can range from 3 years to 6 years. However, in some cases it may be either shorter or even longer.

Guide to Hiring Cabinet Makers Brisbane

Custom cabinets of various shapes, sizes, and looks. It can be fitted in any room, whether it is your bedroom, bathroom or even your kitchen. It is every homeowner’s dream to have custom cabinets in their homes. However, very few can actually fulfil such dreams. This is simply because custom cabinets is nothing simple and definitely not cheap. It is a pretty costly affair and demands proper planning and considerations.

There are several custom cabinet makers around you like www.finedesignfurniture.com.au. All you need to do is search carefully and choose the right one after considerable considerations. It is true that every custom cabinet maker will claim to be the best in their job. However, the truth may be far from what they claim. Here are some tips to help you find the right cabinet maker for your project.

• Word of Mouth: There may be several people whom you know with custom cabinets at their homes. They may be amongst your colleagues or friends or even your families and neighbors. If you know who has such cabinets built in their homes, half the war to find the right cabinet maker will be won. Simply ask the person about the contact details of the professional and discuss your project with him or his company. It will be a good idea to visually inspect the quality of his work in your friend’s or neighbor’s home so that you can get an idea about his expertise. It will also be a good idea to seek the contact details of more than one cabinet maker so that you have some options in your hand.

• Advertisements: You will come across several types of advertisements of cabinet makers that you can refer to in your search for the best professional. You will find such advertisements online, on posters across the town and various other means. Collect the contact details of some of them and pay them a visit individually. If possible, check their showrooms to get an idea about their professionality and craftsmanship. Discuss your project with them and see what they have to suggest. Discussing the same matter with different professionals will give you an idea about how to go about hiring the right professional and how to determine which one is genuine and which one is not.

• Company Websites: If you search online, you will come across several cabinet makers in town with their own company websites. Check their websites carefully. Look for past customer testimonials and their galleries. The testimonials will give you an idea about how good they are in their profession and their galleries will give you an idea about their past projects and their skills in the work. After finalizing a few, you can proceed further and discuss about your job with each one of them.

When it comes to hiring one of the best custom cabinet makers, it is always better to have some options available in hand. The more professionals you discuss with, the better will be your position when it comes to negotiating about the cost of the project.

When to Use Self Storage Sydney

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Short- and long-term self-storage is a perfect place to store things throughout a transitional time or to help increase your home's room. However, when it means getting things correctly, everything points out that just part of the fighting is to find out how to load a storage area. 

You would like to consider a few additional precautions to make sure you're maximizing your resources and maintaining it securely (not to include keeping the operation as simple as possible for yourself). For guidance about how to handle your space like such a pro, pursue the self-storage advice below. Do you ever question why self-storage services were turning up all around the place? 

Who can be bringing users within these Sydney self storage containers  So, why would people need space? We used to have a good overview of who our clients were and why they required to lease out from us, but we managed to check out more. Our clients informed us in a subsequent survey, the principal reason they wanted additional space.

To make up for the pressure of traveling.

As we travel, there are several everyday situations that we recognize ourselves in. Since we move into another country or our first house, relocation is a delicate operation. Paying rent a storage space briefly may also offer a solution to specific movement issues. For several of the reason, most people could lease a storage unit throughout a shift, follow on.

Move to a new House.

In a competitive rental environment, moving up and heading to a different place was not often a simple method that could be completed a day just. Disruptions frequently exist; without a crash-back solution, you might be placed in a serious problem if your possessions are ready to leave. However, your new countries aren't yet accessible. Self-storage is a process for storing your things before when you're happy and willing to transfer stuff into their new house.

To put cars secure in the off-season.

Consumers pack far more than their vehicles. Mobile homes, bikes, and vessels will all be stored at storage unit services throughout the season. Many households will not get a big sufficient road or storage to hold their items, and storage facilities are also among the most convenient storage choices. There are many more places to put a car or automobile than within a shared storage space.

To place a beloved person's possessions.

Walking around their home would not be the first activity on anyone's to-do chart whenever the nearest one dies. Even so, there is generally a desire to have the house cleared before it is rented or leased. When your family member also doesn't downsize in their later years, occasionally, the volume of things could be daunting. 

Consumers that are coping with failure may bring objects into inventory and manage them while items are somewhat fresh. Going to wait for a brief time before going via a beloved one's possessions can make thoughts flow far less dense. An object you should have struggled for could be treated with a little more dignity and less rage once people have recovered slowly.

Conclusion:

In the very same way as the guidance earlier, be cautious when it is time for maintaining your package. When you're dealing with a storage service that needs you to buy your private key, pay a little more of additional cash to find a reliable lock that can't be effectively dealt with adequately. 

Also, a unit with camera systems as well as on-site staff can not accurately inhibit anything from occurring, so sleep soundly by placing a lock on over there that you don't seem to concern about. Please store it wisely. Using some self-storing strategies should probably guarantee that you get the most excellent storage service available and that your packed items are securely maintained and in a unique shape when you're able to retrieve them.

Guide to Brisbane Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing Services

While you drink your tea in your beloved cafes and restaurants window seat, it is indeed great to still have clear, streak-free glasses to gaze across and soak in the natural daylight. In professional window washing, the focus is also placed on the external frame. You are choosing to leave the interior coating exposed to debris, scratches, and chemicals from the exterior surface, which is apparent.

Tidy fencing enhances efficiency:

Filthy, broken joints on the windows will cause leakage, requiring additional effort on your heating and air conditioning. Fogged up and water vapor may allow the accumulation of molds. Congested window or door pathways can also prevent them from correctly having opened. All good causes to do routine maintenance of internal windows.

How many do you have your window frames to wash?

Knowledge in organizations with display windows is likely to require interior glass washing regularly or fortnightly together with the outside to make the grounds functional and welcoming in all directions. Property owners can be likely to extend out their washed windows until a few months as you can see when you click here.

Maintain the glass and sliding gates for their living:

And also, having left your shop front gazing shiny and clean, routine maintenance of the internal glass improves the quality of windows, glass panels, and fins. The build-up of dust and hard water is trapped in the surface, creating cracks and the foggy looks. This also allows color and plastic compounds to worsen with time. If you're close to a busy street or the shoreline, they'll probably have to be washed more often.

Equipment for washing the windows inside:

You will have your window frames glittering effectively with a couple of standard toolkits and a little hard work. You ought to:

• A container rectangle.

• A perfect quality sponge mop.

• Fluid washing dishes, or.

• Stuff designed for washing glass.

• The scratchless mechanism on the scraper.

• It's a Ladder.

• Old cloth and wet wipes.

• A towel with microfiber cloths.

• Windex, or something related.

• Towel produced from cotton.

Strategies for internal window washing with optimal performance:

• Position an altar cloth or towels under the glass on the surface, and covering up pieces surrounding.

• Load the container with water until midway through. Using cool water-too fast dries warm water into the glass.

• Bring a pair of small washing powder splashes. When you favor, you could even implement it straightforwardly onto the scrubbing brush or washer.

• It is the perfect chance to use the scraper to clear thick dust that piles up like droppings from birds and smudges on dirt. Scrape outward to avoid wounds.

• Move to the top left-hand corner to extract the spray, and worm your path down the window from bottom to top, straight to the left. Ensure you go right to the bottom.

• In the center, there could be some watermarks, but it's all right. To wash them clean using the microfiber cover.

• For exterior cleaning service, pursue the very same method.

• You should use the window cleaner product for additional gleaning and then rinse it off with a clean cloth.

• Pour the liquid soap out over glass and using a sponge mop pad to put it in. Do not even ignore the traces of the windows as well as the gate.

• Take the weight on the scrubbing brush strong, and still. Compete for the squeegee between left - hand side, and top and bottom. Go straight through the glass rim.

Conclusion:

We believe our guide shows you how simple it would be to use a power washer to perform most washing duties outdoors. We recognize the joy of owning a house. And that's why we are so pleased to hear stories and experiences of those who utilized the goods.   

But it is also a huge relief to see the tremendous change that the pressure washers could even end up making on a massive range of things such as your home, car, lawn chairs, yacht, Motor home, vehicle, carport, window frames, fence posts, play equipment, sideboard, basement ground and oh goodness, we can go on all day.

Importance of Maths Tutors Adelaide in SA

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There are different subjects that are taught to students in schools and colleges. A common subject that often gives sleepless nights to students is mathematics. The ways numbers are handled in order to solve a math question is simply out of the horizon for many students. It is true that teachers at schools try their best to help their students understand mathematics. However, there are many kids who require additional help with the subject. The best solution is to opt for a maths tutor.

Reasons That Prove the Importance of Maths Tutors

In your quest to find a maths tutor for your kid with Grade A Maths Tutor Adelaide  you will come across many people who will claim to be the best maths tutor around. However, when it comes to mathematics, it is always recommended to go for the best and most experienced teacher around. There are certain reasons that prove the importance of a maths tutor for your kid. Some of these reasons are discussed below.

• Help with The Homework: When a new maths topic is taught in school, kids think that they understand everything. However, when it comes to doing their homework, they consider themselves to be in a dark tunnel with no light on either side. Kids often feel confused when it comes to solving maths questions. With the help of a maths tutor things can seem much simpler for your kid. The tutor can help solve the homework and also teach the same topic once again, which will act as a recap for the kid. This will automatically boost the confidence of the child and help him perform better in school.

• Prepare For The Exam: Mathematics is one of the most important subjects when it comes to graduating from secondary school and get admitted into a reputed college. There are many students who require personalized tutoring in maths in order to clear these exams and earn the best possible scores. Whether you talk about school or college or even professional exams such as SAT and ACT tests, maths is one such subject that will never leave by your side. Thus, instead of running away from it, the best solution is to master the topic with the help of a tutor.

• Comprehend: It is needless to say that maths tutoring is not just about getting good grades in exams and getting into a reputed college. It is all about understanding numbers and the way you need to deal with them. Numbers will be a part of your life for the rest of the journey. Whether you go out to buy something or whether you visit the bank for some monetary needs, numbers will be needed at every step. With the help of maths tutoring, your kid will be able to understand numbers better. There are also several fields of profession where you will not be just asked to answer or solve a maths question but also to explain the theory behind the question. With the help of proper maths tutoring, all of this will be made simple.

Why Is It So Crucial To Seek The Services Of Professional Childcare Experts?

There are several aspects that play a role in the child’s complete development process. Some of the major parts of this process include physical, mental, emotional & social development. Any child would necessarily require a conducive environment that fosters the overall development of all these processes. This is the reason why people are now looking for professional childcare experts.

How Are The Services Of A Professional Childcare Expert So Crucial In Early Learning? 

There are several critical functions in a human being’s life that are developed during the very first five years of the kid’s life. This particular early learning period indeed has a far-reaching influence on the overall future growth, happiness, health, development, and learning achievement of the child. This will also impact on how well adjusted such a child is to the family, school, and the community to which he/she belongs to and interacts every day. 

It is said that the emotional and intellectual developments take place in the initial stage of childhood, and hence, it becomes important that you must look for the proper development of the child. Indeed, the most crucial part of the child’s body that undergoes development in the early years is the brain of the child. In fact, the actual brain architecture would be shaped within just the first three years. 

What this means is that your brain’s functioning & organizational development in your adult years would be influenced by your early childhood experiences. Your learning skills would either be positively or negatively affected depending on what you go through in your early formative years. This is why a conducive initial learning environment is critically crucial in setting you up for a much brighter future. Hence, most of the parents are now investing in seeking the help of professional childcare experts. These individuals have complete insight into the child psychology, and it eventually helps in analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of child and shaping the personality of the child.

Critical Requirements For Young Children 

The speed at which human beings learn during their initial childhood years is vastly greater as compared to the speed of learning later in life. This is the reason something as simple as having a loving & nurturing environment can indeed go a long way in ingraining the right sense of trust, which later makes the child confident and secure. 

Actually, having an affectionate and loving environment would greatly help the overall growth and learning of young children. The attention & encouragement given by professional early childhood educators are sure to produce sufficient mental stimulation, which ensures better mental development of the kid. This is also complemented by good health care as well as having proper nutrition. 

This is also critically important that the designated professional childcare experts know exactly what the child requires at various levels of growth and development. This way, the best of support would be offered to the child, thus ensuring continued growth & development without any detrimental interruptions. 

Early childhood programs also majorly play a critical role in making the right preparations for the kids for school. This is an excellent route in order to bring in the transition from home to school for the kids. Such programs offer a lot of flexibility, which allows the participation of parents, which helps young kids get used to new learning environments away from the familiar. 

Making Sure That The Children’s Rights Are Upheld 

Offering the children the right opportunity to grow & develop in a conducive environment enables them to achieve their full potential. This a critical aspect in upholding the internationally recognized rights of the children. The undivided attention and encouragement given by the professional early childhood educators are sure to produce sufficient mental stimulation, which ensures a comparatively better mental development. This is also complemented by good & adequate health care as well as having proper nutrition. 

It is also important that the caregivers and professional childcare experts know exactly what a child needs at various levels of growth & development  This way, the best support would be offered to the child, thus ensuring continued growth & development without any detrimental interruptions. 

Conclusion 

Thus, the role of the professional childcare experts in the growing and formative years is of major significance and should never be ignored under any circumstances. 

Safe Disinfectant That Can Replace Bleach And Hand Sanitizer

When you run a daycare there are germs literally hiding in every crevice around your home! You have to sanitize the floors, the kids hands, the toys, the walls, the sinks, the doors, pretty much everything you see. 

This amazing disinfectant is going to help get us through the shortage of bleach, hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes!

Hypo-Guard is non corrosive and is totally safe, natural, non-toxic and can be sprayed directly on your skin.

There are a million reasons to try and keep your hands clean these days, and finding supplies to do so seems to be a challenge. 

How great is it to have a product around that nobody is stealing off the shelves before you can get to it? It is amazing! Now when I do brave the stores I don’t have to hunt for hand sanitizer or bleach, I can get my essentials and be on my way! 

Join me and get your supply of Hypo-Guard!

Did I mention they are also 100% local!

Support local businesses and stay safe and healthy!

Hypo-Guard is made from Hypochlorous Acid (HOCI)which is one of the most natural and effective biocides known to man. It eradicates all bacteria, mycobacteria, spores, fungi, viruses – even the tough Clostridium difficile – within 15 seconds. It disinfects 200 to 300 times better than bleach and is 100% safe.

If you wish to order your own here is their contact information:

Website: https://www.hypo-guard.com/

Email: info@hypo-guard.com

Phone (International): 1.833.206.7026

Phone (Local): 778.581.3676

Contact Person: Rodney Warren

The Best DIY Project to Help Healthcare Workers at Home

Looking for ways to help healthcare workers while staying safe in your own home? You can join thousands of Americans donating spare PPE (personal protective equipment) and handmade masks to healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

Thanks to Mask Match, you can make masks following these CDC-compliant guidelines and donate them to essential workers without ever having to leave your home. USPS will even pick up masks from your front doorsteps. This is the perfect quarantine DIY activity for the whole family that allows you to get crafty and help those who are in need of masks. 

Right now, Mask Match is sending masks to areas that need them the most, including the Navajo Nation, small hospitals, migrant communities, and more. So far, Mask Match has donated over 600,000 surgical and homemade masks to healthcare workers. 

Safety and Efficiency: 8 Crucial Points to Remember Before Making Your Own Skincare Product

Homemade skincare products have a long and storied history dating back thousands of years. Many recipes are handed down across the generations, and today, DIY enthusiasts can also turn to the internet for recipes, tips, and more. For those who can’t just ask an older member of their families for time-tested recipes, there are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure safety, though. Read on to find out about eight key points to consider before making homemade skincare products for the first time.

Not All Recipes Found Online Really Work

Not all skincare product recipes work, and some of them can be downright unsafe. When seeking new recipes, try to find one that is at least substantiated by anecdotal evidence. Those who already have a favorite recipe and want to start producing it commercially can look into beauty claim validation to have their products tested and lend credibility to their claims.

Preservatives Are Important

Many of the natural ingredients used in homemade skincare products need to be preserved. Using preservatives protects against mold growth, bacteria, and yeast, all of which can destroy skincare products and render them unsafe to use. Formulas that contain water are especially prone to spoiling and should always contain one or more natural preservatives.

The Wrong Container Can Lead to Contamination

Choosing the right container isn’t just about creating beautiful packaging that showcases the product. It’s also an important aspect of preventing contamination. Choose hygienic containers designed specifically for botanical formulations and use spray pumps instead of open tops whenever possible. This reduces the need for opening the jar repeatedly, which can increase the risk of introducing contaminants.

Measure Ingredients Carefully

Getting a beauty product just right and creating a consistent formula requires precise measurement. It’s best to measure both solids and liquids by weight, as this system for measurement ismore accurate. Use a high-quality scale for precise results and write down all the measurements. Once DIY beauty product makers have come up with the perfect formula, they should convert it to ratios or percentages to make it easier to scale up their production.

Start Small

It’s very difficult to determine an exact expiration date for homemade skincare products, so it makes much more sense to make small batches, at least at first. This will ensure freshness and give home producers the chance to experiment with new ingredients or different ratios. Once they find the perfect mix and determine which preservatives are most effective, they can scale up to larger batches.

Keep Track of pH Levels

Product pH influences everything from which preservatives will work the best to how long skincare products will stay fresh. It also affects the color, scent, look, and feel of the product. Buy some pH test strips and learn how to use them before scaling up production.

Follow Dosage Instructions

Some ingredients found in homemade skincare products can be used in 100% concentration, but many have strict dosage requirements. Essential oils, for example, must be diluted to avoid skin irritation. The same goes for natural preservatives.

The Bottom Line

Making skincare products at home is a fun way for consumers to learn new skills and manage what ingredients they put on their bodies. It’s important to keep safety and product effectiveness in mind, though. Follow the tips above to avoid early spoilage, skin damage, and other serious concerns.

 

3 Tricks of the Trade to Remove Pool Stains

A stained pool can ruin your whole backyard appearance. Tough-to-remove pool stains sometimes need a bit more than just brushing.

 

Pool stains usually fall into these categories: organic, metal, and mineral stains, and each requires a different method to clean and remove. But, help is on the way! Here’s our advice on how to handle even the toughest stains in your pool.

 

Removing organic pool stains

 

You’ll need to use a little elbow grease to removeorganic stains. Luckily, no matter whether you’re trying to remove algae or leaf stains from your pool, all you need to do is follow this simple method to remove most organic stains:

• Shock your pool.
• Apply granular chlorine.
• Allow time for the chemicals to absorb.
• Scrub the area that is stained. 

 

However, for the more effective organic stain removal, try this:

• Balance your pool’s alkalinity and pH levels (pH should be between 7.4-7.6, and alkalinity between 100-150).
• Balancing these numbers will make the chlorine you add much more effective.
• Use a minimum of 2 pounds of calcium hypochlorite pool shock in order to super shock the water.
• You should use one bag per 5-gallon bucket. Slowly mix the shock into the water bucket.
• Shock at night to prevent chemical depletion from the sunlight.
• Leave for a few hours so the shock can circulate.
• Put 1-2 cups of granular chlorine on the organic stain.
• Scrub the granular chlorine well.
• Use a soft tile grout scrubber, if the brush doesn’t work.
• Continue scrubbing the granular chlorine in the area of the stain until it’s gone.
• For especially hard organic pool stains, you can use an enzyme treatment—found at any pool store—to help break down organic substances too stubborn for chlorine alone.

 

Removing metal pool stains

 

Metal pool stains are a bit tougher. You can only use certain chemicals because chlorine just won’t work.

 

How to remove iron pool stains:

 

Ascorbic acid is very efficient for removing iron stains, and you can find it in most stain and scale products. Citric acid is similar to ascorbic acid, but it is more successful at treating copper metal stains. If you aren’t sure what kind of metal it is, you can take a water sample to a pool store to test it, or buy a test kit.

 

For the most successful metal stain removal, follow these steps:

• Use a metal reducer (such as Metal-Free or Metal Klear) to deactivate excess metals.
• Pour a 1/2 pound of ascorbic acid into 10,000 gallons of water.
• For hard stains, sprinkle citric or ascorbic acid directly to the spot.
• Scrub the stain.
• Let the filter run for at least one hour.
• Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 until the stain is removed.
• In the end, pour a metal eliminator pack into your skimmer basket.   

 

Removing mineral pool stains

 

Like waterline stains, these stains are scaly white deposits that usually appear just above the waterline. They’re usually the result of excess calcium in the water.

 

There are three ways to remove these stains:

• Make a 50/50 vinegar-water mix and use it to remove the stain.
• Apply a baking soda and vinegar solution and scrub.
• Apply a salt and lime juice mixture and scrub.

By Pool Troopers

5 Ways Your Child's Classroom Will Look Different After COVID

Ask any teacher, student, administrator, or parent of school-aged kids, and they'll tell you that school looks a whole lot different than it did three months ago. The impact of COVID-19 on education systems around the world has been stark. Millions of students traded classrooms for Zoom chats, and educators at nearly every level are struggling to adapt to a completely new way of educating young people. 

And it's not even June yet. 

As this unprecedented school year winds down and (hopefully) the global pandemic does as well, educators will be left with a lot of new information to absorb about the effectiveness of online education curriculum, tools, and pedagogical theory before classes resume again in the fall. 

No one knows exactly what awaits in September and in the years beyond, but there are predictions that can be made based on trends already in place leading up to school closures, and the implications of the developments over the last few months.

Brainly's Chief Business Officer, Eric Oldfield, is an expert in online education trends and a father of two school-age children himself. He's compiled five predictions for the future of learning in a post-COVID world. 

"To say that these are unprecedented times is an understatement," Oldfield said. "Even as we all grapple with the only constant in this environment being change, there are some very clear trends that have the potential to fundamentally shift the way we educate people of all ages around the world."

1. Online learning is here to stay: Already seen as a major trend even before the pandemic, online learning tools and tactics, while not perfectly operationalized yet, have shown to be effective at increasing lesson retention and to provide flexibility for students to learn at a pace more efficient for them on an individual basis. Look to see these practices integrated into traditional in-classroom learning in a bigger way than ever before. 
    
2. Self-directed learning: A byproduct of remote education, self-directed learning will provide students the ability to guide their own educational journeys, work at their own pace, go back and better absorb previous material, and accelerating past material they already understand well.
    
3. Gamification of learning will increase: The challenges of maintaining a student’s attention grow significantly in a remote education setting. In order to keep students engaged, online lessons will become more interactive or gamified. This has already shown to increase engagement and motivate learning and will become more prevalent as traditional classes move online.
    
4. Use of non-classroom resources: Embracing a hybrid on-and-offline education programs will mean introducing educational resources not available in the classroom. Online tools like Brainly and Coursera, which offer supplemental instruction options will work hand-in-hand with traditional classroom curriculum. 
    
5. Digital citizenship will become a priority subject: To fully embrace online learning, students must also learn to become good digital citizens. Much in the way we currently teach civics and social studies lessons to inform children how to be engaged citizens in the real world, so to will we have to teach them how to be engaged citizens in the digital world. 

Why Give a Subscription Box for a Baby Shower?

Baby showers are common before birth, although some people celebrate them after the bundle of joy’s arrival. Most parents celebrate their baby showers before giving birth to their little one because the events after the delivery can be a blur of sleepless nights and nappy-changing moments.

When you have a friend who expects their first-born son or daughter, what you can give them as gifts are valuable to both parents and baby. It can be a book about developmental milestones, what to do when the baby has gas in his tummy, or you might give some nappies to help the new parents buy other needs of their beloved baby.

Why Subscription Boxes?

If you are not familiar with baby things or you are doing last-minute shopping, you can get subscription boxes that will be helpful to the new baby and his parents. You can click here for a long list of baby subscription boxes to know more. You can ship the boxes directly to the recipient if you can’t make it to their homes. Here are some examples of the first subscription boxes that you can give.

Wipes and Diaper

Some companies have offers of diapers and wipes in a box. Most of the ingredients used in both wipes and diapers are for sensitive skin. However, if your friend prefers something else, you can adjust the bundles to make room for other brands. A new parent may find it overwhelming to anticipate their newborn’s every need.

If they have a recurring subscription of diapers and wipes, they don’t have to go out to the supermarkets to shop. Instead, they can sign up to gift cards and make sure that the essential bundles are delivered to their doorstep every month.

Ready-to-Eat Food Bundles

Being a new parent is a tough one. Getting to know a little one takes time, and every cry means a different thing. Most parents are so exhausted that it takes a lot of effort for them even to cook meals. They can certainly appreciate a gift for family-friendly food bundles that they can prepare in less than 15 minutes.

What makes this gift great is that most companies send fresh ingredients to your friend’s door. They can prepare dinner in minutes and eat healthy food at the same time. One can choose from lemon pepper chicken, hatch Chile burger, sesame beef and broccoli, artichoke, and ricotta ravioli, and Burmese shredded chicken. The chefs measure everything and make sure that every calorie is counted. More about ready to eat food here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/ready-to-eat-foods. 

Story Books

Subscription for storybooks is very popular. There are picture and board books for all ages. Most kids enjoy looking at pictures to stimulate their eyesight. Most parents specifically request for picture books because they can bond with their babies through nighttime readings.

Younger babies can listen well to a story or two. Having new books to read every week can help them become more engaged, and they can widen their vocabulary as well. Most of the subscription companies have give-back programs as well, where you can donate unused books for those kids that are in need, so be sure to check them out.

New Clothes

Baby clothes are must-haves. New parents can appreciate stylish clothing that will suit their baby’s needs, no matter the weather. If your friend loves to dress up, there’s a big chance that her little one will also play dress up. Every new mom should have bodysuits or own at least a kimono top for her little one.

New clothes can make the baby comfortable, and most subscription boxes contain clothes up to a year old. There are also gift cards that can be used at any age once mom realizes that baby is growing way too fast. They can stay at home and get boxes every month that contain a variety of very fashionable clothes.

Gun Safes: The Stark Truth

Safes in one form or another have been around since the days of Julius Cesar. While sometimes disputed, Jesse Delano is credited with the first fireproof safe design patented in 1826. The modern gun safe has its roots in the 1850s designs of Silas Herring. He used plaster and steel to create a fire rated gun storage safe. 

What’s interesting and disappointing is that the gun safes of today are not built to standards anywhere near Herring’s 1850 design. Price and profit pressures have caused the whole industry to move away from true fire rated safes. The majority of what are commonly called and sold as “Gun Safes” are actually UL (Underwriter’s Laboratories) listed as “RSC” or “Residential Security Containers” and are not actual safes. This includes the “safes” available at all the big chains with popular brand names including “Liberty,” “Winchester”, “Browning,” etc. 

Yes, you may have guessed it. The industry did not want to build to the UL Safe classification standard so they created a new standard, RSC – “Residential Security Container.”

(Learn more: Gun Safe: Understanding Ratings and Certifications)

What is an RSC (Residential Security Container)?

An RSC rated container (gun cabinet) will resist forced opening for up to five minutes by an attacker using simple, non-powered hand tools. We’re talking screwdrivers, hammers (must be less than 3lbs), and pry bars (must be less than 18″ long). RSC containers are not rated against any attack by power tools of any kind, or any attack lasting longer than five minutes. This is security designed for 1850’s threat level. 

Today, a high powered battery operated grinder with a cutoff wheel can cut a “gun safe” (Residential Security Container) in half in less than 15 minutes. A small portable plasma cutter will do the job in under 3 minutes. People assume that because it weighs 1,000 lbs it must be secure.

Fire Rating

RSC Certified gun safes are not fireproof.

The only consistent, reliable and independent fire rating is the UL fireproof safe class rating. The lowest rating is “Class 350 1-hour” The ratings go up to 4 hours (Class 350-4). Unfortunately, there are no RSC gun safes that meet this rating as the materials and construction required to offer this kind of protection are deemed too expensive by the gun safe industry. The fire rating or “fire certified” sticker on the door of an RSC means very little as each gun safe (RSC) manufacturer creates their own standards and fire tests. If a safe does not have a UL class 350 fire rating then it is not a fire safe. It is a thin steel box lined with drywall and covered with some carpeting. The Drywall makes the safe heavy and “feel” secure. It is not. Talk to firefighters. “Gun safes” (RCSs) rarely ever survive a real fire. 

(Learn more: Gun Safe: Understanding Ratings and Certifications)

Guns Safes and Corrosion

Consider Corrosion

There are a lot of products on the market designed to slow the process of your guns rusting in a “gun safe”. There is a good reason for these products. Drywall or gypsum board used in RSCs contain several chemicals that are highly corrosive to your guns. Formaldehyde is used as a dispersing agent in drywall production and is highly corrosive to steel. 

(Learn more: https://www.pharosproject.net/blog/show/44/formaldehyde-additives-drywall)

Safes imported from China use drywall that contains additional threats to your guns. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and other agencies have found high levels of pyrite (FeS2) which gives off carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and hydrogen sulfide — all of which are corrosive to firearms. 

100 percent of the problem drywall coming from China also tested positive for the bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, which lives in pyrite deposits. These bacteria consume iron and sulfur producing highly corrosive sulfuric acid. Have you ever noticed a mild sulfur smell when you open a Chinese import safe? There are many concerns about drywall from China.

(Learn more: Chinese Drywall)

Other Disadvantages of Gun Safes.

They are very big, very heavy and once in place cannot be easily moved. They are also big and heavy. Did I tell you they were heavy? …You get the picture. In our modern, mobile society where people move on average every 6.6 years (US Census Bureau) does it make sense to own a 1,200 lb metal box full of drywall?

If you live in a condominium or town-home owning a heavy old safe is probably not allowed by your HOA.

Gun Safe Capacity

The Industries “Little White Lie”.

This gun safe, rated for 29 guns can not efficiently store 11 modern rifles; Gun safe capacity is a lie. When a safe manufacturer offers a gun safe (RSC) and claims a capacity of 30 guns what are they telling you. Keep in mind the RSC will not hold 30 guns, not even close. Either they are not very bright or they think their customers aren’t very bright. The VP of national sales for one of America’s largest safe manufacturers told me it was the “industry’s little white lie”. 

It seems all safe manufacturers state their capacity based on how many gun slots they can fit in the safe, regardless of how many guns actually fit. In our product testing, using safes from several different manufacturers, we found the actual capacity for traditional guns is about half of what the manufacturers claim. When you add in modern sporting rifles that capacity drops even further. We purchased a 29 gun Steelwater gun safe and were only able to fit 11 modern rifles and at that point, they were packed in and hitting each other. Gun safe capacity is a sham.

Gun Safe Are Too Deep

Manufacturers all focus on making real heavy complex doors and lock systems in an effort to make you think the cabinet is secure. These doors are so heavy that the cabinet has to be deep. Deep enough to offset the weight of the door so when it is opened the cabinet does not tip over. This depth is counterproductive to proper gun storage. You end up with guns packed in and you have to dig through to get to the rifles stored way in the back.

Please note: a thief ignores the door and just cuts through the thin steel on the side or back of the RSC.

Gun Safe Interiors

Gun safe interior design has never changed.

American gun ownership has changed dramatically and the safe industry refuses to address it. The number one rifle sold in America is an AR15 and most shooters now have some sort of scope or optic on every rifle and shotgun. The gun safe industry not only failed to anticipate these market changes they appear to have buried their heads in the sand and refuse to even acknowledge that there has been any type of change. Gun safes simply do not have the ability to properly store modern rifles.

This is the typical safe interior. Even with stripped down Henry rifles you will not fit guns in every slot, there simply is not enough room for the stocks. AR platform rifles will not fit well at all and there is no room for optics of any kind.

“They’ve buried their heads in the sand”

Why does a whole industry fail to address a big market change? It almost appears like all gun safe manufacturers are in a big game of chicken. They all produce basically the same product and are all afraid of being the first one to be different. In most industries manufacturers actively look for points of difference. But not with “gun safes” (RSC containers). It is very unusual and not in the best interest of the consumer. These manufacturers and products are dinosaurs and perhaps, soon be extinct.

We see this as a complete lack of respect for the firearms they store, and their customers who shell out big money expecting secure fireproof storage yet really only have a steel box with some drywall and fancy paint. The only advances in gun safe manufacturing in the last 100 years has been the move to cheaper materials, lower standards, and misleading certifications.

Do you need a so-called “gun safe” or RSC?

The answer is probably no.

If you think you will sleep better knowing that your rifles and stored in a big 1200 lb. gorilla in your basement, then it may be the right product. You have to understand, however, that the security against both theft and fire is really smoke and mirrors. The whole industry is built around a false perception that because these things weigh 1200lbs, it must be safe and secure.

When you consider that these so-called “gun safes” (RSC) are no more secure than a simple steel cabinet and fire ratings (which do not meet even the most basic UL Certification) are simply made up by manufacturers, you have to really question the decision.

• They are very difficult and expensive to move.

• They are corrosive to your guns by design.

• They do not properly store precision rifles.

• Older homes may not support the weight and you certainly would not put a safe in an upstairs location.

So what do you do?

Knowledge and Education is Power

There are several very inexpensive steel gun cabinets on the market. Take the time to learn as much as you can before you spend your money. 

Tom Kubiniec is President and CEO of SecureIt Tactical which specializes in civilian gun storage and education for gun owners across the nation with the goal to improve lives through safety and better preparation. The company is also the largest supplier of weapons storage units to the U.S. military. More information at https://www.secureittactical.com/