Tours Travel

Vietnam: a short tourist guide for business travelers

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Vietnam is a booming center of world trade, with a highly skilled workforce and a fast growing economy that presents great opportunities. However, if you visit this fascinating country on business but return home without spending a little time as a tourist, you will be missing out. Vietnam has a lot to offer, from stunning scenery to great food and of course a strong sense of recent history.

Traveling in Vietnam is complicated due to its geography. The two main cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) lie at virtually opposite ends of this long, thin country that measures around 1,000 miles from north to south, while sometimes not more than 32 miles from east to west. The distance between cities is best traveled by plane, taking a little over two hours. Although a flight will mean missing out on the experience of the densely forested highlands of the interior of the country, Vietnamese trains are generally crowded, slow and unreliable, and the journey will last up to a day and a half.

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is located in the north of the country, nestled in a meander of the Red River delta. As befits a city with a history spanning over a thousand years, there is so much to see and do. The old town offers all the noise, bustle and atmosphere that you would expect from this one of the cities of Southeast Asia, where adventurous diners can enjoy the best street food in the world. The city’s proud heritage is expressed in countless ornate temples and ancient monuments, alongside romantic 19th-century architecture and ultra-modern commercial buildings.

A little further afield, Ha Long Bay, just over 100 miles from Hanoi, is a destination worth visiting if you can find time. Recognized as a World Heritage Site, this coastal idyll features spectacular limestone pillars and islets emerging from emerald seas, and is a haven of peace and tranquility despite being Vietnam’s number one tourist attraction.

Hanoi offers a host of accommodation options, from 5-star hotels like the Hilton Hanoi Opera to the venerable Sofitel Metropole, which can claim Charlie Chaplin, Jane Fonda, and many more as celebrity guests.

Ho Chi Minh City, in the extreme south of the country in the Mekong Delta, is perhaps better known as Saigon even for its more than eight million inhabitants. Visitors can enjoy the French colonial atmosphere of the older parts of the city, as well as the more modern districts of a city that in recent years has grown to rival nearby neighbors like Singapore and Bangkok as a Southeast Asian powerhouse. .

Besides being the economic and commercial center of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City also has a rich and turbulent history from which the visitor is never far away. From the claustrophobic Cu Chi tunnels to the War Remnants Museum, the city and surrounding areas are filled with strong reminders of the trauma of the country’s recent past, but also of the remarkable transformation of fortunes since then.

As the largest city in Vietnam, Saigon is blessed with a wide variety of places to stay. Ma Maison is a bit out of the city center, but makes up for it with its romantic, otherworldly French atmosphere, while the Cinnamon Hotel in District One offers modern amenities in the heart of the city.

Vietnam is a country rich in visitor attractions, so no matter how tight your schedule is, exploring what the country has to offer beyond commercial possibilities is an opportunity not to be missed.

Technology

Horoscope of the birth of Jesus Christ?

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When was Jesus born?

For centuries, people have speculated on the exact date of Jesus’ birth. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the account given in the Bible, but problems haunt all the theories discussed thus far. The idea of ​​a star moving across the sky out of step with the rest of the stars cannot be accepted from a scientific perspective; And of course this argument also applies to comets. But a new theory has been advanced that explains the version of the Bible and has scientific credibility. Interestingly, it also makes astrological sense.

Scientist theorizes about the date of birth of Jesus Christ

Historians have long known that there was a discrepancy of up to 4 years on the birth of Jesus. The best estimate has always placed it between the 1st and the 4th. C. Australian astronomer and Sky and Space magazine news editor Dave Reneke believes he has solved the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem. He calculated that Venus, also known as the Evening Star, shared the same patch of the night sky with Jupiter on June 17, 2 BC. This meant that people looking at the Evening Star saw a “star” moving slowly across the night sky and shining brighter than anything else normally seen. These facts coincide with the version of events in the Bible.

What were the magicians waiting for?

The magi (commonly known as the three wise men) had access to astronomical data that would have allowed them to anticipate this powerful alignment of planets. They would also have known and accepted the meaning of this very positive conjunction, and would have even headed to a place where its astrological impact would be greatest.

Astrologically, this combination of planets indicates the best of successes, good fortune, and highest values. The astrologers of that day accepted these meanings of these planets; and they remain the same today. Since this conjunction occurred in the sign of Leo, they would inevitably expect a child born on that day to become a uniquely positive leader.

Is this the horoscope of a spiritual master?

The planet Uranus represents large groups of people and there is a positive relationship (trine) with the spirituality of Neptune. Also the Sun is in Gemini suggesting a good communicator and educator. However, mainly, the connection that Mercury has with Uranus and Neptune suggests a person who has the ability to communicate spiritual ideas to the masses.

Will there be problems ahead?

The problem occurs when the planets conflict with each other. This is defined by planets that have an angle of 90 or 180 degrees between them (respectively called square and opposition). The Sun comes into strong conflict with Uranus, suggesting that the damage may come from groups of people. Furthermore, the Sun collides with Pluto, suggesting a political or belief-based conflict (Pluto) with the individual (Sun).

Is this the horoscope of Jesus?

Scientifically, the case appears to be the best available that explains the biblical story of the birth of Jesus. From an astrological point of view, a case can be clearly presented that aligns with the person we know as Jesus. Interestingly, according to Chinese astrology, this means that Jesus was born in the year of the sheep and the traits associated with the sheep are the most consistent with the character of Jesus of all the signs in Chinese astrology.

However, it should be noted that a similar event with Venus and Jupiter occurred on August 12, 3 BC. C. That horoscope indicates a healer and a person also high values. Both horoscopes are quite powerful, although for my part I lean towards the first date as being a “best fit” in terms of history, astrology and astronomy.

What is perhaps even more important is that during this period in history there were many people widely known to have prodigious abilities as healers. Astrologically, the climate was conducive for such people to enter the world stage.

Ultimately, it is up to each of us to decide whether a date other than Christmas makes more sense of the profound historical event that was the birth of Jesus Christ.

Business

New White Collar Overtime Waiver Rules Are Coming, Now What?

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On December 1, 2016, employers will have to pay more to take advantage of the so-called white-collar overtime exemptions from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). To prepare for the next change, employers need to know if and to what extent they will be affected by the new overtime exemption regulations.

The new rules focus primarily on the minimum wage and levels of compensation necessary to qualify for the FLSA’s executive, administrative, professional and computer employee overtime exemptions. Employers can ask the following questions to determine the potential impact of the new overtime rules before it is too late.

Are any employees classified as exempt under one of the FLSA’s white collar overtime exemptions? If not, you should not be affected by the higher standard salary levels under the new rules. If so, go to the next question.

Do any of these employees ever work more than 40 hours in a workweek? If not, you should not be affected by the higher standard salary levels under the new rules. If so, go to the next question.

Do any of these employees earn a salary of less than $ 913 per week? (This is equivalent to $ 1,826 fortnightly, $ 1,978 fortnightly, $ 3,956 monthly or $ 47,476 annually). If the answer is no, you shouldn’t be affected by the higher standard salary levels under the new rules. If yes, exemption classifications or offset practices must be adjusted by December 1, 2016.

The most appropriate adjustments will typically depend on specific circumstances, such as the number of recently non-exempt employees, their wages, how often they work overtime, and the amount of overtime they work. Depending on your situation, employers may decide to implement one or more of the following adjustments.

Increase salaries. Perhaps the simplest and least disruptive adjustment would be to increase the salaries of exempt clerical employees to no less than $ 913 per week. Unfortunately, it can also be unrealistic for many employers. While some salary increases may be small, others may more than double.

Those who choose this option should remember that exemption status requires more than meeting the new minimum wage requirements. Main job duties are still relevant under the new rules and employees still have to meet the applicable “standard duty test” to be exempt.

Pay overtime compensation to recently non-exempt employees. The alternative to increasing wages is to reclassify these exempt employees as eligible overtime employees. Those who work more than 40 hours in a workweek are charged one and a half times their regular rate. Remember that employers must track the daily and weekly hours worked by all nonexempt employees, including new nonexempt ones.

Paying overtime compensation may not be a problem for employees who rarely work or work very little overtime. Despite paying more for occasional overtime, it would still be less expensive than raising wages. The same cannot be said for employees who work regularly or who work long overtime hours. Your overtime pay can add up quickly, possibly approaching or even exceeding $ 913 per week.

Ban overtime. Recently nonexempt employees may be prohibited from working overtime. If no overtime is worked, no overtime compensation is required. This option may be simple, but it may not be easy. Exempt employees typically work more than 40 hours in a workweek because they have more than 40 hours of work to do. Your work still needs to be done, but someone else will have to do it.

Adjust staff, schedules or assignments. Those who prohibit overtime may have to make various operational adjustments. For example, workload distribution and workforce scheduling may need to be adjusted to compensate for lost overtime. In some cases, it may be necessary to hire new employees to make up for lost productivity.

Adjust salaries. New non-exempt employees who are allowed to continue working overtime as usual will end up receiving more money for the same amount of work. Reallocating regular wages and overtime compensation is a way to keep hours worked and amounts paid to recently non-exempt employees nearly the same. However, employers cannot reduce an employee’s hourly wage below the highest applicable minimum wage (federal, state, or local) or continuously adjust wages each workweek to manipulate the regular rate.

Employers shouldn’t wait too long to start planning. It takes time to change exemption classifications and compensation practices, especially if they are substantial or complex. With all the hype, it’s safe to assume that the violations will be noticed not only by those who are affected by the new rules, but also by the Department of Labor.

To guard against the uncertainty and confusion surrounding the new rules, employers can benefit from having work practices liability insurance to protect against various employment-related claims. Limited coverage may be available for wage and hour claims.

Employers should discuss the new overtime exemption rules with HR, payroll / accounting, managers, and supervisors. Specific training regarding wages and hours should also be considered. Contact us for more information on how to prepare for the new white collar overtime exemption rules.

To receive regular updates on developments that may affect your business, subscribe to The Human Equation’s biweekly news roundup.

Home Kitchen

The history of quartz countertops

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In 1963, Marcello Toncelli founded a company known as Brevetti Toncelli, which roughly means Toncelli Patents. A few years later that name was shortened to Breton, he took the Bre de Brevetti and the Ton de Toncelli to create a new brand. He later developed a patent for his quartz and resin slab solidification process for use on countertop surfaces. The Italian inventor created the Bretonstone technology used to produce engineered stone, also known as vacuum vibro compression. As a result, he was able to create an extremely durable surface that would one day be used around the world for all types of surfaces, particularly countertops. This method has been adopted by other companies around the world such as Dupont, Cambria or Cosentino to create their own specific mix. Zodiaq, for example, is Dupont’s version of a quartz countertop.

It is not only popular in Italy, according to Wikipedia it is the second most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust. Not only is it abundant, but almost all ancient cultures revered quartz for different reasons. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Australian Aborigines, and Romans used quartz crystals as talismans. The Romans used rose quartz as a seal to indicate ownership, and the Egyptians believed that the stone could prevent aging.

It is often found in passing grave cemeteries in Europe, such as Newgrange or Carrowmore in Ireland. The Irish word for quartz is grianchloch, which means “sunstone.” This has resulted in various video games referring to him as Sunstone. Quartz was also used in prehistoric Ireland and many other countries to make stone tools; both vein quartz and rock crystal were carved as part of the lithic technology of prehistoric peoples.

Made from one of the hardest minerals in the world, quartz countertops are one of the most durable options for kitchens. However, unlike natural stone slabs, which are quarried, these slabs are designed in a factory. They are made from just over 90% ground quartz and the other 10% is made up of polyester resins and pigments.

Until recently, people refrained from using quartz as a countertop because it lacked the beautiful patterns and color variations that can be obtained with natural stones like marble and granite. But thanks to many technological advancements that is no longer the case, we now have the ability to make quartz slabs that have a variety of flakes and swirls to generate random patterns that can make quartz slabs absolutely stunning. Finally able to rival the natural beauty of marble and granite.

Auto

2018 World Cup Essentials: Wicker Sofa Set from ATC Furniture

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The 2018 World Cup, the largest soccer tournament in the world, has already started. Fans all over the world are eager to enjoy many exciting matches by preparing all the needs from HD TV screen, projector, speaker, etc. As this is one of the most anticipated soccer events, you don’t want to miss any moment of this 90+ minute game. However, due to the long midnight matches, some fans are reported to suffer from many health problems, such as back pain and neck pain. Some seats are not comfortable enough to rest your back and neck. You don’t want to start working days after night games with pain in your back, neck and knees, right? How can we soccer enthusiasts survive these 2 months? ATC’s wicker patio furniture supplier is here to save the day. Let’s see how our high-quality wicker sofa set can be your must-have this 2018 World Cup.

Stable structure of the wicker sofa set

Every piece of our wicker sofa set is stable from the inside frame. ATC’s rattan patio furniture supplier forms the frame of the furniture from a powder coated aluminum frame. Lightweight yet durable, the frame creates a strong structure for each sofa. You can enjoy every game and cheer for your favorite teams, along with family and friends, in this wicker sofa set. Say no to shaky, unbalanced and weak seats. Just you, your loving family, your friends, your teams, and your beautiful goals.

Attractive design

This 2018 World Cup is a perfect occasion to organize a party at home. Your guests will be amazed at how wonderful your place is with this neat and elegant wicker sofa. The design is eye-catching and people would love to play games in it. Our wicker furniture can provide both a pleasant place to rest and a beautiful home decoration.

Comfortable cushions

The body would need this wicker sofa set. Why? Because it is super comfortable. The blend of high-quality foam and soft cotton inside the seat and back cushions perfectly supports your body for a long time. These cushions protect your spine from bending and hurting yourself. Rest your body completely on the wicker seat and watch the games, painlessly. Rather than sitting, you can even lie down and sleep through the night after watching the nightly games.

Water resistant fabric

An exciting soccer game can’t miss a few close friends, some beers, and snacks. Most owners worry about their sofa as water, especially beers, could easily fall on them when they cheer on beautiful goals. Most wicker sofas come with first-class cushions and a pillow fabric that is water and dust resistant. You can also choose the world’s most popular fabric brand, Sunbrella, for the highest quality fabrics. With the Wicker Sofa Set from ATC Patio Wicker Furniture Supplier, you no longer have to worry. Save time to enjoy memorable moments from the most watched soccer competition, the 2018 World Cup.

ATC furniture

Digital Marketing

How to Tag YouTube Videos Effectively

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One of the easiest ways to get more exposure and views for your YouTube videos is by tagging them appropriately. Labeling is an easy thing to do, but it can be difficult to learn. There is a lot of play involved, a lot of trial and error. I’ll lay down the basics in this blog so you can start testing your own videos.

Step 1 Know your audience

Before you can start tagging, you need a few keywords, and before you can choose keywords, you need to determine your audience. Who will see this video? Who is this video for? What kind of people are going to find your video and how are they going to find it? Putting yourself in the shoes of your viewer is the best way to start discovering who is going to watch your video.

What you exactly want to do is pretend that you are the ideal viewer for your video and try to imagine what they would type in the YouTube search bar. Remember that YouTube is owned by Google and works exactly the same way with search. If your video is about buying and selling iPods on eBay, it will not title or tag “Buying and selling iPods on eBay.” You may want to title it – “How to Make Money Buying and Selling Ipods on Ebay”. Now we have more or less the keyword and phrases that we are going to tag for.

Step 2 Choose your keywords

When it comes to choosing them, the key is to be concise. Don’t beat around the bush and don’t try to include keywords to get additional traffic. Pick your keywords and stick to them, optimize in and around them. Let’s take a look at this iPod example again. “How to Make Money Buying and Selling Ipods on Ebay” is a good title to use. It is more than likely what a quality viewer will type in the search bar. So where do I enter the tags and where do I put these phrases you may ask?

Title: The most important keywords and phrases should go here. Focus on exactly what the viewer will ask and throw it here. So for example we can have the same title “How to make money buying and selling Ipods on eBay” right there.

The tags: In this section, we’ll re-emphasize the important keywords and add a few additional ones to help capture relevant traffic. A couple of things to remember here is that you don’t need to re-emphasize your entire title, some people like to do this to make sure they’re tagging, but it doesn’t really do anything as YouTube will grab your keywords. from the title first. Here we can see that additional keywords such as “tutorial”, “guide” and “help with” have been added because along with “how to” there are other relevant terms that may come up.

The description: In this section I usually post a link to my blog post that I am embedding the video in or an affiliate product that the video is for. Obviously you should put a relevant link here if necessary. As for actual SEO, I usually include an excerpt from the blog post or a short paragraph that explains what the video is about. You don’t need to go overboard here, but it’s smart to include a paragraph or two containing sentences with your keywords and alternate forms of them. For example, I would include something like: “This is a video that explains how to make money on eBay by buying and reselling iPods. To buy an iPod, I would recommend looking for the cheapest price from a high-value seller.” If you notice, I have included alternative ways of buying and selling. You must do this for all major keywords.

Step 3: don’t complicate things

It can be easy to drown in unnecessary sadness when trying to optimize your videos. Remember to pick a few keywords based on what your viewer will enter. Optimize for these keywords in your title, tags, and description. Keep it simple, there is no need to throw out everything except the kitchen sink here; Concise labeling is the way to go!

Relationship

When parenting kicks in

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When you were a kid, you often heard your parents yelling about how difficult being a parent is and that probably left a mark on you. Now you have a child and you are thinking “Now what?” Well, don’t be afraid, because we have some parenting tips that will assure you that parenting is just as hard as you say. Let’s start.

There are three things that you have to clarify from the beginning. You have three basic jobs to keep your kids in shape. That is parenting, education, health and wellness. When you realize that you must give your children food, a house, clothes and school, you are already on the right track, but the most important thing in parenting is that your children, sooner or later, become good people. . Once you side with that, everything is ready for you to make a plan.

There is a question to ask yourself: “What kind of adult do you want your child to become?”

Because what you sow now, you will reap later, since childhood is the age of our lives that most defines our character.

You should always try to be an example to your children and show yourself how they should be, because children at a younger age (and even older) are taking their parents as role models.

Remember that it is you who is giving them a vivid image of this world, and that they perceive you as the one who is always there to protect them, which leads us to something else: balance. You should always keep work and play time and time spent together relatively the same with time spent apart. You have to prepare them for life, and the sooner you realize that this is your main role, the much easier things will be.

Teach him to differentiate between good and evil, prepare him to socialize and prepare him that there are all kinds of people in this world, both good and bad, and that he will have to adapt to his environment.

Set high expectations for their education and behavior, but don’t be too harsh on them if they don’t meet those expectations – reward them when they do.

You should always let them express themselves and be who they are, and only give them enough guidelines to make them a strong and healthy person.

Gaming

PS3 YLOD Fixes: Three Possible Ways To Fix Your PlayStation 3 And Save Money

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After my PlayStation 3 acquired YLOD, I frantically searched the internet for easy solutions for YLOD. I didn’t want to pay Sony $ 150 and wait weeks to get my PS3 back. So after I did my research it seemed like I had three options available: reflow, repackage, or a PS3 YLOD repair repair guide.

Reflux can be done at home by watching videos on the Internet, but it requires some skill and supplies. The most expensive supply is a heat gun. Reflow involves taking the PS3 apart and reflow the solder between the computer chips and the motherboard. While it’s flowing again, it’s important that you don’t have your heat gun too hot, because if your heat gun is too hot, it can completely screw up your motherboard. Also, it is very important to isolate the motherboard during an ebb. Personally, I use bubble wrap and aluminum foil. The insulation protects the other parts of the motherboard that you don’t want the heat to reach. Then after flowing again, you need to reapply the thermal compound to the computer chips (CPU and GPU). From experience I would recommend Arctic Silver Thermal Compound, it may be a bit more expensive but it will make your reflow last longer. Getting your PS3 flowing again on your own definitely comes with some risks. Personally, I re-stream my PS3 three times, and then the fourth time, it doesn’t turn on anymore. After a process of elimination, I reasoned that I had simply heated my motherboard too long and damaged some component. Another thing to consider about reflux is that it is not permanent. My backflow repairs generally lasted 3-5 months. Reflow is a relatively easy fix that you can do yourself if you can find the right videos and have the right supplies. Just keep in mind that there is a risk of actually messing up your console.

The second solution I mentioned is re-balling. Re-balling consists of replacing the solder balls that attach the computer chips (CPU and / or GPU) to the motherboard. The replacement solder used will be much more durable than the old solder. Batter is impossible to do unless you have the right equipment. The necessary equipment is very advanced and costs thousands of dollars. Changing the ball should be left to the professionals, who can send your console to one of these professionals and have them reset it for you. There are a lot of people on the Internet who are dedicated to changing balls professionally. Re-balling will be the only safe permanent solution for your PS3 if you are a very amateur gamer. Which means that the original solder on the PS3 is not meant for hours and hours of gaming. The downsides of changing the ball include: you will most likely have to turn off your console, unless you can find someone locally, and changing the ball can be a bit expensive. You can search the internet to see what kind of deal you can get, but it will generally cost you $ 90 or more.

The third and final solution I mentioned is to buy a repair guide. The repair guide will eliminate the risk of repairing your console yourself by thoroughly explaining and guiding you through everything you need to do. Also, if you have any questions, the support provided is excellent. The solution provided by the guide will last longer than if you were to flow back yourself, if not a permanent solution. Plus, the repair guide is less than half the cost of rework. With a repair guide, you can replay as quickly as necessary to complete the repair, which usually takes about an hour, and you don’t have to ship your console. For a more detailed review of the repair guide I recommend, follow the link below.

Health Fitness

Why You Should Get a Fitness Tracker

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We have worked hard to stay in shape since the industrial revolution. This shows how important it is for our bodies to be able to function effectively and efficiently during the course of our lifestyle.

One advantage we have today is that we can increase our fitness level and improve our lives by using a fitness tracker.

There are several reasons why you should own and use it. If you really want to stay in shape, they are an essential tool, especially when you have a lot to do with your time.

A fitness tracker can be used: as a motivating partner, to set and achieve your fitness goals, to monitor your heart rate, you can use it even underwater, and also to track your sleep. It’s time to get a fitness tracker that fits your fitness goal and budget. Remember that the quality and functions of a training watch should determine which one follows best.

1. A motivating partner

A fitness tracker is more of a fitness friend and strict trainer than a simple device. Its main functions are the standard of measurement and motivation. It allows you to view all your activities in the form of information, through which you can see how and where you distribute your efforts during the exercise routine. This information will help you set smarter goals later.

2. Fitness goals

Since detailed guidance and clarity are a high priority when setting your fitness goals, a visual impression of your improvements will give you a great sense of accomplishment. Knowing what you have achieved and what has not yet been achieved is the main ingredient in setting better fitness goals. First, you must write the purpose of your tracker; be it to lose weight, develop your body, control your sleep or whatever purpose you have

3. Monitoring your heart rate

It is important to monitor your heart rate especially, but not exclusively, during your training sessions. A fitness tracker will continue to collect data during your workout and even while you are resting. This makes it convenient for you to point out activities that overload you during exercises.

4. Swimming and diving

If you are a regular swimmer or diver, you can get a fitness tracker that is waterproof. With this, you will get more out of your fitness program, as you will be able to get data on your fitness statistics both on land and in water. Plus, you can even get information on your number of strokes while swimming, your swimming efficiency, and your swimming pace.

5. Track your sleep

An fitness tracker has a role in every activity within your lifestyle course. This includes when you are resting or sleeping. Good quality sleep optimizes the success rate of your fitness program. Your entire body must be relaxed so that it can compensate for all the exhaustion and proper tissue building and repair.

Legal Law

Writing detectives: the private detective of the 21st century

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Gone is yesterday’s private investigator (PI), the lonely lone ranger who single-handedly straightened out mistakes, leaving the world a better place as he disappeared down those rough, dusty streets into another case. Don’t get me wrong, 21st century IP works only part of the time, but I’d be a fool if it worked that way twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, especially with the network of other IPs, resources, and data to those to turn to (for example, via the Internet).

Let’s start by dusting off some of yesterday’s outdated IP myths and clichés by reviewing some of the things that real-life IPs have about their fictitious counterparts.

Pets from real-life IPs over fictional IPs

A group of PIs were asked what misconceptions they would like to correct in the representations of PIs in novels, movies, and television. Below are some of their responses:

Stay legal. At least 80% of the IPs surveyed mentioned this as their main concern. Fictitious IPs are often shown doing illegal things when, in reality, real-life IPs abide by the laws. Because if they don’t, they could lose their business and their license, a risk no IP wants to take. If an IP does not know their legal rights, knows how to look up the statute, or has an attorney / client to call for advice. No self-respecting private investigator gets into a legally murky situation without knowing exactly what actions are legal. Missteps and missteps cloud a private investigator’s reputation, which is perhaps his most critical asset because it reflects both his ethics and skill.

To be prepared. Colombo (the detective from the ’70s TV series with the same name) always came back (and over and over again) to the witness, before he finally asked the zinger question. He never seemed to have a plan on how to get information in one go. Today’s private investigator usually has one chance, and only one chance, to interview a witness. There are no blunders, he / she has to get to the point. That means being prepared. When a principal investigator first contacts a witness, the principal investigator needs to know the purpose of their questioning, as well as the questions themselves. Sometimes legal investigators (IPs who work for attorneys) will come armed with police reports or past statements from the witness. For example, sometimes a prior witness statement reveals to the investigator, in the course of the interview, that the witness statement has inconsistencies; such conflicts in a person’s history indicate that the witness is unreliable.

Tracking fantasies. PIs scoff at the idea that a lone PI can effortlessly perform successful mobile surveillance (i.e., follow someone in a vehicle) for hours on end. Mobile surveillance typically requires at least two IPs in two vehicles, and even then the success rate (based on one IP statistics) is 50%. And yet again and again, one will read (or see in a movie) a private investigator who magically follows someone in and out of traffic, turns, speeds, crosses intersections for an entire day. Try following one of your friends in traffic (especially when you don’t know your destination) and see how easy it is to lose your car.

Understanding of the business.Too many PI stories ignore that an PI runs a business that involves negotiating and drafting contracts, managing money (and sometimes subordinate PIs), buying / upgrading office equipment, writing reports, etc. First, an IP has a business relationship with their client that includes all the legal ramifications that accompany any client situation.

Violence. Real IPs don’t hit people first, even if they’re angry. In fact, they don’t engage in acts of violence any more than they engage in robbery or robbery. The debate is ongoing within the IP community on whether to carry weapons or other weapons of self-defense.

Make it a straight whiskey. Real-life IPs don’t all drink like Phillip Marlowe or Sam Spade, and if it slipped a bit or hit them with a sap, they’d be ashamed of their lack of planning. Today’s private investigators wouldn’t risk dulling their senses as this could be used to denigrate them should they have to testify in court about their observations.

This is a good place to also notice things that today’s IP would never do. If a writer chooses to have their fictional PI do any of these acts, they are setting the PI character to be in a deep you-know-what (although, this could also be what you, as a writer, want for your PI, is better to know what is illegal than to write something that is manifestly so and not know it, right?).

A PI who wants to keep his job / license / career / reputation never:

  • Consciously assisting a criminal in a criminal act.

  • Get involved in jury / witness manipulation (threaten a witness / jury to change testimony or verdict).

  • Wiretapping (put a listening device on a phone).

  • Place a surveillance camera or microphone in a private place without the knowledge of the target.

  • Commit to theft.

  • Places a GPS device in a vehicle owned by the target.

  • Listen in a private place.

  • Use violence or the threat of violence to obtain information.

  • Pretend they have proof that they don’t have it (there is a possibility that a lawyer or a policeman will ask them to present it).

  • Knowingly committing any other illegal act.

  • Posing as a law enforcement officer, doctor, or any government employee.

    • Use these guidelines and myth busters to create smart and realistic 21st century IPs that will keep readers turning the pages of your stories.