Real Estate

Win Your Next Texas Property Tax Appeal: 10 Basic Steps

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First – Get the facts

You are more likely to be successful with your property tax appeal if you find factual errors on your property tax record, also known as an “assessment card.” Errors in real estate appraisals, such as errors about the age of improvements or incorrect square footage measurements, are not uncommon.

After filing a Notice of Protest, the appraisal district will schedule an informal meeting with one of its staff appraisers. Bring any proof of your case to the appointment in the form of photos or other documentation that supports your claims. The appraisal district will need to keep your evidence for their records, so remember to bring extra copies.

Understand how your home has been appraised

Harris County Appraisal District [HCAD] has over a million single-family residential properties to appreciate. Montgomery Central Appraisal District [MCAD] It is responsible for assessing some 250,000 people. The grim reality is that there are not enough well-trained appraisers to go around.

In the real world, appraisal district employees sometimes can’t inspect much beyond new construction or additions. Even when properties are inspected, the examination can be little more than a car ride. It is now more common for appraisal districts to rely on aerial pictometry for various aspects of property inspection. The level of technological resources now available to most appraisal districts is impressive.

Given the overwhelming number of properties that must be revalued, these appraisal districts rely on computerized mass appraisal models. The mass assessment models counties use are inevitably flawed, although some are better than others. Your search will be to determine the ways and degree to which your property and neighborhood do not quite fit the model.

You can ask a real estate agent to help you find some comparable homes and their actual selling prices. Most good agents don’t mind helping you, because you might work with them later. Remember that you want to be able to prove that your house is in worse condition than comparable sales. Try to compare your house with the best in your neighborhood. If you can find information on better homes that sold for less than their appraised value during the previous year, you may have grounds for a reduction.

Research the value of your neighbors’ houses

The easiest way for most homeowners to develop an appeal is to use the sales to market value approach in their appeal, however, sales do not always favor your case. Another angle you can try is to determine if your home has been appraised “even and equal” to other similar properties in the same neighborhood.

Check to see if the appraised value of your home in the district is equal to or less than the median assessed value of other homes in your neighborhood. Texas appraisal districts will have this information available online through their websites.

Obtain Evidence from the Appraisal District

Along with your “Notice of Protest,” submit a written request for all evidence that the appraisal district used to value your home and you intend to submit to an Appraisal Review Board. [ARB] audience. It is also known as House Bill 201. [HB 201] package. Review this information to determine how the appraisal district determined the value of your home. This may uncover deficiencies in the appraisal district’s case.

Don’t lose hope: you have little chance of getting it right

If you are unable to resolve your case in person with a staff appraiser in an informal conference, the next level of administrative appeal is a formal Appraisal Review Board. [ARB] audience. Montgomery Central Appraisal District [MCAD] You will have your formal hearing the same day. He is immediately escorted down the hall and shown to the waiting room to present his case. Harris County Appraisal District [HCAD] will reschedule you to return to his office on another day for a formal hearing. You will almost always have to wait two weeks.

The ARB hearing will be like a smaller courtroom where you present your case. An experienced senior appraiser will represent the case on behalf of the appraisal district. A panel of at least three supposedly impartial appraisal review board members will hear the case and make a final decision. Important Warning: The ARB has the authority to INCREASE the value of your property, so consider this risk. Also, don’t forget to bring extra copies of all of your proofs (five total) for the appraisal district and ARB panel.

If your formal ARB hearing is unsuccessful, you may still have two additional options available to you. For residential properties valued at less than $1 million, you may file a request for binding arbitration through the office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. There are fees of $250 or $500, depending on the level of involvement in your case. The other option is to file a lawsuit in district court against the appraisal district. Because both procedures are time-consuming and expensive, you’ll need to decide if they’re practical for you.

Get Started – 10 Action Steps

1. Get a copy of your property tax record or “assessment card.” Texas appraisal districts will have this information online through their websites. If you can’t find it, call your appraisal district office for help.

2. Review the appraisal record for errors in your favor.

3. Find out if you are eligible for any special exemptions and apply. Some examples are general homestead exemptions, age 65+, disabled, or veterans.

4. Submit a “Notice of Protest” before the legal deadline. This is usually May 31 or within 30 days of your “Notice of Appraised Value” being sent.

5. Study the evidence from the appraisal district, the HB 201 packet.

6. Try to get help from a real estate agent to identify details about good comparable sales (…and remember who helped you every time you have a real estate transaction that pays off).

7. Take photos of your home and the other properties you are using for comparison. If you don’t have a good camera, borrow one; or ask a friend to help you.

8. Take detailed written notes on what you think the correct value should be and the reasons for the reduction. Prepare your presentation and be able to show proof to support your claim. This should consist of factual evidence, such as dated photos, recent sales documentation, and appraised values ​​from neighbors.

9. Be courteous and respectful to other appraisal district staff and members of the ARB. Never forget that they are also human and have feelings, just like you. Remember the time-tested expression: “You can catch more with honey than with vinegar.”

10. If you think it is in your best interest, appeal your case to a formal ARB hearing. However, this can be a dice roll. Depending on the composition of the panel and your mood on your audience’s particular day, your ordeal could be more favorable or even worse.

If this all sounds like a lot of effort, there is another way to help ensure you get the best possible result. You can have a property tax assessor prepare and present your case, providing professional representation at appraisal district hearings. You can get the benefits of this service on a contingency basis, so it won’t cost you anything unless you actually save money, which you would have paid in taxes.

Shopping Product Reviews

secret of chess

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Welcome to my article on the secret of chess. Chess is a very popular recreational and competitive game. It is one of the great mind games that our ancestors have invented. The current form of the game emerged in southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from similar, much older games of Persian and Indian origin. Today, chess is one of the most popular games in the world, played by millions of people around the world in clubs, at home, by correspondence, online and in tournaments. This is the variant I am talking about today.

I wanted to talk about the much discussed “secret of chess”. So how do we solve this seemingly simple recreational and competitive game, played on a square chessboard with 64 squares arranged in an eight by eight square between two players? The answer, of course, is not that easy to find, however, in my constant practice and research, I think I have found at least one answer.

There are many possible hypotheses for the “secret of chess”. I’ll give my take on some of the myths I think are busted (I’m not sure if there’s a reference to any TV shows in there) and what hypotheses I think are plausible.

1. Computers will solve the game of chess.

Computers are strong opponents and the best ones analyze many millions of positions per second (eg Rybka), however just look at the statistics: there are 318,979,564,000 possible ways to play the first four chess moves. Furthermore, the American Chess Foundation found that there were 169,518,829,100,544,000,000,000,000,000 ways to play the first ten moves of chess. For a computer to solve the game of chess, it would have to go through all the possibilities of a complete game, and it would also have to correctly evaluate each individual position.

On another note, if a computer solves the game of chess, a person wouldn’t be able to remember what to do against every possible move to beat someone, it’s just too hard. The use of computers to try to solve the chess game is inefficient, see hypothesis number 4 for a better use of computers.

Evaluation: arrested.

2. The secret of chess: maximize the chances that your opponent will make mistakes.

In a 2003 article on the world’s strongest nonagenarian (the world’s strongest active chess player aged ninety and over), the authors gave a possible answer. Information was provided by writers Neil Sullivan and Yves Casaubon. The strongest nonagenarian in ChessBase’s opinion at the time was Arkadiy M. Gilman (rated FIDE 2237 in 2003), who hails from Russia and lives in Canada.

Anyway, in the analysis to “Gilman,A – Grondin,J [D02]Le Bolduc II – A Montreal CAN (6), 08.10.2003”, which was a victory for Gilman in 23 moves, the authors subtly slipped the chess secret. In my opinion, this is the best practical way to use a chess secret. chess. By allowing your opponent to make mistakes, you can exploit their imprecise moves. And by maximizing their chance of making mistakes, you have more opportunities to exploit them.

One way this can be used is through opening preparation. By surprising your opponent on the board, your opponent may not react with the best response and there is a chance that they will run away. Of course, you can’t count on this happening.

Evaluation: Plausible.

3. The secret of chess: dress like a grandmaster and start playing like one

This is my personal favourite. GM Nigel David Short MBE is often regarded as the strongest British chess player of the 20th century. He became a Grandmaster at the age of 19 and became a World Chess Championship contender against Garry Kasparov in London in 1993. Although an active player, Short continues to enjoy international success. He is also a chess coach, columnist, and commentator.

After an extraordinary comeback at the 2008 Commonwealth Chess Championship, Nigel Short said: “I was struggling at the moment anyway. Obviously I couldn’t play like a grandmaster, so I decided I should at least dress like one. I started putting on a suit and tie, even though everyone told me it was too hot. But apparently it put me in the right frame of mind. I think I’m a little slow to start with, and this way I managed to get out of the hole.”

It could be that the formality of dressing in a suit and tie can put someone in the “right frame of mind.” Just watch Nigel’s games in the tournament.

Anyway, here’s a snapshot of the cross table:

1 Shorts,N 2655 9.5/11

2 Ganguly, S 2631 9.0/11

3 Hossain, Enam 2489 8.5/11

4 Arun Prasad, S 2492 8.0/11

5 Sengupta, D 2454 8.0/11

Now I have my own experience with this hypothesis. I recently played in the Australian School Team Championships and our team scored 19.5/20 (it was a four player versus four player match system) against tough opposition. We were all in full uniform with a tie and blazer. So this hypothesis worked fine for me.

Evaluation: Plausible.

4. Secret of Chess: Analyze your games using computers and have access to millions of chess games for general study and preparation purposes.

This is a logical “secret”, but one that was subconsciously so obvious to me that I forgot to put it in my draft of this article. For a long time it has been said that the key to improvement is to analyze your chess games. This was emphasized in a comprehensive book called The Road to Chess Improvement by American GM Alexander Yermolinsky (2000). Furthermore, the concept of thoroughly studying your own games is also discussed and strongly recommended in many other works of chess literature. Perhaps GM Edmar Mednis said it best, “playing without a simultaneous critical review of one’s skills just won’t get you anywhere.”

It is now the age of computers and it is quite common to use a chess database program to store and analyze your games. This is where ChessBase is the world leader in chess software and innovation. Its Fritz and ChessBase interfaces (which differ slightly from each other) are the most comfortable chess database programs I have ever had the pleasure of using. They provide the perfect “aquarium” for your chess study and analysis.

Having access to millions of chess games via the Fritz Database or a “Mega Database” (a ChessBase product purchased separately from Fritz) is also essential for study and preparation. Players can examine new developments in their favorite opening systems by browsing recent games and can prepare for their opponents by consulting the database. This rather obvious “secret” can be used by both the world champion and your next door neighbor.

Evaluation: Plausible.

5. Secret of Chess: Chemistry.

When asked, “What is the secret to the success of this US Women’s Olympic team?” Zsusza “Susan” Polgár replied, “For one thing, chemistry.” She also highlighted spending “a lot of time together” with the team, working hard, learning to “know each other well,” having a “captain and head coach who also know and understand them,” and having a “good lead theoretician.” .

In late 2004, the US women’s team made Chess Olympiad history by capturing silver, the first Olympic medal for the United States. The player and driving force behind this success was Susan Polgar, who came out of a seven-year hiatus with an impressive performance.

When you play on a team, it’s important to have chemistry with the other members of your team. It is important to know each other’s style of play and continually encourage each other. I experienced this at the Australian School Team Championships as well as other international events.

Evaluation: Plausible.

6. Secret of Chess: Have enough coffee in the house.

In 2004, third place in the classification for the Canarias en Red Internet Chess Festival went to the author of Chess Today, GM Mikhail Golubev, who has told his readers that the secret of success in these Playchess events is ” have enough coffee at home”. Apparently he was out of the “sustaining brew” and lost an earlier inaugural ACP. In this tournament, he had a lot and was rewarded with a fantastic Buchholz to easily qualify for the final.

I’ve always liked to drink at the blackboard, although not coffee in particular. I have experimented with drinking Milo, Sustagen, Up&Go and Multi-V on the board (not sure if these brands are native to Australia). Many of these work well when they wake you up at the game of chess. I know that IM Jeremy Silman has recommended apple juice and chewing ginseng.

Evaluation: Plausible.

7. The secret of chess: XiangQi

What is the reason for the remarkable success of Chinese players in international chess? According to Professor David H. Li, it’s because they all have experience in XiangQi, the fast-paced, combative Chinese version of the game.

According to the professor, “When one is accused of playing a game with a higher maneuverability ratio, one has the advantage of playing a game with a lower maneuverability ratio. In addition, XiangQi introduces synergy into your thought process and style of play. By broadening your horizon, you begin to think more creatively; by improving your understanding of spatial relationship, you are visualizing more dynamically; and by deepening your analytical ability, you play with more imagination.” Of course, there is more. Just check out the article on XiangQi and chess.

I also played XiangQi when I was younger, shortly before I started learning chess. I had a certain gift for the game and I liked to play it against my grandfather. Sometimes I played it online, but I haven’t played it in years and I don’t recall ever playing it while playing “international chess”. I plan to relearn the game and play it online from time to time. I have always thought, having learned it before I learned the rules of international chess, that it has helped me develop my chess skills.

Evaluation: Plausible.

So these are the hypotheses that I present to you. You can decide which ones have merit and which ones are totally blown, and I’ve given my own take on all of them. If you had learned something today, it would have made my work useful.

Sports

Veronica Chika Iweanya – I want to play for The D’Tigress of Nigeria

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Veronica Chika Iweanya is a lot of joy to be with. Always smiling and full of emotion, the 24-year-old shared some incredible stories about her life during an Instagram Live session. Currently based in Lille, in the north of France, the Nigerian basketball star has come a long way in both her career and her sports.

After graduating with a first-class bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the prestigious Covenant University, Ota Ogun State, Nigeria, in 2017, he traveled to France for his master’s degree in 2019 and continued his love affair with basketball. Standing 6 feet (183 cm) tall, the Lagos-born basketball player shared her love for the game. A game that she developed a passion for due to the desire of players and coaches to help her develop the skills necessary to excel in the sport.

A defining moment in her basketball career would be at the 2018 Africa Giants international camp where she was selected as part of the top 50 girls to attend her first girls’ camp in Nigeria. The Masai Ujiri initiative sponsored by Nike and the president of the Toronto Raptors brought in the best coaches from around the world who guided the campers in both basketball and life skills. She says that Masai always told children to dream big. But what stuck with her was the mantra “I’m a giant!” that was repeated throughout the camp. She to date, she says that she still says it as a mantra before every match, tryout, interview, etc.

Regarding the ease of combining studies and sports activities, Veronica Chika Iweanya confessed how difficult it was for her to adapt at first. The French language was a serious obstacle for her to settle down. It was very difficult to settle down with her basketball team since all of her classmates and teammates spoke French. She was forced to learn French and her basketball coach was quick to come to her aid, devoting an hour before each training day to that end. ‘The amazing support system I found around me made it easy for me to adapt so quickly’

As he learned the French language, things began to pick up a bit, as did his performance on the basketball court. An additional incentive was when she came into contact with the Nigerian national basketball player Evelyn Akhator, who coincidentally signed for the French basketball team Flammes Carolo. The Ardennes-based team signed the exciting centre-forward in 2019. Veronica, whose ambition is to play for The D’Tigress, has since developed a professional relationship with Evelyn Akhator. She sees her as a mentor and a person who has paid her her due in the game.

Sport has received its fair share of racism and Veronica confirmed from her personal experience that she has been lucky not to experience it in France. Interestingly, during away games with her basketball team (she found herself fouling more often than when they played at home) she gets fouled more often than when they play at home.

When asked about the contentious issue of equal pay between male and female athletes, she expressed disgust at the disparity because if female basketball players are expected to dunk, for example, then they should be paid the same as their male counterparts. She sees no reason why male athletes should be paid higher, as women even have to traverse more difficult terrain in their careers and sports.

On the plans of the French government to ease the confinement from Monday May 11 and the possibility of sports activities returning to normal, Veronica expressed her sincere opinion and said that she would have preferred that the pandemic had been fully cleared up before that such measures be taken. implemented. Sports like basketball are based on contact and the level of risk is high, so it would be good, for safety reasons, to ensure that players are not exposed to such a high risk.

It’s easy to name your favorite player, especially when that player has been a great role model for you. Evelyn Akhator is her favorite player (With her fans at 10 points and 10 rebounds) in every game, Veronica confessed that she greatly influenced her style of play since she also averaged double-doubles in her career university. She also mentioned her resilience and mental toughness as key skills that she admired in the Nigerian basketball star. while the Nigerian women’s national team, The D’Tigress, remains her favorite team. He recalled stories of her during her undergrad years, having her entire office where she interned watch a live D’Tigress game during office hours where Sarah Ogoke hit a winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Afrobasket tournament a few days ago. years. !

Currently playing with Stade Roubaisien Basket which competes in the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), he happily shared the news of having completed his master’s program at EDHEC Business School, Lille, France. The journey hasn’t been easy, but in a message to her fans, she expressed optimism about achieving her goals of playing for the Nigerian women’s national team- The D’Tigress, a sentiment echoed by the fact that she has the potential. to excel at the highest level in running and sports.

A surprising fact about this talented basketball star is that he would have opted for football if he had not fallen in love with his first love. You may be wondering what position she would choose on a soccer field. Defense, of course, was the answer. It’s not hard to understand knowing that the attackers would be competing with a mighty 6ft defensive bulwark weighing 67kg. Not the most exciting prospect for even the most ambitious attacker. For now, the love affair between Veronica and basketball continues. Tomorrow is full of possibilities and hopefully one will get to see Veronica Chika Iweanya donning The D’Tigress’s beautiful green white t-shirt!

Business

Game UI/UX Design Services

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UI/UX Design Services

What is game UX design? In this article we’ll discuss the benefits of game UX design, as well as the challenges and opportunities that it presents. As a game developer, you’ll be able to improve your game’s user experience with the help of UX design, which involves incorporating player science to design a better gaming experience. The gaming industry is a rich source of inspiration for game design.

Game UX design is the process of designing games to make the user experience as simple and fun as possible. It involves identifying a player’s needs, their preferences, and their experience. Developers often try to simulate a player’s experience by making assumptions about their own knowledge and perspective. But this approach can’t be effective unless a developer considers the perspective of players in the design process. In addition, a game designer should consider accessibility issues and the culture of players.

https://pinglestudio.com/service/game-ui-ux-design-services

In video games, UI/UX design involves the complete information architecture of the game. Designers must think through every step of the user interaction to create a game that will attract and keep gamers. A good game UX design will have many benefits, including high retention rates, low acquisition costs, and a positive response to ad display and in-game offers. During the design process, video game UX designers will analyze the overall picture of the future user experience. They will visualize their architecture and strive to create the greatest degree of simplicity in a game.

Game UI/UX Design Services

Video games are all about interaction with other people, and game developers use various techniques and research methodologies to create a good user experience. Biometric technologies are now available for game developers to analyze player emotions. Video games developed by UX teams spend time and effort collecting data about players and testing them with real people. A good user experience will keep players hooked to their game for hours on end. The ultimate goal of game UX is to make the player feel comfortable with their choice of gameplay and experience.

It’s important to remember that while some elements of UX design can be implemented without hiring a dedicated team, others will require expert knowledge. For example, conducting surveys, conducting playtests, and collecting analytics data are examples of activities that can be performed without hiring an entire UX team. However, more complex aspects of UX design need expert knowledge and attention to create a positive user experience. When hiring a UX team, it’s vital to empower them to drive the process.

While the words of developers are often crucial, players’ actions can speak louder than words. A game developer who has not undergone proper playtests may find a small flaw, become frustrated, and then say, “Yeah, it was fine!” The developers who employ the techniques of UX can avoid this kind of situation by incorporating more information about the games they’re developing. The process of game UX is more thorough, and can also reduce the risks associated with ‘complexity creep’.

Relationship

Wishing for a 2005 Christmas or am I?

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I woke up this morning and checked Facebook like I do every morning. I had a news feed full of Christmas trees, talk about grocery shopping for the big dinner, Latke recipes, and parents sitting in layers with toddlers in front of their Christmas trees drinking hot chocolate waiting for the big guy. Families travel from near and far to be with other family members. I turned around and looked at my husband, who had already been up for hours working, and wished it was 2005. I was missing the idea that both my husband and I had a few days off, no work, no emails, no spreadsheets. My two little chicks out of school, no homework, no projects. The only to-do list in existence was a list of everyone’s favorite cookies, a crumbling gingerbread house on the counter waiting to be assembled, and a big pot of gravy on the stove. The smell of Christmas wafting through the house dancing to Tennessee Christmas by Amy Grant.

Instead, I’m in New York City, in a warehouse in the West Village, with The Rolling Stones Satisfaction on stun playing on an endless loop fit only for torture. I’m in New York City, possibly the most Christmassy city. I have not ventured to see the tree, I have not been to Radio City Music Hall to see the Nutcracker, I have not caught a bouche de noel. The only Christmas lights I’ve seen are in the break room where I meet with my staff for 15 minutes every morning. I have to work Christmas Eve and Christmas. There won’t be a big pot of sauce on the stove because I’m living in a hotel. There will be no cookies baking in the oven, and there will be no gingerbread house. I won’t be leaving cookies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph, but to be honest, Santa and Rudolph have long since taken my house off their list of stops.

I miss the nostalgic Norman Rockwell Christmas I remember from when I was little. I miss Christmas mornings when my chickens were little and the look on their faces when they saw that Santa had eaten their cookies, drunk their milk, and the note Rudolph left for next year’s cookies instead of that disgusting carrot.

My Christmases have certainly changed over the years, as they do when the chickens grow up and move out of your nest and start building their own. So when I turned around this morning and saw my husband working, I looked out the 20th floor window of our hotel and it hit me. I may not have the smell of Christmas cookies or the Christmas sounds of Amy Grant, but I have a good job. I have a job that allows me to work every day with my husband and on Christmas morning I can wake up next to him, not alone. I’m working in a town 2 hours from where I used to live in Pennsylvania and I’m lucky that some friends have made the trip into town to give me a hug. I have made new friends and thanks to technology I can keep up with old friends. I can log into Facebook and get nostalgic through them, and it warms my heart. I can talk face to face with my chickens and I know that they are spending Christmas surrounded by love, Christmas music, cookies and gravy.

When I got to work this morning, I realized that I still have Christmas; It’s just a different version of Christmas. I am surrounded by love, warmth and occasional Christmas lights. I also don’t have to deal with that chore I hated the most, pulling down the Christmas tree, turning off the lights, and doing all those dishes.

So from me to yours, I hope your days are filled with lots of love and an abundance of cookies. The opportunity to reflect as you wish and a sense of peace. I hope all your chickens come home to rest or that you can at least talk to them for a minute.

See you in 2017.

*Yes, that’s my gingerbread house*

Gaming

Play Satta Online

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Satta Online

If you’ve ever wanted to play satta online, you’ve come to the right place. This game has been the winner of many awards, including the Aurora Award for best Internet game. Its basic concept is simple – match up the squares by clicking on them. Once you have the right combination, you can move on to the next level by clicking twice. Alternatively, you can play the game using a browser.

One of the most important tips to success in satta is to keep track of your betting activities. You should invest your money sensibly, rather than risking it all at once. Moreover, you should never invest large amounts of money unless you’re a professional in gambling. Besides, it will also help you develop new betting techniques. One way to keep track of your money is to create an excel sheet with the data of all your Satta games.

You can also play satta result puzzle games online to relax yourself and improve your concentration. Solving a puzzle in this game can improve your critical thinking skills, which is crucial for success in exams. This way, you won’t need to sit in front of your computer and focus solely on solving the puzzle. Moreover, you won’t spend too much money – the puzzles are free. You can play satta result games online without the need to purchase satta.

Play Satta Online

To get the most out of this game, you must know how to play it. Satta matka is a number game where you must pick three random numbers to place a bid on in order to win money. While it’s tempting to place large stakes right from the start, it’s important to remember to start out with small stakes. This will lower the risk for you. You should also control temptation when you’re losing money.

There are countless scammers out there in the online Satta bazaar. Beware of sites that promise you full pay. These are likely fake or illegal. Satta is a pure luck game, so if a site tells you it pays the full amount, it’s probably fake. You can’t control the outcome of the game – it’s entirely based on luck. This isn’t a game for mathematical geniuses; the chances of winning are the same in any lottery.

If you are new to Satta King, there are plenty of online sites where you can play it. Satta King is a popular game in India and the Indian subcontinent. You can play the game online or download the app to play satta. You must choose the numbers that correspond to your lucky number. This can help you win prizes worth eighty to ninety times your winnings. If you’re new to the game, make sure you read up on it first!

Technology

Essential Tips – Singapore Travel

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Essential Tips – Singapore Travel

Singapore is considered one of the best places to explore in Asia. It is safe, clean and without a doubt beautiful. If you intend to see and experience the beauty of this country, you may find these essential tips worth considering:

1. Plan ahead. When do you think to go? What places do you want to visit? Where do you want to stay? How much do you have to spend for your trip? How long do you want to stay?

These are some of the questions to consider that will help you make an itinerary for your trip. Planning ahead can save you a lot through promotions and discounts offered by airlines and travel sites. You can also maximize your entire trip by choosing which places you want to visit in advance and incorporating these places into your itinerary.

2. Check major travel sites and low-cost airlines for promotions, discounts, and coupons early. Travel sites like CheapOair and OneTravel show comparative airfares from major airlines and offer promotions and discounts for your trip from time to time. Budget airlines like Tiger Airways, Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Airphil Express also offer discounted flights to Singapore several times a year. For your hotel, Hotels Combined, Hostel World and Rakuten Travel offer offers, discounts and a wide range of hotels/hostels in Singapore so you can choose and book in advance.

3. Take note of essential details.

A. Flights: Check-in counters generally open two to three hours before your scheduled flight and close 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time. Please visit your airline’s official website for more information on check-in details and other requirements. Don’t forget to bring your passport, your valid ID, and a printed itinerary or boarding pass, if you checked in online.

B. Hotel: Obtain the address of the hotel where you will be staying. a hotel nearby MRT/LRT the station is preferable if you intend to explore Singapore using this transport system. Look for more information about the location, the features and the room accommodation. Some hotels offer Internet access in rooms and/or free breakfast, while others may offer the same for a fee. Also check review sites for comments from customers who have been to the same hotel.

4. Take a copy of Singapore with you. TRM YLRT system map. Although Singapore is a Southeast Asian city-state that covers around 710 square kilometers (274 square miles) of land area, you can actually travel from one end of the city to the other in a matter of hours via its excellent transportation system. public. This map is really essential if you are not familiar with the place and if you intend to explore the country using its public transport system (TRM, LRT, public bus). Not only will this help you plan your trip, but it will also help you save a lot of time exploring Singapore. Taxis are also available in Singapore but this will cost you more compared to MRT, LRT and buses In addition, taking the trains and buses in Singapore is considered safe, fast and cheap.

You can view this system map on the lta.gov.sg website.

5. Take advantage of online promotions offered by various Singapore attractions and travel sites. Attractions like the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Park, and even some travel sites offer special deals or discounts online, so it’s best to check their websites before you travel. Go Singapore Pass, Singapore City Tours, Singapore City Pass are some of the travel sites that offer offers and promotions on the main attractions of Singapore.

6. If you intend to explore Singapore for MRT, LRT and/or public bus, buy a EZ Link Singapore tourist card or pass. You will find this very helpful in exploring the beauty of this country.

Tea ez-link it is a contactless card, so simply tap to make your payment at the following Acceptance Points:

public transport

SBS Transit buses and trains

SMRT nozzles and

Taxis and Private Transportation

Food and drinks

Shopping and retail

Leisure and entertainment

government services

Educational Institutes

Community centers

Electronic road pricing (ERP) and electronic parking system (EPS)

Used only on the new dual mode unit in the vehicle (user interface) for ERP Y EPS Payments

Others/Self-services

For a complete list of acceptance points, please refer to the official website of EZ Link (you will find the link below).

Where to buy:

You can buy ez-link cards at 42 transit link Ticket offices and 6 Concession Card Replacement Offices located in TRM bus stations and interchanges, at Traveler Service Centers within most TRM stations and in 7 Eleven stores, including those located in Shell gasoline kiosks.

Validity: An ez-link card is valid for use for 5 years from the date it is encoded for use by EZL, and the ez-link card will expire thereafter. EZL may, at its discretion and from time to time, extend the Validity Period for any or all types of ez-link cards.

Cost: Year ez-link exhausted card transit link Ticket offices, Concession Card Replacement Offices and Passenger Service Centers cost $12, of which $7 is stored value for your use. Cards sold at 7-Eleven cost $10, of which $5 is stored value for your use. The remaining $5 is the cost of the card and is non-refundable.

For more information on EZ Link Cards, see ezlink.com website.

The Singapore Tourist Pass is the only pass that offers tourists unlimited travel on Singapore’s public transport system, including the MRT, LRT and basic bus services. This excludes Express, Fast Forward, Night Rider, Night Owl, Chinatown Direct, and other premium and niche bus services. The Pass also comes with exclusive business offers packaged especially for tourists who purchase the Pass.

The Pass is a product of EZ-Link Pte Ltd and is developed with the support of the Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The Pass is also issued with the Public Transport Guide which has information on how to get around Singapore using public transport.

In addition to enjoying unlimited rides on TRM Y LRT trains and basic bus services, you can also use the pass to redeem offers at select merchants. You can review some of the current merchant offers in the “Merchant Offers” section of thesingaporetouristpass.com website. All you need to do is show your pass and submit the corresponding coupons in your welcome packet to redeem your privileges.

Where to buy:

The Singapore tourist pass can be purchased at transit link lockers of the following SMRT Touristic centres:

Changi Airport* 12:00 – 15:45 and 16:45 – 19:30 Every day

Garden 10:00 – 21:00 every day

Chinatown* 12:00 pm – 03:45 pm and 04:45 pm – 07:30 pm Every day

Town Hall 09:00 am – 09:00 pm and every day

Draw location 08:00 am – 09:00 pm on weekdays 08:00 am – 05:00 pm on Saturdays.

Closed on Sundays and holidays.

Ang Mo Kio 08:00 am – 09:00 pm Every day

In front of the port* 10:00 am – 09:00 pm Every day

Bugis 10:00 a.m. – 09:00 p.m. Every day

*Please note that there is a 1 hour break between 15:45 and 16:45 for these locations.

You can also visit the Singapore Tourist Pass website for more information or click here http://www.thesingaporetouristpass.com.sg/get-singapore-tourist-pass/

The travel voucher can be activated within one (1) year from the date of purchase.

Validity: The validity of the pass is linked to the operating hours of the MRT and LRT trains and basic bus services, and not to the 24-hour clock of a normal calendar day. For example, if a tourist buys a 1-day pass at 17:00 (5 p.m. on the next calendar day.

Cost: The Singapore Tourist Pass is available in 3 options: 1-Day, 2-Day or 3-Day Pass.

Singapore sightseeing pass price

premises abroad

1 day pass $10

2 day pass $16

3 day pass $20

Passes purchased or issued in Singapore at authorized sales counters come with a S$10 rental deposit which is refundable, provided the card is returned within 5 days of issuance.

Business

How to make money investing in 401K plans in 2015-2016 and beyond

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Torie, like millions of others, knows she needs to make money investing in 401k plans in 2015-2016 and beyond (she has a couple) to retire comfortably. What she also needs to know: 401k asset allocation, how to choose and manage your best 401k investment options, and the outlook for 2015 and 2016. Let’s take a look at how she and you can make money in 2015, 2016, and beyond (or at least make the most of it) if they are in the same boat.

Although it has been easy to make money investing in 401k plans in recent years, this is not always the case. The first thing you and Torie need to do is set a goal (Torie’s goal is to retire around the year 2040). Second, be honest about your personal risk tolerance. Torie’s is “moderate” but definitely not aggressive! Third, review your current 401k asset allocation to determine if the investment options you have are in line with your risk tolerance. Are you in the best 401k investment options and in the right ratio?

Finally, you need to understand that 2015 and 2016 could be tough times to make money investing in 401k plans. The reason: Weak economic forecasts make the best 401k investment options of yesteryear vulnerable to loss. Stocks are expensive and so are bonds. Assuming your risk profile is similar to Torie’s (she’d like to make money but wants to avoid big losses), what can she do now to stay on track, make money, and avoid big losses if 2015 and beyond turn ugly? We will use Torie as our example.

Several years ago, Torie decided she wanted to make money investing in 401k plans, but she wanted to keep things simple. He had changed jobs once and was planning another change in the future. With both employers, she had set up her plan with 50% going to a safe and stable account and 50% to a Target 2040 fund. She was busy and pretty much ignored her statements over the years. After all, her goal was to make money by investing, and at a glance she could see that her portfolio balance was growing. Now, she needs to take a closer look at her 401k asset allocation to see what percentage she invests in each of her two 401k investment options.

In early 2015, a closer look revealed that both plans had a much riskier portfolio asset allocation than she expected. The target fund represented nearly 80% of her assets in her first plan and 75% in her current plan. What happened and what action do you need to take to get back on track and keep things simple? What happened was that her 2040 target fund turned out to be one of the best 401k investment options in her plan and far outperformed her safe and stable accounts.

The other best 401k investment options had been stock funds, but Torie thought they were too risky. With the target fund, most of her money was invested in stock funds, and the rest in bond funds; and both types of funds had performed well going into 2015. her plan was to continue making money investing in her 401k while maintaining her target fund and a safe investment. So she invested in stocks and also some bonds to give her portfolio some balance.

What you now need to do is REBALANCE your 401k asset allocation so that 50% of your portfolio assets are reinvested equally in each of your two chosen investment options. That lowers your risk considerably and adjusts to your comfort level. Now, can you or Torie make money investing in 401k plans in 2015-2016 with a 401k asset allocation that is allocated half to safe investment options (money market funds or stable accounts) and half to mutual funds? target stocks or funds? Yes, unless the stock market crashes and jumps it gets hit too.

How can you make money investing in 401k plans in 2015 and beyond if both stocks and bonds take a hit? You would have to move the vast majority of your money to the safe havens available. In other words, your best 401k investment options would be the interest-paying stable account (if one is available) or the money market fund (which your plan should have, but currently pays very little in dividends). For the average investor who needs long-term growth (like you and Torie), this is an extreme measure.

Remember, your real goal is to make money by investing in 401k plans, so you can have a secure retirement. Moderate risk is part of the program. I use Torie as an example because her situation is typical. Her asset allocation from her 401k fits her risk tolerance (and probably yours) and should deliver long-term growth. She has chosen the best 401k investment options to reach her 2040 retirement goal (if she plans to retire in 2030, go with the 2030 target fund, and so on). Half of her money is safe and the other half has growth potential.

Plus, you have a plan to manage your 401k investment options. If the markets turn ugly in 2015 and 2016 she will not make money investing in 401k plans, she will lose money. But she has money going into her target fund each pay period buying stocks at ever cheaper prices, and money going into and accumulating in her safe investment. Any time your 401k asset allocation shows that 60% or more is in the secure account, you will REBALANCE to 50%, which means taking money from the secure account and adding it to the target fund. Then, when the markets turn, you’ll be well positioned to make money by investing in 401k plans for a secure future.

Home Kitchen

Choosing a Backsplash with Your Granite or Marble Countertops

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If you’ve fallen in love with a beautiful slab, pair it with a backsplash material that shows it off at its best.

You have chosen granite countertop for its beauty and durability. Still don’t know what to use for your backsplash? We’ve amassed some popular options made by various designers, homeowners, and builders.

Granite is complicated. There are so many different color and pattern options. Some are very busy with movements or faded tones, while others are subtle. Some are dark, some are light. Some have big natural spots (which some of us love for being “natural”), while others are wacky or splattered.

Every slab of granite or marble is unique, so it’s impossible to make sweeping generalizations about what will work with each color of granite. But if you look at why and how these combinations are nice and important, you’ll get some great ideas for a material to go with the particular stone you’ve fallen in love with.

one) The same granite or marble, up to the top:

The full tall backsplash is quite common. Not only can you see the beauty of the stone vertically (and blend the veining horizontally) to create a book combination, but it also makes cleaning and maintenance easy. Just a regular swipe with soapy water does the magic. When you’re considering a full-height backsplash (as they call it), choose the portion of the slab (while selecting it) that you’d like to highlight. It could be a particular section of colors or a dramatic lens or a fairly consistent movement. Think of it like an art painting on a kitchen wall.

two) The “standard” 4-inch backsplash on the same countertop:

This is usually called “standard” as most manufacturers provide them with the countertop to hide the gap between the countertop and the wall. This helps them complete the transition. If you prefer the white wall or just paint the wall with your color theme, this is the way to go. You can always add glass tiles or subway tiles later when you’re ready.

3) Large rectangular tile:

Large subway tiles are all the rage right now. 4×12, 4×16 and even 6×12 or 6×24 planks. They make the room seem bigger. Combine these mosaic and subway tiles in travertine, porcelain and ceramic or even glass to create the kitchen backsplash that is minimalist and warm.

4) Subway Tiles:

The 3×6, 4×4 or 6×6 evergreen subway tiles come in travertine, slate, glass, porcelain and ceramic and take you back in time when they were first used in the New York subway system. You can choose a color of your granite or marble countertop or the dominant color to choose the tone of your subway tile.

5) glass tile:

The glossy finish of glass tile complements many granite and marble countertops. Consider a neutral shade that closely matches the main color field of the granite.

6) Interlocking mosaic tile:

It is a beautiful combination of glass and stone mosaics or glass and stainless steel. Not only are they newer and more modern, but they help you create or take the theme to another room. Combine it with the fireplace in your living room or with the bar in the next room. The changes of tone in each of these handmade mosaics are calm and charming. Mesh-backed tiles are easier to cut and install. Interlocking tiles lock into place for the next piece for a smooth grout line finish.

7) Brick mosaic tile:

This one may seem counter-intuitive (no pun intended), but 2×4 or 1×3 brick tile and other sizes are stylish tiles that go very well with your color scheme. It might seem like it would be two busy patterns, but the material and color of the backsplash is a reassuring counterpoint (pun intended).

8) Metal inserts and listello accents:

The plain subway tile might have been too plain here, but the stippling in the eclectic tile pattern drawn from the range tile adds a fun twist. Use chair rails and pencil liners to complete the project in style. Using metal inserts with natural stone backsplash such as travertine mosaic and marble tile gives it a rich look. If you are looking for a palette that has a vivid travertine pattern but feels like simple white or cream colored tile blocks, then you should consider livening up the range. Creating a frame inside the backsplash (behind the range) with chair rails or pencil molding creates a push-off effect.

9) Tumbled marble tile:

Tumbled subway tiles come in marble, travertine, and slate mosaics. Jagged edges create that mid-century look on the backsplash. With wide grout lines they have no competition. When choosing your backsplash tiles, you’ll have a few places to choose the right hues. Look at the range of colors in your countertop pattern to find the right darker shades. Look at the color of your cabinet too. Tie cabinets to countertops with these tumbled subway tiles.

Now that you’ve seen a few designers’ ideas, you can start playing around with the colors, sizes, shapes, scales, materials, finishes, and patterns of your backsplash and countertop combination until you get it right. Remember to pay attention to the colors and materials of the cabinets and walls as well.

Auto

Your first auto loan will help you build your credit score

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Buying your first car is an exciting experience. But to buy your first car, you need to apply for your first car loan. And to get the loan, you need a good credit score. But what if you have zero credit score? Don’t worry. You can approach lenders who help first-time buyers. With the help of a specialized lender, you can buy your first car. And by making payments on time, your credit score will improve, too. It’s like killing two birds with one stone!

Car Buying Tips for First Time Car Buyers

· Consider your lifestyle

The car market is a vibrant market with various options. A different car is available for each income group. If you’re confused about choosing a car, your lifestyle will help define your car. Do you need a fuel-efficient vehicle or a vehicle that has room in the back seat for children? The choice remains with you.

· List car models

Make a list of car models based on your requirements and budget. What kind of car do you and your family like? Is it a sedan, a hatchback or an SUV? You need to take into account various factors such as family size, utility, road conditions, etc. before taking a decision.

· Prepared for the budget

Survey all your financial resources to calculate your budget. The price of the car is not the only cost to consider. You have to remember different costs, such as insurance, fuel, maintenance, and loan payments.

· Apply for your first car loan

Find the best interest rate. First car loans are available at banks and dealerships. And, due to competition in the financial market, interest rates are quite low. Therefore, affordable interest rates will make becoming a car owner affordable for you.

Look ahead: How to get your first car loan and improve your credit score?

When you first buy a car, you can explore various financing options. Since you are a first-time buyer, you likely have a zero credit score. Therefore, qualifying for your first car loan can be difficult. But there are a few things that will help you buy your first car.

· Pay a large down payment to the dealer. It will allow you to get the best interest rate. As a result, your monthly payments will be manageable.

· Using a co-signer will significantly increase your chances of getting approved. The creditworthiness of the co-signer will help you buy your first car.

Search for specialized lenders. There are people who make loans even when you have a bad credit history or a zero credit score. Compare various financing options available to you and choose the right one!

· If your loan application is approved, make your payments on time because it will help you build your credit score.

When you’re a first-time buyer, buying a car can be an uncertain process. And trying to get your first car loan will add to the feeling of uncertainty. But, when you are persistent, nothing is impossible. Find your first car loan today and buy your first car. It will give you the opportunity to build your credit score.