Computer Video Editing – An Overview and Software Review
Video Production EquipmentEditing Computers and Video Editing SoftwareToday’s editing computers are a marvel in my opinion. Did you know that before computers, it took around ONE MILLION DOLLARS of equipment to stock a professional editing room? You needed multiple tape decks, a switcher, an effects generator, a character generator, an audio mixer, signal enhancers, multiple monitors and years of experience to operate it all.To rent out all this stuff by the hour, it cost $500-$1,000 per HOUR to edit. A thirty second spot could easily take ten hours to edit, even a relatively simple one. That’s TEN GRAND just for one step in the production of something that lasts half a measly minute!OUCH!We’ve got it great compared to that. Today, ten grand is MORE than enough to buy a total system and all the software you’d ever need to edit a lifetime of shows.Computer editing is loads of fun and the creative possibilities are endless.Computer editing revolutionized the entire television and video production industry. Computer video editing put power in the hands of the little guy, not just the companies that could afford million-dollar edit suites.For a small investment, (maybe nothing beyond a computer that has free video editing software already on it) you have the opportunity to produce professional quality edited video stories.I got Windows Movie Maker version 5.1 free on the Compaq I bought at the discount box store for half-off after Christmas.Movie Maker will easily edit together your video and add professional looking graphics. You have one line of audio that you can cut and paste.Any Mac comes with free iMovie, which is probably a better program than Movie Maker and certainly a killer freebie. Both of them are killer freebies.If you want more creative and complex editing options than what freebies give you, you can get awesome software for $50-$300. If you go full tilt boogie, software that Hollywood uses can be had for $1,300
Apple’s Final Cut Pro, now called Studio 2, is the ultimate video editing software experience in my humble opinion. When FCP first came on the market, it was chump change at $1,000, compared to its competitor, Avid with its $50,000 version of Media Composer. At the time, people were clamoring to learn Media Composer because it seemed like such a revolutionary bargain compared to the million-dollar fully equipped suites. Then, all of a sudden, you can get a program equal to Media Composer for just a grand?Holy crap!Final Cut Studio’s price today of $1,299 might seem high to newbies, but the power of Final Cut can not be understated. It can do anything you can imagine and then some. Hollywood uses Final Cut. However, chances are you’re not Hollywood bound.Final Cut Express is only $300 and gives you all the punch you’d probably ever want unless you’re competing on the very uppermost levels. FCE is what I just bought.Many companies put out video editing software but I must confess my prejudice for Macs and Apple editing software. That’s what I always used when working for large companies and the vast majority of professionals I know prefer Apple Computers to PCs for video editing and other large-file creative tasks. There’re a million and one reasons for that, but I’ve seen such heated debates about the topic, it’s scary. Here’s an actual conversation I witnessed:”We’ll get PCs for editing over my dead body!”
“That can be arranged! I hate those f****** things!”"I try not to get that hot about it, but my money goes to Apple.Since PCs solidly dominate the market whether I think they should or not, there are plenty of video editing programs for the PC market.Sony Vegas Movie Studio is popular. I’ve seen it for $99 at the Best Buy store down the street and for $63.99 on Amazon.com. The reviews are mixed, some people give up in confusion but others plod through the learning curve and say it’s a good program. It can do quite a bit more than the freebies.Corel DVD Movie Maker 6 goes for about $48 on Amazon and Pinnacle Studio runs about $50. Neither is quite as sophisticated as Sony Vegas, but as the price indicates, you can do more with them than you can with the freebies.Corel Paint shop Pro for still picture and Sony Vegas combine into one and they call it Corel Sony Visual Creation. $110 on Amazon.Video editing software has a learning curve, but it’s really not any more difficult than using a word processing program.Keep in mind that video editing demands a lot of your computer. Video files are huge, and making them spin and dance requires power. Get the biggest, most powerful computer you can afford. The Mac G-5 blows any other computer out of the pond when it comes to computer video editing. But whatever you have can work. My dinky PC does relatively well too!
What Type Of Mortgage Loan Is Right For You?
Homebuyers and homeowners need to decide which home Mortgage loan is right for them. Then, the next step in getting a mortgage loan is to submit an application ( Uniform Residential Loan Application ). Although we try to make the loan simple and easy for you, getting a mortgage loan is not an insignificant process.Below is a short synopsis of some loan types that are currently available.CONVENTIONAL OR CONFORMING MORTGAGE Loans are the most common types of mortgages. These include a fixed rate mortgage loan which is the most commonly sought of the various loan programs. If your mortgage loan is conforming, you will likely have an easier time finding a lender than if the loan is non-conforming. For conforming mortgage loans, it does not matter whether the mortgage loan is an adjustable rate mortgage or a fixed-rate loan. We find that more borrowers are choosing fixed mortgage rate than other loan products.Conventional mortgage loans come with several lives. The most common life or term of a
mortgage loan is 30 years. The one major benefit of a 30 year home mortgage loan is that one pays lower monthly payments over its life. 30 year mortgage loans are available for Conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Loans. A 15 year mortgage loan is usually the least expensive way to go, but only for those who can afford the larger monthly payments. 15 year mortgage loans are available for Conventional, Jumbo, FHA and VA Loans. Remember that you will pay more interest on a 30 year loan, but your monthly payments are lower. For 15 year mortgage loans your monthly payments are higher, but you pay more principal and less interest. New 40 year mortgage loans are available and are some of the the newest programs used to finance a residential purchase. 40 year mortgage loans are available in both Conventional and Jumbo. If you are a 40 year mortgage borrower, you can expect to pay more interest over the life of the loan.A Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan is a type of loan where the interest rate remains fixed
over life of the loan. Whereas a Variable Rate Mortgage will fluctuate over the life
of the loan. More specifically the Adjustable-Rate Mortgage loan is a loan that has a
fluctuating interest rate. First time homebuyers may take a risk on a variable rate for qualification purposes, but this should be refinanced to a fixed rate as soon as possible.A Balloon Mortgage loan is a short-term loan that contains some risk for the borrower. Balloon mortgages can help you get into a mortgage loan, but again should be financed into a more reliable or stable payment product as soon as financially feasible. The Balloon Mortgage should be well thought out with a plan in place when getting this product. For example, you may plan on being in the home for only three years.Despite the bad rap Sub-Prime Mortgage loans are getting as of late, the market for this kind of mortgage loan is still active, viable and necessary. Subprime loans will be here for the duration, but because they are not government backed, stricter approval requirements will most likely occur.Refinance Mortgage loans are popular and can help to increase your monthly disposable income. But more importantly, you should refinance only when you are looking to lower the interest rate of your mortgage. The loan process for refinancing your mortgage loan is easier and faster then when you received the first loan to purchase your home. Because closing costs and points are collected each and every time a mortgage loan is closed, it is generally not a good idea to refinance often. Wait, but stay regularly informed on the interest rates and when they are attractive enough, do it and act fast to lock the rate.A Fixed Rate Second Mortgage loan is perfect for those financial moments such as home improvements, college tuition, or other large expenses. A Second Mortgage loan is a mortgage granted only when there is a first mortgage registered against the property. This Second Mortgage loan is one that is secured by the equity in your home. Typically, you can expect the interest rate on the second mortgage loan to be higher than the interest rate of the first loan.An Interest Only Mortgage loan is not the right choice for everyone, but it can be very effective choice for some individuals. This is yet another loan that must be thought out carefully. Consider the amount of time that you will be in the home. You take a calculated risk that property values will increase by the time you sell and this is your monies or capital gain for your next home purchase. If plans change and you end up staying in the home longer, consider a strategy that includes a new mortgage. Again pay attention to the rates.A Reverse mortgage loan is designed for people that are 62 years of age or older and already have a mortgage. The reverse mortgage loan is based mostly on the equity in the home. This loan type provides you a monthly income, but you are reducing your equity ownership. This is a very attractive loan product and should be seriously considered by all who qualify. It can make the twilight years more manageable.The easiest way to qualify for a Poor Credit Mortgage loan or Bad Credit Mortgage loan is to fill out a two minute loan application. By far the easiest way to qualify for any home mortgage loan is by establishing a good credit history. Another loan vehicle available is a Bad Credit Re-Mortgage loan product and basically it’s for refinancing your current loan.Another factor when considering applying for a mortgage loan is the rate lock-in. We discuss this at length in our mortgage loan primer. Remember that getting the right mortgage loan is getting the keys to your new home. It can sometimes be difficult to determine which mortgage loan is applicable to you. How do you know which mortgage loan is right for you? In short, when considering what mortgage loan is right for you, your personal financial situation needs to be considered in full detail. Complete that first step, fill out an application, and you are on your way!
Professional SEO Copywriting Services – What They Are, And What They Aren’t
When you type the words “seo copywriting” into Google, thousands of articles and provider websites come up. But how many of them are truly useful? Is seo-friendly copywriting the standard ? Are all copywriters now seo-savvy? In truth, if you are looking for a professional seo copywriter, you’re going to need to shop around.There are thousands of seo optimization firms that masquerade as copywriters – which can put them in the lead as far as search engine saturation and rankings. SEO optimization indisputably brings in the traffic to your website. Without it, you’d be lost in the never ending ocean of websites. It’s tempting to hire an seo firm to simply set up your keyworded content, submit your website, and let it go. This is a sad mistake for online businesses to make – once the traffic is delivered, they lose sales. A healthy dose of marketing awareness is the true goldmine when it comes to seo-savvy copywriting services.Look at the work of some of the top seo optimization firms. Do it now. Google ‘seo optimization’.SEO firms tend to be rather wordy – they’re pressing the limits of search engine ratios. They know that as an seo firm, their goal is to get a website into the top of the search engine results. Once they’ve done that, they’ve completed their job. They aren’t there to write sales copy or think of a catchy, brand-building slogan. They are there to help you feed machines – not brains. Unfortunately, an seo firm just doesn’t have the marketing savvy to create website content that draws in the essential components of marketing: emotional draw, a compelling message, and an irresistible offer.Would you ask an seo optimization firm to write your print brochure? Help you plan a script for your tv commercial? Would you ask them to compile a media kit for potential investors? Of course not – that’s not what they specialize in. SEO optimization companies specialize in communicating with search engines – not people.If you are looking for the “sell factor” – that’s where good copywriting comes in. A techie that knows how to blanket a website in keywords doesn’t specialize in creativity and ingenuity. That’s bad for you because those are the things that make your products stand out, increase your response rate, and drive sales. SEO optimization firms rely on keyword saturation – an often complicated algorithm that checks to see how many of your keywords are being read by Google. Keyword saturation is a great tool to tinker with search engine results – but it’s not necessarily the tool you want to exploit when you’re trying to persuade consumers to truly connect with what you’re offering. (And connect with them in such a way that they come back for more.)So, what do true seo copywriting services do for my website?SEO copywriters focus first on the message, then the translation to Google. They are expert translators that make a smooth transition from search engine language to customer-centric language. They write your copy with seo keywords in mind (a 2-7% keyword ratio, which is the standard) but they still add style and voice to what you’re selling.A good seo copywriter steers clear of cookie-cutter product descriptions but still manages to slip your keywords in there for Google and Yahoo to read. They know how to build your brand and your company image using professionally written, believable copy. They are the essential component of a true search engine marketing campaign – they give your company a voice that stands a cut above the rest.Your website has a voice, and seo copywriting services should build a clear messageThe voice of your company is the language on your website – all of the words, product descriptions, link hover text, and meta data that the search engines pick up and deliver – and humans end up reading. A seo copywriter will strike a balance between using keywords and promotional words effectively. They don’t sacrifice quality for the sake of a higher saturation rate. They want copy that is exciting to read – and pulls sales. They want to keywords to simply be integrated into high-pulling content.A good seo copywriter will know that headings and titles are just as important to the search engines as the people that visit. They know the importance of bold and bullets to make reading easier on the eyes for your computer-weary customers. They also know that Google finds it easier to read as well.An seo copywriter is a hybrid of both creative ingenuity and tech-savvy – satisfying both search engines and the curiosity of your prospects. They want results that convert into high search engine results, as well as higher sales volume.Evaluating seo copywriting services – is your copywriter an seo firm in disguise?
So, how do you know if you are truly working with an seo-savvy copywriting service? The easiest way to find out is to read their website. Many seo firms rely heavily on search engine statistics – even in their website copy – but don’t let this alone scare you off. Statistics are how many seo firms see their end of the bargain – the results. Look at their portfolio. (If they don’t have a portfolio or links to online work, run!) Read their website text to see if sounds like a person took time writing it – is there promotional language? A call to action? A clear list of benefits? Is the content persuasive? Are their articles useful and worth reading – or do they seem to grind out information in monotone?What to look for when choosing a professional seo copywriter:Here are a few things to look for when you choose an seo writer, and why.
Does your seo copywriter have a portfolio or links to keyworded articles? Does it contain more than just seo-related work? (Most seo copywriters either started off in print media, or dabble with it from time to time. Experience in other advertising mediums shows that they understand how to market to people, not just machines. )
Are their articles unique and compelling? Read a few of their seo-keyworded articles by printing them out on paper – does the copy flow smoothly? Is it exciting or informative? Do you notice the repetition of keywords enough that it kills the word flow? Oh, and while you’re at it, Google their articles and see how they rank in the search engines, as well.
Does your seo copywriter have a name? That’s right – a name. (Will Smith. Cathy Bates. Melissa Brewer.) A lot of seo copywriting service providers farm out their work to India and other tech-saturated countries. This is great for pricing – but the quality can vary and is dependent on the English skills of each individual writer. The articles on their website should have a byline and information about their authors – experience, a portfolio, an “About Us” section – everything your own customers would want to know about you.
Does your seo copywriter care about your marketing plan as a whole? Do they offer complementary services – both print and web, to allow your marketing collateral to intersect with your search engine efforts? Do they make referrals to trusted providers in the marketing industry?
A truly competent, creative seo copywriter is a diamond in the rough. When you find a person with a hybrid of marketing and tech skills, you have found a true partner in your online marketing efforts. Don’t sacrifice your business website to search engine feeders. A good seo writer can help your website – and your brand – rise to the top of the search engines as well as the forefront of your customer’s thoughts when they are in a shopping mood. SEO copywriters can also help you create online newsletters, e-books, articles, blogs, and any other copy where words are being used to sell products or services. The right combination of keywords and online promotion will increase sales, attract customers and grow your business exponentially – both on and offline.
What If Accounts Receivable Finance Was the Perfect Answer to Your Cash Flow Financing?
A tale of two worlds – one in which you have unlimited cash flow or one in which you had day to day cash flow challenges that hamper your ability to grow and manage your business. A cash flow financing solution could well be the solution to all your problems.Canadian business owners and financial managers face, on a daily basis real world cash flow challenges. Lets look at an example at why accounts receivable finance can be your holy grail of working capital financing. Cash flow financing goes by a number of different names in Canada that is part of the confusion we are always trying to wade through on our client’s behalf – various terms apply to this type of business financing. They include: factoring, invoice, discounting, A/R financing, etc. Depending on how you transaction is structured and who you are dealing with is really the key issue, not what the financing is called.Clients always want to know if they are a candidate for this type of business financing. There are some perfect candidates, so let’s look at a profile or two in order that you can determine if you fit. Generally you will have accounts receivable that pay fairly regularly but are on occasion slow – your overall bad debt experience has probably been quite satisfactory. Your invoice and stated terms for your customers is 30 days, but guess what, most of them seem to be paying in 60 and 90 days – that definitely seems to be the trend of clients we talk to.Does size count – In cash flow financing it really doesn’t – speaking in general terms if you have at least $ 50,000 of invoices a month you are a candidate for accounts receivable finance. The reality is that corporations with many millions of dollars in receivables actually utilize this form of financing also.We hasten to say that in most instances the size of your facility will affect your overall pricing. In our experience you can potentially reduce the cost of your accounts receivable finance facility by close to 1% per month if you have a large facility. However, we spend many hours and many meetings educating Canadian business on factoring pricing, which is grossly mis understood by most clients who look into this type of business financing.So the bottom line is that you should not let your company size, or any other challenges you might be facing – (temporary financial losses, restructuring, etc) affect you ability to successfully achieve an accounts receivable finance strategy.Many times the decision to consider cash flow financing of your receivables comes from directly related issues to collections – in some cases the slow pay nature of your client may be affecting your ability to purchase inventory or meet payroll – those are some typical factors that drive customers toward factoring.When you finance (in effect you are selling) your receivables under this type of facility you immediately receive an 80% advance on your invoice- that allows you to meet obligations and expand your business.Most business owners know that if they had access to working capital they could readily grow their business – yet the traditional sources of business financing in Canada, i.e. chartered banks have made it challenging for firms to finance receivables in a manner that makes sense for the business owner. In some cases, as we noted, your business has or had challenges that prohibit you from temporarily sourcing cash flow financing.Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced business advisor in this area – determine if accounts receivable finance is right for your firm, and focus on getting into a facility that meets your needs re day to day workings and cost.
How to Get Work as a Guest Entertainer on a Cruise Ship Part III
This is part 3 on How to Get Work … and Keep it! … by working as a Guest
Entertainer on a cruise shipCue Sheets
Always have your cue sheets ready to give the production manager. These will
include any music cues and lighting cues. You will always get time to rehearse and
this will be the time to go over any cues. The stages on the ships today are
incredible and have everything.
Prepare cue sheets for light and sound technicians. Early upon your arrival on the
ship the stage manager will contact you. He or she will want to know what special
requirements you need and how much rehearsal time to schedule. You should be
familiar with your technical requirements. Talk to him about the kind of lighting and
sound you need and any backstage help you will require. At rehearsal you should be
able to supply written cue sheets that explain how and when all the technical things
happen during your act. For recorded music I use a programmable mini-disc unit. If
you use recorded music I recommend that you put it on the highest quality playback
method you can. If you use extensive and complex lighting, I recommend you bring
videotape of your act to show the lighting technician how you’d like it to look. Light
fixtures change from place to place, but the same mood and affect can be created
from various sources.Live animals
Some acts do use live animals on ships, to do this you need to get pre-approved by
head office of the cruise line you are working for so they can sort out the paper
work well in advance. To travel with livestock is the responsibility of the Guest
Entertainer.Theatre Conduct
It is important that you are familiar with stage deportment; how to enter, exit, and
take a curtain call. This is all part of professionalism, simple theatre 101. First
impressions matter, but never more than when you are on stage. During the first 30
seconds, your audience will size you up. They make judgments about you that will
color their attitudes about what you do. The first moments are critical. You need to
strategically decide how you will present yourself immediately upon your
introduction.Likewise you should give careful consideration to the end of your act. How will you
finish? How will you exit the stage? Cruise ship shows all have emcees, so you will
be called back to the stage for a bow.Usually, an act will finish their last routine and take a bow as the M.C. announces
the act’s name. The band will play a quick and bouncy piece of music as the
performer walks off stage. The emcee will then ask the audience to “call the
performer back,” with another round of applause. At this point the entertainer walks
back to the stage to receive the applause.The theatres on cruise ships today are more equipped than most theatres on land,
with the latest sound equipment, lighting and video equipment. Try and view your
act as theatre and make use of all the technology available to you. In my act I use a
video montage to introduce my Chaplin act. I have also performed close-up magic
on the main stage and had it projected behind me on a large video screen. On a
cruise you will be expected to know how conduct yourself and your act in a real
theater setting. This is not always something a magician that is used to working
solo is familiar with. You will deal with other professionals like the an emcee, stage
manager, sound engineer, light technician, orchestra leader and other professional
entertainers that you will share the stage and dressing room with. You should know
stage terminology, blocking and what light designs you will need. If all this is
foreign to you, get some experience before trying the ship market.CONTRACT
A Guest Entertainer Independent Contractor Agreement will be issued each time a
Guest Entertainer is contracted to work on board. The contract should be reviewed
carefully and signed accordingly. The contract will say how much money you are
being paid on a weekly basis and your travel dates.
You will also get a boarding letter. This letter will come in useful when going
through immigration as they may ask to see it. Quite often when traveling through
US immigration I am taken in to another room while they confirm with the cruise line
that I will be joining the ship. This agreement will also give your flight details, the
port agents details of the country you will be flying to and often your return flight.
There are times where you don’t get your return flight until you are onboard. Always
have a copy of your contract and boarding agreement with you. You will need to
show the boarding agreement to the security officer when you get to the gangway
on the ship.CONTRACT PAYMENT
Each company differs on their pay system. There was a time when I would be paid
on the ship on a bi-monthly basis, but this is no longer the case. In my case my
agent gets my money on the 15th and 30th of each month and she then transfers it
to my account. I prefer this because then she can take out her commission and it
saves me having to send her the money. I know there are still ships where they act
gets paid onboard and also some acts who have the money deposited directly in to
their bank accounts.During a ship’s drydock, refit. Or maintenance period that falls within the duration
of a contract, it is at the company’s discretion to either pay the Guest Entertainer on
a pro-rata basis or provide a round trip airfare to the Guest Entertainer’s “home”
airport and back to the ship. When I finish this contract next week the company is
accommodating me for two nights in Gibralter before I transship to another ship for
a week. They will pay for my hotel, food and any travel while I am staying in port.Guest Entertainers are paid for the day they embark the ship, but not for the day
they disembark the ship. Travel days are not usually reimbursed unless otherwise
agreed.For US citizens the company must report all earnings and a 1099 form will be issued
at year end. All Guest Entertainers are responsible to payment of government taxes
and so forth.
In my situation I am a non-resident of any country having left New Zealand almost
five years ago on a full time basis and so I am in the fortunate position of not paying
tax. I have set up a US bank account so that I can have a US visa which I find very
handy when paying onboard accounts.Cruise Director
While onboard the ship, it is the Cruise Director who looks after the Guest
Entertainers and is the person in charge of scheduling performers and putting
together the daily ‘newspaper’ on what the days activities will be. More often than
not, it is the CD that will be introducing you, so have a very short and precise
introduction prepared so that s/he can use it to bring you onstage. They don’t like
to read long winded introductions so my advice is to keep it short and simple. The
cruise director is also the person who will be reporting back to head office about
your act and how it was received. You will never really know what the CD is thinking
and in my time on ships I think I have seen it all.
You get the cruise directors who are very professional and care about their guest
entertainers, yet on the other hand you get those that don’t care at all. In one case, I
had a CD who didn’t even bother to turn up and introduce me, so I had to do it
myself AND take myself off stage. The next night he never showed up and so
another guest entertainer introduced the act. Without a doubt the worst CD I have
ever worked for, just plain lazy and didn’t care. When I approached him on the
matter his comment was “I could get more money working at McDonalds” … I told
him maybe he should go there and work instead. This same CD I made a noise
complaint because there were parties next door in the cabins every night going on
until 3am, this went on for almost 2 weeks until I complained. We had the dancers
in the hallway and none of the guest acts could sleep. When I complained the CD
told me not to hassle his dancers, then I found out that he was the one holding the
parties!!! Sometimes you can’t win.
I try to keep out of the CDs way, just go on, do my job, be polite and that is it. They
do have a very busy life on a ship and they run a large department so as little hassle
from guest entertainers makes their lives that much easier.
Get Affordable Home Insurance in Calgary
There are many reasons to get home insurance in Calgary. First of all, you want to make sure your house, cottage, or tenancy is covered for damage, theft, and flooding. Secondly, you want to know if you are overpaying for home insurance, and if you are, you want to know if you have access to a more affordable insurer. We can help you connect with a live insurance broker who will give you the information you need to insure your house in Calgary. You can also request a quote from at least 10 Canadian home insurers, so you can compare rates.Typical Home Insurance Premiums
Home protection prices are different for rented and owned properties. Tenants insurance for rented homes covers the basic contents of a house and some liability (you may need a separate policy for fine art, wine collections, furs, and other expensive, atypical items). Tenants insurance is often cheaper than homeowners insurance.Homeowners insurance covers the building and its exterior, as well as risks connected to theft, fire, earthquake, etc. Since the value of the building is much higher than the contents of a rented unit, homeowners insurance premiums are significantly higher than are the premiums for tenants insurance.In order to have a broader picture of home insurance rates in Canada, here are statistics of the average home rates in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Canada. These statistics are provided by InsurEye.In Alberta, monthly house insurance rates are typically $84 for homeowners and $49 for renters.In Ontario, monthly home insurance rates are typically $78 for homeowners and $42 for renters.In British Columbia, monthly home protection rates are typically $85 for homeowners and $47 for renters.Across Canada, monthly home insurance rates are typically $77 for homeowners and $41 for renters.Examples of Calgary Home Insurance Quotes
Home insurance quotes in Calgary depend on the size of a building, its location, and possible risks (like flooding). The following examples of house insurance quotes will help you better understand how much home insurance can potentially cost you:· For a 2,800 square foot, two-storey house in Calgary, in the neighbourhood of Altadore near River Park, expect approximately $98 monthly ($1,176 a year).· For an 850 square foot, two-bedroom condominium on the 12th floor in downtown Calgary, next to Central Memorial Park, the insurance costs are approximately $23 a month ($276 a year).· For a one-storey house in Calgary, in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, located close to 4th St NW and the Trans-Canada Highway, the insurance is approximately $62 monthly ($744 a year).Flooding Coverage for Homes in Calgary
Since Calgary often sees flooding, every homeowner should be prepared for the possibility of this risk and should understand the main aspects of home protection and flooding. One thing you should keep in mind is that home protection in the flood-endangered areas of the city is more expensive because of the much higher risk.There are four main types of flooding. It is important to remember that your home insurance policy treats each of them differently:1. Overland flooding occurs as a consequence of water (rain or melting snow) entering your house from the outdoors. Standard insurance in Calgary does not cover expenses from overland flooding. However, some companies do provide coverage for this type of flooding at an additional cost.2. Roof leakage can be covered or not covered, depending on the factors that caused it. If the roof was in poor condition from the beginning, your insurance provider will not cover the damage. Your home insurance will most likely cover damage from a natural cause, like hail.3. Your insurer will cover plumbing issues, only if you comply with the rules in your policy, such as having somebody visit your home while you are not there for extended periods of time (for example, while you are on vacation).4. Sewer backup happens when wastewater is driven back into your house. Traditional home protection does not cover this type of flooding. However, you can always purchase this type of coverage as an addition to your home insurance policy.The Difference Between Condo and Tenants Insurance in Calgary
Owners of condos can purchase homeowners insurance for their condo. The condominium corporation purchases commercial condo insurance. The difference between these two policies is in what part of the condo they cover. The homeowners insurance covers the contents of the condominium. The coverage also includes protection for upgrades, locker contents, third party liability, theft, additional living expenses, and sometimes special insurance assessments.The commercial condominium corporation’s insurance covers the building’s exterior (envelope), together with its infrastructure and common areas.Condo renters in Calgary need tenants insurance to cover the contents of their condos. This type of protection is usually mandatory and is part of the rental contract. In addition to the coverage of contents against theft, fire, and other hazards, the insurance also extends to third party liability and additional living expenses. Living expenses are for the cases when the condo is unlivable (due to earthquake, flood, fire, etc.), so the renter is forced to live in a hotel or rental unit until the condo repairs are complete.10 Ways to Save on Home Insurance in Calgary
Here are a few ways to save on your home coverage. For more savings, get an insurance quote and contact an insurance expert.1. Professional membership. Members of unions or professional organizations can get a discount on their home insurance. Insurance companies, like Meloche Monnex Insurance, also provide their members with insurance policies.2. Hydrant or fire station. If your home is close to one of these things, you can ask for a discount from your insurance provider.3. Discounts for students. Some insurance providers give discounts for students. As for dependent students who live alone, their parent’s home insurance may cover the insurance on their apartment at no additional charge. For example, Desjardins Insurance provides this discount.4. Discounts for graduates. TD Insurance is an example of an insurer that offers discounts for graduates from post-secondary institutions like McGill University or the University of Toronto.5. Quit smoking. Many insurance companies increase home protection premiums for smokers due to the potential fire risk.6. Change your policy. Those with tenant insurance should rethink the size of their coverage – perhaps some things that do not have much value do not need additional coverage.7. Security of your home. Does your home have additional security, like a doorman or security guard? This might get you a discount from your insurance provider.8. Direct insurer. Also called a captive agent, a direct insurer represents one company and can offer their products for a cheaper price when compared to insurance agents or brokers.9. Consumer reviews. Other home insurance consumers often share their experiences of purchasing insurance and making claims. Thanks to these insights, you will be able to avoid unexpected costs and overpayment.10. Compare prices. You can get home insurance quote in Calgary for a cheaper price thanks to the price comparison tools that show you the rates of the same services provided by different insurance companies.
Marketing Your Business Online – 5 Ways to Jump-Start Your Online Marketing Efforts
Marketing your business online is one good option to promote your business to a larger market. Even if you only cater to a local market, the presence of your business online can be a big factor to be visible to them. People are now using the internet to look up for businesses even within the vicinity, thus being visible online can be a great advantage.Competition nowadays has also shifted online. Even if you have a small business or a budding business, going for the usual marketing techniques will not allow you to compete in the same level with businesses that have been around for some time. Online marketing indeed levels the playing field for large and small businesses, which also makes it easier for you in marketing your business online.To take advantage of this marketing opportunity, here are some tools and techniques that will help you jump-start your marketing efforts.(1) Build your website. One very basic key to marketing your business online is to make your own website. You should keep in mind that your ability to attract potential customers online also depends on your website design. It does not mean you have to have a complicated website. You just have to consider having a user-friendly website as well as a search engine friendly website. If you are not adept into web designing, hiring freelance webmasters can be your option.(2) Get your own domain. Getting your own domain name is also another important consideration in marketing your business. Advantages? – It will help you climb up to the search engines easily than having your site hosted by some free web hosting sites. It also helps build credibility aside from having a professional sounding domain name.(3) Create good copies. Marketing your business online indeed requires a good copy. Your edge online depends largely on getting the attention of site visitors as well as good copywriting. Take advantage of the larger market on the internet. When you get to draw them to your business’ site, you have to convince them too to purchase your product and patronize your business. Giving them the site may not be enough, so you have to work on giving them the information they need and introducing what your business can do to answer their questions.(4) Take advantage of cost-effective online marketing tools. Unlike the traditional marketing strategies, online advertising strategies can be a lot cheaper, and there are many options you can choose from. If you are looking for almost-instant results, you can make use of pay per click marketing like Google AdWords, search engine optimization and banner advertising. If you want long-term results, you may want to make use of article marketing. If you want to take advantage of free online advertising, you may want to make use of social networking sites, blogging, participating in forums and writing articles.(5) Monitor your sites. The internet is quick-changing and you may want to keep a close monitoring on how your online tools are working for you. If you are maintaining a number of websites, which is also a strategy in marketing your business online, of course you would always want to check on them regularly and find out if they are generating money or not. As this can eat up a large chunk of your time, you can also take advantage of technology to automate the routine business functions you have daily.Keep in mind that in starting with these techniques in online marketing, you may be engrossed with the many tools and details of online marketing thus, you have to find ways to manage your time and automate some tools to help you focus not only in marketing your business online but in making your business grow as well.
Is It Possible To Get A Personal Loan With Bad Credit?
Personal loan can be a life saver for you if you are facing a huge tax bill, unexpected but important expenses such as medical and car repair bills. If you have a good credit score; you should have no problem in getting a personal loan to overcome you current financial disaster, but if you have a bad credit score, you might worry whether you are possible to get a personal loan to resolve your current financial hardship.There are generally two types of personal loans available in the market: secured and unsecured loan. You can still get an unsecured personal loan if you have bad credit score, the only thing you may find a bit troublesome is the interest rate which is slightly higher than any other normal loan. The best way to get a personal loan with bad credit is through secured loan where you need to pledge collateral such as home, land, estate or boat to secure the loan.Due to the unsecured loan does not require any collateral to secure the loan, it makes the loan inherently risky for the lender, hence the amount you can borrow normally will be limited to no more then $1,500. In applying for an unsecured loan, you may not need to undergo a credit check, but you must attach your current income statement and other necessary documents to help the bank officer evaluate your credit worthiness. Although you have a bad credit score, you may obtain the personal loan if you can show you have a steady income and held the same job for a number of years.Your bad credit score will limit you with less choice of good loan packages especially if you are looking for unsecured personal loan. But, if you have asset such as home or boat to pledge as collateral to apply for secured loan, there are many attractive secured loan packages available where you can obtain a personal loan with reasonable low interest rate although you have bad credit score.Bad credit score means high risk to the lender, but if you have collateral, the lender’s risk can be reduced because if any time you default the personal loan, the lenders can carries out the foreclosure process to get back what you have owed them. That’s why it is easy to obtain a secured loan with bad credit. Depending on the collateral’s value, you may be approved a loan with amount up to 85% of the collateral value. However, you should not apply up to the maximum of the allowable loan amount if you do not need that much money to resolve current financial issue. Always remember whatever you have borrowed, you need to pay back with interest, which means the more you borrow the more interest you need to pay. And, if you can’t pay, you will hurt your credit score and making it even worst. In additional to that, defaulting your loan will cause you lose your asset which you use as collateral to secure the loan.SummaryGetting a personal loan with a bad credit is possible for both secured and unsecured loan. Unsecured personal loan will requires no collateral but it has lower limit on the amount you can borrow and higher interest rate. Secured personal loan is the best option to get a low interest rate personal loan but it requires collateral which you may at risk of losing it if you default the loan.
Advantages of Military Auto Loans
Lots of people who have served or are currently providing services in the U.S. Military might not know about military auto loans concept that are specifically tailored to meet their needs, with low interest rates and better pay back options applied. These types of loans are provided only to those who are actively serving in the military. This loan is also provided to those who bad credit scores. The repayment of the loans is also extremely simple and easy. They make sure that the military people make the most out of this amazing opportunity. But, your duration of service in the military does make difference in getting an auto loan.The repayment of the loans is also very favorable too all as these are military auto financing. Being a military person if you need a car, no matter with a good or bad credit chances are more for military personnel, all you have to visit website and fill up easy credit application form to get pre-approved by providing some basic identity proof to get approved for military car loans. Be careful when dealing with any website out there that claim to be offer lowest rates regardless credit history. There are many genuine websites where you can get auto financing for military members even with bad credit rating. Getting reviews and user saying can help lots in making the right decision.Military auto loans option has major beneficial over any traditional auto loans including low interest rates applied. Most of the financial lenders are happy to provide auto loans for military personnel because they are likely to have stable income and more steadiness in their jobs as compared to people with unsecured jobs.Online Approval:The process for credit application are very simple, all you have to visit online and provide you complete details; like your military proofs like income, residential address and region where you are placed. You will be asked to provide your contact details. You are advised to provide your cell phone number and email address. You can never default on a Military car loan but if you do chances are your car will end up being repossessed and you might regret your behavior. Due to this your credit might suffer and your credit from bad will go under to real worst.Everything is done online and in a very easy and instantaneously. There are many websites that provide military auto financing. All you have to do is research and look for the best deal for you. There are many websites that provide the best auto financing deals online. All you have to do is apply online after providing them your contact address, email, phone and email address. There are military auto loans called as veteran auto loans. Veteran auto loan are only for veterans. You will have to show proof of everything that have, esp. your active military work. Keep in mind that these loans may be easy to get but the financiers do check your credit will be pulled and analyzed before providing you the final report. Let us hope this article helps you in the future.
S&P 500 Rallies As U.S. Dollar Pulls Back Towards Weekly Lows
Key Insights
The strong pullback in the U.S. dollar provided significant support to stocks.
Treasury yields have pulled back after touching new highs, which served as an additional positive catalyst for S&P 500.
A move above 3730 will push S&P 500 towards the resistance level at 3760.
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Pfizer Rallies After Announcing A Huge Price Hike For Its COVID-19 Vaccines
S&P 500 is currently trying to settle above 3730 as traders’ appetite for risk is growing. The U.S. dollar has recently gained strong downside momentum as the BoJ intervened to stop the rally in USD/JPY. Weaker U.S. dollar is bullish for stocks as it increases profits of multinational companies and makes U.S. equities cheaper for foreign investors.
The leading oil services company Schlumberger is up by 9% after beating analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. Schlumberger’s peers Baker Hughes and Halliburton have also enjoyed strong support today.
Vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna gained strong upside momentum after Pfizer announced that it will raise the price of its coronavirus vaccine to $110 – $130 per shot.
Biggest losers today include Verizon and Twitter. Verizon is down by 5% despite beating analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. Subscriber numbers missed estimates, and traders pushed the stock to multi-year lows.
Twitter stock moved towards the $50 level as the U.S. may conduct a security review of Musk’s purchase of the company.
From a big picture point of view, today’s rebound is broad, and most market segments are moving higher. Treasury yields have started to move lower after testing new highs, providing additional support to S&P 500. It looks that some traders are ready to bet that Fed will be less hawkish than previously expected.
S&P 500 Tests Resistance At 3730
S&P 500 has recently managed to get above the 20 EMA and is trying to settle above the resistance at 3730. RSI is in the moderate territory, and there is plenty of room to gain additional upside momentum in case the right catalysts emerge.
If S&P 500 manages to settle above 3730, it will head towards the next resistance level at 3760. A successful test of this level will push S&P 500 towards the next resistance at October highs at 3805. The 50 EMA is located in the nearby, so S&P 500 will likely face strong resistance above the 3800 level.
On the support side, the previous resistance at 3700 will likely serve as the first support level for S&P 500. In case S&P 500 declines below this level, it will move towards the next support level at 3675. A move below 3675 will push S&P 500 towards the support at 3640.