Month: October 2018

The Reality of Studying Online and What It Can (And Can’t) Do for You

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Whether you want to learn a new language or study a new skill that you believe will help you in your new job, there are countless ways to learn something new thanks to the internet. Whether it’s looking at YouTube videos, reading a blog or even signing up for an online course, there are going to be plenty of opportunities for you to take.

However, online learning is a completely different experience to learning in a classroom and it’s a good idea to understand the advantages and disadvantages before you sign yourself up for a course or even quit your current lessons to make the switch.

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Online learning is more focused

One of the biggest advantages of online learning is that it’s focused, condensed and packed with information. This is because, unlike a regular college or university programme, you’re not going to have a lot of excess time where lectures and lessons are stretched out to fit into the year. Instead, you’re going to get a lot of information in a lot less time and it’s all going to be relevant to helping you improve your skills.

But it requires more discipline

However, this also means that online learning can be overwhelming. You’re going to be blasted with information and this is going to make it incredibly difficult for you to learn especially if you consider yourself a slow learner. You also need to be more disciplined because it relies on you focusing your free time at home in order to grow your knowledge, and most people won’t be able to do this because they’re too focused on other things in life.

Online learning is convenient and handy

Another advantage of online learning is that you’re going to be able to study no matter where you are. Be it on a train, at home or even in another country, you’ll be able to access your online course and, in most cases, complete at your own convenience.

But help is limited

Unfortunately, unless the online learning resource states otherwise, there’s going to be very limited help. You’ll need to rely on other communities if you have a question that has gone unanswered and it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to contact the teacher or whoever wrote the lesson for advice–that’s just not how online learning works.

Online learning has plenty of choice

Whether it’s a masters in engineering management that you want to study to further your career or a cooking course with a famous celebrity chef, there are countless online learning resources that you can use to grow your knowledge and it’s all very easy to find with a quick Google search.

But quality can vary

Sadly, since it’s so common to see online learning around, the quality of the courses you see can greatly vary. This is sadly due to the number of educators switching to online learning because it’s a little more profitable when done properly and gives more freedom in the courses that you teach.

Hopefully, this article has given you a bit more insight into how online learning can help you and also detail some of the advantages and disadvantages involved.

Suits of the future — how is technology influencing our tailoring

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It is said that the suit that we all know and love today started in the early 1800s by a gentleman called Beau Brummell. He replaced long-tailed coats and silk stockings with the classic suit jacket accompanied by full-length trousers and it all went from there. But as we’re faced with new challenges (such as the lengthy daily commute) and as we strive to cut out time consuming activities (ironing a suit can be draining), what does the future look like for our tailoring? CT shirts, retailers of the morning suitmen’s casual shirts, investigate:

Past innovations

One of the latest in shirt technology is temperature adjusting materials. In many cases, this works by controlling the body heat of the wearer. Researchers across the US developed clothing that changes how much radiation escapes from the shirt and how easily air can circulate around the body. Although heat controlling technology in clothing is not new, it is only in recent years that it has made its way into wearable clothing when it was once reserved for those in space. This sort of technology not only improves comfort levels for the wearer but can potentially have knock on positive effects on the environment. Air conditioning (AC) accounts for an outstanding 13% of energy used in the US. If our shirts become temperature regulated then it is possible we will be in lower need of constant AC — reducing our carbon footprint so we all benefit!

Non-iron shirts are more than convenient. Enjoy an extra 10 minutes in bed as you pull your work shirt out of the dryer and put it on straight away — wrinkle free and no need to haul out the ironing board. The technology behind the non-iron shirt includes a process that strengthens the fabric, preventing the molecules from moving as much and increasing its resistance to creasing.

It’s important to be able to move freely in our suits. Especially when you’re sitting in the same place for a prolonged period of time, such as at the desk, on your way to work or at a fancy dinner. This is where the latest mechanical stretch technology comes in to play. This sort of technology works with the materials of the suit to improve its flexibility. Some suit jackets and shirts achieve this stretch through incorporating a small percentage of elastane in the fabric and this is enough to enhance the comfort of the garment.

Future innovations

Wearable payment gadgets are something that researchers and corporations are spending a lot of time exploring. Of course, we already have the ability to pay contactless with a smart watch or phone but that’s just not enough! MasterCard paired with fashion designer Adam Selman to explore the idea of inserting a microchip into clothing, perhaps in the sleeve of a jacket or into a bag — allowing you to pay for items with even less effort. This concept could have some effect on our tailoring trends as cuff links and pockets could become payment devices!   

Forget buying multiple of the same suit in different colours, colour-changing fabrics are here to shake up the fashion industry. The research behind it is ever advancing and there are a few ongoing projects developing the idea. One of the projects, explored by scientists at the University of Michigan, is looking at incorporating tiny crystals that react differently depending on the wavelength of light. This affects the crystal’s formation and how they look in terms of colour to others. Other research, carried out in Montreal, is investigating how electricity from human movement can power electric fabric and change its colour. It appears that the research is a long way off from our high streets, but it is paving the way for colour-changing materials in the future.

The price of a high-quality, tailored suit can be quite high and many take pride in keeping it in good condition. It is then unsettling when a sleeve is caught on a door handle or on something sharp and the material is damaged. The latest technology in textiles is addressing this issue through the development of self-healing fabric. It works by coating regular fabric in a special solution that, when ripped, is able to melt back together at low temperatures. Other research has founded that E. coli bacteria has self-replicating properties and this is being explored in order to discover if it can be used to knit broken fabric back together.   

From past to future innovations, it’s clear to see that our wardrobes aren’t what they used to be. Many developments are being made in order to make our lives easier and further enhance our suits to meet our highly digital and busy lifestyles.

Sources

https://www.gq.com/gallery/the-gq-history-of-the-suit-by-decade

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-chameides/the-wrinkle-in-no-iron-sh_b_793703.html

https://search.proquest.com/docview/1738859748

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2074964-smart-clothes-adapt-so-you-are-always-the-right-temperature/

https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/22/11081384/visa-mastercard-mobile-payment-connected-devices-mwc-2016

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/adam-selman-mastercard-turning-clothes-into-payment-devices

https://www.highsnobiety.com/2015/03/31/future-textile-technologies/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3715203/The-future-fashion-Watch-incredible-self-healing-fabric-repair-rips-clothes.html

Top 5 Wedding Cars To Make Your Special Day Extra Special

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https://pixabay.com/en/wedding-car-love-truelove-marriage-758001/

When organizing your wedding day, you will inevitably have a whole host of different things that you need to plan. From guest lists to catering to finding your dress; the list is endless. One important aspect that you need to contemplate is the wedding car that you hire.

There are lots of different styles of car that are suited to weddings. In order to give you a helping hand about which one to hire, take a look at the top five wedding cars…

Mercedes Limousine

Mercedes Limousines, usually in a white color, have become one of the most popular choices for wedding cars. And, it is not hard to see why; the lavish and luxurious look they exude is in keeping with the day’s events. This is the perfect car for those looking for something modern, stylish and extravagant.

1930 Rolls Royce Limousine Cockshoot

If you are looking for something unique and vintage then this is the wedding car you are looking for. Its history makes it truly special and adds to the magical feel of the day. Moreover, you will certainly have an exclusive car as there is only two of the Limousine Cockshoot version left in existence. But don’t worry; if you get digging you’ll be able to find one. However, considering the exclusivity, you may need to seek some financial assistance for a car like this. Head to https://auto.loan/online-auto-loans/ for more information about the different car loans that are available. You can also get wedding loans online too.

1930’s Style Beauford Convertible  

This car only holds four people and so it is the perfect option for those arriving in limited numbers. It embodies everything that a wedding car is all about; it is elegant, luxurious and unusual. It is a car which is certainly going to turn heads, and that is exactly what you want on your big day. Everything from the dreamy cream leather interior to the fashionable burgundy carpet is simply divine.  

1962 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud

This is one of the most stunning wedding cars you will ever see. The fine silver finish is something very rare and it manages to encompass that beautiful blend between being extremely vintage yet have a modern edge. The only problem is; people may be awing over the car instead of you!

Austin FX3

The Austin FX3 was built in the 1950s and is designed to be a taxicab. It is a highly sought after car, especially for collectors. It became exceedingly famous in the 60s by featuring in the film Carry on Cabby and so will fit into a wedding theme that is in line with that time frame. Head to http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/windsorhistory/films/carryoncabby1963.html if you have never heard of this film before and would like to know about it. The Austin FX3 is an unusual yet effective choice and is suited to old-school glamour.

All in all, if you are looking for a wedding car then you should certainly consider the five options mentioned in this blog post. But, give it a lot of thought and consideration, after all; you’ve got to arrive in style.

Great Male Bonding Methods For Anyone

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If you are looking for some helpful ways to get a little closer to some of your buddies, then it’s good to know that there are always many ways in which you can do that. Whether you have just met some people at a new place of work, or you are looking to try and make new friends some other way, you can be sure that it is helpful to have some idea of what you can actually do together. Spending time together as friends will be beneficial for the both of you and for the relationship as a whole, and it’s good to have some of these ideas up your sleeve. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best male bonding methods you might want to consider next time you are looking to get to know a pal of yours.

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Fishing

If you have never been fishing, you might be surprised at how effective it can truly be for getting to know someone. Because it typically takes many hours of sitting still, it is a great opportunity to chat away with a beer or two, and you might find that it is especially useful for getting to know one another a little better. Even if you neither of you are into fishing at present, it’s a worthwhile pastime to learn ust so that you can have it to bond over. At first, you will find yourself wondering about all sorts of technical matters such as What’s the best reel to use?, but before long you should be able to find a groove in which you can get to understand the process of fishing – and hopefully even manage to enjoy it greatly as well. Consider going fishing if you are looking to really delve deep in conversation with someone  or, likewise, if you just want to sit in silence together, which can be equally as powerful for the same purpose.

Sports

Because of the competitive and physical nature of sports, they are often a great opportunity for men to get together, and this is north remember if you are looking for ways to do that. The great thing about this is that you can either do it as a means of spending time with someone you have just met – or you can use it to actually meet some new people in the first place. Simply going to join a local club will ensure that you can meet a lot of new people, and that alone will make it easier to get bonding with some new men in your life. What the port is is entirely up to you, of course, but make sure you do go for something that you are actually likely to personally enjoy – don’t just go along with something that doesn’t interest you for that sake of it. You are unlikely to meet like-minded people anyway, and you won’t end up having as good a time as you would hope to.

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Games

Something else that a lot of men bond over is games – of many different varieties. Particularly popular are video games, of course, and that could be a good in for you if that is up your street. Ut it could be any kind of games, and you  might actually be surprised at just how many people out there spend their spare time playing board and card games too. Whether that means for you personally playing some late-night poker, or whether you are more of a MagicThe Gathering type guy, as long as you know which to go for, you may as well give it a shot. Find a local group to play with, and you can be sure that you will be able to make some great new friends. This is good because you will probably find that they meet regularly too, so you can be sure that you are going to be able to make it a regular part of your life in that way, which will make it much more effective for our purposes here. Bear in mind that you do need to find the kind of game that you actually enjoy however, and as long as you do that you should be able to use it as the perfect opportunity to find some new male friends and get bonding with them. You might be surprised at how effective this really can be.

All of the above are great options for bonding, so pick and choose the ones that work for you and get going.

The Wedding Plans Best Made Together

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It’s not uncommon, at all, that the bulk of wedding planning will fall on the shoulders of one person in particular. Often, it’s the bride, since many guys simply can’t get as engaged in all the details that make the perfect wedding. That’s sometimes frustrating but it’s sometimes a good thing, as having one key deciding figure can really eliminate a lot of back-and-forth and indecision. Regardless of who is doing the majority of the legwork, however, there are some things that really need to be decided together.

Image Source: bruce mars

The invites and seating plan

The first thing you should both do is come up with a number of invites. Who is invited is up to both individuals but having an even split can keep things feeling fairly representative. It’s important to talk about who you want to invite and to understand one another’s reasonings. This Brides article can give you some ideas on extraneous people to cut from your own invites, but don’t shoot down anyone your partner wants to invite. For instance, inviting your extended family might be incredibly important to you, but your partner might feel a much closer connection and bond to old friends.

The wedding party

You should, however, have a little more say over who is part of the wedding party, just as your partner should have some say who is part of your half of the equation. There are some picks that will always work, such as an immediate family member or two. However, for friends or more distant relatives, you have to make sure that everyone’s personality complements the wedding party, that there are no tensions or obvious conflicts. What’s more, you need to think about whether the party has a practical role in helping to plan or carry out the wedding and, if they do, are the people suited to the job?

The rings

You’re both going to be wearing these rings for the rest of your lives, so you should take a little time to make sure you’re both happy with the budget, look, and the practicality of it. This doesn’t mean you have to drag one another from jeweler to jeweler, thankfully. As this James Allen review shows, it’s much easier to use the web to find the perfect ring, even if you want to buy it in-store. You can explore different shapes, and see how the cut and clarity affects price, making sure you’re on budget. Don’t be afraid to mix and match rings instead of getting two perfect duplicates, too.

The venue

You have to have a serious talk about what kind of wedding you want. In terms of atmosphere, size, and tradition, the venue plays a huge role. For instance, if you have a wedding on an exotic beach in your dreams, you have to take into account who your partner wants to invite most and whether it’s possible to transport them out there.

Above all else, ensure that the factors above are planned together. You might feel like you work great as a team, and your partner might even be willing to contribute a little more to the planning process.