​Warsaw, PolandI just spent Christmas in Warsaw and want to let everyone know it is an amazing place.  Very clean, people are friendly, food is good, women are beautiful and it’s history is hella interesting.
The travel is getting harder the older I get though so if you’re getting older or you are not in good shape then be prepared for a possibly difficult trip.  I recommend taking good care of yourself regardless of age and it will be easier. Of course there are buses, trains, subways, cabs but you will do a great deal of walking no matter where you end up and you might not know how to use public transportation.
What you can count on is that planes are going to be late and connecting flights are going to be missed.  When this happens you are screwed!  The airport will not want to hear your complaints and if you end up with a 15 hour layover you did not plan for then too bad.  If the airline loses your luggage, too bad.  You get the picture.  Maybe some of you have the knack for getting what you want but for most of us it will just have to be endured and eventually forgotten about.
WiFi in the airport is not free…it is sponsored so you will have to deal with signing in every hour and you will have to watch the ads.  
So just be careful, pack what you can in your carry-on and if your checked bag ends up in Tibet then allow for these issues and you will be fine.

​Juggling Work
 
We all may have said it, or at least thought it at one time or another: I wish there were more hours in a day.  Between working between 8 to 10 hours a day (sometimes more depending on your occupation) and keeping up with any other obligations, sometimes it can feel like there is just not enough time in the day.  I mean, there are 24 hours, but we must sleep some time, right?
 
But aside from outside obligations, maybe you are a person who is looking to have multiple streams of income.  Most of the success stories we read about or come across online in articles tend to discuss how they have multiple streams of income or the “Side hustle”.  But we only see them after a significant amount of work is put in.  After a website has been created and is now just making passive income.  After the book has been published so they just had to determine what they wanted to do next.  
 
So how do you learn how to manage your full-time job, your home life, and your ability to make a lucrative income with a side gig?
 
Prioritize.
As with anything in life, priorities are key.  They are important in helping you determine what will be the best avenue to take and what will yield the highest return.  Having your priorities in order ensure you won’t make a decision that will jeopardize your livelihood and well-being in pursuit of something that does not yield that high of a return.  For instance, if you are starting a new blog, you wouldn’t want to spend so much time being consumed with your blog that you neglect your family or even begin to neglect the current job you have that is providing income in the meantime.
 
 
 
Set Goals.
Finding your niche when trying to find a lucrative side hustle can be difficult.  It doesn’t usually hurt to try new things.  You do, however, want to set goals for yourself.  Give yourself a time frame on when you are looking to see return on investment (ROI). These goals, along with your priorities, can help you determine if what you are trying is or is not worth your time.
 
These things can help in not only ensuring you don’t waste your time, but also that you can determine how much time you should be spending on work efforts.  Work is a great thing as it brings in finances that can help your day-to-day and month-to-month expenses. It is also important to know when it’s time to stop working, and the equally important, when is the most appropriate time to work or take a break.
 
Online Courses
 
I have heard the question asked several times. No matter if it is a student fresh out of high school, or an older individual looking to further their education. Are online courses for me?
 
I have finished a degree online. I enjoyed the convenience of online courses, and how I was able to finish my degree at my own pace, sort of.  If you are looking in to furthering your education, and are considering online courses, there are several things to consider. All these things will help to determine if online courses are the best option for you.
 
Price.
Depending on what courses you are looking to take online and where, price can vary. Obviously if you are looking to complete a full degree plan the tuition would cost more than if you were to just obtain a certificate.  But even in that case, it is still wise to determine what school and program provides the most value for the best price.
 
 
Time Management.
On top of whatever obligations, you may currently have, such as work or family, you must determine if you have good enough time management skills to allot time for these courses if you were to be enrolled in them.  Without having an advisor in the room with you for a specified amount of time, it may be more difficult for you to determine when the best time to complete assignments is.
 
Discipline.
Time management goes hand in hand with having self-discipline. If you aren’t going to be disciplined enough to complete assignments and turn in work on time, doing courses online may not be the best option for you.  If, however, you believe that you would have no problem in taking the time to essentially teach yourself the material, it’s a more convenient alternative.
 
Class Length.
Online programs can vary as far as their course length. For instance, the classes I take are only 8 weeks, while a friend of mine only has 6-week classes.  Even some courses in my program are offered for a full semester, about 16 weeks.  This is something you want to consider when looking at online programs, especially once you look at the price, your time management, and your self-discipline skills.  If you won’t be able to handle a large workload in a short amount of time you may need longer courses.  Whatever would allow you to be the most successful.
 
Online courses aren’t for everyone, but for those that take them they can be extremely convenient and appealing. It’s up to you to determine if they best suit your needs.
 
Maintaining the House
 
Whether you are a stay at home parent or have a full-time job.  Whether you are married or single.  Whether you are male or female.  No matter what category or demographic you may fall in to, maintaining your home is something that you are responsible for. There has been a common misconception that a woman is responsible for maintaining the household.  The reality is, anyone who is in the home should contribute to the maintenance of that home.
 
So, what does it mean to maintain something like a house?
 
This could mean different things to different people, but for the purposes of this post maintaining the house is referencing the upkeep of the home as well as the financial aspects on what it takes to maintain a home.
 
Of course, if I were to ask, most people would say a clean house is important.  Now we all know that most houses also don’t stay clean all day every day.  Clean is also relative to individual people’s preferences.  Clean to one person may be organized clutter (like some room sin my house), while to others it may be completely spotless, everything in its respective place.  No matter what your preference is for clean, it is still your responsibility to contribute to that cleanliness in the house.
 
The great thing is, the way individuals contribute may also be completely different as well.  Some may choose to pay a professional cleaner once or twice a month, while others may choose to pick a day out of the week and clean it themselves.
 
Maintaining could also be the actual maintenance of the home.  For instance, ensuring light bulbs and air filters are changed, making any repairs, etc.  Again, this is something that you may or may not have to do on your own depending on what type of home you live in, as well as if you rent or own.
 
Another major contributing factor to the maintaining of a home is of course, finances. No matter how clean your house is or how often your air filters are changes, if the mortgage isn’t paid or the utilities are disconnected, it won’t matter one bit.  Maintaining your house also means managing your finances to effectively maintain the home.  No matter how you chose to manage your money, or even how you chose to maintain the financial integrity of the home it’s just important that it is done.
 
Dealing with Family
 
It’s safe to say we can all agree that we love our families.  If you have kids, then yours are the best kids out there.  Our parents did the best they could with what they had, and we turned out great, some of us anyway.  But what do we do when our family is getting on our last nerve?
 
Often, I speak with people who have the most issues with dealing with family members as it pertains to their in-laws.  In-laws tend to get a bad reputation for being mean and any other adjective you might have heard someone use to describe them.
 
So, let’s say you just so happen to have one of those in-laws.  Or even if you have some distant cousins, nieces, or some other family members that just are hard to deal with. How do you manage?  How do you handle it if they can’t be easily ignored?  What about family holidays?
 
Dealing with family can be stressful enough, even without those individuals who seem to be a pain.  There are a few things you can do to help yourself deal with them to make your life a little less stressful!
 
Know your relatives.
In most things in life, you can fix your own problems and deal with things just in the way you think about them.  We can sometimes get ourselves in trouble by having different expectations for people who have proven themselves to us time and time again.  It’s important to know your relatives and set your expectations as such.  Having your mind pre-prepared with the expectation of who your family is and what they do allows you to handle them a little better when you must encounter them.  Why?  Because your expectations aren’t so high.
Love them from a distance.
Not all family members are created equal.  Some of them you must know when to keep at arm’s length.  Just because you are in the same vicinity, or at the same family event doesn’t mean that you are absolutely obligated to spend a significant amount of your time with them.  Instead, find a way to be polite and cordial, without making yourself miserable.
 
Put your foot down.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a position where we are miserable, and we don’t have to be.  Dealing with family can often be as simple as putting your foot down when you refuse to be treated a certain way, talked to a certain way, or even taken advantage of. Don’t allow yourself to be walked over to “keep the peace”, sometimes things need to be said. Action needs to be taken.  Your sanity is important.
 
No matter what degree you find yourself needing to “deal” with family members, it is important to know that there is always something you can do to ensure you are not in a position of stress and discord for a long period of time.
 
Social Life
 
Social media has become all the craze today. While social media can be a great and effective tool, is it putting a damper on our actual social lives?  You know, the ones we have in real life, not just virtually.  But even today, how much of a real social life do we really need with all the resources available via internet?
 
For some of us, our social lives are our livelihood.  We depend on that social life to general clients for our business.  We may even depend on that social life to give us an excuse to put our home and family obligations on hold for a few hours.
 
No matter what the reason may be, having a social life, even if it’s a small one, can be extremely beneficial.  When we think about a social life, or minds may go straight to night’s out and cocktail parties. This, however, doesn’t have to be the case.
 
Your social life is essentially the friends you hang around, the events you attend, basically whatever life you live in a more social setting.  Typically, this life is separate from your work and home life, though they may overlap from time to time.  As I mentioned, this is where you typically are with friends, relaxing, and having a good time. So, the question is, do you need a social life?
 
I’d say yes!  You may not have to have the most extravagant social life possible, but those few faithful friends who get out with you from time to time can be all you need. Your social life shouldn’t be something that consumes most of your time, unless you are social influencers.  Instead, it should be something that affords you the opportunity to put your obligations and responsibilities on hold for a moment.  Make an opportunity to stop and enjoy yourself.
 
Your social life also may have different sections. For instance, you may have your own friends that you spend time with alone.  If you are married, you may also have other married friends that you spend time with together as couples with.  Then there is also the friends and events you may have or participate in if you have children.  All these areas can be a part of your social life.
 
Whether you are a party animal or are more life me and prefer to just head to a restaurant for conversation from time to time, your social life is important.  It’s what gives you the opportunity to get away or express yourself in ways you might not be able to in your normal business or home setting.
 
As mentioned earlier, this social life may also come in handy when it comes to your business.  Depending on your occupation, the connections you make in your social life can be very beneficial for your personal and professional development. 

Looking to make your home smarter? If yes, then you will definitely need to opt for Home Networking, as the internet will keep all your devices connected to each other. But setting up a strong networking system can be a daunting task. In this post, we will discuss top tips on how to make sure to create a strong Home Networking system.
In order to start building your network, first, you have to check if your internet provider is giving a router in your internet package. If yes then you are set to go.

• Strategic Router Placement

This first step of creating a strong home network is by keeping the router at the place where all your devices which are to be connected to the router are in range to pick up the wifi signal.
It is suggested that your router should be kept in the middle of the house in an open space where the signal can get equivalently distributed. Keep the router as far away from the walls to avoid congestion of signal. And still, you will feel the signal is week try placing an aluminum foil on the side of the router. This makes the signal stronger.

• Right Wi-Fi Band

Routers come in 2 bandwidths, the 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) and 5 GHz. If you have a large house and the wifi signal needs to penetrate through multiple walls and floors, then opting for a 2.4 GHz is more advisable. But you are looking for speed and more security, then using the 5 GHz is the best option.

• Change default Name and Password

Smart homes offer great security, but it is always vulnerable to hacking and cyber threats. Therefore, it is a must to change the default name and password of the router to keep your devices protected from any kind of cyber threat.

• Update Firmware and Anti-Virus

Like other smart devices, routers also have software in-build in them. To keep our home network secured from hacking, we need to update the latest firmware in our routers. This will improve the security as well as performance.

• Protect your Smart Appliances

If you are creating a strong Home Networking system, then you should be aware that your smart devices can be hacked. To avoid such problems, change the names and passwords of these devices on a regular basis. Add authentication features and also update the software to be secured.

Although it is one of the largest countries in Europe, Ukraine is beyond the usual tourist trail. This is part of what makes visiting the country so appealing – you really feel like a true adventurer as you navigate the streets!
Like most travelers, I arrived in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev. Over the next few days, I’d come to know – and love – this intriguing capital.
Arriving at the airport, my first priority was to get my hands on some Ukrainian currency since it’s always good to have some cash. The Ukrainian currency is the Ukrainian hryvnia - yes, figuring out how to say that took some effort! $1 USD buys you about 30 hryvnia although you should check the exchange rate as it does fluctuate a little.
Once I had some cash in my wallet, I got an official taxi from the airport (that’s important to avoid being ripped off by an unscrupulous driver), and arrived at my accommodation.
I opted to stay in a traditional Ukrainian hotel which was a large building that had been converted into tourist accommodation. It was a little quirky, but I definitely like staying somewhere with a bit of personality!
During my days in Kiev, I got plenty of opportunities to try out some local Ukrainian dishes, which is always a fun part of traveling. Ukrainian food features many vegetables and grains, thanks to its highly fertile soil – particularly in the country’s south. One of the most famous and delicious meals is the soup borscht, which is a filling and tasty lunch.
I also explored the city’s highlights. Kiev has so many beautiful churches and religious buildings – some particularly beautiful ones were the baroque pastel-colored Saint Andrew’s Church (which has survived being hit by lightning not once, but twice), Saint Sophia’s Cathedral, which dates back to 1037 and is built in traditional Byzantine style, and the striking yellow St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral.
Kiev also has some excellent museums and art galleries inside beautiful buildings, such as The Chocolate House and Museum. Another stunning example of architecture in Kiev is the huge Mariyinsky Palace, while I also marveled at the pretty National Opera House.
Although English wasn’t very widely spoken in Kiev, the usual mix of hand signals and a friendly smile seemed to do the trick, and I managed to navigate the city fairly easily. Although my cash came in handy, card is pretty widely accepted at bigger shops, restaurants and hotels – however only Visa is accepted. You may as well leave other cards like Mastercard or American Express at home, because they’re pretty much useless unfortunately.
After Kiev, I also had the chance to explore the other cities of Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk (more commonly known as “Dnipro”). It was really fascinating to see some other sides of Ukraine, and learn more about this fascinating country.

Just got my workspace organized. Desk from #wayfair and organizer from #amazon. Have a MacBook Pro, System76 Linux laptop, Lenovo Win 10 Laptop, Chromebook and Surface Pro...now can easily swap them around depending on job or just store them out of the way.

Additional equipment includes:

• Brother Laser Printer
• Scansnap scanner
• External Blu Ray Disc drives
• 1TB HDD for backup

​Xbox One and Parental Controls: Microsoft's New Guide for Parents
Every day more and more kids have an Xbox One among their games and toys, so Microsoft decided to launch a guide to make sure parents are up to date. This guide contains information on parental controls, game ratings, and everything you need to know as a parent about what your child can do on their Xbox One.
Parental Controls
One of the problems that have long arisen in the video game industry but which has become more acute in recent times, is the fact that underage players, even children, play titles with content unsuitable for their ages. This situation has often led to video games being called a bad influence or the cause of some tragedies. Although there are agencies, information channels and certain security restrictions, the truth is that companies must take a step forward and Microsoft is doing so on this occasion.
A report by Gamesindustry.biz reported that Microsoft will launch in the United Kingdom a family guide for users of Xbox One, with the aim of informing parents or guardians about different issues regarding content classification and parental controls that can be activated on the console.
Both physical and digital platforms
Designed as an information option for parents, the Xbox Family Guide will be distributed in different branches of the most important chains that offer consoles and video games, its initial print run is 100,000 copies, but it is possible to download the digital version. According to the information, Microsoft is working with companies to ensure that parents who purchase an Xbox One this holiday season receive a copy of the guide.
The guide brochures will be distributed through retailers: GAME, Smyths, Gamestop, WH Smith and John Lewis, to families who purchase an Xbox One or are considering doing so, and will also be accessible through the Microsoft website in its family section.
 
Ready for Christmas!
Among its recommendations, Microsoft advises parents to set up the consoles they purchase for their children before the Christmas gift period so that their children can play immediately. This has been defended by the director of Xbox for the United Kingdom and Ireland, Harvey Eagle, in statements to Games Industry.
So if you’re planning to give your children an Xbox One this Christmas, you will be providing them with a complete source of fun with the guarantee of being safe for their psychological development.
 

​Top 5 cell phones with good photographic performance 2018/2019, to document your days
If you enjoy photographing your life experiences, your travels or any moment you consider special, then you need to have a good camera at your disposal. With modern technology, it is possible to find lenses of excellent quality in mobile devices, which offer the quality of a good camera with the connectivity and the access to the networks of a smartphone. For that reason, today I offer you this top 5 smartphones with good camera.
 
Something more than smartphones
All of the phones listed here offer greater photographic performance than other models on the market. Without wasting any more time, let's jump in:
 
1. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
I start the list with a well-known name: Samsung. The Galaxy S9 Plus features a 12 megapixel double rear camera on both sensors, variable f/1.5 focal aperture up to 2.4 and f/2.4 on the second sensor, both with optical stabilization. The front camera in this phone has 8 megapixels with focal aperture f/1.7. It is capable of recording in 4K quality at 30 fps and in super slow motion at 960 fps in HD quality. Without a doubt, a strong bet in the market.
 
2. Huawei P20 Pr0
Huawei surprises fans with his P20 Pro, with a camera that is considered by many to be the best camera of 2018 on a Smartphone. We find an RGB sensor of 40 megapixels and f/1.8 aperture, responsible for taking most color photographs. In the other two sensors we find a monochrome 20 megapixels and another telephoto with 8 megapixels, capable of doing a 5x zoom. The aperture of the two sensors is f/1.6 and 2.4. The front camera on the other hand has a 24 megapixel sensor and a focal aperture of f/2.0. An excellent choice if you like Huawei phones.
 
3. Google Pixel 2 Xl
Google, pioneer in many aspects, shines again with its Pixel 2 XL, with a single 12.2 megapixel sensor with f/1.8 focal aperture and optical stabilization. It currently makes the best portrait mode of today through software, both in the rear camera and in the front. With respect to the latter, it consists of an 8 megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture.
 
4. Iphone X
Apple is positioned as the seventh best camera among critics. Its rear cameras are capable of recording at 4K at 60 fps, the only ones without resorting to third party software. Double rear sensor of 12 megapixels and focal aperture of f/1.8 and 2.4 with optical stabilization. The front camera has a resolution of 7 megapixels and an f/2.2 aperture.
 
5. Oneplus 6
Oneplus surprises one more year with its Oneplus 6. At the rear we find two sensors with f/1.7 aperture and resolution of 16 and 20 megapixels. The front in this case is 16 megapixels with f/1.7 opening. Of course, it has OIS.
 
Conclusion
Oneplus and Huawei were big surprises this year, but Google takes the crown with its Pixel 2XL. Don't forget that each Smartphone offers its benefits and disadvantages, but any of the 5 mentioned here offer excellent performance and superior quality to the others. Don't waste time, save more than the memories of all your travels, in HD and 4k!

​5 Basic Tips for Traveling Abroad: What should you keep in mind when traveling to another country?
Travelling around the world is one of the most beautiful pleasures: you get to know new cultures, new places and learn a little with each trip. If you want to venture abroad, it is important that you have in mind everything you need, and I can help you with that!
Here I collect for you the 5 basic tips for traveling abroad, a short guide with the main tips you should follow to travel safely.
 
Traveling the world
You may feel nervous and even afraid to leave your home country, but I assure you it's nothing to worry about. Travel safely and with no worries following these tips:
 
1. Check your papers
One of the most common mistakes when traveling is not having all your papers up to date. Depending on your plans and the country you will be traveling to, it is necessary to investigate and see if anything else is needed. Remember that passports have an expiration date, stay up to date!
 
2. Read and investigate
What do you need to know to be prepared when travelling to a new country?

• Weather: Wear clothes that are appropriate for the temperature
• Local habits: What's allowed and what's not?
• Current political/social situation: No one would like to travel to a place and then be in the middle of a local conflict. Read the news.

 
3. Get Vaccinated
Are you going to a tropical country? Get vaccinated. Many countries require a vaccination certificate in order to enter. Also, who wants to get sick on vacation?
 
4. Check the safety of your home
Before you go out, check the doors, windows and any entrances to your home. You can leave a trusted friend or family member in charge of checking that everything is in order every 2-3 days, depending on the length of your trip.
 
5. Pack everything you need
Much of the content of your suitcases will depend on where you travel to and what activities you want to do there, so don't forget to check everything you need for the right holiday in the destination country. Will you spend Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve on your destination place? You might want to put a couple of fancy clothes in the suitcase!
………….
By following these little tips you can guarantee that your holidays will not fail due to lack of preparation. And remember, respect is one of the most necessary things to carry in the suitcase when it comes to getting to know new cultures, be a good traveler!

December 1 - last month of 2018