3 Kids and Us

Great Resources For Online Learning

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If you want to learn something new but don’t have the time to go back to school or college then fear not because the internet has got you covered. The world Wide Web is absolutely jam packed with educational information, forums to discuss what you are learning with fellow students and plenty of media for you to use so that you can gain full education on the internet.

Learning without a formulated curriculum or class structure can be difficult but if you really want to learn about something new or teach yourself a new skill you will need to be very disciplined and make your own schedule to stick to. If you want to educate yourself using the internet then here are some great resources for you to do exactly that.

YouTube

Youtube is absolutely full of educational resources, documentaries, informative videos and even full scale classes which are given by qualified teachers. You will need to resist the temptation to watch videos watch have nothing to do with what you are doing but if you can manage to avoid temptation then you could utilize the brilliant video platform to educate yourself on huge range of subjects. If you are looking to pick up a new skill such as playing a musical instrument or learning a new craft then you can also watch some of the fantastic, step-by-step ‘how to’ guides as there are many on there.

Wikipedia

Be careful with Wikipedia, it does have some absolutely brilliant information but you should always ensure that you have crossed checked the fact which you have learned. Wikipedia used to be able to be edited by anyone and naturally this resulted in a lot of false information being put on the site. The website has changed quite a bit in recent years and now the only people who are allowed to edit the pages are the administrators, with that being said there is still a lot of false information which has not yet been cleaned up.

The Great Courses

Thomas Rollins teaching exert, professor and educational mastermind conceived his idea for the Great Courses after viewing a 10 hour study tape at Harvard University, his plan was to create a compendium of study across a range of courses and that is exactly what he has done with the Great Courses. The Great Courses can be accessed online for a small fee and it features study courses and guides on over 600 different subjects, the courses were put together by over 300 university level professors and it is arguably one of the greatest resources for anyone who is looking to educate themselves to college level.

A great rule of thumb when looking for websites where you can find study resources is to look for the .edu part of the web address, only certified educational institutions can use this in their web address and therefore this site is more than likely going to have legit information on it.

How to Improve Your Guitar Playing Skills

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Guitars, along with violins and recorders are one of the most common musical instruments which are left in closets for years as the result of a failed hobby. Equally however the guitar is one of the most popular instruments that people would like to learn and if you fall into this category then it is time to get that axe out of the closet and start playing. I was chatting to guitar teacher and touring musician Tom Hess recently who gave me some tips on how to improve my guitar playing ability and now I play just like Hendrix, ok, not strictly true, but I have improved a lot and here is how you can too.

Practice, Practice, Practice

I watched an interview with Slash who says that he has a fear that if he doesn’t practice the guitar each day, he will lose the ability to play. That is quite a statement coming from someone who you would never think would need to practice daily and if he needs to practice each day, then you certainly need to as well. Set an hour or two aside each day to hone your skills, you cannot expect to not play for weeks on end and then pick it up and play a tune. You simply must put the practice hours in.

Use Tablature

There are so many free tabs online which you can find to play your favorite song, rhythm or blues lick and you should be utilizing these websites if you want to enhance your playing ability. Most of us cannot read music and learning to do so can be tough, tablature on the other hand is very simple to learn and understand and you could be playing your favorite song in no time.

YouTube

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using lessons and tutorials online in order to help improve your guitar playing ability. YouTube in particular is one such channel where you can see step by step guides for different songs, playing styles and tips and tricks on how to be a better guitarist. There is no honor in being ‘self-taught’ is it to be respected for sure but the goal here is to be a good guitar player and as such, you should use all of the help that is available to you.

Play Gigs

It is all well and good sitting in your room plucking away but if you really want to test yourself and your guitar playing abilities then you need to play in front of people. It doesn’t matter if this is friends and family or a bar full of people, playing in front of a crowd induces a little bit of fear and you can use this to improve how you play. You may find that you learn more about how good a guitarist you really are when you are playing in front of a live audience.

Breaking Down Barriers of Cosmetic Treatment

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Last week I was in my local beauty clinic Sono Bello receiving some laser liposuction, a great and non-invasive treatment which burned away some of the fatty areas of my body which I have been unable to shift in the gym. Incidentally I should probably give clinic a shout out because I think they are fantastic, check out the Sono Bello reviews if you don’t believe me. Anyway, I digress.

So, as I was sat in the waiting room I was chatting to some of the other girls who were there for treatments about just how fantastic the world of cosmetic surgery is and why more people should get involved, whilst it is gaining in popularity, there are still many who turn their nose up at the idea of receiving cosmetic treatment. For this reason I wanted to talk a little about why I think their opinion should change.

Better Practices

With the exception of the horror story that came out a few years ago about the French-designed breast implants which were bursting under the skin, cosmetic surgery practices are now of an extremely high standard. Cosmetic surgeons must go through exactly the same qualification process as a doctor and they are now using some of the most cutting edge equipment to perform procedures. Aside from this there is a comprehensive pre and post surgery care plan which ensures that the patient is comfortable, confident and in good health.

Improved Pricing

In the past it would only be the rich and famous who could afford to elect for cosmetic surgery but those days have long gone. Because of the popular nature of plastic surgery, coupled with the sheer amount of clinics out there, the cost of treatments seem to be coming down more each year. For example, breast augmentation used to run up a cost of around $18,000 back in the 90s, now you can have your boobs boosted for as little as $2,500. This price makes it far more accessible to many more people.

Helping Mental Health Problems

Feeling better about your body can alleviate many mental conditions, boost confidence and change people’s lives and receiving some cosmetic treatment will enable them to do exactly that. Whilst there are still some charlatan surgeons out there, who incidentally are being driven out of town by authorities, most clinics will sit down and discuss with you at great length your reasons for having surgery. In some cases, clinics may even refer you to a counsellor if they feel as though you have body issues which cannot be solved with surgery. This is not to say that they would perform the surgery, they are a business after all but they will ensure that you’ve had every opportunity to consider your options and make an informed decision.

So here you have it, if you have a part of your body that you’d like to tweak or alter then don’t be scared, get down to your local clinic, have a conversation and change your life for the better.

Time to Change Career_ Here Are Some Suggestions For The Number Crunchers

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Many of us simply fall in to a career, often we take what we can get and make turn it into our career rather than seeking it out specifically, many of us may have a particular skill and be able to find a career doing that whereas some of us never really find a career per se, we just take on a  job and see where it takes us. The problem with choosing a career in this way is that we can become miserable down the line, we add responsibilities to our lives like houses and cars and it can be difficult to switch once you have started.

Thankfully, it is never too late to switch careers, it is all about just taking the risk and finding a job which plays to your strengths and will be one that you enjoy. If you are someone who is great with numbers then here are a few job choices which you could look at for your new career.

Tax Accountant

Businesses rely heavily on tax accountants in order for them to stay legal, ensure that they are not paying too much or too little tax and to stay on top of the ever changing requirements of taxation. In order to gain a position as a tax accountant you will need to pass the relevant exams which allow you to practice taxation. You will also need to be an expert in the field of taxation and ensure that you stay abreast of any changes that take place in the law.

Broker

Being a successful stock broker like JP Morgan’s Michael Briese requires that you have strong numerical skills, the analytical ability to process great amounts of financial information such as market movements, forecasts and stock prices and also a great bedside manner. You will be measured heavily on your success and your ability to build and maintain relationships and in return you will be rewarded with a handsome salary and a job in an exciting industry.

Teacher

If you have a strong ability when it comes to numbers then why not put your skills to use as a teacher. Mathematics is often viewed as quite a boring subject by many students and one which is difficult for a great deal of them to truly understand. Math teachers are required to not only impart great math knowledge but also to make learning fun and more importantly, make it relatable for the student. If you think that you have the charisma, the creativity and the knowledge to be able to teach math then this could be a great career choice for you that will be very rewarding personally.

These are just a few of the great careers which you could elect that will allow you to utilize your ability with numbers. The key thing to remember is that it is never too late for a career switch and as long as you are confident that you can do the job well, there should be no fear around leaving that old career behind.

Is the University of North Carolina right for you

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Photo by Jmturner

With over half your senior year behind you, it’s time to get off the fence and figure out where you’ll be going to college in the fall.

Of all the schools you have been considering, the University of North Carolina seems like one of the most appealing.

However, name recognition and the fact you have friends going there are your only reasons for that choice. In order to make an informed decision, you’re gonna need more info than that.

On this point, its always a good idea to ask alumni what they think of their old school. John Bradberry Charlotte NC graduated from UNC years ago, and he is never afraid to promote his alma mater when the subject comes up.

If you need a bit more convincing than that, however, this article will run down why the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill might be a good fit for you.

UNC is considered to be best in Southeast for economics and journalism

As one of the more prestigious schools in the Southeast, the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill is well respected for most of its academic offerings, but there are areas that excel over others.

Time and again, past students have lauded UNC for the education they received in economics and journalism.

Course work was harder than many students originally expected, but it resulted in them getting an education that adequately prepared them for the challenges they have faced in the workforce.

It has a beneficial teacher to student ratio

One of the biggest fears of students entering school is that they will be lost in a sea of fellow classmates, thereby inhibiting their ability to learn.

Thankfully, one of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s biggest selling points is its highly beneficial student to instructor ratio.

With a tiny ratio of 14:1, you’ll be able to develop a relationship with professors that may not be possible elsewhere. Just don’t plan on being able to sleep off that 8:30…

UNC provides great value for in-state students

One of the biggest drawbacks of going to a highly touted school are the massive tuition fees. Unlike many of its famous rivals, though, the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill is a public school, meaning that fees for in-state students come in at less than $9,000.

UNC makes most of its money off out-of-state attendees, each of whom pay $33,600 for the privilege of studying here.

Its sports program is highly competitive

Like basketball? The UNC Tar Heels are perennial contenders in NCAA Division I Basketball. With alumni like Michael Jordan and Rasheed Wallace having played here in the past, they are committed to recruiting the best players.

It has diverse Greek Life options

Know what you’re doing tonight? If you get involved in UNC Greek Life, you will always have an answer to that question. With 16 sororities and 28 fraternities, there are so many different houses that you are bound to find one that resonates with you.