Flight delays are like pimples the day before your graduation photo shoot. You won’t see it coming. And it hammers down on you on one of the most important days in your life. Imagine the dread when the announcer booms out that your trip to Sydney has been put off for the day due to weather or technical concerns. There is no way to get around it.
Or is it? However catastrophic it may be, there are some workarounds you can do to survive a flight cancellation (and no, yelling on every airport crew you come across is not one of them). Here are six the things you should be doing when the announcement gets dropped on you.
Prevention is always better than cure. And avoiding the circumstances that will lead to a flight cancellation will save you from a lot of headache.
First, watch out for the weather, and try to avoid flying during heavy storms. And if you can, fly direct instead of stopping in a city or country prone to bad weather.
And second, fly in the morning. Maintenance issue-related delays and cancellations mostly happen late in the day, as the issues accumulate as the day goes by. And if ever the cancellation happens during your morning flight (because fate really likes to test your patience), you still have the entire day to catch another one.
We have mentioned this before. Once the announcement gets out. Drop everything and call your airline customer service ASAP to get you rebooked (the call queue gets exponentially longer with every minute you waste not calling). Somewhere out there is a plane going to the same destination with an empty seat or two and your airline can find that for you. Just be ready with the information they might ask such as your record locator to get the transaction immediately done. Other people from your canceled flight are also doing this. So hustle.
Sometimes it is not the airline's fault that a snowstorm spontaneously appeared to spoil everything, and yelling at the crew all day isn't a sensible move. Accept what is happening and book a hotel if you will be waiting overnight. A smartphone app called HotelTonight helps you find a hotel nearest to the airport, book a room, and even schedule your next flight. A good rest will help you collect yourself and plan your next move.
Most airlines provide meal and accommodation vouchers if the flight is canceled due to airplane-related issues (if it’s a weather concern, they do not owe you anything). ASK if it is available. On occasions where the cancellation leads you to an overnight delay, they will most likely provide hotel stay for the night.
If a shuttle service is being offered to take you to the hotel, get the seat nearest to the door so you can get checked in ahead of the other panicking passengers. Reserve for a shuttle ride back to the airport to avoid missing your flight.
We usually put our toiletries inside our check-in baggage. And in unexpected mishaps like a cancellation, we get separated from our toothbrushes, bar soap, and dental floss as they get re-routed to our destination while we toil the night stranded.
If this happens, approach the airline's baggage service office and ask for an amenity kit. This will usually contain the aforementioned essentials plus a few more like deodorant, body lotion, cologne, shaving kit, and sleeping mask.
Nobody deserves to have their flight canceled. It is one of the most infuriating things to happen to anybody aside from stepping on a Lego block barefoot. But that doesn't mean you can take it out on the flight attendants, airport crew, security guards, or the gate attendants like they are in conspiracy to call off your flight. Ninety percent of the time, it is nobody’s fault. The weather got bad, or the engine messed up. You can't put the blame on them.
Be nice and be calm to them to better work out your situation. Raising your voice will only make them defensive and impair their judgment and their ability to assist you if you keep throwing a fit. That will not help you in the long run.
Congratulations on your Permanent Residency! You can now stay in Australia for good and have access to social welfare benefits, the national health care, and higher education loans. Also, you can finally vote and apply for citizenship.
But perhaps the biggest benefit is that you can finally own a house. This is a prime requirement if you really want to settle. No more rents to pay and no more arguing with your landlord over bad plumbing. Just you and your dream house.
Here's the catch: owning a property isn't for everybody. Too many people have jumped in the world of home ownership without being financially prepared only to find themselves in debt. So how do you know if you are ready to buy a house? Follow these signs, and if everything is right on your part, then get that beach villa you have always wanted.
If you are an urban nomad whose job involves traveling from one area to another within months, then keep your dream house just a dream for now. Renting is the best fit for you. If you are not planning on moving in the next five years or so, then push through with the ownership.
Getting a home while constantly moving will only place unnecessary expenses on your back. Just imagine paying both the mortgage and rent, and you will dry up your resources sooner than later. Unless you are Bill Gates, do not do this.
Yes. Those years of not giving in and maxing out your credit card because the new iPhone will not buy itself has paid off. By avoiding debt, paying the bills on time, and settling your loans properly, you can build a good credit score. This is essential in determining if you can apply for a mortgage and what the interest rates will be. If you have a low score, chances are you won’t be getting a mortgage, or if you do, higher interest rates apply.
Please be advised, however, that credit score seesaws constantly, so be sure you always check yours on line (you can do it here).
Having your wedding in the next few months? Your partner is expecting? Planning to get your degree? You might want to rethink about getting a home. House ownership is all about prioritising and commitment. If the coming months or years' plans will put house payments on the back burner, don’t do it. You will waste money and will probably cause you to run into more debt.
One of the most fatal mistakes home buyers make is putting all their savings on the down payment. There will always be additional expenses coming, either the paint job is bad or the plumbing is not up to par (it’s always the plumbing). With all your money on the house payment, you won’t have much left.
Worse case is unforeseen and unwanted expenditures barreling you down: you got fired from the job (see here how you can find out if you will get the boot) or a family member got sick. If you already exhausted your unemployment or emergency fund, you will be in trouble.
And likewise...
If you only saved for the bare minimum of the down payment, then you haven’t saved enough yet. Hidden and unexpected expenses such as title insurance and inspection fees will always be coming and adding up to the final numbers which can be as high as ten percent. Have a buffer and protect yourself from unwanted surprises.
If you need a place you can call as your own, then by all means do it. If you are doing so because you are under the impression that a house is an investment that will make you more money, then we have to stop you right there. First, house market price over the course of years fluctuates dramatically, so earning significantly is not a sure thing. Second, even if you earned, the inflation and all the financial stress it brings cancels it. Be sure you buy a house for the right reasons.
Not all debts are created equal. Some are being made to lift off a business or expand an enterprise. Others are results of unsettled contracts. And sometimes they are a product of irresponsible finances and living beyond the means. If you belong to the last category, think twice about getting a mortgage. Be sure you have a good plan on dealing with your debt first. Debts are constantly increasing and if you are not consciously aware of where they are coming from, then that's a red flag. Take a step back and manage your finances.
So, you got your Australian parent visa after decades of waiting. You can finally be with your children, see your grand kids grow up first hand, and actually walk inside the Sydney Opera House (because you are tired of just seeing it in postcards).
And then suddenly, you are barreled by the unforeseen and small details of being a senior stranger in a foreign land. Yes, there are certain adjustments you need to do as a migrant and these changes widely differ from the younger folks.
We detailed some of the adjustments for you so you can know what to expect when you step your foot on the Lucky Country.
Long plane trips were already a bane when you were young, and it will be more challenging now that you are in your senior years. For someone who likes to move those leg muscles, sitting in a cramped space for six (if you are from the United States) to nine hours (if you are from an Asian country like Japan), is punishing.
Australia is an island continent isolated by ocean from most territories. So no matter where you came from, the flight would be a long haul. So prepare yourself.
And speaking of isolation…
This problem isn’t limited to Australian migrants alone, but to all people who are starting a life abroad.
You spent a better part of your life in your home country. There, you made connections and relationships that have stayed with you and contributed to your identity. Suddenly severing these ties because you have to migrate and live in Australia for good is no easy task.
In your new land, you won’t have anybody to immediately connect with. It will take a while before you make new friends. And what’s worse, the feeling of homesickness will hit you, as you scramble for your friends’ embrace, touch, and warmth and you won’t find them. It would be extremely lonely.
Given, social media is everywhere, but most of the time, it does more damage than recuperation. But there are steps to survive being lonely abroad. You may check this article for some tips.
Is a full English breakfast your ideal morning fuel? Or is chicken masala your go-to midday snack? How about Kimchi rice? We turn to comfort food to drive away stress and connect with our culture and identity further. More than beating the pangs of hunger, it makes us sane, too.
However, there won’t be much of your favorite food in Australia. The country has its own repertoire of dishes and recipes that will may or may not take time for you to like. If ever you were able to cook one of your local dishes, it would be very expensive. You may visit some of the cultural enclaves in the country, however, to connect to your own culture.
If you enjoy Doctor Who, Sherlock, and The Walking Dead back home (like three-quarters of the people in your social media), prepare to bid farewell to these TV shows. As you may not see them anymore due to the great disparity in the lineup of TV shows in Australia, especially in Netflix.
Australia’s Netflix library currently has 1,300 shows in its arsenal, that’s compared to the US’ juggernaut list of 8,500 shows. So if your favorite ones fall to any of the seven thousand shows (that’s the disparity), you need to rethink your options for entertainment.
This is a common knowledge in Australia already. The weather can be erratic, unpredictable, and even weird. And this varies depending on which city you are in. On your first day in the country, be sure you are prepared for the worst. The sun can be shining glaringly or there’s a thunderstorm the moment you step outside the plane. And even this can change at a moment’s notice.
If you are from the United States, Burma, or Libya, there will be big adjustments as as how your shopping items will be weighted, packed, or bottled. That also goes the same as to how your car tells your speed. Australia has embraced metrication like around 95% of the world’s countries. The imperial unit is being used only in certain cases like flight altitude.
Australian accent is usually described as rough, a bit of messy, and animated. None of which translates to being “clear.” This comes a bit of a challenge especially if you are not familiar with any Western accents (like you, we also cannot comprehend half of what Russell Crowe is saying).
And the fact that Aussies can fill an entire book with their slangs doesn’t help either. Australians are notorious for using words that entirely mean different in the American and UK English. When they say “thongs,” they mean flip flops, not bikinis. A “Barbie” for them is not a doll, but a barbecue. And this insanity could go on forever. Just keep your ears and mind open and you should be able to get a grasp of what they mean. Probably.
We know, sometimes the only way to get out of all of these chaos and confusion is to grab the wheel and just drive away your stress. However, if you are not from New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Japan, or any of the 55 countries that drive on the left side of the road, you are in for trouble.
You see, just like switching your writing hand to your less dominant limb, driving on the left is tough. And it takes time, patience, and focus to learn how to do it. Follow these steps for an easy and accident-free learning way to drive the Aussie way.
Aussies are overall friendly and open people but that doesn’t mean they cannot spot a liar or a blunderer from a mile away. They are perceptive people and that goes the same when they do job interviews. They are on the prowl to weed out those who are dishonest and incompetent from those who are genuinely willing to work. You have to be careful not only with your answers, but with the questions you ask as well.
If you want to ace your job interview, avoid asking these questions:
This question reveals that you entered the building unprepared. When applying, do some research about the company, its mission and vision, and the details about the position you are applying for.
Sometimes your company will need you to work beyond your usual nine to five shift, and that is normal as long as they are not violating any labour laws. If you are the type of person who will only log in for as long as you want, you may not be a fit for the company. Self-entitlement has no place here.
This question just screams “I am going to do something wrong so I might as well know the firing process now.” And more surprisingly, it isn’t uncommon. Asking how you may get booted out sends the wrong message to the interviewer.
This is one of those questions better left unasked. Social media sites have taken over our lives so there might be gravity to this concern. When posting on social media, avoid anything that speaks ill of the company, your superiors, or co-workers, even if you are not friends with them. These people always have a workaround. They will know.
Inquiring about rumours and hearsays is a sign of being unprofessional. Upping the ante by gossiping about the CEO is a bad move, mate.
We know the interviewer is impossibly good-looking, but you need to avoid asking personal inquiries. It is intrusive and unprofessional. You are there to prove yourself for a job position, not to look for a potential partner. Don’t be a creep and reserve those questions for bar conversations. Or for Tinder.
The last person on the job might have been fired due to misconduct or he/she could have taken a different career path. You will appear to be too prying on personal matters if you ask this question. Nobody likes someone who is too nosy. Especially employers.
Just like with the social media question up there, this question shows that you are hiding something. This provides a more negative impact since you are talking about the company resources and facilities. Asking this will raise red flags to your interviewer.
This glaringly (and unfortunately) shows your priorities. While your interviewer tries to find out what can you offer to the company, you are thinking of sipping piña colada while getting paid with company money. Obviously, there is disconnect in your primary concerns and therefore you do not deserve a spot in the office.
As much as we do not want you asking these questions, not asking anything is just as bad. An interview is like a first date. If you are the person who only talks about him/herself during the entire dinner, you won’t get a second date. Asking for further details about the company and your job description (in addition to the ones you know) shows that you are curious and eager to take on the job. That is a plus point added to your score already.
There is no perfect time to start a business in Australia than now. Ideas are in a boom, the economy is on a roll, and consumer market is very upbeat. The conditions are just perfect to have your own business and contribute further to the country’s economy.
We had shown you before the seven important things you need to remember when starting a small business in the country (click here if you missed it). But entrepreneurship is such a challenging, albeit exciting road to take, we have seven more important details to keep in mind when having your own startup.
Take note, mates. These could skyrocket you to success.
The best entrepreneurs in the world didn't become the best because of their Master’s Degrees or training in their belt. They became the greatest by actually starting their businesses and learning from it. No amount of business books or entrepreneurship seminars can prepare you for what’s coming. Learn the ropes by going ahead and starting your business.
Mark Zuckerberg didn’t finish college. So as Bill Gates. And Steve Jobs. We are not saying you should quit your education. Our point is that these guys did not let their lack of a diploma stop them from launching their companies. So do it. The learning starts when you fail and take notes from what happened.
There are two sides to the population of starting entrepreneurs. On one side are those cowering in fear of failure, on the other are those who fall for the survivorship bias. These people focus only on the successful businessmen and think the same thing will mostly happen to them.
Here’s the thing. Your business can fail. And if you don’t set up any safety nets such as insurance, your failure will hurt more than it should. Business insurance is not only a security measure but a requirement in Australia. There are currently three types of business insurance available: the asset and revenue insurance, personal and workers insurance, and liability insurance. See which one is best for your business well apply for one.
As Thank You Group founder Daniel Flynn puts it: a smashing idea doesn’t always equate to success. Everybody has a good idea. Your execution, however, shapes the fate of your business. Have a good business plan. Keep your priorities clear, as juggling too many balls in the air will only lead to them crashing. Be consistent with your execution plans. And revisit your strategies to tailor-fit them to the numbers you are getting, but never change your end goals.
It is also important that you surround yourself with people and employees that will provide a positive and productive culture to your business. You might have planted the seed of the idea, but their aggregate efforts and concepts borne from brainstorming will be the water and the sunlight that makes sure that seed grows strong and big.
The Australian Government never leaves its entrepreneurs alone. It gives them access to grants and assistance such as commercialising your products, business expansion, idea research and development, and even import and export of goods and services.
You just click the link, check the kind(s) of assistance your business needs. State your industry, period of operation, and annual turnover. And you will receive help from the government.
Most entrepreneurs underestimate the importance of having a mentor. They think that mentorship is only for those “want to keep their level of success maintained.” Mentors are positive forces that keep you inspired when the numbers seem to go against your plan. They will guide you to make the best choices (No, they cannot make the choices for you. Every business situation is different). And best of all, mentorship is personalised. You may read a thousand motivational and business books from the greatest authors, but nothing beats the advice of someone who can see your strategies, operation, and results on a first hand basis.
A seasoned mentor has already walked the path you are trailing right now. He or she is armed with experience, insights, and networks that you do not have right now. Take advantage of these and build your way to success.
Depending on the type of your business or the products and services you offer, you will need to follow mandatory safety laws, including construction, performance, testing, labelling and information requirements. Click here to get a full understanding of these laws.
The codes of practice also give a minimum standard of security to consumers and businesses in certain industries. Contact your state or territory consumer affairs office for further details on codes of practice in your area or you may click also here.
And finally, you need to be aware of the safety and labelling standards in the country in case you are trying to sell products. Click here and here for more information about them.
Most young entrepreneurs will jump from one opportunity, idea, or product to another, neglecting their original priority. This is a rookie mistake. As we said, juggle one too many balls and you will end up crashing them to the ground. Once you created your core product, funnel your time, efforts, and resources on it. Develop it, make it grow, perfect it. This will raise your chance of success.
And once everything is stable and expansion is the only way to go, scale up slowly. You are entering a new realm you are not familiar. Better to look ahead carefully before you leap.
We cannot stress it enough. Visa application is not a straightforward process, even with visa assistance from legal companies such as ours. It involves hundreds of people relying on twenty dozen pages of laws and policies only to decide whether they will allow you to step on the country or not.
But amid these legal complications, one major factor that mostly contributes to the bulk of the waiting time before the visa gets approved or denied is how the documents are prepared before submission. You provide an untranslated birth certificate in French (without telling us in any way what it is) and you will exponentially prolong the process (because most of our case officers are English speakers, so are those working in the Immigration). Present a passport that will expire in three months, and your waiting time will double.
Here are seven simple and quick fixes that you can do that will allow for a smoother and faster processing of your visa.
Visa application is all about documentation. You need all the records, accounts, and paper works that back up everything you claim about yourself during the application. If the papers you surrendered lack one vital document, the process will be on a halt.
The Immigration wants an entire picture of your identity. With one piece of the puzzle missing, that picture will not make sense, or worse, they might think you are lying with the information you provided. Any records missing will amount to a couple of days or weeks we spend telling you to submit such paper. That is time you are losing in the application process already.
The people at the Immigration department are mostly English speakers. Therefore any documents printed in any other languages should be translated. They will not accept just any translator. It should be done by someone accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
This government agency is the national standard for issuing accreditation for practitioners in Australia. Any NAATI-accredited translator or interpreter means they are operating lawfully and are allowed to legally interpret your government documents.
Our case managers (the people who collect and process your documents and liaise with the Department of Immigration), as well as the Department of Immigration itself go through hundreds of paper works each day. They mostly includes three passports, ten kinds of certificates, and twenty records belonging to five people each, all in just one application. It is not very hard to get lost in all of these.
You can make the process faster by labeling the papers you submitted. We will usually provide a list of documents for your reference, you may label your documents according to the suggestions listed. If you are submitting more than one passport, label each one with the names whom they belong to. The same goes for birth certificates, employment records, and registration copies. The less time they spend identifying which document belongs to whom, the more time goes towards the decision process of your visa.
Some of our Government records and ID’s are being produced in color and there is a reason for that. It improves the readability of important details and they make the pictures and logos clearer and more identifiable.
When you submit the copies of these documents such as passports, driver’s licenses, and birth, death, and marriage certificates, please do so in full colour. Our case managers can read and prepare the papers better and faster if they are not in black and white. Not to mention that the Department of Immigration also prefers the records to be in colour. You want to get it right the first time.
The Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection receives hundreds of thousands of documents each day. Given that they are not Google.com and have a finite storage capacity, they limit the documents to a total of five megabytes in size only, anything more than that and they will reject it.
You may achieve this by compressing your PDFs online via SmallPDF.com. Just upload your PDF files and the site will compress them for you.
Sometimes we do not have the original versions of important documents and that is fine, as long as you have your non-original copies certified by the Justice of the Peace or a Notary Public (you can search for one in our area here). Their certifications will allow your non-original copies to be recognised by the Department of Immigration as valid.
Your visa grant should be in sync with the details in your passport, from the passport number to the expiration date. And since visa application process normally takes months, you have to be sure you still have the same passport when you finally secure your visa. If it expired along the process and you get another one with different numbers and expiration dates than the one in your visa, you will have a huge problem once you set foot in Australia.
Make sure the passport you provide will be good for six months up to a year to avoid hassles with the Immigration.
*Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this article is for general information only. Always seek professional legal advice in regards to your situation as every situation is different. Immigration legislation changes regularly and thus always, get up-to-date advice on your situation. Lodging a visa application is a judicial process and is based on the quality of legal advice and legal representation you receive. It is illegal for any Migration Agent or Lawyer to guarantee 100% of a positive result as it is a judicial process.
The United States Election is now upon us. After all the debates and the media mudslinging and the pundits’ fearless predictions, we will finally be able to know who will replace Barack Obama as the 45th President of the United States of America. But this election is different, no doubt, as the country never had a more polarizing one.
On the Republican corner, we have business magnate and real estate mogul Donald Trump, who trail blazed an unprecedented rise to the top of the Grand Old Party despite zero government experience and with only his charisma and business acumen on his armory. However, Trump’s campaign isn’t as smooth as his The Apprentice television run. It is marred with controversies involving racism, tax evasion, and a theoretical huge wall, among others.
On the Democratic stable is Hillary Clinton, former First Lady and former Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013. Clinton once collided with Obama back in 2008 for the Democratic nomination but ultimately lost. Now she is back, hungry and with a fervor to prove herself. She is set to mark her legacy as the first female President of the land. But like Trump, Clinton is without her glowing flaws. A controversy regarding her use of email accounts on private servers while conducting government matters exploded in March 2015.
On the Libertarian’s side is Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico, businessman, and author. Despite existing as a third alternative, the United States largely focused its eyes on the two bigger aspirants.
For some, their candidate not winning the elections spells doom for them, resulting in people who swore to actually move out if things go unfavorably. If you are planning to do the same and want to go to the Lucky Country, we have laid down the steps for you (we’ve even compared the two countries!). We know it is hard to plan when you are already in a fit of panic.
If you are planning to enter the country through the Skilled Migration stream i.e. you will be part of the country’s workforce, the age limit is 50. The Government argues that this is to maintain a young and productive workforce for the country by filling the ranks with younger and more experienced people.
This, however, does not go without criticisms, as calls are being made to abolish the age restriction for General Skilled Migrants. Also, there are very few exceptions to this age limit. Check them here.
Australia has one of the best health care systems in the world. Not to mention the excellent quality of life, low illness rates, and the longevity its citizens enjoy. Given this, the Australian government must maintain these standards and protect its people from any threats to their health and safety.
This is the the reason why the Immigration department is so fixated on monitoring and checking the health of the migrants traveling here. Certain health requirements have to be met and health examinations have to be passed in order for you to set foot here. These examinations are largely focused on detecting pre-existing illnesses such as HIV or Aids, Hepatitis, and Tuberculosis. These illnesses are communicable and can be health hazards once they get into the country.
The Character Test is one of the requirements you will need to pass in order to set foot to Australia. You fail this if:
Australia enjoys a very low crime rate and a peaceful living devoid of hate, discrimination, or fear of discord. The Character Test is designed to maintain this status quo.
Like the United States, Australia is an English-speaking country. You need to speak the language to be able to work, do business, or negotiate with people here.
You can work in Australia first before you can be a permanent resident or a citizen. But before that happens, you may need to pass the Skills Assessment. This will determine if you have what it takes to be part of Australia’s workforce.
You see, the country won’t let you in just because you know how to do your job. The Skills Assessment process can take weeks to even a few months, depending on degree, qualifications, and experience.
Australians maybe nice and all but please be reminded that the weather is quite the opposite. It can be unpredictable, extreme, and challenging. It is a very common joke here that each city goes through four seasons each day. Contrary to what you see, it isn’t always beach season here. There can time for extreme rain, cloudiness, and windiness.
And it will vary furthermore depending on which part of the country you are. Sydney is humid with cool sea breezes, Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate, Brisbane enjoys a balmy to flush temperature, Melbourne has an abundant amount of sunshine, Perth enjoys cooling afternoon sea breeze, while Canberra boasts of Continental seasons. The Outback is just a huge desert.
This is where the biggest adjustments will come in. Aussies roll differently from Americans. These guys drink all days of the week, never talks about work or business in the bar, never sits at the back of a taxi, and always asks the rhetorical questions (which never require an answer).
On the work or business, they are much stricter, though. Body inks are a no-no (hide those, buddy), no short pants, always wear a tie and a jacket, and no fancy hairdos. But at least it is cool to date your workmate.
The business and technological world is rapidly changing. In fact, we are currently experiencing their fastest development in centuries. Chances are those hard-earned and prized skills of yours may not work anymore (for the time being, at least). Constantly upskilling and gathering knowledge is the key to survive the digital jungle.
Months ago, LinkedIn discovered and brought to light what expertise will be in-demand next year by pooling and analysing billions upon billions of user data and going through tens of thousands of job postings, searchings, and recruitment activities in their website to pin point the“hot skills” that companies will be looking for.
Here are the top ten. There is still time to upskill, train, and obtain your certifications before 2017 knocks on our doors.
Cloud computing refers to the storage and access of data and programs over the Internet as opposed to your computer's hard drive. Using the Google drive or your iPhone’s iCloud are examples of these. Someone who knows to enable this technology is an asset to companies because it provides self service provisioning, flexibility, and pay-per-use set up for the business.
Distributed computing, on the other hand, lets components of a software system to be shared among multiple computers working on the same goal to boost up efficiency and performance. Dozens upon dozens of projects on various fields ranging from Astrophysics to Cryptography to Finance are currently operating on this technology.
Statistical Analysis refers to the process of obtaining, scrutinising, and presenting huge quantities of data to uncover underlying patterns and trends. This is helpful to any business that process huge amounts of information or deal with a big number of people like manufacturers, airline companies, communication companies, and even government agencies. Data mining is drawing out meaningful information from large sources to create models that help important business decisions.
The two might sound the same, but they are not. Both are equally important to businesses and yes, they sometimes overlap but they utilise entirely different approaches.
Website architecture is simply the planning and designing of the technical, functional and visual components of a website. It deals not only with the appearance, but also server, memory, processes, and security parameters of the site.
Development Framework is the creation and improvement of software frameworks that provide specific functionality as part of a larger software platform to expedite development of software applications, products and solutions.
Middleware is the software that often operates between operating systems and applications or between clients and database servers, allowing them to communicate and work efficiently together. The Android system and other game engines operate on this system.
Integration, on the other hand, is the process of merging together disparate subsystems so that the data contained in each becomes part of a larger, more inclusive system that will easily share data when necessary. The AppleWorks for the Apple II utilised software integration.
User Interface Design refers to maximizing the user’s interaction, efficiency, and experience. It applies mostly to computers, smart phones, and other electronic devices where usability is of paramount concern. The multiple applications running on your smart phone do not negatively affect or slow down each other's operation and efficiency because of User Interface Design.
With the advent of social media upon us, not to mention the digitalization of government agencies, more and more sensitive information is being shared on line than ever. This leads to the rise of Network and Information Security to thwart any efforts of stealing and misusing these information.
Network security refers to the protocols and practices implemented by a network administrator to prevent and keep track of unauthorised access, exploitation, and modification, of the network and network resources. Information security, on the other hand, is the set of protocols and practices implemented to detect and counter the threats to digital (and even non-digital) information.
Mobile development is the creation and development of applications for mobile and smart phones. The era of smart phones is here and progressing, thousands of mobile applications are being created and developed every day to ride on this technological boom. No wonder mobile development will be a huge hit next year. If you are reading this article from a Chrome browser application on your iPhone, you can thank mobile development for that.
This refers to the summarising, organising and communicating mathematical data and information using various tools, such as diagrams, distribution charts, graphs, and histograms,. This skill is handy in business, sales, auditing, and marketing fields.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the maximization of online presence by making sure the website ranks high in the search engine results. Wikipedia always appears first on Google results whenever you search for a word or a term because it is one of the most efficiently optimised websites on the planet. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a type of digital marketing being done through the use of paid promotions and advertising.
Both skills are essential in this day and age where businesses are no longer of brick and mortar variety and marketing is already beyond billboards and TV spots .
This is a broad skill, as it comprises (and even encompasses) the virtualisation, replication, and mirroring of data and networks, as well as security, compression, traffic analysis, process automation, storage provisioning, and other related techniques.
We have been flying for almost a century now and we have yet to master airplane etiquette. There are still people who think it is OK to make the seat bulkheads their personal ottoman or walk to the toilet barefoot.
Be a decent traveler and have respect. Here are eleven things you need to stop doing inside the plane on your next flight.
Nothing speaks “entitled” than a passenger resting his/her bare feet on the walls or the other passengers' seats. It is insulting and disrespecting of other people. Wear your shoes and put down your feet.
You have at least three hours waiting in the airport before you board your plane. Use that time to empty your bladder. The seat belt sign is there for your and the other passengers’ safety. Follow it.
Bringing your own booze might be cool in parties, but not on airplanes. There are regulations against consuming your own alcohol there. You can only drink alcohol that is given to you by the attendant to monitor your consumption. Wait until you land to get to a bar and drink to your heart’s content.
The plane is not your hotel room. By taking the trip to the rest room barefoot, or worse, with your socks on, you are mopping the pee on the plane’s floor, endangering everybody’s health. Also, eew.
Sure, that chili is irresistible. But inside an air-tight chamber filled with people already struggling with sleeplessness and bland food? Not much. Have consideration and keep the smelly meals away.
Believe it or not, a physical contact is the last thing flight attendants want, no matter how innocent your intentions may be (the fact that some of them had encountered sexual harassments at some point only confounds this discomfort). “Excuse me” will totally suffice for them. It is polite and doesn't invade any personal spaces.
On the same note…
Don’t do this on the plane. In fact, don’t do this anywhere. You are not the King of England. Well, scratch that. The King of England does not even do this. It is plain rude.
Apart from the Bermuda Triangle and D. B. Cooper, this is one of aviation’s biggest mystery: why do people even think it is cool to do yoga in airplane galleys? Is there some excitement to it? Is it considered a new milestone now? We may never know. What we are sure of is that you are invading the flight crew’s office and you will be thrown out if you insist.
If you are applauding because you want to give the pilot a huge compliment, guess what, he won’t be able to hear you. Send your compliments through the attendants if you really insist or just say thank you.
The large suitcase goes to the overhead bins, the small bag and other accouterments goes under your seat in the front. That simple. Have some courtesy to other passengers by not turning the bins into your gym locker.
The flight attendants practiced this presentation to save your life. Be appreciative of their efforts and pay attention. You don’t want to have that “I should have listen to them” moment when things go south.
For most of us, our idea of jungle survival comes only from watching Bear Grylls tide through the Australian and African forests and/or playing Tomb Raider. Or worse, courtesy of websites and articles publishing bogus survival steps that could get you killed more than get out alive.
Let us end these misinformation right now as we tell you the most famous survival myths going around the web and why they are the last things you should do.
Ah, the mother of all survival tips. The Australian Outback is an unforgivable desert. You need to keep yourself hydrated. If Bear Grylls does it, you should too, right? Honestly, this advice is not only gross, it never helps either.
There is a reason your body expels this fluid: it contains minerals, chemicals, and bacteria that either has no function or harmful to your body. Ingesting them again will only give your body another laborious task of filtering and expelling them out on top of keeping you warm. If you really insist on making your piss useful, experts advise peeing on your bandana and wearing it for added cooling.
And speaking of hydration…
Finally! You found a body of water. But you are not dumb. You know you have to boil it to make it safe for drinking, right? Not really mate.
The thing is, this isn’t wrong, it’s not just complete. Given, boiling water kills bacteria and other harmful organisms, but it cannot lay hands on the chemicals (such as lead), small debris, and particulates. You need to filter them first either by pouring them through a clean fabric or clothing, or letting them sit for a while to let the particulates settle and scoop the top part to boil. You won’t be able to do much against the chemicals. The general rule is be wary of stagnant bodies of water, as they are the ones that easily get contaminated. Flowing streams and brooks are better options.
We are not done on water yet...
Cactuses are just like camels; only greener, thornier, and doesn't move around. They can store large amounts of water to survive the desert, like Mother Nature’s most challenging water coolers. So you just cut one off and pour the precious liquid to your mouth, like how the cowboys did it in John Wayne movies.
The thing is, water from cactus contains high level of alkaloids, and they are toxic and acidic. Ingesting them will cause nausea, stomachache, and diarrhea, which basically are the last things you need when surviving a barren land. This will cause further dehydration and damage to your kidneys.
The jungle isn’t your eight year-old’s playground. It is littered with pieces of wood, metal, or even rock that can get through your skin and muscle. And just like in any movie that stars Sly or Arnie, you just need to pull the piece that impaled you like a badass and you will be good.
Here’s the thing. Very few die from getting impaled alone (in this case, from severe organ damage). Your biggest worry here is blood loss. Pull that piece and you will gush more than you are supposed to (not to mention expose more flesh in the process). That object is blocking all the blood vessels and making you safe. Keep it there. Dress the wounded area to prevent infection due to external elements. Seek medical attention when available. Let the experts do the removal.
If you casually tune in to National Geographic, Discovery, or History Channel, you know that half of their shows are about people left in the wilderness or desert to survive (the other half are about the daily routines of managing a pawnshop). And you are thinking, since these are fact-based channels with great reputations, everything shown in these programs should be accurate.
Let us tell you about Richard Code, a Canadian who braved the snow-covered wilderness of Ontario, Canada to test his survival skills armed only with an ax, a few tools, and a stock knowledge of survival techniques from watching Survivorman (which is like Man v. Wild, but set in Canada). His body was found a week later.
The thing is, these shows tend to rely on drama, action, and a bit of exaggeration to sell, throwing accuracy in the process. Nobody will watch a guy resting under a tree for a span of an entire day, despite the fact that that is the right thing to do to conserve heat and energy. No, people want scorpion-eating, urine-drinking, and waterfall-diving scenarios because those bring quality excitement, but necessarily quality knowledge. So get over your delusions because you consumed all nine seasons of Dual Survival and stay away from danger.
It is just the Outback. You have your 4x4, bottles of water, and jackets when it turns cold. It is literally a walk in the park. It is not even a major adventure.
But the things is, it is the Outback, an expansive desolation comprising most of Australia. And if you know Australia, you that the weather can flip here like crazy. The same goes with the desert. The temperatures can range from 50°C (120F) on summer days and pin fall to below freezing to -10°C (15F) during winter nights.
And that is just the weather. You also have to deal with other elements Oz is famous for. It rains heavily. The car ran out of battery. One of you got bitten by a Sydney Funnel-web Spider (which ironically roams the Outback, too). Or got lost. The Outback is no human being’s territory. You need be prepared and ready there.
You know how it looks like. People lounging in a winter cabin while snow builds up outside. A Saint Bernard with a wooden keg containing whiskey hanging around his neck approaches and offer people sips of the liquor to make themselves warm and survive the winter.
This may sound homey and beautiful, but deadly. It does more damage than good during survival situations. You see, alcohol making your body warm is an illusion. It only increases skin temperature by making your blood vessels dilate, pushing all the blood to go towards your birthday suit.
With all your red juices on your skin, the core suffers, lowering the body temperature in the process, which is the last thing you want to happen. Also, alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it helps expel liquids out of your body (this explains your multiple trips to the rest room during night outs). And you don’t want to risk dehydration in the cold, mate
We have glorified, even romanticised, survival so much that some people think it is a challenge worth taking randomly. To say that going into survival mode in the wilderness is an adventure is like saying spiraling down a credit card debt is a milestone in life. It is far from the real thing.
Aside from circumstances born out of uncontrollable factors, survival is a result of a series of bad decisions that people pursue due to ego, curiosity, and pop culture influence (We could always Tom Hanks our way out of this island!”). And then, they usually discover that being isolated with no shelter or food or water is not that rad. More than exploits and cave diving, survival is about desperation, panic, uncertainty, and fear.
If you really want to prove your skills in survival, avoid throwing yourself in such desperate situations in the first place. That, experts believe, is the greatest skill here.