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Showing posts from October, 2019

17 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones to Help You Rock Out or Relax in Comfort

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There are some moments when you just feel like detaching from the world and enjoying your own personal moment of zen. However, this can be a bit challenging, especially if you are in a public place such as a plane or the subway. This is when a good set of noise-canceling headphones can work wonders. Noise-canceling headphones work by using microphones to catch the noise around you and then feeding an opposite variant of that sound into the tiny drivers that are built into the headphones. In other words, they can help you to almost literally tune out . The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones The most high-grade noise-canceling headphones combine physical barriers with built-in dampers that help block and absorb noise. Noise-canceling technology can’t truly cancel every sound, although it can work well enough to make listening more pleasant in specific environments. Here is our list of the best noise-cancelling headphones for “zenning out” whenever you need to. 1. Bose Noise Canceling...

Terms of Endearment: Pet Names from Around the World

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Ahh, love. It can be expressed in so many ways… So many strange, strange ways. You’ve probably heard of the Romance languages and the five “love languages,” but there’s probably yet another language of love that only you and your sweetheart can understand. Terms of endearment, or the affectionate words people use to address their loved ones, can vary greatly by language and even more so by couple. Terms of Endearment and Pet Names for Lovers Those cutesy nicknames that are for your ears only might nauseate others if they should ever hear them, but for you they serve as a reminder of your close bond. (I’ll take my assigned pet name to the grave, so don’t even ask.) Even if you swore you’d never be like “those couples,” you may very well find yourself letting a few “muffins” and “honeybunches” slip out every now and then. Embrace it! It’s in your closest personal relationships that you should have the freedom to express yourself however you want. And, as it turns out, all that b...

Sympathy vs Empathy: Understanding the Feelings of Others

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Although often used interchangeably, sympathy and empathy refer to two different feelings that you might experience toward others. While you may feel sorry for a person or their situation—in other words, you sympathize with them—that doesn’t necessarily mean that you  empathize  with them. Read on for more on the difference between sympathy and empathy, and how you can practice being more empathetic to those around you. Sympathy Definition Sympathy refers to our ability to share in another person’s feelings, usually of sadness or sorrow. When you feel sympathetic toward another person or their situation, you “feel bad” for them. You’re concerned and saddened by what they’re going through, and you wish things were better for them. You can still feel sad alongside the other person—for example, your friend who just lost a parent—but that doesn’t mean you can actually empathize with them. Examples of Sympathy You might might show sympathy by: Telling someone you’re sor...

15 Online Graphic Design Courses for Beginners, Businesses, and More

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Graphic design skills are currently in demand for many positions, especially companies looking to produce their own logos or create images for social media. However, graphic design can also be a fun hobby and outlet for your creative side. Luckily, you don’t have to be a computer wiz to get started. There are plenty of helpful online graphic design courses that can help you build your skills, even if you have zero experience with Photoshop or InDesign. Below are 15 great options for every level of graphic designer, whether you want to apply your skills professionally or just have fun creating designs. Online Graphic Design Courses: The Basics If you’re new to graphic design, try one of these courses for a smooth intro that will fill you in on the basics. 1. Graphic Design Basics: Core Principles for Visual Design With Graphic Design Basics, you’ll learn how to identify and discuss the 5 basic principles of design, as well as critique and evaluate your own work. This course i...

What Is Quid Pro Quo? Definition and Examples

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If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you might be wondering just what a quid pro quo is. Now, don’t worry—I’m not here to start talking politics (so please don’t come for me in the comments). But since you’re likely to come across this term in cable news shows, legal thrillers, police dramas and more, a basic understanding of this Latin term might be helpful. The Meaning of Quid Pro Quo In Latin, quid pro quo literally translates to “something for something.” In modern times, The Law Dictionary adds to this definition only that the two things must carry value. If we think of the phrase in those terms, it can be applied to pretty much any transaction, such as when you pay for your coffee or exchange baseball cards. However, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, back in the 16th century, quid pro quo was defined as “one thing in exchange or return for another; tit for tat.” That doesn’t sound like much of a difference—until we see what Merriam Webster h...

How to Write Dates: Proper Formats for Sentences and Numerals

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Writing the date is a relatively simple task, but it can get tricky depending on your intended reader and the format you wish to use. If you’re from the U.S. and want to invite a friend from England to your wedding, for example, you’ll want to be very clear when expressing the date. Writing out the month will probably be your best bet, but we’ll discuss that in more detail below. How to Write Dates in a Sentence To avoid confusion, learn the different formats available for writing dates and how you can make yourself clear no matter who will read it. Years Generally speaking, years should be written with numerals , except when they are used to start a sentence. Examples: Today is September 26, 2019. In 2008, Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States. Nineteen sixty-nine was the year man first set foot on the moon. Month and Day There are several formats to choose from when writing the month and day, which is also why things can get confusing. In the...

Stream of Consciousness: How Writers Use This Narrative Technique to Reveal Characters

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Ever wish you could get inside a character’s thoughts and really understand what makes them tick? Well, some authors will let you do just that when they use stream of consciousness in their narration. What Is Stream of Consciousness? Originally a term used in psychology, “stream of consciousness” refers to our thoughts and conscious reactions, expressed as a continuous, uninterrupted flow. The term was first coined by psychologist William James, who explained that consciousness is “not chopped up in bits… it is nothing joined; it flows.” It wasn’t long after that the term was applied to literature to describe an author’s writing style. In writing, “stream of consciousness” defines a narrative style that reflects the natural flow of thoughts in the characters’ minds, offering readers a unique point of view . Dorothy Richardson’s 1915 novel Pointed Roofs was the first complete novel to use stream of consciousness narration. The style would later become the trademark of authors s...

15 Best Brand Name Generators for Your Business

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A great brand name can help build your business’s identity and make a strong first (and lasting) impression on consumers. However, that also means there’s a lot of pressure to come up with the perfect brand name to represent your product or business. Luckily, there are some fabulous tools out there that can help you. Brand Name Generator Below is our list of 15 brand name generators that will help you come up with the perfect name to represent your brand. 1. Squadhelp Brand Name Generator Squadhelp pairs the power of crowdsourcing with advanced technology and agency-level validation to help you come up with the perfect name for your business. Launching a naming contest is just one of the 3 ways to choose a brand name. Names are automatically screened for URL availability, and you can also screen your top choices for trademark conflicts. Finally, test your top picks with real people to see which name resonates the most with your audience.  2. Online Brand Name Generator ...