One of my inspirations as a writer is undoubtedly the brilliant Roger Wolfson, and he has been someone who I have tried to emulate in my own scriptwriting career. Roger’s career is absolutely incredible and for a man who started off as an attorney, to then branch out into just about every sphere of writing, is just a series of incredible achievements. Roger has been a speech writer, a scriptwriter, a director, an essayist and an author to name just a few of his incredible achievements.

I think what Roger has done is to serve as a perfect inspiration for all of us who enjoy writing, and here is exactly what we can take from a career such as this.

Thinking Outside The Box

Beyond everything else what Roger has managed to show us all is that you don’t have to just stick to one thing in your career, and that you can in fact branch out at each opportunity. Take his early career as an attorney for example, most people will then go on to spend their time in the legal field. Given Roger’s political ambitions however he then branches out into politics, and later into entertainment using his incredible writing skills. So many of us are guilty of not thinking outside the box, something which Roger has proven to be much easier than many of us consider.

Taking On Challenges

Roger has consistently taken on new challenges when they have come around, he has always sought to test his abilities with various writing projects, and that again is something which certainly inspires. The man himself has stated that there have been some projects and challenges which have totally overwhelmed him, yet in spite of that he has persevered and sought to take on whatever is in front of him. It is a testament to his ability that he has not only taken on these challenges but consistently delivered high quality results. This again should serve as an inspiration to us all, that we should always seek to accept new challenges which are going to help us to grow and improve.

The Gift of Penmanship

Above all else what Roger has showcased throughout his incredible career is that if you work hard on your craft, you really can take it anywhere. Roger may very well have a wonderful gift with the pen, but that is not what has catapulted him into some of the most incredible jobs. What Roger has done from a very early age was understanding the gift that he had, and then used his desire and passion to sharpen his ability. This is why Roger has been able to lend that pen to all of these incredible projects and consistently deliver outstanding results, be it on the screen or on the page.

Roger can certainly serve as an inspiration to us all, and especially to those of us who enjoy writing. The key is hard work, an open mind and the willingness to take on challenges.

When we look around at some of the great TV and film writers of our time, it is easy to assume that they have large teams around them to help with their work. What many of you may not know however is that people like Roger Wolfson do so much of their writing work alone, which makes the high quality of content that they deliver even more special. There are so many inspiring stories out there of movies which have been created by individuals on their own, and this is something which you can do too, depending on how passionate you are.

The likes of Roger Wolfson have this in their blood, and perhaps you have the same in yours. If you want to make that movie, here is what you’ll need to write it.

Research

Even the very best writers don’t just pick movies out of their heads and write them all down, they will more often than not depend heavily on the research which they have carried out. Going back to the example of Roger Wolfson, he is an educated attorney and he has contributed heavily towards writing for legal TV shows. In spite of his experience and his education however, he will still go back and carry out research before he puts pen to paper. This is the level of detail which you should be seeking, no matter what you are writing about.

Dedication

The reason why you will need dedication to do this is that it cannot take you 5 years to complete. If this is the case then the movie will never be what you originally wanted it to be, because of how you will change during that time. If you are genuinely passionate about this then you have to commit to it fully, to put everything else to one side and to focus all of your energy on giving this movie script all of you.

Work Ethic

Beyond the imagination and the creativity which you need to write your own film, you will also need to ensure that you have a committed work ethic. This is something which you should look to treat like a job, writing in shifts at the same times each day. If you only write when you have time then you are not going to be able to get yourself into the headspace which you need to in order to deliver a project of this size.

Honest Feedback

And finally it is going to be important that you have someone who you can go to who is going to be prepared to give you brutally honest feedback. This is not to say that you have to pay attention to this of course, but you will have to ensure that you can gain some level of honest opinions, given to you in a constructive way. Without this you may simply find someone who will tell you that everything is great, even when it is not.

Work hard, stay creative and be fearless.

 

Whether you’re looking to train a puppy or a mature, adult dog, if you’re the proud owner of an adorable Boston Terrier, simply continue reading to discover a handy guide to training Boston Terriers. Fynn and Friends feature breed-specific tips and training techniques which you’ll find invaluable during your training sessions.

How to Train Your Boston Terrier:

Use a reward based system to train your dog:

Instead of resorting to telling off your dog in frustration when they fail to respond correctly to a new command, it’s a far wiser idea to use a reward based system to train your dog. As an example, when you’re teaching your dog a brand new command, each time that they respond to your command correctly, give them a small treat. So that they associate your new command with a positive emotion. Alternatively, you may want to shower your pet with affection and pats when they correctly respond to a new command.

House train your Boston Terrier before you start teaching it complicated tricks:

Before you start to teach your dog complicated tricks, your first priority should be to house train your dog. As the sooner that you successfully house train your Boston Terrier, the less time that you’ll have to spend cleaning up after your Boston Terrier’s accidents.

Teach your dog not to dig up holes in your back yard:

As Boston Terriers have a tendency to dig holes in backyards, if your home boasts a backyard it’s important to train your dog not to destroy your yard with unnecessary holes. To train your dog not to dig holes in your yard, it’s a wise idea to address the root cause of your Boston Terrier’s digging problem, loneliness.

Most Boston Terriers will only start digging holes if they are left alone for prolonged periods of time. As well as keeping your Boston Terrier indoors when you leave your home, you can also teach your dog not to dig holes by ignoring it when it digs a hole and praising it when it spends time in your yard without digging up holes.

Remain patient:

As Boston Terriers are an intelligent dog breed, they respond well to calm, clear training methods. If you start yelling at your dog or become frustrated with your dog, you’ll find it difficult to teach your dog new behaviors and tricks, so it’s important to use a calm, friendly voice when you train your dog. If you notice that you’re becoming frustrated or short tempered with your dog, take a break and resume your training at another point during the day.

Use repetition:

Repetition is a useful tool that you can use to ensure that your dog remembers the commands which you teach it during your training sessions. Once you’ve taught your dog a new trick such as how to heel or stay, use your new command throughout each day for a few weeks. To ensure that your dog will remember your new command.

So regardless of whether you own a puppy or a mature adult Boston Terrier, it’s well worth testing out all of the valuable breed specific training tips which have been listed above.

You plan to engage in business travel at a higher level next year, and you can’t wait for the professional opportunities that this will afford you. However, you can’t help but to wonder where you’ll stay. Should you stick with traditional hotels, or should you try an extended-stay hotel or a corporate housing unit next time? According to Brian Ferdinand, a leading business expert, a corporate housing unit may be your best option. Let’s take a peek at why this is.

Hotel Setting

In his recent article, Brian Ferdinand, who is the managing partner of SoBeNY and its parent company CorpHousing Group, explains that hotels are generally used for stays that will last under one week. Hotels offer many benefits, such as a high level of flexibility for travelers, as well as good locations. After all, hotels are typically abundant in various cities.

Hotels also come with daily housekeeping—a major bonus for guests who are concerned about maintaining a clean and welcoming home away from home. In addition, hotels offer amenities and reception around the clock.

The problem with hotels, though, is that this type of accommodation is expensive. In addition, hotel rooms are generally small and can therefore feel claustrophobic after some time. Hotels also typically lack full-sized kitchens, which means you may be tempted to eat out more than you prefer to.

Extended-Stay Hotel Setting

An extended-stay hotel is most appropriate for a traveler who plans to stay in a new city for two and four weeks. This type of hotel offers the same benefits you’d receive in a regular hotel room, including daily housekeeping and amenities. However, it also offers some additional perks, such as a kitchenette for cooking and a more competitive daily rate.

Still, extended-stay hotels do carry some drawbacks as well. For instance, this type of accommodation typically doesn’t come with an oven. In addition, like a traditional hotel room, an extended-stay hotel is usually small.

Corporate Housing Unit Setting

If you’re planning to go on business trips in 2021, then corporate housing is the perfect fit for you. That’s because corporate housing is designed to accommodate a traveler for one month or even several months.

Corporate housing also tends to offer a more homelike atmosphere than you’d experience in a hotel or extended-stay hotel. For example, in your unit, you can enjoy a full kitchen rather than a smaller kitchenette. The homey atmosphere may make being away from home much easier to cope with from one business trip to the next.

 

A good friend of mine is an executive for the construction company the Cumby Group, and we have been talking of late about how this pandemic will shape the near future of this industry. I am fascinated by how big the impact of this virus has been and how the world has been so destroyed by it, and I am even more fascinated at seeing how many industries and sectors are going to come out of this, and what will change going forward.

With regards to construction, there is certainly going to be huge changes, further big changes, and here is what many in the industry are anticipating.

Switch to Commercial

The housing market looks like it will be completely depleted following the pandemic and for so many construction companies that means that big jobs and projects are bound to be cancelled and switched around. The reality is that buying new houses is unlikely to happen en masse for many years to come, which will leave construction companies looking to commercial buildings rather than focus on residential.

Less Contracts

For many years the construction industry worked with self-employed tradespeople who were then sub-contracted. In the last few years however we have seen a real switch from this and many have been taking on full time workers, especially those big groups who deliver multiple projects per year. Given the damage which this virus has had on the sector, we are anticipating more and more companies to focus solely on keeping the sub-contract situation, because this gives them far less financial exposure.

Higher Competition

Not every company has the final power and support that the likes of the Cumby Group and that is why so many of those smaller businesses within construction have been forced to close their doors. The result of this is going to be a far higher level of competition between workers, and that is going to be highly beneficial for those groups and companies who have survived the last 12 months. This will not be great for many in the industry however, who may look to change careers in order to secure more work. Ultimately this could lead to a lot of talent leaving the field.

Trend Changes

Anything which has impacted the world on this scale is going to mean that there will be trend changes in terms of the types of places that people want to buy. For some this could mean that they prefer a home with more outdoor space having been kept inside for so long, for others it may be the use of certain hygienic materials being used in the building of the property, and many more tweaks and changes which are necessary for so many people who want to live in a better place.

There are certainly some sweeping changes coming but as always this is a very resilient industry and once which is certain to bounce back.

We are increasingly living in a digital world. Social media companies like Facebook are driving forces for social change, business branding, and developing relationships with peers and individuals from all over the world. Facebook is currently logging more than 2.2 billion active monthly users and that means that it has become one of the leading battlefields in digital marketing.

To enjoy prolonged success as an entrepreneur or professional, it is important to get the word out about your brand to potential clients that you can engage with. As one of the largest websites on the planet, optimizing our business for success on Facebook will be our priority in today’s conversation.

Success in Facebook: Build a Better Business With Branded Posts

According to statistics released by Facebook themselves, more than 1.09 billion people will log onto Facebook in an average day, this is a pretty remarkable increase from the early days of the platform. With that being said, these logged users aren’t necessarily going to see your product, goods, or services unless you make it easy for them.

Developing a professional Facebook page is at once simpler and more complicated than you might expect. While Facebook makes it easy for brands to join and begin optimizing their page, as can be seen through theseposts by AaravindhaHimadra, there are some steps you will want to make sure that you take right away. Let’s tackle a few key points that must be remembered during the development phase of your business website on Facebook.

1) Craft a Business Page, Not a Personal One

Facebook offers both personal and business pages. Private pages are just the typical Facebook profiles that we are already familiar with, however, they should not be used for your brand. Create a business Facebook Page instead of a personal page so that you can gain access to all of the high-end marketing tools in the Facebook portfolio.

Notes: It is possible to merge an old personal page with a new business page, so keep that in mind if you want to retain an old page that you have already created.

2) Get the Perfect Vanity URL

Once you’ve created your first Facebook page, you will get the opportunity to craft a vanity URL. Vanity URLs are simply more shareable versions of your Facebook page. Instead of having a page like facebook.com/123456, you can have facebook.com/JohnsPage. Obviously, take time to craft a vanity URL that is as unique as it is easy to remember.

Notes: Your vanity URL should be easy to remember, easy to spell, and closely associated with your brand.

3) Maintain a Responsive Page

There are many tools on the Facebook business page that we can use to our benefit. One way to improve our business page and its standing in the market is by responding to messages as soon as we can. In so doing, our business Facebook page can earn a coveted ‘Very Responsive’ badge. This badge shows your clients that you are ready and willing to engage with their questions or concerns.

Notes: Not everybody can handle social media interactions from a professional vantage. If you don’t want to shoulder the burden of your social media page, consider hiring a social media manager to take care of the task.

4) Create a Call to Action

Your Facebook business page can include some pretty cool features, including a Call to Action button. Your Call to Action button can lead to a personal website, a video advertising your products, or even a contact sheet to pursue further information. This Call to Action button will do a ton of heavy lifting for your clickthrough conventions, so make sure that it is properly installed on your page.

Notes: Your Call to Action should lead your customers closer to interfacing with your product. Stores, official websites, and newsletters are all great landing pages for a Call to Action button.

5) Quality Beats Quantity

Depending on your industry, there might be different expectations regarding how often you post. To maintain a happy following of potential clients, make sure that you focus on crafting quality content more than voluminous content. Utilize graphics and key posting windows to maximize the attention that your post will gain.

Notes: Pre-write a handful of Facebook posts before sending them to the automated feed on your account. Continuous quality content will help you curate a responsive and appreciative audience.

There has never been a better time to push your business on social media. Use the tips we’ve outlined above with your own unique interpretations to create a user experience your clients will love!

 

Domestic violence is a prevalent and serious human rights infringement. It may include physical, sexual, psychological, or financial abuse or a combination of two or more of these. It often leads to severe injuries or death.

Warning Signs of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence varies from situation to situation. However, there are signs that an individual has the predisposition to be abusive or violent towards a household or family member. These signs include:

• Efforts to control the behavior of the victim
• Extreme temper
• Extreme jealousy
• Detachment from family members and friends
• Intimidation
• Damage of personal property, mistreatment of family pets, or threats to harm the victim’s children, family, or pets.

Forbidden Acts: Physical Violence and Threats of Violence

Some states forbid acts of physical violence as well as threats of violence. Minnesota, for instance, defines domestic violence as harming or intending to harm a household or family member along with acting in a way that causes a victim to justifiably fear physical injury or death. According to the state, a household or family member consists of a partner or former partner, parents, children, blood relatives, individuals who are currently cohabiting or have cohabited, those who have been in an intimate relationship, and those who have children together.

Charges and Consequences

Depending on the laws of the state and factors surrounding the abuse, domestic violence can be deemed a felony or misdemeanor. In some states, prosecutors can charge domestic violence either as a felony or misdemeanor based on their preference. The long-term consequences of domestic violence criminal charges include jail sentences, fines, probation, and the obligation to undergo a compulsory domestic violence class. The victim may also obtain an order of protection that bars the abuser from having contact with the victim.

A domestic violence charge can result in immigration consequences, especially if the defendant is a non-citizen. According to federal law, an alien (a person who isn’t an American citizen or national) who is found guilty of a domestic violence crime may be deported. Violation of an order of protection by an alien can also result in deportation.

Filing an Order of Protection

A domestic violence victim can file an order of protection through a divorce attorney or an online platform established by the court. A spouse can also obtain an order of protection if he or she is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that children are at risk of getting abused or harmed by a significant other or family member. A plaintiff obtains an order of protection by petitioning the civil court where he or she, or the defendant, lives.

In Indiana, the protection order forbids the abuser from making any contact with the victim or showing up at the victim’s home or workplace. It shields the victim from all forms of domestic abuse. In the event of suspected child abuse, the order of protection can also forbid the suspected abuser from visiting the child’s home or school, along with taking part in the child’s activities. If a suspected abuser violates an order of protection, he or she can be arrested and charged with a crime.

 

Do you already have plans for your birthday? Since you can’t be with other people to celebrate, you decided to cancel your birthday plans. If you are yet to determine how to celebrate, renting a large house would be an excellent idea. You will enjoy the celebrations and feel good about your birthday. 2020 has been an extremely challenging year for everyone, and there are still restrictions in place. Despite that, it’s your birthday and you deserve to celebrate.

It’s a different environment 

You’ve been in your house for the past several months due to lockdown orders. You have no choice but to follow local rules in preventing the spread of the virus. The good thing is that when you decide to rent a house to celebrate with your family, it doesn’t necessarily violate these rules. You’re still on lockdown with the same people you live with. You’re not putting anyone at risk, including your family members. Being in a different environment will make you feel better about celebrating your birthday.

It’s an alternative to a long-distance trip

If you love to travel as a gift to yourself for your birthday, you might feel bad that you can’t. The good thing is that if you can find large houses to rent with indoor pool facilities, you can still celebrate with your family. It still feels like you’re travelling to another place. It’s the best thing that you can have while travelling is still a risk. It might be costly, but it’s cheaper than organizing a trip.

It can accommodate a large family

Since these houses are big, it doesn’t matter how many of you stay there. As long as you live in the same household, it won’t be a problem. There’s enough space to celebrate, and there are plenty of rooms for everyone. There are also amenities and features that you don’t have back home. Take the opportunity to enjoy them during your entire stay.

You don’t have to clean your house 

One of the reasons you don’t like to celebrate at home is that you don’t like cleaning. You have to prepare the entire place to welcome the guests, and you also have to clean up once the celebrations are over. When you rent a large house, you don’t have to worry about cleaning the place. It’s already part of the amount that you paid for. The only thing left to do is to enjoy your birthday.

You might not have ideal celebrations this time due to the coronavirus pandemic, but things will soon get better. The point is that you’re still together as a family, and you have a lot to be grateful for. Other families don’t even have the opportunity to be together anymore because some didn’t survive the viral infection. You’re lucky to still celebrate your birthday, and have the people you love around you. Things are different this year, but there are still reasons to call it a happy birthday.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/1AyWSoU6QBs

Automatic or semi-automatic garage doors are an added convenience in your home, but there are so many cases of serious injuries and car damage directly related to them. In Hillsboro, if you are planning to install a garage door, you should look for a professional garage door service in Hillsboro; A1garage has very good service and highly competitive pricing. There are many ways you can avoid accidents caused by garage doors but let us look at the 4 most common ones.

• Choose Good Quality Garage Door With Safety Features.

Selecting a good company for your garage doors is the key to avoiding accidents and mishaps. Doors with proper safety features should be selected so that they fulfill your needs and, at the same time, provide a safe environment for operations. A lot of people tend to save money by compromising on quality and features. You should have a good look online and study the best options available to you before making the final purchase.

• Don’t Carry Out Major Repairs Yourself.

Many people tend to make small repairs themselves. What they do not consider is the technicalities involved and they get happy with a temporary fix. Usually, these non-professional or partial repairs cause a lot of damage to cars. Just imagine the door slipping loose on your car. Always go for professional help; you may get good deals for repairs if you buy the door from a reputable company.

• Teach Your Family about Door’s Safety.

Your family, especially your kids, should know how to operate the door. In many cases, children either don’t know how to operate the door or hurt themselves while playing with it. Remember that the garage door may look fun, but it is not a toy, even for big kids. Teach them where to stand and how to open/close the door, how long you should wait before passing through the gate to make sure the latches are properly in place, and any other information that you deem necessary or the supplier provides you.

• Follow Professional Tune-Ups Regularly.

Any mechanical thing requires proper tuning and routine checks. To ensure the gears and other components are working fine, the components are properly lubricated, there is no minor breakage, and the latches are in ideal working conditions; you should regularly opt for professional tune-ups. Depending on the door’s usage, if your usage is very frequent, it is recommended that the tune-up should be carried out every six months, but if the usage is limited, you can opt for getting it checked after 11-12 months.

The first tip is the most useful one; that is, if you start by getting the door from a professional and reputed company, you would not have to worry about the other things. Good companies carry out routine inspections, give proper guidance to all the users, and make sure that the machinery is working perfectly fine, so you may never face an accident and difficulty.

 

A beautiful and healthy lawn is a source of fulfillment all in itself. Besides serving as a place for relaxation during weekends, it also fosters better health by letting you breathe fresher air and helping ease your worries.

But lawns aren’t all butterflies and rainbows. Sometimes, it can also have brown patches, pests, and even weeds.

Of course, these aren’t anything that proper lawn care cannot fix (or even prevent). You just have to know what solution works best for every situation.

So without further ado, here are the top five lawn care challenges you might face and how you can overcome them.

Weeds

After a brief rain shower, you’d expect the grass in your lawn to become healthier and greener. But if you see more weeds than grass, then your lawn may end up lacking sufficient nutrients instead.

Some weeds – particularly crabgrass – tend to do more harm than simply being an eyesore in an otherwise lush lawn. This type of weed typically dies off during the first frost, which can lead to soil erosion.

To get rid of crabgrass, try applying corn gluten meal on the affected area. This is a natural alternative to chemical herbicide and can help contain the problem.

When dealing with most weeds, the best solution is to dig them out. You can also fertilize the grass and only use good quality seeds in your lawn.

Mowing high frequently is also recommended to leave no room for and deprive weeds of sunlight. Set your mower deck to around 3 and 1/2 inches. If your deck has notches instead of inches, you may need to do some trial and error to get this right.

Fungal diseases

Another common issue in lawn care is fungal diseases which affect the appearance and health of lawn grass.

There are several varieties of fungi that can damage your lawn. In most cases, the fungal disease is caused by one or more of the following factors:

• Overfertilization
• Incorrect soil pH
• Too thick lawn thatch

The best protection against fungal diseases is a well-kept and healthy lawn. When fungi occur, it’s ideal to seek out help from a lawn care specialist in Chesterfield, Missouri.

Thin or patchy grass

Most chronic lawn issues, like thin or patchy grass, are more about the soil, not the actual grass. Soil testing helps determine if this is the case for your lawn.

You can find DIY kits sold at home and garden stores in the neighborhood. However, it is better to seek expert help from your local nursery in testing your soil.

Lawn care experts can pinpoint the exact issue, whether it’s the pH level or missing nutrients. They can also prescribe treatments for each case, like spreading limestone over acidic soil or sulfur for soil that’s overly alkaline.

Regular soil testing every few years is ideal, but if you’ve just relocated to a new property, you might want to have one done annually until the expected state of lawn starts to show.

Remember that bare patches only make a weed problem worse. If you don’t deal with it quickly, the weeds will beat you to it.

Start filling in bald patches in spring as the cool and wet weather is most conducive to growing many species of grass. Dig up the damaged area about two inches deep. Be sure to add six inches of the surrounding healthy portions.

Then, level the soil and toss in a bit of starter fertilizer, plant-based compost, and other soil amendments before you begin seeding or sodding the area.

For seeding, use a straw to cover the spot lightly. Make sure that the ground is moist until the grass germinates.

For sodding (which works better but is a lot more expensive), cut a section that fits the bald or patchy area and press it down into place. Water frequently until the grass takes root.

Grub and other pests

Grubs are beetle larvae that eat grass roots and cause dead spots in the lawn. They also attract raccoons and moles to the property.

A few of these milky-white larvae should not be a problem. However, if you spot at least ten larvae per square foot in your lawn, then you should begin with the treatment. Take note that this varies depending on the species, as healthier lawns can tolerate higher densities of grub.

If there are signs of damage, like a wilting or dying turf, ask lawn care experts for the best treatment. This depends on the species of grub present in your turf.

You can avoid this altogether by applying preventive insecticides during spring. Take note that, in certain places, the local government regulates the use of these chemicals. In some places, only certified professionals are allowed to apply them. In others, they are illegal altogether.

Either way, you can opt to use organic alternatives like heterorhabditis nematodes, which are equally effective.

Erosion and runoff

Runoff is quite a common subject for public debate, as it involves not only water waste but also water pollution. Runoff tends to deposit sediments to other people’s yards, carry pollutants to bodies of water, and cause landscape-damaging erosion. It also increases your water bill and uses up precious natural resources.

If you have clay soil, you might have a bit more difficulty with runoff, as this kind of soil composition doesn’t always readily absorb water. In this case, you must be very careful not to over-water. It also pays to know your property and landscape well.

If the runoff is not related to over-watering, there are certain landscaping solutions you can try.

To avoid erosion and runoff, you can ask landscaping professionals in Fenton, Missouri to install paving stone walls around the area. They can also ensure proper drainage in your landscape design and create a most suited landscape for the slopes and hills within your property.

Lawn care problems can be easily solved if you have the right tools and knowledge for the job.

If the particular challenge seems difficult to manage, don’t hesitate to get help from professionals.