There comes a time when we are all sat at the computer, feeling a little bored and looking for something different to try. You may be sat at your desk in work or in the office at home and want a break or just have some free time and want to fill it with something fun. Below you will find a selection of crazy things to try online, beginning with mobile app casino games.

Even if you have never visited a casino, you are sure to have seen a casino or casino games featured in a television show or movie. The adrenaline rush playing a casino game can provide is difficult to replicate with anything else in life and if you are searching for something new and crazy to try online, playing mobile casino games is a great place to begin. You can take advantage of the latest offers at some of the world’s best mobile casinos and these often include free bets and spins on the slots.

If you are single and looking for love, why not try one of the leading dating websites? There are plenty of niche dating websites should you be searching for a specific person based on location, religion, or profession. Even if you do not end up meeting the one, you are sure to make plenty of friends along the way.

Next, we come to one of the craziest things to try online, the Wiki Game. This is based on the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon but uses Wikipedia. The game produces two random Wikipedia articles and your job is to find the fastest path from one article to the other via hyperlinks. You never know who or what you are going to come across and some the links can be totally bizarre, making the Wiki Game a great deal of fun.

You are unlikely to have ever considered what your pet would look like if it had your face but that is exactly what PetSwitch does and now you are curious. This website takes a picture of your face and adds it to the image of your pet. The results are often crazy and may leave you looking at your pet in a whole different way. If you do not want to do this for yourself, you can always add images of your friends and send them the hilarious results.

If you have been struggling to buy a gift for someone at Christmas or for their birthday then the Weird or Confusing website is the place for you. This website has been created to not only showcase the strange range of products eBay will not let you sell but also the ones it will let you sell. Weird or Confusing will bring you the craziest items you can imagine and it is up to you to decide which one you are going to purchase. There is a pink button that says ‘please’ and each time you click on the button, a new, crazy item appears from eBay.

The Festive season rolls around again, and Xmas is almost here. There’s something about the yuletide cheer that comes with this time of year, giving us all that warm, welcoming feeling of community and joy.

One thing that’s unique about the Christmas season is the music. Christmas carols and pop songs permeate through speaker coils across the country and the world. Right now, you probably already hear the radio playing Christmas songs, and the stores all have Xmas tunes blasting.

Whether you’re at the casino enjoying music slots or out for dinner with the family – there’s Christmas music everywhere.

So, what are the top tracks this Christmas? What Xmas tunes can you expect to hear on your way around town this festive season? We curated this list of our favorite Christmas songs from top artists. All of them have something to offer you this festive season.

From Snoop Dogg to Wham! There are plenty of options to add to your playlist this festive season. 

The Honorable Mentions

50. John Lennon and Yoko Ono – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971)

49. Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Christmastime” (1979)

48. Slade – “Merry Xmas Everybody” (1973)

47. Kacey Musgraves – “Christmas Makes Me Cry” (2016)

46. Akim and Teddy Vann – “Santa Claus Is a Black Man” (1973)

45. Albert King – “Santa Claus Want Some Lovin'” (1974)

44. Dolly Parton – “Go Tell It to the Mountain” (1990)

43. The Carpenters – “Merry Christmas, Darling” (1970)

42. The Magnetic Fields – “Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree” (2010)

41. Ariana Grande – “With It This Christmas” (2015)

40. Staple Singers – “Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas” (1970)

39. Poly Styrene – “Black Christmas” (2010)

38. Trinidad James – “Black Santa” (2017)

37. Los Lobos – “Llegó Navidad” (“Christmas Is Here”) (2019)

36. John Denver – “Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)” (1975)

35. Phoebe Bridgers – “Christmas Song” (2018)

34. Snoop Doggy Dogg – “Santa Claus Goes Straight To the Ghetto” (feat. Big Tray Deee, Bad Azz, Daz Dillinger, and Nate Dogg) (1996)

33. Fountains of Wayne – “I Want an Alien for this Christmas” (1997)

32. Neko Case – “Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis” (2000)

31. Pet Shop Boys – “It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas” (1997)

30. Nick Lowe – “A Dollar Short of Happy” (2013)

29. Tracey Thorn – “Maybe This Christmas” (2012)

28. Fairfield Four – “Children Go Where I Send You” (1992)

27. Martha Wainwright and Lily Lanken – “The Rebel Jesus” (2005)

26. The Kinks – “Father Christmas” (1977)

25. Fishbone – “Slick Nick, You Devil You” (1985)

24. Ghostface – “Ghostface X-mas” (2008)

23. Chavela Vargas – “Amarga Navidad” (“Bitter Christmas”) (1996)

22. The Jackson 5 – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (1970)

21. Ohio Players – “Happy Holidays, Pt. 1 & 2” (1975)

The Top 20 Xmas Songs for 2020

20. Run DMC – “Christmas in Hollis” (1987)

This NYC rap group lays it down for you in true hip-hop style this Christmas.

19. The Everly Brothers – “Christmas Eve Can Kill You” (1972)

A fun song for Xmas eve parties this year.

18. John Prine – “Christmas in Prison” (1973)

A heartfelt storytelling musical classic.

17. Willie Colón – “Aires de Navidad” (“Christmas Spirit”) (1970)

Something different to set the tome this Xmas.

16. Marvin Gaye – “I Want to Come Home for this Christmas” (1972)

Marvin’s smooth vocals are all you need this Xmas.

15. Willie Nelson – “Pretty Paper” (1979)

Big Willie Nelson is always welcome around our Christmas tree.

14. The Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” (1989)

Let’s punk things up with some energy from the Ramones.

13. The Pretenders – “2000 Miles” (1983)

Anything from the Pretenders is a classic.

12. The Waitresses – “Christmas Wrapping” (1981)

A storytelling Christmas classic.

11. Outkast – “Player’s Ball” (1993)

The music video has an excellent Xmas theme.

10. Wham! – “Last Christmas” (1986)

We hear this song everywhere we go.

9. Bing Crosby and David Bowie – “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” (1977)

David and Bing – the best Xmas present you could ask for this year.

8. Merle Haggard – “If We Make It Through December” (1973)

A 70s classic that’s still relevant today.

7. Joni Mitchell – “River” (1971)

It’s a classic track from the catalog of one of the world’s most loved 70s artists.

6. José Feliciano – “Feliz Navidad” (1970)

This track has something exotic for a different Xmas theme.

5. Prince – “Another Lonely Christmas” (1984)

He may be gone, but his smash Xmas hit lives on.

4. The Pogues – “Fairytale of New York” (feat. Kirsty MacColl) (1987)

It’s one of the most memorable Xmas tracks from the eighties.

3. Donny Hathaway – “This Christmas” (1970)

It’s an instant Xmas classic featuring the silky smooth voice of Donny.

2. Mariah Carey – “All that I Want for Christmas Is You” (1994)

It’s all over the radio every year.

1. Aretha Franklin – “Silent Night (Solo Piano Version)” (2008)

A classic reworked by one of the best voice talents of her generation.

Chromebooks are all the rage nowadays in the education sector.

Seems like if you’re a student, who doesn’t want to spend a fortune on tech, then you buy a Chromebook.

Its convenient operating system, ChromeOS, and the ability to run most Android apps make buying it an amazing deal!

Although ChromeOS is both easy-to-use and powerful, many students don’t explore what Chromebooks have to offer. If you’re a student who’s looking to get the most out of this tech, then we’ll help you.

We’ve gathered the most useful tips for students to get the most out of their Chromebooks.

Processes View Mode

Just like in any Android phone, you can always go to the processes view tab on your Chromebook. It is the way to start up a few applications and not have to quit one to use the other.

With the processes view mode, you can see the running programs and quickly jump around between them. Additionally, this allows you to manage the power load on your Chromebook by quitting unused applications.

Dividing Up the Monitor Space

Need to look at some PDF and type up a document simultaneously?

Don’t use your phone to open the PDF document. It is incredibly uncomfortable and will strain your eyes. Instead, just split the screen on your Chromebook.

Minimize any program while holding down trackpad buttons. After the arrows appear on the screen, choose the side for the application. This tech feature will boost your productivity to the max.

Utilizing the Keyboard Shortcuts

If you don’t know your keyboard shortcuts, you must learn them. They’re incredibly useful and will make your use of the Chromebook utterly efficient.

How to learn them? Should you google the shortcuts and write them out on a piece of paper?

No, simply press the “Ctrl”, “Alt”, and “?” buttons together.

This combination will bring up an overlay of Chromebook shortcuts. Utilizing this tech feature will help you learn the shortcuts and freely use them after a while.

Employing Online Academic Services

One of the greatest features of Chromebooks is how web-focused they are. A lot of the native applications in this tech is either web-based or integrated with the cloud. So, it’s easy to say that using online services is more than encouraged.

As a student, you can make use of such online agencies as https://www.privatewriting.com/. There, you can get homework help in any subject. Using the service will only boost your academic performance!

Utilizing Apps from Google Store

In many aspects, ChromeOS is very alike to the Android system. Most importantly is that Chromebooks can run just about any Android application you might need. This tech feature is extremely useful, as the Google Play platform has numerous worthwhile apps for students.

Anything from a math equation solver to a chemistry formula lookup, language apps, and so on. The Chromebook tech empowers students significantly.

Connecting Your Smartphone to the Chromebook

Being a product of Google, both Chromebooks and Android phones have native support for each other. It means that both the tech inside to pair up and be used together effortlessly.

For example, responding to text messages from the Chromebook? Easy as pie.

Unlocking the Chromebook with your phone? Not a problem.

A lot of convenient features come from this tech. You’ll be amazed how much your paired up tech devices both can do together.

Working Away

Yes, it’s a very well-known fact that Chromebook tech isn’t powerful that much. You won’t edit a full-length film on this tech, nor will your produce album records on it. However, it can empower you to do all these things as you’re on the go.

With a special application called Chrome Remote Desktop, you can connect up to your powerful home PC. Making sure that both your tech devices are online and running the application, you can easily control the PC distantly.

Streaming Your Display

Another highly useful tech feature in all Chromebooks is casting your display to almost any other device.

Be it another laptop, tablet, or even smartboard — the process is seamless. The setup process takes a minute or two, and you’re ready to give a proper presentation.

As a student, you’ll find this Chromebook tech extremely useful. Don’t even bother with flash drives or cumbersome dongles.

The Chromecast app pretty much does the work for you.

Using Your Tech to the Max

Although Chromebook tech is recent, it has achieved incredible popularity in the last years. This is all due to its simplicity, convenience, and a multitude of available tech features. As a student, you want to grasp them all and boost your academic performance as a result.

Just like you can do it by employing online academic agencies, which help to complete college and school assignments.

Get started now and deal with your academic load!

Author: Jennifer Walter

Bio: Jennifer Walter is a psychology professor, an independent researcher, writer, and contributor. He is the guru to hundreds of students, the author of hundreds of analysis studies, and the voice behind most liked articles on content creation and strategy at privatewriting.com

Slots are the very niche of the online gambling market. The arrival of the digital age has consolidated the position of the ever-expanding online slots industry as one of the nouveau riche industries. Not to mention the breath-taking graphics designing software, 3D illustrations, efficient in-game features, and mobile-compatibility has brought online slots into vogue. 

Last year, the online casino market saw a gigantic boost in online slot players and thus in the profit that online casinos are making. Slots are fun, addictive, and relatively simpler than table-games. So, it becomes a comfort zone for most gamblers who want to invest less time into knowing the game. It also offers quick money. In recent years, slots have adapted themes from Hollywood movies, cartoons, manga, and whatnot! Nowadays, you can find a slot with any title and read a full review on a video game or gambling sites like Free Slots No Download. 

What Do You Need to Know About Online Slots?

Answering the most asked question about online slots for all the newbie gamblers out there – It is impossible for you to beat the online slot machine. There’s no way you get to scam an online slot machine. It is because they use the RNG, which will decide your fate randomly, and you cannot influence it no matter what! A slot machine usually has 5 reels, and you have to spin them to hit some matching symbols as given in the paytable. Once you hit a set of matching symbols, you win! 

Unlike old brick-and-mortar slot machines, online slots have revolutionized spinning actions by introducing interesting in-game bonus features. They are wilds, scatters, extra free spins, sticky wilds. Playing an online slot is a piece of cake if you go through the paytable of the game at first. You might not be able to control the game outcome, but you can play smart and know the rules while using any bonuses. 

What Are the Factors Responsible for the Industry’s Growth?

There are a number of reasons that fuel the growth of this industry. Those being pretty obvious even to a layman. Take a look at the causes listed below. 

Mobile Gambling

Many consider online slots to be the next generation of mobile gaming. Survey says that an average man invests 60% of his time during the day on his smartphone. It is an obvious fact that in this fast-paced world, our brain is over-occupied most of the time. So, after a long workday, our brains search for quick entertainment, and nothing could be better than playing Las Vegas style slots from the comfort of your couch. 

The online slots industry has taken great advantage of the dawn of mobile gaming. They have tapped into this fast and responsive technology. Now, most casinos are mobile compatible and give you the same benefits as the desktop version. This has rapidly augmented the reach of slots amidst avid gamblers.

Robust Gambling Software Programs

With popularity, the race to survive the cut-throat competition has also begun. Online casinos are bringing in better than ever software programs that are crash-proof and can display a wide collection. These supreme software programs also provide complete transparency into their functioning and performance. They provide a neat, organized user-friendly interface. Slots also use an RNG software program that determines the result of your spins. All the players have an equal possibility to win or lose. 

License

The slots that most casinos contain are licensed by reputed gambling organizations. So, gamblers are no more afraid of fraud or casinos, making a profit in any illegal way. Some of the reputed gambling licenses include UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, Alderney Gambling Control Commission.

Exclusive Bonuses 

The slot Industry is getting more boost as casinos are introducing incredible no-deposit and deposit bonuses with free spins and guaranteed cash backs on certain slots. Cashable bonuses prove to be extremely popular choices. This steady flow of more desirable bonus offers is drawing in a huge gambling population from all over the world. Slots also give you the opportunity to hit mouth-watering jackpots. Good bonuses make all the difference!

Diverse Themes

Punters are constantly looking for diversity. In recent years, slots have included a huge variety of themes ranging from Hollywood movies to lab experiments. Slot themes are also inspired by TV shows, famous festivals, traditions, and cultures. For example the most well known Pragmatic slots are Hercules and Pegasus and Greek Gods. This magnanimous level of diversity from Marvel slots to some Egyptian fantasy-themed slots makes it harder for newbies to explore the world of slot games at first. This is precisely why many online bookmakers encourage punters to spin slots for fun. Of course, you won’t be able to win any real money by playing for free, but you may test the slot and look for yourself which one suits your taste.

Exposure to the International Market

The International gambling sphere is always hungry for new innovations. It doesn’t matter from which provider a slot is coming; if it gives access to players from all over the world, that slot will be an instant hit. Soon slots will step into the mainstream video gaming influence. Last year has seen an unprecedented profit in this promising industry. And more is yet to be achieved!

Intel on Some In-Game features 

Unquestionably, slot bonus features are the best ways for you to win big by wagering less. In the past year, a lot of tools have come to hand, and punters are crazy about all of them! Also, progressive jackpot slots are even more advantageous to the punters. So, be on the lookout for them. Now, let this article discuss some of the awesome bonus features that you should grab as soon as you see them. They are:

• Wilds, Sticky Wilds, Expanding Wilds
• Scatter
• Free Spins
• Wheel of Fortune
• Cascading Reels
• Retriggering 
• Multipliers
• Symbol upgrade

Gauging the Growth of This industry

The slot industry has ramped up dramatically during the last year, and the profit is quite evident. The slot gaming providers are thinking about introducing modern video game technologies. That will spike up the number of players inclined towards slot-play on a daily basis. Isn’t it more fun if you make money along with experiencing immersive gameplay? The inclusion of VR into the slot spinning action is a brilliant step towards building a legacy that will be continued by next-generation software programs.

2019 and 2020 have been great opportunity providers to these industries. With most people being confined in their 9 to 5 Work From Home jobs, people don’t really have the lucky chance to go out and chill. This abrupt shift hasn’t shaken the roots of the casino industry. Rather it has grown faster than ever. Millions of people are sitting home and flocking to whatever entertainment the internet has to provide them-gambling being the dominant one. 

Concluding Thoughts

In the face of fierce competition from various other flourishing industries, the online slot industry is burgeoning pretty well with its diversity and creativity. The online casinos are also going great guns because they need to keep up with the new tech and new-gen software programs that recognized gaming software providers are using. 2019 has showcased the potential of this industry and how much the casino teams care about the slot game interactivity and player satisfaction.

Online gambling is a huge industry in Europe and the EU has a lot to do with it. The 27 member states-organization has been a huge proponent for online casinos in the last decade. And thanks to its efforts, nearly every country in Europe hosts online casinos.

In all fairness, online gambling didn’t start ten years ago. Some European countries authorized the industry at the start of the millennium. Others didn’t have online casino laws but had no problems with citizens using offshore casinos.

All the same, these are some of the ways online gambling in Europe grew.

Mobile Casinos

Although the first mobile casino launched way back in 2004, mobile casinos became popular in the last decade. The growth of iOS and smart Android devices catapulted mobile casinos into a new level.

No longer did people need a desktop computer to play a few rounds of roulette or slots. Instead, an iPhone or Android phone was all they needed to bet on casino games. These days, mobile casinos have become so dominant that they make over 50% of the iGaming business.

There are more mobile casino players than those who use desktop computers. And the reasons are compelling. To start with, mobile devices are cheap. Then they are portable, convenient and can handle all the games available on desktop casinos.

Improved Data Privacy Laws

For a long time, online casino players had little data protection. Casinos were required to encrypt customer data and keep their funds in separate bank accounts. But no laws prevented operators from sharing user data.

These days, laws protecting customer data are well-defined. With GDPR—created by the EU—online casino players have these rights:

• Access to your data
• The right to decline data collection
• The right to request data erasure
• The right to restrict data processing

The new GDPR laws also come with heavy penalties for rule-breaking. In the past, regulators like the UKGC could only apply fines worth up to £500000 if a casino violated a person’s data privacy laws. Under the new laws, casinos can be slapped with fines worth up to £20 million.

Rapid Popularity in Countries like Finland

Finland is one of the countries the EU has been pressuring to liberalize online gambling. It’s yet to yield and still runs online casino games through a monopoly. However, it’s experienced a trend in which Finnish players flock offshore casinos in search for better services.

The thing is, Finland’s only online casino, Veikkaus, has a lot of flaws. For starters, it works with a limited number of software providers: Playtech, Red Tiger and Yggdrasil. Although these developers supply 200+ games to Veikkaus, they don’t provide the large variety of games offshore casinos have.

Take casino Dreamz as an example. It’s based in Malta and provides 1000+ slots and card games from 30+ software providers. You could play NetEnt and Microgaming slots today. And switch to Play’n GO or IGT games tomorrow.

The best part is that Dreamz casino also features personalized content for players in Finland. When you sign up, you don’t have to stick to the English language. You can switch to your native language for a better experience.

New Advanced Slots

Online slots are significantly enhanced compared to games launched a decade ago. They have more colourful graphics thanks to advanced technologies. They are a tad more complex and have a series of features that spice up gameplay.

What’s more, the average slot today pays out a better rate. It’s not unusual for some games to have a Return to Player (RTP) rate of 98% (Jackpot 6000) or 99% (Mega Joker). These games also feature multipliers that magnify your profits or free spins that you more betting time.

Additionally, there are more games on the market. Top software companies like NetEnt, Playtech and Microgaming release a new slot nearly every month. Smaller companies launch a few games per year. All the same, they keep adding games to the market.

Live Casino Games

Like mobile games, live dealers have been around for over a decade. But they only became successful in the past few years. The advancement of technology, more so Internet speeds, video quality and programming knowledge helped the new sector sprout.

These days, you can play roulette, blackjack, baccarat and poker in a live setting at any standard casino. For clarity, that means playing casino games in real-time while interacting with human dealers and players.

Live casino games add a sense of social games to online casinos. They also make these games competitive now that you can play them with real people. Luckily, live dealers are inexpensive and you can play a round for poker from €5 to as much as you can afford.

Faster, More Secure Payments

Although many European casinos are generally safe, not all of them work professionally. Some companies slow your payouts intentionally. Others word with dodgy payment providers. Fortunately, these companies fall into the minority section of the industry.

The best online casinos keep innovating ways to increase customer satisfaction. And one of their methods is to adopt fast banking options. You don’t need to send a check for deposits anymore. Instead, you can use PayPal or Skrill, which are faster.

On average, you can choose from five or more banking options. Many of these companies are safe and protect your data and funds accordingly. Some of them also let you work with casinos without providing KYC documents.

Problem Gambling Protection Laws

Lately, European countries have been enthusiastic in creating problem gambling laws. They are steps in the right direction anyway and help ensure casinos don’t take advantage of vulnerable players.

In the UK, most casinos are required to have tools that help players manage their betting habits. They also allow players to suspend or close their accounts if it becomes necessary. Operators in Sweden and Malta have similar policies. And in the usual style, they hold casinos accountable if they fail to protect their customers.

As a narrative element, a motif can be a powerful tool that supports the main story in a movie. It can come in many forms, such as a physical object, sound design, music, colors, dialogue line, or a symbol. A rose may represent love. A shattered glass usually emphasizes the suspense or foreshadows terrible news.

Many filmmakers experiment with them in their own way, trying to make their vision appear stronger to the viewers. A great example is the use of oranges in Godfather, where the oranges are visible on the screen when somebody is about to be killed. There are also more popular motifs that almost have to be used in a movie from a specific genre or the scenes that take place in particular locations.

Representing London and New York

A good portion of American-made movies is set in New York City. Often we can marvel at unique locations around the famous streets, such as when watching Woody Allen’s productions. One of the commonly recognized objects that we instantly associate with NY is the characteristic yellow cab.

Memorable scenes featuring the iconic vehicles come from the Taxi Driver. A beautiful aerial shot over the series of yellow cars from Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous also comes to mind, as well as Joker’s rampage throughout NYC-inspired Gotham City.

On the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean, taxis do not look especially remarkable. But it doesn’t mean nothing is standing out from the crowd. On the contrary, London’s public transportation system catches the eye with its big red double-decker buses. I’m sure we’ll be able to spot one or two in almost every Brit-friendly motion picture.

Las Vegas lights

Speaking of distinctive places that everybody knows, Nevada’s particular location awakens a familiar feeling in every movie fan. The bright and shiny city of Las Vegas undoubtedly absorbs all the attention when featured on the screen. The colorful neon lights can serve multiple purposes in a film, depending on whether it’s a serious drama like Leaving Las Vegas or a light comedy like The Hangover.

Various casino games can also make an excellent movie motif or even the whole theme. Nowadays, looking for the best online casinos is not too hard. There are many opportunities to play, and the popularity of the games makes people appreciate those moments on the big screen, whether it is a James Bond type spinning a roulette wheel or a bunch of friends having a night out.

The mysterious Orient

A dragon is one of the most important symbols in Chinese culture. It represents strength and power, as well as good fortune. A movie lover should associate the dragon with China, in one form or the other. There are usually little things on locations or people’s appearance, such as jewelry or decorations.

The big ones can often be spotted during festivities and special occasions. There is one in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and another in the form of a huge golden dragon statue in Van Damme’s movie The Quest.

Continuing with the Asian theme, let’s move to nearby Japan. The country may be familiar to us for many reasons. One of them could be its highly developed cities filled with modern technological solutions and almost futuristic architecture. All of that makes for the perfect scenery in sci-fi movies. But it also pairs well with a deeply human side of a story, like in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation.

Business is not limited to numbers. Primarily its success can be attributed to communication – with suppliers, investors, colleagues, and customers. Give in here, insist there, make a good deal, and build trust. Business is impossible without negotiation, which is similar to playing poker. It is vital to figure out what cards the opponent is holding, choose a strategy for the game, and change negotiations depending on the opponent’s actions. How to improve sales negotiation skills? We share the key recommendations here.

Effective Negotiations: How to?

Successful negotiations are all about finding a compromise suitable to both parties. As a result of such talks, the salesperson and the customer arrive at a mutually beneficial outcome.

Having learned to conduct successful negotiations, a sales manager will conclude profitable deals, convince opponents, and bring profit to the company. Theoretical knowledge and practical skills of effective negotiations can be learned through unique pieces of training, for example, in the CMA Consulting training courses.

How to Improve Sales Negotiation Skills

Selling the same product or service, some managers bring the company income, while others lose customers. Why is that? And what does the ability to convince and sell depend on? Sales expert Matthew Dixon and business coach Brent Adamson are confident that the reason lies in the different knowledge, qualities of the negotiator, and their approach.

They conducted a study among several thousand sellers in different countries and formulated the superseller model. Keep in mind: such traders are not born – you need to become a successful negotiator by continually advancing the soft skills and studying professional sales techniques. Here are some tips on how to sell efficiently:

1. Do not sell products; sell solutions. Over 50% of customer loyalty depends on the sales manager’s ability to describe useful solutions and valuable ideas. Help the consumer to realize alternative solutions to their problems through your products and services.
2. Prove the value of your propositions. According to Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson, only 35% of companies can describe how they are better than competitors are. Most often, about 50% of the mentioned advantages are essential to customers. Such obscure characteristics as “innovation,” “customer focus,” and “individual approach” will not convince anyone.
3. Know your difference. Ask yourself: “Why should customers buy this product or service from us and not from another company?” Formulate your answer, trying to avoid vague words like “leader,” “top,” “advanced,” “unique.” Undoubtedly, the competitor will also want to present themselves as “a leader in area A with innovative technologies and an individual approach to each client.” This means that you are no different from them.
4. Formulate a negotiation strategy in advance. Consider your sales strategy before you first meet with a prospective buyer. Create a template that will guide you in various scenarios for the development of negotiations. It may include the following items:

• A list of questions for the client;
• A list of possible questions from the buyer;
• Potential difficult questions that the client might ask;
• The needs of the client, their pain points, etc.

5. Keep your sales cycle in check. Taking the initiative into your own hands only at the final stage of negotiations, when the conversation concerns finances, is not the best solution. Monitor the entire sales cycle.

Improve negotiations with non-verbal communication

Negotiation experts often recommend meeting potential clients in person, rather than opting for the phone or the internet. The reason is body language, which conveys valuable information and allows you to build connections when talking offline.

According to Gengo’s research, non-verbal communication has a more significant impact on conversations than words. Moreover, body language is the most accurate indicator of an opponent’s intentions than intonations or words.

Maintain the eye contact

Eye contact is one of the most powerful communication tools. It expresses openness, understanding, and inspires confidence and comfort in the interlocutor. By avoiding direct eye contact, we seem to hide the truth, express disagreement or uncertainty in the interlocutor’s proposal. On the other hand, you should not “glare” your opponent – such a gesture can be perceived as a manifestation of aggression.

Give your opponent some personal space

Being too close to the other person inflicts them with discomfort, pressure, and even fear. It is best to position yourself at least four feet away from your opponent.

Avoid crossing your arms over your chest

Closed poses most often signal that you are in a tense state or not ready to dialogue with a specific person. Avoid crossing arms, throwing your leg on top of the other, or holding your arms behind your back.

Pause

Pauses sustained after an intriguing statement allow the client to ask a question. Try this practice during the next negotiations. If the question is raised, it means that you managed to arouse the interest of your interlocutor.

Improve Sales Negotiation Skills: Summary

Planning and preparation in business relationships are the critical criteria for success. However, the ability to negotiate is impossible without training and practice. Negotiation Training at CMA Consulting explores numerous effective techniques and discloses strategies to prevent objections from potential clients.

Writing is an essential part of the college experience. Many students might find it time-consuming, with all the proofreading and editing involved. Luckily, several helpful tools will make this process easier and faster. After all, no one is born a good writer; it is a skill everyone learns, so you can get better at it.

Of course, none of these tools will do the writing for you. If you want someone to take care of assignments, you can always ask EssayHelp for assistance. In other cases, the tools below can make your college life much more convenient.

Grammarly

This is one of the best proofreading tools out there. With it, proofreading your essays or research papers will be a breeze. It is available both for free and as a subscription-based premium option. 

You can download it as a Microsoft Word add-in, separate desktop tool, or as a Google Chrome plugin. Grammarly helps to eliminate any grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes. It also rates the whole text and highlights any tautology or expressions that have simpler versions. Overall, it is an amazing software that can save a lot of time.

Hemingway Editor

This is an online completely free tool that helps to make any text more readable. You can copy-paste your writing there and get a score of how easy to follow it is. If you tend to use complicated constructions, this editor is perfect for you. 

The good score is 9 and lower. It also shows the overall word count and highlights all the parts of the text that can be improved. For example, it highlights passive voice, unnecessary adverbs, and hard to read sentences.

Thesaurus

This is a very helpful website for those who want to enrich their vocabulary. Overall, it works as a perfect online dictionary. If you are looking for a synonym of a particular word, type it in, and get lots of results. 

They are divided by color into the direct synonyms and more distant options. You can also find similar words according to the nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

Google Docs

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but many students miss out on several specific benefits of this tool. First of all, it is completely free to use and allows collaboration on documents. So if you are working on a group project, it is an excellent choice.

Secondly, it has several templates for various types of documents that make editing faster. Thirdly, it has a voice typing feature. It is a fascinating helper for those, who want to be done with their texts faster. 

We speak faster than we type and voice recognition is a great assistant. After that, you’ll just need to edit a bit and your text is ready to go.

One Look

If you want to have all the dictionaries in one place, this website is exactly what you need. It is a very useful and simple tool that searches the word through a variety of dictionaries. This is a great tool for those studying high-level topics, such as those in law school seeking to become Brooklyn car accident attorneys. If you need a refresher or need a quick answer, this is a great tool for legal dictionaries and other sources. For example, you can find tons of different definitions with sources and usage examples. There is another beneficial feature – “related words”. One can search by keyword or phrase related terms and words to make their writing more advanced and professional.

Google Scholar

To put it simply, this is an academic search engine that helps tremendously with research. The main feature, of course, is to show only peer-reviewed and scholarly sources for any inquiry. 

So if you are looking for academic publishing, you need to use it. Many learners do not know about another fascinating functionality of this tool. Under each search result, there is a quotation sign and if you click on it, you’ll get an already formed reference for your paper. 

They are available in MLA, APA, and Chicago. This is an excellent way to make your references perfect without any effort.

Bubbl.us

This tool is designed for easy mind mapping. It is better to use it before you start writing. The main goal is to generate and organize all the ideas on the subjects. It helps to be more logical in your writing. 

It also allows finding the most powerful arguments among the ones you have. In general, it is a very good exercise for idea flow and making sure you haven’t forgotten anything.

Word Counter

It is a very simple and straightforward tool that counts the number of words. If you, for some reason, do not use Word Document or cannot count the symbols for sure – this site will save you. It also shows whether the text is not too long for Facebook, Twitter, or Google, if you need this info. There is also a spell check function, too.

In Summary

Writing doesn’t have to be dull and tiring. These solutions will make it fun and fast for you. Now you can edit, proofread, and reference with ease. 

The dictionaries will help in enriching your vocabulary and making writing more sophisticated. In general, it is always great to benefit from technology and new ways of studying.

Healthcare is a basic need.  Population increase, improved life expectancy, and better nutrition are increasingly making medical requirements an area of interest for insurance firms. More people are relying on their policies to cater to their medical bills.

Healthcare is also getting more complicated because various parties and procedures characterize a satisfied client. Current Procedural Terminology codes are universal codes used to identify healthcare professionals’ the procedural, medical, diagnostic, surgical, and radiological services.

A minor error in the coding can mean the wrong treatment administered and complications during the insurer’s payment. It is increasingly becoming necessary for healthcare givers to provide proper management and analysis of patient billing.

Medical Coding Outsourcing is an excellent option for medical professionals who desire to offer better services to their clients. The benefits of medical coding services include:

1. Reduced and Controlled Operating Costs

The development in the IT industry has provided several coding tools that increase speed and efficiency billing. Some of these tools include Kareo, Practice Admi, and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. They are, however, hard to find, and, come with high maintenance costs. The efforts to upgrade them can be frustrating.

Running a healthcare facility with these tools needs additional management, which implies added expenses. A medical facility that chooses medical coding outsourcing eliminates these expenses and myriad challenges that come with maintaining such technology.

2. Value-added Healthcare Services

Medical coding outsourcing provides hospitals and healthcare givers with reliable, accurate reports on insurance claims’ status. The generated reports also highlight areas that need improvements. When such problems are noted and corrected in time, healthcare facilities realize increased productivity.

3. Reduced Claim Denials

Poor coding can cost time and decrease the quality of service. Providing an insurance firm with inaccurate data can lead to rejected and denied claims leading to a loss in revenue. It also means that the team must rework the claims.

This, in turn, causes delays in reimbursement. Medical coding outsourcing significantly reduces coding errors. In the case of claims that require reworking, the time spent during correction is minimal and faster.

4. Better Medical Services to Clients

Only certified medical coders can guarantee quick, accurate medical coding. These experts must have a deep understanding of all healthcare specialties and furnished with compliance requirements.

Hiring and maintaining in-house certified medical coders is expensive and reduces the firm’s ROI. The hospital also has to pay for recruiting and retaining the team. The decision to outsource can save you these expenses, giving you the peace of mind to focus on healthcare.

5. Scalability

Medical Coding Outsourcing ensures quick, efficient delivery of medical coding services. Such a provider has to tailor their services to suit your business need and requirements. A healthcare provider would find it challenging to scale down or expand its in-house coding professionals based on prevailing business trends.

However, a facility that embraces medical coding outsourcing need not worry about the ballooning need for medical coding at any stage of their work.

Medical coding outsourcing enables hospitals and healthcare facilities to focus on patients’ wellness.

The state of New York has several landmarks that make it famous worldwide. These are a bustling Big Apple city and the stunning natural landscape. Among its many prominent features is the most extensive system of higher education in the country.

With over 64 campuses, the state welcomes thousands of students every year. A large percentage of these schools found their place in the US top public universities. 

If you are looking to spend your college years in New York, here’s a tip. Do not hesitate to resort to write my essay on EssayPro services right away. They will help you craft an impressive admission essay. It will surely get you into your desired university.

Here are your best options for public colleges based on academic expertise and other aspects of student life. 

Binghamton University – SUNY

Binghamton University has the perfect blend of history and modernization. It is ranked as the top public university in the state of New York. Sprawling across 930 acres, the campus offers a suburban setting. 

The undergraduate enrollment rate is over 14,000 students per year. Its location in Vestal, N.Y, also makes it home to a nature preserve. It includes a forest and landscape that encourages students to participate in outdoor activities. The university’s most coveted departments include History, Public Administration, and Psychology. 

The college hosts more than 200 student organizations. These include several organized sororities and fraternities. Along with a focus on the academy, the university is equally renowned for embracing sustainability on the campus. 

Stony Brook University – SUNY

Stony Brook is another public institution tied with Binghamton University in the US News list of top New York Universities. The campus sprawls for over 1450 acres. The university is also home to the magnificent Ashley Schiff Park Preserve. 

With its campus on the North Shore of Long Island, it is fairly accessible from the city, only 60 miles away. The institute’s most regarded department is the Stony Brook University Medical Center. It also has branches in Southampton and a Manhattan classroom. The university houses the only undergraduate journalism academy in the New York state system. 

University at Buffalo – SUNY

Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is the largest institution in the SUNY system. It focuses on research-based studies. The campus is located close to the Canadian border in upstate New York. The North campus resembles the classic architecture. The newest downtown campus is dedicated to the university’s research centers. 

This multi-campus institution is organized around 13 separate schools and colleges. They range from arts, medicine, law, business, social studies, education to many more. The college has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1. Students can take their pick from graduate programs, doctoral degrees, or professional courses. 

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

SUNY ESF is one of the most distinguished environmental schools in the country. Though relatively small in size with a city campus of 12 acres, it remains high-rated for its niche education. 

The institute is known for its 20 short Bachelor of Science programs. These extend from fisheries to aquatics. There are also professional degrees, such as paper engineering and landscape architecture. The college partners with Syracuse University. It gives students access to shared facilities and other organizations. The enrollment to this college is competitive, with an acceptance of 61%. 

Baruch College – CUNY

Baruch College’s location in Manhattan is one of the students’ incentives. It offers quick access to unparalleled internships and career opportunities. The college is highly rated. It has one of the most ethnically diverse student bodies among the American Universities. 

The academics of Baruch are offered through the Zicklin College of Business. Apart from the graduate and undergraduate programs, there are also Executive, as well as Ph.D. programs. The courses cover business, finance, analytics, data science, taxation, and real estate. 

University at Albany – SUNY

UAlbany is among the oldest universities under the SUNY program. The institution offers over 50 undergraduate majors and 120 graduate programs. The college is also renowned for its education and business schools. Among its most highly ranked courses are social work, criminal justice. There are also specializations provided at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. 

The suburban campus has an area of 610 acres and holds a high zeal for associate history. The students have more than 200 clubs, sports teams, and organizations to explore. 

John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY

John Jay College holds the reputation of being one of the first liberal arts colleges focused on criminal justice. A part of the City University of New York system, the institute prepares students for public service. 

There are 41 undergraduate majors in total. They include forensic psychology and criminology along with criminal justice. There are also 16 master’s programs that offer research opportunities as well. The campus is situated in Midtown Manhattan. 

Geneseo – SUNY

This residential liberal arts college attracts brilliant students from across the state. Its reputation holds in being highly selective that maintains high standards of education. The acceptance rate is 65%. The college offers majors in psychology and communications, among other programs. Geneseo is also one of the leading producers of physics bachelor degrees in the US. It has a high number of alumni with doctorates in the STEM fields. 

Wrapping Up 

New York state has a wide array of public institutions with diverse specializations. You can choose between the urban and the rural setting. Or opt for a campus with feet on the two boats to make the best of both.

There are two operating systems that smartphones operate. Apple is the company that almost half of its income comes from their iPhone devices. Samsung, LG, OnePlus, and other phone companies use the Android system and some of them have their own version of Android. While the operating system is something that doesn’t play a big role in the customer’s decision about which phone they’re going to buy, it still makes a difference. In fact, getting the latest update on your Android or iOS device is something that customers should take into consideration if they want their smartphone to run smoothly.

Differences between Android and iOS

Android or iOS, it’s all a matter of choice. Both systems are regularly updated and smartphone users can either opt for manual flashing or the automatic update when they receive the notification on their smartphone. Indeed, games like roulette slots on casino.netbet.com are already available to download from the App Store and Play Store on your smartphone device. It means that you won’t lose much if you chose one instead of the other, however, the differences are still there.

 iOS devices are known for the high level of stability, which is free of bugs, and allows customers to have a pleasant experience using their iPhone devices. Android systems, on the other hand, offer more possibilities that the casual user might need. Depending on the customer’s needs, here are some noticeable differences between the two systems, which one you should choose, and why.

Why Choose iOS?

Software updates is what makes the biggest difference between Android and iOS devices. iOS users get notified about the latest software update the moment it becomes available for all users. All iPhone users get the system updated at the same time. On the other hand, not all Android smartphones get their software update the moment it is released.

Whether you will be some of the first users to receive it or not depends on the smartphone’s brand. Bloatware is another factor to consider in the battle between Android and iOS smartphones. iPhone devices come with no preinstalled apps that occupy a large part of your storage. Android systems are known for covering a lot of space before the customer has even started using the smartphone.

Why Choose Android?

Surely, there are reasons why people opt for Android smartphones rather than iOS devices. In fact, Android phones are highly customizable, and the system offers a lot of personalization opportunities. From home widgets to the screen launcher, users have the option to optimize their smartphone use according to their needs.

The Android system always allows you to choose which app you will use to open a file, the pre-installed app or the third-party app downloaded from the Play Store, no matter if it’s a media player, a keyboard, or a web browser. Last but not least, most of the Android phones give users some extra capacity features, and customers can insert a microSD card to expand the storage on their smartphone. No matter which phone you decide to buy, it’s important to evaluate your needs so that your smartphone will suit your daily needs, whether you need only a calling and texting device or all-in-one device that will perform all kinds of things on a daily basis.

During the pandemic, many people cannot do some of the things they like most. They might not feel safe about restaurant eating or gym workouts. They also can’t go to movies in many states.

While Covid-19 affects virtually every niche and profession, Hollywood is experiencing unprecedented upheaval. The movie and TV industries are dealing with it in different ways, and it’s fascinating to see it unfold.

Let’s take a look at the current movie and TV business strategies.

Theaters Are Not Releasing New Movies

If you want to take some time catching up on the best motorcycle movies or the best crime sagas, now is the time to do it since you’re not missing anything at your local multiplex. That’s because:

• Many movie theaters remain closed
• Open theaters are not getting new releases

A couple of states have some theaters open, but in most of the country’s regions, they remain closed. That is because medical experts fear Covid-19 movie theater circulation. If one person has it, and they sneeze or cough, a single movie showing can become a super spreader event.

Hollywood has what would have been all the 2020 blockbusters ready to go, but they’re not releasing them. They keep pushing back the new James Bond movie, Wonder Woman 1984, Dune, and others.

What Will This Mean for Movies Going Forward?

It’s not completely clear how the movie industry will weather this storm in the coming months and years. We do know that:

• The industry has lost a ton of money this year
• They are delaying shooting many new projects

The uncertainty is what’s making things so complicated. If medical experts could give a particular date when they will have a vaccine, Hollywood might feel a little better about its prospects. However, that simply isn’t the case.

Some studios are trying to shoot movies that they want to release in 2021 or 2022, but it’s risky. They’re spending money to pay actors, crew members, stuntpeople, etc., and they’re seeing no profit return at all.

What About TV?

Some TV shows have come back this fall season, including some live-action ones. You have popular ones like Grey’s Anatomy and Law and Order: SVU. These long-running fan favorites shot during the pandemic, and fans are glad to see them back.

However, it was a risk for studios to shoot these shows. Most of them have not reported any major stars contracting Covid-19, but the risk was there, and it still is. That’s why many shows are trying to shoot in remote locations or on closed sets where they can attempt to regulate any possible danger as much as possible.

How Can TV Create Shows Safely?

The TV shows that Hollywood can make more safely than others right now include animated fare such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bless the Harts, etc. The actors can do their voice work from studios with no one else around, and they can do virtual table reads rather than gathering together in person.

We could see more animation and fewer live-action shows if we fail to get the pandemic under control soon. We’ll have to see how quickly America and the rest of the world can produce and distribute a vaccine.

Hollywood’s Future

Everyone expects that we’ll have a vaccine at some point and things will return to normal, or something like it. But even if we see that happen, it might not be for another year, or even later.

Most developmental projects have to remain in a virtual holding pattern. That means many shows and movies can’t shoot, though writers, producers, and directors can at least work on the scripts and try to cast actors for the parts.

It seems as though when the movie industry roars back to life, there will be more would-be blockbusters than ever before competing for market share. We might see a whole year or two worth of potential blockbusters released in just a few months. The studios need to do that to clear the way for upcoming projects.

Studios have already lost money, and they’re going to lose more. They can’t avoid it, like what’s happening with airlines right now.  

We could see major production companies close down. It’s also possible that some people who can’t go to movies right now won’t even want to go back when they have that option again.

In short, it’s a tumultuous time in Hollywood, and there’s tremendous uncertainty among producers, actors, studio heads, and all others in this particular industry.   

Cinema and television aren’t short on their depictions of casino life. James Bond has a monopoly on looking good and winning big with a martini in hand, while series like Boardwalk Empire offer a grittier look at the underbelly of Atlantic City.

From glitz and glamour to the unpredictable maneuverings of business tycoons in Vegas and Atlantic City, the casino has a special place in the American psyche. One major reason casino and card game scenes have featured so memorably in beloved TV shows is the appeal of a gaming night.

In the US, gaming is associated with a big trip to a brick-and-mortar casino with a large, opulent floor and well-dressed players. Despite the fact that most major brands are moving online to expand their casino bonuses and offers for virtual gamers, episodes of prime time TV that feature trips to brick-and-mortar establishments are likely to stay—no matter how unrealistic or playful they are.

The Office, ‘Casino Night’ 

Juxtaposed against the hapless characters of The Office, the season two finale delivered on high stakes emotional encounters. Fans remember this episode for the brief, romantic moment shared between the main characters Pam and Jim.

However, it’s the office’s casual casino night that provides the perfect backdrop for the romantic drama happening. A round of Texas Hold’em poker reveals that Pam can actually bluff, which isn’t a comment on poker as much as it is on her ability to be engaged to one man while in love with another.

While the audience may hold their breath watching Pam and Jim, Kevin Malone provides ample comedic relief as he saunters around the casino floor and brags about his poker winnings before losing it all in a single hand.

Sex and the City, ‘Luck Be an Old Lady’ 

This episode of Sex and the City sees the New York fashionistas head to Atlantic City for an exclusive stay on the boardwalk. As a gift from Samantha’s paramour, Richard, the girls don’t spare any expense as they enjoy their weekend stay.

The backdrop of the episode takes place at the Taj Mahal, which provides equal portions of extravagance and the world of casual gaming. An incident at the craps table provides the perfect opportunity for Samantha, Miranda, Carrie, and Charlotte to band together and rally the crowd in their favor.

However, the real treat may be the luxurious penthouse provided for Richard at the Taj Mahal, as well as the VIP treatment he and all the girls receive. This is the Atlantic City trip all friends dream of.

Friends, ‘The One In Vegas’ 

While Carrie and company in Sex and the City traveled to Atlantic City, ‘The One In Vegas’ covers the gaggle of New York friends as they travel west to Las Vegas. The trip chronicles some of the stereotypes surrounding the City of Lights.

The episode focuses largely on the last-minute weddings that Vegas chapels cater to. The original wedding between Monica and Chandler, a long-time couple, is dwarfed by the sudden appearance of Ross and Rachel, whose back-and-forth romance never skimps on drama.

If ‘Luck Be an Old Lady’ highlighted the finer aspects of the infamous casino, then ‘The One In Vegas’ reveals all the stereotypes that are tacked on to gaming culture—shotgun weddings in Vegas included.

Curb Your Enthusiasm, ‘The Shrimp Incident’

Known for its cringe-worthy moments in which the main character Larry stumbles through life with witty abrasiveness, ‘The Shrimp Incident’ doesn’t skip a beat. As Larry and a group of friends attempt to reel in an HBO executive for a new TV show, they play a game of two-card guts.

‘The Shrimp Incident’ offers one of the most no-holds-barred views at Larry in his show. Luckily, his temper is eased by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (who plays herself) as she sweeps two-card guts and takes away the $800 pool. 

Though some may cringe at Larry’s behavior or revel in the fact that Louis-Dreyfus took the pot home, the emotionally charged setting of even a casual game of two-card guts can’t be missed. This episode may take place far away from a casino floor, but it also showcases another American staple: taking the casino to a kitchen table and making no effort to emotionally detach from the game.

To say that it is an exciting time for gamers right now is an understatement. With both the new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 ready to drop soon, all gaming fans are getting revved up. Each machine boasts more power, better graphics and better features than before – this sees them set to make a real splash. However, if you are planning to make the switch to one of these new consoles over the coming weeks, you should first think about what you need to do beforehand.

Of course, for some, this could be trying out online gambling Florida wide or enjoying fun casino games in other states while they wait. Just remember to check out the BonusSeeker site first to find the most reputable sites to game at with the best bonuses. As well as playing online games, you could pass the time waiting to enjoy your new console with music, sports, exercise or movies. While this is fine, there are actually some key tasks related to gaming and your old console to sort out.

What are they?

Enjoy the last few weeks with your current console

However long you have had your current machine, why not spend the last few weeks before you switch saying farewell in style? For some users, this could actually be quite a big thing, as they may have had their current console for many years. Even someone who purchased a PS4 when it came out in 2013, for example, will have spent seven glorious years gaming on it.

The Xbox 360 launched in 2005, and if you still game on an older machine like this, you could have been playing on it for even more years! With this in mind, take some time to go through your favorite games on it and relive some of those memories you spent years building up. This will leave you ready to move on when the new console arrives.

Clear your diary

If you are planning on picking up an Xbox Series X or PS5 (or both!), then you will naturally want to have plenty of time gaming on it. You cannot do this if you have a lot going on in your life in the weeks after you have brought it home.

A sensible thing, therefore, is to clear your diary, tell your friends that you will not be out for a while, and unplug the phone. This will mean that you get to enjoy your new console fully and in peace. Of course, if you want to arrange an online gaming session with friends on the new machine, then that is entirely acceptable!

Think about making your old console safe

Whether you plan to simply put your old console in the loft, sell it, or trade it in for the new one, you must make it safe. Modern consoles contain a lot of sensitive, personal data. You do not want to leave it on there for other people to steal. Most consoles now will make formatting the hard drive and wiping off your personal details pretty easy.

The PS4, for example, lets you delete any data stored via the Initialization option in System Settings. Once you’re in this, you just select Restore Default Settings to make it safe. If you own a different console, then a quick search online will throw up how to go about it.

Consider sorting out your storage and saves

One key thing is making sure that any old saved games make it over to your new console. You do not want to lose any saved progress that you have spent many hours, if not years, building up when you make the switch. Luckily, this is also pretty simple for most consoles now. If we stick to the PS4 as an example, it is wise to check that Online Storage is where saves go. This means that they are then easily accessible if you upgrade to a PS5.

It is also worth making sure that you have gone through what is stored on your old console if you plan to transfer the data over to your new machine. In simple terms, the more data you transfer, the longer it will take. It is worth clearing out any screenshots your console has taken over its lifespan that are not really needed.

Getting ready for your new console is key

There is currently much speculation about what to expect from the latest Xbox and PlayStation. This level of excitement means that you might be eager to get playing as soon as you buy one. Making the switch to a new machine is best done with some planning in place though. This will ensure that you are fully ready to make the move and that the whole process does not take too long.

Back in the days of Shakespeare, theatre was one of the most widely accepted and talked about means of spreading cultural capital and ideas, with the working man or woman able to find out more about how their rulers ticked on the stage than perhaps anywhere else.

These days, theatres have become places where rich people like to hold business meetings during the interval and where a miniature tub of ice cream costs more than a three course dinner, although there are some shows which still try to keep things fun and entertaining.

Fortunately, there are plays that manage to buck the trend and include aspects that will still appeal to the masses rather than only the well-heeled few. One of these is games, whose application in a stage play can vary from symbolism all the way through to bringing about a plot twist.

Here are some of the world’s most famous stage plays that featured or were based around popular games.

All of these plays managed to weave game dynamics into a piece of compelling drama

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead – Tom Stoppard

This Stoppard masterpiece is one of the great stage plays of the 20^th century and is still revered to this day by theatre goers and critics alike. 

Classic games are used in the play in order to toy with the question of whether the fate of people, and the world they live in, is predetermined, ruled by chaos, or if there is a half-way house that means things can be predicted through probabilities and equations. 

This makes for a gripping and challenging play which is actually a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The message being conveyed to onlookers can be construed in many ways, but the main one seems to be that as much as peoples’ live are defined by determinism, it is man’s innate desire to compete and throw caution to the wind that throws up life’s chaotic nature. This point is poignantly put across by Stoppard in a scene where two characters ponder the sort of calculations and probabilities that modern day blackjack and craps players face every time they are dealt a hand. 

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead still regularly plays at some of the top theatres around the US and, indeed, the world.

Sit back and enjoy the show

A Streetcar Named Desire – Tennessee Williams

Card games are at the very heart of this American stage play classic, which was set in the bustling city of New Orleans.

As was the case in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, the games in this play are largely symbolic, often revealing the motivations and personalities of characters rather than being pivotal to the plot or story arcs.

The game that the two protagonists Stanley and Blanche tend to play is poker, with a game being played in one of the play’s very first acts as well as in one of the final acts.

One of the best runs of the play took place at the Circle in the Square Theatre in 1988, with big names like Alec Baldwin, Jessica Lange and a budding James Gandolfini of Sopranos fame lighting up the boards.

Modern Immersive Theatre Plays Borrow Video Game Conventions

While the two plays above are classics which very clearly used games to get their intended messages across to the audience, there are now contemporary theatre plays which are borrowing other aspects of gaming culture to not only enhance their stories but also the way in which their plays are viewed and interacted with as a whole.

Immersive theatre has been a booming trend in recent years and has altered the role of the audience member, turning them from an inert observer into an active and intrinsic part of the play itself.

The Drowned Man, a play set in Hollywood but which ran at London’s Temple Studios, was a perfect case in point, pretty much turning audience members into active parts of the story they were watching, as if they were themselves an avatar in a video game.

There is no doubt that, as gaming culture proliferates, audience members will become less willing to sit back and be passive observers.