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In one of its smallest, yet most useful updates ever, Google Maps has now begun displaying whether a location, such as a building or restaurant, is accessible by wheelchair.
The service sources this information from its human Local Guides, who answer questions about the places they visit, indicating things like average cost and parking. Google told Business Insider that its database of responses has now run into the millions, and so it’s confident about including these results on its listings in Maps.
You’ll be able to find wheelchair accessibility information under the Amenities section when looking up any establishment in Maps, and you can also add your own findings on the same screen. Alternatively, you can head into the ‘Your contributions’ section in Maps’ menu on Web and mobile to answer questions about places you’ve been.
The new feature was built by Rio Akasaka, a product manager for Google Drive who took advantage of the ‘20% time’ that Google offers employees to work on their own projects. More updates like this, please, Google.
All photos credit to the original writer via thenextweb.com
credit/source: http://thenextweb.com/apps/2016/12/19/google-maps-now-indicates-if-a-location-is-wheelchair-accessible/?ref=digest
If you’re like us, then you know “scanning” documents and photos with your phone or tablet is a mixed bag. Thankfully, there are ways to scan documents that gives reliably good results, and best of all, they’re really easy.
More and more people are using the camera on their phone or tablet to scan documents versus dedicated scanner hardware. Don’t get us wrong, this works in a pinch, but it can be difficult to achieve the desired end. You may have to straighten and crop, or perhaps even change the contrast and brightness, to get them just right.
Maybe that’s okay if you’re just including a few receipts from a recent business trip, but if you want to send someone a nice clean scan of your favorite recipe or have a clear copy of someone’s business card, then it can be a challenge. There has to be a better way and luckily, if you use Android or iOS, there is.
The Best Way to Scan Documents on Android
On Android, one of the best ways to scan documents is with Google Drive. To scan your items w/ Google Drive, open the app and tap the “+”, then tap “Scan.”
Once you snap a photo of your document, Google Drive will automatically crop it and clean it up for you. If you want perform other fixes, you can crop it further, change the color depth, rename it, or add another scan. This last part is important because as you can see, Google Drive automatically scans documents into PDF, so that means you can scan multiple documents into the same file.
There are also several settings you can adjust by tapping the three dots in the upper-right corner and selecting “Settings.” In the settings, you can decide how images are automatically enhanced (if at all), paper size, orientation, and image quality.
It’s pretty easy and works well, plus it automatically saves your stuff to the cloud so you don’t need to awkwardly transfer documents from one device to another. We recommend using Google Drive for your Android document scanning needs, but as we explain in this article, it’s not the only option out there.
The Best Way to Scan Documents on an iPhone or iPad
If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, then the clearly fastest, easiest, and best way to get great scans is with Evernote’s Scannable app. Right now, it’s only available for iOS but when or if it gets an Android app, it could easily supplant Google Drive as our mobile scanning app of choice on that platform.
Scannable is a cinch to use. When you open the app, simply hold your device over your document against a contrasting background. The document, piece of text, business card, receipt, or whatever you’re scanning will turn blue and a white progress indicator will appear in the center. When it forms a complete circle, your document is scanned.
Scan able does this automatically, with fairly good results, and like Google Drive, it’s pretty good at knowing how to crop and fix a document so it’s clean and easy to read. That said, if you want to manually scan and fix stuff, tap “Manual” and then a shutter button will appear along the right edge of the screen. Tap the small “X” underneath to return to auto mode.
Notice along the bottom, there’s a scrollable tray with your scanned items. Press and hold an image and then swipe upward to delete one particular item or tap the trash icon to delete everything.
howtogeek.com
Tap on any image in the tray to edit it. If you tap directly on the image once more, a blue bar will rise from the bottom. From here you can crop, rotate, and delete the selected image.
Tap the image again and the blue bar will disappear. At the bottom of the screen is the name of the scan, which is by default “Scannable Document.”
If you tap on that, you can rename the scan. If you tap on the blue circle underneath, a plethora of options will appear; you can insert your document(s) into a message, email, add them to your camera roll (Photos), or send them to an Evernote workbook (it is after all an Evernote app).
If you have a meeting, you can share scans via calendar to any event participants during or after the meeting, so everyone literally is on the same page.
If you tap the “More…” button, you’ll see the familiar OS X options for sharing to social networks, printing and, of course, AirDrop.
Scannable also makes it super easy to save business card into contacts. You can either have the app automatically save business cards you scan directly into Evernote, or you can do it manually. Either way, you will need to have Evernote installed and be signed into LinkedIn, which you can do from the settings.
To access these settings, tap the small gear icon in the scan screen’s upper-left corner. From here you can now decide what format files are saved in, select which calendars the app can access, view the knowledge base (help), and more.
While Scannable’s powers are obviously benefited by its Evernote integration, we want to stress that you can (and we did) use Scan able without it. There’s little limit to it, so if you want to scan a funny bit of text and post it to Twitter or Facebook, or move some important invoices into the cloud, or quickly acquire a document and email it, you can do all that, and more. Scan able and Google Drive are excellent ways to move paper from its crinkly analog form to its more tree-friendly digital counterpart. The dream of an (almost) paperless office gets that much closer, and while we don’t think any organization will ever be 100 percent paperless, being able to scan something and then effortlessly share it with your colleagues (instead of heading to the copy machine), moves things in the right direction.
So, now we want to hear from you. What have you been using to scan documents into your phone or tablet? Do you have a method that works best from you? Our discussion forum is open for you to share your thoughts and ideas.
Continue the tradition and whip up a delicious macaroni salad as your contribution to the Christmas feast. Here are quick and easy five-ingredient recipes you can whip up in just a few minutes.
ladyschoice.com
Cheesy Bacon Macaroni Salad
Create a more modern take on macaroni salad. Kids and adults will give this their thumbs-up.
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves 8 to 10
400 grams elbow macaroni
300 grams bacon, chopped
1 (700ml) bottle Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise
1½ cup grated cheddar cheese
black pepper, to taste
1 Cook pasta in a pot of boiling water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2 In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Drain excess oil. Set aside.
3 Combine Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise, grated cheese, and black pepper in a large bowl.
4 Add the cooked macaroni and bacon. Mix until well combined.
5 Top with more bacon bits and cheese for a nice presentation.
PRO TIP! You can also use ham instead of bacon, and add pineapple tidbits to turn it into a Hawaiian macaroni salad.
ladyschoice.com
Roast Chicken Macaroni Salad
No time to roast a chicken? Simply buy one at the supermarket or your favorite neighborhood stall.
Cook time: 15 minutes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves 8 to 10
400 grams elbow macaroni
1 (700ml) bottle Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise
3 cups shredded roast chicken
2 large carrots, sliced into thin 1-inch pieces
bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 Cook pasta in a pot of boiling water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2 Combine Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise, shredded roast chicken, carrots, and cilantro in large bowl. Mix until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
3 Garnish with more chicken and chopped herbs on top.
PRO TIP! You may also use parsley instead of cilantro. To tweak the flavors, you can add barbecue sauce, hot sauce, and even inasal sauce and lemongrass.
ladyschoice.com
Spicy Mediterranean Tuna Macaroni Salad
This spicy tuna salad will surely perk up your taste buds. It will be a welcome addition to the buffet table.
Cook time: 15 minutes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves 8 to 10
400 grams elbow macaroni
1 (700ml) bottle Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise
2 (180-gram) can canned spicy tuna, oil drained, shred to separate chunks
½ cup sliced olives
3 large bell peppers, cleaned, seeded, and chopped
1 Cook pasta in a pot of boiling water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2 Combine Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise, tuna, olives, and bell peppers in a large bowl.
3 Add cooked macaroni. Mix until well combined.
4 Season with salt and pepper, if needed.
PRO TIP! You may use a combination of red, green, and yellow bell peppers to make this macaroni salad more colorful.
Dump out everything in your purse, then put back only the items you really need -- like your wallet, hand sanitizer and a snack. Be critical at this stage. There's no reason to carry around 10 lipsticks if you only ever use one or two shades. We carry a lot of things as if it is an extension of our cabinet from home. Here are example of bags and purses in different sizes (big or small) and shapes.
weheartit.com
/vibbi.com
photos: onegoodthingbyjillee.com
Anyone their bags look like this bringing must haves always so if you want for easy changing purses.
Trying it out in several different purses, in different sizes and shapes! It fits.
A chic makeup bag is better than loose cosmetics rolling around. Not only is it easier to find what you need, but if a product spills or breaks, it will only dirty the makeup bag -- not your Italian leather tote.
Put It in a Pouch
bhg.com
Don't spend minutes digging around for your sunglasses or keys. Color-coded or clear pouches make it easy to find what you're looking for in a pinch. Stash beauty items in one pouch, headphones and phone chargers in another, and so on.
Protect Your Tech
bhg.com
If you carry a laptop, tablet, or camera in your bag, invest in a tech case. This will protect your gadget from accidental spills, key scratches, and impromptu rain showers.
Cellphone Case with dual purpose
bhg.com
If your wallet has a tendency to grow fat with receipts, coupons, and coins, consider a phone case that lets you stash only the essentials. Plus, if you have a smartphone, you can ditch the plastic and load rewards cards or gift cards straight into an app like Apple Wallet.
Roll It Up
bhg.com
A giant tote can double as a weekend travel bag. Protect easy-to-tangle jewelry and accessories with a roll-up organizer. This storage solution also works for hair supplies and hair clips.
brit.co Sometimes we tend to bring a lot of make up brushes with this small roll it up brushes organizer will limit on what you really need and use often.
Key Keeper
bhg.com
A cute keychain keeps keys close at hand, but go a step further by attaching them to your wallet. Grabbing a large wallet is easier than finding a small key ring, plus the keys can be tucked into the coin purse section of your wallet to prevent scratching.
Travel Abroad
bhg.com
Safeguard personal information with passport and credit card keepers. Special fabric protects items from electronic theft.
Down to Business
bhg.com
Reminiscent of childhood school supplies, plastic pencil cases are perfect for stashing office items in your briefcase. Keep pens, notepads, and pointers organized in easy-to-find colorful cases.
Take Notes
spiralnotepads.com/
A small and handy notepad with pen included.
bhg.com
Keep kids occupied by including a coloring kit in your bag. It's smaller and lighter than most toys and encourages creativity. Stock a pencil case with markers, pens, stickers, and a notepad, then pull it out at the doctor's office, grocery store, or anywhere kiddos need a distraction.
Coin Purse
mrlentz.com
Last but not the least use coin purse for coins or money change from store.
My Note: I therefore conclude based on what I saw and read with what must haves we should bring suggestions it is still down to what you really need and important as owner. In whatever kind of bag and brand local or luxury or sizes it does not matter for as long they have a pair of sunglasses,hand sanitzer,tissue paper,small /compact makeup kit and lipstick, scarf, smartphone,credit/calling card,pens, and notepad with pen included but when it comes to wallet I noticed men or women prefer to use Louis Vuitton.
MANILA - The Department of Finance said Friday a tax system overhaul will not affect the value added tax exemptions of senior citizens and persons with disability.
Some 1.4 million disabled persons are exempted from paying 12-percent VAT under a law signed in March, giving them the same privilege enjoyed by citizens who are at least 60 years old.
“We will broaden our VAT base but that does not include the exemptions for senior citizens and persons with disability,” Alvarez said.
The Department of Finance is set to meet with the House of Representatives’ ways and means committee to discuss the proposed comprehensive tax reform package, Alvarez said.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office in June, promised to lower income tax rates and his economic managers said this could be reduced to 25 percent from the current 32 percent.
Government Service Insurance System - GSIS pensioners to receive their Christmas cash gift starts on December 16, 2016. Meanwhile, the SSS pensioners receive their Christmas bonus starts this month of December 2016 together with their monthly pension.
The BOC is also set to issue an order lifting the tax on balikbayan boxes worth P150,000 and less starts on December 25, 2016.
Samantala,
Pasalubong mula abroad na P10,000 pababa ang halaga, tax-free na
MANILA - Imported packages sent through the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) and valued under P10,000 are free of duties and taxes starting Tuesday.
PHLPost is now implementing a Customs Administrative Order (CAO) which amends the value of duty-free imports from P10 to P10,000.
A sample computation of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) shows that under the previous tax ceiling, sending an imported pair of shoes worth P10,000 entailed P2,000 in insurance charge, Customs duty, extended value-added tax, and Customs documentary stamp.
Assistant Postmaster General Luis Carlos added that a lower tax ceiling also means avoidable expenses for both the public and government, according to a study by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
"May APEC study na kami pupunta pa sa sender para bigyan ng notice at sila naman mamamasahe para pumunta dito (PHLpost office)," Carlos said.
(We have an APEC study showing that we incur expenses in giving notices to the sender while they also spend money to go to our office.)
BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, meanwhile, said the higher tax ceiling will benefit benefit thousands of consumers, most especially
overseas Filipino workers who regularly send care packages to their loved ones in the Philippines.
Twelve years later, when Ruzo was studying at Southern Methodist University in Texas to become a geophysicist, he asked colleagues and other experts if they knew anything about a large river that boiled in the Peruvian Amazon. No one had; some scoffed at the inquiry. While thermal rivers do occur on earth, they’re generally tied to active volcanic or magmatic systems—neither of which were known to exist in the Amazon jungle, they said.
But his aunt insisted. The river supposedly had healing powers, and shamans would make medicines from its scalding waters. But only those with the shaman’s permission could access the river.
Ruzo’s aunt tried to connect him with the shaman of a healing center she knew of. When they didn’t return his correspondence, she offered to personally take him, so they traveled to Peru in November 2011.
After they reached the healing center in the shamanic town of Mayantuyacu, the duo received permission to visit the river. Guided by the shaman’s apprentice, they embarked into the jungle, eventually arriving at their destination.
“The place itself is stunning,” Ruzo says. “Imagine a clear river, clear water that’s almost turquoise, bounded by these ivory-colored stones on either side. And along most of the river, you’ve got these 60-foot walls of green that are just shooting up from the jungle floor, with these huge beautiful trees.”
Most noticeable, though, was the steam rising from the river. Ruzo immediately took the temperature of the water. It averaged 86 degrees Celsius, or around 187 degrees Fahrenheit—not quite boiling, but still really hot.
Ruzo had three hypotheses that could potentially explain the hot water: The river was part of a volcanic or magmatic system; it was a non-volcanic hydrothermal system, in which water seeps into the earth, heats up, and then rises back up; or it was a result of oil or gas activity gone awry.
After that initial trip, Ruzo knew he had to launch a deeper investigation. He returned eight months later with the permission from the shaman, becoming the first geoscientist to study the river. He wrote about his experiences studying the river in a new book.
Over the course of several research trips, Ruzo narrowed down his hypotheses. He ruled out the first idea—geochemical testing of the water indicated that it wasn’t volcanic or magmatic.
The third hypothesis—an oil drilling accident—worried Ruzo. He learned that there was indeed an oil well more than a mile away, but the company that operated it was forthcoming with their activities, which didn’t affect the river. Stories told by the local shamans also suggested the river had been around for generations. And finally, Ruzo found mention of a thermal river in historical archives that documented the area before any oil development.
“The only remaining option is it’s just a ‘normal’ hydro thermal feature where waters are seeping deep into the earth, heating up, and then coming back up quickly,” Ruzo says.
Thermal springs often undergo the same sort of process (hot springs in Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park are examples), but the size of this boiling river in Peru is what sets it apart. (Ruzo estimates that the entire river system—which starts out as a small, cold stream—is about 5.5 miles long, and the river can get over 80 feet wide, though in those areas, the water is shallow).
“I personally have never seen anything at this level,” says Maria Richards, coordinator of the Geothermal Lab at Southern Methodist University.
Richards, who accompanied Ruzo on one of his research trips to Peru, hypothesizes that the river springs from multiple faults. “The earth is full of these little mini fault segments in the rock,” she explains. The idea is that as water (Andean snowmelt, for instance) seeps into the earth and heats up, pressure builds. Increasing pressure pushes the water back through those little faults, which serve as conduits to the surface. The greater the water volume, the greater the pressure, and the more forcefully the water will gush.
For his part, Ruzo will continue researching what makes the river so unique. In addition to conducting geophysical studies and examining the basic geology of the area, “we’ve been doing geochemical studies—as far as elemental fingerprinting of the waters and rocks in the area and hydrothermal minerals—as well as isotope studies,” Ruzo says. The next step, in his sixth field season at the river, is to date the waters to better understand how long they’ve been flowing underground.
Ruzo is also looking into designating the river as a national monument, which would have the added benefit of partially protecting surrounding areas from vast deforestation. He plans on publishing his research findings in the near future.
*This article was updated on April 11, 2016, to include the fact that Ruzo has written a book about his experience studying the river. It was updated again on April 14, 2016, to correct a quote from “ivory-covered” to “ivory-colored.”
credit/by: Chau Tu and to Andres Ruzo and his research team
Amazon rainforest in Mayantuyacu, Peru's water temperatures along the 6.4-km-long river range between 50 and 90 degrees Celsius,
The so-called ‘Boiling River’ is said to be the “crown jewel” of an unusual collection of three non-volcanic rivers in the area which also include the Salt River (a salty thermal stream) and the Hot River (a thermal freshwater stream) - both much smaller in comparison to the Boiling River.
A picture of a frog that has been boiled alive in the Boiling RiverCREDIT: ANDRÉS RUZO/THE BOILING RIVER PROJECt
Boiled Alive
The total river system is about 9 kilometers (5.5 miles), but it is the 6.24 kilometers (3.8 miles) on the lower part of the river that are hot. Most of that flow, particularly during the dry season, is hot enough to kill you. Small mammals, reptiles, or amphibians regularly fall in and are boiled alive.
This frog's picture feature above did not survive its encounter with the Boiling River. Even where temperatures “only” reach around 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit), animals have little chance of surviving a fall into the water.
Ruzo estimates that the entire river system—which starts out as a small, cold stream—is about 5.5 miles long, and the river can get over 80 feet wide, though in those areas, the water is shallow.
The scope of the river - it's up to 25 metres wide and six metres deep, and runs burning hot for an incredible 6.24 km.