When planning a trip to Richmond, Virginia, accommodation is a crucial factor to consider. Two popular options are furnished apartments and hotels. Each offers distinct advantages, catering to different preferences and needs. The following article will deep-dive into the key differences between Richmond furnished apartments and hotels, helping you make an informed decision for your next stay.

Cost-Effectiveness

One of the primary advantages of furnished apartments in Richmond is their potential cost-effectiveness compared to hotels. While hotel rates can vary wildly depending on factors such as location, seasonality, and amenities, furnished apartments often offer more affordable long-term options. This is especially true for those planning extended stays of a month or more.

Additionally, furnished apartments often come with amenities such as kitchens, allowing you to prepare your own meals and save money on dining out. This can significantly reduce your overall expenses, particularly for families or groups.

Space and Privacy

Furnished apartments in Richmond generally offer more space and privacy than hotel rooms. With separate bedrooms, living areas, and kitchens, you have more room to spread out and relax. This can be especially beneficial for families or individuals who value their personal space.

Moreover, furnished apartments often come with pristine laundry facilities, eliminating the need for costly laundry services. This can be a significant convenience for travelers who prefer to pack light.

Home-Away-From-Home Experience

Furnished apartments in Richmond provide a more home-like experience compared to hotels. With familiar furnishings and amenities, you can create a comfortable and personalized living space. This can be particularly advantageous for those who are traveling for extended periods or relocating to the city.

Additionally, furnished apartments often allow you to bring your own belongings, engendering a more familiar and welcoming environment. This can be rather important for travelers who feel more comfortable with their own stuff. Sure, you could bring your own coffee machine, lamp, or cooking pan into a hotel room, but that would be fairly weird.

Most hotels won’t let you to bring your cat or dog into a room. Some do, of course, but they’re generally very high end and rare. Many furnished apartment complexes will allow you to bring your pet into the building. Try bringing a parakeet, bearded dragon, or finch into a hotel. Good luck with that. You can set up a fish tank or even a monstrous hamster maze in your furnished apartment if you want. Nothing beats that kind of flexibility.

Flexibility and Convenience

Furnished apartments in Richmond offer greater flexibility and convenience compared to hotels. With longer-term leases and flexible payment options, you can plan your stay according to your specific needs. This can be quite beneficial for those who are relocating or working on an intensive, long-term project.

Furthermore, furnished apartments in Richmond often have more convenient amenities, such as on-site parking, fitness centers, and conference rooms. These amenities can save you time and money, especially if you’re staying in the city.

Considerations for Choosing Between Furnished Apartments and Hotels

While furnished apartments offer numerous advantages, they may not be suitable for everyone. Here are some factors to consider when deciding between a furnished apartment and a hotel in Richmond:

• Length of Stay: If you are planning a short stay of a few days or weeks, a hotel may be a more convenient option. However, for extended stays, a furnished apartment can offer better value and flexibility.
• Travel Style: If you prefer a more traditional travel experience with daily housekeeping and concierge services, a hotel may be a better fit. However, if you value privacy, space, and a home-like atmosphere, a furnished apartment could be a better choice.
• Budget: While furnished apartments can be more cost-effective for extended stays, it’s important to compare prices and amenities before making a decision.
• Location: Consider the location of your destination in Richmond. Hotels are often located in central areas, while furnished apartments may be found in residential neighborhoods.

Our Key Takeaway

The choice between a furnished apartment and a hotel in Richmond ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences. By carefully considering factors such as cost, space, amenities, and flexibility, you can select the accommodation option that best suits your unique travel style and budget.

Today’s schooling system fully embraces this concept by empowering its students to consume as much knowledge as possible. And encyclopedias are an excellent catalyst for this process. They provide a helping hand for research projects, debates, and for building one’s general knowledge bank. 

But how can you choose one? There are hundreds of online encyclopedias out there. Each claims to have compiled all the information in the world. But we all know that can’t be true. 

In this article, we’re going to talk to you about the five best free online encyclopedias for students. They’ve been listed in the order in which we found them most useful. But you should read through the descriptions for each. Then pick the best one for you. 

Plex Page

Plex Page is a free online encyclopedia for students by Algoritmi Vision. It uses abstractive multi-document text summarization to put out content which means that it simplifies complicated information. 

For example, if you have a project on Napoleon, other sites will give you pages upon pages outlining each one of his reforms. But with Plex Page, you’ll get a brief outline. Additionally, the site will provide subheadings covering specific topics like his military successes. 

When Algoritmi Vision built this encyclopedia, they prioritized the needs of their users. The AI running the site is programmed to look at the interests of the students using it and the general popularity of a particular search. You can learn more about their process here. 

Overall, it has over a million articles and covers all types of subjects. You can find details on the Library of Alexandria, the history of leprechauns, and even on Star Wars. 

If you’re running out of time on a project and need a summary on a topic, choose Plex Page because it’s a one stop shop for all the information on the net. It’s also great if you like reading in your free time. The website has different sections like Society, Technology, and Natural Science. You can browse through them all. 

Britannica 

Encyclopedia Britannica lets you research topics in the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and under different topics like News, Weather, and Sports. Alternatively, this free online encyclopedia for students also lets you look for a specific topic by typing it in the search bar. 

When you look up a topic, three columns will show up. The first one has a list of websites. Each one is related to your search, and the service recommends reading through them. The second column has the magazines, and the third is titled Encyclopedia Britannica. 

We recommend this site because its search results are extensive and fun. For instance, if you look up the solar system, you get theories of the universe by Kepler, Aristotle, etc. But it’ll pair up these detailed articles with fun animations. This is important because it makes sure learning never becomes boring. And this makes it ideal for high school students. 

Encarta Reference 

Encarta Reference is a part of Microsoft Encarta – a digital multimedia encyclopedia. It has a world atlas and a talking dictionary. These two features make it stand out among the competition. 

As for the interface, Encarta is fairly simple to use. It has a search box at the top of the screen where you type in your question. Instead of just saying “milky way,” you have to ask the site, “what is the milky way.” It takes more time, but this feature is great for complex topics. 

There is another type of box under the Encarta Enquire Box. This one just looks through the encyclopedia for available data. 

Each article in this encyclopedia is filled with hyperlinks. So if you want to learn more about a specific topic, you can do so. Additionally, you get a list of related web links. For instance, a search on Abraham Lincoln has a main article, pictures, audio of speeches, and related links to the Library of Congress, Illinois State Archives, and the White House. 

This free online encyclopedia for students is an excellent choice if you need in-depth information on a topic and have a lot of time to go over it. 

Infoplease Encyclopedia 

The Infoplease Encylopedia is a part of the bigger Infoplease, which has an almanac, dictionary, and thesaurus. The free online encyclopedia for students has a collection of over fifty-seven thousand articles and is an excellent research tool for high school students.

When you look for a topic, you’ll find that it is divided into subtopics. However, unlike other platforms like Plex Page, Infoplease doesn’t open them all in the same webpage. So if you have a poor internet connection, you’ll have to wait for each to open. This can be frustrating at times. 

Another drawback of this site is that it doesn’t have as many pictures as Encarta. So if you need them for a presentation, you will need to look elsewhere. 

Otherwise, Infoplease has relevant up to date information on a range of topics. 

Excite Encyclopedia 

Excite Encyclopedia is the only free online encyclopedia for students that boasts its deep hyperlinking. Their main selling point is that they help you do detailed research. You can look for why they’ve chosen to do this on their “About Electronica” page. 

The articles are short – most fall between 400 to 600 words. 

One drawback with the site is that the search results are listed alphabetically. So, for example, if you looked up Donald Trump, it is very likely that the main article won’t be the top result. It will be lower on the list. You will have to look for it.  

Encyclopedia.com

This free online encyclopedia for students has articles from the Concise Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Third Edition. They don’t have a lot of pictures, and the information is brief. However, they do cover a range of topics. 

If you want more information, the site provides a list of related materials. You only get access to it for a fee. When we compared the free data provided with other sites, it became clear that this site had superficial and vague content. 

You will have a better experience with Plex Page or Infoplease if all you want is a concise overview. Their information comes for free and is a better option for students. 

Conclusion 

That’s all we have for today. These six free online encyclopedias are great research tools for students. The main difference between them is the depth of their articles. Depending on whether you want an overview and summary or detailed information, pick between the options listed above. 

Water pollution, especially in the era of global warming, is an important thing to avoid. In the landscaping and agricultural world, there are a few different methods that can be used to eliminate, or at least minimize, the amount of pollution that gets into the local water supply. This post will detail the ways that erosion controls such as dirt bags and silt fences are used to mitigate water pollution. These methods are most commonly used as preventative measures during bad storms, but they can also be used for agricultural or construction purposes.

First, let’s discuss erosion control. Erosion control is essentially the practice of using various methods to prevent erosion. This is particularly important during storms, as storm runoff can cause significant water pollution when running over poorly managed land. There is a plethora of different methods for erosion control that depend on the climate that they are being used in. For instance, wetter regions use terracing and storm drains, whereas, drier regions may employ windbreaks. These methods keep pollutants from the ground or soil from entering the water supply during inclement weather. Dirt bag walls and silt fences are two of the most common methods of water pollution control. These erosion controls are used often because they are economical and can be constructed quickly, which is critical in an emergency.

Another way to prevent water pollution is the dirt bag or sandbag method. This is a primitive method that has likely been used to divert floodwaters and decrease water pollution for a millennia. Canvas or nylon bags filled with sand or dirt take a long time to become saturated with water. Due to this, they can effectively act as a wall. Filling and moving a dirt bag is a low-cost alternative to other forms of water pollution mitigation methods, making it a top choice in economically depressed areas. They are also extremely easy to build and fill; this is ideal during a flood or bad storm when time is of the essence.

Finally, a silt fence is another method used to prevent water pollution. Silt fences are used as temporary, stop-gap measures to prevent water sources from being polluted with various forms of sediment or runoff. A silt fence is only as effective as its installation and upkeep, but it works well when used properly and in conjunction with other preventative measures. To create these fences, several wooden or metal poles are staked into the ground. They are then connected with the ‘fence,’ which is usually made from a synthetic fabric. These must be constructed in strategic locations, otherwise their use is relatively limited.

If we all work together, we can prevent water pollution.

In Gainesville, Georgia, you’ll probably want to avoid eating fried chicken with a fork.

We all know that legal systems differ from country to country and, in the US, from state to state. This is nothing new. There are some fundamental things that are considered bad in pretty much every society on our planet and are, thus, forbidden by law – murder, theft, and such. But sometimes, you stumble upon some of  the weirdest laws in the world, perhaps in the entire universe. Laws that regulate, ban, and forbid acts so specific that there must be a story behind them – and a damn funny one, too.

A story we here at Golden Twist would love to hear.

In Paulding, Ohio, there is a law allowing policemen to bite dogs if they think doing so will calm the pooches down. On one hand, this law goes against basic logic – who in their right mind (except maybe for some kinkier individuals) would be calmed by being bitten? When dogs fight, they do immobilize their opponents by placing their jaws around their throats, but I truly don’t see a man, not even a policeman, pulling off such a trick. There are right ways to calm down aggressive dogs, but biting them is clearly not one of them. So, if anyone knows the story behind this weird law, please share.

Another bizarre – but understandable – state law comes from Indiana, where it is illegal to make a monkey smoke cigarettes. For this one, we actually found a story that apparently convinced legislators to sign this into law. In the mid-1920s, a chimpanzee was used as a performer in a show near South Bend. As part of the show, the chimp took out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled the fumes. But little did the chimp know that public smoking was against the law in this particular jurisdiction. The chimp was quickly arrested and fined five dollars, and its owner/trainer was forced to pay the fine to avoid his companion ending up behind bars. If this story is true, it’s one of the few weird laws in the US that make a lot of sense.

Last but not least, here’s a tale that involves an out-of-towner, an odd rule, and fried chicken. In the summer of 2009, Louisiana elder Ginny Dietrick was celebrating her 91st birthday in Gainesville by treating herself to Longstreet Cafe’s finest fried chicken. Her lunch was interrupted, though, by local Police Chief Frank Hooper, who “arrested” the senior citizen for eating fried chicken with a fork. Apparently, the Gainesville city ordinance contains a regulation that the municipality — the “poultry capital of the world” — would rather see people arrested than eat fried chicken with anything but their hands.

While this event was little more than a practical joke, Dietrick was sentenced to “coming back to Gainesville and enjoying fried chicken as often as possible.”

We hope she made it back.

Recently, I had an opportunity to test drive a top-notch product that makes scheduling meetings at least three hundred times easier: Cogsworth. Based in Sydney, Australia, Cogsworth was created to take the pain and friction out of scheduling meetings.

When you schedule meetings with folks via email, how many emails do you usually exchange? Three or four, right? Well, on average, people email each other at least three times in order to nail down a meeting time. Cogsworth cuts out the email middleman and replaces it with a simple booking page. According to the company’s website, it takes a person less than 50 seconds to fill out this simple booking form. I can believe that because when I played around with the form, I filled it out in about 20 seconds.

The form is mobile friendly and customizable, and you can embed it on your website or in your email. After you fill out the form to setup a meeting time, you can easily add the appointment to Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, or download it as an ICS file. Once you fill out the form, Cogsworth sends you an email with the meeting’s details and a link in case you need to reschedule or cancel the meeting.

Cogsworth also automatically detects timezones and works on every device. Thanks to this software, you’ll only need to spend a few minutes building a bookable service that clients and future clients will love. You can even use it to facilitate video conferences, and eventually, you’ll be able to accept payments through the form.

The customizability of Cogsworth really blows me away. Overall, I give the software 25 big Golden Twist thumbs up! The company is operating in a crowded space, but I think it just might rise to the top of the stack. You can give Cogsworth a whirl here: https://get.cogsworth.com

Here we have a one-of-a-kind beast.

The majority of Tatom’s small sculptures and jewelry are carved with hard wax, and his larger sculptures are created with hard oil clay. They are then cast in various metals. Tatom has sold 4,675 items on Etsy and, at the time of this writing, has accumulated 1,494 five star reviews. We trust you’ll agree that Mr. Tatom is a truly gifted man. You can find Tatom on Etsy, here: michaeltatom.etsy.com  And here’s a treat for you: take 15% off any any item you see on Tatom’s Etsy page with the coupon code golden15. You can also find Tatom at MichaelTatom.com.

Is it possible to travel to Hawaii instantaneously, without even buying a plane ticket? Yes! Just play an amazing musical instrument called a ukulele and the magic sounds from the very first chords will take you to the seashore, right to the sunny Hawaiian Islands.

A ukulele is a Hawaiian version of a guitar with four strings. This instrument was invented by a Portuguese man named Manuel Nuñez in the 1880s. Nunez developed the instrument by borrowing elements of the braguinha (a miniature guitar from the island of Madeira) and the cavaquinho (a Portuguese miniature guitar).

The last Queen of Hawaii, Liliuokalani, said that “ukulele” means “a gift that came here”: uku (gift) and lele (to come). According to another version, the word translates to “jumping fleas.” That’s because the finger movements that someone makes when he plays the instrument are similar to the movements of jumping fleas.

There’s a reason that this wonderful instrument has an army of fans around the world. Do you fancy becoming a master ukulele player? I certainly hope so, but if you don’t, here are ten reasons why you should:

1. Playing the ukulele helps develop your personality

Ukulele lessons train your memory and help you focus. You creatively develop yourself and begin to better understand the surrounding world. You soak in everything around you and begin to understand that sound and music are everywhere. 

2. It’s easy to learn how to play

Anyone can start playing this four-string guitar. You can learn a few simple songs in a couple of days or even hours.

3. The Ukulele has a small size and weight

This musical instrument is different from its larger “friends.” It’s the smallest guitar in the world. You can easily hide it in a compact case, bag, suitcase, backpack or oversized fanny pack.

4. It helps develop concentration

You learn to think spatially, remember chords, and combine your own voice into your ukulele playing. In addition, music helps to pick you up when you’re emotionally exhausted and return you to your previous level of productivity.

5. It improves fine motor skills

As you play, you will develop fine motor skills and strengthen the muscles of your hands. Playing the ukulele also requires an upright posture; improving your posture will do wonders for your physical health in the long run. 

6. Playing a ukulele helps fight anxiety

Scientists say that music therapy helps you learn how to control your emotions and stick to positive thinking. And over time, a ukulele brings more and more joy because you start to play better and understand the essence of music.

7. You can increase your music vocabulary

As you learn about the instrument and its history, you will learn a lot of new terms and historical facts; ergo, you’ll find it easier to start and maintain a conversation about the intricacies of music. 

8. It’s the first step toward mastering the guitar

Many people dream of mastering some musical instrument (guitar, piano, saxophone, drums, etc.), but not all are ready to put in the work that mastering an instrument actually requires. You should pursue your ambition gradually and carefully. Once you master the elements and principles of ukulele sound production, you’ll find that it’s much easier to pick up a guitar and play it.

9. You’ll meet new people

Music attracts people. Everyone loves to gather around a person playing a musical instrument. Sometime folks grab food and cocktails and watch someone play for hours and hours. Just sing a couple of songs, and you’ll quickly find yourself in the spotlight. If you want to develop your communication skills, then playing the ukulele is a simple and effective way to make new friends. Also, the ukulele tends to make a special impression on girls, so it’s an ideal option if you want a girlfriend.

10. You will improve your self-worth

Playing the ukulele is the golden key to increasing your self confidence. Everyone has the desire to wake up in the morning, stare in the mirror and say, “I really am the greatest!” Playing the ukulele is a confidence builder like no other. Whenever you discover something new, your self-assurance grows like a weed. 

As you can see, the ukulele is an extraordinary musical instrument that you can learn to master without traveling to Honolulu, but if you do visit a Hawaiian beach, be sure to take your ukulele and go relax by the waves with an adult beverage. As soon as you begin playing this majestic instrument, you’ll find yourself surrounded by busty bikini models.

Every year on March 17, we celebrate Irish culture and observe the death of St. Patrick, who was the patron saint of Ireland. We imbibe Saint Patrick’s Day drinks of all varieties. We line the walls of our living rooms with green garlands and set up our leprechaun figurines on the coffee table. Our homes are showing Irish pride, but now what? There are many ways to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.

Make Dinner

Host a special Saint Patrick’s Day dinner, featuring a plethora of Irish food for your friends and family to enjoy. There are many traditional options you can explore. Corned beef and cabbage is a classic, and comes with many variations. Bangers and mash, or sausage and mashed potatoes, is also a crowd-pleasing classic. In addition to entrees, you could prepare Irish soda bread or purple cabbage and pecan salad as side dishes. If you have kids, you may want to explore some colorful ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. For example, festive green gelatin or pistachio cupcakes for dessert.

If there are no kids involved, why not enjoy some festive Irish spirits? Start off your Saint Patrick’s Day with some Irish coffee by adding a shot of Irish cream into your cup of joe, or indulge in a specialty recipe for Irish coffees. Later in the day, you may feel like cracking open a Guinness or pouring a shot of Jameson. You can even bake with Guinness to give your meal a touch of Irish flavor.

Go to a Parade

Without a doubt, there is a St. Paddy’s Day parade near you. Take advantage of it. Grab a lawn chair or a blanket — or nothing if you prefer to stand — and wait along the road where floats and performers will make their way toward you. Music will waft through the air and trinkets will be thrown from floats for you to catch. Enjoy the breezy weather and bask in the energy from the crowd around you.

Go to a Party

Many Irish pubs have special offers on Saint Patrick’s Day. Most of the time, Irish food is involved and discounted. If for no other reason, go out for dinner so you don’t have to prepare it yourself! Most Irish pubs promise loud music, discounted Irish beer and whiskey, deals on meals, and dancing space in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

Immerse Yourself in Irish Culture

Cooking and finding local entertainment can be fun, but immersing yourself in the Irish culture will truly get you in the mood to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. Start with turning up some Irish tunes. Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys are amazing Irish bands to start with. Then, learn some Irish phrases (and practice them with an accent) to impress people you meet. If pronunciation isn’t your forte, but you can dance, try step dancing. Irish step dancing classes can be difficult to find, but YouTube has a way of connecting people and interests. Try teaching yourself and see what happens!

Go to Ireland

Lastly, and possibly the most extreme depending on where you live, you could always jump on a plane and visit Ireland in the flesh. It’s beautiful, and the best way to immerse yourself in Irish culture is to be there for the authentic celebrations. Plane tickets vary in price, so it’s not a reasonable option for everyone, but it may be something to think about for next year.

Finger monkeys, or pygmy marmosets, are all the rage now. People who like to have exotic pets want to adopt these little critters and keep them under their care, and this has caused a sudden explosion in their popularity. Like piranhas and pythons before them, finger monkeys are becoming increasingly easy to find in the cities and in people’s homes.

Pygmy Marmoset Facts

They are the smallest animals of the primate family.
Marmosets are part of the five monkey family that form a part of the New World Monkey classification.
They are native to the South American rain forests and live in the western Amazon basin.
They are under no threat of extinction and are classified as animals of ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN.
Their lifespan is between 15 to 20 years.
Their primary diet is tree gum. Families of marmosets have been known to strip trees dry of gum and moving on to other groups of trees, ousting families that already live there. They can be quite vicious when fighting over turf. They are, however, too small to hurt humans.
They prefer living in groups and are known to be intelligent and speak differently among their peers.
They grow to about 6 inches, around 127mm and weigh only about 3.5 ounces, 100 gm.
Living in the forests, they can jump about 15 feet in the air, between branches.

Habitats

The finger monkey is native to South America. They are found in the western part of the Amazon forest. They are found all over Bolivia, Peru, Columbia, and Western Brazil. They stick to the undercover of mature forests and live among the lower branches of trees. Their spread is limited only by the rivers that cut through the forests and are not known to be strong swimmers. Their main area of activity is between the ground and about 60 feet in the trees. Since they need water to survive, they are found around the areas that are able to sustain water during the dry months. So small ponds and lakes are where finger monkeys usually congregate around.

Food habits

Finger monkeys are avid hunters and are often seen hunting down insects and butterflies. Moths, beetles and such cretins make up a good part of its diet. While they do hunt, its main source of sustenance is tree sap. They love to suckle on sap to such an extent that they have found ways to make the job of extracting the sap also easy. They bite, scratch and peel back the bark of trees and eat the gum that oozes out. After doing this repeatedly, the trees develop scar tissues that resemble circular, pimple-like structures. By keeping these bumps open and soft, they are able to draw as much sap as they need. Eventually, the trees will run out of sap and so they will leave it and find other trees nearby to harvest. The removal of sap from trees do not damage them, rather, the sap will eventually come back. Till that happens, finger monkeys will keep moving from tree to tree.

Characteristics

They are social creatures, so they travel and live in groups. Turf wars can get nasty and they are known to be savagely territorial. A family of finger monkeys usually have about 6 to 9 members with an equal number of males and females. That is one of the reasons why it is a lot better to have at least two monkeys together if you want them as pets. They thrive with company, and are known to be smart enough to have language skills and even be able to ‘’speak’’ with different monkeys using different patterns.

The female finger monkey normally gives birth to twins, twice a year in most cases. Triplets are rare with an 8% probability and single offspring coming in at 16% of the time. Pregnancy is between 119 and 140 days. Female finger monkeys can have up to 4 succeeding litters in a lifetime. The high birth rate of these monkeys and the low infant mortality rate put these animals in the least concern category for extinction. Their biggest threat, however, comes from the loss of habitat from deforestation and environmental threats from changing global climate. The illegal pet trade is also putting these creatures at risk. The infant mortality rate is as low as 25% and even that is mainly because of infants falling to the ground after slipping away from their mothers.

Their communications are limited to gestures and trills and they are not a very noisy kind of creature but can let out high pitched squeals when they sense danger or are physically threatened.

As pets, they are easily irritated, they tend to pick up human infections like the flu, and can become easily agitated. Primate vets often describe finger monkeys like having a set of children- smart, yet playful, and misbehaving children. They will make a lot of screeching sounds, they fight a lot and throw feces at each other all the time. They are also quite temperamental and will bite, scratch and attack all the time. They are complex creatures, but it is possible to integrate them with family, and they might even get acquainted with the family. Their playful nature and cute looks make it seem like they would be great as pets, but in reality, they make difficult pets.

The finger monkey, like most exotic pets, is not a domesticated animal. Unlike cats and dogs that have been bred over centuries exclusively to live in houses and cohabit with humans, finger monkeys are wild animals that live, hunt, and breed in the wild. In fact, they are not meant to be pets at all. However, local governments and federal bodies do allow it and hence having finger monkeys in your home is not strictly illegal. They are susceptible to human diseases, so, if you must have one, make sure you visit the vet regularly and stick to the instructions given.

Finger monkeys — they’re finger lickin’ good.

Buckle up. This is one of the more technical videos you’ll find here on The Twist. And this probably isn’t a topic for everyone. But for those of you who are into creating dashboards with Microsoft Excel, we think you’ll find the video above quite intriguing and informative. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you: creating dashboards in Excel is no walk in the park. Even for power users of the software, creating dashboards isn’t easy by any stretch of the brain. So, if you’ve been on the hunt for information about how to create a dashboard, you’ve finally found the perfect set of videos. Start by watching the one above. Then go to this Youtube channel and watch the ten part dashboard design series. After you watch them all, you’ll be a bona fide expert.

Crystal Dashboard design works on top of Microsoft Excel to turn it into visualization components. Mike Taylor, your mentor in the video series, suggests you this software. Enjoy his videos, and be sure to comment on them.