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These Will Be the Big Stories of 2018

Weihnachtsgans with chestnut stuffing... rotkraut... salzkartoffeln... plus a steamed and roasted ente, and, of course, a ham.

And don't forget the mustard, scharfer senf.

Yep... I'm still thinking of the Christmas supper I prepared for family and friends a week ago.

As you can see, I decided to go full-on Deutsch. My family on my father's side came from the L�ndle ("dear land" in the local dialect) of Baden-W�rttemberg in the 1860s, by way of Baltimore.

Sometimes I hear those ancestors calling to me, as I learned they can do when I lived in Africa. You don't hear their voices, of course; you just get a feeling. That's their language. This year, they said: "Gans zu Weihnachten, von Jungen!"

The most important thing I've learnt from my German ancestors is this: Nothing is permanent. Eventually, change will come. When you live in the middle of European history, it's inevitable.

Best be ready.

To honor my ancestors' wisdom, here are my predictions for 2018.

I'm no Nostradamus, but I'm going to stick my neck out and make a few calls for Wall Street 2018 based on evidence, logic... and history. And we have all year to see how I do...

Here goes...

Wall Street First Quarter

There will be a strong post-holiday stock market rally as tax-sensitive U.S. sectors like retail and telecoms begin to post big gains on the back of the tax cuts and strong holiday sales. Combined with positive economic indicators and political giddiness from the passage of the tax bill, it's all systems go for 2018... at least, at first.

Congressional Republicans move quickly on their legislative agenda - above all, cuts to Social Security and Medicare - since they are increasingly concerned about their hold on Congress after November.

Bitcoin suffers a big correction after swinging wildly in the last 10 days of December. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has added discussion of bitcoin to its next ministerial meeting. The Chinese are cracking down. For these and other reasons, sometime in the next three months we will see a sell-off as latecomers panic and sell. Long-term investors will remain in bitcoin and it will creep back up, but will not revisit its December highs.

Wall Street Second Quarter

Initially, there will be a continued uptick in markets as tax cuts begin to take effect at paycheck level and consumer confidence improves. But signs of doubt begin to creep into the market as U.S. macro indicators begin to weaken - especially job figures.

Congressional Republicans continue to pursue a series of rapid legislative victories, but progress comes to halt as the Robert Mueller probe of President Donald Trump's Russia ties hits a climax - either because of a round of indictments of senior figures or because Trump fires Mueller. Either way, the stock market reacts badly, with a string of sharp swings as investors wait to see which way things go.

Wall Street Third Quarter

As the fallout from the Trump-Mueller issue continues, several new allegations come to light. The U.S. market begins to slide as the prospect of a Democratic sweep of the House and Senate in November grows. The fear isn't of specific policy changes... but rather of increased political instability.

Because of this, the Federal Reserve is forced to pass on promised rate increases. A coalition of countries file a World Trade Organization action against the U.S. because of provisions in the new U.S. tax law.

The dollar begins to weaken significantly. The gold price begins to tick upward.

Wall Street Fourth Quarter

As the November election approaches, there is a decline in U.S. equities. Volatility increases markedly until the election itself. Gold continues its rise.

Immediately after the election - and regardless of the outcome - markets stabilize, but at a lower level, leading to annual stocks index gains for 2018 of half or less than those of 2017. Subsequently, one of two scenarios unfold:

A Democratic seizure of one or both houses of Congress initiates a prolonged period of market uncertainty, with no clear winners or losers. Investors know the tax bill won't be reversed, but the prospect of Democratic committee investigations of the Trump administration increase instability, and causes many U.S. corporations to hold off on investment plans in the meantime.

Republican retention of the House and Senate steadies markets, but more bombshell revelations/allegations against the Trump administration come out, increasing the political temperature as the year ends.

A Final Prediction

So there you have it. I think it's going to be an interesting year on Wall Street. It surprises me that there isn't more talk of the market effects of the 2018 elections already. But they will be the big story of the year.

Ted Bauman joined The Sovereign Investor Daily in 2013. As an expat who lived in South Africa for 25 years, Ted specializes in asset protection and international migration. Read more of what he has to say about offshore living here.

Article Source: These Will Be the Big Stories of 2018

Relationships: Do We Judge Others In The Same Way That We Judge Ourselves?

By Oliver JR Cooper

It could be said that just about everyone on this planet judges others from time to time. However, one of the main differences is that some people are more judgmental than others.

The Difference

Along with this, not everyone judges others in the same way. What this means is that one person could have the tendency to judge how other people look, while another could focus on how they behave.

At the same time, someone could judge just about everything and not limit it to one area of another person's life. And when someone is extremely judgemental, it can be hard for the people around them to enjoy their company.

An Unpleasant Experience

They might find it hard to relax or to be themselves, as they will know that it won't be long until this person finds someone or something to pull down. Yet, even if they were to say something to them, it doesn't mean that anything would change.

What comes out of their mouth could be dismissed and it might even cause them to be judged. It will then be clear that this person is not willing to change their behaviour, and this is likely to show that they believe that they are doing the right thing.

Pointing Out the Obvious

They could say that they are simply expressing what other people think but don't talk about. As a result of this, they might not even see themselves as being judgmental; if anything, they may believe that they ability to see clearly.

If this is the case, it will be in one's best interest to limit the amount of time that they spend with someone like this, or to cut their ties all together. Having said all this, if someone is very judgmental, they could also spend time with people who are no different.

Common Ground

The people in their life are then going to support their behaviour, and this person will support the behaviour of the people around them. What causes them to believe that they are right comes down to the fact that other people have the same outlook.

The fact that this doesn't prove that they are right is irrelevant, and there is going to be no reason for them to take a step back and to reflect on their own behaviour. It would be easy to believe that someone like this only causes other people to suffer and that they feel good about themselves.

A Release

If one was to listen to what goes on in this persons mind, they are likely to be in for a shock; that is, if they believe that this person feels good about themselves. What they are likely to find is that the suffering they inflict on others is not different to the suffering they inflict on themselves.

Putting other people down is then a way for them to elevate themselves and, unless their inner world changes, they are unlikely to change their behaviour. Therefore, if they were to become less judgemental without changing what is going on within them, they would probably feel even worse.

One Focus

For example, if one was to always talk about how useless or incompetent other people are, this could show that they always feel as though they are not good enough. What they say to others is then no different to what they say to themselves.

But what could make this hard to see is that one could act as though they are highly competent. There is also the chance that they are competent, which could show that the negative voice within them has made them work extremely hard.

A Human Doing

What this can then show is that they believe that their value is based on what they do and not on who they are. Being good at something and achieving things will then be way for them to try to feel as though they have value.

However, while this will be how some people define their value, there will be others who define it in other ways. So, this may mean that they believe their value is based on how they look or how much money they have.

The Outcome

If it relates to how they look, it may mean that they are physically attractive, or it might not. Either way, it can then be normal for one to believe that someone's value depends on what they look like.

One can then see other people as objects, and this can be how they see themselves. It won't matter that their value, along with everyone else's value, is based on who they are and not on what they look like.

The Truth

In all of these cases and numerous others, one can be so caught up in a perspective that it is not possible for them to see that what they believe is not the truth. Their value is inherent; it doesn't depend on what they look like, how much money they have, how competent they are, or anything else for that matter, and the same applies to the people who they come into contact with.

When it comes to how one judges themselves, and how this causes them to judge others, what took place during their early years can play a part. The way in which their caregivers spoke to them may have been internalised.

Awareness

It is then not going to matter if their caregivers are not longer on this planet, as these people will live inside their own head. These experiences would have caused one to create certain believes about themselves and the world.

If one can relate to this, and they want to change their life, it might be a good idea for them to reach out for external support. This is something that can be provided by a therapist or a healer.

Prolific writer, author, and coach, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over one thousand six hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.

To find out more go to - http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk/

Feel free to join the Facebook Group -
https://www.facebook.com/OliverJRCooper

Article Source: Relationships: Do We Judge Others In The Same Way That We Judge Ourselves?

LED Screens Have Constantly Defined The Success In The Cluttered Consumer Market

By Sadanand Kasukurthi

In today's trend, the advertising industry has emerged as one of the most advanced and constantly evolving components in today's cluttered digital platform.

It has in fact remained as the most beneficial stand-point for many companies who attempt to advertise their products and services through different methods. In this particular advertising arena, the LED based advertising has also significantly grown metamorphic ally.

The LED based advertising in the format of LED billboard has been predominantly used by more and more advertisers and a plethora of brand owners.

Technical view point of LED Screens

Pixel resolution

Pixel resolution has been considered the most important structural component of LED screens; the pixels have become the determinant factor for the following:

Pixel resolution has been an important component for the optimum viewing of the content by the prospective audience. The optimum viewing and the readability of the content is completely governed by the pixel resolution. The pixel resolution to a great extent depends completely on the diodes which are present in the LED screen.

What are the parameters to choose the best pixel pitch size?

Like as mentioned above about pixel resolution, the pixel pitch can be considered as an important parameter for the effective viewing experience. The pixel pitch becomes the distance between each LED cluster that makes the pixel and the amount of pixel pitch becomes the ardent factor for the costing of the LED screen.

One can say that if the pixel pitches are small it caters to the less audience and greater the pixel pitches, more the visibility to the vast audience. Furthermore, you can probably increase the pixel pitch depending upon the readability of the audience over the contents which is being fed onto it.

As a classic example, of a P10 pixel module, if there is a 10 mm gap between pixels, one can estimate that it uses 4 times as many LEDs as a P 20 pixel module and that is the reason how pixel pitch becomes a huge impact on the pricing.

The prominence of pixel pitch towards the resolution of the screen

Pixel pitch predominantly affects the resolution of the screen and the optimum viewing experience by the targeted audience. However, there are two main components in LED screens which make it an essential component viz. the SMD and DIP LEDs

The SMD LED also termed as the surface mount device light emitting diode, has been a type of LED module that significantly uses the surface-mount technology (SMT) which could mount the LED chips on to the printed circuit boards (PCB's). The SMD LED's have been the self-contained surface-mounted LED device that has a capacity to function on its own or get plugged to any compatible unit.

DIP or the Dual in-line package) LEDs, have been used as a traditional LED lights, the DIP LED have been principally using the chip which is encased in a hard plastic and generally used with 2 straight parallel connecting pins. The DIP chips have been still used today but have been deployed with lower efficiency than the upcoming new LED chips which are commercially used in the modern day applications.

The resolution in a LED is generally measured in lumens and one can typically understand that a LED DIP chip could produce around 4 lumens per LED which is significantly far less than the newer chips.

Benefits of LED screens LED Screens have been a very portable component which could be plugged onto the laptops or the PC so that your content for the advertisements can be easily managed.

LED Screens have been an effective instrument for most of the advertisers as they can project their product info through the LED screens.

Since the LED Screens use the diodes, it simply helps in for the energy conservation, which uses less power for more picture output.

LED Screens can be plugged onto the laptop as mentioned above and thereby brings about a significant impact on the product video which is streamed.

They have been the benchmarks for certain trade conferences and the exhibitions and they have been constantly enticing the audience towards the product presentations with appropriate description through audio presentation.

To learn more approach us at VRS Technologies or call us at +971-55-5182748 so that our technical team could get in touch with you for further endeavors. Please visit our official website at http://www.vrscomputers.com for more information.

Article Source: LED Screens Have Constantly Defined The Success In The Cluttered Consumer Market

Reasons Why Travelling Is the Best Hobby

By Aman Tumukur Khanna

Going on a road trip, exploring new places, cuisines and learning the culture does rivet you, right? Then yes, travelling is indeed your hobby. You are a wanderlust and seek adventure. Travelling is fun and at the same time rejuvenating too. It enriches the soul. We leave a tiny part of us with our travel diaries and learn more about ourselves. Travelling might be an addiction to many of you and world tour the biggest dream so congratulations you are on the right track because travelling is certainly the best hobby. Let us delve into it more and see how:

1. It lets you appreciate the beauty:

Why do we love to travel so much? Because we long to behold the beauty of nature then be it a mountain or an island or any old city. It lets us appreciate the finer aspects we lack in our daily mundane routine.

2. It ignites the creativity:

Most of the poetries, songs, paintings and in short an art form is defined by beautiful places and destination. You discover myriad places, people and culture which causes you to write or paint. Travelling is a boon to the creativity. The more you travel to places, the more refined shall be your art.

3. It helps you grow as a humane:

Travelling solely or in a group teaches a great deal of things. It carves you into a better human. You learn to interact with people and know their stories which impact on a greater level. Travelling and adventure lets you open to new possibilities. It even helps you to combat your fears.

4. It provides haven for food lovers:

Tired of eating the same old things daily? Well not at all because you travel. You learn new cuisines, tastes and suddenly you want to know the recipe. Ever happened with you? Food lovers are same globally. We live for food and new variety is more of like heaven on earth for us.

5. It lets you enjoy solitude:

Although you are travelling in groups yet travelling does let you enjoy your own company. It is soothing and seldom the inner talks are beneficial for a lot of problems we are confronting in our life. It teaches you to love yourself.

Never got a chance to chalk out a plan and travel toy your favorite destination out of the routine? What are you waiting for? Make things work out, pack your bags and head to the place, pronto because travelling is the best.

To know more about galapagos islands, please check our website.

Article Source: Reasons Why Travelling Is the Best Hobby

How To Deal With Too Much Work

By Jon Allo

An online entrepreneur will always be busy but more work doesn't necessarily mean better results.

Sometimes, when trying to do everything yourself, nothing gets done very well. Aside from bad work productivity, the consequences of working too much can lead to anxiety, stress, being alone, and general bad health and fitness.

But your business won't operate by itself and you can't afford to hire somebody full-time. Maybe it's time to outsource some jobs to a virtual assistant.

Can A Virtual Assistant Help You?

A virtual assistant (VA) is similar to a private assistant that you connect with online and outsource work to them to do for you. Some VAs work on their own and some work via various websites as a way to more easily find clients.

They can charge on an hourly basis, by each task, or you can pay a monthly fee for services. Many VAs are happy to work out a fee framework with you that suits you both.

Only Pay For What You Need

You don't need to provide a VA with any resources to complete the tasks you need done. They should have everything that they need.

Using a VA actually can save you money, as well as time. You only pay for and seek the services of people to do work specifically when you need it. This means you can spend more time completing the tasks for your business that actually make money and take on extra work when it becomes available, as your VA can assist with the parts they can do.

How Can They Help You?

A VA can do a wide range tasks to help you in your online business. This includes administrative jobs, creation of content material, website construction and trouble-shooting or even social networking.

Some administrative duties are financial such as book-keeping, managing affiliate payouts, and keeping track of income sources. They can handle inbound and outbound email, sending certain kinds of email to you when your attention is required. They can also plan meetings, online seminars, or phone calls for you or help you plan your work week. This is particularly useful if you have difficulty with time management.

Your Success Is Their Success

Virtual assistants realize how vital it is to provide good work to you due to the fact your success is dependent upon the work they provide. The more successful you become, the more work that you will need them to complete for you.

The teach themselves to do jobs that are in demand. You simply use the skills you need for your projects, whether it's a long-term or on a project by project basis.

If you are spending too much time working, a virtual assistant can save you time and money. They free you up to do the most important tasks for your business. It's how the profitable online businesses generate the wealth and freedom their owners enjoy. To learn where you can find reliable and trusted virtual assistants, download my free checklist, Getting Started With Outsourcing at https://jonallo.com/outsource

Article Source: How To Deal With Too Much Work

Get Benefits of Medical Marijuana For A Healthy Life

By Ashley Rogers

Medical marijuana is the name given to the cannabis and cannabinoids that are recommended by doctors for the treatment of numerous conditions or ailments. And if you are not treating any of your conditions or ailments with it, it won't be termed as medical marijuana. It is widely used all over the world under legal framework for various medical purposes.

The marijuana plant contains hundreds of cannabinoids and each of them has a different effect on the patient's body. With the latest researches that count for the health benefits of marijuana, its popularity has gained over the stigmas linked to weed. Being in New York, you can only use medical marijuana if you are suffering from some particular diseases under the legal framework.

The diseases that can be treated with medical marijuana in New York include Epilepsy and Seizures, Asthma, HIV/AIDS, and Alzheimer's. It is advised for any patient to use medical marijuana safely in accordance with the physician's prescription. In the nutshell, if medical marijuana is taken properly, it can prove to be a lot of beneficial to the user's body.

Benefits of Medical Marijuana There are countless benefits of marijuana that make it a recommended dose for the patients suffering from various ailments or disorders.

1. It can cure many diseases. Medical marijuana is known for curing many diseases and physical problems. It can control epileptic seizures, fight Glaucoma, slow Alzheimer's, help in preventing cancer from spreading, reduce Hepatitis C side-effects, treat inflammatory bowels, relieve arthritis pain, ease multiple sclerosis pain, help you get through chemo and much more.

2. It can help in losing weight. It regulates insulin production in one's body and helps in managing the daily intake of calories more efficiently. You also might have noticed that people who consume weed are slimmer than the ones who don't. Moreover, it also improves the body metabolism of the patient.

3. It can reduce anxiety and depression. A study has shown that medical marijuana can improve the user's mood to a great extent and can even act as a mild sedative. It can easily kick out anxiety and depression out of patient's mind.

4. It is the best alternative to dangerous addictions. It has been found that it easier to get attracted towards marijuana from all other types of lethal drug addictions. In other words, it can save many lives that are prone to other hard drugs.

5. It helps the user in improving focus. Medical marijuana helps people in focusing on their job and increases their mental creativity. It might not have proved to be helpful in improving short-term memory, but it does prove to be helpful in performing well at tests and makes you smarter.

6. It reverses the negative impact of smoking tobacco on your lungs. It doesn't have any harmful effect on the user's lungs. Instead of this, it eliminates the effects of tobacco smoking provided you have quit it.

7. It is a good choice for relaxation. It is a good option for people who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It can actually work on relieving the stress that is associated with PTSD.

I am Ashley Rogers. I am a writer and I contribute my content to various categories. In this article, I have shared some important and relevant information for marijuana patients so that they can get benefitted. If any of my viewers reside in or nearby New York, you can get yourself treated with Medical marijuana services at Medical Weight Loss.

Article Source: Get Benefits of Medical Marijuana For A Healthy Life

Essential Factors When Buying Sports Cars For Sale Overseas

By Maynard Fahey

When it comes to vehicles, there are numerous types and models individuals can choose from. But, for individuals who have lucrative finances, the best option is to purchase a sports car. However, buying a sports car can be difficult since some models are limited. Fortunately, car buyers can also look for sports car for sale overseas. When doing so, below are some essential factors you need to consider.

Car condition

One of the most essential factors that car buyers need to consider when buying a sports car for sale overseas is its condition. This is very important especially if you are looking for a used one. When checking the condition of the vehicle, it is important that you look for signs of rust as well as repaired parts of the car. In addition, it is also a good idea to call in a mechanic to help you evaluate the engine. However, these tasks are impossible if you are buying overseas. So, the best option is to check the car's auction inspection sheet. This inspection sheet will provide you with accurate information about the vehicle. Not to mention, inspection sheets also include the auction grade, which can help you determine its value.

Market price

After checking the vehicle, it is also best for car buyers to know its market price. There are some car models that more expensive due to its demand or perhaps, due to its additional accessories such as bigger engine or better handling. Therefore, it is important to do your research to ensure that your investment will be worth it.

Import regulations

It is also important for car buyers to have sufficient knowledge about import regulations. These regulations differ in each country. Thus, it is best that you contact authorities before buying a sports car for sale overseas. Other than that, it is also important that you complete all needed requirements to ensure that import tasks can be completed easily and promptly.

Insurance

Lastly, car buyers must also ask for insurance. Insurance is very important when transporting vehicles since damages such as dents and scratches can easily affect the value of the vehicle. In addition, these damages can be very expensive. By getting an insurance, you are rest assured that any damages in the car during the transport will be shouldered by the importer.

These are some of the most essential factors that car buyers need to consider when planning to buy a sports car for sale overseas.

Click here for more.

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Article Source: Essential Factors When Buying Sports Cars For Sale Overseas

The Role & Responsibilities Of Students And Teachers

By Jasmeen Kaur

Students and teachers are often characterized as the most transformative experience in teacher education. During student teaching, you will enact in the classroom the teaching theories, strategies, and standards you learned in your core courses.

Our world is operated by the use of technology to garner information. Effective teachers must make consistent and appropriate use of technology to support the educational goals they have for themselves and their students. Whether it is through the use of blogs to facilitate discussions or using a smart board to locate countries around the world, teachers and students benefit from the purposeful use of technology for educational objectives.

Effective teachers are life-long learners. They connect their day-to-day activities to coherent social, philosophical, and political frameworks. They research their own practice. They participate in the professional and academic activities of their academic and professional communities. Learning is best facilitated through well-structured activities that challenge learners intellectually, academically, and socially and bridge students' learning to their real-world experiences.

Remember that teaching is collaborative and dynamic and everyone's teaching can constantly be improved. Both your cooperating teacher and your coach can be excellent resources to help you improve your teaching and to ensure that your students are learning. The successes and struggles, highs and lows, are a common aspect of teacher development that many other teachers have experienced and continue to experience throughout their careers. The working of the teacher is hard to enact Temple's Standards for Skillful Teaching however, you will not be alone.

At colleges and university, effective teachers ground learning in the thorough knowledge of subject matter and in the ways of knowing that characterize academic disciplines. Effective teachers connect subject matter and ways of knowing to students' prior knowledge and provide meaningful opportunities for them to engage and construct new knowledge in the classroom.

The professional relationships develop your cooperating teachers and your university coach and the teaching experience reaction heavily on the success of the student. The cooperating teacher has expressed a willingness to share his or her professional experience and knowledge as well as a commitment to work with new teachers. The university coach has valuable experience as a teacher and often as an administrator.

Although your university coach is responsible for assessing your growth as a teacher his/her responsibility also involves coaching you in your development as a teacher and providing detailed, formative feedback about your teaching and planning.

The author knows the higher education have opportunities to learn, research, teach, and shape the future of our disciplines and influence the larger world through our disciplines. Institutes in Chandigarh have Successful teachers recognize that many of today's college students have learning needs. Taking actions like these helps them to meet those challenges successfully.

Article Source: The Role & Responsibilities Of Students And Teachers

Direct Thermal Vs Thermal Transfer Printing

By Jack Wilson

Direct thermal printing uses label material with a heat sensitive coating. When heated by the print head of your printer, the thermal coating turns black to create the image/text required.

Thermal transfer printing uses a thermal transfer ribbon (i.e. an ink ribbon also known as a carbon ribbon). The print head heats the ribbon and ink is deposited onto the label material to create the image/text required.

Some small desktop printers such as the Zebra GC420d are direct thermal only, but most thermal printers will operate in thermal transfer or direct thermal mode. The cost of consumables is similar for the two methods of printing. Direct thermal labels are generally a little more expensive, but when you add the cost of thermal transfer labels and ribbons together, the costs are similar.

The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods of printing are as follows:

Direct Thermal Printing

Advantages of Direct Thermal Printing:

• Simpler for the operator to load the media (you only have to load the roll of labels).

• It can be easier to obtain a good print quality during the initial setup (you do not need to match the ribbon type to the label material).

• Environmentally better as you do not have to dispose of used ink ribbons (generally you can only use thermal ribbons once).

Disadvantages of Direct Thermal Printing:

• The print will fade in time, especially if exposed to direct sunlight.

• The label material will discolour in time, especially if exposed to direct sunlight.

• The label material is prone to marking if rubbed or scuffed.

• Cannot be used in high temperature applications (generally specified to 50�C), as the labels will quickly turn black.

• There is a limited range of direct thermal label materials, compared to thermal transfer (although it is possible to obtain direct thermal card tag material and some synthetic materials such as polypropylene).

• Direct thermal labels will cause greater wear to the print head compared to thermal transfer printing. You can therefore expect the replace the print head more often with direct thermal printing if you are printing high volumes of labels.

The problem of print fading and the label material marking when scuffed are reduced when using top coated direct thermal labels. Top coated direct thermal labels are more expensive, but also provide limited resistance to moisture and water damage. If direct thermal labels are to be used in a freezer (with a freezer adhesive), it is advisable to use top coated label material.

Thermal Transfer Printing

Advantages of Thermal Transfer Printing:

• Thermal transfer printing produces a permanent print, which has excellent resistance to fading, even when subjected to direct sunlight.

• The durability of thermal transfer print can be determined by the choice of ribbon type. The most popular (and lowest cost) grade is wax, which has limited smudge resistance. The next grade up is wax/resin, which has good smudge resistance, but limited scratch resistance. The top grade is resin, which is scratch and water resistant and resistant to many chemicals (see the ribbon specification for information on which chemicals a particular ribbon is resistant to).

• There are a much wider choice of label materials available for thermal transfer printing compared to direct thermal. The choice of label materials varies from uncoated and coated papers and card through to cloth and a wide range of synthetic materials, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polyimide. The choice of adhesives is also greater with thermal transfer labels, in particular for very low temperature applications (-196�C) and very high temperatures (+ 575�C).

• There are a good range of coloured ribbons available for thermal transfer printing.

• Thermal ribbons have a silicon coating on the print head side to protect the print head against excessive wear.

Disadvantages of Thermal Transfer Printing:

• Thermal transfer printing takes a little more time to load the media compared to direct thermal printing.

• You need to take care that the grade of ribbon matches the label material you are using. If you are using relatively coarse, uncoated paper labels, a wax ribbon will give a better print quality (the soft wax will flow into the rough material). However if you use a wax ribbon on a coated synthetic material, it will rub off very easily. Here a resin ribbon would be the preferred choice.

• On some lower grade ribbons, the print head will need cleaning more often as there can be build up of ink.

• You need to dispose of the used ribbons, which is less environmentally friendly compared to thermal printing.

When starting a new project with thermal transfer printing, it is always advisable to ask your supplier for a sample ribbon to ensure you have a good match between the ribbon and label material.

To enquire about any of our self adhesive labels, call our sales office on 01482 485001 or visit our website www.labelsexpress.co.uk

Article Source: Direct Thermal Vs Thermal Transfer Printing

Ideas of How to Get People to Your Trade Show Exhibition Stand

By Nichola S Clydesdale

Your stand is your shop window!
What is your reason for being at the show? For most people it is to sell, launch a new product or a simple brand awareness exercise. You must select signs, posters, colours and marketing materials that reflect this.

You don't have to have a big stand
When you are exhibiting you do need to have big desires but that doesn't mean you must have a massive budget. Don't get carried away with having the biggest stand, location is more important and if you get the look right a smaller stand can work just as well.

Exhibiting at a trade show does not mean you have to spend lots of cash. Try to use things you can use again. You will always find there are things in your office you can take and if you have room, taking things like chairs means you don't have to hire them.

Test before you go
Get everything together and make sure it will all fit in your vehicle. There is nothing worse than packing up the day before to head off to the exhibition hall and it won't fit in the car. It may take you some time to work out how to fit it all in so you may need to rethink what you are taking. Once you get everything into your vehicle then take a photo on your phone to help you remember.

A good idea, if you have room, is to set it up at work before you go. That way you can see how much space you have to work with and how it will feel to your customers.

Promotional items and giveaways
Make sure your promo gifts clearly show your message or brand and they don't end up on the floor of the exhibition. If you are going to spend money on gifts then make sure they are something people will take away with them and they market your business.

Location, location, location
Where your stand is located can be critical. Get a floor plan before you book your space and see if you can find out where your competitors are located. You ideally want to be on main walkways but if all the better spaces have been booked not to worry you can hire experienced exhibition staff to attract people to your stand.

Who are you going to take with you?
Many exhibitors hire experienced promotional and exhibition staff to increase stand footfall. This is a much cheaper option than taking someone from work who you have to pay hotels, lunches and travel for. Remember if you take one of your sales people, who is making those sales back at the office?

Don't go alone, if your stand is busy how are you going to pop to the loo, go for lunch or be focused on clients when you have other waiting. Having another person with you means they can chat to visitors whilst they wait, they can promote your brand, take down contact details and your stand always has someone on it. You can also get them to go and get the coffee's or make them if you have the facilities.

Tell people about your exhibition stand!

Don't forget to tell people! Put an article on your website, banners on social media and email your existing and prospective clients.

Article Source: Ideas of How to Get People to Your Trade Show Exhibition Stand