91.9 F
Belize
Home Blog Page 11

The Overpass lights up the city’s night

Residents of Belize City and those traveling to the city on the Philip Goldson Highway were delighted to arrive at the Flag Monument Roundabout during recent evenings to see a lovely and enlivening display of lights gracing the formerly dull and uninviting cement Overpass. They were curious about what was going on and how long the delight of a brilliant nightlight would remain. 

On the evening of February 13, 2023, the Belize City Council decorated the Sir Manuel Esquivel Overpass with pink and crimson lights in observance of Valentine’s Day. The council has already lit up the overpass. for the holiday season in December 2021 and the month of patriotism and independence in September 2022. According to the council, this time is special since the lights will not be turned off after a month.

Thanks to the purchase of long-lasting, color-changing lights, the most recent lighting is everlasting. The council plans to use the monument to honor notable occasions and holidays. Each month promote several causes, including 16 Days of Activism, Breast Cancer Awareness, Mental Health Awareness, and others. Next on their list in March is Women’s Month, with purple lights.

Mayor Bernard Wagner stated he observed this vacant space sitting in the middle of the city. Why don’t the locals make use of the area? Its gloomy appearance and initial impression were foreboding. He thought? Why not add light?

The vicinity of the Sir Manuel Esquivel Overpass and the Flag Monument Roundabout has improved with the overpass light installation and fresh solar lights surrounding the roundabout.Belize City’s Council wants this creative lighting to have a positive effect on the city.

Factors To Consider in Choosing the Best Cryptocurrency to Invest in 2023

You’ve heard the hype about cryptocurrencies, but you’re not sure where to get started. You’ve read a few articles online and spoken with friends who have also expressed interest in getting involved, but you still feel uncertain about which cryptocurrency is right for you.

Choosing the best cryptocurrency to invest in for 2023 is a daunting task. With so many exchanges, so many cryptocurrencies, and so many trading pairs such as VID USDT, how can one choose? It’s important to remember that you don’t need to trade every cryptocurrency on every exchange.

The first thing to understand is that choosing a cryptocurrency to invest in is not the same as choosing a stock. There are no fundamentals like earnings reports or financial ratios that can help you decide which one to buy. 

Know the Team Behind the Project.

When you’re looking at a cryptocurrency, you want to make sure that the team behind it is trustworthy and consistent. You’ll want to know what their backgrounds are, and how active they have been with the project.

A great place to look for this information is on LinkedIn or Twitter; if there’s not an official Twitter account for a project, then try searching for hashtags related to that project or community members who are part of it.

Check Out the Roadmap

A clear, detailed and realistic roadmap is also a good sign. A blockchain project should be able to explain how they intend to achieve their goals in a clear and understandable way. They should also update the community on progress frequently.

A transparent roadmap is an ideal road sign for investors, especially those who may have little knowledge of blockchain technology or cryptocurrency investments.

Check out the Supply

When you’re trying to decide which cryptocurrency to invest in, it’s important to look at the supply. The supply of a cryptocurrency is the number of coins that will be available for mining or purchase.

Let’s say you are eyeing for Stellar XLM crypto. The supply of a cryptocurrency determines its XLM price, since it directly affects how much money there is available on the market. A high supply means that there are more coins and therefore less demand, while a low supply means there are fewer coins and therefore more demand.

Consider the Market Cap

Another factor you should consider when choosing a cryptocurrency to invest in is the market cap. The market cap is the total value of all coins in circulation multiplied by their price per coin. It’s a good indicator of how popular a coin is, and it can help you determine whether or not it’s worth investing in.

Investigate the Community

Go on the social media channels of your favorite cryptocurrency and see what the community is talking about. Check out their Telegram channel, their Reddit channel, their Discord channel and their Twitter account. 

You can also check out the Facebook page or blog of any project you’re interested in investing in. You should see a lot of discussion about updates regarding developments on the project as well as speculation about future price movements of that particular coin/token

Don’t Ignore Marketing Efforts

Crypto projects often spend a lot of money on marketing, which is a good sign. It’s a sign that the project has some degree of success and it’s confident enough to spend millions on advertising campaigns. 

The more money a project has, the more likely it is that its developers will deliver what they promise. That’s why you should look for cryptocurrency projects with strong marketing strategies before investing in them.

Don’t Forget Trends and Events.

The best cryptocurrency to invest in for 2023 is one that has a combination of the following characteristics:

  • A strong community.
  • A well-known team behind it.
  • Active development and use cases for the coin or token.
  • Good marketing efforts on social media and other channels.

The better you can understand a project’s goals, the easier it will be to decide whether or not it’s a good investment for you.

You should also invest in projects that have clear goals and objectives. If a project doesn’t have a specific goal, it’s harder to tell if they’re moving forward or not. You’ll want to understand why the project was created, who created it and what their background is. How long it has been around, what progress has been made so far, if there are any major milestones coming up soon (like an upcoming release of new features). 

What challenges still need to be overcome before the project reaches its ultimate goal (if any), whether or not there are any other teams working on similar projects and how much funding has been raised so far through their pre-sale or ICO sale.

Investigate the community behind the cryptocurrency as well; this will help you understand why certain people might be interested in supporting this particular cryptocurrency over others while also helping you determine if there’s enough community support for your chosen coin at all! Make sure that someone else out there hasn’t already done your research for you; if they have then great but don’t stop here.

8 Tips for Buying the Perfect Large Camper

Over 11 million households in the U.S. now own an RV, so if you’re in the market for one, you’re in great company. However, buying a large camper like this is a huge investment; it isn’t a decision you should take lightly. 

There are many factors to consider when you begin your hunt for the perfect RV or camper trailer for your lifestyle. Keep reading to find our eight tips for choosing the perfect one for your needs. 

1. Know Your Towing Capacity

The last thing you want to do is buy an RV only to later find your vehicle can’t handle towing it. Most trucks or SUVs should be okay hauling an RV, but if you drive a car or crossover, you’ll need to consult your vehicle manual. 

2. Do Your Research

Give yourself time to research before visiting a dealership to look at an RV or 5th wheel. The more you know in advance, the less likely it will be that a sleazy salesperson will be able to take advantage of you. 

Learn about manufacturers and read reviews only. Reading reviews will provide insight into what real consumers like you think of their new camper. Then, narrow your list to two or three prospective manufacturers to make the shopping process more manageable.

3. Ensure It’s Serviced and Inspected

RVs can be lemons, just like cars. So before you drive your new camper trailer off the lot, make sure it’s had an inspection and been serviced. This is true even if you’re buying an RV from the factory. The worst place to find out about a leak or broken slide-out is when you’re trying to enjoy a vacation with your family. 

4. Do a Walkthrough

After ensuring your RV has been serviced and inspected, insist on doing a walkthrough with your salesperson. Have them show you the ropes of how your new toy works. Ask them to show you how the slides work and how to hook up the power and water. 

You should also get a primer on dumping the tanks. 

While doing your walkthrough, you can keep your eyes open for any issues your inspector could have missed. 

4. Concentrate on Floor Plans

While doing your preliminary research, focus on each model’s floor plan. Imagine yourself in the RV and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is there a spot for everyone to sleep? 
  • Is there room for everyone at the dinner table?
  • Is there enough privacy for you and your partner?
  • Is there room inside to do activities on rainy days?
  • Where will you store your necessities?

Asking yourself these questions will help you quickly navigate all available RVs to find the one perfect for your needs.

5. Consider Where You’ll Store a Large Camper

It can be tempting to buy the most expensive and biggest camper out there but don’t do so without thinking it through first. Do you have a place lined up where you can store your new toy? Your city might have a bylaw restricting where and how long you can park an RV on the street or in your alley. 

RV storage can be pricy, so do your research to see what’s available in your city. We recommend finding a heated building if you can, as it will prevent your RVs water system from freezing in the winter.

6. Comb Through Your Warranty

Don’t buy a warranty from your dealer without looking at other options first. RV dealers will take a cut, meaning you might not get the best deal. It’s in the salesperson’s best interest to sell you that warranty whether it’s the right product for you or not.

You don’t need to decide on an extended warranty the same day you purchase your RV. If you’re buying a new camper, it will come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. After that first year, you can decide if you want that extra warranty.

However, if you wait to buy the extended warranty, it won’t be as good of a price for a one-year-old RV as a brand-new one.  

Before you sign any papers, read your warranty from start to finish. Then, ask the salesperson to walk you through what is and isn’t covered until you fully understand your coverage.

7. Be Realistic About the RV Lifestyle

Many people buy an RV thinking they’ll take to the road every weekend in the summer to get the most out of their investment. While this is certainly possible for you, is it realistic with your current lifestyle?

Can you take that much time off of work? Do you want to drag the kids and pets around all summer, putting them out of their much-loved routine? Would you feel comfortable being away from home for that long?

If you’re buying an RV thinking you’ll spontaneously go camping, think again. You can’t just leave spur of the moment and expect to get a campsite in the middle of summer. RVing is a very popular pastime, and most campgrounds only have limited space for accommodating RVs, meaning they get booked up fast in advance.

After thinking it through, you might decide on a different RV size or style. This could ultimately save you money in the long run, so don’t be afraid to really do some soul-searching here.

8. Rent Before You Buy

You shouldn’t buy an RV if you’ve never been RVing before. It’s hard to know what you want in an RV if you’ve never used one. For that reason, we recommend taking a summer to go RVing in a rental before choosing one to buy. 

Renting will help you determine the best size and style for your needs.

Hit the Open Road

We hope our guide to buying a large camper or RV has helped you in your decision-making process. Buying an RV is a considerable expense, and it’s not a decision one should take lightly. Please give yourself plenty of time to weigh your options before jumping into it. 

Keep browsing our site for great travel tips to help you plan your first RV vacation.

*See our Disclaimer for release information.

How online horse betting works and some helpful tips for first timers 

Horse races are thrilling spectacles. The vibe surrounding these events is uplifting, what with the fast-paced nature of the sport. People take their family and friends for a fun day out at the races, watching the well-bred horses attain incredible speeds and cheering them on as they pass by.

Horse racing is also one of the sports that naturally lends itself to betting. People place bets after researching a particular horse, its breed, the level of training received, and the jockey’s experience or skill set. Since the odds are constantly changing on the racetrack, betting becomes as thrilling as the sport.

However, instead of physically visiting the racetracks or racecourses to place bets on a race, you can place a bet from your home through an online betting platform. Once you find a good, safe and reliable platform, you can place your bets on a horse after researching its past performance, browsing the profile of the jockey, and estimating their chances of winning the race.

But how does the process work, and what are some things you should know before betting on horse racing through an online platform? Read on to find out.

How to find a betting platform?

You must find a reliable betting platform to place bets online on horse races. It should have a secure payment system and be an approved betting provider strictly adhering to the betting codes of practice. 

The platform should mention itself as a publicly listed company with an authentic gambling licence and physical branches. They should record all telephone calls that their representatives have with the customers on a voice logging system, as it ensures the security of both the bookmaker and the client. 

Further, it must enable its online wagers to be scrutinised by a gaming commission as soon as they occur. 

How does the betting process work?

Before you can place a bet on a horse race on bluebet.com.au, or a betting platform of your choice, they will ask you to open an account, which you can do by filling out a form or calling their customer service representative. 

Once you’ve done that, deposit funds into your newly created account using credit cards, cash, cheques, fund transfers, or other payment mechanisms.

Most platforms have a minimum and maximum betting limit for the races, which you should find out in advance. Some give you the option of a pre-committed facility, letting you set the deposit and loss limits. 

Tips to bet on horse racing online

Here are some tips you will find helpful while betting on horse racing on an online platform.

Become familiar with the racing jargon

If you are betting on horse races for the first time, it pays to be familiar with the racing jargon. You should be familiar with a few terms: all-weather, allowance, banker, blinkers, bloodstock, bridle, broodmare, clerk of the course, and connections.

Place a bet on the favourite

The safest bet that you can place is on the favourite. It refers to the horse with the highest chances of winning, with favourites winning almost 53% of the time. However, since many prefer betting on the favoured horse, you will have to bet a large amount to receive significant returns. 

Try spread betting

Betting against the spread is a technique where a bet is placed not just on the chances of a horse winning a race but by the points on which they win it. It is a good way of earning more money from a race since you can buy more than the spread. It also allows you to bet on several horses rather than a single one.Betting on horse races through an online betting platform is convenient, easy, and exciting once you know how the process works and become familiar with the racing terminology. However, before doing so, finding a safe wagering platform is essential.

Neteller betting sites also give both new and experienced players the opportunity to bet on horses.

*See our Disclaimer for release information.

How to Get Mortgage Loans in Hong Kong – A Step-by- Step Guide

Step 1 – Establish & Eligibility Criteria

The mortgage loan is the most common type of home loan in Hong Kong. It is a single lump sum payment, which is paid back over time. The borrower pays an interest rate on the loan and repays it by making monthly payments to the lender. In order to apply for a mortgage loan, you must meet certain eligibility criteria such as: – You must be at least 18 years old – You must have a bank account in Hong Kong. – You must have a Hong Kong ID number

Step 2 – Types of Mortgage Loans in Hong Kong

There are many types of mortgage loans in Hong Kong. But the most common ones are first-time buyers, second-time buyers, and home movers.

Each type of mortgage loan has its own eligibility criteria and interest rates.

First-time buyers can get a loan up to HK$5 million for up to 50 years at 4%. Second-time buyers can get a loan up to HK$5 million for up to 40 years at 3%. Home movers can get a loan up to HK$10 million for up to 30 years at 2%.

Step 3 – Considerations before you go ahead with the process

Before you go ahead with the process, there are a few things that you should consider.

The first thing to consider is the purpose of your loan. Is it for an emergency or something else? The second thing to think about is how much money you need and how long do you need it for? The third thing to think about is your credit score. If your credit score is not good, then your interest rate will be higher than someone with a better credit score.

Step 4 – Selection Process for Mortgage Loans in Hong Kong

The mortgage application process in Hong Kong is a tedious and long process. It can take up to 6 months before the applicants get a mortgage approval. The pre-approval process, which is an important step in the mortgage application process, is often skipped by many applicants as they believe it doesn’t have any benefits.

This article will discuss the importance of getting a loan pre-approval and how it can make your mortgage application process smoother.

*See our Disclaimer for release information.

Bonuses at the Red Dog Casino: How does the Operator Attract Gamblers?

Online Red Dog casino has launched on the US market in 2019. This project belongs to the ArbathSolutions OU company. The Red Dog casino has a Curacao legitimate license. The gambling website quickly became popular among American players: the casino has studied the local market and managed to offer favorable conditions to potential customers.  Red Dog Casino Bonus Review at https://casinoandslots.org/red-dog-casino-bonuses/ will allow you to get acquainted with the promotions, assess the benefits of cooperation with the website and register, getting the maximum rewards.

No Deposit Bonuses for Newbies

The online casino is 100% confident in the high quality of service. The website offers to test the content and assess the level of service for free. For this purpose, newbies are given a no deposit for registration.

After creating an account, $40 is automatically credited to your balance. Wager is x50. You can spend the received funds in any game. The main thing is not to exceed the maximum bet of $10. The gift is given only once. It is forbidden to create several accounts on third parties.

Welcome Bonus for Newbies

If you are sure of the exceptional conditions and the original software, you can safely deposit the balance and make bets without restrictions. The casino offers to increase the starting deposit by 225%. Accrual of the bonus is automatic.

To obtain a welcome gift, you need to deposit $10 or more. Withdrawal of the gift funds is possible after wagering. The wager is equal to x30. You can get the bonus 5 times.

Promotions for Regular Customers

The online casino has prepared offers for active players. Regularly you can get reload bonuses. There are 3 types available, the size depends on the amount of the deposit. Terms:

  • $30-$74 – 120%;
  • $75-$149 – 135%;
  • $150 and more – 160%.

Accrual is made if the specified amount is transferred to the balance by one payment. To withdraw it, you should make a x35 turnover. The maximum limit of bets is $10.

Free Spins

The website often launches promotions that allow you to get free spins in different slot machines for a minimum deposit amount. Now, the online casino has decided to support the release of the Desert Raider novelty. The slot has recently appeared in the catalog by Real Time Gaming provider. The promotion allows you to get acquainted with it with maximum benefit.

To get 110 free spins you will need to top up your balance by $10. After that, the system will accrue spins, and they will become available for usage. You can  withdraw the prize money after a 5 times turnover. It is allowed to choose any game.

On the portal https://norskecasinoportal.com/ Norwegians also enjoy bonuses from online casinos.

*See our Disclaimer for release information.

1,500-Year-Old Salt Works Submerged in Belize Lagoon Reveals Rare Mayan Architecture

Archaeologists at Ta’ab Nuk Na, the largest salt works site in Paynes Creek National Park in southern Belize, have uncovered a rare grouping of underwater Mayan structures. Their research, published today in the journal Antiquity, describes large residential buildings along with three salt kitchens submerged in the coastal lagoon.

Archaeologists move a wood post in the lagoon, while red flags mark post locations below the sea floor at Ta’ab Nuk Na, Belize. COURTESY HEATHER MCKILLOP

“[We found] hundreds of wooden posts that define the walls of Classic Maya ‘pole and thatch’ wooden buildings,” E. Cory Sills, a co-author of the study, said in a statement. “Since wood normally decays in the tropical landscape of the Maya area, the wooden buildings provide a rare view of the architecture that once dominated most ancient Maya communities.”

Excavations revealed the remains of several buildings dating to the 6th century C.E. during the Late Classic Maya era, with salt kitchens and a large residence added in 650 C.E. Underwater archaeologists located key finds on the lagoon floor with over 600 flags marking their locations. These flags were then digitally plotted.

“Mapping individual artifacts on the sea floor allowed us to see their distribution in relation to the 10 pole-and-thatch wooden buildings and to reconstruct the activities in the different buildings,” said co-author Heather McKillop in a statement.

Not only did the Maya “work from home” by producing salt in their backyard, they also performed household activities such as fishing, preparing and cooking food, woodworking, and spinning cotton.

According to researchers, the household would have produced salt for itself before trading the surplus with other communities. Salt was a scarce commodity inland, where Maya cities were largely growing, and most of those areas were supplied with salt works located along the coast. In total, the sites at Ta’ab Nuk Na and elsewhere in the lagoon could have provided enough salt for 24,000 people.

In an email to ARTnews, McKillop called the discovery “startling,” noting that the structures are the only ancient Maya wooden buildings that survive to this day—unlike the more common stone temples and palaces of the wealthy Maya found in city centers.

“Ta’ab Nuk Na had 10 wooden pole-and-thatch structures known from the 500+ wooden posts that had been driven into the ground, which was highly-organic mangrove peat,” she explained. “The workers lived on site, which shows it was a ‘cottage industry’, featuring families producing more than their needs [and supplying salt for] the nearby inland Maya.”

Ocarina with a missing head found at Ta’ab Nuk Na, Belize.

Workers used the salt surplus to trade for other commodities, such as pottery and stone tools, which were also found at the site. Artifacts recovered include a variety of pottery, along with a rare ocarina—or figurine whistle—depicting a woman.

“The ocarina from Ta’ab Nuk Na is a rare discovery at the site,” added McKillop. The instrument has “a woman on the front with a sound chamber on the back [and] a mouthpiece and two holes so it can be played.”

The inland city of Lubaantun had many such ocarinas, along with molds for making them, and a contemporary settlement whose residents needed salt, making them a likely trading partner.

Researchers also found a ceramic spindle whorl, used to spin cotton for fishing nets or clothing, as well as cohune nuts, candeleros (small incense burners), a small wooden paddle for stirring pots of food, and tools used for whittling wood, grinding maize, and processing fish and meat. There was also a figurine and a model canoe, with four holes for suspension, which may have been children’s toys.

The assemblage of pottery included Belize Red—a serving ware imported from the upper Belize Valley—along with Warrie Red, stamped jars, vases, orange-slipped bowls, and a red-slipped tobacco pot. A clay funnel was also discovered at the site, which researchers believe was used to concentrate the salinity of the brine, as kitchens used the “brine boiling” method to evaporate saltwater over fire.

Salt production at Ta’ab Nuk Na appears to have stopped after 800 C.E. during the Terminal Classic era, when another salt kitchen in Paynes Creek, known as Ek Way Nal, took over.

“Our research at Ta’ab Nuk Na provides a model for other salt production sites along the coast of Belize and the Yucatan [where] they likely also had wooden buildings, making them a more tangible and permanent part of the landscape in antiquity,” McKillop said.

Source: ARTnews

Everything You Need to Consider When Choosing Sports Betting Websites

To say that sports betting is sweeping the nation right now would be a big understatement.

As recently as just a few years ago, betting on sports was banned in almost every part of the country. But today, it’s legal in about half of U.S. states—and many others are thinking about legalizing it soon.

If you’d like to put your skills to the test by betting on sports, you’re welcome to do it. But before you get started, you should consider a few key things when choosing sports betting websites.

We’re going to walk you through some of the things you should think about when you’re considering different sports betting website options. It’ll enable you to pick out the best possible sports betting website without encountering too many issues.

Here’s everything to consider when choosing sports betting websites.

How Long Has a Sports Betting Website Been Around?

First things first: When you’re in the process of choosing sports betting websites, you should always sneak a peek at how long different websites have been around. You should try not to get stuck placing bets through a website that just set up shop last month.

There are a lot of newer sports betting websites starting to show up on the scene. They’re trying to claim a piece of the sports betting pie now that the industry is growing exponentially.

But you’ll ideally want to shy away from signing up for accounts with these sports betting websites and stick to the more experienced ones instead. They’ll provide you with a much better experience overall.

What Kind of Reputation Does a Sports Betting Website Have?

In addition to checking to see how long different sports betting websites have been around, you should also take a glance at what kinds of reputations they each have. In a perfect world, you want to create an account with a sports betting website that has a wonderful reputation within the sports gambling world.

You should be able to get a glimpse of what a sports betting website’s reputation is like by reading through online reviews for it. This will reveal what a sports betting website will bring to the table for you.

If you find that a sports betting website doesn’t have the best reputation around, you should bypass the opportunity to create an account with it. You’ll want to focus exclusively on working with the best sports betting websites in the business.

Go read through some online reviews for offshore sportsbooks to see which ones you should consider the most.

Does a Sports Betting Website Offer Sign-Up Bonuses?

As we alluded to a few moments ago, the sports betting industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. It has increased the competition that exists among sports betting websites.

This is fantastic news for you because it means that many sports betting websites are going above and beyond to try and attract new customers. One way in which they’re doing it is by offering sign-up bonuses to new customers.

You should take full advantage of this by choosing sports betting websites that offer the best bonuses around. You should compare all of the bonuses that different websites offer before selecting the one that will give you the most bonus money.

You can use this bonus money to come up with a winning sports betting strategy. You can also use it to put yourself in a position to convert your bonus money into real cash.

Which Betting Options Does a Sports Betting Website Offer?

Many people are under the impression that all sports betting websites will offer them the same betting options. But this isn’t always true.

Most sports betting websites will give you an opportunity to bet on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and soccer games. But they aren’t all going to give you a chance to bet on, say, Formula 1 racing or table tennis (yes, this is really a thing!).

Because of this, you should shop around for sports betting websites that will make it possible for you to bet on whichever sports you want. You’ll find that some of these sites will have more betting options than others.

Outside of looking at which sports you can bet on through sports betting websites, you should also look at which types of bets you can place through them. You’ll want to find a site that will allow you to place these types of bets:

  • Moneyline bets
  • Point spread bets
  • Parlay bets
  • Teaser bets
  • Prop bets
  • And more!

The more types of bets that a sports betting website offers, the better off you’ll be while betting through it. It might increase your chances of bringing in sports betting profits.

How Can You Deposit Money Into an Account on a Sports Betting Website?

Before you can begin placing bets through sports betting websites, you’ll obviously need to deposit money into your account. Some sites are going to make this easier than others.

Ideally, you should search for a site that will give you as many deposit options as possible. It should let you deposit money by using:

  • Credit cards
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Bank transfers
  • PayPal

If a sports betting website only offers one or two deposit methods, you might not be able to get money into your account. It’ll result in you wasting a lot of time signing up for a site only to have to go and find another one that will accept payments from you.

One other thing worth mentioning is that sports betting website security will be very important when it comes to deposits. You might be adding a significant amount of money to your account when you make a deposit, so you’ll want to work with a site that’s going to work to keep this money safe.

Will It Be Easy to Withdraw Money From a Sports Betting Website?

People bet on sports all the time to have fun and to blow off some steam. But that isn’t the only reason they do it. They also do it to try and turn a profit.

To do this, you will need to have a sports betting website on your side that can help you withdraw money fast. Not all sites are going to extend this courtesy to you.

Just like with deposit methods, certain sites are going to limit how you can withdraw money from your account. And the last thing that you want to do is wait until it’s too late to find this out.

Instead, you should see which withdrawal methods a sports betting site offers from the very start. This way, you can see to it that one of these methods will work for you. It’ll ensure that you’re able to get your hands on any sports betting profits that you’re able to bring in without running into any problems.

Does a Sports Betting Website Extend Great Customer Service?

If you use a sports betting website for a long enough time, there will eventually come a time when you’ll need to ask questions or express concerns to its customer service department. It’ll be difficult to do this if a site doesn’t take customer service all that seriously.

For this reason, you should test out a site’s customer service from the start. It would be worth trying to ask a question to someone from a site’s customer service department to see what kind of response you get.

If a site’s customer service department responds to you right away and provides you with a satisfactory answer, you’ll know that you’re in good hands. But if they drag their feet and don’t get back to you fast at all, it should serve as a gigantic red flag.

You’ll want to take your business elsewhere and patronize a sports betting website that will treat you better. You deserve to receive responses to your questions and/or concerns quickly so that you can get back to taking part in sports betting. 

Remember These Things When Choosing Sports Betting Websites

Choosing sports betting websites can be way more challenging than you might think it would be. There are just so many sites out there for you to pick from.

But you should be able to make choosing sports betting websites easier by considering each of the things that we’ve discussed here. They’ll make it possible for you to narrow down your options to just one.

Check out the other articles that have been posted on our blog to get more tips on betting on sports.

Since the World Cup is already on the nose, many have already decided who to cheer for, and some have decided that they will bet on their favorite team, because VM odds 2022 are very high.

*See our Disclaimer for release information.

Solar Savings: How Solar Power Can Help You Save Money

Did you know that solar jobs in the United States have increased by 167% in the past decade? There are over 250,000 solar workers in America spanning various fields.

The increase in workers is thanks to homeowners and business owners that want to go solar. While solar workers make money on the job, you can save money with solar savings!

How can solar power save you money and how much can you expect to save? Keep reading to find out.

How Does Solar Power Save You Money?

Going solar has many environmental benefits, but property owners can also enjoy solar savings. Solar power comes with low maintenance costs, reduced electricity bills, and tax credits.

Low Maintenance Costs

Solar panel maintenance is very minimal. The only maintenance requirements are cleaning the panels a few times annually and replacing the solar inverter every 5 to 10 years.

A lot of solar panel manufacturers offer warranties for up to 25 years. If something were to go wrong with your system, you wouldn’t face any out-of-pocket costs.

Reduced Electricity Bills

Depending on your property’s energy needs, you can dramatically reduce or eliminate your monthly electricity bills.

If your solar panels generate more electricity than you use, you can sell surplus energy back to the power company in certain areas.

Solar Tax Credits

In 2006, the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was enacted to offer a rebate to people that want to go solar.

This year, the ITC offers a 26% rebate. In 2023, the rebate will be reduced to only 22%.

If you want to install a solar system for your business property, you’ll be able to deduct 85% of the solar investment in the first year to offset upfront costs.

Eligibility requirements for the residential federal solar tax credit are as follows:

  • Solar system installation occured between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2034
  • The solar system is located at your residence
  • You own the solar system (you must have purchased it through solar financing or cash)
  • The solar system is new

You can only claim federal credit for the original solar system installation. 

This federal residential tax credit can be claimed on your income taxes. This helps you reduce the amount of upfront costs paid to install a solar system.

Other incentives you qualify for might affect the federal tax credit. We’ll go over those now.

Electricity Utility Rebate

In most cases, rebates provided by the utility company to install a solar system are excluded from income taxes. This law is enacted under solar exemptions.

In this situation, the utility rebate for installing a solar system gets subtracted from your system costs before the tax credit calculation.

Renewable Energy Certificates

If a utility company provides you with cash or an incentive in exchange for renewable energy certificates, the payment is usually considered taxable income.

This is also the case if you are gifted environmental attributes of the electricity your system generated.

These certificates and attributes increase gross income but don’t reduce the amount you receive from the federal solar tax credit.

State Government Rebate

Some states offer their residents rebates when they choose to go solar. A state government rebate often won’t reduce your federal tax credit.

Your federal tax credit is calculated the same whether you received a state government rebate or not.

State Tax Credit

State tax credits also won’t reduce federal tax credits, but there is a downside to this.

If you receive a tax credit, the taxable income you report might be higher than it was before because you have less state income tax to deduct. Your state tax credit will be taxed at the federal level.

How Much Money Can You Save With Solar Panels?

The amount you save with solar depends on different factors. To quantify how much money you save when you install solar panels, you need to determine how much electricity your property consumes within a year.

On average, a residential utility customer uses over 10,000 kWh each year. This comes about to about 800 kWh per month.

The national average rate per kWh is $0.13. Take this and multiply it by 10,000 kWh to see how much the average household can save.

Most properties save over $1,000 a year in energy costs when they install the right-sized solar system.

You can get a savings estimate specific to your numbers using an online solar calculator.

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?

The average home requires between 20 and 25 solar panels to meet all of the property’s power demands. The exact number of panels you’ll need vary based on these factors:

  • Location
  • Panel efficiency
  • Rate power
  • Personal energy usage patterns

Take the estimate of your home’s usual energy consumption to figure out how many solar panels you need. Along with monthly energy use, you can calculate hourly energy demand based on peak sunshine hours in your area.

Keep the size of your roof and the amount of sunshine in mind when making this consideration.

When you hire a professional solar panel company, they will complete these calculations for you.

When Will You See Solar Savings?

So, how long does it take to see solar savings when you install a solar system on your property? Once the system is completely functional, you are likely to see savings on the following month’s energy bill.

Although you may see savings within the next month, it will take longer to recoup your original investment costs. If your upfront costs to go solar are high, it could take years to get your investment back.

You’ll have to cover the cost of the following:

  • Solar panels
  • Solar inverter
  • Solar batteries
  • Wiring
  • Professional solar installation

A lot of people opt for solar financing, such as taking out a personal loan or getting a home equity line of credit to cover the initial costs.

Eventually, you will recoup all of your investment and turn a profit by reducing your monthly utility bills.

Once your initial investment is back in your pocket, everything after that becomes a profit, unless you have to pay for repairs or maintenance.

Before installing solar panels, make sure you want to live in your home for a long time. If you sell your house before you recoup the cost of solar panels, you’ll have to pass the remaining amount to the new homeowner.

This has the potential to increase how long it takes to sell your home depending on how popular solar is where you live.

What Affects Cost Savings of Going Solar?

Solar panel savings are mostly affected by the size of the solar system that you need. The larger your solar system is, the more money you will save. Larger solar systems are more likely to eliminate your monthly utility bills.

Over time, your solar system will produce enough energy to power your entire home. You might even have energy to spare. You can sell surplus energy back to your utility for even more cost savings.

Although solar systems bigger in size come with more cost savings, you have to consider the price upfront. With a larger system, you will need more time to pay off and recoup your initial investment.

Solar Panel Installation Cost

After the federal solar tax rebate gets calculated, the average cost of solar panel installation is about $12,000. As stated before, the cost you pay will highly depend on the size of the system.

Smaller solar panel installations can cost as little as $5,000. Larger systems can cost up to $40,000 if they include advanced solar panels.

No matter how much you pay upfront, you’ll eventually be able to recoup the cost of the initial investment.

Many homeowners find solar panels worth it for the savings they reap over time. Solar panels also provide the energy needed for a home without the use of fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, and coal.

Implementing solar energy into your home reduces your carbon footprint and slows the effects of global warming and climate change.

How to Install a Solar System

If you want to reap the solar savings discussed in this guide, it’s important to know what to expect from the installation process.

A solar system installation follows these five steps:

  1. Engineering site visit
  2. Documentation and permits
  3. Equipment ordering
  4. Solar system installation
  5. Approval and interconnection

We’ll go in-depth on each of these steps now.

1. Engineering Site Visit

An engineer and installer will visit your home before and after you sign a solar contract. During the first general visit, the installer will evaluate your property to consider the following:

  • Angle of roof
  • Roof size
  • Shading

The installer checks these items to make sure going solar is right for your home. It’s not the right option for everyone.

During the engineering site visit, an engineer will evaluate the condition of your roof to make sure it is structurally sound. This visit occurs after you sign a solar contract.

They will also look at the electrical panel to make sure you don’t need to upgrade or replace it before installing a solar system.

2. Documentation and Permits

You’ll have a lot of documents and permits to fill out when going solar. Luckily, a solar installation company covers most of this for you.

While the solar installer you hire works on building permits and paperwork, you can begin applying for state and federal solar incentives.

Building permits are specific to where you live so the installer will know the ins and outs of the process if they have been working in the area for a while. They will also be aware of any restrictions or requirements they need to follow.

This step can vary in time and depends on how long it takes the installer to finish and submit your paperwork. Even though you don’t have to fill out paperwork, it’s important to know what goes on behind the scenes.

If you are in a rush to get your system up and running, don’t be afraid to ask the installer where they are in the paperwork process.

3. Equipment Ordering

Before signing your solar contract, you will have chosen your solar panel types and brands. The solar installer will order the equipment you want after completing and submitting the right paperwork.

Once equipment ordering is complete, you will be added to the installer’s queue. The equipment should arrive on the scheduled installation date.

Typically, it takes one or two months for paperwork approval. Paperwork approval is not the only factor that goes into the timeframe. The date of installation will depend on how many projects the installer has in their queue.

4. Solar System Installation

After getting through the above three steps, solar installation day is here!

The bigger your solar system, the longer it will take to install. Smaller solar systems only take a day to install while larger solar systems can take up to three days or more.

If you require a power meter or for net metering, the installer will need a few additional hours to complete this installation.

5. Approval and Interconnection

Most people think solar system installation is the last step of the process. When your system is installed, it must be approved and connected before it can start saving you money.

A town government representative will inspect the system for approval. A utility representative will also complete an inspection before approving and connecting your system.

You’ll wait about two weeks or up to a month for town and utility approval.

Are You Ready for Solar Savings?

Reducing your carbon footprint and saving money in the process is a no-brainer. That’s why many property owners are choosing to go solar.

The solar savings you reap depend on your system size, location, and your personal energy usage.

Use this guide to get a better idea of how much you can save when you install a solar system. For more informative articles like this, keep coming back to our website.

Why is Poker So Popular

Why is Poker So Popular

The first ever game of poker was played in the year 1845 and it has come a long way since. Today poker is one of the most popular online games.

Back in the early days of poker, the game did not have many fans. It was considered to be a game that was nothing but all about sheer luck and no skills.

However, it was in the year 1998 that the first online poker, involving real money, was played. This was the beginning of an industry that is valued at billions of dollars today.

Poker is the most popular card game today and is played online as well as in casinos across the globe. This article takes a look at what makes gaming enthusiasts take to poker big time.

Understanding the Popularity of Poker

To someone who is new to the world of poker, it might appear as nothing but an entertaining way to spend a few hours. However, there is a lot more to poker which makes millions of players try the many forms of the game.

1] Big Tournaments

One of the biggest attractions of poker are the many tournaments held in exotic locations and online tournaments. Many of these tournaments offer big prizes, along with perks like no deposit bonuses for games, free turns, sign in bonus and more.

The tournaments are organized by some of the biggest casinos and even beginners are allowed to try their hand. This results in many underdog stories that capture the imagination of one and all.

2] Right Mix of Luck & Strategy

While most other games like slots are all about luck, poker is different. It requires you to be able to make calculated assumptions about the cards your opponents have.

Thus, the game of poker is all about mental statistics, which can be a great way to exercise your grey cells. While the element of luck does play a role, it is not luck alone.

3] Multiple Variants to Explore

Poker has many variants and you have the option to choose the one that appeals to you. Five Card Draw and No Limits Hold’em are a few examples.

The Texas Hold’em is the most widely popular variety of poker. It allows you to play in your own style, be it extravagant or cautious.

What’s more, you can choose to play with as many opponents as you like.

4] An Exercise in Mind Reading

The most seasoned poker players will tell you that with practice, it can be possible to gauge the opponents’ intentions. When your opponent is bluffing, you can look for clues in their body language to know if they are misguiding.

This turns out to be an interesting discovery for many poker enthusiasts. So, you can look at poker as a study in human psychology.

5] A Lesson in Mind Management

Poker is a game that involves quite a handful of nail-biting moments. These moments of stress often lead the players to experience the “fight or flight” syndrome or adrenaline rush.

In order to be able to play with reasoning, you need to be able to regulate stress. This exercise in itself enables the poker enthusiasts to manage stress better in everyday life.

Tips to Make the Most Out of Online Poker Games

The benefits of playing poker are indeed many. With the advent of online poker, the game has become more accessible than ever.

Online poker is considered to be relatively easier to start with, and here are a few quick tips and tricks to help you.

1] Start at Small Levels

When you’re a beginner, it is always recommended that you start small. Playing with $0.01 or $0.02 is a good idea, as there is little risk of losing too much money.

2] Get the Right Equipment

Poker sessions can extend for long durations and requires continuous focus for success. It is important to make sure you’re comfortable while playing.

It is recommended that you play from your laptop or desktop instead of your smartphone. Also, a comfortable seating and a less distracting environment helps.

3] Explore the Nuances of Online Poker

It goes without saying that when you want to master a game, you need to be aware of the rules in and out. This applies to online poker as well.

Take time to explore the rules and regulations as online poker is significantly different from the casino version. Once you are aware of the rules and how to play, you find yourself in a better position to win.

4] Start with a Single Table

Once you have initiated yourself into the world of online poker, it can be tempting to play multiple tables at once. You need multiple monitors to play multiple tables simultaneously.

However, jumping to multi-tabling, especially in the initial stage, is a bad move. It is only when you have mastered single table poker to a great extent, should you make the switch.

5] Take Time for Breaks

Long hauls of poker can take a toll on your ability to focus and concentrate, adversely affecting your gameplay. Make sure you take enough breaks in between to energise your body and mind.

Plan for regular breaks and find time for some quick exercise and to relax and unwind. Make sure your extended poker sessions are not affecting your eating habits or sleep schedule.

6] Get the Right Online Tools and Software

The best thing about online games is that you have numerous effective online tools and software to assist you. They are designed to make it easier for you to build strategies and execute them.

You can use the Notepad to make important notes to track your opponents. Also, you have free as well as paid poker programs available online.

Conclusion

The game of online poker offers an array of benefits, including an opportunity to socialise with like minded people. It is a game of strategy which is appreciated by many.

The number of poker enthusiasts are growing by the day, with many making it a part of their Belize lifestyles. The online poker industry is witnessing a boom. For a game that has a long and interesting history, the future is indeed promising.

Classic games in online casinos are not many and not few, but poker can be found in almost everyone and casino uden NemID does not exclude this.

*See our Disclaimer for release information.