Life Style

Even the most ardent luddites are no longer denying it – technology is a part of modern life that’s here to stay. It permeates all areas of our existence, from allowing us to monitor our health and budget, to dictating how we spend our down time. On that note, today we’re looking at technology’s role in the future of online poker, and revealing the main ways we’re expecting it to shape the future of the game…

Convenience

Firstly, advances in technology are set to make playing online poker even more convenient than it is now. While it’s still possible to compete against real life opponents at tournaments like the World Series of Poker, or in bricks and mortar casinos, technology brings the excitement of the game to us. The incredible rise in online poker sites over the last decade, faster wireless networks and developments in smartphones, has allowed poker lovers to work on their game anytime and anywhere. Moving forward, things are only set to get faster, with the knock-on effect predicted to be more players reaching a higher standard in a shorter time period and therefore elevating the quality of play to previously unseen levels.

More varied player pool

The convenience of online poker means a wider variety of people are taking it up as a hobby. Playing online removes the need to pluck up the courage to walk into any intimidating poker rooms where players are more experienced and potentially wealthier. This has led to more younger players and an influx of women taking up the game. Online poker rooms also have the added benefit of offering low stakes (1-2c) or completely free games. This encourages more beginners to learn the ropes in an inexpensive, non-stressful environment. Moving forward, technology will continue to open up the game to people from all walks of life, widening the player pool and offering more chance to practice. The result being a higher volume of more highly-skilled players to compete against at any time of day or night.

Better players

Already online poker rooms are providing invaluable insights into how you and your opponent’s play. If you want to improve your game – analysing this kind of data is key! Moving forward, we expect to see technology used to improve player data and feedback. We’ve seen the first glimpses of this with tech like poker solvers, which essentially grants you access to your very own poker coach who can help you to develop your game faster than ever before.

Virtual reality

One particularly exciting development the poker world has had its eyes on for a while now is virtual reality. With hardware coming down in price and software being improved, soon we will see players from all corners of the world competing in a virtual space. Again, this will allow players to gain more experience taking on competitors from all corners of the globe…pushing people to advance even further.

Cryptocurrency

As various cryptocurrencies continue to grow in popularity, more online poker players will realise the benefits they have. For example, moving currency from a crypto wallet to an online poker account is faster, safer, and stops you being affected by banking regulations and fees from either the banks or third-party payment processors. Technologies such as Etherum for example, enable close to free payments and eliminate almost 100% of all chargebacks. As the cost of operating poker sites decreases, expect to see players winning more substantial cash prizes.

While it’s impossible to predict the limits of how technology will progress the game, it’s clear that people will become better players much faster. Having greater access to more opponents will keep online poker more exciting and security and ease of play will improve exponentially. Exciting times are ahead for online poker, and technology is set to play a key role in the journey.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Recent research has brought the underground world of mashonisas (South Africa’s illegal loan providers) to the surface. Who are these informal lenders, really?

South Africa’s loan sharks; violent or vital?

Recent research has brought the underground world of mashonisas (South Africa’s illegal loan providers) to the surface. Once characters familiar in some quarters through headlines and stereotypes alone, a qualitative study has revealed that informal lenders may in fact quash many assumptions.

Are mashonisas violent?

You may know of mashonisas from untoward headlines and unsavoury stories. This image is likely a dominant one in the minds of many South Africans who have never had dealings with a mashonisa. While this industry is unregulated (and therefore vulnerable to more unsavory characters), many informal money lenders are everyday members of low income communities. These individuals often turn to money lending after deciding to capitalise on a small amount of disposable income.

Although research conducted into mashonisa life in an informal settlement reveals that some lenders may in some cases treat borrowers less than- scrupulously, the individuals interviewed on both sides of the lending divide very rarely reported troubling transactions. Humiliation was one of the major “misbehaviours” of mashonisas according to some reports. Some interviewed consumers claimed they were rudely treated both by their lender and the community at large for seeking a loan.

There are a few reasons why mashonisa related violence may appear lower than the stereotypes suggest. It is possible that such incidents are under reported. It is also possible that informal lenders do not profit from a negative reputation. Those who treat consumers reasonably are more likely to enjoy custom from the local community.

Based on this research, it appears that mashonisas could be a long way from the violent image they have traditionally been associated with. In fact, online loan provider Wonga’s informal lending report could be interpreted to show many mashonisas are “everyday Joes”, including former factory workers and kitchenware sales women, ranging in age from 27-48.

Are mashonisas vital?

Wonga’s study could be read as evidence for the central role of mashonisas in communities where access to short term finance is virtually non-existent. These mashonisas provide loans of R500-R5000 over short periods to individuals who need to cover the cost of crucial expenses such as petrol, school costs, food and other essentials.

Although interest rates range from 30% to 50%, in informal settlements and townships, these lenders are often the only port of call. Consumers in such communities may not have access to “official” finance options due to geographic distance from such services, an impaired credit history or no credit history. With many people outside of formal employment, it is difficult for low income South Africans to access short term finance, especially following the country’s 2005 crackdown on irresponsible lending.

Although not ideal, this dearth of conventional credit access appears to render “loan sharks” the only option for many South Africans in desperate need of capital to cover expenses. As the national cost of living continues to creep up, the mashonisa is likely to become ever more vital in South Africa.

Agriculture is a complicated business; in many respects you are dependent on the weather to ensure your crops grow successfully. However, while you may not be able to control the rainfall, amount of sun or even the storms you can ensure your crops have enough water and nutrients.

Nutrients can be ploughed into the field before planting but they can also be added to the water allowing you to feed and water your crops efficiently though an irrigation system.

However, for the irrigation system to work effectively you’ll need a pump; the question is which pump or pumps do you need for your agriculture business?

Understanding Dewatering Pumps

You will need one or more dewatering pumps. Any pump which removes water from a construction site, surface water from the ground or even water out of a mine shaft is known as a dewatering pump. In essence it is removing the water from one place and directing it elsewhere.

This is one pump that is often overlooked in an agricultural environment but is actually essential.

Your standard pump will run an irrigation system; pumping water through pipes and allowing it to spray on your crop when there has not been much rain.

But, what happens when there has been too much rain? The ground becomes sodden and rivers can burst their banks. This can actually cause your crop to drown.

To prevent this you’ll need a good quality dewatering pump; it should quickly and effectively remove excess water and allow your crops the chance to grow; even in bad weather.

The Centrifugal Pump

The centrifugal pump pushes water outwards, using centrifugal force. This type of pump as very few moving parts which helps to ensure it is reliable in all situations. As reliability is an important criteria when choosing agricultural pumps this is an excellent choice for your irrigation system.

These pumps work best when installed level with or below the water level; they will then propel the water through your pipes and onto your fields to water your crops.

Flow Rates

It is important to consider the flow rate before you choose the right pump for your agricultural needs. The flow rate dictates how much water can be passed through the pump ad onto your crops.

However you need to consider the amount of water that needs to reach your plants and the gradient the water needs to be moved up. The greater the gradient the more powerful and the higher the water flow the um will need to have; this is the only way to ensure the right amount of water gets where you need it to be.

Go Solar

It is worth considering the power source for your pumps. In the past a diesel pump was the only really viable option for an agricultural setting. However technology has advanced hugely in recent years and it is now possible to purchase solar panels surprisingly cheaply. Couple these with batteries and transformers and you can have a reliable source of power to run virtually any pump. This is an option that should be considered before you commit to your next pump.

Everybody loves this time of year when the holidays are approaching, but preparing and paying for holidays can be a bit of a daunting task. This is why it’s important to figure out your perfect holiday process to make things a little easier on yourself. Here are some of our best tips.

Prepare Ahead of Time

One huge mistake a lot of people make with the holidays is waiting too long to prepare. It might seem like you’ve got plenty of time from Halloween until Christmas, but those days will go faster than you think and every day that passes makes things more difficult.

It’s always a good idea to plan out what you’re going to do for the holidays as early as possible, whether you need to recruit family for a big dinner, figure out what you’re going to cook, or shop for gifts. When you prepare ahead of time, you get to enjoy the holidays themselves a little bit more.

Be Creative

Let’s be honest, we don’t always have money to give great gifts to everybody we love. Sometimes you have to use a little bit of creativity to make sure you’re not spending too much money on a gift but it’s still going to provide that same high-price satisfaction. One of the best ways to make sure the gift you’re giving will be loved is to make it something personal.

Mixbook has a number of things that make great gifts for the holidays, from Christmas photo cards to some of the best photo books. Plus, everything is customizable using pictures that can easily be uploaded to Mixbook. All you need to do is upload a picture to Mixbook, choose what type of product you want to create, customize it, then place your order.

Relax

If you have children, the holidays can feel like a stressful time where you’re expected to perform at a certain level. The good news is, most people aren’t expecting a ton out of you for the holidays, so anything you do is just fine. As much as you try to buy every gift on the list and make the perfect dinner for your guests, keep in mind that they’ll be happy to spend time with you regardless. The holiday season is about spending time with people we love, so nobody is going to fault you if you don’t have quite enough money for prime rib this year.

How do you make it through the busy holiday season in one piece? If you have any tips or fun ideas you’d like to share with us, feel free to leave a comment below—we’d love to hear what keeps you hustling during the holiday season.

Starting your own business is a big risk, so finding any level of success is an achievement. However, here are 10 ways to encourage your business to grow even further.

Open another location

Once your business starts to find success, you might find that one premises simply isn’t enough. Opening a second location is a sure sign that your business has well and truly found its feet, but of course it isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Make sure you budget clearly, plan ahead with a business plan and choose a location that’s best for your business overall, not just convenient for you. Companies like Glenhawk provide commercial bridging loans which can give you the means to open a second location quickly.

Offer your business as a franchise

If you’re keen to franchise, be sure to start networking within the franchising community and find a good attorney and mentor to help you through the process. You need to be open to growing and expanding your vision, but you should also keep your key goal in focus at all times.

License your product

By licensing, you can receive upfront royalties from the use and sale of your product if it’s successful. It also minimises your risk and is relatively low cost. Make sure to take your time and do your research when finding a licensing partner.

Form an alliance

Align yourself with a similar type of business, as this can be a powerful way of expanding quickly and effectively. It’s important to look at the bigger picture, as for some businesses the idea of shelling out commissions for the sake of an alliance can be unappealing, but aligning effectively can open your business up to a much wider audience.

Diversify

Diversifying is an excellent strategy for growth as it allows you to acquire multiple streams of income and means you always have something to fall back on. Some of the most popular forms of diversification can include selling complementary products and services, importing or exporting your or others’ products, becoming a paid speaker or columnist, and teaching adult education or other classes.

Target other markets

If you have already mastered your own industry, it is always worth looking into expanding to other areas which you could make a mark in. Every market has several other markets which complement it, so be smart in your choices and consider a wider horizon. Just make sure you aren’t spreading your company too thin.

Win a government contract

One of the best ways for small businesses to grow is to have the government as a customer, so explore the option of working with your local offices. This can earn your business both publicity and respect, depending on who you find who might be interested. It might seem like a lot of work, but it can really be worth it.

Merge with or buy another business

If your company isn’t performing as well as you would like but you don’t want to give up on it completely, you could consider merging with a similar business. This can give you a new level of success, as well as a new lease of life. Alternatively, if you are really reaching new heights with your business, you always have the option of buying out competitors.

Make your business global

Most businesses start off as local. After some time, you might expand to be a national company, so the logical next step after this is to take your business overseas. You’ll need a lot of support and a firm knowledge of foreign markets, but it can be very rewarding.

Expand online

The internet has quickly taken over all of our daily lives, including the way most businesses are run, so it makes sense to use this to your advantage. Boost your social media presence and create a lot of online content to get you noticed on the web.