Best Verizon Wireless Free Government Phones

The government of the U.S of America has introduced a program that will help low-income families to own cell phones. This program, Verizon Wireless Free Government Phones, has enabled people earning low income to call and text their loved ones at any time. More so, this program is critical as it is a very crucial way of contacting your doctor in case of medical emergencies.

In the current century, being without a phone is disadvantageous because there might be emergencies and you fail to get or provide help in time. For this reason, the U.S government saw it necessary to start the Lifeline Verizon wireless program that can accommodate the people who cannot afford to own a phone.

The government of U.S has authorized Phone companies to offer free cell phones for low-income generating people. Therefore, individuals who are financially disadvantaged people are now able to own a cell phone and live a better life.

If you feel that you cannot afford a mobile phone or you are not able to pay for a cell phone plan, the Verizon wireless plan that is backed by the government will be of great help to you. The Lifeline program that is supported by the government thus provides phones to qualified low-income individuals as well as those living in tribal lands. Therefore, the Lifeline federal program discounts qualified customers monthly on the Verizon wireless bills.

Best four Verizon wireless free government phones

There are so many phones that are supported by the federal program that has enabled more than fifteen million Americans to enjoy free government sponsored cell phones. More people are qualifying for the program, and the economy is still booming. The top four Verizon wireless phones include:

1. Access Wireless

If you are eligible for the Lifeline federal program, the Access Wireless assistance provider can be of great assistance to you. This is because you can get a free phone and up to 750 talk-time minutes every month. More so, you will be provided with unlimited texts as well as 200MB data. With these offerings, you can go through the month without having to worry about airtime or data.

People who qualify for the Access Wireless free phone units are mostly from Arkansas, Arizona, Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, Maryland, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Connecticut, California, Columbia, Missouri, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, South California, and Virginia.

Therefore, if you happen to reside in any of the above states, and you qualify for the Lifeline program, you will get a free phone and free minutes. People living in California get up to one thousand talk-time minutes, texts and 200MB data.

2. ASTAC (Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative)

People who live in very remote places like the North Slope Coast of Alaska are unable to benefit from the Lifeline free phone Assistance companies. The ASTAC thus offers free phones as well as other related services to the residents of this area. Also, ASTAC provides for people living on the West Coast of Alaska, Kotzebue, Noorvik, and Selavik. If you live in these states, you will need ASTAC for you to be able to call your loved ones as well as your workmates.

However, ASTAC can only provide local unlimited texts or calls for individuals living along the North Slope. Therefore, if you want to call someone on long distance, you will be required to pay a deposit of two hundred dollars. More so, roaming calls are unavailable thus every minute you spend on the line will be charged 0.25 dollars for 411 calls.

3. American Assistance

The American Assistance offers you five hundred talk-time minutes as well as five hundred free texts every month. This Lifeline Company supported by the government of the United States is also known as American Broadband and Telecommunications. However, this company offers half voice minutes as well as texts compared to other Lifeline Assistance Companies.

Nonetheless, American Assistance offers free features to make up for the half offerings. For instance, people who subscribe to the American Assistance services get a free caller identification, voice mail, 3-way calling and call waiting.

This service is available in Illinois, Indiana, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Colorado, Missouri, Ohio, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Utah, Nevada, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. However, the downside is that this service doesn’t provide free data bundles thus people who may want to access internet on-the-go might be disadvantaged.

4. Assurance Wireless

With this Lifeline Assistance Company, you will be lucky to get a free cell/Smartphone, free calls of up to 350 minutes, free unlimited texts and data bundles of up to 500MBs. People who live in California get free 500MB data, free unlimited texts and voice calls.

The Assurance Wireless service provider is from Nextel/spring. It is available in Arizona, Alabama, Oregon, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Utah, Virginia, Tennessee, South California, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas, Nevada, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire, Maine, Louisiana, Florida, Delaware, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Lowa, Indiana, Idaho, Minnesota, North California and New Mexico.

The Assurance Wireless Lifeline services will soon be active in states that have not been mentioned above. This service will provide you with a new model few Android powered Smartphone. In case the 350 minutes are not enough, you use the Virgin cell phone top-up cards to top up.

Conclusion

There are several other Lifeline-supported service providers such as Truconnect, Terracom Wireless, Sprocket Wireless, Safelink Wireless, QLink Wireless, Infiniti Mobile, GCI or Alaska Digitel, enTouch Wireless, and Bluejay Wireless among others.

Mobile phone companies that are backed by the federal program, Lifeline Assistance/Verizon Wireless free government phones offer monthly plans that have varying products and features. You will find that different states have different offerings mainly because of the FTI regulations. Geographical features are also a significant determinant of the services you will get. Therefore, consumers should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the government-backed free cell phone plan in the state they are living in to select the best plan that will suit their needs.

Carpet Cleaning Safety Tips For Cats and Dogs Owners in Singapore

 Singapore is a country that is dominated by tropical climate thus it is very humid most of the year. You will, therefore, see people strolling with their dogs or cats along the streets on a sunny afternoon to enjoy the breeze. However, cats and dogs come with a lot of responsibilities. Besides feeding, cleaning them and taking care of their health, other related responsibilities are carpet cleaning.

It is evident that dogs and cats will poop on your carpet from time to time. Therefore, you have to make sure that your carpet is clean at all times to avoid unpleasant dog poop odors. At the same time, ensure that the chemicals you use do not affect your cats and dogs.

Carpet cleaning safety-tips you need to know

The biggest responsibility of being a dog or cat owner is dealing with the accidents that happen daily. These accidents are mainly the cat or dog poop. However, cleaning up is the real challenge because the sprays you use may be harmful to your pet. Usually, these sprays have strong scents to counteract the smell of the pet pee and poop. The strong scents can thus give you uncontrollable coughing fits.

If the spray makes allergic, imagine how your pet would react to it. Therefore, be very careful when buying these sprays and do not be fooled by the “environmentally friendly” label because they can still be very toxic thus affecting the health of your pet. You can, therefore, try natural carpet cleaning sprays that have milder effects.

How to select a pet-safe carpet cleaning

Choosing safe chemicals to clean your carpet is not only safe for your dog but also for your health as well. However, since the pets spend most of their time on or close to the floor, finding carpet cleaning chemicals that are safe is paramount. Ensuring that the products you use to clean the carpet are safe is the best way to keep your cat or dog healthy. Thus, when looking for the best and safest product to use, the following tips can be of help.

• Read the sticker

So many pet-safe labeled deodorizers, as well as stain removers for quick and instant spot removal, are available in the market thus you have a wide array of choices. However, before you buy the product, it is imperative to take a look at the label. Make sure you have read the sticker, the instructions, and warnings. If the instructions tell you that you should isolate your pet while cleaning, then the product is not safe for the dog.

• Wet Vac

Typically, using water is one of the safest and effective ways of cleaning a carpet that has been slightly soiled. The wet vac that can either be rented or purchased is the best way to avoid chemicals thus it should your number one choice. This vacuum flushes the carpet with water, wets it then sucks up all the dirt. Cold water is however recommended to use to avoid setting the stains or odors.

• Natural products

As mentioned earlier, natural products have scents that are mild. Thus they are safe than most of the other commercial products. For instance, baking soda can effectively remove light odors and stains. Evenly spread a layer of the baking soda on the spot, leave it for an hour then vacuum the spot thoroughly. Alternatively, you can use lemon juice or dilute white vinegar mixed with salt as a pre-stain treatment before cleaning.

• What to avoid

Many people tend to be lazy when it comes to buying natural carpet cleaners. However, such people are warned against using chlorine products as they can irritate the pet’s eyes and nose. This is because chlorine tends to be denser than air thus settling on the carpet.

Also, ammonia-containing products can make the pet to sneeze and have watery eyes. Cats, in particular, are very sensitive to such products thus they can be adversely affected.

For this reason, ensure that you keep your pets out of the room while cleaning until the chemical dries, even if it is considered pet-safe.

Carpet cleaning tips

Apart from the health of your pet, your health as a pet owner is also important. Cats and dogs tend to leave fur on seats and carpets, and if left to accumulate, it can become irritating. More so, hair is not suitable for asthmatic people thus it is imperative to clean the carpet regularly. To make sure that you follow the right carpet cleaning procedure, the following tips will be of help.

• Get rid of pet hair

Since pets tend to leave a trail of hair on the carpet, it is wise to remove the fur as frequent as possible. Attach a paint roller to a broom and wrapping masking tape around the paint roller is a very effective way of lifting hair before vacuuming. You can also use a rake with rubber bristles to remove the fur.

• Get rid of urine instantly

If your pet accidentally pees on the car[et, it is advisable to react immediately to minimize the damage and odor. Use a rag to suck the urine moisture before using any other detergents. Also, blot the surface using water and vinegar can also be very effective.

• Stains

Stains from pee, poop, blood, and vomit can are challenging to remove. Using an extracting carpet-cleaner can be very effective. However, avoid using steam cleaners for stain removal because the heat can make the stain set.

• Odor

Odors from pet urine and poop are very unpleasant. However, before you use any enzyme-containing treatment, it is imperative to use a carpet cleaner to make sure that any previous chemicals have been removed so that they do not inhibit the action of the enzyme treatment you want to use.

There are so many chemicals that can be used to clean carpets. However, some of the substances can be harmful to both the pet owner and the pet. For this reason, it is wise to follow carpet cleaning safety tips to observe your health as well as that of your cat or dog.

WRITTEN BY

John Adera

Five ways for loved ones of cancer patients to cope better

 When someone you love and care for becomes diagnosed with cancer, it becomes very difficult to accept such changes. It becomes a life-changing experience that leaves you stressed out and worried. Coping with such a change is very difficult, and it can reach a point that you cannot control stress and succumb to depression. This article contains several ways that can help you cope better if you have a loved one who has just been diagnosed with cancer.

1. Relax and stay calm

If you remain relaxed and calm, your loved one will also remain calm and healthy. Although it might become emotional sometimes, learning to relax will significantly help you to cope. More so, you will accept that you cannot control the situation, only giving hope and courage to the affected. Being ultra-stressed will make your loved one to lose hope, and he/she may even die early. It is thus important to be calm and relaxed for your own good as well as your loved one.

2. Positivity

Always focus on the facts and avoid living with the fear of losing your loved one, be it a family member or friend. Stay optimistic and believe that everything happens for a reason. More so, cancer is different, so is the diagnosis and the patient. Some people can even live for over ten years since being diagnosed with cancer. It is thus imperative to stay positive and hope for the best.

3. Accompany them to physician’s appointments

Although you might feel emotional when you accompany your loved ones to physician’s appointments, this is the best way you can cope better. This is especially because your loved one needs support because they might be overwhelmed by the tests and emotions due to a sudden change in health and life. Offering support to them will help you understand their fear and help them overcome that fear.

4. Ask questions

Do not be afraid to ask the doctor any question that is bugging you. If you think that you might forget the questions, write them down on a piece of paper. This will help you to stay informed and understand the facts about cancer that your loved one has been diagnosed with. More so, you can even research about cancer so that you know better. Having a better understanding will help you manage your stress and cope better.

5. Be ready for changes

Since you loved one will be taking medications and chemotherapy, he/she can become stressed and moody most of the time. Therefore, be ready for mood swings, stress, and discomfort that your loved one might be going through. More so, support them as much as you can, talk to them openly and encourage them. This will help them cope with the diagnosis, and at the same time, you will come to terms with the fact that they have cancer and the only way to help is offer support.

There are so many other ways that you can cope better, but the most important one is accepting that some events are out of your control. More so, sleep well, eat regularly and avoid drugs. This way, you will have the courage to face the situation and even encourage your loved one.

 When it comes to bug bites, a lot of companies have been promoting natural products, claiming that they are the best harm-free repellants for bugs. However, not all natural products are active, and some of them are ineffective. The active ingredient of the repellent is important. For instance, OLE (oil of lemon eucalyptus) and picaridin are repellants that are derived from plants, and they are very active.

However, the concentration of the active ingredient is critical. For instance, picaridin is ineffective in low concentration. Some plant-based repellants do not prevent bugs. For example, lemongrass, citronella, cedar, soybean, etc. are natural products that have been proven not to prevent bug bites

Natural products proven not to prevent bug bites

Table of content

1. Soybean

2. Citronella

3. Peppermint

4. Rosemary

5. Geraniol

6. Lemmon grass

The problem with natural repellents is that these plant-based repellants are regulated differently compared to the other repellents. Since they are natural, EPA considers them safe thus their effectiveness is not evaluated. For this reason, there is no proof of efficacy for these products from the companies that market them. These natural products have been tested and proven that they do not work.

1. Soybean

Soybean or soya bean-based insect repellant has not been EPA tested because it is deemed harmless. It is a natural repellant, but it is ineffective because it only prevents bug bites for approximately thirty minutes to two hours. It, however, has low dermal toxicity thus it is considered safe.

2. Citronella

It is an essential oil extract, and it is used as a natural ingredient for mosquito repellants. It is also not very effective in bug-bite prevention as it protects a person for about two hours. It rapidly evaporates thus reducing its effectiveness as a repellant. Therefore, even the citronella candles are not effective.

3. Peppermint

This is a natural repellant for bugs, and it falls under botanicals/plant-based repellant. It is, however, less effective as it can only repel insects for less than two hours. EPA considers it safe because it does not cause allergies or skin irritations, but its effectiveness is not something to depend on.

4. Rosemary

Rosemary is among the natural plant oils that act as plant-based/natural bug repellants. Nevertheless, since it can only repel mosquitoes for two hours maximum, it falls under the category of natural repellants that do not work.

5. Geraniol

The botanical repellant Geraniol has also not been tested by EPA under the assumption that it is natural hence harmless. However, most users have found it to be ineffective because it rapidly evaporates and its effect can only last up to two hours. It is therefore not the best choice as a repellant.

6. Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a non-synthesized plant oil that is not registered by EPA. It repels bugs for 30 minutes to 2 hours maximum thus it is not as effective as the naturally occurring OLE. Therefore, lemongrass is also a natural repellant that is ineffective an even if it is safe to use, it cannot prevent one from bug bites.

These plant-based repellants lasted less than two hours when they were tested against certain mosquitoes like the Aedes aegypti. This mosquito can spread dengue virus, yellow fever, zika virus, and chikungunya. Therefore, the above repellants should be avoided because they will not prevent you from mosquito bites. In fact, they will expose you to infections. Thus, when buying a repellant, make sure you know the ingredients and the active-compound concentration.

Things To Do in Bournemouth Beach

 Bournemouth Beach, located on England’s South Coast, is one of the best tourist attraction sites that you should consider visiting this holiday. You can walk for seven miles on the sandy beach. There are a lot of things you can do to make your holiday one of a kind while at this beach. You can even stay in the town, shop and eat as you explore the whole beach area and its history and heritage. Some of the things you can do include:

1. Attraction sites and activities

There are several attraction sites that you can visit together with your family and have fun during your stay ant Bournemouth. In Addition to the attraction sites, there are several activities that you can enjoy with friends and family. For instance, you can visit the museums, oceanarium, play parks, amusement arcades, dance, golf and high-rope activities among others.

There are also many water sports like surfing, kayaking, jet-skiing, sailing, power-boating, and paddling. More so, you can hire a boat cruise or a private charter and enjoy the coastal views.

2. Entertainment

You will find the best entertainment centers in Bournemouth that will make your visit be the best experience you have ever had. Pavilion Theatre and the International Center offer live entertainment for children as well as adults. These major entertainment venues attract tourists from all over the world as well as local people.

Additionally, you can plan events for your family and friends during Christmas, October or August and have fun throughout the night.

3. Nature

If you love nature, then this beach resort is the best for you. Besides the ocean, there are so many nature reserves, historic sites, ancient forests and the countryside waiting for you to explore. You can join a guided tour offered by local tour guides and explore the locations as well as the hidden gems. There are buses and bikes for hire, but if you also want to exercise your muscles, you can go on foot.

4. Shopping

Who else fancies shopping by the sea? People enjoy shopping, but the experience of strolling along the ocean to shop for clothes, shoes, belts, electronics, etc. makes the whole exercise very special. You do not want to miss such an experience, therefore, make sure you shop while at this beach resort.

5. Road Trips

If you are a road person, Bournemouth is the best place to go on a road trip. You will have an exhilarating experience as you ride from place to place outside the town center. Each place you stop has its own unique shops and cafes thus you will have such an exciting experience. More so, you will have a chance to interact with the locals and learn more about the history of the beach.

These are just some of the things that you can do during your visit to Bournemouth Beach. There are so many other exhilarating activities that can make your visit worthwhile. Therefore, if you have been looking for a destination this coming vacation, you should consider this beach and be guaranteed that you will not regret.

How Structured Settlement Buyouts Work

 Structured settlements are the manacles of payments that a client can win following an accident, legal judgment or workers compensation claim. The person who has to make the structured payment will also have to purchase the annuity contract from a renowned insurance institution. In most instances, the settlement payments are guaranteed by the authorized company as long as the contract is valid. Though they are pretty much predictable, the circumstances are quite dynamic. Maybe you are planning to get married or buy a new home; anything that will drain your pocket to almost zero pennies.

Sell Your Settlement; yes

It has been noticed that selling structured settlement payments is a much better option as compared to applying for and taking a loan since it does not call for any credit checks and the individual is not left with any debt at the end of the day. Also, selling the structured settlement payments is not a risky financial undertaking and consumers can enter into them at any time without having to risk their financial wellbeing.

Many states have the laws which are used to regulate how settlements can be sold to clients; they, however, need an experienced judge to preside over the deal and review its fairness. It is worth noting that the idea might not be good if the consumer does not have any legitimate need for the lump sum or even when the payments are required for the living expenses.

Sell Your Settlement; No

It is important to ask yourself one or two questions before indulging into this transaction for the sake of future lump sum gains. One should seek to know if they can be financially responsible or if the venture makes any sense regarding their financial strategy and of course the long-term goals. It is vital to model different instances with the financial planner or individually to understand everything regarding the value of the settlement. Make sure to make it the primary part of the plan before going for it.

Time value and Money

The lump sum settlement companies offer less than the total of the stream of the payment. The consumers, in this case, are encouraged to seek to answer the question; how less? When trying to find out whether a given lump sum is fair or not, the calculation might appear quite complex, but the basic concept behind it is simple. One would rather have a dollar in the present than to have the same in future. So, you will go for the discount on money at the moment as compared to on a later date.

The Key Process

In most instances, the entire process could go for as long as 45 to 65 days even when everything runs without friction; so it is easy to tell that this is not instant cash. It will even require a court process before you get your hands on the money that you so covet. The broker associated with the transaction will have to issue a comprehensive explanation of the discount factor during the court process. If it happens that the judge realizes that the sale is not in your interest, it is possible to have the transfer terminated. The meaning of best interest, in this case, is not clear, which means that the termination could happen.

Below are some of the factors to take into consideration to avoid some problems which are most likely to happen.

• Shop around. Try looking for some competing quotes from different firms. If you had done a similar transaction in the past and are in the market again, consider looking for new bids.

• Get all information including upfront. The disclosure requirements may differ from one state to the other, but you must seek to know the commitment by timing guarantee and fees on the payout dollar amount.

• Know the person you are dealing with. Confirm with the better business bureau. It is important to ensure that the firm you are dealing with has been on the market for a long period and has gained a good reputation from the past clients.

• Talk to an attorney and a financial planner. By talking to the right people, you will get to know about the restrictions associated with having your settlement sold. Try to find out about the available tax consequences.

WRITTEN BY

John Adera

Read This Before You Sip On That Energy Drink You Are Holding

Energy drinks are hyped worldwide as products that enhance energy levels, improve mental alertness, and up physical performance. In the US alone, next to multivitamins, energy drinks have become some of the most popular dietary supplements consumed by individuals of all ages. Sources have it that males between the ages of 18 and 34 consume high levels of energy drinks. Sadly, only a few of them take time to understand the health implications that these drinks; therefore, let’s take a look at some of them.

Heart Complications

In the past few years, the company responsible for marketing the 5-Hour Energy has at least filed 30 reports with FDA, regarding severe injuries linked with its products. These include, but not limited to, heart attacks, according to the New York Times. Thirteen years ago, in Australia, a middle-aged man suffered a life-threatening cardiac arresting after consuming eight cans of an energy drink. Reliable sources have it that the patient did not have a history of chest pain.

Some energy drinks contain caffeine and other compounds that are known to increase blood pressure and heart rate. Caffeine might make heart cells to secrete calcium, and this might affect the heartbeat, which might then lead to arrhythmia. However, there is not enough evidence to back the claim that energy drinks might make consumers suffer from cardiac arrest, but it is a point worth noting.

Increases Drug Abuse

Stats claim that most college students that consume energy drinks have higher chances of abusing non-prescribed drugs. They are highly likely to use prescription painkillers or stimulants in their senior years at college. Experts state that just like prescription drinks, students find it easy to believe that energy drinks are safer, more socially acceptable, and so they can use them, however, ad whenever they please. Also, energy drinks are, to some extent, addictive, which is why many students mix them with alcohol. This is another topic worth addressing as alcohol mixed with energy drinks makes it hard for consumers to tell their intoxication levels.

Might Lead to Miscarriage

It is essential to mention that the FDA has also received multiple reports regarding miscarriages related to 5-Hour Energy. However, there have been mixed studies on the effects of caffeine on premature births. According to one study conducted in 2006 among 1,000 expectant mothers, those who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine each day are more likely to experience miscarriage compared to pregnant women who don’t take caffeine. However, in 2008, another journal was published, and it stated that there was no link between caffeine and miscarriage at twenty weeks of pregnancy.

Not Good for Your Child

Most energy drinks out there are the core reasons for caffeine overdose. Also, they tend to have high sugar levels, which is the first reason your child should never put energy drinks in their mouth. Understandably, too much of these chemicals and stimulants might lead to insomnia, dependence, heart palpitations, and dehydration, and you don’t want to expose your child to any of these when they are still young. This is because while some adults might stand some of these side effects, they tend to be highly extreme among children, and could lead to severe health complications such as mania, seizures, stroke, and death in some cases.

The Bottom Line

The American Academy of Family, alongside the American Academy of Pediatrics, has taken a robust stance that compounds and other stimulus substances contained in energy drinks should be in the diet of children and adolescents. Also, some adults might encounter similar health complications caused by the same compounds and chemicals. Therefore, if you are a grown-up looking for an energy boost, you have to be careful when taking energy drinks. Note that they do contain the chemicals in different proportions, which makes some of them more dangerous to your health.