Tree-hugging luxury hideaway overlooks breathtaking Norwegian fjord | New Atlas

December 22, 2020December 21, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Helen & Hard has designed a particularly stunning treehouse in rural Norway. Named Woodnest, the forest dwelling is supported by a living pine tree that runs through its center, and it offers a well-stocked interior that sleeps up to four people.

The Woodnest shown is one of a pair of identical treehouses situated in a forest near the Hardangerfjord in Odda, Norway. It consists of a glulam (glued-laminated timber) frame that’s fastened to the trunk of a pine tree with a steel collar. The tree runs through the center of the interior, rather like Ethan Schlussler’s amazing treehouse, and exits through the ceiling. The firm told us that there’s a little extra space for the tree to expand in width as it continues to grow in height. The exterior is finished in timber shingles.

Carlo Ratti Associati designs “world’s first” fully compostable marker pen | Dezeen

December 22, 2020December 21, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Italian studio Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA) has designed a concept for a compostable marker pen comprising natural fibres and a water-based, edible ink that would break down within six months.

The Scribit Pen comprises a barrel made from a choice of either wood, bioplastic or anodised aluminium, which is designed for repeated use.

This holds a nib and cartridge made from natural fibres including sawdust, hemp fibres, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) – a polymer that is used to produce biodegradable plastic – and lignin.

Why do cats meow? | Live Science

December 18, 2020December 17, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Every day your cat walks into your office, looks at you indignantly and utters a despondent “meooow.” You may not speak cat, but her meaning is clear: “You haven’t fed me yet, you monster!”

House cats are unique in the way they use their voices to communicate with their human companions — they rarely meow at one another. So what makes our feline friends so chatty with us?

The answer has to do with domestication, experts told Live Science.

What Do You Need to Open a Business Bank Account? | businessnewsdaily.com

December 18, 2020December 17, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Find out which documents and licenses you’ll need to bring with you when you apply for a business bank account.

To open a business bank account, you will need your articles of incorporation, employer identification number and personal identification documents.
You can set up a business checking and savings account.
A business bank account is necessary to keep your business and personal finances separate.
This article is for small business owners who are interested in opening a business bank account and want to know what they need to get started.

Business bank accounts help you manage your business finances in a professional manner and separate those funds from your personal finances. Opening a business bank account requires more effort than opening a personal account. There are documents to gather, names to be determined and licenses to get in order. Learn why you should have a business bank account and what you need to do to open one.

How to Focus on Goals and Get Rid of Distractions | Life Hack

December 17, 2020December 16, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever had one of those days where you’re sitting at a screen trying to just tick something off your to do list and finding yourself completely unable to just focus on the task at hand? Maybe you’re on Facebook or falling down the rabbit hole of news, social media, and the countless other distractions the Internet presents instead of trying to focus on goals for the day.

You’re not alone. More than 84% of us are plagued by procrastination at least sometimes[1]. For me, procrastination is the leading reason I used to so frequently get to the end of the week without having achieved what I wanted to. That ultimately meant putting in more hours on the weekends and evenings when I’d rather be spending time with my family or working out and investing in my physical and mental health.

That was the core motivator for me investing two years in experimenting with different tools and tactics to improve my focus.

Amazon wants to scan your body to make perfectly fitting shirts | Fast Company

December 17, 2020December 16, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

For just $25, Amazon wants to make you a custom T-shirt. And a virtual body double.

This week, the company unveiled a brand called “Made for You” that creates made-to-measure clothes. The initial product, a T-shirt, can be personalized to your taste and measurements, and more products are coming. This is Amazon’s latest bid to make itself a fashion destination, and if the company chooses to double down on this made-to-measure technology, it could have significant impacts throughout the industry.

Top 7 Ways to Improve the Live Chat Experience for Your Customers | AllBusiness.com

December 16, 2020December 15, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Consumers today prefer live chat over more traditional channels to handle customer service issues, according to J.D. Power. It’s become a quick and efficient way of resolving problems—or at least, it should be. If your live chat isn’t being handled right, it can lead to frustrated customers who will leave your website and never return. To keep customers happy, here are seven ways to improve your customers’ live chat experience:

79% of Consumers Say They’re Comfortable Shopping In Stores | Small Business Trends

December 15, 2020December 14, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Some 79% of consumers say they’re comfortable shopping in stores this holiday season according to a survey by Square and Wakefield Research. A further 40% of consumers say they will at least do half of their shopping in-store.

The findings of the survey dispel fears by retailers that this holiday season will see a drop in in-store purchases. This as 56% of retailers are expecting many consumers to not shop in-store at all. More importantly, 52% of those surveyed are more likely to support small and local businesses this holiday season than the past year.

How to Engage Customers in a Remote Society | business.com

December 15, 2020December 14, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Local business is continuously getting more competitive, which means getting noticed can be more difficult, especially in a society where most consumers aren’t interacting with businesses in person.

If you are looking to grow your local business and get more customers, you will need to consider expanding your company’s reach. There are multiple ways to make this happen, including learning how to market your company better. Expanding a business is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, know-how and a good product or service, but there are time tested techniques that still work even in the current climate.

Your Next Therapy Dog Could Be a Biomimetic Robot | Digital Trends

December 14, 2020December 13, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Having an animal as a companion can be helpful for dealing with a whole range of psychological and physical health issues, especially among children. But not everyone is able to keep a pet. Now, a new study shows that spending time with a robotic dog as a companion can bring many of the same benefits as spending time with a real dog.

The research, performed at the University of Portsmouth, is published in the International Journal of Social Robotics. It found that when a group of 11- and 12-year-old children spent two sessions with the biomimetic MiRo-E robot dog, they experienced many of the same positive emotions as when they spent time with a real therapy dog.