Author: Igor

  • 9 Actors Who Have Released Albums

    In today’s movies, it’s quite common to see singers and musicians make the leap to the screen, whether it’s for a cameo or an Oscar-winning performance (Cher). 

    While you might not bat an eyelid at this transition, it’s sometimes a strange experience to see people who you think of as actors start belting out power ballads or rock anthems.

    Many actors train in both disciplines at the beginning of their career, with musical theatre being a component of many acting programs and drama school, they’re at home both in the recording studio and treading the boards of a theatre, it usually comes down to which area they get their break in first. 

    Of course, there are a few people with a foot in both disciplines such as Hugh Jackman and Zendaya and it’s well known that actors like Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp and Russell Crowe play in bands. Here are some actors who’ve released music that you might not have heard.

    Photo by Caught In Joy on Unsplash

    Bruce Willis

    80s TV star and 90s movie action hero Bruce Willis is famous for starring in movies such as Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense and Sin City. But Bruce Willis is also a bit of a crooner. He released his debut album in 1987. He followed up with another two albums released in 1989 and 2001. 

    Tom Hardy

    Tom Hardy is a bit of a chameleon when it comes to choosing his acting roles. From a beefed-up bad guy, Bane in The Dark Knight Returns, to playing both of the Kray twins. He’s a frequent collaborator with director Christopher Nolan and has been one of the front runners to don the 007 tux for years now. 

    One thing you don’t think of when you think of Tom Hardy is him rapping on hip hop tracks as his alter ego Tommy No.1

    Jeremy Renner

    The Oscar-nominated Renner is better known as Clint “Hawkeye” Barton in the MCU. He also took over the Bourne franchise (briefly) from Matt Damon in The Bourne Legacy before dropping briefly into the Mission Impossible franchise. He’s also starred in a number of other critically acclaimed movies. But Renner’s first love has been music from a young age. He’s a bit of an all-rounder too, taking on singer-songwriter duties as well as guitars, drums and keyboards. He’s released a number of singles and released the extended album “The Medicine” in 2020. 

    Ben Barnes

    British actor Ben Barnes came to prominence as Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia, before moving into more adult roles in Dorian Grey, The Punisher and Westworld. Most recently, he’s been playing the Darkling in the Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone.  

    Barnes nearly went the music route, signing with Spice Girls svengali Simon Fuller, but nothing came of it and Barnes ended up pushing the acting side of his career instead.

    In 2021, he released the album “Songs for You.”

    Brie Larson

    Another Avenger with an ear for music. Captain Marvel herself, Brie Larson received an Oscar in 2016 for her performance in Room. However, in 2005, she gave music fame a shot by releasing her album “Finally Out Of P.E.” 

    Zooey Deschanel 

    Best known as the star of New Girl, Zooey Deschanel has also starred in a number of movies too. Her love of singing saw her team up with M.Ward, the singer-songwriter to form the duo She & Him. They’ve gone on to release six albums so far. 

    William Shatner 

    Yes, the man forever known as Captain James T. Kirk has released a number of albums over the decade. They can best be described as ‘interesting’. The aural equivalent of watching something from behind your hands because it’s very cringe-worthy but you can’t completely turn away. 

    Scarlett Johansson

    Is anyone else picturing an Avengers musical team up? Johansson has been gracing the screens as Black Widow for well over a decade now, fitting in some excellent indie project in-between. She showed she had talent when she performed in a voice role for the animated movie Sing.

    She released her debut album in 2008 and has since gone on to work with Pete Yorn and other on further albums.

    Hugh Laurie et al 

    The Band from TV is a charity band formed by well-known stars of American TV. They give all of their profits to charity. The current performers are Greg Grunberg (Heroes), James Denton (Desperate Housewives), Hugh Laurie (House), Adrian Pasdar (Heroes), Scott Grimes (ER), Terry Hatcher (Desperate Housewives). 

    So, were you surprised by any of the people on this list? Will you be rushing to buy any of their albums?

  • Importance Of Phishing Training & How To Conduct It

    Fishing consists of placing a bait in front of, well, fish, and hoping that they will bite. Phishing is kind of similar, except that the fish are replaced with people, and the baits are a bit different. We all have some idea as to what it is, and none of us want to fall into the trap. This article will give you a better idea on phishing and the dangers of it if you’re still not quite familiar with everything.

    Nobody wants to fall in the trap, but, unfortunately, it still happens. The question is why? Well, that’s pretty simple. It happens because people are not properly taught how to stay protected against these attacks. Ignorance is what leads to mistakes, which is why working towards getting people informed is of utmost importance.

    Do you like the idea people working for you and not being aware of the dangers of phishing or not knowing how to stay safe? Everyone will have the same answer to this. If you don’t want your entire company to be at risk, you’ll want your employees to understand the importance of protecting themselves against phishing attacks. Furthermore, you’ll also want them to know exactly how to remain protected.

    While it is perfectly clear that you want your staff to be aware of the dangers and to know how to avoid them, you could be confused about how to raise their awareness and teach them to avoid the attacks. Well, how about organizing phishing training in your company and thus getting all of your employees properly informed of everything? If you don’t understand why those trainings are important, you should read on to get a clearer idea on the mentioned importance.

    Read more about the dangers of the attacks: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2017/09/14/the-dangers-of-phishing/?sh=20edf9ca5078


    Why Is Phishing Training Important?

    There are great reasons why organizing phishing training in your company is necessary, and you’re now going to learn about some of them. First, these trainings teach your employees how to spot phishing attack and how to, thus, avoid them. Plus, you can use them to remind your staff of existing policies and security procedures that they need to know.

    Furthermore, security leaders can use these trainings to identify those employees that are particularly at risk of falling for these scams. That will lead towards identifying gaps in their overall security strategy. In short, it will allow them to create more effective strategies and keep your company safe and secure. That is what you want to achieve, isn’t it?

    Compliance with standards is one more reason to conduct these trainings. Every single company needs to have those in mind and work towards satisfying the standards. And, all of those have a clause that outlines the significance of proper data security standards and practices. So, phishing training will also help you be compliant with those standards.

    How To Conduct It?

    Phishing training is necessary, and there’s no question about it. You’re no longer doubting its necessity, and you’re not even thinking of whether you can find some alternatives to get your staff prepared for possible attacks. That’s a good thing, and it further means you’re ready to conduct the training. It’s just that, you don’t know how. Well, it’s time to learn.

    The most important thing to understand is that you need to find a great preventing phishing training course if you really want to increase the knowledge of your employees on this topic. It’s no secret that you want a great quality course, and that you want to get the perfect value for your money. It’s easy to say this and claim that you’re going to get great quality. Doing it is what’s tricky. So, let me help you out there.

    First of all, do not rush into grabbing any of these courses without thinking things through and without checking what they can precisely offer you. Always check the features of the course you’re considering, and its contents if that’s a possibility. Checking quality will be easier when you look at the features and the contents, so that’s why you should do it.

    In addition to researching the actual courses, you have to research the providers as well. Reputation is one of those factors to focus on here, because you don’t like the idea of working with shady providers. Those shady ones won’t be there to help you if you encounter any issues with the course. The cost is also a factor that will influence your decision, so don’t forget to check it too.

    The choosing part is over, and now what? Well, now you conduct the training. Let your employees know that they’re required to complete it and track their progress. It’s perfectly fine if you want to repeat it after some time, if you feel that some employees are still lacking the needed knowledge. You have the right to do that.

  • 5 Ways To Get The Best PEMF Device in 2022

    When it comes to buying the best PEMF devices, you can be certain that these few actions will save you money and time. You just need to ensure you select the right PEMF therapy device that can improve your health from the market. If you choose the right device, the investment you make will be a major asset for your health and that of your loved ones.

     Read on if you want to know the different ways to buy the right and affordable PEMF devices in 2022.

    #1. Be Informed

    One of the first and major ways to get a good PEMF device is to be informed about it. You need to realize that there is not one single device that can satisfy everyone’s requirements and needs.

     There is a wide range of other devices in the market that are produced by some of the best manufacturers. When producing them, they bring to the market their unique philosophy and specifications that can only be for a specific purpose. 

     The pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) devices have been a major subject for several years of studies, which confirms their worth. PEMF devices offer real and tangible benefits to a lot of people experiencing the most with several diseases and various physical conditions.

    #2. Find it’s Need and Characteristic

    Before you purchase the right and affordable PEMF device this year, you may want to ask yourself several questions to narrow down your options and make the right choice. Are you an athlete or do you have a sedentary lifestyle? Do you suffer from any chronic health issue or just a temporary discomfort located at a specific point? What is your budget plan for the device you want to buy?

     Chronic diseases and conditions require different stimulations than therapies to keep your body healthy. If your aim is to get a PEMF device to help you maintain a general state of wellbeing, then you need to choose an ‘entry-level’ device. Such a device will emit an electromagnetic intensity of medium power and only has a few frequency levels.

     On the other hand, if you suffer from chronic pains or very serious medical conditions and injuries, you should go for a more advanced device. The therapy device will provide high therapeutic intensities, with two independent channels to simultaneously use two applicators in different locations of the body.

    #3. Understand its Technical Features

    Choosing a PEMF device means you also have to evaluate it in terms of both it’s construction and magnetic field emission. The following are the most important parameters to consider:

    • Intensity: Depending on the condition of the body to be treated, some intensity values are much better than the others. It doesn’t matter whether the electromagnetic energy supplied is low or high, therapy will always be effective.
    • Applicator: When comparing modern PEMF applicators to those in the past, you will discover that those in the market today are more suitable for the treatment of various diseases. The intensity of the magnetic field significantly reduces as the distance from the area to be treated increases. It means that the ideal situation is contact between the emitting source and the skin of the patient.
    • Frequency: It is important to know if there are PEMF devices that use very different ranges of frequencies, however, the healing principle of the therapy is almost the same and still effective.

    Other ways that can help you get good and affordable PEMF devices include:

    • Finding out the pre and after-sales support
    • Knowing the manufacturer.

    Conclusion

    Before you make a decision on the type of PEMF device to buy today, you need to follow all the points presented above. Each one of them represents the major points that make the difference between buying the right or wrong device. Good luck!

  • Bookshelf: Sunday Mornings at the River

    Bookshelf: Sunday Mornings at the River

    A couple of weeks ago we received a copy of the second issue of Sunday Mornings at the River. This publication, curated and founded by Sanne Poppeliers and Rebecca Rijsdijk, is filled with the work of photographers ” who take their cameras with them on the road and into the mountains”.

    As inspiring as the first issue, the second installment of Sunday Mornings at the River features the work of emerging and established photographers such as Michael McCraw, Gerard Weitering, Alec Soth, Simon de la Court, Maarten Boswijk and Ariel Rosenbloom.

    A great publication to flick through every day of the week and not only on Sundays!

    www.sundaymorningsattheriver.com

  • Creative Ideas to help Increase the Value of your Home before Stamp Duty Deadline

    This week we have explored a collection of ideas on how homeowners are maximising their selling prices ahead of the stamp duty deadline. Didn’t know you could move during lockdown? Turn’s out you can!

    Here’s some tips on how you can do the same:

    Enhance your outside

    Whether it’s tidying up the approach or giving the face of the property a good wash down you will increase the chances of potential buyers taking a proper look. Pressure washing and repainting can erase years of environmental pollution, dirt and debris.

    More simple enhancements might include touching up aging paint, replacing broken tiles or simply clearing rubbish or fallen foliage from the pathways.

    When it comes to your garden, If your exterior looks unkempt, then that’s not good for business. Trim borders, get rid of dead plants or simply clear the clutter to showcase the potential of the space. According to proper buyers Spring, the size and quality of your garden plays an important part in the valuation of a property on the open market.

    Clean the windows and brighten each room

    Image via Unsplash  

    Windows indeed tell tales. If you are always keen on cleaning up the windows, the house will still seem brighter and have a nice cheery look. Everything looks better through clean windows. Additionally, clean windows tend to bring in more light and give you a more colourful room full of natural light.

    In the areas that don’t have access to good natural light try getting some new bulbs with a paler colour tone and of course replace any that are burnt-out. Brightness plays a crucial role in increasing the appearance of space in your home. After all, who likes dull rooms?

    Repair or replace any broken appliances. The critical thing is not to get new appliances because the home will have a new owner. Old devices can function just as well as long as they are not broken. However, you must thoroughly clean and scrub any rust or untidy surface that might push away a prospective buyer. If any of your appliances are broken beyond repair, it is only suitable to get a replacement. It might also save you some money if you opt for second-hand devices. They are often in great shape and only need some polishing.

    Repair all worn-out blinds and shabby curtains


    Image via Unsplash

    Let’s face it, anything that is broken in your home is going to detract and offset the value. If your blinds are looking old and battered, then it’s time to get new ones. Likewise if you take the same approach to your curtains, for only a small cost you can breathe fresh life into your home. Homes sell quicker when they are presented as a blank canvas, so use neutral tones to give a contemporary and light feel.

    For more ideas on increasing your selling value why not check out this resource. 

    Sources:

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliadellitt/2018/06/29/3-ways-to-increase-your-home-value-in-the-first-year/?sh=5a9081884bf7
    https://www.self-build.co.uk/10-ways-add-value-your-home/
    https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=907oFAYkq20C&printsec=copyright&redir_esc=y#
    https://www.springmove.co.uk/guides/valuation/adding-value-to-your-home/v=onepage&q&f=false
    https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-to-increase-home-value