The Shaker of Salt

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Have you ever heard people say, “Things were better years ago. Kids today are too glued to tablets and computers.”? Sometimes it was simple things going to the library to get a book. As with most things we tend to put a nostalgic rose-colored tint on everything. People were healthier back then! Perhaps some of this is true, but overall technology has given us massive improvements in our daily lives. Let’s take a look at some of the ways, that technology (whether you love it or hate it) has improved our lives.

Communication

It has never been easier to keep in touch with the people you genuinely love. Years ago, when a family member moved to Australia, you’d be reliant on snail mail and phone calls just to make sure they were okay. Lets not forget the cost of a telephone call there. While there is a certain deliciousness in receiving a handwritten letter and sending one for that matter, it isn’t always the most practical. For example, when someone you care about is sick or in the hospital – awaiting a letter or a costly phone call can be such an anxious time. But now, we have the means to send everything we want to say with a mobile device using i3Broadband for example. When babies are born we no longer have to wait for the mailed photograph. We can get all the details via Skype or Facetime in seconds. On the flip side we have perhaps lost the art of great face-to-face conversations. But, overall, the communication capabilities are much bigger than in previous years, and the impact is mostly positive.

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Business

This one has grown in ways that no one could have predicted. Large corporations have, and always will leverage leaps in technology to make the big bucks – after all, that is precisely what they are supposed to be doing. Another business perk, however, is that more people can now run a business entirely from home. Which is excellent news for the economy in general. Almost every house has a computer and an internet connection now, meaning that anyone with a little bit of time and some big ideas can create an at home business. You can take advantage of the current boom in the gig economy, and sign up to websites like Upwork, Freelancer, People Per Hour and Fivver and see what type of jobs are available.

Personal Growth & Learning

The age of information. Potentially the information has always been available to those who sought it out, but now even the most fleeting of questions can be answered in a matter of seconds.

When it comes to learning, we are now lucky enough to be able to take a whole degree online. Universities all over the globe have opened up their curriculum and put it in easy to access, and cheaper to take, online courses. The impact of technology like tablets and laptops has meant that teachers now have even more tools at their disposal. There are countless website which are dedicated to providing resources written by other teachers. Children in classes now use online learning programs, that can also be accessed at home – giving them so much more learning opportunity and what they enjoy in school can be extended into the house and experienced with their parents.

Personal growth, mindfulness, being in the moment and stress management are all things that are accessible both via a computer, classes and via apps. Modern life demands more from people, and that is partly because the world of business and work no longer stop – it doesn’t have to. So we can now take steps to learn more about ourselves, what makes us happy, how we can maximize our own strengths and work on our weaknesses. In fact, there are now watches which can tell us so much about ourselves simply by tracking out blood pressure and sleep patterns. All the information we can use to improve our lives.

Some companies have made strides to have books work alongside augmented reality technology to provide a best of both worlds approach to learning.

Once you have an innovation culture, even those who are not scientists or engineers – poets, actors, journalists – they, as communities, embrace the meaning of what it is to be scientifically literate. They embrace the concept of an innovation culture. They vote in ways that promote it. They don’t fight science, and they don’t fight technology. – Neil deGrasse Tyson

Community

They say it takes a village, but in the modern world, it has never been more challenging to find the time to grow yours. By the time you have finished the school runs, your part-time or full-time job, the extracurricular stuff, the cleaning, the cooking… and finding 3 minutes peace (if you can). It can feel like you’re going it alone a lot of the time. Something that many women have openly discussed and written about is how lonely it can be raising children in modern times. Millions of parents have started using portals like facebook, twitter, and online forums to find ‘their tribe.’ It might not be as easy as it once was to share a cup of tea with a close friend, but sometimes making a few close friends that you can talk to via Whatsapp or Twitter, or Facebook can mean an awful lot.

All of these different platforms and different at home technology has given us the power to build a community of like-minded people – without the pressure of the real-life coffee date.

If you have a parenting question to ask at 3am, the chances are someone somewhere will be awake and able to put your mind at ease. Or, if you need someone to speak to and you just simply can’t make a face-2-face, you can message your friend in a different country and still feel supported.

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Creative Outlet

This one combines the community and the learning, and could eventually be a business. Blogging, vlogging, writing, graphic design, and photo editing are among some of the skills that you can do from home. With a quick google, you can find the best software to use, and away you go. In fact, many people who blog can make an entire living from home! But, it doesn’t end there. YouTube and other platforms mean if there is a skill you really want to learn, the chances are, that there is someone out there who has made a detailed video to help you learn it.

Finding something you love, and learning about new methods of doing things is a significant part of modern technology. Connecting with people who have the same hobbies and getting creative is a great way to spend time.

Easy Shopping

Where once you might have needed to stand in a queue for the latest toy for your child, the newest game release or even a clothing line – that is rarely ever the case now. You can pre-order games, films, make-up and even clothing. And, of course, the downside to this is, that smaller brick and mortar stores have paid a steep price – with hundreds shutting down every week. However, smart businesses prospered by creating a great online shopping experience and are no doubt cashing in on that. In the UK 87% of purchases are now made online, and that doesn’t include the weekly shop, and in 2017 US shoppers spent a whopping $108 billion during the holiday season – which accounted for 80% of purchases. It also means consumers can enjoy some deep discounts because not only do retailers compete on price, but they have fewer overheads like rental costs of shops.

This is also great for people who are perhaps less mobile than others, getting what they need, direct to their door is ideal.

Health & Family

While it could be argued that with all the new technology advancements we are more likely to stay in our loungewear and surf the internet all day, you can also say that doctors and scientists have made some brilliant and innovative breakthroughs.

Most of us have benefited from better scanning machines, quicker medical notes when you’ve been to the hospital, blood tests can be back in hours when needed. We also have things like Smartwatches and Fitbits, that can encourage us to move more and give us detailed information on our sleeping habits and heart rate.

And, when it comes to starting or growing your families, IVF has come on leaps and bounds, and the ability to meet and care for children halfway around the world. Technology and science have given hope to millions of people where previously there was none – and that is pretty magical.

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“When did Christmas get so expensive?” We think it to ourselves every year. Every year, the festive season seems to sneak up on us and upon consulting our bank statements we realize that we are woefully unprepared for the oncoming expense. But therein lies the problem. Very often Christmas becomes so expensive because we are unprepared. We fail to lay the groundwork throughout the year and can find ourselves leaning on loans and credit cards which can lead to a spiral of debt that lasts well into the new year. One thing’s for sure, Christmas can be a real source of anxiety for many households.

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The good news here is that there are many ways to drive down the cost of Christmas and still have a wonderful and fulfilling day. And the even better news is that it’ still not too late. With a little careful planning and lateral thinking you can ensure a happy and cost effective Christmas this year and every year.

Carry out an energy efficiency audit

When our thoughts turn to the cost of Christmas, they inevitably turn to presents, gifts, alcohol and the inevitable huge spread (more on that shortly). However, we mustn’t overlook the hidden costs of the season. For example, the extra energy costs incurred in the colder months may not be the most obvious thought that springs to mind but they can drive up the festive price tag.

Carrying out a festive energy efficiency audit can help you save on energy bills every winter. Walk past your windows. Do you feel a chilly draft? Even if you have double wrap windows that doesn’t mean that you’re getting the best protection from the cold and your energy costs could still be going (quite literally) out of the window. Consider upgrading to super energy efficient windows from Boulder Window. These will save you money all year round. They will seal heat in over winter and keep your home cool in the summer, saving you money on air conditioning.

It’s also worth taking a look at your attic insulation. If you see evidence of rodent infestation like tiny bite marks, burrowed holes or droppings it may be compromised. Replacing it will make a big difference in keeping your home warm. If your radiators don’t quite feel as warm as they should, don’t worry, you probably won’t need to replace them! Try adding a radiator additive which has a greater surface area than water and so is able to absorb more heat.

Get those Christmas lists in as early as possible

Nobody wants to ruin the illusion of Santa for their kids, but waiting until the last moment to get your kids’ Christmas wish lists is a passport to a nervous breakdown. Don’t spend your week leading to Christmas ducking and diving around frantic toy stores or paying over the odds for fast delivery from online stores. Get your kids’ Christmas lists as far in advance as possible. This will give you plenty of time to shop around for the best prices.

Plus, if their expectations are way in excess of the household budget, this also gives you an opportunity to let them down gently and manage their expectations, channeling their thoughts towards more affordable gifts.

Have a happy, healthy veggie Christmas dinner

We all assume that Christmas dinner is an absurdly costly enterprise, but much of this cost is absorbed by a huge turkey. If you’re looking for a way to keep the cost of Christmas down without robbing yourself and your family of the enjoyment that comes with a delicious Christmas dinner, consider going veggie for this coming Christmas. There are a great many tasty and indulgent vegetarian and vegan Christmas dinner recipes which are just as tasty and satisfying as their meaty counterparts but a whole lot cheaper… They’re also much healthier, more ethical and better for the environment, too!

Don’t bother with Black Friday

This year’s Black Friday has already been and gone but a tip for next year would be… Don’t bother with it. Aside from the outbreaks of violence, the nightmarish parking and the whiff of corporate cynicism that accompany it, Black Friday can wind up costing you more than it saves. Unless you happen to find a great deal on something that you were going to buy anyway, it is just another way of spending money you can’t spare on stuff you don’t really need or want.

Don’t stop saving

Finally, many of us suspend our savings over the holidays to give us more money to spend. Don’t. When we do this, all too often we don’t remember to start paying into our savings again until well into spring. In fact, now is the perfect time to ditch your high street savings account and find one that will make your money work harder for you!

The more effort you put in now, the easier it will become to make festive savings each and every year!

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The teenage years are a turbulent time. Raging hormones, pressure from peers, exam worries and thoughts of the future can all leave a teen a little out of sorts. One issue is that most teenagers feel that they’re grown up and mature, but are in many ways still treated like children which can be really frustrating for them. They’re given curfews, and there are rules against them doing things they might want to do- from the clothes they wear, to the people they hang out with. They’re told when to go to bed and when to get up, what chores to do and more- it can make some teens want to rebel. Parents really do know best. We’re well aware that our teens very much don’t ‘know it all’ and are still incredibly vulnerable. It can be hard for them to see that themselves, and all the explaining in the world often won’t make a difference. When they start acting out it can be a difficult time for all of the family, and leave you not knowing what to do. If you’re already the parent to a teen, or you’re just thinking of the future- here are some issues you might come up against and how to respond.

Due to peer pressure or the desire to rebel, teens can be inclined to experiment in dangerous vices such as smoking, alcohol and drugs. In the case of drugs and alcohol, these can pose a very real threat to their lives, consuming too much could lead to a fatality. They also put themselves in a vulnerable position where they could be subject to attacks or accidental injury. Know the signs, if your child is being secretive, hanging around with new people or comes home looking intoxicated then you need to speak with them immediately. Another issue families have to deal with is overuse of technology.  Our teens have grown up with technology, it’s very much a part of theirs- and everyone else’s lives these days. However, too much internet use is associated with obesity due to lack of exercise, and it can even be addictive. If you feel that this is the case with your child, you could look into a teen gaming addiction treatment. Psychological addictions like this are similar to those that are addicted to gambling, and affect the brain in much the same way as physical addiction.

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One of the best things you can do as a family is to be honest and open with each other. If your children know they can come to you and speak about any issues they’re having, you can educate them and talk them round- instead of them giving into peer pressure. Know that children and teens can and will make mistakes, if you find out they’ve done something you don’t like then screaming and shouting isn’t the answer. Talking about things in a rational way, and treating them like an adult which is really what they crave will resonate with them on a much deeper level.

These years can be difficult for all of the family, but maintaining close relationships and seeking help if it’s needed will help everything run much more smoothly.

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We live in a technology-filled world, but, in between shouting at your computer and getting frustrated by automated calls, it can be difficult to remember why we didn’t stick with stone tools.

Technology is only as good as humans make it, but this is no reason to despair. There are countless advances going on in the tech world every minute. 

Here are 3 reasons to love technology if you don’t already.

It Connects Us

The first reason that we should all love technology is that is has overwhelmingly brought us closer together. For all that we worry about kids spending all their time on their phones rather than running around outside, those phones are the hub of their social life and form an important part of building new friendships and other relationships. All you need is the best cell phone service you can get and the world is at your fingertips.

With immediate access to people around the world in less than a heartbeat we all have a greater opportunity to come together and solve problems. As we all saw in the way social media affected the Arab Spring in 2010, people can share ideas quickly and decide how to act. Though protests are easy to track, the dissemination of important ideas and solutions regarding large-scale problems like climate change should not be underestimated.

It Solves Our Problems

Technology sometimes feels as though it makes more problems than it solves but this simply isn’t true. Technology is the main tool we have to counter all kinds of issues in all kinds of creative ways. Smart homes are a great example of how multiple technologies can join together to create a more cohesive solution to a range of problems.

We would be foolish to rely entirely on technology to solve every problem we face. Though it is clear that with a little thought and invention, a solution is never too far away. And if sci-fi tells us anything, it’s that writers are already planting seeds for future inventors to grow.

It Continues to Advance

Technology is now advancing at an exponential rate. This means that the time between improvements is getting progressively smaller and so, in effect, this means that the frequency of technological revolutions is going up. While this is a problem for people who want to stay at the forefront of advancements, it does mean that you can much more easily spend less without falling too far behind!

The real hope though is that technology will soon be developed with repairing and upgrading in mind, rather than obsolescence to reduce the impact on the planet. Another problem that is already being tackled with a range of technological solutions…

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No matter how involved in delivery your partner is, women still to bear the brunt of childbirth. Why,  because men can’t do it physically.  Kind of makes you wonder if this ever makes Dad feel as if he is not as valued.

Finding a place for the guy in childbirth is a necessary part of the process. Of course, it isn’t straightforward because it’s not like you can pass on the pregnancy to your man. If you feel like Dad might be a bit sensitive here are a few things you can do to make him feel more valued.

Do Everything Together

With somethings this may seem obvious, such as going to doctor appointments. Often times Dad is more eager Mom for these appointments, after all he is not the person getting examined. Other things you may want to make sure he is involved in are things you may not think of . For example take the baby books. Both of you will read them, but you might shop for them without his input. Picking out the book that will record your baby’s future may be as important for him as it is for you.

Request Attention For Him

If it seems like Dad is left out of the conversations at appointments ask that he be included. I would hope anyone working with expectant parents would already do this. Sometimes something as simple Dad getting a little eye contact can make him feel less left out of the loop.

Get Him To Take A Break

From work, that is. He might be on vacation from the office, but he’ll have plenty to do at home. The first couple of weeks are the most important for new moms and dads, so it’s vital that he’s around. Not only will he get the chance to bond, but your guy should also pick up the slack while you’re recovering. Click here to see and to listen to how loved ones can be your rock in those initial weeks after giving birth. Paternity for dads is two weeks legally, yet he should be able to make it three weeks to a month by using his holiday allocation.

Finding Childcare

When the time comes you may decide you want, or need to return to work. This can be a hard decision to make, but, at times it is the best thing that can happen. Being a stay at home Mom can be very isolating. Face it, you can only watch so much Peppa Pig before you feel like pulling your hair out. For new moms, the relief of an adult routine often feels like heaven. If you can, work on dividing up the time you are with the child, perhaps you can work at nights and Dad can tend baby. 

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Is there ever a definitive time to approach the subject about your parents gradually requiring more help from you they age?

It’s an awkward conversation to be had with your parents. After all  they raised you. They were the ones who cared for you when you were sick, taught you to eat, dress, ride a bike and gradually live independently. However, perhaps the time has arrived for you to return the care. I would like to share a couple tips on approaching the subject of helping without sounding like you are trying to take over their lives.

Family Meeting

There’s no easy way of addressing the elephant in the room. It takes a little courage to encourage a discussion with your parents about their future plans. It’s often rare for those aging and losing their capabilities to discuss their future in this way. However, leaving the subject unraveled could result in no future plan at all.  As a consequence, stress and panic may ensue in the event that your parents may require immediate care.

You may notice one of your parents needing extra help with specific tasks. Perhaps they’ve fallen and hurt themselves a few times in their home or left the doors and windows regularly unlocked. You could mention these events to ask how they feel about those situations and how you could help to ensure their safety in the future.

What Do Your Parents Want?

Discuss with your folks how they’re feeling and listen with your heart about their feelings on their well being, their living conditions and quality of life as a whole. Do they feel happy living at home independently, or do they sometimes feel like they would like some extra help? Do they need to live in their family home, or would they prefer a ground level apartment with easier mobility and less maintenance? Have they thought about having a carer to visit, or a cleaner to take care of some of the duties they are no longer able to do?

Plan some questions to ask beforehand, this will help you to gather the information you need to know to plan precisely how you can support your aging parents, in a way which they feel is helpful and not intrusive or overbearing.

Talk About Options

Be supportive and open-minded to the wishes of your parents, however, balance this with their current circumstances to discuss their options. For instance, if one of your parents is gradually suffering from dementia, they may wish to live with you. If this is not an option, discuss with them the reasons this will not work. Let they know why you are unable to provide the professional around the clock care. Explain why they would benefit from receiving in a nursing home.

Alternatively, you might like the idea of looking after your parents in your own home. If this is the case you may want to look into hiring caregivers to help you out. 

In other circumstances, you or your parents may feel that a nursing home could be a good option to relieve them of daily duties they are no longer able to keep up with while living independently. Such as cleaning their own home, self-care and paying for a multitude of bills to different companies each month.

The primary concern of choosing a nursing home as a potential option is the worry over whether an aging family member will receive a high standard of care, free from neglect. If you think a family member in a nursing home is being mistreated preview https://www.gbw.law/personal-injury/nursing-home-abuse/ for information.

It is important to raise the subject about helping your parents sensitively. They may be filled with grief at the thought of leaving their family home, or feel that their pride has been damaged if you mention that you think they are no longer able to look after themselves adequately.

Talking about this subject may be difficult to begin with, however you can find comfort in finding out what kind of help your parents would like from you now or in the future, so that you can organize and plan your life to help them as they get older and less able to do things themselves.

Your home is always under threat from many different things, for example the elements or its own aging structure. That’s why you need to be careful and take steps to make sure that it’s always secure and safe from the threats it faces. It’s best to do this now rather than later before it’s too late. Here’s how to protect your home properly from all the potential threats it faces.

Be Aware of Weather Threats in Your Area

Where you live and what the weather threats are at that particular time of the year should always be in your mind when trying to protect your home. If you know that you’re entering a stormy season, you should check your home for problems and ensure it’s ready to withstand the storms. The same applies to whichever weather threats your home faces.

Make Sure You Have the Right Insurance

Having the right insurance coverage in place is really important for your home. Without home and contents insurance covering you, you will always be taking a big risk if something does cause damage to your home. You might be left with a huge bill and no help from an insurance company, which is not what you want at all. There are so many options on the market so compare them and get covered.

Keep an Eye Out for Signs of Structural Damage

Structural damage is something that you will obviously want to avoid because it can be very serious and cause a lot of damage to your home if you’re not careful. You should keep looking for any signs of structural damage. You should check the basement too because problems can first arise here before you spot problems anywhere else.

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Be Careful With Debt

If you allow yourself to get into too much debt, you can end up causing yourself problems that simply don’t need to be caused at all. It shouldn’t be that way, so stay on top of your debt, especially if you have debts that are secured against your home. Things can go wrong very quickly if you’re not careful. If you’re already in a bad debt situation, learn about negotiating with debt collectors

Fix Minor Problems as Soon as You Can

If you spot a minor problem in your home, you should try to deal with it as soon as you can rather than allowing it to get worse and more costly to put right. By putting in this little extra work, you will actually be able to make a huge difference to the future of your home. You won’t regret fixing those minor issues if it prevents them from becoming bigger ones later on.

Protecting your home doesn’t have to be a chore. It’s all about taking care of the most basic and important things. That’s what really matters when it comes to looking after your home and making sure that it’ll be safe and durable for as long as you’re living there and beyond.

As soon as you have children, you will need to start thinking about how you are going to start saving for their future education. As we all know, college is expensive and the cost of tuition is constantly rising, leaving graduates with a mountain of debt. The best thing you can do set up the funds for their future education which you can start doing today. Here, we are going to take you through exactly how you can start saving for your children’s education.

Open A Savings Account

Online bank accounts are the best way to start saving for your child’s education in the future. A savings account will allow you to put money away every month and keeping this money completely separate will ensure that you don’t accidentally spend it. Get into the habit of putting money away into this account every month and the earlier you start, the easier it will be to get these important funds together. Open this account shortly after having your child to start the process. To help you get started, have a look at the BB&T online bank accounts as they offer basic checking accounts that are simple to manage as well as an option that boasts many premium benefits.

529 College Plans

Alongside opening a savings account, there are many other additional ways in which you can start getting the money together for your child’s future education and one of these ways is the 529 college plan. This is similar to a Roth IRA as a 529 college savings plan will allow you, the parents, to invest after-tax money into diversified, low cost stock and bond funds. What’s great about this plan is that you can then withdraw the money tax-free for qualified education expenses. This offers you a massive tax advantage as once you use it to pay for the tuition expenses you won’t ever have to pay taxes on these funds.

Prepaid Tuition Plans

An alternative to the 529 savings plan is the prepaid tuitions plan. This plan allows parents who know their child will be attending an in-state public university to pay for tuition credits in advance and at a predetermined price. While this is good for the tax benefits and it won’t be subject to swings in the stock market, there are some limitations to this savings plan. For example, if the child does not go to an in-state school, while you will get a return on your money, you won’t get the full benefits of the plan.

Roth IRA

Finally, the last way in which you can prepare to start saving for your child’s education is to open a Roth IRA in their name once they start to earn an income. Restrictions on this mean that withdrawals will keep investors from taking earnings out penalty free.

Like all investments, the earlier you start to save, the more time your money will have to grow. This should give you the motivation that you need to start saving now if you have not already done so, so you can give your child the very best education in later life without having to worry about the financial implications of doing so.

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Admit it, you don’t think of renovating the dining room that often. In fact, you might use the dining room so little that you don’t even think about it at all other than when running the hoover round or making sure that it’s not full of dust. It’s not the most popular room in the home, which makes it the most forgotten room in the home. But the dining room has so much unspoken potential, we really do think it would be such a shame for you to put it to waste the whole time that you’re living in your home. So, we think we know exactly how you can make sure that you have the most perfect dining room renovation, and what a great dining room actually looks like! Have a read on to find out more.

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Back To Basics

If you rarely use your dining room, then we know it’s going to be outdated and probably not even worth dining in. So, we think you should go back to basics, and strip your dining room of everything in it. From the table and chairs, to the carpet, to the decor on the walls. Everything that’s in it can be replaced so easily, and starting fresh gives you a whole new outlook on the room. Once you’ve got a bare room to work with, you can start to look at how much it’s going to cost to add new things in. We know it won’t be too much, and the price you’ll pay will be more than worth it when you get a whole new fancy dining room to use at your disposal. We will say that we do think you should keep things simplistic and elegant for the dining room, but we’ll discuss more about design ideas later on!

Go Open Plan

Open plan is the best way to go in our opinion when it comes to the dining room. This is a design idea, so it would be up to you to find a style to decorate it with once the renovation is done. An open plan design is best when you knock through to the kitchen. It creates such a space for socialization and family fun. Plus, it will add size to your kitchen. Having it open in terms of windows is also a good idea. It allows natural light to flood in, and gives you a good view to look at while you eat ! You can get custom curtains online as well when you’re looking for that little bit of extra privacy. If you don’t like the idea of making it open plan in terms of big windows as well, then you’re going to have more room to focus on decor.

Find A Style

If you want to find a really good style you may want to search online for inspiration. Nothing does it better than looking at professional interior design pages to see what their thoughts and expressions are. You’ll then be able to take bits from each one!