Thanks to the internet, we’ve seen a variety of challenges grow to viral proportions as teenagers rush to emulate the behaviour of their peers in online videos. We’ve already had the Ice Bucket Challenge, where participants filmed themselves being drenched in icy water, the notorious Tide Pod Challenge, which requires people to eat a detergent pod, and now we have the Condom Snorting Challenge apparently gripping the imagination of teenagers everywhere.

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What is the Condom Snorting Challenge?

It sounds unlikely, but the Condom Snorting Challenge requires teenagers (it’s usually teens who run with these challenges, although older people are also sometimes drawn into the ‘game’) to inhale an unwrapped condom up one nostril and produce it through the mouth. Not to be confused with the alternative Condom Challenge of filling a condom with water and dropping it on a willing participant’s head, the craze is currently being condemned by health professionals, who are concerned that a condom could be inadvertently inhaled into the lungs, where it could cause severe damage. Some pundits are even claiming that spermicidal coatings could cause an allergic reaction, with potentially fatal consequences.

Is it really happening?

The first reported instance of someone inhaling a condom occurred back in May 2006 with a video appearing on Break.com, but it was not until six years later, with the upload of another similar video to YouTube that the craze really took off. Even then, there are only a few people who actually seem to have taken the challenge to heart, with just one or two new videos appearing over the following months.

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The Daily Mail is convinced that the Condom Snorting Challenge is gaining in popularity, having produced a lengthy article pointing out the dangers of the craze. The publication cites two instances of women accidentally swallowing condoms, leading to health problems that required medical intervention.

However, the craze does highlight the use of condoms for the purpose that they were originally created. This has led to a potential uptake of the services of https://www.pitstopplus.org/, which offers free condoms in Greenwich to gay men. Anything which encourages people to participate in safe sex practices has to be a good thing.

Whether it really is the craze of the moment, or just an over-hyped fuss about nothing, only time will tell.

Moving home is becoming increasingly difficult and too costly for many families. An obvious solution is ‘improving instead of moving’. If you desire more space, whether you need it for a spare bedroom, a home office or a playroom – there’s an easier and cheaper option than building an extension. Convert your garage!

The majority of garages are not used to store vehicles but become a dumping ground for old bikes, boxes full of Christmas decorations and things we don’t know what to do with. Have a good clear out and repurpose that space into a useful room that adds much-needed additional living space to your property. It could even increase the value of your home by up to £20,000!

Here are the steps needed to begin your exciting garage conversion:

1. Complete an assessment of your garage and choose how you want to utilise the space. If you have a lot of large items stored in your garage, you might need to think about saving a section of the space to keep these items stored. Alternatively, you can move the items into an outhouse or safely-locked shed.
2. Do some research into highly-recommended and rated contractors in your local area and get a few different quotes. For any gas, electrical or plumbing work, ensure they are registered with the appropriate governing regulation body and are certified. For Cheltenham Garage Conversions, visit http://www.cotswoldgarageconversions.co.uk/
3. Any planning and building regulations will need to be considered such as planning permission from the local authority if you wish to use your garage conversion for habitation. Your local authority will be able to answer any questions you have and advise you of your next steps. Ask to receive any advice or recommendations in writing so you can have peace of mind that all permissions are in place before you start work.
4. Get a written contract from your chosen contractor or garage conversion company so all responsibilities, payment amounts and dates are set out clearly for everyone involved.

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5. Now all the paperwork and permission has been taken care of, you can start clearing out your garage space. If you’re expanding a kitchen into the garage space for example, now is the time to organise having the wall knocked-through. Once all that mess has gone, any electrical and piping work can begin.
6. This is the time for installation of a new external cavity wall that is damp-proofed and solid enough to protect from the outside elements. Under-floor heating might also be a consideration for guest bedrooms and children’s playrooms.
7. Once the building work is complete, you can begin the exciting job of choosing how to decorate your newly acquired space. To avoid making a mess, it’s a good idea to do any painting work before flooring is laid.
8. Now you can relax and thoroughly enjoy the extra space for you and your family.

It seems that with stunning regularity that people coming from a Scandinavian country are way happier than all the rest of us. Recently Finland topped the poll boasting the happiest and most contented country in the world.  The United Nations come up with a list every year, possibly for something them to do, and Denmark, Norway and Sweden usually feature somewhere in the top 10. What is the secret of these people? One thing they have is log cabins and so you could try getting closer to the lifestyle by looking at Log Cabins for sale in Northern Ireland for example. Try http://logcabinsnorthernireland.com/ for some ideas.

Maybe it’s the smell of the fir tree and the solid feel of the wood around you like a big comfy blanket. A real life roaring in the grate or a super energy effect underfloor heating system utilising hot water, the Scandinavian countries are very “green” in their outlook, that reassures you. It’s long been said by Spiritualists and pagans that hugging a tree is great for sucking out the negative energy accumulated in the city or in the office so if your home is made out of the stuff surely all those positive vibes have to have a benefit to your mental wellbeing and general humour. Settle back into your IKEA chair and put on some of the fantastic Scandinavian music. They have given us such great bands as ABBA (Sweden), A-HA (Norway) and Eurovision winners plus World of Warcraft enthusiasts, presumably, Lordi (Finland).

The cold could also be a factor. The Scandinavian countries are located with at least some part in the Arctic Circle. This means that at least they get a season they can track unlike us herein the UK. When it’s December they know it’s going to be very cold. We are subject to the whims and wishes of the Atlantic Ocean which delights in bringing us mild and unsettled wet weather any time of the year. Having said that you can experience a month of nights or a month of daylight up the far reaches of the Scandinavian countries. Apparently, this can seriously mess up your circadian rhythms that people are likely to become a but unusual (and create bands like Lordi).  The cold and the seasons create a need for a sense of community to get through these winters and maybe that’s part of the secret to.

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The diet is mainly Fish and Vegetables with the delight meatball to provide a bit of difference. The focus is very much on fresh things though. They are big on food being salted and in one disgusting Norwegian fish dish that is left buried underground till it’s mouldy. They even hang salted fish up to be dried by the North Sea winds, adding even more salt. Never goes off though. Finally, we should mention the sauna. This is also an example of the family together slowly cooking themselves in a wooden steam room (logs again!) then jumping into a cold lake to cool off. It’s all about community and family. Better get checking out that website then, the UK is 18 places below them!

When it comes to renting property, landlords should look at rental income in the same way they would any business investment – and all successful businesses turn a profit. To increase your rental business profitability, consider the following tips:

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1)      Empty properties should be avoided

Rather obviously, if you have a rental lying emptying, it is costing you money. Securing reliable tenants for long-term lets can be a good objective. If you’re operating a short-term let, decrease any turnaround time by getting it market ready as soon as each let concludes.

2)      Reduce administration costs

When it comes to letting agents, do your homework. Choose agents that offer fixed-fee payments and consider online letting agents, rather than high street alternatives, as they can save you a substantial amount, charging far less than the 10-17% of rental income for traditional agencies.

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3)      Frequent Inspections

Check your property throughout the tenancy so that you can detect early signs of damage and repair quickly before bigger problems occur. Accidents and general wear and tear happen so have an inventory check in and check out. You can use property inventory software such as https://inventorybase.co.uk/ to help monitor your inventory.

4)      Rent review

Regularly check your rent by researching similar properties in your area, by valuation or through a letting agent. Charging too much will deter potentially good tenants, and charging too little will mean you’ll miss out on making a profit. Do this prior to renting out the property, or have a rent review clause, as it is difficult to increase rent after agreements are signed. You need to consider the pros and cons of increasing rent. Would excellent tenants move out, leaving your property vacant if you raise the rent?

5)      Keep up to date

Letting legalities are subject to change and it is important to remain protected by keeping informed. Failing to comply with regulations can result in hefty fines so frequently check Government websites to keep up to date. Landlords can also sign up to mailing lists or blogs that are regularly updated with new regulations.

6)      Organise tax

Rental income is taxable, but by claiming expenses that are allowed, you can reduce the amount of tax you are required to pay. A good accountant can advise on tax mitigation strategies, ensuring you remain within the law.

Pressure washers deliver up to 75 times the power of an ordinary garden hose, blasting mould, mildew, dirt, oil, grease and grime from cars, trucks, motor mowers and tillage machinery as easily as from garage floors and driveways, garden decks, outdoor furniture, roofs and guttering. They are an essential accessory for professional as well as DIY mechanics.

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However, good-quality washers are not cheap and require some maintenance, so here are six tips to extend their lifespan and keep them running smoothly.

Hose Connectors

Connectors contain O-rings that can twist or fail if not lubricated. Since oil gets washed off, use silicone plumber’s grease.

Empty After Use

Water catalyses corrosion and leaves behind mineral deposits. In winter it may even freeze. Pump seals and pistons are particularly vulnerable. To avoid damaging these expensive parts, flush your washer with pump lube or antifreeze after each use. Motor parts companies supplying Briggs and Stratton parts will also stock “Pump Saver”, which screws easily on to the pump inlet using a hose adapter. Briggs and Stratton parts and consumables can be found at https://diyengineparts.com/. A two-second burst is all that’s needed.

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Pressure Nozzles

Use the right nozzle for the job. Not only can you damage surfaces by using a high-pressure nozzle, but you won’t be able to flush soap through the system if you have a narrow nozzle fitted. (See a nozzle guide here https://tenbuyerguide.com/pressure-washer-nozzles/)

Cleaning Fluids

Putting ordinary household detergents, bleach or other domestic products into a pressure washer is asking for trouble. You need to buy pressure washer soap designed for the job you have in mind: vehicle soaps won’t clean oily concrete, and concrete soaps can discolour vehicle trims and alloy wheels.

Long-Term Storage

If you know you may not need your washer for a few months, protect the engine before you put it away by draining the crankcase and refilling it with fresh oil. Run the engine for a minute to circulate it. Do the same with the gas tank. Add fresh gas treated with fuel stabilisers and run for a couple of minutes to make sure it reaches the carburettor.

Minimise Transportation

Quite a few knocks and dents are caused by lugging washers around. A good-quality washer still delivers a good pressure through a 25’ hose extension, meaning you can leave it safely in one place.

We all love a romantic comedy. A film that makes us laugh, makes us cry and makes feel like all is right with the world. My Best Friends’ Wedding is one of those films. Starring Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Dermot Mulroney it’s a classic tale of girl meets boy and become really good friends. They agree to marry each other if they’ve not found anyone more suitable by the time they are 28. Just when it seems this back up plan is due to come though the boy rings and says his is engaged to someone else and would she like to come to the wedding? Rather than accept this, the girl realises that she’s in love with the boy and now wants him back, sort off, as she never had him in the first place. Girl then goes to the wedding to basically destroy the whole thing. One small problem, the girl that the boy wants to marry is delightful and really wants to be friends with the girl that now wants him back(ish). So much so that she asks her, even though she’s never meet her, to be the maid of honour.

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I pity the photographer who had to try and capture the images at this wedding. If you are looking for a Kent Wedding Photographer to capture some of the memorable moments from your big day then take a look at http://www.tylermadephotography.com/

Anyway, back to the film. The girl, who wants the boy back, then goes on to generally pull the kind of faces like the one below for much of the film. She does this whenever she is having one of her (should have been me moments).  You can kind of appreciate her point of view. It must be deeply frustrating going out and enjoying yourself in the world while completely ignoring a really great guy and then suddenly finding that he has actually got on with his life and found someone meaningful rather than pinning for you because you’re Julia Roberts. Her other tactic is to take along her gay friend and try to get the boy she likes to be jealous.

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He doesn’t so she tries to tempt him by “accidentally” wearing her underwear in a situation he will see her in it. He says she looks good, as he is a polite man, but he must be thinking that as he has Cameron Diaz to marry he should really get on with that. The girl still gives it a go pouncing on a very slight suggestion the boy makes that he might not like the other girl as they don’t have a special song. Ohh but we have special song thinks the girl! He must love me, in one of the most irrational move thoughts ever recorded on film. The boy and the other girl have a pre-wedding fight and he chases after the other girl.  The girl now really sticks the boot in until the gay friend points out that he is chasing after the other girl. Finally, she gets the hint and backs off, giving them her and the boys special song until they find their own. How big of her.

France is home to what seems like an endless number of stunning chateaux. Throughout the land, rich heritage and culture virtually oozes from every old building, fort and famous battlefield. Some of the finest castles in the world can be discovered throughout France and here are just a few:

Château de Chambord

Constructed in the 1500s during the reign of Francis I, it took almost 30 years to complete. Following the French Revolution, it was abandoned and hated as a symbol of absolute monarchy and excess. During the Second World War, the Louvre actually moved its artwork here for safe-keeping. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most recognised chateaux in the world thanks to its glorious Renaissance architecture.

Mont Saint-Michel

This impressive chateau sits on an island off the coast of Normandy. It has been a formidable fortress since the town built an abbey in the 9^th century, being a site for Christian pilgrims across Europe. From the 15^th century onwards, the royal family used the fortress as a prison. It is now one of the most visited sites outside of Paris, attracting millions of visitors a year.

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Carcassonne

Set on a hilltop, this beautiful Medieval town is a sight to behold. Carcassonne is one of the main towns in the Languedoc region and has a long and vibrant history. It has also shown great religious tolerance and diversity, being a haven for heretics. This meant the town was attacked by crusaders on the order of the pope. It’s always been a strategically located castle, sitting on the frontier between France and Spain. The town and chateau were restored back to glory during the 19^th century.

Roquetaillade

This is the most popular chateau in the Bordeaux region of the country. The initial foundations for the castle were began some 1,200 years ago by Charlemagne. It was restored during the 19^th century and open to public viewing since the 1950s. The same family have lived here for more than 700 years, with no signs of moving! For your own miniature chateau to fall in love with, look for Property for sale in France at http://www.frenchpropertysearch.com/

Fort de Joux

This chateau began life as a rather uninspiring wooden construction during the 11^th century. It then grew into a fort in 1454, before being used as a prison from the 17^th to 19^th century. One famous prisoner was Toussaint Louverture, leader of the Haiti Revolution, the only successful revolt by slaves to ever have occurred. Today, the chateau contains an arms museum.

Château d’Angers

This incredibly old castle in the Loire Valley was originally founded over a millennium ago. It boasts an amazing display from the Middle Ages called the Apocalypse Tapestry. It is considered to be one of the finest and most important examples of art in France before the Renaissance and dates to the 1300s.

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Fontainebleau Palace

The Kings of France lived here from the 12^th to the end of the 19^th centuries. It sits in a forest outside Paris and has over 1,500 rooms. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a fascinating look at the history and culture of France over some 700 years of tumultuous history.

Content managements systems such as WordPress make it easier to run a website due to the vast array of plugins available to help improve many aspect of your website, including search engine optimisation (SEO). With so many SEO plugins to choose from, however, it important to choose carefully, as the plugins you choose could affect your website on many levels – they could literally enhance the performance or cause your website to lose visitors and ranking.

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Here are four things to consider when choosing a SEO plugin.

1. Multi-function

A multi-function plugin will handle several aspects of your SEO, such as meta data, sitemap and integration with Google Analytics and Search Console. This could help to increase your level of efficiency by addressing several aspects of your SEO in one area rather than having to use several plugins. This would also mean that your website has less plugins to load, which may improve speed.

2. High ratings

Look at the rating associated with the plugins; for example, is it three, four or five star? Also look at the trend of the ratings – has the plugin been consistently ranking well over time? Check the reviews associated with the plugin, both the excellent and the poor reviews.

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3. Coding and documentation

The plugin should be efficiently coded. The average person who has no knowledge of coding may not be able to assess the CSS or JavaScript codes, but you can consult a specialist in WordPress web design in London such as https://happy2host.com/. Poorly written coding could cause your website to load slowly and create conflict with your theme and other plugins.

There should also be clear, concise documentation available about the plugin, including how to install, update and configure it.

4. The plugin writer’s reputation

You may also want to check out the plugin creator. Some plugins are created by people with ill intent, so you want to check that the plugin creator is reputable. Do they have a website, could you easily reach out to them for assistance if necessary, and do they respond to users’ queries? Also of importance is how often the plugins are updated. Avoid using plugins that are not updated regularly.

Taking steps could make a huge difference to your website performance and your user experience (UX).

In today’s world, Real estate is one of the best profitable businesses. It is obvious that investors buy land, build property for future investment and profit.

Real Estate business can give you profit in two ways:

1) Rental: Profit earned from the property given on lease or rent basis.

2) Capital: Profit earned from the sold property. This article is mainly for the people who are interested in Real Estate Business and some of the important tips are as follows:

• One should not take a decision about property deal rapidly. The property matter is very delicate and one should take each and every step cautiously .The entire process of investment in land can take some time and that is why the decision about location and it’s purchase is very thinkable process.
• If you want to invest in commercial real estate market then don’t simply pile up the land or buildings because it can also lead to loss in the investment. So always make sure that you will make profit from the land or buildings you are purchasing or selling. Always do full enquiry and inspection before doing sign on any legal documents related with the land. Also ensure that there are no other pending liabilities of the property such as tax or any other improper documents. Take a close look of the property’s all parts such as roof, interior, HVAC system so that the deal will be safe and you don’t have to look back further.
• Now the next step is an important one related with finance. Make sure that all the legal documents of the property are in up to date condition to obtain finance from the company. Make sure that you have already calculated all the expenses and profit of the land.
• Real Estate Brokers provide very useful information to you regarding with the available good lands or buildings and their current rates which will definitely help you to grow in this business.
• To grow in commercial real estate market one should have a master plan in which each and every step to make profit in business is well designed. This will not only help you to excel in the field but also you will have ample time to think deeply for the entire procedure.
• If you have a commercial complex given on lease then make sure that the complex is not empty so that the income from the complex will be smooth. If there are lot of occupants in the building staying on rents or leases then the best way is to make the contract or leases in such a way that all the contracts will not terminate at the same time and profit will increase.
• Check each and every aspect of land or building and profit before making any decision to purchase the property. Assure that your plans and dreams about the property will be successful in reality. No doubt sometimes the location of land can be very good but if it is going to take a very large period for development and huge amount then best decision is to let it go.
•  If you are working with property broker or real estate agents then don’t forget to check their background. Because sometime Real estate agent or firm’s main motive will be to sell a land or building which is having some judicial complications or the property which is in dispute or the land which is very difficult to sell.