For every season, window treatments are necessary for any home, office, or even commercial space. They serve two major purposes – functionality and aesthetics. They help you enhance at-space interior décor styles, ensure privacy, and control light intensities.

Nowadays, there is a wide assortment of window treatments available on the market. So, depending on the type of seasons or weather conditions, one must know what sort of window treatments can work best.

In this informative blog, we’ll present you the five most sought-after window treatments you should consider.

Wooden Window Blinds

Well-designed wooden window blinds offer a nature-oriented and warm appearance to your space. If you are looking for custom-made window blinds for your home in Arlington, VA, look no further.

You need to browse the most prominent resource – whether it be online or physical for buying the best-in-class custom blinds in Arlington, VA. These window coverings are long-lasting and a great investment for your space as they offer beyond-ordinary light control and ensure privacy.

Roman Shades

Among the wide array of window treatments, Roman Shades ranks at its best for all seasons. The majority of people consider these window coverings the most elegant and classic choice.

You don’t need to worry about your home décor, as Roman shades come in a variety of colors, styles, and materials.

Not only does this window treatment add beauty to your home, but it also ensures temperature regulation and creates a more energy efficient home. So, you’ll have a nice and relaxing place where you can spend hours without any hassle.

Roller Shades

The majority of people consider roller shades to be among the most sought-after window treatments suitable for all seasons. They seem to be an easy-to-go and versatile alternative for any space.

Similar to other types of window treatments for homes and other spaces, roller shades also come in various materials and fabrics, including blackout fabric. That’s why you can be sure about the light control and privacy factor for your space. You can also clean and maintain these window shades without putting in extra effort.  

Sheer Curtains

For almost every season, Sheer curtains are a go-to option for diverse weather conditions as they filter the natural light to enter your room while also offering privacy.

These window treatments come in various colors and fabric options, ensuring sufficient versatility to cater to any home’s interior décor style. You can also add layers of other window treatments with sheer curtains to provide extra insulation and light control in your space.

Cellular Shades

Other than the window treatments mentioned above, the last but not least one is cellular shades. For trapping air, these window shades or blinds come up with a honeycomb or cellular structure. The trapped air by these shades serves as a strong insulation barrier.

They can keep your space cool in the summer days and warm in the chill winter days. So, cellular window shades are an exceptional choice to ensure the energy efficiency of your home.

  German carmaker BMW is one of the most popular brands in the world. Anytime they are in the news, they usually make considerable ripples in their target market. So, it is no wonder that their involvement in the Dieselgate scandal attracted a lot of attention.

The diesel emissions scandal broke in 2015 after US authorities found defeat devices inside Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles sold to customers in the American market. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board, the Volkswagen Group installed the devices to manipulate emissions levels during regulatory testing. 

Defeat devices can learn when a vehicle is in the lab for regulatory testing. The devices then tell the engine to bring down emission levels to within the safe limits of the World Health Organization (WHO). So, during testing, the vehicle is safe and emissions-compliant. Regulators are bound to allow the sale and use of these vehicles.

However, vehicles with defeat devices are anything but emissions-compliant. When they are brought out of the lab and driven on real roads, the devices make the vehicle they are installed in revert to its factory settings. This results in the vehicle releasing voluminous amounts of nitrogen oxide or NOx, which contains nitrogen dioxide (NO) and nitric oxide (NO), pollutants that cause adverse health impacts and environmental destruction.

As such, the VW Group sold highly polluting vehicles to their unaware customers. They lied to the drivers and led them to believe that the vehicles were fuel-efficient and emissions-compliant. 

As a result, VW was fined, and affected vehicles had to be recalled. The VW Group has also had to deal with emission claims brought against them by car owners they deceived. 

The Volkswagen Group is not the only vehicle manufacturer that has the Dieselgate scandal stamped on them; other popular carmakers have been found using defeat devices as well – the list of alleged diesel emissions scandal perpetrators includes Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Vauxhall, and BMW.

BMW Emissions Scandal

The BMW emissions scandal started in 2018 when over 11,000 of their diesel vehicles were recalled about emissions manipulation allegations. The affected models were the BMW 750 3.0 Diesel Euro 6 and the BMW M550 3.0 Diesel Euro 6.

In February of that year, the carmaker admitted that their diesel vehicles released dangerous levels of toxic emissions when driven on real roads but not when in regulatory testing.

That same year, the German manufacturer became the receiving end of a lawsuit by a US law firm about allegations that they colluded with Robert Bosch LLC and Robert Bosch GmbH to create manipulative software that masks exceedingly high air pollution levels. 

For this case, the affected vehicles included the BMW X models built between 2009 and 2013 and BMW 330 models sold between the years 2009 and 2011.

In 2019, German prosecutors fined BMW €8.5 million (or approximately £7.344 million) in connection with diesel vehicles that released elevated levels of dangerous emissions, levels that are massively higher than the safe limits.

Aside from using defeat devices, BMW was also caught in a cartel with two other German carmakers – Volkswagen and Daimler (Mercedes’ parent company), colluding to delay clean emissions technology by restricting AdBlue tank sizes between 2006 and 2014 so the urea-based fluid will be a little inconvenient to use. 

AdBlue is used to bring down NOx emissions from vehicle exhaust. 

For their participation in the cartel, Volkswagen paid a fine of €502 million (or around £433.57 million), while BMW had to pay €373 million (or about £322.15 million). 

Daimler was excused from paying a fine because they reported the existence of the cartel. 

Why NOx Emissions are Dangerous

Diesel emissions, specifically NOx, are dangerous because of their negative impacts on the environment and human health. Its primary components, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO); are strong and harmful gases.

When nitrogen oxide is mixed with other chemicals, it produces pollutants such as ground-level ozone. This ozone has devastating effects on vegetation, particularly on plants and crops. NOx is also responsible for the formation of acid rain and smog.

Nitrogen oxide’s impacts on mental and overall health should not be taken for granted. They vary from minor to life-threatening ones. Minor complications include asthma and respiratory diseases, breathing difficulties, and lung problems (such as fluid in the lungs).

Serious health effects that result from exposure to NOx emissions include asphyxiation, spasm of the vocal cord, cardiovascular ailments, and premature death. Numerous reports and research have come out linking NOx emissions to hundreds or thousands of early deaths.

The lies manufacturers told their customers and the impacts of NOx emissions are the major reasons for car owners affected by the defeat device scandal should bring a BMW diesel claim to court. Every driver deserves to be compensated for the inconveniences and dangers they had to endure.

So, How Do I Start My Diesel Claim?

If you believe your BMW has a defeat device, you should waste no time and start working on an emissions claim. However, you should first verify if you are qualified to claim. Aside from the vehicle model and year of manufacture, other aspects need to be considered.

This is why you should visit the ClaimExperts.co.uk website – they have all the information you need to start your claims process right. Click here to visit their website.

If you are thinking of investing in your office, desk, or video game console, this blog is for you. Have you heard about the advantages of having two monitors? Either at your work, study, or entertainment area. If your budget is limited, consider buying two decent monitors instead of one good one.

Yes, I know it sounds weird. But, several studies have shown that there are many advantages. Having two monitors instead of one is a great choice. Let’s analyze each one.

Advantages of Having Two Monitors

Here are some of the benefits of using more than one monitor.

Productivity Improvement

When we talk about working or studying, you will see that working with two monitors will allow you to view more than one document at the same time.

This is more important than it seems. It will reduce the time you spend trying to memorize content and the time you spend switching between tabs.

In the case of games, having two screens will allow you to view several programs at the same time. Also, you will be able to perform different operations simultaneously. Think about game statistics, tutorials, videos, chats, or whatever you need.

Increased Visibility

This point is related to the previous one. The increased visibility will allow you to organize yourself better. It will also allow you to have more than one document visible at each time. This will allow you to reduce the time you use to change tabs or memorize them. One key point of increased visibility is that it will reduce your stress level.

Also, if you are a detailed person, it will be a great option for you. The increased visibility will make it harder to miss details. Whether playing, working, or studying, every detail counts.

Better Organization

This point is also related to productivity. Being able to view more than one document at a time will prevent information loss caused by switching between documents.

Also, if you are a multitasking person, having two monitors will allow you to concentrate on all your projects.

On the other hand, if you are a person who likes to focus on one thing at a time, having two monitors will also come in handy.

You will be able to have visibility of everything you need to complete your assignment or to mark your to-do list, see your calendar, or whatever you need.

The Aesthetics of Your Place of Play, Study, or Work

Does that seem like a superficial point to you? I assure you that it is more important than you think. Having a visually pleasing workplace will increase your interest in starting your homework. If you invest in your place of play or work, you must consider all the factors, including the sensations that it will give you to see it.

Seeing your place of work or entertainment should make you feel good. It should not generate stress or negative thoughts. An aesthetic desk will make you feel good about yourself, enjoy what you do and be more productive.

Lepow monitors are the solution

So, are you ready to buy your monitors? Lepow’s official store is the place where you can purchase the one that best suits your needs.

Remember what we mentioned at the beginning? If it comes to investing in your work or leisure area, buying two decent monitors instead of one good one may be the best decision.

Lepow monitors have thought of all the needs that you could have, and they have solved them! Whether you need to study, work, play games, edit, relax, etc. Lepow has the perfect monitor for you.

Easy to Use

Their monitors are easy to use. Simply plug it into your computer, console, or any other device you need. The monitors come equipped with various connecting ports! So, they allow wide compatibility with most devices.

Also, it has an adjustable and foldable kickstand, so you can pull the stand out to use the monitor on any occasion.

Ready to Use Anywhere

Lepow monitors are the perfect size for use anywhere. It doesn’t matter if you are in the office, at school, at the university, in a coffee shop, at the airport, or anywhere else. The monitor adapts to where you are, and with a few simple steps, it will be ready to use.

Great Quality

Ok, we said these are decent monitors, but they are better than you think. Lepow monitors have an advanced IPS screen. They also have HDR technology. This delivers a high-quality visual experience.

Whether you use it to work, play, study, edit, or watch series, videos, or movies, you will have excellent quality. And not just picture quality but also sound quality, which is just as important when it comes to being comfortable.

A lot of people in the world now turn their lofts into living areas or bedrooms. As time goes on or as families grow, space becomes a precious commodity; for example, you might need an extra bedroom for a baby, or maybe you need another storage room for all your keepsakes. Whatever the cause may be for transforming the loft, it is a lot less disruptive, and it’s a great cost-effective way to get more space. How does that work? Because converting your loft is far cheaper than having to build an extension or even having to look for and then move to a new house. The beauty of a loft is that more houses have them, and it’s a spare room waiting to be used. The most popular use of lofts these days is transforming them into bedrooms. Some maybe might transform them into two bedrooms because a lot of people these days give their children their own bedrooms.

Although it does save money, you still need to think about a number of things; here are a few examples: Where is the entrance for the loft going to be? What is the best loft ladder? What type of insulation should I use? What kind of flooring do I want?

One of the big questions is should I go for traditional stairs or for a loft ladder? Well, for a lot of people, it’s easier to use a loft ladder, not to mention it saves a load of space, opening up a world of loft conversion possibilities. In order to put in a staircase, you usually end up converting a room just to accommodate them, which makes building it to give you more space pointless. Add on the fact that loft ladders are far cheaper and easier to install; it makes it a sensible choice for most.

Although a problem that people might have in their minds about loft ladders is that they are difficult to pull down or put back, that’s just not the case anymore. Now a lot of loft ladder kits include a slow-release loft ladder mechanism that isn’t too quick and isn’t too slow. This makes putting them up or getting them down easy, but even if that is too much for you, another option is to get an electric ladder.

Transforming your loft can seem like an impossible job, but with the right help and preparation, you can actually enjoy the task of giving your unutilized room a purpose. An added benefit to doing a loft conversion is you will add a lot of value to your property if you choose to sell it in the future. So what are you waiting for?

As the name suggests, Meals-Ready-To-Eat, commonly known as MRE, are complete meals ready for consumption. You might be thinking that foods such as pizza and other takeout meals are also ready to eat. However, the difference is that MREs are pre-packaged foods with a long shelf life. MREs require very little preparation work, and once you consume the meal, it can sustain an individual for a time. MREs are easy to pack, carry, and eat while on the fly.

History

According to expert Bugout Bill, after a few hits and misses, the US government introduced MREs in 1980 as military food rations. Rations that were superior in nutrition and flavor compared to previous food rations.

At that time, MREs were the exclusive property of the government and not for civilians. However, the same manufacturers produce civilian MRE brands as a commercial alternative to military MREs.

Composition of MREs

One MRE is equivalent to one full meal high in nutrition value. Each MRE bag contains various drink and food items that provide your body with 1250 calories: 51% carbs, 36% fat, and 13% protein. You can be confident that you will be satisfied with the ostensibly small portion of MRE out of a packet. Munch on some goodies from Muniq– containing ingredients which guarantee a healthy gut.

Though the menu may vary slightly from year to year, the following is a general listing of what you should expect to find in an MRE:

• Entrée: This is the main dish, and maybe something like beef stew or chili with beans.
• Starch: This may include crackers, tortillas, rice, cornbread, and other starchy ingredients.
• Drinks: Energy-giving beverages, such as lemon drinks, dairy shakes, coffee, electrolytes, and cocoa.
• Desserts: Cookies, biscuits, pound cakes, corn nuts, etc.
• Spread: These include fruit jams, cheese spread, jelly, or peanut butter.
• Candy: These include tootsie rolls, skittles, and so on.
• Flameless Heaters: Cooking heat as a source long enough to warm your entrée, side dish, and beverages.
• Accessories: Eating utensils and seasonings, such as a spoon, salt, sugar, pepper, a napkin, wet wipes, and water.

Storage

MRE packaging is a layered combination of aluminum foil, polyester, and polypropylene that can withstand exposure to unfamiliar elements and rough conditions. 

The best way to preserve your MREs is to store them in a cool and dry rodent-free environment, such as a cool closet or a dry basement. If the surrounding is convenient for rodent fellows, store your MREs in a tightly covered metal container or tough plastic storage boxes.

Shelf Life of MREs

MREs have an average shelf life of three years. However, this shelf life can vary depending on how well you store the MRE. If well stored, an MRE can last up to 15 years without losing its nutritional value or taste.

Why Buy MREs?

The extended shelf life and high nutritional value of MREs make them a suitable option for extreme conditions. For instance:

• Natural disasters: MREs can sustain survivors in the aftermath of catastrophic events, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, wildfires, and so on, where it may be impossible to cook meals. 
• Quarantines: MREs can also come in handy during quarantines where your safety depends on isolation from the others to protect you and yours from infection.
• Camping: MREs can also serve well during camping, mountain climbing, and hunting expeditions. 
• Civil Unrest: During periods of civil unrest and all-out war, having a stock of MREs will save you the trouble of venturing out in search of food.

Conclusion

For a long time, many people have held onto the misconception that MREs are food for military personnel and their taste is not flavorful. However, as you are probably seeing, there is more to MREs than what people know.

Today you can hardly meet people who have not tried to play racing games on a computer or console. The virtual world of cars is so close today that we can afford to own any car! So let’s see what popular cars can be found in video games! 

By the way, if you want to be the owner of a luxury car not only in the virtual world but also in reality, we recommend you rent a car in Sharjah. Car rental services are an amazing opportunity to fill your travels with a sense of freedom and infinity! You don’t have to be tied to a schedule or other people around you. Car rental companies offer a huge range of cars; you will find your ideal option! By the way, car rental prices will pleasantly surprise you… check it out for yourself!

Ferrari F50

The famous red beast Ferrari is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. Many boys already from the first conscious years of life know about this brand thanks to videograms. The Ferrari F50 is one of those that holds the record for the number of video games it has been featured in. According to statistics, this car was found in 83 projects. Not bad, isn’t it? Speaking about the most famous projects, you may have seen the car in Need for Speed, Forza Motorsport/Horizon.

Ferrari F40

Let’s not go far and mention another Ferrari model. Ferrari F40, which slightly overtakes the previous model, has participated in more than 84 video games. The Ferrari F40 is also featured in the popular Need for Speed and Forza Motorsport/Horizon. And you could also see her in GTA V under a fictitious brand.

Toyota Supra MK IV

The incredibly beautiful, sporty Toyota model also has a good number of mentions in video games. This model is the most popular version of the Supra. Traditionally, you could meet her in the popular game Need for Speed, as well as Grand Turismo. Even in some games on the movie “Fast and the Furious.”

Ford E-Series Ambulance

In such articles, we are used to seeing sports cars, but now you will be surprised! The Ford ambulance is at the top of the most popular cars in video games. Yes, yes, you heard right! Imagine a car appeared in a total of 86 games, but its role was decorative. “Ambulance” in most cases occurs as a traffic car.

Toyota Hilux

Familiar to many, Toyota Hilux also has a large number of mentions in games. The machine is found in 88 projects. You could see the car in the same Forza Motorsport/Horizon. Interestingly, you can find Toyota Hilux in Call of Duty as well as Far Cry 4. Haven’t you noticed it? Here’s a reason for you to get nostalgic and find a legendary car in legendary games!

We really hope that you liked the top of the most popular video games cars and found something familiar or nostalgic for yourself. In conclusion, it must be said that the analytical data was obtained by the CARWOW portal. They analyzed the most popular cars in video games based on the Internet Game Cars Database. You can see the results in our article!

When you need to purchase home insurance, auto insurance, or any other type of policy, you have many decisions to make. Which policies are right for you? How much insurance do you need? Which company will provide you with what you need? Finding the right company is perhaps the most time-consuming part of your task, but understanding how to wade through your options and narrow them down can speed up the process.

1. Research Each Company Thoroughly

The best thing you can do before choosing an insurance company is to research each one you’re interested in thoroughly. You may think you know everything you need to know about Progressive Insurance, for example, but do you really? Start by looking at a company’s overall history. In addition to how long the company’s been in operation and which states it serves, you should determine if their mission, values, and the actions of company leadership align with your own values. Community involvement, which products and services the company provides, and its financial strength are all important as well.

Next, look at the insurance provider’s ratings, reports, and surveys. Industry rankings, consumer reports, and focus surveys are good ways to determine a company’s overall health and how satisfied current and previous clients are with claim payouts and general customer service.

2. Read Online Reviews

Sometimes, articles and even survey results can be biased, depending on who wrote the article or conducted the surveys. Another good way to determine whether an insurance company will be a good fit for you is to read online reviews. Pay special attention to any negative reviews that you find. What are the reviews referring to? It may be a specific policy, a person they communicated with, or trouble with making a claim.

Consider whether the review paints the company as a whole in a negative light or whether it seemed like a singular experience. It’s also a good idea to see whether the company responded to the review, determine if the customer felt the problem was fixed, and even to bring up the negative information you found when talking to a company representative. How they respond may give you an indication of how much merit the review had in the first place.

3. Find Out if the Company Provides Discounts

Many insurance agencies offer their customers discounts for a wide range of reasons. If you are looking for home insurance, you may receive discounts for owning a new or renovated home, using specialized construction materials, or installing protective devices. If you’re looking for auto insurance, you may see a drop in price for insuring multiple cars at once, insuring a driver who is a good student, or owning a car that has anti-lock brakes. If you need home insurance, auto insurance, or other insurance policies, you may even receive a discount for purchasing multiple policies from the same company.

Finding the right insurance company will take time, but thorough research, reading plenty of online reviews, and understanding which agency will give you the most for your money is essential. Once you narrow down your search, making a choice will be much easier.

Several people in the vaping world have no idea when their disposable vape is done. It can be for various reasons, including the fact that they don’t want to waste money by continuing to use one that has lost its potency or become too hot.

Why Is The Disposable Vape Used?

It is an electronic cigarette that does not give the user the ability to recharge it when its runs out of power. Instead, it has to be thrown away and replaced by another one. 

A disposable vape is very similar to any other type of electronic cigarette or vape device. One end will contain a battery, atomizer and cartridge, which holds the liquid that gives you vapor when heated. The other end is a mouthpiece that the user inhales from.

When a disposable vape is done, it can no longer provide the user with a nicotine hit, and it may become uncomfortably hot to hold. If this happens, it’s time for a new one.

Remember, you should never continue to use a disposable vape after it’s reached its end of life. It could be dangerous and even harmful to your health because you won’t get the hit of nicotine you need. In addition, disposable vapes do not have the same components as other vaporizing devices, so they should never be fixed or used in any other way.

When you use a vaping device, you must know the basics of how to use one properly and safely. It includes knowing when and only buying from trusted vape retailers. Many companies make these products available at reduced prices through coupons or promotional deals, so be sure to check for those as well.

How Long Does A Disposable Vape Last?

There is no specific time frame for which they need to be used. However, many are only designed to last for two or three days before needing replacement. Once it stops producing any vapor, there is no point in continuing to use it, as this will result in a burnt taste.

How To Know If A Disposable Vape Is Done

There are ways to know when your disposable vape is done. Here are a few tips to follow:

1. If the flavor or potency of your vape pen has diminished, it’s time to replace it.
2. If the pen is too hot to hold, it’s time for a new one.
3. If you’re using a cartridge-style vape and you notice that the oil has become dark, it’s time for a new one. It means that some of the vape components are deteriorating.
4. If you’re using a disposable vape with no button, check to see if there is liquid in the tank. Also, make sure it isn’t plugged into an outlet somewhere without being connected to a device. Once disconnected for about 30 seconds, the vape is done.
5. Hold down the button for five seconds if you’re using a disposable vape with a button. If the LED light doesn’t turn on or blinks three times, the vape is done.
6. If you’re using a disposable vape and it’s not working at all, it might be time for a new one.

What Does Disposable Vape Look Like When It Is Done?

There are several different signs to tell when a disposable vape is done. It includes the fact that it will produce little or no vapor, its unit will be too hot to hold comfortably in your hand, and/or the tip of the device (where you inhale from) may start tasting like burnt cotton.

Buying Best Disposable Vape

There are various brands that make disposable vapes, including Juul. However, many people look for a Juul alternative due to many reasons. When you pick a vaping accessory, make sure it is designed using the latest technology so that you get a vape experience that provides you with enough vapor to make it feel like you’re smoking a combustible cigarette.

Disposable vapes like Geek Bar are a perfect way to enjoy vaping without investing in a more expensive device. However, knowing when they’re done is important so that you don’t waste your money on vapes that will no longer produce a good vaping experience.

As time changes, there are certain advancements and changes in trends that you gradually have to adapt to. These can prove to be fruitful for you if you invest in them at the right time. In the past few years, there has been a lot of speculation about peel and stick wallpapers. Many articles have taken rounds on social media where people have questioned whether they should be thinking about incorporating wallpaper in their homes or not. 

 The effortless way to go about it is that the methods that were used to make wallpapers in the olden days were different from the ones that are used now. Everyone wants to live an undisturbed life and invest in things that are durable and will prove to be sustainable in the long run. Another concern that people had was with the prints of the wallpaper. In the olden days, people preferred to wrap their whole houses in floral printed wallpapers, but that is not the case now as there are hundreds, maybe thousands of prints and varieties available in peel on wallpapers.

Peel and stick wallpapers can give a beautiful look to almost every room in the house. Even the parts that you think cannot be easily and simply re-modeled and redecorated. It just takes the right eye to identify what the whole corner needs. If you want to make your home stand out and look graceful at the same time, a peel-and-stick wallpaper is the best option.

 Why choose peel and stick wallpaper?

 Sure, you could go and opt for a lovely coat of fresh paint in your house, but if you see it in the long run, you will be bound with just one color throughout your house or just one wall. There is no limitation in the case of a peel and stick wallpaper. Here are some points why you shouldn’t think twice before investing in a peel and stick wallpaper. 

•  Easily removable: You can’t always want to have the same kinds of prints on your walls. In order to give your home a spirited and fresh start, you can take off the wallpapers easily and invest in new ones. The good thing about peel and stick wallpapers is that they don’t damage the wall underneath them. 
•  Wide variety: There is a wide variety of wallpapers readily available in the market waiting to be used. From botanical prints to tropical, everything is within an arm’s length. Some people prefer to go with neutrals, while others like texture on their walls.
•  Used in any corner: Wallpapers are not just meant to be used in living rooms and dining rooms. They can be used to decorate a baby’s room. A nursery wallpaper is an answer to all your questions.