Part Chihuahua, part Poodle, part Australian Cattle Dog and 100% beloved doggie social media influencer, Instagram celebrity dog RuPawl is in a class of their own. RuPawl’s human José Lizárraga tells Dogster that RuPawl’s popularity happened right around the time American reality competition TV series RuPaul’s Drag Race started becoming more mainstream after the show’s move to VH1.
“We quickly became popular amongst fans of Drag Race and the queens themselves.” RuPawl recently turned 6 (actually 9, says José, but you know they don’t want people to know their real age) and loves dressing up, long nature walks, chasing wild bunnies, flirting with wild deer, eating organic and naps. “They dislike carrots … yeah, kinda random,” says José, “but they will literally pick out the smallest piece of carrot from any dish we prepare for them.”
The Doggie Drag fashion line for dogs launched with small and medium canine clothes sizes, but will soon include large sizes too.
It’s not surprising that this two-time Webby Winner and model and their human has set sights on apparel for dogs, especially when their social media page is known for the fun and bold frocks they model inspired by RuPaul’s Drag Race Queens.
Says José, the founder of Doggie Drag, “We will be creating seasonal looks that are distinguishably DRAG, inspired by the queens of Drag Race and beyond. … It felt important to launch a line that unabashedly highlights the beauty and artistry of drag.”
The line launched with small and medium sizes, but will now be selling in large sizes. “Because,” says José, “pooches of all sizes deserve to be FABULOUS!” Want to follow this adorable mix? Strut over to @RuPawl on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok or check out the Doggie Drag online store.
Rammed earth walls and an organic colour scheme help this South African family lodge designed by architecture practice Studio Asaï to blend into its natural surroundings.
Tembo Tembo sits close to the Sabie River on the western edge of Kruger National Park – a sprawling game reserve that’s home to a wide array of flora and fauna, including what’s known as the “big five”: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo.
Tembo Tembo’s rammed earth walls blend into the landscape of the game reserve
This setting was a large point of inspiration for Paris-based Studio Asaï, which decided to construct the home from rammed earth, emulating the materiality of towering termite nests that can be seen across the reserve.
“More locally, [rammed earth] is only used for singular walls in the house, thought of as a decorative object,” explained the studio. “For Tembo Tembo, we decided to use it as the main material for the entire house.”
Dark wood lines the home’s moody entranceway
To ensure the stability of the home, Studio Asaï worked alongside local architect Nicholas Plewman to develop a structural skeleton that could support the roof and walls.
Locally sourced rammed earth was then applied to the structure, mixed with a sealant to make the material less porous and crumbly.
A green sofa in the living area is meant to emulate the colour of the foliage outdoors
The house was also built atop an 80-centimetre-high concrete platform to keep away lizards and other critters while minimising flooding from the heavy downpours that frequently occur in the region from September onwards.
The property’s flat steel roof is meant to give the home a lower, more discrete profile.
The dining area opens onto a shaded terrace
Inhabitants access the home through a moody entryway lined with dark wood panels. A papery, three-tier pendant light hangs from the centre of the space directly above a white marble table.
The home’s rammed earth walls were left exposed in the adjacent living area, which is anchored by a modular green sofa that nods to the foliage of the South African bush.
Cream plaster walls and a coffered ceiling can be seen in the home’s library
To the side of this space is a contemporary kitchen complete with dark wood cabinetry and a blocky breakfast island crafted from black Zimbabwean granite.
In the corner of the room is a travertine marble dining table surrounded by chairs with woven seats. This is positioned directly next to an expansive glazed panel that, when slid back, lets inhabitants step onto a shaded terrace.
Curtains help give the principal bedroom a tented safari-camp feel
Creamy plaster walls appear in the home’s library, complementing the rustic beige fabric that was set into the room’s coffered ceiling.
Studio Asaï revived the “bush” green of the sofa but this time in the form of a glossy work desk.
The house’s rammed earth walls are revealed again in the guest bedroom
Designed to feel akin to a “modern safari camp”, the principal bedroom features a large bed that can be enclosed with gauzy curtains on all sides.
There’s a cosier feel in the guest bedroom where Studio Asaï has once again left the rammed earth walls bare and installed a black metal fireplace for use in the cooler months.
There’s also a striking bathroom that’s almost entirely lined in a flecked Namibian stone.
It will compete against other projects such as Prior Barraclough’s Union Street House, which is entirely lined in Australian hardwood, and Keiji Ashizawa Design’s Hiroo Residence, which is decked out in muted tones to amplify the space’s sense of light.
The photography is by Adrien Dirand.
Project credits:
Interior design and architecture: Studio Asaï Architecture: Nick Plewman Architects Landscape design: Green Inc
The US can’t rely on growth to avoid dealing with its $33 trillion debt mountain, according to researchers.
The government is on track to hit a record-high debt-to-GDP ratio by 2029.
Higher interest rates means the cost of servicing that debt could be unsustainable, experts say.
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The US’s $33 trillion debt mountain is bound to grow even larger – and policymakers and legislators can’t rely on the economy simply growing its way out of its debt problems, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.
The research group, which is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to monitoring and spreading awareness of fiscal issues facing the US, pointed to the ballooning public debt balance, with the US debt-to-GDP ratio hitting 97% at the end of the 2022.
Debt-to-GDP is expected to notch 98% by the end of 2023, according to projections from the Congressional Budget Office. At that pace, the US is on track to rack up debt equal to 107% of GDP by 2029, the highest debt-to-GDP ratio ever recorded, the foundation said.
The nation’s debt-to-GDP ratio hit an all-time-record in the years following World War II, with the public debt amounting to 106% of GDP in 1946. That ratio slumped over the following decades due to a cocktail of amiable market conditions and a post-war economic boom – but there’s no way that’s happening this time, researchers said.
“Given current projections for large primary deficits, demographic trends, and Federal Reserve policy focusing on controlling inflation, the United States should not be expected to grow out of its debt simply through rapid growth of GDP,” researchers said in a note on Wednesday. “As a result, approaching an all-time high for the debt-to-GDP ratio should be a wakeup call for lawmakers, and there are many available policy solutions designed for the current fiscal and economic outlook.
The US’s World War II debt was largely brought down by primary surpluses in the national budget, as well as the Fed putting a ceiling on Treasury and bond yields, which kept the government’s cost of borrowing artificially low. That was supplemented by a boom in economic growth, which boosted US GDP.
Though US GDP is expected to grow an eye-popping 5.4% over the third quarter, the government doesn’t on track to reduce its budget deficit anytime soon. Lawmakers have yet to agree on a new budget for the fiscal year, making a shutdown event in 2023 still likely.
Meanwhile, the Fed has warned that interest rates will stay higher-for-longer as it keeps a close eye on inflation. Recently, Fed Chair Powell even said the central bank would let the current volatility in the bond market play out, despite the 10-year US Treasury yield briefly touching 5% this week.
That spells bad news for borrowers — including the US government. Higher rates and bond yields could make US debt servicing costs increasingly unsustainable, experts say, with the interest expense on the national debt potentially rising to a new record by 2025, Goldman Sachs estimated.
Mounting fears over the US debt means the government could have trouble finding buyers for Treasurys. That could lead to failed Treasury auctions, according to one Columbia Business School professor, wherein the Fed would have to step in to buy US debt securities, a move that could end up fanning inflation further.
Poly, formerly known as Plantronics has a great return/replacement policy where they will take any defective products that you receive from and authorized dealer with a replacement under their warranty time period depending on the headset. As some headsets offers 1 year, another offers 2 years.
Depending on the item purchased you will need to return both items like, for example if you get the CS540 + HL10 bundle package and the lifter is doesn’t work properly, Poly will replace both items in order to make sure that the replacement lifter works properly with a replacement headset, making sure you are up and running in a snap.
However there might be cases that you don’t need to replace both items, for the same reason if you are not sure how it got purchased always reach out to your Authorized partner and they will be able to let you know how to request your item replaced under warranty.
In order to do this you will need to go to the Poly website, www.poly.com/us/en/support/warranty-service and go to the Sign In and Request Replacement, this will take you to the new HP support portal with the Poly tab highlighted , Sign in by creating a HP account and then register the full bundle in your account. After that you should be able to request replacement unit under the Poly warranty. If you get stuck in the process there’s a chatroom link to speak with a live agent or you can give a call 1-888-248-4143, consider that the chatroom is always available and the toll free number is only Monday thru Friday from 5am till 5pm PST (excluding public holidays).
Nothing makes us drool more than organizations that help find loving homes for senior dogs, especially retired working dogs. Mission K9 Rescue (MK9) sniffs out military and contract working dogs who need homes and has saved more than 1,300 from “every corner of the world” since Kristen Maurer, Louisa Kastner and Bob Bryant founded it in 2013. This includes reuniting more than 540 with their former military handlers. The nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization is based in Houston, Texas, plus has satellite offices in San Antonio and Los Angeles.
Nonprofit MK9 was co-founded by Kristen Maurer, Bob Bryant (above) and Louisa Kastner to find loving homes for retired working dogs.
Mission K9 focuses on its five Rs: Rescue, Reuniting with former handlers, Re-homing, Rehabilitating (some have PTSD) and Repair (getting them healthy). “Out of every $1 donated, 93 cents are directly used for our work with the dogs,” says Bob. “No waste of donor funds, ever. We don’t take luxury retreats and often spend nights in roadside rest areas on transports, rather than incur hotel expenses. We have a dedicated team that takes pride in serving working dogs around the world.”
Of course, rescuing senior dogs who’ve served comes with its own set of challenges, such as much-needed healthcare funding. For example, in 2022, Mission K9 rescued 10 contract working dogs from Turkey, during the CDC rabies ban that affected many countries. “We were able to get the dogs safely back to the USA via an arduous process,” says Bob. “Once back, we were able to provide heartworm treatment to all the dogs, as they had tested positive. Each dog endured the treatment well and they are all now heartworm free and living in loving homes.”
Mission K9 is looking for more great people and companies to spread the word about what they do so that they can continue to grow. Want to learn more? Visit missionk9rescue.org and follow on social media @missionk9.
Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
UFB Direct is an excellent option if you’re searching for a competitive interest rate on a money market account or savings account. If you’d also like a checking account or CD, you might consider other institutions because UFB Direct doesn’t have these accounts.
UFB High Yield Savings
Insider’s Rating
4/5
Perks
Earn 5.25% APY on your savings. No monthly maintenance fees. No minimum deposit is required to open an account.
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
5.25% (as of 08/11/2023)
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Pros
High interest rate
No monthly service fee
No minimum opening deposit
ATM card included
Cons
May not be easy to deposit cash (Only cash accepting ATMs)
Product Details
Earn up to 5.25% APY*.
No monthly maintenance fees.
No minimum deposit required to open an account.
Access your funds 24/7 with easy-to-use digital banking tools.
Enjoy peace of mind with FDIC insurance up to the maximum allowance limit ® Certificate #35546.
* The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 08/11/2023. The interest rate and corresponding APY for savings is variable and is set at UFB’s discretion. This is a tiered variable rate account. Interest rates may change as often as daily without prior notice. Fees may reduce earnings.
You may like UFB High Yield Savings if you want a straightforward account. The savings account doesn’t charge monthly service fees, and it comes with a complimentary ATM card.
UFB High Yield Savings also pays 5.25% (as of 08/11/2023) annual percentage yield (APY). Customers with existing savings accounts may have to call customer service to get upgraded for the newest rate.
No monthly maintenance fees with a $5,000.00 balance, otherwise fee is $10.00 per month.
Access your funds 24/7 with easy-to-use digital banking tools.
Enjoy peace of mind with FDIC insurance up to the maximum allowable limit – Certificate #35546.
* The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 08/11/2023. The interest rate and corresponding APY for savings is variable and is set at UFB’s discretion. This is a tiered variable rate account. Interest rates may change as often as daily without prior notice. Fees may reduce earnings.
You may favor the UFB High Yield Money Market if you would like a bank account that includes paper checks and a debit card. However, you must maintain a $5,000 balance to avoid a $10 monthly service fee.
This account also pays 5.25% (as of 08/11/2023) APY.
How UFB Direct works
UFB Direct is an online division of Axos Bank. UFB Direct has an online-only high-yield savings account and a money market account.
Usually, savings accounts do not come with ATMs cards. However, UFB High Yield Savings comes with a complimentary ATM card, which is convenient for withdrawing money from ATMs. At other online banks, you may have to transfer money to an external bank account to withdraw money, which can take a few days to process.
The UFB High Yield Money Market has even more access to your money through a debit card and paper checks. You’ll be able to make purchases and payments using a debit card or checks.
Customers have access to over 91,000 ATMs. To find a nearby ATM, log in to online banking and use the ATM locator tool.
Call or use live chat on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT if you would like to speak with a Direct Banker.
The UFB Direct mobile app is rated 4.6 out of 5 states in the Google Play store and 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple store.
UFB Direct bank accounts are FDIC insured through Axos Bank. Up to $250,000 is secure in individual bank accounts, and $500,000 is protected in joint bank accounts.
Overall bank rating
Pros and cons
UFB Direct BBB rating and trustworthiness
We use ratings from the Better Business Bureau to see how banks respond to customer issues.
The BBB gave UFB Direct an A+ rating, and its parent company, Axos Bank, also received an A+ rating.
A good BBB rating won’t necessarily guarantee your relationship with a bank will be perfect. Reach out to current customers or read online customer reviews to see if UFB Direct could be a good match.
UFB Direct vs. Bread Savings
You might prefer UFB Direct if you are strictly looking to earn the highest interest rate on a savings account. Meanwhile the Bread Savings High-Yield Savings Account offers 5.15% APY. Interest rates tend to fluctuate, though, so this may change in the future.
Your decision between two online banking platforms also might ultimately depend on which types of accounts you’d like to open. UFB Direct has a high-yield savings account and a money market account. Bread Savings offers a high-yield savings account and CDs. If you’d like to get a checking account, you’ll have to consider other banks.
UFB Direct vs. Bask Bank
If you’d prefer to earn a more competitive interest rate on a savings account, UFB Direct might be a more suitable choice. However, the Bask Bank Interest Savings Account pays 5.10% APY regardless of your account balance.
UFB Direct also may be a better option if you’d like accounts with a debit card or ATM card. Bask Bank doesn’t offer debit cards, ATM cards, or an ATM network.
Bask Bank may be a better choice if you’re a frequent traveler. The Bask Bank Mileage Savings Account stands out from most savings accounts because you can earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles on your savings.
Frequently asked questions
The UFB High Yield Savings pays 5.25% (as of 08/11/2023). To earn 5.25% (as of 08/11/2023), you must open an account and deposit any amount.
UFB Direct savings and money market accounts are FDIC insured through Axos Bank. This means that your money is safe even in the rare event that the bank shuts down. Your money will be transferred to another bank account with FDIC insurance, or it will be sent to you as a check.
Evelyn He is a compliance associate at Insider who supports the Personal Finance Insider team. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that Insider readers already know and love. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Before joining Insider, she served in various legal and compliance roles in different industries, including the legal and pharmaceutical industries. Evelyn obtained her M.S. degree in Marketing at Boston University in 2022. Prior to combining and consolidating her knowledge of law and business, she spent one year finishing 1L courses at Suffolk University Law School to further her legal knowledge. She has also completed MBA business law courses while working on her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her 14-year-old Shih Tzu named Money, and her 5-year-old Bichon named Tibber.
Earn up to a $250 bonus with qualifying direct deposits for eligible customers through 12/31/2023. Earn up to 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) with direct deposit
We are all guilty of giving our face most of the attention during our skin care routines. We carefully apply masks, serums and moisturizers to the space between our hairlines and our jawlines, neglecting the delicate skin around our necks. Not to be ignored, the neck has thinner, more fragile skin than the face, making it especially vulnerable to signs of aging. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to minimize and prevent the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging around this delicate area.
How To Get Rid Of Neck Wrinkles
Like other body parts that can develop wrinkles and age faster than your face (knees, elbows and hands, we’re looking at you) the neck is often an afterthought when it comes to skin care. Whether the wrinkles or lines that crop up around our neck are the result of too much sun or too much screen time, aka “tech neck,” we’ve gathered some easy solutions for you to treat signs of aging on your neck. First up, gua sha techniques!
Gua Sha For Neck and Face
Eminence Organic Skin Care International Educator, Brian Goodwin, tells Skin Inc.: “Gua sha is designed to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce inflammation and sculpt the face and neck, which is why it has become such a popular addition to daily skin care routines. In addition to helping reduce deep-set neck lines, gua sha can also be used to reduce tension in our necks, while relieving puffiness by moving fluids and improving lymphatic flow. This is a great technique for targeting the fine lines and wrinkles on the neck and chest, as it can easily be incorporated in the treatment room or in an at-home routine.”
Watch Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar demonstrate how to use a gua sha tool to massage the face and neck here:
You can also follow these steps:
Start by cleansing your face and neck
Apply 4–10 drops of your preferred facial oil
Scrape the tool up your neck on both sides
Next, sweep from the middle of your chin up your jawline
After this, sweep over your cheeks finishing at the hairline
Sweep over your eyebrow and up towards your hairline
Sweep from between the eyebrows up towards the hairline
Finally, sweep from the middle of your forehead to the hairline
Repeat on the other side of your face
Make sure to sweep each area between 3–10 times before moving on to the next part of the face
Our intensely hydrating and skin-protecting Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil boasts three of gua sha’s favorite oils: jojoba, rosehip and seabuckthorn. Rich in essential fatty acids that help problem skin and promote hydration and elasticity, Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil not only feels good, it’s good for your skin. And if you’re thinking about trying the oil, now is a great time. The limited edition Rosehip Oil & Gua Sha Gift Set includes a full-size Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil, plus a gua sha tool. Made from natural aventurine, each Eminence Organics gua sha tool has its own unique shade, markings and beauty. Makes a great gift for your beauty-obsessed friends or yourself this holiday season!
Moisturize For Hydration
Hydration is key to preventing and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. We suggest using our Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream for Face & Neck before heading to bed. After cleansing, apply this luxurious night cream to the skin, starting from the collarbone and working your way to the jawline in fluid, upward motions. Enriched with monoi, shea butter and our exclusive Argan Stem Cell Complex, this deeply hydrating moisturizer nourishes and replenishes the area overnight, leaving you with skin that appears smoother, softer and more youthful.
Happy customer Gwen called it a “Winner!” in her online review, saying: “I use it nightly and the results are clearly visible, particularly under my chin where my skin is a little loose and starting to look crepey. It smells lovely and feels great … this will be my go-to moisturizer from now on!”
Give Your Skin An Instant Lift
Some days, your skin needs an extra boost. For results you can see instantly, we suggest using our Hibiscus Ultra Lift Neck Cream. Apply it under your usual daytime moisturizer to tighten the look of the skin in the neck and décolletage area. A blend of hibiscus and botanical hyaluronic acid enriches and hydrates the skin, while all-natural active ingredients like paprika and edelweiss revitalize sagging skin, smoothing away the appearance of wrinkles.
Another ingredient that Brian recommends is bamboo, saying: “Products rich in bamboo can also benefit clients concerned about collagen loss and sagging skin, as the naturally occurring silica found in bamboo is packed with healing and regenerative ingredients like fiber, minerals and proteins that protect against common factors that contribute to aging skin.” Applying our Bamboo Firming Fluid down the neck and décolletage can help the skin to appear firmer and tighter, as can adding the Bamboo Age Corrective Masque to your routine 2–3 times a week.
Stretch It Out
Stretch your neck daily to tighten weak muscles, stimulate blood circulation and allow greater oxygen flow and nourishment into your skin cells. Try these simple stretches to keep the skin around your neck looking smooth and wrinkle-free:
Tilt your head back. Press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth and swallow. Repeat with your head tilted to the right, then with your head tilted to the left.
Place your fingertips at the base of the neck and lightly pull the skin downwards while slowly tilting your head back. Hold for a few seconds, tilt your head back towards your chest and repeat.
Are you looking to help improve the appearance of the skin on your neck? Visit your nearest Eminence Organics Spa Partner to find out how.
This article was originally written in September 2016.
The Best Headsets for Cisco IP Phones models 69xx, 79xx, 89xx, 99xx series
From one corner of the world to the other, call centers and sales floors alike rely on Cisco for many of their calling and online needs. Why wouldn’t they? Cisco has been one of the most trusted phone and data carriers for many years. Their popularity is cemented in business culture, and it is sure to remain that way for many more years to come. It’s more than just their services across any number of platforms that make them so popular, however. They also make some outstanding equipment like quality headsets and office phones through which businesses can make contact with their associates outside of the main office as well as their client base.
As far as headsets are concerned—you would probably know this already since you came to HeadsetPlus.com to look for great deals on top quality headsets for your business—the go-to program many businesses use is Cisco. If you use this popular program that gives access to many different features such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and voice messaging, you want a headset which is compatible with this program while also being comfortable and versatile.
There are many options available on HeadsetPlus.com, which can help you and your team members have a pleasant experience using Cisco 6900, 7900, 8900 phones for your business communication. However, there are a few which stand over the pack as the best corded and wireless headsets for Cisco, based on charge time, individual features for increased call quality, and the final price tag.
CORDED HEADSETS
For corded headsets you need to make sure your Cisco VoIP has a dedicated headset port on the back and a dedicated headset key on the front. If this is the case we would recommend :
This is the entry level corded headset, covering one ear in an over the head wearing style and with noise canceling microphone and straight forward simply by Plug and Play. Foam ear cushion helps to keep coolness while on use. HD audio from Jabra with PeakStop technology that prevents harmful loud sounds to reach out your ears. 270 degree spin boom arm allowing the user to adjust it and find a comfortable position.
Plantronics offers the HW7250 EncorePro as an alternative for people wanting to cover both ears in a stereo sound quality. Leatherette ear cushions are a extremely comfortable addition to the HW720 headset and extendable microphone for precise positioning with noise canceling microphone from Plantronics, this model comes with the proper cable to be used with Cisco desk phones as long as there’s a headset port. Quick Disconnect (QD) available letting the user to step out of the desk and take the headset with them avoiding the constantly plugging and unplugging from the back or the annoyance of putting the headset on and off constantly.
This combination is the best alternative for a corded headset from Plantronics compatible with Cisco desk phones that have no built in amplifier and no headset port in the back or headset key. The M22 offers volume graduation coming into the headset and microphone mute while on a call. The HW540 covers one ear and this headset can be worn over the head, behind the neck or over the ear as it is a convertible style headset. Noise Cancelation microphone can be found on the flexible boom arm that helps to find the best position for daily use.
After checking the corded solutions we step into the wireless alternatives:
The Plantronics CS540 headset is a wireless headset compatible with Cisco desk phones, covering one ear can be worn over the head or over the ear with the included accessories. Range of up to 350 feet on line of sight, noise canceling microphone can be found on this particular design with a really light weight of only 21 grams and with a talk time of up to 8 hours in one single charge. Hot pairing available, making it easy for multi shift rounds or for conference mode with up to 3 headsets to 1 base while on a call. Remote answer included for Cisco desk phone with EHS capability allowing to answer calls by tapping the headset without the need of a mechanical lifter.
Jabra offers the Engage 65 Mono compatible with Cisco desk phones, with a further range of up to 490 feet with a higher encryption chipset that allows to have up to the double of headsets in same location without interference between them when on a call. The Engage 65 headset offers connection to Cisco desk phones and to a computer via USB-A cable included with it. Comfortable wearing style with a talk time of up to 13 hours in one charge and offering fast charging for all day use. The remote answer included is compatible with Cisco desk phones with built in EHS capability, which takes the place of mechanical lifters giving a faster response and more accurate answering/ending calls. Built in busy light that turn on when engage in a call, allowing others to know when the user is on a call.
Poly offers the Voyager Focus 2 Office as the newest addition for people looking 1 wireless headset and to be used with multiple devices, as this is a Bluetooth Class 1 headset, connectivity with Cisco desk phones, with a PC or MAC via USB-A cable and can be paired directly to a Bluetooth enable device such as smart phones and can be taken out of the office and keep using it. Digital Hybrid Active Noise Canceling allows the user to graduate the ANC if its a really loud environment. Acoustic Fence technology is found in the discrete boom arm with muting function by swinging boom arm up or down. Smart sensors are found in the headset that can detect when the headset is being worn and with this enable remote answer or play/pause streaming. Remote answer adapter included for Cisco desk phones with built in EHS capability.
Poly offers the Savi 7210 as a wireless alternative for Cisco desk phones with a range of up to 12 hours in a single charge, the included remote answer adapter is compatible with Cisco desk phones with EHS capability and the Savi 7210 is a Telecoil Hearing Aid compatible. Range of up to 400 feet on line of sight and with an easy to install/use interface making it a nice option for people looking a simple wireless headset for the Cisco desk phone. Bendable microphone boom arm with acoustic Fence technology and with a paddled headband with hearing protection when on use.
Look Around
Both of these quality headsets for Cisco Phones have some fantastic benefits and features tacked onto them for a great value, but they certainly aren’t our only ones. Look around our listing for even more options for the best headsets compatible for Cisco as well as best Bluetooth headsets for your business.
Ask Around
HeadsetPlus.com is one of the Internet’s leading providers of high-quality headsets at discount prices. You may reach us at any time with all your nagging questions you want answers for, such as our billing policy, shipping times and prices, and the overall quality of our products. Representatives are standing by to take your call and help you find the best headset for your home or business.
Cultural centre Het Nieuwe Instituut is rethinking the archetypal museum shop with a pop-up at Dutch Design Week, designed to encourage more ethical, resource-conscious consumption.
Instead of offering a straightforward exchange of wares for money, New Store 1.0 gives patrons the opportunity to trade their urine for a piece of Piss Soap and encourages them to place their phones on specially designed fixtures to provide lighting for the venue once the sun goes down.
Het Nieuwe Instituut has launched its debut pop-up shop at Dutch Design Week
Taking over Residency for the People – a hybrid restaurant and artist residency in Eindhoven – the pop-up also serves up two different versions of the same seabass dish, one made using wild locally caught fish and the other using fish that was industrially farmed and imported.
The pop-up is the first of two trial runs for the New Store, aimed at helping Rotterdam’s Nieuwe Instituut work out how to design its own museum shop to prioritise positive social and environmental impact over mere financial gain.
Arthur Guilleminot’s Piss Soap is among the projects on offer
In collaboration with the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) and research consultancy The Seeking State, the second trial will take place at next year’s Milan design week, with the aim to open the first dedicated shop in the museum’s Rotterdam location in 2025.
“It all started out with the idea that we don’t have a museum shop per se,” Nieuwe Instituut’s programme manager Nadia Troeman told Dezeen. “A museum shop, as we know, has books and trinkets and gadgets. And it’s not really doing well for the planet or the environment.”
“So we were like, how can we make the act of consuming better? How can we consume differently to help not just ourselves but the environment as well?”
Visitors are invited to donate their urine via a poster in the toilet. Photo by Jennifer Hahn
The aim was to help the designers trial their ideas for how the exchange of goods could be less extractive and transactional in a real-world scenario.
This can then be placed on a shelf outside the bathroom. Photo by Tracy Metz
“The project is part of a broader institutional agenda of ours to become more of a testing ground,” explained the museum’s director Aric Chen. “It’s part of rethinking the role of cultural institutions as being places that can do more than host debates, discussions and presentations.”
“So our aim is to take some of these projects that try to think about how we can do less damage, take them out of the graduation shows, take them out of the museum galleries, take them out of the biennales and put them into the real world, with real consumers, audiences and real people to see what we can learn from it,” he continued.
Guilleminot used the opportunity to expand his ongoing Piss Soap project, with a poster in the venue’s toilet inviting visitors to donate their pee by relieving themselves into designated cups and discreetly placing them on a newly added shelf outside the bathroom window.
This can then be exchanged for a piece of soap, made using urine donated by previous participants and other waste materials from human activities such as used cooking oil.
The soap takes three months to cure and is entirely odourless, helping to break up dirt and grease thanks to the urine’s high ammonia content.
Those who are eating at the New Store can choose between two kinds of fish
The aim of the project is to find a new application for an underutilised waste material and engage people in a kind of circular urine economy.
“The idea was to revive the ancient tradition of using pee to make soap, which was done for many centuries, including in ancient Rome,” said Guilleminot.
“Could I make a modern product using this ingredient and, in the meantime, also change our feelings of disgust about our golden organic liquid?”
The shop’s interactive lighting fixtures were designed by Arnout Meijer
Those having dinner at the New Store can choose between two iterations of the same fish dish.
The first uses wild seabass that was caught locally by fishers Jan and Barbara Geertsema-Rodenburg in Lauwersoog while the other was farmed in Turkey and imported by seafood market G&B Yerseke.
Devised by Berwick, who is a design researcher and “occasional fisherwoman”, the project challenges diners to ask themselves whether they are willing to pay the higher price associated with locally caught fish in exchange for its environmental benefits.
“With the fish, they get a receipt of transparency,” Troeman added. “And one is obviously longer than the other.”
The shop is open until 29 October
Diners were also asked to provide their own illumination as the sun goes down, in a bid to make them aware of our overconsumption of energy and the adverse effects our light pollution has on the natural rhythms of other animals.
For this purpose, Meijer designed two wall-mounted fixtures inside the New Store that have no internal light source and are simply composed of discarded glass shards topped with wooden shelves made from old beams.
If they require more light, guests have to place their phone on this ledge with the flashlight on, funnelling light onto the glass shard through a narrow slit in the wood.
It takes over Eindhoven’s artists’ residency and restaurant Residency for the People
This reflects and refracts light around the space while revealing various crescent moon shapes engraved into the glass in a nod to the circadian rhythm.
“It’s really about our dependence on the constant supply of energy,” Troeman said. “Can we embrace the dark and hence be more environmentally friendly? It has benefits for everyone and everything.”
The photography is by Jeph Francissen unless otherwise stated.
Dutch Design Week 2023 is taking over Eindhoven from 21 to 29 October. See Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.
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HELOC rates are a little higher than current mortgage rates, but despite rising in recent weeks, they could still allow a homeowner to save money on borrowing for construction costs or consolidating debt when compared to personal loan rates or credit card rates.
Current HELOC Rates
Why are HELOC Rates So High?
HELOC rates are so high because the rates for home equity lines of credit change somewhat in accordance with the prime rate, which closely follows the federal funds rate that the Federal Reserve has been raising for months to try and control inflation. The federal funds rate is high, and the prime rate is high, so it’s not surprising that HELOC rates are high.
A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a type of second mortgage that homeowners can use to get cash to fund home improvement projects, debt consolidation, or other financial goals. It works not unlike a credit card, but the money you’re borrowing comes from your home’s equity.
For homeowners looking to get more from their home’s equity, Insider keeps track of the best HELOC lenders.
Is a HELOC Worth it Right Now?
In this rate environment especially, a HELOC can be worth it if you’re looking to leverage your home’s value to cover a big purchase like a home renovation. Many homeowners gained a lot of equity over that past few years as home prices increased at an unprecedented rate. But because rates are so high now, tapping into that equity can be expensive.
Should I Get a HELOC?
If you’re looking to tap into your home’s equity, a HELOC might be the best way to do so right now — especially considering how much home prices have increased over the past few years. Unlike a cash-out refinance, you won’t have to get a whole new mortgage with a new interest rate, and you’ll likely get a better rate than you would with a home equity loan.
But HELOCs don’t always make sense. It’s important to consider the pros and cons.
Pros
Only pay interest on what you borrow
Typically have lower rates than alternatives, including home equity loans, personal loans, and credit cards
If you have a lot of equity, you could potentially borrow more than you could get with a personal loan
Cons
Rates are variable, meaning your monthly payments could go up if rates increase
Taking equity out of your home can be risky if property values decline or you default on the loan
Minimum withdrawal amount may be more than you want to borrow
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