Sunglasses by Any Other Name Are Still Sunglasses

A snapshot of oversized sunglasses with a black oval lens and a wide transparent yellow rim with black spots.

Have you ever noticed how frequently we refer to things by names other than their formally recognized names? For example, some people ask for a brew rather than a beer. There are times when people refer to their hats as lids. It is just something we do with language. So it is no surprise that there are so many slang terms for sunglasses.

Sunglasses‘ is the perfect term to describe the object to which it pertains. The ‘sun’ portion tells us the purpose of the object while ‘glasses’ makes it clear that they are worn on the face. ‘Sunglasses’ is one of those rare terms perfectly suited to describing what it names.

To borrow from Shakespeare, sunglasses by any other name are still sunglasses. Some of the slang terms make good sense while others do not. Below are five examples. You get to decide for yourself whether or not they are appropriate.

1. Eyewear

The first of the six terms is pretty generic: eyewear. According to Salt Lake City’s Olympic Eyewear, it is a term often used by marketers to avoid having to distinguish between sunglasses and prescription lenses. The term is a catch-all that covers any type of lens-based appliance you might wear on your face – prescription lenses, sunglasses, reading glasses, safety glasses, etc.

2. Sunnies

Some people refer to their sunglasses as sunnies. As you might have guessed, this term is an abbreviation of the formal name. Abbreviations are fairly common in English. It is just easier for us to say the shorter word than the entire term. And if there is one thing that we Americans love it’s taking the easy route.

The only challenge with this particular term is deciding how to spell it. If we were speaking in the singular, we would say ‘sunny’. A single pair of sunglasses is, by definition, singular. Yet we have adopted a plural form because there are two lenses per pair. That’s why we refer to a pair to begin with. So we remain as confused about sunnies as we are sunglasses.

3. Shades

Calling sunglasses shades was all the rage back in the 70s and 80s. The trend has continued, suggesting that this is a term we enjoy using. It is rooted in the fact that sunglasses provide shade for the eyes. It does not imply UV protection. Nonetheless, any pair of sunglasses worth buying these days offers full UV protection. That’s not normally an issue.

4. Blinders

People familiar with horses and equine sports are familiar with blinders. Blinders are small straps of leather affixed to the side of a horse’s harness in order to prevent side or rear vision. The idea is to keep the horse’s eyes fixed firmly ahead so as to avoid spooking it.

For some reason, people have taken to calling their sunglasses blinders as well. Perhaps this began with the emergence of wraparound sunglasses. As you know, wraparounds can inhibit peripheral vision to some degree. At the very least, they block sunlight coming at your face from the sides.

5. Blinkers

‘Blinker’ is just another term for a blinder. It is most often used in the horse racing environment. It is not clear why those involved in horse racing prefer blinkers over blinders, but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that some people call their sunglasses blinkers as well. As to why that is curious, see the previous section.

We have all sorts of slang terms for describing sunglasses. The ones listed here represent just a small sample. Whatever you call yours, just remember one thing: sunglasses by any other name are still sunglasses.

A Beginner’s Guide to Air and Ocean Shipping

When looking to move commodities from one place to another, whether for business or personal reasons, one must seek the services of a shipping company. Most of the world’s commodities are transported using either air or water transport since these mediums are suitable for long distances. Roads are mostly used in cases where goods need to be transported locally over a short distance. For most people, handling the processes involved in shipping can be quite intimidating. Apart from the many fees that need to be calculated and paid, there are a few other confusing factors that need to be addressed as well. 

Fortunately, there are many credible agencies that can help make your shipping experience less cumbersome. You can get all sorts of services regardless of whether you’re using air or ocean shipping. What’s more, you can even request a free quote from some agencies, which will go a long way in making your work even easier. Still, knowing the nitty-gritty when it comes to shipping will enable you to have peace of mind when your goods are enroute. Although it may seem like a very intimidating topic to cover, following the simple guide below will help you know all that’s required to ship goods. 

Choosing Between Ocean and Air Shipping

The type of transportation you choose for shipping your goods is arguably the most important decision you have to make. For the most part, your choice will largely depend on the type of commodities you wish to transport. Air transport works best for low volume cargo of high value and since it’s much faster than ocean transport, it’s also suitable for goods of high urgency. Ocean transport is best suited for bulky and heavy goods since ships are capable of carrying a lot more weight than airplanes. Even so, both of these modes of shipping have their pros and cons, and picking the perfect one for you requires a deeper look into them. 

Air Freight

Shipping goods using the air is best for low volume goods, preferably those that occupy less than one cubic meter. In addition, air freight is probably the best form of shipping when you require commodities to be quickly transported. Air shipping is almost ten times faster than ocean shipping, meaning that a shipment that would take approximately 30 days using ocean transport will only take two or three days using air transport. Some of the goods that are shipped using air transport are electronics, pharmaceuticals, and apparel. However, the major downside to air freight is the cost of shipping.

Types of Air Shipping

There are typically two ways in which one can choose to transport their cargo via air shipping. The first method is known as International Air Freight and is the less expensive alternative. Rates range between two and five dollars per kilogram depending on the type of cargo that’s being transported and the amount of space available in the vessel. Another thing to note about International Air Freight is that it may involve the services of multiple carriers during shipment. The other method is called Express Air Freight or commonly referred to as Courier services; it involves door-to-door shipping and is normally handled by one carrier such as FedEx or DHL. 

Air Freight Shipping Costs

Weight and volume are of the utmost importance when determining the total cost of air shipping. Given that the space in cargo planes is limited, calculating the cost of shipping goods usually depends on both the volumetric weight and actual weight of the cargo. For instance, transporting 50 kilograms of leather will definitely take up more space than transporting batteries of the same weight. Thus, to determine the cost of air shipping, one has to calculate the volumetric weight of the cargo and compare it to the actual weight. To get the volumetric weight, the total volume of the cargo has to be multiplied by 167, which is the air shipment volumetric weight constant. The chargeable weight is the greater one between the volumetric weight and actual weight. 

Sea Freight

For those looking to transport heavy and bulky goods, sea freight is probably the best option for them. Sea freights are best suited to transport cargo that occupies more than one cubic meter and weighs more than 100 kilograms. There are two options when transporting goods using sea freight, Full Container Loads (FCL) and Less than Container Loads (LCL). 

Full Container Loads

When someone ships using FCL, their goods will be shipped in a container that is solely for them. Therefore, commodities transported using FCL will not be packed with other importers’ goods during shipment. This method of sea shipping is best suited for goods that occupy more than 15 cubic meters since, at this point, the freight cost per unit is relatively lower than LCL. There are three main types of shipping containers that can accommodate 28, 56, and 68 cubic meters respectively. Thus, for commodities that occupy more than 10 cubic meters, it would be shrewd to increase the shipping order to occupy a whole container in order to reduce the freight cost per unit. 

Less than Container Loads 

These refer to commodities that don’t occupy the full space inside a container. Therefore, in this case, the commodities of one individual will be consolidated with other peoples’ shipments. For this reason, goods being shipped using LCL are usually grouped into different categories for easier accessibility. The cost of transporting goods using LCL is primarily determined by the volume that the shipment occupies; the more the volume, the higher the cost. Although weight is also a consideration, container ships can easily handle heavy loads, thus volume is usually given chief priority. In most cases, the total cost of LCL shipping includes five main charges namely pickup fees, origin fees which are paid at the container freight station, main leg charges, destination fees, and delivery charges. When it comes to picking between LCL and air freight services, the wise option would be to choose LCL if you have the luxury of time. 

Conclusion

Although international shipping may seem like a complex undertaking, it’s actually a lot simpler than people think. Knowing the basics is a great way to ensure that you make informed decisions whenever you’re handling shipping for your business. There are also several freight forwarders who will work side by side with you to ensure that all goes well. 

3 Benefits Business Can Get From Using Technology

Technological developments have increased a competitive nature in the business world. Entrepreneurs have used computers, the internet, and software to change their businesses, ranging from local to global and national market competitors. Most businesses have responded positively to some of the changes by capturing industry-related information and automating their business process.

Technology has also found a way into layers of society, and most of the areas have deeply affected the industry’s developments. It is likely that entrepreneurs, including you, will continue to see these changes, and you may stand a chance to use technological advancements on a deeper level. Therefore, it is important to know the implications of these developments for your business, because using them will offer you benefits, such as:

  1. More Security

The statistics of online fraud, cybercrime, and data theft have increased exponentially for the past few years. According to Federation Small Businesses (FSB) survey, cybercrimes cost businesses around $4,000 per year. However, the effects of such crimes may go beyond financial loss and working disruption.

A major catalyst for malware, adware, Trojans, and virus is email attachments. With email being an important method of communication, this is an important area to address. Working with an email provider, which emphasizes security through spam and antivirus protection, is a smart move and needs to considerably minimize risks. Apart from email, you must also improve the security of:

  • Browser
  • Wireless network
  • Internet
  • Boost Productivity of Employees

To improve employees’ productivity, you need to understand the work clock. This means that you need to know the time wasted during working hours. To achieve that, you may use technology like time tracking to improve efficiency and the involvement of employees. Using time tracking tools may make your workers more conscious of their deadlines, thus increasing their engagement and productivity. 

In addition, you can ignite your team sales through email tracking software for Outlook and Gmail. You can get an email template, which works properly and allows you to measure your workers’ performance.

  • Enhance Communication and Training

Many individuals connect to the internet more than ever. Communication between clients and workers is no longer confined to phone calls and written messages. Thanks to technological developments, you can now receive and send messages at any time of the day. In addition, the traditional office is not an important requirement anymore for workers to work productively, contribute efficiently, and communicate effectively. 

With access to technological services, workers may learn new skills easily and faster than before. Instead of spending cash on tuition and sending individuals out to classes, workers may sign up for free lessons online, covering various topics, like:

  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Analytics

Final Touches!

Technology enables businesses to work effectively in different ways. Whether this means texting clients to request a Google review or collaborating with remote colleagues through video-conferencing, technology allows your business to effectively achieve its goals. 

Regardless of your business’s size, technology can also offer you intangible and tangible benefits, which may help you produce good results and make money. Such benefits may include improving communication, security, or productivity, just to name a few.

Reasons why you Must Hire a Wedding Planner

Not one wedding is identical to another. This special day brings people together in celebration and festivity, while the couple shouts to the world that they were meant to spend their lives as a loving unit. However, before all this joy can play out, planning a wedding can make even the most eager bride and groom become quite nervous and regretful.

Regretful for deciding to do everything alone because this goal is not easy to accomplish, especially on a tight budget. But there is someone who can follow through the couple’s vision better and more efficiently, and fight until everything is just perfect. That is right, the power of a wedding planner can make dreams come true and save the excited wedding pair of exhaustion and a budget leak.

Why You Need a Wedding Planner

Someone whose profession is to make sure the wedding goes according to a plan should never be underestimated. Although many question this decision, at the end of the day, wedding planners are always a worthy investment. Benefits that come from having an experienced person by your side is a choice no one ends up regretting, so let’s see some of the vital perks wedding service provides.

  • Planners Can Stretch the Budget

One of the hardest things of planning a wedding is budget management. Often, couples can get confused about who’s paying what and what the real costs are until seeing a total sum when the bills arrive. This where planners shine because they are financial advisers specialized in weddings. They already know the rough costs and how much will be spent on each service and products. Furthermore, wedding planners know how to talk with vendors and maybe get a discount even on things like wedding jewellery.

  • The Planner is On Your Side

In the process of planning, the bride needs someone on her side to take charge and deal with technicalities so he can enjoy the day stress-free. The person who shares the same idea and focuses on it will push toward each and every necessary part and aspect and make sure that the family and friends stick to the planned timeline.

  • Ceremony and Reception Planning Time

For the majority of couples, the wedding ceremony and reception include two different locations, but how can one wedding planning bride be in two places at once? She will definitely need someone with good people/timing/planning skills to help her out.

Even on the same location the couple requires an additional pair of hands to handle the process and avoid wasting time. Whereas juggling locations and time-consuming events are in the wedding planner’s resume.

For this joyous occasion that happens once in a lifetime to go over smoothly, the couple has to be 100 percent ready. Otherwise, the stress will take over and they will not be able to have fun on what is supposed to be the happiest day of their lives.  wedding planner may also help to analyse the latest wedding rings trends for both men and women wedding pieces . The pre-planning process already takes away a lot of energy, time, and resources; hence, this is the time to celebrate what both of them have created.