Cartoon’s Biggest Bastards
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Cartoon’s Biggest Bastards
The world of cartoons may be full of happy bunnies, singing clouds, and that sort of happy horseshit, but there’s always the cartoon characters who are dumped into those worlds just to mess everything up for everyone else. Without them, there would be no real entertainment to cartoons at all and therefore, with this list, we salute the 20 greatest cartoon bastards of all time!
20. Pete
Pete (also known as Black Pete or Peg-Leg Pete) was the nemesis of Mickey Mouse from way back in the Steamboat Willy days and then later became the sworn enemy of Donald Duck. Pete was large and ever the bastard, picking on Mickey and his friends for no real reason other than to show that he was bigger and stronger than the whiney little runts. He usually played an authority figure as well making himself all that much more of a thorn in the sides of our heroes. A monstrous amalgamation of a dog and Long John Silver, Pete proved that he was an even bigger bastard than we thought when he actually befriended Goofy in A Goofy Movie and in the spin-off series Goof Troop… probably all in a perverted attempt to make things purposefully awkward for the three loveable Disney icons during get togethers.
Pete… AKA Black Pete, AKA Peg-Leg Pete… YOU are a bastard!
19. Cobra Commander
Retreat! Retreaaaaaaat!
Take the greatest dictators of all time, pair them with The Phantom of the Opera, and then throw in the intelligence of Jessica Simpson, and you’ve got the chief nemesis of America and GI Joe, Cobra Commander.
We never really learned why Cobra Commander wanted to take over the world and why the entire membership of C.O.B.R.A. thought that this raspy and cowardly Nancy boy was the best choice to rule it, but never the less you have to admire Cobra Commander for his tenacity. Even when his own people got sick and tired of his shit, replaced him with a bigger badass and then changed him into a snake, he still came back with this dipshit schemes and ultimatums.
Oh, and if you were one of his pals, he had no qualms about leaving your butt behind to save his own.
What a bastard.
18. Mumm Ra
Why did this guy hate the Thundercats so much? Was it because he landed on a planet he considered his own? It never stopped him from going after the Amazons or those retarded Ro-Bear Berbils things. Mumm Ra picked on The Thundercats for no good reason, sort of like little kids pick on the new kids in school. Instead of stealing lunch money, Mumm Ra wanted to steal Lion-O’s sword.
Later on in the series, with the addition of Mumm Ra’s faithfull pooch Ma Mutt, we learn that Mumm Ra hated the Thundercats simply because he was a dog person.
Plus, did anyone find it more than a little odd and disturbing that Mumm Ra – while in his weaker mummified form – basically paraded around naked with only a cape and some well-placed bandages to hide his shriveled shame?
I’m not saying anything, but I had an uncle who paraded out on his back porch wearing the same thing and he’s not due for parole for another three years.
17. Daffy Duck
Yeah, I know. He’s a beloved Looney Tunes character and I’m sure I’ll get tons of hate mail over this choice, but Daffy Duck the biggest bastard of the Looney Tunes bunch! Not even Yosemite Sam would stoop so low as to steal the spotlight from someone busting their ass to do a show or to steal a treasure from your best friend who accidentally stumbled upon it in a burrow. How big of a bastard do you have to be to make it so that the audience actually wants Elmer Fudd to shoot you?
I mean, for God’s sake, to save himself from the possibility that he might actually get shot during hunting season, Daffy was willing to murder… murder Bugs Bunny, the closest thing he has to a friend!
You’re despicable, you bastard!
16. Bender
I love the guy, but his bastardliness knows no bounds. Now, you can argue that he is a machine and therefore immune to said accusations of bastarditude, but Bender’s bastardisity is apparent whether he is human, animal, or mineral thanks to his scheming, thievery, and overwhelming ego.
What kind of a bastard steals from his friends that much? Tries to kill his friend’s pets? Sells nude pictures of his friends on the internet?
Granted, there are times when Bender saves the day, but in my opinion that makes him a loveable bastard rather than a plain old everyday bastard… and that’s why we love the tin can.
He is the greatest Latino on television.
15. Mr. Cogswell
I know what you’re saying, “What about Mr. Spacely?†True, Spacely was a bastard, but for the premiere bastard of the future, you don’t look at George Jetson’s diminutive boss, but rather to his competitor, Mr. Cogswell.
So what makes Cogswell a bigger bastard than Spacely? Spacely may have been a foul-tempered tyrant who would fire George without a second thought, but Cogswell was a person of questionable morals who would probably molest Elroy without a second thought if he thought it might give him the smallest leg up on the competition.
Cogswell was well known for sending spies into Spacely Sprockets to steal all of Spacely’s greatest ideas. Why? Well, it’s obvious… Cogswell was one of those bastards who never got any great ideas on his own, so he had to steal them from other people. We’ve all run into these kinds of bastards before and they are infuriating, aren’t they? The fact that Cogswell revels in the idea of being an idea theif only makes him that much more insufferable.
14. Doctor Zin
Doctor Zin was a charismatic leader that somehow managed to recruit hundreds if not thousands of people to his side and what does he do with that power? He picks on a couple of kids and their dog. What a bastard! Later on, he even got his own daughter… his own daughter, mind you, to seduce Hadji so that he could screw with the Quests that much more. Not only is he a bastard, but he’s a lousy father as well and now poor little Hadji, still hung up on his love, can’t even fight Zin without popping a boner now.
Dr Zin has been a long-time enemy of the Quests. No one knows exactly who he is, where he comes from, or what his doctorate is in — but everyone knows that he wants to take over the world. (He’s not shy about telling everybody who’ll listen, and those who’d rather not.) Armed with a brilliant mind and seemingly bottomless pockets, Dr Zin is almost Dr Quest’s evil twin…. His bastardly twin.
13. Flintheart Glomgold
The biggest bastard of Duckberg, no doubt, was Flintheart Glomgold. True, Scrooge McDuck might have been a little greedy, but Flintheart made him look like the Salvation Army.
This was the classic case of keeping up with the Joneses. If Scrooge got an airplane, Flintheart wanted a bigger airplane made out of gold. If Scrooge made a million, Flintheart wanted to make a billion.
Now, a little ambition is fine, but this feathery bastard actually went out of his way to sabotage and steal from his rival, enlisting the help of lesser bastards like The Beagle Boys or Magica DeSpell and, if he was successful in knocking Scrooge down a peg or two, he would come over and gloat about it.
Bastard!
12. Dungeon Master
You want to talk about Bastards, I’ve got one of the more sadistic examples right here.
In the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon of the 80’s, four teens found themselves trapped in a mystical fantasy world guided only by the dwarfish Dungeon Master who they relied on to try and get home. Instead of telling them, “Go this way and get home,†this sawed-off little shit gave them riddles so convoluted that no one could solve them and continued to taunt them by saying he was going to send them home every week… only to watch in glee as their dreams shattered like glass.
Not to mention, he was the father of Venger, the villain of the entire story and was manipulating these kids to try and help redeem him. A sadistic and selfish little bastard who really didn’t give a rat’s crap if the kids who trusted their lives to him got home or not..
11. The Mooninites
What list of cartoondom’s biggest bastards would be complete without these two pricks? There is literally nothing that these two do that isn’t bastardly on one level or another and, let’s face it, when the Mooninites are involved… those are really big levels.
Usually, the Mooninites spend their time trying to corrupt the poor innocent Meatwad to their bastardly ways making them bigger bastards than they would be if they would just remain individual bastards.
I mean, they actually out-bastard Master Shake. Do you realize the amount of bastarditude it takes to pull that off?
10. Bluto
Tell me you people didn’t see this one coming.
Bluto (AKA Brutus) is the epitome of the bully, large, crude, and Neanderthal-like. Of course, merely being a bully doesn’t get you on this list… Bluto is the kind of guy who will go and try and steal your girlfriend every time even if she’s an ugly skinny chick with no rack at all. What’s worse, he loves to pick on the guy he’s stealing said bimbo from and, of course, in his mind when a woman says no, it means “take me, I’m yours.”
Thankfully, Bluto’s a bastard but not a bright one as he never once thought of eating spinach and beating the shit out of Popeye every now and again.
Stupid bastard.
9. Jerry
Jerry reminds me of a little brother. Yeah, the big brother may start the confrontation every now and again, but the little brother does nothing but fan the flames and makes things worse because he knows that his parents aren’t going to let the big brother kick the shit out of him even when he sorely deserves it.
Generally, Jerry wouldn’t be on this list except for the fact that there are plenty of times that Jerry starts fights with Tom for no good damn reason. Jerry steals Tom’s food, bed, or girlfriend (which is sick in of itself) and when Tom tries to stop him, Tom gets bashed in the head and then kicked out by that fat black woman who always takes Jerry’s side, leaving the little vermin to spread bubonic plague and drop mouse feces wherever he goes.
Little brothers are bastards and so is that fucking mouse.
8. Skeletor
Skeletor was not only a bastard, but he was a grade-A asshole as well. He was mean to his henchmen, abused his powers, and even though he had a whole flippin’ mountain to himself, he wanted to take the Sorceress’ castle too.
Let’s not forget, this is the same guy who made He-Man think that he killed an innocent person just to mindfuck him.
In many ways, Skeletor reminded me of this bastardly boss that I had once. Our office would make $30,000 one month and he’d throw a fit because it wasn’t $45,000. We’d work our asses off and make $45,000 the next month and he’d throw a fit because it wasn’t $65,000. Skeletor is that bastardly boss that wants more but isn’t grateful for what he has. If anything, the 2002 rebirth of He-Man only saw Skeletor become just that much more bastardly.
He’s got his own sorceress, he’s got a freakin’ Beast Man as a minion, and best of all, he doesn’t have Orko or anyone else retarded enough to call themselves Ram-Man!
But nooooooo, Skeletor has to continue to be a bastard and want more and more for himself. If that’s not enough, I think he was gay too. How could you have a hot piece of ass like Evil-Lynn sitting next to you all day and continually obsess about He-Man?
Supergay.
7. David Xanatos
Xantos is the slick kind of bastard that I aspire to be one day. Rich, good-looking, and charismatic… he lived in an ancient castle he moved brick-by-brick to New York and then placed on top of the world’s tallest skyscraper just to get in with and screw over a bunch of Gargoyles.
Xanatos is another example of a bastard who wanted just a little bit more, but unlike Skeletor, Xanatos was slick about it only adding to his level of bastardliness. He knew what he wanted and it was immortality and he wasn’t going to let anyone get in his way. I mean, for God’s sake, he turned his faithful right-hand man’s right hand into stone just to test to see if one of his schemes worked or not. That, my friends, is bastardly behavior.
Xantos’ bastarditude fueled the show and, after his dramatic and slow change over to the side of good, Gargoyles turned into a pile of ostrich shit.
A testament to the true power of Xanatos’ bastardliness, or just something else this awesome bastard had planned from the beginning? You be the judge.
6. Mr. Burns
It pains me to put Burnsey on the list, because despite his bastardliness, I love the old fart. His presence brightened up even the lamest Simpsons episode and at his best, or should I say his worst, he makes the show worth watching.
I mean, what other 104 year-old would go out of his way to skin puppies to skin for a coat or steal the sun from an entire town? How would you feel if you worked for a boss for over 20 years and he couldn’t remember your name? (I know that most of you are going to be spared this humiliation because you’ll probably be destined to work a job with your named embroidered on a shirt, but let me tell you… the pain cuts deep!)
I love you, C. Montgomery Burns (not in a Smithers way), but you are a bastard… a magnificent bastard, but a bastard none the less.
5. Eric Crtman
Goodness, what a little bastard he is.
It’s not that Cartman is a spoiled only child of a mother who smothers him with attention and food, it’s not that he’s a greedy manipulative pig of a human being, it’s not that he’s a smartass and a foul-mouthed little brat. It’s not that Cartman is vindictive or shallow, it’s not that he’s a liar, a cheat, a smug winner, or a backstabber.
It’s because he’s got a big fat ass and this, my bastard-watching friends, is what makes Eric Cartman the biggest bastard in South Park.
4. Lex Luthor
With the Lex of Superman the Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited, there aren’t any pansy-ass schemes to take over the world by using a team made up of a monkey and a retard who leaves clues so that the good guys can catch him, there isn’t a fat pig-squealing sidekick or idiotic nephew, and there ain’t no high school rich-boy angst. Lex is a no-nonsense businessman, a power hungry egomaniac, and a bastard through and through.
Lex rhymes with sex and Lex is a sexy bastard. Women want him and men want to be him… or with him too. I guess it just depends on the man.
The thing about Lex Luthor that makes him such a bastard is the fact that people love him. I mean, he could fire nuclear missile up Superman’s ass and have him crash into a orphanage for crippled war children and the public would still eat him up. I mean, for God’s sake, he went to prison, made a supervillan out of himself, and still almost won the presidency of the United States. I hear that Lex was originally scripted to win the election, but George W. Bush’s lawyers threatened to sue for copyright infringement.
Here’s to you, Lex, you magnificent chrome-domed bastard!
3. The Grinch
Do you honestly need a more thorough explanation for this bastard? I mean, this little fuzzy green hunk of crap actually tried to steal Christmas! I don’t mean that figuratively, either kids, I mean this asshat actually rode into town, impersonated Santa Claus, and committed multiple acts of home invasion and burglary on Christmas Eve – stealing gifts, decorations, and food – simply because he found one day out of the entire year annoying.
I mean, even your grade-A bastards will tolerate a lot more than that before they start acting overly bastard-like, but not the Grinch, oh no! He doesn’t even do the normal bastardly things like filing noise complaints or trying to get city ordinances or court orders going like those annoying Aethists do every Christmas, this bastard decided to go in and physically take Christmas away from the Whos and throw all of their holiday spirit into a canyon!
Now, I know what you’re saying, “Duh, but didn’t he reform at the end?†Well, yeah… but it wasn’t permanent as we thought it was as he returned to torment the poor Cat in the Hat for no good damn reason and then terrorized Whoville yet again on Halloween. Some reform that was!
The Grinch is a bastard and once a bastard, always a bastard. What’s next, Grinch? Are you going to steal Arbor Day? You can take my sapling when you pry it out of my cold dead hands, you cheese-eating dick monkey!
2. Stewie
Stewie is, perhaps, the most bastardly baby in the known universe. With his eyes set on global domination and with killing the woman who gave birth to him, one must shutter at the very real threat that this toddling asstard poses to the world.
The thing with Stewie is that this little bastard has cuteness on his side and that cuteness blinds many people to the level of bastardicity that he actually exudes. It’s sort of like the California election… everyone thinks it would be so cute to have a one-liner spewing movie star as governor, but the next thing we all know, the state is surrounded by a barbed-wire fence, Junior is playing in art houses, and everyone is wandering around in a daze saying, “Why!? Why!? Why didn’t I vote for Gary Coleman!â€
With his lust for power, penchant for murder, and his bastardly ability to get away with it all, Stewie will forever go down in the annals of cartoon history as one of the most vicious bastards of all time!
1. Michael Eisner
Yeah, so he’s not a cartoon character. Fucker’s still a bastard, though.
Over the last ten years or so, I believe that Michael Eisner has single-handedly caused more damage to the animation world than any other man who has ever existed on the planet. There’s the obvious reason that he’s a bastard in that he was instrumental in killing classic 2-D animation at Disney when sub-par Disney films like Brother Bear and Home on the Range failed to make any money. Instead of blaming a shoddy product, Eisner felt that cell animation is just dead and moved accordingly to stamp it out.
With Disney stock falling and the theme parks getting fewer and fewer visitors thanks to his micromanaging, Eisner was called on to leave his position by Walt Disney’s nephew, but he continued to hang on like a tick sucking the life blood out of his company. Finally, the bastard left and there were few tears.
The failure of Valiant and the other shitty CGI movies goes to prove that, like so many other things, Eisner was wrong about cell-animation being dead and I only hope that the next person to fill his shoes undoes the damage he’s done to the industry and to Disney in general.
Yeah, he may not be a cartoon, but Michael Eisner is cartoondom’s biggest bastard none the less.
Whatever event it is, running included, that you are organising, you will need to think about those taking part as much as those attending. They will want to be provided for in terms of seating where applicable, food and drink to consume, and toilet facilities. With the last one in mind, there are websites who specialise in portaloo hire who can take care of that particular function.
Seating
When organising the seating for an event, you will need to consider that there are different kinds of seating arrangements, assuming that it is not an event where it is considered that people will stand to watch. Sometimes standing might be the best way to obtain a view. In the case of a wedding, seating will be particularly important. To consider the different types of seating we should define a few.
Banquet – Like a round dining table, audience is seated around a circumference.
Boardroom – With a large, elongated table.
Cabaret – Audience seated in an arc.
Classroom – Chairs and tables in consecutive straight rows.
Cocktail – A standing space with no chairs or tables.
Herringbone – Chairs and tables angled inwards.
Hollow Square – Chairs and tables arranged as four squares with no open end.
Lounge Zone – Clusters of sofas, chairs, coffee tables, ottomans, and bar tables, to fill a space.
Theatre – Chairs aligned in consecutive straight rows. Everybody will be looking in the same direction. This will maximise seating capacity.
U Shape/Horseshoe Shape – Chairs and tables arranged so whole configuration is left open-ended in a U Shape. Only chairs are used with Horseshoe Shape.
Food and Drink
If you are on a budget, you will want to serve food such as baked potatoes, pasta, and sandwiches. Pizza is particularly popular among the young. Whether it is a snack or a more substantial meal you are likely to need facilities to keep the food warm until it can be served. It is important to consider, too, the various dietary requirements of today’s society. For instance, vegetarianism or veganism. In addition, allergies such as those to nuts. Everything will need to be clearly labelled and not be mixed up or positioned close together. Raw meats will need to be separated from cooked meats. However, you will not need to worry about any of these if you have a catering firm organise this for you. Then, something that you will certainly need a specialist firm to organise for you will be the toileting arrangements for larger events. This may well be linked to the drinks provided. They will need to include both alcoholic, where it is to feel like a party, and non-alcoholic drinks, where there are drivers, or it is a family event.
Portable Toilets
When you are organising a large event, in fact any event, you will need to consider toileting facilities. The easiest way is to have temporary toilets and lots of them. Nobody wants to wait a long time to use them, so it is important to have enough of them to cater for all of the people attending the event, be it a running race or a large wedding. You will want this to be handled by a specialist firm who can deliver each portable toilet to you, empty them all periodically, and then take them away at the end of the day, or the next day. There are firms, as mentioned previously, that make this their business. In terms of yours, it will be another thing taken care of.
I hope that the above will be of use, and, in addition, I would like to also draw your attention to an article on marketing, which should prove useful when promoting your event.
Being Spain’s third largest city with 800,000 residents, it comes then as no surprise that there’s plenty to do in the city. It’s not only an incredibly safe city, but it’s more affordable than Madrid and Barcelona, yet lies on a beautiful coastline stretch.
This article will go over some of the best places you can visit in Valencia, as well as offer some tips for when travelling there with a family. The COVID-19 pandemic, whilst rife in Spain currently, will likely calm next Spring and Summer like it did during the first wave. Nothing is a certainty though during these times, so it’s important to check the latest news and protocols before attempting to travel.
Bioparc
The Bioparc Valencia is an incredibly unique zoo, which is designed with zooimmersion in mind. What is zooimmersion you may ask? Zooimmersion is essentially a design in which the zoo goes above and beyond to recreate even the smallest details of the natural habitats which are presented.
One facet of this is that if some animals coexist in real life, then they do in the bioparc. Obviously, predators cannot mix with their natural prey, but the bioparc manages to make the perfect comprise: the predators remain in this natural visual space, but they are separated by barriers. These barriers are invisible to see as a spectator, so you’re still under the illusion that these animals are mixing like they do in real life.
The Bioparc in Valencia is not too far from the city centre. Whilst you may not want to walk, it’s very accessible via bus or taxi. Valencia’s bioparc has fantastic reviews because they really do deliver on their promises of a natural habitat and relaxed animals.
City of Arts and Sciences
The City of Arts and Sciences is a must-see for anyone visiting Valencia. The place is a result of Calatrava’s architectural brilliance, with the buildings becoming an icon of the city. It’s rooted in scientific and culture, being a complex that can be enjoyed by visitors which covers 2km.
There are a few different buildings, so make sure to check beforehand which one is your biggest priority as you may need a ticket, like for Hemisferic, the science museum, and the Oceanografic.
The Oceanografic is perhaps the most visually compelling, as well as being Europest largest aquarium. There’s almost 45,000 different specimens with over 500 individual species. Some of the most popular ones are the dolphins, sharks and sea lions.
Natural Hot Spring
If you have a car and don’t mind venturing out for a drive, there is an incredible hot spring in Montanejos. The Fuente de los Banos de Montanejos
The journey there from Valencia will also be epic, five that you pass a tonne of forestry and mountains, and could even stop at the Parc Natural de la Serra Calderona for a long walk.
The hot spring itself is off-track a little, meaning it’s naturally integrated. Some of the blue lagoon waters are 25 degrees celsius. There is some public transport nearby as well as wheelchair access, and it’s a part of a full tour if you want guidance.
Tips to travel with family
Here are some of the top tips to travel with family.
Getting around as a family
The easiest way to see Valencia as a family is with a car. The roads aren’t as busy as you would imagine, parking is fine, and you will have more opportunity to visit sites outside of the city. There’s lots of mountainous and rural places in Spain, and a car will make things easier.
However, you can still enjoy Valencia perfectly fine without a car. The Metro system is fantastic. Fast and cheap, you can get across the city in minutes.
Staying central
If you’re really looking to get to know Valencia, then stay in the city center. Even if it means getting a smaller apartment because of the higher prices, it may just be worth it. You will be able to stay out later at restaurants as everything will be within walking distance. It will also be easier to take naps during the day.
Local recommendations
The internet is brilliant for recommending incredible sites and experiences. However, you cannot beat asking a local where they themselves go to eat in restaurants. Being a large city, there’s going to be plenty of places aimed at tourists. Your job is to see beyond that and explore the real Valencia, and the easiest way is by asking locals. This will also help exercise your Spanish learning.
Two days isn’t enough
Valencia is a large city, and spending only two days there wouldn’t be enough to get a feel for it. When travelling with children, getting places is a bit slower. This means you need extra time to see places and you shouldn’t try packing too many activities in one day. On top of this, it can get extremely hot in Valencia during the summer, so you want to live like a local too in order to be comfortable: that means not rushing and perhaps taking some naps.
LinkedIn currently has over 660 million users and is the 21st biggest site in the world. Are you using LinkedIn to build your professional network? If not, now is the time to start.
There are lots of benefits of LinkedIn that you can experience when you use it in the correct way. Read on for five tips for using LinkedIn that you can implement today.
What Is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is a social networking platform, similar to Facebook. The big difference, though, is that it’s specifically meant for professionals to connect with one another.
As a member of LinkedIn, you can create an online resume to easily share with others. You can also use LinkedIn to chat with other users, learn about job openings, and even publish articles.
LinkedIn is a great platform for those who are looking for work. It also helps those who want to get in touch with others in their industry to gain clients and foster new business relationships.
LinkedIn Benefits
There are lots of reasons why you might want to use LinkedIn, whether or not you’re actively looking for work. The following are some specific benefits that you can enjoy when you include it in your social networking strategy:
Gain Exposure
First, LinkedIn provides you with lots of opportunities for exposure. It allows you to easily start building an online brand and get noticed by the right people. You can also show off your work and share your portfolio with recruiters and others who might want to hire you.
Demonstrate Your Knowledge
You can use LinkedIn to show your network that you are knowledgeable and have a lot of offer those who work in your industry (or in related industries). Through regular posts and long-form articles, there are lots of ways that you can provide insight and make a name for yourself.
Conduct Research
If you’re in the process of looking for a job, LinkedIn helps you to conduct research and learn about companies to which you’re thinking about applying.
You can connect with people who currently work for those companies and talk to them about their experiences, for example. You can also learn about the people who might be interviewing you for a job to find out things you have in common before you sit down to meet.
Learn About New Job Openings
Of course, LinkedIn can also make you aware of new job openings. Lots of employers publish listings on LinkedIn before sharing them in other places. If you’re active on the platform, you can be the first to know about a potential new job and get your resume sent in before the inboxes get flooded.
Tips for Using LinkedIn
Okay, you can see why LinkedIn is an important resource for professionals like yourself. Now, it’s time to learn how to use LinkedIn in the proper way. Here are some specific strategies to help you get the most out of it:
1. Keep Your Profile Updated
One of the most important (and basic) things you can do when using LinkedIn is to keep your profile updated. It’s going to be hard for you to establish professional connections and make a good impression if your profile is full of outdated information.
Start with a professional headline. It should showcase your current position, as well as the company you work for. It can also include keywords that describe the work you do if you’re in the process of searching for a job (writer, coach, trainer, designer, etc.).
Update your location, too. This will help you ensure that, when people reach out to you about potential jobs, those jobs are in your area and accessible to you!
2. Use Professional Photos
On other social media platforms, it’s perfectly acceptable to use fun, casual photos of yourself. When you’re on LinkedIn, though, it’s best to keep it professional. Make sure it’s an up-to-date photo, too.
You don’t necessarily need a professional headshot for your profile. You should be wearing an outfit that aligns with the work you do, though. Style your hair, apply makeup if you wish, and do everything you can to look neat and well-groomed.
3. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
Always proofread your posts, as well as any other information you share on your profile. Read over them carefully before hitting the publish button. It’ll be hard for you to show potential employers that you’re a good fit for the job if your profile is full of typos and grammatical errors, after all.
4. Personalize Invitations to Connect
When you send someone an invitation to connect on LinkedIn, the default message says, “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” That’s pretty boring, right?
If you want to make an impression and get noticed, personalize the message to something that is more meaningful and will stand out to the recipient. For example, you could remind them where you met if you’ve run into them in person previously, or you could mention a post that you both liked from a mutual connection.
5. Create High-Quality Posts
Make sure you’re publishing posts on LinkedIn on a regular basis. Regular posting helps you to stay relevant and increases the likelihood that people will notice you.
Not sure what to post? Start by sharing samples of your latest work, or post tips that can benefit others who work in your industry. You can also publish long-form articles that provide a thorough look into a particular topic and give you an opportunity to showcase the depths of your knowledge and experience.
Start Using LinkedIn Today
Now that you know about why to use LinkedIn and how to use it effectively, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test. Keep the information discussed above in mind and you’ll start experiencing all the benefits that LinkedIn has to offer before you know it.
Do you want to learn more about how you can expand your social media presence and improve your career? If so, check out some of the other employment-related resources on our site today. The Entrepreneurship section is full of helpful articles.
Do you know why so many people start off the day feeling grumpy and in need of copious amounts of caffeine? It’s often because they didn’t get enough sleep even though they went to bed early enough to get a full 6-8 hours of sleep. When it comes to sleep, the human body is highly sensitive and your sleep suffers anytime there’s a slight change to your environment or habits.
We all know that sleep is probably the most important part of having a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body, but it’s also been well-documented that for a large portion of our population, a good night’s sleep is a luxury. It’s one thing not to get enough sleep on one occasion, but when you find yourself having that struggle constantly, and it’s not a physiological cause, something in your sleep environment is amiss. Here are some of the things in your environment that are in conflict with achieving quality sleep and what you can do about them.
Window Treatments
Did you know that your body is highly sensitive to light, and that it has its own automatic system for when it wakes up and when it starts to wind down? Having a dark room is a key part of you being able to fall asleep and stay asleep, and if you have curtains that let too much light in, that can disturb your sleep patterns. It’s all good and well when your curtains let in the light when it’s dark, but in the early morning hours when the sun starts to rise, curtains that let in light can make you wake up earlier than you should, leaving your body lacking precious sleep. This is why it’s important to invest in a good pair of blackout curtains. They give your body consistency in lighting conditions throughout the night and even in the early morning so you don’t interrupt your own Circadian rhythm. You may not think that you’re sensitive to light, but your body’s sleep clock certainly is.
Devices
We live in a distraction-heavy world, and none is as present as our phones. With phone notifications beeping and buzzing throughout the day and night, it’s no wonder that getting a really good night’s sleep is slipping through the fingers of many. Even people who sleep like logs can be woken up by notifications in the middle of the night and this can make it hard for the body to truly wind down into a deep sleep to get the rest it needs to rest, recover and rejuvenate. If you bring that distraction into your own bedroom, either the notifications or the blue light will disrupt your sleep. It’s better to have your phone far away when it’s sleep time.
An Inconsistent Sleep Routine
The older you get, the more your body relies on routines and schedules to function optimally, and this is especially true for sleep. Not having a set sleep schedule is unhealthy. It can set you up for always being tired, groggy and cranky. When you have set sleep and wake up times, your body starts to function on that cycle, and your own internal clock will adjust accordingly. That means you’ll also start to feel sleepy at the same time each day, and you’ll also be able to fall asleep and wake up on schedule.
If your body is on a constantly changing sleep schedule, it’s going to be hard for that internal clock to sync up, and for you to fall asleep and wake up at certain times. If you don’t have a set schedule you’re going to have inconsistency, where you’ll get a lot of sleep one night and very little the next. With that routine out of whack, your body will always be playing catch up, throwing everything else off. To solve this, adopt a strict sleep schedule and habits around it, whether it’s switching off your television, getting into bed at certain times or implementing relaxation techniques. The more you nurture a routine, the more predictable and fine-tuned your sleep becomes.
Remember, without quality sleep, every other area of our health will start to decline. Our diet will suffer, we won’t have energy for our hobbies and interests, our mental focus and sharpness suffers, along with our work and even our relationships. By dialing in your sleep, you do yourself a huge favor that will have a massive payoff, the very least being you actually waking up bright, happy and ready to tackle the day every single morning. Make a few changes and you’ll see your entire life change for the better.
The holiday are nearly upon us, and this year is proving to be more unique than years past. With the pandemic still going on, many of us have needed to alter our usual plans throughout 2020, and the holidays will likely be no exception. Here’s a few ways to enjoy your socially distanced holiday season, no matter what the rest of 2020 may bring.
Personally, I love throwing holiday parties, but I’ve needed to change my plans with everything going on. I have found 2 ways to throw a safe, successful party. The first way to invite 10 or less people. Although I usually invite more (many more) people, I’ve found there are perks to having less people at my house. There’s less mess to clean up afterwards, less drinks and snacks to buy, and shyer guests tend to come out of their shells a bit more. It’s a nice change to having 30 or more guests at my place. So don’t cancel your party plans, just shorten the guest list!
If you’ve got a bunch of people you simply must invite to your party, then make it virtual. I recently attended a family reunion over video chat, and it was wonderful! Everyone in the family was able to go because no traveling was involved. It was great to chat with family in Tennessee, California, and Texas. We never would have been able to meet up in one physical place, so meeting up virtually was the perfect solution. I got to see people I haven’t hung out with in years. I plan on throwing a virtual Christmas party in December with friends that live out of town. Take advantage of the technology we have now and throw a party online. You and your loved ones will have so much fun!
Another way to celebrate the spirit of the season is to send out holiday cards. I send out cards every year, and quarantine or no, this year will be no different. You can take your photos in your backyard or a large park so you can get the shots you need while staying safe. Like me, you may be at a bit of a loss for what family updates to give considering how long we’ve all spent in quarantine. If you can’t decide how to sum up 2020, just make a joke about the past year instead. Your loved ones will appreciate the joke. I always get my holiday cards from Basic Invite. I really like how you can create holiday cards on their site by customizing the layout and font on all of the cards. You’re sure to find just the right card for you.
A final way to celebrate the holidays this year is to take time out for yourself. This past year has been stressful for us all, and with everything going on, you may have had less time for self care than ever before. No one wants to get sick, especially right now, so do yourself and your family a favor and take a break. Rest will help you stay well and lessen your anxieties. Your health is just as important as everyone else’s.
Despite everything that’s happened, I hope you all end the year with a bang! Take care of yourself, send out holiday cards, and throw a socially-distanced party for you and your friends. Stay safe, stay healthy, and happy holidays!
If your business is able to continue running as normal throughout the coronavirus pandemic, keeping your customers and employees safe should be on the forefront of your mind. Over the past year, businesses have had to make some serious changes to the way that they are run in order to ensure that the virus is not spread on the business premises and that individuals can work on or use business facilities as safely as possible. When it comes to keeping everybody safe, these are just some of the essentials that today’s businesses now need.
Face Masks
Face masks have been mandatory in the UK since spring 2020 for anybody in a public place, including most businesses. This means that unless they have a medical exemption, you will need to ask your employees to wear a face covering while at work. Many companies have gone one step further to provide their employees with branded, comfortable face masks to wear as part of their uniform, although regular surgical or cloth face coverings will also suffice. It is also a wise idea to keep face coverings to give or sell to customers that need one when they come to the premises.
Hand Sanitiser
Regular hand hygiene is still one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and we are likely to see hand sanitising stations in big businesses like supermarkets for a long time to come. Providing your customers and staff with as many opportunities as possible to keep their hands clean is important regardless of the business that you run. Employees will benefit from having a personal sized bottle of alcohol hand sanitising gel to keep on their person while customers can use a sanitising station placed at the entrance and exit to the business.
Thermometer
Many businesses have added a thermometer to their collection of coronavirus medical supplies, which is used to check the temperature of staff members and perhaps even customers upon arrival to the business. Since one of the first symptoms of COVID-19 is a high temperature and may not be noticeable in the early stages, using a thermometer to scan an individual’s forehead and take their temperature can be a very useful option for reducing the risk of infected yet asymptomatic people entering the business premises.
Antiviral Cleaning Products
Regardless of the industry, any business that involves people coming together from different households must take cleaning even more seriously than they once did. Good antiviral cleaning products should be used multiple times per day, particularly on high-touch areas like card payment keypads, door handles, and light switches. Thorough cleaning with an approved antiviral disinfectant will kill COVID-19 particles that might be lurking on surfaces throughout the business and reduce the risk of infection.
Keeping everything clean, regular hand washing and sanitisation, wearing face masks and keeping an eye on potential symptoms are key to keeping employees and customers safe in your business through this pandemic. For this, many businesses have had to add different supplies to their normal inventory.