Monday, 6 April 2020

Use this 4-step method to block unwanted thoughts and improve focus


While we can’t control the feelings and thoughts that pop into our heads, we can control what we do with them. Research of smoking cessation programs performed by Dr. Jonathan Bricker, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, suggests we shouldn’t keep telling ourselves to stop thinking about an urge; instead, we must learn better ways to cope. The same applies to other distractions like checking our phones too much, eating junk food, or excessive shopping. Rather than trying to fight the urge, we need new methods to handle intrusive thoughts. The following four steps help us do just that. Step 1: Look…

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Skype rivals Zoom with new ‘Meet Now’ feature for app-free video calls

Skype starting screen 2

Skype has introduced a new feature called Meet Now which doesn’t require users to sign up to the service or download the app for video calls. The new feature seems to be borrowed from popular video conferencing platform Zoom, which also lets users join meetings through their browsers without having to sign in or download its app.

Skype’s new feature works by generating a unique link that can be shared with participants of the conference call. If you’re the meeting organizer, you can invite anyone, even if they’re not a Skype user.

The unique link will open the Skype web client on Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. Those are the only two supported browsers at the moment and you don’t have to download anything to use the web client.

Related: Skype vs Hangouts: The differences and similarities explained

Those who have the Skype app installed on their devices can also join the meeting as visitors even if they’re not signed into their accounts.

Further, the feature will allow participants to use the full potential of Skype, including the ability to record calls, blur the background, and share screens. Skype notes that it’ll hold your call recordings for up to 30 days and shared media for even longer.

Who is it for and how to create unique Skype meeting links?

The Meet Now feature is perfect for when you’re meeting new people for the first time, without having to share your personal Skype ID. It can also be pretty useful for interviews or conference calls with family members who generally don’t use Skype.

You can create a free Skype conferencing link by visiting the official website here. Once you click on the button to create the unique link, you can share it by simply copying and sending it to the other participants. You also have an option to share it via Gmail or Outlook.

More posts about Skype



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4 reasons why startups need to create a strategic narrative


“Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” the preeminent management guru, Peter Drucker, once famously observed. And that begs the question, does corporate culture reign supreme above all else, or could it, in turn, be somebody else’s lunch?  Whether or not your company’s corporate narrative is hungry for culture, is a matter of perspective. But I’m convinced that a strong, viable culture is a consequence of meaning-making by those who share it, and meaning is a basic manifestation of the stories companies tell to and about themselves.    [Read: We need to unmask the inner turmoil of founders — so here’s my story] Strategic…

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Ebikes and e-scooters legalized in New York, delivery drivers first to benefit


It’s been a rocky road, but New York State has finally taken steps to legalize the use of e-scooters and ebikes. In the state’s annual budget agreement, lawmakers finally agreed upon and clarified terminology surrounding the mobility tech. In short, a variety of e-scooters and ebikes can now be used on public highways with a posted speed limit of 30 mph (around 48 km/h) or less. The budget agreement details three classes of ebike: pedal-assist bikes limited to 20 mph (32 km/h), throttle-powered bikes limited to 20 mph (32 km/h), and throttled-powered bikes limited to 25 mph (40 km/h) in…

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5 easy stretch routines to make working from home more bearable


Working from home can wreak havoc with your physical health. Many urban dwellers don’t have spare bedrooms that can be swiftly turned into home offices, or desks that can double up as a working space. In fact, I imagine that many of you will be reading this hunched over your laptops, sat on your sofas, or dare I say it, lying in bed. [Read: How we’re keeping fit while working from home] I’m not here to tell you why doing so is bad — we all know it is — but I am on hand to share some handy online…

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