Protect Your Memories Forever: The Importance of Cloud Storage for Personal Use

Sharon Anderson
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Protect Your Memories Forever: The Importance of Cloud Storage for Personal Use

Cloud storage is a system that allows you to save files and folders on the internet. This type of data storage is very popular with both businesses and individuals.

Cloud storage is a great way to keep your most important data safe and easily accessible. It can be used for everything from personal photos to client presentations.

User-friendly and spacious

Cloud storage costs depend on a variety of factors, including the amount of data that you need to back up, the cloud provider, and the number of users. There are also different types of cloud storage plans, including per-user pricing and flat monthly cloud backup pricing.

While most cloud storage providers allow you to back up a small amount of data for free, once that limit is reached you will be charged a monthly or yearly cost to store your files on the cloud.

Using cloud storage for backing up your important files can be a great way to protect your memories forever. However, it is important to make sure that you are backing up only the most critical and sensitive data. This will prevent your data from becoming obsolete and will help you save money over the long term. Ensure that your data is stored in a secure and reliable environment by opting for a reputable cloud storage service.

An efficient way to access your files

Your memories, despite what the cynics might say, are one of your most valuable assets. They help you form the person you are today and provide a window into your past. Keeping them safe and sound will ensure you have the best possible chance of being there for your children and grandchildren.

The cloud is one of the most reliable and cost-effective places to store your data. It’s also the most efficient way to access your files from anywhere with an internet connection. This is especially true in a globalized world where employees are working from home on a daily.

To take full advantage of this technology, your company needs to adopt a robust cloud storage strategy. It’s smart because it will save your organization time, money, and resources. You’ll want a well-rounded solution that includes all the right features to make it easy for your team to share, edit and collaborate on a variety of file types.

No chance of hacking your data

Taking the time to organize your life’s important moments is a worthwhile endeavor. The process gives you a chance to look back and reflect on your life in ways you may not have done before and provides valuable insight into who you are today.

For many people, a cloud storage solution is the go-to option for storing important documents and media, and this is a good thing. Not only is cloud storage typically scalable to fit individual or business needs, but it is also application-agnostic for access across multiple devices.

The best cloud backup software is easy to use and comes with features like automatic backups, file sharing and mobile apps that allow you to sync your content between all of your devices. The top-notch solutions also boast some other benefits like secure data encryption and identity access management (IAM) tools, so you won’t have to worry about your photos getting hacked.

Charlotte Might See Her Hottest February Day In Recorded History Today

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Charlotte Might See Her Hottest February Day In Recorded History Today

Charlotte is about to break some records today as an unusually warm front sweeps through our region.

Highs today are expected to reach into the 80s, which will break the record for hottest Feb. 23rd in recorded history (currently set at 79° from Feb. 23rd, 2018), and possibly even break the hottest February day in the history of the Queen City (currently set at 82° from Feb. 25th, 1930).

Here are all the current records for this month in Charlotte:

How will you be enjoying the unusually warm day today?

Charlotte Ranked Among The Top 10 Boomtowns in America for 2023

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Charlotte Ranked Among The Top 10 Boomtowns in America for 2023

The COVID–19 pandemic brought about a whirlwind of unprecedented business trends, ranging from a surge of new business applications to a rollercoaster of unemployment rates. But with life now returning to normal, LendingTree took a closer look at the 100 largest metros across the US to see which ones have boomed the most since 2019 and which ones have not.

Their evaluation criteria included 8 unique metrics across three categories: people and housing, work and earnings, and business and economy. 

3 of the top 10 spots were right here in North Carolina, including; Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham.

Biggest Boomtowns in America

Rank Metro Final score
1 Austin, TX 83.4
2 Provo, UT 81.5
3 Lakeland, FL 77.1
4 Boise, ID 74.3
5 Jacksonville, FL 67.8
6 North Port, FL 67.0
7 Durham, NC 66.0
8 Raleigh, NC 65.0
9 Charlotte, NC 63.8
10 Virginia Beach, VA 62.7
11 Nashville, TN 61.8
11 Stockton, CA 61.8
13 Atlanta, GA 61.3
13 Cape Coral, FL 61.3
15 Indianapolis, IN 61.0
16 Palm Bay, FL 60.6
17 Spokane, WA 59.7
18 Ogden, UT 59.5
19 San Antonio, TX 59.2
20 Orlando, FL 58.2

Charlotte Businesses Team Up Today To Host Massive Bakeoff on National Banana Bread Day

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Charlotte Businesses Team Up Today To Host Massive Bakeoff on National Banana Bread Day
Two local organizations committed to empowering Charlotte residents to cook, eat and live healthier are going bananas in honor of National Banana Bread Day on Feb. 23.
Dole Food Company, Inc., the global fresh fruit and vegetable provider with U.S. headquarters in Charlotte, and Community Culinary School of Charlotte (CCSC), a nonprofit committed to providing culinary industry workforce development training and job placement assistance to those facing employment barriers, will host a bake-off and free public taste test today (Feb. 23rd) to determine Charlotte’s best banana bread.
CCSC provides culinary training to those impacted by homelessness, poverty, abuse and other issues, and to veterans and others transitioning into civilian life, to encourage self-sufficiency through stable employment in food service. CSSC’s current class, it’s 73rd since its founding in 1997, numbers 23 students. Under the leadership of CCSC Executive Director Ron Ahlert, known to students as “Chef Ron,” CCSC counts 1,087 graduates.
According to bake-off rules announced today, local residents can sample competing banana bread recipes – one developed by banana-leader Dole and a second created by CCSC students – before casting their vote for their favorite at the CCSC Café. The winning recipe will be crowned “Charlotte’s Best Banana Bread” and distributed to media and other groups on Feb. 23’s National Banana Bread Day and made available for sale at the Café on the holiday and beyond.
This friendly competition is part of a larger collaboration between the two organizations to develop healthy, produce-forward, cooking and lifestyle habits and provide the training to allow more local residents to gain access to Charlotte’s growing culinary and food service sector.
“We’re delighted to celebrate National Banana Day with the world’s most famous banana provider,” said Anne Lambert, CCSC director of development. “Support from partners like Dole helps us grow CCSC’s workforce training program as a creative solution to the interwoven problems of unemployment, hunger and homelessness. Our ultimate goal is to provide the education, experience and other resources necessary to provide food service industry job security to Charlotteans facing employment barriers.”
“The participation by Dole and especially Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole’s nutrition and health communications manager, ensures that our curriculum includes an essential nutrition, health and wellness component – and of course plenty of DOLE® Bananas and other fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Voters visiting the CCSC Café today will have the opportunity to blind taste and cast their ballot for their favorite—either Dole’s Loaded Banana Bread, made with DOLE Bananas, eggs, almond milk yogurt and crushed pecans; or the student-created CCSC Class #73 Banana Bread featuring DOLE Bananas, avocado oil, maple syrup and sweet potato, the official vegetable of the State of North Carolina. The Community Culinary School of Charlotte Café is located at 9315 Monroe Road, Unit D, in Charlotte, and open weekdays from 9am to 2pm for breakfast and lunch.
In addition to the winning banana bread, Café customers can order banana muffins with chocolate chips, coconut or pineapple, and a special banana bread savory sandwich for dine-in or takeout starting Feb. 23. The Cafe’s regular menu of coffee and bakery items, sandwiches, salads, soups and grab-and-go family meals will also be available.
“Dole is honored to help support the next generation of local bakers, cooks and chefs – and remind these future culinary stars that the best recipes can be delicious and healthy at the same time,” said Marcus. “The enthusiasm, creativity and passion displayed by these students makes all of us at Dole very excited about the future of Charlotte’s restaurant and food service scene. Chef Ron and his team at CCSC are a great asset to the community.”

Milo’s Tea Announces Plans To Build New $130 Million Facility in South Carolina

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Milo’s Tea Announces Plans To Build New $130 Million Facility in South Carolina

Milo‘s Tea, originally founded in 1946 by Milo and Bea Carlton in Alabama, has decided to move operations to South Carolina with the announcement of a sprawling new $130 million brewing and bottling facility in Spartanburg County, initially employing at least 103 people.

After searching for a suitable site for a 110,000–square foot facility for several years, the company chose 48 acres at the corner of U.S. highways 290 and 221 in Moore, SC. 

“South Carolina was the optimal location to efficiently serve our customers up and down the East Coast. Like our selection journey for our Oklahoma facility, we immediately felt at home in the Spartanburg area as we received a warm welcome from state and local community partners,” said Milo CEO Tricia Wallwork. “South Carolina and Spartanburg County in particular proved to be the right ecosystem to help us advance our people-first culture by offering an excellent standard of living for our associates and robust workforce development resources to drive economic prosperity not only for our people, but also for the region.”

In 2022, Milo‘s Sweet Tea reported that its sales had doubled year over year to $400 million.

According to Southern Living, “Milo’s Sweet Tea has garnered a following so committed and so widespread (and maybe so addicted?) that the name has become synonymous with sweet tea itself in some parts.”

The new South Carolina facility is expected to open by the end of 2024.

The company has a careers page for applicants here.

Charlotte’s Newest Pickleball League Coming Next Month

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Charlotte’s Newest Pickleball League Coming Next Month

Play the Ladders, a new pickleball league, announces the launch of its inaugural season on March 20, 2023.

In response to the extreme popularity of pickleball, avid tennis and pickleball players Julie Lowe and Elizabeth Isenhour have created Play The Ladders, a year-round league that offers players the opportunity to play matches in a competitive, yet friendly environment. Players in this league can propose and/or accept matches as they see fit – they choose the date, time and location.

Each season is approximately eight weeks long and will be concluded by an end-of-season tournament where winners will receive a trophy and prizes. Players can join a season for $25. Doubles and mixed doubles are offered; if players need a doubles partner, PTL can help with that.

“I’ve had so many friends reach out to me recently looking to find pickleball matches or someone to play with and thought this would be a great way for them to do just that,” said Lowe. “This league is really designed to give players the opportunity to get active, meet new people and improve their game – at their convenience! We’re looking to partner with facilities to create fun interactive experiences and collaborations, with a goal of bringing people and causes together in the greater Charlotte area.”

Each season, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to varying organizations doing amazing work for our community. This spring season, Play the Ladders will partner with Bosom Buddies, the Charlotte-based nonprofit that hosts various tennis clinic fundraisers to benefit breast cancer awareness programs and research.

The season begins March 20th and players can sign up now. The inaugural spring season is limited to 200 spots, so players are encouraged to move quickly.

Head over to playtheladders.com to learn more about how the ladder works, the points system, rules of the game and more. To keep up with the latest updates follow the brand @playtheladders on Facebook and Instagram.

Black Homeownership Rate in Charlotte is Up Since 2016

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Black Homeownership Rate in Charlotte is Up Since 2016
As members of Congress propose legislation to close the racial wealth gap, the latest report of black homeownership in America has just been released.
The number of Black Americans purchasing homes is on the rebound, but there has been little progress as the Black homeownership rate remains low at 44% and has been largely stagnant since the 1970s, lagging behind previous generations.
And while the homeownership lag is true for Millennials as a whole and has been documented in our previous reports, the homeownership rate for white Americans is nearly 30 percentage points higher than for Black Americans, a gap that remains close to an all-time high.
Here are some key insights from the report:
  • As of the most recent Census data, the homeownership rate for Black households stands at 44%, up from 41% as recently as 2016, but still slightly below the 1980 rate of 45%.
  • Just 17% of Black Millennial-owned homes at age 30, a rate that is roughly 10 percentage points lower than earlier generations of Black Americans when they were the same age.
  • As of 2021, the Black homeownership rate in the Charlotte metro stands at 46%, up from 42% in 2016.

You can check out the full report here.

Meck County Lighting ‘Controlled Burn’ Starting at Noon Today

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Meck County Lighting ‘Controlled Burn’ Starting at Noon Today

The Mecklenburg County Natural Resources staff has just announced that they will be setting the Gar Creek Nature Preserve on fire today as part of a fire-preventing controlled burn.

The county sent out an alert noting that residents may see smoke around North Charlotte today between 12pm and 3pm this afternoon:

“Mecklenburg County Natural Resources staff are conducting a controlled burn today beginning around noon at Gar Creek Nature Preserve. Smoke will affect air quality in the downwind area for 2-3 hours. To reduce your exposure to smoke, stay indoors or avoid areas of heavy smoke.”

For more information on Mecklenburg County prescribed burns visit: meck.co/RXfire

North Carolina’s New Bill Would Force All Retailers to Accept Cash

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North Carolina’s New Bill Would Force All Retailers to Accept Cash

A bill has been introduced in the North Carolina House that would force all retail businesses across the state to accept cash payments.

Referred to as the Cash Commitment Act, House Bill 20 (HB20) states that “every consumer has the right to use cash” when making in-person payments.

The new bill specifically reads:

“(a) Any person that engages in the business of selling goods or services at retail to the public and that accepts in-person payments at a physical location in this State shall satisfy both of the following requirements:
         (1) The person shall accept cash as a form of payment for sales made at the physical location.
         (2) The person shall not charge cash-paying customers a higher price compared to the price charged to customers not paying with cash.”

Any business that is found to be in violation of the act would be fined $2,500 for the first occurrence, and $5,000 for any subsequent occurrences. Exceptions are made for payments made with $100 bills.

What do you think about the new bill? 

Why you should communicate via video chat before real life meeting

Sharon Anderson
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Why you should communicate via video chat before real life meeting

We doubt we’d be mistaken if we said you’ve had at least one failed first date experience… right?

It often happens that when you meet someone online, they seem absolutely perfect to you. They have a beautiful appearance, judging by their photo, it’s interesting to communicate with them on all sorts of topics, and they are also interested in developing relationships. There’s a feeling that you’ve been waiting for this meeting all your life.But in reality, things sometimes turn out to be completely different. Appearance does not correspond to photographs at all, the person cannot maintain a real life conversation, and in the end your interests do not even match. The result? Wasted time and feelings of serious disappointment.

How to avoid this?

The easiest and most effective way is to have your first date online, and only after that go offline. This is the only way you can objectively assess the other person and understand whether you want to develop relations with them in the future. 

Today we’ll explain how to make an online date comfortable for both participants, why you need to chat at least once via video before a live meeting, and what communication services you can use. And we’ll also talk about situations in which there’s no need to organize a video date before a meeting in real life.

When it’s not necessary to arrange a pre-video date

The only situation where a video date is not necessary is when making new friends in video chat. For example, if you use Omegle random web chat or its rivals, you will immediately see the other person. Basically, this is your first date. In this way, acquaintance happens much faster, you can objectively evaluate each other, and understand how to proceed.

But Omegle is not the most versatile or convenient random video chat. Therefore, we recommend considering some others:

  • Omegle.chat — a free video chat with excellent moderation. If you’re looking to make friends online, you should try https://omegle.chat/.
  • OmeTV — a simple yet functional video chat with gender and geographic filters.
  • Shagle — a minimalist random video chat with a gender filter that allows you to choose between Male, Female, Couple or LGBTQ+.
  • Tinychat — not exactly an alternative to Omegle, but rather a video streaming service for fans of this communication format.
  • Fruzzo — a video chat with a gender filter and the ability to add interesting users to your friends list.

The list of excellent Omegle alternatives does not end there, of course. The main thing is that all of them give you many advantages at once:

  1. You will not waste time on fakes and bots, because you immediately see the other user and can make sure that they are a real person.
  2. Communication in video chat is always more sincere and lively than via text. After all, no text or emoticon can convey real emotions.
  3. Video is an opportunity to stand out, effectively present yourself and show your creativity.
  4. Communication in video chat saves a lot of time, unlike offline dating.
  5. Online dating is free. No travel expenses, restaurants, etc. This may sound overly calculated, but let’s be honest. Nobody wants to spend money for nothing. Calculation in our time is definitely not a vice.

Plus, meeting online for the first time guarantees more security and privacy. You must agree that nowadays going on a real date with a stranger is not the most sensible idea. And you will be safe on the internet, especially if you follow the basic rules for safe online communication. But that’s a different matter.

An online pre-date also helps you overcome the excitement before a real meeting. If it is difficult for you to meet new people, you cannot choose a topic for conversation and you are worried as if you are in an exam, a preliminary online meeting is a must! In this case, you will be in a more comfortable environment for yourself, there will be no strangers around and you will be able to concentrate entirely on the other person. And then your first real meeting will go a lot more smoothly.

When is a pre-video date is a MUST

We highly recommend setting up a video date to those who meet on classic dating sites and dating apps like Tinder, Badoo, Bumble, etc. You should never rely solely on a person’s profile photos and texting with them. Believe us, excessive gullibility and naivety can cost you dearly in the end. And it’s not just about wasting time.

There are a huge number of fakes, bots, scammers, internet trolls and simply ill-intentioned people on the web who are ready to take advantage of your gullibility at any time. A person can easily ingratiate themself with you, pursuing their own goals. And these goals are likely to be very different from yours. Be careful and vigilant!

What services can be used for a video date

Here you have a pretty wide selection!

During the Covid-19 pandemic, almost every major dating app implemented a video chat feature, so you could chat via video right in the app. This is very convenient and saves a lot of time. However, keep in mind that video calling is a paid feature in some apps and is available only to users with a premium subscription. If this option does not suit you and you are not ready to pay for premium access, use third-party video calling services.

There are just a lot of options:

  • Zoom — a popular video conferencing service that is also ideal for face-to-face communication. The basic functionality of Zoom is completely free, so there are no additional costs for you.
  • Skype — a good alternative to Zoom. Skype has been one of the leaders in the field of video communication for a long time, but in recent years its popularity has noticeably decreased.
  • Google Meet — another great video chat option. Google Meet is a completely free platform. In addition, the service works directly in the browser and does not require a separate application to be installed on the computer.

In addition, you can arrange a video date on your favorite social network or messenger. Today, almost all popular online communication services have a video call function. And in most cases it is available for free. Take advantage of this!

Make your first date a video date

We are by no means saying that the first offline date with a new person will be a failure. This is not true at all. There are many cases when people did not see each other at all before and got acquainted via texting, and the first meeting changed their lives. But by the same token, there are many examples when the first date brought only disappointment.

Therefore, in the end, we still advise you to approach the question of arranging an online date before a real meeting seriously. If you want, get acquainted immediately in random video chats and save your time. Or organize video dates in Zoom or Google Meet, however you feel more comfortable. What matters is the result, and we are sure you will succeed!

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