All Good Great

Month: October 2022

  • How to Use the Golden Ratio in Photography

    How to Use the Golden Ratio in Photography

    The golden ratio is a compositional rule that has been used since antiquity. The golden ratio is easily obtained by dividing a line into two parts so that the ratio of the shorter to the longer part is about 1:1.618.

    How to calculate the golden ratio in a photo

    So basically, if you want to divide 1920 pixels by the golden ratio, dig out a calculator or spreadsheet and do this:

    • To find the length of the longer line, divide the total length by 1.618.
    • To find the shorter length, divide the total length by 2.618.

    From a photographer’s point of view, the golden ratio is a bit like the rule of thirds, where the image area is divided vertically and horizontally into three equal parts.

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    But the golden ratio is above all a composition that supports the story and flow of the image, where it is not enough to place the elements in one of the intersections of the three parts. The Fibonacci spiral, derived from the golden ratio, is a good tool for framing a photo but especially for editing and cropping. You can save the png below and place it on top of your own image.

    Fibonacci spiral

    How to use the golden ratio in a photo

    The golden ratio can be used, for example, to define a point on the horizon, to lay out architectural lines or to lay out the main elements of an image. As a rule of thumb, a balanced and pleasing image is achieved when elements are placed at an intersection.

    The Fibonacci curve can be used as a compositional aid when framing the picture. The idea is that the arc wraps around the focal point of the image and the viewer’s gaze is usually directed from left to right.

    In this way, the photographer must consider not only the placement of the main subject, but also the position of secondary subjects in the image. The golden ratio is therefore a little more difficult to use than the simpler rule of thirds.

    You can also use a golden ratio to help you crop the image. Adobe’s Lightroom, for example, comes with golden ratio guide lines. Select the Crop tool and press O to switch between guide lines.

    Three-dimensional Fibonacci curve and golden ratio

    For challenging portraits or still lifes, thinking of the Fibonacci curve as a three-dimensional figure can help. The focal curve of the arc can then be either a depression or a hill.

    This can help you plan where to add the foreground and where to place the subject in the picture. You can also place a secondary object on the Fibonacci arc.

    Examples of photos with golden ratio

    When using the golden ratio, it seems like cheating that the golden ratio seems very precise but most pictures are mere approximations. One would think that if there’s inherent beauty in the golden ratio, the same inherent beauty wouldn’t exist in a 1:1.7 ratio – not to the same extent at least.

    However, the rules of composition are made to be broken. In the images below, the Fibonacci spiral and the golden section have been used to crop the image. Some images do a better job of guiding the eye better than others.

    Above: the position of the model, the faint lines in the background and the cropping of the image are well suited to the golden ratio.

    Above: In this nature photo, the gaze is directed to the mountain-like stump. On the left, the foreground guides the eye quite well, but is a little too close to the point of focus.

    Above: the cranes could be placed almost anywhere in the picture. In this crop, they are placed in the centre of the Fibonacci spiral. Birds are free to continue their movement to the left into the empty sky.

    Have fun using the golden ratio!

  • Average Calculator: How to Find the Average

    Average Calculator: How to Find the Average

    The average is obtained by adding up the numbers in a set and dividing by the number of numbers in the set. For example, the average of the numbers (9, 5, 10 and 6) is 7.5. Here are the steps to calculate the average:

    • Add up the numbers in the set: 9 + 5 + 10 + 6 = 30
    • Count the number of numbers in the set: 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4 numbers
    • Divide the sum by the count of items: 30 / 4 = 7.5

    You can calculate the average using the Average Calculator below.

    Average Calculator: Find the Average Easily

    With this simple calculator you can calculate the average of the numbers. Write your number in the text box and separate them with a comma (,). If your numbers contain decimals, use a period as a separator (for example, 3.5).

    Average:

    Calculation formula (sum of items/number of items = average):

     

    Figures in ascending order:

    What is the average for?

    Averaging can be a good way to estimate the average value of numbers of approximately the same size. This is particularly useful when numbers are selected from a predefined set, for example in Finnish school grades (numbers 4–10) or other grading systems.

    Calculating the average of grades

    Select the subjects for which you want to calculate the average. For example, you can calculate the average of all the grades on your certificate or just the average of the STEM subjects.

    Example: averages of the human body

    In large populations, human bodies can be compared using averages. For example, you can calculate the average height of Finns.

    Note, however, that the average is not always very descriptive. Children and adults are of different sizes, so the average for all Finns does not reflect children or adults, but something in between.

    When is the average not a good benchmark?

    The average is heavily skewed by numbers that are different from the rest of the set. Imagine a situation where Bill Gates visits the University of Oulu. If you calculate the average wealth of the people in the lecture hall, it is far too high and does not reflect the thickness of the average participant’s wallet.

    A better reference point than the mean is often the median, i.e. the middle value.

  • What Is the Best Car Maker? See Comparison

    What Is the Best Car Maker? See Comparison

    The best car manufacturer is, naturally, the one that made the beast vibrating under your jeans back pocket. But if we were to try to find the best car maker in the world, what would it be? And what does ‘the best car maker’ even mean?

    In this article, we’ll find out what criteria we could use to choose the best car maker. And, of course, the outcome of our quest.

    Enter the car brand you think is the best in the field below and you may be pleasantly surprised at the end of the story.

    How to choose the best car maker?

    Choosing the best car manufacturer is like choosing which of your siblings or children you like best. You might have your favorite, but you’ll soon realise that others don’t agree with you if you start yelling about it over dinner.

    That’s why we need some criteria to decide the best car in the world. We award points to the best in each category and the highest scorer wins the coveted All Good Great Best Car in the World award.

    Our categories are:

    • Safety
    • Sales
    • Reliability
    • Market cap
    • Design

    Best car maker for safety: Škoda

    In terms of safety, we use the Euro NCAP safety tests and the best performing cars as the yardstick. The tests assess safety from four angles: adult passenger, child passenger, pedestrian and safety features.

    The latest results, for 2021, rewarded the best in each car category:

    • Mercedes EQ EQS
    • Nissan Qashqai
    • Škoda Enyaq iV
    • Toyota Yaris Cross
    • Škoda Fabia

    We award 3 points per mention for this section:

    Car makerSafety
    Škoda6
    Mercedes-Benz3
    Nissan3
    Toyota3

    World’s best-selling car maker: Toyota

    The best brand of car is certainly more popular than the worst brand. Interpreted in this way, we can give points simply for the fact that a car is sold and bought more than the others. This article is not about finding the best-driving car, for example, but about finding the best car maker – whatever that means.

    According to Statista, the top five best-selling car brands in 2021 were:

    • Toyota Corolla
    • Toyota RAV4
    • Ford F-series
    • Honda CR-V
    • Toyota Camry

    We give 5 points to the best-selling car and one less for each next-ranking car (4,3,2,1). So Toyota scores a whopping 5 + 4 + 1 = 10 points in this category.

    Car makerSafetySales
    Škoda6
    Mercedes-Benz3
    Nissan3
    Toyota310
    Ford3
    Honda2

    Most reliable car brand: Lexus

    It’s nice to sit in a car, but it’s even nicer when it’s moving. That’s why our third category is car reliability. We use Consumer Reports’ list of the most reliable cars of 2022 as our source.

    The top five cars for reliability are:

    • Lexus GX
    • Kia Niro EV
    • Toyota Prius Prime
    • Toyota Prius
    • Cadillac XT5

    The winner again gets 5 points and the others according to their ranking (4, 3, 2, 1). Lexus is considered a separate car brand for the purposes of this article, even though it is owned by Toyota.

    Car makerSafetySalesReliability
    Škoda6
    Mercedes-Benz3
    Nissan3
    Toyota3105
    Ford3
    Honda2
    Lexus5
    Kia4
    Cadillac1

    The most valuable car maker on the stock market: Tesla

    The stock market looks at and analyses all the information in the world and, with its invisible hand, determines the valuation of companies. So let’s also include the market capitalization of companies. At the time of writing, in October 2022, the top five companies by market value are:

    • Tesla ($700 billion)
    • Toyota ($190 billion)
    • BYD (Chinese car manufacturer, $89 billion)
    • Porsche ($89 billion, a subsidiary of Volkswagen)
    • Volkswagen ($76 billion)

    Winner gets 5 points and others according to their ranking (4,3,2,1). Of course, the Volkswagen group includes many car brands, such as Škoda, but let’s give a point to Volkswagen because it is the name of the group.

    Car makerSafetySalesReliabilityMarket cap
    Škoda6
    Mercedes-Benz3
    Nissan3
    Toyota31054
    Ford3
    Honda2
    Lexus5
    Kia4
    Cadillac1
    Tesla5
    BYD3
    Porsche2
    Volkswagen1

    Best design for a car: Toyota, Ferrari and Polestar

    Beauty is in the viewer’s bank statement. But beauty cannot be ignored when looking for the best car. These points are awarded on the basis of the annual Car Design Awards. The jury will judge the best concept car, the best car in production and the best design language. In 2022, the winners were:

    • Toyota Compact Cruiser EV
    • Ferrari 296 GTB
    • Polestar

    Because more beauty is needed in the world, all winners in this series will each be awarded 4 points.

    Car makerSafetySalesReliabilityMarket capDesign
    Škoda6
    Mercedes-Benz3
    Nissan3
    Toyota310544
    Ford3
    Honda2
    Lexus5
    Kia4
    Cadillac1
    Tesla5
    BYD3
    Porsche2
    Volkswagen1
    Ferrari4
    Polestar4

    What is the best car maker in the world? The results are clear

    Choosing the best car brand was supposed to be a difficult, almost impossible task. But the results are clear and the winner stands out from the crowd.

    We can unanimously and definitively declare that the best car brand in the world is: Toyota.

    Toyota was the only car brand to score points across the board. It excelled in safety, reliability, sales and design.

    Here is the final scoreboard:

    • Toyota (26)
    • Škoda (6)
    • Lexus (5)
    • Tesla (5)
    • Kia (4)
    • Ferrari (4)
    • Polestar (4)
    • Mercedes-Benz (3)
    • Nissan (3)
    • Ford (3)
    • BYD (3)
    • Honda (2)
    • Porsche (2)
    • Cadillac (1)
    • Volkswagen (1)

    If you feel that the world’s best car award went to the wrong brand, take comfort in the fact that we both know that the real best car is Volvo.

  • How to Remove a Stuck Ring

    How to Remove a Stuck Ring

    Your finger’s changing colors like it’s fall in Vermont. Your blood pressure is rising and you don’t have time to read stories about the history of rings or fingers. You’re in the right place, because here are a few ways to try to unstick a stuck ring.

    Sometimes the situation is so serious that only professionals can help. Please note that these tips are not meant to replace expert help. Take care of yourself and use your best judgement. If the situation becomes unmanageable, it’s OK to call for help. Your local emergency number can provides guidance on how to assess the situation, especially if the finger changes color or there is a loss of sensation. The right place to call will depend on your country and locality.

    In most cases, the ring will come off at home. The trick of the Three C’s may help:

    • cold
    • ceiling
    • cream (hand cream)

    You can try them separately or all together.

    How to remove a stuck ring: 3 tricks of the trade

    Grease up the finger by applying a lubricant, such as hand cream or moisturiser, between the finger and the ring. In an emergency, you can use butter, for example.

    Then take a bag of something cold from the freezer, such as a bag of frozen vegetable stir-fry. Using a kitchen towel for protection, let the cold act on your finger without freezing the skin.

    Raise your hand above your heart – towards the ceiling – and hold it in the air for 5–10 minutes.

    The cold and elevated position will reduce swelling and the grease will help to roll the ring off smoothly.

    Cold: Cool your hand with something cold

    You can try holding your hand in cold water to reduce swelling. However, the idea is not to freeze your hand, so don’t keep it cold for too long.

    Ceiling: Raise your arm up to reduce swelling

    When the arm is upright, the swelling goes down. Hold your hand towards the ceiling, at least above your heart, for several minutes and then try to remove the ring again.

    Hand cream: grease it up

    While you hold up your hand, you can look around your home or workplace for suitable slippery substances to lubricate the ring with. These include:

    • Hand cream
    • Moisturiser
    • Soap
    • Lubricant
    • Margarine
    • Rapeseed oil
    • Butter

    Removing the ring with a string or shoelace

    Sometimes the ring can be removed using a thread or shoelace. First, the thread is tied around the finger, then it is slipped under the ring, after which the ring is rolled off.

    The best way to get an idea of what this trick is like is to watch this video:

    What if the ring doesn’t come off with these either?

    Hopefully the ring has already come off at this stage and the finger is usable again. In emergencies, you should seek professional help. The emergency room has ring cutters, for example, which can be used to cut off a ring. For hard titanium rings, more rigid tools may be required.

  • Pomodoro Timer for Work, Hobbies and Productivity

    Pomodoro Timer for Work, Hobbies and Productivity

    Block out work time with the All Good Great Pomodoro Timer. Set the timer for 25 minutes and feel free to concentrate on whatever you want. You can also see the number of pomodoros you’ve achieved and track your harvest for the day. Have a great time!

    Set the timer for 25 minutes for one pomodoro, or tomato.

    Pomodoro Timer



    Today’s harvest

    Add or remove tomatoes collected elsewhere.


    How to use the Pomodoro Timer?

    In the Pomodoro method, work is divided into a work phase and a break. The work phase always lasts 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. After four 25-minute periods, or pomodoros, you can take a longer break.

    Press Start on the timer and the displayed time will start to run. Remember to reset the timer by pressing Reset if the time has elapsed. You can also press Stop to stop the time from running.

    The timer works best on your computer. When using the phone, you may not hear the completion tone.

    Tips for using the Pomodoro method

    Here are some tips on how to use pomodoros for productivity.

    • Choose one topic to focus on for one pomodoro, or 25 minutes.
    • Remember to take breaks in between. You should also take a longer break after the four pomodoros, for example 15-30 minutes.
    • If you think of something that needs to be done, write it down on paper or on your computer. But don’t start doing it yet.
    • If you find that you don’t finish many pomodoros during the working day, it could be a sign that you’re not getting the chance to do the tasks that require concentration. Try reorganizing your day a bit.
    • The intention is not to collect tomatoes for the whole village. The days are different and some days there are more tomatoes than others. It’s part of the job.

    Is there still room for improvement in the Pomodoro Timer?

    This counter is built on top of Andy Roche’ s counter and modified to fit All Good Great. Do you need a feature for this tomato calculator? Write it in the comments.

  • What are Those Spiral Wings on Chimneys?

    What are Those Spiral Wings on Chimneys?

    Have you ever taken a walk outside and wondered why some chimneys have spiral fins, or wings, near the top? The answer has to do with wind, but maybe not in the way one might think.

    When air meets a uniform cylindrical object, it may form oscillating vortices behind the object. This formation is called a Kármán vortex street. In certain circumstances, this repeating airflow makes the chimney resonate – which is not good for it.

    With the addition of fins to the outside of the object, the airflow is broken so that this oscillating pattern doesn’t appear. The chimney doesn’t start resonating and there’s a smaller risk of structural damage.

    What kinds of fins work chimneys?

    Engineers have designed different types of ways to break up the airflow around chimneys. A popular design is a fin that spirals down the side of the top of the chimney.

    Another option would be to taper the chimney which is often not practical.

    So, next time you see a chimney with spiral winds coming down the side, you can thank the engineers for coming up with a way to make it safer, sturdier – and more beautiful.

  • What’s It Like to Dance Lindy Hop?

    What’s It Like to Dance Lindy Hop?

    Lindy hop is an energetic partner dance. It is full of rhythm, movement, freedom and versatility.

    The Lindy hop is a dance that developed in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, named after the pilot Charles Lindbergh. Lindy Hop can be danced to a wide variety of music and is popular enough that swing dances can be found all over the world – especially in summer.

    What does Lindy Hop look like?

    You’ve probably seen Lindy Hop, even if you don’t necessarily know what the dance is called. In many larger cities, for example, you can come across gatherings with people bouncing rhythmically to swing music or the latest hits.

    This is what lindy hop looks like:

    Why Lindy Hop?

    If you’re looking for a new dance activity, follow your heart. All dance is good for the mind and body. You can also try out different genres, for example flamenco, tango and polka.

    A vibrant dance community in your area will keep you in the dance loop, so a good place to start is with the dance that is taught where you live. The good things about Lindy Hop are:

    • Lindy hop is clearly rhythmic
    • Suitable for both fast and slow tempo
    • The basics are easy to learn, but the learning never stops
    • If necessary, it can be spectacular

    You can usually go to Lindy Hop classes without a partner, but you can often secure your place by signing up with a partner. Dance classes are a great way to get to know yourself and your partner, so Lindy Hop is also recommended for couples. Once you get over the awkward initial phase and get the hang of dancing, you can dance lindy through the summers of your life.

    Where can I learn Lindy Hop?

    Lindy Hop has been popular enough, at least in recent years, that beginner courses are available at least in the major cities. Throughout the year, there are also dance camps to get you started.

    In Oulu, Finland, you can dance lindy at SwingO courses and events. To find associations in other cities, Google “lindy hop (name of your town)”.

    Starting to dance can be daunting and exciting, but Lindy Hop gives more than it takes. So it’s worth letting the bounce get under your feet and taking the plunge.

  • When’s the Best Time to Visit Finland?

    When’s the Best Time to Visit Finland?

    There’s no wrong time to visit Finland, but there are definitely some times that are better than others. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding when to visit the land of a thousand lakes and million mosquitos.

    The short guide to visiting Finland is this:

    • In the summer it’s beautiful, with long days and moderate temperatures
    • In the winter it’s cold and dark (but there can be snow)
    • In the fall, it’s chilly and dark (and there won’t be snow)
    • In the spring it’s chilly and wet (because the snow is melting)

    The best time to visit Finland depends on what you’re after, but generally speaking the best times are either the summer months (June–August) or the winter months (September–May).

    Bear in mind that Finland is a long country, so the conditions will change radically between Helsinki and Rovaniemi (the Arctic Circle).

    • Helsinki has two seasons: summer and the rainy season.
    • Rovaniemi has three seasons: winter, spring and fall (and 1–2 summer days)

    What seasons do Finns prefer?

    According to research, Finland is the happiest country in the world. And well it should, because otherwise no one would choose to live here.

    Finns have found a way to survive through all the four seasons – and even found ways to enjoy them. When you’re planning your trip to Finland, it’s worthwhile to examine what seasons Finns themselves prefer.

    Summer: Between June and August, Finns do just about everything that people in other countries do all year round: see friends, enjoy nature, go outside, go to the sauna and swim in the lakes.

    Fall: Between September and November, Finns cozy up in their homes and wait for Christmas. The bravest may take a trip somewhere to enjoy the fall foliage.

    Winter: From December to March, Finns enter a sort of hibernation. When they wake up, it’s dark. When they go to work, it’s dark. When they get off work, it’s dark. Christmas comes and goes.

    Spring: From April to June, the days get longer and the temperatures start to rise. You can finally do all the outdoor sports you waited for all year. There are no mosquitos and the warmth of the sun feels divine after the cold dark winter.

    Many Finns will tell you that they enjoy all the seasons, but they’re probably lying. Summer is the best, spring is possibly even better, and the nice winter days are really nice.

    But realistically, fall, winter and spring mostly suck.

    What’s unique about Finland?

    If you’re reading this, you probably have your own notions about Finland. The Northern lights, Santa, sauna, snow, dog sleighs, beautiful Finnish people (no, that’s Sweden, sorry)…

    What’s truly unique about Finland is more along these lines:

    • It’s really quiet (in a good way)
    • It’s really clean
    • It’s really spacious
    • The winter is real and there’s snow
    • The summer is bright and the temperatures are mostly moderate

    People you meet will be either very rude (when sober) or extremely interested in you (when drunk). Reindeer will not be interested in you (whether sober or drunk).

    What’s the best that Finland has to offer?

    If all the stars align, you’ll have a magical time in Finland.

    In the winter, you may get to experience the Northern lights blazing in the clear night sky – while the trees around you crack from the cold. You’ve just had hot cocoa and the sauna is getting ready.

    Or in the summer, it’s midnight but it’s still light as day. Maybe you’ve been hiking and you’ve rented a cabin near Lake Saimaa. You’ve just had ice brewed coffee and the sauna is getting ready.

    What’s the worst time to visit Finland?

    Or it could be that you land in June/September/November/February/April/August and it’s wet and miserable. The food’s not great, everything’s expensive and going to the sauna is giving you a headache.

    Not to mention the mosquitoes. When we Finns dream about summer, we always forget the mosquitoes. There’s enough of them to drive you crazy and have you itching in places that civilized people do not scratch.

    What the travel brochures are not telling you

    It can be really quiet. Like eerily quiet. Like I’m-about-to-be-stabbed-with-a-dirty-needle-quiet. Some people like that, some don’t.

    The forests can feel scary. Finns are mostly okay with going to the woods for a stroll or a little hike and you should too. It’s mostly safe to step into the woods here – you won’t get jumped for your Airpods.

    It can be dark, damp and miserable – at any time of the year. Except in the summer it’s too bright, damp and miserable. You have been warned.

    But yeah, Finland is a magical place that welcomes you with natural wonders whenever you decide to visit. You also won’t be killed, mugged or spoken to.

  • Random Number Generator with Number Log

    Random Number Generator with Number Log

    Generate a random number in the range you want by putting the numbers in the random number generator below. In the default mode, the generator generates a random integer between 0 and 100 (both extremes are included).

    Random Number Generator

    –

    Your number

    The numbers you've generated

     

    How can I use this random number generator?

    This random number generator is suitable for many everyday needs for example games, raffles and quizzes. You can hold a raffle for 10 people to decide who gets the prize. Just assign a number for all participants and press generate.

    However, this generator is not suitable for demanding tasks that require truly random numbers, such as cryptographic encryption.

    How does this random number generator work?

    This generator draws a random integer between the numbers you enter. If you enter the values values ​​1 and 3, the possible results are 1, 2 and 3. The generator also shows the history of your draw in the number log. There you can check which numbers you have drawn in the past.

    The generator does not save anything you type into it.

    Random numbers or pseudorandom numbers

    This random number lottery is based on Javascript’s Math.Random function. Different browsers have had different ways of generating Math.Random random numbers, but all are basically pseudo-random numbers. That is, before long, after a very long time, it will become clear with which formula the figures were produced.

    In most everyday situations, however, the numbers given by this random number generator are random and evenly spread between minimum and maximum. That is, you can use the generator without worries when you don’t need, for example, real random numbers that affect state security.

  • Is Latin Difficult?

    Is Latin Difficult?

    Latin – the mother tongue of Cicero, Caesar and your local Latin teacher – is a dead but living language. Its words resonate in many modern languages and in the specialized vocabulary of various fields. Is Latin a difficult or an easy language? Can Latin be learned?

    Latin as a language: dead math

    This article is based on my own experiences of studying and teaching Latin. I have studied Latin in high school and university, so I can say that Latin can be learned and it is not necessarily very difficult. On the other hand, playing the violin is also not terribly difficult once you know how to play it.

    The advantages of learning Latin are:

    • Latin lives on mainly through written texts
    • Latin is mostly very logical
    • Many words are familiar, e.g. from English
    • If your own language has inflected words, it’s not totally foreign

    My impression of Latin is that it’s like a logic or math task. Word endings are combined with word roots and the meanings of sentences need to be solved like Sherlockus Holmeniensis. The pace is slow and enjoyable, because in Latin you don’t have to buy ice cream from a disgusted kiosk seller in Venice.

    Is Latin a difficult language?

    Latin resembles its daughter languages like Italian and Spanish. Words are inflected and one inflection contains several meanings. Here it differs from English:

    • Veni, vidi, vici (i contains both the perfect tense and the first person singular)
    • I came, I saw, I conquered (I + verb + ed (past tense))

    If you are used to the fact that single words can contain multiple meanings, it is easier to start learning Latin.

    What makes Latin difficult?

    Latin can also be an extremely frustrating language. Often the texts to be read are old and ambiguous. Translating sentences is like a logic problem: who does what, to whom, at what time…

    Conciseness

    Latin has many ways to condense complex meanings into a few words. Depending on the sentence, the same expressions can often be translated in different ways: someone did something, because someone did something, after doing something…

    Inflections

    In Latin, there are many conjugations for verb conjugation, words have genders and there are several declensions. So the same root word can appear with very small changes and mean different things. This is familiar to speakers with highly inflected languages, but that doesn’t help when you don’t hear Latin on the TV and have a natural ear for it.

    Culture

    Latin texts mostly tell about a world that is no longer so familiar to us. Even if you understand the words and their inflections, you still may not understand what the sentence means.

    How useful is Latin?

    The difficulty of language learning is mostly due to motivation. If you’re interested, even a difficult thing will be easy before long. If you have enthusiasm and dedication, you can definitely learn Latin.

    Latin has been helpful in studying Romance languages and even Swedish. Many terms in specialized vocabularies feel opaque until you see which Latin parts they’re made of.

    And even if you start studying and drop out, it doesn’t make you a worse person. Someone goes to ice hockey practice, someone reads about giant cones in the old Latin textbooks. Still, not everyone has to become NHL players or Latin-speaking newscasters (that used to be a thing here in Finland, believe it or not).

    Where can you study Latin?

    You can start with Latin e.g. at the open university, community college or online courses. When you search for “”Latin (your location)”” on the Internet, you will surely find the best places to start.

    Alea iacta est, or something like that.

  • Clothespin Alternatives: What to Use in a Pinch?

    Clothespin Alternatives: What to Use in a Pinch?

    Your sparkling white sheets are ready to hang but you realize that you don’t have any clothespins. Or maybe you’re making some festive decorations but realize you tossed out the clothespins. What could you use instead of clothespins? 

    Clothespins are cheap and easy to find, but there are plenty of other things you can use in a pinch. Here’s a bunch of clothespins alternatives you can use.

    Best alternatives for clothespins

    Here are clothespin alternatives you’ll likely have lying around the house or the yard:

    • Binder clips
    • Paper clips
    • Hairpins
    • Magnets
    • Spring clamps
    • Half-split twigs

    If you don’t have clothespins, you can use paperclips, binder clips, or even rubber bands to hold your clothes on the line. Just take care if using anything too heavy or metal, as it could damage your clothes. 

    Some of the heavy-duty alternatives such as spring clamps used for woodworking may be too strong and you may have to use something between the clamp and the fabric.

    Whatever you use, just make sure it can hold your clothes securely and won’t damage them in any way. 

    More alternatives for clothespins

    Getting a bit more creative you can try these tips:

    Use the clothes themselves

    Hang a button-up shirt to dry using the buttons themselves. The same goes for trousers.

    Trust the weight

    If it’s not too windy, your clothes may dry on their own. Trust the process but be prepared to wash them again!

    Hang from the care label

    You don’t have to be so careful not to damage the fabric if you use the care label as the point of contact.

    How do clothespins work?

    To understand what you can use instead of clothespins, it’s worth it to consider how clothespins work.

    A clothespin is a fastener used to hold a piece of fabric in place. The fabric is inserted between the two halves of the clothespin and the tension of the clothespin keeps the fabric in place. 

    A clothespin is made up of two pieces of wood that are connected by a metal spring. The spring is what allows the clothespin to open and close. 

    When you squeeze the clothespin shut, the spring is compressed. This causes the two pieces of wood to move further apart. When you realize the spring, the cloth is pinched between them. The tension of the spring keeps the clothespin closed, and the tension of the fabric keeps the clothespin from opening.

    So, in a pinch, use anything that has some pinch!

    Do you have any other tips for drying clothes without clothespins? Let us know in the comments below.