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Four reasons why you should study for your Masters online

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Masters online

The popularity of studying online has boomed in recent years, with many more people understanding the countless benefits of learning in this way.

If you are looking for the perfect place to embark upon your Masters degree, then enrolling on an online course may not have crossed your mind before. 

It seems as though studying in-person for a qualification of this nature is the standard option. However, there is no reason to limit yourself to a real-life classroom as there are so many amazing online MA courses to choose from.

If you have a quick Google search right now, then you will discover thousands of places where students are already earning their degrees online!

Choosing a course

The first thing to consider is your area of study. This will of course depend on the career you are pursuing.

For example, for those working in teaching, a certified online Masters in education will be a great choice. Boosting your experience with a postgraduate degree in education will enhance the range of job opportunities available to you as a teacher.

Similarly, if you are trying to make your mark in the business world, then an online course with a focus on business development could be a good fit for you. Not only can this bolster your CV, but it will also expand your knowledge.

The key to making the best decision is to truly think about how taking this next step is going to help you in the future.

If you are ready to learn more about potential courses, then investigating your online options is a great idea. Check out these four fantastic reasons to study for your Masters degree online!

1.Study from literally anywhere in the world

When you study for your Masters online, then (within reason) there is no limit to where in the world you can study from. 

As long as you can power your laptop and connect to a good quality WiFi network, then there is no stopping you!

When choosing an in-person course to enroll in, you may have previously felt restricted by geography. People tend to choose the courses that are most convenient for them to travel to, which will usually mean selecting an institution that is already local to you.

If you do choose an in-person course that is far away from your home, then you will have to plan to move house. This added disruption to your life definitely is not what you need right before you start studying!

2.Take control of your schedule

Studying an in-person course can take up much more of your time than just the actual lessons. The time spent travelling to and from university can quickly add up to a lot of hours. This can also stretch your budget, depending on the cost of the journey.

When you study online, you totally eradicate this problem and get to keep this time for yourself. 

To get to a lesson, you simply head to your desk and switch your computer on. Within a few moments you can transport yourself anywhere in the world to get stuck into learning. 

3.Keep your job

When pursuing a postgraduate degree course, it can often seem as though you need to cut back on your current work commitments. This is to give yourself more time to focus on your studies so you can truly make this most of the course. But it is also driven by being unable to fit everything into your schedule!

As mentioned in the previous point, you will generally save a lot of time when studying online, as you cut out the need to travel. This gives you much more time to continue in your current job role without making any huge changes.

It is also easy to find a part-time Masters degree online. This means you will have even more flexibility to fit your new educational undertaking into your existing routine.

When you study an in-person degree, you may find that you have much less freedom to learn part-time. Even if you are able to study part-time in-person, there is no guarantee that this will still slot into your schedule.

4.Enhance your career prospects

Gaining a Masters degree is a fantastic way to enhance your career prospects. This point is true of whether you are studying for your Masters online or out in the real world. 

The data also shows that graduates are more likely to be employed, and to be earning more, than non-graduates.

Completion of a postgraduate degree is an amazing way to demonstrate that you are truly committed to your field of study. It shows potential employers that you are willing to put the work in and also that you are incredibly knowledgeable in your field.

It may seem like a lot to take on at first, especially if you already have a full-time job, but it can be a great investment in your future. 

When you study for your Masters online, you have much more responsibility over your own time and organisation. You must motivate yourself to get on with your work and find creative ways to keep yourself productive while studying from home. These are skills that will enhance your employability, as true independence is a valuable asset in the job market.

Having studied online for your MA also demonstrates to employers that you are willing to find flexible ways to reach your goals. 

Studying for your Masters online

Once you have considered all of the amazing reasons to study for your degree online, then the next step is choosing where to study. 

As mentioned above, when you opt to learn remotely, you instantly unlock access to educational institutions all over the world. You are no longer limited by the geography of classes that you must attend in-person. This means you can explore countless options across the globe to find the absolute best fit for you. 

Make sure you thoroughly research all of your options before committing to a course. It is a good idea to contact a potential institution with your questions and to read external information about the course online.

Remember, this is a decision you are taking for your long-term prospects and there is no need to rush or compromise!

New casino sites 2021

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Online casino sites are currently at an all-time high in popularity. Never before have there been so many options open to players of casino games on the web.

Whether you enjoy slots or table games, these new sites will no doubt have something to offer.

With that said, the sheer number of new sites can make it tough to find the best new casino sites in 2021.

To help with this, comparison portals such as NeueCasinos provide detailed information on the very best new sites out there, looking at a range of factors.

In this article, we will take a look at some new casino sites 2021. Assessing their major features, we will look at what it is that makes these sites so great.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the first of our new casino sites 2021.

Express Wins Casino

Offering games from a range of excellent software companies, Express Wins Casino is a top place to play. With offerings from casino game giants such as NetEnt and Microgaming, it’s no surprise that this casino makes it onto our list for 2021.

With a focus on the future of the industry, this site offers a huge variety of new slots. Titles such as the Mustang Gold Slot, Great Rhino Slot and the Immortal Romance Slot make Express Wins Casino a top option for experiencing this new range of games. With a UKGC license, it’s clear from the off that this is a top online casino site.

On the other hand, it should be stated that Express Wins Casino is not available in all countries, with Albania, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, Malaysia, Romania, Serbia, Spain and the United States of America all barred from use. This means that the casino is not for everyone, though it does cater to millions around the world for whom Express Wins Casino is without doubt one of the top new casino sites in the news.

Lottomart Games Casino

This hot new casino site offers a top range of games including table, slot and video slot, with top companies such as Microgaming once more represented. Obviously, Lottomart does not hold back even a little in terms of offering amazing games to members!

With a UKGC license, Lottomart is as safe as a new online casino site could possibly be. That’s due to the fact this is one of the world’s most intense gaming regulators. When you head to Lottomart, you can be sure that a fair hot and at any winnings will be offered!

William Hill

Whilst not necessarily a new casino, 2021 is set to be a big year for online casino site William Hill.

Interest in the industry is at an all-time high in the UK and newcomers are heading to William Hill in their droves to see what the fuss is about!

A big name in both Britain and across the online casino globe, William Hill is well known today as a hub for top poker offerings as well as slots, table games and more.

Public flogging returns to deter criminals

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Whipping up a row: Public flogging (Image: Mitchell Public Library)

By Hugh Dunnett, Crime Correspondent

The barbaric act of public flogging is returning to Ipswich as part of a pilot scheme for the UK.

Home Secretary has approved the trial for six months, beginning next week.

Magistrates and judges will have new powers to send petty criminals for a good, old-fashioned public flogging on the Cornhill, the town centre square, rather than face prison sentences.

It is expected the cat-o-nine tail whipping will be a deterrent to criminals while saving the cost of sending them to prison.

And it will also provide brilliant new entertainment for locals. Sky TV is also in negotiations to pay for the rights to air the floggings live.

Suffolk Police is currently recruiting three ‘floggers’ to carry out the brutal punishment, which first began in the Royal Navy in the late 17th century. Similar punishments were popular for vagrants after the Whipping Act of 1530.

It is believed thousands of eager town residents have applied to give the town’s criminal element a sound beating.

Any form of public flogging has been banned since 1862, although it continued in prisons for years.

The Home Secretary says there will be public announcements in the local media, including The Suffolk Gazette, each time a flogging is scheduled.

Spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “The rise in petty crime in Ipswich has to stop. Public flogging is a good, environmentally friendly punishment that will save a lot of money because fewer toe-rags will be sent to prison.

“We expect the trial in Ipswich to go very well, and so it won’t be long before the scheme is rolled out across the UK.”

Dig proves tools used in Norfolk as far back as 1946

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Old tools

By Ian Bred, Norfolk Correspondent

Archeologists were today celebrating a spectacular new find that proves metal tools may have been used in Norfolk as far back as 1946.

A dig near Dereham has unearthed items including rare iron spanners, a wrench, what appears to be a hammer and even four nails that have been carbon-dated to a period just after the Second World War.

Experts say the exciting discovery proves Norfolk people were intelligent enough to make or repair things using metal tools decades before the previous best estimate of around 1970.

Professor Doug Anderson, of the University of East Anglia, said: “A turnip farmer at Sutton, near Dereham, found what appeared to be an old nail and called in our team of archaeologists. We dug a huge hole and unearthed a treasure trove of tools, as well as a lot of turnips.

“No one would have believed this area of Britain was capable of such intelligence as early as 1946.”

Specialists are now restoring the priceless tools before presenting them for public display in Norwich Museum next month.

Museum spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “This new exhibit will create quite a stir locally. The tools were found on the land of a Mr Bubba Spuckler, who has farmed the area with his sister and their eight children for the past 30 years.”

Mr Spuckler was unavailable for comment but is believed to be planning to call the farm Sutton Hoooooo in a greedy bid to attract tourists.

Top horse race betting tips to get you started

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Horse racing is the second most popular spectator sport in the UK, after football. If you are one of the many fans, it’s not possible to go the course and cheer horses on in person right now, but you can still enjoy the excitement of watching races on TV, on ITV, ITV4, Racing TV, and Sky Sports Racing. For an extra touch of excitement, you can place a few bets on horses at a meeting.

As with any type of bet, there is no guarantee that you will be successful. However, there are some tips that you should find useful when you first start out betting on horse racing and that will help you stand a better chance of winning more times than you lose.

Get the best odds

There are going to be plenty of occasions when you lose while betting on the horses. So, in order to balance this out, you need to make sure that you have secured the best odds when you do win. For example, if you are looking at Cheltenham racing odds, take time to examine all of the options available online, so that you get odds that optimise any winnings you receive.

Pay attention to form

When it comes to big races like The Grand National, many inexperienced bettors place a wager. Often, they simply choose a horse because they like the name or the colours the jockey is wearing. There is a chance that the horse they choose will win but this is more likely to happen for you if you study the form of the horse and rider. Factors that you should take into account include:

  • Where the horse finished in recent races.
  • What weight the horse is carrying.
  • Whether the horse/jockey/trainer has previous good form in a particular race or at a particular meeting.
  • The class of the race compared to a horse or jockey’s previous outings.
  • Performances in similar conditions.

Take time to do as much research as possible, including lesser-known facts, such as if a horse is carrying an injury.

Watch the market

If there is breaking news about a company, it can often have an effect on the shares. The trick to getting a good deal is to watch what is happening and buy and sell at the right time. You need to look at betting in the same way.

This means that you need to follow the betting and watch for horses that are drifting or shortening in the market. When odds start to shorten noticeably, this may be a sign that people have knowledge that makes them believe that a horse has a good chance of winning. If you keep a close eye on the market, you can back a horse before the odds shorten so much that you do not get good value.

Pros and cons of a tipster

Some people swear by following tipsters online. Many of these professional tipsters have social media accounts where you can join in conversations with other followers. You will be charged a small subscription to get access to these tip services but some horse racing enthusiasts believe the cost is worthwhile.

However, you need to consider that if these tipsters were really that good would they not just be making a fortune themselves rather than charging to help others. If you are prepared to invest the time, you can be just as successful following your own instincts.

Following these tips should help you to be as successful as possible betting on horse racing. However, it’s important to realise that there is no guarantee of success and that you should always stick to your plans. Never be tempted to chase losses and do not exceed your planned spending just because you have a few wins.

8 tips for keeping your business secure in 2021

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Hopefully, 2021 will be a much better one than the previous year, as most businesses have now learned to live with the new normal. That being said, it is more important than ever to keep your business secure by adopting the latest technology and new security features. In this article, we’ll share 8 top tips for keeping your business secure in 2021.

1. Appoint a security manager or floor marshall

A security manager is essential even for small companies, while large operations will need a Floor Marshall to oversee each floor or area. Intruders are smart enough to exploit the absence of a proper visitor management policy in a business. Remember, employees rarely notice the presence of a new face on the premises but the security manager’s job is to monitor newcomers and ask for proof of identity to ensure only authorized people gain access.

2. Secure contactless payments

The COVID-19 outbreak forced most businesses to adopt contactless payment methods, and this means it is important to focus on encryption and security of the credentials for such systems. The use of mobile wallets is on the rise and it is your duty to secure your clients’ private data from spying tools and potential hacking attempts.

Always choose to use the most secure payment methods and invest in the latest digital and networking security solutions.  A safe payment method is one part, and you must also offer a protective encryption shield to protect private financial data from decryption attempts.

3. Automatic vehicle identification

This is one of the best ways to make life hard for intruders looking to gain access to your site. Efficient AI-driven automatic vehicle identification solutions will not only improve the security of your premises but will also optimise parking efficiency.

These solutions include:

Automatic vehicle identification solutions lower the chances of criminal activities and unauthorized access to locks, rooms, and important locations. On the other hand, unchecked entry to your business’ premises increases the chances of theft or asset or information, damage, or harm coming to your employees and visitors.

4. Cybersecurity

Our ways are now largely digital and not only payment gateways but also client data remains at risk of unauthorized access. There is a huge variety of free cybersecurity software available these days, but they are largely ineffective. Always go for paid cybersecurity solutions to ensure the highest level of protection. Otherwise, you risk huge fines, possible legal action, and irreversible damage to your business’ reputation.

Cybersecurity solutions must include the following aspects:

  • Multi-Factor Authentication
  • Adopt Passphrase (minimum 16 characters)
  • Restrict USB Devices
  • Constantly Upgrade Firewall Configurations

5. Always stay informed

Criminals will use the same methods as long as they do not become outdated or the usual suspect. Not only the same group of criminals but also copycat criminals may try to replicate successful crimes in your business. Therefore, it is critical to stay informed of current trends in cybercrimes to anticipate threats and take suitable proactive measures.

6. AI-driven access control

Conventional digital locks are largely ineffective these days since they can be easily hacked by most cybercriminals. Easy access to your company’s server room can cause a lot of damage to your business. It is better to install smart, AI-driven access control systems featuring fingerprint scanners or even eye scanners. These locks are expensive but offer a higher level of protection for your most precious files, drives, servers, and assets of your business.

7. Hire ethical hackers

Frequent evaluation of your business’ security measures should also include regularly testing your cybersecurity systems. Ethical hackers can pinpoint minor, significant, as well as usually-overlooked loopholes. They help your business to stay one step ahead of the hackers trying to infiltrate your network to steal confidential data. These days, hacking has become the major source of compromised information that further contributes to a major criminal activity.

8. Review your business security regularly

Compromise of business security systems is typically the result of a lack of regular evaluation. Adversity often strikes when it is least expected. Quiet times when you feel safe are when intruders are likely preparing for their next score. Readiness and anticipation are key! The major purpose of hiring a security manager or Floor Marshall is to use their experience, knowledge, and wisdom to think like an intruder to anticipate potential malicious attempts.

Regardless of the efficiency of the security systems of your business, make sure to regularly conduct a comprehensive risk assessment regularly, preferably every six months. Technology is developing fast, but so are cybercriminals, and they are surprisingly quick at finding new ways to hack security measures. This skill at taking advantage of vulnerabilities makes regular risk assessments and security upgrades essential.

Suffolk Gazette mugs found at Sutton Hoo burial site

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Two Suffolk Gazette mugs have been unearthed at the Sutton Hoo burial site, now featuring in the hit film The Dig on Netflix.

There is no suggestion that the two mugs – How to Talk Suffolk and Sloightly on th’ Huh – were part of Anglo Saxon King Raedwald’s treasure trove because that would be rather far-fetched.

Instead, it is thought the two mugs were used by archaeologist Basil Brown as he worked on excavating the site, near Woodbridge, in 1939.

A check back through the records shows that landowner Edith Pretty purchased two mugs online from our sister site, the funny mugs shop Dirty Old Goat.

And it is now believed she gave the mugs to Mr Brown because she adored his local Suffolk accent.

He would have used them to drink his coffee and tea every day during the dig.

Museum experts say the two mugs were then left in the ground when the excavation site was covered over.

Lorraine Fisher, 34, of Ipswich Museum, explained: “The two mugs were found in perfect condition during maintenance on the Sutton Hoo site last week.

“At first we thought they could be even more treasure from the Anglo Saxon burial site.

“But now we think they were Mr Brown’s mugs that he left behind for others to find years later.

“It’s lovely how this is exactly what happened in the same week that The Dig was launched on Netflix.”

A Suffolk Gazette spokesman said: “You couldn’t make it up.”

Buy a mug just like Basil Brown

Now you can have a How to Talk Suffolk or a Sloightly on th’ Huh mug, just like Basil Brown enjoyed.

Buy direct from the images below, or visit DirtyOldGoat.com

The Dig on Netflix: the Suffolk Gazette’s crucial role in the Sutton Hoo discovery

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DRUNK EDITOR STUMBLES ACROSS TREASURE SITE

As The Dig launches on Netflix, the Suffolk Gazette can today reveal the extraordinary role it played in finding the Sutton Hoo treasure back in 1939.

Our founding editor, Arthur Aspall, was meandering home after a heavy night in the pub when, overcome with fatigue, he stopped on a small mound in a field to take a nap.

He was still out of it when landowner Edith Pretty found him the next morning. Knowing Mr Aspall had to update his website with the latest Suffolk pig prices, she awoke him and offered him a lift to the Suffolk Gazette offices.

But it was only then that she noticed the mound that had been our former editor’s rather large pillow for the night.

Mr Aspall suggested she ask his friend and drinking partner, Basil Brown (played in The Dig by Ralph Fiennes) to investigate what was there.

It was only then that the 7th-century burial ship, thought to be the grave of King Raedwald of East Anglia, was discovered.

Ralph Fiennes in The Dig
Ralph Fiennes plays basil Brown in The Dig (Photo: Netflix)

The Sutton Hoo treasure is one of the most important ever finds.

Suffolk Gazette historian Lorraine Fisher, 34, said the fundamental role the website played in the Sutton Hoo discovery back in 1939 had been kept under wraps. Until now.

“Unfortunately, the scriptwriters of The Dig did not want to include our drunken editor’s role in the discovery of the Sutton Hoo treasure.

“But we never forget it. Our present editor also binge drinks and wanders around fields late at night, trying to find his way home. We like to keep traditions going.”

Fans of The Dig adore the Suffolk accents in the film. The Suffolk Gazette has its own How to Talk Suffolk mug – you can buy it from our Dirty Old Goat website, via the product description below this preview of the film…

Ms Fisher said Suffolk Gazette archives showed former editor Mr Aspall, who died of liver complications in 1956, was given the exclusive story about the treasure find.

But he spent too long in the pub on deadline day and got scooped by the East Anglian Daily Times.

“He never got over missing out on the big story, even though it was him that kicked it all off,” lamented Ms Fisher.

Buy our mugs – a real treasure trove

Our Suffolk Gazette mugs will be worth millions one day. Make sure you own one, but don’t go burying it in your back garden – use it to drink tea or coffee. Browse mugs on our Dirty Old Goat mugs website – or direct from the items below…