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5 Ways to Break up Your Life Routine

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5 Ways to Break up Your Life Routine

Dec 1, 2018

By Aminata O. – We all have to spend some of our time doing something that’s just a little boring. Sitting on a bus, writing data into a spreadsheet, cleaning the house: this is not what life is supposed to be about! Life routine is important. There are certain things we just have to do, and we have to do regularly. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have space for something different sometimes.

Making life a little more interesting is important. It keeps things fun, and it gives you something to look forward to during your day. When your boss is really annoying you, or your family is just driving you crazy, it’s great to be able to say to yourself “later today, I get to do x.” But what is that x? What is that little thing you can use to make life a little bit less routine? Here’s five quick ideas.

1. Start learning an instrument

Learning an instrument really makes life more interesting. That’s because once you start, you will be learning for life. There will never be a point where you can say “I’m finished, I’ve learned it all.” Instead, every day you can find a new tune, a new rhythm, a new lyric to go with your music. And even though you can learn forever, you can start pretty quickly with a few tips and a helpful course.

2. Take up photography

Photography can make everything and anything that little bit different. Even the most ordinary things can seem extraordinary when you are trying to take a cool picture of them. Lots of photography exhibitions are just of everyday items on the side of the street! So, get a camera, learn how it works, and turn your commute home from work into something interesting.

3. Find someone to learn a language with

If you’ve ever tried to learn a language, you know that speaking speaking speaking is the key to getting it right. A great way to add to your language course is to find someone who is fluent in that language and meet them once or twice a week to speak with them. It might be in person or over the internet, but that weekly meeting can actually be something really nice to look forward to, and really helpful for your language learning!

4. Learn some new recipes

Most people cook the same meals again and again and again. There is nothing wrong with that. Cooking is a necessity, and often you want it to be quick and easy. But if you spend just a little bit of time learning about nutrition and diet, you might be able to try one new recipe a week to make your food that little bit different.

5. Sign up to a marathon

Ok, maybe not a full marathon. But there are so many little exercise routines available that you can do with other people. Group activity is the key here. Meeting up sometimes with people who are all training for a marathon or a race or just doing some fitness activities together can give you something to look forward to, a new aspect to your social life, and also a sense of achievement.

These are just a few ideas, maybe you have your own. What’s important is just to give something a try, especially if you’ve never done it before. You never know where it might lead!

Author: Alison Marketing

The Top 5 Skills Computer Programmers Everywhere Need

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The Top 5 Skills Computer Programmers Everywhere Need

Jan 24, 2019

By Francisco P.

Did you know that computer programming is predicted to be the most in-demand career of the next decade? Almost every major task a company must complete, from file management and advertising to customer engagement and data analysis, now relies on computers. As companies everywhere become dependent on computer technology, they are becoming dependent on computer programmers.

This means that if you can become one of those skilled computer programmers, you will be securing a solid career. But how do you make your computer programming résumé look really impressive? It turns out, there are a few basic skills that computer programmers everywhere need. Here’s the top 5. Check them out, and start gaining the right skills for your future career!

1. Javascript

Javascript is central to every website’s functionality. Any interactive webpage requires the language, and every major web browser is enabled to execute it. If you’re looking for a boost to your computer programming skill set, you can’t go wrong with learning Javascript. Particularly for those who want to work on a company’s website in the future, this will be the key to success.

2. Python

Python is a fast growing language with some very worthwhile uses. For starters, this is a highly readable and effective language used in data analysis. Consequently, companies with large and complex data sets looking to improve their customer engagement really value computer programmers with Python. Check out Python and see if this is the next skill you need!

3. C++

Learning C++ is a must if you are just getting started with computer programming. C++ is the core operating language of several major systems, games, and browsers. Moreover, learning C++ can be the gateway towards learning several more niche and specialised languages. It’s also a highly scalable language predicted to be very important for several years to come, so it’s a great one for expanding your future career.

4. C#

From building Microsoft applications to developing profitable games, C# is a fundamental language for computer programmers worldwide. If you ever want to work on the ASP.NET framework (one of the core frameworks for the world’s largest companies) C# is going to be the tool for you. This is a slightly more complex language, so get the aid of some simple training to get it onto your résumé quickly and easily.

5. Math

That’s right, Math. Computer programmers spend large amounts of time working on algorithms, solving problems, and constructing multi-level systems. This requires logical, numerical thinking. A strong understanding of mathematical principles is therefore very helpful for computer programmers. This means that brushing up on your Math skills can give your computer programming career a real boost.

A career as a computer programmer is not just profitable and respected, it’s also exciting, fun, and opens doors worldwide. With these skills, you can get your computer programming career really moving. So why wait? Gain a new computer programming skill today.

Author: Alison Marketing

The Best Travel Destinations for Your 2019

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The Best Travel Destinations for Your 2019

Jan 20, 2019

By Philip S.

Travel: there really is nothing like it. Just around the corner, a few hours in a car or a plane, something new and exciting is waiting to be discovered. Everyone has their own reason for travelling, whether it’s experiencing a new culture, taking in some beautiful views, or just getting away from all the things you have to do in your everyday life. The question is never “should I travel?” It’s “where should I go next?”

So, to help you choose your next travel destination, I’ve put together a list of some incredible locations that are perfect for different types of holidays. I’ve tried to include something for everyone, so hopefully one or two of these locations will stand out for you. Check out the list, and start getting ready for your next holiday!

For Photos: Italy

From gorgeous landscapes of lakes and mountains, to sandy beaches and breathtaking ancient architecture, Italy is bursting with beauty. With a few basic photography skills, the perfect snap is waiting for you somewhere in the streets of Rome or out in the Tuscan countryside.

For Fitness: The French Alps

Some people don’t want to get away from it all. If you’re one of those people who see travel as a chance to conquer a new challenge, you can’t go wrong with the French Alps. Spend a few months working on your fitness, then hop on a bike and do a mini-Tour de France of your own in this spectacular landscape.

For Food: Spain

Spanish food is hard to beat. A delicious blend of European, Caribbean, and Arabic influences, there is just something unique about what you’ll find hidden away in quiet restaurants in the Spanish countryside. Just make sure you learn how to order food in Spanish before you go!

For Great Fun: Ireland

With some of the friendliest people on the planet and a truly beautiful landscape, Ireland is an excellent holiday location. Whether it’s having a few drinks in Dublin, taking in the wild Atlantic coastline, or practicing your English in good company, this is a travel destination you will never forget.

For Getting Away From Everything: Norway

If you just want to escape, to get away from all the work and little annoying things in your life, then head to Norway. On top of unbeatable mountains, beneath the Northern Lights or under the Midnight Sun, you can let your problems just fade away for a short while. There really is nothing better for stress management than a little getaway.

Author: Alison Marketing

Get Inspired With These Top 10 Most Satisfying Jobs

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Get Inspired With These Top 10 Most Satisfying Jobs

Jan 16, 2019

Some jobs have great pay, some offer immense satisfaction, and some make a huge difference in the lives of people. Satisfying jobs are a combination of all three!

We’ve rounded up a list of the Top 10 most satisfying jobs to inspire you towards career fulfillment.

1. Teacher – Changing young lives for the better

A rewarding, demanding and consistently popular career path – Teaching is not just a career, but a calling! From imparting wisdom into young minds, to influencing students in shaping their future, the role of a teacher is irreplaceable.

 

2. Nurse – The heartbeat of healthcare!

Having a career that will give you a stable financial future is crucial, but it’s also important to have a career that is personally rewarding. Being a nurse gives you the best of all worlds – personal fulfillment, job security, and flexibility.

 

3. Human Resources Manager – Leading people, leading organisations

Other than being involved in recruitment, company laws, and other hiring processes, HR Managers also handle workplace issues, conflicts, salary benefits and more. They directly help employees with their issues and work towards resolving problems, which brings great job satisfaction to this role.

 

4. Physical Therapist – Enriching the lives of people!

Physical Therapists deal with patients who are injured and journey with them on their road to becoming physically independent. They can choose a variety of work environments, like sports centres, gyms, or hospitals, making this job role not only fulfilling, but very dynamic.

 

5. Artist – Creativity begins with you!

According to a study published by the Journal of Cultural Economics, Artists have higher job satisfaction compared to any other profession! Being an Artist means you follow your passion. When your passion becomes your profession, it’s not work anymore.

 

6. Psychologist – Seeing the world differently

One of the top reasons why Psychologists find fulfillment in their careers is that they’re able to help people improve the quality of their lives. It can be challenging to understand someone’s emotional state, but truly gratifying to guide patients in their recovery from emotional distress.

 

7. Writer – Imagine. Phrase. Write. Create!

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

Words can be powerful, both spoken and written. As a Writer, you express your thoughts through words and those words have the power to change lives! From journalism to blogging, there are many channels you can use to have your say as a Writer.

 

8. Health Service Manager – Changing lives through care management

Health Service Managers coordinate and direct various health and medical services. They handle several management functions in healthcare, including communications and supervision. With a great pay scale and consistent increase in job openings, it is no wonder this career path has made our top 10 list.

 

9. Pharmacist – Caring beyond prescriptions and medicine.

From being an excellent guide, to helping patients during an emergency, Pharmacists offer both advice and counselling. Besides helping patients tackle illness, being a Pharmacist is all about empowerment – helping others to help themselves.

 

10. Entrepreneur – Be your own boss

Starting your own business and being your own boss is a dream that millions of people share. A recent study found that 63% of millennials want to become entrepreneurs. Passion + Dedication + Innovation = A Satisfying Career Path!

Author: Alison Marketing

The Habits of Successful Self-Employed People

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The Habits of Successful Self-Employed People

Jan 14, 2019

By Alison Research & Patrick Adcock

What does it take to be self-employed? Many people dream of working for themselves, but worry that they might not have the ability to be a successful entrepreneur. After all, becoming self-employed can be a big leap into the unknown; most people spend a lot of their young lives working for someone else. When trying to decide if becoming an entrepreneur is the right move, you may find yourself asking, “Can I really do this?”

Don’t worry. It turns out, many of your preconceptions about the habits and personalities of self-employed people might be completely false. Patrick Adcock of QuickBooks Self-Employed recently surveyed around 1000 self-employed people in order to gain a better understanding of what makes them unique. He shared his data with Alison, and the findings are fascinating. Apparently, the self-employed aren’t the extroverted rule-breakers many people think they are!

Here’s a summary of some of the key findings from QuickBooks’ research. Have a read, and see if a career as an entrepreneur might be the path for you.

1. Self-Employed People Are Not Experts

One of the most common things uniting self-employed workers is that they are jacks-of-all-trades rather than masters of one. When asked about their strengths, the most emphasised answers were passion, problem-solving, and adaptability. Entrepreneurs don’t start their businesses because they are experts in a certain field, but because they are passionate about their field and want to get involved in every area of it.

2. They Care A Lot About Learning

A huge 94 percent of those surveyed consider themselves lifelong learners. More than a quarter say that they can learn enough to achieve their goals because they simply want it enough. Another 22 percent say it comes down to having enough passion. Nearly 20 percent say the only thing separating “wantrepreneurs” from entrepreneurs is one hasn’t started yet.

3. The Self-Employed Learn Outside of School

According to self-employed workers, you don’t learn how to start a business from school, books, or a business coach. The top five ways they learned how to start their businesses were using online resources, learning as they went along, learning from mistakes, learning from friends and family, and having a natural instinct or talent for it.

4. They Value Time, People, and Hard Work

About 84 percent of self-employed people see their success as a result of their hard work rather than luck. 3 out of 4 value time more than money, 73 percent value people over profits, and 77 percent say they push to do the impossible instead of giving up when they hit obstacles. It’s these values that give them the passion to continue when others would give up.

Ultimately, what all of this boils down to is: find a passion, learn all you can about it, keep learning, keep going, and don’t be put off by obstacles. These are the traits that make entrepreneurs successful and can get you started on a wonderful career path. So whether its hospitality or agriculture, manufacturing or IT, start learning today and become the captain of your own ship.

Source: Quickbooks Self-Employed survey results

Author: Alison Research

4 Reasons I’m Delighted I Learned Carpentry

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4 Reasons I’m Delighted I Learned Carpentry

Jan 11, 2019

By Philip S.

It’s simple: carpentry is an amazing skill. A few years ago I was sitting at my desk, doing some work, when suddenly the desk just collapsed in front of me. Everything – my laptop, my books, my papers, my coffee, everything – just went all over the place. I was shocked. I picked up my things, threw out my ruined papers, and started looking for a new desk online.

That evening I told me brother what had happened. He asked to see the desk. “Why are you buying a new desk?” he asked. “Because this one is completely broken!” I replied. He explained to me that the only part of the desk that was broken was the joint between one leg and the top of the desk, and I could fix that easily myself instead of spending money on a new desk. And that’s how my adventure with carpentry began. I’ve loved it ever since. Here’s why:

1. You can easily build almost anything

In the past few years, I’ve discovered that with a few basic carpentry skills you can build almost anything. I used to think that you had to be a professional carpenter to build a shelf or a desk, but it turns out that you only need a few skills and some wood to build anything from a chair to cabinet. My house is now full of things that I’ve built myself, and that’s a real source of pride.

2. Carpentry will save you so much money

When something breaks, or my house needs something new, my first instinct used to be “call someone else and pay them to fix it or make it.” I don’t want to think about how much money I wasted doing that, not realising that I could have done it all myself. After a couple of carpentry lessons, I was able to fix my desk, my creaking doors, my wobbly chairs, even install a window frame. After I bought the initial equipment, my house maintenance costs have gone way down.

3. There is so much to learn

Learning carpentry is like learning an instrument: you will never be done. Just like you can never learn all the songs, you can never finish discovering new and interesting carpentry techniques. This makes carpentry a real hobby for life, full of little lessons and big ones, so you can learn at your own pace and never get bored.

4. Carpentry is a great way to destress

If I’ve had a bad day at work, or a stressful day in general, my carpentry projects always put me back in a great headspace. Whether it’s making a wooden cup or a salad spoon or just a funny looking object to put on the shelf, I always know that I can come home, do a little bit of carpentry, and calm down. This is one of my favourite stress management techniques.

These are just a few reasons to start learning carpentry, there are many more. But don’t take my word for it, try a free online short carpentry course yourself and see if you like it. You never know, it could be the start of a great lifelong hobby.

Author: Alison Marketing

Udacity Sunsets its Mobile Apps

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Udacity Sunsets its Mobile Apps

Disclosure: To support our site, Class Central may be compensated by some course providers.

January 13, 2019

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Last week we wrote about how 2019 brought the closure of a free course provider with little notice. Now, Udacity has done something similar and pulled its mobile apps from the iOS and Android store. A few students (presumably active mobile users?) were sent an email the same day and informed of the closure. Below is the mail that these learners received (src: Reddit).

Dear xxxx,

When we launched the Udacity app over 4 years ago, we were pleased to offer Udacity students our learning experience from the convenience of a mobile app. Ultimately, ten percent of Udacity students downloaded the app, and many enjoyed using it as an additional learning path.

In 2019, we are prioritizing massive upgrades to the Udacity classroom and service experience. We are focusing our efforts to support, motivate, and drive not only learning and career success for our students, but also to provide a world-class online learning experience.

Because the Udacity app has not significantly advanced students’ ability to achieve their learning and career goals, moving forward we will not support many of these product upgrades on the mobile app and will sunset the mobile app as of January 9, 2019. After this point you won’t be able to download or use the app anymore. The Udacity classroom experience, including Knowledge and Student Hub will remain supported on mobile web as it is today.

If you have questions, view the FAQ doc or reach out by responding to this email.

Your Udacity team

This move might also be related to Udacity’s cost-cutting process.  According to a post on Udacity’s Engineering blog back in July 2018, Udacity’s mobile team had employed 9 people. In fact, the author of the blog post is no longer working at Udacity, according to his LinkedIn profile. He stopped working in November 2018, which is when Udacity announced its massive layoffs.

https://twitter.com/n8ebel/status/1083186947969802240

The company ballooned to 500 employees in 2017 and ended 2018 with 330 employees. This past year, Udacity also increased Nanodegree prices and cut the pay for mentors and reviewers. To learn more about Udacity’s 2018, read Class Central’s in-depth Year In Review.

A previous version of the article stated that Udacity was shuttering its career services mentorship program on Jan 31st. Here is a statement from Udacity PR:

The article incorrectly states that Udacity is shuttering its career services mentorship program on Jan 31st. Career services including resume, LinkedIn profile and GitHub portfolio reviews — as well as our 1:1 live career coaching — are live and will continue to be available to Nanodegree program students who have Career Portal access. Engagement with career services like LinkedIn profile and GitHub portfolio reviews have in fact increased in recent months. We notified the small number of students who have used the specific service that on January 31 we are turning off the third party Calendly platform for scheduling 1:1 live career coaching sessions. Online calendaring will only be on hold for a short time as we transition and make adjustments to improve the usability of the service and launch the new service. 

In the meantime, enrolled students who would like to book a 1:1 live career coaching session can email career-support@udacity.com for scheduling assistance. Udacity Careers team members will be providing career coaching services during this transition and no services have been terminated. 

2019 Brings the Closure of a Free Course Provider

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2019 Brings the Closure of a Free Course Provider

Disclosure: To support our site, Class Central may be compensated by some course providers.

January 8, 2019

2 minute read


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Open2Study opened its doors from Australia five years ago and has had nearly two million students. It was one of the few providers still offering free certificates.

The First Clue

A clue appeared about three weeks ago, when a student advised Class Central that she was unable to enroll in a self-paced Open2Study course. When I investigated, the course catalogue was listed on the Open2Study site but I was unable to enroll in any courses, either self-paced or those scheduled to start on January 7th, 2019.

I sent an email via the Contact page, but received no response. This was no great surprise, as late December is the middle of Australian summer holidays.

In the last day or two, several learners have contacted Class Central asking about access to Open2Study courses, including one student who started a course on January 7th, then could not access the course the following day. Because Class Central is not involved in running the courses, I referred that student to the Open2Study Help/Contact pages.

Formal Notification

A few hours later, I received an email from Open2Study advising that the site is closing. I have one week to complete a self-paced course I had enrolled in a few months ago. Logging in and accessing that course was easy. I could not access any other courses.

Only four self-paced courses still appear on the Open2Study site. All the rest have now disappeared. My guess is that the remaining four will disappear after January 15th. Exploration of the Open2Study site reveals links to many of the free courses, but the information pages state that “Classes are no longer available”.

All the Open2Study courses followed a similar format: 4 weeks of study, with around 10 short lecture videos each week. A simple “pop quiz” question followed each video, with around 10 questions rounding off each week. If you passed all the weekly quizzes with a 60% pass mark in three attempts, you received a free unverified certificate.

Many Open2Study courses blatantly advertized (paid) online undergraduate or postgraduate courses available through Open Universities Australia.

If Open2Study had sent the email in December, and updated their site properly before the midsummer holiday break, there would be fewer disappointed students.

Organize Your Learning With Class Central’s Custom Lists

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Organize Your Learning With Class Central’s Custom Lists

Disclosure: To support our site, Class Central may be compensated by some course providers.

December 29, 2018

2 minute read


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Class Central Custom Lists

Last week, we silently launched a new feature: the ability for learners to create their own list of courses.  In just a few days, learners have already created hundreds of lists.

This feature builds on top of our My Courses feature, which has been renamed to My Classes (we are Class Central after all…).

Previously, Class Central users could add courses to seven default lists. In preparation for launching Custom Lists, we streamlined the Default Lists and dropped the following lists: Enrolled, Audited, Partially Completed, and Dropped. The active default lists are now as follows: Interested, Taking Right Now, and Completed/Audited. These default lists are one of Class Central’s most popular features. Learners have added courses 6 million times to these lists!  Now, in addition to the default lists, users can create their own lists and name them whatever they want.

2018's Most Popular Free Online Courses

The Custom Lists feature is inspired by YouTube’s playlist feature. There are several ways to create a new Custom List in Class Central. You can quickly create a custom list by hovering over (or clicking on) the +Add button next to a course in our course listing page (or the +Add button on the course page itself).  Or you can create a new list by visiting the My Classes page.

Here are a few examples of public lists:

  1. 2018’s Most Popular Free Online Courses (35 courses) – List by Dhawal Shah
  2. Georgia Tech OMSCS Courses (28 courses) – List by Bobby Brady
  3. iMBA Courses (34 courses) – List by Bobby Brady

When you create a new list, you can choose whether it will be Public, Unlisted, or Private.  Public lists are publicly searchable and viewable. Unlisted lists do not come up in search results but can be accessed by anyone with the URL. Private lists are viewable only to the user who created the list.

At the time of writing of this post, each user is limited to 5 lists and 100 courses per list.

Let us know in the comments what you think of this feature, how you are using it (or plan to use it), or if you have any feature requests. If you’ve already created a Custom List, feel free to share it in the comments too.

EdX Puts Up A Paywall for Graded Assignments

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EdX Puts Up A Paywall for Graded Assignments

Disclosure: To support our site, Class Central may be compensated by some course providers.

December 17, 2018

3 minute read


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It finally happened. Early this year, edX removed the word free from their homepage and announced that they would soon start testing a support fee. (Class Central cataloged a few of the tests here.)

Apparently, the results of these tests are in. EdX has decided how it will monetize its MOOC courses going forward. Edx’s paywall will be similar to FutureLearn’s course upgrading feature, in that free users will be able to access the course content for a certain time period. Graded assignments will be behind a paywall.

Coursera was the first to introduce a paywall for graded assignments three years ago. To access the graded assignments, students need to purchase a certificate. Free users could still access the course contents.
FutureLearn Pricing
FutureLearn’s course upgrading feature.

Then in March of 2017, FutureLearn adopted a similar paywall to Coursera’s, with an added twist. In addition to there being a paywall for graded assignments, the content was only available to free users for the duration of the course and two weeks after it ends.

Edx’s new paywall also has a time limit; after the course ends free users won’t be able to access the course content. According to edX, most existing courses (with a few exceptions) will be moved over to this new model. All new courses will be offered under the new model.

Edx Verified vs Audit Track (2018)

It may come as a surprise to some that edX’s paywall will now be higher than Coursera’s, especially since Coursera has borne the brunt of criticism about restricting access to MOOCs, which many attributed to pressure from Coursera’s venture capital (VC) investors.

Now edX, a non-profit, has arrived at a model similar to Coursera’s, a for-profit company which has raised $210 million dollars in VC. Despite the difference in tax status, this move makes sense. EdX and Coursera offer similar products to the same markets.

Will edX’s new monetization strategy pay off? Evidence from other MOOC platforms is mixed. Coursera’s monetization has worked really for them. They have made $140 million in estimated revenue for 2018, out of which $100 million or so might be from their consumer-facing MOOC business. But FutureLearn’s stronger paywall hasn’t generated similar returns. FutureLearn’s revenue touched £8.2M in the last fiscal year (to the end of July).

Coursera’s catalog has more courses from bigger global brands as compared to FutureLearn’s catalog. But there is another big difference – scheduling policy. Nearly Coursera’s entire catalog is available to register and start immediately, as well as purchase a certificate. This is not true for FutureLearn or edX, where many courses are still session based and often are not available to register or purchase a certificate after the course ends.

This difference in scheduling policies might mean that edX’s experience will more closely resemble FutureLearn’s. And if edX and FutureLearn are not able to monetize at the same level as Coursera, they may have to become even more aggressive with their paywalls.

Strangely enough, with this change to edX, Coursera is now the MOOC platform that allows free users to go furthest before hitting a paywall.