Viral Site

1995 PC Case, Reborn As A Killer Gaming Rig

2016-02-26T23:22:00.000-08:00

Showing up to a LAN party with this old 90s PC case could be fun. On the surface it looks like an ordinary old PC, preserved for DOS games. But it’s a very well-made custom case, filled with all-modern hardware inside.

Gilmour509 found the old IBM Aptiva case in a recycling center and instead of using it for DOSBox purposes, he took all the old parts out, and customized it so new hardware could fit in.
Cases and hardware 20 years ago were completely different, and setting up a PC wasn’t as easy as today. So this wasn’t just a simple plug & play drop in, Gilmour had to reshape the entire cabinet and make sure it still looked original on the outside.

Here are some before and after pics from Gilmour509's WIP gallery. Hell yeah IDE cables!

And as you can see, it’s a pretty small case, so making space for a giant motherboard, power supply and graphics card requires a lot of cutting and grinding.

That’s the outer skeleton of the case, without the ‘95 look.
One of the best parts of the case though is the 3.5" floppy disk drive. Nothing suspicious from the front, but it’s actually a custom-made SD card reader.

It’s a vintage beast! Head over to the builder’s gallery for a lot more.

via r/buildapc

5D Black Hole Could "Break Relativity"

2016-02-26T23:20:00.002-08:00

Photo credit: The ring black hole about to break apart. Pau Figueras, Markus Kunesch, and Saran Tunyasuvunakool

General relativity is one of the greatest ideas in human history. Relativity and quantum mechanics are the cornerstones of modern physics, and they are used from telecommunication to computers and smartphones.

Unfortunately, relativity and quantum mechanics don’t play well together. For that reason, theoretical physicists are searching for a theory that can unify them: the theory of everything. To do so, they test the two theories to their limits, looking for when their fundamental laws are broken, and now a new piece of research has found a very interesting violation of general relativity.

Researchers from Cambridge University and Queen Mary University looked at an interesting scenario in general relativity and discovered that it actually breaks. They used a supercomputer to model a five-dimensional ring-shaped black hole and discovered that the black hole evolved into a naked singularity, which violates relativity. The findings are published in Physics Review Letters.
Singularities such as black holes are objects of infinite density, and according to the laws of physics they are allowed to exist only if they are surrounded by an event horizon, a surface that separates them from the rest of the universe. Mathematically, you cannot have a “naked” singularity (existing outside of an event horizon) in our four-dimensional universe. This is aptly known as the cosmic censorship conjecture.

"As long as singularities stay hidden behind an event horizon, they do not cause trouble and general relativity holds – the 'cosmic censorship conjecture' says that this is always the case,"study coauthor Markus Kunesch, a PhD student at Cambridge's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), said in a statement.
"As long as the cosmic censorship conjecture is valid, we can safely predict the future outside of black holes. Because ultimately, what we're trying to do in physics is to predict the future given knowledge about the state of the universe now."

^{The ring black hole as seen in three dimensions. Pau Figueras, Markus Kunesch, and Saran Tunyasuvunakool}
Cosmic censorship conjecture is believed to hold for our universe, but the results question what is so special about a universe with three space dimensions and a time dimension. Also, possible theories of everything like quantum gravity and string theories require as many as 11 dimensions so it is important to investigate the limits of our current theories. In this scenario, the fifth dimension is a random extra dimension in space.
"The better we get at simulating Einstein's theory of gravity in higher dimensions, the easier it will be for us to help with advancing new computational techniques – we're pushing the limits of what you can do on a computer when it comes to Einstein's theory," said coauthor Saran Tunyasuvunakool. "But if cosmic censorship doesn't hold in higher dimensions, then maybe we need to look at what's so special about a four-dimensional universe that means it does hold."

These 6 women got written out of tech history. They're finally being recognized.

2016-02-26T23:16:00.002-08:00

70 years ago, six Philadelphia women were recruited by the United States Army for a very special project.

In 1942, Betty Jean Jennings Bartik, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum, Frances Bilas Spence, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, and Betty Snyder Holberton were chosen to work on a classified government project known as the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, or ENIAC.
Considered to be the world's first "general-purpose" computer, the ENIAC was built with the goal of more quickly calculating the ballistics trajectories of missiles during wartime.

Even though the women all hailed from mathematical backgrounds, they'd never operated such a massive computer before.

In fact, almost no one in the U.S. had.
So they started out with a three-month crash course in Aberdeen, Pennsylvania, where they learned the many different computing systems necessary to run the ENIAC.

Photo of "the world's first computer" via International Communications Agency/Wikimedia Commons.

Upon their return to the Moore School of Engineering in Philadelphia, the six women were thrust headfirst into the ENIAC program and given little more than a stack of wiring diagrams for the computer's many panels as their guide.

The ENIAC was equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, and 5 million hand-soldered joints.

Weighing a few dozen tons and filling a 1,500-square-foot room, it was a monstrosity that was as physically demanding to operate as it was mentally tasking.

Working double and triple shifts six days a week, this ragtag crew of six female "computers" (which was a job title back then) lugged cables and trays between panels on the massive machine.
Occasionally they even had to crawl inside it to fix faulty tubes.

"Betty [Holberton] and I were the workhorses and finishers, tying up loose ends," said Jean Bartik in a 2011 interview, echoing Holberton's notorious motto, "Look like a girl, act like a lady, and work like a dog."

It was exhausting, backbreaking work, but these six women helped to usher in the dawn of the Digital Revolution.

They were essentially the first computer programmers in the U.S.

Meanwhile, I still can't figure out how to hook up an HDMI cable to my TV. GIF via Computer History Archives, used with permission.

When the ENIAC was unveiled on Feb. 15, 1946, it was lauded by the press as a "Giant Brain" because of its otherworldly speed. It could compute complex mathematical equations up to 10,000 times faster than any other electro-mechanical machines in existence.

Of course, being that this was the 1940s, the revolutionary work of these women specifically was almost completely overlooked.

Despite debugging every last issue that the ENIAC faced and teaching the technology to their male replacements when they returned home from World War II, the women were treated as little more than models to show off the machine. In fact, they weren't even invited to the celebratory dinner that was held after the unveiling ceremony.

A utility model of the ENIAC. Photo by Keystone for Getty Images.

"We thought that was terrible," said Bartik in an interview with CNN. "It was not a secret. The only problem was nobody was interested. They didn't know anything about it."

Thankfully, these technological trailblazers are finally receiving their due credit ... more than 50 years later.

In 1997, all six women were inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame. That same year, Holberton received the Augusta Ada Lovelace Award, the highest award given by the Association of Women in Computing.
In 2011, the Philadelphia City Council officially declared Feb. 15 as ENIAC Day in honor of the group's extraordinary work, and just last year, the Holberton School, a project-based school for software engineers, was founded in San Francisco.
The long-unexplored story of the team's groundbreaking work was also brought to light in the 2014 documentary, "The Computers," thanks to the efforts of The ENIAC Programmers Project.

Another batch of female computer engineers. Photo from U.S. Army.

Anyone who owns a smartphone or computer owes a huge debt of gratitude to the work of these pioneering women.

But let's not forget that there's still progress to be made for women who work in technology, even now.

To this day, women still only account for a fraction of technology-based jobs, due in part to the ridiculous stereotype that they "just aren't cut out for it." Sadly, Google's 30% female employment rate represents one of the highest percentages in the tech industry — this despite a recent gender-blind study of GitHub coding suggesting that women measure up as slightly better coders than men.

To put it simply, diversity in business is good for business (duh).

A more diverse talent pool means a broader range of perspectives when it comes to problem-solving and innovation. Statistically speaking, women have also risen to become one of the most important demographic in the technology industry and users of a far wider variety of technology than their male counterparts.
A lack of diversity in tech can actually hurt businesses, according to a study published in McKinsey: "Businesses in the top quartile in terms of racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more like to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians."
We should already know this. Holberton, Antonelli, and four other women proved it over 70 years ago. Thousands of women are still proving it today.
And since this whole "technology" thing ain't slowing down any time soon, we're left with two simple options: We start giving women the recognition (and employment) they deserve in the tech industry, or we get used to "reprogramming" our smartphones the only way that most of us know how:

"Can you hang on a sec? I think you're BREAKING UP." GIF via "Entourage."

Source : UPWorthy

Her Son Was In Desperate Need Of A Friend. When She Saw The Dog's Reaction, Mom BAWLED.

2016-01-16T11:19:00.000-08:00

I'm a firm believer that every person in this world should experience the beauty that is owning a pet — at least at one point in their lives. Seriously, there is nothing quite like it. Sure, you can surround yourself with loads of human friends, but at the end of the day, are those people going to cuddle with you on the couch all night? Are they going to lick your face to wake you up in the morning? Are they going to fall asleep on your head? Hopefully the answer to all of those questions are no — but hey, whatever floats your boat.

ANYWAYS — this is the story of one adorable little boy who was in dire need of some furry friendliness.

via YouTube / ana marta vegas

Hernan is a little boy with Down syndrome who has been having trouble making friends at school. His mother absolutely hates seeing how upset he is when he gets home from school every day, and apparently so does his beloved dog Himalaya. One day when Hernan was sitting outside not feeling very happy, Himalaya tried his best to make Hernan feel better.

Hernan's mother watched as the dog approached him. When she saw what he was doing, she began to record them on her phone.

via YouTube / ana marta vegas

Souce : Diply

22 All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Hacks That Will Make Your Stomach A Superstar

2016-01-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

Not eating all day, waiting for the lull between lunch and dinner, only eating the fancy stuff — we all have our tricks for ensuring we get the most out of our buffet dining experiences. Still, a few more pointers never hurt. Here's some of the best advice reddit had to offer on how to game the all-you-can-eat buffet.
(Pro-tip: might be better not to listen to #10. Just saying.)

_______________

1. Dash and Dine

"Pull the fire alarm, let the place empty out. Grab a bunch of grub and run"
— Felicity_Badporn

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2. Food Pyramid, Shmood Pyramid

"I'm a bit of a cheapskate, so I go for the more pricey things on the buffet that I enjoy, namely the proteins. I'm a bit of an ass about getting my money's worth."
— FaeriesTeacup

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3. Down to a Science

"Plate One: The Recon Plate, and also satisfies my desire for variety. I take a small portion of whatever looks good, try not to waste anything when eating, compare with the people I'm eating with what they thought was particularly good.
Plate Two: A smaller plate evaluating recommendations of others and getting anything I missed on Plate One.
Plates Three + (Pre-dessert): Plates of only the best. I only take what I'll eat comfortably, so sometimes there is only a plate Three, I've gone as high as Five.
Dessert: Ignore Little Ice Cream Bowl, get Salad/Soup Bowl, put a portion of the best looking cobbler in there, top with soft-serve vanilla.
Been working on this for decades, refined the plan when working at a therapeutic high school for troubled kids. The preferred reward for good behavior was a buffet trip, so I got this stuff down to a science."
— DocStout

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image: http://cdn.foodbeast.com/content/uploads/2014/07/buffet-2.jpg

_______________

4. Little Bitch Bowls Are For Little Bitches

"Those little bitch bowls they put by the ice cream? Yeah...don't use those. Go over to the soup bar and grab one of the giant soup mug/bowls and use that instead."
— jamnich314

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5. Tricky, Tricky

"Eat fast. We've all heard that when you get full, it takes about 20 minutes for the message to get to your brain, right? Once you start, you have about 20 minutes to eat as much as you can before you know you are full. By the time your brain thinks you are full... it is too late! Ha, you just outsmarted your brain!"
— InTherapy

_______________

6. Style Points

"Always wear comfy pants with elastic […] Call a cab/DD or try not to fall asleep when you're driving home. Once home remove shirt, shoes, socks, turn on TV, recline chair and do not move for the next 6 hours."
— DoDaDrew

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image: http://cdn.foodbeast.com/content/uploads/2014/07/buffet-3.jpg

_______________

7. Red Alert

"I use the current terror level color codes to prioritize my eating: greens go first, then bananas, anything orange and lastly the red spicy foods."
—4apalehorse

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8. GET THE SEAFOOOOOD

"I was a young kid when I first ate out at a buffet
Dad: OK guys have fun, eat as much as you can, I paid top dollar for this
Me: Takes bread and butter
Dad: What are you doing with bread and butter
Me: I'm hungry, aren't I allowed to choose anything I want since this is a buffet
Dad: No this is a BUFFET, ALWAYS always always get seafood
...and to this day everytime I see a buffet or go into one I hear a voice in my head go 'get the seafood..the seafood, SEAFOOOD'"
—sscarcity

_______________

9. Thanks Grandma

"If it is at a wedding, or other potentially well catered event, and the food looks really good, but you don't want to rush the line for fear of appearing uncouth, find Grandma. Take Grandma through the line helping her get a good plate, and helping yourself to a plate at the same time. You are now a hero, and you also got plenty of the best items."
— 2abyssinians

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image: http://cdn.foodbeast.com/content/uploads/2014/07/buffet-4.jpg

_______________

10. Well, that's one way to do it

"Immediately pee on everything to assert your dominance, then take a little of every dish. To be fair, this is also my strategy for shopping for clothes."
— guffication

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11. Two Simple Rules

"My family has two rules. Never drink alone and all events are open bar. Wedding? Open bar. Divorce party? Open bar. Funeral? Open bar."
—themanwhoknowsnothin

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12. Good Men Don't Need Rules

"Eat until they kick you out, or have to make new rules based on how you behaved at the buffet last time you were there."
— ReallifeTonyStark

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image: http://cdn.foodbeast.com/content/uploads/2014/07/buffet-5.jpg

_______________

13. Here's why you really don't wanna be that guy

"Never be the first guy going for seconds. Wait patiently for the fat guy to break the ice then go for the kill."
—Emighty And reddit's response:
"Instructions unclear, killed fat guy with ice-bucket"
— Hoodafakizit "instructions unclear. Killed ice guy with fat bucket"
— TheJerzeyDragon

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14. Timing Is Everything

"Timing is everything too. If they switch from the lunch menu and lunch pricing to the dinner menu and dinner price at 4PM, go in at 3:30. That gives you enough time to get your 1st plate from the lunch menu and subsequent plates will be fresh dinner selections at the lunch price."
—ComputerSavvy

_______________

15. Remember to bring entertainment

"The buffet near my old house had a very out of the way back room that had both WiFi from the cafe next door, and power outlets.
I had a gaming laptop.
You can probably imagine where this is going...
Several times I went there and just slowly got different nibbles / drinks over the course of a few hours while either studying or playing games.
I'd asked the manager ahead of time if they minded, and he said that as long as I wasn't taking up a table that they needed for incoming customers (It wasn't at peak-hours) or wasting food, he didn't have a problem with it.
I suppose that whether you eat your fill in 15 minutes or over the course of 3-4 hours, the cost to the restaurant is the same."
— Sack_to_the_Future

_______________

image: http://cdn.foodbeast.com/content/uploads/2014/07/buffet-6.jpg

_______________

16. Pace Yourself

"Take less of each dish than you think you want. If you like it, you can always get more; if not, you won't be wasting space on your plate or in your stomach."
—CyanManta

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17. The Art of War

"Here is a tip to remember while you are eating: be vigilant. Be ever aware of your surroundings and know when the premium items are going to come out. Plan your trips accordingly. Know your enemies and try to be one step ahead of them at all times. If you time it right, those crab legs will walk right onto your plate."
—BuffyArlington

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18. About starving yourself beforehand …

"If you know you're going at least a day in advance, eat a huge huge pasta dinner the night before to stretch your stomach. Then starve all day with just lettuce and water. Then pig out in the evening at said buffet."
—batwhatman

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image: http://cdn.foodbeast.com/content/uploads/2014/07/buffet-7.jpg

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19. … and an amendment

"Amendment to your finale: Dont eat nothing either. Your stomach will have shrunk and you will fill up on the first two plates of food."
—TheoQ99

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20. Challenge Accepted

"All you can eat is not a suggestion, it's a challenge."
— Manshacked

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21. Srs Bsns

"This is not a sarcastic, funny or otherwise 'not to be taken seriously' comment.
Take the cost of the buffet, multiply that by three. So, for an example, we'll say the buffet costs $12, all you can eat.
Your goal is now to eat $36 worth of food. Bread is cheap, fuck bread. Vegetables are cheap, fuck those, too.
You want to hit the roast beef, the teriyaki chicken, the slow roasted pork, beef fillets, mother fucking lobster; anything and everything that looks and tastes expensive.
Buffets hinge on the idea that you came there to eat a normal meal, with some meat and a shitton of starch and carbs and vegetables, leading you to fill up on the inexpensive stuff.
The higher your cost:benefit ratios, the better. Eating is serious business."
—1800OopsJew

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22. "So that's what I've been doing wrong"

"Eat"
—cerberus6320

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- See more at: http://www.foodbeast.com/news/venomous-snake-fridge/#sthash.YjFZnJFj.dpuf
Read more at http://www.foodbeast.com/news/22-people-on-the-best-way-to-game-the-all-you-can-eat-buffet/#JvEPsRmG4TaWFr2B.99

10 Best Frequent-Flier Secrets for Business Travelers

2016-01-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

As someone who travels over 175,000 miles a year, I know first hand how delayed flights, long layovers and sleepless nights can put a big damper on travel plans.
While you can cut corners when traveling, sometimes putting a little extra thought and effort can go a long way. Use these 10 travel hacks to make your next trip stress-free while traveling like a pro.

1. Take The First Flight Out

The early bird catches the worm and the seasoned traveler catches the first flight out. It pays to set your alarm a little earlier and catch a flight in the morning rather than later in the day. Flights departing between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. are often the most on-time. If your early flight does end up being cancelled, it's easier to find an alternative flight that same day.

2. Fly Direct

How much is your time and peace of mind worth? If a direct flight costs $125 more than one with a connection and a 4 hour layover, ask yourself how much you value arriving at your destination earlier and with less hassle. With a direct flight, you'll be more productive than if you'd wasted energy switching from plane to plane.

3. Dress Nice--Get Upgraded

While you want to choose clothes that you'll be comfortable in for your flight, my experience is that people treat you better when you're dressed well. If there's an open seat, the airline staff probably won't upgrade someone in flip flops and sweatpants. Dress like you should be flying first class and others might decide you should be, too.

4. Don't Skimp On Hotels

A great night's sleep is critical. If you can, spend a the extra money and stay at a good, safe hotel. Take advantage of any points you've collected to upgrade your room for a more relaxing experience. Having a comfortable space you can return to between meetings and seminars will help you decompress.

5. Skip the Room Service

You shouldn't cheap out when choosing a hotel, but paying the 18% service charge on a late night snack isn't the wisest move for a cost conscious business traveler. Instead, eat food in the hotel restaurant or order in from a local spot. Both are just an elevator ride away and you'll end up with something that's more reasonably priced.

6. Select Your Seats When Booking

Amateurs forget to do this. Don't let the airline squish you into a middle seat or place you in the dreaded last row. Take a moment when checking in to look at all the available seats and choose the best one. You'll thank yourself in the eleventh hour when you have a window to lean up against when trying to sleep.

7. Bring Your Own GPS

Rental car GPS systems can be pretty terrible. Don't risk missing your turn and instead, bring your own. Keep it up to date with latest software so it can take you to your destination on time. And definitely don't use your phone--calendar reminders and calls will be a distraction while you're driving.

8. Eat Healthy

Deep dish pizza in Chicago, tonkatsu in Tokyo, butter chicken in Mumbai--every city has a signature dish that you have to try. While you shouldn't deprive yourself, it's still important to eat healthy when you're on the road. Travel with a TSA-approved blender, bring protein powder and make your first stop after leaving the airport a grocery store.

9. Invest in Airline Lounge Plan

If you spend tons of time at the airport, invest in an airline lounge pass. On average they cost between $100 and $550 a year. While that may sound pricey, it often includes all the snacks and drinks you would purchase anyway. Plus, as a business traveler, in most lounges you'll have access to a shower, a desk and opportunities to network. Can you really put a price on comfort and convenience?

10. Loyalty Wins

Yes, sometimes you just have to go for the best rate when a cheap flight offer presents itself. More often than not, it pays to be a frequent flyer. Fly enough with one company and you'll receive a loyalty card, which can get you discounts on things such as checked baggage fees, access to club lounges and free upgrades.

Source : INC.com

Mom Hoped For a Quick Trip to Target But What She Sees Employee Doing Has Her Heading for a Manager.

2016-01-14T14:05:00.001-08:00

Sarah Owen Bigler had hoped for a quick and easy trip to Target. Her husband was sick and she had her two kids in tow.
She thought the odds were in her favor when she got in a line with just one customer in front of her.
Then she noticed the patron who was paying. It was an elderly woman who was not only paying for each of her purchases separately, but was paying with change.

At first, Sarah was annoyed. She explains:

“Part of me, the part that had a long day at work, the part of me who had a 1 1/2 year old having a melt down in the cart, the part that had set an unnecessary timeline for Target and getting home, was frustrated with this woman and the inconvenience she had placed on me.”

But then she took notice of the Target employee who was manning the register.

“I watched him help her count her change, ever so tenderly taking it from her shaking hands. I listened to him repeatedly saying ‘yes, mam’ to her. When she asked if she had enough to buy a reusable bag, he told her she did and went two lines over to get one for her and then repackaged her items. Never once did this employee huff, gruff or roll his eyes.

She realized that her young daughter was also watching the man’s every move— paying attention to his utmost patience and kindness. At that moment, Sarah knew that she had not been inconvenienced at all.

Image Credit: Facebook

In fact, she was certain that she was in the right place at exactly the right time.

“My daughter was… being taught this valuable lesson by a complete stranger; furthermore, I realized that I too needed a refresher on this lesson,” she says.

After the woman finished paying, the Target employee, who Sarah learned was named Ishmael, apologized for the delay. Sarah responded that there was no need to apologize; she was thankful for what she had just witnessed.
He quickly rang up he items and when he was finished, Sarah made a point to relay her experience to Ishmael’s manager.
It wasn’t the in-and-out trip to Target that she had hoped for, but as her experience proves: sometimes God doesn’t give you what you want, instead he gives you what you need.
“We left Target with a cart full of consumable items, but what is more a heart full of gratitude for such an invaluable lesson,” she says.

Source : LiftBump

9 healthy meals you can batch cook and freeze

2016-01-12T01:27:00.001-08:00

1. Curry

Curry is one of those brilliant lazy girl dishes that tastes better the longer you leave it, so it's ideal for making in bulk. Both thick, tomato-based curries and creamy, Thai-style coconut curries survive the freezer well – invest in some of those 2-minute brown rice pouches to bung in the microwave alongside them and you're good to go.
Try it: This Burmese curry from Honestly Healthy is a revelation, with three of your 5-a-day in one bowl. The chia poppadums on the sidearen't essential, but if you've got time, they're worth the effort…

2. Chilli

Beans are proper nutritional powerhouses, packed with fibre, protein and other good stuff like iron and potassium. If you're aiming to eat more of them, chilli is a fab, filling option - you can throw in all sorts of vegetables and pulses as well of or instead of the usual mince, and if you get bored of it on its own, stuff it in to wholewheat wraps and use a sprinkling of cheddar to turn it into enchiladas.
Try it: Sam Smith's nutritional guru Amelia Freer has a fab turkey and pumpkin chilli that makes a tasty twist on the classic. Top with fresh coriander and chilli when reheated to add freshness to the flavour.

Amelia Freer

3. Lasagne

A basic bowl of pasta only takes about 10 minutes to prepare, but a lasagne is way more faff, and because it's a traybake, you basically have to make at least six servings just to make it worth your while. Whilst lasagne usually loaded with white sauce and cheese to get that trademark crispy top, you can use tricks like replacing courgette slices with pasta sheets to keep down the cals in your healthy version.
Try it: This sweet potato and courgette lasagne by Madeleine Shaw uses clever swaps and a bean-based béchamel to lighten up the layers.

4. Soup

A hug in a bowl becomes a hug in a microwavable Tupperware when you make enough homemade soup to save. The basic ingredients are just veg and stock, but you can thicken it up with pulses or potato, and add fresh herbs for punch. Sprinkle toasted sliced almonds on top instead of oily croutons.
Try it: Thug Kitchen's roasted tomato soup has extra veggie goodness from its cauliflower base. Double or triple the recipe depending on how many servings you want – it'll keep for months.

5. Stew

Deliciously Ella

Not a fan of liquid dinners? A chunkier stew will deffo fill your belly, and the only extra work is a little more chopping. Have a smaller plateful served over couscous or cauliflower mash on the first day, then enjoy larger tubs of the leftovers as a complete meal.
Try it: Deliciously Ella's sweet potato and chickpea stew is a vegan option made with root veg and creamy coconut milk – perfect for taking to work for lunch or popping in the microwave on cold evenings.

6. Ragu

Tomatoes, mince, veg and a little love are all you need to make a giant pan of this versatile sauce, which will stay delicious in your freezer for up to three months. It's great served with spiralized courgette or butternut for the ultimate in healthy and hearty fare - and if you don't have a spiralizer? Use a potato peeler for wide, papperdelle style noodles instead.
Try it: Carnivores, rejoice – the uber-healthy Hemsley sisters are big believers in good quality meat – this rich beef ragu recipe is perfect for spag bol lovers looking for a nutritious alternative (and you can still have parmesan on top!)

7. Pizza

Detoxinista

Yes, you did read that correctly – it's pizza, but not as you know it. Cauliflower crust pizza is a big healthy recipe trend, and one that's seriously tasty, yet pretty time consuming to make from scratch. If you know you're gonna have a pizza craving again pretty soon (and let's be honest, who isn't?), get ahead and make a batch of bases so you can always have that cheesy goodness to hand.
Try it: Detoxinista has a mean cauli pizza crust and actually recommends doubling up batches to freeze within the recipe. Wrap it up, toppings and all, and store in the drawer until you're ready for round 2.

8. Burgers

Whether you're an avid meat-eater or a strict veggie or vegan, the one thing we can all agree on is that burgers out of boxes just don't compare to the ones you make by hand. Most recipes make around 8-10 patties, so a single cooking session can yield serious results – great when summer BBQ season rolls round.
Try it: Oh She Glows' perfect veggie burger really delivers what it promises – freeze them individually before cooking and serve them in buns with salad for a speedy Friday night feast.

9. Smoothies

Don't forget about breakfast when you're planning your week of virtuousness! There are two ways of doing advance smoothie prep to eat later – chopping and bagging the ingredients into individual portions and blending them straight from the freezer, or blending them anyway and freezing them into sweet smoothie lollies to grab and go in the mornings. Both are equally yummy, and help prevent berries and bananas turning quicker than you can use them – important for saving both time and your hard earned dollar.
Try it: Few people know smoothies better than Reboot with Joe – this berry green summer smoothie is delicious, as are the hundreds of other recipes on his site!

Source : CosmoPolitan

5 International Cookbooks for Learning Global Cuisines

2016-01-12T01:16:00.001-08:00

Take a Deep Dive Into International Cuisines With These Cookbooks

All it takes is a trip to an international supermarket to stock up the pantry and one of these awesome cookbooks to travel the world from your own kitchen.

Empanadas in Argentina. Tajine in Morocco. Chaat in India. Ramen in Japan.
Some years, your New Year's resolution might be to go eat one of these iconic dishes from far-off lands. But other years? Your resolution could be to tighten your wallet. Or eat out less. Or learn new recipes. And when that happens, it's cookbooks to the rescue.
A cookbook will never replace the thrill of travel, but it's certainly cheaper than an airline ticket. And if you pick the right cookbook, you'll find more than just recipes, but a solid grounding in a whole new way of cooking. Here are five of my favorite international deep dives to give you a fresh perspective for the New Year.

Made in India

By Meera Sodha
What cuisine is better suited for how people eat these days? Indian food is so versatile: it encompasses everything from meaty snacks to vegetarian feasts, from light salads the rich, vibrant curries. One thing it all has in common: it's packed with flavor.
Meera Sodha grew up in London, and Made In India is her approachable take on Indian home cooking. Indian food, she says, gets a bad rap for being overly complicated: "My family's home cooking is unrecognizable from a lot of the food that is served up in most curry houses...ours is all at once simple, delicious, and fresh."
Sodha's recipes are easy, often healthy, and, with a well-stocked Indian pantry (think: chickpeas, canned tomatoes, spices), a breeze to pull off without extra trips to specialty stores. You'll learn how to deploy spices to make everyday vegetable dishes sing, a ton of easy, a bunch of fantastic weeknight chicken dishes, and how to put lentils to work in dal.

The Food of Morocco

By Paula Wolfert
Despite its warm weather origins, Moroccan food is perfect for cold weather. A richly spiced meat stew with couscous: what more could you ask for on a chilly January weekend?
Renowned cookbook author Paula Wolfert made a career writing about the foods of the Mediterranean, and The Food of Morocco is her career capstone. It encapsulates a lifetime of traveling through Morocco, eating, cooking, and learning about its food.
The recipes run from intensive, all-day projects to simple snacks. You'll learn the Moroccan art of blending spices—similar and yet so, so different from Indian techniques—how to use a tagine, the lidded Moroccan cooking vessel made of clay, and how to make all kinds of Moroccan cookies and baked goods. It's enough cooking to last you all year.

Gran Cocina Latina

By Maricel Presilla
Think you understand the foods of Latin America because you make a mean taco? The cuisines that comprise the Caribbean and Central and South America are so much more intricate and varied than that. Why limit yourself to Mexican food when you can discover the ceviches of Peru, the pupusas of El Salvador, and the fresh corn tamales of Ecuador?
Maricel Presilla's immense tome documents all these and more: Gran Cocina Latina won the James Beard Cookbook of the Year Award when it came out, and for good reason.
It spends 900 detailed pages exploring the cuisines of this gigantic, vibrant, and delicious corner of the world. Standout lessons include the magic and art of the sofrito (the cooked-down base of garlic, onions, and peppers that is the foundation of so many Latin dishes), an entire world of braised meats, and thorough instructions on making all manner of tamales.

Japanese Soul Cooking

By Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat
Sushi is great, sure. But what do the Japanese eat when they want comfort food? When the wind's howling or the rain's pouring and they just want to curl up with a warm bowl of something? Think curries, tempura, dumplings, and lots and lots of noodles.
Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat's Japanese Soul Cooking take you into the kitchens of Japan, exploring home cooking, street food, and more. Whether you're looking for some healthy(ish) soba noodles or looking to sink into a deep bowl of sweet-spicy Japanese curry or want to try throwing a tempura party, they've got you covered.

Mamushka

By Olia Hercules
Eastern European means brown food, right? Wrong: Olia Hercules mines her Ukrainian background and the recipes of her extended family to show you how vibrant and bright the foods of this region can be in her cookbook Mamushka. Think vegetable soups—borscht!—roasts, and pickles.
And yes, okay, more dumplings and homemade noodles and cheesy breads and braised meats than you know what to do with, because come on. It's winter and it's cold out and you want some varenyky. Brown food is delicious, too.
Prepare to learn how to deploy sweet and sour flavors to savory dishes in ways you never dreamt possible, how to pickle all manner of produce, and how to fold enough dumplings to get you through the winter.

Souce : Epicurious

10 Genius Food Hacks For Kitchen Mastery

2016-01-12T01:05:00.000-08:00

There's two things everyone does: they cook and they eat. Sometimes those things can be a burden, so why not make both easier? Here are 10 genius food hacks for kitchen mastery. Never let cooking and eating ever make a fool of you again.

1. Want to make a perfect, edible chocolate cup to put your desserts in? Use a balloon!

(via Diply.)

2. Want your bananas to last as long as possible? Separate each banana individually then put plastic wrap on the tops!

(via Life Hacker.)

3. For perfect hard-boiled eggs, bake them, not boil! Set an oven to 325F and bake up to 4 dozen eggs at once for 30 minutes. Plunge into ice water after!

(via Greetings from the Asylum.)

4. Hate when your burgers turn into golf balls and don't cook evenly? Solution is simple! Put a small indent in the middle using your thumb.

(via Mom Filter.)

5. We don't all have pizza stones, so he's a $5 hack to give you the best homemade pizza!

(via Life Hacker.)

6. Homemade taco shells are easier than you think. Preheat oven to 375F and warm the tortillas until they're pliable. Cover the tortillas in cooking spray then drape over the oven racks.

(via Eating Well.)

7. Skip using ice cubes with water in your coffee! It just dilutes your drink. Instead, put some crushed Oreos in an ice cube tray and cover with milk.

(via Oreo's Facebook.)

8. Can't ever remember what teas require what temperature and time? Never fear!

(via Imgur.)

9. Don't you hate when burgers or BLTs come with a criss-cross bacon pattern? Make a mini bacon weave instead. It covers sandwiches perfectly!

(via Imgur.)

10. Want to know how fresh your eggs are? Use this test to figure it out!

(via I Love Gardens.)

37 People Who Are Worse At Cooking Than You

2016-01-12T00:51:00.002-08:00

1. The person who thought this was a fun idea.

2. The person who tried to make these s’more cookies.

buzzfeed.com

3. This guy.

i.chzbgr.com

4. The person who tried to cook pasta in a coffee maker.

i.chzbgr.com

5. The person who tried to bake this pizza.

malsfoodporn.blogspot.com

Gotta use protection.

6. And this pizza.

tbuttkt.tumblr.com

7. And this pizza.

whyismartiansounique.tumblr.com

8. And this pizza.

pizza-paradise.tumblr.com

9. The person who forgot that cheese melts.

boredpanda.com

10. The person who baked these cupcakes.

malsfoodporn.blogspot.com

11. And these cupcakes.

thetragedyofhamlet.tumblr.com

12. And these cupcakes.

pinterest.com

13. And these cupcakes.

i.chzbgr.com

14. And these cupcakes.

cheezburger.com

15. The person who made whatever this is.

thoughtsfromcommave.tumblr.com

16. And…this.

buzzfeed.com

THE DARK IS RISING.

17. The person who ruined this waffle iron.

buzzfeed.com

18. The person who decided to use this as a colander.

pic.epicfail.com

Well…this is arguably a win. Kind of brilliant.

19. The person who forgot how to use an electric kettle.

favething.com

20. The person who set this pasta on fire.

collegehumor.com

21. The person who frosted this cake.

rika84.tumblr.com

22. And this cake.

home-is-wheretheartis.tumblr.com

23. And this cake.

fancyvance.tumblr.com

24. The person who tried to make these kiwi pops.

boredpanda.com

25. The person who tried to cook eggs this way.

nannaluna.tumblr.com

26. The person who came up with this great spaghetti squash “hack.”

pyfchallenge.com

27. The person who accomplished this.

myspace.com

Truly impressive.

28. The person who cooked this rice.

avrdal.tumblr.com

29. The person who sliced this cabbage.

themidnightmist.tumblr.com

30. The person who made whatever these are.

mistercriss.tumblr.com

31. The person who tried to bake this this “single-serving cookie.”

fadedtracks.tumblr.com

32. The person who cooked this pasta.

Flickr: onelungbreathin

33. The person who fried these eggs.

mousebert.wordpress.com

34. The person who baked these cookies.

thecontortedlenz.blogspot.com

You know what melts? Plastic!

35. The person who did this to an innocent doughnut.

buzzfeed.com

WHY?

36. The person who thought Goldfish ham salad sounded like a great idea.

buzzfeed.com

That does NOT look like a healthy aquatic environment for those fishies.

37. And last, but NOT least: Steven Reed.

knowyourmeme.com

Host of Weber Cooks, the saddest cooking show in the universe. Have you seen the video? You should see the video.

Souce : BuzzFeed

LG set to unveil roll-up TV screen at CES tech show

2016-01-07T23:50:00.002-08:00

LG is revealing its latest cutting-edge displays at CES 2016. Credit: LG Display

LG Display is set to unveil a flexible TV screen that can be "rolled-up like a newspaper".

The South Korean company is to debut the 18-inch foldable screen at CES 2016 in Las Vegas.

The annual consumer technology event gives firms the opportunity to showcase their new technologies and products.

The firm has not revealed how much the product will cost or when it will be released for sale.

It was first mentioned by the company in 2014 and is currently in the prototype stage.

The annual CES is a chances for companies to reveal their latest technologies and products. Credit: Consumer Technology Association

LG will also reveal a range of large and ultra-thin displays at CES, including a 55-inch design concept OLED TV display that is paper-thin due to the electric circuits being installed separately.

It will also unveil a matching pair of 65-inch 65-inch extreme-curve concave/convex OLED displays.

The technology builds on LG's OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays, a type of display technology that makes it possible to create even slimmer TV sets than LCD or plasma screens.

It does this by making it possible to create screens without the need for a back panel providing light to the screen.

Dr. Sang-Beom Han, LG Display's CEO, said that the company has been sharing successful solutions with its customers by meeting the market’s demands with its unique technology.

We will continue to offer differentiated values to the market and customers and strengthen the company’s leadership by responding quickly to trends in the expanding OLED market.

– DR. SANG-BEOM HAN, VICE CHAIRMAN & CEO OF LG DISPLAY

Further details of the products will be released during the consumer event that runs from 6 January to 9 January.

Souce : ITV

Lost Your Remote Control? Try These Inexpensive Replacements

2016-01-07T23:47:00.001-08:00

Cost-effective alternatives to buying new remote controls for your television, cable box, receiver or streaming-media player, like an Apple TV or Roku

Q: Remote controls have a way of disappearing in our family. What’s an alternative to spending a fortune replacing them?

A: If your television or Blu-ray player is Wi-Fi enabled, its manufacturer has probably released an app that will let you use your smartphone as a remote control. (Lose the phone in the sofa? Just call your number to locate it.) Most streaming media players, including the Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV, can be controlled via an app, too.

For basic A/V gear, a simple universal remote control should do the trick. RCA’s RCRPS04GR ($20) is a reasonably priced but full-featured model. It can commandeer up to four devices, including TVs, DVD players, cable boxes, receivers and many streaming-media players. (If your existing remote requires direct line-of-sight to the device to work, chances are a universal remote can replace it.) The RCRPS04GR also supports advanced features, like the ability to execute macros and to copy specific keys from your current remotes.

Setting up a universal remote is simple but can be a bit tedious: You start by consulting the manual for a table of numerical codes for various manufacturers’ products. For example, you’ll see two codes listed for a Sony TV—10810 and 11300. Enter the first number into the remote and press the power button. If your TV responds, you’re done. If not, proceed to the next code. Dennis Rosiak, senior product manager for RCA’s remote controls, suggests trying each code in the order shown, as the most common codes are listed first. (In testing various remotes from RCA and GE, I found they all worked with my equipment on the first try.)

By the way, universal remotes are compatible with a majority of older devices, too, like that VCR you’ve unearthed along with a box of long-lost home videos.

Souce : WSJ

The Movi is a camera that makes live streaming look pretty

2016-01-07T23:40:00.001-08:00

We all know Livestream, the service, but here comes Livestream, the camera: The Movi is the company's first venture into consumer hardware — a palm-size 4K video camera that lets you edit as you broadcast.

The Movi isn't just some fire-and-forget webcam; it's loaded with software that will let you play the role of director. First, put the camera where you want it, then launch the Movi app on your iPhone (iOS only for now). The camera will automatically detect faces and motion in your scene and give you no less than nine different shots to choose from, at various degrees of zoom.

It can do that thanks to the 150-degree lens and 4K sensor, but you can put your own spin on things with simple smartphone gestures: pinch to zoom, drag to pan and tap to cut to another shot. You can save the video to your phone or a microSD card (a 16GB card is included), broadcast live or both. Fair warning: Live broadcasting costs a $9 monthly subscription.

The Livestream Movi and iOS app.

IMAGE: LIVESTREAM

Compromises? Although the 4-ounce camera is technically 4K, it uses all that resolution to give you realtime flexibility, so the actual video recorded is 720p — technically HD, but only just. There's a microphone "array," though no port for attaching an external mic. The 1,200 milliamp-hour battery supplies power for just one hour of streaming, although Livestream offers a rain-proof Movi Pro accessory for recording up to 10 hours.

It's hard to see the Movi reaching a wide audience given its monthly subscription model, but we can think of more than a few Periscope and Meerkat stars who could use something like this.

The camera is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the app is compatible with any iOS device running iOS 9. Mounting hardware is included. Livestream's interesting little camera is coming in April for $399, but you can pre-order one starting today for $200 from the Movi website.

The Livestream Movi is a small video camera that works with an iOS app to take live broadcasts to a new level.

IMAGE: LIVESTREAM

Have something to add to this story? Share it.

Souce : Mashable

Hit the open road with these 25 hacks for the best road trip ever

2016-01-07T23:28:00.000-08:00

The only true way to experience America to its fullest is to grab a friend, hop in the car and drive wherever your journey may take you.

Hitting the open road should be freeing, so there's no reason to let the irritations of car travel bring down your road trip, or stop you from seeing the weird roadside attractions scattered across the nation.

With a few simple tips and tricks, you can turn your completely ordinary vehicle into a driving palace, capable of showers, sleeping and all the comforts of home. Okay, maybe not all of them, but your road trip will definitely be better.

1. No phone holder? No problem.

IMAGE: IMGUR, JURIRIM
2. A charger adapter will save you from boredom, and a dead phone.

IMAGE: AMAZON
3. Keep your drinks and snacks cool with a car cooler.

IMAGE: AMAZON
4. These grippy strips can help organize your essentials.

IMAGE: FOREBOX
5. Find the cheapest gas prices on your route with an app like Gas Buddy.

IMAGE: GAS BUDDY
6. Have everyone on the trip download a money exchange service like Venmo to easily split the cost of things like gas, tolls and food.
7. You will inevitably get bored, so make sure you download some road trip game apps.

IMAGE: ROAD TRIP SCAVENGER HUNT
8. If your car doesn't have an audio hookup, make sure you purchase an adapter that runs through your radio.

IMAGE: AMAZON
9. Drop a pin on your map app when parking your car in an unfamiliar city. You'll be able to wander stress-free.

IMAGE: IMGUR, DRWATSON164
10. Save Google Maps for offline use for when you're outside a coverage area.

IMAGE: GOOGLE MAPS
11. Use a shower caddy to keep all of your spare fluids in one clean place.

IMAGE: IMGUR, PEZ-GUY-NOLAN
12. Use a cereal container and plastic bag as a spill-proof garbage holder.

IMAGE: IMGUR, NICKEMJAY
13. Use a pill container to store small jewelry like earrings.

IMAGE: IMGUR, HALEYDARA
14. A binder clip is a great way to protect your razor.

IMAGE: MASHABLE
15. Keep an open box of dryer sheets in your car to keep the interior smelling fresher longer.

IMAGE: FLICKR, ANDREW KELSALL
16. Be prepared to sleep in your car.

IMAGE: AMAZON
17. Get some privacy shades in case you do.

IMAGE: AMAZON
18. Pack your clothing into an organizer instead of a suitcase.

IMAGE: IMGUR, TOCIRAHL
19. Take a nap while your friend drives with a Window Pillow.

IMAGE: WINDOW PILLOW
20 . Hide a key somwhere under your car with a magnetic key holder.

Car thieves do look for these, so make sure you put it in a hard to find place under your car, not in the wheel well.

IMAGE: AMAZON
21. Keep quarters organized for rest stop vending machines.

IMAGE: IMGUR, MSJUNEDAY
22. Know exactly which side of the highway your exit will be on.

IMAGE: IMGUR, XXSNIPESHOW99XX
23. Make sure your vehicle has an emergency kit. (Hopefully you won't need it.)

IMAGE: AMAZON
24. And a car jack.

This one is powered with your exhaust.

IMAGE: AMAZON
25. Keep cash and valuables in an inconspicuous safe or hidden inside an access panel inside your car.

Having some extra cash for an emergency is always a good idea.
Souce : Mashable

5 Reasons You Should Quit Your Job to Travel Now

2016-01-07T23:21:00.001-08:00

There are a million great reasons to quit your job to travel the world, but here are five things that matter right now. There's never been a better time to get out and experience the world.

#1 The US Dollar-Euro Exchange Rate is at a 10-year best.

Source: Xe.com

While traveling in Europe is the quintessential trip--and much cheaper than most Americans tend to think--the catch has always been the 25-30% 'tax' on travelers coming from the U.S. in the form of the Euro-Dollar exchange rate.

But things have changed in the last 6 months, and dollar is now as close to the euro as I've ever seen it. As I write this a dollar is worth about 0.94 euro.

That means your USD are going a lot further, not just in Europe but everywhere.

But currencies fluctuate, and who knows how long the current trend will last.

#2 Air travel may be as cheap as it will ever get.

Alright, people say things like this every decade, but I'm not really making predictions about the price of oil here.

Check this out: In December I flew from Budapest to Las Vegas to Mexico to San Francisco and back to Budapest over a 6-week period for about $300.

This might not be a surprise if you've read how I flew around the world for less than $220 or how my friend Scott booked $30k in airline tickets for $1,000 (punchline: by accruing and using frequent-flyer miles), but the moral of the story is just as relevant today: gas is cheap (oil is down to $51.14 a barrel as I write this) and airline miles will never take you further.

Even paying cash you can currently book a last-minute (for tomorrow) round-trip ticket half-way around the world (Budapest to Bangkok) for $600. Whether or not that seems expensive to you, the good news is, analysts are saying the price of airfare will continue to drop in 2015.

While the future is impossible to predict, it's hard to imagine flights getting cheaper than they are right now. Add to this the ubiquitous discount airlines that can get you around a region (like Europe or in SE Asia) for as little as $12, and you can get all over the world for next to nothing.

Yes, the price of oil will go up again, the dollar will probably lose value, and flights will probably be more expensive in the future.

#3 Traveling has definitely never been easier.

[Photo: When travel time was advertised as weeks, not hours.]

Some people will argue that we already missed the Golden Age: a time before everything was exploited, when travel was harder, there were fewer tourists, and it was easier to get lost.

Sure, while I would have loved to join Sir Richard Burton for one of his expeditions, I'll skip the high-percentage chance of death or being carried away from my discoveries by porters because of disease-caused temporary blindness and paralysis.

While ridiculous convenience can cheapen the experience of travel, it also meansmore people can travel.

It also brings a huge number of new possibilities for those of us who live and work around the world.

Last month on the Budapest metro I booked the following on my iPhone: airfare, accommodation, and tickets to a concert in Amsterdam. It took about 15 minutes. When I arrived in Holland a group of friends and I used Uber to book a private driver to the event, at less than half of the cost of a regular taxi.

[That's an all-electric Tesla Model-S Taxi in Amsterdam. WTF?]

I can get phone calls at a U.S. number routed to my phone anywhere on earth. I payno fees to withdraw money anywhere, and ATMs are everywhere. I can work from ahut in Indonesia while using my iPhone as a WiFi hot spot. Airbnb has opened up a whole new class of accommodation options. I've got more books on my 6-ounce kindlethan the book shop at the airport. And so on.

And just in terms of places to go it feels like more of the world is accessible to travelers and unrestricted by governments, warfare, disease, sanctions, or other issues than ever before.

Sure, technology will get even better, but the party might not last forever. Things will probably get more crowded and more expensive, not counting the potential for large catastrophic events that may change the game.

It's impossible to predict what will happen in the next 5 years, but in my perspective we're living in a time of incredible prosperity.

Don't miss the window while it's open.

#4 You've put it off long enough.
Stop kidding yourself. How long has it been since you said "if I just get to X I will take that trip"?

As Americans we've been trained to fixate on goals and endpoints as tangible objects, like 'when I have another $10,000 in the bank I'll take that trip.'

But most of us have learned by now that the endpoints are illusory, and as soon as we 'arrive' the rules have changed on us. The need for $10,000 becomes $20,000. Something else comes up. Too much time has passed and our interests have changed (or we think we're too old).

This is all a normal, expected part of life, and it's only disappointing if we aren't kidding ourselves that someday we'll do something we actually care about.

That being said, maybe it's time to play your own game. In the long run, authenticity is more important than money, and if you've been putting off travel all these years it's time to sit down and seriously contemplate what you think is stopping you.

My advice: Buy a plane ticket. Make a "worst case scenario" disaster plan, sell all your shit, and do something new because:

#5 You are too comfortable (and this will only get worse).

[On the train in Vietnam. What your friends think you're doing / what you're actually doing.]

"Comfort is death." -- My dad.

People comment all the time that traveling "must get easier for someone who travels so much."

Actually, it gets harder.

By definition, real travel is uncomfortable and based on shaking routines up, and while this always has tremendous value it's less and less appealing as a long-term practice.

What extensive travel ends up teaching is the importance of a fixed location: every day I stay in one place I get stronger, healthier, smarter, and my business does better. Every day that goes by I'm more committed to higher-level experiences and theroutines that produce huge results for me. This means the natural trend makes it less likely I'll travel as much in the future.

But the point at which I get too comfortable is exactly when I start to get nervous. While routines produce massive results, they can also form a tangible barrier to new experiences. It's easy to forget that uncomfortable experiences are exactly what expand our sphere of comfort, making new challenges easier to tackle and giving us the ability to see things in a whole new light. Cycling things is always more effectivethan wallowing where you're most comfortable.

My interpretation of the Spartan ideal here is combining the efficacy of routines with the mental strength to break them at will--knowing that when I come back for the next round I'll be that much stronger.

So break out of your routine now, while you can. Waiting will only make it harder.

Photo Credits: SpartanTraveler.com and Wikimedia Commons

Source : HuffingTonPost

46 Incredibly Useful Safety Tips For Women Traveling Alone

2016-01-07T23:17:00.000-08:00

Here’s what you need to know before traveling abroad solo.

Recently there’s been a huge increase in women traveling solo, both for pleasure and for business.

Nikki Vargas, travel blogger at The Pin the Map Project, told BuzzFeed Life that her solo traveling began as a way to venture into the world alone with her thoughts. “One of the beautiful things about solo traveling is that you’re living life on your terms. It’s empowering to get to learn about yourself and what you want and do that against the backdrop of a beautiful country.”

So we asked the women of BuzzFeed what they do to feel safe when they’re traveling abroad. And while many of these tips are great for any solo traveler, regardless of gender, there are often real dangers that face a woman traveling alone that don’t necessarily affect a man traveling alone to the same degree.

1. Crowdsource your research.

Sites like TripAdvisor, Hostelz, and Oyster often have reviews of both the actual hotel and the neighborhood it’s in, so you can see which areas seem safe.

2. For Airbnb or couch surfing, only go places with A LOT of good reviews.

Check the reviewers’ profiles to make sure they’re legit and have reviewed more than just that one place.

3. Make a local friend.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

There are lots of great networks to connect female travelers all around the world. You can ask them about the customs and things to do in their area, or even make plans to meet up.

Some we like:
The Travelettes Go Girl Travel Network
Pink Pangea

4. Give someone back home your itinerary.

At least one person who’s not traveling with you should have a general idea of where you’ll be and when, in case something goes wrong or they need to get in touch with you.

5. Take pictures of all your documents and put them on a locked site like DropBox that you can access from any computer.

Passport, IDs, ticket numbers, reservations, etc. That way if you lose them AND your computer or phone, you won’t be totally screwed.

6. International phone plans are worth it for emergencies.

If you don’t want to spring for a whole plan, at least pack a couple of international phone cards with you in case you need them.

7. Consider travel insurance.

Places like World Nomads provide travel insurance to individuals, couples, or families to cover all manner of unexpected costs. For a reasonable fee they will not only cover medical and dental emergencies, but also reimburse you for lost baggage, trip cancellations, or delays, rental car damage, and more.

8. Schedule a regular check-in with someone back home.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

Whether it’s via Skype or WhatsApp or email. It’s a good safety precaution, and then you’ll also have an excuse to gush about your adventures as they happen.

9. Register with the U.S. Department of State.

If something noteworthy happens in the country you’re in or at home, they will let you know ASAP. And download their Smart Traveler app.

10. Register with the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT).

They’ll help you locate a nearby medical clinic with approved doctors where they speak English.

11. Pack light.

Packing light can actually be a safety tip: Nothing says “rob me” like someone wheeling four large bags along the side of a street. You’ll also be more mobile with a smaller bag in case you need to move quickly.

12. Have hard copies of your itinerary and important phone numbers with you at all times.

This can include the number and location of your hotels, rental companies, anyone you’re meeting, an emergency contact, and the closest U.S. Embassy.

13. Don’t keep all your money in one place.

Keep some cash and a card on your person and some in your bag and some back at your hotel.

14. Genius tip: Store your extra cash in the bottom of a tampon or pad box. No one’s going to look in there!

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

15. Bring an external phone charger.

This one has an LED flashlight too.

16. Try to dress like a local (or at least a long-time expat).

It will prevent you from getting a lot of unwanted attention. And if you don’t look like an obvious tourist, you won’t be the first target for swindlers or pickpockets.

17. In some places, it helps to wear a fake wedding ring.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

The U.S. State Department recommends single women traveling in the Middle East wear a wedding ring. In other places, do some research about what other women traveling alone there have done.

18. Call ahead to see if your hostel or hotel has a locker or safe.

If it doesn’t, bring a bike-style lock and attach your things to something in your room.

19. Consider a slash-proof bag.

Especially if you’re going to stay in hostels or other group accommodations or you’re bringing expensive electronics like a computer or a camera, a slash-proof bag will help you feel more comfortable leaving your belongings while you go out and explore. It’s like a portable safe for all your stuff.

20. Bring a portable door or window alarm.

These are cheap, easy ways to make any accommodations feel safer. The door alarm is also a jamb that can make shared bathrooms more private while you shower.

21. Pack a thin one-piece bathing suit.

If you’re going to be in a protest or mob situation that can get grabby, wearing this under your clothes is a simple step.

22. Carry a safety mechanism that you feel comfortable with.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

Mace (which you can’t bring on the plane, but you can put in a checked bag) or a whistle or a cat keychain all work for self defense, just in case.

23. Bring emergency contraception.

In some countries it can be hard or impossible to get. Even if you don’t think you’ll be sexually active while you’re there, it never hurts to be prepared.

24. Bring a selfie stick!

For those times when you don’t want to hand your camera or phone to someone to snap a pic for you, the selfie stick will be your favorite tool.

25. Keep two hotel keys with you — one in your bag and one on your person.

That way if your bag gets nabbed, you’re not locked out.

26. If you order room service or something from a hotel, never identify that you are alone.

If you have to, say the other person will “be right back,” or open the door only partway.

27. Leave the DO NOT DISTURB sign on your door and the TV on when you leave your hotel room.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

This will deter thieves, who will think there’s someone in there.

28. Befriend female hotel/hostel employees.

Ask them for tips about getting around the area and where NOT to go.

29. Have the address of your hotel or hostel written down to hand to taxi drivers.

Doesn’t hurt to do this for anywhere you’ll be taking a taxi if you don’t speak the language.

30. Arrange a private transfer from the airport when you arrive, especially if you’re arriving at night.

If it’s in your budget, this can make getting your bearings easier.

31. If you’re listening to music, don’t wear both headphones.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

That way you can always stay alert. You can also wear headphones with no music on as an excuse for not listening to unwanted conversation and a way to eavesdrop and overhear anything sketchy that might be going on.

32. If you get lost, don’t look at your phone or a map in the middle of the street.

Just duck into a café or shop and check there.

33. Spring for a GPS if you’re renting a car.

Looking at a map or your phone in an unfamiliar place is dangerous and time-consuming.

34. If you’re driving, fill up your gas tank when it’s half full to avoid running low when you’re in a sketchy area (or a place with no gas at all).

35. Take your bag with you to the bathroom every time, even on buses and trains.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

36. Always go in a train car that has other people in it.

On buses or trains, sit close to the front and close to other women.

37. Don’t sleep on trains.

And don’t take night trains alone if you can help it.

38. Build a financial cushion into your budget so you can take cabs when you feel unsafe walking.

39. Snap a picture of your cab’s license plate before you get in it.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

Both for safety and also in case you leave something in it: Having the license number makes it much easier to track down.

40. When you’re in a car or walking home, make a real (or fake) phone call to say “Yep, I’m almost there. I’ll be there by XXX” so the driver thinks you are meeting someone at your destination.

Even if you’re not.

41. Track your cab via Google Maps so you can tell if you’re going off route.

42. If you stop to buy tickets or anything where your attention is away, put your bag between your legs or in between your body and the counter instead of beside you.

That way it’s harder to swipe.

43. Drink in moderation.

Know your limits. Keep your wits about you while you’re having fun.

44. Talk to lots of people!

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

If you’re out and on a tour, or walking around, talk to people and get a sense for what’s happening and where. Plus making friends is the best way to see cool things you wouldn’t find on your own.

45. If you get in a situation where you feel alone and unsafe, start telling stories using “we” about your (real or imaginary) significant other.

It creates a sense of partnership and security.

46. Don’t feel guilty about saying no to anything.

It’s OK to turn down help with your bags, an invitation to dinner, a shot of vodka from a guy named Boris. Don’t be afraid to be rude if it means feeling safe. And trust your instincts about when to accept help. Sometimes a male escort is a good way to feel safe, and there are plenty of nice strangers who are willing and able to help you.

Souce : BuzzFeed

Inmates Given Tablet Computers For Good Behavior : Sanilac County, Michigan

2016-01-06T21:38:00.002-08:00

A few inmates in Sanilac County received a pretty awesome reward for being on their best behavior. The Michigan inmates have been given access to tablet computers in which they are allowed to view news reports, search for jobs and play games. They are also allowed to use the tablets to place phone calls.

According to the Port Huron Times Herald, the inmates are given 60 free days on the devices and then must pay $30 a month to rent them out.

The inmates have been very appreciative of the devices and according to one prisoner, the tablets “makes the time go faster.”

More counties are expected to start having tablets available to their inmates.

Source: NBC 25 News

Sleeping in the sky: the glass pods in Peru’s Sacred Valley

2016-01-06T20:55:00.000-08:00

Suspended 400m above the Sacred Valley, near Cusco, Peru, the transparent Skylodge pods offer panoramic views. All photographs: Splash News/Corbis

Mark Johanson

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It’s when my “indestructible” stainless steel water bottle launches out of my daypack like a rocket, and smashes on the riverbed below that I realise just how perilous my situation has become.

I’m halfway up a cliff in the Sacred Valley of Peru, about an hour and a half north-west of Cusco, and the only thing stopping me from joining my smashed bottle below is a harness and a clip. I know it’s enough to keep me safely tethered to the wall, but the sight of my water bottle gives me a sudden swirl of vertigo.

In front of me is a sheer rock face decked out with 400 iron rungs, part of a two-hour-long via ferrata climbing route that begins at an unmarked turn-off on Avenida Ferrocarril nine miles west of Urubamba. Via ferrata, Italian for “iron road,” is a climbing style that originated in the Alps that allows everyday climbers to navigate tough routes with the aid of rungs and a steel cable that’s fixed to the rock at strategic intervals.

Reaching ‘the world’s first hanging lodge’ involves climbing a via ferrata up the valley

This particular via ferrata includes what’s known as a “hanging bridge”. It looms up ahead as the latest challenge in what the Indian newlyweds who are climbing just ahead of me have described as an “adult obstacle course”. The hanging bridge is nothing more than two parallel chords – one for feet, the other for hands – and it requires a leap of faith into a vertical position before shimmying over an abyss.

Fears conquered and bridge crossed, I monkey up the mountain for another half an hour under the watchful eye of my guide Americo Serrano. The higher we climb, the more the valley walls open up and reveal their treasures, including a smattering of crumbling Inca ruins hidden among the shrubs. We stop occasionally to admire the rare Andean orchids above or the increasingly miniaturised adobe village below before the strangest sight of all comes into view.

Nestled 400m up the cliff face like three translucent condor eggs is our destination for the evening: the Skylodge Adventure Suites. Dubbed “the world’s first hanging lodge”, Skylodge has become a fixture on Pinterest travel boards and dream destination listicles since its debut in June 2013 – and it’s not hard to see why. It’s an audacious project located en route to one of the planet’s most visited man-made wonders: Machu Picchu.

Inside a Skylodge pod

The train to Machu Picchu comes choo-chooing along its tracks in the valley below just as I’m discovering my fishbowl in the sky – the “adventure suite” has 300-degree views over hills carved into sharp angles by the Urubamba river.

Each of Skylodge’s three octagonal capsules are made of aerospace aluminium and weather-resistant polycarbonate. Inside are four retractable tables, four solar-powered lights and plush beds (two singles and one double covered in mint green sheets and cloud-like duvets). There are also five windows that regulate the temperature and mitigate the funk of a day spent climbing.

I find the loo in a space separated from the rest of the capsule by a thick canvas wall with a zip-up door. Inside is a washbasin with running water, a urinal and a dry toilet (a normal porcelain bowl with an abnormal plastic bag and chute system). There’s no shower, but it’s about as luxurious as you can get given the improbable locale.

Room with a view …

Serrano tells me over dinner (quinoa salad, roast chicken and a chocolate cake that he carted up in his backpack, reheated and paired with a bottle of palatable Peruvian wine) that Skylodge is a one-of-a-kind project that could only exist in a country like Peru. That’s because permissions and permits came long after the capsules were assembled and fastened to the valley wall with 12 anchors apiece. It’s not that the capsules are unsafe – engineers have inspected all of the installations and they’re regularly evaluated by staff – but project manager Ario Ferri wasn’t going to let bureaucracy ruin his dream.

“Ferri is a master welder who designed each of these capsules himself in his shop in Urubamba,” says Serrano, who was part of the team that spent two months lugging the three-part capsules up the mountain. “The goal was to take the concept of a hanging “portaledge” tent from the mountaineering world and turn it into something anyone could enjoy.”

Serrano climbs the ladder out of my capsule after dinner and shimmies over to his own pod for the evening. We’ll remain in contact by radio, but the night is mine to enjoy

The roaring winds that whip through the Sacred Valley each afternoon have died down. No longer rattling, nor threatening to tumble down the hill, the capsule becomes a haven of tranquillity and a window to the night sky. Hundreds of twinkling stars, including those of the Southern Cross, appear so close on the far side of the transparent wall I feel as though I could reach out and pinch them.

Sleep, while suspended like a cloud in the sky, comes easier than imagined. And I need the rest. I’ve got seven hair-raising zip-lines to navigate before I touch down on solid ground tomorrow afternoon.

• Accommodation was provided by Natura Vive (+51 084-793019), which offers a fully-guided two-day, one-night package that includes the via ferrata, zip-lines, dinner, breakfast, accommodation at Skylodge and transportation to and from Cusco for £198pp

Souce : TheGurdian

This Cat's Vacation Was The Best Road Trip Of 2015

2016-01-06T20:51:00.004-08:00

Originally from South Korea, Gandalf and his owners decided to cross the Pacific in 2015 and road trip the US. During their journey, they got to visit some very historic places such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

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Going on a road trip across the US is a chance of a lifetime and this cat got to experience some of the best parts of the country. From the Redwoods to the Grand Canyon to the Alamo, Gandalf encountered a number of iconic landmarks from West to East. The United States truly is a country made for road trips and this kitty is on his way to having the best American journey yet.

In total, Gandalf was able to visit nine states during his trip. NINE. That's more than some Americans get to visit in their lifetime. This kitty got the chance to visit:

The Grand Canyon

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Folsom Puddle

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Hollywood

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San Francisco Bay

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Lake Tahoe

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Old Gold Country

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Mendocino County

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Point Arena

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The Redwoods

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The Texas Capitol

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The Alamo

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Maybe you should take this kitty's lead and take on an adventure of your own this year. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the world you live in! Gandalf sure is a true inspiration.

Souce : Distractify

6 Children Were Blindfolded And Asked To Find Their Mother, And It's Heartwarming

2016-01-05T00:17:00.000-08:00

There's something so special about the bond between a mother and child. Obviously, this goes for fathers too, but with Mother's Day coming up, this video highlights the beauty of motherhood. Pandora had six children blindfolded, and sent them to the group of women to see if they could identify their mother. Spoiler alert: all of the children successfully identify their mums, and it's touching.

What I find most incredible about this is how each woman receives each child, whether they're hers or not. The gentleness and love is impossible to miss. Get your tissues ready.

Souce : Diply

This video of a father taking care of his baby will make you realize that life isn't complete without him!

2016-01-05T00:12:00.000-08:00

Fathers are the sturdy and firm characters in our lives. They are the ones who make all the rules and give us punishments if we don't abide by these. We always think their the stiffer ones, the ones with the stone heart. But, the truth is - they have done a lot to get us to survive out here in this crazy world - much as our mothers do.

A lot of people tend to judge fathers saying men make bad parents and that only mothers can love their children like they do. But, if you would see this video - you will definitely change your viewsabout men - about fathers, in general. This video will prove you wrong.

Not a lot of girls fall in love for the sweet and gentle kind. Most of them take the bad boys and hopefully turn them to romantic, smitten goody guy they want them to be. They like to have men for whom they will be challenged than those with a tinge of sweetness under their skin.

The video shows a father taking care of his baby. He basically bathes his baby, handling her withutmost care. You will be touched with the warmth of his embrace with his baby. What's more amazing is his priceless look at his baby!

Upon seeing this video, would you still claim that men are cold-hearted people? Share us your insights if you're smitten by the love and affection given by this dad to his baby.

Souce : CrackerDaily

In Physician Shortage, Can Nurse Practitioners Replace Doctors?

2016-01-05T00:06:00.003-08:00

Patients are increasingly turning to nurse practitioners instead of physicians for a less expensive healthcare alternative.

Some experts say the trend is a solution to the staggering cost of medical treatments and the shortage of physicians, which is expected to exceed 46,000 within the next decade, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Others in the medical field warn that nurse practitioners are not an adequate replacement for physicians, who undergo more rigorous training.

While nurse practitioners must complete a master's or doctoral degree program in addition to their registered nurse certification, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, that training does not measure up to the seven or more years of postgraduate education and more than 10,000 hours of clinical experience that physicians are required to attain.

Nurse practitioner Jody Stubler meets with a patient at her Utah clinic. Nightly News

For that reason, 29 states prevent nurse practitioners from practicing without some level of doctor supervision.

"With a shortage of both nurses and physicians, increasing the responsibility of nurses is not the answer to the physician shortage," said Rebecca J. Patchin, a Board Member with the American Medical Association. "Nurses are critical to the health care team, but there is no substitute for education and training."

Jody Stubler, a nurse practitioner in Salt Lake City, Utah, agrees to some extent. "If I have a patient who has a condition that's more than I can deal with, I'm going to refer them to a specialist," she said.

But because Stubler is trained to provide medical care like treating colds, performing small X-rays and writing prescriptions, she opened her own clinic in hopes of providing people with the basic healthcare they need at a lower cost.

Stubler's Hope Family Medical Center has no physician oversight, which is legal in Utah.

Stubler does consult with Dr. Seth Wallace, who said he sees the benefits of a clinic, run by a nurse practitioner, where those who don't have insurance don't have to worry about exorbitant costs.

"It's just knowing your limits," Wallace said. "And really a good practitioner, regardless of whether they're a physician or a nurse practitioner, they know their limits."

Souce : NBCNews

If You Ever See A Child Do This, You Need To Stop Them Immediately. It Could Be Dangerous.

2016-01-03T20:00:00.001-08:00

Being a new parent means worrying all the time. So many things that can potentially go wrong, that it’s easy to never let yourself have a moment of peace.

Although kids do plenty of things that parents should have no reason to freak out over, there is one commonly overlooked issue that they should really worry about. It’s called “W sitting,” and it looks like no big deal, but it could put your child in harm’s way.

This position is something that kids often find themselves in, commonly referred to as “W sitting.” It doesn’t seem like a big deal…

… But it can actually cause a lot of orthopedic issues and places stress on the hips, knees, and ankles. It can even lead to all sorts of posture problems later in life.

EnrichmentTherapies

Watch this important clip to learn more.

Parents thought they could relax as long as their kid was sitting down, but no more. Stay alert, everyone.

Share this important story with your friends below.

Souce : BoredomTherapy

This Rottweiler Is Inseparable From His Best Friend, But We’re Not Sure The Cat Feels The Same Way.

2016-01-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

Psychologists believe that in all successful romantic relationships, there’s one partner who should be a little bit more invested than the other. While this might not always be true, it definitely is with this pair.

This Rottweiler is so deeply in love that it’ll make you go “awwwww.” But when you see the furry object of his affection, you can’t help but laugh at her priceless reaction.

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I can’t believe the cat puts up with that! That is one very affectionate pooch!

Share this hilarious duo with your friends below!