Seriously, who doesn’t want a prepaid card sponsored by the self-proclaimed “best rapper alive” Lil’ Wayne, the hip-hop and clothing mogul Russell Simmons, or the internationally acclaimed personal finance expert Suze Orman? With these celebrity endorsements, prepaid cards have become big business – but are they really a solid investment? Most people think all they have to do is put money on the card, spend the money until it’s gone and then refill the card when you get around to it. But we know better than to think it’s really that easy, right? [Read more...]
Free Wi-Fi: Friend or Foe?
The age of Wi-Fi connected devices is in full force: during the course of 2012, the number of connected devices will exceed the world’s population. These increasing numbers show no sign of stopping, and within the next few years most of us will have at least two devices — like Smartphones and tablets – connected to public Wi-Fi networks. This greater availability of public Wi-Fi also brings unseen hazards for users to look out for: hackers. [Read more...]
The Weight of the Nation
It’s no surprise that the United States is facing an alarming obesity problem (no surprise because most people can name the location of every fast food joint in town, but hit a wall when asked about the times and locations of their local farmers markets). It would be too quick and easy to blame individuals for eating too much and exercising too little, mainly because the causes are complex and involve many sometimes complex factors. [Read more...]
Drill Baby! Is the US Turning Against Green Energy?
Gas prices continue to rise. Everywhere around the world people are feeling that smoldering hole in their pocket continue to get hotter and hotter. Eventually it will burst into flames and leave a giant 3rd degree burn on your buttocks (and if your a lady, it’ll burn a hole through your purse like those precious stones did in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom). With other traditional sources of energy becoming depleted as well, opinions on where to find fuel have been shifting considerably. [Read more...]
The Price of Free: What’s the Freemium Economy About?
There are tons of great things out in the tech world right now that are free: social networking sites, productivity apps, games, and music sites are all jumping on the bandwagon. What exactly is freemium, and how does a business plan like this ever expect to make money? Freemium is a portmanteau of “free” and “premium,” and is a marketing model based on the idea of charging absolutely nothing for a basic product or service — and the Android and iPhone app stores are filled with them. [Read more...]
Work the Angle: Psychedelic Artwork by Matt Andres
I came across the work of Matt Andres purely by accident. I was cruising 8Tracks — a music site where you get to make your own mixes and upload whatever cover art you want — when I stumbled across his incredible profile. I’ve also been super into beat music and hip-hop lately, whether it’s from LA, the UK, or Europe; and his mixes are legit. I recognized some of it, and the stuff I didn’t know was stuff I could definitely get into. That’s right when I made another discovery: this kid can make rad art as well. This was part of my first impression with his art:
“I draw because I need something to do when I’m listening to beats. And I listen to beats because I need something to do when I draw.” [Read more...]
Working Out In The Workplace
It’s no secret that Americans spend quite a bit of time at their desk while they’re at work, but did you realize that it’s close to roughly a third of their entire time spent there? Exercise is a vital and important aspect of a healthy lifestyle and anything you can do to keep yourself fit will help you out in the long run. Just because you’re in a cubicle and not out on the field or court doesn’t mean there still aren’t things you can do at work to stay fit. [Read more...]
Self-Learning: The New Master’s Degree
The free wheeling heydays of paying 100s of thousands of dollars for an education while driving around with the top down screaming, “Money ain’t a thang,” times may soon be over. People are getting tired of paying an exorbitant amount of money for a quality education — and not even the best in the world. Employers are starting to care less and less about your degree, or where you went to school; but, more about the actual skills you possess. Self-learning is becoming the new way to advance your education, learn new skills, and may become the master’s degree of the future.
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Number of Babies Born On Every Day Of The Year
Some people really enjoy the holidays and get into the spirit. It’s a time to visit with family and relatives, drink some spiked eggnog, exchange gifts, and pass out on the sofa watching James Bond 007 marathons (why James Bond marathons are always on during the holidays we don’t understand, but fully support). Some people take having a little bit of fun and turn the nob up to 11, one wilder than 10. Cue your parents when they were dating… they enjoyed the holidays entirely and created you (too much information?). [Read more...]
What Would You Do With an Extra Two Hours?
Our world moves at an incredible pace, one where everyone could use a couple extra hours throughout the day. With the responsibilities of work, family, and friends, there’s often little time left at the end of the day to spend on your own personal interests. People are constantly pulling at you from every angle, trying with all their collective might to stop you from achieving your goals. There are some brave people who forgo those extra hours of sleep to spend on themselves; but they’re also insomniacs, look like Zombies every morning at work, and can’t operate without drinking a pot of coffee before noon. [Read more...]















