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The Future of AI – Should We Be Scared?

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There has been talk about artificial intelligence for many, many years, but it seems that more recently that there has been a legitimate push toward making AI a bigger part of the everyday life. From self-driving cars to marketing and everything in between, artificial intelligence has already been injected into the world more ways than you know.

Of course, there has always been that underlying fear about AI that’s been depicted in movies, books, and television shows. “The Terminator” series, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and “I, Robot” are just a few pieces of media that have dealt with artificial intelligence taking over the world or doing nefarious things to human beings that detract from our humanity. Media like this and the loss of certain jobs has raised the question, though, “Should we be scared?” Let’s take a look at the future of AI to see how it will impact humanity.

Job Loss

Economists argue day and night about whether the population of Earth should continue to grow, if it should plateau where it is, or if it needs to shrink a little bit. Part of the reason why overpopulation might be a massive problem in the coming years is because of how many jobs will be completely done by artificial intelligence in the coming decades.

Economists predict that AI will take the place of many jobs that currently have a large population of people, from truck drivers to retail workers, to receptionists. As the years go on, people will figure out ways to make artificial intelligence even smarter, and will end up replacing more and more jobs. That leaves people to wonder how many jobs will even be left 100 years from now as everything becomes automated and how we’ll make money.

Loss of Humanity

One of the things that makes humans great is the ability to have our own personalities and artistic expression. In the future with AI, though, those might be completely wiped away. There are already plenty of AI programs that are creating art, with some companies using them for graphic design instead of hiring humans that can put actual detailed touches on things.

What’s much more concerning about art being replaced, though, is the use of things such as deepfakes. AI can now create a living video of you so that it looks like you’re moving and talking without even being in the room. It’s deeply disturbing, and the uses for deepfakes can be fun for a couple of things, but for the most part are entirely nefarious.

Part of the loss of humanity with AI is the loss of our privacy. There are a lot of companies that want to use artificial intelligence to know everything about you. Comedian Bo Burnham famously said in 2019 that companies are coming “for every second of your life” by finding out everything about you for marketing purposes since these companies are public and needing constant growth because there’s no other way to expand than to colonize your attention, and AI plays a big part in that.

Robots

There are plenty of instances in fiction where artificially intelligent robots develop their own feelings and lead a revolt against humans. In film, you have “The Terminator”, in books you have “I, Robot”, and in video games you have “Detroit: Become Human”. Of course, robotics that use AI are getting smarter, but how realistically could any of these scenarios happen?

Experts say that out of all of the fears regarding AI, the ones about a robot revolution are the least of our worries. There have been many intelligent people who say that there’s a possibility that it could happen, but that things would grind to a halt in terms of AI development before it comes close to happening.

Summary

There are plenty of reasons to worry about the future of artificial intelligence, no matter how much it can do for us. Truly, the only way that everyone can be satisfied with a future that’s filled with AI is for everyone to be assured an income that will get them by, and that the AI is perfected to keep everyone safe.

Self-driving cars are a great idea on paper, but until everyone can be assured that accidents will be avoided, there are still going to be a lot of people concerned and not wanting to get on board. Just like in all of the fictional media we mentioned, there will always be people dragged kicking and screaming into the AI-led future.

5 Countries Where Your Dollar Goes Furthest

Posted on by scatty

Almost all Americans want to travel, but the only problem is that for a lot of us, it’s simply too expensive. Some of these cities across the United States are incredibly pricey, though, and there are many countries around the world where the U.S. Dollar just doesn’t go far enough to make the most out of your trip.

However, there are certainly a number of countries in which you can not only have a great vacation abroad but can live more lavishly than you do at home. If you’re searching for destinations to either travel to yourself or take your family on a vacation, check out these five countries where your dollar goes furthest.

Colombia

Back in the early 2010s, Colombia wasn’t the cheapest place for Americans to visit, but times have changed since then and the dollar has been stronger in the past few years than just about any other point in the country’s history. While people might have a negative opinion of what’s available to tourists when visiting Colombia, the country actually has a lot to offer from Medellin to Bogota to Cartagena.

Airfare is not significantly cheaper heading to Colombia compared to some other countries, but everything else costs far less. From hotels and restaurants, $50 per day will get an entire family of four very far in Colombia. You can use the money saved to visit some of the nation’s best sights including the Tayrona National Park, Salt Cathedral, and Castle San Felipe de Barajas. If traveling solo, you can spend less than $1,800 in total and live like royalty.

India

Despite being the second-largest country in the world, India doesn’t have close to a 1:1 conversion rate. Instead, it’s one of the cheapest countries for Americans to visit, costing around $35 with food and lodging. The spending power has only gotten better over time, too.

There are some obvious sites that you’ll want to see when visiting India including the Taj Mahal and the Sri Harmandir Sahib. There are also some lesser-known places for people from the west including the Mysore Palace and Mahabodhi Temple which are must-sees. There’s really no wrong place to go in India, especially if you’re a fan of architecture.

Chile

Like Mexico, Chile uses the peso, but their own version stretches further for Americans than Mexico’s does. $1 in the United States converts to over 800 Chilean pesos, and visiting the country costs an average of $36 to visit. This includes food and lodging, making it a no-brainer.

Some of the best natural beauty in the world can be found in Chile, meaning it will save you even more money when visiting the country. The Torres Del Paine National Park and Valle de la Luna are two must-see places, while Easter Island is one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. For a beautiful blend of both ancient and modern, make your way to Santiago to get a masterclass in structure.

Vietnam

Ever since the end of the Vietnam War, the country has been a friendly place for Americans to visit while also having the dollar stretch further. It has become even more so on both fronts in recent years, with $1 USD able to convert into well over 20,000₫, a currency which was adopted as the official currency in 1978. 

Vietnam is filled with a lot of natural beauty, especially if you’re a fan of islands. Halong Bay is one of the most captivating sites not just in the country, but in the world. Ho Chi Minh City is a city that only gets better with time, while places like the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park offer up something for cave fans to enjoy.

Croatia

Croatia tends to come and go as one of the countries where the United States Dollar goes a long way, but in recent years, it has been a great place for American to visit for a low cost. Starting in 2014, the dollar had a lot more spending power in Croatia, with an average cost of $60 per day to visit.

Fans of both modern and ancient history will have something to do in Croatia from the Walls of Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes to the Pula Arena and Diocletian’s Palace. Zagreb is the busiest city and has the most to do, while others including Rovinj and Sibenik offer up some of the best sites in the country.

Best STEM Scholarships Available For Students

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When heading to college, you’re already taking on a big challenge by going into one of the STEM fields. STEM, of course, means science, technology, engineering, and math. These are the most difficult college majors that require the hardest work but end up producing some of the highest-paying jobs around. These jobs also may require graduate-level studies, which means many years in college.

Naturally, that many years will mean that you’ll need a lot of money to get through school. While loans can be repaid, scholarships are the best way of receiving funding for college. There are many STEM scholarships around, but some truly stand out as the best. Here are five of the top STEM scholarships available for students that should be applied to for any student.

Breakthrough Junior Challenge Scholarship

Very few scholarships offer the amount of money that can be made from the Breakthrough Junior Challenge Scholarship. Each year, the winner (and there is only one winner) receives $250,000 while another $50,000 goes toward the student’s teacher. You don’t have to be in the final two years of high school to be eligible, either, as this scholarship is for children as young as 13 years old.

Instead of providing the same written application that you’d be submitting to many other scholarships, the BJCS requires a video to be submitted starting each April with deadlines coming in June. The winner is then announced in September. The BJCS was founded in 2015 by Julia and Yuri Milner, who also created the popular Giving Pledge.

Generation Google Scholarship

While maybe not as lucrative as the BJCS, the Generation Google Scholarship (which is for the United States and Canada only) still does award $10,000 each year to each winner, with around 3,000 scholarships handed out so far. Applicants must be enrolled in college at the time of submission and be studying in a STEM field to receive the scholarship.

The best part is that the application process is incredibly easy, with an essay of fewer than 500 words describing your financial status and what you’ll do with the scholarship. The process moves rather quickly, too. Those that are heavily in need financially and have a strong academic record have a good chance of receiving the scholarship.

Davidson Fellows Scholarship

The Davidson Institute awards three scholarships each year of $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000 to those 18 and under in STEM categories as well as literature, music, and philosophy. Even teams of two are able to apply for the Fellows Scholarship. With each category comes different requirements, though there is no minimum age for the scholarship. What you will need, though, is a visual model that includes photographs, PowerPoints, and more.

You don’t have to be the most educated to receive the Fellows Scholarship, but you should be able to demonstrate knowledge that would be considered graduate level in college. Even if you don’t win, you may be featured at the Davidson Institute as an honorable mention, though there is not a cash prize, it looks great on other scholarship applications.

Collegiate Inventors Competition

There is over $100,000 in prize money awarded each year during the annual Collegiate Inventors Competition, which includes a $15,000 top prize for graduate students and $10,000 for undergraduates. This is a great opportunity for any student that wants to show off their invention and receive money for educational purposes.

Held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office headquarters, the Collegiate Inventors Competition, and not only do the winners receive their scholarship money but also get their patent acceleration certificate. Recent winners include those that invented a way to reduce pesticide pollution and a way to help people with sepsis.

United States Department of Defense SMART Scholarship

The USDoD has awarded thousands of scholarships over the years for those that are in one of 21 majors in STEM fields. The SMART Scholarship provides full tuition as well as a stipend of anywhere between $25,000 and $38,000 depending on the degree level. You won’t have to go job searching after finishing school, either.

That’s because the Department of Defense offers a guaranteed job after completing your degree. From working in degrees toward chemistry to oceanography, there is a solid range of fields to pick from. As long as you’re willing to work for the DoD, this is a perfect opportunity.

How To Avoid Disinformation On Whatsapp Groups

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These days, people are becoming more and more exposed to disinformation across the internet. Disinformation is when you’re fed false facts through any form of media, and it usually pertains to propaganda, especially on a political scale. No social media site is able to fully avoid disinformation on the internet, and that even includes messaging apps like Whatsapp.

Some of the most common ways in which disinformation is shared come from when people that you know and typically trust intentionally misguide you so that you see things their way. If you feel like you’re being tricked into falling for fake news, there are some ways to avoid it. Here are five ways on how to dodge all of the disinformation that can come from Whatsapp groups.

Always Check Sources

Some of the biggest sources of disinformation are websites that have little to no legitimacy. If you see something that’s shared from a news site that has hundreds of journalists working and checking their sources, then there’s probably a lot of weight to that story that was shared with you. Some of the most reliable sources for news include the Associated Press, BBC, C-SPAN, and The Christian Science Monitor.

These are media outlets that mostly report facts without putting their own personal spin on things. Much of the disinformation that we see in today’s day and age will come from URLs that are operated by one or two people. Sites that have names like FreedomBeliefFigtherRebel.net or something along those lines that use buzzwords are often recently-created disinformation content mills.

Know Who You’re Talking To

There are always going to be people in our lives that we love dearly, but we know that they’re susceptible to falling victim to fake news. You should familiarize yourself with the people in your network and how often they’re sharing news stories from untrusted sources. If you’ve received seemingly countless messages like that from the same people, just pretend that those links were never sent.

Instead, try to steer the topic into something that’s completely different. You may also want to inform them that they’re spreading fake news and need to check their sources. Some people only find what they want to believe, so it can be like talking to a brick wall, but it’s worth it to let someone you love know that they’re being targeted with disinformation.

Look For Satire

You may have heard of the phrase “eating the Onion” when it comes to people who fall for satire that they believe is real news. This phrase comes from the satirical news outlet The Onion, which has had headlines including “New Zealand Prime Minister Resigns Citing Burnout” or “Election to Be Decided By Whoever Can Keep Hand on White House the Longest”.

There are more and more satirical websites that are popping up each day. Sites like The Babylon Bee, ClickHole, and Topeka News are all known for their humorous headlines that can often be taken too seriously. If you see someone sharing links to websites like this, let them know immediately that it’s just satire.

Take a Break

Social media will often bombard you with a lot of news headlines on a daily basis, and sometimes it’s just best to step away for a little while and live life while you can. People can easily become addicted to reading articles, many of which can be sensationalist and fake. Disconnecting from a Whatsapp group for a few days or even permanently can be good for your health.

While you should always be connected to what’s going on in the world so that you’re well-rounded and educated, ignorance is bliss when it comes to fake news. You don’t have to avoid the internet altogether, but sticking to trusted sources and avoiding certain groups can be great for you.

Look at the Headline

Any legitimate headline will be able to tell you exactly what you’re about to read without using sensational buzzwords. If you see a headline that’s something along the lines of “BUSTED! Joe Biden’s Hidden Secrets Revealed!” or “JAIL? Donald Trump On the Verge of Being Sentenced FOR LIFE!”, avoid them at all costs.

These types of headlines only exist to get you to click on them, and in many cases, try to pander to those who only want news that they want to believe is true. On the flipside, if you see a headline that’s something like “Department of Justice Investigates Donald Trump Over Classified Documents” then it’s likely going to be an article that contains mostly facts without personal opinions.

How To Make Compelling TikTok Videos

Posted on by scatty

TikTok is one of those platforms where all of us wish that we would’ve gotten in on the ground floor because it exploded in popularity almost overnight and made stars out of those that were there first. Many of us are now left to play catch up and attempt to build a following, but that’s much easier said than done. There are millions of users on TikTok, so it can be hard to stand out in such a massive crowd.

If you’re dead set on finding TikTok fame but aren’t sure where to start, don’t worry. We’ve got some tips and tricks that are sure to get you plenty of viewers and even develop a new following on one of the world’s most popular apps. Here are five ways to make compelling TikTok videos that stand out.

Get Trendy

There’s no better way to get noticed on TikTok than to jump in on something that has just started trending. Check the hashtags that are starting to get traction on TikTok, and try to make a video when there aren’t too many videos just yet. There’s a bit of a parabola that happens for each trend as it comes out of nowhere, quickly reaches a peak, then fades into obscurity quickly.

If you’re able to stay on top of trends and get a video posted before that trend has hit its peak, you’re going to be getting a ton of shares and views. There will be plenty of opportunities every day to find a new trend, whether it’s a lip sync video, dance challenge or anything else in between.

Find a Gimmick

Almost all of the biggest names on TikTok have a certain gimmick that they stick to that helps them to stand out. Some of them interject themselves into other videos for comedic effect, some simply respond using only facial features to others’ content, and some have completely original ideas that have never been seen on the platform before.

At the end of the day, the people that have a formula and a gimmick are going to be the ones that are the most successful. Try to think about what it is that you’re best at, whether it’s dancing or being funny. There’s no doubt that people will keep coming back to your videos to see what you come up with next in that genre.

Get The Right Setup

Out of all of the TikTok accounts that end up getting a lot of followers, very few of them have grainy videos and poor lighting. If you’re serious about getting people to follow you on TikTok, you have to make sure that you’re spending money on a good setup. While it’s your personality that’s going to take you to the top, the professionalism of your videos will get you noticed.

With that in mind, you’ll want to invest in some good lighting more than anything. Make sure that you also have a phone that’s capable of recording high-definition video and audio. These key factors alone are more attractive to people that are scrolling through and only clicking on the thumbnails that look the most appealing.

Work on a Script

There are plenty of videos that are completely ad-libbed and the candidness can make them insanely hilarious. However, many of the videos that you see from some of the biggest names on TikTok are 100 percent scripted. It’s true, even the ones that tend to be “x reacts to y” are scripted far in advance.

While it takes away from some of the authenticity of what makes a TikTok fun, a script is what gets more views. Make sure that you’re coming up with something funny that people are going to want to watch, or some commentary that hits hard with people.

Keep It Short

Every once in a while, a TikTok video that’s several minutes in length will end up going viral, but most of the ones that get millions of views are only a few seconds, and hardly ever longer than 25-30 seconds. People don’t have a lot of time, and they want to watch a bunch of videos all in one sitting rather than a couple of long ones.

You can also mix it up a little bit on your profile. Not every video has to be short, but try to focus on those more often than the long ones. Once your following is large enough, it won’t matter how long your videos are as people will still want to watch them from beginning to end.

How To Make Money With Online Sweepstakes

Posted on by scatty

Each year, millions of dollars are given away through sweepstakes, with almost all of them these days being converted to online contests. Some of the largest sweepstakes on the internet can have grand prizes of over $1 million, which is why so many people want to get in on the fun with a chance to become rich instantly. However, you don’t have to win the grand prize for a global sweepstakes to earn money.

There are plenty of smaller sweepstakes that are much easier to win, and winning enough of them can pad your wallet nicely. If you’re looking to make some money by winning online sweepstakes, we have a few tips for you. Here are five ways to maximize your chances of winning and the amount that you can win.

Never Too Many

Obviously, you can’t win a sweepstakes if you don’t enter (unless the sweepstakes happens to knock on random doors). Because of this, you want to make sure that you’re entering as many sweepstakes as possible, no matter how much the prize is. If there’s a small prize in the sweepstakes, there will be far fewer people that are entered, increasing your likelihood of winning.

Some of the top sweepstakes winners end up taking home the top prize for a lot of these smaller giveaways instead of trying to focus on seven-figure prizes that are almost impossible to win. Thankfully, these days you don’t have to fill in a bunch of information by hand and then mail it back in a form. You can typically enter a sweepstakes with just a couple clicks of a button, making it easy to join.

Show Your Stuff

One of the biggest ways in which companies can get thorough engagement with their online user base is to do a giveaway that requires more than just your name and email address. Some of them will have a big prize that requires you to post a picture every day of a particular object or action, and you’ll want to make sure that you hit all of the requirements.

A lot of the giveaways that follow this method end up having larger prizes due to the active engagement over a long period of time, but a lot of people don’t see it all the way through. For those that are able to meet all of the requirements, their chances of winning the grand prize become increasingly strong.

Use a Dedicated Email

There are plenty of people that enter sweepstakes on a nearly daily basis without even knowing it, but they use their general email address to enter them, and might not even know if they won. A lot of these people have stringent spam filters and the details of the contest entries can end up going there and completely unnoticed.

With that in mind, you’ll want to create a dedicated email that’s used solely for entering sweepstakes and other various contests. All of the emails that come into that account will likely show up in the general inbox, but you’ll be able to check the spam filter much easier to retrieve some of the sweepstakes-related emails. Keep a notebook of the sweepstakes that you’ve entered, as well, to make things easier.

Go For The Cash

There might be a sweepstakes that you can win easily, but it might not be something that you want, and you may have trouble selling it. You’d then have a sweepstakes win under your belt, but you’d also have something taking up space in your house that’s worth almost nothing to you. 

Because of that, try to focus on sweepstakes that have cash prizes, or at least something that you can use. Things like cars, treadmills/exercise bikes, golf clubs, etc. will all have great resell value, especially if they haven’t been used, making them good targets for sweepstakes wins. Just remember, if you wouldn’t use it, there might not be many others that would.

Make More Accounts

One of the more popular ways in which companies will run a sweepstakes is through social media websites like Twitter or Facebook. In the case of the former, sometimes all it takes is a retweet and mention of the company to enter, so it’s important to have enough accounts on Twitter to increase your chances.

Sure, sometimes a Twitter sweepstakes has a small prize because the entry is so easy, but it can be worth it if you keep winning them. Follow the rules of the contest, but make sure that you have several accounts with different emails that are ready to enter any contest at a moment’s notice.

Why Do Some Premier League Clubs Have More Injuries Than Others?

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There are few things quite as frustrating as seeing your club put together a good season, only to have them lose a star player due to injury, derail the entire season, and end the chances of collecting any trophies. For some clubs, the injury bug seems to be much more infectious than it does for others.

Superstitious supporters will tend to believe that their club has been cursed, but there is far more to it than anything supernatural. There can be several reasons one club suffers more injuries than others, and we’ll break down some of the most common reasons.

The Pitch Type

The English Premier League is known for having some of the best-looking grass in the world, as there’s a high standard for pitches across the league. While most clubs have their pitches down to a science, there are some that are lacking in the pitch department. Some clubs haven’t invested in pitch types that are safer for players, and a bad pitch can result in a slew of ankle or knee injuries.

The clubs at the top of the fixture each year invest a lot into making sure that their pitches are perfect to protect their highly-paid players. Those that are lower in the fixture, though, may not be able to afford the upgrades. Jason Booth is the director of the Grounds Management Association, and he said that “We’ve had some clubs (that) have had to cut their cloth.” Even American football has the same problem, with some pitch types resulting in an increase of ACL injuries.

Conditioning

The more fatigued somebody is, the more prone they are to injury. One major study concluded that “fatigued muscles are able to absorb less energy before reaching the degree of stretch that causes injuries.” Because of this, it’s important that all of the players are in great condition, and the staff is responsible for making sure that they’re at that level.

Of course, with the football schedule the way it is, not every player is going to have time to work on their conditioning outside of matches. There are very few breaks throughout the year, and managers have to keep their stars accountable. Also, when a player is showing signs of serious fatigue, a good manager will pull them from a match before injury occurs.

Experience

There are certain ebbs and flows to a match at the Premier League level, and you can certainly tell the difference when watching an EPL match compared to lower levels. Some of the players aren’t accustomed to the speed and strategy of an EPL match, and that can lead to injuries. Accidents happen when a player is in the wrong spot or can take risks that cause them to crash into other players at a high speed.

This is why supporters of all sports are nervous to see their star players go against those that are inexperienced. Many of the top players are pulled from matches early or withheld altogether as their talents aren’t needed to beat the more inexperienced clubs, so the injury risk isn’t worth them playing.

Reported Injuries

There was a time when players would power through injuries because they didn’t want to lose their spot on a squad. However, players weren’t given millions every year. These days, players are a much larger investment for a club, and they want to know when their stars feel even the slightest bit of pain so that they can keep them out of the lineup.

Athletes are also receiving top care from health professionals, whereas in years past, they would simply take a few painkillers and get back on the pitch. Teams at the highest level have far more reported injuries due to the perceived minor ones being taken seriously. 

Summary

While these are the main reasons some clubs have more injuries than others, sometimes it comes down to just plain dumb luck. Even the most conditioned and experienced players can find themselves with a torn ACL or a concussion from just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Injuries happen all the time, and they’ll continue to happen to your favorite club, unfortunately. 

Pimp Your Ride: The 5 Best Mountain Bike Gadgets

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Mountain biking has been a hobby for hundreds of thousands of people each year for generations now, and there have been a lot of advancements in how we ride. Gone are the days when a simple chain coming off would be the end of the trip and possibly signal danger as technology has made mountain biking safe and fun. If you’re looking to pimp your mountain bike, here are the five best mountain bike gadgets to take on your next trip to make it even better.

1. Multi-Tool

When you’re mountain biking, there’s always that strong possibility that something could go wrong. From having a chain break to having your seat come loose, things happen out on the trails and you’re going to need the right tool for the job. Thankfully, there are plenty of multi-tools available for mountain bikers that are compact, affordable, and in most cases are even stylish.

Experienced bikers will tell you that a multi-tool has gotten them out of a lot of tough situations, and there are a few multi-tools that stand out above the rest. The Crank Bros M19 is one of the most preferred multi-tools, as well as the Lezyne V Pro-11 and Fabric 16-in-1. You really can’t go wrong with one of the brand-name multi-tools, all of which will most certainly help you at some point.

2. Global Hotspot

Mountain bikers typically stay off the beaten path and head out into territories where there might not be any internet or cell phone service. To prevent yourself from getting lost, you’ll want something that can access the internet from anywhere in the world, and there are plenty of global hotspot options available.

Somewear is the leading company in the global hotspot market, and these nifty little devices (that look like bottles of Mio water enhancers) make sure that you always know where you are. While these hotspots aren’t the cheapest devices that you’ll see, they could end up saving your life by letting you know how to get back to civilization before the sun goes down. You can’t put a price on safety, after all.

3. Headlamp

Even if you’re biking through the most populated area in the world, you’re still going to want a headlamp with you when it’s even the slightest bit dark outside. Not only do you want other people to see you while you’re riding, but you want to make sure what’s immediately ahead of you while on the trails or even the sidewalks.

Like global hotspots, there are a lot on the market, with the headlamp market being one of the most massive in terms of bike accessories. With that in mind, you don’t want to go cheap on one that’s going to run out quickly or not give you the illumination that you desperately need. Some of the highest-rated biking headlamps include the Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2.0, the Exposure Six Pack MK12, and the Gemini Titan 4000.

4. Tire Inflator

One of the most annoying things that can happen while out riding is to have your tire go flat. Then, you have to bust out the bulky bike pump and sit there pumping away while trying to keep your bike from falling over. It’s annoying, but thankfully, there is a solution to the problem. These days, many bikers are turning to CO2 inflators that are easily carried and do the job quickly.

Some of the best CO2 inflators can help fix your flat in a matter of seconds, getting you back on the trail so that you aren’t holding up the rest of the group. From pocket pumps to big volume pumps, you can’t really go long if you have one with you. Some of the top inflators include the Merida Telescope MTB, the Birzman Infinite Apogee MTB, and the Topeak Mountain TT Twin Turbo.

5. Hydration

There’s nothing more important than staying hydrated and healthy while riding, especially if you’re getting far away from civilization. Keeping enough water with you at all times is paramount, and thankfully there are plenty of water bottles that are made specifically with mountain bikers in mind.

These bottles are designed to be easy to carry on your bike, in your hand, and keep water cold throughout the duration of your ride. Some of these bottles include the CamelBak Bike Water Bottle, the 50 Strong Bicycle Squeeze Bottle, and the Schwinn Bike Water Bottle, all of which are affordable and effective.

5 Things to Know Before You Start Using Whatsapp

Posted on by scatty

Whatsapp is one of the most used apps worldwide, with 2 billion active users each month. That’s an astonishing number as just a few years ago, that number was less than half. Because of the growth in popularity, we’re seeing more and more people join Whatsapp on a daily basis, with many of these users having no familiarity with how it works.

For new users, Whatsapp might be a little overwhelming, but thankfully it can be easy to master the app. If you’re one of the people that hasn’t yet joined Whatsapp but want to get in on the action, we have some tips on getting started. Follow these five things you need to know before you start using Whatsapp, and you’ll feel comfortable with the app in no time.

Setting Your Profile

The first thing that you’re going to want to know about Whatsapp is how to set up your profile. You can enter your phone number, and when you do, you can choose to have all of your contacts imported from your phone. This is the easiest way to make it so that you don’t have to go through and individually add every person that you know.

You can also import all of your contacts from Facebook to make things easier. This can also help you to set up your entire Whatsapp profile if you don’t feel like entering your details manually. If you do want to enter this info, though, you can do so by clicking the settings tab and changing your information in the ‘about’ section.

International Internet Importance

One of the things that people love about text messaging is that you can be just about anywhere and still get a message out. As long as you have cellular service, you don’t have to be on wifi to use Whatsapp, but it does help if you have a solid internet connection. Whatsapp has become popular as you can send texts on an international basis without being charged for international messages.

To take advantage of this and avoid the fees for texting overseas, make sure that you are connected to wifi before using Whatsapp. This will also help protect your messages better while also providing a more reliable delivery. Not all apps run better on wifi, but Whatsapp is certainly one of them that does.

Group Messages

Whatsapp became popular worldwide for a lot of reasons, with one of the most important being the ability to send group messages. This has helped keep families and groups of friends connected no matter where they are in the world. To get a group message started, simply head to the ‘broadcast lists’ tab on Whatsapp.

From there, you’ll be able to select which contacts you want to be involved with in your new group chat, and more than 250 people can be in one group. This isn’t just great for connecting with loved ones, but can also be a huge advantage for small businesses where you can send messages instantly and not worry about them not getting read like an email would.

Finding Old Messages

There will be times when someone mentioned something to you in a chat and you completely forgot what they said specifically. When this happens, many of us simply scroll up until we find the right message, but if there is a lot to sift through, it can be nearly impossible to find that exact message you were looking for.

Thankfully, Whatsapp has a feature that allows you to search through both group and individual messages to find what you were looking for. Click the contact info at the top of the screen within the chat and then on the ‘search’ button. From there, you can find keywords that were typed out in the chat, taking you to each message that contains those words.

Clearing Storage

Whatsapp is a great communication tool and allows for a lot of video and image sharing, but it can wreak havoc on your phone’s storage capacity. If you find that your storage space is getting a little bit low, you can sort through which chats are taking up the most and delete some of the images and videos that have been shared.

To do this, go to the ‘settings’ tab and then click on ‘storage and data.’ From there, you’ll be able to click ‘manage storage’ and choose the contact that you chat with the most. An option will pop up that allows you to delete all multimedia, clearing up a lot of valuable space on your phone.

10 Longest Words in the English Language

Posted on by scatty

There are some words that we simply can’t spell or pronounce, even if they’re shorter ones. Then, there are monstrosities where you stare blankly at them and don’t even bother to come up with a pronunciation. The English language is filled with them, with some reaching over two dozen letters in length. Let’s take a look at 10 of those longest words in the English language and what they mean.

Thyroparathyroidectomized

This one is fairly easy to comprehend when you break it down, actually. Thyro, of course, has to deal with the thyroid, and that shows up twice in this lengthy word. To be ectomized is to be removed, so this word is for the surgical removal of not only the thyroid gland but the parathyroid gland, as well.

Honorificabilitudinitatibus

While this word is part of the English language, it’s completely derived from Latin words, leaving it hard to decipher for English speakers. Loosely, it translates into meaning ‘having the ability to achieve honors.’ Interestingly enough, this is by far the longest English word that alternates between consonants and vowels throughout and was used in “Love’s Labour’s Lost” by William Shakespeare.

Eellogofusciouhipoppokunurious

Now we get into the slang part of things, starting with this piece that first went into print back in 1934. While it doesn’t show up in the actual dictionary, it’s apparently one that got popular enough in certain parts of the country. Containing 30 letters in total, the definition is extremely simple as it means “very good.”

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Out of all of the words on this list that you have a chance of saying correctly on the first try, it’s this one. That’s because the word was used in the song of the same name in the 1964 Disney film “Mary Poppins” starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious was a catchy piece that all of us could sing, and while it’s a nonsense word it was accepted as an English one. What’s the true meaning? Well, when you break it down, it turns out to be “Atoning for being educable through delicate beauty.” Simply put, “All is good.”

Antidisestablishmentarianism

After Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, this is probably the other word that you can say off the top of your head. That’s because when we’re young, we’re typically taught that it’s the longest word. Based on how you determine the validity of word length, there’s truth to that. Antidisestablishmentarianism isn’t a scientific word, so it gets more recognition for its length, and it means to be in the thought that a church of the state should keep receiving “government patronage.”

Floccinaucinihilipilification

Have you ever had the feeling that typically comes with depression where everything seems worthless or unimportant? There’s actually a word for that, and it’s floccinaucinihilipilification. Since it’s not cited as a medical term, though, there are many that call this the longest word. There is some debate, as some attribute this to mental health, while others say it’s just a string of Latin stem words created just for its length.

Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism

Now we get to the medical portion of the list where things get really interesting, starting with pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism. Most people know that pseudo means fake, and it’s interesting to see it used back-to-back in this lengthy word. The overall definition, though, is that it’s a condition where you’re short, have a round face, and have short hand bones.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

We’re sorry if we startled you by including this word in the list. If you were startled, that’s because Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is actually the term for the fear of long words. While many are off-put by long words, the amount of people who have a phobia of them is almost none.

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

Certain words were made up simply to be long, and this is one of them. Everett M. Smith came up with this word while president of the National Puzzlers’ League as he wanted to come up with the longest possible that could have an actual meaning. Simply put, it means to contract a lung disease of fine ash and sand dust. It’s the longest word in the English dictionary.

Methionylthreonylthreonylglutaminylarginyl…isoleucine

The reason why we didn’t type this whole word out is because it would take days to do so and even hours just to pronounce. This one stands at a total of 189,819 letters and represents the chemical composition of titin, the largest known protein to man.