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5 Tips For Improving Your Internet Connection – Without Paying More Per Month

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Because we’re more reliant on the internet with each passing year, it can be extremely frustrating when your connection lags out or slows down. The first thing that most of us do is unplug our routers and modems to reset them. Sometimes that works, but other times, there’s a more serious issue at hand.

If you’re looking to improve your internet speeds without having to upgrade your (already expensive) monthly package, there are some tips to try out first. Here are five things that you should look into before signing a multi-year contract and getting stuck with a higher monthly internet bill.

5. Check for Viruses

Your internet speed might not have anything to do with the router or modem at all, but rather the device you’re using. Even mobile phones are suscept to getting viruses, so make sure to run antivirus and antimalware programs on all of your devices that connect to the internet. If that clears things up, you’ll be saving a lot of money.

4. Monitor Data

Most internet service providers have a data cap that they set for every customer each month. For some, the speeds remain the same while the customer gets charged more for each block of data, while others have no extra charge but will throttle your internet speeds severely after a certain point.

If your plan falls into the latter category, make sure that you’re saving data. Set a daily or weekly cap for yourself, that way you have plenty of data to use for the entire month. If you’re on the plan with paid overages, then you’ll really want to keep an eye on your data.

3. Change Frequencies

Some devices in your home are going to require a lot more bandwidth than others. For instance, if you’re playing games online through your PC or console, you’ll want to have most of the bandwidth reserved for that. Most modems will come with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies that you can use to optimize your connection.

It isn’t just your own router that can clog up the frequency, either. If your neighbors are all using the same GHz frequency, that can slow down your internet. If you find that your connection has been slowed down, try to adjust the channel before giving up on your modem completely.

2. Upgrade the Modem

A lot of people will purchase a brand new top-of-the-line modem, and then forget that modems end up improving just as fast as other electronics with each passing year. Every two to four years, modems can become out of date, even if they were the best at the time they were purchased.

Each year, a new modem will come out with improved download speeds, but that doesn’t mean the one that you have is completely obsolete. A good modem will still last for several years, but if you really want to improve your internet connection, make sure you’re staying up with the latest model. It can be a bit pricey each year but may be worth it for the lack of frustration.

1. Move the Router

One error that many people make is that they think a router can be anywhere in the house and the connection will be fine since the signals are strong enough. Some even put their routers behind televisions, in closets, or on the floor. However, where you place your wireless router is essential for signal strength.

The wireless router should always be at the center of your home and elevated as high as possible for the best signal. If you’re in an apartment, try placing the router in the living room, preferably on a shelf with nothing else. Objects around the router can interfere with signals, especially electronic ones. Giving the router a free path to your devices will work wonders for your internet connection.

Biggest Blue Chip Prospects in College Football History

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Every year, a new batch of high school football players join the college ranks. Some don’t get scholarship offers while others are heralded as surefire greats in the NFL. Of all of the five-star blue chip players to come out of high school, which ones received the most hype, and how did they do? Here are the five biggest blue-chip prospects in college football history.

5. Robert Nkemdiche

College Career: Heralded as a “perfect prospect” by most recruiting sources, Robert Nkemdiche stunned a lot of people when he chose to go to Ole Miss in 2013. Nkemdiche was a 6’5” 260 pound prospect that could stuff the run while also putting pressure on the quarterback. Nkemdiche was solid (including an All-SEC 2015 season), but didn’t come close to living up to the hype.

Pro Career: All of the players on our list would end up being drafted in the first round, but Nkemdiche had to wait until the 29th selection in 2016 to hear his name called. Nkemdiche was selected by the Arizona Cardinals, though never quite reached his potential. Nkemdiche has played with several teams, amassing just 4.5 sacks in his NFL career.

4. Trevor Lawrence

College Career: The term “generational quarterback” gets thrown around a lot, and one of those times it was used without much argument was when Trevor Lawrence was a prospect. Lawrence was the next big thing coming out of Cartersville, Georgia, ultimately choosing Clemson for his college ball. Lawrence ended up being an All-American that helped the Tigers win the College Football Playoff in 2018.

Pro Career: After dominating both the high school and college ranks, Lawrence was considered one of the biggest slam dunks in NFL Draft history. As such, he was drafted first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, instantly becoming the starting quarterback.

3. Jadeveon Clowney

College Career: When the 2010s came around, the defensive end position became more important as pass rushers were in huge demand. More “prototype” rushers were coming along, starting with Jadeveon Clowney, whom many were certain would be an all-time great. Clowney picked South Carolina over Alabama and Clemson. Clowney was a two-time All-American and three-time All-SEC player.

Pro Career: Clowney was the consensus top player in an otherwise weak 2014 NFL Draft class. Clowney was selected first overall by the Houston Texans where he would spend five seasons. Clowney was a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro in Houston before moving on after the 2018 season, playing for multiple teams since then.

2. Vince Young

College Career: Many had hailed quarterback Vince Young as the “LeBron James of football” due to his unprecedented amount of hype and recruitment. Young received countless offers, but most knew he was headed to Texas where he became a legend. Young won pretty much every award in 2005 except for the Heisman en route to a Longhorns national title.

Pro Career: Considered the top quarterback of the 2006 NFL Draft, Vince Young was selected third overall behind Mario Williams and Reggie Bush, heading to the Tennessee Titans. Young was the Rookie of the Year, but had an inconsistent five seasons with the Titans. He bounced around several teams and finished his career in the Canadian Football League.

1. Peyton Manning

College Career: The reason why college football recruiting has become a 24/7 news cycle is because of Peyton Manning. Almost everyone knew that Arch Manning’s son was going to be great, but would he pick Ole Miss or Tennessee? Manning ended up attending the latter, playing four seasons with the Volunteers. Manning was a Heisman finalist and All-American, becoming perhaps the college’s best all-time player.

Pro Career: Despite some suggesting that Ryan Leaf might be the top pick, the Indianapolis Colts wisely selected Peyton Manning first overall in 1998. Manning had a Hall of Fame career, winning five MVP awards and winning two Super Bowls before retiring with the Denver Broncos after the 2015 season.

5 Best Nike Air Jordans Of All Time

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There are hundreds of different basketball shoes on the market at any given time and plenty of players have their own line of shoes. From Shaquille O’Neal to Stephon Marbury, almost every star has tried their hand (or foot) at a shoe line. However, nobody has topped Michael Jordan, with the Air Jordan brand being by far the most popular in basketball history. Out of the many generations of Air Jordans, which ones are the best, though? Here are our top five:

5. Air Jordan VI

When you think of sleek basketball shoes, the Air Jordan VI is one of the first ones that come to mind. At $125 upon its 1991 release, the ones that Jordan wore on the court were mostly white with red trim, black tongues, and white laces. 

Other variations were made, including mostly black with red and white soles that also showed Jordan’s more aggressive playstyle. With several reissues since the Air Jordan VI has been the baseline for a lot of different styles over the years. 

4. Air Jordan XI

A lot of the Air Jordans on the list were among the younger generations, but the later generation Air Jordan XI remains one of the best. The Air Jordan XI was released in 1995 along with the announcement that Jordan was returning to the NBA following his initial retirement.

The sneaker, which was white with black trim and featured the Jumpman logo on the outer back heel, became synonymous with mid-1990s fashion. Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan XI for Nike and said it was the best that he had ever done. This version was more durable, yet lighter, making it the ultimate basketball shoe.

3. Air Jordan IV

Released in 1989, the Air Jordan IV didn’t have a significant redesign from its predecessor but was featured prominently in one of the most iconic photographs in sports history. During the 1989 playoffs, Jordan and the Bulls were facing the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bulls were down in the winner-take-all game, but Jordan hit a jump shot over Craig Ehlo to allow the Bulls to advance.

Jordan was wearing black Jordan IV shoes with red soles, leaping into the air and pumping his fist following the shot. That image would be ingrained into the minds of sports fans around the world, launching the Jordan brand shoes into the stratosphere. 

2. Air Jordan I

Of course, you can’t have a list of the best Air Jordans without talking about the pair that started it all: the Air Jordan I. Designed by Peter Moore, the original Air I was released in 1985 during Jordan’s amazing rookie season. Nike knew that Jordan was going to be one of the biggest stars in the league, giving him a signature shoe in the process.

There have been a lot of reissues and redesigns of the iconic Air I since their release, but the original always remains the eye-catching classic. The red and white design really pops, with the black Nike swoosh on the side. Only a few knew what kind of international sensation the Jordan brand would be when this shoe was released.

1. Air Jordan III

While there were two other Air Jordans by the time the third generation came around, this was the one that made the shoes into a global phenomenon. This was the line that made the Jordan brand a fashion trend, with people lining up to get their hands on a pair. To this day, Air Jordan III’s are getting remakes and updated versions while the original pairs are selling for big bucks through auctions both in-person and online.

At the time of its release in 1988, the Air Jordan III cost $100 and had some tweaks from the first two generations. The Air Jordan III didn’t feature the swoosh, and introduced the Jumpman logo for the first time, placing it on the tongue. That alone made the generation of Jordans an icon that still holds up today.

Well Fed? A Quick Overview Of Typical Employee Benefits For Federal Workers

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There are a lot of reasons to work for the federal government in some capacity. For some, it’s the stability and lack of having to negotiate for better pay. For others, it’s because of the massive amount of benefits that federal employees receive. If you’ve been thinking about joining the federal government as an employee, there are some great perks that come along with it. Here’s a quick overview to the benefits federal workers can expect:

5. Vacation

Everyone loves taking vacation days, and the federal government offers a lot of them. Those that have been employed by the federal government for up to three years, they’ll receive 13 vacation days every year. 

Employees who have been there for three to 15 years receive 20 vacation days per year while 15+ years is 26 vacation days. These vacation days can roll over, too, with a maximum of 30 days rolled over each year.

4. Sick Leave/Holidays

A lot of private sector employees can be very stringent on how much sick leave you get each year and don’t observe many holidays. In most cases, your sick days won’t roll over in the next year, either. That’s not the case for federal employees, though, who are able to get 13 sick days per year no matter how long they’ve been employed and can be used for various reasons.

The best part of the sick leave is that it indeed rolls over into the following year. Let’s say you haven’t taken a sick day for five years. That means that you’ll have 65 of them stored up for whenever you need them the most. You may not need to use sick days if they happen to fall on one of the 11 paid holidays, too.

3. Student Loan Forgiveness

The most efficient way to pay back federal student loans is by working with the federal government itself. Federal Family Education Loans and Direct PLUS Loans qualify for the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program when people work for the same federal agency for at least three years.

Through this program, participants can have up to $10,000 per year repaid with up to $60,000 in total. If you’re working in the public sector in general (i.e. public school teacher, city hall, etc.) you can have your student loans totally forgiven after 10 years of work. As long as you have made 120 monthly payments, you’ll qualify for this student loan forgiveness.

2. Health Insurance

All federal employees are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. There are over 200 plans for employees to choose from, and it covers just about anything that you could think of. From routine exams and lab tests to prescriptions and smoking cessation programs, federal employees have some of the best health insurance possible.

For most plans, employees will pay around 30 percent of the insurance premium per pay period while the government takes care of the rest. Unlike most health insurance plans that are provided by employers, federal health insurance plans aren’t subject to a physical exam or a waiting period, either.

1. Retirement Benefits

You’ll find that a lot of federal employees end up sticking with the same agency for much of their careers, and a big reason for that is due to the retirement benefits. The Federal Employees Retirement System has contributions coming from three sources, making it one of the best retirement plans that you could ask for.

On top of social security, federal employees also get contributions from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and Basic Benefit Plan. The TSP operates similarly to a 401(k), except an employee doesn’t need to put anything in themselves for the agency to contribute. Each pay period will have the agency deposit the amount equivalent to 1 percent and does the same through the Basic Benefit Plan. In the Basic Benefit Plan, though, employees to have to make contributions themselves, too.

5 Essential Tips To Survive The Coming Zombie Apocalypse

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While zombies have been popular since the early 19th century, the thought of a zombie apocalypse really started to hit the mainstream thanks to horror films of the late 1960s and early 1970s. George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” had a lot of us thinking about what we would do if zombies were all of a sudden roaming the Earth, and possible scenarios have only become more detailed thanks to shows like “The Walking Dead” and movies like “Zombieland”.

So let’s say that you get an alert on your mobile phone that says the zombie apocalypse is starting. How would you survive? Thankfully we have some tips that you must follow if you’re going to survive the coming zombie apocalypse.

1. Stock Up On Preserved and Canned Foods 

One thing we humans are used to in the modern world is convenience. You can order food, groceries, and other goods online and have them at your front door in no time. That’s a luxury of the past once the world is overrun by flesh-eating, brain-hungry zombies. 

Stocking up on canned, dried, preserved, foods is essential when planning the long-term survival of you and your family. Another helpful and even more long-term survival method would be learning how to grow and harvest your own crops when the shelf-stable food supplies begin running dry. 

2. Have A Water Supply

Clean water surprisingly isn’t even a luxury for everyone in today’s world, but it’s a highly essential part of our survival. Ingesting contaminated water poses many risks to a person’s health, like parasites, disease, and of course the contamination caused by the infected slew of zombies roaming about. Having access to clean, zombie-free water is a must for drinking, bathing, cooking, and providing your crops with nourishment.  

3. Have An Emergency Kit

The world is already a pretty dangerous place as it is and emergency situations will still arise in the midst of the impending zombie apocalypse. Having a kit full of emergency supplies is always a good idea and even more so in a truly harrowing situation, like being wounded while you’re surrounded by vicious zombies. Bandages, wound disinfectants, tourniquets, medications, and weapons, would all make great additions to your emergency kit.  

4. Travel Light

Whether you prefer to stay on the move, or you’re given the daunting task of going out on a supply run, it’s important to learn to travel light and undetected. If it’s a short trip, only bring the essentials in case of emergency and a weapon for protection.  

If it’s a longer trek, you may be faced with the difficult choice of leaving certain supplies behind and only bringing the items you find to be most important for survival. Preserved foods, water storage, devices to purify water, a weapon, essential medical supplies, one extra pair of clothing and footwear, and possibly a form of communication (if available), would be some of the important items to take with you. Work with your surroundings to blend in and make careful movements to avoid making too much unnecessary noise. 

5. Don’t Take Risks

The famous phrase “it’s better to be safe than sorry” rings true when the world and everyone in it is up against a devastating infectious disease. Take precautions by washing hands regularly, bathing, ingesting only clean food and water, and keeping your distance from infected, sickly, or deceased animals and humans. You can never be too careful in that type of situation. It’s important to be vigilant in detecting potential risks and keeping healthy practices. 

We’ve already had a few prime examples throughout human history when it comes to infectious diseases and how to stay away. Everything form the plague to COVID-19 has shown just how fast some diseases can spread, so consider the pandemic of the early 2020s to be practice.

What is Killer Sudoku?

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At this point, almost everyone in the world knows what Sudoku is. Many of us sit down each day with our Sudoku book or pull up one of our many apps to see if we can knock out a puzzle or two (or maybe a dozen). There have been quite a few attempts at matching the popularity of Sudoku or trying to find a variant that catches on. Not many have been successful, though, save for one.

That’s where Killer Sudoku comes in. This game sounds terrifying on the surface level. After all, “killer” is right in the name. You may be surprised, though, as a lot of Killer Sudoku puzzles are actually easier than the standard Sudoku puzzles on the easy difficulty. Let’s take a look at Killer Sudoku, including where it came from and how to play.

History

Sudoku had been around for ages by the time the 1990s came around. There were even variants by that point, including Killer Sudoku. It wasn’t until the mid-2000s that Killer Sudoku was introduced outside of Japan, though, just as the original version of the game was starting to gain traction in the west. 

The name implies, well, almost nothing. Killer Sudoku was originally called samunamupure in Japan, which translated simply into “sum number place.” It does a much better job of explaining what the game is about compared to Killer Sudoku. The game itself was the creation of Tetsuya Nishio, a Sudoku master who wanted to offer up a new challenge.

“This new variation will be a dreadful challenge to you,” Nishio said. “Do not get too addicted. We can make these puzzles so difficult that it would take a champion six hours to complete one.” 

Structure

If you’re looking at Killer Sudoku in black and white, it may not seem so bad. The familiar 9×9 grid is there and separated into smaller 3×3 sections. What sets Killer Sudoku apart, though? Well, new boxes are added to the mix in the form of different colors. Not only that but there’s a small number in the corner of some of the boxes. The sum of the numbers within these colored “cages” must add up to that number.

There’s another variation of Killer Sudoku called ‘Killer X’ that takes things one step further by making it so that one of the diagonal lines contains one number each, as well. When first introduced, Killer Sudoku was extremely confusing for a lot of people, and the rules had to be explained by The Times in England after many spent weeks doing the puzzles wrong.

How to Win

It takes a lot of mathematical know-how and a ton of patience to figure out how to beat a Killer Sudoku puzzle. Experts say that you should start off with the cages to get the right sum and pick the cages that have the highest and lowest numbers. Once you solve those, figuring out the rest of the 3×3 box should be much easier.

There’s also another strategy that should be familiar to Sudoku players called the “Rule of 45.” The numbers in all of the houses on a Killer Sudoku puzzle should add up to 45. This can be much trickier with the cages that need to have a sum of their own. Experts will argue over which method is best for trying to solve the puzzle, but it’s up to the comfort of the player.

Summary

Just like the regular version of the game, Killer Sudoku has a lot of difficulty levels. The easiest level is the best starting spot for any player, even for those that haven’t played regular Sudoku. It’s a great introduction to the game, and when the cages are removed, players will find the standard version easier to figure out. As for the harder levels of Killer Sudoku, well, as Nishio says, it’s a “dreadful challenge.”

How To Plan Your Sleep Cycles And Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene

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Almost three-quarters of people don’t get enough sleep once per month, while more than 10 percent aren’t getting enough sleep every single night. This is an alarming statistic, and the Centers for Disease Control says that around one-third of people are struggling with sleep. A lot of this has to do with not practicing good sleep hygiene or getting into good sleep cycles. If you’re one of the many millions, try out some of these tips so that you’re well-rested when you wake up every day.

5. Divide Sleep Time By 90 Minutes

A good sleep cycle consists of four different stages. Those that only make it to stage one can end up being physically rested momentarily, but aren’t truly asleep. It isn’t really until stage three that your body starts to get into a deeper sleep, with the 70-90 minute window being where you get your best sleep when REM sleep occurs.

Because of this, experts suggest that you should wake up after an interval of 90 minutes. If you’re someone who can fall asleep right away, try to set your alarm for 7 hours and 30 minutes after your normal sleeping time. If you wake up at eight hours, you’ll likely still be in stage two of your sleep cycle, thus creating a bit of grogginess, but still better than waking up during stage one.

4. No Electronics in Bed

Because most of us are glued to our electronics throughout the day, it can be hard to set them aside when bedtime comes. After all, that’s when many of us are finally relaxing for the first time that day. You’ll likely feel the desire to watch television for a bit or browse through your phone before sleep, but that can throw you off tremendously.

Instead, don’t lie in bed unless you have the full intention of going to sleep and doing nothing else. Studies have shown that those who break away from electronics in their bedrooms fall asleep much faster and wake up less frequently during the night.

3. Exercise Helps

Exercise is something that people should be getting every day, but with today’s society, it can be tough to find enough time to get any in. In some rarer cases, there are people who have their sleep negatively impacted by exercise, as well. For most, though, simply getting enough exercise (especially in the evening) can help sleep tremendously.

That’s because after you exercise, your body’s core temperature increases. This results in alertness and a lot of energy, but it doesn’t last forever. Usually, within two hours of exercising at night, you’ll feel sleepiness as your body’s temperature starts to come back down. The result is the ability to sleep almost immediately.

2. Keep It Cool

There are some people that just refuse to turn on the air conditioner because running it can rack up a high energy bill. However, what you save in electricity costs you pay for with lack of sleep. That’s because science has shown that sleeping in a cooler room (between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit or 15-19 degrees Celsius) promotes deeper sleep.

The reason for this is that your body temperature will lower in a colder environment while also creating natural melatonin. Even though you may be comfortable in a 70-degree room, you can end up waking up hot and sweaty in the middle of the night due to your body temperature while you sleep, so keep things cooler.

1. Relax Before Relaxing

Too often, a lot of us go to bed with the stress of the day still lingering over our heads. You could be extremely tired but still not able to fall asleep because you’re thinking about something that made you frustrated or angry earlier that day. Do whatever you can to destress before you go to bed.

For a lot of people, this can mean exercise, while for others it’s reading a book or meditating. Whatever your best way to destress is, make sure that you’re doing it before bed every night.

Biggest Roster Moves in Houston Rockets History

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Founded in San Diego, the Rockets headed to Houston just four years after their creation and have been a staple of the NBA ever since. During that time, the Rockets have been at the forefront of some of the biggest moves in league history with Hall of Fame names coming and going over the years. What were the biggest moves for the multiple-time NBA Champions, though? Here are the five biggest roster moves in Houston Rockets history.

Drexler Comes Home

Clyde Drexler was a hometown hero for Houston after being part of Phi Slama Jama with Hakeem Olajuwon at the University of Houston. While Olajuwon played for the Rockets already, Drexler had spent his entire pro career in Portland by the 1994-95 season. About halfway through the season, the Rockets acquired Drexler (along with Tracy Murray) in exchange for Otis Thorpe and Marcelo Nicola.

Drexler ended up being the only player of real value in the trade, spending more than three seasons with the team. Drexler won the 1995 NBA Championship and a pair of All-Star Teams as he ended his career with the Rockets.

Barkley’s Bounty

Charles Barkley established himself as one of the best players of his generations when he played for the 76ers and the Suns from 1984 to 1996. The Rockets, hoping to keep their dynasty going after Michael Jordan came out of retirement, acquired Barkley for Chucky Brown, Mark Bryant, Robert Horry, and Sam Cassell.

Unfortunately, Barkley (who was already 33 years old) didn’t pan out for Houston. He averaged just 16.5 points per game, though he continued his great rebounding. Barkley also missed significant time, leading to his final season being played in 1999-2000, retiring as a Rocket.

Snagging T-Mac

Steve Francis got off to a hot start in his career, hence the nickname “Stevie Franchise” after six seasons with the Rockets and three All-Star appearances. However, Francis would be dealt along with Kelvin Cato and Cuttino Mobley after the 2003-04 season so the Rockets could acquire Tracy McGrady from the Orlando Magic (along with Reece Gaines, Juwan Howard, and Tyronn Lue).

T-Mac was an established star by that time and continued his success in Houston. Over six seasons with the Rockets, McGrady put up 22.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Meanwhile, Francis didn’t stick around long in Orlando, playing just a few more seasons in the league before knee injuries forced him to retire.

Harden Comes, Harden Goes

After not getting the contract extension that he wanted with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Rockets set out to make James Harden the centerpiece of the franchise by acquiring him in a trade. Houston also received Daequan Cook, Cole Aldrich and Lazar Hayward while giving up Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, and three draft picks.

While Harden didn’t bring a title to Houston, he was still a nin-time All-Star who put up 29.6 points per game in his long career with the Rockets. Harden was then involved in another massive trade in 2021, sending him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four team trade that saw the Rockets acquire Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, and a bevy of draft picks.

Moses Parts From Buffalo

The ABA produced a lot of great talent for the NBA after the 1976 merger. One of the biggest names at the time was Moses Malone, who was acquired by the Buffalo Braves. However, Malone would play in just two games for the now-defunct Braves, sending him to the Rockets in exchange for a pair of first round picks that would end up being Wesley Cox and Micheal Ray Richardson.

Malone became a staple for the Rockets during his six seasons with the team, turning into a perennial All-Star. In 464 games with Houston, Malone averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game en route to being named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

5 Surprising Contributors To Light Pollution

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Have you lived your whole life within the confines of a large city and aren’t sure what people are referring to when they say that the stars are big and bright? That’s because urban areas are subject to light pollution, meaning that the stars are barely visible on a given night while those that live in these areas can have their daily natural cycles disrupted. There are a lot of things that lead to light pollution such as skyscrapers and traffic lights, but here are a few of the more surprising contributors.

1. Satellites

While we tend to think of light pollution coming from near the Earth’s surface, a lot of it actually comes from outside of the atmosphere. Artificial satellites that orbit around the Earth are huge contributors to light pollution. Each year, more satellites are added into orbit and it’s clogging up a lot of the view that people have of space.

This has been an issue for a lot of researchers here on Earth that are trying to study the stars from the surface. “For the first time in human history, we’re not going to have access to the night sky in the way that we’ve seen it,” said professor Samantha Lawler of the University of Regina, who compared satellite usage to cars in the fact that it was interesting at first but has now become cluttered.

2. Vehicles

Light pollution tends to be thought of as only the sky high above us, but it can also be a more surface-level issue. Vehicles in rural areas don’t contribute much to light pollution since you only tend to get one vehicle that goes down an otherwise empty road every few minutes or so. 

When there’s a traffic jam at night on a major freeway, though, a lot of light pollution is created. Think of those timelapse photos of freeways at night with the big blurs of white headlights and red taillights. When you add in the people that use headlights brighter than what’s necessary, that only makes things worse.

3. Sports Stadiums

For people who live in major cities, you’ve probably driven by a sports stadium and seen that the lights were on. You figured there may be a home game that night, only to check the schedule and see that the local team was either playing on the road or not at all. 

This is a huge contributor to light pollution in urban areas, so why do they keep them on when the stadium isn’t holding thousands of fans? A lot of this is for the handful of security and staff that are still working at the stadium, though the large lights at the top of the arenas tend to be much more than they need.

4. Bad Streetlight Bulbs

While we mentioned that streetlights are some of the biggest contributors to light pollution, the way that they affect people on a personal level can easily be fixed. Streetlights should be equipped with bulbs that give direct light to the areas on the street or sidewalk and nowhere else.

Bad lighting on a streetlight causes light trespass, making an uncomfortable aura of illumination where it’s not supposed to be. Have you ever lived close enough to a streetlamp to the point where you can tell that it’s on from your bedroom despite it being pointed away from you? That’s an example of light trespass.

5. Advertisers

Companies are always demanding your attention, which you probably already know if you subscribe to any streaming service or watch videos on YouTube. At night, these advertisements get pervasive in terms of light pollution. Think of places like Times Square or the Las Vegas Strip where advertisements are illuminated to the point where they can’t be missed.

Even in rural areas, billboards have several high-powered lamps illuminating them and pointing straight into the night sky. It’s a part of the society in which we live, but ads seem to take precedent over a quiet dark night.

What Public Information Is Likely To Be Out There On The Average Person?

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There was once a time when someone could remain anonymous throughout their entire lives, but those days are long gone. Just about everybody is part of the public eye with advances in technology, which means there’s a lot of information available. Anyone that’s willing to can access a lot of your public information for no charge, too. Wonder what pieces of information about you are floating around for anyone to see? Here are the most common pieces that pop up in public records when you’re being searched.

5. Date of Birth

There are a lot of people that say you should never share your date of birth online. It’s why so many people don’t even update their social media to include their birthdays and get the parade of well-wishing posts that come with it each year. However, you’re really not hiding much by keeping your birthday a secret since it’s public information.

As soon as you’re born and the ink on your birth certificate dries, it becomes part of the public record. This is why in most cases you’ll see the birth of a child announced in a town’s newspaper. While it might not show up on a Google search for some people, the date of birth is easily obtainable through public documents.

4. Marriage

When you get married in the United States, you have to file for a marriage license, which becomes a public record. Not only will people be able to see the fact that you’re married, but they’ll also be able to see the date you got married and the person you married. Many of these marriage records date back to the mid-19th century, too.

Does the same apply for divorces, though? While marriage licenses are always going to be public records, there are certain cases in which a divorce certificate can be sealed. This won’t apply to everyone, but it doesn’t hurt to request this if you don’t want your divorce to be made public.

3. Property Information

For those that don’t want their address to be part of public information, there’s some bad news. A simple search can likely reveal your residence, especially if you own property. The ownership of land, including deeds and mortgages, is all part of the public record. You may think that you can dodge this by renting a property instead, but that’s not always the case.

Your mailing address can be accessed through public information requests, which is why you tend to get junk mail specifically addressed to you. While it’s lacking privacy, property information is vital for public records due to taxes.

2. Bankruptcy/Tax Liens

Speaking of taxes, a notice of a tax lien filed by the IRS or state government also becomes a public record. This is when the government secures the interest in your property in an effort to collect a tax debt. The lien is a public alert to creditors and can garner attention from anyone who performs a search on you.

In the same vein, bankruptcies that are filed with the court are also part of public records. Again, these are alerts to creditors first and foremost. However, unlike marriage certificates or birth, these won’t be printed in the local newspaper.

1. Criminal Records

Depending on where you live, people may have access to your full criminal record if you have one. In most cases, criminal records will only pop up in a public search for someone that has been sentenced to incarceration or at the very least been booked into jail. Once convicted, of a crime, your public record is updated to reflect this.

For smaller offenses or dropped charges, though, the public record won’t be updated. So if you received a ticket for rolling through a stop sign or going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, don’t expect that to be held against you when applying for a job.