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Month: December 2022

5 Questions To Ask Before You Get a Mortgage

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There’s no larger expense that you’ll have in your life than the purchase of a home, which for some can cost seven figures. Not many of us are able to pay for a house in cash, and rely on mortgage to get the job done so we have a place to call home for the next few decades. With that in mind, you have to ask yourself a few questions before committing to a mortgage. These five questions need to be answered first and foremost before signing any paperwork.

1. What’s my interest rate?

The one thing that determines the housing market more than anything is the current interest rate. Before locking yourself into a mortgage, make sure that you’re getting the best interest possible. Of course, the rates are completely volatile and can change on a daily basis, so it’s best to strike at a rate that’s favorable like it was during the late 2000s and early 2020s.

You also have to understand the different types of mortgage interest rates. There are different rates depending on the type and length, with some being fixed rate mortgages while others are adjustable rates. Fixed rate mortgages are by far the most popular, with people locking into their prices for the length of the loan.

2. What type of mortgage do I need?

Interest rates differ by the type of mortgage that you get, and there are several options when shopping around for a loan. A fixed-rate mortgage is the most common, as it comes with a set monthly payment amount that appeals to people who will eventually make more money and can pay off their mortgage early. Then, there’s the adjustable-rate mortgage where there are lower payments at the beginning, which is also another good option for those that will make more as the years go on.

For those with great credit and want to buy an expensive home, conventional and jumbo mortgages are among the best options and typically handled through a broker. Finally, there are government loans through the VA and FHA that require low down payments and are given to those with low credit scores.

3. Is my debt too high?

You can have hundreds of thousands in debt, but if you’re making millions of dollars, then that massive amount of debt won’t matter one bit to mortgage lenders. Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is one of the first things that lenders will look at, and the lower your DTI, the better your chances of getting a desirable mortgage approved.

There are two aspects to your DTI, with the front-end and back-end. The front end is the monthly payments that include your mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities. The back-end is for all of your other monthly expenses that aren’t related to the house, such as credit cards, groceries, gas, and student loans.

4. Can I afford monthly payments?

The other side of the DTI is the income itself. If you’re one of the many people that’s looking to move from an apartment and into a house because the mortgage payments are cheaper than rent, you have to consider your savings.

Rental agreements are typically 12 months and you aren’t obligated to make any major repairs as that onus falls on the landlord. When you own a house, though, you’re the one that pays for any repairs and has to replace appliances. Make sure you have enough money to afford these unexpected expenses before diving into a mortgage.

5. How long do I want to live here?

When you’re paying for something like a house, you know that you’re investing a lot of money, but you’ll also be investing a lot of time. Before you get into a mortgage, you want to make sure that you’re satisfied with the house that you’ll be calling a home. While you have the option to pay off a mortgage early, that’s not going to be a strong likelihood for a lot of people.

With that in mind, you want to make sure that you’re comfortable living in a new house for at least 10 years, with the average mortgage being 30 years. In some cases, mortgages can be as long as 50 years, so make sure that everything is absolutely perfect for you and your investment before taking out a five, six, or seven-figure loan.

Best 7th Round Picks in NFL History

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You never know what you’re going to get in the NFL Draft. Sometimes you get Jamarcus Russell with the first overall pick, and then sometimes you get Tom Brady in the sixth round. You can scout all you want, but you never truly know how a player will pan out in the NFL until they’re on the field.

The NFL Draft moved to seven rounds in 1994 and has stayed at that mark ever since. Long gone are the days when there were 20 rounds since there are so many teams. After the first couple of rounds, the casual fan tends to stop paying attention, but there have still been some amazing players to be drafted in the seventh, and what is now the final, round. Here are our picks for the best seventh-round selections in NFL Draft history.

Before we get to the list, here are our honorable mentions for the players that just missed the cut: Donald Driver, Marques Colston, Julian Edelman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jake Scott, Bo Jackson, Jim Ringo, and Joe Schmidt.

5. Harold Carmichael

Harold Carmichael was an incredibly tall wide receiver coming out of Southern University in 1971 at 6’8”, but was considered a raw talent. The Philadelphia Eagles took the chance on him based on his size, using the 161st overall pick on Carmichael. He would end up leading the NFL in yards in 1973 and reached four Pro Bowls with the Eagles.

Carmichael was also a two-time All-Pro in Philadelphia, playing for more than a decade with the Eagles. One of his crowning achievements was winning the 1980 NFL Man of the Year Award, as well. Carmichael finished with 8,985 receiving yards and 79 touchdowns before ending his career in 1984 with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.

4. Rayfield Wright

Nicknamed “The Big Cat” because he could move incredibly nimbly for someone his size (6’6”, 270 pounds), Rayfield Wright was a force at Fort Valley State in the 1960s. The school didn’t play in Division-I at the time, however, so not many people got a chance to see Wright before he made it to the NFL Draft and was selected 182nd overall by the Dallas Cowboys.

Wright was a home run pick for the Cowboys as he was named an All-Pro in six seasons, with half of those being First-Team honors. Wright was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after winning two Super Bowl rings with the Cowboys and was inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor.

3. Gary Anderson

The seventh round is usually when teams are taking kickers off the board, and some turn out to be amazing at their job. South African native and Syracuse graduate Gary Anderson was the 171st overall pick in 1982 by the Buffalo Bills but actually started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1984.

Anderson spent more than 20 years in the NFL playing for a total of six franchises, and was selected as an All-Pro on three occasions and made two All-Decade Teams. His best season came in 1998 when he connected on all 35 of his field goal attempts in the regular season (don’t ask about the NFC Championship Game, however).

2. Larry Wilson

It might be cheating since Larry Wilson was drafted into a much smaller NFL, as he was only the 74th overall pick in the 1960 NFL Draft and a first-rounder in the AFL Draft. Regardless, Wilson was still a seventh-round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals, and spent his entire career with the franchise.

The Hall of Famer finished his career with 52 interceptions and was named to the All-Pro team seven times, with six of those being on the First-Team. Wilson was also on two All-Decade Teams, as well as the 75th and 100th NFL Anniversary All-Time Teams.

1. Shannon Sharpe

Known by the younger crowd as an analyst, Shannon Sharpe is one of the best tight ends ever and was selected 192nd overall out of Savannah State. Most of his career was spent with the Denver Broncos, though he did play for the Baltimore Ravens for two seasons. 

Sharpe was a five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl player who holds the tight end record for most receiving yards in a game with 214. Sharpe finished his career with over 10,000 yards and hauled in 62 touchdowns.

5 Worst NFL Draft Picks Ever

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You never know what you’re going to get in the NFL Draft, as some players can become Hall of Famers from later rounds, while top picks can end up being so bad that they’re out of the league within a couple of years. There have been some massive draft blunders over the years, but a few that really take the cake. Here are the five worst NFL Draft picks ever.

5. (Tie) Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold

The 2018 NFL Draft was loaded with talent, and the Cleveland Browns had the chance to finally grab a franchise quarterback. They opted for 2017 Heisman winner Baker Mayfield, while the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall. The third pick went to the New York Jets, and they took USC quarterback Sam Darnold.

Many were sold on Mayfield and Darnold to become franchise quarterbacks, while also saying the Buffalo Bills drafted Josh Allen too high at seventh overall. Within just a couple of years, Mayfield and Darnold departed their teams and became teammates and backups with the Carolina Panthers while Allen became one of the best QBs in the league. Other players that both teams passed up on include Denzel Ward, Bradley Chubb, and Quenton Nelson.

4. Tony Mandarich

Four of the first five selections in the 1989 NFL Draft were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Troy Aikman was a mainstay with the Dallas Cowboys, Barry Sanders became one of the best running backs of all time, Derrick Thomas was one of the 1990s best linebackers and Deion Sanders is a cornerback that current-day players all looked up to.

Then, there’s Tony Mandarich. The Michigan State offensive tackle was dubbed “The Incredible Bulk” by Sports Illustrated but flamed out with the Green Bay Packers. Mandarich played four seasons in Green Bay before he was out of the NFL for several years, and ended with a modest comeback with the Indianapolis Colts.

3. Lawrence Phillips

The 1996 NFL Draft was pretty loaded, with the top three picks all being perennial Pro Bowlers and the fourth would end up being a Hall of Famer in the form of left tackle Jonathan Ogden. At the sixth pick, the St. Louis Rams were in need of a running back and passed up on Michigan’s Tim Biakabutuka and Ohio State’s Eddie George in favor of Nebraska rusher Lawrence Phillips.

Phillips didn’t even make it through two seasons before the Rams let him go as he was having a lot of trouble off the field, including staying out drinking until the morning of gamedays. Phillips played in just 35 games during his career, having short stints with the Dolphins and 49ers. What made the pick really hurt was that the Rams traded away Jerome Bettis to make room for Phillips on the roster.

2. Ryan Leaf

Heading into the 1998 NFL Draft, it should’ve been clear that Peyton Manning was the top overall player, but there was still a debate on whether the Indianapolis Colts should select him or Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf. The Colts made the right choice by taking Manning, and Leaf fell to number two where the San Diego Chargers thought they found their franchise player.

Unfortunately, Leaf had a laundry list of problems both on and off the field, and only lasted with the Chargers for three seasons. By 2002, Leaf was out of the league and finished with a horrid 14 touchdowns to 36 interceptions. During that time, he had a record of 4-17 as a starter, including an 0-3 mark as the Cowboys started in 2001 when he received a second chance. Even worse, the Chargers passed up on the opportunity to draft Heisman winner and Hall of Famer Charles Woodson.

1. JaMarcus Russell

After a fine career at LSU that included a Sugar Bowl victory over Brady Quinn’s Notre Dame squad, JaMarcus Russell was the clear-cut number-one pick in the 2007 NFL Draft because of his impressive arm strength and mobility. The Raiders were the “winners” of the sweepstakes but quickly discovered that Russell’s head wasn’t in the game.

Russell wasn’t focusing on learning the playbook or practicing his hardest and the end result was just three years in the NFL. Russell threw for only 18 touchdowns compared to 23 interceptions, and he lost 18 of the 25 starts that he made. Some teams flirted with the idea of allowing Russell to make his comeback in the 2010s, but he ultimately played his final game in 2009 as the biggest draft bust of all time.

5 Classic Albums Everyone Should Own

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There are a lot of albums that are considered to be among the greatest ever, but that list can end up getting pretty long when you start to think of your personal favorites. While your own tastes are certainly good, there are some albums that hit the general public with such an overwhelmingly positive response from fans and critics alike that it’s hard to not consider them to be among the greatest ever.

If you haven’t listened to too much music from the 1990s and earlier, there are some albums that you absolutely must listen to. These albums have memorable tracks from beginning to end, with the singles that were released from each album making their way up the charts. Here are the five classic albums that span generations and genres that everyone should own.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac is a band with an incredible amount of notoriety, in part due to the lasting success of their eleventh studio album Rumours. It’s a classic soft rock album, released in February of 1977. The album features hit songs like “Dreams”, “Go Your Own Way”, and “The Chain”, songs that were written with influence from the bandmates’ lifestyles and relationships. Rolling Stones ranked Rumours at #25 of the 500 greatest albums of all time. 

Thriller by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s Thriller album is the highest-selling album of all time, globally. Indefinitely a classic album everyone should have as a part of their collection. Michael Jackson had a legendary career that has and will continue to leave a lasting impression on the world of pop. Thriller is the sixth studio album the King of Pop released in November of 1982, featuring sensational songs like “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, “Billie Jean”, “P.Y.T.”, “Beat It”, and of course “Thriller”. Critics gave the album incredible praise, claiming it changed the music industry for the better and was ahead of its time. 

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morrissette

Alanis Morrissette is a force to be reckoned with, even to this day. Her third studio album Jagged Little Pill was released in June of 1995 and features hit songs like “Hand in my Pocket”, “See Right Through You”, “You Learn”, “Ironic”, “Head Over Feet”, and the infamous “You Oughta Know”. She won two Grammys, and five Juno awards, and placed #69 in the 2020 edition of The Rolling Stone’s list of Greatest Albums of All Tim. It’s a classic 90s alternative rock album that is full of angst and deep emotion. 

Purple Rain by Prince

Prince was and still is a legend among the world of musicians. Purple Rain was Prince’s sixth studio album, released in June of 1984. It featured hit songs like “When Doves Cry”, “Darling Nikki”, “Baby I’m a Star”, and “Purple Rain”, all of which, and more, served as the soundtrack for the movie “Purple Rain”. The song Darling Nikki and the music video for When Doves Cry were both surrounded by a certain degree of controversy due to the sexual subject matter. Purple Rain still remains a classic that stood the test of time. 

Back in Black by AC/DC

AC/DC’s seventh studio album Back in Black is one of the best-selling metal albums of all time as well as the fourth best-selling album of all time in the US. It was released in July of 1980, with powerful songs like “Hells Bells”, “Back in Black”, “You Shook Me All Night Long”, and “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution”. It’s the first album released by the band with new singer Brian Johnson, following the death of their previous lead singer Bon Scott. Back in Black is a classic hard rock and the heavy metal masterpiece that revived and molded the world of metal music, making way for the metal bands of today. 

How Do The Big 4 Sports Rank in American Popularity?

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In the sports world, we fans care about championships and statistics, but those that are running the leagues of the nation care about ratings and popularity. In the United States, there are four professional leagues that make up the “big four,” with millions tuning in to see who takes home the league title. Out of the big four, though, how do the professional leagues rank, and who is in the fifth spot? Let’s take a look at the popularity in America for each major sport.

1. Football

Football is the number one sport in the United States, and it’s not even close. The most watched program in all of television, not just sports, is Sunday Night Football. Every week, the primetime game dwarfs every other program, while Monday Night Football dominates the cable ratings. All in all, around 40 percent of Americans say that football is their favorite sport.

When you check the ratings for the culmination of each season, the Super Bowl, it’s easy to see just how popular the NFL is. Out of the 31 most-watched telecasts of all time in the United States, the Super Bowl takes 30 of those spots. The only non-Super Bowl to crack into the rankings is the series finale of “M*A*S*H” which drew in nearly 106 million viewers.

2. Basketball

Basketball, like football, started off by having the college version be much more popular during its early years. The professional version, the NBA, has grown over the years and become the second-most popular sport in the United States. Many credit basketball’s growths to the likes of Michael Jordan, who helped the league tremendously during the 1990s.

Once millennials who grew up watching Jordan got to be adults, they were more inclined to watch the NBA, and the league has been a huge hit with Generation Z. Basketball is also much more available than it’s ever been, with streaming services and a large television contract with ESPN. The NBA is also known for its off-the-court drama that pulls in a lot of attention throughout the year.

3. Baseball

There was once a time when baseball was far and away the most popular sport in the United States. After all, it’s called America’s pastime and had the same type of popularity in post-war America that the NFL enjoys today. However, the percentage of people who said that baseball was their favorite sport dropped from a peak of around 40 percent in the 1940s to less than 10 percent now.

For many baseball purists, it’s quite sad to see that the sport has declined in popularity so much. Some blame the access to the game like blackouts preventing people from watching local teams, while others say the games simply take too long. Baseball has entertained many ideas on how to shorten games as a result of the declining numbers, and only time will tell if it pays off.

4. Hockey

To come up with the number four sport in the United States, you have to look at television ratings. For that reason, hockey takes the final spot in the top four due to the number of viewers it gets compared to the rest of the field. The NHL is considered one of the “big four” sports leagues, too, helping its case to claim its ranking as number four.

For the most part, hockey is very regional with those in the northeastern and Great Lakes regions of the country watching hockey the most. The sport is obviously number one in Canada, but the sport is growing in the United States. Expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle help to grow the sport into previously unserved areas, as well.

What’s America’s Fifth Sport?

You could make a case for several sports as the fifth most popular in the United States, even professional wrestling. Golf, tennis, and auto racing all serve as great individual sports options, but the fifth spot has to belong to soccer. Millions of Americans watch soccer, though they tend to cheer for an English Premier League team rather than an MLS team in the US. When the World Cup comes around, the average American will watch a lot of soccer, too.

5 Ways to Save Money on Grocery Bills Without Compromising

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While paying your rent or mortgage is the first bill that comes to mind because it’s all due at once, people might not realize just how much they’re spending on groceries. One of the main reasons for this is that people tend to go grocery shopping once per week at the bare minimum, with some heading to the store every day or two.

These trips can add up quickly, though, and when you’re crunching numbers at the end of the month you’ll be astonished at just how much you’re spending. People on the lower end of the income spectrum are spending nearly one-third of their monthly pay on groceries, with the suggested amount being 10 to 15 percent. If you’re looking to save money on your grocery bills without compromising, here are the five best ways to save you money and make sure you and your family are eating healthy, quality meals.

Don’t Be Wasteful

Making use of all the odds and ends of your grocery items is a useful method to save you money on your meals and feel good about your positive impact on the environment. If you buy meat, try buying it whole and butchering it yourself. 

Save the bones to make and freeze your own stock to use in dishes and freeze any meat you’re not going to use right away. You can repurpose leftover foods as well, like making bread crumbs out of leftover bread. Make sure everything is sealed airtight to keep it fresher for longer. 

Buy Items in Bulk and Freeze Them

Along with using every edible part of the food item, preserving and storing food is another helpful tip for saving money on your grocery bill. Buy meat, vegetables, fruits, and even bread in bulk. 

You can freeze those food items to use at a later date, either defrosted or still frozen. Buying items you use often and know you can preserve will ensure you have what you need when you need them and save you money in the long run. Be sure to package everything in airtight containers with the date, because even frozen items can go bad over time. 

Use Coupons

Couponing is a fantastic way to save money on groceries. It can be intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, the savings add up over time. There are sites online, emails you can sign up for, magazines, grocery store flyers, and coupon booklets that offer coupons for a variety of different products. 

Be sure to read the fine print and expiration date to ensure you’re properly using the coupon and save time at the checkout. Find and use as many coupons for items you often use or want to try. Any amount of money saved by using coupons is a success. 

Buy Store Brand

Oftentimes store brand groceries aren’t much different in quality than name-brand items. Store brand foods are given a bad rap, but typically the food items taste just as good, or almost as good as the store brand item. 

The price difference between the brands can be substantial, especially over time. You don’t have to replace all of your groceries with the store brand, but if there are a few select foods you’re happy to substitute then it’s worth a shot to save some money without giving up quality. 

Make Your Own Food

Making, or even growing, your own food from scratch is a practice that is making a steady comeback in recent years. With groceries prices skyrocketing and certain items unavailable, it can be a struggle on your wallet and meal choices. 

Growing your own vegetables and herbs can be done easily with a little bit of research and practice. Making homemade items from scratch like bread, sauces, jams, butter, stock, and even cheese, will not only taste fresher, but save you a significant amount of money on groceries over time. You can preserve and freeze items to maintain freshness. 

5 Insane Police Chase Stories That Actually Happened

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There are certain things that we as humans can’t look away from, and one of the most attention-drawing is a police chase. We often wonder to ourselves who is in the getaway vehicle, why they’re fleeing police, and how it will end. In most cases, it’s someone that’s simply afraid of being caught and is driving a typical vehicle at high speeds.

Then, there are cases where the vehicle is something far more outrageous, or the person in the car is someone that everybody knows. There have been some insane police chases, but these five take the case as the craziest to have actually happened, with people tuning into the news to see what happened next.

OJ Simpson 

Perhaps the most notorious police chase to this day, O.J. Simpson’s failed getaway in his friend’s white Ford Bronco is ingrained in modern history. After Simpson was due to turn himself into the police that morning for the murders of his wife Nicole Simpson, and their friend Ron Goldman. However, OJ didn’t show and was found to have been attempting a grand escape. 

The chase was slow, yet intense. The chase lasted two long hours and ended with Simpson being apprehended and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The story made headlines worldwide and the subsequent trial became a topic of discussion for years.

School Bus Blues

In October of 2020, a year that was already a colossal disaster, an unassuming eleven-year-old boy from Louisiana stole a school bus and led police on an intense chase. It’s not apparent how he gained access to the vehicle without an adult present, but the devious boy ran with it and ended up leading police on a 45-minute chase. 

During the chase, the boy crashed into three different vehicles, resulting in one person suffering a minor injury, and then ended with the tot crashing the bus into a tree, all the while shouting obscenities and flipping off the officers. He was apprehended and charged with theft and aggravated assault. 

Longest Police Chase

In November of 2022, a man from Moreno Valley California led police on a six-hour chase throughout Orange County and Los Angeles in the longest chase in LA history. The culprit, Johnny Anchondo, was on parole for attempted carjacking when he decided to commit his most recent criminal act. 

He carjacked two separate vehicles, breaking into a family’s home and threatening them with a weapon before stealing their car keys. He crashed into multiple police vehicles along the way, finally coming to an end when the car Anchondo was in began to malfunction after officers set out spike strips. 

Junior Driver

Another case of troubled children at play, five teenage children led police on a wild chase in New Mexico. In 2021 police attempted to pull over the occupants of a stolen SUV, later surprised to find out that the driver was a 12-year-old boy. 

The boy refused to stop, weaved in and out of traffic, blew right through stop signs, and almost lost control of the vehicle multiple times. At one point, the boy stopped the SUV to let out the other four teenage passengers. He continued the chase that brutally ended when he crashed head-on into a family of five on the highway. The boy was then taken into custody and charged. 

Tank Chase

In 1995 Shawn Nelson made history in San Diego when he stole an entire tank from the California Army National Guard armory. He was a sick individual with a large degree of turmoil in his personal life. Nelson sought destruction and wanted a way out. 

After a few weeks of spiraling further, the former military man took it upon himself to take a trip to the armory with the intent to cause chaos. He led police on a slow, but destructive chase, causing over $100,000 in damages. Fortunately, nobody was harmed during his rampage. He wasn’t so lucky. Officers eventually gained access to the tank and shot the uncooperative man, who later died at a nearby hospital. 

Why is Global Opinion So Divided Over the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

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Back in 2014, Russia pulled the trigger on its operation to reclaim Ukraine as a territory after it became an independent nation following the fall of the Soviet Union. It began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and in 2022 things escalated as Russia fully invaded mainland Ukraine and started a conflict that had countries around the globe weighing in.

Though the reasons for Russia wanting to reclaim Ukraine are a mystery to some, most countries have picked their side in the conflict. An overwhelming majority of countries are supporting Ukraine in the war, but there are some that are still siding with Russia. Why is there a split opinion on a global scale? Let’s take a look at the reasons that both sides have.

Why Some Favor Ukraine

The reason for many nations supporting Ukraine in the war is simple: They’re an independent nation that’s being invaded despite no provocation. There’s also the case of Ukraine and NATO being in rather close relations with each other for many years. Ukraine had initially wanted to join NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in the late 2000s, and it looked like the country was on its way to approval.

However, Viktor Yanukovych was elected as Ukraine’s president and opted not to pursue NATO membership. He left power in 2014, with Russia annexing Crimea shortly thereafter, revamping the talks between Ukraine and NATO. The talks only got more serious after Volodymyr Zelenskyy came into power in Ukraine and the 2022 invasion began.

There are plenty of major countries that aren’t part of NATO but are considered allies of the countries that are. These countries include Brazil, Japan, and Australia. These countries have typically been on the side of the United States and England, save for Japan in World War II.

Why Some Favor Russia

While the list of countries that have supported Russia is rather short, there are still several notable countries that have sided with Vladimir Putin and Russia. The most prominent countries on the list are Venezuela, Syria, and Iran. There are some other smaller countries, as well, including Myanmar and Eritrea.

Venezuela shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as the country has long since gone against what the United States has done. Russia and Venezuela had a strong relationship after World War II, but things fell out in the 1950s. The two reunited in 1972 and have remained strong allies ever since.

Iran is essentially in the same department, as they oppose the United States and especially NATO. One of the biggest reasons is that they have been stripped of much of their military power, and they want some more prestige on a global basis by backing Russia in hopes of defeating a NATO military.

As for Syria, they are still coming out of a civil war that had Russian involvement. The country felt the need to not pry into Russian doings, as half of the country opposes Russia while the other half supports them. 

Why Some Remain Neutral

Most of the world has made its stance known regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but there is also a handful that has remained completely neutral. Many of these countries are located in Africa, while others are located in Asia and Latin America. Neutral countries have stayed that way in hopes of being mediators for both sides, and refusing to condemn to avoid any potential conflict.

Sometimes, these countries know that there is no benefit to being engaged in global politics, especially if they’re having difficulty within their own borders. There aren’t many neutral countries, but the fact that they’re not outright supporting Russia and going against the overall majority opinion shows that they’re focused on nationalism. 

Summary

While the population within the nations that have condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine can be split, an overwhelming majority of the world’s countries have supported sanctioning Russia. Some of the major players, though, are surprising. India and China have chosen to sit out taking a side, and much of that has to do with their geographical location. Overall, the countries that are the furthest from Ukraine support them the most.

How To Change Your Mindset For Exam Success

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No matter what level of schooling you’re in, it can be difficult to find yourself in the right mindset to get through the studying period. There have been plenty of times in all of our lives when we simply feel stuck when preparing for an exam and it can be extremely overwhelming. Then, we let that stress get to us, and it can negatively impact our performance on the exam.

Thankfully, there are some ways in which you can change how you prepare for your exam, getting yourself mentally and physically ready to take it on at a pace that works for you. If you have an exam coming up and find yourself struggling, check out these tips on how to prepare and change your mindset for exam success.

Take Care Of Yourself

Likely one of the most important basics of studying properly is taking care of your body and mind. It’s nearly impossible to study with positive results if you’re tired, hungry, or full of tension. Make sure you’re sleeping properly, drinking plenty of hydrating fluids, eating well-rounded meals, and using methods to relax and calm yourself. It can be difficult to fit that all in when you’re trying to study for multiple exams at once, but indulging in self-care to your best ability will give you far better results. 

Don’t Do It All At Once

Another important tip to help improve your studying, is don’t cram for an exam, or multiple exams at one time. Life is busy and can get in the way, so sometimes it’s hard not to study for exams all at once. Try breaking down your study load into smaller pieces and spreading them out throughout the week so you have time set aside specifically for focusing on studying. Make sure nothing else is scheduled at that time so you can solely focus on studying during that time. If you have to push it all together, try spreading outbursts for studying throughout the small time frame you have. 

Take Breaks

Studying takes time and sometimes you can lose your momentum before your study block is over. Taking breaks is vital when it comes to studying in a healthy and positive way. Make sure you take breaks as often as needed, without getting too distracted. Take a short walk, get some light exercise, and go out for fresh air. Keep snacks and drinks around so you can take a refreshment break. Clearing your mind and nourishing your body will help you get back to the mindset you need to finish studying without burning out. 

Figure Out Your Learning Style and Use It

One size does not fit all when it comes to learning. Everyone has a unique learning style that helps them process information in a far more efficient way. Find the learning style that best suits your needs and apply it to your studying practices. If you’re a visual learner, try printing out, or drawing diagrams. If reading information is the easiest way for you to process it, make flashcards and write notes that you can go over. If you’re the kind of person who has an easier time when you have help, try asking a friend to help you study. 

Study in the Right Environment For You

Environment affects us more than we think. Creating a comfortable, yet productive environment that helps you keep your mind focused on your task at hand will help you study more efficiently. Try studying at a desk in a comfortable chair that also allows you to keep proper posture. Light a candle, put on music for background noise, keep the temperature comfortable, and keep the environment around you free of clutter. It’ll keep your mind clear and you’ll be able to stick to studying without too many distractions. 

5 Best Whatsapp Alternatives

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There are more than 2 billion people around the world that use Whatsapp, a messenger app that connects people around the world, with nearly a quarter of the users coming from India and Brazil. However, there are several major countries in which Whatsapp isn’t widely used, and there may be some concerns regarding data protection.

For these reasons, Whatsapp may not be the best messaging tool for everyone. The good news, though, is that there are plenty of alternatives that do the trick. Here are five Whatsapp alternatives to use if you’re looking for something that’s more commonly used in your area or perhaps safer to use.

Signal 

The Signal messaging app was developed by the Signal Technology Foundation in 2018. The company was founded by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton that same year. Signal offers a safer, encrypted, global form of communication. Similar to WhatsApp, users can communicate with people all over the world via messages, video calls, and audio calls. 

Signal is free to users and offers a secure place for your private conversations. Third parties can’t access the content within your app and you can hide conversations from your friends, or anyone who has access to your phone.

Telegram

Telegram is another free-to-use app that offers similar services to WhatsApp. Telegram gives users a private, encrypted, and safer platform for messages, audio calls, video calls, and file sharing of up to 1.5GB, unlike other communication apps. 

Also offering communication in at least 12 languages. The Telegram app was released for iOS and Android in 2013, developed by brothers Nikola and Pavel Durov. It’s one of the most popular secure messenger apps available today, with over 1 billion downloads and over 50 million active users as of 2021. 

Facebook Messenger 

Facebook Messenger is the most popular messenger app in North America and is the official messenger for the Facebook app. It was first developed as a feature on the Facebook website in 2008, years later becoming its own messenger app for iOS and Android in 2011 and adding the audio and video calling features in 2018. 

The app allows you to send money back and forth, take and share pictures, share your screen during calls, secret messaging, and communicate with users all over the Facebook world. Users can communicate with over 100 languages offered through the app. Although a great alternative to WhatsApp, the Facebook messenger doesn’t offer anonymity. 

Viber

Viber, also known as Rakuten Viber, is a free app, with paid calling options available, for iOS, Android, and PC. It was released in 2010 after being developed by Viber Media, which was later bought out by the Japanese company Rakuten in 2014 for $900 million. 

Users can send encrypted messages back and forth, audio calls, and video calls, send photos, and share group chats with unlimited members and plenty of admin features. 

Kik Messenger 

Kik Messenger is a free app developed and owned by MediaLab AI, Inc. Released in 2010, Kik quickly became popular among the younger crowds, with about 40% of teenagers using the app in 2016. Kik is a simple and easy-to-use messenger. You don’t need to enter much personal information to sign up, just your username/email, birthdate, and password. 

The app does log your IP address and doesn’t offer message encryption, but allows for total anonymity otherwise. You can message worldwide, audio call, video call, share photos, and join group community chats based on your interests. A great feature included in the app to prevent nefarious acts is the addition of SafePhoto, a feature that prevents, reports, and deletes exploitative images of children.