Author: scatty

Practice Makes Perfect: 5 Tips On Improving Your English Grammar

Posted on October 20, 2022 by scatty

Though it doesn’t rank at the very top, English is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn from scratch. One of the key reasons why English is so difficult is because of the particular grammar that we have to use in every sentence. There’s a certain structure that goes into everything you say or write, so just one thing out of place can be confusing for listeners and readers.

With that in mind, there are some tips you can take to heart to improve your English grammar. Follow these quick rules, and you’ll be reading, writing, and speaking perfect English in no time.

5. Parts of Speech

One of the hardest parts of the English language to learn is memorizing the parts of speech. All the way through college courses, the parts of speech are relearned by students taking classes. If you’re still wondering about the parts of speech, here’s a quick reminder of all nine and what they mean:

Adjectives (descriptive word or phrase attached to a noun, i.e. smart)
Adverbs (modification or qualification of a verb, i.e. gently, then)
Articles (a word that comes before a noun, i.e. the, an)
Conjunctions (connection of clauses or sentences, i.e. but, if)
Interjections (exclamation that is independent of surrounding words)
Nouns (person, place, or thing)
Prepositions (a word before a noun relating to another word, i.e. after, on)
Pronouns (a word that can replace a noun, i.e. they, he)
Verbs (a word that shows action, i.e., eat, dance)

4. Speaking Leads to Writing

If you’re by yourself or with people that don’t mind when you read things out loud, always try to recite everything that you’re reading when learning a new language. When you’re speaking with perfect grammar, it will become a habit. This is why things like flashcards are so useful for people that are learning something for the first time.

Whether it be a book, an article that you’re reading online, an email, or anything that’s written in English, try to sound it out to he best of your abilities. You may find that this improves your grammar quicker than you thought imaginable.

3. Learn From Grammar Checkers

Thankfully, the internet is available to people worldwide and has allowed us to type in other languages without too much difficulty due to grammar checkers. These downloadable apps and browser extensions can instantly check your writing for grammatical errors. Always take notes of the corrections that were made, that way you know for the future what to look out for.

Just use a bit of caution when using a grammar checker, however. Sometimes a suggestion will be made that doesn’t make sense in the context of a sentence. If you feel like the suggestion doesn’t work, you can send the suggestion as a report to better enhance the AI’s algorithm and learning.

2. Read Until You Drop

The easiest way to learn any language is to read continuously, and English is no exception. Sometimes, memorization is the best way of learning things. When you memorize where certain words go into sentences, that will stick with you and improve your grammar. This also lets you know when and where to use particular types of punctuation.

You won’t need to read an entire novel every day to get a good grasp of the English language. Reading news articles is a great way to perfect your grammar, especially through outlets that use AP (Associated Press) style writing as there are very stringent rules.

1. Perfect Homophones

When two or more words have the exact same pronunciation but have different meanings, those are referred to as homophones. There are some very common ones that get misconstrued even by those that speak and write in English on a daily basis. Here is a list of some of the trickier homophones and their meanings:

There (in, at, or to that place or position)
Their (possessive
They’re (contraction of they are)

Pail (bucket)
Pale (very lightly colored)

Tale (story)
Tail (animal appendage)

Aloud (creating noise)
Allowed (receiving permission)

Brake (used to stop cars or bikes)
Break (relaxing or snapping something)

5 Greatest Baseball Stars of the Twentieth Century

Posted on October 20, 2022 by scatty

While we’re well into the 21st century, many of us baseball fans think about the rich history of America’s pastime and recall watching some of the greatest players of the previous century. Between lights-out pitchers and big boppers, there were iconic players in every decade. We’re not talking about the best players, though, when we say iconic. We’re talking about the ones that had the most star power and the ability to transcend the sport into the mainstream. Let’s take a look back at the greatest stars of the twentieth century and what made them stand out so much:

5. Willie Mays

Among the sweetest swings in baseball history is the one of Willie Mays, a.k.a. The Say Hey Kid. Mays, a two-time MVP, was named to two dozen All Star Games during his long career that started with the Giants in 1951.

Mays is one of the career home run leaders with 660, while also batting an unheard-of .384 over more than two decades. To this day, there are some that consider him to be the greatest hitter of all time.

4. Joe DiMaggio

Whether you call him the Yankee Clipper, Joltin’ Joe, or just Joe DiMaggio, he was one of the greatest pure hitters in baseball history. A three-time most valuable player recipient, DiMaggio had a .325 career batting average with 361 home runs. He even missed three seasons of his prime due to World War II, but still managed to be an All-Star in every season he played.

Naturally, you can’t mention DiMaggio without mentioning his mainstream appeal. He was referenced in music, movies, books, and even received attention for his marriage to actress Marilyn Monroe.

3. Alex Rodriguez

Making your Major League debut as a teenager is almost unheard of, but that’s what Alex Rodriguez did in 1994 when he was dubbed as the next big thing for the Seattle Mariners. Instantly becoming a star in baseball, Rodriguez spent the final parts of the 20th century with Seattle where he was a three-time All-Star.

Though Rodriguez made his biggest splash in the following century, even non-baseball fans knew who he was while playing with the Mariners. Rodriguez would end up playing for both the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees, finishing with 696 career home runs. His post-playing career has involved broadcasting and an engagement to singer/actress Jennifer Lopez which kept him in the public eye.

2. Hank Aaron

Though he’s second in career home runs after being surpassed by Barry Bonds, many consider Hank Aaron to be the true home run king due to playing after baseball became integrated and before the steroid era. There’s certainly a lot of merit to that, as Aaron slugged 733 home runs over his 23-year career, 21 of which were spent playing for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves.

Aaron passed away in early 2021, but not before he left his mark on the game of baseball forever. He joined the Braves’ front office and worked in various positions around baseball, while also owning car dealerships and restaurants that bore his name.

1. Babe Ruth

Of course, you can’t talk about the game of baseball without mentioning Babe Ruth. His career started in 1914 and lasted 22 seasons, though his most notable years came when he was a member of the New York Yankees. By the time he retired, “The Babe” was the all-time home run king with 714 career home runs and seven World Series titles.

When you ask someone that doesn’t know a thing about baseball to name the first player that comes to mind, Ruth is usually the first answer. From references in movies like “The Sandlot” to even having a candy bar named after him, Ruth isn’t just a baseball legend. He’s an American cultural icon.

The “Real Me”? How To Use Personality Tests To Gain Insight Into Yourself

Posted on October 20, 2022 by scatty

Ever since the internet really started to take off, we’ve all done quizzes pertaining to how we act or feel. From finding out what superhero we are to possible mental illnesses we may have, there are plenty of tests online that range from lighthearted to ones that can lead to a diagnosis. There are thousands of different tests out there, but all of them can end up leading you to discover the “real” you.

While you may adjust some of the answers to get the results you want (especially when determining what superhero you are), answering very truthfully actually has a lot of benefits, even if it’s a sillier personality test. Let’s take a closer look at personality tests and how they are able to help you gain insight into yourself.

Early Days of Personality Tests

There was a time where personality tests were nothing more than researchers assuming your personality based on the physical structure of your skull. Needless to say, we’ve come a long way in the past couple of hundred years. It wasn’t until the late 1800s, though, that a personality test was developed based on cognitive function rather than physical attributes.

The 20th century saw a boom in both personal uses for personality tests. Even militaries around the world started to get on board, using these tests to determine if a soldier was ready for active duty. In more recent years, with the development of the internet, personality tests started to become more casual, accessible, and free to take in most cases.

What You’re Learning About Yourself

It doesn’t matter what type of personality test you’re taking, you can always learn something about yourself when taking one. This is because questions will often pop up that you tend to not think about very often. This is especially true for the work-related personality tests before you get hired or even get an interview.

These tests ask you to assess yourself in certain situations like “I’m good at a small talk at work” or “I’m more willing to confront my boss if I don’t agree on a new policy change.” These are very specific to work, but can be translated into a more broad picture. Think about those assessment statements in another capacity. “Am I able to engage in conversation with a stranger?” or “Am I willing to stand up for myself against something I don’t believe in?” are the true questions that you’re answering.

Personality tests, whether self-administered or professionally monitored, give you a ton of insight into yourself. They show your strengths and weaknesses, your tendencies, your relationships, and even how much you crave power and attention. For some, it’s eye-opening while for others it can be reaffirming.

Popular Personality Tests

There are certain types of personality tests that people flock to the most. Some of these are popular with psychologists, some with employers, and some for those that want to get some more insight into themselves. Here are some of the more popular personality tests:

16 Personality Factor Questionnaire
Caliper Profile
DISC Personality Test
Eysenck Personality Inventory
HEXACO Personality Inventory
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
NEO Personality Inventory
SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire

Personality Types

Among the most popular personality tests are the ones that tell you your personality type. There are several tests that attempt to find this out, placing people in certain categories. Some are more analytical while others are more emotional. Here are the personality types according to the 16 Personalities.

Introverted

Intuition

INTJ (The Architect)
INTP (The Logician)
INFJ (The Advocate)
INFP (The Mediator)

Sensing

ISTJ (The Logistician)
ISTP (The Virtuoso)
ISFJ (The Defender)
ISFP (The Adventurer)

Extroverted

Intuition

ENTJ (The Commander)
ENTP (The Debater)
ENFJ (The Protagonist)
ENFP (The Campaigner)

Sensing

ESTJ (The Executive)
ESTP (The Entrepreneur)
ESFJ (The Consul)
ESFP (The Entertainer)

Top 5 Clarion County Attractions

Posted on October 20, 2022 by scatty

Though it might not be the biggest county around, Clarion County still has a lot to offer. Not too far from Pittsburgh, Clarion County is home to some great boroughs that include Knox, New Bethlehem, Rimersburg, and more. Clarion County also has a lot of attractions that people from all walks of life in Pennsylvania come to visit. Next time that you find yourself in Clarion County (or you’re a resident looking for something new to discover), check out one of these five top attractions in the county.

5. Clarion Mall

While malls in the United States are becoming a lost cultural icon due to the increase in online shopping, there are still plenty of places where they are alive and well. In Clarion County, you’ll find the Clarion Mall which boasts nearly two dozen stores in total. Among them are Maurices, Sally Beauty, and Q Nails & Spa.

The biggest attraction at the Clarion Mall, though, is the movie theater. AMC has set up shop at the mall, with the AMC Classic Clarion 7 showing the latest movies. Not only that, but AMC shows operas, sporting events, and has private screenings available to rent.

4. Clarion County Park

If you’re looking to spend a day just taking in nature or getting active outdoors, Clarion County Park has a little something for everyone. This park, which is open most days between 8 am and 9 pm, is a sports haven for the community. Not only is there room for horseshoes and archery, but more traditional sports have areas at the ready with baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, and volleyball.

If you’re not into sports, then simply walking around or taking the kids to the playground is also a great way to spend the day. With multiple pavilions and picnic areas, you could spend sunrise to sunset at Clarion Park and it would feel like no time passed at all.

3. Clarion Model Railroad Club

Located on Main Street, the Clarion Model Railroad Club is home to some of the most impressive model railroads in the country. The club meets each Wednesday night and has models on display for the public to see.

Businesses from all around Pennsylvania tab the CMRC to come up with custom train cars, so if you see one across the many businesses of Western Pennsylvania, you’ll likely know where it came from.

2. Cook Forest Trails

If you’ve always wanted to ride a horse but don’t know where to go as a beginner, then the Cook Forest Scenic Trailride is the place for you. This dude ranch is a horse lover’s dream and is open from around Memorial Day week each year until around Halloween. People can bring their own horse or rent one from the ranch to go through the scenic Cook Forest trails that cover some of the more remote areas of the region so you don’t have to go on foot.

The trailride is one that you’ll want to do more than once. That’s because the route that’s taken is never the same twice in a row. You can expect to see a lot of different wildlife when on the trials, including turkey and deer. There are over 200 miles of trails in total, so everyone will keep coming back for more.

1. 9 Worlds Axe Throwing

Axe throwing is becoming increasingly popular in bars across the United States, and Clarion County has caught the fever at 9 Worlds Axe Throwing on Main Street. 9 Worlds focuses more on the axe throwing itself, though, rather than being a bar since patrons can bring their own food and drinks.

At $10 per person, people ages 13 and up can try out tossing an axe for points to take down their competitors. For those that are a little more experienced, 9 Worlds also offers leagues that run over the course of eight weeks and cost just $99 with discounts for a pair.

Singletrack Mountain Biking – What Are The Pros And Cons?

Posted on October 20, 2022 by scatty

When you think about mountain biking in its purest form, singletrack biking comes to mind. This is when you’re riding on a trail that’s just big enough for a bike, with those paths that look like just one wheel has ridden through repeatedly. There’s no better way to get more in touch with nature on a mountain bike than singletrack riding, but there can be some drawbacks to this old-school method of riding.

Before you set out to the mountains or forests to try your hand at singletrack riding, there are some things that you need to know. Here are the pros and cons of singletrack mountain biking:

Pros

Great Test For Advanced Riders

Perhaps the best test of anybody’s abilities with a mountain bike is to take it onto a singletrack trail. Because of the attention that bikers need while riding on singletrack, it’s the ultimate physical and mental test out there. You’ll also have to keep a good flow to make sure that you’re not in anybody’s way, meaning that you’re being pushed by the best singletrack bikers out there, as well.

Eco Friendly

Singletrack riders are all in agreement about one thing, and that’s keeping the ecosystem of the trails intact. The International Mountain Bicycling Association calls these the “rules of the trail” and they are very specific about maintaining nature while also being able to ride through it. The rule in place is called “leave no trace,” which means that only certain tires should be used to not disrupt the soil, and standing water has to be ridden through or walked around so as to not create a new bike path. Of course, littering is strictly forbidden, too.

Fantastic Workout

While mountain biking itself is a tremendous workout, singletrack biking takes it up a notch. Not only do the elevation changes combine both cardio and strength training, but you’ll also be getting off of the bike more times than you think. That’s because there are some natural obstacles for singletrack trails, so you’ll be hopping off to pick up your bike every now and then when a log or standing water gets in the way.

Cons

Sharing = Slowdowns

There isn’t room for two-way traffic on singletrack, and even one-way singletrack can get clogged up. These are shared trails, so you’ll have plenty of people coming from the other direction, causing congestion where someone will have to stand to the side and let the other pass. Even when people are going the same way as you, an inexperienced biker can go extra slow, causing a jam in the flow of bike traffic.

Trailside Dangers

Because the trails are so narrow for singletrack, you’re going to be rubbing elbows with a lot of hazards to your left and right. Trees, of course, are the most inherent danger for any singletrack rider. There are also loose branches, bushes that can catch your handlebars, rocks, and much more. Even for more hilly or mountainous terrains, there might not be much leeway to either side that can cause a serious fall.

Bad Place For Breakdowns

Singletrack tends to take you on trails that are a little more remote and don’t leave much walking room outside of the trail itself. Because of this, a mechanical issue with a bicycle can be devastating. If you blow a tire or steering becomes an issue of any kind, you’ll have to carry your bike on the trail the rest of the way. This means you’ll be on the lookout for other bikers so that you can avoid getting hit all while lugging around a broken bicycle.

Now you know a little bit about what to expect when going singletrack biking for the first time. If you’re still up for the challenge, it’s a great way to meet new people and make the most out of your biking experience.

5 Things You Need To Remember When Making Big Financial Decisions

Posted on October 20, 2022 by scatty

We’ve all come to a crossroads in our lives where we have to make an important financial decision that could impact us for years to come. Whether it’s selling a home, buying a new car, investing in the stock market, or anything else, you don’t want to make an impulse decision when possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars are in play.

It’s important to step back for a second before any big financial decision. Before signing your name onto anything that will put you on the hook for years to come, here are five things that you need to remember first.

5. Do You Need It?

There are a few things that people need in life: food, water, clothing, and shelter. Only one of these is typically a major financial decision (though clothes can be pretty pricey), and that’s shelter. When looking at homes, make sure you’re looking for something within your means.

Do you need two spare bathrooms? The same can even be applied to those other necessities. Not every meal needs to be five courses, and not every piece of clothing needs to be a designer brand.

4. Check Your Savings

Savings accounts are offered for a reason, and that’s for making a big financial transaction. Every time that you get paid, make sure some of that is going into your savings account after the bills are paid rather than to your checking account. Over time, your savings account will grow and create a nice little fund for these big decisions.

Savings accounts also accrue interest, with larger accounts earning higher percentage yields. When thinking about a major financial decision, always look to your savings account first. If there’s enough in there where you can pull the trigger on a decision and still have plenty left, it will make your life much easier.

3. Compare Prices

The first offer that you’ll get for something major like a home or car may not be the best offer that you can get. In fact, more often than not, the first offer may end up being the worst. Always make sure to shop around before making a final decision, and see if you can haggle on the price of a big-ticket item.

Cars and homes especially are able to be talked down into a more buyer-friendly price. When sellers are competing against each other, then the buyer ends up the victor in the end, so don’t jump at the first offer.

2. Assess Your Career

There was once a time when someone would go to work for a company right out of high school or college and remain with that company up until retirement. Those days are long gone, though, with people bouncing around from company to company for more money (and for good reason).

Before making a big financial decision, ask yourself where you’re going to be in a few years’ time. Do you see yourself in the same position, same company, or even the same city? These are all important to think about.

1. Consider Your Standing Debt

A lot of people assume that just because they can easily make their monthly payments on existing debt like credit cards or car payments they’ll be able to take on another major financial transaction. However, taking on even more debt can have adverse effects. For starters, your credit score will likely decline sharply if you take on another major debt, while your monthly payments may end up being more than you think.

It will be hard to keep up with interest on several different loans, so the best thing to do before making a major financial decision is to make sure your debt is mostly free and clear beforehand. For example, those that have a lot of credit but aren’t using any of it are going to get a much more friendly rate on major financing like a mortgage.

How To Develop Your Language Skills Toward Your English Test

Posted on October 20, 2022 by scatty

Some tests are easier than others, especially for those that are either learning a new language or trying to grasp the specifics of their native language. Math is simple. It’s a universal language and you either understand it or you don’t. There are so many nuances to language, especially English, that you may understand more than 99 percent of it but find that last one percent tricky to master.

Thankfully, there are some ways in which you can develop your language skills and put these skills to use toward your English test. Some of these are quite detailed while others are doing simple daily activities that will help you in the long run. Let’s take a look at how to develop your language skills.

Keep a Journal

Whether you’re writing a few sentences or several pages, one of the best things you can do for your language skills is to write on a daily basis. If you can, try to keep your journal in a Word document. When you do this, Word can automatically detect any spelling or grammatical errors. Extensions like Grammarly can also help. Take notes of the suggestions that are being made, and use this new knowledge on your English test.

Practice Tests

Though you likely won’t be able to find the exact test that you’re going to be taking online, you can at least take free English tests online with similar questions. This will give you an understanding of what to expect. Not only that, but you’ll be able to see the more common mistakes (in the form of wrong answers) that you may be accidentally doing in your writing or speaking. If you’re scoring high marks on the practice test, continue to study even if you think that you’ve mastered things because you never know what a test can throw at you.

Read the News

Perhaps the most common form of perfect English writing is the Associated Press (AP) style. Reading articles directly from the AP will allow you to become familiar with the type of English that you’ll be tested on. Most reputable news sources will use the AP style, as well, but try to stay away from opinion or editorial articles that tend to have more slang terms and use a looser form of AP style.

Practice Pronunciation

One of the best things you can do to enhance your English skills is to understand how words are pronounced. Make some flashcards that have some tougher common English words and try to sound them out to the best of your abilities. Words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings should also be studied. These are called heteronyms and include words like live, wind, tear, close, and dove.

Prep Guides

A lot of major tests will have a prep guide available that goes into thorough detail about how to specifically train for that test. Along the way, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the English language to the point where you’re using it in everyday life rather than simply for the test. Even if there isn’t a specific prep guide for the test that you’re taking, picking one up for a similar English test will also be beneficial. Tutors can also be available depending on the test that will work with you one-on-one.

Set Aside Study Time

There are a lot of people that study for exams in the random free time that they get throughout the day but may find themselves unfocused because it can be a very short period of time. If you want to get the most out of your studying session, set aside a particular block of time for each day so that you can be laser-focused on studying. The amount of suggested study time depends on the exam itself. For instance, experts suggest that an exam for a class that’s taken once per week should be studied two to three hours per day.

What Can You Learn About Your Forebears From The Meaning Of Surnames?

Posted on October 20, 2022 by scatty

There is a lot that goes into a surname, though many tend to think that it pertains to an occupation that a male forebear had many generations ago. We see common names like Baker, Miller, Draper, Fisher, etc. as a result. However, there are plenty of surnames that are also based on geographical location, personal attributes, clans, and more.

It’s important to note that an estimated 90 percent of surnames in the dictionary all come from Great Britain or Ireland. Let’s take a glimpse into some of those different types of surnames and what they could say about your forebears.

Occupational

The easiest type of surname to trace is the occupational type. These are the surnames that very specifically have job titles in their names, and they are among the most common surnames in the world. Here is the list of the most common occupational surnames and what they mean if it’s not as obvious:

Archer
Baker
Barber
Bender (Cooper, or Caskmaker)
Butler
Cook
Draper
Fisher
Gardener
Mason
Miller
Potter
Sheppard
Shoemaker
Skinner (Skins animals for fur trade)
Taylor
Weaver
Wheeler

In the times when the world’s population was booming, it was important to have a surname to be more identifiable. Occupations were becoming much more common, and selecting a surname after the occupation you had was the easiest route. Of course, the most popular occupational surname of all is Smith, which literally just means ‘worker.’

Geographical

If your surname isn’t based on an occupation, there’s a good chance that it could be a description of the region where your forebears are from. There are some rather common ones, but they may be a bit vague. Surnames like Hill, Wood, Marsh, or any direction (North, West) can you give some sort of clue to a region, but not a specific area.

Then, there are surnames that tell you exactly where your forebears are from. Some of these more common surnames include Ainsley, Aston, Bohm, Chester, Darby, Holland, Janikowski, Kendall, Napoli, Parish, Roma, Tracey, Van Buren, Washington, and York.

Paternal

Let’s say that so far your surname or a hint of it hasn’t popped up yet. There’s a chance that the entirety of your family’s history was given to a man’s first name. For instance, if your surname is Jackson, your family’s surname can be traced all the way back to a man named Jack. There are a ton of surnames that end in -son, almost all of which have stuck around for generations.

It’s hard to say what exactly this means for your forebears. They could have been a commoner or someone with tremendous influence. Either way, here are some of the more popular paternal surnames, whether or not they have -son at the end:

Johnson
Jones
Davis
Anderson
Jackson
Thompson
Robinson
Roberts
Edwards
Rogers
Peters
Peterson
Richardson
Brooks
Sanders

Physical Traits

In the end, there are many people that are given a surname due to a physical trait that one of their forebears had many, many years ago. Think of names like Short, which can either be used to describe someone that was actually very short or ironically given to a tall person. There are also names like Beckett (given to someone with a prominent nose, or “beak”), White, Brown, Klein (meaning small), Russo (given to someone with red hair), or even Strong.

Summary

No matter what your surname is, there’s likely a very specific reason that the name was chosen. Now you know a little bit more about your forebears, with some learning a lot of specifics about their lineage while others are much vaguer. Either way, it’s fun to think about where your family came from and what they’ve accomplished over the years. Just to think, hundreds of years later, a man with a father named Jack was given the surname Jackson, and it has become one of the most popular surnames in the world.

Flip A Coin? How To Use Random Chance As A Lifehack

Posted on October 18, 2022October 28, 2022 by scatty

There are few things in this world that are completely 50/50, but the flip of a coin is one of them. You either get heads or tails, though there are freakishly rare exceptions where the coin lands on its edge, but we’ll ignore that. Flipping a coin is used to determine many things, with a bulk of them being mostly inconsequential such as who will get the ball to start the first half of a football game.

However, there are some people that are willing to make major life decisions based on the true 50/50 nature of a coin flip. It may seem a little high stake to determine whether or not you quit your job or get married based on how an inanimate object lands on the ground, but there is some merit to leaving things up to chance. In fact, studies have shown that people who do this actually tend to end up happier in life.

One of the more prestigious universities in the United States, the University of Chicago, asked participants to make major choices with the coin. To make sure that these people weren’t ignoring the coin and going through with things, a third party was present to hold them accountable over the course of six months.

This caused the participants to leave their comfort zone, breaking away from traditional methods of doing things. Professor Steven Levitt helped with the study, and he noted that “Society teaches us ‘quitters never win and winners never quit,’ but in reality, the data from my experiment suggests we would all be better off if we did more quitting.”

Upon the conclusion of his study, Dr. Levitt said that “individuals who are told by the coin toss to make a change are much more likely to make a change and are happier six months later than those who were told by the coin to maintain the status quo. The results of this (study) suggest that people may be excessively cautious when facing life-changing choices.”

While some were skeptical about the study’s results, there were many neurologists that found it interesting, and even supported the results. Doctors Hans Hagemann and Friederike Fabritius wrote that flipping a coin is a fantastic idea when faced with two total choices, even if you don’t listen to the coin itself at first.

“If you’re satisfied or relieved by the decision the coin made for you, then go with it,” they said. “On the other hand, if the realist of the coin toss leaves you uneasy and even makes you wonder why you used a coin toss to decide such an important decision in the first place, then go with the other choice instead.”

Simply, the psychology behind the coin flip can reaffirm the decisions that you’re making. People will tend to hope that one side of the coin comes out on top so that they don’t have to leave their comfort zone or go with the “unconventional” decision. You’re stimulating your brain by taking part in this exercise of random chance no matter the result.

There is even an entire philosophy based around flipping a coin called Flipism. Interestingly enough, the idea for this becoming a philosophy came from a Donald Duck comic strip when one character is dubbed a “flippist” and teaches the famous cartoon character to follow in his coin-flipping footsteps. In the end, though, using the coin gets Donald into trouble, thus the idea of Flipism was founded in skepticism.

There are arguments to be made against flipping a coin to determine major decisions, but it can still be used in fun ways for minor decisions. Can’t decide on what to eat for dinner or which show to watch? Let the coin decide with no consequences. If you want to use the coin for big decisions, there is some caution to use, but as the studies say, you may end up happier.

5 Most Versatile Actors

Posted on October 18, 2022 by scatty

One of the most vital signs of good acting is making an audience forget that it’s a particular actor that’s playing the role. While some actors tend to play themselves in most of their parts, there are others that get completely lost in a role no matter the genre. Many of these actors have at least been nominated for major awards because of their work, and there are a handful of actors that really stand out above the rest as being the most versatile. Here are the five that have the most chameleon-like qualities.

5. Daniel Day-Lewis

British actor Daniel Day-Lewis may be retired from acting on a full-time basis, but perhaps he could be coerced into a return. After all, Oldman has been nominated for several Academy Awards during his illustrious career, winning for the films “My Left Foot”, “There Will Be Blood”, and “Lincoln”.

Doing method acting for years can take a toll, though. “You go to these great lengths to imagine another world and time and imagine a man,” Day-Lewis said. “And having spent your imagination on that, it seems more fun to live there all the time than jumping in and out.”

4. Tilda Swinton

Somehow, an actress with the versatility of Tilda Swinton has only been nominated for/won a single Oscar for her role in “Michael Clayton”. Her career has been filled with plenty of other memorable roles, including “Constantine”, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, and “Dr. Strange” to name a few.

Instead of acting, Swinton trained to be a poet. It’s something that she’s lamented about many times during her career. “I was supposed to go (to college) for one thing and dropped the ball immediately,” she said. “There is a real dark shame attached to it…As a child, my ambition was always about having a house by the sea.”

3. Meryl Streep

From dramas to comedies and protagonists to antagonists, Meryl Streep has seen it all and perfected it all. Streep has been nominated for well over a dozen Academy Awards, winning for roles including “Kramer vs. Kramer”, “Sophie’s Choice”, and “The Iron Lady”. Some of Streep’s other memorable roles include “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Mamma Mia!”

Despite all of the recognition, Streep remains humble about her abilities. “My achievement, if you can call it that, is that I’ve basically pretended to be extraordinary people my entire life,” she said. “And now, I’m being mistaken for one.”

2. Gary Oldman

You could watch an entire movie with Gary Oldman in the lead role and not know about it until the credits start rolling. Oldman has taken on almost every type of role imaginable from playing Commissioner Jim Gordon in the “Dark Knight” series to playing Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour”.

Despite his impressive career, that role in “Darkest Hour” is the only time that Oldman has won an Oscar for Best Actor. Oldman has said that he can feel retirement “on the horizon,” but says that there’s still a little something left on the table. “It’s not that so much (I’m not happy with my career) as there’s a perfectionism with me.”

1. Christian Bale

Nobody is willing to change their physical appearance for a movie role quite like Christian Bale. Bale has been known to knock it out of the park in every genre (though he has held off on romantic comedies). Bale has shown his cerebral side in movies like “American Psycho” and “The Machinist” while even dipping into the superhero world with the “Dark Knight” series and “Thor: Love and Thunder”.

Though he throws his all into every one of his roles, Bale says he always has to be pulled back and would retire if he wasn’t so in demand. “I could just go forever not working,” Bale said. Bale is a bit of an outsider, not often going on the red carpet. “I don’t have anything to do with it,” Bale said. “I’m (in Hollywood) because my wife is from here.”