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5 Ways To Inspire Yourself As An Artist

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Nothing affects an artist quite like hitting a wall and losing inspiration. You can sit there for hours thinking about what you should create instead of simply letting your mind take over your body through inspiration. It’s much easier said than done to get into that kind of inspired rhythm, though. 

If you’re one of the countless artists that are struggling to find inspiration, not all is lost. There are plenty of ways where you can inspire yourself, and in the process not just benefit your art, but your life in general. Here are five of the best ways that will enrich any form of your art through inspiration.

Travel 

If you’re the creative type seeking inspiration to expand your artistic prowess further, one tip that could help get those juices flowing is traveling. Our incredible planet has an almost endless amount of thought-provoking and inspiring places to be explored. Your destination doesn’t have to be set in stone and your journey can be whatever you make it. Inspiration could strike when you least expect it and that’s the beauty of using traveling as a tool to get your artistic vision back. 

Explore Different Walks of Life 

While traveling, or even in your own backyard, you can find people from all walks of life. Intriguing people are everywhere, you just have to find them. Some individuals are unassuming and don’t always put themselves out there, but when you get to know your community and people you meet on your travels, you’ll discover a cornucopia of personalities, with interesting life stories and their own view of the world. 

Taking pieces of others and using them to reshape your own reality can help birth inspiration for new projects and maybe even a new outlook on life. You begin to blossom when you aren’t stuck within the confines of your own mindset. 

Meditate

Speaking of mindset, having a clearer view of how the inner mechanisms of your mind work can help provide inspiration. Whether you’re happy, you’re in love, you’re hurt, or you’re feeling things you can’t put into words, art can help express the things words can’t. It’s one of the reasons people indulge in varying artistic outlets, to begin with. Meditating doesn’t have to solely be used as a method of calming oneself, although it definitely can be. 

It can be a way to hone in on the emotions you’re experiencing, reflect on the reasons behind those emotions, and how to output them into another source. Otherwise, we hold onto them and it doesn’t always end well. It’s a great way to maintain a healthy mind, organize your thoughts, and get to know yourself in ways you previously didn’t. As well as providing you with the inspiration you need to put your feelings into art. 

Experiment With Different Art Styles

Even if it’s not your cup of tea, trying new things can turn out to be helpful. You don’t have to be good at or even necessarily enjoy it. Sometimes trying new things isn’t for our enjoyment and ends up being more of a learning experience and can lend to self-discovery. Try out new art styles, methods, and approaches, and see what it leads to. 

Keep An Open Mind 

A lot of what is featured on this list requires the depth of an open mind. Art in itself typically does as well. So odds are you have one or are capable of opening your mind further. Do things you’ve never done before. Entertain ideas you typically wouldn’t. Expect the unexpected and don’t conform to the norm and monotony of everyday life. When your mind is open, the possibilities are endless and your artistic skills will expand with it. 

5 Best Razor Blade Brands

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Almost every household around the world has at least one razor blade in the home, with a lot of us shaving at least once per week while many people use razors on a daily basis. Because of this, the razor industry is incredibly competitive and is now producing well over $4 billion in yearly revenue.

With all of the razor companies getting their hands in the action, they have been able to maintain a high quality for mass consumption. There are dozens of razor blade brands that are making millions of dollars each, but only a handful stand out as being the best. Here are the five best razor blade brands on the market right now and a little bit about what makes them great.

Gillette

Gillette is one of the more affordable brands of shaving razors that doesn’t skimp on quality. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, The Gillette Company merged with the Procter and Gamble company in 2005 and has been producing shaving razors since the early 1900s. Among all of their products, Gillette now pulls in over $10 billion in annual revenue.

Many publications have selected a variety of Gillette razors as the best razors a man can buy. They’re relatively inexpensive as far as quality safety razors are concerned and they do a fantastic job of giving you the perfect close shave. There are plenty of Gillette razors to choose from to find your perfect fit. 

Schick

Schick was founded by U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Schick in the mid-1900s and is second in sales behind Gillette. However, they’re top in sales in Japan. Schick came up with his idea for the product after sustaining an injury. 

He had difficulty shaving and with all the time on his hands, he come up with the Schick razor. Schick primarily sells safety razors, like their competition Gillette, and is around the same price. Customers enjoy the glide the lubrication of the razors gives and the ease of use. There are many options to choose from when you’re looking for the most comfortable and efficient razor to get the job done. 

Merkur

Based in Germany, Merkur is a subsidiary of the DOVO Steelware company.  DOVO manufactures scissors, straight razors, and manicure equipment. Merkur has been around for more than 120 years and employs skilled workers who give incredible attention to detail, producing high-quality razors. 

The look of the razors is classic and sleek. They are more expensive than the typical American-brand straight razors, but the quality makes up for the price. You can find the razors at shaving supply shops around America, or through online retailers. 

Harry’s

Harry’s is based in New York and is a relatively new company, formed in 2012 by Jeff Raider and Andy Katz-Mayfield. The pair bought out the Feintechnik razor factory in 2014 for a whopping $100 million, giving them complete control over their product.  

Harry’s razors are sold in Target and Walmart stores as well as offering a subscription service where you can receive a variety of different products like hair care, deodorant, body care, face care, and of course shaving razors. You can purchase plans that renew and send you products you love every two, three, or five months. 

Leaf Razors 

Focused on producing plastic-free and sustainable razors, Leaf is a small company run by two guys named Adam. They pride themselves on handling customer service and packaging, delivering a more personal experience for the buyer. 

The razors are pretty pricey, but for the quality, longevity, and care put into the product by the founders of the company, it’s not a bad choice when it comes to picking the right shaving razor for you. The variety of razors is great for shaving all the different areas on your body you want smooth and hairless. 

Guide to Shaving: The 5 Types of Razor Blades

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For a large portion of the population, shaving is something that’s done each and every day. In fact, more than one-third of people in the United States alone report that they shave at least once per day, while more than half shave at least once per week. 

Because of this, the razor industry is surprisingly large since you can find them in just about every household. You’ve likely seen a few different types of razors in your lifetime, too. What are all the razor types, though? Here’s a guide that shows the five types of razor blades that are used every day:

Cartridge Razors

For those that want a permanent handle that they’re comfortable with but want to use new blades, the cartridge razor is the way to go and it’s among the most frequently used types of razors. With these razors, there are several cartridges with blades that come in a package and one handle to house them.

When the blades start going dull in one cartridge, a user simply pops the cartridge out and replaces it with another one. About half of people who use razors each day opt for the cartridge type compared to the other forms due to the cost and convenience.

Disposable Razors

There was a time when almost everyone you knew had a disposable camera and used disposable razors. Though disposable cameras are almost nonexistent these days, there are still plenty of people who use disposable razors. This is one of the cheapest options for shaving and comes through in a pinch when you’re traveling.

Disposable razors typically aren’t the sharpest and come with a plastic handle, making them easy to simply throw away after they’ve been used a few times. Also known as shavettes, disposable razors became popular in the mid 20th century, but are being used less frequently.

Straight Razors

Perhaps the most nerve-wracking type of razor to use is the straight razor, which is only fitting since another name for it is the “cut-throat razor.” These blades that can be folded back into their handles were the standard for centuries, dating back to ancient Egypt. It wasn’t until the 17th century that they became commonly manufactured, though.

Straight razors are the most effective way of shaving, even if it is a bit more anxiety-inducing compared to other razors. Outside of shaving, straight razors have been used in pottery and leather crafting, but aren’t nearly as popular as they were hundreds of years ago.

Electric Razors

An electric razor will be handy for those who don’t need to be shaven but want to get the job done quickly. There are a few different types of electric razors, too, with some designed with rotary blades while others are foil-type. There are also different parts of the body on which electric razors focus.

This can include the top of your head for people who want to go with a buzzcut, all the way to nose hair trimmers and beard shapers. The original electric razor might be older than you think, too, with the patent first being granted in 1898. It wasn’t until 1915, though, that the electric razor became fully operational and exploded in popularity throughout the mid-20th century. Now, about more than one-third of men use an electric razor each day.

Safety Razors

Not all of us have a steady hand and are able to use a straight razor, and for that, we thank the inventors of the safety razor. Equipped with a guard between the edge of the blade and a user’s skin, a safety razor prevents amateur shavers from cutting themselves with the blade. 

While they were introduced in the 18th century, it wasn’t until King Camp Gillette’s version in the early 20th century that they became popular. This is especially true in the 1970s, with safety razors becoming the standard when used with disposable and cartridge razors.

Is Work From Home Right For You?

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There are many reasons to consider working from home. You may suffer from social anxiety that makes it difficult to interact with the world on a continually daily basis. You may qualify for a job out of state, or country, that allows for long-distance employment. You could have a growing family of young children who require your attention and care. Or maybe it’s just the environment you feel most comfortable and focused in. With our society constantly changing and adjusting to events happening in the world, at-home careers are becoming more popular and available. 

WFH Examples

There’s a wide selection of at-home jobs for all kinds of people with a variety of skills. Some require more qualifications than others. Examples include freelance writers, graphic designers, in-home child care, animator, baker/caterer, and blogger. 

Freelance writers typically work entirely from home and their most common form of communication is online messaging, so you won’t have to worry about receiving pesky phone calls. The same can be said about the other examples, although you may be in a position where you’ll have to take some calls once in a while. All in all, it beats going to the office. 

Pros 

As most would argue, working from home is the preferred option over working in the typical work environment. In 2022 a nine-month study done by Stanford, consisting of 16,000 workers, researchers found a 13% increase in productivity in those working from home. The study attributed the increase in productivity to the quieter work environment, the convenience of working from home and decreased exposure to germs, resulting in fewer sick days. 

Another seldom-discussed benefit is the surplus of job opportunities for those suffering from anxiety and those who are easily overstimulated. People suffering from anxiety and sensory issues often struggle in crowded public settings and environments/people they aren’t familiar with. A lot of workplaces don’t cater to mental health conditions and sensory sensitivities, making it a nightmare to focus and properly function. Working from home allows those affected to flourish and thrive without stressing their conditions. 

Cons

There may not be a lot of cons when it comes to working from home, but not everybody sees it that way. For some, working from home creates too much of a meld between work life and home life, making it difficult to feel motivated and productive. It can also create a more quiet and lonely environment for the highly extroverted who thrive in social settings. 

Although statistics say otherwise, some argue working from home decreases productivity and places employees in a setting that is too comfortable. There are bound to be instances where working from home can become problematic for some and they are just as valid. So before you decide if working remotely is right for you, think about your wants and needs, and what the job offers, and try to find ways to engage in social activity outside of work to create a healthy work/play balance. 

Experts Weigh In

A lot of companies have fought back against working from home for various reasons. The main reasons are the properties that are already rented out by these companies and being able to manage with a more hands-on approach. For the most part, though, employees returning to the office are likely to hear something along the lines of employers wanting to see their employees’ “smiling faces.”

“The most reluctant to face the new reality (of working from home) are going to have to experience significant pain to catch up,” said economist Julia Pollak. However, experts also note that those who work in person are more likely for career advancement. “There is a risk that those people who get more fact time are naturally at an advantage to advance faster than others,” said Julie Whelan of CBRE.

As the years go on, it’s expected that more jobs will become fully remote or hybrid between WFH and in-office. The exact percentage remains to be seen, but this is a new era for work in the post-COVID world.

5 Best Accessories for Microsoft Flight Simulator

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Ever since it was first introduced in 1982, “Microsoft Flight Simulator” has been the top flight sim with several editions over the years. MFS picked up a lot of new fans when it was introduced onto the Xbox as part of the Game Pass subscription, opening a new generation of players to what it’s like to be a pilot.

While you can play “Microsoft Flight Simulator” with just a controller or a keyboard and mouse, there are certain accessories that hardcore enthusiasts love to use. Out of the countless peripherals made for the flight sim, these five stand out as the best to use when playing “Microsoft Flight Simulator”.

Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack – Boeing Edition

If you want the most accurate simulation of flying a jet, look no further than the Thrustmaster pack that features aircraft manufacturer Boeing’s name right on it. The first of its kind, this yoke is a full 1:1 scale and was made with experts in mind that want to take full control of the skies. There are plenty of key features that make the Boeing Edition even more special.

The ergonomics are complete replicas, simulating the feel of being in a Boeing Dreamliner down to the metal frame. The springs are adjustable and the levers are swappable, with a Boeing-designed autopilot mode. The Boeing Edition can be used on the Xbox One, Series X|S, or the PC, but comes at a hefty price. A new Boeing Edition out of the box costs $499.99, though much cheaper when used.

T Flight US Air Force Edition

One of the most important aspects of flying is making sure that you have good communication, which means having the right headset. The highest-rated headset is the Thrustmaster T Flight US Air Force Edition, which of course is officially licensed by the military branch. These comfortable headphones work on the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, and can be bought for $119.99.

These headphones are designed to simulate real-life aviation ones and have faceplates that adorn the United States Air Force logo. Function, fashion, and comfort, are all things that you’ll be getting with the T Flight USAF Edition. 

Samsung CRG Curved Gaming Monitor

The right monitor is important to get an accurate flight simulation, and Samsung has a top of the line one that makes it feel like you’re staring out of a cockpit window. The CRG curved gaming monitor is Samsung’s best, featuring a curved design that really increases the immersion for simulation fans.

Since those that are playing flight sims tend to be staring at the screen for lengthy time periods, you’ll want a monitor like the CRG since it’s easy on the eyes. For something a bit cheaper, Samsung also makes the CHG, with both being fantastic options.

TPR: Thrustmaster Pendular Rudder

Getting total immersion in a flight simulator wouldn’t be complete without the right rudder mechanism, and Thrustmaster has a great (albeit expensive at $600) option that can be adjusted and is compatible with all flight simulator games.

Thrustmaster uses what they call the PENDUL_R technology to make the TPR a unique experience that hardcore flight sim fans love. The precision of the TPR is second to none, which is why so many find it to be worth the price. There is one caveat, though, and it’s that the TPR is only able to be used for the PC.

Honeycomb Alpha Flight Controls

If you want something that doesn’t take up a lot of room and can fit onto your computer desk, the Honeycomb Alpha is a fantastic option at $279.99. The Alpha has pretty much everything that a flight sim fan could ask for, including an eight-way hat switch, two vertical two-way rocker switches, and a push-to-talk button.

Even the lighting can be adjusted on the Alpha, which really helps the immersion. Sim fans have praised the Alpha for being durable, and though it comes with a two-year warranty, you aren’t likely to even need it.

5 Key Tips For Microsoft Flight Simulator

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“Microsoft Flight Simulator” is the most extensive in-home flight simulator that the world has ever seen, and it’s been that way for decades. It’s not just hardcore simulation fans that are playing MFS, though. Each year, there are countless people that are playing for the first time, and it can be easy to give up quickly if you don’t know exactly what to do.

If you’re thinking about trying out “Microsoft Flight Simulator” for the first time, there are some tips to make the sim more enjoyable. If you follow these five key tips, you’ll find yourself wanting to rush home and fire up your console or PC to take to the skies while perhaps even investing in the peripherals for diehard fans.

1. Tutorials Are Key

For most video games, a lot of us like to simply spam the A button or left-click our mice repeatedly until we’ve skipped through the tutorial and gotten right into the action. While this might work for games like “Call of Duty” where the controls typically remain the same each year, the tutorials are much more important when it comes to simulating flying an aircraft.

For this reason, make sure that you’re paying close attention to everything that’s being taught. People that are serious about learning MFS should download the tutorial in PDF form and keep it handy, just like a real pilot would do in their cockpit. 

2. Start Small

Most beginners are going to want to hop right into a jumbo jet on an international flight path, but that should be reserved for more experienced players. To really get into good habits, start out by picking a smaller plane and choosing a short flight path. 

Not only will you get the gratification of starting and finishing a flight, but you’ll also be learning a lot more than just setting your plane to autopilot. Being fully engaged is important for picking up any new hobby, and the excitement will have you coming back for more.

3. Stick With One Plane At First

Another aspect of becoming fully engaged with a flight simulator is becoming accustomed to flying one type of plane. Once you learn the ins and outs of a particular aircraft, you’ll become an expert, and there’s nothing quite as satisfying as knowing pretty much all there is to know on a topic.

Start with the smaller single-engine planes and work your way up to the jumbo jets. Eventually, you’ll be an expert at just about every type of aircraft and you’ll be fully immersed in your flight sim experience.

4. Get Some Peripherals

One of the reasons why people tend to give up on a flight sim like MFS so quickly is that they don’t have the proper tools. The game wasn’t truly meant to be played with a mouse and keyboard or an Xbox controller. Instead, see if you can pick up some used peripherals like a yoke system or flight stick.

A lot of the peripherals are compatible with the Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. “Microsoft Flight Simulator” is available for free on Game Pass, meaning that the money you saved by not buying the game could be put toward some accessories that make the game an experience.

5. Pick Familiar Sites

Among the best aspects of “Microsoft Flight Simulator” is that you can start and end a flight at just about any airport in the world that you’d like. If you’ve ever wanted to see what your house looks like from a cockpit, you can pick the nearest airport to your home. If you want to check out some landmarks instead, the world is your oyster.

From the Las Vegas Strip to the canals of Venice, there are some amazing takeoffs and landings that you can make in “Microsoft Flight Simulator”. Seeing these from the plane for the first time will make you want to see what else you can explore.

5 Games Similar to Qwirkle

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Ever since its release in 2006, Qwirkle has become one of the most popular board games, fusing together several different board game genres. Because of that, there are several games that are similar to Qwirkle. Many take the idea of using tiles to score points and figure in a scoring system to determine the winner.

If you’re a big fan of Qwirkle but want to mix things up a little bit and expand your board game horizons a little bit, try one of these five games that are most similar to Qwirkle.

Hive

Hive is an abstract strategy board game with a fun bug theme and hexagonal-shaped tiles. It was designed by John Yianni and published by the Gen42 Games company in 2001. The game allows for two players and can take around 20 minutes to finish, on average. 

The objective is to protect your Queen Bee while attempting to surround your opponent’s Queen Bee with your tile pieces. It’s said to be somewhat similar to chess in that you’re able to move tile pieces to different positions after they’re placed, depending on the circumstances.  

Blokus

Before being sold to Mattel in 2009, a French-based company, Sekkoïa, released Blokus in 2000. The game was originally designed by a mathematician named Bernard Tavitian. In Blokus, you’re able to play with 2-4 people and gameplay runs about 20-30 minutes on average.

The objective of the game is to fill the grid-like board with more of your color pieces than your opponents. The game board has 400 squares, made up of 20 rows and 20 columns. There’s four separate colored sets of tiles, 21 blue tiles, 21 yellow tiles, 21 red tiles, and 21 green tiles. There’s other variants of the game including Blokus Duos, Blokus 3D, Blokus Jr, Blokus XL, and Blokus Trigon. 

Rummikub

Rummikub is a tile-based board game with influence from the popular games, Mahjong and Rummy. It can be played by 2-4 players. It was created by Romanian-born Ephraim Hertzano. Rummikub was first introduced to the US in the early 1970s and quickly became the best-selling board game by the late 1970s. The most popular version of the game is the Sabra variant. 

The game has 104 numbered tiles with values from 1-13, as well as two joker tiles. They come in blue, yellow, black, and red. The objective is to play tiles from your pile that value at least 30 while adding groups and runs as the game goes on. After using all of your tiles, you call “Rummikub” and win the game. 

Azul

The game Azul, which translates to Blue in English, is an abstract strategy board game. Michael Kiesling created Azul in 2017 and found inspiration based on the gorgeous Portuguese tiles called azulejos. The game is made for 2-4 players who receive their own 5×5 player board. The goal is to take tiles, all one color, from the middle of the table

There are multiple rounds in Azul, with the winner of the game having the most points, with those points being tabulated after each round. A round ends in Azul when one player has a horizontal line of tiles. The first three turns in a round set the foundation for scoring, and strategy comes into play right from the get-go. Some have referred to Azul’s rules as being “tricky,” but that’s part of the fun.

Ingenious 

The creator of this abstract strategy game, Reiner Knizia, was commissioned to do so by Sophisticated Games and published by Kosmos in 2004. Its original German name, Einfach Genial, translates to Simply Ingenious in English. 

The game allows for 1-4 players of ages 10 and up. The game comes with 120 tiles, 4 racks, 4 scoreboards, and 24 color pegs. You place the tiles in the bag provided, shuffle them up, then each player uses one of their six tiles to match the design with a tile on the board. 

The Details of the Chicago Bears Uniforms

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There are certain sports uniforms that are seen as iconic since they haven’t changed with each passing generation. Teams in the NFL like the Jacksonville Jaguars or Atlanta Falcons seem to have a new uniform every year, but then there are teams like the New York Giants or Pittsburgh Steelers that remain largely unchanged.

Out of all of those classic uniforms, many consider the Chicago Bears to have the best of the bunch. While some minor details might change every few years or so, the overall concept remains the same. Let’s take a look at the Bears uniform, how it came to be, and some details that are still included as part of the uniform today.

The Staley Days

The early days of organized professional football didn’t offer a lot of variations between teams. Back when they first started, the Bears were known as the Decatur Staleys and their uniforms featured red jerseys with gold highlights for a few years before the iconic blue and orange colors became a staple.

The original Staleys uniforms featured three vertical stripes at the front of the jersey which was popular back then before switching to numbers upon becoming the Bears. In fact, the franchise was the first to feature jersey numbers.\

The Sleeves

Those that are watching the Chicago Bears play for the first time might ask why the Bears play with the letters “GSH” on their sleeves. While there have been memorial patches for plenty of NFL teams, the “GSH” on the Bears uniform is permanent and has been there since 1984. That was the first full season following the death of George Stanley “Papa Bear” Halas.

Halas wasn’t just the owner of the team but was also the founder. On top of that, Halas coached the team from their time in Decatur starting in 1920 all the way until 1967 with a few brief breaks in the action including World War II. The eight-time NFL champion will forever be etched onto the Bears uniforms with the “GSH” initials.

The Wings

The winged helmet in football is something that dates back to the early 1930s, and these days is more synonymous with the University of Michigan Wolverines football team. During the early days of the winged helmet concept, though, the Chicago Bears were among the pioneers with two seasons bearing the pattern.

Leather helmets were still in use by football teams during that time, and the Bears wanted to add some color to stand out. Though the concept was ultimately abandoned after a couple of years, the Bears throwback uniforms do feature the winged helmets.

The Helmet Logo

Though advertisements as part of sports uniforms are much more common these days, the Chicago Bears were one of the first teams to feature advertising. That was before they were the Bears, though. During the time of the Decatur Staleys, the team had the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company logo for a year.

Since the early 1960s, though, the Bears have had the iconic ‘C’ logo on their helmets. The wishbone-style letter has a bit of an underbite, which has irked some people, though the origins are a bit difficult to find for historians. The logo is most synonymous with the Bears, but is also used by the Cincinnati Reds and had already been used by several colleges before the Bears got their hands (or paws) on it.

The Alternates

Just like every other franchise in the NFL, the Chicago Bears have experimented with a lot of alternate uniforms over the years. In addition to their Staleys throwbacks, the Bears have used orange as the primary jersey color for many of the alternates. The helmets, outside of the winged helmet, have largely remained untouched until 2022.

That was when the Bears debuted an orange alternate helmet for the first time, catching a lot of attention. For the most part, though, the uniforms have remained true to their classic look or have thrown back to the early 20th century look.

5 Greatest Chicago Bears

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As the second oldest team in the NFL behind only the Cardinals, the Chicago Bears are among the most storied franchises in North American professional sports. With a history that has spanned over a century, there are bound to be plenty of eventual legends, including many Hall of Fame members to make their way through Chicago.

Out of the hundreds of people to don a Chicago Bears uniform, which ones rank among the best? It’s hard to narrow it down to just a handful, but we’ve picked the five best in Chicago Bears’ history. First, we’ll take a look at some of the members that almost made the list.

Honorable Mentions: Sid Luckman, Bill George, Brian Urlacher, Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, Lance Briggs, Steve McMichael, Richard Dent

5. Mike Ditka

While most people from younger generations think of Mike Ditka as a coach or analyst, many forget that he was a tremendous player for the Bears, as well. Ditka was drafted with the fifth overall pick in 1961, playing his first six NFL seasons for the Bears. The tight end was an NFL Champion and four-time All-Pro in Chicago before ending his playing career with the Eagles and Cowboys.

Following his retirement, Ditka went into coaching with Dallas and remained there for nearly a decade before returning to the Bears sideline as the head coach. Ditka would win Super Bowl XX with one of the best football rosters ever assembled. Adding that to his playing career made Ditka a Bears legend.

4. Sid Luckman

Sid Luckman would change the game of football forever thanks to his passing ability during the first half of the 20th century. After attending Columbia, Luckman was drafted second overall by the Bears in 1939, and he played his entire career with the team. Luckman won four NFL Championships during that time, dominating the NFL.

Luckman led the NFL in passing three times and was a six-time All-Pro selection. His number 42 was retired by the Bears after his retirement, finishing with 137 touchdowns and nearly 15,000 career passing yards in an era where that was unheard of.

3. Gale Sayers

Known as the “Kansas Comet,” Gale Sayers didn’t have the longest career, but he put on a heck of a show during his NFL career. The fourth overall pick out of Kansas by the Bears, Sayers would play for seven seasons in Chicago, two of which he led the NFL in rushing yards.

Sayers set the rookie record for rushing touchdowns with 22 and is one of just three players to ever score six times in one game. Sayers was a five-time All-Pro selection who has his number 40 jersey retired by the Bears and was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

2. Dick Butkus

One of the most recognizable faces and, of course, names in the NFL belongs to Dick Butkus, the hardnosed linebacker that was a hometown hero. After growing up in Chicago, Butkus attended the University of Illinois and became the third overall selection in the 1965 NFL Draft. Butkus spent his entire career with the Bears and was a Pro Bowl selection in all but one of them.

Butkus was also an eight-time All-Pro and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. His number 51 jersey is retired by the Bears, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.

1. Walter Payton

Many consider Walter Payton to be not just the greatest Chicago Bear of all time, but one of the greatest NFL players, too. “Sweetness” played all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Bears, and was an eight-time All-Pro that set a then-NFL record for career rushing yards with 16,726. Payton also won a Super Bowl (XX) and the Most Valuable Player Award (1977).

Perhaps the greatest part of Payton’s legacy is winning the NFL Man of the Year Award. Due to his philanthropic efforts, the award was named after Payton and is one of the most prestigious honors given by the NFL each year.

5 Surprise Birthday Ideas For Your Boyfriend Or Husband

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Men can be incredibly difficult to shop for in terms of a birthday present (or really any holiday). We’ve all heard the famous male catchphrase “I don’t want anything this year,” and while they can say it over and over, most men don’t actually mean that. If you find yourself in this predicament with your boyfriend or husband’s birthday coming up, there is hope.

There’s a long list of surprise ideas that you can use for your man’s birthday, no matter what his interests are. Whether he’s deep into sports, knowing every player’s statistics over the past 10 years, or prefers the arts more, there’s something special waiting. Here are five surprise birthday ideas for your boyfriend or husband that not only he will enjoy, but you’ll get to have fun alongside him.

Sports

Sporting events are a fun and exhilarating experience any fan would love to attend for their birthday. Especially if the sporting event is an important one they’ve been anticipating or involves their favorite team, or favorite sports rivalry. 

It’s also something you can do together as a couple, with family, and friends. Even if you’re not a sports fan yourself,  the energy of the crowd and seeing your partner happy will make it a fun time and give you a memory you’ll both cherish.  

Brewery Tour

A fun idea for the beer-loving guy in your life, a tour of their favorite brewery will make their birthday one to remember, hopefully. Beer is great and specialty beer is even better. Breweries typically have great food pairings to go with their beers within or nearby the establishment. 

In the end, you, your lover, and whoever else they want to bring along can enjoy a nice meal and drinks after viewing the intriguing process of making their favorite brews. It’s bound to be a great, low-key experience for their birthday and you can bring home goodies to enjoy the following days as well. 

Make Them Something 

If you want to melt your loved one’s heart, making them a homemade gift will probably do it.  If you’re the creative type, writing them a song, painting them a picture, baking them their favorite treat, cooking them their favorite meal, any way of using your artistic ability to create them a thoughtful gift is a unique way to show them how much you care. 

Even if you’re not the most creative, there are tons of cute things you can put together on your own that will make their birthday a special one. You could order a personalized gift as well if all else fails. 

Pamper Them 

Women aren’t the only ones who enjoy being pampered. If your guy is comfortable with it, plan a special spa day for them. If they’re apprehensive, pampering them yourself is a great alternative to going to a spa to treat them. Comfort is the most important factor when considering a day of bliss and relaxation, so keep in mind what they like and what they’re comfortable with. 

Book a couples spa package to make it a romantic experience. Or if you’re doing it yourself, prepare some light snacks and refreshing drinks, turn the lights down low, grab the massage oil, and do your thing. 

Games

Who doesn’t love games? Even the most burly guy indulges in some form of gaming. Whether it’s board games, video games, arcade games, sport-focused games, ax throwing, or escape room games, the guy in your life would love a birthday gaming bonanza for his special day. 

Take your man out for a night of fun food, drinks, and fun. Or perhaps put together a nice gift with games they’ve been eyeing and haven’t yet bought for themselves. It’s a sweet, yet fun way to show you care about their hobbies.