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5 Best WrestleMania Main Events

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Even the most casual of wrestling fans tune in each year for “The Grandest Stage of Them All” at WrestleMania. The largest event in wrestling, WrestleMania is typically capped off by a match that fans around the world have been clamoring to see with some of the most iconic names in the industry. Which main events were the best, though? Here are our picks for the top five.

5. Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle (XIX)

One of the more unique settings for a WrestleMania, the 19th edition took place at Seattle’s Safeco Field and featured a match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. However, that rematch was the penultimate match on the card, with “The next big thing” Brock Lesnar getting his coronation match against Kurt Angle.

The battle showed off Lesnar’s athleticism, even if it included one of the most notable botches in WrestleMania history when Lesnar came up short on a shooting star press. Lesnar ultimately won the match by giving Angle a third F-5, picking up the pinfall, and giving Lesnar the WWE Championship that he would lose to Angle and recapture throughout the rest of 2003.

4. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (XX)

The third WrestleMania to be held at Madison Square Garden, WrestleMania XX opened with John Cena winning the United States title over the Big Show and Eddie Guerrero defeating Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship. The main event featured one of the best triple-threat matches of all time, with Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit being pitted against then-champion Triple H.

Prior to this WrestleMania, no other main event had ended with a tap out. Triple H would be the first to tap after his Pedigree was reversed into a Crippler Crossface. It was a huge night for former WCW stars as Benoit and Guerrero were both victorious in a moment of positivity before tragedy struck for both wrestlers.

3. Batista vs. Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan (XXX)

A decade after one of the best triple-threat matches ever, fans were treated to another one at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Originally scheduled to be a Batista vs. Orton main event, Daniel Bryan was added in the weeks leading up to the event due to a massive swell of fan support for the underdog. After defeating Triple H to officially enter the match earlier in the night, the stage was set.

After more than 20 minutes of brawling, it looked like Batista was going to get the win after tossing Bryan out of the ring. However, Bryan hopped back into the ring after Batista delivered his finisher on Orton. Bryan then gave Batista his finisher and placed him into the Yes! Lock to end the match, highlighted by Michael Cole’s pleading with Batista to tap out and secure the win for Bryan.

2. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (XXVI)

Not every final match in a legend’s career lives up to the hype, but Shawn Michaels’s certainly did. Featuring a memorable video package leading up to the match, Undertaker vs. Michaels was built on the Undertaker’s then-undefeated streak at WrestleMania against Michaels’s career. If he lost, Michaels had to retire.

Naturally, as Michaels’s final match, the Undertaker would end up victorious. It was a classic last-stand match for Michaels in his vintage defiant fashion. It took three Tombstone Piledrivers to defeat Michaels, who was left in the ring following the match to show his appreciation for the fans one last time before calling it a career.

1. Steve Austin vs. The Rock (XVII)

Taking place in the Houston Astrodome, many consider WrestleMania X-Seven to be the greatest wrestling pay-per-view of all time. Of course, to be considered that great, there had to have been a classic match as the main event. Thankfully, that’s just what we got when The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin faced off in a no-disqualification match for the WWF Championship.

The Rock was the champion heading into the match that lasted for nearly a half hour and resulted in a major heel turn for Austin as he joined forces with Vince McMahon. It was the end of an era for many wrestling fans, but will still be considered among the greatest matches ever based on the hype alone.

5 Classic Wrestling Matches

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Not every great wrestling match has to take place during the main event of WrestleMania. There have been plenty that is great for varying reasons across all pay-per-views in history. It’s hard to narrow it down to just five must-watch matches, but these ones should be on every fan’s list of classic wrestling matches.

5. Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (WrestleWar 1989)

In its infancy, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) went hand-in-hand with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) before branching out into its own company. At the time, the WCW-NWA team-up gave some great matches, and that includes the WrestleWar pay-per-view in 1989, dubbed the Music City Showdown.

Interestingly enough, the match between Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair wasn’t the main event as there were two tag team title matches that followed. However, the Steamboat-Flair contest stole the show, lasting for more than 30 minutes as Flair won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship by pinfall. The match instantly received five-star ratings across the board and is considered by some to be the greatest American wrestling match ever.

4. Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (Royal Rumble 2000)

If you’re looking for one of the biggest WWE pay-per-views that isn’t WrestleMania, look no further than the stacked Royal Rumble from 0200. Featuring The Rock winning the 30-man Royal Rumble, as well as the Hardy Boyz winning a triple threat tables match, the main event prior to the Rumble itself was the brutal Triple H vs. Cactus Jack street fight.

The match between the two went for nearly 30 minutes and featured a ton of weapons including barbed wire, two-by-fours, thumbtacks, and, of course, chairs. Triple H would end up winning the bloody contest, but Cactus Jack made sure to get plenty of damage in on the champion when it was all said and done.

3. Undertaker vs. Mankind (King of the Ring 1998)

Another one of Mick Foley’s alter egos, Mankind was another unhinged character that was willing to take punishment as much as he doled it out, if not more. While the namesake of the pay-per-view featured Ken Shamrock defeating The Rock in the tournament finals, it was the Undertaker and Mankind’s Hell in a Cell match that people still talk about to this day.

In the longest match of the night, The Undertaker was ultimately victorious after dealing out a massive amount of damage that included throwing Mankind off the top of the cell and through the announcers’ table. People still can’t believe that Mankind wasn’t seriously injured or even dead, showing why Foley is the hardcore legend.

2. CM Punk vs. John Cena (Money in the Bank 2011)

One of the loudest crowds in wrestling history, Chicago was on fire for CM Punk for what he said would be his final match following a contract dispute with WWE at Money in the Bank. The match was for the WWE Championship against John Cena, and the stipulation said that if Cena lost, he would be fired by Vince McMahon.

What fans didn’t know is that Punk had inked a new deal with WWE as the pay-per-view was going on, and this info being kept secret made the finish that much more surprising as Punk would walk out victorious following his upset victory in 33 minutes. In the end, Cena wouldn’t be fired and Punk would return, but at the moment, the match had a lot at stake.

1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (Survivor Series 1996)

In the event that many consider the beginning of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and the Attitude Era in general, the 1996 Survivor Series pitted the Texas Rattlesnake against Bret Hart. There was no title on the line, and the match wasn’t the main event, yet it’s Austin-Hart that gets talked about all these years later from the event.

The match was for the #1 contendership for the WWF Championship, which Hart would ultimately win after the two dueled for nearly a half hour. It appeared that Austin had the winning submission move locked in, but would reverse the move into a pin and left Stone Cold stunned in the middle of the ring.

5 Most Common Sexual Orientations

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It’s estimated that there are more than two dozen sexual orientations among humans, including graysexual, autosexual, sapiosexual, and many more. Obviously, some are much more common than others. An overwhelming majority of the world falls under a handful of categories, with these five sexual orientations being the most common:

Homosexual

Homosexuality is the emotional/romantic and/or sexual attraction to a person of the same sex or gender. Typically homosexual men are labeled as Gay and homosexual women are labeled as Lesbian. 

Scientists believe a complex combination of hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors play a part in the development of this sexual orientation and believe homosexuality is not a choice, but rather a normal part of the nature of human sexuality. Instances of homosexuality have even been displayed by some animals. 

Heterosexual

Heterosexuality is the emotional/romantic and/or sexual attraction to members of the opposite sex or gender. Often referred to as being “straight”, it’s the most common sexual orientation throughout different communities and cultures. Biologically, humans and nearly all creatures on Earth have been engineered to mate and produce offspring to ensure the survival of the species. 

As is true for all sexual orientations, heterosexuality is valid and a completely natural occurrence. Although there is no heterosexuality awareness because it’s thought to be the norm, being proud of your sexuality is a good thing no matter what your orientation may be. 

Bisexual

Bisexuality is the emotional/romantic and/or sexual attraction to both female and male counterparts. It’s one of the main classifications of sexual orientation, along with heterosexuality and homosexuality. One common misconception of bisexuality is that a person must have an equal attraction to both sexes to be seen as bi.

In reality, a bi person can have any varying degree of attraction to the female and male genders and still be 100% bisexual. It’s a stigma that has plagued members of the bi community for some time now, but awareness and celebration of this orientation, such as Bisexual+ Awareness Week in September, are steps in the right direction. 

Pansexual

Pansexuality is the emotional/romantic and/or sexual attraction to a person of either sex or any gender. Some who are bisexual also identify as pansexual, if their attraction goes beyond standard male and female gender identities. 

Although, they are typically seen as separate orientations and should not automatically be paired by default. People within the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly those who identify as bisexual, have reservations about being categorized into a group they don’t specifically identify with. There are many ways to spread awareness, one being Pansexual Awareness Day, which falls on May 24th. 

Asexual

One sexual orientation that consists of a lack of sexual attraction, is Asexuality. Asexuality, although a valid sexual orientation, has researchers divided on whether it’s a legitimate orientation. Asexual individuals can take part in emotional/romantic relationships and may even engage in sexual activity for pleasure, reproduction, or other personal reasons. 

However, sexual attraction and the desire for sexual relations are nonexistent. Just like any label, they can be as firm, or loose as the individual chooses and is purely a way to express one’s self and personal preferences. Asexual Awareness Day falls on April 6th and is a great way to break the stigma surrounding it. 

There are plenty of other sexualities, with more specific ones being created as preferences are discovered. These five are the most common, though, and more specific sexual orientations tend to fall under these umbrellas.

Most Played Akinator Characters

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Akinator’s database is unparalleled as he seems to know just about every notable person or character in the world. From minor characters in obscure animated shows all the way up to the leaders of every nation, Akinator will likely know who pops into your mind. There are certain names and categories that pop up the most on Akinator, with these being the most played in the world’s most popular version of “20 Questions”.

Akinator Himself

A lot of people will try to fool Akinator by using him as the answer to his questions. However, Akinator is able to figure out the ruse rather quickly and can guess that he’s the subject within a few questions. Naturally, the being that knows everything about itself will be able to figure things out.

Non-Answers

Among the most common guesses are the ones that are nothing at all. There are millions of people that just continue to click ‘no’ just to see what happens. The answer will be “The One About Whom Nothing Is Known,” which isn’t a cop-out answer since there’s a person trying to break the game anyway. Three of the top 11 guesses of all-time on Akinator aren’t anything that exists.

Presidents

If you were to ask a random person on the street to name the first person that pops into their head, there’s a good chance that they name the President of the United States. For this reason, people that play Akinator for the first time are likely to use the current US President as their answer. Names like Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and all the rest are among the most common Akinator guesses.

Cartoon Characters

The demographic for Akinator tends to skew on the younger side, and cartoon characters are commonly brought up because of this. Out of all of the cartoon characters that Akinator guesses, Spongebob Squarepants is the most common. Mickey Mouse, Homer Simpson, and superheroes like Spider-Man and Batman are also characters that Akinator runs into frequently each day.

Video Game Characters

Cartoon and video game characters sort of go hand in hand, and the younger Akinator players love to see if he can guess their favorite gaming characters. Among the more popular results for video game characters are Pikachu (Pokemon), Master Chief (Halo), Sonic the Hedgehog, and Kratos (God of War).

YouTubers

To continue the trend of younger people playing Akinator, most of the top responses in a given country will be a YouTube personality. PewDiePie is one of the most frequent on an international basis while other YouTubers like J10B100, Luccas Neto, and Kouki are popular guesses in countries like Italy and China. Almost every YouTuber that has at least a couple of thousand subscribers is in Akinator’s database of knowledge.

Athletes

Akinator is played around the world instead of just in North America, so it’s no surprise to see that there’s a long list of soccer stars that dominate the sports guesses. Soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are far ahead of the pack in Akinator guesses, while other stars like Kylian Mbappe and Son Heung-min are among the top, as well. In terms of American athletes, Tiger Woods is the top response.

Controversial Figures

There’s a certain edginess that comes with the youth of the world, so of course, there’s going to be a slew of controversial people that Akinator will have to guess. Some of these include a certain leader of Germany during the early 20th century and a known terrorist that was slain during the Barack Obama administration by Seal Team 6. 

Singers and Actors

Though not as high on the list as some of the others, the top 100 guesses for Akinator include a lot of singers and actors. Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber top the list of musical acts, while actors like Brad Pitt and Arnold Schwarzenegger are the first actors to come to mind for a lot of people. What might be surprising is that Jackson and Bieber are the only two from these categories that are in the top 25 overall.

How ATP Ranking Points Work

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Since August 1973, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has released a weekly ranking of the world’s top tennis players. The ATP rankings are different from that of several other sports because rankings aren’t determined by voters who think the best players are. Instead, the rankings are set based on the amount of points gathered in the previous 52 weeks on the ATP Tour.

You may see a player win an ATP tournament but not make much movement, while another tournament can lead to someone jumping dozens, if not hundreds, of spots in the rankings. So how is the number of points determined? Let’s take a closer look at the ATP rankings points system.

Grand Slams

If a player wants to break into the top five of the ATP rankings, then they better perform well at the grand slam events. The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open are where the most points are awarded each year. The winner of one of these tournaments is given 2,000 points, which can sustain a high ranking for an entire year.

Simply performing well at a grand slam is worth a lot of points, as well. A finals appearance earns 1,200 points, while the semifinals and quarterfinals pull in 720 and 360 points, respectively. Qualifying for a grand slam is a 25-point bonus and making it to the round of 128 is another 10 points.

While not a part of the grand slam schedule, the ATP Finals is a great way for the top players to earn bonus points. The top eight players of the year advance to the ATP Finals, and can earn up to 1,500 points for winning. Each round-robin win during the early stage of the tournament is another 200 points.

Masters, 500, 250 Series

Each year, the ATP has eight tournaments in the Masters 1000 series that are considered mandatory. Players wouldn’t want to miss out on these massive point opportunities, anyway, as the winner of each earns 1,000 points while a finals appearance is worth 600. Players are able to earn 25 points simply for qualifying and start earning big points when reaching the round of 32.

The smaller tournaments in the highest level of the ATP Tour are the 500 and 250 series, with the names giving away how many points a player can earn from winning. Qualifying bonuses are reduced to 20 and 12 points, respectively, for these tournaments. For those keeping track, it would take eight ATP 250 Series tournament wins to match just one grand slam championship.

Challenger Tour

The second tier of the ATP is known as the Challenger Tour, and it has plenty of great opportunities for rising stars and veterans alike some significant points opportunities. Just like the highest tier, the Challenger Tour has tournaments with a designated amount of points and are named as such. For example, the top events are the Challenger 125 tournaments, followed by Challenger 110, 100, etc.

For a lot of tennis professionals that don’t have aspirations of competing against the top 10 players in the world, the Challenger Tour is a great way to simply be included in the rankings. Qualifying for the lowest tournaments, the Challenger 50, earns three points and gets a player’s name on the same list as the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovich.

ITF Tour

Just below the Challenger Tour in terms of prestige is the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Men’s World Tennis Tour, which is the final tier of professional tennis. While the Challenger Tour is typically made up of solid players that aren’t at the elite level, the ITF Tour is where you’ll find notable junior players who have hopes of entering the top 100.

There are several ITF tournaments on a weekly basis, most of which have ATP points attached. Tournaments are designated as M25 or M15. Not only do the winners of these tournaments receive 25 or 15 ATP points for a victory in these tournaments, but the prize pool is $25,000 or $15,000.

If you’re wondering how many points it would take to reach an elite ranking in the top 20, it changes on a weekly basis. However, a player can expect to need around 2,000 points at the very least to make it that high.

5 ATP Records Likely To Never Be Broken

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Professional tennis has had several different eras, and many consider the ATP era to be the true mark of the prime competition. Beginning in 1973, the ATP Tour has made it so that all of the best players in the world compete against each other to determine a ranking system based on points. Along the way, there have been some notable records, some of which may never be broken. Here are five of those records that are likely to be around for many years to come.

1. Consecutive Weeks At No. 1

Becoming the number one player in the world is the dream of every tennis player that turns professional. However, only a select few have ever been able to say that they were the top-ranked player in the world, even if for just one week. Then, you have Roger Federer, who grabbed the top spot from Andy Roddick in February 2004 after winning the Australian Open and didn’t look back for years.

Federer didn’t lose his number-one ranking until August 2008 when Rafael Nadal replaced him at the top. This meant that Federer’s run surpassed Jimmy Connors’ previous record at 160 weeks. All in all, Federer spent 237 weeks as the world’s number-one player, setting a mark that’s almost impossible to beat.

2. Most No. 1 Players In A Year

When a player grabs the number one ranking in tennis, they’re expected to hang around at that spot for at least a couple of months. In the earlier days of the ATP rankings, though, there would often be some fighting back and forth to determine number one. This was especially true in 1983 when the top spot changed hands 10 times throughout the year.

Jimmy Connors came into the year as the world’s number-one player, losing the spot in January to John McEnroe. Connors and McEnroe went back and forth for months, with multiple reigns as short as one week. McEnroe had the longest reign of the year at 17 weeks while a third entrant, Ivan Lendl, had reigns of six and 11 weeks. 

3. Total Weeks At No. 1

Roger Federer’s record for consecutive weeks at number one is extremely impressive and makes up a bulk of the number of weeks he held the top position in the rankings. However, Federer spent 310 weeks altogether during his illustrious career at number one before retiring, and that number isn’t close to the record for most total weeks at number one.

That honor belongs to Novak Djokovic and his several long reigns at the top. Djokovic has such a stranglehold on the record that Federer would not only have to come out of retirement but hold the number one spot for well over a year without giving it up to surpass Djokovic. Even a legend like Rafael Nadal would around four more total years to surpass Djokovic.

4. Time Between First and Last No. 1 Rankings

Tennis is a sport that skews incredibly young, with the prime of most careers wrapping up before a player turns 30. It seems that the best players in tennis history are able to dominate well into their 30s, but there are only three in the rankings’ history that have achieved their first and last number-one ranking more than a decade apart, and it’s probably the three that you expect.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer are the three that have accomplished this feat. However, it’s Federer that set the standard for longevity. Federer became the world’s number one in February 2004 for the first time and achieved his final number one ranking in June 2018. That’s a span of 14 years and 142 days, a mark that is unlikely to be matched.

5. No. 1 Without Winning A Grand Slam

Back in that wild 1983 season that we mentioned earlier, Ivan Lendl was one of three men to grab the number one ranking. Lendl did that without winning a grand slam, though. The following year, Lendl got his first career grand slam win, making it so that only one man in ATP history has earned number one without winning one in their career.

That distinction belongs to Marcelo Rios of Chile. In early 1998, Rios made it to the finals of the Australian Open to propel himself to number one. He retired in 2004 without winning a grand slam, making him the only number one to do so.

5 Most Common Nintendo Switch Problems

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Released to much fanfare in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch became one of the best-selling consoles of all time thanks to its ability to serve as both a handheld gaming device and a standalone console that connects to televisions. Along with its trademark games, the Nintendo Switch does have its fair share of common issues, though. Here are the five most common Nintendo Switch problems that you’re likely to run in to as an owner.

5. Internet Connectivity

One of the most frustrating things, especially if you’re trying to play online, is facing network issues with your Switch. While you can still play your downloaded games without an internet connection, you may not be able to have the most up-to-date version or play online unless your wi-fi is working properly.

Obviously, the first thing that people check is their own internet connection, and if that’s working, then it’s typically the Nintendo services, the router is out of range, or the security settings keeping your Switch offline. After seeing if a modem/router restart helps, you can try to encrypt your home network and check the compatibility of your equipment with the Switch.

4. Dock Scratches Screen

Though it’s not a problem for everyone, the setup of the Nintendo Switch docking station can cause scratches to the console’s screen if not inserted properly. People can accidentally place the Switch into the dock backward, young children can try relentlessly to jam it into the dock, or any other reason and scratches can happen.

To combat this, it’s wise to get a screen protector for your Nintendo Switch. Think of your Switch the same way you would think about your smartphone. Both screens can be fragile, so using a layer of protection will help tremendously. Screen protectors aren’t that costly, either, making it a simple solution.

3. Screen Freezes/Crashes

Perhaps more frustrating than either of the previous common issues, having your Switch freeze or crash repeatedly is always panic-inducing. Many think that it means their Switch’s hardware is about to die, rendering their console obsolete. There are many reasons why this could be happening, including the software being corrupted if it only happens during one particular game.

The system could also be out of date if this problem becomes common, so clear the console’s system cache and download the latest update. Also try to force the shutdown of the console, charge it, and make sure that the wi-fi is properly connected. In rarer cases, the hardware could be completely dead, though it may be covered by warranty.

2. Dead Pixels

While it doesn’t really affect the gameplay or hardware in general, having a dead pixel or two on your screen can be very annoying. When you see one pixel that’s completely white or black, that means this pixel is never coming back on your Switch screen. The worst part, though? Nintendo says that it’s a non-issue and can do nothing for you.

“Small numbers of stuck or dead pixels are a characteristic of LCD screens,” Nintendo says on their official website. “These are normal and should not be considered a defect. With that in mind, don’t even bother trying to contact Nintendo support regarding the issue. You either have to play with the dead pixels or completely replace the console if it’s a major nuisance.

1. Joycon Drift

Of course, when mentioning issues with the Nintendo Switch, you have to talk about the Joycon drifting issue that almost everyone has experienced. This occurs when your Joycon’s sticks continue to function even when you’re not touching them. It’s painful when playing a platformer like Super Mario Odyssey that requires precise platforming control.

There are several temporary fixes that you can perform at home, but most require actually taking apart the controller, which voids the warranty and leaves you with a dead Joycon if unsuccessful. Instead, it’s best to contact Nintendo and get a replacement for free. Unfortunately, the timeframe for receiving your replacement can be anywhere from a few days to over a month.

5 Awesome Nintendo Switch Games You Might Have Missed

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Sure, we all know the likes of Nintendo classics like the Super Mario or Legend of Zelda series that are blockbusters for the video game company, but not every good game has to sell millions of copies. 

While the Mario franchise along with Pokemon and Zelda make up a massive chunk of the 20 highest-selling Switch games in the console’s history, there are some other gems that you may have missed, including a familiar blue face. If you want to try out some awesome games that could have slipped by you while also not breaking the bank, try out these five Nintendo Switch games.

Lego Worlds

Released for the Switch in September of 2017, “Lego Worlds” might be a game you missed in the flurry of popular Lego game releases throughout the years. Traveler’s Tales first developed the game. 1-2 players, locally or online, can create their own customizable world made up of Lego bricks and other fun additions. 

You can unlock creatures in the game, some of which can be used as transportation and for attacking. Speaking of transportation, there’s also an array of vehicles you can use to explore and admire the Lego world around you. 

Killer Queen Black

“Killer Queen Black”, inspired by the “Killer Queen” arcade game, is a platform strategy game released for the Switch in October 2019 after making its debut back in 2013. Up to eight players can join the fun locally, or online. 

Players can choose to be the Queen and focus on protecting their hive, or play as workers that rank up to soldiers while collecting berries and dodging enemies. KQB has developed quite the underground following over the years, becoming a cult classic.

Disney Classic Games Collection

“The Disney Classic Games Collection” was released on the Switch in November of 2021.  Although recently released, Disney lovers may have missed this old-school gem. It features retro games that Disney fans will love. Players can indulge in the 16-bit console versions of fan-favorite “Aladdin” games and classic” Lion King” and “Jungle Book” games. 

You can also jam out to full soundtracks from each of the movies while you do so. Whether you’ve already played through them back in the day and want to experience the nostalgia these games bring, or trying them out for the first time, it’s sure to be a hit for adults and kids alike.  

Sonic Forces

Developed by Sega and released for the Switch in November of 2017, “Sonic Forces” is one of the many Sonic games available on the console, so it’s possible you may have missed it. The action and adventure-based platform game was developed in honor of the “Sonic The Hedgehog” franchise’s 25th anniversary.

Your goal is to defeat the mischievous Doctor Eggman, who alongside his new partner “Infinite”, has destroyed most of Earth. You can play the levels in classic side-scrolling mode, modern mode, and a mode in which players are able to create and fight enemies with their very own personalized avatars. 

Night In The Woods

Developed by Infinite Fall studios and released on the Switch in February 2018, “Night In The Woods” is an underrated piece of work you could have easily skimmed over. The game is based on the 2011 British horror film “A Night In The Woods”, written and directed by Richard Parry. Infinite Fall crowd-funded the project and received over 400% of its original goal.

The story follows a college-aged girl named Mae, who suffers from dissociative episodes and, for that reason, comes back to her hometown to seek familiarity and comfort. Mae meets with old friends and discovers one had recently gone missing. Mae and her friends decide to search for their lost friend after Mae witnesses the kidnapping of another townsperson by a cloaked individual, who she assumes is a ghost. Critics gave high praise for the game’s soundtrack, story, and stunning art. 

5 Most Important Concepts in Finance

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The world of finance comes easy to some people, but for many, it can be a completely foreign concept. If you’re one of the millions of people that’s trying to learn more about finances so that you can understand the market while also helping out your own bank accounts, there are certain things to know. Here are five of the most important concepts in finance to familiarize yourself with so that you can get a better general understanding.

1. Inflation

Prices go up every year, whether or not wages do, and this is the result of inflation. Inflation varies by year and can be to the point where certain things can become unaffordable for a lot of people. Grocery and gas prices are the most obvious victims of inflation, though mortgage and rent prices are the ones that have the biggest impact on the general population.

Inflation can be a good thing for the economy and personal finances if it’s incredibly slow and steady. When this occurs, wages tend to grow with inflation, but inflation rates increasing too quickly has a negative impact on businesses and employees. The worst case of inflation that the world has ever seen came from Hungary in the early 20th century.

2. Bull/Bear Market

You may have heard about bull and bear markets or even seen the multiple statues of the two animals fighting each other. These animals represent the stock market, both good and bad, but why these particular animals? The bull represents a thriving economy where unemployment drops while securities and wages increase.

The reason for this is because when a bull attacks, it uses its horns in an upward thrust. As for the bear, he attacks with a downward swiping motion. You’ll hear about rising interest rates and increased unemployment during a bear market as people start to sell off a lot of their stocks.

3. Debt-To-Income Ratio

While credit scores are often considered to be the most important part of getting a large loan like a mortgage, many don’t realize that their debt-to-income ratio is just as important. Your DTI ratio is a comparison of how much you earn each month compared to how much you have in monthly payments.

All of your monthly bills are taken into consideration when calculating DTI. Your rent or house payment will be the biggest one, followed by loan and credit card payments. This can include student loans and car payments. Other debts are taken into consideration, including court-appointed payments like alimony or child support, but your monthly utility bills are not included.

4. Interest

Interest is one of those things that can be very confusing to beginners as there are a lot of different forms of interest. From interest paid on loans to interest accrued from savings, there is a lot of interest in, well, interest. Two of the major forms of interest are simple interest and compound interest.

Simple interest doesn’t have a lot of frills attached to it, hence the name. Simple interest has a fixed percentage that accrues from a balance each month. Compound interest, on the other hand, is calculated using both initial principal and previously accumulated interest. It isn’t as complicated as it sounds, though, thankfully.

5. Net Worth

The world has a fascination with finding out someone’s net worth. After all, almost every one of us has looked up a celebrity or businessperson’s net worth on Google. While it’s almost impossible to get a 100% accurate net worth for someone that’s worth millions, we can at least get a good idea.

For individuals, finding out their net worth is much easier. It’s a bit more in-depth than the debt-to-income ratio but uses many of the same statistics. All assets are taken into consideration when determining net worth, including companies owned, real estate, and anything else that’s tangible. Then, all of the liabilities are subtracted including all loan balances. It’s estimated that more than 10 percent of Americans have a negative net worth.

5 Tips For Winning a Sweepstakes

Posted on by scatty

There are more than 50 million people in the United States alone that enter into some sort of sweepstakes each year. Whether it be a small local giveaway from a gift certificate or a massive nationwide check for millions of dollars, any sweepstakes can be enticing. While it might not feel like you ever win, there are a few people that keep winning hundreds of them each year.

What is their secret to winning hundreds of sweepstakes on a yearly basis? Thankfully, these experts at winning have shared their secrets over the years. You may have to commit a lot of time, but if you’re willing to devote that time, these five tips will help you win a sweepstakes for the first time (and many times thereafter). 

Read the Terms and Conditions

One of the most important tips to remember when entering a sweepstakes, or contest of any kind is to read through the terms and conditions carefully and thoroughly. 

Even if you win a contest, there’s no guarantee you’ll earn the prize if you haven’t followed the guidelines properly. Otherwise, you could be disqualified. So make sure to read and follow the rules of the game to ensure there’s nothing in the way of you winning. 

Join Online Forums 

If you aren’t sure where to begin when starting your sweepstakes venture, there are tons of online forums and sites that compile information and lists of current and upcoming sweepstakes. 

Some sites, or online groups, may even provide a way to communicate amongst the sweepstakes community, giving you more insight, tips, and information on other sweepstakes to enter from fellow contest seekers. Although there are legitimate groups and sites out there, beware of scams and never put too much personal information out there. 

Enter As Many As Possible 

One surefire way to earn you at least one win is to simply enter as many sweepstakes as possible. If you are only interested in sticking to sweepstakes that surround your hobbies, seek out sites and groups familiar with the hobby and try to enter as many contests they offer for that particular hobby. Though, if you just love winning and don’t care what, entering as many contests is a trick that’s bound to make you a winner. 

Follow Social Media Accounts 

If you’re in the know, you’re more likely to win. Most people skim over ads and social media posts involving sweepstakes or don’t even follow the accounts that run the contests in the first place. Whether it’s because they don’t think they could ever win, or they see it as a nuisance. 

Following, liking, and turning on notifications for social media posts from sweepstakes accounts, popular businesses and restaurants, and accounts that often do giveaways, is a great way to keep tabs on any current, or upcoming contests. You may end up being one of the few people that bother to do so, making your chances of winning even greater. So make sure to pay attention to the repetitive social media posts and advertisements if you’re in it to win it. 

Prepare Your Entry Information

Most contests and sweepstakes take place online these days. When you’re entering all of these online contests, it’s helpful to have all of your basic information ready to copy and paste off of a word document or notepad for speed and accuracy. There’s nothing worse than entering a contest with the wrong information due to a simple typing mistake. 

Also, some sweepstakes have you take a picture with their product and have you post it online to enter. So create your social media accounts beforehand and have the product ready to take a quick snapshot with. Don’t forget any necessary hashtags, or tags to ensure your entry is valid.