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5 Rules For Staying Safe – And Having Real Adventures – When Travelling Solo

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When you think of people going on vacation, you tend to think of families. It’s a natural assumption as there have been countless movies about family vacations. However, it’s estimated that more than a quarter of Americans have traveled for business, and around 20 percent have done so for leisure. If you’re one of these people that has either traveled solo or you plan to go on a trip by yourself, you must keep yourself safe. To do so, here are some valuable tips that can save you a lot of hassle and even save your life.

1. Insure, Insure, Insure

Not everybody is a fan of insurance, and it’s understandable. However, travel insurance is something that’s affordable (especially when compared to the cost of an overall trip) and it doesn’t require a monthly payment for the rest of your life. Travel insurance will cover a lot of things and can potentially get you out of a disastrous situation. Travel insurance can cover flights that get canceled, luggage that gets lost or damaged, and even medical help if you find yourself out of the country. You probably won’t need it, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

2. Stay Charged

Your cell phone isn’t just something that takes pictures and allows you to post on social media, but it can also save your life. Make sure that your phone is properly charged at all times (even if it means using a portable charger). You can get real time alerts for potentially dangerous situations happening in the area, traffic and more to keep you safe. Of course, you’ll also be able to make calls in case you need emergency assistance.

3. Always Let Your Plans Be Known

Before you embark on any vacation by yourself, let all of your loved ones know what you’re going to be doing. Don’t let it be vague, either. Your emergency contacts should know your flight number, the estimated time of arrival and an hourly itinerary during the duration of your trip. Obviously you don’t want to expect the worst, but it’s always best to plan ahead. Checking in with those you trust most multiple times per day is also a big help.

4. Limit Night Travel

Whether you’re at home or on the road, the majority of crimes will happen at night. More violent crimes especially can happen at night, so try to stick to traveling during the day unless it’s absolutely necessary. Data across major cities have shown that more than half of burglaries, assault, robberies and more happen during the nighttime hours.

5. Keep Your Valuables Separate

In the tragic event that you are mugged or robbed, you could possibly lose everything and have to replace it, and that can take months or years. There’s a way that you can minimize the damage done if this happens in unfamiliar territory, and that’s by not keeping all of your valuables with you at once. You should always keep your phone with you, but if you don’t plan on spending money, you can leave the wallet or identification in the hotel room. If you keep these items in a safe, that’s an added bonus.

5 Most Useful Accessories To Make Overnight Stays So Much Easier

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Most of us want to go on a vacation that lasts for days, weeks and maybe even months. However, not all of us have the time to make that happen. Instead, we have to opt for just a quick trip that could just be one night only. If you want to make a couple hour drive (or have to travel for business), there are some accessories you should take along with you for that one night stay, and we have some of the most important ones for you.

1. Power Bank

Since we live in an era where we rely so much on technology, it’s vital to make sure that your electronics are charged whenever possible. Not only will it allow you to get in touch with anyone that you want or need, but it will come in handy for traveling. You can use your phone for up to the foot instructions, real time traffic and reviews for local restaurants. A power bank will make sure that your cell phone and other electronics are all set to go for the duration of your trip.

2. Travel Wallet

It doesn’t matter how long you’re going to be gone, having a travel wallet is a huge help. These types of wallets will be able to hold all of your cards, identification, cell phone and much more. It will be easier to keep track of this large wallet than carrying everything in separate compartments. Just make sure that you have it on you at all times, though, because losing a travel wallet (or having it stolen) can be a devastating venture.

3. Good Set of Headphones

Those of us that use headphones will never stop talking about how handy they are at all times. Even on a quick overnight trip, headphones will be more useful than you might think. Let’s say that your hotel is in an area that’s a bit noisier than you thought, or your one-day trip happens to include a short flight. You can listen to music, watch television at your own volume or simply block out the noise that’s around you.

4. Fresh Pillow

The nicer the hotel that you’re staying in, the better the pillows are more likely to be. However, these pillows might not be the right type of firmness for your desire. Also, even the nicest hotels might let a couple of things slip in terms of cleanliness. If you bring your own fresh pillow, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting. It might just be one night of sleep, but it will make your return trip the next day that much easier when you’re well rested.

5. Travel Bags

Compact bags in which you can put all your belongings in are handy for short trips. You can keep a small bag for toiletries and another for your clothes. Finally, you can keep your shoes in a separate travel bag. If you plan on using a hotel gym or getting some exercise while also planning to go out for dinner. These bags are fairly cheap, too, and you can use them over and over.

5 Weird Travel Hacks To Help You Have Fun And Stay Fresh

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There are a lot of details that go into planning a vacation. Most of us think about the bigger picture like the flight or the hotel, but there are some things that you might not think about that can help you. If you’re looking for some unconventional advice on how to make your trip fun while also staying fresh, we’ve got good news for you. Here are some travel hacks that will set your trip apart from any one that you’ve had before.

1. Use Shoe Bags

When you’re traveling, you don’t want just one pair of shoes for everything. Can you imagine going to a fancy dinner while wearing your kickaround Nikes, or playing tennis in a pair of loafers? Try to bring shoes for every occasion that you have planned for your vacation. The best way to do this is by taking advantage of shoe bags. Not only will it keep your clothes clean, but you won’t get the smell of your gym shoes mixed up with your high end shoes.

2. And Bag Those Toiletries

In addition to having special bags for your shoes, it also helps to keep one for your toiletries. Of course, hotels will provide toiletries for you, but it’s not always going to be high quality, and might not even be enough for your trip. Because of this, get a nice toiletry bag where you can keep shampoo, toothpaste and more. These toiletry bags also help to avoid mishaps where your bottles might leak and mix toothpaste and shampoo, which is a minor inconvenience, but a messy one to take care of.

3. Apps That Map

Take advantage of all that your cell phone has to offer even before you travel. There are plenty of cell phone apps available that are able to help make your trip much easier and enjoyable. Use these apps to help navigate your way through unknown territory, get reviews of the best local businesses and more. Even apps like Nextdoor will let you know exactly what is going on in the neighborhood in real time.

4. Rent a House, Not a Room

There was a time when our only options when staying overnight during vacation were hotels and hostels. With the advent of house rentals that you can do through your cell phone or computer, though, your options are nearly endless. Services such as Airbnb and Vrbo offer houses that will provide all the amenities that you need and much more room than any hotel could provide. Not only that, but the prices are often comparable and even cheaper than most hotels.

5. Bring the Wipes

Let’s get back to the part about how we’re staying fresh on our vacations. People tend to get sick when they travel, and hotels and airlines are a big part of that. The best way to prevent getting sick on your trip is to make sure that everything is sanitized. Don’t be afraid to wipe down your seat, counters in the hotel room and more. Sure, people might look at you a bit weird at first, but when you’re not coughing at home following the trip, you’ll get the last laugh.

Top 10 Musician Net Worths

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10. Celine Dion ($800 Million)

The Canadian born “My Heart Will Go On” singer has had some success outside of music, including perfumes and fashion. A large chunk of Celine Dion’s net worth has also come from residency on the Las Vegas Strip, as well as her touring career, setting records in both avenues.

9. Dr. Dre ($820 Million)

A hip-hop icon, Dr. Dre has been known more for his role as a producer and businessman in recent years. His label, Aftermath Entertainment, has struck gold with Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. Meanwhile, his headphone collection Beats by Dre sold to Apple for $3 billion back in 2014.

8. Madonna ($850 Million)

You can’t tell the story of pop music without mentioning Madonna, making her a true legend. With her music career (as well as some acting), Madonna has had massive endorsement deals and a few entries into the fashion world to help her amass a net worth of $850 million, making her the second richest woman on the list.

7. Herb Alpert ($870 Million) 

Perhaps the least known name among the younger crowd on the list, Herb Alpert is a living legend known for his trumpeteering. Starting his own record label in the 1960s, Alpert remains tremendously wealthy thanks to the sale of said label (A&M Records).

6. Sean Combs ($885 Million) 

Puff Daddy, P Diddy, whatever you want to call him, just don’t call Sean Combs unwealthy. The rapper is also a business mogul that started Bad Boy Records as well as the Sean John clothing line. Other ventures include Ciroc vodka, sports drinks, e-sports and much more.

5. Paul McCartney ($1.08 Billion)

One of the two surviving members of The Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney is the first billionaire on the list. Obviously his tours and royalties make him a lot of money, but McCartney also has many other investments to his name that set him apart from many other famous musicians. 

4. Andrew Lloyd Webber ($1.2 Billion)

Though he’s not a singing sensation like many others on this list, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is responsible for some of the most successful stage musicals of all time. Thanks to plays such as “Cats” and his art collection, Webber has become a billionaire.

3. Jay-Z ($1.4 Billion)

The rapper that notoriously said that he’s a “business, man,” Jay-Z has used his rap career to help launch other business ventures. This includes the clothing line Rocawear, nightclubs and even his own sports agency. It also doesn’t hurt that his wife, Beyonce, is among the highest earners in music, too.

2. Rihanna ($1.7 Billion)

One of the most successful artists of the new millennium, Barbados born Rihanna has been a business mogul for a decade thanks to her entry into the fashion world. Starting with a fragrance back in 2011, Rihanna expanded into starting the Fenty line that has earned her more than her music career has, interestingly enough.

1. Kanye West ($2 Billion)

Kanye West, or simply Ye these days, tops the list with a net worth of $2 billion. It’s not just the record sales or touring, but his many other business ventures that have propelled him to where he is today. This includes his luxury fashion line and investments in food joints and he’s even had interest in the automobile industry; hoping to create a flying car (seriously).

Top 5 Ways To Make Better Business Decisions

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Business, by nature, is cutthroat. All of us that have gotten into business are trying to get ahead of the curve, especially as technology has evolved. This has caused people to make snap decisions, with fear of missing out (FOMO) becoming a trend in the business world. Just because the market is moving fast doesn’t mean that you have to make a decision within nanoseconds, though. It’s important to take your time when making any business decision, and here are some ways to do just that.

Remember the Past

Philosopher George Santayana famously said that “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This is a good mindset for anything, but especially in business. When trying to make a decision, see how a similar decision made either by yourself or someone else has worked in the past. If it failed miserably, you might want to steer in the opposite direction. Though times may change, results can often be the same.

Word of Mouth

Any good decision making process should include a lot of research. There will be facts and figures at your disposal, but it’s also important to talk to the right people. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from anyone and everyone that you can think of before finalizing your decision making process. This is especially true if you can speak with someone that has experience in a similar decision. If you are a manager, ask your employees how they would feel about changes that your decision could make.

Think Long Term

In the evolving world that we live in, many decision makers in business are thinking short term. Whether this be to appease shareholders or mortgage the future for their own current wellbeing, it seems that the long term goals are getting thrown out of the window. If you want to set yourself and your fellow employees up for success. When you have a plan in place that focuses on five years down the road, you’re much more likely to retain employees and be more consistent in your success. It’s not necessary to follow every trend, and the most successful businessmen think years ahead instead of weeks.

Execution and Education

Once you’ve come up with a business plan, looked at data, asked around and did the research, it’s time to put your plan into place. Make sure that everyone you’re working with is on the same page with the decision that was made beforehand. You don’t want to get yourself into a situation where you made a decision without first educating employees on the changes that are being made, or else you’re setting yourself up for a big setback right from the start. Educating before a decision will also build trust that is vital to retaining good employees.

Progress Tracking

Now that your decision has been made and is off and running, you don’t just want to ignore it and hope for the best. Every month or so, it’s important to keep an eye on how the decision has impacted your business. If things aren’t working, it’s okay to make adjustments to make your decision more efficient. It’s not an admittal of failure, but rather some fine tuning that will be beneficial. After all, you don’t just buy a car and expect to run forever without new tires or oil changes at some point, right?

Uh Oh – What If My Horoscope Isn’t Compatible With My Partner?

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It happens to a lot of people: you meet someone that you hit it off with and you start to think about going on a date and maybe even daydream about your future together. That is, until you realize that you might not be compatible based on their zodiac sign. While it might seem bad at first, just because you and your partner aren’t astrologically compatible doesn’t mean that it can’t work. 

In short, just because someone falls under a certain sign doesn’t mean that their personality completely matches the stereotype of that sign. You could be incompatible with a gemini, but not every gemini is going to be an extrovert that acts on impulse or turns their back on you. It may take more work to have a successful relationship, but it’s definitely doable no matter the sign.

You can even use astrology to help better understand your partner. Based on their sign, you’ll have more knowledge of their intracices and know how to handle them. Sometimes it can be stubbornness or a need for perfection and you can work through these traits. You’ll also get an understanding of the types of things that they like and you’ll be able to participate in these hobbies with them; such as arts, sports, music or anything in between.

Having incompatible signs opens up the lines for communication. After all, you wouldn’t want to just date a carbon copy of yourself, would you? Instead, the challenge makes things more fun as you learn more about each other and what makes you tick. Of course, there will be astrologists and writers that tell you that you should only date those that are deemed completely compatible or even someone in your own zodiac sign. Variety is the spice of life, though, so it’s important to understand and love the views of those that might not be on the exact same page and exact same line of dialogue as you.

In fact, a major study by the University of Manchester has debunked the thought that zodiac sign incompatibility can ruin a marriage. Dr David Voas of the school said that “the numbers are just what we’d predict on the basis of chance…If (zodiac signs) had any influence at all, however small, the giant magnifying glass of this huge sample would detect it. There’s nothing there.”

Sure, it’s something that you’ll likely think about at some point when there’s an inevitable disagreement. Thoughts like “That is such an Aries thing to say” will pop in your head, but these aren’t always indicators of permanent behavior. If you’re able to communicate and work through any issues, it won’t matter what sign you or your partner fall under.

So if you are an Aries that has started to develop feelings for a Cancer, that doesn’t mean that you should throw away a potential relationship. This is especially true for someone that has started a relationship with someone before even knowing their zodiac sign. If the seeds of a good relationship were already planted and you’re genuinely happy, it’s best not to second guess things. 

Tech that exists now that will change how we live in 20 years

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Before the past 100 years or so, technology seemed to evolve at a snail’s pace. In the past few decades, however, technology changes faster than many people are able to keep up with. Because of this, some of the technology that you’ll see 20 years from now haven’t even been thought of today, but there are also emerging technologies that you’ll be seeing two decades from now that will play a major part of your everyday life. Here are a few of those technologies to keep an eye on for the future:

3-D Printing

3-D printing is nothing new, but it’s something that in the past few years has expanded to the point of being able to do amazing things. Many years ago, 3-D printing was used mostly for symbols, but has since evolved into a fascinating process that has changed many industries. In the future, it’s likely that we’ll see 3-D printing play a massive role in healthcare; especially when it comes to printing bones and organs that can help save lives. The automotive industry is another one to keep an eye on in the 3-D printing world.

Flying/Self-Driving Cars

Previous generations have predicted that we would have flying cars by 2022, though it hasn’t caught on just yet. That doesn’t mean that it will never happen, though, and many companies are still working on being the first to get a consumer car into the skies. Of course, these cars will have to clear regulations with the FAA, but it could be sooner than you think.

Until then, the self-driving car is the next big leap in the auto industry. Companies such as Tesla have dabbled in self-driving automobiles for years now, while businesses with large logistics operations (such as Walmart) are using self-driving trucks to get goods from point A to point B. Will we see self-flying cars one day? Only time will tell.

Nanorobotics

When you think about nanotechnology in 2022, you probably think about how a lot of things are explained in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nanotechnology is very much real, though, and will be playing a big factor in our lives 20 years from now. Researchers have been racing each other to develop nanobots that are so small that the eye can’t even see them with various uses. Among the uses that people are most hopeful for is the treatment of cancer. You can expect nanotechnology to be used in computing and automobiles at some point, as well.

Artificial Intelligence

Of course, you can’t mention the future without talking about artificial intelligence. Though it’s been a part of our lives for years now, AI is really ramping up in recent years. From being able to analyze your health by simply looking in a mirror, to knowing when you need to order certain items on websites like Amazon, artificial intelligence is already here and its use will only expand more in the coming years. By 2042, expect artificial intelligence to be so developed that you’ll have an affordable robot butler that reminds you that you need to re-up on pool noodles when the temperature starts to rise during the spring.

How To Use Visualization To Improve Your Wellbeing And Live More Effectively

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There are people that are fine with receiving information via spoken word and can remember what they were told, but that way of processing information is becoming more and more rare. These days, people want information given to them in a way that they can map it out and allow their brain to process it in a more creative fashion, while also using the mind to get the body to do what they want.

This is known as visualization and it’s becoming increasingly common in just about every facet of our lives. Not only are major companies promoting the use of visualization to their employees at every level, but people are using it in their personal lives to become more efficient in their way of processing information. So what is it about visualization that makes it work for our everyday lives?

In short, visualization impacts your brain directly. By visualizing yourself doing something, your brain reacts directly by sending signals to different parts of the body. Whether you visualize yourself running faster or writing that big essay or company-wide email, it’s better to think about yourself doing it beforehand to allow your brain to get going.

Visualization isn’t just good for your physical well being, but also mentally. When you’re feeling stressed out, science has shown that visualizing yourself somewhere more comforting can help to reduce this stress and anxiety. Think about your favorite smell, the best beach you’ve ever been to, or simply resting at home with the ones you love. These images in your mind will get you more relaxed and focused even in the most hectic work situations.

There’s also a major impact on the business world when it comes to visualization, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. One of the old tropes for businesses in movies and television shows are businessmen using pie charts and bar graphs to show productivity in the workplace. As technology has become more advanced, though, we’re seeing companies use more interactive forms of visualization to help break things down and allow the brain to retain more information. It’s also helpful in terms of micromanagement as businesses try to get the most out of every penny spent.

One trend that has caught on a lot in recent years is a vision board. This is when someone creates a poster-like art that shows their goals for a given timeframe. Whether it be someone in a graduation cap and gown, a vacation destination or someone getting promoted, this helps your mind retain these images and collect the drive needed to make these goals happen. 

This is known as using your Reticular Activating System. This is a system of neurons located in the brain stem that blocks out some of the unnecessary information that your brain doesn’t need. In turn, you’ll become more focused on the important things such as data that you need to remember or the goals that you want to achieve. The more specific you get with your thoughts, the more likely your brain will be focused on finishing what needs to get done. So whether you want to improve your golf game, breathe easier in stressful situations or make more money at work, your brain can help you through the power of visualization. 

5 Mathematical Mysteries That Might Never Be Solved

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We all know that math is a complex subject for many students. But what most people don’t know is that some mysteries in mathematics may never be solved. In this blog post, we will look at five mysterious problems that have been baffling mathematicians for years.

The Riemann Hypothesis

The Riemann hypothesis is a mathematical conjecture that suggests that every non-zero whole number is the sum of a specific sequence of prime numbers. German mathematician Bernhard Riemann first proposed a hypothesis in 1859.

While many mathematicians have attempted to prove or disprove this hypothesis, it remains unproven. Most experts believe that if the Riemann belief is true, it would have significant implications for the distribution of prime numbers.

The Collatz Conjecture

The Collatz conjecture is a mathematical problem that asks what happens when you take any positive integer and then repeatedly half it if it’s even or triple it and add one if it’s odd.

For example, starting with the number 5, we would get the following sequence: 5, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1.

It has been proven that this sequence will always reach the number 1, but mathematicians have been unable to verify why this happens. Some believe that the Collatz conjecture may be connected to the Riemann hypothesis.

German mathematician Lothar Collatz first proposed this conjecture in 1937. Several mathematicians have worked on this problem over the years but cannot find proof. If the Collatz conjecture is true, it could provide insight into how different numbers behave.

The Goldbach Conjecture

It is a mathematical statement that suggests that every even number greater than two prime numbers, multiplied together, can be regarded as the product of two prime numbers. Swiss mathematician Christian Goldbach first proposed the conjecture in 1742.

The Goldbach conjecture has been worked on by many mathematicians over the years but remains unproven. Some experts believe that if the belief is true, it could lead to a better understanding of the distribution of prime numbers.

It is one of the oldest unsolved problems in mathematics. Some experts have worked on it over the years but have been unable to find proof.

The Twin Prime Conjecture

The Twin Prime ConjectureThe twin prime conjecture suggests an infinite number of twin prime pairs (two prime numbers that differ by 2) in the set of all prime numbers.

Greek mathematician Euclid first mentioned this possibility in 300 BC. While many mathematicians have worked on this problem, it has yet to be proven. If the twin prime conjecture is true, it would have implications for our understanding of the distribution of prime numbers.

The Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture

The Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture in mathematics suggests that every elliptic curve over the field of rational numbers has a finite number of points. This conjecture was first proposed by British mathematicians David Birch and Peter Swinnerton-Dyer in 1965.

Some Mathematics experts believe this conjecture is false, but there has yet to be definitive proof. If the belief is true, it would have implications for studying elliptic curves.

Wrapping Up

While these five mathematical mysteries remain unsolved, mathematicians continue to work on them in the hopes of one day finding proof. Who knows, maybe you could be the one to solve one of these mysteries!

The Magic of Athens – 5 Unique Attractions in This Amazing City

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Few places in the world can rival Athens in history and culture. As the birthplace of democracy and home to some of the most iconic architecture in the world, Athens is a city that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime. But beyond its famous landmarks, Athens is also home to some lesser-known attractions that are well worth exploring. Here are five of Athens’s most unique and magical places to see.

1:  The Temple of Poseidon

Perched atop a cliff on the outskirts of Athens, the Temple of Poseidon offers breathtaking views of the Saronic Gulf. Dedicated to the god of the sea, this impressive marble temple was built in the 5th century BC and is one of the best-preserved examples of Classical Greek architecture. Visitors can still see the remnants of the temple’s original 6th-century statue of Poseidon, as well as an outdoor amphitheater where plays and concerts are often held.

2: The Academy of Athens

Founded by Plato in 387 BC, the Academy of Athens is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious learning institutions. The academy’s original purpose was to promote the study of philosophy, but it later became a center for the arts and sciences. Today, the academy is housed in a beautiful neo-classical building with a stunning colonnaded courtyard. Visitors can take a guided tour of the premises, which includes a visit to the academy’s impressive library.

3: The Lycabettus Hill

At 277 meters, Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in Athens and offers stunning panoramic views of the city. Visitors can either hike or take a funicular railway to the top of the hill, where they will find a 19th-century chapel and a cafe. On clear days, it is possible to see the Aegean Sea from the summit.

4: The Mount Lycavitos

Mount Lycavitos is the highest point within Athens city limits for those looking for a more challenging hike. The hike to the top is fairly strenuous, but the views of the city are more than worth the effort. Visitors will also find a small chapel and a cafe at the summit.

5: The National Garden

Located in the heart of Athens, the National Garden is a green oasis perfect for a stroll. Originally designed as a royal garden for the Palace of Athens, the National Garden is now open to the public and features a wide variety of plant life, including cypress trees, palm trees, and bamboo. The garden also has a small zoo, a playground, and a café.

Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or simply taking in the beauty of Athens, these five unique attractions are sure to please. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip to Athens today!