Wikipedia might not always be the most accurate source of information out there, but it is one of those things that I’m constantly thankful is around. You can actually ensure that the site is always there for you, even when you don’t have a web connection, by downloading it in its entirety.
Amazon’s big Anker charging sale, T-fal kitchen accessories, and some of your favorite clothes hangers lead off Saturday’s best deals.
When I was in college, I got a job as a DJ for our campus radio station. Over Christmas break they played back old shows to fill the time, and one morning I managed to actually tune into myself on the radio. It took me a few moments to realize that the person talking was me, and my first thought was a surprised “Oh…
Blessed be he, the Grimace.
That’s right. Grimace, Fry Guy, and Ronald McDonald are opening up shop right next to the Pope in downtown Vatican City, catering to the some six-millions tourists that pass through those hollowed grounds every year.
Not everyone’s looking to give the Hamburglar forgiveness, though. Only God may judge the Hamburglar.
According to Vice, the new McDonald’s is "at the corner Borgo Pio and Via del Mascherino, a mere block and a half—about 100 yards—from the famous St Peter’s Square. While neighbors already displeased by vendors hawking knickknacks in the area have complained that the McDonald’s would be a 'decisive blow on an already wounded animal,' at least one Cardinal is also saying leasing Vatican real estate to Ronald McDonald isn’t in keeping with the Church’s mission.”
Vice recieved an official response from McDonald’s, which stated they are occupying “a popular tourist area outside the Vatican that already has many other restaurants, bars, and retail shops… As is the case whenever McDonald’s operates near historic sites anywhere in Italy, this restaurant has been fully adapted with respect to the historical environment.”
McDonald’s isn’t the only chain that’s coming to the Vatican. Hard Rock Cafe is coming to Via della Conciliazione, answering the prayers of millions who want yet another Hard Rock Cafe, apparently.
Enjoy the Vatican, tourists, it’s yours now!
Submitted by: (via Huffington Post)
Lots of us played Tony Hawk: Pro Skater and expected to leave the house doing kickflip to tailslide to bluntslide to that Chad Muska beats-slide where he pulls out a boombox. But very few of us could.
Still there are skateboarders who can trump the impossible things we’ve seen in video games. One of them is Dan Mancina, a skateboarder who is legally blind.
Mancina, who’s vision started to fade at 13, only has a slight amount of peripheral vision and a cane, but he’s still able to pull off some things most could only dream of — namely skating with a smooth controlled style. That’s the real money.
But according to Spolid, that’s not all that Mancina can do. In the video compilation “Dan Mancina Does Stuff Blind,” he chops wood, throws a bullseye, and fires a machine gun. Let this be an inspiration to all of us.
Submitted by: (via Jenkem)
Last year, John Oliver bought $14.9 million dollars of medical debt for $60,000 on a Last Week Tonight segment. And now the man who was relieved of that debt is speaking out.
On Reddit, user EricHill posted a letter from Last Week Tonight explaining that his debt had been cleared.
via Reddit
According to Mashable:
“Not only had the comedian paid the debt, he also alleviated Eric of having to pay any taxes on his "cancellation of debt" income. That's because the series paid for Eric's debt through "RIP Medical Debt," as a 501(c)(3) charity. Eric's debt was paid off, no strings attached.“The show cautioned that this was for this medical debt only and not future medical debts.”
So while everyone might not care about John Oliver, John Oliver certainly cares about something.
Submitted by: (via LastWeekTonight)
It’s been shown time and time again that if you show the internet a big, white sign, they’re going to do whatever they want with it.
Need I remind you of this stupid thing:
I didn’t think so. Well, someone should’ve reminded Senator Bernie Sanders, the guy who all your most annoying friends insist “would’ve won." Yes, Sen. Sanders printed out one of President-elect Donald Trump’s tweets to make the point that the reality-TV gameshow host who won the presidency last year might not be telling the truth.
Naturally, people loved the idea of Bernie holding up a big white sign because it’s really easy to Photoshop. Check out some of the best new Bernie signs:
Submitted by:
Age ain’t nothing but an excuse.
This 105-year-old man just set a new cycling world record. 105. Years. Old. Our target demo is, like, 14 to 30, which means you have no excuse for spending so much time with those dang video games. X-Box One. More like X-Box None until you set a world record.
The Associated Press reports that Robert Marchand, who had once been told by a coach to give up because he was never going to achieve anything on that bike, “set a world record in the 105-plus age category — created especially for the tireless veteran — by riding 22.547 kilometers (14.010 miles) in one hour.”
Marchand isn’t just a world record holder, he’s spent time during his 105 years working as a firefighter, a truck driver, and a lumberjack, and only took up biking at 68. Man, we’re all so pathetic compared to this dude.
The Huffington Post says that “the cyclist can attribute his athleticism to eating fruits and vegetables, not smoking, drinking wine in moderation, exercising daily and going to bed at 9 p.m.”
Better get to work.
Submitted by:
Parents are concerned about how active their kids are. But rather than, you know, taking their kids outside, they’re relying on Fisher-Price to get their kids moving without actually going anywhere.
At CES, Fisher-Price introduced a new stationary exercise bike for kids to ride and that parents can just plop an iPad in front of and forget about. Finally, a way for your kid to play video games and feel the burn.
According to CNN, “The system is Bluetooth-enabled so the bike could work with the apps played on platforms such as Apple TV and Android TV. App dashboards tell parents how much time their child has spent peddling and what he or she has learned in that duration.”
So now not only does your kid get hours of guilt-free screen time, but also they can enjoy all the healthy obsessing over exercise that their parents do. A toy that brings the whole family together.
Submitted by: (via CNN)
Low mortgage rates unleashed a massive wave of refinancing that was a windfall for millions of consumers, but what will happen once those unusually low mortgage rates are gone? Will refinancing mortgage loans effectively be sidelined as a financial resource for home owners?
While the opportunity to lower your interest rate may be the most compelling reason to refinance, it is just one of several. Refinancing can accomplish different things for different people, and the more you are aware of what refinancing can do, the more likely you are to be able to use it to your advantage.
Here are five good reasons to refinance:
A drop in market rates can create a compelling opportunity to refinance. However, even if interest rates generally are not lower than those on your current mortgage, you still may be able to lower your rate by refinancing. Rates on shorter mortgages and on adjustable rate mortgages are generally much lower than those on 30-year mortgages.
So, if you can afford the higher payments that come with a shorter mortgage, you might be able to lower your interest rate by refinancing from a 30-year to a 15-year loan. As for adjustable rate mortgages, the drawback with them is that the rate is subject to vary, so you won’t necessarily be lowering your interest rate for the life of the loan.
However, if you only anticipate being in your current home for a few years more, you might be able to benefit from an adjustable rate mortgage without the long-term risk of rate fluctuations.
Shorter mortgages don’t just carry lower rates. They also mean paying interest for fewer years. Even if conditions are such that you can’t lower your mortgage rate, you might find you could achieve significant long-term savings by switching to a shorter mortgage.
Mortgages like loans from the U.S. Federal Housing Administration that allow low down payments also typically require that you pay for mortgage insurance. Once you have built more equity in your home though, you might qualify for a type of loan that does not require mortgage insurance, so that could represent a potential savings if you refinance.
Stretching your remaining payments out over a longer period can result in reducing those payments. Lengthening your loan is also likely to result in paying more total interest in the long run. But if it is the only way to make your mortgage affordable, this can be a good reason to refinance.
You may have chosen an adjustable rate mortgage for a variety of reasons, but if you plan on being in your home for the long-term it would reduce your financial risk to stabilize your monthly mortgage payments. You could do this by switching from an adjustable rate to a fixed-rate loan.
To take advantage of your refinancing opportunities, it helps to have the following:
While government programs temporarily made refinancing available to some home owners with little or no equity in their homes (due to the collapse in home prices following the housing crisis), generally you are going to need a solid amount of equity in your home in order to qualify for refinancing. If you have 20 percent or more, you may be able to qualify for a loan that does not require you to pay mortgage insurance.
Keeping your credit healthy means keeping your refinancing options open – and you never know when the right conditions might arise.
If you are thinking of refinancing, you might want to do it before you make a change in jobs. Lenders like applicants who have held their jobs for a long time.
Closing costs will probably total at least a couple thousand dollars, and very often much more than that. You can finance this, such as by adding the closing costs to the amount you are borrowing in the new mortgage. But this will be more expensive in the long run and could eat into your equity balance. As noted previously, less equity (or what’s known as a higher loan-to-value ratio) can negatively impact your ability to qualify for refinancing. Or it could result in you paying more in mortgage insurance premiums.
Consider a low interest rate environment as the low-hanging fruit among refinancing scenarios. However, it is not the only worthwhile reason to refinance. Getting the most out of the potential benefits that refinancing presents requires knowing the different things it can accomplish, and being prepared to act on your refinancing opportunities.
The post A Home Owner’s Guide to Refinancing Your Mortgage appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.
Let’s face it, we all have a few selections when it comes to our daily carry. On the weekend, I’m able to move with a bit more weight and can transport a larger blade. That’s when the Benchmade comes in perfect. My family relies on me to be the on-hand blade and ink supply. In fact, if I’m ever without a knife I’m usually rebuked for not fulfilling my duty. The Griptilian pairs nicely with the solid brass of the Embassy Pen. Shifting to workdays, I’m in an office and can carry lighter. A nice small blade opens everything I encounter daily while maintaining a low profile. The Render K in copper is the best holster for Pilot G 2 ink that I’ve found. I use the Hunter Green ink to give a bit more distinction to my signature.
Even after paring your gear down to the essentials, it can still be too much to fit in your pockets. The quick fix would be to toss the rest into a bag, but even then you might not have enough excess gear to justify carrying a full-sized daypack. For those times when you could use just a little extra pocket space, a compact sling or messenger bag can make all the difference. Better yet, one that's fine-tuned to your specific EDC needs. In this guide, you'll find ten examples of EDC-worthy slings and shoulder bags for every scenario.
5.11 Rush MOAB 6
If you need a small tactical bag that can fit your essentials but handle larger tasks when the time comes, consider the 5.11 Rush MOAB 6. It's a small tactical sling bag made out of durable 1050D nylon. The interior has organizer space for your gear, and the exterior is MOLLE attachment compatible so you can expand the pack when you need it.
Maxpedition Wolfspur
If you need to be able to reach your gear at a moment's notice, the Maxpedition Wolfspur is just right for you. It's a tactical crossbody bag that gives you straightforward and easy access to your gear. While it's not as big as a daypack at just 11 liters in capacity, you'd be surprised at what you can carry with it. That's because it has multiple dedicated organizational pockets throughout the bag. And because it's designed for concealed carry, there are discreet storage areas that you can take advantage of as you see fit as well.
Chrome Kadet
The Kadet mixes urban commuter style with the useful ergonomics and durability of an EDC sling bag made out of solid 1050D nylon. It comes with a quick-release strap that operates like an old-style seatbelt. It also features compression straps on the bag itself to further minimize its footprint when its on your back.
Blackhawk Advanced Tactical Briefcase
If your everyday needs are more administrative in nature, Blackhawk's Advanced Tactical Briefcase offers you a great way to carry around your EDC without a lot of bulk. It's a 10 liter capacity shoulder bag with buckle flap that's designed to get you and your gear through the day whether it be in the office or out in the field. It's perfectly sized to carry your pens and papers along with your EDC. It can also fit a small laptop or tablet when you're on the go. And because it's a tactical bag made out of durable 1000D nylon, it will last you a while.
Direct Action Foxtrot
This is not your grandfather's nerdy waist bag. The Direct Action Foxtrot bag lets you carry your EDC essentials on your waist, or on your shoulder if you prefer it that way. It's a weather-resistant nylon tactical bag that can fit your gear up to and including an iPad. It's also nicely sized to carry a small camera and lens if you EDC a camera.
NutSac Man-Bag, Dammit
If you're after a more casual and timeless style of pack, this waxed canvas and leather bag should do the trick. Its waxed canvas doesn't just give the bag a comfortable feel, it also adds weather resistance to keep your valuables safe from the conditions outside. And if you think the canvas and leather combination would be too heavy, the bag itself weighs less than ten ounces in total.
Kelty Sling Bag
One look at the Kelty sling bag and it'd be hard to guess it's a tactical bag unless you knew beforehand. It's a lightweight, incognito tactical bag that definitely doesn't look like one. It's durable too, as you'd expect, made out of a mix of 210 ripstop and 600D nylon fabric. It's designed for concealed carry, so it has a hook and loop internal area for holsters and other accessories. If you don't carry you can also use that to attach other kinds of gear as per your needs too.
Condor Elite Sector
The Condor Elite Sector follows the Kelty's design cues in making a small and low-profile concealed carry sling bag. The difference is that it uses heavier-duty nylon and has a few more pockets and dividers in the main pack. Instead of looking like a more casual bag, the Condor goes for more nondescript looks. It also includes MOLLE organizational options in the interior of the main compartment as well so you can put bags within bags and further sort out your gear.
Pacsafe Venturesafe 150 GII
The best thing about carrying around a small sling bag is that it doesn't make you look like a target, especially when you're traveling. But you can't always rule out that someone will try to take your bag from you. The Pacsafe Venturesafe 150 GII comes with a plethora of anti-theft mechanisms that make it extremely hard for someone to cut and run with the valuables in your everyday carry. The main bag and the straps are all resistant against cutting and slashing attacks, and the zipper pulls come together easily for locking. Finally the bag itself blocks RFID transmissions, keeping your payment information and passport data safe from thieves.
Cargo Works EDC Laptop Case
If you're looking for a minimalist carry option in this category, the Cargo Works laptop EDC kit sports a simple yet functional design. Its main compartment is designed to fit a small laptop like a 12” MacBook. It will also readily fit a tablet if you carry one of those instead. You'll find plenty of webbing throughout the bag for organizing your gear: elastic loops on the inside, and MOLLE-compatible racks on the exterior. It's made of tough 900D nylon fabric and has solid YKK zippers so while it's minimalist, it will last through daily use easily.
What bag do you use for that extra bit of storage? Leave a comment below with your favorite pack!
For Cycling. No wallet. Getting by with mobile payment.
