Don’t you hate it when you go to a wedding and nobody has the courage to stand up and dance?
Well, the exact opposite happened at the wedding of pro-dancers Michael O’Meara and Nikki Mac Loone. The two were former “Riverdance” pros and probably met after Michael danced his way right into Nikki’s heart. Being dancers themselves, they had equally talented friends, because as soon as the music started playing, an Irish jig began. Of course, it didn’t take long for a significant amount of guests to join in, each of whom are incredibly talented dancers too.
Next, the bride and groom themselves began dancing and the wedding turned into an impromptu “Riverdance flashmob.”The groom’s brother, JP O’Meara posted a video of the performance — titled “Lord and Lady of the Dance” — to Facebook and it has since it’s been shared thousands of times. Before the couple had tied the knot (and also thread the needle) they had worked together for a dance troupe called “Lord Of The Dance.” It turns out many of their guests still remembered all the moves. I know now that if I ever get invited to an Irish wedding, I’m definitely accepting the invite. It looks like a blast to me!
Watch the guests turn this wedding into one that won’t be soon forgotten:
Babies cry for many different reasons (hunger, fever, dirty diapers, poorly timed adoption jokes), but have you ever seen a baby cry because they’ve been filled with emotion?
I’ve worked with kids for close to eight years. I’ve been a baby-sitter, camp counselor, tutor, day care employee, and even a birthday party clown and I’ve never seen a child cry tears of emotion (although being a clown did provoke tears of a different kind).
However, there is a 10-month old baby somewhere in the world with the emotional maturity of a grandmother. Аlаin Lеrоux posted a video in 2013 of his wife lulling their child with her incredible voice. Either the baby understands the lyrics of Sara Evans’ My Heart Can’t Tell You No or she’s being moved by the emotion in her mother’s voice. The singer in this video has an incredible vocal range, and she’s able to belt out the words with deep passion.
And then, halfway through the video, the infant is moved to tears and wells up with emotion, while she continues to smile. She even wipes her face, unable to understand the feeling, but moved nonetheless. This video might actually manage to bring you to tears.
Traveling the world is an exciting opportunity to explore the unfamiliar world, however leaving the predictable and familiar can be scary. Travel challenges our character and our attachment to certainty.
If you’ve always dreamed of exploring the world but never actually done it, you might need a little push to get you started. Take a look at our favorite travel quotes to inspire you to live a life full of adventures.
15. “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide
14. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore.” – Mark Twain
13. “People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck
12. “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
11. “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
10. “Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.” – Roy M. Goodman
9. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch
8. “Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” – David Mitchell
7. “Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.” – Alan Keightley
6. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson
5. “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” – Ernest Hemingway
4. “The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have.” – Anna Quindlen
3. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” –St. Augustine
2. “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
1. “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”– Lao-tzu
Do these quotes inspire you to explore the world? Share with us in the comments.
It’s called the facekini, and it is all the rage in China.
It was invented back in 2012, and it is designed to protect the wearer from the sun, algae and jellyfish stings.
Women all over China wear it, and it is becoming more and more popular each year as there is even an annual revival event to celebrate it in the eastern China city of Qingdao.
As you can see in the photos below, middle-aged Chinese women wear it to the beach to protect their skin from the sun’s rays, and it is becoming a warm-weather accessory, even though it may look pretty creepy to observers.
The craziest part is fashion designers in New York City want to bring it to the United States!
The fashion trade magazine called CR Fashion Book recently released an issue that contains an eight photo spread featuring models in facekini’s, and they paired them with swimsuits from designers like Gucci, Alexander Wang, Emporio Armani and Michael Kors.
With hotter summers, and more sun exposure comes an increase in the likelihood of developing skin care, and like it or not, these creepy masks may be invading American beaches before long.
For patient WO, referred to as William, today is always Monday March 14, 2005.
He can remember everything up to that date, but since then, the 38-year-old can only hold memories for 90 minutes. After that they are lost.
This man’s touching story reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, in which a weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.
William has not suffered any brain damage nor is he faking his condition or baffling experts.
William’s doctor, Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Burgess, says that William is stuck in an endless loop of waking up and thinking he has a routine dental appointment to go to. He can recall everything until 1:40pm on the day of March 14, 2005, while he was serving in Germany and received anesthesia before a root canal treatment.
Dr. Burgess says William’s condition is unique and needs a new classification in the field of amnesia.
Dr. Burgess says:
“He wakes up believing he should still be in the military, stationed abroad.”
“Every day he thinks it is the day of the dental appointment.”
“Each morning he is prompted by his wife to check his computer, on which the family has listed, and keep updated, key facts he should be aware of.”
The doctor has cited that William’s symptoms are similar to patients suffering from what’s known as anterograde amnesia.
It’s when damage to the bilateral hippocampal or diencephalon regions in the brain cause short spans of awareness as well as complete and rapid memory loss.
It’s usually brought on by a specific event or trauma and causes patients to lose the ability to create new memories, while long-term memories from before the event are clear.
Without the presence of brain damage or changes, the experts believe the cause of amnesia in William could be a breakdown of protein synthesis in the brain. Another explanation is that he is faking it.
Dr. Burgess has entertained the thought that William is faking it, but after 10 years he has dismissed that.
William manages his daily life and remains oriented throughout the day through continuous accept to an electronic diary and prompts.
Dr. Burgess’s final thoughts:
“Overall, this brand of amnesia needs another diagnostic or classification category than any currently existing.”
We certainly wish you luck William.
And the next time anyone complains about their life, they should keep in mind how much worse it can be waking up every morning thinking it’s Monday March 14, 2005, and you have to go to a dental appointment…
The most successful people in their fields NEVER say these 7 things at work.
They knew if they did so, they take the risk of never advancing in their career, pushing themselves beyond their limits, or succeeding.
1. “That’s not my job”
The quickest way to prevent yourself from advancing at work and being successful is to believe and say that things are “not your job.” First, this shows to your company that you really are not willing to go the extra mile to help the organization, and secondly it shows that you are not interested in growing your skills. You are also suggesting that you are unwilling to adapt to changes, and that you are stubborn and rigid. If you do feel completely overwhelmed and overworked at work, then simply learn how to say no professionally.
2. “I work every weekend”
The most successful people in the world do work on weekends, unlike most ordinary people who do not work on Saturdays or Sundays. Working at least one day over the weekend gives successful people a competitive advantage, and during this time they plan for the week ahead. While it is true that working longer hours does not mean you will be productive because after a certain point, you are less likely to make good decisions and work effectively, but committing to working at least one day on the weekend gives you a competitive edge. Take tips from Laura Vanderkam in her book What the Most Successful People Do On the Weekend.
3. “I can’t”
It’s all a matter of the mind. By saying “I can’t,” you prevent yourself from achieving the results that you are otherwise capable of. Instead of telling yourself “I can’t,” ask yourself “How will I do this?” and “What if somebody offered me $10 million to find a way to do this, would I try one hundred ways to learn how?” “Would I call people and ask for advice?” “Would I read books to learn?” By asking yourself these questions, you will look for a solution instead of telling yourself that you aren’t capable. So next time your boss asks you to do something new, tell him/her: “I have never done that before but I will learn how, and start now.”
4. “I never read books”
The typical American reads just five books a year, and about 25% of the U.S. population reads no books at all. The people that don’t read are falling behind everyone else, especially those who read to gain knowledge in their field. They are also suggesting to anyone who asks them if they read, that they don’t care or have the desire to expand their mind, increase their knowledge and learn anything new. Everyday there is a new study out, and everyday someone is writing a new book. Start reading now by committing to just 15 minutes a day on one book. Read either a book in your field, or a fictional novel to help you relax at night.
5. “Let’s get together sometime“
Most ordinary people say “sometime” over and over again. They do this when it comes to their goals, they do this when their boss asks them to get work done, and they do this when it comes to important plans that could advance their career. They take a vague approach to the opportunities in their lives, and instead they achieve mediocre and subpar results. They miss important networking opportunities, by telling themselves: “I’ll have dinner with that client sometime,” or “I’ll get to that important email sometime.” Successful people have a do it now attitude, and they prioritize.
6. “I don’t need your input”
This statement harms relationships. It gives the impression to others that you know it all, you don’t need help from anyone, and you do not value other peoples opinions. The reality is that noone knows it all, and there is always something new to learn. Coming off as stubborn or unwilling to listen to different ideas or opinions is never a good thing in your career. It shows a poor type of arrogance. Successful people have a humble attitude and eagerness to learn. Take a tip from leadership and management author, Ken Blanchard, who says that “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”
7. “I’m not ready”
Never walk away from opportunities because you believe you aren’t ready. If you are not ready now, you will never be ready. You can’t plan and sometimes not even predict when an opportunity is going to present itself. The best you can do is to prepare for opportunities by practicing your work and your craft, because ultimately you have little to no control over when that fabulous opportunity presents itself. You have to have the confidence to move forward even when you feel you are not ready, because the worst thing that can happen is that you fail, but you learn something.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. They value their time spent alone, and in fact prefer it over hanging around large groups.
Because introverts value their inner world, they are able to be more productive and efficient in many aspects of their life. They pay close attention to themselves and how they feel, which means their physical energy and mental health is top priority.
Here are 9 Things Introverts Do Which Make Them Productive:
1. They are extremely creative
And this creativity comes naturally to them. Creativity is one of the most valuable skills when it comes to productivity, and it puts introverts at an advantage. Because they spend a lot of time looking inwards instead of externally, it allows them time to cultivate new ideas. The trick here is that they capture the ideas in a place where they won’t be forgotten, and they will immediately write them down.
2. They are intentional
Introverts are naturally cautious people, approaching any task with grew thought and care. While this can be detrimental if you allow this caution to lead you to not take action on anything, it can be a great asset if you utilize it to get things done. Because introverts are intentional, they won’t take on any project that comes their way- they are selective.
3. They take communication seriously
Introverts chose their words carefully, and being able to think before they speak gives them a huge advantage when it comes to communication. Communication is important to productivity because usually more than one person is needed to complete a task. Introverts strive for clarity and precision in their work, which allows teams to know exactly what needs to get done.
4. They care about the fine details
Introverts are very observant people, so they don’t overlook any detail. This is really important to an introvert’s productivity because they don’t have to play catch-up on a detail overlooked. They will take a little more time to get something done, because doing it the right way is important to them.
5. They are attentive
When you are speaking, you better believe an introvert is listening- (even if you don’t think that they are). There’s not much worse than speaking to someone who is not listening or really hearing what you are saying, and this is never a problem with an introvert. They are able to take in information with great understanding, and you will rarely have to repeat yourself to them.
6. They are planners
Introverts are planners to the max. They usually don’t like the element of surprise, so they do their best to foresee every possible outcome that might come along. They work fantastic with a pen and paper, which is a key element to productive people- writing all of the important things done, and planning ahead.
6. They are independent
Introverts don’t feel the need to rely on others to get something done- they know it will get done the best way if they do it themselves. Introverts, in fact are more likely to choose tasks in which they can complete it themselves, and they don’t need the outside help of others. Their ability to jump immediately into a task is great for productivity.
7. They are focused
Some people can get easily distracted from a task, but introverts tend to be more focused. They are able to devote all of their attention to a task until it’s finished, because they know if they don’t finish it, it will weigh heavily on their minds. Introverts like to avoid interruption in their workflow as much as possible.
8. They rest and recharge
Introverts value solitude. Their physical and mental energy is important to them, which is why they frequently take time to rest and recharge. They will disconnect themselves for the world around them, but for good reason. They know that sometimes being around others can be very draining, and they need to make up for it by spending time alone, resting and recharging their batteries.
9. They prepare
They don’t just throw words around. Introverts don’t usually spend a lot of time speaking in front of large crowds, but they can be great public communicators when they do because they take the task very seriously. They are careful about how they portray themselves in front of others, and this works in their favor because they put in a great deal of prep work into ensuring their public communication is top notch.
Astrophysicist, author, science communicator, and all around really-smart-guy Neil deGrasse Tyson recently gave a powerful commencement speech at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Tyson is one of the most popular scientists in the world due to his ability to entertain and crack jokes, while also philosophizing and dispersing knowledge. His commencement speech, “things that you should know going forward in life,” hit a nerve with the young people in the audience who cheered and laughed at all of Tyson’s awkward and nerdy charm.
The scientist (who also happens to own the title of “sexiest astrophysicist alive” according to a 2000 issue of People Magazine), has accumulated a great deal of wisdom through his years and here are a few of the tidbits he shared, which you’re not likely to hear in the classroom:
On grades:
“Your grades, whatever is your GPA, rapidly becomes irrelevant in your life. I cannot begin to impress upon you how irrelevant it becomes.”
On politicians:
“Another thing: the most dangerous people in a free society are those who don’t know. By the way, it’s okay to not know. This is what school is for–it’s okay. But if you don’t know, but think you do know and have power over legislation that would affect others–that is dangerous.”
“If you have an issue with politicians, it’s because you have an issue with your fellow citizens who put them there.”
On role models:
“Role models are overrated…growing up in the Bronx…had I required, as a prerequisite, that another black man from the Bronx had become an astrophysicist for me to become one, I’d still be in the Bronx.”
“I encourage people to assemble your role models al la carte.”
On human nature:
“The Universe is bigger than you are–lesson one–okay. I know it sounds obvious, but some people don’t really know that.”
“The laws of physics affect us all. Objective truths are true whether or not you believe in them.”
On the Earth, itself:
“Do not forget that Earth is really good at killing you… Ninety-seven percent of all the species on Earth that ever existed are now extinct… It’s our ingenuity, in spite of that fact, that prevents it.”
“[Cavemen] had clean air, fresh water, their food was free range–yet their life expectancy was 35. Something else matters that improves your life expectancy than the search for clean air and clean water. There’s more going on in our lives, brought to you by the innovations of science and technology.”
On the future:
“I don’t know what has happened to the world, but you’re up next in the batters box.”
This last piece of wisdom on social justice:
“It is okay to encourage others to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, but if you do, just remember that some people have no boots,” which, by the way, he stopped mid-speech to tweet this.
He certainly knows how to relate to his audience.
If you’d like to watch this comedic nerd beautifully stumble over his words:
For years, novelists and Hollywood writers alike have been imagining a world where you don’t have to go to the store to buy something, you can just have a hole in the wall spit it out for you. When 3D printing was invented by Charles Hull in 1984 it seemed like we weren’t far from having this fancy tech. But then we found out it takes 6+ hours to print a small cube, so everybody went back to their convenience stores and shopping malls forgetting about the future. But the future has recently tickled our fancy again when chemical engineer Joseph DeSimone and his team showcased their new, and extremely fast (relatively speaking) 3D printer.
DeSimone founded Carbon 3D, a startup in California that has sped up the process of materializing objects out of thin air. DeSimone said his team works with projections, lasers, and some cool synthetic goo that came straight out of the Terminator movies — seriously, DeSimone said he and his team were inspired by the t1000, which is the bad-cop robot from T2 that liquifies and rises from a puddle (it’s as gross as it is cool).
And for my fellow nerds who enjoy TED talks, you can watch the creator himself display the genius, potential, and ingenuity behind Carbon 3D. Is this the future of manufacturing and what will that mean for jobs in America? Bringing 3D printing into homes and businesses will revolutionize business the same way the internet revolutionized the communication. But, bear in mind how it also changed the way we write, speak, obtain information, gather news, and learn (and let’s not forget the poor libraries). This powerful technology certainly leaves us with a lot to think about:
When it comes to résumés, think of font like tone of voice. Your résumé is what speaks for you when a possible employer is sifting through a mountain of candidates. Pick a font that’s too silly or difficult to read, and you’ll be perceived as unprofessional.
Take a look at the nine best and worst fonts to use on your résumé.
The Best
9. Helvetica
Helvetica is one of the most famous and popular typefaces in the world, and for good reason. The font design is simple, professional, and supports the reading process by not straining the eye with complex flourishes. Should you use Helvetica, you’ll be in good company. The typeface is a popular choice for corporate logos including BMW, Target, American Airlines, and Jeep.
8. Times New Roman
Times New Roman is another font that has been widely used for years because of its legibility. The typeface is translated well from book and newspapers to digital environments.
However, there is a spit consensus on whether or not Times New Roman is boring. A font like Times New Roman would be fine for a business job, but if your line of work is design conscious you might want to steer clear of this one. For example, if you’re applying for a job at a graphic design firm, Times New Roman may come across as lazy and unsophisticated.
7. Didot
Didot is a great choice for people wanting to express femininity and sophistication. It’s an intentionally fancy font, so it is only suitable for specific job fields. This typeface would be suitable for a job in fashion, but would be too whimsical for most other careers.
6. Proxima Nova
Proxima Nova is an extremely popular typeface because is solves the few problems associated with Helvetica. It’s similar enough to Helvetica that it still expresses professionalism and honesty, however it’s less stiff than the aforementioned font. It has a slightly rounder appearance, which brings a sense of freshness to a résumé.
5. Garamond
Garamond is a great choice for people who have a lot of information to fit onto one page. The design is small enough to fit a lot of words on a single page, yet doesn’t strain the eye, which can become an issue with other fonts on a text-heavy résumé. The font is easy to read because of the quirks in the design that help show the eye where to move.
The Worst
4. Zapfino
For a wedding invitation you might consider a flowery font like Zapfina, but for anything to do with your job, you should steer clear. Not only is Zapfino, and any other script font, inappropriate for a résumé, but it’s also is very difficult to read. When there are thousands of applicants for one job, the last thing you want to do is make it harder for someone to consider you.
3. Comic Sans
This should go without saying, but you should NEVER use Comic Sans for your résumé. Comic Sans says you are childish, inappropriate, and not serious about the position.
2. Emoji
Yet another thing that has no place on a résumé is an emoji. Yes they’re great when sending a text to your best friend, but a hiring manager is not your best friend. There may be a few jobs where an emoji would be acceptable, but for the vast majority of positions, do yourself a favor, and leave the emojis out of it.
1. Courier
Courier is a caricature of the font world. You aren’t actually using a typewriter, so there’s no reason to use a font that’s pretending to imitate one. Courier is similar to Comic Sans in that it makes you appear unprofessional and and not serious about the opportunity.
Which font do you use for your résumé? Share with us in the comments.
Ever wonder where “millennials” aka “adults aged 25-34″ live in the big cities?
We’ve discovered their favorite areas with a little help from a project conducted by the Generated City at the University of Waterloo. Here, students, led by their Professor Markus Moos sought to understand the social, economic, and geographic characteristics of different age groups in the US and Canada. They conducted a project and mapped out the cities and neighborhoods that had the highest concentrations of young adults.
The highest concentrated areas are shown in dark red, and the lighter colors show the least concentrated areas.
If you are a fellow millennial deciding where to live, these cities might help you decide:
New York City
In the Big Apple, the highest concentration of millennials reside in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. And for New Jersey, millennials reside in Hoboken and Jersey City.
San Francisco, California
Out of the entire metro area, most millennials reside in San Francisco and Oakland, California.
Chicago, Illinois
In Chicago, millennials are highly concentrate on the north side, so that’s the place to be.
Boston, Massachusetts
The core of Boston has a high concentration of millennials ages 25-34 years old.
Washington, D.C.
In Washington, millennials are most common in the western neighborhoods, as pictured above.
Los Angeles, California
As you can see by both shades of red, millennials are a bit more spread out in Los Angeles.
We hope this article gave you a good idea of where millennials ages 25-34 reside. Whether you want to live near your millennials, or away from them, at least you now know where they are.
Alcohol: the cause (and solution) of all of life’s problems.
A night out at a bar with friends is a staple of youth. You have a few drinks, share some good laughs, dance outrageously, throw up in the bathroom, and then are asked to leave because sleeping on the bar is not allowed. Somewhere in the process, you text your ex and cry on a stranger’s shoulder (it’s possible I’ve been doing it wrong all these years).
Regardless, there are quite a few rules to maintaining decency in a crowded bar, so we thought we’d help you out and let you know the correct way to handle your biz when you’re dealing with the drinking biz.
It’s a crowded bar, not center ring at WWE. If somebody bumps into you, assume it was an accident, keep calm, and carry on.
If you’re going to be a regular at a bar, make sure you’re a regular at more than one.
Don’t complain about how, “this one beer costs as much as a whole six pack.” You’re paying for the atmosphere too, bro. If you don’t want to pay for overpriced beer, there’s nothing stopping you from getting a six pack from 7/11 (but bear in mind, you won’t meet any girls at 7/11 either).
Always over-tip. If you’re a regular, definitely over-tip. Even if you aren’t, still over-tip. Chance are that one extra dollar will make no difference to you personally, but one good deed can have a pretty far reach. Initiate good tip karma.
If you’re having more than one drink, start a tab. You’re creating extra work for the bartender by paying with cash each time, not to mention you’re creating more work for yourself (and you’ll end up spending less with a tab).
Don’t get beer drunk when you’re trying to talk to girls. If you’re running to the bathroom constantly, it’ll give her the opportunity to strike up conversation with somebody else.
Never remove your suit jacket. If you happen to go out for drinks after work, keep the jacket on, or at least the tie. Do you think Don Draper loosens his tie every time he has a drink
Photo Credit: AMC
Drink where your wallet is comfortable. Most restaurants and a lot of bars won’t list the price of drinks on a menu. If you can’t afford pricey beverages, maybe you’re not at that phase of life yet. Relish in the dive bars. You’ll be happier and have more fun if you aren’t as worried about money.
Do NOT snap, yell, whistle, or wave money at the bartender. They see you, they’re just busy.
If you want to buy a lady a drink, you’re going to have to talk to her. If the bartender has to say, “this is from the guy who didn’t have the balls to approach you,” you’ve got no chance.
Don’t argue about a tab. If you’re arguing, it’s probably because it’s over a material amount of money. And that means you’re probably not sober enough to argue.
Never bum a cigarette from the same person more than once. Likewise, don’t get caught making rounds and bumming cigarettes from everybody in the group.
Unless you’re on the beach, skip the piña coladas, or anything else that takes the bartender 5 minutes to make on a busy night.
Shots generally only serve one purpose–to speed up the effects of alcohol. There’s a time and a place, and that time and place comes around less frequently after the age of 30.
Always know what you are going to order ahead of time. Have a go-to drink in your repertoire. An old fashioned, vodka martini, a Budweiser, or even just a house chard. Sit down, take a sip, relax, and then figure out what you really want to drink.
If you think you might be slurring a little, then you are slurring a lot. If you think you are slurring a lot, then you are not speaking English.
If there is ever any confusion, the fuller beer is yours.
The bar clock moves twice as fast from midnight to last call.
Anyone with three or more drinks in his hands has the right of way.
Know how to handle your alcohol gracefully. Getting down on all fours and pressing your forehead to the floor does not count as handling your liquor gracefully.
Besides being the unofficial hipster capital of the world, Portland, Oregon is also home to a startup called Treehouse.
Treehouse is an online interactive education platform that offers courses in web, mobile and business development (basically, you can take classes that will help you get a job in business). But this is not what makes the company unique.
CEO Ryan Carson is a pioneer of radical corporate ideas because he runs his company with the model of a four-day work week. Carson has been doing this since 2006 and he says the company has seen growth and improvement as a result. Treehouse is also able to compete with companies like Google for talent, according to Carson, for this reason.
The Atlantic spoke with Carson about his unorthodox business model. Watch this CEO explain how his company works and share your thoughts in the comments below. Is this really a practical way to run a business?
If you’ve ever traveled to a foreign country, you know how much food reflects the culture of that place, which is why it’s so fitting that these flags were made from these nation’s food delicacies.
Take a look at these incredibly creative -and tasty- national flags made of food their respective countries are famous for.
18. Italy
Flag made from: basil, pasta, and tomato
17. Lebanon
Flag made from: tomato, pita bread and parsley.
16. India
Flag made from: curry chicken, rice, cheera thoran, and papadum wafer
15. Brazil
Flag made from: lime, banana leaf, pineapple, and passion fruit
14. Vietnam
Flag made from: rambutan, lychee and starfruit
13. Australia
Flag made from: meat pie and sauce
12. China
Flag made from: dragon fruit and star fruit
11. South Korea
Flag made from: kimbap and sauces
10. United States
Flag made from: hot dogs, ketchup, and mustard
9. Greece
Flag made from: feta cheese and olives
8. Japan
Flag made from: tuna and rice
7. Switzerland
Flag made from: charcuterie and swiss cheese
6. Thailand
Flag made from: sweet chili sauce, shredded coconut, and blue swimmer crab
5. France
Flag made from: blue cheese, brie, and grapes
4. United Kingdom
Flag made from: scone, cream, and jam
3. Turkey
Flag made from: turkish delight
2. Spain
Flag made from: chorizo and saffron rice
1. Indonesia
Flag made from: spicy curry and rice
Have you traveled to any of these places, and tried some of these famous foods? Share with us in the comments.
[Featured image credit: WHYBIN\TBWA Group Australia]
Smoking has become more and more taboo recently. Only 18% of adults identify as smokers and that number decreases every year. It’s hard to imagine that Hollywood stars, who are often obsessed with plastic surgery and retaining a youthful image, would even think about picking up a cigarette. But, when you have a lot of stress, you need a stress reliever and unfortunately tobacco often does the trick. Here are a few stars and starlets you probably never realized are also smokers:
Dubai is well known for its unbelievable developments, but this one takes the cake. This latest project is called Floating Seahorse and it is basically a floating home with underwater rooms.
The developer of the project is called the Kleindienst Group, and they revealed images of the structure at the Dubai International Boat Show. The group said they’ll make 42 of the floating properties by 2016 (35 of the homes already being sold).
It will be a cross between a villa and a boat, and will have one floor submerged. The homes will be located offshore from St. Petersburg and the main Europe Island, and will be accessible by boat from the coast of Dubai.
Josef Kleindienst, CEO of Kleindienst Group:
“We are confident that it will set a new benchmark in the luxury lifestyle market worldwide for outstanding innovation, contemporary design and underwater living at its best.”
Unlike Dubai’s other other developments, like the underwater tennis court and the world’s first 24/7 party island, this project has a greater purpose.
The Kleindiest Group wants to protect sea life in the Persian Gulf:
“We will create an artificial coral reef beneath the luxury retreats which will be a protected area in which seahorses can safely live and breed.”
If you have a spare $2 million laying around, you can have an unreal underwater home and save some seahorses in the process.
Ah productivity.. It’s something we all struggle with.
We make commitments and don’t stick to them. We promise ourselves that tomorrow we will workout, eat healthier, and wake up earlier. We promise we will complete that task that we have been telling ourselves that we would for the past month. We do things that are a lot lower on our priority list, before getting to the important things, that if we did them, we would feel a lot better, and be a whole lot happier.
We want to get better each day, and each year, but we don’t do the everyday things to get us there.
LifeDaily suggests 10 Habits You Need To Give Up If You Want To Be Productive:
1. Watching TV before bed
While I’m sure you have a couple of TV shows that you absolutely love, maybe spend some time over the weekend watching them, rather than right before you are going to bed. Before going to bed, you should be focused on evaluating your day, and writing down your thoughts, dreams, and goals in a journal. This is also a great time to read a book, which will help you unwind, and chances are you’ll have a whole new outlook on life and your day from reading something interesting.
2. Spending a lot of time on social networks
Social networks are great for staying in touch with family and friends. However, when spending too much time looking at various photos, and videos, it’s easy to lose sense of the time, and hours wind up being wasted. Most of us will often check social media before going to bed, just to see if there’s anything new on there, and in the moment, we don’t realize how unproductive we are being. We wind up going to bed later, and we don’t feel good about ourselves in the morning. A solution to this is to create a blog, and provide information and entertainment to others in a productive way.
3. Not working out
People neglect physical activity because of their busy schedules, but who doesn’t have 20 or 30 minutes a day to dedicate to their health? Even if you don’t have time to get to the gym, there are plenty of workouts you can do at home in your living room. 20 or 30 minutes dedicated to working out in the morning will make you more productive throughout the entire day. Not to mention you will feel better, look better, and be healthier.
4. Going with the flow
Going with the flow is great on a weekend, or when you have free time, but not during the work week. When it comes to work management, we should all organize our time well, and when you are going with the flow during work, the work just keeps piling up. A chaotic schedule leads to decreased productivity, and usually failure, so make a good working plan in order to improve your chances of success. Leave the spontaneity for your days off.
5. Striving for perfection
A person who is extremely dedicated to their work will always strive for perfection. However, perfectionists are usually so focused on the minor details that they start over-analyzing things, leaving themselves with unfinished work and a lot of stress. Don’t waste time, talent and effort on minor things that won’t affect the outcome of your task. That is what you need to think of when you are driving yourself crazy over minute details.
6. Multitasking
Most of us are proud when we say we are multitasking, “Oh my god, I’m doing a million different things!” We feel proud because it gives us a sense that we are busy, and busy feels good. But, the negative side of multitasking is that if we are multitasking, we are not dedicating our full attention to one thing. Which means that not every task will be completed on time, and the results won’t be so good. Practice focusing on one thing at a time, and see how much better your results are.
7. Trying to be productive during the whole day
It is impossible to be productive and focused the entire day, and everyone has times that they are more productive. For e.g., some people are really productive in the morning, and some are night owls. But for the most part, everyone will have high and low points throughout their day. Remember, we are all human. The solution is utilize the hours that you are most productive to the max.
8. Giving yourself more time to finish some tasks
How many times do we say “Tomorrow I’ll get to it,” “Yes, tomorrow I will do that.” When we tend to postpone finishing tasks, it’s usually because we need time to think about how to get the best results. This is our mentality, but 9 times out of 10 this leads to procrastination, which decreases productivity. If you want to be productive, trust yourself- your instincts, your talents, your knowledge, and don’t question your success.
9. Doing every task alone
Many people think that they can save money by doing everything themselves, but they are wrong. Instead of being able to work on demanding tasks, they get lost in doing unimportant things that only waste their time. Smaller tasks should be outsourced, and outsourcing will pay off, and you will be able to finish your important tasks successfully and on time.
10. Being negative and stressed out all the time
Negative feelings decrease your willingness to want to perform certain tasks, and you end up doing them unsuccessfully. The secret recipe here is to just be happy. Avoid stressful situations if you can, and learn how to cope with them when they do present themselves. When you are happy, you can do things with less effort, and you will notice that you don’t get exhausted after every task.