Can't sleep? Insomniacs should try this solution, say scientists

Over the years, insomniacs have been offered pills, plants, "mindfulness", and even special lamps to help them get off to sleep.

But it now turns out that a far simpler solution has always been at hand, and one that is, literally, all around: the great outdoors.

New research suggests that rather than lying in bed miserably counting imaginary sheep, insomniacs should get out among some real ones and try a spot of camping.

According to a new study, just a couple of nights under canvas is enough to reset the body’s internal clock, enabling people to fall asleep more quickly.

Modern living is increasingly depriving people of sufficient natural light, causing the timing of their circadian rhythm to slip.

However, a new experiment by the University of Colorado revealed how a stint in the countryside is able to rapidly shift the timing forward by two and a half hours, allowing campers to go to bed at a civilised hour once they returned home.

The altered rhythms were detected by measuring levels of the hormone melatonin in the participants.

Going to bed late is thought to contribute not only to sleepiness and reduced productivity during the day, but also more serious conditions like mood disorders, diabetes and obesity.

"If a person wants to go to bed at an earlier hour, then a weekend camping could be just the thing," said Dr Kenneth Wright, who led the research.

"Our findings demonstrate that living in our modern environment contributes to late circadian timing regardless of season and that a weekend camping trip can reset our clock rapidly."

Previous research by the same team established that people’s modern exposure to electrical lighting causes roughly a two-hour delay in circadian timing and that a week of summer sun shifted those internal rhythms back.

But the scientists wanted to discover whether the same effect could be triggered by far shorter exposure.

In the new study, they sent a group of nine people out camping with no torches or mobile phones for a single weekend, and found that the light exposure was enough to bring their internal clocks forward.

Being outdoors and not having access to any technology also prevented the campers from delaying the time they went to sleep, which also helped reset their sleeping patterns.

Dr Wright said that, for most city-living people, modern living reduces light exposure by a factor of 13.

"Our findings highlight an opportunity for architectural design to bring in more natural sunlight into the modern built environment and to work with lighting companies to incorporate tunable lighting that would be able to change across the day and night to enhance performance, health, and well-being," he said.

Insomnia is currently increasing in Britain, with one in two people enduring the disorder at some time.

Earlier this week, Norwegian researchers reported a link between sleepless nights and asthma, saying chronic insomnia could triple the chances of developing the potentially fatal condition.

NHS guidance recommends avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol at night and not napping during the day for affected people.

If practical alterations such as these have no impact, GPs can recommend cognitive behavioural therapy, aimed at tackling unhelpful thoughts or actions that could be contributing to insomnia, or sleeping tablets in severe cases.

The new study was published in the journal Current Biology.

Can't sleep? Insomniacs should try camping, say scientists

Over the years, insomniacs have been offered pills, plants, “mindfulness”, and even special lamps to help them get off to sleep.


Science proves that this boring quality is the best predictor of future success It’s not intelligence or talent... it’s something that anyone can learn.

From an early age, we’re all told that we have to aspire to be someone and do something with our lives. When you’re a kid though, all you want to do is have fun. There is so much to learn and everything is new; you just want to try a bit of everything.

This behavior is OK as a kid. Kids aren’t really expected to start focusing on something on their own. Child prodigies have talent, but even they need their parents to manage their schedules for them.

Life is basically one big distraction until the age of 12.

Distracted kids eventually become distracted adults. Forced to make decisions in life so that you can become a functional, acceptable human being that can add value to society, parts of you keep searching for that next new, exciting thing.

Sadly, this is the norm of life. Some people keep jumping around from shiny object to shiny object. Suddenly, their mid-life crisis hits them and they wonder where the last 25 years went.

Life doesn’t have to be this way. Even if your so-called best years are behind you, science has identified one quality that has the strongest correlation to future success.

Granted that this experiment was performed on children, the implications also apply to adults.

The great thing is that you can start today, right after you have finished reading this article. If you want to change your life for the better, be more productive and fearlessly choose the direction your life goes in, you’ll find that it’s really easy to start.

In the late 1960’s to early 1970’s, there was a well-known experiment performed in children called the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment

Unlike some experiments, the results of this experiment were only to be made known 20 years later.

This was because the purpose of the experiment was to identify whether there was any connection between children who could delay gratification and their future prospects in life.

The set up of the experiment was simple. The child was presented with a choice:

have one marshmallow now, or • have two marshmallows in 15 minutes time.

The experimenter left the room and would come back in a quarter of an hour to see the choice the child made.

Then, over the course of their young adulthood, they would note down their:

BMI (Body Mass Index), • educational success, and

educational success, and • other general life achievements.

There was a follow up study performed on the children in 1988. Their parents were surveyed and there was a recurring theme among parents whose children had delayed gratification all those years ago:

"preschool children who delayed gratification longer in the self-imposed delay paradigm, were described more than 10 years later by their parents as adolescents who were significantly more competent."

There was then another follow up study done again once the then young teenagers had already become young adults. This was done in 1990.

The study showed that there was a positive correlation between not eating the marshmallow in the first 15 minutes and the SAT scores the same children (now young adults) had when they sat for their final exams.

Finally, to cap it all off, there was a brain imaging study performed on those same participants from over 30 years ago.

The children who had delayed gratification had stronger brain development in the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain associated with self discipline and strong willpower.

The boring quality that predicts success is the ability to delay gratification.

It’s not a sexy skill that takes 10,000 hours to master. It’s not something that astounds or awes crowds. It’s not something that the news likes talking about.

In some instances, it’s essentially about doing nothing. Yes, you’re resisting and fighting an internal battle of willpower, but you’re just sitting there staring at a marshmallow for 15 minutes.

In other instances, it’s doing the same thing over and over and over 100’s, maybe 1,000’s of times.

In both cases, it’s boring. People look for the quick fix that can give them what they want right NOW. They don’t care for consistency or sticking to their guns when times get tough.

Giving up becomes an all too familiar ending. Starting over stops being invigorating — only tiring.

People who can delay gratification in one area of life can (and often do) map this ability to other parts of life.

People who can abstain from alcohol have more fulfilling relationships.

People who don’t pick up their iPhone the minute they get a push notification are able to finish writing their novel.

People who can fight through the pain of exercise day in, day out can also fight through the pain of dealing with problematic people at work and can therefore have careers that go further.

People who can moderate their mood from the highs of giddy happiness to the suffocating lows of depressing days will achieve a powerful, quiet state where they — and only they — can control how they feel. Nothing external.


The Disturbing Truth About 'The Biggest Loser'

The Biggest Loser has been a hit show on NBC for the past 12 years, helping struggling food addicts change their bodies and lives forever...or so we all thought. And while training for 8 hours a day while on the show helped them shed pounds like crazy, it seems that was only a temporary fix.

Many of the contestants regain the weight they lose because the lifestyle is so intense and impossible to maintain after they leave the show


The country all food lovers need to visit ASAP

Visiting the country of Belgium hardly ever makes it on anyone's bucket list. This small country is nestled along the North Sea and is often overshadowed by its more romantic French neighbor to the south or the ever so thrilling city of Amsterdam above it. Belgium is getting the shaft -- and it's a real shame.

There are many reasons you could give to disregard this small and sometimes strange country altogether (and I say that with love and respect, as a Belgian citizen). Like the fact that this country's number one tourist attraction is a tiny statue of a little boy taking a piss. OR that the entire country and its residents are the butt of every French joke. OR that the residents are at such odds with one another they can't agree on a government (so they'd rather go without). But if you take a look at Belgium's regional cuisine, you'll see that the food is reason enough to make a trip to this extra rainy, yet beautifully forested country.

Now, the food of Belgium is not pretty -- you'll see what we mean below -- but that's only because more thought is put into the flavor than the appearance. But don't take our word for it, go to Belgium and give these dishes a try. And once you're done eating, Paris is only an hour and fifteen minutes away by train.

1 Chicon Au Gratin / Gegratineerde witloof Flickr: [puamelia] Potato gratin's got nothing on this typical Belgian dish. Made with endives, each piece is wrapped in a slice of ham, topped with béchamel sauce and blanketed in melted cheese. What's even better is that this is a main course, not just some side dish.

2 Moules-frites / Mosselen-friet Flickr: fred_v No two foods complement each other better than a big bowl of mussels with a plate of Belgian fries. Because once you've finished the mussels, the white wine broth that's left in the bottom of the bowl is the best thing to dip fries in

3 Gaufre / Wafel Flickr: Mary Lee Hahn Belgian waffles are nothing like what you find in North America. The most common waffle you can find in Belgium is called the Liege waffle. It's richer and denser than other waffles because it's made with buttery brioche dough and chunks of pearl sugar that caramelize on the crust when cooked. They're AWESOME.

4 Boudin Blanc / Witte Pens Flickr: avlxyz Boudin blanc is a white sausage that's made with milk. Its delicate flavor and fine texture is unlike any other sausage out there. It's usually prepared grilled or sauteed and is best served with mashed potatoes or apple compote.

5 Frites / Frieten Flickr: diluvienne By now most people know that the French don't get credit for fries. It's the Belgians we have to thank for this wonderful way of handling potatoes. And so it's only natural that they make them best. You can find fry stands all over the country -- sometimes even just on the side of the road -- and they always offer you the best sauces for dipping. Though you can never go wrong with straight mayonnaise.

6 Stoemp Flickr: Alan (merrionsq) If you think mashed potatoes are good, just wait till you try stoemp. They're the creamiest potatoes you've ever had, that are made even better with the addition of carrots or leeks. They're like mashed potatoes 2.0.

7 Crevette Grise / Grijze Granalen Flickr: Nate Gray: A Culinary (Photo) Journal Don't let the look of these shrimp scare you. What they lack in aesthetics they more than make up for in flavor. Tiny crevette grise -- also known as brown shrimp -- are fished out of the North Sea and are a popular dish. They're often served in a salad stuffed inside a tomato. But they can also be enjoyed served unpeeled and accompanied by a good Belgian beer.

8 The Chocolate Flickr: portmanteaus Chocolate fans, this is the country where you belong. There are over 2,000 chocolatiers (!!!) in Belgium. And it's all excellent thanks to an 1884 Belgian law that regulates the composition of its chocolate . The chocolate alone is a worth making the trip to this country. Seriously.

9 Carbonnades Flamandes / Stoverij Flickr: Kmeron Think Beef Bourguignon, but replace the wine with beer. Pure genius, we know.

10 Filet Américain Flickr: Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It. Filet Americain is similar to steak tartar, only it's simpler in preparation. This dish is made with finely minced ground beef, topped with sauce Americain, and served with fries (of course) and bread. Put aside your skepticism and take a bite, you'll instantly understand why this is a national favorite.

*Sauce American is a mixture of ketchup, chervil, onions, capers, celery and mayonnaise -- of course.

11 Speculoos / Speculaas Flickr: jenny downing You might know these cookies as the airline cookie, but they hold a dearer place in the hearts of Belgians. Made to celebrate St Nicholas' feast, these spiced shortbread cookies can be found with the most beautiful designs. And, they're very good alongside a shot of espresso.

12 Waterzooi Flickr: Smabs Sputzer Since Belgium is a cold, wet country, it's only natural that they make great stews. And one of the greatest is the waterzooi. It's a rich fish stew -- though now it's more commonly made with chicken -- that will warm your bones on the coldest of days.

13 THE BEER Flickr: Bernt Rostad If the food doesn't do it for you, we're sure the beer will. This little country -- it's about the size of Maryland -- has about 180 breweries. It makes A LOT of beer, and really good beer at that. From Flemish reds to lambics, dubbels to blondes, you won't be able to try them all. But you should definitely try.

13 Foods That'll Make You Want To Visit Belgium (PHOTOS)

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TEXAS: Father Who Beat Man To Death For Raping His 5-yr-old Daughter Faces...

I cannot even imagine what do you feel when you find out that your 5-year-old daughter was raped by a 47-year-old man.

A Texas father who discovered a man raping his five-year-old daughter and beat him to death with his bare hands will not be charged with homicide under state law.

A Lavaca County grand jury decided not to press charges against the 23-year-old father in the June 9th death of Jesus Mora Flores, 47, who was killed inside a remote shack after he was caught molesting the young girl.

Under Texas state law, deadly force is authorized and indeed, justified in order to stop an aggravated sexual assault and coupled with the fact that the harrowing 911 calls made by the father back claims he even tried to save the pedophile’s life led to the grand jury’s decision.

Lavaca County sheriff’s deputies said that the father, whose name has not been released to protect the little girl’s identity, sent her and her brother to feed the family’s chickens.

The boy rushed back to tell his dad that someone had grabbed his sister and taken her to a small secluded shack and the father rushed towards his daughter’s screams and arrived to find them both with their underwear off.

Flying into a rage, the father beat Flores unconscious, but attempted to call 911 for the rapist after he had made sure his daughter was safe.

Sheriff Micah Harmon had said in June that he was not willing to press charges against the father, rather the case would be presented to a grand jury.

At the time, Harmon said that the man was ‘very remorseful’ and didn’t know at the time he had killed Flores.

Nothing! Texas laws allow you to kill someone if they are sexually abusing somebody!


'No Man's Sky' Gameplay Footage Leak Is Missing One Crucial Aspect

It’s no longer news that Reddit user No Man’s Sky prior to its release, scheduled for Aug. 9 on PS4 and Aug. 12 on PC (spoiler warning: original spoiler threads are No Man’s Sky seems to promise a No Man’s Sky gameplay footage leak, and all discussions around it, are all missing is one crucial aspect of the No Man’s Sky experience that should not be taken for granted. It’s no longer news that Reddit user Daymeeuhn has leaked gameplay footage ofNo Man’s Skyprior to its release, scheduled for Aug. 9 on PS4 and Aug. 12 on PC (spoiler warning: original spoiler threads are here and here ).No Man’s Skyseems to promise a utopia of exploration where you can befriend factions attack aliens or simply trade in peace . But what theNo Man’s Skygameplay footage leak, and all discussions around it, are all missing is one crucial aspect of theNo Man’s Skyexperience that should not be taken for granted.

No Man’s Sky No Man’s Sky comes alive with the presence of others. Factors like currency and materials give rewards based on how many players are trading them or how many others have discovered them. Of course a world meant to thrive when a community populates it is stale without the presence of that community.

Think of it this way: There are 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 No Man’s Sky’ s procedurally generated universe. The appeal of exploration and discovery is built into No Man’s Sky whole framework. But where does the joy of discovery come from if not from sharing your discoveries with others? If no one is trading, what does a system built on a trading economy matter? If you discover the world’s biggest lion-turtle but no one knows about it, who cares? You and your loneliness? Think of it this way: There are 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 planets inNo Man’s Sky’s procedurally generated universe. The appeal of exploration and discovery is built intoNo Man’s Skywhole framework. But where does the joy of discovery come from if not from sharing your discoveries with others? If no one is trading, what does a system built on a trading economy matter? If you discover the world’s biggest lion-turtle but no one knows about it, who cares? You and your loneliness?

On Aug. 9 and Aug. 12, we should see a world that’s much more alive. By sharing gameplay video with others, by participating in an economy and discovering as much of the universe as possible, the joy of exploration and discovery will be multiplied many times over.

These things are fundamental to the appeal of No Man’s Sky . Without a community exploring, sharing, and figuring things out together, you’re just throwing stones in the darkness of space, hoping someone will spot a ripple. It’s no wonder Hello Games’ founder Sean Murray took to Twitter to ask people to avoid these leaks:

Do the No Man’s Sky gameplay leaks lessen your hype, or are you still excited to crack your knuckles and dive into the universe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

All discussions around the No Man's Sky gameplay footage leaks from Reddit are moot if this point isn't taken into consideration.


The baffling reason many millennials don't eat cereal

Few things are as painless to prepare as cereal. Making it requires little more than pouring something (a cereal of your choice) into a bowl and then pouring something else (a milk of your choice) into the same bowl. Eating it requires little more than a spoon and your mouth. The food, which Americans still buy $10 billion of annually, has thrived over the decades, at least in part, because of this very quality: its convenience.

And yet, for today's youth, cereal isn't easy enough.

On Monday, the New York Times published a story about the breakfast favorite, and the most disconcerting part was this:

Almost 40 percent of the millennials surveyed by Mintel for its 2015 report said cereal was an inconvenient breakfast choice because they had to clean up after eating it.

The industry, the piece explained, is struggling — sales have tumbled by almost 30 percent over the past 15 years, and the future remains uncertain. And the reasons are largely those one would expect: Many people are eating breakfast away from the home, choosing breakfast sandwiches and yogurt instead of more traditional morning staples. Many others, meanwhile, too busy to pay attention to their stomachs, are eating breakfast not at all.

But there is another thing happening, which should scare cereal makers — and, really, anyone who has a stake in this country's future — more: A large contingent of millennials are uninterested in breakfast cereal because eating it means using a bowl, and bowls don't clean themselves (or get tossed in the garbage). Bowls, kids these days groan, have to be cleaned.

Cereal isn't the only food suffering from a national trend toward laziness. Coffee has suffered a similar fate. Despite talk of a third wave of coffee, which values quality above all else, and basks in artisanal rather than effortless methods of preparation, Americans still covet convenience above all else.

"Convenience is the one thing that’s really changing trends these days," Howard Telford, an industry analyst at market research firm Euromonitor, said last year.

Less than 10 percent of the coffee beans Americans buy are fresh whole beans. And ground coffee isn't just outpacing whole bean coffee — it's increasing its lead, each and every year.

The rise of coffee pods, which come pre-ground and produce a cup of brown caffeinated water with the push of a button, is further evidence of the country's desire for convenience. Sales of coffee pods grew by 138,324 percent between 2004 and 2014, according to data from Euromonitor.

The popularity of delivery, meanwhile, speaks to the same tendency toward convenience. Roughly 15 percent of restaurant meals are delivered today, according to data from Technomic. But among millennials the percentage is higher: more like 20 percent.

The reason why convenience is increasingly important isn't merely because people are lazy — many actually need it.

Families are working more than ever. Almost two-thirds of households are supported by two working parents today, according to the latest government data, which is the highest reading on record. The less time families have to prepare food or sit down at restaurants, the more convenience hovers over decisions about food, especially when there is an option that is easier. Dinner, which isn't being cooked at home as often as it used to, is among the trend's many casualties. Less than 60 percent of suppers served at home were actually cooked at home last year. Only 30 years ago, the percentage was closer to 75 percent.

But there is something different about the backlash against cereal bowls, something more foundational about it that seems to speak to a greater truth about American households today.

A 2014 national survey, conducted by Braun Research, found that 82 percent of parents said they were asked to do chores as children. But when they were asked if they required their children to do chores, only 28 percent of them said yes.

And this generational shift in how families raise their kids seems to be turning even the most mundane of responsibilities, like doing the dishes, into unthinkable nuisances.

Ultimately, cereal makers will settle on a strategy for reversing the industry's downward trend. Among the likeliest routes are embracing the fact that many people are eating the food at times other than breakfast, often as a snack, channeling the food's nostalgic quality, which helped buoy the industry for years, and shifting to portable containers, which nearly half of millennials prefer, according to Mintel.

No matter the result, America's youth might have to reckon with the consequences of an age in which it's no longer worth eating a food when it means having to clean a plate. Maybe Soylent is the future after all.

The baffling reason many millennials don’t eat cereal

There is something troubling about why many millennials aren't eating cereal anymore.

cleaning up (I'm literally eating cereal right now btw so idk)


Changes in the minimum wage can affect newborns' birth weights. (Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

The national debate on the minimum wage has focused on businesses and their workers, but increasing the minimum has consequences for everyone else as well, including the tiniest members of society.

When expecting mothers are better off, their children will be, too. A When expecting mothers are better off, their children will be, too. A working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that increasing the minimum wage by $1 increases average birth weights by 11 grams, or about 0.39 ounces, among babies born to women with minimal education. The increase corresponded to a reduction of 2 percent in low birth weight.

Birth weight is not only connected to babies' health through infancy and childhood, but also to their educational and financial prospects in the rest of their lives. The new paper suggests that the minimum wage could have lasting effects not only on today's economy, but on the next generation of Americans as well.

Low birth weight is " a very serious outcome in terms of infant health and even potentially lifetime circumstances," said Robert Kaestner, an economist at the University of Illinois at Chicago and one of the authors of the paper. "Reducing the rate of low birth weight by 3 percent or 5 percent is a nontrivial feat."

Kaestner and his colleagues, George Wehby of the University of Iowa and Dhaval Dave of Bentley University in Massachusetts, used federal data from birth certificates to compare birth weights in states where the minimum wage increased to birth weights in states that did not. The vital records include data on every birth in the country, and the researchers analyzed all of them between 1989 and 2012.

There are other factors besides the minimum wage that affect average birth weights in a state, but Wehby, Dave and Kaestner found that in states where the minimum increased, birth weights were not significantly different before the increase from birth weights in states without an increase or where there was an increase only several years later. The similarities among states in the periods before increases in the minimum suggest that any differences in birth weight afterward are a result of the minimum wage, not of other factors.

The results show that an increase in the minimum wage benefited expecting mothers of all kinds, but women who were more likely to earn the minimum wage benefited more, and so did their children.

In terms of the reduction in low birth weight, babies born to mothers of color benefited about three times as much from increases in the minimum wage as babies born to white mothers.

Young women with just a high-school diploma were another group whose newborns were particularly helped by the minimum wage. Better educated women were less likely to earn the minimum wage anyway. The same also appeared to be true of older women without a good education, who presumably had had more time to gain experience on the job and were making more money.

Women without even a diploma also benefited, but less so. Many of them might have had a hard time getting even a minimum-wage job. To the extent that employers hired fewer workers due to the increased cost of labor in states that increased the minimum wage, changes in the minimum might have reduced the incomes of some of these women as well.

Wehby, Dave and Kaestner's results accord with previous research on the relationship between income and birth weight among women at the margins of the economy, including a Wehby, Dave and Kaestner's results accord with previous research on the relationship between income and birth weight among women at the margins of the economy, including a study on the Earned Income Tax Credit published in 2010.

A simple but controversial law that can make babies healthier - The W...

A new study suggests that raising the minimum wage could have lasting effects not only on today's economy, but on the next generation of Americans as well.


The book we need to stop reading to little boys

It's uttered by a mad scientist who's explaining to his dull-witted lackey the kind of DNA they need to make their Frankenstein-like monster out of a deranged toilet. If it's a lady, he says, "she'll wash our dishes and iron our shirts."

It can't be just any lady, though. She has to be pretty and young and thin.

The dull-witted lackey finds the perfect specimen: a young woman who's not only pretty and thin but also dumb, docile and vain. She stands obligingly as he points his laser at her, which she's too thick to recognize as a laser, and takes out a mirror to primp. Even with this promising arrangement, the dull-witted lackey -- in the grand tradition of dull-witted lackeys everywhere -- manages to get the wrong sample and the mad scientist transforms the DNA of an ugly woman.

Cue monstrous female abomination who destroys everything in sight.

The 6-year-old to whom I'm reading the book -- my son -- laughs because the image of a giant hairy toilet bowl on a murder spree is funny. I cringe and wonder how quickly I can make the book disappear.

The book in question is The All New Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book o' Fun 2, which, along with word finds, mazes and stickers, has a comic-book adventure called "The Night of the Terror of the Revenge of the Curse of the Bride of Hairy Potty." For a story with a genuinely funny, whimsical title, it's one of the most horribly misogynistic things I've ever read.

Knowing nothing about the Captain Underpants franchise but troubled by this alarming strain of female bashing, I investigate. I ask two librarians about it. One concedes women are given short shrift in the series; the other complains about the facile potty humor and bad grammar. Jessica Roake, in an essay on Slate, writes that "girls have no place in the Captain's world." This observation is a minor aside in an otherwise admiring essay. It's literally a parenthetical.

Google likewise turns up nothing. I get a lot of hits about how Captain Underpants topped the American Library Association's list of most-challenged books of 2012 for offensive language but not a single one in which a person expresses concern over the withering misogyny in this series targeted at young readers.

In her Slate essay, Roake calls the series subversive and lauds its creator for the way he's able to relate to kids (well, boys) on their level. In Dav Pilkey, she says, "young readers recognize a kindred spirit... an adult whose sympathies, anarchic energy and sense of rebellion stand with misunderstood troublemakers everywhere."

It's these troublemakers -- two fourth-grade boys called George and Harold -- who "wrote" the Frankentoilet adventure I'm reading to my son. It's they who believe that women can be bossed around. It's they who believe that women should be bossed around. It's they who believe that woman are only good for cleaning and ironing. It's they who believe that pretty women are docile and dumb and that ugly women are mean and aggressive, already monsters in spirit, if not in fact.

The problem with this line of reasoning, however, is that none of this misogyny rings true for a contemporary fourth-grade boy. Fourth-grade boys in 2013 know better. First-grade boys do. My own son knows that girls can do anything boys can do. It's not even a question.

No, this list of ugly stereotypes is the casual misogyny of my generation. It's the aggressive petulance of a man who grew up during the second wave of feminism and believes a woman deserves only as much dignity as he's willing to confer on her. Dav Pilkey, like Slade Smiley on The Real Housewives of Orange County, who devoted part of a stand-up routine to calling a woman he didn't like ugly (a woman who then got plastic surgery to prove him wrong), thinks making fun of a woman's looks is comedy gold. He's a 47-year-old man expressing his contempt for women by passing it off as the benign sexism of preadolescent boys. He's claiming to reflect their values while actually propagating his own.

There's a moment in the story when the dull-witted lackey seems to call the mad scientist on his crappy ideas about women. "Ah, you know, that's not very politically correct," he says when the scientist explains why they need a lady's DNA. The scientist shrugs off his concern: "So what? We're the bad guys."

The tone is sly, the exchange is knowing, and the faux-naifery is at full throttle. Pilkey, rather than imply that his characters are wrong in their beliefs, doubles down on their being right. In invoking political correctness, he's saying that it's not their thoughts that are wrong; it's society's censorship of their thoughts. Harold and George are fearless rebels speaking truth to power.

So the crusade starts here -- with this post, so that the next time someone Googles Captain Underpants and misogyny, he or she will get at least one hit.

Maybe the crusade ends here, too. Perhaps The All New Captain Underpants Extra Crunchy Book o' Fun 2 is an anomaly in a series that otherwise kindly overlooks the female sex (a safely shunted parenthetical). I don't know because I haven't read other Pilkey books. If there aren't more examples, then let this one stand as a lone disturbing aberration. And if it's not, let's talk about it.

Let's Talk About Dav Pilkey, Captain Underpants and Misogyny

This is the sentence that starts the crusade:

We need a "lady" monster so we can boss it around.

It's uttered by a mad scientist who's explain...

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The Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book o' Fun 2


Fans In India Have 3 Blades While Fans In USA Have 4. Here‘s The Logic Behind It

Things that happen around us can be majorly divided into 2 categories. One - that happen without any rhyme or reason, and two - that do have a reason but we never really got down to think about it. One such thing is the number of blades of a fan.

Now you might have noticed, fans come with both 3 and 4 blades depending on the place where they are being used. In India, we usually have them with 3 blades. But the one's with 4 blades, which are mostly used in the US and colder areas, are not just designed that way to look different. There's a reason behind it.

In US, the sole aim of a ceiling fan is to supplement the air conditioner. Which is why the fan, which is slower than the one with 3 blades, serves the purpose of keeping air circulation in the room. The 4 blades move a large mass of air.

However, In India, the fan is mostly used as a stand-alone appliance creating a convective cooling effect. Being lighter, the fan operates at a higher speed and is also energy efficient.

Fans In India Have 3 Blades While Fans In USA Have 4. Here’s The Logic Behind It

https://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-kHc8ja1mP4cMt.gif?labels=Author.Isha Jalan.Fans In India Have 3 Blades While Fans In USA Have 4 Heres The Logic Behind It,

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Which player has the MLB's most popular jersey?
  via @YahooSports

NBA Playoffs Rajon Rondo on accusation of trying to trip a player: I was just stretching my legs

The "lovable losers" are even more enjoyable when they win. Just a few months after winning their first World Series title in over 100 years, Chicago Cubs players have dominated Major League Baseball’s list of most popular jerseys.

Leading the way is 25-year-old third baseman Kris Bryant. Since the conclusion of the 2016 World Series, no player has sold more jerseys than Bryant. Pretty fitting, considering he was involved in the final play.

His teammate, and baseball man-crush, Anthony Rizzo isn’t far behind. Rizzo slots in just behind Bryant on the list, with the second most popular jersey. It’s no wonder the Bryzzo Co. is thriving.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw breaks up the Cubs dominance with an appearance at No. 3, but the North Siders come charging back in the next two spots. Second baseman Javier Baez clocks in with the fourth most popular jersey. World Series folk hero Kyle Schwarber is fifth.

Overall, four of the top five most popular jerseys in the game belong to the Cubs.

There aren’t many surprises in the rest of the top-10. New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is ranked sixth and Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager comes in at No. 7. Buster Posey takes over the eighth slot. He’s followed by 2016 Rookie of the Year Gary Sanchez. Mike Trout, who has frequently appeared on these lists, closes out the top-10.

Unsurprisingly, young players performed well on the list. Boston Red Sox star Mookie Betts had the 14th most popular jersey, Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was just behind him at No. 15. Cleveland Indians breakout star Francisco Lindor came in at No. 16.

Overall, 10 players in MLB’s top-20 are 25 and under. The average age of all 20 players on the list is 261⁄2, making it the youngest group MLB has tracked thus far.

Some of the veterans who populated the second half of the list include Madison Bumgarner, Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Altuve and Josh Donaldson.

The Cubs’ dominance is the bigger story here, though. While some may have tired of the team’s good fortune, their presence at the top of MLB’s list makes sense. Not only are they coming off a World Series championship, but they also boast an incredible core of excellent, young talent.

That’s always going to sell. Doubly so when a team wins its first title in over a century.

Cubs dominate MLB's list of most popular jerseys

Kris Bryant and Co. are responsible for four of the five most popular MLB jerseys since the end of the 2016 World Series.


Your smartphone needn’t keep you sedentary: these apps will soon have you cycling, exploring forests or gazing at night skies

Why don’t you just switch off your smartphone and go out and do something less boring instead? Although with all due respect to the famous intro for children’s TV show Why Don’t You?, perhaps better advice for 2017 would be to keep your smartphone on – but seek out some apps that will get you out into the world.

Whether you’re spotting wildlife, blue plaques or Gruffalos

discovering new walking and biking trails

taking up geocaching or staring at the night skies, there are apps to help you get out into the fresh air for some activities.

Released by the Forestry Commission, this app provides a guide to woods and forests across the UK. You’ll find directions to reach them, lists of forthcoming events, and details of their facilities, as well as maps of trails. Instagram galleries will whet your appetite for visits, too.

Whether you’re hillwalking or delving through thickets, ViewRanger is one of the best collections of trail maps and guides for the UK. There are thousands of routes to browse and download, with impressive smartwatch features and an augmented-reality ability to identify local features.

3. The Gruffalo Spotter (Android/iOS, free)

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood... But a growing number of families are doing that too, and using an official Gruffalo app for the task. It guides you to trails created in 26 forests across the UK, with animal facts and the ability to take virtual selfies with Julia Donaldson’s much-loved characters.

4. Blue Plaques of London (Android/iOS, free)

There are more than 900 blue plaques dotted around London, installed by English Heritage to celebrate the places where famous historical figures lived and worked – from John Constable in Hampstead or Sylvia Pankhurst in Chelsea, to Jimi Hendrix in Mayfair. This app tells you about plaques near your current location, lets you search for specific people, and points you towards guided walks.

Drones are increasingly affordable in 2017, but if you’re planning to take yours out for a fly, Hover is a useful tool to have on your smartphone. It shows weather data, plots no-fly zones, advises when it’s safe to fly, and logs your activity.

6. The Wildlife Trusts: Nature Finder (Android/iOS, free)

The Wildlife Trusts charity is the best source to turn to for information on the UK’s nature reserves. Its app has a catalogue of more than 2,000, helping you pinpoint places to visit, as well as listing events. You can also browse information on over 900 species and habitats, and the wildlife you might encounter.

During any school holidays, Hoop could be a lifesaver for parents. It’s a database of things to do with kids: from babies to 11-year-olds. It’s a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities, with easy-to-use filters ensuring you quickly find appropriate ideas.

Tough Mudder – mud runs with obstacles – has become something of a craze, and you won’t be getting your phone out much while putting yourself to these endurance tests. That said, Mudder Lovers encourages just that – a fun way for "Mudder Lovers" to share their photos and experiences.

9. Star Walk 2 (Android, £0.99 / IOS, £2.99)

The original Star Walk remains one of the best apps for budding stargazers of all levels, but Star Walk 2 has added some excellent features for night-time jaunts. It will identify the location of stars, planets, meteors and nebulae, the International Space Station and comets. Point it at the sky and you’ll soon be marvelling at the cosmos.

Described as a "social fishing forecast app", Fishbrain wants to get you out with a rod, practising your angling skills. It’s partly a social log of your catches, but it taps into its users’ data to show you where fishing is currently going well, guiding you to the locations where you’ll have the best chances.

While the National Trust’s main app is a guide to its 500-plus sites across the country, this a more focused collection of "50 things to do before you’re 11 and three quarters" – from making a home for a wild animals, to swimming in the sea. Parents will find some good ideas, too. Mixed reviews reflect past problems users have had logging in, but the idea behind this is sound.

12. Strava Running and Cycling (Android/iOS, free + IAP)

Strava is part activity-tracking app, helping you to log your jogs and cycling jaunts, and see how your speed is (hopefully) improving over time. But the features that will get you out and about are its social elements, including "clubs" to connect you with people who share your exercise interests.

The notion of exploring the local environment, guided by GPS, to look for hidden stashes has been a slow but steady burner. While the app Geocaching is many people’s first port of call for this contemporary version of the treasure hunt, Cachly’s rave reviews are testament its quality, with features for experienced geocachers and newcomers alike.

14. The Dog Spot Beach Guide (iOS, free)

Dogs might not be too fussy about what beaches they’ll have fun on, but their owners are another story. The Dog Spot Beach Guide does exactly what its title says: provides a browsable database of dog-friendly beaches around the UK. It will even pull in a weather forecast so you can plan to keep your pooch dry.

15. Ramp Map: World Skatepark Map (iOS, free)

This shows a host of skateparks around the world, with GPS positions for 9,000 sites on one map. It’s an excellent digital bucket-list for skateboarders: you can filter the selection according to your needs, receive alerts when you’re near a park, get directions and check the weather forecast.

If you like to collect hills that you’ve climbed up, Hill Lists covers nearly 7,500 in the UK and Ireland, providing a plethora of ways to sort, search and track your ascents for posterity, as well as accessing weather forecasts.

You surely know all about Pokémon Go by now, but its developer Niantic first made its name with Ingress. It’s a location-based game with a deep science-fiction story wrapped around your real-world wanderings. And like its monster follow-up, the gameplay really does get you walking more and exploring new places.

If you love getting the wind in your hair, Windy should be a boon. Aimed at kite-flyers, surfers, paragliders and other lovers of wind-assisted activities, it shows animated wind maps, as well as waves and tides.

19. Campr Beautiful Camping (Android/iOS, free)

If you would like to go camping, but are unsure of the best sites on which to pitch your tent, Campr could set your mind at ease. It offers guides to campsites in various counties in the UK, with reviews, videos and photos to show what they’re like. A very useful advance-planning app.

You can come to a sticky end running up walls and leaping from building to building, so if you want to get into parkour, you’ll need some training. This app offers video tutorials, from essential-strength training to specific parkour tricks.

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Blondie passed on the opportunity to perform a 45-minute set in Sochi during the Winter Olympics, citing concerns over civil rights abuses in Russia as their rationale for rejecting the big gig.

"Blondie has always been a part of the downtown community in NYC, with many, many friends who represent alternative lifestyles," frontwoman Debbie Harry said in a statement sent to The Huffington Post. "We feel very strongly about these friendships and associations, and don’t feel good about participating in a situation where biases and prejudices are paramount."

A photo of an offer letter for the Russian Red Rocks Festival was posted to the band's official Twitter account, with the words "PASS" and "human rights" handwritten over it:

Russia's crackdown on gay citizens has drawn international outcry from artists and politicians alike. President Barack Obama did not attend the opening ceremony in Sochi, and was taken as protesting Russia's treatment of its LGBT community by selecting openly gay delegates (Billie Jean King, one such delegate, had to cancel her trip for personal reasons).

International criticism notwithstanding, Russian authorities arrested a number of activists under the nation's controversial laws on "gay propaganda." Ten LGBT activists were arrested on the same day as the opening ceremony.

Debbie Harry On Skipping Sochi Olympic Gig Over Russia's Anti-Gay Laws

Blondie passed on the opportunity to perform a 45-minute set in Sochi during the Winter Olympics, citing concerns over civil rights abuses in Russia as t...

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Blondie citing concerns over civil rights abuses


@JessicaSimpson rocks skinny jeans for family night out

Jessica Simpson rocked skinny jeans for a night out with her family on Tuesday.

Simpson displayed her curves in the all-black ensemble, including some tight denim, a low-cut top, a blazer and patent leather stiletto pumps for a Mexican dinner at Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, Calif., on Sept. 24. The 33-year-old enjoyed the time out with fiance Eric Johnson and their 16-month-old daughter, Maxwell. Baby Ace Knute stayed home.

Just three months have passed since Simpson gave birth to Ace on June 30. And the gorgeous mother of two certainly has a lot going on.

"With two kids, we have our hands full, but every day is a new adventure. It's fun! I feel very at peace with being a mom," she told Us Weekly last month. However, there are no plans to add any more little ones. "Pregnancy is a lot. It was hard to do two so close together. I have this huge sense of accomplishment, and I feel in my heart that I'm done. But obviously, accidents do happen!"

Fans still might have something else to look forward to, however. Simpson hinted at getting back in the studio Wednesday, tweeting, "I need to make music." Her last studio album was "Happy Christmas" in 2010.

Jessica Simpson Wears Skinny Jeans And Stilettos For Family Night Out

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You'll never guess what this picture was taken on...

Even with the latest technology, photographs taken on dodgy mobiles can amount to blurry, out-of-focus shots that barely resemble the original subject.

For one man, this was the challenge when he was asked to shoot a global launch campaign with just a smartphone - and without the aid of Photoshop.

Canadian photographer, Benjamin Von Wong, 28, was tasked by Chinese company Huawei with creating the craziest photograph he could with their upcoming mobile phone.

Ben Von Wong captured this dramatic final image of a model appearing to have angel wings made of fire using just a smartphone

One of the snaps captured by Ben Von Wong, the model walking in front of fiery wings in an image taken on a mobile phone without use of Photoshop

With Wong used to shooting with high-end cameras to create his surreal art work, the photographer was aware that it would be quite a challenge.

Further limits were placed on the project, as Wong was also told that the model must be surrounded by fire and that the use of Photoshop was banned.

To help with the conception of the project, the photographer invited fire performance team Starlight Alchemy, based in Singapore, to assist with tests in a European-style palazzo in Shanghai.

The pyrotechnicians were tasked with standing on either side of a model and waving rods that were ablaze to create a wing motion.

Then, the smartphone was used to capture a series of multiple images swiftly, one after another, which would then blend into one shot.

Without the use of Photoshop, Wong instead utilised the additional help of some glass filters, which he attached to the camera, intensifying the vibrancy of the photographs.

The photographer shared all the pictures taken from the shoot at a European-style location in Shanghai

Test shots show people in front of a background of what looks like an inferno

The location, in Shanghai, was prepared with lights to make the fire illusion best work

The photographer invited fire performance team Starlight Alchemy to assist with tests one evening in Shanghai

The resulting images see a model transformed into an angel of sorts, with huge fiery wings.

Test shots from the shoot also see other people on set with the fire and phone effects creating an inferno background.

The photographer has spoken about the problems of timing the picture.

Wong explained: 'The greatest challenge taking the photos was to make sure that everything fell into the right place at the right time - from the wings, to the model, to the lighting, to getting the exposure right.'

He wrote on Medium.com: 'Lighting for the set was carefully designed to make the pillars and backdrop stand out without hitting our model. Light spills during a long exposure, would mean that our gorgeous model would come out looking blurry.'

He added: 'Add on a little fiery magic with the help of Starlight Alchemy and all we had to do was create the perfect shape.'

The model walks up to the smart phone, while pyrotechnicians wave fiery sticks on either side of her

The fiery sticks create sparks on either side of the model which blur into wings

After a change of outfit, the model is seen fearlessly strutting through the pyrotechnicians as they wave their fiery props

One thing that failed to worry Wong with the challenge was the dangerous use of fire itself.

He said: 'I had an amazing team from Starlight Alchemy and have shot many times with fire in the past. I also happen to hold a pyrotechnicians license and can spit fire myself.'

The photographer has admitted that after working with fire so often, that he wants to pursue other photography avenues.

He admits: 'I try to always do something new, to constantly challenge myself.

'I've never actually done anything properly with ice yet but I would absolutely love to do something in zero gravity ... perhaps space?'

The 28-year-old photographer uses only the smart phone to create the fiery angel wings

Photographer Benjamin Von Wong snaps model with fiery angel wings on smartphone

Canadian photographer, Benjamin Von Wong, 28, captured incredible images of a model sporting huge fiery angel wings using just a smartphone, some pyrotechnics and no digital doctoring.


Here’s how you can get a free Ubisoft game every month, for seven months

Founded in March 1986, Ubisoft has been home to some of the greatest games and entertainment franchises to exist – from Assassin’s Creed, to Prince of Persia, to the more recently announced Steep, they aren’t strangers to creativity and innovation when it comes to game development. You’ll be glad to know then that the company plans to release a free Ubisoft game each month, for the next seven months.

The offer is seemingly part of their 30th anniversary celebrations – good guy Ubisoft. In an official statement, they said the following:

To celebrate Ubisoft’s 30th anniversary, The Ubisoft Club is offering you seven digital PC games. Every month a new game will be revealed and free to download. Then its yours to keep! Hurry up, the game is available for a limited time. Just register here with your Uplay account.

The first of the seven is 2003’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time – widely considered to be the pinnacle of the Prince of Persia games franchise. You’ll be able to pick it up over on Ubisoft Club for free, no strings attached.

Be sure to keep an eye on Fraghero throughout the week for all the best from E3 and more.

Ubisoft plan to give away a free game each month for the next seven - what games are you hoping for? Read on for more, including June's free game.

Sign up for Ubisoft Club. Link in comments. #StopClickBait


The US blows everyone else out of the water in 1 key way

That one way? We’re really, really good at creating really, really rich people — like, $50 million-plus rich. Just ignore the fact that our 400 wealthiest people are worth more than the entire bottom half of the country combined. And now, the chart:

The U.S. Blows Everyone Else Out Of The Water In 1 Key Way

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# of people with net worth > $50 million


Your résumé is probably missing one crucial thing

Did you know that, according to CareerBuilder's 2016 Candidate Behavior Study, more than three in four full-time employed workers (76%) are either actively looking or open to new job opportunities?

That means in today's job market, you need to find a way to stand out among the competition and shine. To accomplish that, the first step is to get the person on the other end to sit up and pay attention to your resume instead of tossing it into a pile of "maybes."

One trick is to use certain keywords throughout your resume.

Keywords are descriptors of skills and attributes that industry insiders typically use to describe themselves and others in the profession. Hiring managers sometimes use computer programs known as applicant tracking systems — or ATS, for short — to save time and effort on their part.

Keywords matter when they're scanning your resume in these programs to gauge if your skill set is the right fit for an open position.

According to a Forbes article: "Depending on how a specific ATS works, the location and frequency of keywords within your resume can be extremely important. Typically, the better your resume matches the job description requirements, the higher you'll rank in the ATS. Additionally, it's common practice for companies to begin reviewing applicants from the top of the ranking list — bad news for job seekers who haven't customized and key-worded their resume."

Den Originalartikel gibt es auf CareerBuilder. Copyright 2016.

Here's how to speak the same language as the hiring manager.


Harvard researchers discovered the one thing everyone needs for happier, healthier lives

Harvard Medical School professor and researcher, Robert J. Waldinger sat down with TEDxBeaconStreet to discuss what makes "the good life," according to a 75-year-long research project he is now leading. (TEDxBeaconStreet, Photo: Dave Rezendes)

My grandmother once told me this little story that stuck with me. One afternoon at a doctor’s appointment, her doctor moved her large purse to another chair and remarked how heavy it was. "You must be very rich," he said to her. "I am," she said affirmatively.

My grandparents lived modestly, still in the narrow two-bedroom rowhouse where she’d raised her family since her husband returned from World War II. They didn’t travel, eat lavish meals or shop at the finest department stores. Neither had careers that followed their passions. (She would have been an amazing teacher, he an exquisite artist.) Yet, she genuinely considered herself rich because she had a husband, children and grandchildren whom she adored.

My grandmother knew what Harvard researchers have since confirmed: Relationships are the key to a happy life.

[Your relationships are just as important to your health as diet and exercise]

Robert Waldinger, a Harvard psychiatrist, took over the more than 75-year-long Grant Study in 2003, becoming the fourth person to run it. He recently gave a TedTalk on it that has been viewed more than 6.5 million times since November 2015.

Waldinger felt it was important to do it. The federal government had spent millions on the study for decades, but everyday taxpayers didn’t really know what was discovered.

And there’s certainly an appetite for knowing what makes a good life.

The longest study of human development, the ongoing Grant Study is a decades-long project that began following the lives of Harvard University men selected in 1938 – among them President John F. Kennedy and former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee – and tracked every aspect of their lives. In the 1970s, that study teamed with a similar one that had been following a group of young men from inner-city Boston tenements since the 1940s. That has allowed them to contrast social status and upbringings, but otherwise everyone in the study is a white male.

Periodically the men’s physical and emotional well-being are assessed. Recently that has included genetic testing. Many conclusions have been gleaned from monitoring these lives from young adult through old age, but to Waldinger there’s one clear takeaway: The happiest and healthiest participants in both groups were the ones who maintained close, intimate relationships.

Waldinger, an Iowan who went to Harvard for undergrad and never left, has known the answer for years. He’s studied relationships his whole career and brought that perspective with him to the study. His first grant proposal as director was to invite the wives of the men – those still alive then in their 80s – to examine the impact of marriages on physical health.

Those satisfied in their relationships were happier and healthier. It was that simple.

"People who are more isolated than they want to be from others find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain functioning declines sooner and they live shorter lives than people who are not lonely," Waldinger said in his TedTalk. "And good, close relationships seem to buffer us from some of the slings and arrows of getting old."

Waldinger wants people to realize that the commercial projection of a good life – wealth, fame, career success – won’t bring them health or happiness. It’s the work they put into maintaining connections with other human beings that will.

Quality and intimacy, as well as stability and consistency also matter. Casual relationships, like the ones forged on social media won’t do; neither will contentious ones like an abusive marriage or an unreliable friend.

Most of the men in the late 1930s believed career achievement equated a good life. But Waldinger says it’s just as important to work harder on relationships. And for personal happiness, more so.

Since doing the TedTalk, Waldinger has received hundreds of emails. He’s started a blog to continue the conversation about what makes a good life.

He said messages range from, "I always knew it was true, but look around and people act like it’s not what is important," to "What if you are totally alone and have no one in your life?"

To the latter he recommends they seek out ways to connect with other people, perhaps by volunteering to help people who are lonely, like the elderly.

"It’s useful to know it’s a choice worth making," he said.

His research has inspired him to make his own changes. In his field, there is a lot of pressure to continue researching and publishing. But he’s realized that it’s his role as teacher – the connection between mentor and student – that is more satisfying, so he’s invested more time in that.

It has also spurred him to consciously reach out more to friends who are sick or struggling, even if it feels uncomfortable, because he knows how much that connection will mean to them.

"What we’d really like is a quick fix, something we can get that’ll make our lives good and keep them that way," Waldinger said in his TedTalk. "Relationships are messy and they’re complicated and the hard work of tending to family and friends, it’s not sexy or glamorous. It’s also lifelong. It never ends."

So, go take that longer lunch break with your co-worker. Call a friend for a long overdue catch up. It’s good for your health.

And it has nothing to do with work or money.

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Robert Downey Jr. Confirms The Future Of Iron Man 4

It was just last year that Robert Downey Jr. signed a contract extension with Marvel Studios, confirming him for appearances in bothThe Avengers: Age of Ultronand the inevitableAvengers 3, but one title that was left out of all the talks was any plans forIron Man 4 Many took this as a sign that the number of Tony Stark solo films would be ending at three - and today new quotes have arrived that pretty much confirm that speculation."There isn’t one in the pipe. No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man." That was the rather blunt response that Downey Jr. gave to Variety recently when asked about the potential future of the successful comic book franchise. The actor is currently up at the Toronto International Film Festival promoting his new movieThe Judge, which is the actor's first dramatic film since 2009'sThe SoloistAnyone who is in any way familiar with the history of contract talks between Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel shouldn't be too surprised that the star's stay as Tony Stark may not extend pastThe Avengers 3. As, statistically, the biggest draw in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey Jr. has long had an upper hand in negotiations with the company - to the point where he even got them to pay him $50 million for his work inThe Avengers- a figure that he himself has confirmed. Because of these hardball tactics, there was a time when there was a possibility that the Oscar-nominee wouldn't be inThe Avengers 2- and writer/director Joss Whedon even said that he wouldn't do the movie without him. It's not hard to see why Marvel might not be eager to jump back into contract extension conversations for anIron Man 4Furthermore, while Downey Jr. was undoubtedly an extremely important player in the establishment of Marvel Studios as a blockbuster success, the company has been doing just fine making movies without him recently. James Gunn'sGuardians of the Galaxyand Joe and Anthony Russo'sCaptain America: The Winter Soldiercurrently stand as the two biggest domestic releases of the year, and both achieved their positions without Iron Man's presence (provided you ignore the blink-and-you-miss-it photo of the character in the latter film). It's true that Downey Jr. has appeared in all of the studio's top four titles, but the comic book giant is learning how to achieve big things without the star's presence.So, ifIron Man 4isn't part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Three plans - what projects are coming up? In addition to Peyton Reed'sAnt-Man, the Russos'Captain America 3, and Gunn'sGuardians of the Galaxy 2, they are also working on seven untitled projects that will be coming out between now and 2019 - three of which are all but confirmed to beDoctor Strange,Thor 3,andThe Avengers 3. Will Iron Man's presence be missed, or do you think Marvel can move on without him?

Robert Downey Jr was asked point blank about where the franchise is going, and here's what he said.

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He Doesn't. Not Even One Little Clue. Infact, His Exact Quote Was "There isn’t one in the pipe. No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man."


This country wants to become a major producer of legal marijuana:

Colombia gave a major push to rebooting its marijuana industry this week by awarding its first license for medical marijuana production to a Canadian company with big plans.

The move marks a changing shift in attitudes towards cannabis in a country that has long been at the center of the U.S.-led war on drugs, and has spent billions of dollars trying to enforce crop eradication and prohibition.

While cocaine is still strictly forbidden, Colombia’s congress voted to legalize medical marijuana in May. Now the South American country is turning to the multi-billion dollar medical marijuana industry in an effort to create jobs in rural areas.

On Tuesday Colombian Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria said that seven companies have applied for permits to manufacture medical marijuana products in Colombia. And that’s just the beginning.

"There is no limit on the number of licenses we plan to hand out," Gaviria said in a press conference. "Any firm that meets our requirements will get a license."

The first company to get a manufacturing license was Pharmacielo, a Canadian firm that plans to set up production facilities outside Medellin, the city once tormented by Pablo Escobar and his army of cartel hitmen.

On its website, Pharmacielo says it wants to produce marijuana oil extracts to export to markets that already accept medical marijuana products, including the United States. Pharmacielo argues that Colombia is one of the "best places in the world" for medical marijuana production because of its climate, skilled labor force, and relatively low labor costs. The country’s experience cultivating and exporting cut flowers is expected to translate into a competitive advantage for the upstart medical marijuana industry.

"Colombia will play a significant role in this developing international industry," Pharmacielo’s Colombia manager Federico Cock-Correa said in a statement after the company received its manufacturing license on Tuesday.

With its manufacturing license awarded, Pharmacielo will now be able to apply for a license to legally grow marijuana plants in Colombia.

"This approval brings us closer to our goal," the company said in a statement.

Colombia has a bitter sweet relationship with marijuana, which is currently the most consumed illicit drug in the country. One recent survey suggests that 11% of the population has tried it at least once.

The plant was first introduced to Colombia in the 1950s. A decade later, local strains of weed were "discovered" by Peace Corps volunteers who were dazzled by its quality and took it back to the U.S. in small quantities. By the 1970s drug barons in northern Colombia were smuggling an estimated 500,00 pounds of marijuana to the U.S. each week by boat and plane. With the State Department’s help, the government cracked down hard on drug exports, and as weed production picked up in the U.S. Colombia’s marijuana production slumped and drug kingpins turned towards cocaine. Nowadays, marijuana production in Colombia is mostly for the domestic market.

The Colombian government which has been calling for new approaches to the drug problem, rarely penalizes the consumption of marijuana these days, and a Supreme Court sentence even allows users to carry a personal dose of 20 grams.

But producing and selling marijuana for recreational purposes is still illegal here.

Despite these limitations, medical marijuana entrepreneurs are hoping their Colombia gambit will pay off.

"This land of sunshine and soil can do more than grow flowers" Pharmacielo said in a promotional video. "We’re planning to turn what has caused so much trouble into a seed for change."

Colombia wants to become a major marijuana producer—this time legally


Four romantic Christmas films that are actually completely unrealistic

Christmas film aficionado Rachel Hosie laments the fact that real life festive romances so rarely occur like rom-coms would have us believe

As wonderful as they are, festive films can give a person pretty high expectations and probably false hopes about how their love life will play out over Christmas.

The most obvious culprit is, of course, perennial favourite Love, Actually. Whilst love actually may be all around, for most of us it doesn’t play out quite as well as the characters in Richard Curtis’ heartwarming festive film.

The tale of interwoven characters and their interconnected relationships is a masterpiece, no doubt. An uplifting and seasonal joy to behold. But there are some aspects to the film we possibly shouldn’t mimic.

Do you work for Theresa May and have a bit of a thing for her? Probably don’t write that in her Christmas card. Philip will not be best pleased and you’re not going to end up kissing the PM backstage at a school nativity play. Sorry.

Are you in love with your best friend’s wife? Absolutely do not tell her. That is an awful thing to do. Don’t do it, even if "at Christmas you tell the truth." If her husband finds out, your friendship is over, amigo.

Also, Andrew Lincoln’s character Mark is clearly a creep and in real life Juliet (Keira Knightley) would’ve been totally freaked out by his video montage of close-ups of her. That’s kinda stalker-ish.

If you find yourself the Juliet in all this, do not run after your husband’s BFF after he’s declared his love for you and kiss him. "Enough," says Mark. But realistically that would definitely give him false hope and dreams of starting an affair. It can't have ended well.

Then we have The Holiday, which has been giving American women false expectations of British men since 2006. Alas, they’re not all Jude Laws.

But it’s Christmas! And even though Cameron Diaz said she wouldn’t fall in love with Jude, she cried for the first time in years so evidently she did!

No. That would not happen. Even with all the Christmas spirit (and the most attractive people) in the world, they would not fall in love in under a fortnight. And Jack Black would not fly all the way to the UK to spend New Year with a woman he’d just met. Soz, Kate.

Speaking of unrealistic Christmas couples, we need to talk about Elf. As cheery and spirited as Will Ferrell’s character is, I’m not convinced Zooey Deschanel would fall for him.

He snuck into the bathroom when she was in the shower, for goodness’ sake. And although he may not have realised that’s socially unacceptable, she would likely have been so creeped out she’d avoid him at all costs.

Do not do that, people - save that beautiful duet of Baby, It’s Cold Outside for another time. Preferably when both parties are fully-clothed.

But the message is, of course, that even the odd guys can get the girl, and perhaps the most extreme example of this is The Grinch. Sure, the moral is that maybe, Christmas doesn’t come from a store, but there’s also a highly unrealistic romantic sub-plot.

Need to find someone who likes me as much as Martha May loves the Grinch

Of course, the film concludes with the Grinch’s life-long crush Martha May choosing him over the mayor. Because that’s what happens at Christmas, isn’t it? The underdog always triumphs.

Yup, it’s a time of year when anyone with a marginally romantic bone in their body hopes that the magic of the season may make their enduring romantic daydreams a reality.

But even if it doesn’t all work out like a Richard Curtis film, if the realisation that love actually is all around prompts us all to be a smidge more bold at Christmas, that’s probably not a bad thing. The chances are your beloved will also be feeling imbued with festive spirit too, and there are plenty of couples who do get together under the mistletoe.

However I’d probably caution against flying to another country to propose to a woman with whom you haven’t even had one proper conversation. I’m looking at you, Colin Firth.

How Christmas films will mess up your festive relationship expectations

It’s cuffing season. Mistletoe abounds, mulled wine flows and everyone’s that little bit more merry. And if Christmas films are anything to go by, it’s the time of year when all your romantic dreams will come true. Yes, ‘tis the season to declare your enduring love for your office crush and propose to the girl you’ve kissed just once. Because that’s always going to end well, isn’t it?

Christmas films, love, Love & Sex, Lifestyle


Grandpa Thinks Her Baby Announcement Is The Surprise. But Then She Reveals The REAL Secret...

In this video, the granddad-to-be freaks out when he sees the first ultrasound photo. At first, Ried doesn’t even realize there is not one baby, but two! He begins sobbing like a baby himself, and even lets out a certain expletive during all the excitement.

Can you blame him? He’s going to be a great-grandfather!

But then comes the double whammy, and it’s a reaction you don’t want to miss. Not only is it hilarious, but it’s enough to bring a tear to your eye. It’s great to see a rough-and-tumble man like Ried who’s not afraid to show his softer side.

Leann gave birth to beautiful twin girls in February 2016, and I have no doubt Ried has already become one awesome great-grandpa.

Grandpa Thinks Baby Announcement Is The Surprise, Then She Has Him Look Closer At The Ultrasound

In September 2015, Leann and her husband went to visit her Grandpa Ried, and they came bearing a huge surprise. Leann kept the fact she was expecting twins a secret from her beloved grandfather, knowing his reaction would be priceless... and she was absolutely right. In this video, the granddad-to-be freaks out when he sees the...

Twins. #StopClickBait
Video in comments! (language warning)


You Won't Believe What Facebook is Doing to 'Clickbait'

Facebook says it plans to marginalize what it considers to be "clickbait" news stories from publishers in its news feed, in another step to keep its 1.71 billion members regularly coming back to its social network.

In a change to its news feed algorithm on Thursday, Facebook said certain types of headlines would be classified as clickbait, those that "withhold or distort information." Those stories will then appear less frequently in users’ feeds, the company said.

"We want publishers to post content that people care about, and we think people care about headlines that are much more straightforward," Adam Mosseri, Facebook’s vice president for product management for the news feed, said in an interview.

Facebook has been working to maintain the integrity of the news feed to keep users happy and spending as much time on Facebook as possible. The Silicon Valley company constantly tweaks its algorithms, and in June it made a sweeping set of changes that would rank publisher content in general less favorably in the news feed.

Thursday’s algorithm change is not the first time Facebook has cracked down on clickbait. In 2014, the company said it was moving to feature spamlike articles less prominently by looking at other factors, such as if a user has "liked" and then quickly "unliked" a story that appeared in the feed. Other factors, such as how much time people spent reading an article after clicking on it, also contributed to Facebook’s clickbait calculations.

Thursday’s announcement goes a step further. Facebook spent months classifying phrases commonly used in clickbait headlines. Mr. Mosseri offered examples like "The Dog Barked at the Deliveryman and His Reaction Was Priceless," or "When She Looked Under Her Couch Cushions and Saw THIS ... I Was SHOCKED!"

The company’s algorithms then took note of the websites from which the articles were coming, and could detect patterns of traffic coming from those sites over time. That process was then automated, and content identified as clickbait will now appear lower in the news feed than before. Mr. Mosseri likened the practice to a kind of email spam filtering process.

The move will most likely heighten the anxiety of publishers that rely heavily on Facebook for traffic and often complain about having little insight into the company’s decision-making on how its all-powerful algorithm functions.

The social network’s vast user base and sophisticated targeting capabilities allow publishers to reach new audiences far beyond the direct traffic a media company receives at its own site. As a result, Facebook has been able to largely dictate the terms on which it engages with publishers, which have few other options for distributing their articles.

Julie Hansen, the president and chief operating officer of the online publication Business Insider, said it would take Facebook’s latest algorithm change under consideration.

"We don’t do what we consider to be clickbaity headlines," she said, "but we’ll certainly consider Facebook’s guidance when we look to post our content onto Facebook and adapt the headlines if needed."

Facebook said that publishers that have clickbaitlike headlines and are ranked lower because of the algorithm change will have the opportunity to change their ways and rise again in the rankings.

Some publishers are now betting on a future beyond total reliance on Facebook, as companies like Snapchat and Google offer media companies other avenues to distribute their work.

"Today we’re at peak Facebook — Facebook dominates everything," said Zachary Kaplan, a vice president at the investment firm General Atlantic, which has invested in digital media companies like BuzzFeed and Vox Media.

"We will naturally evolve to a place where there will be more competition among digital distributors," he said, "and that would result in, naturally, more leverage for publishers."

For now, Facebook said it planned to improve relationships with publishers by becoming more transparent about its news feed practices. Mr. Mosseri regularly meets with publishers to discuss algorithm changes.

"It’s becoming clear to us how there’s a lot of anxiety over what we do," Mr. Mosseri said. "I spend a lot of time trying to ease that anxiety."

Shocker! Facebook Changes Its Algorithm to Avoid ‘Clickbait’

A change in the social network’s algorithm is meant to identify misleading headlines on news stories and rank them lower, to keep users coming back.

Facebook Inc,News and News Media,Social Media

They changed their algorithm to detect and filter stories with clickbait headlines. [New York Times]


When do the clocks change? Here’s why 2016 is a special year for the historical change

Winter is only months away, leaving many of us scrambling for the thermostat.

Before alarm clocks, people were employed to wake workers up with a long stick

Freezing cold nights aren’t the only major change winter brings – with one less hour of sunlight in the evenings.

The clocks go back at the end of October, which means waving goodbye to British Summer Time once again until March 2017.

This year is a special year for the clocks changing too, with it being the 100th anniversary since we started turning the clocks back.

The exact time you need to change them this year is 2am on October 30. The clocks will go back an hour in 2017 on October 29. If you find yourself confused about which way the clocks will be going remember ‘Spring forward, fall back.

Do the clocks change due to the equinoxes?

Time is ticking so you’ll have to solve it soon (Picture: Getty Images)

While the equinoxes and clocks changing forward and back happen around the same time of year – they aren’t actually related.

The date of the equinoxes are determined by the position of the moon, the Sun and the Earth while the date the clocks change is set by the government.

The date the clocks go back only changes each year because it is the last Sunday in October on the Gregorian calendar. The clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March.

Musician Chris Martin of Coldplay (picture: Getty)

Because of Coldplay. No, really. Chris Martin’s great-great-grandfather, William Willett, came up with the bright idea of British Summer Time back in 1907.

He spent much of his life trying to convince people they should get out of bed an hour earlier in the spring to make the most of the brighter mornings, although he died just before it was brought in in 1916.

The year in question was notable too because it was in the middle of the First World War and it was thought it might help the war effort and improve the economy. That and save fuel.

Clocks changing: the facts We have had 100 years of changing the clocks twice a year.

Daylight Saving was introduced in the UK by William Willet to make the most of natural daylight.

He was keen to prevent people from wasting vital hours of light during summer mornings by starting the day earlier, making the mornings darker but creating longer evenings.

He published a pamphlet called ‘The Waste of Daylight’ in a bid to get people out of bed earlier by changing the nation’s clocks.

Germany was actually the first country to introduce the scheme on April 30th 1916 during the First World War in order to save fuel and give people more time to work in the fields. The UK followed suit soon after.

Lots of people think it should be scrapped altogether because the dark mornings are dangerous for children walking to school and the change means that the sun doesn’t rise in northern parts of the country until 10.00am.

Some people think the extra hour would be more valuable after work rather than before, and we should just scrap the whole clocks going back thing.

They say it could even lead to fewer road accidents and help people keep more active after work or school.

If you have an iPhone it will change automatically, as long as it’s set up correctly and isn’t in airplane mode.

Not sure? Go to Settings – General – Date & Time and make sure Set Automatically is on.

If you have an Android, it should also change, as long as your settings are set to update automatically.

Choose Automatic Date And Time or Automatic Time Zone in your settings.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

MORE: Man spends two days flying from London to Aberdeen – just so he can clock up air miles

MORE: This vibrating alarm clock claims to wake you up with an orgasm and we have so many questions

When do the clocks change 2016 UK? Why this is a special year for the historical change


This could be the 21st state to legalize medical marijuana

Tennessee could become the 21st state in the country to legalize medical marijuana.

A bill introduced last week by state Rep. Sherry Jones (D-Nashville) would set up a regulatory framework to allow people suffering from certain diseases to use marijuana to treat their symptoms, as long as their doctor says the benefits of using cannabis outweigh the health risks.

"This is about compassion. It's about giving people better health care, giving them a better quality of life," Jones told The Huffington Post over the phone on Wednesday, acknowledging that there was a lack of understanding among Tennessee's Republican lawmakers about medical cannabis. "They think it's all blowing smoke in baby's faces, I guess. They don't understand there are other ways to use marijuana, like tinctures and lotions."

HB 1385, also known as the Koozer-Kuhn Medical Cannabis Act, would make it legal for patients suffering from conditions like cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer's disease to use cannabis for medical purposes. The bill also allows for "any other medical condition" to be treated with marijuana as long as a doctor prescribes it and the state health department approves it.

People suffering from the effects of treatment for such diseases could also legally use marijuana if the bill becomes law.

Anyone enrolled in the state medical marijuana program would not be subject to arrest or prosecution by state authorities, although federal law is another matter. The bill would also make it against the law for a school, employer or landlord to discriminate against medical marijuana users.

Tennessee's proposed medical marijuana law has some restrictions, too, however. Patients who apply to the program would need to submit to a criminal background check before they can be approved, and certain felony drug offenders would be excluded. Those who qualify would be limited to possessing a month's supply of marijuana.

Additionally, the law would not permit cannabis to be consumed on a school bus or school grounds, on public transportation or in any public place, in a substance abuse treatment facility or where the smoke could have adverse effects on the health, safety or welfare of children.

The bill is named, in part, after Piper Koozer, a 2-year-old girl who suffers from a seizure disorder associated with Aicardi Syndrome. Piper and her family moved away from Tennessee to live in Colorado, where they can treat her with oil that contains cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component of marijuana.

The bill is currently in the Tennessee House Government Operations Subcommittee, where it has three votes and needs two more, Jones told The Huffington Post by phone on Wednesday.

Jones has tried and failed to pass a medical marijuana bill in Tennessee before. But this year could be different.

"This year, with all the discussion [about legalizing marijuana], I think we might have a chance," she said. "Members [of the legislature] are getting lots of emails and letters from constituents who want medical marijuana -- even in hardcore Republican areas, they want to be able to have medical marijuana."

Tennessee Considers Legalizing Medical Marijuana

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How a young woman died after falling down on the beach

A healthy 20-year-old woman was running on a beach with friends when she fell on the wet sand. After briefly standing, she fell again, and within 30 seconds, became unresponsive. Her lips turned blue and she started gasping for breath. Her friends quickly called the paramedics and performed CPR, but it didn't help, according to a recent report of her case.

She was pronounced dead within half an hour. What happened?

According to the case report, the impact of the woman's body on the sand when she fell was enough to prompt a rare heart condition called commotio cordis, in which the heart is jolted into an arrhythmic pattern, after which it stops altogether. The report was published online Nov. 1 in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine.

Commotio cordis is caused by an abrupt blow to the heart, usually by something small like a baseball, that strikes at a very specific time, said Dr. Emile Daoud, professor of internal medicine at the Ohio State University Medical Center, who was not involved in the woman's case. It typically strikes kids who have less muscle and fat than adults to shield their hearts. [9 Oddest Medical Cases]

The condition results from a blow during the brief period of time after the heart contracts, when the organ is recharging itself. During this time -- a span of a few milliseconds -- one part of the heart has repolarized and is ready to fire, while the rest of the organ is not yet ready. If an abrupt, focused blow strikes during this time, it can cause part of the heart to fire, but not the rest of it, Daoud said.

"This throws everything into chaos," Daoud told LiveScience. The heart goes into ventricular fibrillation, a name for the uncoordinated contraction of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart), and the patient usually dies from cardiac arrest.

Commotio cordis is quite rare, killing between two to four people yearly in the United States, according to the study. But once it strikes, it is deadly -- only about 10 percent of U.S. patients have been resuscitated and survived.

Due to its rarity, Daoud said he has not seen a case of commotio cordis, but has colleagues who have.

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a preventive cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, has not seen patients with the condition and hasn't heard of colleagues seeing it, either, though she has read about it. "It's certainly scary -- these people are otherwise healthy with no underlying conditions," she told LiveScience.

But this case was even more unusual and rare than most. The patient was an adult, but the average age of people the condition strikes is 14. She was also overweight, whereas the condition tends to strike lean people -- it's thought that fat helps shield the heart from this type of blow, the researchers said.

Moreover, the woman fell on sand, which wouldn't be expected to cause this condition, Daoud said. Typically a very focused, hard impact is necessary, like a blow from a speeding baseball.

Even soccer balls and footballs have only rarely been found to lead to commotio cordis, Daoud added.

Young Woman Dies From Commotio Cordis After Falling Down On The Beach

By Douglas Main, Staff Writer
Published: 11/22/2013 08:43 AM EST on LiveScience

 A healthy 20-year-old woman was running on a beach with friends ...

commotio cordis,woman dies after falling on beach,woman dies falling on beach,Commotio Cordis fall on beach

Rare heart condition called commotio cordis


15 surprising facts about Tesla cars you probably didn't know

Tesla is gearing up to release its long-awaited Model 3.

Tesla said it's on track to begin Model 3 production in July with deliveries slated to begin late this year.

But while we wait for the Model 3, it's worth remembering some other hidden features that make current Tesla vehicles so great.

Musk wants Tesla's car line to be the definition of sexy — literally. The Model S, Model X, and upcoming Model 3 are all part of a quest for the car line to spell SEXY or S3XY upon the release of Tesla's eventual Model Y SUV.

Tesla initially wanted the Model 3 to be dubbed the Model E, but that dream was dashed when Ford filed for the Model E trademark, leading to one of Musk's more excellent quotes:

"Like, why did you go steal Tesla's E? Like you're some sort of fascist army marching across the alphabet, some sort of 'Sesame Street' robber?"

In addition to the Model Y, Tesla wants to produce a mini bus and semitruck in the future.

Musk announced in his "Master Plan, Part Deux" that Tesla would build an all-electric semitruck and a driverless electric bus. But we'll have to wait for further details on that front.

The truck, like Tesla's cars currently in production, will be equipped with self-driving hardware, Musk said in an interview with CNBC, according to Electrek. Musk added that a driver would still be necessary for a few years, though.

Musk is a huge fan of placing Easter eggs in Tesla cars, like the one that lets you "drive" down Rainbow Road — like in Mario Kart!

Clicking Autopilot four times in rapid succession will turn the road shown on Tesla's infotainment console into a rainbow. Musk referred to it as a "psychedelic cowbell road."

Musk is clearly a fan of rainbows, because pressing the button on Tesla's charge handle will make the port flash in rainbow colors.

The Tesla CEO also turned his love of James Bond films into an Easter egg. Model S owners can hold down the "T" button to bring up the technician log-in screen, and typing in "007" will transform the car shown on the infotainment center into the submersible Lotus Esprit S1 car.

The Easter egg changes the suspension into "depth (leagues)."

The most recent Easter egg pays homage to Musk's SpaceX ambitions. Just like the James Bond Easter egg, holding down the "T" button will prompt a request for an access code. Enter "Mars," and your infotainment screen will turn into the red planet.

As part of that Easter egg, the rendering of your car will turn into SpaceX's Interplanetary Transport System.

In 2013, the Tesla Model S broke the machine the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses for roof-crush evaluations.

The Model S earned a 5.4 on the evaluation — impressive, considering cars are typically ranked on a scale of one to five stars.

That same year, the Tesla Model S became the first electric car to receive the Motor Trend Car of the Year honor.

That's right — at the time, it was the first electric car to win the award in its 64-year history.

Last year, the Tesla Model S became the first electric car to surpass a range of 300 miles.

The Tesla P100D with Ludicrous mode bumps the Model S range up to 315 miles.'

Did you know it's technically illegal to drive the Model X over the Brooklyn Bridge?


This new $70 device might be one of the best products of the year

Pebble on Tuesday announced its first non-smartwatch device: the Core.

It's the best thing the company has come out with yet.

In fact, it's the best device any company has come up with for people who want to listen to Spotify music and track their workouts without bringing along their smartphones.

The Core is a small $69 device that clips onto your clothing. It has built-in GPS so you can track your distance and pace, as well as step tracking.

So it's a fitness tracker, but it's also a music player. The Core comes with 4 GB of onboard storage so you can sync between 500 to 1,000 Spotify songs and playlists, depending on track length and music quality, and you can either plug in a wired headphone or use a pair of wireless headphones, since the Core comes with Bluetooth. And that's amazing.

If you've ever gone out for a run with your smartphone, you'll know how uncomfortable and awkward it is to bring it along. Most people don't need all the horsepower and functionality of a smartphone for fitness tracking and listening to music, which are arguably the only two features you need on a run. It's like using an off-road Jeep with chunky tires that's hard to park for buying milk at the store down the road.

But the Core isn't just limited to workouts. It can play your Spotify playlists any time you don't want to bring your smartphone along. Indeed, the most portable device you can use to play Spotify music right now is your smartphone, and that's surprising considering how popular music-streaming services like Spotify have become.

So far, the closest thing we've seen to Pebble's Core is a Kickstarter project called Mighty. Like the Core, the Mighty device syncs with your Spotify Premium playlists and lets you listen to your music without your smartphone. Yet the Mighty doesn't have any fitness-tracking features like the Core does.

Aside from that, Pebble's new Core will have wireless charging, and it'll connect to a 3G network so you can use a basic function from an app, like calling an Uber to your location. And if you're in a sticky situation, you can send out an SOS to emergency services to your location, too.

The Core isn't without limitations. For one, it doesn't have a heart-rate monitor, and it doesn't have a display to show you real-time data while you're out on your run. You'll have to pair the Core with Pebble's new smartwatches that now come with built-in heart-rate monitors to check your heart rate and distance/pace data in real time.

Or you just wait until you get home to sync it with your favorite fitness app on your smartphone.

For those who need real-time heart-rate monitoring and data and GPS, there are smartwatches out there that are better suited for the job, like the TomTom Spark, Adidas miCoach, and Timex Ironman One GPS+. They also have onboard storage for music files, but none of these can sync your Spotify playlists like the Core can.

Unfortunately, we'll have to wait quite awhile for the Core to be released. Pebble claims that the Core will begin shipping in early 2017, which is months away. The Core is up for preorder now on Kickstarter for $69. But we love this idea and we're excited to see if it lives up to its potential.

It's a fitness tracker with storage space for saved Spotify songs. #StopClickBait


Share. Victory in sight. Victory in sight.

The Battlefield 1 Open Beta will end on Thursday, September 8.

EA made the announcement on Twitter , alongside an announcement of a patch for the ongoing free game test

The patch disables time limits in the beta's Sinai Desert Conquest mode, meaning games will now run indefinitely until one team reaches the full 250 points limit.

5 Minutes of the Brand New Battlefield 1 Map - Sinai Desert 05:10 Got feedback on our player? We want to hear it.

Finally, EA also announced that the beta would begin "simulating extreme launch situations" to test the game's servers, which may result in downtime. It's not clear whether this stress test will run for the duration of the beta - we've contacted EA for comment on that.

The beta has suffered major server downtime already, although that appeared to be the result of a hacking group attack.

After the beta ends, it's a short wait for the main event - Battlefield 1 launches worldwide on October 21.

The war ends (for a little bit) later this week, but Conquest will change a little until then.