Miss your chance at grabbing the largest video game collection that went up for auction earlier this year? Well now’s your chance to fix that grave error — possibly even at a discount. Due to legal reasons, Michael Thomasson can’t divulge exactly wh…
We often see Twitter experimenting with new features and it appears to be doing something along the same lines these days. The new feature Twitter is testing shows engagement stats directly in tweets. If that doesn’t make sense to you it basically means that Twitter is detailing the number of people a particular tweet was shown too and how many people engaged with that tweet by either replying to it, retweeting it or tapping on the star to favorite it.
It will even show how many people clicked on the link you tweeted, which is great if you run a website and want to see how many people click on your links when tweeted through that website’s Twitter account.
In order to access this information one would have to tap on “View Analytics Details” link present at the bottom of the tweet view. It would only be visible to those who have been included in this experiment. As with all of Twitter’s experiments, this new feature is limited to a very small number of Twitter users however if the feature is deemed to be successful it will be made available to all users.
Though it may take a considerable amount of time for Twitter to reach that conclusion. So far no timeframe has been provided in which this feature is expected to go live for all users of the microblogging network.
Twitter Testing Engagement Stats In Tweets , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Ubuntu OS doesn’t really have that much of a presence in the smartphone market even though ROMs have been released for compatible devices like the Nexus 4 but Canonical hopes to change that through partnerships with OEMs that will put Ubuntu OS on smartphones from the get go. Chinese manufacturer Meizu has formed one such partnership with Canonical and it has confirmed that its first Ubuntu powered smartphones are coming in early 2015.
Meizu is also working on its own custom version of Ubuntu called Flyme OS, where the underlying OS will be provided by Canonical and Meizu is going to add in some extra features and perhaps even make some changes to the look and feel of the user interface. If this arrangement sounds familiar that’s because this is what almost every OEM does with Android smartphones.
Even though Ubuntu on smartphones looks a lot similar to the desktop version of Ubuntu the OS has been designed to work with touchscreen apps on relatively small displays. Though it does share a lot of code with the desktop version.
Meizu plans on start shipping the first Ubuntu powered phones by early next year. Pricing information will likely be made public around the time of the release. The company says that these smartphones will initially be made available in China and Europe.
Meizu To Launch Ubuntu Phones By Early Next Year , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Customers looking to purchase the Moto X (2014) will have another location to consider come next month. Republic Wireless has announced that it will start selling the new Moto X from December 10th. The launch comes right around the holidays so the timing is perfect to say the least. Republic Wireless is offering it at a significant discount as opposed to the regular off-contract price for the second generation Moto X.
Just to jog your memory, the Moto X (2014) has a 5.2-inch display, a 2.5GHz processor, 13 megapixel rear camera and much more. The version sold by Republic Wireless ships with Android 4.4.4 KitKat though some versions of this device have already received the Android 5.0 Lollipop update.
The base model, with 16GB of onboard storage, will be available from this carrier for $399. That’s $100 less than the standard off-contract price for the new Moto X. It is fully customizable through Moto Maker so customers can put their own personal touches to the smartphone as well to make it truly unique.
For those interested in a bit more onboard storage Republic Wireless will be offering the 32GB model as well for $449. This smartphone will be available from Moto Maker the day it becomes available on Republic Wireless, that’s Wednesday, December 10th.
Moto X (2014) Heading To Republic Wireless , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
For those who love coffee, cold brew is a special treat. You can’t just do your normal morning routine and expect it to be done in a few minutes. This is a process that takes twelve hours or more, so careful planning is needed when you know you’re going to want some. It’s far less acidic, has a sweeter taste, and is a higher concentration of caffeine.
The most common method for making this potent and chilly beverage is using a slow glass dripper with coarsely ground coffee and water. Of course, it’s all about the infusion process, so if you’d rather have a more portable version, then you’re going to love the Cold Brew Coffee Infusion Bottle. This takes as much prep as a countertop cold brew process would, but it’s conveniently in a bottle and ready to go at a moment’s notice. To use, fill the stainless steel filter with 4 tablespoons of coffee, fill with water, and store in the fridge for 12 hours (shaking periodically). When you’re done, remove the filter, put on the cap, and off you go!
This $19.99 brewing method is made of Borosilicate glass and stainless steel, and can hold 20 ounces of instant energy. Your coffee should be good for up to 14 days in this bottle, if it lasts that long. When it’s empty, you can take it apart and put everything in the dishwasher. This comes with a neoprene sleeve that has a carrying handle to keep it safe when you’re on the move.
Available for purchase on ThinkGeek
[ The Cold Brew Coffee Infusion Bottle gives you more caffeine than ever before copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
We’re all worried with how we smell. We use scented soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, laundry detergent, and sprays to hide the natural smells our bodies produce. The one thing that is the hardest to hide, is the delightful aroma left behind after using the bathroom. When you have guests over and nature calls, you can’t exactly say no, but you can try your best to cover your tracks so to speak.
While you could put a great deal of money into getting fancy sprays, or try staying in the bathroom long enough that the smell disperses, you could get a toilet seat that deodorizes your smells before you leave the room. The Purefresh is an elongated toilet seat that can neutralize odors continuously for up to six months through a carbon fiber filter. There is the option to putting in an a subtle air freshener that will last for up to a month.
There are programmable 8-hour dual LEDs that can light up the bathroom or bowl (dependent on whether the seat is up or down) so you can see what you’re doing without blinding yourself in the middle of the night. This is very easy to install, but also has a quick-release system to make it easier to clean. This is only available in white, and will cost you $119.95. You will need to get replacement filters and scents over time, so keep that in mind if this is a purchase you want to consider.
Available for purchase on Kohler
[ The Purefresh will hide the hideous smells your body creates in the bathroom copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Everyone has a different take on why the holidays are so stressful. For some people the holidays are too commercial, for others the holidays mean spending a lot of money and credit card debt. For some people, the holidays are a painful reminder of a loved one who is no longer there.
If there is one thing that sums up holiday stress it’s having too much to do and not enough time to do it. When you start with an already hectic work schedule and add in the demands of holiday shopping, holiday baking, entertaining, gift-giving, the sending out holiday cards and spending copious amounts of money, you have a formula for a stressful December. This is one seasonal recipe you should try to avoid. And so here is a holiday stress-relief list, just in time for Black Friday.
1. Start early. In November, I will try to spend two or three evenings (at least) shopping for gifts. (Next year, think about spending just one evening in October, too.) It’s so much more pleasant to shop before Thanksgiving when it’s not crowded and you can easily find a parking space. You will really feel a lot more in control of your life if you can just knock off even 25 percent to 50 percent of your Christmas list before Black Friday comes a-haunting. Plus, by spreading your spending over three months instead of two, the more you will feel more in control of your finances.
Other things you can do ahead of time include hanging outdoor lights, getting cards ready ahead of time, and purchasing and decorating the tree. I often get my tree on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and put it up the following weekend. This year Thanksgiving comes late, so I’ll probably just put the tree up when I bring it home and get the holiday season started a little early.
2. Make a list of what NOT to do. As you head into the holiday season there are numerous chores, errands and projects that can be put off until January when your schedule will open up. Whether it’s cleaning up the garage, shopping for a new sofa (which wouldn’t arrive in time for the holidays anyway) or painting the kid’s bedroom, don’t start any optional projects right now.
3. Streamline what you dislike and savor what you love. We all have things we love to do at the holidays and things we wish we didn’t have to do. If you love making potato latkes or getting the Christmas tree — set aside time and make an afternoon of it. Get the whole family involved if you want to or just savor this activity yourself. On the other hand, if you dislike doing cards don’t feel obligated to “keep up with the Joneses.” Just say no — or streamline the process — cut your list way down, get a simple card, sign it (no long notes!) and send it on its way (guilt-free).
4. Find the true meaning of the holidays. Whether it’s attending services, donating toys and food, volunteering at a homeless shelter, visiting an elderly shut-in, or even watching “It’s a Wonderful Life,” look for activities that give you an emotional and/or spiritual lift. Remember the word “holiday” is short for Holy day. Let this definition be a reminder of the true meaning of the season.
5. To experience joy: allow extra time. Time pressure kills joy. Be aware of how time pressure can turn a pleasurable activity, like shopping or even going to a party, into an activity that loses its fun-factor. Whenever you’re feeling rushed, chances are you’ll wind up feeling crabby and stressed, too.
Bottom line: Build in extra padding into your busy schedule. If you think an activity will take an hour — allow at least two hours. I guarantee that if you follow just this one bit of advice, you’ll experience more joy.
6. Prioritize your list. People are great at making lists but they rarely prioritize their lists. As a result, you wind up picking off low-priority tasks like vacuuming or raking leaves and not leaving enough time for high priority activities like spending time with family and friends. If the holidays seem hollow check your priorities and see if the things that are really important to you are at the top of your list.
7. Allow time for yourself. Don’t forget to allot some time every day (even if it’s just a half an hour) to recharge your own batteries. You can’t make anyone else happy if you are feeling miserable and stressed inside. Give yourself permission to go for walk, exercise, take a bath, listen to music, enjoy a leisurely cup of tea or do something just for the fun of it.
For even more advice on how to enjoy the holidays visit our website. All of us at StressStop.com wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and a lot less stress in the New Year.
I’ll be honest. I’ve been working on a post about Thanksgiving for two weeks.
As many find around the holidays, I have a tough time this time of year. Fortunately for me, it’s not because I was raised in an abusive home. I’ve not battled drug or alcohol abuse, but it was headed home for Thanksgiving break from college my junior year that the holidays took a turn for me. And for my mom. And a friend who’s a sister.
We were in a horrific car accident. An accident I was driving in. An accident I walked away from with a cut on my finger, but my sister was taken by ambulance to one hospital and my mom by helicopter to another. Now when I think of Thanksgiving those are the memories that cross my mind. Not thoughts of J, C, N, S, K, N and our parents and grandparents, but having to call my dad and B’s mom and my brothers and… and… and.
I’m so grateful that neither B nor Mom remember that night. I’m glad Mom doesn’t remember much of the weeks afterwards. But me? I remember almost all of it. I remember I got a cut on my finger while my mother was fighting for her life. As a result? I’ve not spent a single Thanksgiving with my family since 2005.
I’ve volunteered to work. I’ve been “conveniently” invited to spend the holiday with my friends’ families. I’ve, in short, done everything humanly possible to avoid Thanksgiving with my family.
This is all while acknowledging, with immense gratitude, how lucky I am. Because my parents, my brothers, my sisters-in-law, while I’ve never explicitly said all this to them, seem to intuitively “get it.” Just another way I’m lucky.
But there are so many who aren’t so lucky. Their families aren’t there in any way — physically or emotionally. They’ve never been surrounded by love and laughter. They’ve never had someone spend 10 hours creating a feast fit for a proverbial king. These people may not have the words or the platform to say, “Back off. I need to be alone.”
So please remember. American media may portray the holidays as a Norman Rockwell painting come to life, but for millions such is not the case. The material means aren’t there to cook the meal or buy the presents. The family and friends may not be there to cook the meal or buy the presents for. The memories of the awful drown out the possibility of anything more.
Please respect the boundaries your loved ones, coworkers and acquaintances are putting forth. In a time already filled with so many stressors, do any of us really need more?
Flip on the television, walk down the supplements aisle at your local grocery store, or check out the self-help book selection on Amazon, and one fact will become abundantly clear: People are obsessed with finding the secrets to longevity, health, and happiness.
While many American adults look to the latest diet fad, fitness trend, or health guru for answers, one valuable resource too often goes overlooked. Centenarians, individuals who have lived for 100 or more years, have lived the longest, experienced the most, and know what it takes to live a long, meaningful life.
These individuals may not be able to point you in the direction of the Fountain of Youth, but when asked about how to achieve happiness and longevity, they can serve as a wellspring of valuable information. In a recent national survey of centenarians commissioned by Holiday Retirement, these individuals shared a perspective that only they can offer on family and marriage, habits for longevity, personal finance, and the keys to happiness.
Here are just a few of their nuggets of wisdom.
1. Relish family time.
Although the makeup of the average American family may look decidedly different than it did when centenarians raised their children, one thing remains the same: centenarians’ focus on quality family time. In fact, they overwhelmingly attribute their health and happiness to spending time with their families. If offered the opportunity to do it all over again, more than one-third said they would spend more time with loved ones. When asked what advice they have for parents today, one in three centenarians said spend more time with your kids.
2. Make it work.
As a generation that has seen divorce rates skyrocket and marriage rates plummet in the last 100 years, centenarians have a unique perspective on what it takes to build a lasting partnership. According to 22 percent of survey participants, it takes saying three simple words, “I love you,” more often.
Seemingly impossible in today’s information age, centenarians also recommend that couples take the time to slow down and focus on each other. Nearly one-third of centenarians encourage couples to make a stronger effort to communicate and 22 percent say partners should spend more time together. One centenarian put it simply: “Make it work.”
3. Start saving. Today.
Centenarians’ advice is seemingly evident when it comes to personal finance: Spend less and save more. Although this may seem like obvious guidance, particularly coming from the generation that has lived through the Great Depression, both World Wars, and the Great Recession, studies have shown that many Americans have not followed it. In fact, a recent survey of American adults revealed that more than two-thirds are not saving enough for retirement.
According to centenarians, putting off for tomorrow what you can do today might end up being your biggest regret. Of the surveyed centenarians, 1 in 4 said they were not financially prepared to live as long as they have, and 24 percent of survey participants listed their biggest financial regret as not saving from an earlier age. When asked what they feel today’s adults will most regret, 15 percent said spending too much money, while 13 percent said not saving enough.
4. Be active.
Though some may argue that living decades past the average American life span is a product of chance, centenarians would argue that there is some strategy involved. When asked why they lived so long, centenarians’ answers ranged from not drinking at all to drinking all the good whiskey they could get, and from a dedication to spirituality to staying ornery and stubborn.
These contrasts aside, one point centenarians agree on is the importance of being fit. Among surveyed centenarians, the most cited habit for longevity was exercise and staying active.
There is no magic pill for longevity. Instead, what these centenarians reinforce is that some of the secrets to wellbeing and lifelong happiness are the simple truths that we have always known — loving relationships, financial stability, and a commitment to personal health.
In a recently conducted survey of its residents 100 years old and older, Holiday Retirement compiled “100 Years of Wisdom: The Perspective of Centenarians.” Find your copy of the report at 100yearsofwisdom.com.
Earlier on Huff/Post50:
Divorce may seem like an odd thing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. But as plenty of HuffPost Divorce readers and bloggers will tell you, nothing forces you to reevaluate your priorities quite like a split.
Below, they share the new relationships, opportunities and strengthened bonds with their kids that made their divorces entirely worth the trouble.
1. “I am thankful to be able to breathe again. I no longer walk on eggshells.” –Tamara W.
2. “My divorce made me a stronger, more secure woman. I had no idea until after the divorce was final what an impact his hostility had on me. To be honest, divorcing him was the best decision I’ve ever made.” –Teresa F.
3. “I’m grateful I have sole custody of my daughter! I have raised her myself for seven years now. I wouldn’t change a thing. I found out what kind of man and father I was because of my divorce. It was the best thing that could have happened to me.” –Doug S.
4. “I’m thankful for my divorce because through it I learned the truth of the saying, ‘Sometimes good things have to fall apart so that better things can come together.’ Nearly five years after my first marriage failed, I’m a blissful newlywed of three weeks! He is -– and we are –- so much better than I could have imagined.” –Penney Berryman
Photo credit: Noe Todorovich
5. “I am thankful I no longer have to wonder what’s going on and where I stand. I no longer have to ask myself, ‘Why does it feel like he isn’t even trying to maintain our relationship?’ Living in a nebulous cloud is confusing and frustrating and now the cloud has been blown away. I can see my path and his path is going another way.” –Jess O.
6. “I would have never finished college or realized my full potential had I not been put in the position I was in as a single mother. My ex basically left us with nothing — no car, no income, no hope. I learned what community really means and that I had an awesome village around me. I am grateful for the divorce because although it hasn’t always been a good experience, it has forced me to push myself in ways I didn’t know I was capable and I am proud to be able to show my daughter that she can be strong without a man.” –Lisa M.
7. “Getting divorced at age 28, when my biological tick was ticking so fast the hands were about to fly off, made me feel like I would be too old to have a child by the time I picked up the pieces. Little did I know that my divorce was simply the end of life as I knew it, but not the life I was meant to live. In the end, divorce brought me my daughter, Genevieve. She’s two months old and everyone says she’s the spitting image of her daddy Frank, my new husband. (But I say that’s just because they’re both bald.) I’ve accomplished many goals, but the most important has always been motherhood. Holding my baby in my arms is so surreal. Every time I look into her eyes, tears swell in mine. Her smile evokes an indescribable feeling of warmth in my soul. I used to think I had wasted the most important years with my ex-husband. Now I know the most precious time has just begun.” – Joelle Caputa, author of Trash the Dress: Stories of Celebrating Divorce in your 20s
Photo courtesy of Joelle Caputa
8. “I’m thankful that I can finally see the good in my ex. It had been too long since I could appreciate anything about him. All I saw was the bad. Finally the hurt has abated some and I remember he has good qualities. I’m also thankful for my own growth and renewed confidence. The ability to see the good in me!” –Joey T.
9. “I’m grateful I no longer cry everyday on my drive home, looking for any excuse to not go home. I’m happier since my divorce. I no longer have to cater to someone who never appreciated everything I did for him until I left.” –Maranda R.
10. “I’m grateful that I was able to pull myself up from the wreckage of divorce, gathering up pieces of my broken dreams and with them, creating something new and better. Divorce was merely the flash paper igniting the change. If divorce affords us anything it’s the chance to rewind, reflect, and renew. We take what we learn and choose to do life differently. I came to see my divorce as a remarkable gift. I now had the freedom to build a unique and lasting bond with my children, outside the shadow of their mother. A decade later, I realize that divorce was the best gift I could have received.” –Kyle Bradford
11. “This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my ex-husband. Thank you, husband #1, for having the courage to walk out that cold January morning. After 19 years we no longer knew each other and I’m pretty sure we no longer liked each other. Your betrayal still hurt but maybe that was the only way you could make the end of us be the end of us. Thank you for teaching me that a marriage can’t be held together by willpower alone. Thank you for teaching me how much better my life was without you and for teaching me that your life would be better without me. Thank you for teaching me to learn how worthy and deserving I was and am of a man who is secure in himself. Thank you for teaching me that I deserved to be treasured above all others. Thank you for the good times because it wasn’t all bad. Thank you for being an amazing dad to our daughters. I truly believe they got the best of both of us. Mostly, thank you for leaving me. My husband (pictured below) thanks you for leaving me, too.” –Peggy Nolan
Photo courtesy of Peggy Nolan
12. “It’s the little things: I’m grateful that I don’t have to go to the in-laws this Thanksgiving and deal with all that drama!” –Foxie S.
13. “Divorce has given me an ability to examine my life in a deeper, more thoughtful way than I ever could have before an event this tragic happened. Whether you’re the leaver or the leave-ee, divorce shocks you into understanding that you can’t keep living the way you have been. You realize it’s OK to accept that things have gone wrong because that gives you the opportunity to talk openly about how to improve.” –Craig Tomashoff
14. “It’s been 10 years since the gavel came down after 30 years of marriage. Are there times when I dream of a white-picket fence with a spouse and perfect little grandchildren bouncing on my knee? Not really. I love my life now, even with all of its flaws — and there are many. But in spite of the tears, fears, loneliness and middle-of-the-night gremlins, I’d rather be free than trapped in a marriage gone wrong. This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my divorce because I learned how to better deal with whatever life hurled my way—-and taste the sweetness of freedom. And I’m thankful that my ex continues to be a wonderful dad to our daughters.” –Katherine Forsythe
Photo courtesy of Katherine Forsythe
15. “I feel so light since my divorce and feel lighter everyday. My worries are lifted off my chest more and more each day. My children found it surprising when I was sitting and smiling for no reason –- now that’s going to be my regular face. Life isn’t going to be easy, but so far it never has been. I didn’t plan this, but it has been a gift and I am going to treasure it and make sure it doesn’t go to waste.” –Amelia Maciejewski
16. “So many people stay together ‘for the kids.’ I am thankful that I have the opportunity to teach my kids that no one should endure a miserable existence. My happiness was, and continues to be, my own responsibility. Other than raising my kids to be independent, responsible human beings, the most important thing I can teach them is not to rely on someone else to ‘make’ them happy. My divorce gave me the opportunity to truly be happy, and I’m thankful for that every day.” –Michel B.
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