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Set Your Spidey Sense To Watch Out For These Online Scams
The Internet is all fun and games, right? Wrong! On the surface, it may appear that way, but there are actually lots of scams and viruses hidden on a wide variety of websites and in email attachments that you need to be careful of. To help you safe next time you’re on the web, set your "Spidey sense" so that it always picks up on the following common online scams.
The Free-Trial Scam
There’s a rule of thumb you should stick to when you are online - if something sounds way too good to be true, then it probably is! And this is the case with the free-trial scam. You will see an offer online for a month’s free trial for a certain service or product. People who play online casino games and shop online a lot are frequently targeted by these scams. All you need to pay is the postage and packaging, if required. However, there will be some sentences in the very small print that detail all the extensive fees you will be made to pay once the trial ends. And it will be very difficult to try and get out of them. So, if you come across a deal that sounds like a dream, it’s best to pass up on it as it is probably too good to be true.
Hotspot Hackers
Over the past few years, hotspots have been popping up all over the place. Thanks to these, you can now use your laptop or tablet device to surf the web in all manner of public places, including cafes and libraries. This sounds fantastic on the surface, but it actually comes with one problem: hotspot hackers. When you are in a cafe and need to use the Internet, make sure that you log into a protected WiFi source with a password. Hackers can easily create hotspots that mimic trusted ones. If you log onto these, you will end up giving your personal data away.
Fake Antivirus Materials
We all know that it is incredibly important to have the latest antivirus software on our laptops and tablet devices. But have you considered that some of these antivirus softwares and programs aren’t exactly what they seem? In fact, there is now an increasing trend for these kinds of safeguarding methods to actually be a scam themselves. For example, one common occurrence is a pop-up message appearing saying that your laptop is at risk. There will be a button to click to take you to some free software. However, once you click on the link, you will actually download some malware or virus data onto your machine. So, it’s a good idea to only trust the reputable antivirus software that you have to pay for.
It can be difficult trying to keep up with all of the new scams and hacking methods that keep on popping up online. But it is really important that you do so that you don’t lose any personal or banking information while you are online.
How to Create a Unique Costume
With Halloween approaching, I wanted to quickly share the way I come up with fun, unique costumes without feeling like I'm "wasting" money on something I'm only wearing one day a year.
So the point of view I have now when it comes to making a costume is that I'm only going to buy pieces for it that I can wear again in the future. It sort of utilizes a "everyday cosplay" mentality which has been inspired by The Nerdy Girlie.
Here are some examples:
Marty McFly
Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Tenth Doctor
While they may not have been perfect, they were enjoyable, comfortable, and allowed for me to not feel bad about spending the money to put them together.
I recommend looking up some examples of street clothed superheroes or just dressing up as people in normal clothes for costumes this year. I'm sure it will help with the anxiety many of us have when trying to come up with something to wear.
Show me your favorite costumes! I'll send free copies of my ebook to folks who do.
"Is This Some Kind Of Jock?!" Surviving College When You Hate Sports
For some people, it's the reason they go to college, for others it is the epitome of their worst nightmare. When you go to college, you have to put up with a certain amount of sport. And it's one of those populist things that everybody is supposed to like, and you have to get behind your team, and so forth, but what if you just want to indulge in your guilty pleasures in your dorm room, and stay away from the fanfare? For a lot of people, it can be very difficult to survive college, but there are some practical ways to survive those big college games, where you seem to be the only person that hasn't gone.
Indulge Your Passion
Not to stereotype, but there are plenty of great games you can get involved in, that are so immersive, you can block out the rest of the world. To have a truly immersive atmosphere, you need to set up a place that is for you and you alone. So get inspired, and set up a gaming desk will that can contain everything you need. If it stuck for inspiration, have a look at sites like HotRate to see what type of gaming desks you can get. But if you really want to set up an immersive experience for your gaming, you need to make sure the environment is a suitable one. So that's good quality headphones, preferably noise canceling ones, and get comfy because you are going to be there all day.
Get Away From The Fanfare
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the college, at least for the weekend! The big games are usually on a Saturday, so why don't you go home and spend time with your family? Failing that, why don't you indulge in a movie marathon at your local multiplex? A lot of people can only go see movies when they are on their own, so there's nobody else next to them talking, and if this is you, this is a perfect opportunity.
Stake Out a Coffee House
If you can't stay in your dorm room, why don't you take your favorite book, have a nice macchiato, and scope a seat by the window? At least, in this sense, you are being a little bit more sociable than hiding away in your dorm room, and if you are bored of your book, it might be time to think about indulging in the new hobby.
Get A New Hobby!
Photography, museums, writing that book, or even doing some coursework if you really are keen to get away from the sports, then at least make it practical. There's no point being all Holden Caulfield about it and sulking in your dorm room while everyone else is cheering the team on, so why don't you at least do something that is good for yourself, inspires you, and gives you a new found enthusiasm for your free time?
It can be very difficult if you don't like sports, but a lot of people don't, so why don't you find those people out as well? It can feel alienating not being into any type of sport, but there's always something to help you survive those sporty periods.
Democracy In Spain Under Threat Following Catalonian Independence Referendum
The Spanish region of Catalonia has had a long and troubled history, characterized by a long struggle for independence. Last week, it seemed as though they might finally get the freedom that they’ve been fighting for all of this time. Following the regional election of 2015, pro-independence parties make up 47.8 percent of the seats, giving them an absolute majority and a mandate to initiate a referendum on Catalan independence.
Several attempts were made by the Catalan parliament to agree on terms for a referendum with the Spanish government but they refused to budge. Determined to go ahead with the vote that they had an absolute legal right to, the Catalan government have decided to go ahead with the referendum anyway. The result of that decision has been a week of horrifying images of severe oppression in the region that has raised the question, is democracy in Spain under threat?
In most democratic countries around the world, it is the job of the police force to do everything that they can to protect every citizen’s right to vote. But the scene in Catalonia was drastically different. There have been shocking videos distributed online of police violently removing people from the polling stations as they attempted to vote for their independence. Ballot boxes were removed and the police took measures to disrupt the referendum and disrupt it entirely. Officials of the Catalan government have been arrested and all political rallies have been outlawed completely. Media outlets have been banned from advertising anything to do with the referendum and pro-referendum websites have been closed down. There hasn’t been an attack on free speech like this in Spain in recent history. Organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy have raised concerns that this scathing attack on democracy sets a dangerous precedent in Spain and calls into question the future of their citizens. The right to vote and the right to free expression are two of the central pillars of democracy and once you tear them down, the whole ideology is in danger of crumbling. At the moment, the Spanish government is acting more like a dictatorship than a democratic government.
Since the vote, the Spanish government has seized control of the finances of the Catalan government, essentially crippling them. Catalonia brings in a huge amount of the country’s income and so they’ve lost their biggest bargaining chip. The government is currently threatening to curb social services to increase their stranglehold in the region.
Regardless of that oppression, the people of Catalonia remain strong, although a huge amount of the people that voted in the referendum have chosen to leave the country for fear that the situation will only get worse. The Catalan government was expected to officially declare their independence in a session of parliament scheduled for Monday, but the Spanish government have suspended the Catalan parliament and refused to acknowledge the result of the referendum.
It’s difficult to tell how the situation will play out but this attack on democracy should be a worry for the entire world.
Guilty Pleasures? Activities That You Shouldn't Be Embarrassed of Engaging With
We are all familiar with the stereotypes that revolve around activities such as gaming, cosplay, and comics. They often come hand in hand with what has generally been assumed to be a rather negative connotation: the geek or the nerd. But it’s time to reclaim the term geek and everything that may come hand in hand with it! The skyrocketing popularity of online forums and social media has made us realize that those of us invested in franchises and brands such as World of Warcraft, Star Trek, Zelda, Marvel and Warhammer aren’t so alone after all. There’s a reason that the companies pumping out these games and merchandise have stood the test of time: they are popular, and thus they sell. So, if you find that you are labeled a geek or nerd because of your interests, take pride in it. Here are a few stereotypically “geeky” hobbies that you should never be ashamed of engaging in.
Gaming
When people think of gaming, the image of an isolated, socially inept teen spending hours in their room with a headset on often springs to mind. But the reality is that individuals of all ages, interests, and habits engage with gaming. It’s not all too surprising seeing as this market covers so many genres. There are a whole host of options out there, so it’s almost guaranteed that there’s a game that even the starkest anti-gamer would genuinely enjoy. For those who want pure escapism, there are role-playing games such as Final Fantasy. The latest edition can be easily downloaded at www.finalfantasyxvapp.com and started up in a matter of minutes. This game allows you to assume the role of a protagonist in a fantasy world, completing a whole host of tasks, quests, and battles. For those who are more social, there are MMO games. MMO stands for Massively Multiplayer Online. You can play against other gamers from around the world, engaging with people you would have never otherwise met and collaborating to succeed and move up levels. Alternatively, you can battle against one another, testing your skill against other real-life players. If you enjoy riddles and quizzes, you can try out puzzle games. These range from the traditional and simple (such as Tetris) to the more modern day and specialized (such as Big Brain Academy). Whatever your interests, there will be something perfect for you.
Cosplay
If you are unfamiliar with cosplay, it is simply the act of dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game. Most people opt to dress as someone from Japanese anime or manga in particular. Cosplay has experienced a huge explosion in popularity since people are now more capable of sharing images of their brilliant costumes on social media feeds. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are constantly awash with individuals cosplaying common characters (such as Link from Zelda, Deadpool, and Harley Quinn) to the more obscure (such as Miranda from Legend of Dragoon or characters from much smaller fandoms). Cosplay is extremely rewarding, as it allows you to live and breathe your passion. You can also meet up with individuals of similar interests at conventions, being able to bond over your outfits. What’s more? You get to express your creativity freely.
Comic Books
Comic books. If you’re into them, chances are that you are already fully aware of your interest and have piles and piles of common and rare copies filling your home. But if you’re new to collecting comics, here’s a quick debrief. A hobby is essentially the telling of a story through sequential art. They’ve been around for years, but the most commonly acknowledged and successful type are those telling tales of superheroes and anime characters. The Marvel franchise is perhaps one of the most recognized around the world, with rare copies selling for millions of dollars. An original copy of Action Comics #1 (which introduces Superman to the World) sold for $3.2 million. So if you get your hands on the right collector’s item, you really can be in to make a profit. Go to specialist stores, root through wares being sold at car boot sales and keep an eye out at local auctions, just in case something astounding comes up.
As you can see, there are plenty of benefits of engaging with stereotypically “geeky” hobbies, and there are hundreds and thousands of others out there who think that these activities are just as great as you praise them to be. So never be ashamed of your interests and embrace what you enjoy.
Why It Pays To Be A Geek Later On In Life
“Blessed are the geeks, for they shall inherit the earth.” It’s a slogan you’ll find on many t-shirts or kitchen item, and never has it been more true. You might have felt like being the class geek or school nerd was a bad thing in high school, but once you’ve left school and gym class is far behind you - there’s a whole world out there for you. Being a geek in later life is no bad thing, and could help you to push yourself further than you could imagine.
Image: Pexels
Learn a language, enjoy better career success
Learning a language will benefit you for many reasons, and one of the most important could be your career. Did you know that Mark Zuckerberg has been learning Mandarin? He’s just one example of the many successful businessmen who are bilingual. Learning a second language could boost your career and open up a whole new set of doors for you. As something you can do at any age to widen your prospects, why not take some time each day during your morning commute or lunch break to start learning another language?
Making the most of that thick-skin
If you were a geek in high school, you might look back on your younger years as some of the worst of your life - and who can blame you? From being rejected by the opposite sex to verbal taunts - you were probably counting down the days until school was over. A lot of what we go through as kids can help shape who we are as adults, and if you had a particularly tough time then it’s likely you’ve developed a great thick-skin. Being able to rise up against the setbacks and the rejection will make you more determined to succeed in your endeavors, an important quality to have when setting out to achieve your goals.
Achieve your career goals
If you want to go far in life, you’re going to need to keep learning new things. You may not be ready to complete a masters degree at 22, but these days it’s never too late or too difficult to start learning again. You could decide to master lean manufacturing at any age if you feel that it’s the next step in your career by completing an online degree. Being able to continue to learn and push yourself to achieve new things will help you to achieve your career goals and put you ahead of the rest.
Having interests that make you happy
A lot of being a geek is having interests in things that others might not understand or find bewildering, but embracing these things will make you a much happier person. Whether you love to watch geeky TV shows or have a favorite computer game, having a passion and an interest in something will make your life much more fulfilled.
Wanting to better yourself through learning is a fantastic way to help you progress in your career and fulfill your ambitions. Even if you’re not your typical geek, it’s not a bad personality trait to have to help you reach your goals. What do you want to achieve in life? Geek out and go get it.
Why Fashion Shouldn't Make You Suffer
I had this random thought recently, as there have been a good bit of discussions going on about how fashion can be oppressive in that it prohibits people from being able to perform an outdated, noninclusive image of "professionalism" or decency (this sentiment is captured well here).
I work in an environment where you dress for the day and everyone is able to express themselves as they like. Some dress up, some dress down, it all depends on how they're feeling and what they want to wear, versus the limited options in a formal, business professional environment. That isn't to say that this sort of attire has no place, but it as the baseline or assumed dress for most occasions feels ridiculous. We dress to the day so if the day calls for it, then we'll meet the expectations of what we need to wear.
I hate the idea of how many people out there get reprimanded, fired, or don't even get in the door because they don't have the appropriate attire. We should open ourselves up to allow people to dress and work however is most comfortable for them so they can perform to their full potential, whether that is in work or at school. And not dismiss people simply because of their outward appearances or assume anything about them. We've seen so many examples of schools sending (mostly young women) home because of "indecent" attire. This makes so many assumptions on behalf of the students, their peers, and it takes that student out of class for a foolish reason.
Fashion shouldn't make you suffer. Clothes shouldn't feel like they're weighing you down, make you feel uncomfortable, or don't feel like they express your true self. You shouldn't have to endure pain in heels in order to attend an event. You shouldn't have to invest a lot of money in clothes that are required only because of a shallow sense of "always doing it that way". Thankfully, it feels like we're making some progress here, where people can break free of gender binaries and go out into the world as their true selves. We still have a lot of work to do, but I see instances of this growth a lot, albeit in my small pockets of the world.
I hope you help support this movement in your communities. The world will be better off for it. And you might just make some unconventional connections.
Geeky Degrees That Will Let You Lavish in Luxury
If you’re in the midst of choosing your major in university, you might want to ask yourself one question. What will give me the best quality of life? Sure, you can choose a degree based on a passion, but a passion won’t always get you a career. For instance, you might decide to study philosophy. Now, this is still a prestigious degree to have under your belt. But try asking anyone what a philosophy degree is for and what careers it can be used in. No one will be able to tell you, except of course, for teaching philosophy. That narrows the playing field a little doesn’t it? This is why philosophy degrees are often paired with something else that are - dare we say it - more useful.
Still, there are plenty of nerdy, awesome degrees you can consider that will get you the lifestyle you want in a few years. Let’s look at some of the possibilities.
Have You Tried Turning It Off And ON?
Information Technology, the degree that is essentially the nerd's handbook. Here you will learn various skills and knowledge that could earn you a fortune in the future including coding. If you don’t know what coding is, you might want to learn. Coding will allow you to create your own website, software and in general, develop programs or apps. So, once you know how to code you could create the next Candy Crush and let’s face it, that was essentially Tetris and a hole host of other column games combined into one. It wasn’t exactly a new idea which shows you just how easy it is to make millions.
Of course, there’s another reason why an IT degree could put you in such a great position for the future. With a degree in IT, you will be primed to provide support to the multitude of businesses that are going to need it in the future. Almost every business you can think of is in some way dependant on IT, so the demand is certainly there.
Mad Men
Alternatively, you could think about entering into marketing. Is marketing nerdy? When you think about it, marketing is a lot like mind control, pushing the audience to believe what you want them to about a product or service. In fact, if you take a marketing course you will almost certainly learn a little something about subliminal messaging. If you know nothing about this, we suggest you go check out Fight Club. But just how much money could you make as a marketer? Well, with an AASCB accredited online MBA program in marketing, you could easily rake in a salary over 100K. Particularly, if you are picked up by one of the larger businesses on the market today.
Space - The Final Frontier
Lastly, you might be disappointed with how little NASA has accomplished lately. Admittedly, most people are. We haven’t come very far since a man first walked on the moon. But that might be about to change, and weirdly, it’s thanks to Hollywood. Supposedly, after the success of the Martian, the US government were so enthralled by its popularity that they pushed more funding in the direction of NASA. Now, whether that’s true or still on the table with Trump in power is debatable, but it’s curious nevertheless.
As for what you can study, a degree in physics or specializing in astrophysics will put you on the path to greatness here. Who knows, one day you could be in charge of the next rocket launch and earning a fortune. You’ll need to have an IQ that rivals Einstein though.
History is Human
As a history major in college, I've always had an affinity and appreciation for the story of our world. I often visit museums and monuments, taking moments to look into the context that lead us to now. Certainly nowadays this is a contentious issue in terms of who we decide to erect statues to and which ones we decide to take down.
While we create our collective memory of the past (meaning it is subject to our whims and limited by what we have left to examine), there is a universal thread that hit me recently; history is human.
We often exalt the figures of the past, making it hard to imagine and relate to them (especially since we don't have many realistic depictions of people until recently with the advent of video with color). But what is sobering to realize, is that these people we make monuments to and learn about in books, were just that, people. They were humans figuring out their way in the world as best they could, often making mistakes, and victims to their emotions. They made meaning as best they could with what they had, and did as well as they could muster with what they had. The impressive part is that they survived, thrived, expanded, and made it possible for us to be here in an amazing time to be alive (albeit at great cost and certainly we are in an imperfect world still).
It makes me feel like we can give these historical figures a bit of a break. They did all they could to improve life in their time (and often succeeded), we need to continue the tradition and use the incredible tools at our disposal to expand the common good. To be clear, I don't mean this to say we should give people free passes for the awful things they did. We should not honor people who embodied any sort of hateful ideology. With that being said though, history has always been made by humans working hard and working together. And while we are the cause of many of our own problems, we are also the solution to those problems.
People will be learning about our time in the future. What do we want them to say?