Category Archives: Fun and Games

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How Much?! Financing An Expensive Hobby

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Everyone has a passion in life. From stamp collectors all the way up to base jumpers, there’s any number of interests and activities that people live and breathe. However, some passions are a lot more expensive than others. If you, your child or your significant other is thinking of getting into a particularly expensive hobby, here are a few tips for managing your finances for it.

Make Sure You (or They) Will Stick with It

Okay, let’s say your husband had a round of golf with their friend, they took to it like a natural, and absolutely loved it. For the week after, they watch golf on TV, read golf blogs, and talk about it non-stop. While they may be genuinely interested, this isn’t quite enough justification to spend the household budget on a new set of clubs, pair of shoes, and anything else they might want. I’m not saying that you should step on anyone’s passion here, least of all your own. However, I am saying that you or your partner should take it slow in the beginning, and avoid spending a small fortune if they don’t know they’ll stick with it. Instead of a full set of clubs, get a few lessons at your local course.

Finding the Money

Pursuing an expensive hobby is all about learning to manage finances in order to meet the hobbyist’s needs and wants. The options you have open to you here depends largely on the hobby itself. For example, if your teenage kid is getting more and more into ballet, but the lessons and clothes are causing a serious strain on your money, then it may be possible for them to offer to clean the studio in exchange for lessons. On the other hand, if your husband wants to pursue classic car tuning, and they need to fund enclosed vehicle transport to get their baby to and from shows, they’re going to have very little wiggling room in terms of how much this will cost. In order to manage those finances properly, start off by writing out the costs, covering everything from equipment to lessons to clothing, and figure out how much you’d have to work in order to fund, say, a year’s worth of the hobby. This will put things in perspective, and allow you to make plans for sourcing extra income if needs be.

Make the Most of What You Buy

When it comes to gear for hobbies, impulse buys are always a bad idea, especially when you have perfectly good equipment. If your son wants to start playing guitar and you’ve got one lying around in the attic, then dig it out and learn everything you can about it. It may not be a Gibson Les Paul, but if it’s in a decent working condition then you can put off a brand new model for some time. In general, you should also learn something about maintaining the equipment in question. Re-stringing your own guitar is infinitely cheaper than what a lot of music stores charge for it!

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You Have No Excuse To Ever Be Bored Again With These Awesome Hobbies

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In the modern world, the idea of being bored is, frankly, a little bit bizarre. There has literally never been more to do, see, hear or experience at any other point in human history. The problem is that it’s not that likely that everyone will want to do, see, hear or experience all of the same things as each other. In fact, plenty of people end up trying plenty of different things and getting bored. It’s only natural; human beings often find themselves switching from one thing to another. But what if you want to find something really interesting? Something you can really stick to and enjoy long term? Well for that, maybe you should try something just a little bit different. Here are three awesome and unusual hobbies that are sure to get you completely and totally hooked.

 

Trapeze

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Yep, you heard right, trapeze. Those death-defying swinging stunts you see at the circus. If you want the chance to turn yourself into the human equivalent of a ballistic missile, then there are plenty of classes available that can help you “catch” (sorry) the big for this incredibly exciting and addictive hobby. You’ll be amazed at the pace that a lot of these classes move. By the end of your lesson, you’ll be your first attempts at all of those incredible flips and tricks you thought only possible for the world’s top gymnasts! And don’t worry, there is always going to be a safety net so it’s actually a lot less dangerous than you might first thing.

 

Learn to fly

 

Perhaps you want to take to the air for some slightly longer periods of time? Well, then why not think about getting your pilot’s license? There isn’t a person alive who didn’t dream of being a pilot when they were a kid! Soaring high above the clouds and looking down at the earth is one of the most exhilarating experiences in the world, and it’s made even more so when you’re the one who’s in complete control. Soar Aviation offer a whole variety of classes going all the way from a free introductory trial to advanced flight classes. You really will believe that you can fly!

 

Zorbing

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Ever wanted to be a hamster? No? Well, you will once you get a taste of the ridiculous and ridiculously fun new craze that’s sweeping the globe. Zorbing is as simple as it is hilarious. You get inside a giant, squashy ball of transparent plastic and then you roll down a hill. That’s it! Well, that’s not quite it. Because the variation in the kind of riotous fun that you can have while Zorbing is actually pretty impressive. You can do it on your own, while some balls accommodate multiple people. Not only that but you can even use them on the water, which adds a whole extra layer to the hilarity that ensues from trying to remain stable while inside a giant hamster ball.

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PC Gaming Tech Just Got Serious: Here’s Why

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For years, pundits have been prophesying the death of PC gaming. It’s too expensive, they said, and with the rise of mobile platforms, there simply isn’t a market for it anymore. And for a time, it appeared as if they were right. PC sales plunged, and continue to do so, and mobile form factors, like tablets and phones, took off.

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But in 2016, things looked a little less rosy in the mobile space than most imagine. We reached “peak smartphone” meaning that the market was mostly saturated, and tablet sales actually fell slightly. Meanwhile, the PC, long considered to be dead, was actually going through something of a renaissance. We saw the rise and mainstream adoption of some fabulous PC gaming technologies, including things like Adaptive Sync, high refresh rates, 4K and low-APIs, all making the experience on PC far superior to any other platform, including the consoles. PC gaming is the Rolls-Royce of gaming, and although console owners would never admit it, something to which they aspire.

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According to CNET, PC games sales are expected to reach a whopping $29 billion dollars this year, eclipsing the $28 billion worth of video game sales in the console market. And if the trends are correct, that gap will continue to widen further. It seems as if we’re looking at the end of the era in which people play certain games on certain platforms, as this list of PC games like Clash of Clans makes clear. People want to be able to access players across platforms, including the PC, in order to play with their friends online and to have the experience of their choosing. Why should users be forced to play a game on their tiny mobile screen, just because it’s a “mobile game” when they have an enormous gaming monitor sitting in their study? And why should people who shell out for VR systems be cut off from the rest of the gaming community in special VR areas? This isn’t what gamers want, and the industry is listening.

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The problem for developers at the moment is the proliferation of the many ways in which people can play games. Just a few years ago, there were consoles and PCs. But now there’s VR, streaming TV devices like the Steam Machine and Nvidia’s new console, as well as all the mobile devices you can imagine.

 

Brian Blau, a researcher from the research giant, Gartner, says that this has played into the PC’s hands. He points out that often the only way to play the latest titles at high fidelity is to play them on the PC. The PC isn’t limited by size or space, unlike tablets, and so there’s physically more room for the high-end components to run games like The Witcher 3 and Ashes of the Singularity.

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The PC is also the only platform on which to have a pleasant VR experience. Consoles simply don’t have the horsepower to deliver what we might call “presence” in virtual reality. It all means that PC gaming is getting serious again, and we might be about to go full circle, from PC to console and back to PC.

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Off The Grid: Three Fabulous Tech Free Activities

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Does is ever feel like technology completely dominates your life? As if you can’t go thirty seconds without the beep of some gadget or another grabbing your attention. Not to mention the fact that most of us spend the majority of our days staring at screens. It can all get a bit… clinical feeling, not to mention claustrophobic. It’s easy to forget just how wonderful and fascinating the world around us really is. There are so many incredible things to see and do in the natural world that it’s a real shame we spend so much time staring at our phones that we miss them. Fortunately, that means that there is always the chance to get away from it all and enjoy some tech-free activities. Here are a few of my favorite ways to get off the grid.

Surfing

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You know what a major issue with a lot of gadgets is? Waterproofing. Anyone who’s ever dropped their phone in the bath and then spent hours with it sat in a bowl of rice will know that for certain. Luckily this turns out to be a blessing in disguise if you want a way to rid yourself of technological temptation. Surfing is one of the most fun and exciting things that you can do. Nothing makes you feel closer to the world around you than the smell of sea air and the refreshing splash of the waves. There are lots of different places to try surfing no matter what your skill level. And if you’re a bit afraid of getting up onto the board then you can try bodyboarding as well.

Hiking

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Now this one might take a bit of discipline because you can technically bring your gadgets along with you. But not only will that defeat the purpose entirely, but it’ll also burden you with extra stuff that you probably won’t want to carry for long. All you need to do is find a trail and get lost in nature. You might be tempted to snap some pictures for social media but why not just enjoy the sights. You’ll always have those memories, and they’ll look that much nicer when you’re not looking through a screen. Places like Big Bend hiking allow you to pick trails to suit your level and they all provide some incredible scenery. And the best thing about hiking? It’s free! Make sure you pack some decent boots, though!

Camping

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If you need a five-star hotel with room service, then you might want to look away now. Camping is just about the best way to get off the grid and back to nature. Sleeping on the ground with just a sleeping back underneath you and a tent keeping you safe from the elements. Cooking up beans in the can with nothing but the sounds of nature for company. There really is nothing like it! Now, of course, there are lots of campsites that offer more modern conveniences, like indoor toilets, if you don’t want to go completely rough. But for the full experience try to avoid bringing your gadgets along with you at all. After a while, you won’t even miss them anymore!

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Staying Safe While Gambling Online

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It wasn’t so long ago that gambling was seen as a somewhat sleazy activity. I remember the betting shops of old being a place of mystery, where you could never see inside. The change in public perception of gambling has been remarkable. You see and hear advertising on almost every sports event. Betting experts are regular guests on radio sports shows. And, heading to a casino is now something that is normalized.

Online gambling has also enjoyed a remarkable period of growth. There are thousands of online casinos where you can gamble on slot machines or at the poker table, against computers and real people. You can even find ITV7 and pick 7 betting comp for free online.

But let’s not beat around the bush – gambling can still be problematic. And when you are gambling online, there are many opportunities to lose money. With this in mind, I thought I would scour the web for some of the best tips to ensure you keep gambling as a fun activity and avoid any issues of addiction. Let’s get started with some of the basics.

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Only bet what you can afford

While gambling can be a fun experience, there is nothing to laugh about when you lose a lot of money. It is essential, then, that you only bet what you can afford to lose. Only use the excess money, never start dipping into your day-to-day cash or savings. And if you fail, never try to regain your losses – the chances are you will lose even more.

Use reputable casinos and services

When it comes to gambling with online casinos, or “cazinouri online” as they say in Romania (where online casinos are growing in popularity at an incredible rate), things can be a lot of fun. But, let’s face it, it can also lead to a lot of heartache and financial issues. It is vital that you use an online casino that takes your safety seriously. As Maria casino points out in its responsible gaming policy, there are a few things to watch out for. They recommend using a service that allows you to set up deposit limits and self-exclusion settings on your account. And, if you feel that temptation is getting the better of you, always seek out help.

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Check your frequency

The more you gamble online, the easier it will be to fall into addiction. In an ideal world, you won’t use online gambling sites more than 2-3 times a week – preferably less. If you find yourself visiting sites a few times a day, it’s time to check yourself, as there is a chance you could be forming a habit.

Honesty is the best policy

If you are hiding your online gambling activity from others, the chances are that you have a problem. Addicts tend to hide their activity from those they know will disapprove. It rings true for smokers, drinkers, and gamblers alike. If gambling is fun, why hide it?

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Mix up your hobbies

Finally, you should also be concerned if your online gambling is the only hobby you partake in. It just isn’t healthy to focus on one particular thing, especially if it costs you a fortune. Online gaming can also be a lonely experience, so ensure you are getting out and seeing friends and family as often as possible. And if you feel like you have a problem, don’t be afraid to share the details with loved ones.

Sure gambling online can be a fun activity. But it doesn’t take long for your hobby to turn into a habit. Stay safe out there, folks!

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Fun Winter D.I.Y. Projects For The Home And Garden

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It may not be winter quite yet, but cold weather and short days are already on the rise. It’s the perfect time to stay inside and try out some D.I.Y. projects. You might want to create some home decorations for Christmas. Or perhaps you’re looking to add something unique to your home.

There are all kinds of D.I.Y. projects that are great fun for the colder seasons. Some can take less than a day. Others can be a long-lasting and rewarding project. Either way, it’s an excellent way to spend your time when the weather’s cold. Here are some fun home and garden D.I.Y. projects you may want to try.

Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

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Christmas day is only two months away, and lots of people like to prepare early. You might want to start getting your home in the Christmas spirit now. But as well as a tree and some tinsel, there are many homemade decorations you can add.

Crafting your own decorations is something anyone can do with barely any investment. It’s a great way to style up your house in a fun and creative way. The web can give you plenty of ideas for D.I.Y Christmas decorations!

Things like a homemade wraith and handcrafted ornaments for the tree can get you in the holiday mood. It’s a fun project as well as a simple one!

Create A Firewood Shed

As the weather gets colder, you’ll want to stay warm. Those with a wood-burning fireplace will need plenty of firewood. The problem is, it can be hard to store outdoors during winter when rain is so prominent. One of the best solutions is to build a shed for your wood.

A firewood shed can keep wood dry and ready for burning. It might take a few days, but all you need is some timber and tools. You can find timber merchants online to get all the materials you need.

When you have what you need, it’s time to start building. There are online tutorials which can help you with this. You might need a little help, but the results will be rewarding! You don’t just have to use your shed for wood either. You can store anything in here you don’t want to get wet during winter.

Craft Some Homemade Blankets

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If you’re interested in trying out some knitting or sewing, try crafting some homemade blankets! You can make some warm, comfy sofa blankets to snuggle up in during the cold winter.

There are various kinds of D.I.Y. blankets you can try making. You may want to buy some yarn and start knitting. Alternatively, you can patch some old sweaters together to make a patchwork quilt. It’s a fun idea that also lets you recycle unused clothes.

If you have fun doing it, you can even take it a step further. Making some blankets for friends and relatives can be a unique and personal Christmas gift. It’s one of the best projects you can take on during the winter!

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Remake after Remake after Remake after…How Far Will They Go?

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Just this month, the movie, “Ben Hur”, came out. I’m sure it’s a great movie, but, I have to ask, why do they keep making remakes of movies whose original or last version was great in it’s own right? It seems more and more remakes are coming out. There was even a plan for a remake of “Gone With the Wind”, often touted as the greatest picture ever made.

Is it because they want to make a greater version? Well, in my opinion, I think it depends.

With Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, the original, made in 1938, was OK for the time but was soon found to be lacking, and, if you see both the 1938 and 1951 versions, you’ll see the difference. So, in that case, I do agree a remake was in order, and the 1951 remake, with Alistair Sims playing Scrooge, it certainly filled the bill. But, they should have stopped right there. But no, a remake was made again over 30 years later and, while it was seen as being good in it’s own right, the 1951 version, in my opinion, has a certain essence to it that I believe can never be matched. Same with “Gone With the Wind”. So while a movie might need a do over, I do think that there’s a point where it’s done exactly right and literally takes on a character that cannot be duplicated with further remakes. It’s reached it’s peak, in a way.

I imagine, when plans for a remake are floated, some producers and directors do bring this up. So, why do a remake? Well, oftentimes technological advances allow for scenes to be shot in ways that look more realistic or believable, or, depending on the mood of audiences at the time, they may want to add things, such as more grittiness, graphic scenes, historical accuracy, or aspects of a character’s life that weren’t shown in a previous version. And I do find this understandable to an extent, particularly where an expansion of a character’s life experiences are concerned, or technological advances in filming are made. Technical advances certainly helped the 1951 version of “A Christmas Carol” stand head and shoulders over the 1938 version.

Then sometimes, it’s probably that a new generation of movie makers really likes a particular movie and story, but they want to tweak it in their own way, and since they can’t go back in time to tweak the original as it was being made, they have to make a new version.

As for myself, there have been some remakes I’ve seen, such as “True Grit”, which I found to be about as good as the original. But for the most part, I tend to not really go for remakes without a compelling reason. I tend to want to see new stories, and it just seems at times that they are few and far between. But then there will be a number of movies with new stories that come out within a short time frame and I’ll resume going to the movies. To each his own, I guess.

Happy movie watching!

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Scariest Halloween Costume?

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What would be the scariest Halloween costume? Well, we’ve probably seen them all, except possibly one. So, is the scariest a vampire? Skeleton? Witch? Dragon? Demon? Or some other character of fear?

Well, how about this? Politician!

Politician? Yes. And possibly the only costume we haven’t really seen, other than famous past politicians who were not really politicians but true leaders, like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.

So, just how scary is a politician? Well, for starters, they do nothing. Well, actually, that isn’t completely true.

They do everything you don’t want and nothing you do want, despite what they tell you at election time.

They take money out of your pocket and the only ideas they ever have are those that will take even more money out of your pocket.

They often screw up that which is working well and should be left alone.

They often never get to those problems you want addressed and in the rare instances when they do, they take forever to do it!

And their solution often either makes the problem worse or gives you a new one that’s worse than the one that was solved.

Then, there’s election time. When they have their staffs, which you pay for, bombard you with ads and phone calls, and emails, and probably texts, too, often starting 6 months before the election. Some people get 10 or more calls daily at all hours! I’ve heard of no businesses or even any debt collection agencies that bombard anyone like this, and if they do, they eventually get into trouble!

But the scariest thing about politicians? THEY’RE REAL!

Have a happy and safe Halloween, everyone!

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So, How Do I Like My Smart Phone After 6 Months?

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Well, I’ve had my Smart Phone for 6 months now. It’s my first. So, how do I like it, and smart phones in general?

I have to say, so far, so good! And, as a matter of fact, I’ve gotten used to what my phone can do for me now.

First, and probably most important, are the apps that I can get, for free. Yes, there are some you have to pay for, but so far, I haven’t needed those. Most companies that provide apps will provide them for free, since many of them want you to come to them or buy from them. And the free app acts as free advertising for them as well.

Apps are really great, as they can often allow easy access to finding things on the go, and comparing prices. They can also alert you.  If your favorite store is having a sudden sale, and you have their app, you may get an alert from them.

Apps can also help in monitoring information and controlling things from afar. I have an app that allows me to check to see if my burglar alarm is set, and, if it’s not, I can set it from my phone!

I also have an app for locating theaters and checking what movies are available, where they’re playing, and I can even purchase tickets, which would be waiting for me when I get there! It’s also the same with many apps for eating places, including many of your favorites!

And if I don’t know where there is?

I have Google Maps, which can mark the location and tell me how to get there, too! This came standard with my phone, and most smart phones will come with a set of pre-installed apps, such as the Google set on Android phones.

Next, I have internet access. So, I can check up on e-mails and unclutter my inbox without having to wait until I get home! I can also surf the web. And, I can also watch YouTube videos, though these will use up lots of data and memory.

So, am I one of those who is constantly texting or checking my phone? No, I’m not. While you do have to try to avoid the urge to multitask with a smart phone, (Studies show multi-tasking makes one less effective!) I’ve never been a good multitasker and I refuse to bend to the idea that one must be doing everything at once all the time or be connected all the time!

But, if I’m waiting in a doctor’s office or am in some other “waiting situation”, then yes, I may check my e-mail inbox with my phone.

And finally, there are apps for free games, which are pretty good, too. I have Chess and also Checkers apps.

So, while I didn’t feel the need for a smart phone until a possible job situation came up which required one, I’ve seen that they can do a whole lot more than a “regular” cell phone can.

And best of all, you don’t need the latest, top of the line $700 I-phone or Android phone to get these great features! I got my phone, an LG Optimus Zone 2, for only $49! To see how, check out my post, “Again, Before Jumping In, Do Your Research! (Or how I got a $149 phone for just $49!)”.

So, if you’re thinking about a smart phone, you can get them with lots of features, and cheaply, too!

Good luck with your smart phone!

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Friday the 13th – An Unlucky Day?

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Well, today is Friday the 13th, 2015. And it’s the second Friday the 13th this year. It’s generally considered to be an unlucky day. Sure, it’s just superstition, but some people really believe it!

When I was a kid, I knew someone who at least acted like it was an unlucky day for him. If he was riding his bike and it was Friday the 13th, he would crash. I don’t know, in retrospect, if he was just using the date to get attention, or if he really believed in the unluckiness of the date and was inadvertently setting himself up for misfortune as a result.

So, is Friday the 13th really unlucky? I don’t think so, except possibly for those who do believe it. What about for those whose birthday happens to be on Friday the 13th? Well, it turns out that if Friday the 13th happens to be your birthday, it’s supposed to be a lucky day for you.

But in reality, the myth of Friday the 13th is just that. A myth. Just like broken mirrors supposedly bringing 7 years’ bad luck and black cats crossing your path bringing bad luck.

So stop worrying and enjoy your day. Even if it is Friday the 13th.

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