If you grew up in the 1980s or ’90s, you already know that. Remember the terrifying voice of the narrator scaring the  bejeezus out of you? The stories seemed like they were out of the movies, but they were real stories. As humans, we can’t help but want to know more. We like things solved and figured out.

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The world is full of weird, unexplained mysteries. Some are creepy and others are downright disturbing. Even the advances in science and technology have not been able to fully explain every phenomenon.  It really makes you afraid to sleep at night without a night light. It also makes you question whether there are really answers to everything.

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Popular media has many preparing for a zombie apocalypse. After reading some of these stories, you won’t mind taking on a zombie.

Between unexplained paranormal occurrences and historical mysteries, you’ll really want to know the answers to all these questions. Even the stories themselves are shrouded in half-truths or myths. We may never know who Jack the Ripper was. Neither will know for certain who killed Kennedy and why.

Here’s 15 of the Strangest Unsolved Mysteries.

1. Roanoke Island

Colonial Times were rough, especially for the first settlers. Queen Elizabeth I of England wanted to colonize North America, so she authorized a charter. Roanoke Island was colonized by Sir Walter Raleigh.  Settlers were brought over in waves. By 1587, there was a little over a hundred settlers. John White, the Roanoke Governor, left the colony to return to England in 1587 to gather supplies.

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By the time he returned in 1590, the entire colony was deserted. On the side of one structure was etched, “Croatoan”. It was the name of a close by Native American settlement. White figured they moved there, but a search turned up nothing.

Researchers now believe that a drought occurred at the time, forcing the settlers to abandon their settlement. None of the settlers were ever found.

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Dogs can get really dirty, especially in their ears. Depending on the breed, a dog can produce a large buildup of earwax which will start to irritate them. The only things more irritating to them than an itch that can’t reach with their paws, are the vet and getting groomed. If you train your dog well enough, cleaning their ears should be a quick and painless experience. If you are unsure, make sure you have help if you need it.

First things first. A dog’s ears are sensitive. That’s why they howl so loud when they hear a dog whistle. Remember to be gentle. It shouldn’t hurt your dog to clean out their ears. If it does, stop the cleaning and seek the advice of your vet. Warning signs of ear problems include a red, swollen, or foul smelling ear, discharge, or scratching in the area.

The most recommended way to clean is through the use of cotton balls and an ear cleaning solution. These solutions can be picked up at your local pet supplies store or make one yourself.

If your dog is fidgeting, have someone gently secure your dog’s head, so they do not move. Make sure to reassure your dog that everything’s fine. Next, gently hold the ear flap up in order to fully expose the ear canal. Drop the recommended amount of solution into the ear. It should only be a few drops depending on your dog’s ear size. Do not overfill the ear cavity.

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Take your fingers and gently massage around the outside of the ear canal. It is okay if you hear the solution moving around. It is breaking down the ear wax. After about 20-30 seconds, let your dog shake out the excess. To remove any remaining solution and earwax, gently take a cotton ball and swipe away the excess. If there is stubborn wax, you may want to insert the cotton ball in the canal and gently massage it once more. It is not recommended to use a cotton swab or any other such object because a slip of the hand can cause serious damage to your dog.

Be sure to reassure your dog when it’s over. Give them a treat, so they know that next time you clean their ears, it will be okay.

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Job interviews are notoriously stressful events. You want to look nice, stylish, and professional while exuding confidence. Swimsuit season is a time that induces panic and self-doubt in people of all genders. Neither occasion is a particularly pleasant time for millions of people. What if you had to audition for a dream job in your swimsuit?

That is just what dozens of hopefuls in Quindao in the Northeast region of China did to get their dream jobs. China, no stranger to interesting and innovative practices – to say the least – was the site of a recent competition where all the women were wearing bikinis and presenting themselves as if they were in a pageant. Each contestant wore identical bikinis and black pumps. The women walked across the stage and posed for the recruiters much like pageant contestants pose for the judges.

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This competition is reportedly the brainchild of Oriental Beauty, a modeling agency in China. The agency held the competition in front of participating businesses from both the airline and fashion trade. The competition sought out over one thousand recent high school graduates to compete for jobs as models or flight attendants. Evidently, each young woman needed to be at least 5’6” to qualify, but those who measured 5’5” were allowed on an individual basis if they were considered to be very beautiful. In fact, the website for the modeling agency states that each young woman also have a “sweet voice”. There is no indication on what exactly that means for the recruiters.

No stranger to controversy, the airline industry in particular has come under fire for alleged initiation rituals of flight attendants, most of whom are female. The story broke after a photograph was leaked depicting a flight attendant shoved into an overhead luggage compartment. The airline, Kunming Airlines, insisted that an investigation was underway.

The competition is supposedly held yearly at a school in Quindao and attracts individuals from several neighboring provinces.

Travelling to foreign country without research puts you at risk of committing cultural faux pas. Mostly, the locals will just laugh at you, call you a dumb tourists, or throw you side glances. The cost, however, can be greater. In particular, Americans who have traveled abroad without regard to local customs have been fined, caned, or even jailed.

Travelling can be scary and worrisome, but do not panic. Everyone does it at one point or another when travelling.

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Take the United States, for instance. How is a foreigner supposed to know that Americans say “bless you” after sneezing? It doesn’t make sense anymore and originates back before America became a country; yet, it is considered to be rude when people do not say it. Even elevator rides – people are supposed stare at anything except each other. In other countries, not talking is considered rude and people have no problem standing very close to one another.

Some faux pas are ridiculously obscure. Unless you know someone from that area or are really gifted at minding (looking at you Professor Xavier), you are likely to commit these faux pas without intending to do it.

We bring you a list of 20 cultural faux pas to avoid while travelling.

1. Singapore

Do not chew, spit, import, or even think about gum while in Singapore. Since 1992, it has been illegal to be in possession of gum unless for medicinal reasons.

Not only is it a dirty habit, but it can make the sidewalk look bad, too. The fine is hefty. If you are caught spitting out your gum in public or having it without a legitimate reason, you will receive a fine comparable to over $5,000 USD. Yes – they take it that seriously in Singapore. Don’t put yourself in an awkward social faux pas which can get you into serious trouble.

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Fall is an amazing time. If you live in the Western Hemisphere, fall is home to some of the best holidays. It’s not too hot or too cold, and you cannot beat the fall foliage. No matter how you choose to celebrate fall (or autumn), you have some amazing things to look forward to.

Here are just a few of those things to get you excited about fall.

Pumpkin Spice Everything!

First, one of the best things about fall is that pumpkin spice is in everything. Seriously- it’s in everything. Lattes, cakes, and even lotions and candles start containing pumpkin spice as soon as August winds down.  Many people hate pumpkin spice because it is reaching ridiculous levels. They probably are not wrong.

They came out with pumpkin spice Pringles, hummus, and even shampoo for dogs. Even though pumpkin spice is getting a little ridiculous now, there is no reason to stop loving pumpkin spice during fall.

Leaves Everywhere

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As children, few things were as awesome as running around in the leaves. Soon, the leaves will fall all around your neighborhood. You are never too old to have your own personal leaf crunching competition.

The only big difference is having to rake up the leaves. A once fun childhood experience now becomes back-breaking work. Plus, it’s just not as fun jumping in a pile of leaves when you might break something. Still, the leaves are pretty to look at. Enjoy them while you can and before the snow covers them up.

Halloween

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By far one of the best things about the upcoming Fall season is Halloween. As soon as September hits, it’s time to nail down your Halloween costume. You need to out-do yourself from last year. This year, the most popular costumes will likely be Suicide Squad and political-related costumes, but you can’t go wrong with the classics.

Soon, you’ll be able to throw fake cobwebs around the house and no one will question whether your house is dirty. Pumpkins, creepy fake zombies, and bones will drape your lawn in the coming weeks. Why wait? Start decorating now. We all know that the minute that the clock turned 12:00am, you wanted to break out your Halloween decorations.

The Christmas season starts earlier every year. Why shouldn’t Halloween be the same?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a great time to be thankful for all the positive things in your life. It is always the perfect time to spend with family. Even if you don’t like your family, you can always throw a ‘Friendsgiving’ party with the family you choose. At Friendsgiving, you get to drink with your friends without having to worry about your judgemental Aunt making nasty comments.

Sweater and Cozy Clothes

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There is a good reason why fall is also ‘sweater weather’. Fall brings chiller nights. Cold nights mean that hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and fuzzy blankets come back into your life. No more sweating until your makeup melts off. Soon, you’ll be able to cuddle up in your favorites oversized sweater with a good book.

It’s not just sweaters. Soon you can wear boots, thick socks, and scarves with overheating. Who are we kidding? You’ve probably already gotten your fall wardrobe out and are considering wearing your clothes during the end of summer heat.

Fall is just around the corner, so it’s time to get excited!

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Food is truly amazing – isn’t it? There is so much to make with food that it is dizzying. Every family has their own recipes for how to cook things that you may not even realize that alternatives exist.

Every day, people are learning that they need to change their diet. Likewise, they discover that they are suddenly allergic to an ingredient in their favorite dish. You do not have to completely change your diet to make it healthier or to exclude a particular ingredient.

Here are some great food substitutes to try in your next dish.

1. Applesauce

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This one is for you, vegans (or those with high cholesterol)! Applesauce is extremely delicious. Apples are naturally sweet and good on its own. Did you know, however, that applesauce is a great means to substitute eggs and cut down on your sugar intake?

In cakes, eggs act as the binding agent. A binder keeps the other ingredients from falling apart in the pan. Applesauce does the same thing. As an added bonus, applesauce adds moisture to your cakes. Try it in your next cake and see how deliciously healthier your creations are.

2. This sh*t is bananas

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Bananas are great on their own. Like apples, ripe bananas are naturally sweet. The most common substitute is to use bananas instead of butter. For the Paula Deens of the world, nothing replaces butter, but you would be surprised. Butter provides a creamier texture and taste to baked goods. Bananas perform the same basic function, plus they are a lot healthier for you.

Another great use for bananas is to make ice cream. Whether you are vegan or just on a diet, banana-based ice cream is great. First, take your ripened banana and peel it. Stick it in the freezer until completely frozen. Add the banana and any mix-ins into a blender. Blend until the ice cream is smooth and well-mixed. Banana ice cream is dairy-free and full of health benefits.

3. “I can’t-believe-there-is-a-butter-substitute!”

There are a lot of substitutes for butter. We already discussed bananas as a healthier substitute. Another option is olive oil. Olive oil works as a substitute for vegans, but it may not be the best option for dieters. Olive oil has healthy fat, but you should consult your diet before making the switch.

Another high in healthy fats food substitute is avocado. Avocado is everywhere, second only to kale. Avocado has a creamy, yet thick texture, making it a perfect substitute for butter. It is a lot healthier than butter and gives your food a different taste. Plus, it is a great way to get your picky eaters to eat some fruit.

4. Greek yogurt goes with everything

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Greek yogurt, like the avocado and the kale, is all the rage right now. Plus, the John Stamos Oikos commercials are not half-bad to look at. Greek yogurt is thicker yogurt so it can substitute a fair amount of product. Greek yogurt is generally not dairy-free, so it is not technically a dairy substitute.

Instead, greek yogurt replaces oils like canola or olive oil in baked goods. Greek yogurt is also great for dressings such as cucumber salads or regular salad. It tends to have less fat in it, making it a healthier option for people on diets.

5. Cauliflower is the all-purpose vegetable

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Who knew that such a bland looking vegetable could actually be so versatile? Seriously – you can take cauliflower and use it in so much. It is actually a great substitute for gluten-based foods like bread. Take cauliflower and shred it in a food processor. With a few wet ingredients, cauliflower-based pizza crust is just as delicious.Likewise, cauliflower is useful as an alternative for most bread products. It saves on carbs. As well, it serves as a gluten-free option. You can try making breadsticks, grilled cheese, or even biscuits.

Cauliflower is a nice alternative to popcorn. Cut the cauliflower into small pieces and lightly dust with salt. Bake it in the oven at 450 degrees until golden brown. You can also use cauliflower as a rice, and mashed potato substitute! Again, cauliflower is great means to ensure your children eat their veggies.

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Whether you live the lazy life or cleaning is your therapy, cleaning hacks are always good to have in your arsenal. Why not make your life easier? When the washing machine came out, people rejoiced. Who doesn’t want to save back-breaking work? With these life hacks, you can cut your work in half with the same great results, just like the invention of the washing machine.

It might surprise you how well certain materials can help the cleaning process. Vinegar, baking soda, and even toothpaste make powerful tools against dirt and grime.

Get out your supplies and get ready to clean with these life hacks.

1. Jewelry

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Toothpaste makes a great cleaning agent and not just for your teeth. Use toothpaste to clean your silver jewelry. Instead of taking your jewelry to a professional, toothpaste makes a great fix. With an old toothbrush or nailbrush scrub the toothpaste into the jewelry and rinse thoroughly.

Toothpaste works on silver jewelry, but it is not recommended to try it with gold jewelry. For gold jewelry, you don’t need to buy expensive cleaners. Just drop your jewelry into warm water and some liquid dish soap. Let soak for a good 15 minutes and scrub gently to clean off the remaining buildup.

* Toothpaste also makes a great treatment for pesky mosquito bites.

2. Vinegar

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Apple cider vinegar makes a great rinse for your hair. If you are facing serious buildup in your hair from conditioners and shampoo, try an apple cider vinegar rinse. Take the vinegar and run it through your hair. It acts as a cheap and effective method to clarify your hair.

A mixture of distilled white vinegar and water make a cheap and “green” cleaner. The water helps dilute the smell of the vinegar. In addition to cleaning, white vinegar effectively eliminates strong odors caused by dirt and grime. Your kitchen may smell like cucumber salad for a few hours, but it gets rid of less appealing and hard to eliminate smells.

Another way to use the cleaner is for your shower heads. Showerheads and other fixtures are notorious for grime buildup. Absent taking a scrub to it, the best way is to soak it. Take the vinegar and water combination and pour it into a bag, preferably a bag with an open top. Submerge the fixture and tie the bag firmly. A good soak of 15-20 minutes will break down the grime.

3. Cutting Boards

Bacteria festers in the cuts and scrapes of cutting boards, no matter the material. Cleaning cutting boards of stains and the micro crevices are difficult. Try taking a few teaspoons of sugar and spreading it over the surface. With a half of lemon, scour the surface and scrub the sugar in the process. Lemon is a wonderful cleaner and the sugar gets into the small areas.

4. The Green Drain Cleaner

If you want to avoid using a chemical product to clean your drain, there is a cheaper and greener option with common household items. Take baking soda, another multi-purpose product, vinegar, and boiling water. First, pour the boiling water in the clogged pipes. Then, pour down a 1/2 cup of baking soda. For the final ingredient, combine half water and half vinegar and pour down the pipes.

If all else fails, go to the home improvement store and pick up a plastic pipe snake. They are effective at getting all the hair out of your drain.

5. Socks

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Fuzzy socks are not just for feet. In the winter months especially, dollar stores tend to sell those fuzzy socks. If you have worn fuzzy socks for any period of time, you know they attract dirt and fallen hairs like magnets attract metals. Put those socks to good use. Take a pair of dollar store socks and use them for dusting.

You can either use your hand or attach the sock to a Swiffer. The socks are especially useful for cleaning hard to reach ceiling fan blades. For blinds, attach a fuzzy sock to each side of a pair of tongs. Easily clean each blind without having to resort to the vacuum.

6. Shelf liners

This one is not a cleaner, but it makes cleaning much easier. Refrigerators become dirty quite easily. Shelves and drawers should be cleaned every few months, but who has the time? Instead, take everything out of your fridge and line the shelves and drawers with cling wrap. When there is a spill or grime, just ripped it off and start over. Simple.

7. Burners

By far, one of the most frustrating things to clean is metal burner plates off the stove. One thing boils over and suddenly you have a mess on your hands. Soaking them in dish soap or even the dishwasher does little to speed up the amount of elbow grease needed to get the job done.

Instead, place each burner in a sealable bag. Add 1/4 cup of ammonia in each bag and seal overnight. The fumes from the ammonia break down the caked on food.

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Keeping up with the Joneses is dead. Minimalism is taking over the minds of people. The days of competing with your neighbor are over. For minimalists, the name of the game is downsizing.

Minimalism is not just the idea of bare walls and white everything, though it can be. Minimalism is simply having no more than you need. With the cost of living on the rise, people are looking for ways to downsize. After crippling student loan debt and a horrible job market, minimalism offers solitude and a way to survive.

Pinterest and Tumblr offer one side of the minimalism wave, but there are many benefits to minimalism. Minimalism, in small ways, is not just for the hipster with the online blog. It’s a way to clear all the sludge out of every facet of your life. The worst that can happen is that your inbox  is a little cleaner. No one is asking you to start doing Yoga every morning or drink conflict free coffee that costs three times the amount.

Cleaning out your closet

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One of the first steps of minimalism is getting the excess out of your life. You may not be able to change the people at your office or school, but you can get rid of the extra mess in your life. Start with your clothes. Chances are that you have a lot of barely worn clothes in your wardrobe.

Capsule wardrobes are a great way to pare down your clothes. Keep a few key pieces out. If there is a seasonal piece that you do not reach for throw it out. You probably do not need it.

Capsule wardrobes are a small collection of clothes and accessories. All other clothes are kept in storage or in drawers. The goal is to keep out only the top clothes in your wardrobe. Over time, your wardrobe eventually wears down.

A capsule wardrobe serves a dual purpose as a simple decoration piece and means to practice minimalism.

Inbox, Computer, and Cellphones

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Periodically, clean out your inbox of all old e-mails. Unsubscribe from all those newsletters you signed up for. Most e-mails have a unsubscribe function. If the e-mail is over six months old, evaluate whether you need to save it. If you do, consider transferring those saved e-mails into an “archived” folder.

Do the same thing with your computer. If you are hoarding years of old pictures, consider going through them. If you want to preserve the memories, transfer the images to an online drive or an external hard drive. In the case of a computer crash, the photos remain untouched.

Next, conquer your cell phone. Unless you are still sending out Candy Crush requests, delete the game. The same goes for all those old games you do not play anymore. Then, clean out old music. Call Me Maybe was your song, but now it makes your ears bleed. Hit the delete button. Afterward, move to your pictures.

There is no shame in taking 55 pictures to get the perfect selfie. Now, however, you’ve ben get the “storage is full” message for the last few months. Get rid of all those unpublished portraits. Make room for new ones.

Clean out your life

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Here is where things become tricky. We keep some people in our lives for far too long sometimes. If you are holding onto a friend from high school, consider what they bring to your life. At a certain age, you realize the quality of friends matters over the quantity.

Maybe you have a job at a bank but your friend still hangs out at the same spot since high school. Instead of feeling guilty, move on. Allow that friend to find someone who shares their interests. We hold onto people for all the wrong reasons. Toxic people need to get out of your life. Once that happens, you will see how clear your life becomes.

Keep the friends you need and move on from the ones that no longer have your best interest at heart.

You always hear those stories of the lawyers, bankers, and highly paid individuals ditch their high paid jobs for a simpler life. Money helps keep food on the table, but there is something to be said for keeping it simple. Simplicity means less overspending and more time to focus on what really matters.

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Movies are not what they were. To get the attention of viewers, studios resort to methods that leave moviegoers groaning or rolling their eyes. It is understandable that Hollywood would resort to these methods. They have no idea what is going to be successful. In response, they rely on previously successful tricks to help them along.

Take the 3D craze that is finally starting to fade. After Avatar received favorable critical and public reviews, studios seemed to obsess over just one aspect of the movie. Suddenly, every movie needed to be in 3D. Hollywood even started to re-release old movies in 3D.

The problem was that Avatar was successful because of several factors – not just because of the 3D factor.

Like most things, there are exceptions to the rule. The problem is not the movie features themselves. The problem is knowing when to stop. Unfortunately, Hollywood never seems to know when to stop until the money stops flowing. At that point, it is too late.

Here are just a few examples that need to go far, far away from movies (pun intended).

Remakes

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Nothing quite angers the average moviegoer like a remake that no one asked for, especially if everyone loved the original. Hollywood seems to be of the impression that if it worked the first time – it must work again.

Disney is about to come out with a complete remake of Pete’s Dragon. This slightly psychedelic tale is not exactly a classic. It is not one of the movies that people sit around and pray for a remake. Some people are looking forward to it. Most people, however, are scratching their heads as to why this Disney is remaking this film.

It is not just this movie.  Pink Panther, Total Recall, Judge Dredd, and Conan the Barbarian are all movies that did not need a remake. Even if you enjoyed the new remakes, it probably was not enough of an enjoyment to warrant the remake.

Sequels of Movies that Came Out Years Ago

(Dumb and Dumber To, 2014) youtube.com

Sequels are so hard to get right. Executives want to tap into the gold that made the original so popular. In doing so, many sequels are either too similar to the original or not enough. They want to pick up on the hype of the first movie before it fizzles. This is why this trend is so puzzling.

With the hard job of making a sequel, studios seem to think that years will somehow make that formula possible. Lately, it seems that studios are trying to capture the nostalgia craze going on with Millennials right now (looking at you Fuller House).

Movies like Dumb and Dumber To, Zoolander 2, and Terminator Genesis tanked at the box office. The actors are older. The jokes are stale, and everything seems a bit forced.

Has Hollywood run out of new ideas or are they missing the point of the nostalgia craze? Not every movie needs a sequel – especially if the movie came out over ten years ago.

Overindulgent Big-Budget Movies

Let’s call it the Michael Bay effect. After Michael Bay made it big with several blockbusters, Hollywood seemed to hang their hat on that idea. The problem is not special effects. The problem is that studios seemed to think that more is better.

There is a place for excessive violence and explosions. Deadpool proved that. The trick is that Deadpool did not take itself seriously. When movies use these obviously indulgent techniques to draw in viewers without a solid plot, these tactics seem disingenuous. It looks cheesy and takes away from otherwise solid acting.

The biggest culprit is superhero movies. Each new movie attempts to up the ante to draw in viewers, but this isn’t why viewer flock to new superhero movies. Fans want to see their favorite comic book character on the big screen.

If the explosions and violence make sense, fans are all about that. If the violence (like Batman carrying a loaded gun in Batman v. Superman) makes little sense to the character’s well-loved traits.

Copying the Marvel Example

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Speaking of superhero movies, everyone needs to stop copying Marvel. It’s like Instagram copying Snapchat stories. It’s obvious and a little annoying.

Marvel took an idea from the start and weaved into a series. While everyone is not a fan of all the Marvel movies, no one can doubt the brilliance of the idea. DC keeps trying to get the Justice League off the ground. Following heavily panned movies, it is becoming more and more difficult to reach that goal. Universal is forming plans to use the Marvel formula for monsters (Dracula Untold and the unnecessary Mummy remake).

While these franchises may make some money, it will be difficult to touch the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Series that Just Won’t End

Does anyone remember the “Song that Never Ends…”? That annoying song that just kept repeating itself. Franchises need to realize that some story lines need to end.

Who didn’t love the first Pirates of the Caribbean? Do we really need a fifth movie, though? The Saw and the Resident Evil series keep promising the last one, then release a new one every few years.

Transformers, Underworld, and even Terminator need to stop. The money will eventually run dry. It is understandable that Hollywood wants to squeeze every last penny out of die-hard franchise fans, but it is becoming a little excessive.

Eventually, the movie franchise will start to tank. Anyone left on the sinking franchise will certainly lose respect and possibly their careers along with it.

There are many planners on the market to suit any organization need. There are so many questions. Where do you start looking for planners and planner accessories? Is planning only for the super busy? Before diving head first into planning, consider a few tips to get started.

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First, planning is personal. You do not have to be the lover of all things girly and “basic” to use a planner. We cannot all be a Leslie Knope, whose hobbies include organizing their schedule. Organization is not a one size fits all situation. Some people just need their smartphone calendar app and others like to color code theirs with bright stickers.

In the past, I tried just about every electronic version and paper planner imaginable. Unless you have a great memory, you could probably benefit from a planner. No one likes missing assignments, especially a boss.

If you are looking into your first planner, consider a few points. For more information, search through Instagram or Etsy. Planning is a full-time job for many people, and these websites are a great source of inspiration.

Types of planners

• “By-the-minute” planners

The extremely busy folks need every minute accounted for in their day. If you need to plan every minute of your day, consider getting a planner that lists out every 15 minutes or so. This way, you do not forget anything.

• Weekly/Monthly planners

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This is the standard type of planner. These planners are great for the person who needs it all. It has the monthly view for all those big ideas and the weekly planner for more detailed tasks. Traditional planners offer people the opportunity to maintain a schedule. Planning is mostly work and life scheduling, but it can be anything you need it to be.

• Monthly planners

Monthly planning gets rid of the weekly play-by-play. It benefits some people to have a zoomed out picture of the month. It allows someone the ability to plan ahead without shuffling through weekly pages. If you are someone that needs to have a monthly overview, try this option. (Monthly planners work best for me).

• Bullet journals/planners

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Traditional planners do not work for everyone. Bullet planners utilize graph paper journals. You could also use a sketchbook, notebook, or really book/journal. Bullet planners are great for people who do not think linear. Instead of organizing by date, bullet planners give you the freedom to organize by project, idea, or anything you want. You have the choice to design each planner entry as you see fit, with as many or as little categories as you want. The main disadvantage with bullet planning is setting aside time to construct each entry.

The purposes of planning

Planners are for more than just boring daily tasks. It is a way to incorporate journaling into your daily life.

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Many people use traditional planners or a separate planner for tracking their health. There are health and diet planners on the market. You can track your daily meals, journal your food thoughts for the day, and write down calories burned. Many people find it helpful to use these to stay on target for their diet.

Another great activity is a memory planner. Many people just use their daily planner for this activity, but some have separate ones. A memory planner allows a person to write down one or two memories from each day. Some people use a traditional calendar for this function. Be creative and find some you like.

Wedding planners are a big draw for the newly engaged. You have to meet with a million people on top of your already busy life. It is easy to get swept up in the chaos of it all. Wedding planners work hard to keep you on schedule, but they are not babysitters. Your own personal planner helps keep thing straight. It also allows you to include extraneous details that you need to remember about a meeting.

A deeper look inside planners

Planners are best when the user tailors them to their needs. People tend to run away from planners. People stereotype planner users as anal or super organized. As stated, planning is personal. If you want to decorate your planner so that it farts glitter every time you open it, then go for it! If you need the artistic and flexibility of a simple bullet planner, try it.

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Stickers, Post-it notes, and washi tape are amazing, but they are not for everyone. If you like decoration, Etsy sells just about every sticker and accessory your planner could ever need. To see some options in person, try your local craft store, Target, or even Walmart.

Planning is only useful if you design it to fit your needs. These are just some options. Try some experiments and see what you like.

Target has some great options for newbies that are inexpensive. If you are looking for more variety, try some of these: The Happy Planner, Erin Condren, Plum Planner, and Filofax. Tons of Etsy shops specialize in custom planners. There are even some great planner apps to try out, too.

Jump on the planner trend or leave it if that suits you. Remember that a planner is a tool to organize yourself. A planner is only as useful as you make it.

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For instance, try calling someone a crap canoe. Watch us they scratch their head picturing what a crap canoe would look like. It’s not pretty. Then again, their yelling face is not pretty either.

There are few things more satisfying than hurling an insult at someone who wronged you. If you’ve got a particularly foul mouth, you have likely run out of insults to hurl at people. Some insults are just too hilarious. Others make you want to learn another language just to secretly curse out that neighbor who doesn’t pick up after their dog.

Do you want to get crafty with your next insult? Try some of these!

1. “She’s got a face like a bag full of spanners” -England

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This insult leaves us with so many questions. What the hell is a spanner? Are their other measurements for spanners? Like, if she is really ugly does the bag become a tool shed?

In England, this insult is to call someone ugly.  A “bag full of spanners” means a bag full of wrenches. You are literally likening someone to wrenches. Pretty cool.

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Let’s get it out in the open – vegetarianism is NOT everyone’s cup of tea. Some people just eat vegetarian to transition to veganism. Others just want a new meat-free option for those Fridays in Lent.

When transitioning your favorite dishes to vegetarian, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• It is not going to taste exactly like the meaty dish of your dreams
• Some products contain soy which bothers people’s bodies.
• Not all vegetarian dishes are wimpy and filled with lettuce
• All vegan recipes are vegetarian, but not all vegetarian recipes are vegan.
• It’s not a good idea to feed cats a vegetarian diet. Cats have claws. Cats hold grudges against humans who give them lettuce.

Here are five ways to turn your favorite meal vegetarian:

Chili

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In the winter, nothing is better than chili. For some people, it is a mortal sin to have a meatless chili. Cue the Ron Swanson references.

You can have a bean and veggie chili. It is possible. Still, bean misses that extra bit of punch. Places like MorningStar, Gardien, and Beyond Meat sell meat alternatives.

The “meat” resembles ground beef when you saute it in a pan. It does not taste like meat, but it provides extra texture. It adds protein to the chili. Most of these products absorb the flavors of the chili. The more flavorful and spicy your chili, the better the meat tastes.

Skip the meat. Add the meat. Use a meat alternative. Make the chili spicy AF, and you won’t taste the difference.

Chicken Cacciatore

If you love this Italian dish, you love the chicken, the tomato, and the glorious vegetables. No matter how you choose to make cacciatore, it is delicious. If you make the switch over to vegetarian or just don’t feel like chicken, you have options.

Of course, you can always use tofu. Some people are not a big fan of tofu’s texture. Instead, opt for a meatless meat substitute. All sorts of brands sell a chicken substitutes. Target even has their own brand of meatless substitutes.

If the product comes with a flavor packet, ditch that and use the meatless product in the cacciatore. They absorb just the right amount of the garlic and tomato flavors to be deliciously perfect.

Burgers

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Let’s be real – not all veggie burgers were created equal. Some veggie burgers taste like raw earth slapped between two buns. Several companies make veggie burgers and fake chicken patties. You can eat those or you can make your own.

It is really easy to make your own veggie burger. You can use egg as a binding agent. To make it vegan, use garbanzo (chick peas). Mash the garbanzo beans in with veggies. Try carrots, peppers, onions, green onions, and any spice you desire.

Try grilling the veggie burger. Grilling on a charcoal or propane grill adds an authentic “burger” flavor to the dish. For a simpler alternative, some people prefer to grill portobello mushrooms. Portobello mushrooms have a “meatier” feeling.

Stuffed Peppers

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There is more than one way to stuff a pepper. Meat stuffed peppers are a common dish. You can skip the ground beef and use the meat alternative we discussed above. You can also use quinoa. Quinoa is a great source of nutrients. It is also a great filler for stuffed peppers.

If you want a little extra texture in your stuffed peppers, try some bread mixed with egg, cheese, and veggies. You can fry the peppers or bake them to save on the calories.

Try different proteins

Instead of using meat, you can substitute in multiple proteins that act as a filler and a delicious ingredient.

• Soy: Many meatless products are often made of soy. Soy is a great alternative, but some doctors do not recommend too much of the protein.
• Tofu: Tofu is a long-standing vegetarian favorite. It is not everyone’s favorite, but it is good in many recipes.
• Quinoa: Quinoa is a grain that is nutritious. You can eat it in other dishes or as a substitute for rice.
• Seitan: Seitan is a versatile alternative. There isn’t much you can not do with it. It is made from wheat gluten, so keep that in mind when deciding on an alternative.
• Lentils: Lentils are not just great in soup. You can mash lentils and form them into anything you like. The protein benefits are not bad either.
• Beans: Garbanzo beans are a favorite of vegan and vegetarians. Recently, it was discovered that you can whip the juice of garbanzo beans into stiff peaks for use in meringues.
• Mushrooms: As discussed above, you can use mushrooms as a meat substitute. They are thicker in consistency and can be used in a variety of dishes.