✍ FYI: How Old Do I Look?

It’s something we’ve all pondered to ourselves at one time or another in our lives  – how old do we look. Or at the very least, how old do OTHERS think we look. Well ponder no more because there’s an app that can answer that. Well kind of.

ⓌⒽⒶⓉ Will ⓉⒽⒺⓎ Think of Ⓝ€✘Ⓣ: Stainless Steel Ice Cubes

Stainless Steel Ice Cubes

Don't water down your premium whiskey!  Get that chill without the 'thaw'.  These nifty stainless steel ice cubes should do the trick!

✍ FYI: GAZELLE - Money for your Damaged Electronics

For Your Information...

Gazelle - The place to get some money for your broken gadgets!

Got a broken or damaged phone or other electronic device?  Then don't just toss it out the door.  Get some money for it!



Want to upgrade to the new iPhone or Android device? Gazelle will give you a price for your device and pay you when they receive it in the mail.

Recource(s):  MFS-Useful Links

✍ FYI: Airbnb - Cheaper, Unique Accommodations...

For Your Information...

Airbnb - Travelling the cheaper, safer way.

So do you travel a lot?  Or would you like to but can't afford the cost?  Well, Airbnb might be your solution! Not only is it a better way to meet the locals, but it's also cheaper too! 


Based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world — online or from a mobile phone. Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 33,000 cities and 192 countries. And with world-class customer service and a growing community of users, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to monetize their extra space and showcase it to an audience of millions.

Recource(s):  MFS-Useful Links

ⓌⒽⒶⓉ Will ⓉⒽⒺⓎ Think of Ⓝ€✘Ⓣ: The Jetovator

The Jetovator - the Flying, Water-powered Bike

For those of you guys who can't get enough thrills and spills, maybe this is the ultimate 'boy toy' for you!  Who says bikes are just for on land.  Now you can ride your bike high up in the air, on water doing crazy aerial tricks like 360 degree barrel rolls, and back flips.  Insanity at it's best!



☺On The Lighter Side... Politics Through a Child's Eyes

POLITICS THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES...

A little boy goes to his dad and asks, 'What is Politics?'
Dad says, 'Well son, let me try to explain it this way:

I am the head of the family, so call me The Prime Minister.

Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government.

We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People.

The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.

And your baby brother,we will call him the Future.

Now think about that and see if it makes sense.'

So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said.

Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him.

He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.

So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep.

Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny..

He gives up and goes back to bed.

The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, 'Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now. '

The father says, 'Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.'

The little boy replies, 'The Prime Minister is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit.'

Thanks Will!

❏This vs That ❐:The BlackBerry Z10 vs. Galaxy S3 and Others

Welcome to Thursday's

Since everyone is talking about it, I won't be going on about it.  A comparison chart should suffice.

Now that BlackBerry has finally managed to get some new hardware out the door, it's time to put it up against the others and compare...

Resource(s):  Image and article - androidcentral.com/

✚Helpful Hints #11 - Winter Edition

HEALTH and WELLNESS

LET IT SNOW!

Shovelling snow can be quite strenuous.  The average person burns about 200 calories with 30 minutes of activity.  So do you want to get your new year's resolution off to a great start?  Start shovelling snow!

WINTER JOGGING/RUNNING TIPS
Jogging in winter used to be unheard of but with the latest in apparel that keeps us warm and dry in subzero temps and the need to keep fit, there's no reason to stop as long as you keep these tips in mind:

Photo by Flickr user souho

• Try breathing through your nose.  Cold, winter air is dry and breathing through your mouth increases the dryness while decreasing the temperature of the air, so sayeth fitsugar.com. Because your lungs do not like dry air, you can experience asthma-like symptoms, like wheezing and coughing, when you breathe cold air in through your mouth. Breathing through your nose not only filters out air impurities, but it helps to regulate body temperature as well. It also heats up the air, decreasing those asthma-like symptoms.
• But I can't breathe through my nose!  If you are like many others and start to get a runny nose as soon as you hit the cold air - bring some kleenexes along!  Get those handy travel packs you can buy at most stores! 
• Avoid breathing direct cold air.  Some runners may experience throat irritation if they breathe cold air directly—avoid this by wearing and breathing through a scarf a ski mask or a neck warmer.  
• Be flexible with your running schedule. Run during the warmest time of the day, which tends to be midday when the sun is high in the sky.

BEAUTY and FITNESS

MEN - MULTI-TASK FOR A BETTER SHAVE - SHAVE IN THE SHOWER!

Photo by Flickr user Cult Gigolo

Not only is this time saving, but it will make shaving easier!  The humidity of your shower will keep your skin moist and your pores open and even make the hair softer and easier to remove.  Of course, there are few things you should know before doing this:

1. Buy a fog-free mirror or shower mirror. (Otherwise, rub in some of that same shaving cream onto your mirror till it's clear and that should keep it fog free for weeks!)
2. Wash face, then lather face with shave cream or gel, or just use bath soap.
3. Lather body with soap - take your time, this gives the shave cream time to soften your beard.
4. Shave cheeks first, neck next, and finally the upper lip and chin. This order is important as it leaves the toughest whiskers til last, giving them more time to soften.
5. Then rinse, dry your face off and apply the usual after shave or moisturizer.

WOMEN - HELP DRY AND FLAKY SKIN DURING WINTER WITH THIS HOMEMADE TIP
From Cosmopolitan - If your face is so dry and peely that all your moisturizers just aren’t helping, try this remedy from NYC dermatologist Lance Brown: Soak a washcloth in ice-cold whole milk, and lay it across your face for 10 minutes. The natural lipids in the milk will plump up and rehydrate your skin, while the cool temp and lactic acid will tone down redness and remove flecks.

HOME and AUTO
5 TIPS FOR STORING YOUR MOTORCYCLE DURING WINTER.

1. Location is key.  Choose a warm, dry place such as a heated garage and keep the bike away from windows and direct sunlight.  Cover your motorcycle with a breathable cover, not a waterproof one that will trap moisture.
2. Check tire pressure.  "Store your bike on the centerstand or on a motorcycle lift jack - this removes the majority of the weight from the tires," says John Pineo, honarary president of the Canadian Motorcycle Association.  Ift it isn't possible, Pineo recommends fully inflating the tires before putting the bike in storage and checking the pressure monthly.



Photo by Flickr user macwagen

3. Charge your battery.  Use a battery tender to maintain the charge throughout the winter.  "These chargers monitor the state of the battery and charge it when needed," says Pineo.  "You only need to check the connections once a week."
4. Fill your fuel tank.  "Store your bike with a full tank of gasoline," says Pineo.  "An empty tank leaves the interior vulnerable to rusting and also dries out any rubber seals or hoses inside the tank."  Pineo also recommends using a fuel stabilizer to prevent the fuel from breaking down and clogging the injectors and jets.
5. Top up fluids.  Change your oil before storing your bike - even if it isn't due for a oil change. To prevent the cylinder wall from rusting, you might also want to remove the spark plugs and pour engine oil into the cylinders.  Put the spark plugs back on, start your bike and let it run for a few minutes to let the fresh oil circulate.

TRY NOT TO DO THIS WHEN WARMING UP YOUR CAR IN THE WINTER.

Photo by Flickr user slworking2

Did you know, idling a car is not the best way to warm its engine?  The engine warms faster if you simply start the car and drive off.  Make sure all windows are cleaned off before doing so.

With today's modern engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving away. For every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile.

As a matter of fact,  If you are going to be idling or parked for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine. Ten seconds of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.

I've always known this fact about not idling your car for too long in winter or otherwise, but I never knew why it wasn't good to do so... until now.  As Consumer Energy Center explains:
Excessive idling can actually damage your engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems. Fuel is only partially combusted when idling because an engine does not operate at its peak temperature. This leads to the build up of fuel residues on cylinder walls that can damage engine components and increase fuel consumption.

FIREPLACE TIPS

Photo by Flickr user Shutter Daddy

Keep it shut. Traditional fireplaces are an energy loser - it's best not to use them because they pull heated air out of the house and up the chimney. When not in use, make absolutely sure the damper is closed. Before closing the damper, make sure that you don't have any smoldering embers. If you decide not to use a fireplace, then block off the chimney with a piece of rigid insulation from the hardware store that fits snugly into the space (dampers don't shut fully without some leaking).

However, if you must use your fireplace....

Choose hardwoods wisely. The wood you use for the fireplace should have been stored in a high, dry place for at least six months prior to burning. Look for woods that are dense, such as oak — avoid woods that are resinous, such as pine. These can create more creosote in your chimney. 

Keep the damper open when burning. Gases can accumulate very quickly if a fireplace is closed up too tightly. Always keep the damper open to provide continuous airflow.

Avoid using chemical products. Place the logs on the metal grate at the back of the fireplace, and always try to use kindling to light the fire.  Those easily combustible small sticks or twigs used for starting a fire works just as well without giving off any noxious fumes.

SEX and RELATIONSHIPS
Women, winter time is not the greatest time for us in terms of feeling sexy and in the mood. However, men find you even more sexy!  As for you men - don't pack away those sleeping bags just yet!

WOMEN - EMBRACE YOUR BODY... AND GET BUSY ON THE CLOTHES DRYER!
As stated on the Women'sHealth website - guys actually find you sexier in the wintertime, according to a study published in the journal Perception. In the summer, they see so much skin that they become more critical of women's bodies. But in the winter, women aren't showcasing their toned butts and abs, so men are more accepting of different body types and are more likely to overlook flaws. Don't feel comfortable lounging around naked? Throw on something that highlights your best assets, like a cute pair of boy shorts or a sexy tank top.... (Or wearing one of their over-sized sweaters with nothing underneath!)

Photo by Flickr user Jon.Jennings

Get busy on the clothes dryer.  Yeah, the laundry room is for getting things clean, but you can also use it to get down and dirty. Hop onto the humming dryer while he stands between your legs, and let him give you oral attention. "You can hoist one leg over his shoulder to give him easier access," says Fulbright. The heat from the machine plus the vibrations will amp up the experience.

RAUNCHY WRAP-UPS!
Cosmopolitan says: Drag your sleeping bag out of storage and zip yourselves up in there. Not only will you be totally snug but the restricted space will make the whole experience super-intimate. Stick to slow, sensual movements and when things start heating up in there you can break free and go wild.

OK SMART ASSES....

TIME FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ!
Boy do I feel retarded!  I think I got as far as #8.  Oh well.  YOUR TURN!

So how far did you guys get? 



Resource(s):

consumerenergycenter.org/, blog.builddirect.com/, Womans World magazine, cosmopolitan.com/ Men's Health magazine, askmen.com/, Reader's Digest magazine, rd.com/, Consumer Reports magazine, tips.become.com/, The Oprah magazine,  Quirkology.com, Best Health magazine, homesafe.com, Money magazine, fitsugar.com/, Macleans magazine, womenshealthmag.com/, Better Homes and Garden magazine, beauty-tips.net/, caamagazine.ca, ehow.com/

✈Worldwide Wednesdays: Cave Hotels of Turkey -The Yunak Evleri and the Hezen

The Yunak Evleri Hotel aka the Cave Hotel, TURKEY

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

We're sure most of you have heard of this hotel by now, but the Yunak Evleri Hotel in Turkey is absolutely unique and we had to add to our collection in Worldwide Wednesdays.  

In Cappadocia’s magical landscape of fairy chimneys, in the ancient village of Urgup, is a unique hotel carved into a mountain cliff, the Yunak Evler.  The hotel is a combination of six cave houses with a total of 30 private cave rooms dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries and crowned with a 19th century Greek Mansion. 

Click on photos to view larger sizes and get the 'feel' of living in a cave!
Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

According to their website, the name of the neighbourhood "YUNAK" comes from the old days when women used to do all their washing and of course, socialising by the fountain located at the village square. Being by the fountain and at the Yunak was the center of daily life. 

The hotel is so unique with its labyrinth of narrow passageways and curved stone stairways which leads to unique, modern as well as tastefully decorated rooms, that one has to see it to believe and appreciate it.  All rooms by-the-way, include private patios overlooking the Turkish Mesa.  Can you just imagine the amount of work as well as the type of work involved in order to bring this amazing hotel up-to-date for the modern world?

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

The name “Cappadocia” dates back to Persian times, when the region was called as “Katpatukya” meaning “The Land of Beautiful Horses”. Since then Cappadocia has seen the rise and fall of many different civilizations. It is a land of vast plains, rolling hills, rugged mountains and extinct volcanoes. It is a veritable treasury of historical relics from the Chalcolithic era to the Seljuk Turks period. The visitor may seldom travel more then a few miles without encountering some derelict reminders of Cappadocia‘s colorful past.

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

And we just love how the rustic feel is combined with modern throughout each room.

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

Photo credit: Flickr user leyaya

Apparently, Cappadocia is famous for many other 'cave hotels' like this next one such as the Hezen Cave hotel listed below:

The Hezen Cave Hotel, TURKEY

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

This unique Cappadocia Hotel has been built into an exceptional old house of cave bedrooms and was fully renovated and refurbished to the highest standards. The Hotel’s interior has been designed by Halide Didem, with a unique eclectic style.

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

 We're just loving the colours, aren't you?  They are so wonderfully decorated and the light, natural walls just brings all the colours out even more!

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

Photo by Flickr user CarpetView

So if cave hotels are your thing - they sure are ours!, check them out and let us know what YOU think!




Resource(s):  yunakevleri.com/,   hezenhotel.com/,