You Won't Believe How Expensive These 9 Pieces of Modern Art Are
A replica of “Fountain” (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0) by Marcel Duchamp (Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)—Collage by the author. Would you consider putting your own fecal matter up for sale? — Well, someone did, and their product is now regarded as a work of art worth thousands of dollars. Yes, you read that right. A work of art with a soaring price tag, highly-coveted by collectors.
Read full storyThe Untold Story of the Latino World War II Hero Who Saved 40,000 Jews From Nazi Extermination
Colonel José Castellanos Contreras — Source: Wikimedia Commons. Everyone knows the story of Oskar Schindler, the German industrialist credited with saving the lives of over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust; but very few have heard of Colonel José Castellanos Contreras, the Salvadoran international diplomat who helped save up to 40,000 Central European Jews during the same period.
Read full storyHow You Can Suddenly Become Sick With This Terrifying, Rare, Life-Threatening Condition That Quickly Paralyzes Your Body
The neurologist’s secretary handed me an envelope. “Delayed impulse response indicating acute polyneuropathy.” I stared into the floor for several seconds. I had tested positive for Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
Read full storyDealing With a Painful Breakup? Here's Why You Should Be Thankful for It
They just broke the news to you: They can't go on any longer. Your relationship is over. What you thought would be your "happily ever after" is now no more than a distant dream, an illusion of a future that won't come to pass. You have just been dumped, and with that, your fairytale comes to an end.
Read full storyHow Reading Can Save a Person From Their Pain, Fear, and Loneliness
Frowning in jealousy, the little boy stared up at the grownups looking down on him. The fact that they all had a superpower he craved seemed almost unfair and insulting. Like a stranger in the land of the privileged, he resented his incapacity to do what everyone else did as second nature. And the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to change that.
Read full storyPsychology Explains How Our Worst Decisions Are the Result of These Cognitive Biases
Imagine someone asked you to rate your intelligence, looks, and moral values on a scale from one to ten, with ten being perfect and five being average. If you give yourself a seven, as most people would, then you may be suffering from the illusory perception that you’re better than most people: a notably common and persistent cognitive bias.
Read full storyThe Biggest Problem You’ll Ever Face Has No Solution — and That’s a Good Thing.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”. As anyone who’s ever been in an intensive-care unit can tell you, when your life’s in danger, and you can almost see the Grim Reaper strolling around doing his business, something interesting happens. All your worries become inconsequential as you face life’s ultimate problem: Death.
Read full storyBlame It on the Media: How Misrepresentations of Love and Romance Lead to Toxic Relationships
Ah, music! The perfect companion during our best and worst days. The sweet escapism from the vicissitudes of everyday life. And, of course, the best possible teacher about love matters there is.
Read full story7 Good Reasons Why You Should Join a Writers’ Group
I know what you’re thinking: “But writing’s essentially a lonely business, isn’t it?” Well, what if I told you it doesn’t have to be? Better yet, what if I told you it shouldn’t be?
Read full storyThere is no such thing as a problem-free life — what we have instead is a call-to-action type of life
“Don’t pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”. Let me guess. You’re currently doing your best to deal with a series of problems. Now, how can I possibly know this? Well, that’s because I am too, and so is everyone else you know and love (Surprise, surprise).
Read full storyIf You Want to Be Loved and Happy, You Have to Love Yourself and Be Happy by Yourself First
The day we broke up, Mary put her finger on a huge mistake I had made while we were dating. It was something I said. You know, a phrase of the incredibly ill-advised kind. In my defense, though, I really don’t remember whether I actually meant it, or if I said it just to impress her. Either way, it was unwise of me to say it.
Read full storySchool bullying causes long-lasting mental-health problems and lifelong psychological damage
Bullying: The practice of mortifying and humiliating the weak and defenseless for the sake of the perpetrator’s entertainment. It’s a ruthless exercise of power and a statement of dominance, based on an evident unbalance of power between abusers and victims. Worst of all, this type of cruel behavior can scar people for life.
Read full storyThe Opening Line: The One Element That Can Make or Break a Story
Articles, blog posts, and short stories are much like motion pictures: They share a key element that can either keep their respective audiences’ attention or lose it completely. Allow me to elaborate by telling you a short anecdote.
Read full story7 Life-Changing Lessons From The Genius Creator of Mario Bros: Shigeru Miyamoto
Mention Mario to an average person, and most likely, they’ll tell you exactly who he is and what he looks like, even though he doesn’t exist in real life. Now, ask the same person if they know Shigeru Miyamoto, and chances are they will have no idea who you’re talking about.
Read full storyThe Most Prolific Serial Killer in American History Dies After Confessing to Murdering 93 Women
On January 24th, 1971, the decomposing body of 33-year-old Mary Brosley was found in a 6-inch grave, her legs partially sticking out of the ground. Nearly half a century later, 78-year-old Samuel Little — also known as Samuel McDowell — confessed to choking her to death, providing small details such as the necklace she was wearing the night he took her life.
Read full storyIf You Think Love Will Make You Happy, You're Terribly Mistaken
“I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me?”. Some years ago, I had a girlfriend. We’ll call her Mary. Mary was a distinguished student, a career-oriented girl, a strong-willed woman, an ambitious person, a firm holder of her beliefs and convictions, an incurable enthusiast, a smart cookie, a bookworm, a chorister, and a passionate designer.
Read full storyDespite Being Broke Due to the COVID-19 Crisis, I Had a Wonderful Christmas
Twelve months ago, I thought I knew what it was like to be a teacher living on a tight budget. Little did I know the year 2020 was about to prove me wrong. In my home country, the COVID-19 crisis had some serious consequences for educators. Class hourly rates decreased, the number of groups per teacher was greatly reduced, and somehow, teaching from home felt like twice the amount of work compared to last year.
Read full storyReaching Your Life Goals Is Like Solving Jigsaw Puzzles: It's 100% Doable With a Little Patience
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu. What do jigsaw puzzles and life goals have in common? One, they seem impossibly hard to carry out at first, and two, they are both achievable, by implementing a simple and common approach.
Read full story7 Essential Facts Every Prospective Stepparent Must Know
Although I got married in May 2019, my step-parenting adventures date from 2014, when I began a relationship with the mother of my stepdaughter, right when the little girl—Giselle—was only six.
Read full storyHere's Why You Shouldn't Be Scared to Date a Single Parent
Just a few years ago, my friend Edward and I were dating two nice ladies, both of whom had something in common: They were single mothers. Janet — Edward’s girlfriend back in 2014 — was the struggling single mother of a lovely three-year-old little girl whose father had fled the country upon learning Janet was pregnant.
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