6 Totally Obvious Ways To Make The Holidays Better And More Meaningful

The Holiday season is almost here, which means a lot of shopping and fretting about how your home looks, what food you'll serve, what you'll buy your friends and loved ones, what you'll wear at your numerous parties, and what'll be on your personal Christmas list. This can lead to a very busy time of plenty of action, and little time for yourself. Here are a few simple things to keep in mind this holiday season:

1. Be thankful: It's easy to focus on what you don't have or what you need; but there's always plenty to be thankful for. When you're grateful for what you have and the people in your life, you'll feel better, you'll experience happiness. It's not easy to do all the time--it takes effort sometimes--but it's important to work at.

2. Find solitude: The holidays can be a time of incessant social gatherings, which may lift your spirits, but can also drain your energy. Solitude is a way to charge your batteries and be present for your thoughts and feelings and what's going on in your life. 

3. Drink and eat less: Alcohol is a depressant, and too much food can make you feel down and depressed as well. There will be innumerable moments to eat and drink; finding the right balance of enjoyment and self-control will be critical. The last thing you want is to get to the end of the holiday season having gained too much weight and regretting decisions made while under the influence of alcohol.

4. Get a designated driver: If you are going out partying, make sure you've got a designated driver, and you're thus avoiding putting your safety at risk. 

5. Where can you serve? It's easy to make the holidays all about 'me'; but everyone knows it's when we serve others that we are at our best. Find ways to serve people, whether in your family, friends, or others in need. 

6. Think of other things: There are all kinds of ways to create meaning around your holidays. Ask yourself, how can I make a difference in someone's life this holiday? How can I spread more love and peace around me? How can I gratefully give back for what I've been blessed with.

You Won't Believe This Robot That Rejects Human Command When Safety Seems Compromised

This post is a witness to an extraordinary development in artificial intelligence technology that points to a future that we may not actually want.

Below, you will see a robot rejecting the command of a human based on perceived harm to itself. That's right: the robot is able to assess a situation and determine whether or not it will be good or bad for its well-being. This is a huge step, if not the manifestation of, toward a machine that is self-conscious and able to think for itself.

This might sound really cool, but here's the problem with this. In a book entitled Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era, James Barrat argues that robot consciousness will hit a tipping point when it perceives that humans are not out for its best interest, and, as such, will turn against them--indeed, the robots will perceive the human being as a threat. And once that happens, they will direct their exponentially growing intelligence against us, hence subjugating, enslaving, or even annihilating us.

In the video below, MIT engineer gives a command for the robot to step forward toward the end of a table. The robot balks stating that the path is not safe. The human restates the command, and the robot reasons that it's not safe. Only when the human states he will catch it, the robot ventures forth. Watching it for yourself is shocking:

The robot looks cute, but imagine it as large as the man standing next to him, with nano-skin and intelligence several orders of magnitude greater than his (and given that the man is programming AI, it's more than safe to say he's intellectually no slouch).

Here's a question for the professor, and all others building AI with consciousness: Why are you creating beings whose intelligence will inevitably subjugate us? A further question: In whose interest are you building them? For some higher purpose, or your own glory? 

On the screen, a tiny robot; in reality, a major tipping point for the future of humanity--and, evidently, robots.

6 Ways You Can Help Keep Your Teen Safe From Drunk Driving This Holiday Season

As we're approaching the holiday season, we're inevitably approaching a time in which drunk driving becomes a prevailing issue. Unfortunately, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers.

Here are some stats according to M.A.D.D.:

1. Young people have the highest rates of traffic death and injury per capita among all age groups and the highest death rate per kilometer driven among all drivers under 75 years of age. More 19-year-olds die or are seriously injured than any other age group.

2. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 16 to 25 year olds, and alcohol and/or drugs are a factor in 55% of those crashes.

3. 16-25 year olds constituted 13.6% of the population in 2010, but made up almost 33.4% of the impairment-related traffic deaths.

This shows a severe problem. It's a common belief that the teenage years consist of a struggle with identity; as such, teens can be susceptible to pressures from peers. In fact, at such an age it's not uncommon to see a stronger bond with one's peer group(s) than with family members. A decision to get into a vehicle with a peer under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol would be one in which the social pay-off would be perceived as greater than the risk. 

So what are some ways one can try to stop one's teen(s) from driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol? 

Michele Borba, contributor to Today.com, and parenting and education consultant, has this to prescribe:

1. Set clear rules against drinking: Teens of hands-on parents who set clear rules against drinking are 4-times less likely to engage in risky behaviour.

2. Put a no drinking and driving rule in writing: You can download a contract from Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) that can be useful. Signing such a contract will give your teen pause before he/she gets into a vehicle under, or with someone under, the influence of drugs/alcohol. Make a law that he/she will have their licenses taken away; but if they make the call to you for a ride, they can keep it.

3. Form an alliance with other parents: It's not uncommon for teens to attend supervised parties in which alcohol and drugs are freely available. Having a pact with other parents can reduce the likelihood of that happening.

4. Create a code with your teen: Many teens will not call for a ride out of embarrassment. With a code such as "I've got the flu," or a simple text of 1-1-1-1, they can call for help without losing face. The key is to pick them up immediately without questions asked over the phone--otherwise you'll lose their trust.

5. Don't keep alcohol around: Teens can easily access alcohol from home. If there's a problem with your teen accessing alcohol, don't keep it around at home. If you must have alcohol, keep it locked up and hide the key. 

6. Be in their lives: This is probably the hardest thing to do, but being hands-on and in relationship with them will keep you better informed of their comings and goings, what they're into, the friends they have, where they're going. It'll also help build trust for those times when they'll need to turn to someone for help and advice. 

7 Totally Common Winter Driving Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make

Winter's coming, which means it's a good time to brush up on our winter-driving skills. 

Here are 7 common mistakes you've got to avoid to stay safe on the road:

1. Driving fatigued: You've got to make sure you're rested before you hit the snow-wrought highway--and no, an extra Red Bull won't keep you awake and alert enough to be attentive.

2. Running on empty: It's 6:30am, you're rushing out of the house for that early breakfast meeting, and realize you barely have enough gas to make it. Not smart. You don't want to risk being stuck on the side of the road with an empty gas tank; or, under really cold conditions, the little remains of gas freezing up in your tank. 

3. Being unprepared: When on extended trips, or highway commuting, it's important to have a good safety kit in your vehicle, replete with flashlight, candles, blanket, water, and some snacks. You don't want to be stuck on the side of the road without something keeping you warm, and food fuelling you up--especially if you have to dig yourself out of a snow bank.

4. Hit your breaks: This is a real no-no, and yet it's a common reaction to a swath of break lights ahead. Even with ABS brakes, your vehicle can slide on ice. Try to reduce your speed slowly, rather than jamming your foot into the brake.

5. Driving too close: It's astounding to me how many people tailgate in poor road conditions--how will they have time to stop or avoid a collision in front of them? Give yourself some good distance between you and the vehicle in front of you--8-10 seconds is a good general rule. Be mindful also of the vehicle behind you and how close or far away it's driving. It's not the time to prove a point by hitting your brakes to back a tail-gater off.

6. Speeding: It's easy to project driving habits from the summer and fall onto winter roads, and make like Mario Andretti along the 401--not wise. A general rule of thumb is to drive according to road conditions: if the highway is under icy conditions, then driving 130 km/h in the left-hand lane may not be the best decision.

7. Leaving home unnecessarily: If the weather's bad, and you don't need to go out, just stay home--the pizza can be delivered, and that 6-pack can certainly wait till road conditions are better. If you must go out, then really take your time and make sure you're well prepared.

6 Beautiful Moments You Can Take When The Walls Feel Like They're Closing In

We're in a time right now of intense political, social, economic, and even military pressure. The world seems like a crazy place, in which events are unfolding so quickly and destructively, many wonder if there is anywhere left in the world that is safe anymore. We reminisce about the good ol' days, when life seemed slower, simpler, fuller.  

We can get bogged down by the news, run down by talking heads, distracted by innumerable headlines, and worn down by all the ways we use media to numb or distract from what all the zeros and ones are foisting upon us--at least that's how we see it. 

It's easy to feel that the walls are closing in, that all there is to life is what's contained in that small 15, 40, or 60 inch screen; that the whole of the earth and the cosmos around it are fully represented by CBC, Fox News, or CNN. 

Here are a few things that come to mind that can help us live more fully in the present moment and in the midst of seeming chaos and upheaval. 

1. Tune-out; turn off: We want to be informed and we want to be empathetic and reactive and angry and sad and hopeful and mournful all at the same time by what we see happening all around our world; however, there is something important about stepping back and allowing ourselves to get a fuller picture of life, to delve deeply into the life of those around us, to get outside into nature, to feel the warmth of the sun or the chill of the wind or a falling leaf to graze our shoulder on its way to ground. There's an importance in turning off the computer, unplugging your wi-fi, putting your mobile phone on airplane mode, and just being in the moment of your life. 

2. Have a feast: What about having an impromptu feast--a feast of hope, of glad tidings. How about inviting people over to a simple roast, leaving the t.v. off, gathering up all the mobile phones at the door, sitting in candle light, and sharing life with one another? When we're in front of our computers all day, or televisions all night, gorging ourselves on the news, we can often feel estranged and alone. All the tools that promise to connect us (Facebook, Twitter, etc) actually make us feel more isolated, according to numerous studies. In fact, Facebook is known to enhance envy and heightened personal inadequacy. Why do we turn to them? To numb the pain of our world; to fix our feelings of estrangement, our loneliness. When we gather together with others and share a meal or an experience together, we feel more human; we are able to share our joys and sorrows together. We come to realize we're not alone. 

3. Walk the dog: This is another great activity, if you have one. There's something wonderful about heading out with this other being that, in spite of its inability to speak our language, can communicate with us without words so well. Something to think about in our wordy world: how people can have such profound relationships with their pets when the latter can't say anything at all. How powerful that relationship built on silence. Maybe you're not the one to take the dog for a walk; maybe you only take it out twice a day for a little ditty around the block. I encourage you to take the dog out once to twice more daily, and for a little longer distance. Gaze up at the sky, feel your breath on the exhale, stop to notice trees or stars, or other things. 

4. Get out for a good drive: I'm not talking about taking your anger out on the road with you; but taking a scenic drive somewhere, putting on your favourite tunes (preferably something uplifting), and getting away from it all. Take your spouse and kids as well, and stop at some far away place for ice cream or a bite to eat. You'll feel you're on a journey, even if it's just 20 minutes up the road. 

5. Read a good book: If you've ditched your book library for your Kindle, it's time to build it back up again. Physical books have a silence to them that is so soothing for the media-weary eyes. Find some place comfortable, pour yourself a soothing cup of tea, and get lost in a good story. If you don't know what to read, check out GoodReads or the New York Times Best Seller List.  

6. Visit someone who is lonely or sick: Do you have  a relative who is lonely? Someone in your family who is alone? Do you know of someone who is sick in the hospital in need of simple company? Visiting someone who is sick or alone is an important way to touch life, to understand the human condition outside of the warped representations of media. Being with someone who is lonely will provide mutual edification, even if there are awkward silences or even disagreements. 

There are many things we can do away from our computers and media-addictions that can help us touch life in a realer way. These are just a few. But it takes stepping away from the computer and entering the funk of life to understand it. The issue here is that unless we do this, unless we can break away from technology, we are under threat to simply amalgamate into them--they become us, and we become them. Then how well will we be able to touch life then? 

4 Unbelievably Simple Tips For Jump Starting Your Vehicle

Winter's coming, and it's just bound to happen: you get out to your van after your son's hockey game, and the darn thing won't start. Ever jump started your car before? Then is not the time to learn. Ok, let's face it, you'd probably just Google it on the spot and get your pick of 100,000 sites showing you how to do it. But let's say, then, that your phone has just run out of battery, and the said van is useless in charging it until you get it jump started--ha! Well, then of course you could borrow someone's phone to find out; but at that point, you're in the collaboration zone for a good old fashioned, pre-Google, car jumpstart--at least for now before we are all being escorted around in wi-fi battery-powered selfie-cars, but that won't be for another 4-5 years from now...

There are two preliminary things you'll need: 1) a good set of jumper-cables (not a good idea to bite your nails in hopes that the quickly emptying hockey arena holds at least one other vehicle with jumper cables with which to bail you out, 2) another vehicle with a strong working battery.

Also remember: the RED cable is positive, and the BLACK cable is negative (just think of black for all the negative thoughts you're having at that moment--tada!).

Note that LifeHacker, Edmunds, AAA, and Car and Driver Magazine all agree on this procedure:

Step 1: Connect Cables

• Firmly connect one red clamp to the positive (+) terminal on the car with the dead battery.
• Connect the other red clamp to the positive (+) terminal on the car with the good battery.
• Connect one black clamp to the negative (-) terminal on the car with the good battery.
• Connect the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface anywhere in the engine compartment of the car with the dead battery. This will ground the connection – even a bolt or crossbar will do.

Step 2: Start Your Engines

• Start the booster car, and let it run a bit before starting your car. This will allow the charge to flow into the dead battery
• Then start the dead battery's car. The car should start right away, but if it doesn't, wait a few minutes and try it again. 
• If your car still doesn't start after a couple of tries, leave it be. There might be something else wrong with it.

Step 3: Disconnect Cables

• Once you've let the cars run a bit, disconnect the cables in the reverse order: 1) remove the clamp on the grounded surface, then the negative cable on the booster car, 2) remove the positive cable on the boosted car and then the positive cable on the charged car.
• Make sure to grab onto only the protected clamp handles, not the cables themselves
• Remember: you're dealing with live wires.

Step 4: Drive away

You're now ready to drive away. With about 15 minutes of driving, your battery is probably well-charged and in good shape; you may, however, need another boost the following day. 

These 7 Thought-Boosters Will Change Your Life

It's easy to get down, especially when the world seems like its tipping sideways and there's mayhem on every street corner. 

It's easy to get down when your Twitter feed is chalked full of ream after ream of doomsday headlines, heart-wrenching photos, and videos of hostility, pain, and tragedy. 

It's easy to get down when there's that pressure beating down your neck to succeed beyond everyone's wildest expectation, even if the only thing pressing down on you is your own ambition and fear of failure. 

It's easy to get down when you feel you don't quite have enough, even though when you're real honest with yourself you realize you have just way too much. 

It's easy to get down when being human means becoming more robotic, and there doesn't seem to be a way to reverse (trans)evolution.

These are thoughts we all have, especially in the 21st Century--but they don't have to define you or your day. Neuroscience continues to reveal links between thinking positively and personal growth. And as Carol Dweck states in her book, Mindset, the difference between those who live well and those who don't is simply a difference in how they think. 

What are some things you can do when you wake up and you want to get up instead of down?

1. Avoid bad thoughts: Ok--so we all have thoughts rushing through our heads (try to think about nothing for 10 seconds--it's next to impossible); but you don't have to engage them. Simply let the thoughts go. Or, think of training a dog: when the dog wants to go somewhere it shouldn't, you say "No," and lead it to where it can go. Same with our thoughts: when the negative ones come, we can simply say "No," and lead our mind elsewhere.

2. You are not your thoughts: Your thoughts don't define you. If you have bad thoughts or negative thoughts, it's just your mind processing the infinite amount of information you're receiving every second--but it doesn't define you. Again, you can simply turn your mind toward something more practical or positive or good. 

3. Avoid negative stuff: It's important to be informed, but it's another to enter the abyss of 24-7 news feeds every day without coming up for air. One great humanitarian I read about upon hearing of 9/11 stayed away from all the 'breaking news' out of concern that it would bring himself to despair. It doesn't mean we don't engage in tragedy and feel for those who suffer, but there is a point at which we can drive ourselves into despair through our watching of such tragedies to no end.

4. Persist through failure: We all fail--simple enough. Yet accepting failure and moving on is one of the most difficult things for people to do. Do you know the secret to juggling? When people learn how to juggle, one of the things they are assigned to do is throw the balls in the air and let them fall to the ground--eventually all the fear of failure is removed, and the person can begin to learn to catch them. If you've failed at a project or a major life decision, you've just entered the ranks of every great creative or inventor or artist. The key is to keep moving forward.

5. Try new things: If you're in a funk, try something new. Don't be afraid to fail. Often new ways of seeing or thinking come out of moments when we try something we haven't before--it could be switching to poached eggs from scrambled, or taking a different route to work, or biking there instead of taking the bus. 

6. Laugh: This is a tremendous form of therapy that springs from looking at the world out of vulnerability and a place of being fine with not having the answers. It takes a certain kind of breaking point for it to happen; a certain kind of failure or set back. When you've lost and have no other answers, and let go of trying to control everything, laughter can come. This is joy in suffering; and it's a wonderful thing.

7. Avoid trying to know everything: Socrates said, "A wise man admits he knows nothing." We live in a world in which the intellect is everything--but what of the heart? I heard one person say, "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." When you don't try to have all the answers, when you enter your day as a beginner, you'll live more from your heart, and thus will be kinder to yourself and those around you. 

Fake Or Real? The Debatable Christmas Tree Dilemma

It's a bit early for Christmas, but there are many who are currently preparing their homes, both inside and outside, for the holidays. And one of the many dilemmas for the holidays is that between a real or artificial Christmas tree. Here's how the whole thing breaks down.

Artificial trees are a way of buying a tree that you simply put up over many Christmases--depending of course on the quality and how well it's stored. You get plenty of use from it at a fraction of the cost of that many real trees. The downside is that they are not considered environmentally friendly, given that they are often constructed with fossil fuels, they off-gas something awful, and they don't biodegrade when disposed of. (The question here is what in our daily lives is not made from fossil fuels, off-gases, and is non-biodegradable when disposed of.). 

Real trees are wonderfully piny and beautiful and, well, real. However, while there is a romantic notion of going out to the wild and chopping one down, most people purchase them from tree farms that grow the trees year round, then sell them at Christmas. One objection to purchasing a real tree, from a sustainability perspective, is the use of pesticides in the farming of the trees; for not only are the chemicals harming the environment such farms are believed to foster, they're more importantly harming those farmers exposed to them. And there are, as of yet, very few organic tree farms in North America. 

This is where the environmental/sustainability argument can become problematic from a purchasing perspective: With the rhetoric foisted upon consumers from both sides, suddenly a decision about something as simple as purchasing a Christmas tree becomes a choice of the lesser of two evils. 

This is where common sense needs to be put into play: as you stack up the arguments from both sides, neither is really better than the other. The choice should remain one of responsibility, personal research, good consumer decision-making, and what works best for your situation. You want to make sure the materials your fake tree is a composite of are not lead-based PVC. And, you want to be mindful of the way a chemically-sprayed tree is going to alter the health of your home environment. 

9 Awesome DIY Tips For Installing Your Outdoor Christmas Lights

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who break the world up into two kinds of people, and those who don't. 

That said, there are two kinds of people around Christmas: those who prepare in early fall, and those who wait until the week before. 

If you're the first kind of person, you're probably planning to put up Christmas lights very soon--if you haven't already. Did you know that every year, hundreds of homes are destroyed by faulty Christmas lights? Here are some basic tips to keep in mind. For those of you who are late-comers, you can put this in your back pocket until December 20th. 

1. Take it seriously: It's easy to get out there and just get it done; or enjoy it over a glass or two of wine or beer. Whatever your tradition is, try to be as careful as you can. Being careless or cutting corners could lead to unintended consequences.

2. Test your lights: You want to make sure your lights work before hanging them, as well as ensure that you don't have any frayed wires from the previous year. If you do, it's time to replace them. Once you've tested your lights, you're ready to hang them.

3. Use caution on the step ladder: Have someone assist you if you're going to be on a step ladder for an extended period of time. If you've had a few brown pops while watching the football game before heading out there, it's probably a good idea to give yourself a few hours before getting up 10 feet on the rickety ladder you still haven't replaced from the 70s.

4. Avoid big 7-volt light bulbs: Sure they're cool and bright, but they can start fires, especially when around dried up leaves and foliage. Stick to the Christmas lights--they may not be as exciting, but they'll be safe.

5. Outdoor lights only: Use only Christmas lights that are for outdoor use; indoor lights will not be able to withstand extreme weather conditions--especially if you're the kind of person who waits till summer holidays to take them down.

6. Use proper hooks: We've come a long way since the 70s and 80s when tacks and nails were common practice--now we have hooks! They're important to use, because you can tightly secure your lights to them and they won't be blown around by the wind.

7. Outdoor extension cords only: If in a pinch you're unplugging the extension cords from your home theatre to use for your outdoor Christmas lights, then you know you've got more than one problem. Make sure you only use an outdoor extension cord. And never plug more than 3 cords into one extension.

8. Proper pulling technique: Never remove strings of lights by pulling on the cords--this can snap the wire from the bulb and damage it. 

9. Teach your kids: Let's face it: "Ooh--shiny!" Let's face it: it's the kids who we decorate the house for. Be sure to include them in the process, and teach them the safety tips as you go along. 

6 Compelling Reasons For Considering Snow Tires This Winter

Before the snow hits, many are asking the question, "Should I get snow tires?" The following are reasons why you should consider doing so:

1. Tires have context: Different kinds of tires have a temperature range that is most optimal. A summer tire's performance is maximized in the heat; an all-season is best in moderate temperatures; and a snow tire performs best when it's cold.

2. Take the 7-degree Celsius test: Most tires will perform equally at 7-degrees Celsius and above. Below that, the all-season loses traction, hence the need for a winter tire whose performance is greater at such temperatures.

3. The Compounds: Winter tires have rubber compounds that maximize traction in cold weather--the other tires do not.

4. Overall cost: Winter tires wear very little in cold weather, whereas all-season tires wear out faster. Some experts maintain that switching between winter and seasonal tires throughout the years lowers your overall tire costs over time. 

5. Insurance discount: In Ontario, there's an insurance discount offered, beginning January 1, 2016, albeit a rather insignificant one that pays off the winter tires after about 8 years, according to the Toronto Star. 

6. Avoid a bad accident: Will having winter tires eliminate the chances of accident? No, certainly not; for it doesn't follow that having winter tires necessitates perfect driving. But what if your chances of accident were greatly reduced? Would you buy them then? 

These are some very compelling reasons to fit your vehicle with winter tires, if you haven't already. Nevertheless, some still find shelling out $800, give or take, for such tires to override the pros of having them. Some say they swear by them; many others get by without them. 

7 Things About Driving Only Parents Of Small Children Understand

You look over at the 20-something couple sitting blithely in the Aston Martin--they always seem to be laughing, sipping their uber-cool Starbucks drinks, in clothes that haven't felt the touch of greasy fingers or the wag of a dog's tail, and looking all too rested for anyone's good. Then you turn to your reality: a bedraggled mini-van stuffed with kids awaiting their next escape from the seatbelt's grip with more energy than the Duracell Bunny on a six of Red Bull. 

Feeling alone? Well you're not...

Here are 7 things you are probably going through right now that the millennials in the Aston Martin have absolutely no idea about.

1. Inopportune potty breaks: Why is it the three year old has to urgently potty the minute you pull into  the parking lot of a grocery story, or, worse yet, your spouse or partner leaves you in the van with the kids while "picking up a few things"? Count how many times this happens, and you'll be amazed. It's like their little bladders are set with location-reminders. 

2. Impromptu unbuckling: There's nothing worse than buckling your child in--bearing the high winds, rain, or sweltering sun while doing so--then hopping into the driver's seat, turning the vehicle on, ramming it into drive, and ready to back out when he/she yells out, "I'm unbuckled!" Seriously. It's just as bad when you're waiting for your spouse in the car, and your youngest unbuckles to go mountain climbing in the front seat, messing with your dials and rummaging through your glove compartment.

3. Older kids fighting for who gets front seat: Something as trivial as sitting in the front seat becomes ammunition for vehicle civil war: the clawing, the screaming, the gnashing of teeth. You wish you could relent, give them both the front seat, while you take a months over-due siesta in the back seat.

4. Back seat head stands: Does anyone else's children do this? It's worse when the older ones try it and kick their dirty shoes all over the ceiling of the vehicle and then hurtle themselves into the back of the van. What's worse than that is when they try to carry on a conversation with you while you're bribing them to sit back down in their seats.

5. Unflagging interjections: You finally have a few minutes of quiet time while driving. You lean over to your spouse to have an aside about the day, and overall just get caught up on adult stuff, when your children, who, up until that point have been completely silent, break out into a cacophony of questions, interjections, and skirmishing. The verbal interjections are bad; the hums, erupting songs, and animals calls are enough to drive you batty--or to the nearest shrink.

6. Incessant audiobooks: Kids love to listen to audiobooks on long trips; but it gets to the point when Jack and Annie for the 20th time is really old and lame and intolerable. You try to balance the vibe with some John Coltrane or Maria Callas. After an eternal 30-seconds of child-protesting and weeping and wailing, you relent to a 21st play of the Magic Tree House, longing for noise-reduction headphones.

7. Unsanitary interior: You were probably the guy who prided himself on the ultra-clean car. Maybe you spent hours on weekends washing and detailing it inside and out; and you swore to the motor-gods you'd never let your vehicle get trashed out like your friend with the four kids and the bedraggled mini-van--until it happened! Three kids and a mini-van later, and the interior of your vehicle is a trash can--perhaps even smells like one. How did that happen? You long for the day when they're all in college and you can trade in the van for an Aston Martin DB10--just like Bond.

5 Things We Can All Take Away From Apple's iOS Hack And The $1M Bounty

Hacking into Apple's iOS is not impossible, but it is expensive--to the tune of $1Million. That's the prize that's being paid out to a group of hackers by Zerodium (a security start-up firm) that has successfully provided a remote 'jailbreak' of the latest iPhone iOS. A jailbreak is a procedure through which iPhone users hack their phones to download unauthorized apps. According to Zerodium, their clients are national security agencies who see the hack as valuable for surveillance, etc. 

Here are things we can learn from this unsettling news:

1. The technical details of the hack is extremely valuable: This hack will prove to be very lucrative for Zerodium clients (think of the return on investment out of a $1M bounty) who are looking for ways to hack into the formidable Apple iOS.

2. The hack can be sold to both sides: Whether a group is seeking the hack to attack a set of iPhones or to defend against cyberattack, those with money will have access to this important information. 

3. Zerodium clients are powerful groups: Zerodium maintains its clients are "major corporations" in finance, defence, and security, as well as governments. 

4. Nothing is safe: What this bounty makes us all realize is there is nothing immune to hacking in the world of technology--sooner or later, a hack will emerge for any device. Therefore,

5. We have a choice: Technology needs users to grow. If news of such hacks is unsettling to you as a user, you have the power to stop using technology altogether: you can simply shut down your phone, your social media, your internet and get off the grid, as it were. However, that would have a lot of social, financial, and vocational consequences, which spurs on the next logical response: deal with it. We are in the world of technology and hacks--it's part of our cyber-landscape. It is a world and a landscape of its own that we need to simply deal with. 

There have been news stories about the packability of the Android OS, to which many Apple users thumbed their noses and hurled their mockery. But now the game has changed; the giant has been defeated; and Apple users now must beware that the code to breaking into their precious iPhones is out there in the hands of those powerful enough to pay for it.

It's a new day for Apple users.

These 7 Superfoods Will Give You The Mood-Bounce You Need--Giddy Up!

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is also known as winter blues. And with the clocks having rolled back an hour this week, and night falling earlier, it's time to get ourselves prepped for winter--and there's nothing like getting the right kinds of food in the house to do so. 

There are foods that can flatten our moods and those that can cause anxiety--a lot of fast food does this by raising our sodium levels and over-stressing our hearts. However, there are other kinds of foods, known as superfoods, that accomplish the opposite--they actually boost our moods, helping us feel better. 

This is a list of some of the best superfoods:

1. Walnuts: Get out the nut-cracker and the bag of walnuts, because this superfood is high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, and tryptophan (yes, tryptophan--it's not just for Thanksgiving football games). They're also rich in folate (B9), the deficiency of which has been linked to depression.

2. Coffee: Can be a mood booster--of course--though I would caution that too much coffee can lead to unintended consequences, such as irritability and restless sleep. 

3. Bananas: Another good source of tryptophan that can boost mood and induce relaxation, as well as high in magnesium and vitamin B6. Bananas are also high in carbohydrates that stimulate production of serotonin.

4. Yogurt: High in tryptophan, boosting levels of serotonin. Best to eat natural yogurt rather than those high in sugar, the latter of which may cause a mood crash after eating it.

5. Brazil Nuts: Rich in selenium, the depletion of which can lead to depression and irritability. One Brazil nut can provide a daily source of selenium.

6. Chocolate: Well-known mood booster, particularly that of serotonin. However, the danger can be when the chocolate consumption is in candy bars that are high in sugar and fat. If you're going to reach for chocolate, try one high in coco (65-90%)--these tend to be lower in sugar, and will deliver the mood boosting chemicals without raising cholesterol. 

7. Avocado: Here's the chance to make a good batch of guacamole, for avocado is a rich source of folate, the deficiency of which can increase anxiety.

There are many other good superfoods out there, such as tomatoes and ginger. The key is to get these foods into your house and leverage them against any mood issues you may be having. And better yet, create moments to share these foods with others, for community is another way we can liven our moods.