The Most Outrageous Before and After Photos You Have EVER Seen

Before and after photos are the best. They are ageless proofs of certain changes, and the bigger those changes are, the more excited we all get about them! The thing is, we all change, all the time. Even our cells are dying and being replaced all the time, which means that we change from the within too, even though these changes are not as visible. However, there are some changes that are more visible than others, and we’re not only speaking about people and their faces! These changes are actually so visible, and they happened so many times throughout the history, they are even shocking sometimes! That’s exactly why we decided to make a list of the most outrageous before and after photos you’ve ever seen.

1. Wow! Dubai has certainly gone a long way from being a small, desert city to being the most expensive city in the Middle East. By the 1960, Dubai’s economy was mostly based on trade. However, ever since oil was discovered, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates accelerated its development. Today, Dubai is the center of tourism, real estate, financial services and it is definitely iconic for its skyscrapers and infrastructure. Naturally, before and after photos of Dubai are fascinating.

Source: www.sacramento.cbslocal.com

2. For the last four years, California has been going through an extreme drought. The severe drought has left California’s valley fields and lakes bare and dry, and as farmers watch their crops die, the water supplies have been in shortage as well. Warnings have been issued and water-wasters are facing fines up to $10,000, but still, the environment has changed a lot, and residents of the most affected cities need to adjust their lifestyles to new conditions. One of the “victims” is Lake Oroville.

3. New York went through one of the biggest transformations in the history of the city from the early 1980’s until the 2000’s. The rebirth of Wall Street during the 1980’s made New York the center of the worldwide financial industry. This trend remained through the late 1990’s, when the city benefited from the success of the financial sectors, such as Silicon Alley. Naturally, the financial growth was followed by more buildings and generally, big changes in the city’s infrastructure. This before and after photo of Times Square shows the change that lasted for 30 years.

Source: www.imgur.com

4. Christian Bale is definitely one of the most popular, but also, iconic movie stars in Hollywood. He is also the living proof that actors sacrifice a lot if they want to show the world how serious they are about their career. Christian proved many times that he is physically ready to change himself for the role- and he did it successfully every single time. Over and over again, Christian shocked us with his incredible weight loss or weight gain and obviously, with his before and after photos.

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Supercomputers reach 100 petaflops

In 2013, China's Tianhe-2 became the fastest supercomputer in the world, achieving 33.8 petaflops, with a peak performance of 54.9 petaflops. It was nearly twice as powerful as its nearest competitor, the "Titan" machine at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, United States. Tianhe-2 showed great success in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), scramjet combustion and other aircraft simulations. Other research areas included genomics (population genetics) and biomedical applications. It continued to maintain the top spot for the next few years, with no other challengers, leading to concerns over a possible stagnation in the progress of supercomputing speeds. This was further compounded by trade restrictions – imposed by the United States government – which prevented China from using Intel's chip technology for upgrades. However, this actually boosted China's own processor development and production industry.

Tianhe-2. Credit: O01326 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons



In 2016, Tianhe-2 received an extra 45 petaflops, thanks to a novel system architecture developed within China. The machine was renamed Tianhe-2A and became the first supercomputer to demonstrate a peak performance of 100 petaflops, or 100 quadrillion floating point operations per second.* Alongside this upgraded version was a second machine, known as Shenwei-x. This too was capable of 100 petaflops. Both machines would reign at the top of the list for only a short while, however, as the United States was regaining its lead in supercomputer research. A project called "Aurora" was being developed at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (180 petaflops), along with IBM's "Summit" (150 petaflops), the latter having an optional upgrade to 300 petaflops. This would be followed by the first exascale computers (1,000 petaflops) towards the end of the decade.
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Smart Car Charger & Car Locator

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ZUS is a truly smart car charger. It doesn’t only charge up your devices at twice the speed but also finds your car with the iOS and Android ZUS app. Say good-bye to time-consuming searches across large parking lots or endless streets. In terms of quality, ZUS is the only car charger that meets US Military Standard. 

Lady Gaga Announces Plans For New Album To Come Out This Year

Could this be the year of Gaga? It sure seems that way when she started the year off right at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

After the award show Lady Gaga briefly talked about a new album release sometime this year, but there is no word on when it will officially be released — for now.


Lady Gaga told reporters backstage at the Golden Globes on Sunday that, “I am putting out an album this year. I won’t tell you when, but it is coming out this year.”

Will it be like her 2013 'Applause' album, or more subdued to go along with her latest appearances. 2014 was Gaga’s last album that collaborated with Tony Bennett called ‘Cheek to Cheek', which featured more classical jazz duets.

Lady Gaga gives her first Golden Globe a kiss after the award show

via Mondo News

When asked about her new album and if it will reflect what Gaga is looking like lately she said: 

“That’s a difficult thing to say as I don’t know that you yet know what I will look like for my next album. I am still creating all those things. It is something that is a gradual change that is always with me.”

The 29-year-old singer took home her first Golden Globe Sunday as she has been venturing into the acting industry with her role on 'American Horror Story: Hotel.' Gaga got blinged in early 2015 after she said yes to her long-time partner Taylor Kinney.

Will 2016 be the comeback year for Gaga? It sure seems that way.

Lady Gaga and fiance Taylor Kinney at the Golden Globes 2016

via US Magazine | Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Main image via Instagram / @ladygaga 

Collage images via 1. Instagram / @ladygaga 2. Melty.it | EW 3. Instagram  / @ladygaga 

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Accessories Holiday Gift Guide

FabFours Jeep Wrangler JK Off-the-Door Tire Carrier
Fab Fours recently unveiled its new off-the-door tire carrier for the 2007-14 Jeep Wrangler JK. Fab Fours notes it is the first-ever “5-Point” system, as the dual rotating axis design allows the tire carrier to open with the JK’s door smoothly while still retaining durability on the trail. The tire carrier is equipped with accessory holes to accommodate attachments such as a Hi-Lift Jack, brake light attachments and a CB antenna. Constructed of 3/16-inch steel, the carrier is available with a two-stage powder coat or bare steel. The Fab Fours JK Tire Carrier is fully adjustable to accommodate up to a 40-inch tire. For more information.source

Bad News For All Game Of Thrones Fans

Sadly, winter might not be coming anytime soon.

#1 Bad news: George R. R. Martin is behind schedule.

The author said he missed the deadline for completion of his novel, The Winds of Winter, which was Dec. 31.

via http://www.newser.com/

#2 How this affects the show.

Season 6 will have to proceed before the book is even published. His lateness is affecting everyone who works on the show, and Martin himself is very disappointed.

via http://www.wow247.co.uk/

#3 Martin published this statement to his blog:

"You're disappointed, and you're not alone," wrote Martin. "My editors and publishers are disappointed, HBO is disappointed, my agents and foreign publishers and translators are disappointed, but no one could possibly be more disappointed than me."

via https://en.wikipedia.org/

#4 Martin can't even give a solid estimate when his latest book will be finished.

"When delivery will be, I can't say. I'm not going to set another deadline for myself to trip over. The deadlines just stress me out," said Martin.

via https://www.youtube.com/

Get a Feel for Web Hosting Pricing & Value

Some people choose web hosting providers strictly based on price. That's not a great strategy, but you should definitely take pricing into consideration. The best providers offer options for every budget. In some cases, signing up for long subscriptions will qualify you for extra discounts.


Also, try to leave yourself room to grow. It's great to choose a web hosting plan that suits your site's current needs. With any luck, though, your site will grow and expand over time. Your needs could change. Switching to a new web hosting provider is a major hassle, so look for one that offers scalable plans. In other words, you should be able to upgrade to another plan easily if necessary. Low prices are always great, but if the low price comes with limits on space or bandwidth, you want to make sure the deal is really worth it.

In the same vein, you may want to note how many e-mail accounts are provided. Whether you think you'll need dozens of email addresses or not, it's nice to have the option to create as many as possible. In most instances, more expensive plans include larger numbers of email addresses. This feature isn't very important to some people, but it is critical to others.

Trading strategy

In finance, a trading strategy is a fixed plan that is designed to achieve a profitable return by going long or short in markets. The main reasons that a properly researched trading strategy helps are its verifiability, quantifiability, consistency, and objectivity. The development and application of a trading strategy follows eight steps:Formulation,  Specification in computer-testable form,  Preliminary testing, Optimization, Evaluation of performance and robustness, Trading of the strategy, Monitoring of trading performance, Refinement and evolution.


For every trading strategy one needs to define assets to trade, entry/exit points and money management rules. Bad money management can make a potentially profitable strategy unprofitable.

Trading strategies are based on fundamental or technical analysis, or engage them both. Technical strategies can be broadly divided into the mean-reversion and momentum groups. There are also specific strategies, like "Sell in May and go away but remember to get back in September". Trading strategies are usually verified by backtesting where the process should follow the scientific method.

Types of trading strategies
The term trading strategy can in brief be used by any fixed plan of trading a financial instrument, but the general use of the term is within computer assisted trading, where a trading strategy is implemented as computer program for automated trading.

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Leonardo DiCaprio Talks Corruption, ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Dance Moves at Variety Screening

ILYA S. SAVENOK/GETTY IMAGES

Ramin Setoodeh

Film Editor, New York@RaminSetoodeh
Leonardo DiCaprio  said it took him six years as an actor and  producer to get “The Wolf of Wall Street”  to the big screen. He spoke to a packed house of Academy voters on Tuesday night at a Variety screening series in New York’s Chelsea Bow Tie Cinemas.

SEE MORE: Awards: The Contenders

“At the end of the day, this was a reaction to what we see in our culture,” DiCaprio said of the adaptation of Jordan Belfort’s memoirs about his years as a corrupt stockbroker. “It’s a timeless thing, the lust for wealth and money and power, but it’s done on such a massive scale nowadays, certainly after 2008.”
DiCaprio said that director  Martin Scorsese  was “constantly laughing” on set.
“The comedy came from the absurdity of it,” DiCaprio explained. “Some people have had a reaction to the humor in the film, because they think we’re glorifying the world. [Scorsese] said quite recently, ‘Why should I be polite in my filmmaking when these people were so impolite?’ We didn’t intend for this to be comedic. It came from the sheer audacity and absurdity of their life.”
He also addressed some of the criticisms that the film celebrates Belfort’s corrupt lifestyle that eventually led a 22-month-prison term for swindling $200 million from investors.
“There have been some reaction to why we don’t cut away to the victims and show the ramifications of their actions,” DiCaprio added. “And [Scorsese] said, ‘Look, I’m not here to make a didactic movie. I want to make a film that is reflective of who these people are.’ He has his own moral compass and feeling about who these people are, he doesn’t agree with the activity obviously, and it’s a cautionary tale.”
DiCaprio said that he worked closely with Belfort, who was released from federal prison in 2006, when preparing the role. “My relationship with Jordan from an actor’s perspective was great, because there’s nothing he wouldn’t tell me,” DiCaprio said. After Belfort saw the film in November, he told DiCaprio, “I’m ashamed to admit my favorite movie of all time happens to be about me.”
And DiCaprio said he’d also heard from one of his “Django Unchained” co-stars about his performance — specifically, his dance scenes.
“I ran into Jamie Foxx, who is a friend, he watched it with some female friends of his, and one of them turned to him and said, ‘Is Leo really doing that, or is that CGI?'” DiCaprio quipped.
DiCaprio, who has worked with Scorsese five times, said he grew up admiring the director. One of his early goals as an actor was to be in a Scorsese movie.
“As soon as I had the opportunity to really finance a movie based on my name, which was essentially after ‘Titanic,’ I pursued him,” DiCaprio said of 2002’s “Gangs of New York,” their first outing together. “I know the trust level has built over the years. [Scorsese] has taught me not only about being a better actor, but the history of cinema and the importance of cinema as an art form.”
“The Wolf of Wall Street” has so far grossed $227 million worldwide.

FILED UNDER:

 

• Jordan Belfort
• Leonardo Dicaprio
• Martin Scorsese
• The Wolf Of Wall Street
• 
  

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5 Hilarious Photos Taken At The Perfect Moment

Let's face it: we're a generation obsessed with documenting our lives through photos on social media platforms. This may have turned us all into narcissistic self-obsessed sociopaths, but on the bright side, we now collectively snap so many photos that we often capture amazing moments that could have easily been missed in the pre-smartphone camera era.

Whether it's an inadvertent illusion caused by an unfortunate angle or an intentional and deviously planned photo made to look dirty, the following 16 photographers were blessed with photos so perfectly strange, they will leave you staring in awe. These pictures just go to show you that a little difference in perspective can change everything!


1. They wondered why the photographer chose to take the photo from such a low angle. 

via reddit / thejohnblog

2. This is a new dog breed that is totally legless and can hover. 

via reddit / 1Voice1Life

3. It's hard to say where the llama ends and the woman begins.

via reddit / ShutDownSchinDig

4. He burps rainbows; you'll never guess what he toots!

via reddit / Defyingnoodles

5. The judges didn't even notice Mikhail's perfect human projectile performance. 

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6 Breathtaking Out-Of-This-World Photos

We live in a beautiful, vast world full of wonders we have yet to discover. For most of us, the only exposure we will have to these wonders is through the shared experiences of those around us. These pictures are awe-inspiring. They remind us of how small we are, yet somehow give us a sense of connectedness and belonging. We all share the same planet.

#1 The Fukang Meteorite

via reddit/u/turdmalone

#2 The shadows that clouds cast over the earth from space

via reddit/u/1Voice1Life

#3 Kayaking near lava in Hawaii

via reddit/u/tek0011

#4 Thor's Well in Oregon

via reddit/u/blazik

#5 Footprints from a monk who prayed in the same spot for 20 years

via reddit/u/Juankestein

#6 How lighting and angles change your face

via reddit/u/pretendparades

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5 of the World’s Most Extreme Hotel Rooms

For travelers that enjoy the unique and different, finding a truly adventure-worthy hotel may seem like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack, but from transparent rooms that hang on the edge of a sheer rock space overlooking Peru’s Sacred Valley to glass igloos in Finland and rooms built around a bullfighting ring in a Mexican metropolis, at least one of these ingenious options are sure to fit the bill.

Nature Vive Skylodge, Sacred Valley, Peru via naturavive.com

1. Natura Vive Skylodge, Sacred Valley, Peru (prices & photos)

Welcome to Natura Vive Skylodge, offering some of the most jaw-dropping views on earth from what may be the most terrifyingly thrilling hotel rooms ever constructed. Adrenaline-seekers can sleep in the transparent glass pods that cling to one of the highest peaks in Peru’s Sacred Valley. If you’re brave enough to endure a night, you’ll soak up majestic views across the heartland of the Inca Empire, with a package that includes breakfast and a gourmet dinner, complete with wine.

If you think you’ve got the courage to stay the night, you probably need to know that there is a catch. To get to your room, you’ll have to climb a 400-foot cliff face. Guests can climb using a Via Ferrata, or hike an intrepid trail through zip-lines. There are three capsule suites to choose from which can sleep a total of eight. Constructed from aerospace aluminum and weather resistant polycarbonate, each suite comes complete with four beds, all with high quality mattresses and cotton sheets, quilts and down pillows. There is also a dining area and a private bathroom with an ecological toilet and sink. If you’re worried about curious condors peeping in as they pass by, each one also has curtains for privacy.

2. Treehotel, Harads, Sweden  (prices & photos)  

Located in the pine forest near Harads, Sweden, the Treehotel offers six very unique “treerooms. These aren’t your usual treehouses, and each offers a very distinct look, like the lifelike Bird’s Nest and the mind-blowing reflective Mirrorcube that makes for an especially fabulous hideout among the trees, camouflaged by mirrored walls that reflect the surroundings. The UFO, pictured here, offers the chance to live your childhood dreams in a room reminiscent of the final scene in the film, “E.T.” It was cast in durable composite material that has a comfortable, modern interior built for five, complete with a double bed, three separate twin beds, a bathroom and living room.


Guests can also enjoy Britta’s Pensionat, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in an authentic 1950s setting. It includes a restaurant, bar, sauna and relaxation area with TV and internet.

3. No Man’s Fort, Solent, Portsmouth, England (prices & photos)

No Man’s Fort is one of the world’s most extreme hotels. This former Victorian-era fort was originally built between 1867 and 1880 to protect the city from an attack by Napoleon III at the request of Prime Minister Lord Palmerston. After an extensive renovation, the man-made island was transformed into a luxury hotel. The four-story structure contains 22 guest rooms, all appropriately decked out in nautical style with original iron ceilings and windows that were made from the former gun ports. At the top is a private lighthouse with a glass-floored penthouse suite. The unusual property also includes two helipads, a hot tub, a laser quest arena, a nightclub, wine bar and spa facilities with treatments that use salt sourced from the surrounding waters.

4. Hotel Quinta Real Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico  (prices & photos)

Hotel Quinta Real Zacatecas was crafted from the grandstands of a 17th-century bullring which saw its last bullfight in 1975. Blending the luxury of a modern, all-suite hotel with the splendor of original colonial architecture, it faces the city’s ancient arched viaduct. Among the 49 accommodations, the most appealing are the high-end suites which offer views of the cobblestone-paved bullring. Beds are recessed under a stone or wooden arch. The hotel also provides a memorable setting for dining in La Plaza, its three-story restaurant, sitting in the sun stands with views of the ring, Cathedral of Fatima and aqueduct. The brick-walled Botarel bar in the old bull pen hosts live music on the weekend and wines from Mexico and across the globe.

5. Whitepod, Les Cerniers, Switzerland  (prices & photos)

Accessible by shuttle, ski lift or snow bike, Whitepod offers a spectacular outdoor retreat in the Swiss Alps at an altitude of nearly 4,600 feet. Accommodations are in 15 pods designed to resemble igloos that are actually dome-shaped tents set up on raised wooden platforms surrounding a refurbished 19th-century alpine chalet. Each is well-insulated, heated by a wood-burning stove, and features a private front terrace that overlooks the valley. Guests can also enjoy a Swedish sauna, massage area and communal space where breakfast is served and evening drinks are sipped around the fireplace.  Activities, in addition to just being mesmerized by the stunning snow-covered mountain views, include guided snowshoe tours, ski lessons, cross-country skiing and dog sledding.

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PERSONAL FINANCE: FINDING THE RIGHT PERSONAL FINANCE FOR LIFE

You should distinguish between your wants and needs as wants can wait but needs will never return. One should learn to spend within limits and never beyond what he earns. Make a budget with your family or make it for yourself if you are an individual and strictly abide by the budget. A budget is the perfect way to discipline you in over-spending. If your income cannot afford your present membership of a club, a gym or an expensive item, you should immediately get rid of all these.

Nowadays one of the costliest and easiest ways to get loans are in the form of credit cards. People view credit cards as a source of money when they don’t have enough money but a very few realize that it is also a form of debt. Use your credit card wisely and only when you are in dire need. Remember credit card doesn’t offer you free shopping as you only have to pay the bills afterwards. Why not pay on time? The very basic principle of personal finance is to spend within your limits and spend wisely.

A step in finding the right personal finance is to invest your money wisely and reap benefits. Remember that idle money brings no profit and if you keep your money locked in a locker then it is of no use. You should invest your money in a good investment and let it grow. You must spend time to understand finances and especially the products which are of use for you. Select the financial product which suits your risk appetite and requirements that you want from your money in short span or long span of time. If you want to invest for short and specific time, it is better to invest money in fixed instrument like fixed deposits but if you are a young boy with no dependents then you can invest almost 85% of your salary in share market and earn profits on it. So manage your money efficiently and be secure in days of market falls. It is advisable to buy health and life insurance to further secure your life.

These two above mentioned advices will definitely help you in choosing the right personal finance for you. You must spend sensibly and you should let your money grow. These are fundamentals of personal finance which will go a long way in securing your future financially. Always focus on saving and spending less and manage your money to earn interest on your money. We need money for our survival and personal finance just helps us to manage it and use it judiciously. Get hold of certain rules of personal finance and live king-size life with financial freedom.