In honor of the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens this Thursday, December 17th, the New Jersey Institute of Technology computer science program wanted to commemorate the event with a video that looked at how Star Wars and other bedrocks of the science fiction canon influenced and predicted the future of computer science.
Read moreImplementing Small Habits to Create Big Change
I’ve learned and grown more in 2015 than in any year prior and am truly grateful for all the experiences I've had. In some ways, I feel like I've evolved as a person more in this year than all prior years combined. I spent a lot of time on myself - reflecting, meditating, reading, writing, dreaming, planning, and executing. The year went by incredibly fast, but at the same time, I feel like I put so much into it and was able to get even more out of it. This is, without a doubt, the direct result of the habits I created based on the goals I set at the beginning of the year.
Read moreUpgrade Your Health and Happiness with Gratitude
Skimming through your social media feeds during the holiday season, especially the week of Thanksgiving, you might think that every one of your peers is constantly brimming with joy and thankfulness due to their countless blessings. But, let’s be honest, this is only a once-annual occurrence for most people. Thanks to the obligatory status updates and bombardment of turkey day marketing, we’re all reminded that it’s time to express our gratitude.
Over-commercialism and Hallmark-ism aside, I think it’s great to have a national holiday in which we are encouraged to be thankful for what we have and those around us. The tradition of sharing this day with family over a large meal is one I truly enjoy (in particular, the socially acceptable binge eating), and I’m sure I’m not the only one that really looks forward to it. However, there is mounting evidence showing that expressing gratitude regularly has a profound impact on overall health and happiness. Perhaps giving thanks should be a daily ritual as opposed to a yearly tradition (minus the food coma).
Read moreThe Winter Reboot: Deload, Detox, and Indulge
It’s again that time of year where the days are overcast and short while the nights are frigid and seem to begin even earlier than years past. Many people look forward to the winters for the “cuddle weather” (Netflix and chill weather?), while others increase their calorie intake with reckless abandon in the name of “bulking season”. The holidays bring more gatherings of family and friends, which in turn bring plenty of opportunities to binge eat (and drink), and it’s generally not on the healthiest of foods. This could result in feelings of guilt, shame, and certainly bloatedness. Long-term, it could also lead to breaking many good habits you formed over the year, sabotaging your nutrition, and derailing your path to any fitness goals previously set. However, I use this time of year to allow my body to rest and recover while giving my mind a chance to relax and reset all the while enjoying the indulgences of the holidays (without feeling guilty about it), and being more ready than before to take my fitness to the next level come the new year.
Read moreHacking Your Hangover: A How-To Guide for Prevention and Recovery that Works
Brace yourselves... The holidays are coming. All those upcoming celebrations and gatherings - Halloween (the entire weekend for many people), Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and more - bring with them many opportunities to consume copious amounts of alcohol with friends and family. It's true that drinking alcohol, especially on a regular basis, can sabotage your health, performance, and longevity goals. However, enjoying yourself on the infrequent special occasion won't completely derail your ambitions, especially when done right. Inevitably, after an evening of enjoying alcohol, hangovers ensue sapping us of our energy, health, cognitive performance, and holiday spirits. Follow my advice, and you will minimize your headache, hangover, and regrets while still having fun.
Read moreBulletproof Biohacking Conference 2015
If you're interested in the topics of health, technology, or culture (the cornerstones of AlphaNerd), then the Bulletproof Biohacking Conference is like an adult playground where all of these areas intersect. This is the third year Bulletproof has organized this conference in Pasadena, California and is "the community's foremost live event celebrating groundbreaking work in the optimization of human mental and physical performance." In other words, it's like Disneyland for biohackers and AlphaNerds alike. In fact, I attended last year's Bulletproof Conference and it was a big part of the inspiration and motivation behind the launch of this site. I'm very excited to be going to the Conference again this year to see how Dave Asprey and his team have made it "bigger, better, and upgraded."
Read moreOur Friends at Flex Watches Launch their Kickstarter Campaign Today!
My good friends and colleagues Travis Lubinsky and Trevor Jones founded Flex Watches in 2011 to raise funds and awareness for different charities while creating fun products that Millennials would love. The watches have evolved over the years, but their mission to help others with stylish tech and accessories has remained constant. Flex has raised tens of thousands of meals for impoverished children in Mexico and partnered with organizations that range from fighting cancer and helping injured veterans to providing clean water and food to children in need. This is a campaign that any AlphaNerd can get behind.
Read moreIt's Time to Cut the Cord on Cable
Did you know that the average American spends over 4 hours per day watching television?! That sounds crazy, but it's true - and what's more disturbing is that in a 65-year life (probably won't live much longer than that if you're sitting on your ass this much) that average person will have spent 9 solid years in front of their idiot box! To someone who spends an average of 4 hours per month watching TV (me), it's insanity...but there is some hope (kind of). Trends are showing that people are shifting their TV time to other forms of electronic devices and media (Facebook, YouTube, Hulu on iPhones, tablets, etc.), and this is especially true with younger audiences, according to Nielsen studies. There is more good news - we have more options than ever before with the rise of Netflix, HBO Go, and more. Are you ready (and able) to pull the plug on cable?
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