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Xiaomi launches a phone vending machine

The Chinese technology brand Xiaomi is known for producing high quality mobile phones for very decent prices. Their quality-price ratio is what has allowed them to extend their brand throughout the whole world.

They now have taken their low cost trademark and taken it to the next level. They have decided to cut costs on the selling end of the process, changing shops and salesmen for vending machines.

The first vending machine on the market

From now on, people in India will be able to buy phones as if they were bags of crisps. You type into the machine what product you want, you insert your credit card (or however you would like to pay) and ‘voilà‘, there you have it: your new Xiaomi mobile phone. These vending machines will not only sell mobile phones, though.

Phones, headphones, and so much more

The Chinese brand decided to show us all they’ve got in store (pun intended) and will also include accessories in the vending machines. This means that we will not have to go to a shop anymore to get products like a MiBand (their wearable activity tracker), headphones or their Pocophone.

How to pay for it

There are three ways in which you will be able to pay for their products: with your credit card, in cash or even with your phone, as the vending machines will include a contactless feature.

The first of many

Mi fans, we've introduced an innovative way to buy your favourite #Xiaomi products with #MiExpressKiosk. It’s simple! Just choose a product & pay with your debit/credit card, cash, or UPI.

Experience it at Manyata Tech Park & our office in ETV. 50 more kiosks coming your way. pic.twitter.com/uqjjKkbb2b
— Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) May 13, 2019

Although for now Xiaomi has just launched one of these modern vending machines, they have programmed for 50 other vending machines to be installed during the upcoming couple of weeks. This seems to be just a try out: if they turn out to be successful, they could be implemented in other countries as well.

Bringing technology closer to people

Through these vending machines, Xiaomi seeks to make their products more accesible for the public. Thanks to these apparatus people won’t have to wait in long lines anymore to acquire their products or wait until their online order arrives. For now, we should cross our fingers and see if they are safe enough.

Photos: Xiaomi and Unsplash

Fossil is found that confirms unicorns walked the earth

Unicorns have always been believed to be non-existing mythological creatures. In fact, it’s a creature that seems so alien to us, that the term now has a wide array of contexts. In other words, we refer as “unicorn” to things or people that we believe are unique, rare or of high value.

It now seems we’re going to have to change how we view the world we live in: a unicorn fossil has been found, and it’s not even that old.

Not so long ago

A unicorn fossil had previously been found in Kazakhstan, but it looked as though our precious horse of a single horn had become extinct 350,000 years ago. With this new fossil, it seems like they were around until not so long ago.

Similar to a mammoth

However exciting this finding can be, it seems that unicorns did not look like the perfect being we thought they were. The fossil belongs to a Siberian unicorn, also known as “Elasmotherium sibiricum“. If you don’t know what this means, try to imagine something similar to a rhino, or even a mammoth, rather than a slender, white horse.

A unicorn’s measurements

Experts claim the unicorn would have been around 2 metres tall and 4 and a half metres long. It would have been as heavy as 4 tons, which more or less equals 2 and a half pallets of red bricks.

What does concur with our imagination is the horn right on the unicorn’s forehead as well as the long fur it would have had. Now you know this, it’s your task to set someone straight if they say unicorns didn’t exist!

Photos: Unsplash

How to find out if someone’s a compulsive liar

We’ve all lied at some point in our lives, whether it be harmless white lies or more important lies to get out of trouble. It’s in our nature to lie. In fact, telling someone we are fine even when we’re not is still a lie. You might even believe not all lies are bad, especially when it’s in our own benefit, or in someone else’s. But don’t forget: “liar, liar, pants on fire“.

Not telling the truth becomes a habit

However, on the other extreme of the spectrum we can find the so-called “compulsive liar“. These kind of people have turned lying into a hobby, and are already very far from telling lies as a benefit to someone. In fact, they have created a habit out of not telling the truth. They even get to the point where they lie about lying.

Pay close attention

To find out if someone is a compulsive liar you will have to pay close attention to their actions and what they say; and even to how they say it. We give you some tips to find out if the person is, indeed, a compulsive liar. You’ll see you’ll find out quicker than you think.

1. Bragging is their hobby

Bragging is a clear red flag. Compulsive liars are people who constantly feel the need to prove themselves, and they want to show you they have knowledge on every possible topic. Bragging is an obvious sign because pathological liars try to prove what they know by being seemingly humble. To achieve this, they create a so-called “fake modesty”.

To better explain this point: it’s one of those people who would tell you they “feel bad” for being invited to an exclusive event because they are friends with all of the guests. If you know what I mean.

2. No guilt whatsoever

When someone is lying you can usually tell from a certain sense of discomfort they give out. This comes from the guilt they experience from lying. In other words, a compulsive liar would experience no discomfort whatsoever because there is no guilt: they are not capable of feeling empathy. They believe their lies do not harm anybody, and even if they did, they wouldn’t care.

3. Me, myself and I

Pathological liars are selfish human beings. They always put themselves first, above anything or anyone. Here we have to go back to the “fake-modesty” we talked about before. They try no to act in obvious ways: they obtain what they want by seeming humble.

4. They are defensive

If you have ever encountered a compulsive liar, you’ll be able to remember their reaction that one time you “uncovered” one of their lies. They probably seemed furious, rather than guilty or afraid. What they do is project their lie onto you by deviating you attention through questions, or accusing you of not trusting them, a classic. Their turn the guilt onto you.

5. It’s likely they believe their own lies

These extreme liars usually end up believing their own lies, because they truly wish their lies were real. They think about it so carefully and extensively that, to them, it becomes organic. This is a point in favour of the liar: the inconvenience seizes to exist and they have no problem lying.

It can be hard to uncover such lies because they have been extensively thought through, but it’s not impossible. Think about a question they haven’t possibly considered; something out of the box. This will throw them off.

6. Lying is their comfort zone

It is easy to detect a lie when the liar gives off signs of discomfort: they might avoid visual contact or start to sweat. To a pathological liar, lying is is what floats their boat: they are inside their comfort zone. They often even find it harder to tell the truth than to lie.

7. You end up questioning yourself

It’s probable that a compulsive liar is full of confidence. This happens because of the “fusion” of the diverse behaviours that takes place. It allows them to turn the tables and place the blame on you. They make you question what you believe, and you end up questioning yourself.

Compulsive liars are very toxic people, so if you know anyone with these traits, keep away!

Photos: Pixabay and Unsplash

“Karoshi”: the death wave of the overworked Japanese

“Karoshi” is the name given to the latest cause of death of a very high number of Japanese workers. It’s caused by the excess of work and stress that Japanese people undergo every day.

Long shifts and few sleeping hours

In Japan, it is very normal to have a 12-hour shift and have very few hours of sleep: the average sleeping time per night is six and a half hours. Could you even imagine? On top of that, the Japanese only have around 9 paid vacation days per year.

Japanese culture

If that weren’t enough already, according to Japanese culture, the workers cannot leave their offices before their bosses do, and afterwork karaoke is a must at the end of every work day, which might sound very nice, but you can imagine how tired one can be after such shifts.

This hectic lifestyle has been the cause of death of thousands of Japanese civilians for decades. It has become so common it has even adopted its own name in Japan: “karoshi“.

**“Karoshi” is increasingly extending**

The term was first acknowledged in 1987, when the Health Ministry started obtaining data on this phenomenon. At first, the death rate started with a couple of hundreds per year, but it has been increasing since. Official numbers now include up to 10,000 deaths annually.

Compensation for the relatives

This cause of death is so extended there is even an official “compensation law” for the victim’s relatives: if “karoshi” has been determined as the clear cause of death, relatives obtain around $20,000 from the government, and payments of up to $1,6 million from the company itself.

Photos: Unsplash

Cutting calories with no effort whatsoever

Cutting calories and sticking to a diet often seems like the most impossible task: dinner here, some snacking there, and you can wave farewell to all you had accomplished.

We give you seven tips to cut calories without the slightest effort that’ll help you stay healthy without even realising. Dieting will seem like the easiest thing you’ve ever done.

1. Switch to “zero” fizzy drinks

By switching the classic fizzy drink by a sugar-free one, you’ll be able to avoid ingesting up to 100 calories, which means you’ll be able to enjoy these tasty drinks without having to cut your diet loose. It’s an effortless change, and in most cases you won’t even be able to notice the difference flavour-wise.

Photo: Pixabay

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How to become the best “canapé-hunter” at a wedding

Wedding season has arrived, and not everyone is as pleased about it: being invited to a wedding also means feeling like we have a blackhole in our wallets. We are forced to buy presents although we couldn’t even afford it in the first place, and we have to always look on point. BUT there is a big plus side to it: the food is great.

Even if you ate all of the prawns and drank all of the champagne at the place, your inversion would most probably still not be paid back. However, there are a few tricks that can help you get the most out of it. Here goes how to go canapé-hunting at a wedding without failing in the process.

1. Forget about waiting in front of the kitchen

The urban legend of waiting by the kitchen to catch the waiters with full plates of food turns out to be a lie: according to Mónico caterers, waiters have defined action ranks, which basically means that they don’t have to offer you food just because you’re standing in front of them. So quit doing this. Just wait for your food to arrive, because it will.

2. Resort to the tables if there are no waiters in sight

Caterers usually think about guests in advance, so they usually put food on the tables so that there’s no way for them to become hungry. Thanks to this, the guests don’t have to wait for the food to arrive. They can help themselves if needed. So now you know: if there’s no waiter in sight, you can always resort to the “extra” food placed on the tables.

3. Stay close to the wallet-sacrificers

It’s important that everyone has a great time at the wedding, but it has to be absolutely unforgettable for those who are actually getting married. This means, that caterings do have preference toward certain tables.

For example, the table where close family is seated, and the table of the marrying couple will be better fed. It’s interesting to note, however, that they are usually the people who eat less. Now you know who to get close to.

4. Don’t pull a “meerkat”

If you’re one who inevitably gazes at waiters who carry food around, stop it. Waiters actually avoid people who do this, so get rid of the “anxiously-waiting-for-food” look. No more “meerkat attitude” if you want your food properly served.

5. Remember the waiters’ faces

Waiters often get assigned certain tables. This means that if one particular waiter keeps offering you food it’s not because you’re their favourite, it’s because they have to.

In other words, if a waiter has a different table section it’s quite probable that they won’t offer you food. So stick to remembering who is your section’s waiter as they’ll feed you for the rest of the wedding.

On the other hand you should also remember the waiter’s of tables that are eating less; you’ll understand why in a few minutes.

6. Go on and drink away

If you’re closely following these tricks it’s probable you are eating quite a bit, so in order to get it all through you will have to resort to drinking. Not to worry, we also have a great tip for this: it’s important that your section’s waiter always feels that you would like a drink.

They have to see you want to grab a drink. This way they know who to turn to if they have a lonely leftover drink.

7. Find the waiters going back to the kitchen

Waiters that go back to the kitchen, contrary to those coming out of the kitchen, are allowed to offer canapés to all of the guests. This is a great moment to go back to tip number 5: go up to the waiters from the less-eating tables, because they will be bringing more food back to the kitchen. Until they encounter you, that is.

8. Pay attention to the position of the trays

Waiters usually keep their trays up when walking around the venue in order not to hit any guests and to keep from walking up to people like you. Respect this, because if the food falls to the ground, it’s a loss for all. Don’t bother waiters who are keeping trays high up.

9. Always be kind

At last, but definitely not least: be kind above all. Most people don’t realise, but waiters are not allowed to say “no” to guests. They cannot tell you you can’t take a third prawn if you want to, so go ahead and do it, but always be kind. Such events are stressful enough, and there’s no need to make it harder.

Photos: Unsplash and Pixabay