While you’re out buying gifts for everyone on your nice list, chances are you’ll come across a sure sign that Christmas is fast approaching: A Salvation Army bell ringer and one of their iconic red kettles. Most of us will drop in whatever spare change we can quickly dig out of our pockets as we…
Almost every culture on earth has its own ancient dragon myth. But where did the myth of the dragon come from in the first place? How could so many dragon stories have hatched independently, from every corner of the world? Today we know that hair-raising tales of winged fire-breathers were actually inspired by real animals,…
Skulls. For some, skulls serve as a ghoulish reminder of our own mortality. But throughout Mexico and Central America, skulls have long been a hallmark of celebrating death as a part of life in one of the most colorful and unique ways. The iconic Calavera, or sugar skull, plays a leading role in Mexico’s Day…
It’s September, which means that we’ll soon say goodbye to another staggeringly fast-moving year while we rush headlong into 2019. And shortly after we ring in the New Year, the Chinese will be ringing in their own. In the Chinese zodiac calendar, 2019 is the Year of the Pig – the last sign in the…
Most investors stick with ordinary types of investments in their retirement accounts, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. But if you want to ratchet your savings potential up a notch, a self-directed IRA may be for you. Self-directed IRA’s unlock a whole universe of exciting investments that you can hold under a tax-advantaged…
Our history is full of legendary stories. And let’s face it, stories sell. The battle of the Alamo is no exception – in fact, more than 15 movies alone have been filmed about that fateful day, all with wildly different interpretations. So it’s no wonder that separating fact from fiction, especially when it comes to such…