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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
🔥 Best fans in the world? 80,000(!) Schalke supporters at season opener
Sportingly, things have never been worse for FC Schalke 04: Last season, the Royal Blues finished 14th in the 2. Bundesliga, marking the worst result in their long and glorious club history. The club is also plagued by severe financial troubles. But there is one thing you can always rely on in Gelsenkirchen: the unique support of its fans. The blue-and-white supporters proved this once again during the season opener against FC Sevilla. Over 45,000 spectators watched the 2:4 defeat against the Spanish top-flight team from the stands. Even crazier: At 'Schalke Day,' the official celebrations before the match, a total of 80,000 Knappen fans were present! "This is insane. It should give the boys a real boost for the coming weeks," said team captain Kenan Karaman, who was celebrated for several minutes. The S04 supporters, who already topped the joint away travelers' table of the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga last season, have once again proven why they have a case for calling themselves the best fans in the world! This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 Christof Koepsel - 2025 Getty Images
CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Oops, I Accidentally Got a Perfect Credit Score. And I Think I Figured Out How I Did It
INDU BACHKHETI / Getty Images I'm not a perfectionist, so achieving an 850 credit score was never a goal of mine. However, as a CNET Money editor, I know that having a higher score can help in a lot of ways, including getting approved for loans and scoring a lower interest rate. I also know that there's no secret about how to raise your credit score. In fact, it's pretty boring. Pay your bills on time, don't use too much of your credit limit at once, build a long credit history over time, etc. I regularly track my bills and budget, so I typically fall into the good to excellent range and consistently have a score around 800. Since most lenders offer their best terms to those with scores over 760, I know anything over that really doesn't make much difference. I always felt comfortable knowing I had a little wiggle room in my score but never made an effort to reach 850. So what did I do differently a few months ago to see my score shoot up the last 20 or so points to perfect? My tip is pretty simple -- and you can use it right away to help raise your own score. How did I get a perfect credit score? First, let's lay the groundwork, because you don't get a perfect credit score in a day (or a month). It's something you reach by being consistent over time. I'm in charge of my family's finances, so I try to be meticulous about paying bills on time (or early) to avoid getting dinged for late or missed payments. To avoid credit card debt, I pay off our credit card balance in full every month, so my credit utilization ratio has never gotten out of control. I also still have a credit card I opened in college, and I'm now (muffles) years old, so that definitely helps my credit history. But here's why my score spiked to 850: We were saving up for a family vacation. As the travel date got closer, I wanted to make sure we came home well-rested and not immediately worried about bills. I put most purchases on our credit cards to earn rewards for everyday purchases, including groceries, subscriptions and utility bills. So I made weekly payments -- sometimes multiple times per week -- to pay off our credit card balances on an almost daily basis. My credit usage went from the low teens (on average) to 1% to 2% that month. That's the only thing I changed: paying more often so my credit utilization never had a chance to go up. The next month, when I checked my credit score, it was 850. It was a nice little surprise, but honestly, it didn't really make any difference after that moment. Paying off my credit cards on almost a daily basis was a bit of grind, although I could probably set up autopay through most of my issuers. But so long as I have the money to cover my bills, the monthly payment system works for my family. And in case you were wondering, my score dropped 15 points when I returned to my normal schedule. So maybe it wasn't sustainable, but I (and my budgeting method) remain happily imperfect.
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Feel Like Saying 'Screw You' to the Economy? Try Revenge Saving
You can't control the economy, but you don't have to let it derail your financial security. Prostock-Studio/Getty Images The economy sucks lately. Constantly changing tariffs, rampant layoffs and a possible recession have me feeling like my financial security is out of my control. That's why I'm here for a new money trend: revenge saving. Revenge saving lets me reclaim control by doing what I can to combat economic uncertainty. And, I've gotta admit, it's kind of fun to channel my worry and frustrations into a quest for vengeance. Read more: Bracing for a Recession? These Accounts Can Keep Your Money Safe What is revenge saving? You may be familiar with revenge spending, or splurging after a period of hardship or deprivation. Many of us did it after the pandemic. I emerged from lockdown eager to make up for lost time. I booked a slew of dinners with friends and a haircut at an upscale salon to correct months of DIY home trims. Revenge spending was a way to regain control and relieve the pressure after going through tough times. Revenge saving can do the same thing, but it's much healthier for your finances. It shifts the focus from enjoying the here and now to building a buffer for the future. By tapping into the fear and uncertainty many of us are feeling about the economy, it can give you the extra motivational boost you need to stick to your financial goals. Personally, I find something deliciously satisfying about reframing savings not as a chore or a sacrifice, but as a "screw you!" to economic uncertainty and the high cost of living. Take that, economy! Building a cash cushion is a must at any time, but it's especially crucial now. In addition to the usual things that could derail your finances, like a sudden medical bill or pricey home repair, the threat of a job loss and runaway inflation have many of us on shaky ground. An emergency fund can help you weather these challenges without forcing you to rely on high-interest debt like credit cards or loans. And every little bit you can set aside helps. Even if your budget is tight, there are manageable steps you can take to boost your savings rate. How to revenge save like a pro Ready to take your vengeance on economic stress? Here's how to do it. 🤑 Harness the power of compound interest One of the secrets of savvy saving is compound interest. With compounding, you earn interest on the money you've deposited plus any interest you've earned so far. It can supercharge your savings, but only if you put your cash in the right account. The national average savings rate is a measly 0.38%, but today's top deposit accounts can offer rates 10 times that amount (or more). If you're building an emergency fund, look for a high-yield savings account with an APY above 3%. Your interest rate is variable and could change when the Federal Reserve starts cutting interest rates, but you'll still earn more over time than you would with a traditional savings account, and you can access your funds anytime if you need them. If you already have money earmarked for an expense with a specific timeline, like a new car or a home improvement, a certificate of deposit is a better fit. CD rates are fixed, so your interest rate won't go down, but you must keep your money in the account for the full term or face early withdrawal penalties. You also can't add money after you've opened the account, so you'll need to have all the cash on hand now. ↪️ Put your savings on autopilot I've struggled with remembering to set aside money each month. Sometimes I've just forgotten to do it, and sometimes I've overspent and had little left at the end of the month. Automating my savings has been a huge help. I set up an automated transfer every payday from my checking account to my savings account, so a set amount is put away before I can touch it. 🏆 Do a savings challenge Savings challenges are a fun way to gamify savings. Whether you try a no-buy month or another savings challenge, it can inspire you to find new ways to save and reframe your relationship with money. Take back your power The economy may be out of your hands, but you still have control over what you do with your money. By saving as much as you can now, you can make it easier to ride out whatever the economy has in store for you next. And that feels pretty awesome.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
When To See ‘Shooting Stars' Tonight As Four Meteor Showers Collide
Summer's 'shooting stars' season gets underway this week with the peaks of three meteor showers. The most famous meteor shower of all, the Perseids, will peak on Aug. 12-13, but a badly timed full moon makes this week the best time to see its shooting stars. A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above Inspiration Point early on August 12, 2016 in Bryce ... More Canyon National Park, Utah. (Photo by) Getty Images The Piscis Austrinid meteor shower will peak in the early hours of July 28, with about five meteors per hour possible, according to The following morning, July 29, will see the peaks of two more meteor showers, the Southern delta Aquariids and the alpha Capricornids. The Southern delta Aquariid meteor shower produces up to 25 shooting stars per hour, with most being rather faint. Although the alpha Capricornids number just five shooting stars per hour at their peak, they tend to include bright and colorful fireballs, according to the American Meteor Society. For all three meteor showers, the best view will likely be had about 3:00 a.m. local time in North America (all timezones), when the radiant points — the constellations of Pisces, Aquarius and Capricorn — are highest in the sky. Those constellations are all visible low on the southern horizon, so the best views will be had the farther south in North America. July 28 and 29 will be excellent nights for stargazing and looking for shooting stars if the skies are clear because the light from the crescent moon will not bleach the night sky. The Perseid meteor shower is already active, having begun on July 17 and is expected to continue until Aug. 23. On the peak night, around 50-75 meteors per hour are visible, but in 2025, that number will be significantly reduced, with only the very brightest of its shooting stars visible. That's because Aug. 9 will see the rise of a full sturgeon moon, which will remain bright and dominant in the night sky on Aug. 12-13, rising just as the peak of the Perseids gets underway. It will remain in the sky for the rest of the night. When To See The Perseid Meteor Shower In 2025 There are two periods to watch the skies in 2025 if you want to see shooting stars from the Perseid meteor shower. The first is right now before the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Aug. 1. The second is Aug. 15, when the moon will rise around midnight and a little later on subsequent nights. According to NASA, the best way to watch a meteor shower is to get out of the city to the darkest location you can, such as a Dark Sky Place. However, it's wise to check the weather forecast in advance because a clear sky is imperative. Observe somewhere with a clear view of as much of the night sky as possible, with extra layers to keep warm, as well as bug spray, snacks and drinks. Be patient, take a break every 30 minutes and avoid looking at a smartphone whose white light will kill your night vision. The Next Major Meteor Shower After the Perseids come to an end on Aug. 23, the next major meteor shower will be the Orionids. Active from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12, it will peak overnight on Oct. 22-23, one day after October's new moon. That will be perfectly dark skies, making many of the Orionids' predicted 10-20 shooting stars per hour during the peak visible to observers away from light pollution. The Orionid meteor shower is one of two annual meteor showers caused by Halley's Comet, the most famous and one of the largest comets known. The other is the Eta Aquariids meteor shower, which next peaks on May 5-6, 2026. Further Reading Forbes NASA Urges Public To Leave The City As Milky Way Appears — 15 Places To Go By Jamie Carter Forbes Get Ready For The Shortest Day Since Records Began As Earth Spins Faster By Jamie Carter Forbes NASA Spacecraft 'Touches Sun' For Final Time In Defining Moment For Humankind By Jamie Carter
CTV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
How ‘The Osbournes' changed reality TV
Sharon, Kelly, Jack and Ozzy Osbourne, shown here in 2004, were the stars of MTV's "The Osbournes." (Getty Images via CNN Newsource) Ozzy Osbourne was an architect of heavy metal music, but that's not the only medium in which he blazed a trail. The rocker, who died Tuesday at the age of 76, also helped shape reality television. An argument might even be made, for better or for worse, that Osbourne and his family gave rise to the Kardashians. The idea of celebrities doing reality shows was far from common in 2002, when MTV first launched 'The Osbournes.' Ozzy Osbourne's music career was no longer at its height as he and his wife, Sharon, opened the doors of their home to share to share their private life with their then-teen children, Jack and Kelly, as well as their beloved pets. Audiences fell in love with the family members, as funny as they were fascinating. It was quite a different version of Osbourne, who was known as the 'Prince of Darkness' for his stage performances, including the now infamous story of him biting the head off a bat. The series featured the British rocker as a domesticated dad who loved to totter around the house, often loudly yelling, 'Sharon!' There was also some serious moments. The show documented Sharon Osbourne's colon cancer diagnosis in 2002 and her husband's quad bike accident in 2004. It marked one of the first times an already established celebrity pulled back the curtain on their lives for a more intimate look. The series was so successful that other networks scrambled to replicate it. Within months, E! had debuted 'The Anna Nicole Show,' while MTV launched 'Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica,' featuring then-married singers Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. The next few years brought even more reality shows, including UPN's 'Britney and Kevin: Chaotic;' Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and his then wife Shanna Moakler's 'Meet the Barkers' on MTV; wrestler Hulk Hogan and his family in 'Hogan Knows Best' on VH1; MTV's 'Run's House,' featuring Rev. Run of the rap group Run-DMC and his family; and Bravo's 'Being Bobby Brown' about the lives of married singers Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston, all of which launched in 2005. Eventually both the ratings and the Osbourne family's interest in sharing their lives waned. 'The level of success that TV show got us was too much,' Osbourne told NME in 2020. 'I had to bow out. I said to Sharon: 'I don't like the way it makes me feel, and I can't stand f**king cameramen in my house.' I'm not upset that I did it, but I wouldn't do it again,' he said. 'People were going: 'Aren't you worried about losing your fans?' I said: 'I'm not worried about losing my fans – I'm worried about losing my f**king mind.'' Following Osbourne's death, former MTV executive Van Toffler reflected on the musician's role as reality TV pioneer. 'The language! We had to bleep so much of the dialogue,' Toffler told Variety. 'That became such an integral part of it, the way we bleeped it, how often we bleeped it, and we weren't making it up.' 'It was so wrong, but unlike anything else that was on TV.'
