People Are Making a Fortune From Their Attic Junk and You Can Too

When Emma Westbrook was 8, Beanie Babies sparked her childhood imagination about owning a zoo. Last year, those same toys paid a month of her rent. When clearing out the basement of her parents’ suburban Houston home, the 26-year-old found her beloved Beanie Babies in two 27-gallon airtight plastic boxes, buried under years of cobwebs and dust. Little did she know nostalgic Americans were scouring the Internet, looking for the childhood favorites. That demand sent the value of her buried knick-knacks into the stratosphere. In June, she sold a pink limited-edition Beanie Baby named Valentina for $350. Barbies, Lego sets and dollhouses brought her total to $720, nearly equaling her monthly rent. Like Westbrook, your toys — once ripped from Christmas wrapping and left to gather dust in the attic — could help pay off your student loans, pay for your next vacation, or pay down some of your debt. Buyers are willing to shell out top dollar for the right items, especially brand-name toys, comics and books. A copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 — the 1962 comic featuring Spider-Man's debut — sold for $3.6 million at auction, while Transformer Toys sold for $20,000. First-edition Harry Potter books have commanded $50,000 payouts, and Barbie dolls are listed on eBay for anywhere from $20 to $500. Old tech is just as popular, with Apple devices like the first iPhone ballooning into five figures. Even vintage iPods, floppy-disc video games, and unopened Sega cartridges are attracting big bucks. Not everything that comes out of the attic is valuable. Collectors have one simple rule: condition is king. Mint condition items in original boxes can be worth 10 times more than the same toy that's been played with. So, rummage through your basement, attic, or the spare bedroom closet and see if there’s something that’s been collecting dust that could be padding your bank account.

 

 

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The California Road That Defies Gravity, Where Cars Appear to Roll Uphill

It looks like a normal road at first glance, but a stretch of highway in the Los Angeles area is the site of an eerie phenomenon where cars appear to defy gravity. The mountainside road in Altadena, just north of Pasadena, is known as Gravity Hill. No one seems to be able to explain why vehicles on the road — which looks like it slopes downward — roll uphill. When seeing the phenomenon in action, it’s hard to wrap your head around the illusion, but there does appear to be an explanation. It’s actually a case of misleading angles and perspective, which highlight the limitations of our perception as humans. The illusion occurs because viewers have skewed perspective on the road. The area where the car rolls backward is on the crest of a hill where the road incline becomes less steep, just before it actually begins to slope down. For observers, the difference in inclines makes it look like cars have already passed the top of the hill, and the lack of a horizon or distant reference points completes the illusion. So, if you ever find yourself in Altadena and decide to take a drive on Gravity Hill, remember……your eyes are deceiving you.

 

 

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How Do Whole-Body Deodorants Work, and Are They Safe?

Full-body deodorants are undoubtedly having a moment. Commercials and ads have flooded airways and social media with a lineup of fragrant creams, sticks, sprays and roll-ons to apply on virtually any part of the body. It’s not clear if these products are suddenly popular because of public demand, but targeted marketing that’s convincing people they smell is a driving factor. Lume whole-body deodorant, which came out in 2017, is said to have kickstarted the trend. Since then, nearly every major manufacturer of deodorants has followed suit, including Secret, Dove, Native, and Ban. The earlier products were geared toward women, but in more recent years brands such as Mando, Old Spice and Dove’s Men+Care line have expanded the market share. So, do these whole-body deodorants really work? Deodorants work by using an antimicrobial compound, such as triclosan, to kill some of the odor-causing bacteria. Any remaining odor is masked with fragrance molecules. Whole-body antiperspirants, on the other hand, contain aluminum compounds designed to block sweat glands. This keeps perspiration from reaching the skin’s surface to combine with bacteria and cause odor. What about safety? Whole-body deodorants use ingredients that are generally considered safe, but people with sensitive skin should be cautious when it comes to fragrances. Aromatic compounds in scents could trigger an allergic reaction called contact dermatitis, which causes an itchy rash. It’s a good idea to test these whole-body products on a patch of skin for two weeks daily before applying them all over the body. Now for the final conclusion from dermatologists: Most people are able to keep sweat and odor in check with regular showering and underarm deodorant.

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Sizzler Steakhouse to Make a Comeback

Sizzler, the budget-friendly chain famous for its salad bar, sizzling platters and golden cheese toast, was once everywhere. In its heyday, the brand operated more than 770 restaurants nationwide, making it one of the largest casual-dining chains in America. Unfortunately, by the 1990s, the chain crashed, and crashed hard. Fast expansion, shifting tastes, and competition from Applebee’s and Outback pushed the brand into decline. Sizzler filed for bankruptcy twice, closing hundreds of locations. By 2010, just 74 restaurants remained on the West Coast. Now, the iconic chain is quietly plotting a second act. Sizzler is in the process of revamping its stores, bringing back the all-you-can-eat salad bar, updating dining rooms, and getting back to “the way things were.” Sizzler's original concept revolved around giving customers the feel of a full-service restaurant at a price slightly more than a fast food chain. Chief Growth Officer Robert Clark thinks going back to what worked in the beginning will cause the chain to have a resurgence.

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