9 Awesome YouTube Accounts for Tech Enthusiasts

Whether it’s the latest tech industry innovations, what’s next in space travel, or the most obscure gadgets out there, there’s a lot happening in tech. How to keep up with the trends?

A lot of tech innovators and enthusiasts have launched YouTube channels to talk about tech news, provide product reviews and how-tos, and explore new experiments in tech that are just starting to make a splash. Here are nine of our favorite YouTube channels on a wide variety of tech-related topics.

CNET. 1.4M subscribers.

CNET has one of the best and most established tech-focused YouTube channels. They’ve got tutorials, interviews (hi, Mark Zuckerberg), advice for finding and using new devices, exclusive coverage of big conferences and tech events, and first looks at new releases including cars, home appliances, computers, smartphones and watches, and more. You’re bound to find all sorts of tidbits on anything you’re searching for (or didn’t even know you were searching for).

Mashable. 526K subscribers.

Mashable covers robots, jetpacks, VR, and other toys of the future, but also your present-day gadgets and gizmos. Mashable’s short, digestible videos can help you fix your current tech problems and also stay on the cutting edge.

MKBHD. 5M subscribers.

Marques “MKBHD” Brownlee is one of the most popular tech-focused YouTubers out there, and for good reason. His videos have good camera work and high-quality production value, and often a nice dash of humor. The content includes first impressions as Marques unboxes new gadgets, as well as explanations, features of his favorite hot tech, and answers to subscribers’ questions.

Tech Insider. 922K subscribers.

A spinoff of Business Insider, Tech Insider dives into big issues in tech. Sometimes there’s a business side to the inside scoop (a Tesla road trip, features on top-selling devices), but there are lots of videos that show the fun side to digital culture and tech innovations, too (inflatable obstacle courses, how deep the ocean is, scary VR games). For learning about how tech works and weird inventions that aren’t mainstream (yet), Tech Insider is a great hub.

Techquickie. 1.6M subscribers.

If you want tech, and you want it quick, Techquickie has got you covered. The videos are usually about five minutes and peppered with humorous asides. They generally fall into three categories: first, answering those questions you never knew you had (why do you have to use airplane mode? What’s a safe temperature for your computer? What are URLs, really?); second, fixes for your malfunctioning gadgets; and third, DIY projects for the technologically ambitious.

TechCrunch. 295K subscribers.

TechCrunch is like a bag of assorted candies where you can’t decide your favorite, so you just keep eating and eating. The formats range from interviews to news reports to talk shows (ish), and the topics include startups, space travel, transportation, gaming, Apple-focused news, robotics, and of course, gadget reviews. As far as range and depth of coverage, TechCrunch is one to beat.

Unbox Therapy. 8.6M subscribers.

It’s hard to imagine taking gadgets out of boxes as therapeutic until you’ve seen Unbox Therapy get into it. It’s no listening to the ocean, but it sure is entertaining. These videos, usually five to ten minutes, get into the nitty-gritty of a wide range of brand new tech. Some devices only show up once (how many $5,000 massage chairs can be there be?), but Lewis gets in-depth with video series that focus on different categories of products, like headphones, phone cases, speakers, and keyboards. Seriously, there’s a lot of variety in keyboards. Yes, there’s one made out of wood.

The Verge. 1.5M subscribers.

The Verge is another one with a lot of content and a ton of variety. They’ve got handy reviews and how-tos for the devices you’re likely to have, as well as series on things like space travel, consumer electronics events, and the latest experiments in technology, involving everything from airplanes to human emotions.

Grammarly. 100K subscribers.

Need a break from exploring tech’s latest and greatest, or maybe desperate to know whether you need an “affect” or an “effect” in your work report? Well, we’ve got you covered.

Need a break from exploring tech’s latest and greatest, or maybe desperate to know whether you need an “affect” or an “effect” in your work report? Well, we’ve got you covered. Grammarly’s YouTube channel explores the intersection of tech, writing right, and communication for business. Had to sneak that one in there.

This list scratches the surface, but there are tons of great tech-focused YouTube channels out there. What are your favorites? Join the brainstorm by sharing your picks in the comments section.

19 Llamas Who Get How You Feel After Vacation

You just got back from vacation, and it’s your first day back at work. You’re numb. Everything seems pointless. People say “Happy Monday!” and all you can think is:

If anyone knows how you feel, it’s a pack of llamas. (Or alpacas. We’re using both, because they’re both certified to help you get over post-vacation blues.) Llamas and their alpaca friends have experienced the ups and downs of vacation and its aftermath, and they can truly understand the struggle of getting back to the routine.

So if you just got back from a trip—or if you could use a pick-me-up, or even if you just llike llamas a llot—here are some empathetic llamas to help you through the journey of getting back from your journey. Just try not to actually spit on your coworkers. Tempting as it is, it’ll make things harder in the long run.

The first thing you usually face when you get back—aside from the uncontrollable urge to spit—is kind of like mourning. You waited for months for that vacation, and while you were on your trip, you were free.

You were on top of the world.

You could do anything at all, no matter how crazy it seemed.

But in a snap, it was gone. Packing, travel, jetlag. You had to book it to make it back to a place you don’t even really want to be.

So here you are, in the office once again. Alarm clocks, small talk around the coffee pot, busy work. The tedium and monotony of the daily grind.

Just the thought of looking at the millions of emails that piled up while you were away is like the idea of being force-fed reject leftovers.

Everything feels empty. You can’t find your drive. You’d do anything to dodge that next meeting.

You remember that thing you were sure you’d be more motivated to do once you got back. Nope. Nuh-uh. I’m out.

Did you just nod off at your desk?

The millionth person just asked you how your trip was, and you got nostalgic and almost shed a tear, or maybe just had to hold back your rage at being told “Welcome back!” It’s official: you might actually be going insane.

At this point, you’re tempted to make a run for it and never look back.

But don’t despair. You just have to get back into the right mindset. Let yourself wallow in your post-vacation blues for a bit. Zone out, feel grumpy, eat your favorite snacks.

But then, kick yourself back into action. You can only heave a heavy sigh every time you look at a picture of your vacation spot so many times before you lose it. So absorb the joyous memories of your trip, and then ease back into your regular routine. Set yourself mini deadlines, give yourself rewards, read lists of tips for getting over the post-vacation blues. And after a few days of feeling weird about being back, you’ll start getting back in sync.

And really, it’s not all bad. You have your friends, and maybe you even like some of your coworkers. Isn’t it kind of nice to rejoin the pack?

Once you get used to your daily tasks and remind yourself there are people you like, you’ll find that you’ve hit your stride. It’s really not so bad, once you get into the groove.

It may feel like a big stretch. But once you get into it, you’ll realize you were thirsty for the rewards of your life at home.

In no time, even when you’re getting that torrent of emails and piles of new projects, you will no longer be phased. After you’ve soaked up the glory of your vacay and re-acclimated to your normal environment, you’ll find yourself ready to take on anything.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

The future perfect continuous, also sometimes called the future perfect progressive, is a verb tense that describes actions that will continue up until a point in the future. The future perfect continuous consists of will + have + been + the verb’s present participle (verb root + -ing).

When we describe an action in the future perfect continuous tense, we are projecting ourselves forward in time and looking back at the duration of that activity. The activity will have begun sometime in the past, present, or in the future, and is expected to continue in the future.

In November, I will have been working at my company for three years.

At five o’clock, I will have been waiting for thirty minutes.

When I turn thirty, I will have been playing piano for twenty-one years.

Nonaction Verbs Do Not Use the Future Perfect Continuous

Remember that nonaction verbs like to be, to seem, or to know are not suited to the future perfect continuous tense. Instead, these verbs take the future perfect tense, which is formed with will + have + past participle.

On Thursday, I will have been knowing you for a week.

On Thursday, I will have known you for a week.

I will have been reading forty-five books by Christmas.

I will have read forty-five books by Christmas.

The Essentials of Conditionals

You only have to observe a dog rooting around in the trash can to realize that dogs don’t understand what could happen if they eat spoiled food. Humans, on the other hand, have the power of reason. Rotten meat is dangerous. They can imagine various possible consequences—a tummyache, a trip to the hospital, expensive prescriptions, and so on. Conditional sentences reflect humans’ capacity to hypothesize. What are conditional sentences? How can you use them? How are they useful? Let’s explore the answers to these three questions.

Conditional sentences, sometimes called if-clauses, refer to hypothetical situations and their projected consequences. The if-clause presents a particular condition that must be in place for an action in the main clause to occur.

The Zero Conditional

Zero conditionals refer to general truths or real, possible situations in the present tense.

If water reaches a temperature of 212℉, it boils. Water always boils at 212℉, so this statement is a general truth. In fact, you can replace if with when: When water is heated to 212℉, it boils.

You can also use the zero conditional to give commands that are contingent on a certain circumstance:

If the dog goes outside, make sure he doesn’t get into the trash. If it rains, bring an umbrella.

Conditional Type 1

Zero conditional sentences discuss what happens in general. You will need the Type 1 conditionals to discuss what will happen in the future. Since the future is not entirely predictable, these sentences are not absolute truths but instead likely possibilities.

If I fall asleep, I will miss my favorite show. I will arrive late if my car doesn’t start soon.

Conditional Type 2

You can use the second conditional to talk about things that are unlikely to happen but theoretically possible.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a house in Manarola. She would pass the class if she had a tutor. If the company mailed the check on time, he should get it on Monday.

Conditional Type 3

The third conditional talks about things that are impossible.

I would have gone to the party if I had known about it. (The party is already over, so it is too late to attend.) If humans could fly, they would crash into each other in midair. (Humans don’t have wings, so this condition is impossible to fulfill.)

Mixed Conditionals

English speakers often mix these four basic types of conditionals to talk about the present hypothetical results of past events that may or may not have happened.

If mom had let my buy a goat, I wouldn’t be mowing the lawn right now. If she were going to pass the class, she would have attended the final exam.

If you can identify this sentence as a conditional, you are doing well. Beyond the classroom, you may never need to know whether it is a Type 1 or Type 2. However, you do need to know how to use conditionals in order to put your reasoning power to best use. Conditionals enable you to talk about all the possibilities, such as what will happen if your dog eats garbage or how you would spend a million dollars. You can also talk about impossibilities, such as what humans would do if they had wings or what you should have done that you didn’t. Nothing limits you but your own imagination.

5 Pieces of Fiction to Inspire Productivity

With 2017 beginning in earnest and resolutions being made, you may be looking for a way to make your leisure time a little more productive and guilt-free. To that end, there are some excellent pieces of fiction that provide more than just entertainment; they also inspire productivity. These are just a few titles that can motivate and energize you as you set new objectives for the year ahead.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This fantasy novel is often held up as a shining example of a motivational work of fiction. Written by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho de Souza, this book tells the tale of a shepherd boy who embarks on a long pilgrimage from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure.

The boy’s journey takes on the form of a simple, earnest fable and includes mysterious, symbolic characters who test the boy or provide him with insight. The tale explores themes of transformation, hope, and desire as the boy endlessly pursues his dreams. The actual nature of the treasure is unimportant compared with the journey and the wisdom gained along the way. This novel is ideal for those who seek the motivation to pursue their innermost desires, especially in creative endeavors.

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

This novel was written in 1979 by the somewhat infamous British author and peer, Jeffrey Howard Archer. The title is a play on the biblical Cain and Abel, but rather than following a theme of sibling rivalry, it compares two distinct but intertwined lives.

The themes of the novel are more historical than religious. The two men, William Kane and Abel Rosnovski, are born on the same day and share the same power of will and determination. Kane is a wealthy American socialite, while Abel is a destitute Pole. The novel follows the lives of the two men through disaster, heartache, and strenuous endeavor. Abel’s tale, in particular, is very inspirational, as he takes a painful journey from Poland to America to make his name. Both characters undergo trials and tribulations in the worlds of industry and high society while exploring their world views and the strengths that make triumph possible.

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

This book is often overshadowed by George Orwell’s later, iconic works, Animal Farm and 1984. In 1933, Orwell published Down and Out in Paris and London, a semi-autobiographical tale about his early difficulties.

This work touches on themes of social justice and personal strength. The story is set in the 1920s and later, initially following Orwell’s younger self as he struggles with poverty in Paris. Down and Out is in many ways the novelization of a memoir, written in Orwell’s strident narrative style. He tells a tale of strife but often balances the scales with hope and humor. The first half deals with his work in the hotels of Paris, detailing awful conditions reminiscent of a Dickensian tale of woe. The second half sees Orwell arrive in London and face a whole new set of obstacles. Down and Out gains much of its inspirational quality from the presence of real-life anecdotes and evidence, detailing a true story of success against the odds.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Siddhartha is a 1922 novel that follows a tale of personal discovery, enlightenment, and spiritual well-being. This novel is sure to inspire personal growth, if not productivity, though it does demonstrate the link between the two.

The name Siddhartha roughly means “he who has found meaning” or “he who has attained his goals.” This simple and undemanding read follows a man who learns all there is to know about happiness and success as he faces various trials in his life. A novel of wisdom and fulfillment, Siddhartha is set during the time of Gautama Buddha (roughly between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE) and reads like a fable or gentle fantasy. With a pleasing historical aesthetic and powerful themes of spirituality and mysticism, this novel reminds readers to be thankful, to find out what truly matters, and to value introspection. Siddhartha is a tale about understanding goals, not just attaining them.

The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian is a direct contrast to Siddhartha, dealing with opposite but parallel themes. This book, self-published in 2011 and later taken on by Crown Publishing, tells the tale of an astronaut stranded on Mars. The protagonist of this novel spends no time on introspection or existential matters but instead focuses purely on hard, realistic goals.

The Martian follows NASA astronaut Mark Watney, who becomes stranded on Mars after an accident. After the rest of the crew evacuates and leaves Watney behind, he must find ways to survive with very limited resources. The Martian environment is truly hostile and taxing, and Watney must rely on his ingenuity and the scraps of technology brought with him (and left behind by previous missions) to survive. The story has powerful themes of determination and resourcefulness, which are sure to inspire productivity in readers with practical minds. Watney does not assign blame or complain about his dire predicament but instead champions rational thinking and utilitarian decision-making. The Martian is a dry but powerful tale of grim fortitude.