At HODINKEE, we like watches. We like them a lot.

And though we do sometimes write about watches that inhabit stratospheric price points, we also know that realistically speaking, there is not always an absolute connection between price and quality (actually a lot of the time there's a surprising disconnect, but that's another article).

We know that getting as much bang as possible for the buck is a major pot-sweetener when it comes to picking a watch, and so we went 'round HODINKEE HQ and asked all and sundry to tap a favorite under the magic $5,000 mark.

Read on to find out who picked what, and why.

SEE ALSO: This is the world's most underrated Rolex

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NOMOS Tangente

From: Ryan LeFevre, Senior Software Engineer

A strict exercise in Bauhaus design, the Tangente is what I consider to be the quintessential NOMOS. While many manufacturers attempt to show off their technological superiority by cramming as many clever complications into a watch as possible, NOMOS has stripped away everything for the Tangente that is not essential to a watch. Its beautiful symmetry with clean Arabic numerals makes it incredibly easy to read at a glance, and the combination of a bright matte silver dial with blue hands is striking. While it's offered in three separate sizes (33 mm, 35 mm, and 38 mm), the 38 mm version sits perfectly on my slightly larger than average wrist.

Because the Tangente is manually wound, it also sits closer to the wrist than the automatic Tangomat. It houses the first movement ever designed by NOMOS, the Alpha caliber, which is not only pretty to look at, but is also quite accurate. All of this is offered for only $2,330, which I consider to be extremely good value for money. Due to a surge in popularity, the value of NOMOS watches can only go up.

Seiko 'Cocktail Time' SARB065

From: Christa Chance, HODINKEE Contributor

Since most of my collection falls well below the $5,000 benchmark, I'm spoiled for choice when it comes to answering this question. My Speedmaster Professional (Lemania cal. 1861) gets the most wrist time, and occupies a special place in my heart and on my wrist. But since our love of Speedmasters is already well known (some might say notorious), I must make a case for the Seiko SARB065 or Cocktail Time. 

Its price point – $480 on most sites – makes it a contender for best value under $500, let alone $5,000. As the Cocktail Time is a model for the Japanese domestic market, you won't find it at Macy's alongside more familiar Seikos in that price range, such as the SKX007. But the Cocktail Time boasts finishing to rival that of a Grand Seiko and a robust, 23-jewel 6R15 automatic movement with hand-winding capabilities, hacking seconds, and a quickest date function.  

And look at that dial. Talk about guilloché. I am enamored with the dial – the delicacy and the mutability of the color, appearing ice blue and slate gray as the light changes, like an Aviation cocktail. 

Despite the domed Hardlex crystal, the watch sits close to the wrist. Its comfortable 40 mm diameter suits both men and dainty-wristed ladies like myself. My only complaint about the watch is that the deployant clasp on the strap gets in the way of my desk-diving, so I switched it with a ladies crocodile strap.

I'll drink to that.

Pita Barcelona Oceana Diver's Watch

From: Evald Muraj, HODINKEE Contributor

If you caught last year's Watch I Wore The Most and other such pieces, then you know that I'd normally choose NOMOS any day of the week. However, in an effort to be more didactic, I switched it up this time.

Many watch-fans may not know about Pita Barcelona, the father and son duo in eastern Spain who, along with a couple helpers, churns out a few handfuls of watches per year. The builder in question is Aniceto Jimenez, a watchmaker obsessed with reinventing functionality and timekeeping-displays. My proposition is the Oceana (on which I'll soon be bringing you more about – so, stay tuned).

The Oceana is a dive-watch with 2,000 or 5,000-meter depth-ratings. Its titanium case is un-drilled, crown-less and gasket-less. How do you set the hands? Remotely, using a patented case-back that doubles as a magnetic regulator for setting time. Yes, that's very cool – like I said, stay tuned. Completely isolated from outside elements, a heavily modified ETA beats inside the Oceana. By "heavily modified," I mean that Pita guts the majority of the original caliber, restructures it and adds to it other proprietary mechanisms that make each movement abide to the magnetic principles that are required for this unique diver to function. 

A single watchmaker assembles each watch. Priced at €4,675 means that the Oceana was under $5,000 in April but, with FOREX being what it is, is just slightly over that mark today. There’s a lot to like (L) about the Oceana at this price (P), and that fits my personal equation for value (V), which is V=L/P.

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After 19 seasons of "The Bachelor," 11 seasons of "The Bachelorette," and only five couples who have actually gotten married, there are a lot of ABC reality stars who are still looking for love.

ABC decided to take some of those rejected contestants and fly them to a remote tropical resort and let the drama unfold on "Bachelor in Paradise."

"Bachelor in Paradise" is in its second season, and each week the ratings have gone up. There are now 5.2 million people watching complete and utter chaos unfold on the show — it's so full of drama that ABC has actually given "Bachelor in Paradise" two prime-time air dates per week: two hours on Sunday evening and an additional hour followed by an hour-long discussion hosted by "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison on Monday.

So what's ABC's hit drama recipe?

A lot of booze, attractive people, and constant plot twists.

SEE ALSO: The winner of ABC's 'The Bachelorette' sent a Snapchat to friends before the season started that basically predicted the future

MORE: 'The Real World' producers just orchestrated the most messed-up twist in the history of the show

Chris Harrison, who hosts "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," is also the host of "Bachelor in Paradise."

At the beginning of the season, a dozen single people arrive at a resort in Mexico. There are twice as many single women as there are men.

Immediately, couples begin to form. The guys mostly get snatched up, but a bunch of the women are left loveless. Some of the couples aren't very strong, like contestants Ashley I. and Jared.

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We all forget things. And sometimes it seems that the technology meant to make our lives easier just gives us more things to forget.

These apps aren't like that. They will help you remember everything from your keys, to your bills, to where you first met someone. They can even improve your memory.

Taken together, these 15 apps tackle forgetfulness through all different parts of your life. 

SEE ALSO: Scientists have finally figured out why we remember some things and forget others

Level Money keeps track of your finances

Level Money links to your bank account to help you know how much you can spend today, meaning you never have to manually input your purchases. It takes into account your income, monthly spending habits, and how much you’re trying to save — perfect for the forgetful budgeter. And if you spend more than you should on a given day, the app will adjust and tell you to spend less the following day.

Free (iOS, Android)

Evernote can take notes about anything

Note-taking app Evernote can help you remember almost your entire life. My colleague Steve Kovach uses it for interviews, business cards, recipes, and even random things like a friend's new address. “I've become so dependent on Evernote that I don't think I could do my job without it,” he says.

Free (iOS, Android)

Pocket lets you save articles to read offline later — on any device

It’s easy to forget to come back to an article you want to read when you’re furiously browsing the internet. But with Pocket, you can easily send that article to any device and read it later. Pocket, with one click, compiles and sends the article to an archive you can read on your phone, tablet, or computer. Just beware of your queue filling up with too many good articles to read.

Free (iOS, Android)

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A Los Angeles home owned by Activision video game designer Chad Findley has hit the market for $1.85 million. 

Findley has worked at Activision for more than 20 years and has played a major role in the design of several beloved video games, including "Apocalypse,""Tony Hawk,""Spider-Man," and "Guitar Hero." 

He's currently the single-player project director on "Call of Duty," which is produced by Infinity Ward, a division of Activision.  

His family home is a three-bedroom, 2,624-square-foot house in the Beverly Grove section of Los Angeles.

He added some pretty cool features to make the home work for his busy tech schedule, including a custom coffee table with built-in motors.  

SEE ALSO: Early Uber investor and serial entrepreneur Jason Calacanis is selling his Los Angeles home for $3 million

Findley and his wife have lived here since 2003. They did extensive renovations on the home in 2007, adding an entire second floor and making big changes to the first-floor configuration.

The second-floor area is now a spacious living area, and it's where Findley would get a lot of his work done.

These tall bookcases are not all that they appear to be. They each disguise a secret room: one a storage area, and the other a mini bar. In this shot Findley sent us, you can see how the bookcases open.

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More than 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, which once separated East Berlin from West Berlin, hundreds of the wall's portions stand scattered in countries throughout the world. 

In fact, more pieces of it actually reside in other countries than in Berlin — or Germany — itself, according to The Guardian.

We've put together a collection of images that show where pieces of the wall stand today and how they look in different countries, from a segment gifted to Nelson Mandela in South Africa to a massive display in Los Angeles.

SEE ALSO: These photos show iconic US landmarks as they were being constructed

FOLLOW US! Business Insider Travel is on Twitter

The East Side Gallery is approximately a one-mile portion of the Berlin Wall in Berlin, Germany. The gallery is filled with symbolic artwork, like this one of a car breaking through the wall.

Source: Visit Berlin

Over the years, segments of the Berlin Wall have been gifted and sold to countries around the world. Here, portions of the Wall are up for sale at a storage yard in Teltow, Germany.

Source: Reuters

Three segments of the Berlin Wall were gifted to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City by the Federal Republic of Germany. The illustration displays a boy and a girl meeting over the wall.

Source: International Business Times

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Living conditions around the world are on a steep decline as of late. 

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) annual livability ranking — which examines the quality of life in 140 cities "that people might want to live in or visit"— global living conditions have fallen by 1% since 2010, with one-third of the decrease happening over the past year. 

In the ranking, Melbourne, Australia, claimed the No. 1 spot for the fifth year running, with a score of 97.5 out of 100.

Damascus, Syria — where the death toll from a four-year civil war has eclipsed 300,000 — is at the bottom of the ranking, with a score of 29.3.

As for the US, the report notes that "North American cities have largely seen declines" and points to civil unrest, police brutality, and the "the deaths of a number of black people in police custody" as partial reasons.

Detroit, Michigan, was ranked No. 6 on the EIU's list of cities with the biggest livability score decline over the past five years. 

Cities that tend to score the best on the ranking are mid-size and located in wealthier countries with relatively low population densities. Out of 2015's top five cities, four are located in Canada or Australia, which have population densities of 3.40 and 2.88 people per square kilometer, respectively (the global average is 46.65 people per square km).

Keep scrolling for a look at the top five most livable cities in the world, with a tie for fifth place. 

Elena Holodny contributed to an earlier version of this post. 

5. Calgary

Country: Canada
Score: 96.6

Major Canadian and global energy companies are located in Calgary, as are financial services industries and film, TV, and creative industries.

People living in Calgary have the highest personal income per capita among major Canadian cities; and from 2004 to 2013, there has been a 16.7% increase in financial services jobs created.

5. Adelaide

Country: Australia
Score: 96.6

Major industry sectors in Adelaide include healthcare and social assistance; professional, scientific and technical services; and accommodation and food services.

Accommodation and food services has seen the largest positive change in employee number from 2006 to 2011, followed by the healthcare and social assistance industry.

4. Toronto

Country: Canada
Score: 97.2

Twenty-one of the 30 largest law practices, seven of the 10 largest accounting firms, and seven of the 10 largest advertising agencies in Canada are located in Toronto. Over 56% of employees in Toronto's multifaceted economy have post-secondary degrees or certificates.

Toronto is also the major design center of Canada's design economy and the third largest in North America after New York and Boston. Plus, Toronto's "fast-moving" fashion industry has contributed to the 550% increase of Canadian apparel exports since 1994.

It's never easy to start a new job.

Leaving a strong first impression is even harder.

But following these nine tips by LinkedIn will make life at your new job much easier.

SEE ALSO: 17 cartoons that perfectly describe life in Silicon Valley

1. Grab a bite with a colleague: LinkedIn says just a few casual conversations with the right people early on could go a long way, and give a head start in your new role.

2. Get to know your manager’s work style: It’s very important to “speak the same language” as your boss. For example, find out if they prefer emails or direct conversations. LinkedIn says those little things could “set you up for future success.”

3. Find an office ally: LinkedIn says it's essential to find a company veteran for your success. Look for someone who’s "been there, done that" in your role, and talk to them frequently when you need any kind of help.

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Walt Disney Animation Studios announced more details on its upcoming animated musical, "Moana," over the weekend at fan event D23.

Disney's 56th animated film will feature the voice of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a mighty demi-god and revolve around a young teenage girl — Moana —  who bravely sails across the Pacific Ocean to "complete her ancestors' quest." 

Moana will be Disney's first Pacific Islander princess. 

The film won't be in theaters until November 23, 2016. Until then, here's everything we know about "Moana" so far.

"Moana" will be produced by Osnat Shurer and directed Ron Clements and John Musker. Clements and Musker have been in the Disney family for awhile — they both directed "The Little Mermaid,""Aladdin," and most recently, "The Princess and the Frog."

The legend goes like this: 3,000 years ago the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast South Pacific. Then their voyages suddenly stopped — and no one knows exactly why.

Enter Moana (the Hawaiian and Maori word for "ocean") who decides to sail across the Pacific Ocean to finish what her ancestors started.

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Financial planners see it all.

Not only do they get an inside look into their clients' spending, saving, earnings, and investments, but they can see past the numbers to the people behind them: their clients' ambitions, fears, priorities ... and decisions.

Below, six certified financial planners answer the question,"What's the smartest decision you've ever seen a client make with his or her money, and why was it so smart?"

SEE ALSO: In my first meeting with a financial adviser, she told me something that completely changed my perspective on money

Investing in themselves.

"The best thing a client can do is to invest money in themselves. That might mean going back to college, getting an MBA, a high level certification in their career field, starting a business, or a range of other possibilities. Ultimately, investing in yourself will likely provide the highest return on investment (ROI) that you will find.

"Investing in starting a business is certainly risky, but it is something that can help secure a person's financial future.

"That being said, I think starting a business is a lot less risky than having a job. When you work for someone else, they hold the keys to 100% of your income. When you work for yourself, a client or customer can fire you, and it is only a small percentage of your income."

— Alan Moore, CFP, Serenity Financial Consulting

Creating multiple streams of income.

"Investing in yourself today while simultaneously saving for the future.

"Chris and his wife Suzie, long-time clients, have always had a very diligent approach to saving and investing. Five years ago, Chris and Suzie left behind their steady paychecks, as executives in the entertainment business, to take the leap and start their own production company. In starting the business, they both agreed to live frugally and to consistently save the majority of their income towards two purposes:

• Reinvesting in the growth of their company.

• Building up their retirement savings.

"They agreed to split their savings in half. One half was invested into tax advantaged retirement accounts, which included creating their own defined benefit pension plan as well as a 401(k) profit sharing plan for the production company. The other half was reinvested directly into the business to build infrastructure, create content, and increase marketing to drive revenues. Doing so allowed them to scale the business faster than expected, yet, at the same time, they felt secure knowing they had reserves set aside with their retirement holdings. The rationale was that if the business did not work out for whatever reason, that they would still be able to grow their net worth via their well diversified retirement portfolio.

"Chris and Suzie's strategy was the smartest financial decision they could make as they bet on themselves while at the same time prudently saving and giving themselves a back up plan. I'm pleased to share that the production company is prospering and as the business grew, Chris and Suzie's savings grew along with it. They worked to hand over the management and day-to-day operations of the business to junior partners by offering them equity (ownership) in the company. Ultimately, the growth of their corporation coupled with the substantial income generated from their retirement portfolio allowed Chris and Suzie to achieve their goal of an early retirement.

"The result: They now have sustainable streams of income being generated from both the business and their retirement holdings. As Suzie says, 'passive income is liberating. It feels so good to have free time knowing that we earned it.'"

— Joe O'Boyle, CFP, Voya Financial Planning

Leaving money in a retirement account instead of investing in a risky venture.

"The father of one of my clients needed $25,000 for a risky business venture and my client wanted to cash out his 401(k) in order to invest in this, which he was sure was a 'sure bet.'

"I ended up convincing him that I didn't think it sounded like a good plan for a variety of reasons, but especially because of the penalties and taxes he'd owe on the retirement account distribution. He worked so hard to save this money and he was going to sacrifice his nest egg to help his dad when he needed this money to secure his own family's retirement.

"This person ended up getting the money from someone else and going through with the business venture. I got an email from my client a month later thanking me for convincing him not to go through with it because the project was a big mess and his dad was going to lose a ton of money on it.

"Sometimes the biggest value a financial planner provides is helping our clients avoid making bad financial decisions that could seriously affect their overall financial health."

— Sophia Bera, CFP, Gen Y Planning

What makes someone smart?

Scientists have been investigating that question for decades, and the research suggests that everything from your mother's breast milk to the size of your waistline can influence your intelligence. 

Additional reporting by Chelsea Harvey.

You don't smoke.

A 2010 Israeli study compared the IQ and smoking status of 20,000 young men. 

As the Daily Mail reported, the results were stark: 

• The average 18- to 21-year smoker had an IQ of 94, and the non-smoker had an IQ of 101.

• Those who smoked more than a pack a day had an average IQ of 90.

• In sibling sets, nonsmoking brothers were smarter than smokers. 

You took music lessons.

Research suggests that music helps kids' minds develop in a few ways: 

• A 2011 study found that the verbal intelligence of 4- to 6-year-olds rose after only a month of music lessons. 

• A 2004 study found that 6-year-olds who took nine months of piano lessons had an IQ boost compared with kids who took drama lessons or no classes at all.

But the researchers may be getting it backward: A 2013 study suggested high-achieving kids were the ones most likely to take music lessons. 

You're the oldest child.

Oldest siblings are usually smarter, but it's not because of genetics.

The New York Times reports, "The new findings, from a landmark study published [in June 2007], showed that eldest children had a slight but significant edge in IQ — an average of three points over the closest sibling. And it found that the difference was not because of biological factors but the psychological interplay of parents and children."

For this and other reasons, firstborns tend to be more successful than their siblings.

Choosing a credit card can be overwhelming.

To help you navigate the process, we consulted personal finance and credit card comparison site NerdWallet, which compiled a list of the the best credit cards out there for anyone — here, the site has singled out six great options for jet-setters.

In addition to no foreign transaction fees, which is particularly beneficial for the world travelers, these cards offer great rewards that will help you save on flights, hotels, rental cars, and more.

If you're on the road often, consider one of these:

SEE ALSO: The 10 best credit cards to fit any lifestyle

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

Annual fee: First year is free, then $95 per year.

Purchase APR: 15.99% (APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate).

Why we like it: Earn two rewards points per $1 spent on travel and restaurants, and one point per $1 spent anywhere else.

You can transfer your points to a participating frequent flier programs at a 1:1 rate (1,000 rewards points would mean 1,000 partner miles/points).

You can also earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first three months.

Apply here.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee: First year is free, then $59 per year.

Purchase APR: Variable rate from 12.99% to 22.99%.

Why we like it: You'll have a lower annual fee with this card, plus flexible rewards: two "No Hassle Miles" for every dollar you spend, which can be used towards travel tickets and hotel rooms.

You can also use your miles to book through discount sites like Kayak, and you won't be limited to certain airlines — you can fly through any carrier.

The sign-up bonus is appealing, too: 40,000 miles (equivalent to $400 in travel) if you spend $3,000 in the first three months.

Apply here.

BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee: None.

Purchase APR: Variable rate from 14.99% to 22.99%.

Why we like it: In addition to no annual fee, this card provides solid rewards: 1.5 points for every dollar spent.

You can use your points towards travel-related expenses — hotels, flights, and rental cars — or request statement credit with them. Of course, if you're a big spender and don't mind an annual fee, there are other options out there with better rewards.

Additionally, the sign up bonus will give you 10,000 points if you spend $500 in the first 90 days

Apply here.

Along with gold, silver is one of the most sought-after metals.

Investors, industrialists, artists and others enjoy its many unique properties such as malleability, conductivity, strength and reflectivity.

It also has many beneficial applications in medicine, photography, decoration and technology.

SEE ALSO: Here's How The World Actually Uses Gold

People have been mining silver for thousands of years.

The mining of silver began between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago in Anatolia, or what is now modern-day Turkey. As early as 700 B.C., early Mediterranean civilizations were using the brilliant white metal as currency. Over the next several centuries, the epicenter of silver mining shifted from Greece to Spain to Germany to Eastern Europe.

The Spanish conquest of the Americas changed silver forever.

The Spanish conquest of the Americas in the 16th century dramatically transformed silver production. From 1500 to 1800, a mere three countries controlled an 85 percent share of the world’s silver market: Peru, Mexico and Bolivia.

Today's top 10 silver producers span the world.

In 2013, the top 10 silver producers, in descending order based on output, were Mexico, Peru, China, Australia, Russia, Bolivia, Chile, Poland, the U.S. and Argentina. About 671 million troy ounces of the precious metal are mined annually. In recent years, the price of silver has fluctuated between $19 and $24 an ounce. That amounts to approximately $13 trillion generated a year.

The first key to coping with stress is becoming aware of your stressors, Elizabeth Scott writes in her book "8 Keys to Stress Management."

A stressor is "a situation that causes us to need to act and that can trigger our body's stress response," Scott writes. While it may seem easy at times to tell when something is causing your stress, there are often situations that go under the radar.

Identifying them individually is crucial, because as stress levels rise, it becomes increasingly difficult to determine the root causes.

Here are six of the most common stressors, according to Scott.

SEE ALSO: 8 steps to feeling happier, healthier, and less stressed out

1. Work

Work is perhaps the single largest stressor, Scott writes. "Given that most of us spend a large proportion of our time at work, jobs are often closely tied to our personal identities, our finances, and our lifestyles as a whole," she writes.

Here are some of the main reasons work may be such a big stressor:

• Unclear requirements
• Unattainable demands
• Low recognition
• High penalties for mistakes
• Lack of challenge

2. Relationships

"Relationships can bring us the best of times and the worst of times," Scott writes. "While often beneficial to our health and happiness, our relationships can also present obstacles that are frequently cited as main stressors in people's lives."

It's not just personal relationships that can bring stress. Toxic relationships, whether with friends or coworkers, are especially dangerous. These are relationships that consist of patterns like frequent criticism, gossip, unrealistic demands, contempt, and mocking.

3. Hectic schedules

The demands of schedules today seems to be constantly increasing. "Overwhelmed seems to be the new normal for many people," Scott writes.

The average workweek is 47 hours, and workers don't use a combined $52.4 billion in vacation time every year. With growing workloads, we tend to fill our free time with more responsibilities, she writes.

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Google's image recognition programs are usually trained to look for specific objects, like cars or dogs.

But now, in a process Google's engineers are calling "inceptionism," these artificial intelligence networks were fed random images of landscapes and static noise.

What they get back sheds light on how AI perceive the world, and the possibility that computers can be creative too. 

The AI networks churned out some insane images and took the engineers on a hallucinatory trip full of knights with dog heads, a tapestry of eyes, pig-snails, and pagodas in the sky.

Engineers trained the network by "showing it millions of training examples and gradually adjusting the network parameters,"according to Google’s research blog. The image below was produced by a network that was taught to look for animals.

Each of Google's AI networks is made of a hierarchy of layers, usually about "10 to 30 stacked layers of artificial neurons." The first layer, called the input layer, can detect very basic features like the edges of objects. The engineers found that this layer tended to produce strokes and swirls in objects, as in the image of a pair of ibis below.

As an image progresses through each layer, the network will look for more complicated structures, until the final layer makes a decision about the objects in the image. This AI searched for animals in a photo of clouds in a blue sky and ended up creating animal hybrids.

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There are now robots that move almost exactly like humans. Don't believe me? Look no further than Boston Dynamics' "Atlas" robot for proof:

Okay, okay – Atlas is a bit more "drunk human" than human in its movement, but it's incredibly impressive nonetheless. Again, don't take it from us. Here's what Stuart Russell, a University of California computer science professor who studies AI, told Tech Insider about Boston Dynamics' incredible robots:

Leg locomotion was, for decades, thought to be an incredibly difficult problem. There has been very, very painstakingly slow progress there, and robots that essentially lumbered along at one step every 15 seconds and occasionally fell over.

That was his answer, unprompted, when asked about "the most mind-blowing thing you’ve learned during your career." If it impresses a man who deals in human consciousness, who can explain "the singularity," who are we to shrug it off?

Follow us below for a more thorough demonstration of Boston Dynamics' (owned by Google's recently spun off parent company, Alphabet) mind-blowing robots.

And maybe start preparing your life for the impending robot future? If nothing else, learn the three rules. 

The "Sand Flea"

Leap!

RAW Embed

It's not just buildings that the Flea can leap onto – how about this rocky ridge?

RAW Embed

No sweat! (Literally.)

Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/6b4ZZQkcNEo
Width: 800px
Height: 450px

The "RHex" Rough-Terrain robot

The "RHex" Rough-Terrain robot may have the silliest name of all, but it's the only one that can navigate tiny, water-filled passages.RAW Embed

And emerge victorious on the other side. This thing is no joke.RAW Embed

Here's the full video of the RHex in action:Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/ISznqY3kESI
Width: 800px
Height: 450px

The "Cheetah"

"But these robots aren't so fast. I can outrun them." WRONG, friend. The "Cheetah" is faster than the actual fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt. Good luck!RAW Embed

This guy reaches a top speed of 29.3 MPH without breaking a sweat.RAW Embed

Here's the full Cheetah video, which is just as thrilling as you might imagine:Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/chPanW0QWhA
Width: 800px
Height: 450px

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It doesn't matter if you're in your 20s, 30s, or 40s — everyone makes financial mistakes.

But, the mistakes we make in our later years are often different from those we made as a young adult. Even if you've gone through some financial growing pains, there's room for improvement.

Here's a look at six financial mistakes you need to stop making by age 40.

SEE ALSO: The 8 smartest things to do with your money in your 30s

1. Buying more house than you can afford.

Some young adults rush to acquire the same lifestyle as their parents, and they get in over their heads buying homes they can't afford. I've seen it with several of my friends — they want to look like they ball, but can't maintain the proverbial court. But there's no rule that says we have to constantly move up. If you're living above your means, it's time to downsize and get serious about your money.

Being house poor can have a tremendous impact on your personal finances. You might be able to swing the house payment every month, but if you don't have money for anything else, you're less likely to save for retirement — and there's a good chance that you'll end up with credit card debt. Besides, the cracks will eventually show — and that will defeat the purpose of why you went into debt in the first place. Not worth it at all.

RELATED: How to Land a Mortgage Lender You'll Legitimately Love

2. Tapping into your 401(k).

Twenty-something adults can afford to tap into their 401(k)s if they endure economic hardships or need cash to buy a house (although it's not recommended by most money experts). Since they're young, there's time to replenish the account.

Older adults, however, don't have this luxury. If you're approaching middle-age and hoping to retire in your late 50s or early 60s, this isn't the time to play around with your retirement account. Stop using your 401(k) or IRA as an emergency fund. As an alternative, you need to keep enough cash in your liquid savings to deal with unexpected expenses that pop up. (Which, incidentally, might mean telling your kids "no" sometimes.)

3. Saving like you're fresh out of college.

When you're just out of college and starting out, you may not have a lot of cash to put toward saving for retirement. Therefore, you might contribute the bare minimum after opening a 401(k) — maybe 2% or 3% of your income. This is okay in your younger years. But by the time you hit 40, you need to step it up a notch.

Look into increasing your 401(k) contributions to 5% or 6%, especially if you're getting an employer match. This is essentially free money that can take your retirement account to the next level. (Plus, you deserve it!) Also, consider ways to diversify your retirement savings, such as opening an individual retirement account or dabbling in other investments, like stocks or real estate.

Turns out you don't have to be a freelance writer or a graphic designer to work from the comfort of your couch.

"One of the most surprising aspects of telecommuting jobs is that they're offered by a huge variety of industries," explains Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of FlexJobs.

"Job seekers who want to work from home should definitely be on the lookout for possibilities, whatever their career field. As the number of people who telecommute continues to grow, so do the types of opportunities. With a little research, it's possible to uncover jobs you might never have known existed."

FlexJobs, an online service specializing in telecommuting and remote work, compiled a list of 12 surprising jobs you can do from home. Some allow professionals to work remotely 100% of the time, while others provide the opportunity for occasional telecommuting:

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Veterinary dentist

Flexibility: Part-time telecommute job

Veterinary dentists often perform similar procedures and use the same equipment and anesthesia as human dentists do. They can work part-time and from home while interpreting digital dental radiographs and oral photographs. This job requires a DVM and a current license.

Associate medical director

Flexibility: Part-time telecommute job

According to Salary.com, these professionals assist medical directors in establishing medical policies and overseeing the organization's clinical services. They also conduct research and review clinical data to improve the quality of patient care, which can be done from home. A degree in medicine or a license is typically required.

Psychologist

Flexibility: Part-time telecommute job

As a psychologist, you can work from home part-time as you perform research, review patient files, and make phone calls. This job typically requires a doctoral degree or specialist degree in psychology (although a master's degree is sometimes sufficient), a license, and/or certification.

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For small businesses, location matters.

Thumbtack, an online marketplace that connects consumers with a range professionals form chimney sweeps to dog walkers, surveyed almost 18,000 small business in 95 cities across all 50 states and ranked the top cities for small businesses.

The survey asked owners to rank their city in 36 different categories, which Thumbtack combined to make an overall grade.

Manchester, New Hampshire took the top spot, while Texas had the most cities of any state with 4 of the top 10.

"We have found that state and city governments that promote local business training and focus on ease of regulatory compliance are consistently perceived as being friendliest to small business," Jon Lieber, chief economist for Thumbtack, wrote. "Once again, we found that entrepreneurs’ perceptions of their tax burdens were among the least important factors in judging governments."

We compiled the top 10 cities from the survey along with Thumbtack's grade for 5 key survey categories.

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10. San Antonio, TX

Overall friendliness: A

Ease of starting a business: A-

Ease of hiring: B-

Regulations: A

Training and Networking Programs: A+

Source: Thumbtack

9. Boulder, CO

Overall friendliness: A

Ease of starting a business: A+

Ease of hiring: C

Regulations: B-

Training and Networking Programs: B-

Source: Thumbtack

8. Fort Collins, CO

Overall friendliness: A

Ease of starting a business: A

Ease of hiring: C-

Regulations: B-

Training and Networking Programs: A+

Source: Thumbtack

A little over a year ago, I picked out a selection of phone apps that would help someone get in shape, with apps designed to help facilitate exercise, meditation, healthy behavior, and good sleeping habits.

There's only one app on the list that I'm still using, and it's a free fitness app called Sworkit Lite (there's a paid version too). 

It may seem like picking one fitness app to recommend out of the more than 100,000 health-related apps is an arbitrary decision, but it turns out my personal preference is backed by science: A team of sports scientists recently analyzed 30 popular free fitness apps and found that Sworkit Lite was the most closely aligned with the American College of Sports Medicine's training guidelines.

Those guidelines say a workout should include aerobic, strength and resistance, and flexibility components; it should follow evidence-based guidelines for frequency, intensity, and types of workouts; and it should include safety measures to help make sure beginners start at a safe point.

No app was perfect, the analysis found (and most were terrible). People with different goals will have different needs, and of course the best workout is whichever one you actually do. Other apps may be better, in fact, at motivating people to move.

But for me, Sworkit makes exercising easy and fun. It's basically like a playlist for fitness that you can just follow along. And now we know that its routines are expert-approved.

Here's how it works — and why I've stuck with it.

The initial interface is simple and clean.

When you open up the app, you can choose whether you want to focus on strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching.

All the exercises are bodyweight-based, so you don't need any additional equipment for any of the workouts. While I wouldn't use this as my only fitness option, it's a nice way to get a varied workout that can be done at home or on the road.

There are also options for either a quick five-minute workout or a custom workout.

If you choose the five-minute workout, the app will select a series of cardio and strength exercises and have you do them for 30 seconds each.

While five minutes isn't a lot, it's enough for a quick morning wake-up routine at least. Even a small amount of exercise can have a huge impact on your life, especially if you keep your intensity level high.

The five-minute workout is also a good warm-up option before a yoga session.

If you opt for the strength routine, you can choose what type of workout you want.

The full body workout is a great go-to option here. While I like to go for a run or a bike ride or a climb when I can, this is a nice alternative for particularly hot or freezing days.

It's easy and well-defined enough that you can make yourself do it, even if you are just relaxing around the apartment.

You can work up a good sweat and push yourself hard enough that you get the mental clarity that's one of the best benefits of exercise.

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From the biological side of things to how we're nurtured, a lot of what goes on during childhood influences how we turn out as adults.

And while there isn't a set recipe for ensuring achievement and happiness in adulthood, psychology research has pointed to a handful of factors from childhood that can predict success.

Here's some of what we know about how your childhood influences your success as an adult:

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Your social skills as a kindergartner can determine if you go to college or get a job.

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Duke University tracked more than 700 children from across the US between kindergarten and age 25 and found a significant correlation between their social skills as kindergartners and their success as adults two decades later.

The 20-year study showed that socially competent children who could cooperate with their peers without prompting, be helpful to others, understand their feelings, and resolve problems on their own, were far more likely to earn a college degree and have a full-time job by age 25 than those with limited social skills.

Those with limited social skills also had a higher chance of getting arrested, binge drinking, and applying for public housing.

"This study shows that helping children develop social and emotional skills is one of the most important things we can do to prepare them for a healthy future," said Kristin Schubert, program director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the research, in a release.

"From an early age, these skills can determine whether a child goes to college or prison, and whether they end up employed or addicted."

If your parents divorce when you're super young, you'll likely have poor relationships with them in adulthood.

If your parents split up when you were between three and five years old, you'll probably have an insecure relationship with them when you're an adult, especially in the case of fathers, according to a University of Illinois study. However, that divorce incidence doesn't predict insecure romantic relationships. 

If you copycat your parents, you'll be more open-minded as an adult.

If you copied everything your parents did as a child, even if it didn't make sense, it's likely you developed a willingness to assume that actions have some "unknown" purpose. This will make you more open to sharing and transmitting culture later on in life, according to a study by researchers at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa, and the University of Queensland in Australia.

This is universally a human activity — chimpanzees are shown to only imitate actions if they're practical. "It's something that we know that other primates don’t do,"said psychologist Mark Nielsen, of the University of Queensland in Australia.

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