Have you ever had a stranger offer you their place in line at a grocery store or open the door for you when your hands were full? If you’ve really been lucky, maybe someone paid for your meal at a drive-thru. We call these random acts of kindness - when someone does something nice for us even when they don’t know us.  

The idea is to be nice to someone so they can pass it on to someone else. If we all lived this way, think how much nicer the world (or your community) would be. Here are a few ideas to help you with some random acts of kindness of your own.

Money

One of the biggest ways you can help someone is by using your money. You can do any of the following and it will make a difference:

-Put a quarter in a meter when you are about to leave or in the spot next to you

-Tip a service person more than the usual

-When you leave a foreign country, give away all of the currency that is left instead of converting it back

A new report released by the Brookings Institute found that school districts that made top marks on standardized tests came from students who lived in neighborhoods filled with $200,005 homes. The far-reaching implications of this study demonstrate how land-use and school policies shape the education landscape. As education systems assign students to schools based on the neighborhood their parents can afford, equal opportunity of education for low-income students is significantly reduced.

The Cost of $200,000 Homes

The size and layout of a house that costs $200,000 varies greatly from city to city; this slideshow  give a better idea of what a $200,000 home looks like. According to test performance data in 100 of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., homes near the best schools cost nearly 2.5 times as much (on average) as homes near lower-scoring public schools. Houses in high-scoring neighborhoods typically cost $11,000 more per year than those in lower-scoring neighborhoods. Thirty percent fewer are rented, and homes have 1.5 additional rooms in areas with better schools, according to the study. 

Hovercrafts, like the landspeeder you dreamed about as a kid, are now available at a price of $190,000. The ultimate millionaire’s toy, the flying hovercraft is an amphibious luxury vehicle. 

The new hovercraft from Hammacher Schlemmer Co. can glide over land and water at speeds of up to 70 mph. The bright yellow hovercraft features a 130 horsepower twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, integrated wings, and a fan-inflated nylon skirt. The craft can fly for short bursts of up to 55 mph fifty-five feet above water, ice, or land. A PVC cover protects passengers from falling out of the vessel, getting splashed by water or whiplashed from wind.

Similar to a light aircraft, the hovercraft is controlled by a joystick, which the pilot simply pushes, pulls, or twists to accelerate, slow down, or turn the craft. It can accommodate up to 600 pounds; about three passengers and their luggage.

Finding a job as a military veteran can be difficult in this job market. However, there are several companies that will work with veterans and are eager to hire those who have served the country. Here is a list of six companies looking to hire veterans right now. 

Amazon

This company acquired the number 1 spot for best employer of ex-military people in the G.I. Jobs magazine. 25 percent of the salaried staff hired in the fulfillment centers in 2011 was from the military. They look for people who can think big and deliver results, which are two traits found in military personnel.

Hertz

Hertz is the largest car rental company in the world and they have committed to employ ex-military personnel. They are participating in the White House’s hiring initiative to help veterans find jobs. They plan to hire hundreds of ex-military personnel for all types of jobs within their company.

UFC is rapidly evolving into one of the most beloved and exciting sports in the world. Fans love the unpredictability and surprising finishes that are unique to mixed martial arts. Here's a look at the most exciting UFC fights in the short history of the sport.

The First UFC Fight

While it didn’t receive the attention that many other fights have gotten since, the first night of the UFC title fights began a movement.  Royce Gracie fought three fights that evening to take the first ever title and to give credence to an underground movement.  His final fight was against Gerard Gordeau, who had just defeated Teila Tuli earlier in the evening to make it to the last match.  Gracie easily took this fight and became the first UFC champion.

UFC 31

This event had several notable fights, but one of the best remembered was Chuck Liddell against Kevin Randleman.  The bout only lasted 78 seconds and developed Liddell as a favorite with fans of the UFC.  The most shocking event of the night was when Matt Serra was knocked out by Shonie Carter after he had been leading the bout the entire time.