الاثنين، 30 أبريل 2018
20 Reasons Maui Is the Best Hawaiian Island
Watch the sunrise above clouds
Reaching 10,000 feet into the stratosphere, the dormant Haleakala Volcano is the center of the national park that bears its name and is the ultimate place to watch the sun rise up through a halo of clouds (Haleakala means “House of the Sun” in Hawaiian). Pack a jacket—it’s cold up here! Here are the 11 things you need to know before booking a Hawaiian vacation.
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15 Quick Healthy Meals Doctors Make Every Day
Coffee Cake Muffins
As a registered dietitian nutritionist, people often ask what I eat for breakfast. My answer: I like to make a big batch of these muffins early in the week so I have grab-and-go options ready for busy mornings! These muffins are made with Greek yogurt and eggs for plenty of filling protein, and they provide a burst of energy via instant coffee. I pair a muffin with fruit, such as raspberries or clementines, and 6 ounces of low-fat Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for additional protein. Not a fan of coffee? Give my matcha muffins a nibble!
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15 Ways to Spring Clean Your Diet
Swap pasta for zucchini noodles
It’s time to break out that spiralizer that’s been collecting dust in your cabinet. “With the change in season, zucchinis are about to be abundant in gardens, farmers markets, and grocery stores,” says Jennifer Kanikula, RD. “Not only are they cheap, they’re extremely healthy and when eaten in place of pasta, add a plethora of nutrition benefits to your meal. Zucchini is very low in calories and high in nutrients and antioxidants, whereas refined grains (white pasta) are low in nutrients, high in carbohydrates, sugar, and subsequently, high in calories.” If weight loss is a goal, check out these 13 weight-loss foods to lose weight fast.
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At Last! A Vitamin That Can Make Your Blood Vessels Younger
Heart disease in all its forms continues to be the top killer of Americans. Following a heart-healthy diet like this one and getting plenty of exercise can help, but health experts continue to search for even more effective treatment—and they may have found one: A new study suggests that an antioxidant can breathe new life into old and stiff arteries.
In the small study—published in the journal Hypertension—researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder gave ten volunteers between the ages of 60 and 79 a daily supplement called MitoQ (it’s a refined version of the natural antioxidant coenzyme Q10); another ten got a placebo. After six weeks, the researchers analyzed the health and size of participants’ arteries, then switched the supplement group to the placebo while the others began taking MitoQ.
At the conclusion of their testing, researchers noted when volunteers got the supplement, their arteries regained flexibility. Essentially, MitoQ seemed to reverse artery aging by as much as 15 to 20 years. The study’s lead author, post-doctoral student Matthew Rossman said in a press release that “An improvement of that magnitude, if sustained, is associated with about a 13 percent reduction in heart disease.” (These are the 5 types of heart disease and their warning signs.)
According to Rossman’s co-author Doug Seals, PhD, the study “breathes new life into the discredited theory that supplementing the diet with antioxidants can improve health.” He went on to note that “it suggests that targeting… mitochondria may be a better way to reduce oxidative stress and improve cardiovascular health with aging.”
Both Rossman and Dr. Seals plan to conduct additional follow-up studies to confirm their findings. Dr. Seals noted that physical activity and proper eating habits continue to be the best ways of avoiding heart disease. “At the public health level, not enough people are willing to do that,” he said. “We’re looking for complementary, evidence-based options to prevent age-related changes that drive disease. These supplements may be among them.”
Find out about the 8 sneaky heart attack symptoms you might be ignoring.
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10 Surprising Ways Vitamin B12 Benefits Your Entire Body
Increased energy and vitality
One of the most notable vitamin B12 benefits is a boost in energy. So if you’re feeling sluggish and you’re not sure why, a lack of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) may be to blame. This water-soluble vitamin aids in red blood cell formation, which prevents against a type of anemia that can often make people feel weak and tired, explains Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, the host of NBC’s new show Health + Happiness, the nutrition expert for NBC’s TODAY show and author of From Junk Food to Joy Food. Get your mojo back by asking your doctor to check your B12 levels. If they are on the low side, it’s time to up your intake, she says. “Vitamin B12 is found naturally in a wide variety of animal foods like fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and other dairy products, plus fortified foods like breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast, and some plant-based milk (like almond milk and soy milk).”
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Whole30 Rules: Here’s Everything You Can—and Can’t—Eat
What is the Whole30 diet?
The Whole30 was created by two sports nutritionists, who published the first edition of their best-selling book Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom in 2009. The point of the challenge is to eliminate the most inflammatory foods from your diet for a full 30 days and see how your body feels. At the top of the list of Whole30 rules: No alcohol, added or artificial sweeteners, dairy, grains of any kind, soy, legumes, food additives, or processed junk food for 30 days.
The plan’s claim—for which most nutritionists say there is little scientific evidence—is that a diet heavy on these foods contributes to out-of-whack hormones and harmful inflammation that impact general health as well as blood sugar, cravings, and body weight.
Converts say the diet helped them sleep better, get rid of cravings, heal myriad gut-health problems, control autoimmune flares, and ultimately to make beneficial long-term changes.
You can learn more about the Whole30 plan here.
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Food Labels: How to Decode the 11 Trickiest Terms
Imitation
A food that simulates another food but isn’t made of the same stuff is an imitation, right? Not quite. It should be labeled imitation only if it has a lower amount of protein or some other essential nutrient than the food it’s copying. Here are some nutrition claims on your food labels you should pay attention to—and others it’s safe to ignore.
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15 Skin Cancer Myths You Need to Stop Believing Right Now
I tan and never burn—why should I worry?
“A big skin cancer myth is that people who tan effortlessly without burning will not get skin cancer. That is absolutely false. We see cancer in patients of all skin types. Already having a dark tan, or dark skin that doesn’t appear to burn, is not enough to protect you,” says Monica L. Halem, MD, founder and medical director for the New York Dermatologic Surgery Cosmetic Laser Center. Tanning may look healthy, but it is always an indication of skin damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tanning is the skin’s response to injury. Skin cells signal that they have become damaged by producing melanin (additional skin pigment). So the next time you decide to go for that gorgeous goddess look, consider a faux-glow instead.
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11 Things Auntie Anne’s Employees Want You to Know
It’s nearly impossible to walk past an Auntie Anne’s and not be drawn in by the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked soft pretzels. This delish company started as a farmers market shop in a Pennsylvania’s Amish country. (And we know the Amish have the best baking secrets!) Read on for the snack-sized facts behind Auntie Anne’s success.
1. They can twist pretzels really fast.
The fastest recorded time for twisting the perfect pretzel is 3.5 seconds. We’re impressed! How quickly can you twist a pretzel using this easy at-home recipe?
2. The pretzels are always made fresh.
You’ll never find pre-made pretzels at an Auntie Anne’s. Each location receives shipments of the signature flour mixture, which is put in a mixer along with water and yeast. Pretzels are baked, brushed with real butter, salted and served hot, fresh and ready to eat.
A glass of old-fashioned lemonade pairs perfectly with the salty goodness of the pretzel. If your mouth is watering, don’t miss these lemonade recipes.
3. They have limited edition flavors.
As much as we enjoy classics like Pepperoni, Cinnamon Sugar and Jalapeño, we’re always keeping an eye out for limited edition flavors making appearances throughout the year. Some of our past favorites include Sriracha, Pumpkin Spice Pretzel Nuggets, and Bacon Cheddar Stuffed Pretzel Nuggets. (To turn up the heat, use these recipes to spice up your other favorite foods.)
4. You can get a free pretzel on your birthday (and National Pretzel Day!).
Did someone say free? Auntie Anne’s celebrates National Pretzel Day with free pretzels for their customers. Claim your complimentary pretzel by signing up for the Pretzel Perks mobile app. Perks members also earn points toward free pretzels and other Auntie Anne’s items throughout the year, enjoy a free pretzel on their birthday and receive other special offers. Sweet!
5. Auntie Anne is a real person.
“Auntie” Anne Beiler grew up in an Amish-Mennonite family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She had no business background and no more than an 8th-grade education when she started the company. The real Auntie Anne credits the company’s purpose, great product, and good people for their remarkable success. (Read up on these 33 things your fast food worker isn’t telling you.)
6. The company celebrated its 30th anniversary in March 2018.
Anne and her husband, Jonas, bought a stand in a local farmers market in 1988 where they sold snacks like pizza, pretzels, and lemonade. In the beginning, Anne wasn’t a fan of the pretzels and told Jonas that she only wanted to sell pizza and ice cream. (Who knew?!) He changed her mind after he created a new pretzel mix, resulting in the soft and doughy treats we know and love today.
7. They’ve baked a lot of pretzels.
Auntie Anne’s has served more than 2.4 billion pretzels over the past 30 years. That’s enough pretzels to circle the Earth 65 times!
8. Pretzels are available nearly everywhere you go.
There are more than 1,700 locations in 48 states and more than 25 countries. In addition to malls, there are locations at airports, college campuses, military bases and even food trucks.
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9. Other countries have unique pretzel combinations.
Auntie Anne’s stores around the world bake out-of-the-box flavors like the Holy Cheese Pretzel in Thailand, Cream Cheese Stix in Korea and the Crème Brulee Pretzel Wreath in Japan. Until U.S. stores offer these options, you can make your own crème brulee at home.
10. Auntie Anne’s gives back.
When Anne Beiler started her pretzel stand she said, “Caring for other people is the purpose of Auntie Anne’s.” Giving back to local communities continues to be important for the company, which has raised more than $3.6 million for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to help find a cure for childhood cancer.
The company is also committed to fighting hunger and reducing food waste by donating surplus pretzel products through hunger-relief organizations. Since 2010, they have donated more than 11.4 million pretzel products.
11. You can smell like an Auntie Anne’s pretzel…?
We knew it was too good to be true when we heard the famous scent of freshly baked pretzels was bottled for a line of essential oils: Auntie Anne’s “House of A” Heavenly Scent Essential Pretzel Oils. Too bad it was an April Fool’s Day prank. It sounds like a good idea to us! Next, read about the craziest things drive-through workers have seen on the job.
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20 Secrets Your Butcher Won’t Tell You
Don’t be fooled by supermarket brand names
Avoid names like Butcher’s Brand, Rancher’s Reserve, and Blue Ribbon. The label to look for is USDA quality grade. Prime is the best (and most expensive), followed by choice, select, then standard. Watch out for these other 50 supermarket tricks you still fall for.
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Exactly How to Lock in a New Habit, According to Science
Tap into the brain’s fantastic plastic power
There are lots of tricks that may help healthy habits stick, but the brain has to undergo physical change for this to really take place. “The brain’s unbelievably subtle and sophisticated ability to change physical shape when exposed to new environments, activities, thoughts, and emotions is what underlies its capacity to create and sustain new habits,” explains Delia McCabe, MA, PhD, the Queensland, Australia-based author of Feed Your Brain: 7 Steps to a Lighter, Brighter You. This phenomenon is known as “neuroplasticity,” and it’s being studied as a way to stave off lasting brain damage after stroke and to help reverse some symptoms of autism. You may be doing some of the work already if you practice these 8 healthy habits that keep your brain sharp.
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The 10 Best Foodie Cities in the World
Rome
It’s easy to see, err taste, why Rome landed at the top of the list. The deliciousness never seems to end. Indulge in wood-fired pizza, al dente pasta, and out-of-this-world gelato. Don’t leave without trying house-made spaghetti alla carbonara or cacio e pepe at a local trattoria. Wash it down with a glass or two of vino. In between meals, do some sightseeing. The Eternal City is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to iconic cultural attractions. These secret enchantments also deserve a spot on your Rome itinerary.
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8 Products in Your Home Linked to Clogged Arteries, Obesity, and Even Breast Growth in Men
In canned goods and plastics, watch for: Bisphenol-A (BPA)
Sometimes called an endocrine disruptor because it interferes with the function of healthy hormones, BPA can mimic the effects of estrogen, increasing your risk of prostate and breast cancer and obesity. It may set the stage for heart disease too. One study linked high blood levels of BPA with an increased risk of dangerous types of plaque that are likely to rupture and cause sudden and often fatal heart attacks. When researchers from a number of different institutions looked at the levels of BPA in the urine of nearly 1,600 Brits and followed their health outcomes for 10 years, they found that people who developed heart disease were more likely to have elevated levels of BPA in their urine.
Solution: Buy canned food and water bottles marked BPA-free. Don’t touch sales receipts printed on thermal paper.
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7 Money-Saving Tips That Actually Don’t Pay
Getting suckered into buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals
BOGO, when it’s genuine, is hard to resist. but even then, whether it’s BOGO free or BOGO half price, you have to stop and ask yourself, Would I really have bought this much of this item at this price anyway? If you’re shopping for jam and see BOGO free on jam, that’s probably a great time to stock up. But if you’re looking for a new pair of sneakers and see BOGO half off, stop and think. You went out looking to spend $60 on sneakers. Now you’re spending about $100 after taxes. Did you even want two pairs? Will you wear them both? Do you even like the second pair? Put down the pricy shoes and try these creative ways to save money you never thought of.
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15 Wacky Ways You Can Burn Extra Calories—No Gym Time Required!
Kiss
Burning calories is not usually our main motivation for kissing someone, but it’s good to know that locking lips has benefits we don’t expect. Kissing can burn two to six calories a minute. Do it for an hour and you can burn up to 60 extra calories. Muah! Just don’t fall for these myths that could ruin your metabolism.
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الأحد، 29 أبريل 2018
Can You Tell the Difference Between These Nearly Identical Dog Breeds?
Cairn Terrier vs. Norwich Terrier
Can you tell these two little dogs apart? See if you can spot the animals camouflaged in these photos.
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السبت، 28 أبريل 2018
13 Fascinating Facts You Never Knew About the Titanic
A full moon may have caused the fatal iceberg to cross paths with the ship
Scientists recently arrived at a new theory that the full moon months before could be to blame for the collision, which killed about 1,500 people.
Quoting astronomer Donald Olson of Texas State University-San Marcos, National Geographic’s Richard A. Lovett wrote, “That full moon, on January 4, 1912, may have created unusually strong tides that sent a flotilla of icebergs southward—just in time for Titanic‘s maiden voyage.”
This wasn’t a normal full moon, though: “It was the closest lunar approach, in fact, since A.D. 796, and Earth won’t see its like again until 2257,” wrote Lovett. Here are some more spooky facts you never knew about the moon.
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Shh! These 10 Famous People Have Little-Known Secret Talents
Who is this?
This actress, famous for her perfect track record at the Academy Awards, competed at the Junior Olympics as a swimmer.
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الجمعة، 27 أبريل 2018
21 Whole30 Snacks You’ll Actually Want to Eat
Egg and veggie muffins
Melissa Hartwig is co-founder and CEO of Whole30.com and a leading voice in the Whole30 movement. Though Hartwig suggests Whole30 followers avoid snacking or grazing as a general rule, she recognizes that long work days or erratic schedules may leave people in the lurch.”Having Whole30 snacks prepared and ready to go is a smart move,” she says. “To discern between hunger and a craving, I’ll ask myself, ‘Am I hungry enough to eat eggs?’ If the answer is no, it’s probably just a craving,” Hartwig says. “If it’s a yes, single-serve veggie frittata baked in muffin tins are a portable mini-meal that taste just as good cold or hot.”
Is Whole30 for you? Here are 14 pros and cons of the Whole30 diet you should know before you start.
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Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Mow Your Lawn Every Week
We get it—there’s nothing as satisfying as looking out at a freshly mowed lawn on a summer’s day. Mowing your lawn means keeping those weeds and wildflowers tame around your landscape, which probably seems like a problem that needs to be dealt with frequently. However, you may want to consider letting those wildflowers and weeds grow just a bit for the bees.
Yes, bees. By mowing your lawn every week you are leaving no life for bees to feed on. Now maybe this doesn’t seem like a huge problem, because who would want bees on their lawn? They are even more annoying than those weeds and wildflowers, so mowing your lawn consistently seems like the ultimate solution. However, if you keep a garden (or care about the growth of vegetables and fruit), you need to feed the bees.
Bees are natural pollinators, which help the growth of your plants. By having plants to feed on, they can cross-pollinate and help to naturally fertilize your plants. This is especially crucial for the growth of vegetables and fruit. According to an article published by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in March of 2011, cross-pollination helps at least 30 percent of the world’s crops to grow, and 90 percent of wild plants. Without bees, these plants wouldn’t thrive or could even die off completely. Here are 13 more things your landscaper won’t tell you.
In 2007, beekeepers were seeing cases of colony collapse disorder (CCD) where honeybees were leaving their colonies for good. Typically worker bees don’t leave their colonies unless a queen leaves the hive and brings along bees with her. The fact that bees are leaving can happen for numerous reasons, but not having enough food or water is certainly one of them.
Now maybe you hate bees and don’t really care about them thriving at all, but if you care about your garden, you would consider cutting that lawn at least every other week so the bees have something to feed on (and use to pollinate your precious plants).
Just make sure to pick up the dog poop before mowing your lawn, because it can be a serious threat to the health of your yard. Don’t miss these other little mistakes that make your yard look messy.
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The Perfect Diet for Your Personality Type
Assess yourself
The number one rule of dieting: No one size fits all. “I tell people to stay in their own lane. We’re trying to compare ourselves to others, but when you find out what works for you, you cruise along,” says Susan Albers, PhD, author of 50 More Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food. Don’t automatically assume that what worked for your sister, coworker, or friend is going to work for you. Go for the plan that meshes best with your personality, likes and dislikes, and lifestyle. That’s just one of the 15 worst weight-loss tips that docs wish you would stop following. See if you recognize yourself in one of these common dieting personality types:
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13 Facts About Pandas That Will Make You Love Them Even More
Pandas grow from tiny to massive in a few short years
Pink, blind, and hairless, panda infants weigh just three to five ounces and have been compared in size to a stick of butter. But within a year, pandas tip the scales at around 100 pounds; fully mature pandas can be up to six feet long and reach 350 pounds.
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You’ve Been Misdiagnosing Your Pet The Whole Time, Vets Say
The dangers of misdiagnosing
A sick pet can be a scary thing. Many times, when our beloved furbabies start acting abnormally or displaying unusual symptoms, our first instinct is to run to the internet and ask Dr. Google, which usually goes one of two ways. Commonly, the most innocuous symptoms lead to an errant diagnosis of something terrifying, like brain cancer. Or a serious problem can be misdiagnosed as something benign. Treatment then is more intense and more costly than if the owner had brought the pet to the animal hospital in the first place.
According to Heather Dean, DVM, a small-animal veterinarian practicing in Georgia, it’s not just misdiagnoses that are a problem, it’s treatments as well. “Owners will also turn to the internet for advice on treating conditions or preventing disease at home, says Dean. “For example, the dose of ivermectin in commercial heartworm preventatives has been proven safe in all breeds of dogs, but “a little bit” of ivermectin-containing horse dewormer can be life-threatening, especially in sensitive breeds.”
If your pet is showing any unusual symptoms at all, and you are concerned he may be sick, call your vet. Here are just a few of the most commonly misdiagnosed diseases. and don’t miss the silent signs your seemingly healthy dog is actually sick.
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17 Hair Myths We All Still Believe that Are Ruining Our Hair
The dirtier your hair is, the faster it will grow
Some people assume that dirty hair grows faster—less washing and styling means fewer chances for breakage, right? But don’t go skipping showers in hopes of longer hair just yet; this is a silly myth that will only give you greasy locks and an unpleasant odor. According to Brenton Kane Diallo, celebrity hairstylist for clients like Gigi Hadid and Megan Fox, “Hair is at its healthiest and strongest when its clean and conditioned. Not washing your scalp clogs your follicles, which can stop its growth.” Try this Japanese beauty trick to make your hair grow faster.
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The 18 Most Iconic Royal Wedding Photos Throughout History
Prince Albert Edward and Princess Alexandra
Way back in 1863, this was one of the first royal weddings ever to be photographed. Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Albert Edward the Prince of Wales, married Princess Alexandra of Denmark on March 10. The wedding took place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. At the time, Queen Victoria was mourning her husband, Prince Albert, who had passed away in 1861. She wore black to the ceremony and stood above the proceedings on a balcony rather than taking part in the procession. Prince Albert Edward would become King Edward VII in 1901. Here, his wife Princess Alexandra poses in her beautiful English silk gown. Speaking of royal wedding dresses, learn about Kate Middleton’s little-known second wedding dress.
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16 Travel Secrets to Always Get the Best Airfare Possible
Know what a good deal looks like
Before you set off to find the best airfare possible, it’s important to understand what that fare looks like. For example, if the average peak-season rate is $350, you’re unlikely to find anything below $300. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to find this information: “When to fly and buy” reports from hopper.com will tell you what price is a good deal for any given route. And Google Flights’ “tracked prices” feature will email you when the price of a selected itinerary has gone up or down. Also, read up on these 11 secrets travel booking companies don’t want you to know.
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14 of the Most Hilarious 911 Calls Ever Placed
My, what thin walls you have!
A Canadian woman dialed 911 after hearing yelling and shouting coming from her neighbor’s apartment. When cops arrived, they pounded on the door until the occupant finally opened up. That’s when they discovered that the man was in no danger. He’d just been having a rough time on the toilet. Source: web.orange.co.uk
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17 Things Your Dry Cleaner Won’t Tell You
Don’t get too excited about so-called ‘organic’ cleaning
“The cleaning industry has a habit of stretching the ‘green thing,’ and the tags ‘Environmentally Friendly’ and ‘Organic,’ so you have to watch for that,” says Steve Boorstein, a former dry cleaner who dispenses clothing care advice on his website, clothingdoctor.com and in a new DVD, Clothing Care: The Clothing Doctor’s Secrets to Taking Control. Among the most common PERC replacements is the petroleum-based solvent, DF-2000, made by ExxonMobil. Because it’s hydrocarbon-based, to a chemist—and almost no one else—it’s considered an “organic” compound. The EPA cites risk of neurological damage and skin and eye irritation in workers using it, and since it doesn’t clean as well as PERC on its own, dry cleaners often end up adding pretreatment chemicals. Don’t miss these 38 confessions from housecleaners who want to tell you what they’re really thinking when they’re in your home!
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15 Things You Should Never Say at a Sports Bar
Call a timeout! Don’t call a timeout! Spike the ball! Don’t spike the ball!
Coaches often have trouble with clock management. Quarterbacks in hurry-up mode often have trouble with clock management. But you know who really has trouble with clock management? A bunch of guys who have been drinking beer for three hours. Unfortunately, the Clock Expert Screamer never shouts a mea culpa: “My bad! I suppose Eli Manning practices and analyzes clock-management strategies more thoroughly than I do!”
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The Real Reason Trader Joe’s Sells $2 Wine
Trader Joe’s is known for fairly cheap prices, but arguably its most famously priced item is Charles Shaw wine, otherwise known as Two Buck Chuck.
As the name suggests, the wine, available in red and white varieties, only cost $1.99 when it hit shelves in 2002. Prices have increased slightly (you need to dish out as much as $3.79 in states with higher taxes), yet sales have remained strong. Trader Joe’s sold more than 800 million bottles of the label in 12 years, CNBC reports.
Exactly how the store can maintain such low prices doesn’t have a simple, painless answer. In fact, the whole ordeal was quite painful for Charles Shaw, the founder of the wine label. He told Thrillist that he moved his family to Napa, California, to start a winery in 1974. Less than ten years later, he charged $13.50 per bottle, put out 15,000 cases of wine annually, and won international awards for his products.
But by the early ‘90s, the business was suffering greatly. A supplier used the wrong type of wax for Shaw’s wooden barrels, tainting 1,400 barrels of wine, and Shaw signed off on a deal to double the production of Burgundies that flopped. Shaw lost millions, and his wife divorced him. (Rumors swirled that Shaw cut wine prices to spite his ex-wife, but these are false.) He filed for bankruptcy and ended up selling the vineyard and trade name to Fred Franzia, owner of Franzia and Bronco wines, for $27,000. Here are 11 more secrets Trader Joe’s employees want you to know.
The irony is, Charles Shaw didn’t even set the price that brought his once-prize-winning wine to cult fame as Two Buck Chuck. Franzia did, thanks to a sudden surplus of grapes and inexpensive production costs. According to Snopes.com, a sudden economic downturn and the effects of September 11, 2001, on businesses left vineyards with an oversupply of wine that sold for less than the cost of production. After acquiring the Charles Shaw label, Franzia decided to sell the surplus at extremely low prices anyway, and the gamble paid off.
Bronco Wine’s low production costs help keep Charles Shaw prices low, Business Insider reports. Many of the company’s vineyards are in San Joaquin Valley, where higher temperatures over-ripen grapes and contribute to a lower cost of land. The wine is then fermented in oak chips, as opposed to oak barrels like most other wines, stored in lightweight bottles, and corked with “one of the cheapest forms of natural cork.” On top of that, Bronco continues to make huge quantities of wine—more than 90 million gallons a year. Machines harvest the grapes to lower labor costs, although critics argue this is unsanitary because bad grapes and animal matter (and animals themselves) could be mixed in as well. Franzia responded to these claims, telling CNBC: “If you worry about things like that, you shouldn’t eat anything, you shouldn’t drink anything. When the wine’s fermenting, they’re going to eliminate anything that’s possibly there.”
Who could have guessed that a product that brings such joy would have a history so bleak? Regardless of how it ended up on Trader Joe’s shelves, customers can rest assured that Two Buck Chuck isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. But that’s not the store’s only great deal. Check out these cheap things you should only buy at Trader Joe’s.
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13 Ways to Feel More Comfortable Asking for What You Want
Find a good time
Pick a time that you know your request will be heard. “People tend not to listen if they are angry, stressed, or at the end of a long day,” explains Tara Chivukula, LCSW, a psychotherapist in Austin, Texas. “Part of asking involves timing. This is especially true when asking for a talk with your partner, a raise from your boss or even working out an argument with a friend.” Learn the things confident people never do.
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10 All-Inclusive Cruises for the Best Vacation Ever
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Billing itself as “the most inclusive luxury cruise line,” Regent Seven Seas Cruises has five ships and fares that qualify as all-inclusive cruises, covering roundtrip airfare, pre-cruise overnight hotel stays, airport-to-ship transfers, 24-hour room service, open bar, gratuities, unlimited Wi-Fi, and unlimited shore excursions when in port. Regent Seven Seas cruise ships sail to exotic destinations all over the world. Destinations include Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, Asia, and more. Perhaps best of all, this cruise line offers two-for-one fares. Here are 13 things travel experts wish you knew about booking a cruise.
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الخميس، 26 أبريل 2018
14 of the Most Baffling Mysteries About the Universe
What came before the Big Bang?
If the universe began 15 million years ago with the Big Bang, what preceded it? According to renowned physicist Stephen William Hawking, PhD: Nothing. However, no one can know for sure; any events that happened before the universe came into existence are without “observational consequence,” as Hawking put it, and therefore, we “may as well cut them out of the theory, and say that time began at the Big Bang.” That’s a bit frustrating, so soothe yourself with these 9 quotes about science and knowledge from astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
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50 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Naturally
Don’t clear the table
Don’t tell your mom, but we’re giving you official permission to make a mess. As you eat, leave the candy wrappers, fruit peels, nut shells, chicken bones, and other scraps on the table. Seeing it is a visual reminder of exactly how much you’ve eaten and can provide a simple reminder to stop eating when you’re full, according to research done by the Cornell Food and Brand Lab.
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20 Health Care Terms You Need to Know
Coinsurance
Percentage of treatment cost the patient is responsible for on an insurance claim. Don’t miss these 10 secrets to lowering your medical bills.
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13 Tiny Changes That Will Make Your Home Instantly Happier
Keep clutter minimal
The piles of mail! The tower of books in the corner! The tchotchkes crowding every surface! If this sounds like your home, you’re not alone. The first step to being truly happy in your space is to figure out what to keep—and what to let go. “A cluttered room is much more likely to produce, and contribute to, a cluttered mind,” says professional organizer Marie Kondo, creator of the KonMari method and author of the bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. “I believe that only in an uncluttered room, which enables an uncluttered mind, can you truly focus your attention and your energy on the matters in your life which are preventing you from reaching your truest happiness.” According to design psychologist Sally Augustin, PhD, the powerful mental effects of clutter have roots in our evolution. “In our early days as a species, our lives depended on continually surveying the environment and seeing if anything was coming that was going to eat us,” she says. “Today we continue to survey our environment, and too many things makes this subconscious reviewing more difficult, which is why the visual complexity of clutter is so stressful.” A study from Princeton University shows that too much disorganized stimuli simply overwhelms the brain. Don’t miss these other signs your home is stressing you out.
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10 Things Happy People Never Forget to Do
Happy and healthy
While it’s widely believed that stress can cause poor health, researchers at Harvard University are beginning to study whether the opposite might be true: whether happiness and positive thoughts might be linked to better health. Early studies are promising. So how can all of us start to feel happier, more of the time, when the stress of everyday life looms so large? (Besides eating more dessert, of course.)
Here are some simple ways to stabilize your mood, boost your energy and keep the good vibes flowing. Work these habits into your day, and you might just find yourself feeling happier overall.
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13 Must-See Sights You Can Only See on Route 66
World’s Largest Ketchup Bottle
Whether you say “ketchup” or “catsup,” the home of the world’s largest bottle of the stuff is Collinsville, Illinois. Built in 1949, the bottle (actually, a water tower) is located at a now closed Brooks Foods plant. Don’t worry if you happen to get lost; it’s pretty hard to miss. It stands 70 feet tall on top of a 100-foot base. These are the best family travel destinations in each state.
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13 “Healthy” Food Habits You Should Ditch Right Now
Going low on sodium
If you’ve ever had high blood pressure, you were probably told to cut down or stop consuming sodium. But a new study from Boston University that followed 2,600 people over 16 years found that a low-sodium diet didn’t actually lower blood pressure. So salt might not be the enemy after all—and actually, a little salt might be part of a healthy food plan. The study also found that people with the lowest intake of sodium (along with the highest) had a greater risk of heart disease than the people in the middle. But, that doesn’t mean you should go crazy eating processed foods that contain lots of sodium either. “In general, focusing on reducing processed foods, which tend to be rich in added sodium, and adding in more whole foods may be more effective than just focusing on counting milligrams of sodium when it comes to promoting heart health,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of Belly Fat Diet for Dummies. Find out the 55 health myths that need to die.
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8 Silent Ways E-cigarettes Harm Your Body
What are e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes, also known as vaporizers, are battery-powered devices that heat up a mixture of nicotine, a flavoring, and a liquid—usually propylene glycol or glycerol—into a vapor for users to inhale. Ever since they debuted on the market in the early 2000s, e-cigarettes have been widely marketed as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, since vaping does not involve burning and smoking tobacco but still delivers a nicotine rush. However, recent research shows that many of the health problems traditional cigarette smokers face persist with e-cigarettes, due to the devices’ nicotine content and other chemicals in the liquid. In May, the FDA extended its regulation of tobacco products to include e-cigarettes, in an attempt to control what substances go into the often mysterious liquid and to keep the devices out of the hands of minors. But even with these regulations, using e-cigarettes can still cause some serious complications to your health. Science says this strategy is the best way to quit smoking.
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