Month: August 2019

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Travel Instagrammers Share Helpful Tips for Taking Better Travel Photos

No vacation feels complete anymore without the perfect travel photos these days. If you want to take your travel photography up several notches, these travel Instagrammers have some advice for you.

Part of the magic of photography is all about timing. One Berlin-based travel photographer, Theodora Melnik (@______theo), tells HuffPost that sunrise is the perfect time for a photo.

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Sigh, time to leave Siracusa ???

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“I can’t recommend shooting sunrise enough,” Theodora said. “Whenever I make the effort, I get to explore even the busiest of places practically by myself, which if you’re thinking of the Eiffel Tower or the Spanish Steps is really something.”

And speaking of the sun — sunset is also a picture-perfect time of day, but don’t make the rookie mistake of only photographing the actual sunset.

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Best coast

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“On vacation when you go to the beach at sunset, everyone has their phones pointed directly at the red orb going down over the ocean, which is really pretty and definitely worth capturing. But don’t forget to turn around and see what the sun is shining on,” Tyson Wheatley (@twheat) explains.

Similarly, when visiting a major monument, people tend to snap a photo of it for their records. But Elke Frotscher (@elice_f) recommends photographing the little things that surround the big monuments.

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Galloway House | Ella’s VW T2

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This allows for a more unique photo that truly captures the essence of the place, instead of just a photo of the Eiffel Tower that looks exactly like something you could find on Google.

Have a great trip, and hope the photos turn out great!

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Check out These 5 Ancient Legends Based on Real Events

A lot of kids go through a phase when they’re fascinated by the legends and myths that have wound their way through the centuries. Whether Robin Hood, Arthur and Lancelot, the antics of the gods of old, or creatures like a unicorn or a vampire, it’s fun to imagine that the world might have once been more magical than it is today.

And these 5 legends, which are rooted in reality, suggest that just maybe…it was.

5. Atlantis

Greek philosopher Plato was the first to describe a beautiful, advanced civilization that once disappeared beneath the sea, never to be seen or heard from again – but he was far from the last to re-tell one of the most well-known myths in human history.

Now, many archaeologists think he was describing the collapse of the Minoan empire after a volcanic eruption rocked Thera (modern-day Santorini). The core of the island collapsed in the aftermath, creating a tsunami that flooded the island and left it completely under water, sending it to a grave from which it never arose.

4. The Ape-Men Army of Sri Lanka

Indian Sanskrit epic the Ramayana features a classic kidnapping plot, in which Sita, the wife of god Rama, is stolen away to the Demon Kingdom on Lanka. To rescue her, Rama banded with an army of ape-like men to build a floating bridge between India and Lanka that they used to defeat the demon king, Ravana.

The tale, of course, is just good storytelling, but the bridge still exists – aerial surveys show a 30-mile-long stretch of limestone shoals under the sea that reaches between India and Sri Lanka.

Experts believe it was above the water until a 15th-century cyclone brought a huge storm surge into the channel.

3. Thunderbird and the Whale

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The Thunderbird awaits you.

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Native American lore tells of a benevolent, supernatural being called a Thunderbird, which once swooped over the sea to snatch a killer whale that was stealing resources from the Quileute tribe.

The bird prevailed, dropping the whale on dry land to die with a thud that shook the ground, and many natives died during the battle and ensuing chaos.

Back in the 1980s, geologists discovered that a powerful earthquake occurred in the area in 1700, one that would have been powerful enough to cause a tsunami. It would have hit the coast where the tribe lived, generating the tales to explain the giant shaking of the earth.

As far as the Thunderbird, many scientists believe it’s based on the Aiornis, a prehistoric giant bird that co-existed thousands of years ago with early North America settlers. The bird had a wingspan of up to 16 feet and used to feast on whales washed up on the beaches.

2. The Guest Star

In 1006, people looking at the sky all over the world described seeing a “guest star.” Persian scholar Ibn Sina was particularly intrigued, however, explaining how the star hung in the sky for months, changing color and eventually emitting sparks before fading away.

We now know that Sina was describing a supernova that took place 7200 years ago and whose dying remnants can still be detected by powerful NASA technology.

They believe the color changes he described were due to the merger of two white dwarfs, which astronomers say would create a supernova bursting with color. What Sina did, essentially, was provide details for modern scientists that would otherwise have been lost to time.

1. The Great Flood

There are stories from around the world that join the biblical account of a great flood that covered most of the earth, wiping out almost all of mankind in the process – so most think it makes sense to assume this event took place in our human past in some way, shape, or form.

Geological records show that around 11,500 years ago, glacier meltwater melted into the North Sea, causing the Black Sea to dry up while the Mediterranean Basin refilled with seawater from the Atlantic Ocean. Between them was dry land, but eventually the Mediterranean overflowed into the Black Sea, forcing the barrier between them to all but disappear.

The result would have been a waterfall 200x the volume of Niagara Falls and covering an area double the size of Manhattan in a single day.

That said, the worst flood of the last 10 millennia took place along the Yellow River in China at a date that coincides with ancient texts.

This is the next best thing to actually being a kid again!

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Velcro Wants People to Stop Using the Term “Velcro” so They Dropped a Music Video

Velcro was invented in the early 1940s, but after losing its patent in the 1970s, the market was flooded with other “hook and loop” fasteners that, while not Velcro brand, were quickly labeled as such by the public.

Basically, anything that sticks together without adhesive is Velcro, right? Maybe, but once a term becomes “genericized” in that manner, the original company loses its trademark. Legal resource UpCounsel refers to this process as Genericide, because the original company – Velcro, in this instance – would lose not only their trademark, but their ability to stop other companies from using trademarked branding on non-Velcro products. And, thus, they’ll probably lose a whole lot of sales.

In a last-ditch and hilariously original attempt to hold onto their trademark, Velcro has released a music video pretty much begging the public to help them out by saying “hook and loop” instead of their company name.

While the word f*ck isn’t bleeped in the video, the other brand names are, and the people at Velcro are quick to say that they’re not only doing this for themselves, but for every former brand name that fell victim to being so ubiquitous and popular that it eventually spelled their financial death.

“I know that bleeped stuff is more fun to say, but if you keep saying it, our trademark goes away.”

The video is entertaining, catchy, and quite smart – so please, enjoy.

And you know, maybe we could give them a break? Because if nothing else, this whole thing is sort of depressing in its desperation, is it not?

Is it too late? Are people ever going to abandon the word “velcro” for “hook and loop?”

If the people at Velcro have anything to say about it…still probably no, but at least they can say they didn’t go down without a (musical) fight.

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Here Are 6 Ways to Get Rid of Extra Hangers Without Throwing Them Away

You likely end up with a surplus of extra hangers on a regular basis. But those hangers don’t have to end up in the trash. Depending on what type of hanger it is, you can find a way to recycle it, Lifehacker reports.

Hangers come in three basic types: wire, plastic and wood. Wire hangers usually can’t go into the recycling bin (unless you live in New York City, where they’re included in the recycling program). Plastic and wood hangers, too, generally shouldn’t go into the recycling.

Photo Credit: iStock

However, you can research your city’s curbside recycling program to see whether they do accept any of these types of hangers. If not, you can ask your dry cleaner if they take used hangers. You can also look for an organization that might need them, such as a shelter. If the hangers are from a clothing store, some of them also take their own hangers back for reuse, such as Target (and next time you go shopping, refuse the hangers so you don’t have to deal with this issue).

You may also be able to recycle wire hangers by taking them in bulk to a metal scrap recycling plant.

Photo Credit: iStock

Of course, you can always reuse these hangers at home by simply adding them to your own closet — if you have any room.

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Medieval Drawings of Cats Licking Their Own Butts. That Is All.

Cats have been domesticated for less time than dogs, but that doesn’t mean people haven’t been fascinated with our feline friends for centuries – a fact proven by these medieval paintings of cats grooming their nethers.

And to be honest, butts are pretty much always funny.

Check out the pictures below before you even try to argue with me.

11. Why doesn’t he have whiskers, though?

Image Credit: Tumblr

10. Did Jesus have a cat? Was he doing sign language? I’m so confused.

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9. She looks so happy.

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8. I mean, who wouldn’t want to focus on that?

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7. The face of a cat that can’t be bothered.

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6. That’s quite a tongue.

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5. Contortionist cat.

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4. How are you going to sneak up on a cat like that?

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3. I have many questions about this painting, and the butt-licking isn’t even one.

 

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2. One of these things is not like the other.

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1. Typical dad cat, not helping with the kids.

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Happy cat watching!

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Is Being Killed by a Guillotine Painless? Learn the History, and Everything We Know About It.

Sure, it seems terrifying – a giant blade dropping toward the back of your exposed neck – but it turns out that the people on revolutionary France were actually being relatively humane (at least when it came to how they executed their many victims).

In the intervening centuries, the U.S. (the only developed nation to still use the death penalty) has tried out all sorts of ways to legally murder its citizens, almost all of which have been found to be, well, bad.

If not excruciating.

So, if quick and painless is what we’re going for when it comes to executions, perhaps the guillotine should make a re-entrance. Find a new day in the sun, as it were.

Death by guillotine (as long as the blade is sharp) would be completely painless – the blade almost immediately severs the nerves from your spinal cord to your brain, paralyzing you and blocking pain receptors from sending signals to your brain.

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Daily #Art – Day 08-03-19 (2019) In the Name of freedom Here's an illustrated tribute to French revolutionary Madame Roland (Mar 17, 1754 – Nov 8, 1793), with a portrait of her before being guillotined by the mob. Her famous last words was: “'O Liberté, que de crimes on commet en ton nom!” “O freedom, what crimes are committed in your name!” I would like to use this art to condemn all violent rioters who use freedom and democracy as a guise to create chaos and destruction. . 每日藝術 – 2019年8月3日 （2019）自由之名 這是一幅向法國大革命時期政治家羅蘭夫人（1754年3月17日－1793年11月8日）致敬的畫, 繪了她在被暴民送上斷頭台前的肖像。 羅蘭夫人臨刑前留下了一句為後人所廣為傳誦的名言： 「自由啊，古今天下多少罪惡，假汝之名以行！」 謹以此畫指責古今中外借自由民主為名來製造混亂和破壞的暴徒。 (#15,678 / #268 / #164) . . . #dailyart #illustration #pendrawing #portraitart #revolutionary #madameroland #roland #freedom #liberté #mob #mobjustice #guillotine #crime #自由 #罪惡 #羅蘭夫人 #反送中 #香港 #hinxlinx #ericlynxlin #elynx #軒 #instaart #artofinstagram

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It would be so fast, in fact, that experts don’t think you would feel the blade at all; your death would be nearly instantaneous.

There might be spasms or jerks that happen – involuntary eye or muscle movements – which are common up to five minutes after death as the brain suffocates from lack of oxygen. But the deceased person is, you know…deceased. So they can’t feel anything at all.

Even studies that acknowledge brain activity can continue after death agree that the subject is really not alive in any practical way, which means they do not have any kind of feelings, including pain.

While the guillotine was much more humane than being shot by a firing squad, hanged, or burned at the stake, the idea of being murdered in much the same way as a chicken was surely something people were trying to avoid by the time it went out of fashion.

Though if I ever found myself on the wrong side of the law (or the mob), this does sound like the best possible way to go.

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The Viral Hashtag #MenThinkWomenWant Shows How Guys Are Wrong About the Ladies in Their Lives

Twitter can do a darn good job of educating people if they are willing to listen. So, if you’re a male with an open mind and a desire to actually give women what they’re looking for from the males in their orbit, you might want to check out #MenThinkWomenWant.

And if you’re a lady looking for a laugh and virtual fist-bump, then you’ve come to the right place, too.

15. Plumbers are okay, though.

14. I mean unless it’s pizza.

13. Just like me.

12. Respect and attention aren’t the same thing.

11. To just be comfortable.

10. We can solve our own problems.

9. We cannot be bought.

8. Amen.

7. In terms of fashion.

6. The bling is just a bonus.

5. Equality.

4. Humor is everything.

3. We’re not wasting time.

2. You don’t need to be right.

1. Just a little effort, fellas.

Solidarity, ladies!

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Many Parents Have a Favorite Kid – and It’s Often Their Youngest

Your parents may have promised they never played favorites (and you say the same to your kids). But as children grow into adults, I think it’s normal to find that, while you might not have a favorite, some people just get on more easily than others.

That said, there is actually some pretty convincing science behind the idea that parents tend to favor their youngest child more often than their older siblings.

Image Credit: Pixabay

First, let’s go with self confessions from both parents and grandparents. According to The Independent, a Mumsnet survey of both groups did indeed find favoritism among both groups (though with differing preferences).

Of the 1185 parents and 1111 grandparents who responded, 23% of parents and 42% of grandparents admitted to having a favorite. But while 56% of the committed parents said their youngest was their favorite, 40% of grandparents prefer their eldest grandchild.

Half of the survey responders thought having a favorite was “awful” and potentially damaging for the favorite child’s siblings, as well.

Image Credit: Pixabay

In studies that are more scientifically rigorous, similar biases have emerged.

This one revealed that 70% of fathers and 74% of mothers admitted to showing favoritism, but youngest kids don’t always feel the most loved. Another study, done in 2005, found that oldest children tend to feel like they’re the favorite (even if that’s perhaps not true), and that younger children typically feel as if their parents are biased toward their older sibling.

And this 2017 study found that when the younger child feels as if favoritism plays a role in their household, they were much more affected by it than older siblings (whether for better, if they were the favorite, or worse, if they were not), while older children’s relationships with their parents were not affected regardless of who the perceived “favorite” child was in the house.

Image Credit: Pixabay

BYU professor Alex Jensen, though, noted that how you show favoritism plays a role, too.

“When parents are more loving, and they’re more supportive and consistent with all of the kids, the favoritism tends to not matter as much… you need to treat them fairly, but not equally.”

Perhaps the most important outcome is from this 2006 study, which suggests the best thing to do (as a kid) is just to not let it bother you – research suggests you can’t change it no matter what you do, and that mothers, especially, rarely switch up their favorite child over the course of their lives.

So, oldest or youngest or middle child – be yourself, and know that even if they don’t love you the most, your parents still love you a whole lot.

And that should count for something, right?

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10 Facts That Are Good for Quiet Reflection

With this fact set, you’re getting quality and quantity.

Enjoy! And learn!

1. Harmful

Photo Credit: did you know?

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2. Get a load of those names

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3. Are you living it?

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4. Prudish

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5. Thank God!

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6. Dream away

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7. I think I sound like Barry White

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8. That is cool!

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9. Clone wars

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10. Ahhhhh, that’s better

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I can safely say I didn’t know any of those facts. How about you?!?!

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These Service Dogs-In-Training Attended a Performance of “Billy Elliott” and Paid Adorable, Rapt Attention

In case you didn’t know, service dogs go through official good citizen training – the and training that allows them to best assist specific disabilities – but that they also typically spend time with foster families so they can learn how to behave in everyday social situations?

It’s true.

One of those everyday situations might be going to the theater – live, musical, or movie – with their trainer, so that if the person they’re paired with wants to take in a show of any kind, they’ll know exactly what to expect and how to behave.

And that’s how we got this theater full of pups, all quietly, cutely watching Billy Elliott.

The dogs are part of the K-9 Country Inn Service Dog program in Canada, and they were all very good dogs – every one observed proper theater behavior.

The pups attended a “relaxed performance” at the Stratford Festival theater, which means it’s a showing specifically for people who need more accessibility, accommodations, or reduced noise, lighting, or startling effects.

According to the Stratford  Festival website:

“Relaxed performances are specifically designed to welcome patrons who will benefit from a less restricted audience environment. Patrons of all abilities are welcome, including but not limited to those with intellectual or learning disabilities, sensory processing conditions or autism. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement within the auditorium, and some minor production changes may be made to reduce the intensity of light, sound and other potentially startling effects. Babes in arms are also welcome to our relaxed performances.”

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Thank you Stratford Festival @stratfest for welcoming us to Billy Elliot – The Musical! – It was a phenomenal show, all of our teams had a fantastic time. We greatly appreciate the assistance from the staff and local goodies for our service dogs from The Barkery! – Photo description: A group of handlers and their service dogs sit in front of the Stratford Theatre. They are all smiling at the camera. – #k9countryinnservicedogs#servicedog#assistancedog#firefighter#endthestigma#healing#ptsd#ptsdservicedog#ptsdrecovery#ptsdawareness #veteran #canadianarmedforces #ivegotyourback911#firstresponders#911dispatcher#posttraumaticstressdisorder#goldenretriever#billyelliot #mentalhealth #k9cisd #paramedic #medic #toronto #ems #labrador #standardpoodle #stratfordfestival #poodle

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What a great combination of events, all of which prove there are good humans (and pooches) out there with making the world accessible for everyone on their minds.

And, just for fun, Mark Hamill wins for best response on Twitter.

The force is definitely with him, and may it be with these pooches when they go on to take their permanent assignments!

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