Author: Matt Gilligan

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Playgrounds for Elderly People Increase Activity and Decrease Loneliness

As people get older, they become more isolated. After all, it’s just harder to get out an about, and the people you know have the same trouble.

It’s also a face that often times aging people exercise less, if at all.

So how do we solve the problem? Playgrounds!

I have yet to see one of these in person, but I have to say, I think this is an amazing idea.

The phenomenon of playgrounds for adults is still kind of new in the United States, but the original concept dates back to 1995 in China.

They proved to be very popular in China, and soon spread across the globe to Europe, Canada, Japan, and the U.S. The trend has become especially popular in Spain, where the city of Barcelona alone has more than 300 adult playgrounds.

Playgrounds for older adults feature low-impact exercise equipment that’s designed to improve flexibility, balance, and core strength among users, all key attributes that undoubtedly lead to better overall well-being for elderly people who take advantage of these spaces. Some of the parks even feature group exercise classes so older folks don’t have to work up a sweat all by themselves – plus, they get the opportunity to meet people.

Cedric X. Bryant, president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, says, “[Playgrounds for elders] focus on promoting balance, flexibility, and range of motion, all of which can help with the functional capabilities of older people and allow them to do more of the things they want to do.”

Some park are strictly for adults, while some allow seniors to play along with their grandchildren. Right now, there are 53 “multigenerational” parks in the United States.

Here’s a video of some older folks taking advantage of such a park in Colorado.

I’d like to see these all over the country!

No, all over the world!

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This Woman’s Photo of Her Twin Sister Illustrates How Tough It Is to Work as a Nurse

Every profession has its challenges and rewards, and I think it’s fair to say that nursing has more than its fair share of both. Between life or death situations, constant contact with irritated and sick humans, long hours on their feet, and sometimes being treated as lesser-than by doctors and others “above” them, nurses definitely have more reason than some to feel exhausted.

The truth of this reality hit Laura McIntyre as she snapped a picture of her twin sister, Caty, after her fourth shift in a row. Her sister was exhausted, in tears, and too tired to even eat the plate of food on her lap.

she's gonna kill me for this pic, but can we just give it up for nurses for a minute?•caty just wrapped up her fourth…

Posted by Laura McIntyre on Thursday, October 10, 2019

“She’s gonna kill me for this picture, but can we just give it up for nurses for a minute?

Caty just wrapped up her fourth shift in a row. That’s around 53+ hours in four days. That’s not including the 1.5 hours she’s in the car each day. She usually doesn’t get a chance to eat lunch or even drink much water (& she has to dress like a blueberry…I mean, come on). She is so good at what she does that she often forgets how to take care of herself while she’s taking care of her patients.

This pic is from a night back in July where she came to my house after a particularly hard day. She delivered a stillborn. Have you guys ever really thought about what a labor and delivery nurse sees? They see great joy in smooth deliveries & healthy moms & babies. They see panic & anxiety when a new mom is scard. They see fear when a stat c-section is called. The see peace when the mom has support from her family – because not all new moms do. They see teenagers giving birth. They see an addicted mom give birth to a baby who is withdrawing. They see CPS come. They see funeral homes comes. Did you know that they have to make arrangements for the funeral home to come pick up the baby? I didn’t either.

Caty (& all other nurses) – you are SPECIAL. You bless your patients and their families more than you will ever know. Thank you for all that you do.”

Nurses face stress, high pressure, and incredible loss on a daily basis, which means when they finally have time to let go, their emotions can overwhelm them.

So, let’s give it up for Caty, and maybe take a moment to hug the nurses in your life today.

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People Who Wish for More Self-Control Actually Wind up with Less. Here’s Why.

I have some bad news for people who desperately need more self-control in their lives. Research shows that wishing for more self-control actually has the opposite effect.

In a 2017 study, psychologists measured participants’ desire to increase their self-control. Then the volunteers rated their current level of self-control. Lastly, they had to complete either an easy or a difficult assignment.

The volunteers who performed best on the challenging assignment were the least likely to say that they wanted to have more self-control. Those who did the worst were the most likely to wish for more self-control.

The desire for self-control had no effect on the volunteers’ performance on the easy assignment.

Photo Credit: iStock

These results could simply demonstrate that people with a lot of self-control perform better on hard tasks — they don’t wish for more self-control because they already have it.

But in a follow-up experiment, the psychologists managed to manipulate people’s desire for more self-control by asking them to write an essay about why self-control was a good thing OR how it could cause problems. This time, those who were prompted to see self-control as desirable performed worse on the difficult task. Those who were prompted to see self-control as problematic performed much better.

Consciously wishing for more self-control may seem like a positive thing — how are you supposed to become more disciplined unless you try? But in reality, this desire makes you focus on what you don’t already have, psyching you out in the process.

Photo Credit: iStock

So instead of just passively wishing for more self-control, try taking concrete steps to accomplish the specific things that you want to accomplish. For example, don’t just think to yourself, “I wish I had the self-control not to check Instagram every day” – actually install an app on your phone to limit your social media use.

The researchers also recommend reframing your thinking. Self-control isn’t something that people simply have or don’t have. It’s an unlimited resource, and you can tap into it at any time, regardless of what you’ve done before.

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Take a Look at This Cat Shrine with a Cat Monk in Japan

If you love cats, you know that our fuzzy feline friends have a lot of personality and they like to play by their own rules. Well, in Japan, there’s a shrine where the cats are in charge and us mere humans are just there to admire them…and pet them, if they are so inclined.

I have a feeling that if more people knew about a place, called Nyan Nyan Ji, they’d go there in a heartbeat. Nyan Nyan Ji actually translates to “Meow Meow Shrine,” so you already know the place is amazing. It’s a shrine in Northern Kyoto with a cat monk and cat assistants…and no I’m not messing with you.

Cats are meant to be worshipped, so this makes total sense. The shrine was opened by Toru Kaya, a shrine and temple painter. The head cat monk is named Koyuki, and by all accounts, he loves to mingle with visitors. There are other cat priests and cat assistants, as well.

There’s a cat cafe on the grounds where visitors can even enjoy cat-themed food. And, of course, there is also a gift shop where guests can purchase cat-related items. I’d call this a very spiritual destination, wouldn’t you?

Here are some of the reviews, in case you need a little convincing:

“Super adorable with a relaxing and fantastic atmosphere.”

“A cute cat is a chief priest. I’m healed.”

Be sure to follow Koyuki on Instagram and follow the shrine on Facebook.

Am I dreaming? This sounds like paradise!

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20 Literal Translations That Might Make You LOL

Have you ever tried to learn a foreign language? Then you likely realized – quickly – that knowing vocabulary and verb tenses is only part of becoming truly bilingual. Every language has idioms and sayings that are quirky and unique (some even vary by region!) that you have to figure out before people will make total sense when they talk.

Because some of the literal translations of those idioms? Hilarious, even if they do make a weird sort of sense!

Facebook group Monolinguals are the worst encouraged its members to share the funniest literal translations they know, and…y’all. Prepare to be amused.

20. There are wide range of how people think about ladybugs.

Image Credit: Facebook

19. Think of it as hair – that’s one way to save your diet.

Image Credit: Facebook

18. This mental image is just more than I can really compute.

Image Credit: Facebook

17. Annnnd now I want one more than ever.

Image Credit: Facebook

16. I don’t really get why, but it is funny.

Image Credit: Facebook

15. That is not at all appetizing.

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14. I know name calling is wrong but they kind of deserve it.

Image Credit: Facebook

13. An oddly accurate description.

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12. Without a thumb, but okay.

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11. It is quite delicious.

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10. Because he’s lying in wait I get it.

Image Credit: Facebook

9. That’s what it tastes like!

Image Credit: Facebook

8. The dove part is totally throwing me.

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7. They call them like they see them.

Image Credit: Facebook

6. Yes, yes that’s what it does so that’s what it is.

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5. You will find that Germans are very practical.

Image Credit: Facebook

4. I guess it depends on which side of this you’re on…

Image Credit: Facebook

3. I’m going to need someone to explain this to me.

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2. Let the uprising begin.

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1. You know what they used to do to witches, right?

Image Credit: Facebook

These renew my interest in learning another language.

Do you speak more than one? Do you have a favorite idiom that’s not totally translatable? Please share it in the comments!

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Here’s a Silly but Helpful Guide to Identifying the Artist Behind Famous Paintings

Art history is not for everyone, but there is definitely value in being able to look at a painting and know whose brush brought it to life.

And while it takes years for scholars to study the intricacies and subtleties of why the paintings of particular artists look the way they do, you can learn to spot them at a glance with these simple, hilarious tricks.

Van Eyck

Everyone, including the women, looks like Vladamir Putin.

Dali

If you’ve ever had an acid trip, this is what it looked like. If you haven’t, well, use your imagination.

Rembrandt

Everyone is a hobo illuminated by a dim streetlamp. Even himself.

Bosch

Lots of tiny people, lots of other insane crap going on, too.

Picasso

There’s not a single “normal” body in the bunch.

Da Vinci

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#LEONARDESCHI On the occasion of Leonardo Da Vinci’s exhibition at the Louvre museum, let’s discover a masterpiece by Cesare Magni, from the Leonardeschi School. To create this peaceful Virgin and Child, the Italian painter from Milan was inspired by theories of perspective, balance, perception of nature and the use of light. But one of the great interests of this piece is its dating! Indeed, if Magni's well-known 1530s paintings were copies of Raphael or Da Vinci, this painting from 1523 is an original artwork, unique in its own! Hit the link in our bio for further information! . CESARE MAGNI The Virgin and Child – 1523 Estimate: 200,000 – 300,000 € / 220,860 – 331,290 $ . Old Master & 19th Century Art Auction on November 13 at 6pm Exhibitions on November 8 to 13, 11am – 6pm . . . #artcurial #auctionhouse #artcollection #artcollector #cesaremagni #virginandchild #madone #renaissance #oldmaster #italianpainter #milan #leonarddevinci #renaissanceart #leonardeschi #louvre #louvremuseum #leonardodavinci #davinci

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Lord of the Rings featuring wavy-haired Madonnas instead of Hobbits.

Degas

Look for the ballerinas, my friends.

Manet

Are fancy people not having fun at parties? It’s Manet.

Renoir

Fancy people are having fun at parties!

Michelangelo 

Everyone is naked, beautiful, and ripped. We’re talking men with 10-packs.

Monet

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"IMPRESSION SOLEIL LEVANT" obra del pintor francés Claude Monet . En 1874, un grupo de jóvenes pintores rechazados por el Salón oficial decidió exponer sus obras en el taller del fotógrafo Nadar. Monet presentó, entre otras obras, esta marina pintada dos años atrás. Escribió a uno de sus amigos: "He enviado a la exposición una cosa hecha en el Havre desde mi ventana, con el sol entre la bruma, y en primer plano, unos mástiles apenas apuntando. me han pedido que le dé título. Como no podía ser una Vista de El Havre, les he respondido: Llamadla Impresión". Edmond Renoir, hermano del pintor, que fue responsable del catálogo de la exposición, añadió amanecer para hacer la denominación mas figurativa. De esta forma el cuadro quedaba titulado: Impression soleil levant (Impresión del sol naciente) . Para conocer más sobre esta bella pintura visita nuestro blog. #arte #art #arthistory #arthistorian #historians #historiadelarte #historyofart #pintura #picture #artista #artistsoninstagram #artoftheday #artsy #arts #artcurator #artwork #arttoday #monet

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Dappled light and no people.

Titian

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While out hunting, Actaeon accidentally stumbles upon the secret bathing place of Diana, chaste goddess of the hunt, and sees her naked. His fate is foretold by the stag’s skull on the plinth and the skins of Diana’s former prey hanging above her head. The conclusion of the story is shown in another painting by Titian our collection called 'The Death of Actaeon'. The outraged goddess transforms Actaeon into a stag to be torn apart by his own hounds. The paintings were part of a famous series of mythological pictures made for King Philip II of Spain when Titian was at the height of his powers. Works of unprecedented beauty and inventiveness, their subjects were based on the Roman poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses – Titian himself referred to them as ‘poesie’ (poems). 'Diana and Actaeon' was designed to be hung together with 'Diana and Callisto' (co-owned by the National Gallery and @natgalleriessco) – a stream runs between them. Detail from Titian, 'Diana and Actaeon', 1556-9 © The National Gallery, London. #titian #dianaandactaeon #renaissance #art #arthistory #painting #gallery #instamuseum #artwork #oilpainting #artmuseum #gallery #nationalgallerylondon #trafalgarsquare

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The world is dark and people are tortured.

Caravaggio

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Concerto di giovani, Caravaggio, 1595. Il committente di questo dipinto è il Cardinale Francesco Maria Del Monte. Il Caravaggio dipinge questi giovani con vesti tipiche dell'antica Roma, per essere più precisi con vesti di età ellenica. I ragazzi sono tre vi è quello "situato" al centro, un altro alle sue spalle e l'altro di spalle, tutti e tre sono impegnati a suonare diversi strumenti musicali. Quello a sinistra della tela con le ali è Cupido che invece è impegnato a gustare un grappolo d'uva. Il ragazzo al centro è Mario Menniti un caro amico dell'artista, il ragazzo accanto Minniti ha i lineamenti che ricordano quelli del Merisi. Gli oggetti di quest'opera sono: vari spartiti musicali sui quali sono riportati dei madrigali (tema esaltazione dell'amore). Il liutista al centro sembra quasi che stia per piangere e si strugge al suono di questi versi d'amore (effetti negativi dell'amore). Vi è un violino in primo piano, nessuno lo sta suonando, per cui sembra quasi che il musicista mancante è l'osservatore di questa scena. #caravaggio #concertodigiovani #barocco #instaday #instadaily #instamood #photooftheday #photo #photography #shoot #igersitalia #art #storiadellarte #likeforlikes

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The men look like curly-haired, big-eyed women.

Frida Kahlo

Everyone has a unibrow. Also, it’s mostly just Frida Kahlo.

Go ahead and thank the internet for making you look super smart next time you head to the museum.

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20 Keanu Reeves Quotes That Might Give You a Different Perspective on Life

Even though Keanu Reeves started off his movie career playing roles as lovable goofballs and slackers (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Parenthood, etc.), he’s actually a pretty deep and introspective person who seems to have a unique outlook on life.

And has this guy had a career resurgence, or what? Reeves is more popular than ever right now due to the success of the John Wick movies, and it’s been announced that there are new Bill & Ted and The Matrix movies in the works.

But back to the man himself, the real-life Keanu Reeves. Let’s take a look at 20 quotes from Reeves, who is, by all accounts, extremely generous and humble in his everyday life.

1. “Every struggle in your life has shaped you into the person you are today. Be thankful for the hard times, they can only make you stronger.”

 

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2. “Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily lives that we forget to take the time out to enjoy the beauty in life. It’s like we’re zombies. Look up and take your headphones out. Say “Hi” to someone you see and maybe give a hug to someone who looks like they’re hurting.”

3. “The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way.”

4. “If you can make a woman laugh, you’re seeing the most beautiful thing on God’s Earth.”

 

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5. “I thank the earth and the sky every day for the opportunities I’ve had.”

6. “Sometimes enemies are our best teachers, people can learn from their mistakes, destruction sometimes means rebirth.”

7. “Grief changes shape but it never ends.”

8. “I was also raised to treat people exactly how I would like to be treated by others. It’s called respect.”

 

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9. “When I don’t feel free and can’t do what I want, I just react. I go against it.”

10. “I will always be in love with love.”

11. “It is incredibly empowering to know that your future is in your hands.”

12. “Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so live today!”

 

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13. “You have to change your life if you’re not happy, and wake up if things aren’t going the way you want.”

14. “Sometimes simple things are the most difficult things to achieve.”

15. “Try to be wrong once in a while, it’ll do your ego good.”

 

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16. “If you have been brutally broken, but still have the courage to be gentle to other living beings, then you’re a badass with the heart of an angel.”

17. “Our dreams can teach us, instruct us, confuse us, sometimes I think they look to be considered. They are an opportunity and I think they most certainly could be utilized to focus, to try and achieve — whether it’s looking for someone, or influencing us, or inspiring us.”

18. “Multi-culture is the real culture of the world — a pure race doesn’t exist.”

19. “The person who was holding me back from my happiness was me.”

 

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20. “None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an afterthought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean.”

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This Company Sells a Mini Jacuzzi Just for Your Testicles

Dad, this one’s for you…

I can’t wait to see the look on his face as he beams with pride, sensing that I finally understand him as a human being. It will be a beautiful bonding moment that we’ll both remember forever. Perhaps we can even enjoy this unique activity together at the kitchen table…sitting side by side…

Okay, that’s not gonna happen, but you have to admit the idea of the Testicuzzi is certainly intriguing…and kind of hilarious. Yes, it is a mini jacuzzi that is just for your testicles.

The company website describes how this unique product was born:

“There are many conversations that inspire ideas in people. There are also many conversations about testicles and other things that inspire people to laugh. The conceiving of the Testicuzzi is no different. Just over a year ago, a few friends were hanging out on a houseboat in beautiful lake powell.

As many drunk conversations go, the conversation turned to college trends and what’s going on in the world of sexuality. Turns out, some people enjoy placing their testicles into a cup of water and letting someone blow bubbles in the water with a straw. The visual was too funny to pass up and the idea of the testicle jacuzzi (Testicuzzi) was born. After a few weeks of initial idea drawing and 3D printing the first iteration of the hot tub for your testicles was developed and produced.

Since then, there have been several variations of the hot tub for your nuts, but the essence of the Testicuzzi has remained the same and after many prototypes and a lot of 3D printing. The final Testicuzzi was born into this beautiful world.”

The world is definitely a better place with this product…

Posted by Testicuzzi on Friday, August 9, 2019

The mini jacuzzis will cost you $39.95, and they come in black or white – so you do you, okay?

I’m not trying to tell you how to live your life, but you might want to get these as stocking stuffers for all the males in your life for Christmas this year. This one’s for you, dad…

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A Public Service Announcement Compares the Dangers of Kids Playing Football to Smoking

When I was growing up, parents didn’t think twice about letting their kids play organized football. I played myself for several years, and I never thought about any of the possible repercussions that came along with getting hit over and over again on the field.

But parents with young kids today, including several of my friends who now have children of their own, are adamant that they will never, ever let their children play football. And maybe there’s a good reason for that…

Letting kids play football has come under fire in recent years due to the knowledge about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the disease that many former football players and others have suffered from after receiving multiple head injuries. To make the point, the Concussion Legacy Foundation released a public service announcement comparing the long-term effects of kids playing football to children smoking cigarettes.

In the PSA, a young boy says, “Tackle football is like smoking. The younger I start, the longer I am exposed to danger. You wouldn’t let me smoke. When should I start tackling?”

A study reports that it’s the number of years spent playing football, not the number of head injuries a person suffers, that impacts the severity of CTE.

The PSA calls for parents to wait until their children are 14 years old to let them play tackle football. Take a look at the PSA below.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you let your kids play football or do you refuse?

Sound off in the comments.

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You Can Try to Survive Against Jason from ‘Friday the 13th’ at This Campground in Arizona

Real talk: I need to get out to Arizona immediately to get in on this action. I’m a horror movie fanatic (and a Friday the 13th fan in particular), and this sounds like a total blast…it also sounds pretty terrifying, so double the fun!

A company in Arizona called On Pins and Needles hosts horror-themed events, including one called F13: Survive Jason that challenges guests to survive a night on a campground with the one and only Jason Voorhees.

Posted by F13: Survive Jason on Saturday, September 14, 2019

The event is described like this:

“F13: Survive Jason is a horror fan’s nerd dream. After watching the series, the question inevitably arises: if I was in this situation, could I survive Jason? We all like to think we can. Avoid the horror movie tropes. Run instead of walk. Don’t investigate that sound in the dark. I decided to put that to the test.

The creation of this game is to let people have the experience of testing their mettle against one of the baddest slashers in the genre, Jason Voorhees. In a safe, real world scenario, players get to step into Camp Crystal Lake and attempt to escape from an unstoppable, unkillable force. If you win, you deserve a prize! If you get caught, well…you’re just another Jason victim.

Hopefully your death is memorable. With a fantastic team working to set up, create, and execute, we hope that everyone who participates has the same thrill that we get.”

Does that sound awesome, or what?

Posted by F13: Survive Jason on Monday, August 5, 2019

The upcoming F13: Survive Jason events are scheduled for November 9, November 16, December 13, and December 21 from 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. so you better get going if you want to spend a night trying to outwit (and not get killed by) the legendary Jason.

Posted by F13: Survive Jason on Saturday, September 14, 2019

Eek!

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