New Study Finds Netflix May Be to Blame for the Falling Fertility Rate in the US

It’s funny, just a few years ago, the term “Netflix and chill” was synonymous with hooking up. Now, it seems Netflix may be to blame for the falling fertility rate in the US. How the tables do turn.

Wall Street Journal conducted a survey for the story, which showed that an incredible 25 percent of respondents have declined sex in favor of binge-watching a show in the last six months.

The problem arises particularly from streaming services; back when regular tv ruled mass entertainment, you could only watch one episode at a time, and each episode was filled with commercial breaks. The reward part of your brain wasn’t nearly so activated.

Photo Credit: iStock

“Now, if you’re watching something streaming, the next episode is immediately available, and there are no commercials where you could look over and say, ‘Honey, you look cute tonight,’” explained Jean Twenge, Ph.D., who authored a 2017 study on the topic.

While it is true that Americans are having fewer babies than ever before in history, it’s not entirely clear that Netflix is playing a direct role in the phenomenon. Technology in general, maybe (and like, a thousand other major societal factors). For every couple binging Netflix, there’s another couple scrolling through social media in bed.

“There has never been a time you could feel more alone with your partner right next to you,” clinical psychologist Dr. Megan Fleming said.

Photo Credit: iStock

Netflix commented on the study to deny that they’re contributing to the lack of American babies.

“We take pride in being part of the cultural zeitgeist, but getting credit for a decadeslong decline in sex is beyond even our programming abilities,” a spokesperson said.

That’s ok, Netflix spokesperson. It’s good to have goals.

The post New Study Finds Netflix May Be to Blame for the Falling Fertility Rate in the US appeared first on UberFacts.

Boston Elementary School Tries Out New, 3D Crosswalk

Young students in Medford, Massachusetts, have come up with a brand new innovation for the area: 3D crosswalks. Not only do they look way cooler than regular ol’ 2D crosswalks, but they also make the intersection safer.

The 3D crosswalk is at the intersection of a parking lot and Allston Street at Brooks Elementary School, and it was two students at the school who came up with the idea. Fourth-grader Isa and fifth-grader Eric worked with their teacher and the Brooks Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility to make it happen.

Painters added additional shaded shapes around the normal white stripes of the crosswalk, creating an optical illusion for drivers approaching the intersection. Instead of obviously lying flat on the ground, the white lines appear to be blocks on the street, which prompts drivers to slow down and pay more attention.

“It’s been really well received and there’s a lot of excitement about it,” teacher Michael Coates told The Boston Globe.

Posted by Vegamálun GÍH on Monday, September 25, 2017

Boston artist Nate Swain, well-known for his photo murals around the city, designed the crosswalk. Medford plans to install three more of the same crosswalks in the near future, also outside elementary schools.

3D crosswalks are a first for Medford, and for the Boston area in general, but they’re not a brand new concept. They’re also known as “Iceland crosswalks,” as that country started the trend. They also exist in other cities around the world, including Chicago.

The post Boston Elementary School Tries Out New, 3D Crosswalk appeared first on UberFacts.

10+ Hiring Managers Share Small Things That Make Them Say “No” to Potential Employees

Job hunting is rough. It’s basically a full-time job in and of itself, and any little edge you can get over your competition helps.

Read through these 15 “small” transgressions so you can earn a “yes” instead of a rejection,

#1. Using vague language.

The biggest one for me was always whether they were responding thoughtfully and specifically to prompts or just using vague interviewy language.

#2. Improving telekinesis.

Talking about your broccoli and chocolate diet to improve your telekinesis.

This happened about 15 years ago.

#3. Hard pass.

When the interviewee ignores the person who asked the question and instead talks to the person they “think” has the most power in the room. This has happened in entry level positions, but I also helped interview for a position that would be working at my same level, as a partner. My manager told me the decision was ultimately up to me, because I knew what I was willing to work with, and what was needed for the role. I had a man come in and he wouldn’t look at me, didn’t shake my hand, and every time I asked a question, he looked to my manager for approval. Yeah… Hard pass. I don’t want to work with a guy who has no respect for me.

#4. Don’t smoke weed before interviews.

Being stoned. Don’t smoke weed before interviews. It doesn’t relax you. You just look and sound weird.

#5. It’s happened more than once.

People that showed up to an interview in dirty sweatpants and a hoodie or whatever, and had no idea what the position really was. (Pharmacy Tech/Assistant) It happened more than once.

#6. It’s fair game.

If you have something on your resume, it’s fair game for me to ask you about it. If you struggle with basic questions about it — game over.

#7. Unlucky people.

From a post on 4chan I saw once:

“Be me, hiring manager. First thing I do when I get a stack of applications is throw half of them in the trash. I don’t want any unlucky people working here.”

#8. It’s a one-time thing.

I’m reading this thread as a hiring manager for more or less janitorial position and we are so badly hurting for employees at that spot that we’ll pretty much hire anyone that applies so long as they clear the background check and drug screen.

Raggedy clothes? You’re hired Don’t really have great answers to questions? You’re hired Can’t really explain or give a reason for the stuff on the application? You’re hired You physically showed you to the interview? Hired.

It’s crazy that the people that interview the best, show up dressed as well as they can be in their means, and clearly want the (any) job are more often than not the ones that get shot down because of background.

Sucks that the ones getting hired over them quit two weeks in because they don’t like cleaning things up.

Edit: it’s not my idea to have the drug screen, and it is a one time thing

Edit 2: it’s no minimum wage. It’s not the best, but it’s competitive for the area

#9. Don’t Google every question.

For phone / skype interviews: don’t Google every question I ask you to get the ‘right’ answer. It’s a dead giveaway when after every question there’s 10 seconds of umming, and then a textbook answer. You’ll be surprised how often this happens.

#10. Showing up late.

Showing up late for an interview already puts you in the hole. Not addressing it or apologizing for it will make it complete. Turn a negative into a positive and show you have accountability. Not addressing it shows you don’t have respect for me and my time.

#11. Just a few things.

Check your grammar and punctuation over and over. Correspondence via emails should be professional, too. It’s not a time to use shorthand, like you would in a text message to friends. Bad grammar in emails usually catches my attention right away (in a negative way).
There was a young woman interviewing for a position with me who was very creative and extremely qualified. However, her written correspondence was so poor with me that I knew she’d do the same thing with external clients and she didn’t get the position because of this.

I’ll usually hire someone who is coachable and has a great attitude over someone who might have more experience, but doesn’t get along well with others. One’s attitude really is a game-changer and I’m more prone to hire those with a positive outlook on life.
If you want an “in” with a company – don’t always go straight to the top. Maybe reach out to a lower-level employee and learn from them and get tips. I always take a look at candidates referred to me by internal employees, no matter how high they rank in the company.
Be genuine and authentic. I love candidates who straight up tell me: “look, the last few years have been really hard for me. I jumped around jobs and looking back, I realize I could have stuck them out longer. But I learned from the experience and I want to do better.” We are humans, too. We get that life can be tough, so I appreciate people who are real and authentic.
And lastly, don’t be an excuse maker and go on and on about issues. This makes me think you’ll do the same in our corporation; during the interview process, be open and authentic, yet to the point and matter-of-fact. I believe every question can and should be answered in 30 seconds or less.

#12. Don’t add filler.

If you put it on your resume, I’m going to ask you about it. So don’t add filler.

#13. Everyone but the hiring manager.

Treating everyone but the hiring manager disrespectfully.

I was in a management position in fast food. I didn’t do the hiring, but one minor responsibility was accepting applications that people brought in and answering any initial questions. The hiring manager ALWAYS listened to the other managers initial impressions of the applicants. So many applications were thrown out of the stack without ever being considered because the applicant didn’t think anyone mattered but the person that made the final decision. I even had one lady come in and basically tell us that she would definitely be hired and be placed over us in management and that she planned on “cleaning up our act”. We had a good laugh with the hiring manager before tossing her app in the trash.

#14. What annoys me most.

I just look for honesty and some self respect . The roles I hire for and fairly entry level so you dont need to be amazingly qualified or anything . I get a lot of young people for interviews and what annoys me the most is when they arrive dressed in casual clothes , I dont disregard their application over clothes, but I do sit and wonder why their friends or parents or partners let them come to an interview in such sloppy clothing.

That said, I did have a weird one, i hired a guy from a group like session , as he was probably the best and most confident person on the day. After hiring a few weeks in he starts to become unreliable with his late finishes. When I ask him what’s up with that, he comes in one day on his day off and says he needs to speak to me. He then tells me that he will be resigning becuase he cant make the later working hours , and that hes sorry for letting me down and appreciates us giving him a chance , then he lifts up his Jean leg and shows me a electronic tag on his ankle . Turns out he was released from prison 2 days before my interview, and said he never brought it up becuase in a room full of people why would anyone employ the ex con.

When I thought about it , hes probably right me and my colleague who were interviewing probably would have influenced our decision on him if we knew and he said he just wanted a fair chance .

So the tag prevented him from being outside his home after 7pm as he was charged for supply when younger . I ended up calling the parole officer and the HMRC and eventually altering his curfew on the basis that I said he would have to be jobless if they didn’t and if you dont allow him to have a legitimate job , what are the chances of him re offending gonna be.

Ended up being one of best employees for a while.

#15. Never tell your employer.

We were looking for engineers, and we had this guy apply.​

He had a pretty sizable amount of relevant experience to the job despite being a fresh graduate and had experiences and training in other fields related to the production industry.

I asked him what position he was applying for and offered him the Assistant Production Engineer based on his credentials alone. He looked at me with a disgusted face, like I just insulted him. I asked him what was wrong, and he replied “Nothing really. It seems like a pretty good position, but I want something better, because I can clearly see you are impressed by my resume”

I took the bait, and partly also due to our immediate need for engineers, asked him what his preferred position would be. He immediately answered that he wanted a supervisory position, like the General Production Manager. I asked him why he wanted such a position.

His reply? “Seems like one of those jobs where I can sit in the office and play games on my phone all day without having to actually do anything”

I quickly gave an excuse to end the interview right there and just told him we would call him. We didn’t

Moral of the story? Never tell your potential employer you just want to sit on your ass all day and do nothing.

Petty, maybe, but good to know!

The post 10+ Hiring Managers Share Small Things That Make Them Say “No” to Potential Employees appeared first on UberFacts.

10 Countries Where You Can Live for Under $1000 a Month

If you’ve ever fantasized about getting away and starting over, it turns out that it is very possible to move to another country and live more cheaply, while probably also experiencing less stress and boredom. Thrillist listed 10 countries where you can live for under $1000 per month, including housing and food, plus entertainment. I can already feel my stress melting away.

Several of the countries on the list are in Asia, but there are countries all over the world: Africa, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.

Right, so let’s start with Asia. Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, and India are all countries where you can live a comfortable lifestyle for under $1000 a month. All of these countries offer amazing food options and endless options for ~adventure~.

Nepal
Photo Credit: iStock

On the border of Europe and Asia, we have both Georgia and Armenia. Armenia is apparently known for its smart people and sunshine, while next-door neighbor Georgia is clean and safe, with a rambunctious nightlife.

In Africa, we have Zimbabwe, an unbelievably gorgeous place that uses US dollars and is “Africa’s adrenaline capital.”

In the Caribbean, there’s Grenada, a small island that is often confused with Guyana but is NOT the same. If you want to achieve a whole new level of relaxation, this is the place.

Grenada, West Indies
Photo Credit: iStock

Also on the list is Bolivia in South America. The visa is $160, but everything else is mega cheap. Tiny bonus: You can walk an alpaca on a leash for free???

Lastly, there’s Montenegro in Eastern Europe. It’s a tiny country with beautiful beaches and mountains. Need I say more?

Time to go do A LOT more daydreaming.

The post 10 Countries Where You Can Live for Under $1000 a Month appeared first on UberFacts.

10 Additions to the Dictionary That Are So 2019, it’s Ridiculous

Language never stops evolving, and nobody knows that better than the editors of the dictionary. The Merriam-Webster editors added over 640 words to the dictionary in April 2019 alone!!! Some of the words are brand new (like “buzzy”) and others have simply taken on new meanings (like “snowflake”).

When dictionaries add new words, they’re always a great, spot-on reflection of the current cultural moment, and these are no different. Here are 10 new words that will make you sigh and say, “Yep, this is 2019 alright.”

Photo Credit: Pixabay

1. Unplug

Unplug: “To temporarily refrain from using electronic devices (such as computers or smartphones).”

2. Receipts

Receipts: “pluralinformal PROOF EVIDENCE.”

As in: “I 100% believe that Prince William is cheating on Kate Middleton but I need someone to show me the receipts.”

3. Peak

Peak: “Being at the height of popularity, use, or attention —used before the name of a product, person, cultural trend, etc.”

4. Vulture Capitalism

Vulture capitalism: “A form of venture capitalism in which aggressive methods are used to buy a distressed business with the intention of selling it at a profit.”

5. Gig Economy

Gig economy: “Economic activity that involves the use of temporary or freelance workers to perform jobs typically in the service sector.”

6. Stan

Stan is “slang, often disparaging” to mean “an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan.”

Photo Credit: Wattpad

7. On-Brand

On-brand: “Appropriate to, typical of, consistent with, or supportive of a particular brand or public image or identity.”

An example from Merriam-Webster: “It’s time to do an overhaul of your [Facebook] profile to ensure it’s professional and on-brand.” (Via Cheryl Lock.)

8. Buzzy

Buzzy: “Causing or characterized by a lot of speculative or excited talk or attention generating buzz.”

9. Screen Time

Screen time: “Time spent watching television, playing a video game, or using an electronic device with a screen (such as a smartphone or tablet).”

10. Snowflake

Snowflake: “Someone who is overly sensitive.”

As in: “One side derides the youth driving the movement as snowflakes and social justice warriors, too sensitive and too politically correct.” (Via Vanessa McCray.)

Yup, it’s 2019 alright.

The post 10 Additions to the Dictionary That Are So 2019, it’s Ridiculous appeared first on UberFacts.

Idaho’s Airbnb Listings Now Feature a Giant Potato, Which You Can Rent for $200

Airbnb has revolutionized the hospitality industry, but there’s a new location you can rent out that is revolutionizing Airbnb. It’s a potato, located in Idaho (because, of course).

From the outside, it looks like the potato couldn’t possibly be habitable — again, it is A POTATO — but in fact, it features a queen-sized bed and a fireplace.

It’s called the Big Idaho Potato Hotel.

Upon further reading about the Airbnb, it quickly becomes clear that the potato is fake, which is a real bummer but also a relief. The tuber weighs six tons, and it’s 28 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 11.5 feet tall.  It’s made of steel, plaster, and concrete.

The outside looks appealing, in the sense that potatoes are delicious, but also very unappealing, in the sense that you’d never think to spend the night in one.

But inside, there’s air-conditioning, a kitchenette, and a small bathroom.

Posted by Famous Idaho Potatoes on Monday, April 22, 2019

The giant potato was originally created to promote potatoes across the country. After six years of traveling the country on the bed of a truck, it now has a much trendier purpose: millennials pay over $200 a night on Airbnb to sleep inside of it and take Instagram photos.

The Big Idaho Potato Hotel sits in a giant field in Boise, Idaho, with views of the Owyhee Mountains.

Posted by Famous Idaho Potatoes on Monday, April 22, 2019

It has zero reviews on Airbnb due to being brand new, so… Who’s going to book this place first?!

The post Idaho’s Airbnb Listings Now Feature a Giant Potato, Which You Can Rent for $200 appeared first on UberFacts.

School Replaces Detention with Meditation, and the Results Speak For Themselves

If you ever spent any time in detention as a kid, you probably thought, “what is the point of this?” I think it’s pretty universal that detention consisted of staring at a wall and not doing anything, except maybe homework. Not the best.

The people in charge at Robert W. Coleman Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland, had a different idea. Instead of putting kids who misbehave to detention, they’re sent to what is called the Mindful Moment Room.

"The truth is best as it is. No one can alter it; neither can anyone improve it. Have faith in the truth and live it -Buddha

Posted by Holistic Life Foundation, Inc. on Monday, February 4, 2019

The room is filled with plush pillows, lamps, and decorations. Kids are asked to calmly talk through what caused them to be sent there and then are encouraged to meditate and do breathing exercises to calm down.

The school partnered with a local nonprofit called the Holistic Life Foundation to create the Mindful Moment Room. For more than a decade, the Holistic Life Foundation has offered an after-school program where kids can practice mindfulness exercises and yoga.

"The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction." -Rachel Carson

Posted by Holistic Life Foundation, Inc. on Monday, February 11, 2019

The programs run by the Holistic Life Foundation also include mentoring, tutoring, and learning about the environment by visiting farms, cleaning up local parks, and building gardens.

Do you know we have a community garden at Robert W. Coleman Elementary School? This initiative teaches students more…

Posted by Holistic Life Foundation, Inc. on Monday, March 25, 2019

The kids have responded well to the program – in fact, suspensions at the elementary school plummeted. When nearby high school implemented the same programs, they also saw suspension rates drop and attendance increase.

Take a look at this video about the program at Robert W. Coleman Elementary.

This is a great idea. Honestly, I wish the schools I went to as a kid did this…

The post School Replaces Detention with Meditation, and the Results Speak For Themselves appeared first on UberFacts.

3D-Printed Casts Are the Future of Healthcare

Have you ever broken a bone before? If so, you’re undoubtedly familiar with how long and uncomfortable the recovery process is in that heavy, clunky cast.

But two entrepreneurs from Latvia might have changed the game in a great way. Sigvards Krongorns and Janis Olins launched their startup company Castprint to improve the comfort of modern casts. The company uses 3D printing to build personalized, lightweight casts out of plastic. They utilize a web-like composition that helps stabilize and support broken bones.

Posted by Castprint on Monday, June 18, 2018

The casts are designed to be comfortable (what a revelation that would be), and they can easily be taken on and off, which means people can start rehabilitation earlier if they need to instead of having to wait for a traditional plaster cast to be cut off.

Another plus: people can wear Castprint casts in the water, so swimming is still an option and showering doesn’t have to involve the hassle of taping a plastic bag around your arm or leg.

Posted by Castprint on Monday, July 16, 2018

The idea for the company came when co-founder Janis Olins broke his elbow and found his injury interfered with his regular job as an auditor. None of his suits would fit over his cast, and he couldn’t go meet clients in person. In 2016 (while still in his cast), Olins was growing interested in 3D printing technology, so he and his partner Krongorns began working with a designer to come up with a potential prototype for a 3D printable cast.

Say goodbye to the old fashioned and heavy plaster casts!

Posted by Castprint on Monday, October 30, 2017

Olins said, “We interviewed doctors, clinic management, nurses, insurance companies and regulator representatives in order to find out more about fracture treatment and the processes involved.”

CastPrint now has partnerships with 7 clinics in Latvia where personalized casts are made for each patient. Olins said that originally many doctors were skeptical of their product, but as time went on and they saw how successful the casts were, they’ve gotten on board.

UZMANĪBU Castprint atbalstītāji un sekotāji! Easm iekļauti @Arctic15 TOP30 inovatīvāko jaunuzņēmumu sarakstā. Lai…

Posted by Castprint on Thursday, May 3, 2018

Olins and Krongorns are looking to expand past Latvia, and their first international partners are in Finland.

Olins added, “We envision, and hope, that with our work we can bring healthcare services and 3D printing technology closer together. Because of the simplicity and ease of our service, there is more potential, and we can fundamentally change the way fracture injuries are treated in the world.”

The post 3D-Printed Casts Are the Future of Healthcare appeared first on UberFacts.

The Loudest Sound Ever Heard in Human History

You probably think you know what an extremely loud noise sounds like. If you’ve ever walked by a jackhammer, for example, or stood a little too close to the speakers at a loud concert. But those sounds pale in comparison to what is officially known as the loudest sound ever heard.

It happened on August 27, 1883. On an island in Indonesia, a volcano erupted so violently that it literally tore the island apart. The noise was so loud that people heard it over 3,000 miles away — which would be like hearing a noise from Dublin, Ireland when you’re in Boston.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

It sounds impossible, and yet it very much happened. People heard the eruption on the island of Krakatoa in over 50 geographical locations across a full thirteenth of the Earth.

At 40 miles away, the sound shattered people’s eardrums. At 1,300 miles away, it sounded like “guns firing.” At 2,000 miles away, it sounded like “a series of loud reports, resembling those of artillery.” And at 3,000 miles away, it sounded like “the distant roar of heavy guns.” By the time the sound reached such a distant location, hours would have passed (the speed of sound is about 767 mph).

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

As you might guess, this was no average volcano eruption. It was devastating enough to wipe out 165 coastal villages and settlements and kill tens of thousands of people.

So, yeah, this is not a record we should aim to break anytime soon! Only truly cataclysmic events can create such loud noise, and it hasn’t happened since 1883.

The post The Loudest Sound Ever Heard in Human History appeared first on UberFacts.

15 States Where It’s Actually Legal to Fire Someone Just for Being LGBTQ

Believe it or not, there are still places in the United States – in 2019! – where there are no protections in place keeping gay people from being fired from their jobs for simply being who they are.

These 15 states below offer no protection at all for LGBT people from being terminated from employment.

All of the statistics below come from the Movement Advancement Project.

1. Texas

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Texas: 873,454

2. Arkansas

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Arkansas: 76,251

3. North Carolina

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in North Carolina: 323,319

4. South Dakota

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in South Dakota: 19,939

5. Wyoming

Photo Credit: GoodFreePhotos

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Wyoming: 14,618

6. Mississippi

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Mississippi: 79,814

7. North Dakota

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in North Dakota: 15,697

8. West Virginia

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in West Virginia: 57,667

9. Virginia

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Virginia: 259,268

10.  Missouri

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Missouri: 180,486

11. Kansas

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Kansas: 72,783

12. Louisiana

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Louisiana: 138,998

13. South Carolina

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in South Carolina: 139,236

14. Nebraska

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Nebraska: 55,192

15. Oklahoma

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Estimated number of LGBTQ adults living in Oklahoma: 113,491

Here is a complete list of local non-discrimination ordinances across the U.S.

The post 15 States Where It’s Actually Legal to Fire Someone Just for Being LGBTQ appeared first on UberFacts.