ditadinho: 11/24/15

terça-feira, novembro 24, 2015

by bruce nauman (+)

Next Time You Rake Leaves, Consider the Damage to the Ecosystem

Quick: What’s the first thing you do when the leaves start to fall? My guess is you answered “Tell my son to get off his butt and get to raking!” Well, don’t let him read what I’m about to tell you: Raking leaves is actually bad for the environment.

Okay, well it’s not exactly bad, but by displacing leaves from where they naturally fell, you’re not doing your yard any favors, either. And it makes sense. Think about it: For hundreds, thousands, even millions of years, leaves went un-raked when they fell from their lofty heights. The whole idea of clearing your yard is a relatively new phenomenon, and the only reason we really do it in the first place is to make our yard look cleaner.

But by “cleaning up” our yard, we’re actually taking away from the natural processes that come along with crispy, dead leaves. Here’s what your yard misses out on whenever you remove those crunchy pieces of autumn from it:

1. Reduced Nutrients

Like I said, the Earth existed for billions of years before humans arrived, and trees have definitely been around for much longer than we have. Have we not realized that Mother Nature knows exactly what she’s doing? The fallen leaves keep the soil in a natural equilibrium over the cold winter months, enriching it so it can act as a home to a variety of plant life the following spring. By taking the dead leaves away, we deprive our yards of the nutrients it needs to produce grass and flowers the following year.

2. Reduced Protection for Wildlife

That birdhouse you bought for your backyard might be able to house a family of small birds, but the leaves on your front lawn can provide for hundreds of birds, squirrels, and other animals over the winter. Dead leaves provide valuable nutrients to the insects in your yard as well, which are an important part of the world’s ecosystem. By leaving your lawn as nature intended throughout the fall, you’re helping the rest of the animal kingdom survive the harsh winter that is to come.

3. Reduced Microbes

If you aren’t too familiar with what mulch actually is, it’s mostly made up of organic microbes that help keep your ground healthy by continuing the life cycle of the tiniest organisms. Of course, those who do mulch usually have a small mulch pile somewhere in the corner of the their backyard. But keeping a layer of leaves on your lawn actually turns your entire yard into a mulch pile. National Wildlife Federation Naturalist David Mizejewski says, “Fallen leaves offer a double benefit. Leaves form a natural mulch that helps suppress weeds and fertilizes the soil as it breaks down.” How many of you buy weed killer and grass seed in the spring? You wouldn’t need to if you didn’t rake your lawn.

What to Do Instead

Okay, I understand that once the dead leaves get all soggy it doesn’t look so aesthetically pleasing. But you do have some options that don’ require you to get rid of them completely.

We spoke of creating mulch, or composting. If you don’t want your entire yard to be a mulch pit, rake your leaves into the back corner of your yard where you won’t constantly be stepping on the soft, earthy compost. You’ll be doing your part, and your yard will look like you want it to.

Or you could rake the leaves into piles, then spread them over your garden or flowerbeds. By concentrating the leaves into the areas you want to flourish most, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor, and saving time, energy, and money in the long run!

Featured photo credit: The Autumn Leaves/ Linda D. via farm3.staticflickr.com

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Science Surprisingly Finds Why Dogs Often Tilt Their Heads

If you’ve ever found yourself having a conversation with a canine companion (and you’re not alone), you’ve probably noticed your little pal tilting his head whenever you spoke to him. I’m willing to bet you did the same thing in return, and might have even replied with a “baroo?” of your own, mocking your pet in a friendly way.

But, it turns out, little Rover tilts his head in a questioning way for a reason that’ll make you think twice before making fun of him – even in a teasingly friendly manner.

Emotional intelligence

Anyone who’s ever owned a dog knows how smart they are. You can teach them to sit, stay, speak, roll over…really, the amount of tricks a dog can learn is phenomenal. But canines are also incredibly sensitive to the emotional well-being of those around them, regardless of species.

Your dog knows when you’re happy, when you’re sad, when you need company, and when you want to be left alone. You don’t need me to tell you that they share in your joy or misery; the way they react to your physical actions and vocal inflections is evidence enough. Obviously, a huge part of their ability to pick up on these cues is their ability to see the face you’re making, and the actions you’re taking. Therein lies, at least in part, the reason why your little buddy tilts his head whenever you talk to him.

Nosey Little Boy

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to see the world through the eyes of a dog, you probably just imagined being a bit shorter and crawling on all fours. One thing you likely haven’t taken into consideration is the fact that your face would protrude a bit farther out than it does when you’re in human form. Imagine taping a paper cup to your nose (or actually do it if you’re home alone!), and you’ll have a pretty good idea of how your puppy sees the world.

This was the focus of a study done by Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology who has dedicated his career to enhancing our understanding of what goes on in our canine friends’ heads on a daily basis.

For his research, Coren surveyed 582 dog owners, asking them to report on the instances of their dog tilting their head in response to verbal cues from humans. The dogs were categorized as having either long or short snouts, with the hypothesis being that the longer-snouted dogs would tilt their head significantly more often than their shorter-snouted buddies.

Some Breed Tilt More

The results were pretty spot on. 71% of people who owned long-snouted dogs, such as collies, reported their pets tilt their head more often than not when they’re being spoken to. Comparatively, 52% of those who own short-snouted dogs, such as pugs, reported the same. Altogether, 62% of all owners answered that they’re canine buddies often tilted their heads in response to verbal cues from themselves or other humans.

Again, imagine you had a cup taped to the front of your face. You’d probably sacrifice binocular vision if you wanted to get a clear view of whatever object or being is directly in front of you, and would tilt one full eye toward your target, right? It appears that this is exactly the reason dogs tilt their heads when you speak to them.

Enhance Vision and Your Reaction

Coren did note that your dogs’ head-tilting might be a combination of an attempt to enhance vision and the positive reaction they get from you when they do it. Like I said in the intro, I don’t think I’m the only one who imitates my little buddy’s head tilt whenever he does it, and gives him a little more attention for being so cute. Says Coren, “Perhaps the dogs are really just trying to look cute. Nonetheless this study is a first step toward finding the answer (as to why they tilt their heads), and at least we now have a bit of data to work with.”

Featured photo credit: Sonny the Miniature Goldendoodle / Andrea Arden via farm9.staticflickr.com

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12 Essential Tips On How To Keep Your Denim Jeans Like A Pro

As you walk from store to store, you’re thinking … I’ll never find a pair of jeans that look fabulous on me. And then … there they are. You’re captivated. The display of beautifully styled jeans are inviting you to come and have a look, flirting with you, daring you.

Each style promises you something different. You’ll look photoshopped. You’ll look great from behind. You’ll achieve instant lift. You’ll have a healthier looking silhouette. You’ll appear to have legs for days. You’ll achieve supermodel status.

Excitedly, you reach for the jeans that hold the key to your happiness and quietly walk into the feared dressing room. After trying on a few pairs that don’t quite live up to your expectations, you begin to feel let down. But wait … can this be? You try on a pair of jeans that instantly transforms your body and life! You’re elated and want to celebrate, but you remember where you are, compose yourself and victoriously walk to the register. The price tag is hefty, but you’re excited to bring these beauties home and experience their joy.

You return home with your lovely purchase and realize that it’s important for you to treat these jeans with tender loving care. They were a serious investment and they must stay in your life forever. The information is conflicting as to how to care for your jeans. Machine wash, don’t machine wash, hand wash, never wash. It’s so confusing.

To help you prolong the life of your jeans and at the same time, achieve that desired lived in look, I’ve come up with 12 essential tips for you. shutterstock_303609314

1. Treated Jeans Don’t Need To Be Broken In

You can wash these more often. But only wash when they have a stain or begin to appear saggy.

2. Raw Denim Shouldn’t Be Washed For 6 Months

They take this long to break in. Jeans conform to your body and after being washed, most of their shape is lost.

3. Maintain The Wash Of Dark Jeans

Add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to your final rinse cycle, while doing your laundry.

4. Prevent Fading

Wash your jeans inside out, in cold water, on the delicate cycle. Or wash your jeans by hand with a delicate clothes soap made for hand washing.

5. Do You Want To Fade Your Denim?

Wash your jeans once in hot water.

6. Freshen Up Your Jeans Between Washes

With normal wear, your jeans may take on undesirable odors. Hang them in the bathroom before taking a shower (the steam will freshen them up) or place them in a plastic bag and put in your freezer for 2 days … it sounds silly, but works like a charm since it kills bacteria.
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7. Air Dry Denim

But if you feel you absolutely have to use the dryer, turn the heat setting to low. Take your jeans out before they are completely dry. Lay flat or hang upside down until they’re dry.

8. Allow Denim To Breathe

Never pile your denim one on top of the other in a drawer or on a shelf. This also means don’t hang denim jackets or vests tightly together.

9. Fold Your Jeans Like A Professional

Lay your jeans on a flat surface, fold in half, from left to right. Fold the stacked jean legs in half, so the hems of the legs line up with the waistband. Fold the legs in half once more.

10. Taking Your Jeans To The Tailor?

Wash New Jeans Twice. Jeans will always shrink in length after being washed.

11. Are Your Jeans A Little Too Tight?

Lay flat after washing and tug on the damp waistband by hand. Allow them to air dry. To stretch a little extra, tug on the damp waistband while blasting it with a hairdryer, or go over it with a very hot, steamy iron.

12. If You Don’t Have The Time Or Patience To Try Jeans On In The Store

The Neck Method is recommended. To Determine your jean size, place the waistline around the diameter of your neck. If the waistline of the pant comfortably meets at the back of your neck, the jeans will fit. (This works for most women.)

Featured photo credit: shutterstock_197625503 via media.lifehack.org

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15 Jobs That Pay Well But Hurt Your Health

There are several jobs available today that can bring in the big bucks, but could be dangerous to your health. Let’s take a look at 15 of these jobs and why they’re so dangerous. If you’re currently employed in one of these occupations, you may want to rethink your job… or invest in life insurance.

1. Nurses

These medical professionals are dealing with many sick people on a day-to-day basis, and not to mention, it is a very stressful job. Any illness that is contagious can get passed around, and if you are working many long hours your immune system will be compromised, making it easy for you to get ill.

2. Service Unit Operators

These are the men and women who are working in the oil, gas, and coal mining industries. They are exposed to many contaminants in the air and they are at a higher chance of receiving burns, cuts, scrapes, and more. They probably make a few trips to the ER, and with rising healthcare costs feel like they need someone to blame. According to a study on BambooHR, it’s the government.

3. Airline Pilots and Copilots

Pilots and copilots are at a high risk for many problems that come from sitting for long periods of time. Because they are in a stationary position for so long, it can be bad for their circulation and eventually bad on the heart. They are also at a high risk of being obese from sitting, and they do experience some radiation exposure.

4. Immigration and Customs Inspectors

Immigration and customs inspectors are the ones that are in charge of inspecting people, goods, and more when they come into the country. They are exposed to thousands of people a day, giving them a high rate of illness exposure, not to mention certain contaminants that they may come across in boxes, bags, or crates.

5. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

The men and women who collect all of the recyclable materials from home, businesses, and other buildings can lead a dangerous lifestyle. They are exposed to a number of unknown contaminants, some diseases and other things, and they do sit a lot on the job. It is a surprisingly harmful job that many people would not think about right away.

6. Radiologists and Nuclear Technicians

These medical professionals have a different level of harm when they are on the job. They deal with radioactive tests and materials on a daily basis. Radiologists sit a lot during the day and read imaging exams, while nuclear technicians are mixing radioactive isotopes that are used in certain exams, leaving them open to a high amount of radiation exposure.

7. Surgeons and Surgical Technicians

Surgeons have a very stressful job. They work long hours, sometimes odd hours, and they deal with very intricate procedures. This can lead to a lot of stress outside of work, which leads to serious medical conditions. They, and their technicians, are also exposed to a lot of contaminants and certain illnesses and diseases that can be unsavory.

8. Anesthesiologists, Nurse Anesthetists, and Anesthesiologist Assistants

Because they work in surgery, they too have odd hours and long hours, and they carry a lot of the same risk as other medical professions. But they also can suffer side effects from the drugs they use to put their patients under because they are around them all day, leaving them sleepy at times.

9. Flight Attendants

Unlike pilots, they do not sit for long periods of time, but they are exposed to radiation as well. Not only that, but they deal more with people, leaving them open to illnesses and viruses that anyone on the flight has.

10. Histotechnologists and histologic technicians

Histotechnologists prepare slides for pathologists to look at diagnose. But in doing so, they are exposed to many contaminants and use sharp instruments to do there work. They also need to do small, detail-oriented work, involving intricate movements of the hand which can cause injuries to the hand and wrist.

11. Derrick operators (oil and gas)

These professionals have a high rate of exposure to contaminants when they are on the job. They also have a high rate of suffering from cuts, burns, or other on the job site industries.

12. Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians

These people work in the nuclear energy business and they are the ones that release, control, and use this energy to help anyone researching or working with it in certain activities. It leads to a high risk of radiation exposure as well as being around many hazardous materials.

13. Refractory Materials Repairers

Anyone working in this industry, as someone who repairs furnaces, kilns, ovens, and more is at a high risk of contaminants and hazardous fumes and materials. They also have a high rate of cuts and burns.

14. Dentists and dental assistants

Dentists are exposed to a lot of viruses and other diseases since they are working in close proximity to the mouths of many people. They are also around many different contaminants throughout the day and sit for long periods of time.

15. Veterinarians

Working with animals brings around risk as well. Vets are open to being bit, scratched, stung, or more from any animal they work with. Not to mention all the diseases they see on a daily basis, as well as infections of all sorts.

Just because work is dangerous, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t meaningful and fulfilling. Many people in these occupations love what they do, and the risks are minimal in their eyes. If you work in one of these professions, make sure you’re following all of the safety rules and paying attention to your surroundings. Take extra precautions to protect yourself and others around you.

Featured photo credit: lalabell68 via pixabay.com

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