8 Things You Should Never Touch at a Restaurant

The table

 

Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, found significant numbers of E. coli and coliform bacteria on restaurant tabletops — enough to present a danger to the public — particularly young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. And the bacteria numbers were even higher after the tables were wiped down, suggesting a direct connection between dirty rags and bacteria. The solution? Ask your server not to wipe your table before you sit down. 

The menu

 

It’s hard to avoid touching a menu — which is probably why they’re some of the germiest things in any restaurant. Think about how many hands touch them on a daily basis, and how infrequently the menus are cleaned (or replaced). Also, restaurant staff may wipe down laminated menus with a rag. (Remember how filthy those are?)
A 2013 study found that menus are an ideal vehicle for different types of bacteria. E. coli can survive on a laminated menu for as long as 24 hours, and salmonella for as long as 72 hours. Donna Duberg, an assistant professor of clinical laboratory science from Saint Louis University, suggests paying attention to how your menu feels. “If there is visible food on the outside or if it feels ‘sticky,’” she tells Yahoo Health, “it is most likely harboring germs, bacteria, and viruses from everyone who has sat there or worked there over the last few days.” Be safe and give your hands a good wash after ordering (and before eating).

The ice in your drink

 

Like a cold drink? Restaurant ice makers aren’t cleaned nearly as often as they should be (ideally once a month), and may harbor bacteria. The bottom line? Ask for your soda without ice — your stomach will thank you.
(Photo: Getty Images)

The lemon and lime wedges in your drink

 

Whether you request it or not, restaurant drinks often come with a slice of lemon or lime. But a 2007 study found that 69.7 percent of lemon wedges tested showed some type of microbial growth — either on the rind or the flesh. Why? By the time it reaches your drink, that piece of fruit may have been handled by multiple people — plus, there’s no way to ensure proper handwashing practices have been followed. Although it won’t be as tasty, it’s wise to take that beverage straight up.
(Photo: Getty Images)

The ketchup bottle and salt and pepper shakers

 

“These are most likely never wiped off — and if they are, it is with a cloth that has been used to wipe off the table, chairs, trays, and has been ‘rinsed’ in a tub of dirty water,” Duberg says. Beyond that, it’s impossible to know who touched these before you (and whether they washed their hands). You’ve got your antibacterial wipes, right? If you need that ketchup, give the bottle a once-over before squeezing.
(Photo: Getty Images)

The tray

 

Just like the condiment bottles and menus, trays are rarely wiped down (and when they are, it’s with that same rag — yuck). Duberg suggests you avoid touching your tray as much as possible. “When eating in a fast-food establishment with trays,” she says, “I use hand sanitizer before touching my food, and never touch the tray after I sit down until after I am done eating.”
(Photo: Getty Images)

The buffet

 

Yes, buffets are as dirty as you thought they were. “It is a rare day when I will eat at a buffet or a salad bar,” Duberg says. “There are very few assurances that the food has been kept at the proper temperature (hot or cold); the remaining food from the container being replaced is often scooped into the container of fresh food, and the serving utensils are usually reused over and over again.” These latter two actions can carry bacteria, which have been multiplying all day, from one batch of food to the next. All you can eat? It may not be worth it.
(Photo: Getty Images)

The bathroom

 

It seems obvious, but the bathroom is often a reflection of how clean the rest of a restaurant is. Duberg suggests checking to see whether there’s a cleaning schedule posted on the door. “And use the sniff test,” she says. “If it smells dirty, it most likely is — wash your hands with lots of soap and water, dry with a paper towel, use the paper towel to open the door, and use hand sanitizer at the table before eating your food. Reminder: People who are not feeling well often go into the bathroom to vomit or have diarrhea, and may not wash their hands as well as I do.”
(Photo: Getty Images)

Top 15 Artificial Islands – Amazing Man-Made Islands

There is something mystic about islands. Islands stand in solitariness amidst all the infinite blue waters. Islands were once enamoured in mystery. Today, due to the advancement of science, man has mastered the art of making their very own artificial islands. All over the world, there are some incredible man-made islands. Man has put together beauty and utility. Let us look at some of the most incredible artificial islands in the world.

15. Thilafushi

  

Thilafushi is an artificial island in Maldives, to the west of Malé, in Maldives. Geographically a part if the Vaadhoo channel, it is located between the Kaafu Atoll’s Giraavaru and Gulhifalhu. Built on reclaimed coral reefs in 1992, it is a dumping ground for over 300 tons of rubbish. Reportedly growing at a rate of about 0.92 square meters a day, the landmass has attracted entrepreneurs.

 

14. Balboa Island

  

The Balboa Island in Newport Beach of California is a chain of three modified or artificial islands that include the Balboa Island, Little Balboa Island and Collins Island. There is a bridge that connects the Balboa Island community to the mainland, with ferryboats further connecting the two. With about 3,000 residents in 0.52 square kilometres, it is one of the densest communities in Orange County.

 

13. Artificial Islands for Tokyo Disneyland

  

Tokyo Disneyland is an internationally famous theme park in Japan, set on a man-made island in Urayasu, Chiba. The Tokyo Disney Resort is one of the greatest tourist spots, and it is the first Disney park built outside the United States, and it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008. The island resort has five hotels within walking distance from the themed areas, as well as four Japanese airports.

 

12. Willingdon Island

  

The Willingdon in India is the largest artificial island in the country. It is a part of the city of Kochi, in Kerala. Much of it is claimed from the Lake of Kochi, constructed by filling in dredged soil around a natural island that existed previously. It is important as the home for Port of Kochi and Kochi Naval Base, as well as other establishments. There are several hotels and business centres on this island.

 

11. Venetian Artificial Islands

  

The Venetian Islands project in Biscayne Bay are a chain of man-made islands, connected by bridges from the Miami mainland to the Miami Beach in Florida. One of the most prominent sets of islands, among the many artificial islands in Miami, the islands include Belle Isle, Rivo Alto, Di Lido, San Marino, San Marco and Biscayne. The Flagler Monument is an uninhibited picnic island built in 1920.

 

10. Kamfers Dam Island

  

In the Kamfers Dam lake of South Africa lies an artificial island in the shape of a giant “S” in the north of Kimberley. It has been an important breeding ground of Lesser Flamingos since its construction by Ekapa Mining using 26,000 tons of material, back in 2006, with almost 50,000 flamingos living on this island. However, due to deteriorating water quality and rising water levels, the island is in danger.

 

9. The Pearl-Qatar

  

The Pearl-Qatar is a man-made island of almost 4 million square meters, in Doha, Qatar. The first land in Qatar available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals, this island saw an increase in its population from 3,000 in 2011 to 12,000 in 2015. Developed by United Development Company, the project is expected to accommodate great entertainment facilities for residents as well as tourists.

 

8. Artificial Islands of Uros

  

The islands of Uros, Peru, are made from reed growing along the edges of Lake Titicaca, Puno, by bundling these reeds into floating island platforms. Each of these artificial islands have 2-10 reed houses, depending on the size. The biggest island has a watchtower. But, tourists are affecting the traditional culture of the Uros people. Environmental and health issues are also on the rise, here.

 

7. Spiral Island

  

Spiral Island in Mexico is a floating man-made island, in true sense of the term. Built by British artist Richard “Reishee” Sowa back in 1998 using more than a quarter-million plastic bottles, it got destroyed by hurricane Emily in the year 2005. However, he started rebuilding the island to make it bigger and better. Since 2008, a replacement island named Joyxee Island has been open for visits.

 

6. Peberholm

  

Peberholm is an artificial island in the Danish part of the Öresund strait as a part of the Öresund Bridge which connects Denmark with Sweden. This small but picturesque island was built to have a crossover point between the bridge and the tunnel that had been built for an obstacle-free link between Sweden and Denmark. Only biologists are allowed annually here, to preserve its ecology.

 

5. The THUMS Islands

  

The THUMS Islands in San Pedro Bay are a set of man-made islands off the coast of Long Beach, California. Built in 1965 to tap into the East Wilmington Oil Field, these are the only decorated oil islands in the US, with tall structures to conceal the drill rigs including The Condo, a waterfall and significant landscaping. Island Grissom and Freeman Island are among the most beautiful of these.

 

4. Amwaj Artificial Islands

  

The Amwaj Islands I Bahrain are a group of man-made islands in the Persian Gulf. These islands were reclaimed from the shallow seas. These are a pioneering project to offer 100% freehold ownership to expatriates in Bahrain. It has recently become fit for residential purpose, with complete infrastructure, complete with commercial and residential buildings, hotels, and a circular marina.

 

3. Île aux Cygnes

  

The Île aux Cygnes in France is a small artificial island in the Seine in Paris, located in the 15th and 16th arrondissement. Formed in 1827 in order to protect the port of Grenelle. There are three bridges crossing it, and a tree-lined walkway. One of the major features of this island is the one-fourth scale Statue of Liberty replica, which faces in the direction of the original Statue of Liberty in New York

 

2. Palm Islands

  

The Palm Jumeirah is one of the three sets of man-made islands, the Palm Islands, on the coast of Dubai, in United Arab Emirates. This archipelago was built using land reclamation by a UAE government owned company, Nakheel. Shaped like a palm tree, it is the original and the smallest of the three Palm islands of which the other two are incomplete, extending into the Persian Gulf.

 

1. The World Islands

  

The World Islands in the Persian Gulf is another of the many sets of artificial islands in Dubai. This archipelago is made of small islands which are placed roughly in the shape of the world map about 100 metres apart. They are composed of sand which is dredged from the shallow coastal waters of Dubai. It was originally conceived by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

There are several other artificial or man-made islands, and many more on their way. These artificial islands may be the new answer to the growing need for land. The population today has grown to the point that landforms all over the world are not enough. Apart from that, these islands can also serve as the platforms for several other purposes, including industrial, scientific, ecological and other needs. Many other purposes can be served by these islands, if planned properly. Scientists seem to believe that they may even solve the problem of rising water levels. To top it all, the artificial islands add to the aesthetic value of the world.

Netflix and Chill is Probably Rotting Your Brain

Netflix and chill doesn’t do you any favors. (Stocksy)

You’ve heard the mantra before: “TV rots your brain.” But new research has found it might actually be legitimate.

According to a study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, binge-watching TV in your 20s is linked to cognitive decline 25 years down the road.

For the sweeping study, researchers asked 3,257 people between the age of 18 and 30 to answer questions about their TV and exercise habits during regular check-ins over 25 years. At the end of the 25 years, scientists evaluated participants’ cognitive function via tests that measured processing speed, executive function, and verbal memory.

Here’s what they found:

• 10 percent of people watched three or more hours of TV each day (for at least two-thirds of the check-ins). They were significantly more likely to do poorly on the tests.
• People who did the least amount of physical activity (less than 2.5 hours a week) also performed poorly on some of the tests.
• People who showed the most cognitive decline were heavy TV viewers that didn’t exercise much or at all — they were more than twice as likely to perform badly on the tests.

That’s startling news, given that the average American watched five hours of TV a day in 2014, according to Nielsen data.

10 Most Expensive Mobile Phones in the World

These are 10 Most Expensive Mobile Phones in the World.

10. Vertu Signature Diamond

  

Exclusive luxury phones from Vertu. Vertu is very famous for its luxury mobile phone products, including mobile phones Vertu Signature Diamond is included in order to-10 list of the world’s most expensive mobile phones. This phone is made of platinum and claimed the best assembly process is done by hand, not machines. Phone decorated with a pretty fancy diamonds produced only 200 pieces. The price of this phone is $ 88,000.

 

9. iPhone Princess Plus

  

iPhone Princess Plus has a feature that is not much different from other Apple iPhone mobile phone, which makes this into the top 10 most expensive mobile phones in the world. This iPhone is designed by famous designer Austria, Peter Aloisson. Beside the gold, this special iPhone flavour comes with no less than 138 princess cut and 180 brilliant cut diamonds with a weight of 16.50 – 17.75. And according to Peter Aloisson, the diamonds have the best quality, so owning such a device is quite a remarkable thing. It’s price is $ 176.400.

 

8. BlackDiamond VIPN Smartphone

  

At no. 8 in the world’s most expensive mobile phone is Sony Ericsson’s Black Diamond. Jaren Goh created this stylish concept for Sony. It features mirror detailing, polycarbonate mirror and an organic LED technology. Of course, when it comes to Sony, nobody can challenge the screen results. It is decorated with two diamonds, one on the navigation buttons and the other in the back of the phone. The price of this phone is $300,000.

 

7. Vertu Signature Cobra

  

Vertu Signature Cobra ranks seven of the world’s most expensive mobile phone. The designs are quite exclusive with the existence of forms such as the Cobra snake on the phone side. Designed by French jeweller, Boucheron, the ritzy phone features one pear-cut diamond, one round white diamond, two emerald eyes, and 439 rubies.

 

6. Gresso Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot

  

This phone comes from a traditional purveyor of a luxury handsets – Gresso, and is called Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot. This phone was established in Switzerland in2005. It is made of solid gold weighing 180 grams. The back panel is made up of African backwoods that is more than 200 years old. That wood is the most expensive wood in the world. Its keys are made of sapphire crystal. And it costs a cool $1 million

 

5. Diamond Crypto Smartphone

  

Based on Windows CE, this smart phone was designed by luxury accessories maker Peter Aloisson. This unique object de art is priced at a crisp $1.3 million and is tagged as the costliest in the world. This one features a cover adorned with 50 diamonds, 10 of which are the rare blue ones. Apart from this, it also features s few sections made in rose gold as well. It also gives protection against kidnapping and technological blackmail.

 

4. GoldVish Le Million

  

Goldvish “Le million” is designed by renowned designer Emmanuel Gueit, who designed lots of luxury watches and jewellery. The most luxurious and expensive mobile phone, “Le Million” Piece Unique, had launched in Switzerland. This phone awarded by Guinness World Records as the world’s most expensive mobile phones sold in the Millionaire Fair in Cannes, France in September 2006. Often referred to as the world’s most expensive phone at $1.3 million, this designer phone is bejewelled with 18k white gold and 20 carats of VVS1 diamonds

 

3. iPhone 3G King’s Button

  

For the third most expensive mobile phone in the world is still occupied by a variant of the iPhone, named King’s Button iPhone 3G. The renowned jeweler from Austria Peter Aloisson is the creater of this phone. 138 diamonds are installed on this phone that makes it worth $2.4 million. The beautiful white diamon of 6.6 carats serves as the home screen button which enhances the beauty of this phone.

 

2. Supreme Goldstriker iPhone 3G 32GB

 For the second most expensive mobile phone in the world, a variant of the iPhone from Apple, the Supreme iPhone 3G is priced at $ 3,200,000. The iPhone 3GS Supreme features a casing made from 271 grams of solid 22k gold and a screen trimmed with fifty-three 1-carat diamonds. The home button is covered with a single rare 7.1-carat diamond. That’s not all, though—the iPhone 3GS Supreme comes in a chest carved from a single block of granite and sports Kashmir gold and an interior lining made with nubuck top-grain leather.

 

1. Diamond Rose iPhone 4 32GB

  

The world’s most expensive iPhone to date is the 32 GB iPhone 4 Diamond Rose by Stuart Hughes. With a price of about $8 million the phone’s bezel is made of rose and approximately 500 individual flawless diamonds that total over 100ct. The back is also rose gold and features the Apple logo all decked out with 53 additional diamonds, while the front navigation button is platinum with interchangeable single cut 7.4ct pink or rare 8ct Flawless diamonds in the center.

 

Who is Lucy the Australopithecus? Five facts you might not know about the oldest hominid ever discovered

A sculptor's rendering of Lucy when she was alive, displayed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Texas Dave Einsel/Getty Images


The 41st anniversary of the discovery of 'Lucy' has been celebrated with a Google Doodle.
'Lucy' is a collection of fossilised bones that once made up the skeleton of a hominid from the Australopithecus afarensis species. She lived in Ethiopia 3.2 million years ago.
First discovered in 1973, the discovery was remarkably 'complete' - 40 per cent of her skeleton was found intact, rather than just a handful of incomplete and damaged fossils that usually make up remains of a similar age.

Shortly after being dug up, it became apparent that Lucy was a significant find with researchers saying she belonged to a previously unknown species.
In honour of 'Lucy', here are five things you may not know about her:

1. She was named after The Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'

After making the discovery, paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson headed back to his campsite with his team.

He put a Beatles cassette in the tape player, and when Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds came on, one of the group said he should call the skeleton Lucy. "All of a sudden, she became a person," Johanson told the BBC.

2. Lucy walked upright

One of the most important things about Lucy is the way she walked. By studying her bones, in particular the structure of her knee and spine curvature, scientists were able to discover that she spent most of her time walking on two legs - a striking human-like trait.

3. No one knows how she died

The few clues we have about Lucy's cause of death can only rule things out, rather than provide solid answers.
There's not much evidence of teeth marks anywhere on her skeleton, suggesting she was not killed and scavenged by other animals after she died. However, there is one tooth mark from a carnivore on the top of her left pubic bone - but it's not known whether this happened before she died, or whether she was bitten after.

4. Lucy still lives in Ethiopia, near to where she was found

 

The skeleton of Lucy lies hidden away from the public in a specially constructed safe in the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, not far from where she was discovered.
Only a plaster replica of her skeleton is available to be seen by the public.

 
A copy of Lucy's skeleton, displayed in the Musee de l'Homme in Paris

However, the real skeleton was taken on a tour of the US from 2007-2013, despite fears that the tour would damage it.
A number of other plaster casts of Lucy's remains are dotted around the world.

5. She was pretty short

Australopithecus afarensis may have walked upright and looked somewhat human-like, but they were much smaller than we are.
Lucy died as a young but fully grown adult, and stood only 1.1m (3.7ft) tall and weighed in at a paltry 29kg (64lb).

Go Ahead, Drink More Coffee

Go ahead, have that third cup of coffee. (Stocksy)

New research from Harvard University has found it may decrease your risk of dying from a host of diseases — and even lower your risk of suicide.

For the study, which was published in the journal Circulation, researchers analyzed coffee consumption of more than 208,000 people over 30 years, as well as cause of death. Their coffee drinking was assessed every four years using food questionnaires.

Related: Your Body Within an Hour of Drinking a Cup of Coffee

Researchers discovered that people who drank one to five cups of decaf or regular coffee a day had a lower risk of mortality than those who didn’t. They were specifically less likely to die from heart disease, neurological diseases, Type 2 diabetes, and suicide. (They did not find a significant association between cancer and coffee consumption.)

Coffee consumption has already been linked with a lower risk of heart disease. An analysis of 36 studies published last year in the journal Circulation found that people who drink three to five cups of coffee a day were at the lowest risk of developing heart disease. (People who drank five or more cups a day didn’t have a higher risk than those who drank no coffee.)

Previous research published in the journal Diabetes Care also found that moderate consumption of decaf and regular coffee can lower a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

But the suicide link is especially intriguing. Can regularly drinking coffee really reduce a chance that someone will commit suicide?

Study co-author Qi Sun, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says yes. “It’s probably because of the caffeine,” he tells Yahoo Health. “It’s a central part of coffee and it’s known to boost people’s moods and make them feel happy.”

While the study found the effect was similar for regular and decaf coffee, Sun points out that decaf still contains a certain amount of caffeine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40,000 Americans commit suicide each year, making it the 10^th leading cause of death.

Previous research has also established a link between a lowered risk of suicide and coffee consumption. A 16-year Harvard study published in the World Journal of Biological Psychiatryin 2013 found that drinking two to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day can lower a person’s risk of suicide by 50 percent.

“At low to moderate doses, caffeine has well-known psycho-stimulant effects, such as improved psychomotor performance, increased vigilance, elevated arousal, and increased sensations of well-being and energy,” Michel Lucas, PhD, a visiting scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who co-authored the 2013 coffee study, tells Yahoo Health.

But he says more may be at play than just caffeine: “It is possible that non-coffee drinkers are predisposed to depression/suicide because of other reasons and that increasing their coffee intake will not help.”

While the reason for the link is still somewhat unclear, Lucas says recent research should reassure coffee drinkers that their daily cup (or three) may be boosting their health.

However, he says people shouldn’t misinterpret the results. “We’re not at the point where we can say, ‘Drink coffee so you won’t get depressed,’” he says.

Related: 30 Things You May Not Have Realized About Coffee

Research has found there’s a limit to the benefits of coffee drinking and a person’s suicide risk. A study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology found that people who drank eight or more cups of coffee a day had a 58 percent greater risk of suicide than those who drank less.

Sun stresses that coffee isn’t the answer for everything, but it can help a person stay healthy. “Coffee is not a magic bullet,” he says. “But if you can drink coffee as part of a health diet and lifestyle, that will be great.”

Let’s keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Health on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Have a personal health story to share? We want to hear it. Tell us atYHTrueStories@yahoo.com.

Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez: 4 Reasons Why Canelo Will Win On Saturday

Canelo Alvarez has more size and punching power than Miguel Cotto. Getty 

 
Canelo Alvarez (R)and Miguel Cotto(L)

Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto are two of the best boxers in the world, so it wouldn’t be a shock for either one to emerge victorious when they meet in Las Vegas on Saturday. But Alvarez is the betting favorite, and he has better odds for a reason.
Alvarez has barely tasted defeat in his career, losing only to Floyd Mayweather, who’s made every opponent, including Cotto, look pedestrian. Cotto has four career losses, and defeat No.5 could be coming on Saturday.
Cotto was stripped of the WBC middleweight belt on Tuesday for refusing to pay a sanctioning fee. He’s still the lineal champion, but Alvarez would be awarded the now-vacant belt with a victory.
Below are four reasons why Alvarez will beat Cotto in their highly anticipated fight.
Size Advantage
Alvarez’s last three bouts have been at 154 pounds, while Cotto has fought back-to-back fights at catch weights of 159 pounds and 157 pounds. But Alvarez is naturally bigger, giving him a distinct advantage on Saturday.
The two boxers will fight at a catch weight of 155 pounds, and Alvarez will have the clear size advantage. At 5’9, he stands two inches taller than Cotto, and his reach of 70.5” gives him a 3.5-inch edge over his opponent. Considering Alvarez usually weighs around 170 pounds on fight night, he could be over 175 pounds when he steps in the ring with Cotto. That might be too much for Cotto, who is a smaller middleweight than most, to handle.
Punching Power
Following the mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao that bored many casual boxing fans to tears, promoter Oscar De La Hoya has promised a much more entertaining fight with non-stop action. If that’s the case and the fight doesn’t go the distance, Alvarez is more likely to score the knockout victory.
Both boxers have the ability to end the fight early, combining for 65 knockouts in 91 career fights. Austin Trout and Alfonso Gomez, both of whom have been in the ring with Alvarez and Cotto, told ESPN.com that Alvarez is the harder puncher. Cotto has been knocked out twice in his career, and he’ll be in trouble if the boxers engage in a brawl.
Age Difference
Cotto experienced a resurgence when he teamed up with trainer Freddie Roach, winning his last three fights by knockout. But he’s still 35 years old, and he’s at a disadvantage against the boxer that is 10 years his junior.
Cotto has had a Hall-of-Fame career, but he’s already peaked. Alvarez is getting better with every fight, and the boxing world still hasn’t seen the best he has to offer, even after going 45-1-1 to start his career. The betting favorite unleashed hell on James Kirkland in a third-round knockout six months ago, and Cotto won’t survive the same barrage of punches that Alvarez’s last opponent faced.
Motivation
Both boxers obviously want to win on Saturday, but the fight holds a different level of importance for Cotto and Alvarez. Cotto doesn’t have much more to accomplish in his career, and when he retires in the not so distant future he’ll go down as one of the best fighters of his generation. Alvarez has only begun to write his legacy, and his quest for greatness begins with a win against Cotto.
Alvarez is recognized as the No.1 junior middleweight, but he’s looking for the first true marquee victory of his career. Cotto’s legacy is largely intact, and a victory is not nearly as important to him as it is for Alvarez.

7 Things Kind People Do That Make Us Love Them

Have you ever noticed that kind people are also incredibly content in their life?

That’s because being kind literally increases our levels of health and happiness. Research shows this impacts our relationships positively, as well. Kindness helps keeps couples together. The more your partner is on the receiving end of your goodwill, the more likely they are to shower you with love in return.

Kindness is pretty awesome. It creates an overall climate of trust, acceptance and comfort. And let’s be honest — in this age of violence, war, general snarkiness, and online cruelty, “being kind” is it’s own form of social rebellion. What a fun way to “stick it” to an overly harsh world.

While over-the-top “nice” people tend to annoy us, genuine kindness is a trait pretty much everyone appreciates and admires. So what’s the difference between that amazing, kind person everyone adores and, well … you? Here a seven things they do every single day that make people want to be around them:  

1. They’re kind to themselves. They know that being spontaneous and generous requires having solid stores of your own positive energy. So, they take care of meeting their own needs first, before giving to others. As a result, receiving from them feels like a true gift.

2. They’re grateful. Truly and deeply grateful … for life and all its blessings, its challenges, and its lessons. In every circumstance, they take time to find and acknowledge the kernel of good — viewing every situation with a glass half full mindset. They still acknowledge what’s challenging, but in facing it, they strive to help others keep perspective, too.

3. They truly listen. Even when they have something to add, they know how to just listen first to what others say, so that the person talking feels respected and understood. They connect fully, listen with interest, and don’t censor or talk-over what others are saying.  

4. They’re confident. Their self-confidence allows them to indulge their big-hearted nature without expecting anything in return. And others find this quality incredibly attractive. Every day, kind people look for opportunities to give someone the benefit of the doubt — and they do. Because they’re confident in themselves, they don’t need to take others down for every misstep.

5. They genuinely care. Kind people pay attention and your happiness and well-being are on their mind. While they respect personal boundaries, they support and celebrate what serves your higher good. They want to know how your day is, how your mom is, and that the people in your life treat you right.  

6. They laugh often. Kind people see the humor and irony in situations, without the snarkiness and meanness others typically show. Life is funny! And these awesome people know that sometimes the best gift you can give someone is just helping them laugh and lighten up. Dropping a witty comment at just the right moment — they are masters light-hearted comedy.

7. They’re respectful. They thrive on diversity but don’t expect others to share their opinions. They accept your right to your own viewpoint, even if they don’t agree with it. And they wouldnever shame or embarrass someone in any way — verbally or non-verbally. They look out for others and try to protect them from feeling small in front of others.

Small acts of kindness make a big difference.

Grand gestures don’t always mean more than small kindnesses. After all, it’s the “little things” that show an awareness of others (who they are and what they love). Kind people put their love for you into action, through small thoughtful gestures that show they care enough to pay attention. Little things like: sending cards, making a phone call, buying presents.

But life is busy, times get hectic and we don’t always have time for those extra actions.

We will, however, always have time for kindness because it is the real intention and emotion behind those actions. Follow up with those gestures when you have the time and opportunity and watch how fast those around you begin to think you’re the kindest person they know.

But when you don’t, still make the time to take care of yourself, truly listen in a conversation, and be deeply grateful. And just see if the world doesn’t seem a little … or a lot… nicer. —Jan Bowen

Billionaire Buys World’s Most Expensive Diamond for 7-Year-Old Daughter

A new record for most expensive diamond was set by a 12.03-carat blue diamond sold at auction for $48.4 million. (Photo: Fabrice Coffrin/Getty)

 The world’s most expensive diamond was purchased for $48.4 million at auction in Geneva on Wednesday. The recipient? A seven-year-old girl. The Blue Moon diamond weighs in at 12.03 carats and Sotheby’s auctioneer David Bennett identified it as the “highest price per carat” ever obtained for any kind of stone, so the buyer didn’t necessarily get a bang for his buck. Sotheby’s withheld the identity of the winning bidder, who renamed the diamond “Blue Moon of Josephine” upon purchase. The day before, a 16.08-carat pink diamond was purchased by an anonymous bidder at a Christie’s auction in Geneva for $28.5 million, and was named “Sweet Josephine.” That’s one lucky kid.
 
The anonymous purchaser of the most expensive diamond bought another diamond with a similar name the day before. (Photo: Christie’s)

 The auction houses revealed that a “Hong Kong buyer” purchased the diamonds, but their adoptive names let the cat out of the bag. “Yes, the diamonds were bought by Mr. Joseph Lau for his daughter,“ his assistant told CNN. Lau is more of a generous gift giver than a diamond collector: His history of naming diamonds after his daughters Josephine and Zoe is what gave him away. Josephine is adding these diamonds to an already hefty collection, including another blue diamond weighing 7.03 carats that Lau purchased for $9.48 million in 2009 when Josephine was just one year old. 13-year-old daughter Zoe’s diamonds include a 9.75-carat blue diamond named “The Zoe Diamond,” which was purchased for $32.6 million last year, the most for any blue diamond at the time, and “The Zoe Red” a 10.10-carat Cartier brooch featuring a Burmese ruby surrounded by white diamonds for $8.43 million.

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Lau’s daughters already have expansive jewelry collections at ages 7 and 13. (Photo: Christie’s)

 Lau is the 114th richest person in the world according to Forbes, and his gifting habits surely make a dent in his $9.8 billion fortune. His previous gestures include naming Hong Kong’s tallest retail complex “The ONE” after an ex-girlfriend. Despite Lau’s extensive purchases, the Blue Moon of Josephine, which was discovered in South Africa in January of 2014, is obviously his most generous. The gift claims the title of world’s most expensive diamond, trumping the previous titleholder — the $46.2 million, 24.78-carat Graff Pink, which sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2010 — by $2.2 million. If Josephine can walk bearing the weight of 31.14 carats and $86.38 million, she’ll definitely wear her gifts with style.

Yes, Video Games Can Make You Smarter — Depending On What Type You Play

To anyone whose parents ever made them shut off Grand Theft Auto (or Crash Bandicoot or Spyro, for those of us who liked our games a bit lighter) and “go the heck outside,” we feel your pain, and we’re here to tell you: You were right all along. New research shows that video games don’t actually melt your brain like we were led to believe as children. In fact, they can have serious cognitive benefits — provided you play the right kind.

Consuming Charred Meat May Raise Kidney Cancer Risk

Cancer patients tended to eat more red and white meat, and more of the carcinogenic “char” chemicals caused by grilling, pan frying or barbequing, than people without kidney cancer. (Photo: Getty Images)

People who eat large amounts of meat cooked at high temperature or over an open flame - and are also genetically susceptible - may have a higher risk of kidney cancer, according to a new study. 

Animal muscle, cooked at high temperatures, produces substances called heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can cause changes in DNA that may increase cancer risk, according to the National Cancer Institute. Population studies have not found a definite link between cooked meat and cancer in humans, but studies using detailed food questionnaires have found that increased consumption of well done, fried or barbecued meats is tied to an increased risk of cancer of the colon, pancreas and prostate.

  

For the full interactive experience, check out this infographic at Graphiq. (Image: Graphiq)

 “A few previous studies have looked at kidney cancer and these carcinogens, but this is the first study to find an association between one of these specific mutagens (MeIQx) and kidney cancer risk,” said senior author Dr. Xifeng Wu of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. MeIQx is one of the heterocyclic amines formed by high temperature cooking. “This is also the first study to look at genetic variants along with consumption of these carcinogens in relation to kidney cancer risk,” Wu told Reuters Health by email. The researchers compared the dietary patterns and genetic risk profiles of 659 people newly diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma to 699 people without the cancer. 

 

Research Shows Estrogen May Save Soldiers And Trauma Victims

High levels of estrogen in female mice seem to prevent life threatening septicema. (Corbis)

 More than 80% of US soldiers’ deaths between 2001 and 2011 were the result of blood loss and septicemia [Editors note – septicemia is a blood infection, also known as blood poisoning. This is dangerous because the bacteria and their toxins can be carried through the bloodstream to your entire body, causing sepsis). There’s limited time to save trauma victims experiencing significant blood loss — the so-called “golden hour” — and researchers at the University of Alabama have been working for 19 years on a way to extend that time so that wounded soldiers and remote trauma victims are more likely to survive the long trip to a hospital.

10 Ways To Relieve Stress

1. Don’t focus on the problem.
 
Don’t focus on the problem, focus on the solution. Replace a negative thought with something positive like a funny moment recently or something personally enlightening e.g. birth of a baby.

 2. Try some Yoga.


Try some yoga as this teaches you through exercise to focus on being calm.

 3. Go for a walk.
 
Go for a walk in the park or go for a swim, activities like these help to relieve stress.

 4. Get a head massage.
 
Get a head massage or do it yourself. Gentle rubbing of the scalp is a very effective way to put you at ease. Meditation and also massage techniques offer great therapy. A great way to meditate is to close your eyes and focus on one thing such as your controlled breathing.

 5. Play a game.
 
Play a game (if allowed while at work) or do a crossword. Activities like these allow you to easily find at least 10 ways to relieve stress so shift your focus away from whatever is stressing you. It’s a known fact that computer game lovers enjoy obliterating aliens or whatever as a means to alleviate stress.


 6. Play some music.
 
This is an issue at work though if you can, play some music. Perhaps your employer will allow headphones. Sound that invokes feelings of serenity such as sea waves or forests can act as an excellent reliever.

 7. Chang your seating position.
 
If at work, change your seating position or go for a stroll around the office if stress is hitting you.

 8. Avoid Drugs
 
Perhaps, you have heard the song ‘the drugs don’t work’ from The Verve and it’s all true. Being lethargic or stressed should not mean reaching for the pharmaceutical cupboard. Stimulants cannot remove the problem or help to forget it. Grab a huge drink of water instead and enjoy the feeling of refreshment.

 9. Try Humor! 
 
As part of this list explaining 10 ways to relieve stress, this is probably the most effective method. Laughing brings you into the brighter side of your daily life. Read some jokes, or tell them to colleagues.

 10. Sleep better.
 
Try to sleep for at least 7 or 8 hours every night. More early nights and a proper sleep pattern will allow you to feel more relaxed each day and less prone to procrastination and lethargic behavior.

Vegetable Oils Might Actually Not Be Good For You

Frying up that egg with vegetable oil may lead to disease and death. (Image via AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

 Like cooking with vegetable oils as a “healthy” alternative to lard and butter? A professor in England has some bad news: When you heat up oils such as sunflower or corn oil, they produce intense concentrations of chemicals known as aldehydes that have been associated with dementia, heart disease, and cancer, the Telegraph reports.