 1. Slow reaction time The time of a person’s reaction can become slower with age. When you’re young, you can be quite quick to respond to whatever happens, but as you get older, the number of broken cups or car accidents can significantly increase. Just to make sure that such incidents aren’t caused by your tiredness and exhaustion, you might perform the following test:
10 in is a norm for someone between 20 to 30 years old. 15 in is a good result for someone who is between 40 and 50 years old. If your result is lower than these numbers, it might mean that the aging process is accelerated in your body.  2. Injuries and bruises take more time to heal One of the most illustrative signs of premature aging is the fact that cuts, injuries, and bruises on your body need more time to heal properly than before. The human skin has an amazing regeneration capacity. When this process doesn’t work as smoothly as before, it means that the body isn’t working properly.  3. Reduced ability to carry heavy things If you find it hard to move a 5-gal bottle of water from one place to another but you remember easily lifting one when you were younger, then don’t be surprised because it’s just a sign of the fact that you’re aging. The muscle tissues lose their mass with age and it affects your strength and endurance.  4. Worsening eyesight It is well-known that eyesight worsens with age. People over 40 years old experience presbyopia, the loss of the ability to focus clearly on objects that are near. Some people even have to wear glasses when they read. Checking your eyesight isn’t that hard: just put any printed text before your eyes (a newspaper, for example) and measure the minimal distance from which you can clearly see all the words. When you’re 20 years old, the distance should be about 4 in and when you’re 40 years old, it’s almost 10 in. Depending on the difference between your result from the average number, you can assume how quickly your eyesight is aging. If you’re really concerned about your health, you can consult an eye doctor if you need eyesight correction or if some preventive measures would be enough.  5. Changes in the nature of weight gain Do you feel like your favorite pair of jeans seem to be too tight in the waist and thighs? Or maybe too loose? There’s a reason to worry: excess weight in the midsection is a clear sign of aging. The situation might get even worse if you also experience muscle dystrophy, especially in the thighs. Luckily, a proper diet and regular workouts should get you back in a good shape quickly.  6. People often ask you to hurry up The fact that you often find it hard to keep up with your friends’ pace can also indicate the acceleration of the aging process in your body. The speed of walking is a very objective indicator of the work of your leg muscles and the speed of the transmission of nerve impulses. These are the main factors that lead to aging in the first place. However, they can both be treated by taking regular walks and an increased number of workouts during the week.  7. Improper work of vestibular apparatus The partial loss of physical balance is a sign of the aging process too. For example, it’s a scientifically proven fact that by the age of 80, an average person experiences almost a complete loss of the ability to stand on one leg with one’s eyes closed. There’s a simple test based on this fact that could help you evaluate the speed of the aging processes going on inside your body:
An average 30-year-old person who doesn’t have any serious problems with their vestibular apparatus will be able to stand for 20 seconds or more. While an elderly person won’t be able to stand for even 10 seconds.  8. Flat forehead Of course, external signs of aging are easy to notice. However, a few people know that not only wrinkles can reveal your age but also an absolutely flat forehead. Such an effect is the result of the fat tissue atrophy — it makes the forehead lose its form while it can still be pretty smooth and wrinkle-free. As a result, the forms of lights and shadows change the face and it looks older than a person really is. The situation worsens with the correction of horizontal wrinkles with Botox injections that promote the fat tissue atrophy.  9. Flattening of the lip philtrum Lips tend to lose their natural bright color with age, so many women use lipstick, permanent lip makeup, or injections to combat the issue. But there’s a sign that can’t be dealt that easily — a gradual flattening of the lip filtrum. Filtrum is an area under the nose with 2 separate ridges right under the upper lip. It’s a very important area in the whole structure of the female face. When you’re young, it’s clearly visible but it might start to gradually disappear with age and in old age, it disappears completely.  10. Anhedonia This Latin word is often used to explain the feeling of the loss of happiness or the inability to enjoy life. If you feel that you don’t feel as excited as you used to about your hobbies, here’s a food for thought. However, the same symptoms might accompany not only the aging process but depression and exhaustion.
Anyhow, you shouldn’t come up with new excuses to avoid meeting your friends, going to the movie you’ve been waiting for, or enjoying the things you used to like. Just pay attention to what’s going on with you. Being sad won’t make your life shorter but it will definitely spoil its quality. Don’t let it happen.
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 1. They look moody. Sociologist Jess Carbino studies the behavior of people on popular dating websites. As it turns out, many women try to have the same facial expressions in their photos as the ones that models make on magazine covers which makes them end up looking cold, arrogant, and proud. But when men choose a partner, they prefer photos of smiling, open women who look a little coy.  2. They put too much emphasis on getting married. If a woman wants to get married too much, she could even scare away someone who wants a family. If all that matters for a woman is getting married, she’ll start evaluating whether the candidate is husband-material on the first date. She doesn’t think about what this person is like in general. Men, however, see their partners as future wives only when they are sure that all other things are right.  3. They overcomplicate things. Many women are inclined to be too dramatic and read too much between the lines when they shouldn’t. There is a difference in the way men and women think. Most men have a clear and logical mind, and women often pay too much attention to unnecessary details. Of course, we can’t change the way we think to match the requirements of the opposite sex. It’s better if women don’t use vague phrases like “I feel like something is wrong.” They don’t make much sense for men. At least try not to do this at the beginning stages of the relationship.  4. They can’t love men. Men and women don’t always speak the same language of love. Psychologists are convinced that men need to feel the respect of their partner and women value the expression of romantic feelings. Just like with anything, it’s important to find the right balance. Hugs, kisses, and kind gestures will make you feel that your man loves you, and praise and giving importance to his opinions are the signs of respect he craves.  5. They need a lot of things. Social requirements for men are higher than for women. They are supposed to earn a lot in order to provide for their families. They need to be stronger, smarter, and calmer than us. However, some women are ready to roll out an entire list of requirements for their potential partner, not even thinking about what they will give him in return. Even the ideal man would escape from this type of a woman. And if a woman has high expectations for herself, her partner will try to match them too.  6. They don’t take care of their appearance. Many men consider a woman’s beauty their most valuable asset. Of course, their character, intelligence, and other personality traits are also really important, but their appearance is the first thing that people (not only men) notice. Stylish women with good posture and a nice smile make a good first impression. And it doesn’t matter if they match the modern beauty standards or not. More than that, women often use fake eyelashes, they have their lips done, and put on a lot of makeup. But all these things only repel men, so be careful.  7. They live in a dream world. Disney cartoons and Hollywood dramas have spoiled the lives of many men. The clichés used in romantic movies are so far from reality that there are very few people who could match them. This doesn’t mean that realistic people have more of a chance at finding love than dreamers, but couples should dream together. The most important thing is to have feelings for the person, but not for what he has.  8. They decide everything by themselves. The term “a strong and independent woman” doesn’t have any positive connotation for men. These words are used to describe women who complain about men’s childish behavior, indecisiveness, and weaknesses. These women try to do everything by themselves.
Men also have their own point of view and pride, they are part of the relationship and they want to be heard and respected. Self-sufficient people don’t need a commander, they need a partner.  Myth 1: Childfree people hate children In reality, they don’t. Most childfree people are either indifferent to children or they like them. Many childfree people work as teachers, child psychologists, and write books for children. Of course, there are people with more radical views, but most of the time, they are not against children but are against parents who allow their children to do too much without thinking about others.  Myth 2: Childfree people try to impose their opinion on others. This is why they have their community. The childfree community is not a cult and they don’t try to recruit new followers. It is only a community of people where they can discuss common topics such as taking care of pets, cosmetics, traveling, nature, and so on. They don’t make posters to support abortion or organize gatherings against children. Of course, just like in any group, there are some activists who are radical, but the number of them is insignificant. Many childfree people don’t even talk about their position with their friends and relatives. They just live the way they think is right.  Myth 3: Childfree people are either infertile or mentally ill. The reproductive function of the body is not the only thing that should determine the life of a modern person. Childfree people think that the decision of whether or not to have children is a personal choice that every individual makes for themselves. And the reasons can be completely different. Some people want to live for themselves and they believe that a child will limit their freedom. Some people don’t want children because raising children is expensive and buying a new gadget or traveling to a different continent seems like a better investment. Some people are not sure that they’ll be good parents and they want to do something else with their lives. The personal choices that a person makes regarding their health and their lives shouldn’t be criticized simply because they are different from those of the majority.  Myth 4: Childfree people are lonely and they can’t find a partner. Most childfree people are popular among the opposite sex, they have romantic relationships, and they get married. Moreover, in such families, neither spouse plans to have children and both of them are happy.  Myth 5: The point of life is having children, so a person who doesn’t have children has a pointless life. Not a single branch of philosophy can provide a clear answer to the question of the meaning of life. So if a person thinks that their purpose in life is not about giving birth and raising children, but for example, helping others, then their life can’t be considered meaningless. Everyone should have the right to decide what they like best: some want to have a family, others want to be successful at work, and some people want to contribute to improving the world.  Myth 6: Childfree people want humanity to become extinct. The population of Earth is more than 7.5 billion people. Yes, year by year, the percentage of childfree people is growing but it’s still incredibly small to lead to extinction. Almost 90% of the people on the planet become parents.  Myth 7: A man can be childfree but a childfree woman is completely unnatural. There are still a lot of stereotypes about women and many believe that whether she wants to have children or not, she must have at least one child. And while men can choose to pursue their careers or dedicate their lives to academia or politics, women who don’t have children aren’t seen as successful in modern society. But giving birth is not a responsibility that nature gave to women — it’s only an opportunity and every woman has the right to make the choice that she feels is best for her.  Myth 8: Our children will have to support childfree people when they are old. Childfree people also pay taxes, just like all citizens. But they don’t have the social support that governments give to families with children, so the amount of money they pay to the government is higher, so they have the right to retire. Moreover, most childfree people pursue their careers, so they have a better chance to save enough money for their golden years than their colleagues who have children.  Myth 9: In the past, there were no childfree people. Yes, the childfree movement is quite young since it started in the 20th century. But it’s wrong to believe that in the past, people were extremely eager to have children. Most men and women just didn’t have a choice as there was no birth control and there were very strict religious and social rules. What people really wanted didn’t matter. However, frequent cases of child murders right after labor, questionable ways of pregnancy termination, a whole team of babysitters that allowed women to completely avoid interacting with their children are all signs that the women of the past wouldn’t have children if they were given a choice.  Myth 10: Childfree is forever. People can change because there are a lot of outside factors, they may change their opinions as they get older and more experienced. Of course, some people make a decision once and for all, but not everyone sticks with this decision. Average people have different interests throughout their lives and different political and religious views, so they have the right to reconsider their attitudes toward having children.
 Having a tight and flat tummy soon after giving birth is a rare case and only lucky few have it. Most women will need to put a lot of effort into getting rid of it. Patience, a healthy diet, appropriate exercise, and believing in your powers are key. The speed of the process largely depends on how much weight you gained, your pre-pregnancy body size, your genes, and your level of activity. We can help with the last. Start doing these simple exercises beginning today — and the desired result will follow.  1. Pelvic tilt Lie on your back, bend your knees, place one pillow under your hips and another between your legs. Your arms should be at your sides and feet flat on the floor. Inhale deeply, then exhale slowly and draw your abs in while breathing. Tuck your pelvis squeezing your butt. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then release and repeat 10 times. If you gave birth naturally, you can start doing this exercise after one week, but if you had C-section, it’s recommended to wait for about 8 weeks before exercising.  2. Pelvic bridge Bridge is a well-known exercise which you might have performed previously at the gym. However this one is done a bit differently, as the circumstances have changed. Lie on your back placing your feet hip-width apart. Bend your knees, inhale, then exhale, and drawing your abs up and back down toward your spine. Then gently tilt your pelvis up and then lift your hips off the floor in the shape of a bridge. Pause for 2 seconds and then return to the initial position. Repeat up to 10 times.  3. Heel slides The starting position is the same as the previous exercise. Get in position and draw your abs in. Press the heel of your left foot firmly into the floor. Keep your pelvis still. Inhale, exhale, and then using your deep abdominal muscles, push your left heel away from your body. Your knee is slightly bent. Change legs. Repeat 5 to 10 times on each leg.  4. Modified hundred The Hundred is an exercise from Pilates, and in its original form it’s done with your feet lifted above the ground which makes it a little more difficult. Again, lie on your back placing your feet hip-width apart. Your feet should be flat on the floor and arms at your sides. Taking a deep breath, make an effort to pull your stomach muscles in. Like a turtle, slowly lift your head and neck off the floor. Lift your arms and extend them by your sides but don’t lift them too high. Remember to keep your stomach muscles flexed and pulled in, don’t let them go. Hold it for 2 seconds, then breath in, and slowly return to the floor breathing out.  5. Flat-belly fly Again, lie on your back placing your feet hip-width apart. Lift and bend your legs one by one placing your calves at a 90-degree angle. Put one hand on your belly and put the other arm by your side (palm down). Breathe in and pull your stomach muscles in too, slowly and smoothly. Hold it and in this position open your legs as wide as you can, then slowly close them. While doing it, pay attention to your belly muscles. Don’t let them relax. Repeat 10 times.  6. Towel pulse Laying on your back, place a towel across your upper shins and hold each end. Squeeze thighs together, pulling the ends of the towel strongly. Inhale and then exhale drawing your abs in. Then lift your shoulders off the floor. Keeping this position, contract, and then release your ab muscles 10-12 times (the number should increase each time).  7. Single leg stretch with towel This exercise can be added to your routine 12-14 weeks after giving birth. Lie on your back placing your knees above your hips and shins parallel to the floor. Put a towel on top of your thighs, hold its ends, and push against your thighs to create resistance. At the same time, lift your head and shoulders, extend one leg, and exhale. Change legs and repeat up to 10 times.  8. Crunches Crunches are a common exercise that helps to pull the abdominal muscles back together. They can be improved with the use of a towel. Wrap the towel around your torso so that its ends are in front of you. Then start doing crunches, but while doing them, also pull the towel’s ends toward each other. Increase the number of crunches each day.  9. Wall sit Stand against a wall and keep your back and hips against it. Sit down forming a 90-degree angle with your knees. Draw in your abs the entire time. To make it harder, you can use a Pilates ball. Put it between your knees and sit down again. Squeeze the ball and draw your abs in too. Repeat 20 times, then return to standing position.
 1. Giving bread to ducks Many people give food to ducks that live in ponds in cities, and most of the time, they give them bread. Yes, the picture of mothers and children giving bread to ducks looks nice but what happens to the birds?
If you still want to give some food to a duck, you can give it grains (oat, wheat, barley), a mix of oatmeal with fresh or boiled vegetables (beet, carrots) or a compound feed for birds bought in a pet store. But the best thing you can do is just watch the birds. Because even if they eat the right food, too much of it will contaminate the water causing seaweed to grow more quickly, destroying the entire eco-system of the water reservoir.  2. Feeding pigeons Pigeons have been living in cities for a very long time and their stomachs are not as sensitive as the stomachs of other birds. Bread won’t kill them, but it leads to the opposite problem: uncontrollable reproduction. There are no enemies of pigeons in cities and they have more than enough food. The consequence of such an imbalance is infectious diseases that become inevitable when the number of birds is so high. Unfortunately, people can get infected with some of these diseases, like psittacosis.  3. Wrong installation of birdhouses Giving a home to a defenseless bird seems like a great idea. However, people often help birds by making birdhouses, but end up hurting the trees: they choose the easiest way and just nail a birdhouse to the tree without realizing that they’re wounding it. Birdhouses should only be hung or tied to trees, but never nailed. If you decide to make a birdhouse, the entrance should face the east or south-east. And make sure that there aren’t too many branches near the birdhouse. Cats can use them to get to the birds.  4. Feeding stray dogs Stray dogs are a complex topic that is painful for animal lovers, citizens, and authorities alike. But one thing is for certain: a homeless dog is not always a dog that used to have an owner. Usually, it’s a dog that has never had an owner or lived with a human. The best thing you can do for these animals is report them to special services that will take appropriate measures like vaccinating and sterilizing them. Unfortunately, feeding them is not a very good idea. Of course, you will help one unhappy dog, but globally, you won’t change the situation for the better. However, stray dogs in cities cause a lot of trouble. They transmit different diseases (partially because they eat carrion), and some of them are so aggressive that they can attack people. In favorable conditions, stray dogs reproduce very fast, and they eat all small animals like cats, squirrels, birds, and more. The saddest thing is that oftentimes, their victims are abandoned animals — house dogs that were thrown away by owners and that can’t survive the harsh conditions of the streets. Have you ever seen a poodle or a dachshund among a pack of homeless dogs? We doubt that. Most stray dogs look the same. They usually have the following features:
 5. Being vegetarian not for your health but “for the planet” The question of what to eat should be everyone’s personal choice. But people who give up eating meat because they think that it’s more eco-friendly should think twice. Yes, the plants themselves don’t emit any CO2 but what does emit a lot of CO2 is the agricultural machinery and equipment in the greenhouses. Besides, all fruit and vegetables contain fewer calories than meat, so in order to feed everyone, a lot of land must be used for growing such foods. Additionally, a lot of trees need to be cut down and a lot of water and electricity need to be used. The people who try to do a good thing for the planet by changing their diet should think not about what they eat but about how much food they buy. 1/3 of food produced is thrown away which does much more harm to the environment that eating meat does.  6. Buying a hybrid car Hybrid cars really use gas more efficiently. However, in order to produce such a car, we need so many resources both financially and ecologically, it’s actually much better to buy a regular car. Modern diesel engines are reliable and efficient, so no matter how strange it sounds, they do less harm than hybrid engines do.  7. Artificial Christmas trees instead of real ones It’s one thing if we choose a plastic tree out of practical necessity (no needles, lower prices, no danger of catching fire, etc.). But the people who buy an artificial tree because it’s more “eco-friendly” should take the following into account:
Obviously, all these things have a negative impact on the environment. According to some estimations, in order to make the harm of a plastic tree equal to the harm of a natural one, you’d need to use it for at least 10 years. The stereotype that chopping down trees makes forests smaller is also not true. In most countries, the “holiday” trees are specially grown or cut down anyway when roads are built. By the way, you can give the tree you used to a zoo or a farm and they’ll use it for food.  8. Eating organic food In organic agriculture, farmers don’t use pesticides or fertilizers. Of course, this is good for people but really bad for the harvest. So, in order to get the required amount of food, farmers have to plant it on bigger territories. Of course, organic production should exist in the modern world, but it’s impossible to feed all of humanity with it. To do this, we would have to increase the size of the land by cutting down trees.  9. Eating locally grown food and vegetables During the right season, this approach is reasonable, but if you buy fruit in winter, imported foods are the best choice. The thing is, in order to grow berries and vegetables in a greenhouse, we need a lot of water and electricity.  10. Charity for those who actually torture animals When we see kittens and puppies in the streets, sad horses waiting for tourists, or beggars that ask for money for their animals, it’s natural that we want to give them money to make their lives at least a little easier.
Don’t do this, it won’t help. This is a cruel business where a sad look and suffering can get a wallet full again. And all the collected money will be spent on anything but helping the homeless animals. Every cent you give to them will only make the business more profitable. The best thing you can do is inform the police about the illegal activity you notice and comfort yourself with the thought that you are a really good person who loves nature and understands that not every seemingly good thing is actually good.  1. Deodorant to prevent chafing It’s hot outside and you happily go to work in your favorite dress or shorts. The friction between your thighs when you walk or sit the whole day results in painful and unpleasant chafing. There is a simple solution to ease your suffering: roll-on-deodorant. Deodorant acts as a lubricant, soothing your skin and making walking less painful.  2. Binder clips to fix broken keyboard feet Most people are used to working from a laptop that’s positioned at the perfect typing angle and that’s why it can get really annoying when it breaks. You can fix this problem if you have a pair of binder clips lying around. Simply attach the metal tabs from the binders to the bottom of your keyboard and continue typing.  3. A special sandwhich bag to stop food thieves What can be more nerve-wracking than when somebody steals your carefully-prepared sandwich? One way to avoid it is to make your food unattractive to others. Amazon offers safe plastic sandwich bags with a special decoration (“fake mold”) for this purpose. Alternatively, you can create such a bag yourself by using a bit of imagination and green paint.  4. Organize your cables with toilet paper rolls We all have a collection of cables at work or at home which we use only occasionally. A few toilet paper rolls will help you keep them organized and tangle-free. Just put these cables in individual paper rolls before placing them in your cabinet drawer. Next time you need a certain cable, you won’t need to spend precious time on finding and disentangling it.  5. Paper cups to keep track of coffee making You can hardly imagine your work routine without coffee, but how do you know when it’s time to make a new pot? 2 styrofoam cups will help you keep track of coffee making times. Just write the hours of the day around the rim of one of the cups and draw the arrow on the other cup. Ask your colleagues to turn the arrow to the relevant hour each time they prepare fresh coffee.  6. Use a pen spring to keep your cables from bending To keep your cables and rechargers from fraying, use a spring from an old pen. Wrap it around your cable and slide it to the end so that it covers the hard plastic part that extends from the connector. Make sure to unplug the cable before attaching the spring.  7. Use a standing office table to get rid of back problems It is no surprise that sitting the whole day is unhealthy. Not only does it cause back and neck pain, but it also increases blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. A study from 2011 showed that people who use standing desks at work decrease their back and neck pain up to 54%. If you decide to make the switch, remember that it can be quite radical for your body. A perfect solution for that is a desk that can be used for sitting and for standing.  8. Bread tags as cord labels We all have a lot of cords around our computer table and it often makes it difficult to determine which cord is attached to what. Plastic tags from bread bags can help you solve this problem. These tags are much sturdier than paper tags or sticker labels. Just make sure to use easily identifiable names for your cords.  9. Use old cassette boxes as a phone stand A tip for those who have old cassette cases lying around: you can use them as a phone stand to keep an eye on reminders, texts, and phone calls. It can also come in handy if you want to watch a video or a movie. Let your creativity flow and decorate it however you wish!  10. A foot hammock at work If you don’t have a stand-up desk and spend the whole day sitting in the office, it is important to at least make it as comfortable as possible. An adjustable foot hammock is a great way to prop up and relax your feet. It can be attached to 2 sides of your desk using metallic clips. A higher position can be used for resting, while a lower “work” position is similar to the one you have with footrests in airplanes and tour buses.  11. Forks as a laptop cooling pad If your laptop overheats quickly, and you need to elevate it a bit but you don’t have a special laptop cooling stand, a quick and simple solution would be to use 2 forks. Place your laptop gently on top of 2 forks. It is better to put the forks prong side down (not as it is done in the picture) to avoid scratches.  12. Heal paper cuts with lip balm Avoiding paper cuts is a special skill that few people master. Paper cuts are tiny but usually very painful. The wax base of lip balm can help seal the wound, protect it from exposure to air, and ease the pain.
 7. A giant jellyfish Many people think that this photo is fake — probably because they hope it is. However, this photo is absolutely real. The man was captured in front of the so-called lion’s mane jellyfish, also known as the giant jellyfish. It is the largest jellyfish in the world that lives in cold waters.  6. Something in the forests of Louisiana In 2010, in Louisiana, a camera captured a monster with glowing eyes that quickly moved on all fours. Nobody knows what it was. Some people believe that it was just a commercial for a new game.  5. An alien from Thailand In 2010, the media posted a photo that had been taken 3 years prior. It was a funeral for a strange-looking creature in Thailand. The remains looked like a small minotaur and were found near the village. The locals saw that the creature resembled a human and decided to bury it according to Buddhist tradition. Experts believe that this creature was just a calf with a mutation, and not something supernatural.  4. Chelyabinsk, or aliens These things were found in a construction site in Chelyabinsk in 2007 and were named “aliens”. People thought they were horseshoe crabs, but in fact, they were nothing but triops. They are more than 200 million years old and are 2-3 inches long.  3. Texas chupacabra This creature was first found in Puerto Rico in the 1950s and was last seen in Texas. The Texas version of the chupacabra didn’t have fur and the skin was blue-grey. When the creature was found, researchers did a DNA test and found out that it was a hybrid of a wolf and a coyote. It was sick which explained why it had lost its fur.  2. Atacama Desert humanoid This small human mummy was found by a man in a small village in Atacama Desert in 2003. Later, skeleton specialists concluded that it was very unlikely that the mummy was human. All researchers are sure that the Atacama humanoid is fake.  1. Blue whale It might seem like this is some kind of sea monster, but in fact, this is just a blue whale going right under a small boat. The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet and it can weight up to 170 tons. Just imagine the array of feelings these sailors must have had!
 1. Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations Even though there is almost a century between the 2 crimes (1865 and 1963), scientists and others interested in this have found a number of similarities. Both presidents were killed by a gunshot to the head. The killings were in public, for Lincoln it happened in the Ford Theatre and for Kennedy it happened in a car. Interestingly, Kennedy took his last trip in a Lincoln limousine. Both shootings happened on a Friday. Both killings are believed to have had a political undertone. In both cases the alleged criminal (a solo gunman) was caught and their name was released. The conspiracy theories around these 2 assassinations never stop growing and developing.  2. 2 remarkable Queens, Victoria and Elizabeth II The British often compare these 2 queens. The first similarity is their remarkably long reign. Victoria ruled for over 63 years and was the longest reigning British monarch before September 2015, when Elizabeth II broke her record. Despite their long reign, both ladies are known for their interest in modern technologies. Both become queens at an early age, Victoria 18 and Elizabeth 25. Both were happily married for a long time and both had more than one child. They are said to have been strict mothers and the actual heads of their families. Both queens were once attacked by a gunman during a ride near Buckingham palace. And on a lighter note, both queens absolutely enjoy the love and respect of their nation.  3. Women warriors, Joan of Arc and Emilia Plater These 2 young ladies led parts of their national armies and fought the enemy for the independence of their motherlands. Joan of Arc was a hero of the French struggle against the British empire in the 1420s. Emilia Plater led Polish troops against the Russian Empire during the uprising of 1830. Both women were first rejected by army officials and had to try hard to get in the military. Both came from noble, but not super-rich families. Both wore male clothes to be an active part of the fighting. Also, both were an important motivating role for troops and were considered a symbol of the rebellion. Unfortunately, both heroines died young. They have been commemorated by their nations and are even remembered today.  4. Josef Stalin and Genghis Khan These 2 well-known men ruled the largest countries of their times, the USSR and the Mongol Kingdom. Both Josef Stalin and Genghis Khan were known for their cruelty and at the same time initiated significant reforms in their countries. Under Kahn’s rule the territories of the Mongol empire imposed a legal code (for the very first time), named Yassa. Their personal life holds a number of similarities as well. Both spent their childhood in poverty and experienced the early death of their father. Both men took a pseudonym, describing their specific features: Stalin meaning “man of steel and Genghis Khan meaning “the great ruler.” Both lived a long life, more than 60 years, and were married several times. Finally, the death of both rulers are full of rumors, mysteries, and conspiracy theories.  5. Napoleon and Charles XIV John of Sweden If you consider someone an inspiration, you might try repeating their life story. Jean Bernadotte was born to a middle-class family and reached his top career point through army service. At the beginning, he was a fan of another talented military man, Napoleon Bonaparte, who was also self-made. Later on they both became friends for a while. Both men reached top governmental positions without being royal by birth or blood. Napoleon became the French emperor after a revolution. Bernadotte was adopted by a Swedish king and ended up Charles XIV John, a king of Sweden. Both rulers introduced important reforms and changes in their countries and started a new dynasty.  6. The Titanic and The Vasa tragedies Many people around the world recall the Titanic as a ship that sank during her maiden voyage. However, if they are Swedish, they’d definitely remember the Vasa. The fact that they sank is only one of a number of similarities between these 2 catastrophes. In both cases the sinking was allegedly caused by construction issues. The issues were believed to have been because of the ships’ modernity and size. Also, both ships sank in good weather conditions and the deaths of the passengers were caused by the lack of safety boats and a poorly organized rescue process. By the way, both ships were filled with very festive passengers who were relaxed and celebrating and both tragedies were a huge shock as there was so much excitement centered around these ships.  7. The Great Depression and The Great Recession The Great Depression and the Great Recession are the 2 biggest economic downfalls of their time. Both crises began in the U.S. and later spread to the rest of the world. They caused a great number of problems in different spheres internationally (like the tension between Greece and the EU, or the rise of the Nazi regime). In the 1920s stock market imploded due to the massive sales of overpriced shares which caused the Great Depression in 1929. The Great Recession is attributed to the high-risk loan (aka, mortgage) crisis. The Depression happened so long ago that there has been more than enough time to analyze it. Yet historians and economists alike are still asking new questions. The study of the Great Recession is ongoing and will need much more time to be properly analyzed.  8. The mysteries of the Dyatlov Pass and Andrée’s Arctic balloon expeditions In 1959 a group of students traveled to the Ural mountains (USSR) for a 2-week expedition and they never returned. Another group, who were led by S.S. Andree (Sweden), was trying to reach the North Pole in 1897, only to die on the way. It’s likely that the members of these 2 expeditions had never even heard about each other and it’s the mysterious deaths of the expeditions’ members that unite these 2 stories. Both groups consisted of amateurs but despite that they were very well-prepared. They carried enough warm clothes, matches, etc. to survive for a long time. The weather conditions were reported to be suitable for the journeys. Scientists and amateurs are still studying photos, DNA samples, and other materials searching for the cause of these tragedies.  9.The Erdington Murders 2 20-year-old women were murdered in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham, England on the 27th of May at night. Mary Ashford and Barbara Forrest had both been drowned at a local pool. Both bodies had bruises, showed signs of rape, and both girls had been out dancing the previous night. The only difference is that there are 157 years between these cases. Mary was murdered in 1817 and Barbara in 1974. In both cases the investigators never found the murderer, even though there were many suspects who were released by the court due to a lack of evidence. The siblings of both victims tried to appeal the court decision and failed and the mysteries are still well-remembered in the neighborhood.  10. Chaplin and Distracted Boyfriend A meme known as Distracted Boyfriend appeared on the internet in the 2010s. It is believed to have first been introduced on Facebook by an unknown user. The image shows a young man turning to look at another woman while holding hands with his girlfriend. This situation often appears today in real life and it also happened in the Chaplin-era of cinema.
A poster from 1922 shows a Charlie Chaplin film called “Pay Day” that looks incredibly close to this meme. We can see the main hero, his wife, and the lady attracting his attention. Obviously this was long before the internet era, but the similarity is striking!  1. Why don’t couples in the Royal Family hold hands? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the day of their engagement announcement in November 2017 and in July 2018, 2 months after their wedding. Many royal couples don’t hold each other’s hands in public or do it very rarely. For example, Prince William and his wife and even Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philippe don’t hold hands often. More than that, the Queen always walks a little bit in front of her husband. Of course, there are no official prohibitions for holding hands, but the couples demonstrate their values in this way. Before the wedding, Prince Harry appeared in public with his fiancée Meghan Markle holding hands and hugging her. By doing this, he was showing support for his future wife. After their marriage, they’ve kept their distance especially during events and important meetings. But still, it’s up to the couple. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla sometimes hold hands in public. And it also depends on the status of the event: the higher the status, the stricter the protocol.  2. Why does the Queen miss some important family events? Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II always attends all the important events of her family. More than that, despite her age, she continues to meet with politicians from all around the world. But the Queen didn’t appear at her grandson Louis’s christening. Why? Is the Queen going to retire? It’s highly unlikely now, but maybe she is making room for the young members of the family? Louis is unlikely to ever become King, so his grandmother’s presence is not really that important. Besides, Queen Elizabeth II has a lot of other important meetings and events to attend. But you can still find the Queen in this picture: behind the backs of the relatives, is her portrait on the wall.  3. The Queen is 92 years old. Who becomes the next King? Speaking of the Queen’s retirement, according to the people who are close to the Queen, Elizabeth II will never abdicate. First, she is very religious, and second, she still remembers her uncle’s abdication which caused major damage to her family and her father. According to the Act of Settlement, the power should go from the Queen to her next successor — her son Charles. And despite the fact that the people love her grandson William more, there is no way that he would become King before Charles, unless, of course, Charles decides to abdicate. But he is unlikely to do that. Rumor has it that the Queen is going to rule until the age of 95 and then her son will become Regent. Regency allows a monarch to find a substitution for them when their health is not good enough to fulfill their duties.  4. How many successors are there? The Succession to the British throne includes 55 people and it looks like this. The first is Prince Charles. His son Prince William is after him, then his children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Prince Harry is sixth in the line of succession, followed by Prince Andrew — Elizabeth’s second son, then his daughters Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie. Then, Prince Edward, his children James and Lady Louise. They are followed by Princess Anne, her children, and grandchildren. Also the descendants of the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret: her son David, daughter Sarah, and their grandchildren. The last ones in line are the rest of the descendants of the British royal family.  5. Why did Kate leave the hospital so quickly after giving birth? After giving birth to her third baby, Prince Louis, Kate only spent a total of 7 hours in the hospital. She appeared to be in a great mood and had her hair and makeup done before she spoke to journalists. But many people wondered: why such a rush? There are several factors to consider. First, in Great Britain young mothers are not kept in the maternity ward for a long time: on average, British women go home 36 hours after labor. Second, when a hospital is surrounded by a crowd of photographers, reporters, and curious people, it’s hard for a young mother to have a calm recovery. By the way, there is an unspoken rule in the Royal family that a couple should try to have at least 2 children. For the past 50 years, it had been like that, but Prince William’s family broke the tradition because they have 3 children. And one more interesting thing, the clothes they wear in public are chosen very carefully. When Kate had her first child, Prince George, her dress looked similar to the dress of Princess Diana after she had her first baby, Prince William in 1982. After Catherine gave birth to Louis, she wore a red dress with a white collar just like when little Harry was born in 1984.  6. Does the Queen have pets? The Queen loves corgis. When she was just 7 years old, she got her first dog. When Elizabeth got a little older, she had a dog named Susan. Since then, the Queen has been breeding corgis and keeping the next generations. She has given some of the dogs to her relatives but she has never sold them. Elizabeth II has had about 30 corgis. Her dog Willow was a descendant of Susan and very recently the Queen had to put him to sleep. She doesn’t breed corgis anymore, and Willow was her last connection to her parents and her childhood and his death made a severe impact on her. Now she still has one corgi that she adopted and 2 dogs of a different breed.  7. What do Princes William and Harry do? Prince William is a military pilot — he has always been interested in a military career but because he is the second successor to the throne, he can’t really serve in dangerous areas. He has also worked as a paramedic. Prince Harry also has a military education and he even served in Afghanistan for some time. Now both of them only have the royal duties that they fulfill together with their wives: they make official visits, go to exhibitions and sporting events, take part in charity events, and so on.  8. Where do the Queen and the family get their money from? The Royal Family has a so-called personal income: the money from investments and from private estates. Also, the Windsor’s have the money they have been collecting for centuries, including jewelry, fine art, and villas — all these things make money.
The government pays money to the Queen and Prince Charles for fulfilling the Royal duties and the Queen pays income taxes. By the way, the Buckingham Palace, her collection of paintings, and some of her jewelry doesn’t personally belong to the Queen, but to the monarchy itself.  Celebrate a new beginning by enriching your life with non-food related activities. Substituting comfort foods for healthy distractions will set you on a positive path from day 1.
Find something to look forward to every day that doesn’t include your favorite snack.  Research shows that our motivation to be healthy directly impacts our overall health and fitness levels. That’s why it’s easier to stick to a diet plan during the first few days. Here are some ways to remind yourself to stay on track until you reach your goals:
Be sure to think of your very own daily motivators and apply them to your life.  A study at Cornell University reveals that volunteers consumed less food while listening to relaxing soft music. Psychologists also suggest that certain melodies may help reprogram our brains to release additional dopamine, a happiness hormone which could be a good alternative to eating comfort food.
 Did you know that there’s a correlation between colors and appetite levels? Cool colors such as blue, grey, or black have been proven to decrease the appetite. For one, blue creates a serene atmosphere reducing feelings of anxiety and stress. Secondly, colors such as blue and grey are so rarely found in natural food that our brains interpret them as poisonous. As a result, cool colors don’t remind us of food and trigger little or no appetite.
 Certain scents have been proven to help with weight loss. Why not bring a drop of romance into your home? Create coziness by lighting some candles, and don’t forget about scented oils.
 At the end of the day, it feels nice to praise yourself for the courage, perseverance, and strength it takes to stick to a diet. In fact, we’d say it’s the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a small gift!
Remind yourself that the biggest gift of all will be the new and improved you.  Results are what make losing weight worth the effort. Be sure to track your progress and give your self-esteem a boost whenever you’re feeling like dieting is too hard.
Reap the benefits of your hard work and inspire yourself to keep moving forward.  When starting a new diet we are so afraid of failure that we sometimes take it too far and become obsessed with the foods we can’t eat. This is why cheat meals and small treats are so important in making your weight loss journey enjoyable.
Most importantly, don’t guilt-trip yourself if you go overboard. We all slip up sometimes and occasional indulgences can even help boost your metabolism. See? No harm done!  Australian researchers recently found that the majority of weight loss occurs when we exhale carbon dioxide. In other words, you don’t have to be a meditation guru to refresh your spirits.
The benefits of dieting combined with breathing exercises may surprise you! |
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