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Showing posts from October, 2020

6 Hanukkah Traditions That Make the 8-Night Holiday Special

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Hanukkah is a joyous Jewish holiday that recalls an ancient miracle after a hard-fought victory over religious oppression. In the first century CE, Greek rulers banned the practice of Judaism. They tortured and persecuted those who dared and desecrated the holy Second Temple in Jerusalem, even sacrificing a pig and installing a statue of Zeus inside. A small band of Jewish warriors, led by Judah Maccabee, rebelled. When the battle was won, the Maccabees set out to rededicate the Temple, which involved lighting a menorah (a seven-branched candelabra) that would burn continuously. Though they scoured the Temple, they found only enough oil to burn for one night. Miraculously, it burned for eight nights, which gave the Maccabees time to find more so they could keep the Temple holy. Today, Hanukkah celebrates that miracle and, by extension, the triumph of light over darkness. Those themes are evident in many of the most beloved Hanukkah traditions. Here is how Hanukkah and other holidays m

Why Do Dogs Like to Bury Bones?

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You may find it peculiar when you think you’re giving your dog a treat by handing over a bone and they immediately find a place to bury it, whether that be in your backyard or under the covers. All animals have natural dispositions that relate to the nature of their ancestors, and dogs are no exception. From chewing to burying, it all comes down to instinct. Make sure you also check out the reasons behind your dog’s other weird behaviors . Why do dogs even chew on bones? First, let’s start with the basics. Dogs like to chew on bones for a whole number of reasons. “They love chewing on them because it provides mental stimulation, cleans plaque from their teeth (while massaging their gums), and it’s a nice jaw muscle exercise,” said John Pinedo, founder of Freedom Bound Business. They have a biological reflex to chew so if they don’t have a bone to gnaw on, they will surely find something else to satisfy that urge. Just like the human brain releases endorphins when they exercise, dogs’

8 Air Fryer Cooking Tips You Need to Know

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Check your air fryer’s temperature Just like with ovens, temperatures may vary between air fryer models. Test your air fryer to see if it runs above or below the selected temperature setting. You’ll want your fryer nice and hot. Find out exactly what an air fryer does to your food . The post 8 Air Fryer Cooking Tips You Need to Know appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2TD8was

Lies Spread on Social Media Hamper Vaccinations

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Every 1 point increase in the effort to discredit vaccines is linked to an average 2% drop in annual vaccine coverage around the world, and a 15% increase in negative tweets about vaccination, researchers found. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/2HI8ETU Every 1 point increase in the effort to discredit vaccines is linked to an average 2% drop in annual vaccine coverage around the world, and a 15% increase in negative tweets about vaccination, researchers found.

Grocery Workers at Risk for COVID Without Symptoms

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Because a high percentage of them have no symptoms when they are infected, they could become sources of future spread, the researchers said. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/35MxUAh Because a high percentage of them have no symptoms when they are infected, they could become sources of future spread, the researchers said.

Incredible Generosity Makes Red Handed Tattoo in Shreveport the Nicest Place in Louisiana

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Micha Harold in the tattoo shop he turned into an ad-hoc community center In January, 20-year-old Joshua Jefferson held up Red Handed Tattoo at gunpoint, took $300, and escaped through a window. When his trial began, Micah Harold, the shop’s owner, was quick to testify—in Jefferson’s defense. “I want leniency,” Harold, who had also attended Jefferson’s arraignment, said at the time. “I’d give him a job if he wanted.” That’s the kind of humanity you’ll find in Harold, and in Shreveport, the city that’s home to Red Handed Tattoo. Call it compassion that’s relentless beyond reason. Another example: Harold closed his shop in March, more than a week before Louisiana mandated the closure of nonessential businesses. Why short himself the revenue? Because he was worried that Shreveport wasn’t ready for a spike in COVID-19 cases and he thought he could help. He started by giving away rubber gloves and rubbing alcohol to anyone who needed them. Within days, he had transformed Red Handed in

Can You Spot the Witch Hat Among the Cats?

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We love dressing up as and decorating our house with Halloween creatures of all sorts. And while it’s fun to learn about the origins of Halloween’s spookiest creatures like witches and black cats, it’s just as much fun to search for them in a challenging Halloween brainteaser. While you’re preparing to eat lots of treats, this puzzle, from United Kingdom-based fostering agency Perpetual Fostering , will trick your eyes! The objective is simple: Find the single witch hat among the cats. There are rows and rows of cute little cartoon kitties here, all with glowing eyes. There are also plenty of non-cat objects that do stand out immediately: jack o’ lanterns, ghosts, potted plants, and even a couple of brooms. But you’re looking for a witch hat, and it’ll be much trickier to spot! Plus, see if you can find the cat among the bats in this puzzle , too. The hardest part about this puzzle is the fact that the hat is pointy, just like the ears of the cats—but it’s a little bent at the top

The 50 Best Gifts for Dog Lovers

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Paw-sitively perfect presents It’s not always easy to find the perfect present, even when you have a super helpful list of unique gifts in hand. But if you’re having a rough—ahem, ruff—time and the person on your list happens to be a pet parent, your life is about to get a whole lot easier. We’ve rounded up the best gifts for dog lovers guaranteed to make them smile, as well as items that their pups will get a kick out of, too. From personalized prints that just might bring a tear to your giftee’s eye and useful products they won’t know how they ever lived without to delicious treats that’ll make Fido’s tail wag, there’s definitely something for everyone on this list. Even better? We’ve provided suggestions at a variety of price points, so you’re sure to find something great that matches your budget. For another clever way to shop, check out these gifts that perfectly suit every zodiac sign . Note: Prices listed were accurate as of press time; pricing fluctuations may occur. The

21 Fun Pangrams Every Word Lover Will Appreciate

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What is a pangram? A pangram is a sentence that includes every letter of the alphabet, A through Z. You’ve most likely heard of the pangram involving the quick brown fox, but there are actually many more examples. Some pangrams make sense, but others don’t. The purpose of a pangram is for fun wordplay, for artists to display various fonts in sentences using every letter, and they are useful to children that are learning to write, practice their handwriting, or learn cursive. Read on to discover some fun pangrams that every word lover will appreciate. Make sure to check out these funny sayings that are worth memorizing . The post 21 Fun Pangrams Every Word Lover Will Appreciate appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/3ecq1YA

12 Best Outdoor Christmas Lights for the Best Neighborhood Display

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Outdoor Christmas lights The most wonderful time of the year can also include the most wonderful decorations. From icicle lights to illuminated reindeer and snowmen, these are some of the best outdoor Christmas lights to adorn your lawn and the outside of your home. For some more decorating inspiration, check out the most outrageous Christmas light displays of all time . Note: Prices listed were accurate as of press time; pricing fluctuations may occur. The post 12 Best Outdoor Christmas Lights for the Best Neighborhood Display appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2HRmN0p

Supersreaders Spur Record New U.S. COVID Cases

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The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center reported that 88,521 new coronavirus cases were recorded Thursday in the United States -- the most in a single day since the start of the pandemic. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/3jF73eh The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center reported that 88,521 new coronavirus cases were recorded Thursday in the United States -- the most in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Kwanzaa

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Kwanzaa began in the United States Since Kwanzaa is a pan-African and African-American holiday, some people incorrectly assume it originated in Africa. In actuality, it has American roots—though people in Africa celebrate it today as well. Maulana Karenga, born Ronald McKinley Everett in Parsonsburg, Maryland, founded the holiday in 1966 during the civil rights movement. Then just 25 years old, Karenga was a Black nationalist and activist intent on liberating African Americans from racial oppression, in part by building pride and unity around their cultural origins. Karenga went on to earn two PhDs and is currently chair of the department of Africana Studies at California State University Long Beach. The holiday is modeled after harvest festivals Although celebrated in the winter, Kwanzaa is patterned after harvest festivals traditionally celebrated by many African cultures and tribes. The word “Kwanzaa” comes from “ matunda ya kwanza ,” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Like o

42 Funny Christmas Gifts People Actually Received

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  Everyone has a holiday horror story where someone gave a gift that wasn’t quite right. Read on for some of the more interesting holiday gifts you’ve ever had the pleasure of not giving. Here are a few more funny jokes to get through the holidays . The post 42 Funny Christmas Gifts People Actually Received appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/2HG2NOp

What Those Orange and Green Dots on Your iPhone Mean

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The new iOS update for iPhones brought a lot of new changes. Many people took advantage of the customizable home screen features and spent many more hours than they would like to admit making it look aesthetically pleasing. But, if you only made a few small changes to your home screen and spent some time exploring the other new features you may have noticed that a dot occasionally pops up at the top of your screen—sometimes it’s orange and sometimes it’s green. Here are some other hidden iPhone facts you never knew about . So what are those colored dots? If you’ve noticed the new tiny dots, you’ve probably observed that they appear when you’re using particular apps. These dots are part of the enhanced privacy features that were part of the iOS 14 update. Apple is working to give you more control over the data you share and be more transparent with users about how their data is being used. When a green dot appears at the top of your phone it’s letting you know that your iPhone’s came

COVID-19: 6 Things That Prove It’s Not a Hoax

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False claim: Coronavirus is a hoax “I think I made a mistake. I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.” Those were some of the last words uttered by a 30-year-old Texas man who attended a “coronavirus party” thinking COVID-19 was a hoax. Here’s what dozens of other people infected with coronavirus want you to know . The virus proved it was quite real in the worst way possible—he died after contracting it. The public learned about his tragic death when one of his doctors made a plea, begging people to take the virus seriously. Sadly, this is not the only example of someone dying from COVID-19 after being convinced it was a hoax. In early 2020, when the world learned about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or the virus that causes COVID-19) during the initial outbreak in China, people took to the Internet to search for information. By the time the pandemic was in full swing, the thirst for any kind of information had become a frenzy, turning i

Best Home Safes Security Experts Use in Their Own Homes

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Better safe than sorry According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2018, there were an estimated 7,196,045 property crime offenses in the nation. Of those, there was an estimated $16.4 billion in property loss. While security systems and video cameras can sometimes help keep burglars away, they aren’t foolproof. And if someone does manage to get inside of your home, you should take additional measures to keep your personal valuables as well as important documents safe. We spoke to technology expert Burton Kelso to get the rundown on the best home safes on the market. Find out when someone is lurking around your home by installing one of these highly-rated security cameras . Note: Prices listed were accurate as of press time; pricing fluctuations may occur. The post Best Home Safes Security Experts Use in Their Own Homes appeared first on Reader's Digest . from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/3e8uHP4

For Some, Postpartum Depression Lingers for Years

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Of nearly 4,900 new mothers researchers followed, one-quarter had depression symptoms at some point in their child's first three years. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/3jFL6fl Of nearly 4,900 new mothers researchers followed, one-quarter had depression symptoms at some point in their child's first three years.

1 in 3 U.S. Seniors Prescribed Inappropriate Drugs

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In fact, these patients are prescribed twice as many drugs as needed and are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized or wind up in the emergency department. from WebMD Health https://ift.tt/34C9gmq In fact, these patients are prescribed twice as many drugs as needed and are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized or wind up in the emergency department.

10 Best Dry Foods for Cats, According to Vets

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What you should consider before buying cat food When Kim Williams-VanDuzer, DVM and owner of Prettyboy Veterinary Hospital in Freeland, Maryland chats with pet parents about the best dry food for cats, she works with them to make the healthiest choice for their specific needs, including any urinary issues, allergies, obesity, or age. It’s also important to be upfront with your vet about your pet food budget so you can work together to find the healthiest option for your budget. Finally, Dr. VanDuzer doesn’t recommend any pet food without the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) label. “Pet food is not regulated by the FDA so this voluntary approval guarantees that if a problem is found with the food, a recall will be issued and announced to the public. The food company will then typically pay for a diagnostic needed for the pet’s care.” If your cat is in need of medical care, learn how to give your cat a pill. The post 10 Best Dry Foods for Cats, According to Vets

This Is What Happened to the Only Survivor of Princess Diana’s Car Accident

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Half past midnight on August 31, 1997, a black Mercedes crashed into a concrete pillar outside the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. The world mourned the loss of Princess Diana in the wake of the crash, but it’s easy to forget that she wasn’t the only victim. Driver Henri Paul and Diana’s boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, also lost their lives that night. Only one passenger came out alive: Trevor Rees-Jones, Fayed’s bodyguard. In the front passenger seat of the car, Rees (who later dropped Jones from his name) had the protection of an airbag, though like the other passengers, he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Still, he didn’t come out unscathed. His face was crushed beyond recognition, the bones turned to powder. It took 150 pieces of titanium to reconstruct his face, and he was put into a coma for ten days as doctors worked on that surgery, plus a broken wrist and chest injuries. It was a miracle he survived. Don’t miss these moving photos of Kensington Palace after Princess Diana’s death . In the