Living History

 

Image by Tim Hill from Pixabay 

If you’ve ever tried to interest teenagers in exploring a school subject on a day off from school, you know it can be harder than trying to pry their phones out of their hands. That said, adults shouldn’t give up trying to engage our youth in the world around them. Whether taking kids to plays to experience literature in action, encouraging math skills through music, getting hands-on with science or trying to make history come alive, we need to ensure that our children understand that their school subjects translate to their everyday lives. For so many of us, history is a subject which bored us when we were in school. Consequently, it’s hard for us to get excited about it and harder still to make that excitement contagious to our offspring.

Museums

Remember the boring museum tours of your school field trips? They’re history – no pun intended. Consider a hands-on museum for your extracurricular activity. You can work on a replica 17^th century schooner after practicing the skills you’ll need in their visitor’s center. When you visit holocaust museum, you help youth learn compassion and empathy through the testimonies of those who suffered. Some learning centers combine history and science by letting kids explore a paleontology dig or walk through the scientific discovery process of the light bulb or a Tesla coil.

Outdoor Spaces

Battlefields look boring unless you’re looking through the lens of history. Acres of grass, some trees and a fence or two aren’t interesting unless you have a tour guide who can help you envision what happened in that space. Live or pre-recorded tours are available at most sites these days. You could also immerse yourself in a specific time period through a living history museum complete with period costume, manners and speech.

With a little help, both you and the kids in your life can spark your imagination and interest in history.

The Biggest Myths People Tell You About Heart Disease

 

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Heart disease - not cancer - is the number one killer in the country, laying waste to around half a million people per year. And yet, compared to the big "C," we barely talk about it. The media will often gloss over it like it is not there. 

The dialogue around heart disease is a little strange because researchers already know how to treat the condition. It doesn't involve taking any expensive medications. It's as simple as eating a healthy diet and getting a modest amount of exercise throughout your life. 

Surgeons like Dr. Lindita Coku regularly have to perform operations on the heart. Often, the blood vessels supplying it get so clogged with fatty material that it impedes blood flow. Eventually, the machinery starts to break down, leading to conditions like angina. 

There are a lot of myths that people tell about heart disease. Here are some of the biggest. 

Myth #1: You Only Need To Worry About It When You Older

Not true - heart disease starts in children and then develops over the course of the rest of your life. Researchers know this because they performed autopsies on young American soldiers' bodies returning from the Korean War in the 1950s. When they opened them up to look inside, they noticed these yellow streaks on their arteries - the first heart disease stages. 

Myth #2: I'll Know If I Have A Heart Attack Because Of Chest Pain

Heart disease is a strange condition that can manifest in a variety of ways. While it is true that some people experience chest pain, it doesn't happen to everyone. For some, the first sign that something is wrong is shortness of breath and dizziness. Other people get painful sensations in their arms and legs. 

Myth #3: There Are Warning Signs For High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is often called the "silent killer," meaning that many people who have the condition don't realize there's a problem until it's too late. 

Myth #4: Cholesterol Levels Don't Matter Until You're Old

Again, this myth is wishful thinking. Your cholesterol levels do matter at any age because heart disease typically begins when people are young. 

Ideally, your cholesterol should be below 160 mg/dL for the whole of your life. Whenever it starts to climb above this, you get the formation of plaques, and patients are at higher risk of developing it.

Some people can develop heart disease in their 30s and 40s if they have high cholesterol. Others have genetic conditions that predispose them to the condition. 

Myth #5: A Rapid Resting Heart Rate Means You're Having A Heart Attack

A person's resting heart rate should be around 60 beats per minute, give or take a few beats here and there. So when it starts thumping more rapidly, you can worry that you're having a heart attack. 

But that's not usually how it works. There are all sorts of other conditions that could lead to a quicker pulse, including anxiety. If you're worried, visit your doctor and check for arrhythmias. 

Finding The Perfect Fit-Out Company For Your Needs

 

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When you are hiring a contractor for any reason, it is always vital to choose with care. There is a lot to consider, and if you cut corners, it is you that will pay in the long-run.

Once you have finished the building work, the foundations are in, you have had a roof installed by the likes of RD, all that is left to do is to kit out the space with the right furniture and technology. A lot of people try to do this themselves, but they live to regret it because they do not use the space as efficiently as they should, and this causes problems. Going down the professional route, therefore, makes the most sense.

If you are considering an office fit-out, whether for your home or small office space, but don't know which commercial office fit out company to trust, follow these top tips...

Talk to your employees

As a business, it is important you don't waste your money and resources on refurbishments that do not add any value to your working environment in the eyes of your employees. Is important to recognize that your workers are the ones that will be in the environment day in and day out, therefore, any improvements that you make must be considered with them in mind. You need to speak to your employees and ask them for ideas regarding improvements that you can make that will ensure the working environment is pleasant and helps them to operate efficiently. Once you know the needs of your employees, you can begin looking for office fit out contractors that can complete these needs.

Think about flexibility

When it comes to decorating any type of office, flexibility is important. It is likely that one of your main business aims is to grow and achieve more, and so you need an office that enables you to do this. Talk to commercial fit-out contractors and see which companies have the best ideas for how to future-proof your business. You need an office space that enables you to capitalize on growth and a professional fit-out company should be more than happy to create innovative solutions for you. For example, you may need to introduce larger collaborative areas to your office so your team can work more efficiently on big-picture projects.

Ask for references

Any reputable office fit out company should be more than happy to provide you with multiple references and show you a portfolio of their work. If a company is reluctant or unable to do this, consider it a warning sign and avoid their services. Visiting offices you like the style of and enquiring about the quality of their refurbishments can be a good way to find design inspiration also.

If you need help choosing a reputable fit-out company, take the time reading reviews that have been left by others and do not hesitate to contact people via forums online for their advice and opinion. After all, you do not want to fall at the final hurdle of your project. 

4 Green Habits That Really Do Make a Difference

 

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With everything going on in the world right now, you’d be forgiven for forgetting about the other big global threat looming over us. Climate change has been an issue for several decades and is showing no signs of going away. Big changes are needed if our planet is to reverse the effects of global warming and make the earth habitable for future generations.

As consumers, we are regularly given opportunities to do our bit for the environment. We can recycle our used goods, reuse our shopping bags, and buy biodegradable laundry tablets. These are undoubtedly meaningful actions to take, and if everyone were to do the same, it would certainly make a huge difference. But individually, these small steps are barely a drop in the ocean of what is needed to change the planet. And there is a risk that people will carry out these small steps and feel as though they are doing their bit for the environment, when their actions really amount to very little. More is needed.

If we are to arm ourselves against the assault of climate change, it is necessary to take larger actions that have greater consequences. Although it is the governments of the world who can incite real change, there are some habits you can adopt at home, which will have a larger impact on a greater scale.

Cutting out meat

The meat industry is one of the biggest polluters on the entire planet, yet it shows no sign of slowing down. It uses up huge swathes of land, releases vast quantities of methane from animals into the atmosphere, and burns excessive fossil fuels in the production and distribution processes. If everyone were to switch to a plant-based diet, the world’s food-based emissions would drop by 70%. There are now so many delicious alternatives to meat and dairy out there that going vegan is easier than ever.

Stop flying

The other big polluter is the aviation industry. Plane travel might be convenient, but it does a lot more harm than good. So next time you take an international holiday, why don’t you travel by train, coach or boat instead? It’s perfectly possible to see the world without flying, and communication technology is making international business travel more or less redundant.

Go zero waste

As consumers, we produce an inordinate amount of waste in our everyday lives—packaging, uneaten food, discarded toys, and clothing, you name it. Not only is this incredibly wasteful, but it has a huge environmental impact. Plastic ends up in the ocean, and the increasingly full landfills generate vast amounts of methane. By taking steps to eradicate household waste, you can dramatically reduce your own carbon footprint. Find innovative ways to make your food last longer, recycle or donate your used and broken items, and buy food without plastic packaging whenever possible. Donate your wood waste to companies like Edrich Lumber, Inc. and compost organic waste rather than sticking it in the trash.

Use your voice

There’s only so much one person can do. The most effective way you can personally help the planet is by spreading the word. Tell others about your green habits, talk about environmental issues on social media, sign petitions, and get involved in local politics. Change starts with all of us.

How to Protect Your Money at Home and Away

 

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 It takes a lot of hard work to make money. When you finally have it, you must ensure you protect it in all ways possible. After all, money is supposed to help you live the life you envision, not go to waste, or frustrate you. Protecting your cash here implies two things:

·         Keeping it from fraudsters

·         Avoiding situations that cause you to spend unnecessarily

 This said, it's crucial to check where your money goes. Here are steps to take to ensure your money stays safe, both at home and away.

Check Your Accounts Daily

This may sound extreme, but it’s not. Fraud is a reality, and it happens every passing day. Statistics have it that about 45,000 cases of identity theft occurred every day in 2017. You want to take every precaution possible to ensure your debit cards and personal cash are safe.

 Monitoring your accounts gives you a clear picture of your cash flow. You’ll be able to take measures as soon as you notice something fishy. Remember, once your cash is wiped out, it's highly likely that it's gone forever.

Take Protective Measures

You should be highly cautious when using your credit and debit cards, especially at the point of sale. There are different laws concerning debit and credit cards, especially concerning the consumer. If you ever lose your credit card number:

·         The federal law protects you from any unauthorized charges on the card

·         You’re responsible for no more than $50 of the authorized charges. However, this only applies if you reported the lost card to the card issuer. Some credit card providers won’t charge you anything.

 For debit card fraud:

·         Ensure you report the loss of the debit card within two business days. This will absolve you of any liability above $50 of unauthorized transactions.

·         Reporting the loss within 60 days after receiving your statement might see you lose as much as $500

·         The potential danger is unlimited if you don’t report the unauthorized use of your debit card within 60 days of receiving your statement

Do Home Repairs in Good Time

What have home repairs got to do with protecting your money? You ask. The point is that if you leave your home to deteriorate, you’ll spend a lot of money replacing and repairing components.

 For example, if you have a leaking pipe and leave it unrepaired, you might soon be dealing with a flooding problem. The flooded area could be near electrical lines. You can only imagine the resulting damage.

This also goes for electrical cables damaged by rodents. Leaving them unrepaired will lead to a hazardous outcome for your home. The repairs will be costly, yet you could have dealt with them without spending a fortune.

Final Thoughts

After working so hard for your money, you want to ensure that it also goes into good use. Therefore, you have to do all it takes to prevent it from fraudsters and avoidable expenses. Analyze your finances and identify the areas you're likely to lose your money. Please take the necessary measures to protect yourself from losing it.