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Dad Has ‘No Shame’ For Putting Daughter On A Leash; Leaves Internet Divided

A dad’s post about putting his toddler on a leash is leaving some social media users conflicted.

In a Facebook post that has gone viral, Oregon-based author and blogger Clint Edwards said his daughter, who is a “wild child,” was put on a toddler leash during a recent trip to the farmers’ market. “This thing has already kept her out of the road and from sticking her hand in an ice cream machine, along with keeping me sane,” he wrote on the social media site.

“The real difficulty with having a wild child is that you are damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. Because the fact is, if I didn’t put Aspen on a leash while at amusement parks, the zoo, a crowded mall, or the farmers market, she’d be the lost child announced over the intercom. She’d be the kid popping up in every Facebook feed for wandering into a shopping centre parking lot, unattended. She could be the child climbing into the tiger cage. Because I can’t, for the life of me, keep her from moving. Her curiosity is incredible, and for only having a 12 inch stride, she moves faster than any Olympian.”

He admits that he gets dirty looks from strangers (or hateful comments from readers on his blog), but in Edwards’ eyes, he’s keeping his little girl safe.

“I’m keep this kid safe while maintaining my piece of mind, and that is 100 [per cent] worth it,” he wrote. “Because the reality is she’ll calm down. She’ll figure it out, because all kids do. But until that day comes, I’m going to do whatever I can to keep her out of danger, even if it means a leash.” The great leash debate

Toddler leashes or harnesses are nothing new, and the debate whether they belong on children has been ongoing.

After his post went viral, thousands of social media users weighed in on Edwards’ decision, some agreeing with him and others calling it “bulls**t.”

Some talked about their own experiences using a leash on their children.

“I leashed all 4 of my kids, they are adults now, with no scars from being leashed. Although my brothers taught one of them to bark at people when he had it on, was the only bad thing. I still have this harness to be passed on to use on the grandkids,” user Lesley Stockmaster Cheek wrote.

“I have a monkey harness/leash for my child and I have absolutely no shame whatsoever. I could not care less what anyone else thinks of it. If you ask my son what my job is, he will immediately say “to keep me safe”, and that’s exactly what this mama bear is going to do,” user Tammy Elizabeth wrote.

Others, on the other hand, thought the words “leash” and “kid” don’t belong in the same sentence.

“I guess this is for people that don’t know how to parent? How to teach our kids wrong from right? Who pay no attention to what their kid is doing? This right here is why there are so many damn brats out in this world. What’s going to happen when she starts going to school?,” user Katrina Houston wrote.

Others argued labelling your children “wild” was a bad excuse.

“There are no shortages of resources that can help any parent make improvements to their parenting techniques and methodologies. Especially in establishing a base discipline and behavioral expectations of the child. One thing for sure….it’s not the child’s fault. A leash is wrong,” user Mark Thomson wrote.

Others admitted that they didn’t understand the usefulness of a toddler leash until they became parents themselves.

“I used to be pretty judgey about those things. Then I had kids. Keep on keepin’ on, man,” user Kristin Nosbusch wrote.

What the experts think

Vancouver-based parenting coach Julie Romanowski says toddler leashes are a contradictory and complex issue often smothered in judgement.

“In the wild and unruly parenting world, there is a time and place for most things. It is very dependent on factors such as personality, lifestyle and development,” she tells Global News. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ method. If it is a severe safety issue, I would do whatever it takes to keep the child safe with the intention that it is developmentally appropriate, respectful and effective.”

Dr. Jillian Roberts, child psychologist and associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Victoria, says we need to give parents a break.

“It is really difficult parenting in this age and parental fears are heightened right now,” she tells Global News. “Parents are worried about the safety of their children. If a parent feels more secure by having their child tethered to them in someway, then great, I’m all for it.”

How to teach children safety

If safety is the main concern, Romanowski says, start with small trips to relatively benign locations that won’t overstimulate your kid, like a local green space.

“Work your way up to the zoo or amusement park. If you start off with such a complex and stimulating event or location, you may be doomed from the beginning,” she says.

“Teach your child clear expectations and important safety rules by discussing them with them. The next step is to guide them through the experience, gently reminding them of the expectations and rules.”

And don’t expect perfect results.

“[Expecting perfection] from any child the first time around, especially a toddler, is unrealistic. Kids learn through repetition. It takes time.”

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Dad Has ‘No Shame’ For Putting Daughter On A Leash; Leaves Internet Divided was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Old Woman Stuns Her Husband And Tells Him She's Pregnant

An older woman well into her sixties discovered that she was pregnant. She never expected this, given her advanced age. But how her husband responded to the news is utterly hilarious.

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Old Woman Stuns Her Husband And Tells Him She’s Pregnant was originally published on NewsLinQ

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This Is How We Know Earth Isn't Flat

Some conspiracy theorists think the Earth is actually flat. How can we prove that this theory is incorrect?

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This Is How We Know Earth Isn’t Flat was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Students' Mom Could Not Care Less When The Teacher Complained About Him Cussing In Class

A kid was endlessly cussing out the teacher in class, who would call his mom to no avail. Then she thought it might be interesting to call his grandma, who flipped out and changed the whole dynamic.

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Students’ Mom Could Not Care Less When The Teacher Complained About Him Cussing In Class was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Angry Man Rampages In OC Store, Assaults Clerk Then Involved In Road Rage, Police Say

An angry man was seen assaulting a clerk and throwing items off shelves at a Santa Ana gas station – and then was involved in a road-rage incident a short time later, police say.

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Angry Man Rampages In OC Store, Assaults Clerk Then Involved In Road Rage, Police Say was originally published on NewsLinQ

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He’s Like a Japanese James Bond, But Last of the Ninjas Is Ending 500 Year “Dark Arts” Dynasty

Ninja, party of one. For 63-year-old ‘Last Ninja Standing’ Jinichi Kawakami of Japan, it’s a lonely life, knowing he is the last true master of his art to ever grace the earth. Kawakami, whose talents include the ability to vanish into black smoke and use a Death Star to cut his victim’s throat without being anywhere near them, says there’s just not much call for the kind of espionage and hitman services that ninjas traditionally employed in Japan for the last five centuries. The “dark arts” scion has a real, modern life job as well: as an engineer. But it will be bittersweet to lay down his sword for the last time, coming as he does from the Ban Dynasty, who for centuries spied and took down enemies à la Bond. Especially since Kawakami has been practicing for the elite profession since the tender age of six.

Years and years of concentration mastery went into making him the ‘Last Ninja.’ With a strict Buddhist monk watching over him, Kawakami had to learn to hear the sound of a pin being dropped from another room. The discipline has served him well.

“Training was made to be part of my life,” he says now matter-of-factly of his extensive prowess. You could say he is the last in a line of very fancy hitmen, a trade that’s harder to get away with these days. When times were less particular, the ninja skills of scaling castle walls silently and making bombs had more practical applications.

Historically, ninjas were most in demand during times of civil unrest, when their cunning and stealth capabilities put them in good stead with warlords intent on moving in for the kill, so to speak. But advances in civilization, modern weaponry, and highly trained military experts along the lines of Navy SEALS have made the once-honored profession somewhat antiquated.

“Ninjas proper no longer exist,” Jinichi says, wistfully.

It wasn’t easy to make the decision to put an end to the family business, either. But five years ago, Kawakami decided the ninja didn’t really have a future, and thus chose not to select anyone to take over the title of Ninja Grandmaster after he’s gone.

All will not be lost, however. Kawakami plans to impart his secret agent knowledge at an unnamed Japanese university, where the ‘Art of the Ninja’ will be memorialized via a research center devoted to capturing this soon-to-be-extinct profession’s secrets.

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He’s Like a Japanese James Bond, But Last of the Ninjas Is Ending 500 Year “Dark Arts” Dynasty was originally published on NewsLinQ

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“I Saw My Siblings in Heaven,” Recounts Child Who Came Back to Life Twice After Car Accident

Looking at 28-year-old Landon Kemp now, you might think he’d been the victim of a crime at some point in his life. With a highway of deep scars running down his forehead and across his left cheek, it’s hard to miss that some kind of trauma has befallen him. But the stocky young man’s visible disfigurement belies his true experience, one that changed his life forever when it happened twenty years ago. It was 1997 when the car Landon was in was broadsided horrifically, ironically, by an ambulance heading back to its station. The eight-year-old child’s father was killed instantly, and his mother Julie was taken away on a stretcher. But it took a few minutes for first responders to realize that Landon was sandwiched in the back seat, where he’d been crushed almost beyond recognition.

Taken to a trauma hospital in North Carolina, Landon died, and was revived by doctors, twice. Hooked up to every machine imaginable, with his head opened up to release swelling on his brain and bruises and cuts everywhere, the prognosis for the young child did not look promising, assuming he made it at all. But his mother, devastated by the loss of her husband and recovering from her own injuries, wouldn’t give up, not even when doctors cautioned her that Landon would likely never mature mentally, should he survive the terrible accident.

But comas are a strange thing, as medical literature has documented many times. While most people would have had traumatic brain injury, usually irreversible, Landon suddenly woke up after two weeks, and stunned the entire medical team by showing no signs of brain damage whatsoever.

Julie says she had never given up on Landon, even when things looked incredibly bleak. Turning to her Christian faith, she says, “I prayed as hard to [God] as I’ve ever prayed in my life for Landon to live.”

And those prayers were answered, but in an even more amazing way than she could ever have imagined. Because upon awakening, Landon told his stunned mother not only that he had been to Heaven and seen old family friends who had predeceased him, but also that he had met two of his own siblings there. “We had lost two children before [Landon],” Julie told the Christian Broadcasting Network in a recent interview. “I had two miscarriages before Landon was born. We’d never shared that with [him].”

Dreading telling her son that his father had been lost in the accident, Julie was further amazed when her young son told her he had seen his dad in Heaven as well.

The incredible incident has affected Julie and Landon’s lives ever since, with both of them spreading the message of Jesus’ love and the importance of never losing hope. And for this amazing mother and son, the reality of a miracle will be ever-present in their lives.

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“I Saw My Siblings in Heaven,” Recounts Child Who Came Back to Life Twice After Car Accident was originally published on NewsLinQ

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9-Year-Old Celine Tam Stuns Crowd With "My Heart Will Go On

Celine Dion’s number one fan surprises the judges with her powerful voice.

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9-Year-Old Celine Tam Stuns Crowd With “My Heart Will Go On was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Toddler Pulls Loaded Gun From Toy Box During Police Welfare Check: Cops

A toddler pulled out a loaded gun from his toy box while police were doing a welfare check in his Florida home on Tuesday, according to police. The 3-year-old was reportedly playing with his toys when police and the Florida Department of Children services responded to the residence over neglect allegations and reports that drugs were being sold out of the Boynton Beach home.

While officers were speaking to the boy’s mother, Rosalyn Faniel, 34, the child took the 9mm loaded gun out of his toy box, according to reports.

Officers reportedly found one bullet in the chamber of the gun and the safety was off.

Faniel told officers she had no idea the gun was in the home.

After a search of the home, the officers found a yellow box of 9mm ammunition on top of the refrigerator, according to reports.

Police also reportedly found oxycodone in the home.

No one was injured. Faniel was charged with child neglect.

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Toddler Pulls Loaded Gun From Toy Box During Police Welfare Check: Cops was originally published on NewsLinQ

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3 Steps To Train Your Brain To Stop Worrying

Unnecessary stress and worry do no good for those affected, or the ancillary parties it affects by default. If you’re looking to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress here are a few surefire ways to quiet the mind, and train your brain to stop worrying.3 STEPS TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN TO STOP WORRYING

WHAT ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT? WRITE IT DOWN. When you are training your brain to stop worrying, this technique is said to be one of the most valuable.

If your brain is keeping you up at night perseverating on something, write it down on paper or type it in the notepad on your phone. Doing so lets your brain breathe a mental sigh of relief by no longer be required to exhaust energy remembering those details.

Writing it down not only relieves your brain from having to recount so many details, it also sends a clear message that “this is important enough to write down.” Once your brain receives that note, it’ll remember.

According to a recent article published in the journal, Anxiety, Stress & Coping, researchers believe that chronic worriers are often times chronic avoiders.

For the study, worriers were asked to write three possible outcomes for the situation they were stressing at present, then analyze their own answers for practical solutions.

The scientist’s noted that: when participants’ evaluations of their problems were rated for concreteness, both studies showed an inverse relationship between the degree of worry and concreteness: the more participants worried about a given topic, the less concrete was the quality of their evaluation.

These results challenge the view that worry might promote better problem-solving analyses. Instead, they conform to the view that worry is a cognitive avoidance response.

MEDITATE. Meditation can help train your brain to stop worrying. In an article in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, researchers studied the physical and mental effects of meditation. They found that meditation is particularly good for reducing cognitive anxiety, or worry.

Although some people believe that they do not have time to meditate, meditation is as easy as choosing to close your eyes right now for 30 seconds or longer with intent. The act of choosing to tune out other sources of stress is an active step to train your brain to stop worrying.

All it takes is a few moments where you consciously choose to avoid any non-natural noise in your life will allow you to get centered around what is most important to you. Though worrisome thoughts may enter your mind while you meditate, those who have mastered the art of brain training recommend observing the thoughts as they enter the mind, and simply watching them pass like clouds on a breezy day.

EXERCISE. Worry causes your brain to activate the fight or flight system. If a cougar jumps out at you, you instantly feel a rush of adrenaline, and this fear response is the same thing that is happening to your body when you worry, just at a much lower level over a longer period of time.

According to the same study referenced about in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, exercise is good for alleviating symptoms of anxiety including jitters. If your body feels less physical symptoms of stress, your mind interprets that there’s less to worry about because the body isn’t in a state of heightened arousal.

Exercise can help lower blood pressure, which is another physical symptom of stress in the body. If you can identify that you are worrying, go for a 5-10 minute walk, outside if possible. Appreciate the sights and sounds of nature while focusing on the motion of your limbs and the breaths that you take.

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3 Steps To Train Your Brain To Stop Worrying was originally published on NewsLinQ

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This Is The Perfect Woman’s Body, According To Science

What does the perfect female body look like? Does it exist?

Scientifically speaking, it does.

Though, some of you may be surprised to learn that Victoria’s Secret model proportions aren’t it.

Researchers at the University of Texas say the perfect female body measures 1.68 meters (or about 5 feet 6 inches) in height, with bust/weight/hip measurements of 99-63-91.

Sounds good on paper, though for those of you struggling to conjure up an image of what those dimensions look like in real life, this is it. This scientifically proven perfect body belongs to Kelly Brook, a 34-year-old model and actress from England.

While Brook certainly isn’t overweight, many would refer to her as “thick” or “plump”, including several talent scouts when she first attempted to break into the modeling world.

But, according to researchers, Brook’s all-natural body is perfect in terms of attractiveness — the most important trait a human can have, scientifically speaking – fertility.

After all, the primary function in any species is to reproduce, and a full figure communicates one’s efficiency at doing so through pregnancy and feeding.

Men are attracted to women whose facial and body characteristics – like Kelly Brook’s – are associated with youth and good health.

Studies have shown that this attraction transcends culture, and that two men will likely be attracted to the same youthful and healthy traits of a woman even when they come from entirely different backgrounds.

So…why are models expected to be so thin?

Because they’re trying to sell clothes, not convey fertility.

That’s according to Jennifer Lee, who formerly worked for top designer Karl Lagerfeld, the head of Chanel.

Fashion models are hired based on their ability to highlight the lines and structure of the clothing they wear. That’s why we see very few women in the industry who look like Kelly Brook.

But while thin supermodels might make a flowing dress look good on the runway, scientifically – as the study involving Kelly Brook has shown – most men would prefer a woman several times larger.

While being too thin is an indicator of unhealthiness, being overweight isn’t good either. If you’re not a runway model, then finding a healthy balance somewhere in between is key to achieving your ultimate form in terms of attractiveness.

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This Is The Perfect Woman’s Body, According To Science was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Scientists Develop New Drug That Gives You Natural Tan Without Sun

Scientists have developed a new drug that gives you the appearance of having a nice, even suntan — without even having to step foot outside or in a tanning bed.

In an effort to combat skin damage from sun exposure — namely Melanoma, the leading skin cancer that claims one life an hour in the US alone — researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have created a drug that stimulates the production of melanin – the skin’s natural defense against UV rays that darkens to protect it – so the tan is real and not painted or sprayed on.

While spray tans and fake tans look great, they don’t offer any actual protection against the sun. This may soon change as early studies of the drug have yielded exciting developments for skin care proving that the melanin produced following treatment successfully protects against UV rays.

The team hopes that their breakthrough, reported in the journal Cell Reports, will mean a reduction in the negative effects of UV radiation, from liver spots and premature aging to skin cancer.

In an interview with BBC, the study’s leader, Dr. David Fisher says that their discovery may be a game changer for the skincare industry. “Our real goal is a novel strategy for protecting skin from UV radiation and cancer. Dark pigment is associated with a lower risk of all forms of skin cancer – that would be really huge.”

How It Works

Under UV rays the skin naturally protects itself against harm by initiating a chemical reaction that produces melanin (the pigment that gives hair, skin, and eyes a dark coloring). This is why people that live in warmer, sunnier climates often have darker skin and hair than those hailing from colder regions.

The drug is applied in the form of creme onto the skin to stimulate the melanin process. To date, it has only been tested on mice and skin samples, BUT, the results are not only promising, they even suggest it could be effective on redheads — a hair color / pale complexion that derives from a genetic mutation that prevents the skin from producing melanin!

On average, a person’s risk of developing melanoma is doubled once they’ve had more than five sunburns, and a staggering 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Each year in the US, there are more new cases of skin cancer diagnosed than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers combined.

Indoor Tanning is OK….Right?

The risk is not worth the reward. Each year, more than 419,000 skin cancer cases in the US are linked to indoor tanning. People who have used tanning beds 10 or more times have increased their risk of developing melanoma by 34% compared to those who have never used tanning beds.

What’s The Plan?

Ultimately, researchers hope to combine their drug with sunscreen for maximum protection against the sun. Until then, daily use of SPF15 or higher reduces your risk of developing melanoma by 50%.  So, lather up!

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Scientists Develop New Drug That Gives You Natural Tan Without Sun was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Consumed By Grief, Mom Whose Son Took His Own Life Gets A New Lease On Hers

It’s a tragedy we hear about all too often these days: a decorated war veteran, unable to readjust to civilian life, commits suicide. For janitor Ernestina Nunuz, it was a reality that hit her right in the heart, because of her own son Daniel, at just 33 years of age and a Marine, killed himself when he couldn’t shake off the effects of PTSD. Not surprisingly, the turn of events devastated Nunuz, a school janitor who walked a mile to work each day in St. Petersburg, Florida, carrying several bags to boot. The grieving mother could barely see clear to why she herself was still alive, when a young man close to her son’s age gave her a gift of such heart, it couldn’t help but revive hers a bit.

Along Ernestina’s long route to her school job, she would pass a tire and used car lot. Unbeknownst to her, the lot’s young owner, a man who had seen his own share of troubled times, took notice of Nunuz’s plight and decided to do what he could to lift her wounded spirits.

Richard Newberry started talking to the bereaved mother one day, and an idea came to him of how he could make her life just a little bit better.

As seen on “Inside Edition,” Newberry surprised Nunuz with keys to a used car and the title, gifting her with wheels so she would no longer have to make the long trek to and from school each day by foot.

“It’s not much, but it’s a car,” he told Ernestina, who looked at him in disbelief. “You don’t believe me?” Newberry said to a stunned Nunuz, who kept shaking her head. “I’m giving you the car.”

Finally, as we see in the “Inside Edition” video, Ernestina unloaded her bags and got into the driver’s seat. We can only assume a beautiful and meaningful friendship came of this touching gift, which no doubt meant just as much to the giver as the receiver.

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Consumed By Grief, Mom Whose Son Took His Own Life Gets A New Lease On Hers was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Latest Phone Scam Could Use Your Own Voice To Ring Up Your Charge Cards

Once upon a time, you could sign up for the federal ‘Do Not Call’ list, and be reasonably assured you wouldn’t get many if any, random marketing calls. But changes in the cell phone industry have opened the door to a whole new level of unsolicited calls now, and there doesn’t seem to be any list you can opt into that will keep you safe. One genre of such calls that is being used more and more is as devious as they come, largely because it appears, on the surface, to be so innocuous. But if you get a call from anyone you don’t know where the first thing they say is “Can you hear me?” you should immediately hang up without responding.

The reason? The caller is asking you this question not because they care about your call quality: they want to get a clean recording of your own voice saying “yes,” which they will then use to verify online transactions that could potentially max out your credit cards.

Although we are not aware that most merchants match voice input to pre-recorded voice records, apparently, it’s worth a scammer taking the time to get your own voice down, so it must count for something.

How can you avoid this unfortunate situation? Experts say the simplest way is to just not answer any calls from unknown numbers, or those that pop up saying “unknown” on your cell phone. If for some reason you forget and do answer, be sure not to respond with “yes” to any questions the caller may ask you.

Of course, the smartest thing to do is to simply hang up without saying a word. That way, you never have to worry about saying too much, or the wrong thing, to someone who could use your own words against you.

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Latest Phone Scam Could Use Your Own Voice To Ring Up Your Charge Cards was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Devoted Granddaughter Brings Granny’s Dog To Hospital, Disguised As A Baby

Hospitals have many rules and regulations, and most are meant for their patients’ well-being. But sometimes, you just have to break the rules, and that’s what a pretty young woman named Shelby did for her ailing grandmother that made her day. Shelby’s grandmother was rushed to the hospital following an unexpected allergic reaction, she obviously couldn’t bring along her darling long-haired Chihuahua Patsy. The two were usually inseparable, and Shelby knew that being apart would be very taxing for them both. So, she concocted a plan to get Patsy into her grandma’s hospital bed.

The plan, like many a scheme, had a few “what if?” that Shelby had to hope wouldn’t bust her disguise. Wrapping Patsy in a huge blue blanket and carrying her, so that it looked like the tiny dog was a swaddled baby, meant that Patsy couldn’t bark, or the jig was up. But Patsy must have understood what was at stake because despite the strange smells and sounds of a hospital, she didn’t give away her disguise and Shelby was able to smuggle her up to her grandmother’s room. It’s hard to say who was happier for the reunion, grandma or the dog, but suffice it to say, Shelby made them both very, very happy. Her photo documentation of the saga went saga, so presumably, the hospital now has Patsy on its “10 Most Wanted Dogs” list. Who wouldn’t want a dog like Patsy, after all?

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Devoted Granddaughter Brings Granny’s Dog To Hospital, Disguised As A Baby was originally published on NewsLinQ

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People Who Spend Money On Experiences Instead Of Things Are Much Happier

It’s estimated that close to 8o million Millennials are now taking over the planet. But where are they most likely to put their purchasing power? That’s a good question. For certain, new approaches to marketing both goods and services will need to fall into place to appeal to Millennials (also known as Generation Y, or GenY). They are more geared to see life experiences as where they want to put their hard-earned money, with an emphasis on travel, educational growth, and even art.

Everyone from employers to retailers will have to do a major paradigm shift when it comes to marketing to this mentality, which varies markedly from previous generations, who sought material possessions as symbols of social status and even happiness.

Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is

Of course, even these experiences cost money, but instead of having an item to hold after your purchase, you have a memory to carry with you forever, along with personal growth and enhanced well-being. And that may well be a much healthier way to go, say researchers.

As the old saying goes:

No one ever looked back from their deathbed and wished they’d worked more. Live a little, love a lot, and create memories for a lifetime of happiness.

And while modern media images inundate us with the message that status and self-importance comes from how we dress, what car we drive, and how much money we have, it turns out (according to several recent studies) that none of that really impacts our sense of serenity or happiness. One such research project, written up in the Journal of Positive Psychology, clearly pinpointed that the happiest people do things, rather than buy things. Whether traveling to exotic locations or taking a new class, life-enrichment activities seem to outweigh throwing more clothes in your closet or more bling on your body.

To the contrary, those who shop excessively, almost to the point of addiction, even, may be among the least internally satisfied folks on the planet.

The Journal study wasn’t the only one to come across this interesting viewpoint, either. At San Francisco University, research staff discovered that humans innately know that experiential living will lead to a more satisfied state of mind, even when they don’t actually use that knowledge to make their own purchasing decisions.

It seems the impact of the internet, social media, and television often overwhelms that inner voice, and we end up with clothes we never wear and items that collect dust, or, at most, excite us for a day or a week, and then become relegated to a drawer somewhere in our house.

So Why Do We Buy?

It’s all about impulse buying. Sadly, although the purchase itself may have given the buyer an immediate rush (according to these studies), once that moment has come and gone, those who participated in the studies said they wished they’d spent their money more expansively: to grow, learn, and experience life from new perspectives. Where does the pressure to purchase “stuff” come from then, if our inner voices know better? Well, Cornell University researchers found that, especially among the Millennial generation, everything from reality shows to award shows most likely send young people the message that “bling is king,” leading them to buy jewelry and clothes they may very well not be able to afford, and possibly do not even want.

“We buy things to make us happy, and we succeed. But only for a while. New things are exciting to us at first, but then we adapt to them,” points out Cornell psychology professor Dr. Thomas Gilovich. The doctor was part of a research project that explored the connection (or lack thereof) between having money and being truly content.

After all, back in caveman times, when you foraged or hunted or traveled to the cave next door, it wasn’t called out to the world with endless selfies, tweets, or Facebook posts. In such a visual reality as we live in today, it can be hard to resist the desire to adorn yourself and make it look like you are more successful than you really are.

And Millennials are caught somewhere in the middle: social media mavens who also want lives with meaning and purpose. Smart marketers will need a complete paradigm shift to keep up with this complex generation, and only those who are up to the task will survive.

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People Who Spend Money On Experiences Instead Of Things Are Much Happier was originally published on NewsLinQ

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Science Confirms Tequila Is Good For Your Bones

Until now, Kenny Chesney had said it best, “tequila makes her clothes fall off.”

But…

Science has stepped in to change the narrative a bit.

“Tequila makes her bones….stronger?”

Not quite as catchy, but certainly holds more weight. According to a study from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Mexico, tequila helps the body absorb calcium and magnesium, leading to stronger bones—making the agave-based spirit part of a healthy diet.

Science Daily reports that the study determined fructans (sugar molecules contained in blue agave, the plant from which tequila is made) help lab mice produce osteocalcin, a critical component to growing new, thicker bones. Dr. Mercedes López, the project’s leader, attributed the effects to an interaction between the fructans and bacteria in the intestines, which allow the sugar molecules to capture nutrients that are passed through the digestive system, and effectively carry them to bone cells.

The researchers are optimistic that their findings will ultimately aid patients suffering from osteoporosis.

But for now….

(Source)

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Science Confirms Tequila Is Good For Your Bones was originally published on NewsLinQ