dailyhealthpost--2020-07-23--Never Ignore These Superfoods for Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the biggest health issues in the U.S. with over 10 % of people being diagnosed with the condition according to the American Diabetes Association [ 1 ] .
It is prevalent in seniors but it ’ s by no means exclusive to them with younger people being diagnosed in higher numbers every year .
On average , there are about 1.5 to 2 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes every year .
There are lots of options when it comes to managing or preventing diabetes but the best results are achieved by combining medicine with a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful food supplements .
The last part is often ignored by a lot of people so here ’ s a list of the 12 best superfoods for diabetes in no particular order .
Ashwagandha – the Ayurveda key to managing both blood pressure and stress This old medicinal herb has been used in Ayurveda for over 3,000 years .
Ashwagandha is also known as winter cherry or Indian ginseng .
Essentially , it ’ s an evergreen shrub that grows in India , the Middle East , and parts of Africa .
Ashwagandha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress , lowering one ’ s blood pressure , as well as improving concentration [ 2 ] .
The Indian herb has been subjected to multiple peer-reviewed studies and human trials [ 3-6 ] and has passed them all with flying colors .
It can help lower the blood pressure of both healthy people and diabetics , while also lowering cortisol levels [ 7,8 ] .
It is advisable to always consult with your medical professional first but Ashwagandha has been found to have no discernible short-term or long-term negative effects on patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Japanese green powder tea that ’ s specifically grown and processed to fight diabetes .

According to the International Diabetes Federation, in 2019 approximately 463 million adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes and by 2045 this will rise to 700 million. At the same time, 374 million people are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In the U.S. alone, over 10% of people are being diagnosed with the condition according to the American Diabetes Association[1]. It is prevalent in seniors but it’s by no means exclusive to them with younger people being diagnosed in higher numbers every year. On average, there are about 1.5 to 2 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes every year.
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There are lots of options when it comes to managing or preventing diabetes but the best results are achieved by combining medicine with a good diet, adequate exercise routines, and powerful food supplements. The last part is often ignored by a lot of people so here’s a list of the 12 best superfoods for diabetes in no particular order.
Ashwagandha – the Ayurveda key to managing both blood pressure and stress
This old medicinal herb has been used in Ayurveda for over 3,000 years. Ashwagandha is also known as winter cherry or Indian ginseng. Essentially, it’s an evergreen shrub that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Ashwagandha has been proven to work for relieving stress, lowering one’s blood pressure, as well as improving concentration[2].
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The Indian herb has been subjected to multiple peer-reviewed studies and human trials[3-6] and has passed them all with flying colors. It can help lower the blood pressure of both healthy people and diabetics, while also lowering cortisol levels[7,8]. It is advisable to always consult with your medical professional first but Ashwagandha has been found to have no discernible short-term or long-term negative effects on patients[4].
Coming up – the Japanese green powder tea that’s specifically grown and processed to fight diabetes.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-23--This 4,000-mile Trail Will Let People Bike Across The U.S. On One Path

Bike riding is one of those physical activities that combine so many benefits that it will hopefully never go out of style .
And projects such as this one from the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy ( RTC ) make this even more likely .
The project is dubbed “ The Great American Rail-Trail.
” The plan of the RTC is for a coast-to-coast bike trail that ’ s over 3,700 miles long .
To do this , the organization is going to connect already existing bike trails across 12 states , connecting Washington State with Washington D.C. How will it be done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trails through both populated and unpopulated areas sounds like an insurmountable task and it would be .
However , the RTC is relying on the fact that the U.S. is already well-traversed with routes , trails , and even abandoned railroads .
And given the country ’ s history , a lot of those trails usually go from east to west anyway .
Abandoned railroads , in particular , have already proven to be very useful for the creation of both bike trails and other public areas .
Ever since cars and highways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ railroads have been switched to walking paths , horseback riding trails , skating routes , and many other activities , including biking .
And given the aversion toward high-speed trains in the U.S. , this trend is likely to continue .
This is exactly what the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy has been doing ever since its creation in 1986 .
Since then , the RTC has created over 24,000 miles of bikeable pathways from rail-trails already .
The “ Great American Rail-Trail ” is definitely ambitious and will take a lot of time , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel , exercise , and even business opportunities .
Spanning 12 states , the trail will offer bikers traffic-free paths , countless scenic vistas , a lot of historic landmarks and monuments along or near the trail , as well as access to a lot of populated areas .
According to the RTC , the finished trail will pass by towns and cities with a combined total population of 50,000,000 people .
And because the trail will be made by connecting 125+ already existing bike trails across the country , ~52 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ~90 path gaps still to fill , however , so the RTC is working hard with local governors , other politicians , companies , and volunteers to complete the project as soon as possible .
The bad news is that the project can still take decades to complete if it doesn ’ t receive the necessary backing and funds from state governors .
Even in this case , however , the RTC is committed to keeping at it as the “ Great American Rail-Trail ” offers too much to not be completed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trail in Spain attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year , so can “ The Great American Trail ” once it is completed .
In the case of Camino de Santiago , it ’ s only 620km or 386 miles long but it ’ s a walking route that takes about a month to complete .
The Spanish walking trail has a deeply religious history but it ’ s also often visited as a tourist attraction as it passes through most of Spain and close to a lot of historic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project can do something similar but on a 10x times larger scale and in the form of a bike path .
This means a stark boost to the tourist industry all along the trail and fresh opportunities for countless small businesses to open – hotels , motels , campgrounds , lodging , restaurants and pubs , and more .
Cycling tourism is rising in popularity across the world and the “ Great American Rail-Trail ” can be a great way to both stimulate it and take advantage of it .
Change the exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no secret that the U.S. has obesity issues .
This is a complex problem created by a lot of different factors and it ’ s by no means exclusive to the U.S. One of the main factors that contributes to this problem , however , is the deteriorating exercise culture in the country .
Creating new , exciting , and practical exercise options for Americans is likely the best way to tackle this issue .
What ’ s good about the “ Great American Rail-Trail ” project is that it isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traversed at once .
You can use the rail-trail to make shorter trips form state to state , for example .
Or , you can use it as an opportunity to cover several trails at once instead of having to drive your car to visit a single trail .
Cycling offers near-countless health benefits , almost all of which are sorely needed in the U.S. : • Weight loss .
Cycling is one of the best calorie-burning and cardio exercises out there .
Check out the Keisan online calorie calculator to see how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , short biking trips .
Depending on the intensity and the rider ’ s weight , the rough estimate is between 400 and 1,000 calories per hour .
• Building muscles .
Cycling is amazing for your calves , quads , glutes , and hamstrings .
Want those perfect legs that both men and women love ?
Cycling is the best way to go about it .
• Mental health .
Physical health is not the only problem many Americans face – mental health issues need addressing as well and cycling is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Depression and anxiety , in particular are greatly benefited by long , scenic bike rides in nature .
Alone or with friends , cycling is a great way to boost your mood .
• Lung health .
2020 has certainly reminded a lot of people how important it is to maintain adequate lung health .
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic , lung health was vital for a lot of Americans .
Cycling helps with that not only by improving your lungs ’ capabilities but by reducing your exposure to air pollution as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s no secret that heart diseases and cancers are the two biggest killers in the U.S. and the western world as a whole .
Studies like this one from the University of Glasgow clearly show a direct link between regular cycling and both cancer and health disease reduction .
This particular study worked with over 260,000 participants over a period of five years and the results were that bike riding cuts both risks by half .
There are many more benefits we can list but the point is hopefully clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rail-Trail ” can easily be one of the best things to happen to the U.S. in quite some time .
The sooner it ’ s finished , the sooner we can start benefiting from it .

Bike riding is one of those physical activities that combine so many benefits that it will hopefully never go out of style. And projects such as this one from the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy (RTC) make this even more likely.
Advertisement
The project is dubbed “The Great American Rail-Trail.” The plan of the RTC is for a coast-to-coast bike trail that’s over 3,700 miles long. To do this, the organization is going to connect already existing bike trails across 12 states, connecting Washington State with Washington D.C.
How will it be done?
Creating nearly 4,000 miles of bike trails through both populated and unpopulated areas sounds like an insurmountable task and it would be. However, the RTC is relying on the fact that the U.S. is already well-traversed with routes, trails, and even abandoned railroads. And given the country’s history, a lot of those trails usually go from east to west anyway.
Advertisement
Abandoned railroads, in particular, have already proven to be very useful for the creation of both bike trails and other public areas. Ever since cars and highways started outcompeting the railroad industry, abandoned railroads have been switched to walking paths, horseback riding trails, skating routes, and many other activities, including biking. And given the aversion toward high-speed trains in the U.S., this trend is likely to continue.
This is exactly what the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy has been doing ever since its creation in 1986. Since then, the RTC has created over 24,000 miles of bikeable pathways from rail-trails already.
The “Great American Rail-Trail” is definitely ambitious and will take a lot of time, but it would also offer amazing tourism, travel, exercise, and even business opportunities.
Advertisement
Spanning 12 states, the trail will offer bikers traffic-free paths, countless scenic vistas, a lot of historic landmarks and monuments along or near the trail, as well as access to a lot of populated areas. According to the RTC, the finished trail will pass by towns and cities with a combined total population of 50,000,000 people.
And because the trail will be made by connecting 125+ already existing bike trails across the country, ~52% of it is already built. There are ~90 path gaps still to fill, however, so the RTC is working hard with local governors, other politicians, companies, and volunteers to complete the project as soon as possible.
The bad news is that the project can still take decades to complete if it doesn’t receive the necessary backing and funds from state governors. Even in this case, however, the RTC is committed to keeping at it as the “Great American Rail-Trail” offers too much to not be completed.
Advertisement
Tourism boost and business opportunities
Just like the Camino de Santiago walking trail in Spain attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year, so can “The Great American Trail” once it is completed. In the case of Camino de Santiago, it’s only 620km or 386 miles long but it’s a walking route that takes about a month to complete.
The Spanish walking trail has a deeply religious history but it’s also often visited as a tourist attraction as it passes through most of Spain and close to a lot of historic monuments and tourist-friendly locations.
The RTC project can do something similar but on a 10x times larger scale and in the form of a bike path. This means a stark boost to the tourist industry all along the trail and fresh opportunities for countless small businesses to open – hotels, motels, campgrounds, lodging, restaurants and pubs, and more.
Advertisement
The Vision of the Great American Rail-Trail | a trail to connect the country
Watch this video on YouTube
Cycling tourism is rising in popularity across the world and the “Great American Rail-Trail” can be a great way to both stimulate it and take advantage of it.
Change the exercise culture in the U.S.
It’s no secret that the U.S. has obesity issues. This is a complex problem created by a lot of different factors and it’s by no means exclusive to the U.S. One of the main factors that contributes to this problem, however, is the deteriorating exercise culture in the country. Creating new, exciting, and practical exercise options for Americans is likely the best way to tackle this issue.
What’s good about the “Great American Rail-Trail” project is that it isn’t necessary for the whole trail to be traversed at once. You can use the rail-trail to make shorter trips form state to state, for example. Or, you can use it as an opportunity to cover several trails at once instead of having to drive your car to visit a single trail.
Advertisement
Cycling offers near-countless health benefits, almost all of which are sorely needed in the U.S.:
Weight loss. Cycling is one of the best calorie-burning and cardio exercises out there. Check out the Keisan online calorie calculator to see how many calories you can burn with simple, short biking trips. Depending on the intensity and the rider’s weight, the rough estimate is between 400 and 1,000 calories per hour.
Building muscles. Cycling is amazing for your calves, quads, glutes, and hamstrings. Want those perfect legs that both men and women love? Cycling is the best way to go about it.
Mental health. Physical health is not the only problem many Americans face – mental health issues need addressing as well and cycling is a great answer to them as well. Depression and anxiety, in particular are greatly benefited by long, scenic bike rides in nature. Alone or with friends, cycling is a great way to boost your mood.
Lung health. 2020 has certainly reminded a lot of people how important it is to maintain adequate lung health. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, lung health was vital for a lot of Americans. Cycling helps with that not only by improving your lungs’ capabilities but by reducing your exposure to air pollution as well.
Heart disease and cancer prevention. It’s no secret that heart diseases and cancers are the two biggest killers in the U.S. and the western world as a whole. Studies like this one from the University of Glasgow clearly show a direct link between regular cycling and both cancer and health disease reduction. This particular study worked with over 260,000 participants over a period of five years and the results were that bike riding cuts both risks by half.
There are many more benefits we can list but the point is hopefully clear by now. The “Great American Rail-Trail” can easily be one of the best things to happen to the U.S. in quite some time. The sooner it’s finished, the sooner we can start benefiting from it.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-24--Walmart Testing Self-checkout Only by Removing All Cashiers From One of Its Stores

The self-checkout vs cashiers debate has been going on for quite some time .
There are advocates for both models and the public seems rather undecided as well .
That debate is set to get even more heated as Walmart is starting to test a no-cashiers model in one of their stores .
In Fayetteville , Arkansas Walmart is setting up a self-checkout only store to see how their customers respond .
The store won ’ t have any cashiers anymore although there will still be some assistants to help customers with the self-checkout machines when needed .
With this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at several factors : • How much is the store going to save from the cashiers ’ salaries they ’ d no longer have to pay ?
• How fast are the self-checkout lines going to move ?
• How often will customers require assistance with the self-checkout machines ?
• How is the customers ’ satisfaction going to change ?
• Are any customers going to “ flee ” to the competition ?
That last question is important for the short-term but it won ’ t matter very much if all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only ” model at some point .
After all , then there won ’ t be anywhere to “ flee ” .
What are the benefits of the self-checkouts model for both the store owner and the customer ?
Many people enjoy doing their own checkout at the store and find it to be quicker and more private .
Don ’ t want to be judged by a stranger for your purchases ?
Self-checkouts remove that risk .
Plus , at least in theory , the money saved from the cashiers ’ salaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s prices , right ?
They usually aren ’ t but that ’ s still a benefit from the point of view of the store – a major benefit .
A recent Information Technology and Innovation Foundation report called Embracing the Self-Serving Economy determined that checking someone in at an airport staffed desk costs about $ 3 per person .
The same action via an electronic terminal costs just fourteen cents .
Similar cost differences likely apply to convenience stores like Walmart so that ’ s a pretty significant monetary incentive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Another proposed benefit of self-checkouts is a bit more theoretical – it ’ s that they are “ faster ” than cashier-operated checkouts .
This sounds logical at first – automated tasks are usually performed more efficiently than man-operated tasks .
There ’ s research done on the topic too but the answer still seems unclear .
In practice , whether the self-checkout ’ s speed is a pro or a con depends on the person .
If the machine works flawlessly and the customer knows what they ’ re doing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the store quicker .
If , however , there ’ s a problem with the machine , with the products ’ barcodes , or the customer isn ’ t 100 % sure what they ’ re doing – the delays can be quite significant .
In a 2004 experiment with self-checkouts , for example , McDonald ’ s determined that self-checkouts take 30 % more of the customers ’ time , on average .
Of course , this was ~16 years ago so things have surely changed since then .
By how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know for sure .
What are the drawbacks of self-checkouts ?
Moving into more definitive drawbacks , those are quite numerous as well .
In fact , there ’ s plenty of additional research to suggest that the majority of people still prefer to work with cashiers .
This alone , from the store ’ s point of view , should make the “ self-checkout only ” model undesirable .
Whether Walmart ’ s Fayetteville experiment confirms that remains to be seen .
But why do so many customers dislike self-checkouts ?
Apart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here are a few other reasons : 1 .
People don ’ t like the extra work .
At the end of the day , checking out store products is work .
That ’ s why cashiers get paid after all .
It may not seem like that much work if you ’ ve only got 2-3 items and they all go through the machine without a hitch but when you have a full cart and multiple items don ’ t go through , it becomes a chore .
If store chains decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-checkouts , opinions may start to change .
As of now , opinions like this seem prevalent : “ I ’ m starting to resent doing unpaid work , ” says Bonnie Banks from Whitby , Ontario , Canada .
“ And it seems to be escalating.
” 2 .
They feel dehumanizing .
Sure , we don ’ t go to the store to interact with other people .
In fact , most customers explicitly dislike interacting with cashiers .
Nevertheless , it ’ s still a form of human interaction that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone .
If we lose cashiers , then bus and taxi drivers , then waiters and waitresses , and other positions to automation , the world can start getting pretty boring .
“ It often takes the human being out of the equation , ” Craig Lambert , author of Shadow Work : The Unpaid , Unseen Jobs That Fill Your Day .
“ Those small relationships are part of how you build a community , frankly .
Robots don ’ t interchange banter .
There ’ s no pleasantries going back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And as a result , it somewhat dehumanizes daily life.
” 3 .
Automation is coming for most of us .
Speaking of robots taking over the world – experiments like that of Walmart are a part of the process .
It may not be the way Skynet did it in Terminator but it seems like it ’ s happening and it ’ s going to include a rapidly rising unemployment rate .
The statistics and prognosis about it seem pretty clear and even politicians are talking about it .
Former Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built his entire presidential campaign around the idea of a universal social security-type income for all citizens as a solution to automation-related unemployment .
He called it the “ Freedom Dividend ” and while people literally laughed at him on-stage , just a year later , many other politicians started talking and employing similar universal financial assistance due to the Covid-19 crisis .
Still , an effective and all-encompassing solution to automation doesn ’ t seem to be coming soon so Walmart ’ s experiment may prove costly to countless cashiers if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What does this mean for the rest of us ?
Nothing really , at least not as of now .
The people of Fayetteville , Arkansas will get to test the new system but even if ( or when ) Walmart decides to expand the system on a larger scale – that ’ s when we ’ ll see its true effect on both consumers and cashiers .

The self-checkout vs cashiers debate has been going on for quite some time. There are advocates for both models and the public seems rather undecided as well. That debate is set to get even more heated as Walmart is starting to test a no-cashiers model in one of their stores.
Advertisement
In Fayetteville, Arkansas Walmart is setting up a self-checkout only store to see how their customers respond. The store won’t have any cashiers anymore although there will still be some assistants to help customers with the self-checkout machines when needed. With this test, the store chain is likely looking at several factors:
How much is the store going to save from the cashiers’ salaries they’d no longer have to pay?
How fast are the self-checkout lines going to move?
How often will customers require assistance with the self-checkout machines?
How is the customers’ satisfaction going to change?
Are any customers going to “flee” to the competition?
That last question is important for the short-term but it won’t matter very much if all stores eventually move to a “Self-checkout only” model at some point. After all, then there won’t be anywhere to “flee”.
Advertisement
What are the benefits of the self-checkouts model for both the store owner and the customer?
Many people enjoy doing their own checkout at the store and find it to be quicker and more private. Don’t want to be judged by a stranger for your purchases? Self-checkouts remove that risk.
Plus, at least in theory, the money saved from the cashiers’ salaries ought to be deduced from the store’s prices, right? They usually aren’t but that’s still a benefit from the point of view of the store – a major benefit.
A recent Information Technology and Innovation Foundation report called Embracing the Self-Serving Economy determined that checking someone in at an airport staffed desk costs about $3 per person. The same action via an electronic terminal costs just fourteen cents. Similar cost differences likely apply to convenience stores like Walmart so that’s a pretty significant monetary incentive.
Advertisement
Is this a benefit or a drawback?
Another proposed benefit of self-checkouts is a bit more theoretical – it’s that they are “faster” than cashier-operated checkouts. This sounds logical at first – automated tasks are usually performed more efficiently than man-operated tasks.
There’s research done on the topic too but the answer still seems unclear. In practice, whether the self-checkout’s speed is a pro or a con depends on the person.
If the machine works flawlessly and the customer knows what they’re doing, they’ll likely get out of the store quicker.
Advertisement
If, however, there’s a problem with the machine, with the products’ barcodes, or the customer isn’t 100% sure what they’re doing – the delays can be quite significant.
In a 2004 experiment with self-checkouts, for example, McDonald’s determined that self-checkouts take 30% more of the customers’ time, on average. Of course, this was ~16 years ago so things have surely changed since then. By how much, however, we can’t know for sure.
What are the drawbacks of self-checkouts?
Moving into more definitive drawbacks, those are quite numerous as well. In fact, there’s plenty of additional research to suggest that the majority of people still prefer to work with cashiers. This alone, from the store’s point of view, should make the “self-checkout only” model undesirable. Whether Walmart’s Fayetteville experiment confirms that remains to be seen.
Advertisement
But why do so many customers dislike self-checkouts? Apart from the potentially slower checkout times, here are a few other reasons:
1. People don’t like the extra work. At the end of the day, checking out store products is work. That’s why cashiers get paid after all. It may not seem like that much work if you’ve only got 2-3 items and they all go through the machine without a hitch but when you have a full cart and multiple items don’t go through, it becomes a chore. If store chains decided to give customers discounts for using the self-checkouts, opinions may start to change. As of now, opinions like this seem prevalent: “I’m starting to resent doing unpaid work,” says Bonnie Banks from Whitby, Ontario, Canada. “And it seems to be escalating.”
2. They feel dehumanizing. Sure, we don’t go to the store to interact with other people. In fact, most customers explicitly dislike interacting with cashiers. Nevertheless, it’s still a form of human interaction that will be missed once it’s gone. If we lose cashiers, then bus and taxi drivers, then waiters and waitresses, and other positions to automation, the world can start getting pretty boring.
Advertisement
“It often takes the human being out of the equation,” Craig Lambert, author of Shadow Work: The Unpaid, Unseen Jobs That Fill Your Day. “Those small relationships are part of how you build a community, frankly. Robots don’t interchange banter. There’s no pleasantries going back and forth between you and the kiosk. And as a result, it somewhat dehumanizes daily life.”
3. Automation is coming for most of us. Speaking of robots taking over the world – experiments like that of Walmart are a part of the process. It may not be the way Skynet did it in Terminator but it seems like it’s happening and it’s going to include a rapidly rising unemployment rate. The statistics and prognosis about it seem pretty clear and even politicians are talking about it.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, for example, built his entire presidential campaign around the idea of a universal social security-type income for all citizens as a solution to automation-related unemployment. He called it the “Freedom Dividend” and while people literally laughed at him on-stage, just a year later, many other politicians started talking and employing similar universal financial assistance due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Advertisement
Still, an effective and all-encompassing solution to automation doesn’t seem to be coming soon so Walmart’s experiment may prove costly to countless cashiers if it’s deemed “successful”.
What does this mean for the rest of us?
Nothing really, at least not as of now. The people of Fayetteville, Arkansas will get to test the new system but even if (or when) Walmart decides to expand the system on a larger scale – that’s when we’ll see its true effect on both consumers and cashiers.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-24--Blacknose Sheeps Look Just Like Fluffy Stuffed Animals and Also Make Great Pets

The Valais Blacknose , hailing from the Swiss Valais region , is a rare breed with spiral horns , black faces , and gorgeous shaggy coats .
Interestingly , they weren ’ t established as a separate breed until 1962 albeit being documented as early as the 1400s .
They have black patches on their feet , hocks , and knees .
Their thick , fluffy white fur coats keep them warm in severe weather conditions typical of Swiss winters .
Today , the Valais Blacknose is just as well-known for its docile personality as for its adorable appearance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their calm nature and friendly disposition make them great pets .
Their white curls set their unique black faces off .
The spiral horns , which both males and females have , are yet another distinctive feature .
These sheep are bred for both wool and meat .
You can derive almost 9 pounds of wool per sheep a year .
Typically , their wool is used for felt and carpets because of how coarse it is .
The Blacknose was previously confined to Switzerland for centuries , but people have started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
They are currently found across the UK after their import into the country began in 2014 .
In Australia , New Zealand , and the United States , breeding programs have been launched with the hope of initiating import of the highly popular breed .
Some issues can be expected in the US as the USDA prohibits the import of European sheep embryos or live sheep .
To get a pure breed eventually , crossbreeding will be necessary .
In the US , development of the American Valais Blacknose Sheep is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was founded in 2016 and anyone who adores these cute animals can become a member .

The Valais Blacknose, hailing from the Swiss Valais region, is a rare breed with spiral horns, black faces, and gorgeous shaggy coats. Interestingly, they weren’t established as a separate breed until 1962 albeit being documented as early as the 1400s.
Advertisement
They have black patches on their feet, hocks, and knees. Their thick, fluffy white fur coats keep them warm in severe weather conditions typical of Swiss winters.
A Winning Combination of Personality and Appearance
Today, the Valais Blacknose is just as well-known for its docile personality as for its adorable appearance. These sheep are in very high demand. Their calm nature and friendly disposition make them great pets.
Advertisement
Their white curls set their unique black faces off. The spiral horns, which both males and females have, are yet another distinctive feature. These sheep are bred for both wool and meat. You can derive almost 9 pounds of wool per sheep a year. Typically, their wool is used for felt and carpets because of how coarse it is.
Taking the World Over
The Blacknose was previously confined to Switzerland for centuries, but people have started importing them into other countries in recent years. They are currently found across the UK after their import into the country began in 2014. In Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, breeding programs have been launched with the hope of initiating import of the highly popular breed.
Some issues can be expected in the US as the USDA prohibits the import of European sheep embryos or live sheep. To get a pure breed eventually, crossbreeding will be necessary.
Advertisement
In the US, development of the American Valais Blacknose Sheep is supported by the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society. It was founded in 2016 and anyone who adores these cute animals can become a member.
Fluffy Sheep Acts Like Pet Dog
Watch this video on YouTube
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-23--Are You Ignoring These Superfoods for Diabetes?


dailyhealthpost--2020-07-27--Oxford Vaccine Triggers The Production of T-cells and Antibodies That Can Fight Off The Coronavirus

While the Covid-19 pandemic doesn ’ t appear to be slowing down neither are the scientists working hard on developing vaccines and cures .
A new vaccine developed by the University of Oxford has been shown to trigger an immune response in humans .
The first trials for the new vaccine involved 1,077 people and over 90 % of them showed positive results .
The vaccine triggered the production of both antibodies and T-cells capable of fighting off the novel coronavirus which was the goal .
The UK has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine provided that further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What are T-cells and antibodies ?
They are small proteins made by our immune system to specifically stick to the surface of viruses and neutralize them .
Antibodies aren ’ t “ one size fits all ” , however , and don ’ t work against any and all viruses .
Our immune systems need to know what kind of virus they are dealing with and what type of antibodies they should build .
That ’ s precisely the purpose of all vaccines – to “ teach ” our immune systems what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help them prepare for it .
This is where T-cells come in .
These are a specialized type of white blood cells that help coordinate our immune system and “ spot ” viruses .
Without T-cells , no amount of antibodies can be enough to deal with a virus .
That ’ s why the production of both T-cells and antibodies is the goal of any vaccine .
And both were shown to be effective by this new Oxford vaccine .
The T-cell levels of the test subjects were shown to peak ~14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibodies – ~28 days after vaccination .
Professor Andrew Polland from the Oxford research group had this to say about the results “ We ’ re really pleased with the results published today as we ’ re seeing both neutralizing antibodies and T-cells .
They ’ re extremely promising and we believe the type of response that may be associated with protection .
But the key question everyone wants to know is does the vaccine work , does it offer protection… and we ’ re in a waiting game.
” Of the 1,077 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibodies and T-cells after just one vaccination , and the others – after a second vaccine .
“ We don ’ t know the level needed for protection , but we can maximize responses with a second dose , ” Professor Pollard added .
How was the vaccine made ?
The vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was created by genetically re-engineering the virus responsible for the common cold in chimpanzees .
The reason it was so suitable for the job is that common cold viruses are also types of coronavirus , different from but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus was heavily modified both so it can resemble the novel coronavirus and so it doesn ’ t cause infections .
This was done by transferring the genetic instructions for the virus ’ s “ spike protein ” which Covid-19 uses to invade cells into the vaccine .
This way , the vaccine “ looks like ” the novel coronavirus to our immune system and the latter can learn how to fight it .
Are there any side effects ?
So far , only mild ones .
Around 17 % of patients developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a headache .
There weren ’ t any other side-effects from the initial trials and all of these were handled easily with paracetamol .
Professor Sarah Gilbert from the Oxford research group said that “ There is still much work to be done before we can confirm if our vaccine will help manage the Covid-19 pandemic , but these early results hold promise.
” There are still more trials to be done of course .
1,077 participants may be enough to show promise but are not enough to guarantee neither effectiveness nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials is set to include over 10,000 people in the UK .
After that , further trials will be expanded to countries outside of the UK with potentially 30,000 participants from the U.S. , 5,000 from Brazil , and 2,000 from South Africa .
If treatment options for Covid-19 are discovered in time , there may also be “ challenge trials ” which include infecting vaccinated people with the coronavirus .
When will the vaccine be available ?
As with other in-development vaccines in similar stages , the vaccine may be ready by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still wouldn ’ t be mass-produced at that point .
Health and care workers will be the first to receive any finalized vaccine due to the nature of their work .
After that , mass production and distribution to the rest of the population should be available in early 2021 if all goes well .
As UK prime minister Boris Johnson said “ Obviously I ’ m hopeful , I ’ ve got my fingers crossed , but to say I ’ m 100 % confident we ’ ll get a vaccine this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , alas , just an exaggeration .
We ’ re not there yet.
” Still , this is amazing progress .
As of today , there are 160+ Covid-19 vaccines being developed around the world but only a few of them are going into wider testing .
This graph from the World Health Organization ( WHO ) shows clearly how 140 of those ~160 in-development vaccines are still in pre-trials stages .
Oxford ’ s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has joined the “ elite ” company of just a few vaccines that have so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should also be pointed out that vaccine research is not a one-winner race .
There likely won ’ t be just the “ one best ” vaccine for Covid-19 as the virus has already started mutating .
Instead , we ’ ll likely need multiple vaccines for multiple strains of the virus .
Or , as Kate Bingham , the chairwoman of the UK Vaccine Taskforce , explained it : “ What we are doing is identifying the most promising vaccines across the different categories , or different types of vaccine , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do have a vaccine in case one of those actually proves to be both safe and effective .
It ’ s unlikely to be a single vaccine for everybody .
We may well need different vaccines for different groups of people .
”

While the Covid-19 pandemic doesn’t appear to be slowing down neither are the scientists working hard on developing vaccines and cures. A new vaccine developed by the University of Oxford has been shown to trigger an immune response in humans.
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The first trials for the new vaccine involved 1,077 people and over 90% of them showed positive results. The vaccine triggered the production of both antibodies and T-cells capable of fighting off the novel coronavirus which was the goal. The UK has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine provided that further human trials continue to show positive results.
What are T-cells and antibodies?
They are small proteins made by our immune system to specifically stick to the surface of viruses and neutralize them.
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Antibodies aren’t “one size fits all”, however, and don’t work against any and all viruses. Our immune systems need to know what kind of virus they are dealing with and what type of antibodies they should build.
That’s precisely the purpose of all vaccines – to “teach” our immune systems what they might have to deal with and help them prepare for it.
This is where T-cells come in. These are a specialized type of white blood cells that help coordinate our immune system and “spot” viruses. Without T-cells, no amount of antibodies can be enough to deal with a virus.
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That’s why the production of both T-cells and antibodies is the goal of any vaccine. And both were shown to be effective by this new Oxford vaccine. The T-cell levels of the test subjects were shown to peak ~14 days after vaccination and the levels of antibodies – ~28 days after vaccination.
Professor Andrew Polland from the Oxford research group had this to say about the results “We’re really pleased with the results published today as we’re seeing both neutralizing antibodies and T-cells. They’re extremely promising and we believe the type of response that may be associated with protection. But the key question everyone wants to know is does the vaccine work, does it offer protection… and we’re in a waiting game.”
Of the 1,077 participants, 90% showed production of antibodies and T-cells after just one vaccination, and the others – after a second vaccine.
Advertisement
“We don’t know the level needed for protection, but we can maximize responses with a second dose,” Professor Pollard added.
How was the vaccine made?
The vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was created by genetically re-engineering the virus responsible for the common cold in chimpanzees. The reason it was so suitable for the job is that common cold viruses are also types of coronavirus, different from but similar to Covid-19.
Still, the virus was heavily modified both so it can resemble the novel coronavirus and so it doesn’t cause infections. This was done by transferring the genetic instructions for the virus’s “spike protein” which Covid-19 uses to invade cells into the vaccine. This way, the vaccine “looks like” the novel coronavirus to our immune system and the latter can learn how to fight it.
Advertisement
Are there any side effects?
So far, only mild ones. Around 17% of patients developed a mild fever and over 60% – a headache. There weren’t any other side-effects from the initial trials and all of these were handled easily with paracetamol.
Professor Sarah Gilbert from the Oxford research group said that “There is still much work to be done before we can confirm if our vaccine will help manage the Covid-19 pandemic, but these early results hold promise.”
There are still more trials to be done of course. 1,077 participants may be enough to show promise but are not enough to guarantee neither effectiveness nor safety.
Advertisement
The next stage of the trials is set to include over 10,000 people in the UK. After that, further trials will be expanded to countries outside of the UK with potentially 30,000 participants from the U.S., 5,000 from Brazil, and 2,000 from South Africa.
If treatment options for Covid-19 are discovered in time, there may also be “challenge trials” which include infecting vaccinated people with the coronavirus.
When will the vaccine be available?
As with other in-development vaccines in similar stages, the vaccine may be ready by the end of the year but it still wouldn’t be mass-produced at that point. Health and care workers will be the first to receive any finalized vaccine due to the nature of their work. After that, mass production and distribution to the rest of the population should be available in early 2021 if all goes well.
Advertisement
As UK prime minister Boris Johnson said “Obviously I’m hopeful, I’ve got my fingers crossed, but to say I’m 100% confident we’ll get a vaccine this year, or indeed next year, is, alas, just an exaggeration. We’re not there yet.”
Still, this is amazing progress. As of today, there are 160+ Covid-19 vaccines being developed around the world but only a few of them are going into wider testing. This graph from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows clearly how 140 of those ~160 in-development vaccines are still in pre-trials stages. Oxford’s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has joined the “elite” company of just a few vaccines that have so far shown truly promising results.
Oxford's scientists explain the Phase I/II results for the COVID-19 vaccine
Watch this video on YouTube
It should also be pointed out that vaccine research is not a one-winner race. There likely won’t be just the “one best” vaccine for Covid-19 as the virus has already started mutating. Instead, we’ll likely need multiple vaccines for multiple strains of the virus. Or, as Kate Bingham, the chairwoman of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, explained it:
Advertisement
“What we are doing is identifying the most promising vaccines across the different categories, or different types of vaccine, so that we can be sure that we do have a vaccine in case one of those actually proves to be both safe and effective. It’s unlikely to be a single vaccine for everybody. We may well need different vaccines for different groups of people.”
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-26--Nurse Builds Pub in Her Back Garden to Stop Her Husband From Always Going to The Bar

Ah , the agony , which so many women are painfully familiar with .
“ I ’ m going out for a beer.
” “ One beer ?
” “ One beer.
” When you call four hours later , he ’ s either insisting “ one last beer then I ’ m leaving ” or muttering something incoherent .
Most often , he ’ s not answering his phone .
Incessant visits to the local bar have driven a wedge into quite a few relationships .
Countless of articles have been written on this issue .
It is most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there are two affinities to deal with : the one for booze and the one for company , and the local bar offers both of these .
So how to dissuade a man from heading to the local boozer every night ?
Jayne Tapper , a 48-year-old nurse from Newton Abbot , Devon , came up with a creative way : she had a pub built in their own back yard .
Clearly the point was not stopping him from drinking , but simply having him around .
The aptly-named Doghouse Inn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Paul Tapper and his friends .
It only took five months to construct and was more affordable than you can imagine .
Jayne shares she was never able to keep Paul at home before .
The 52-year-old engineer was in the pub almost every evening .
Now , she proudly tells everyone her husband is “ in the doghouse ” every day .
All About the Doghouse Jayne found building their own pub to be the ideal opportunity for her to do what she always wanted .
They needed to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took just over £4,000 ( just over $ 5,000 ) to build , but it was a lucrative investment because Paul won ’ t be paying for overpriced drinks anymore .
In addition , he won ’ t be wasting money on Ubers to come home .
A friend of the family made a sign for the home pub for them , which features one of their three basset hounds .
In the beginning , the pub truly did live up to its name .
Jayne had her work cut out for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house .
The couple ’ s three children , Tom , Jack , and Lorren ( 31 , 26 , 24 ) helped and now enjoy the pub in the company of their friends too .
How Much Does Building your own pub Cost ?
Construction of the cabin was the most expensive item of the budget : £2,700 .
The bar cost the family £400 to build and stock .
They had an arcade game installed for £650 , fridges for £100 , and a fire heater for £70 to keep patrons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , the fridges were donated too , 100 is the average electric bill .
A friend gifted them materials for insulation of the cabin .
Jayne bought a church pew to cover seating for 100 .
Friends and family gave them a TV and sofa .
The pictures , signs , and tankards cost around £50 .
Jayne admits she “ splurged ” on the space invader arcade game , but she doesn ’ t regret it in the slightest .
It is one of the elements that has made the Doghouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The pub has become her favorite pastime and she ’ s always finding new things for it .
It is much more than a “ man cave ” for her husband and she spends a lot of time there .
The quality of the ambience has come to exceed that of the local pub by far .

Ah, the agony, which so many women are painfully familiar with. “I’m going out for a beer.” “One beer?” “One beer.” When you call four hours later, he’s either insisting “one last beer then I’m leaving” or muttering something incoherent. Most often, he’s not answering his phone.
Advertisement
Incessant visits to the local bar have driven a wedge into quite a few relationships. Countless of articles have been written on this issue. It is most certainly one that is hard to resolve because there are two affinities to deal with: the one for booze and the one for company, and the local bar offers both of these.
Addressing the Problem Creatively
So how to dissuade a man from heading to the local boozer every night? Jayne Tapper, a 48-year-old nurse from Newton Abbot, Devon, came up with a creative way: she had a pub built in their own back yard. Clearly the point was not stopping him from drinking, but simply having him around. The aptly-named Doghouse Inn is a cabin-style pub that hosts parties for Paul Tapper and his friends. It only took five months to construct and was more affordable than you can imagine.
Advertisement
Jayne shares she was never able to keep Paul at home before. The 52-year-old engineer was in the pub almost every evening. Now, she proudly tells everyone her husband is “in the doghouse” every day.
All About the Doghouse
Jayne found building their own pub to be the ideal opportunity for her to do what she always wanted. They needed to get the garden levelled either way. The pub took just over £4,000 (just over $5,000) to build, but it was a lucrative investment because Paul won’t be paying for overpriced drinks anymore. In addition, he won’t be wasting money on Ubers to come home.
A friend of the family made a sign for the home pub for them, which features one of their three basset hounds.
Advertisement
In the beginning, the pub truly did live up to its name. Jayne had her work cut out for her. It looked just like a log house. The couple’s three children, Tom, Jack, and Lorren (31, 26, 24) helped and now enjoy the pub in the company of their friends too.
How Much Does Building your own pub Cost?
Construction of the cabin was the most expensive item of the budget: £2,700. The bar cost the family £400 to build and stock. They had an arcade game installed for £650, fridges for £100, and a fire heater for £70 to keep patrons comfortable in unpleasant UK weather. In fact, the fridges were donated too, 100 is the average electric bill.
A friend gifted them materials for insulation of the cabin. Jayne bought a church pew to cover seating for 100. Friends and family gave them a TV and sofa. The pictures, signs, and tankards cost around £50.
Advertisement
Jayne admits she “splurged” on the space invader arcade game, but she doesn’t regret it in the slightest. It is one of the elements that has made the Doghouse Inn the attractive destination it is today. The pub has become her favorite pastime and she’s always finding new things for it. It is much more than a “man cave” for her husband and she spends a lot of time there. The quality of the ambience has come to exceed that of the local pub by far.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-25--Meet Rain Frog: The World’s Grumpiest Frog

Animals often make for the best memes and that ’ s certainly the case here .
The African Black Rain Frog is a high-altitude rain forest frog in Southern Africa that has a “ resting sad face ” and it ’ s hilarious .
These tiny black frogs can fit comfortably on the tips of your index and middle fingers and they look permanently aware and depressed of their miniature stature .
Why do they look this way ?
Of course , they ’ re not really sad all the time , that ’ s just how they look .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ expressions and emotions .
It ’ s very common for us to ascribe human emotions to animals just because of the way they look – it ’ s called anthropomorphism .
We don ’ t just do this to rare and unfamiliar species either , we often do it with household pets as well .
The obvious example is the famous “ grumpy cat ” which – like the black rain frogs – isn ’ t really grumpy but just looks that way .
And while that ’ s just good fun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , it ’ s very common for people to misinterpret the expressions of dogs too even though they are our “ best friends ” .
Do you know that signature “ guilty ” look your dog always gives you after they ’ ve made a mess out of a pillow or the trash bin ?
It ’ s actually anxiety and fear .
This means that all the “ guilt shaming ” a lot of dog owners use as a disciplining method is technically a form of emotional harassment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Breviceps fuscus as is its scientific name , doesn ’ t look that way because it feels sad , scared , or anything similar – it just looks that way .
When these frogs do feel threatened and scared , they tend to puff up their bodies to make themselves appear bigger and hopefully scare the predators away .
The difference between a puffed up and a normal black rain frog is easily noticeable in this video .
So , no matter how depressed they look , as long as they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you do want to see these tiny grumpy frogs in person you may get grumpy yourself when you find out that they are native only to Cape Fold Belt in South Africa .
These forest frogs in elevations of 3,300 feet or 1,000m and are a burrowing species too , making them even harder to find .
If you do want to try and see them in the wild , they are most active around late November to early January , which is their breeding period .
Interestingly enough , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have tadpoles .
These frogs lay their eggs in small underground clutches and little froglets are hatched from them without ever going through a tadpole phase .
These frogs ’ sounds are just as adorable Another hilarious feature of these frogs is how cute they sound when they get angry .
They share that feature with their cousins , the desert rain frogs that live around the border of South Africa and Namibia .
Both species are tiny burrowers with funny grumpy expressions , the black forest frogs ’ faces are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homogeneous coloring .
Whenever these two species croak , they sound just like squeezing a squeaky toy .
Truly ferocious , aren ’ t they ?

Animals often make for the best memes and that’s certainly the case here. The African Black Rain Frog is a high-altitude rain forest frog in Southern Africa that has a “resting sad face” and it’s hilarious.
Advertisement
These tiny black frogs can fit comfortably on the tips of your index and middle fingers and they look permanently aware and depressed of their miniature stature.
Why do they look this way?
Of course, they’re not really sad all the time, that’s just how they look. People have the habit of misinterpreting animals’ expressions and emotions. It’s very common for us to ascribe human emotions to animals just because of the way they look – it’s called anthropomorphism.
Advertisement
We don’t just do this to rare and unfamiliar species either, we often do it with household pets as well. The obvious example is the famous “grumpy cat” which – like the black rain frogs – isn’t really grumpy but just looks that way.
And while that’s just good fun, some examples can lead to problems. For example, it’s very common for people to misinterpret the expressions of dogs too even though they are our “best friends”.
Do you know that signature “guilty” look your dog always gives you after they’ve made a mess out of a pillow or the trash bin? It’s actually anxiety and fear. This means that all the “guilt shaming” a lot of dog owners use as a disciplining method is technically a form of emotional harassment.
Advertisement
Fortunately for the African black rain frog or Breviceps fuscus as is its scientific name, doesn’t look that way because it feels sad, scared, or anything similar – it just looks that way. When these frogs do feel threatened and scared, they tend to puff up their bodies to make themselves appear bigger and hopefully scare the predators away. The difference between a puffed up and a normal black rain frog is easily noticeable in this video. So, no matter how depressed they look, as long as they’re tiny, they’re fine.
If you do want to see these tiny grumpy frogs in person you may get grumpy yourself when you find out that they are native only to Cape Fold Belt in South Africa. These forest frogs in elevations of 3,300 feet or 1,000m and are a burrowing species too, making them even harder to find. If you do want to try and see them in the wild, they are most active around late November to early January, which is their breeding period.
Interestingly enough, they are also unique in that they don’t have tadpoles. These frogs lay their eggs in small underground clutches and little froglets are hatched from them without ever going through a tadpole phase.
Advertisement
These frogs’ sounds are just as adorable
Another hilarious feature of these frogs is how cute they sound when they get angry. They share that feature with their cousins, the desert rain frogs that live around the border of South Africa and Namibia. Both species are tiny burrowers with funny grumpy expressions, the black forest frogs’ faces are just easier to make out because of their homogeneous coloring.
Whenever these two species croak, they sound just like squeezing a squeaky toy. Truly ferocious, aren’t they?
Worlds Cutest Frog - Desert Rain Frog
Watch this video on YouTube
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-28--‘Wine Fairies’ are Secretly Gifting Booze and Treats to Neighbors Who Could Use a Smile

Both the U.S. and the rest of the world are still struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic not to mention that people in the U.S. have some extra civic unrest problems of their own .
In times like these , tensions , anxiety , and depression naturally go up .
Fortunately , the “ Wine Fairies ” have the answer .
While alcohol is rarely a good idea in times of stress , when it ’ s supplied in such a funny and awesome manner , one can allow themselves a glass .
But what are the Wine Fairies ?
Exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women , mostly in suburban areas , that have organized themselves to dress in tutus , fairy wings , and wands , and run from door to door , leaving baskets of wine and treats .
Once the package gets delivered , the fairy rings the bell and runs for cover !
The whole thing seems to have started with the Sisterhood of the Travelling Wine Facebook group .
After they became popular , hundreds of other Facebook groups gained traction and started organizing different “ Wine Fairy branches ” .
So far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairies ” are running across the country every day , delivering wine and treats to people ’ s homes .
The deliveries aren ’ t accidental , however .
Just like you first have to leave your tooth under your pillow for the Tooth Fairy to find it , you also need to leave your address to your local “ Wine fairy coven ” if you want to be gifted with a basket at a random time in the coming days .
And , of course , everything is done carefully and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC .
Cara Rindell is one of the Wine Fairies and the one to bring the movement to Raleigh , North Carolina .
She shares that “ It ’ s all about bringing others happiness and making new relationships .
It starts off as a random act of kindness to a stranger and becomes a friendship with the neighbor you didn ’ t know you had.
” So far , Rindell ’ s North Carolina chapter has over 51,000 members and several thousand more on the waiting list .
“ It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but now we are in ten states , hoping to eventually launch into all 50 states , ” said Rindell .
“ It is called the Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine , but the group is co-ed and it isn ’ t just about wine .
We want to eventually include children all the way up to grandparents.
” Rindell is also trying to expand the movement by initiating the Brotherhood of Booze and Beer as well as a nonalcoholic version for children .
She hopes that all three versions will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once the Covid-19 pandemic is under control .
“ Cruise lines are reaching out to me , about even having a cruise for the sisterhood , ” said Rindell .
“ This group started during COVID , but it ’ s not going to stop after COVID .
I think we always need to be spreading kindness and cheer.
” Of course , once we stop giggling over how fun these initiatives are , one of the first questions to pop up is “ Wait , alcohol is a bad idea during times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s true , the science and statistics about it are undeniable .
However , people aren ’ t just buying booze by the gallon themselves – they are just being gifted a bottle from time to time by the benevolent Wine Fairies .
So , unless you ’ re going out of your way to buy several additional bottles after each “ fairy delivery ” , things should be fine .
Everything in moderation , as the saying goes .

Both the U.S. and the rest of the world are still struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic not to mention that people in the U.S. have some extra civic unrest problems of their own. In times like these, tensions, anxiety, and depression naturally go up.
Advertisement
Fortunately, the “Wine Fairies” have the answer. While alcohol is rarely a good idea in times of stress, when it’s supplied in such a funny and awesome manner, one can allow themselves a glass.
But what are the Wine Fairies? Exactly what they sound like – groups of women, mostly in suburban areas, that have organized themselves to dress in tutus, fairy wings, and wands, and run from door to door, leaving baskets of wine and treats. Once the package gets delivered, the fairy rings the bell and runs for cover!
Advertisement
The whole thing seems to have started with the Sisterhood of the Travelling Wine Facebook group. After they became popular, hundreds of other Facebook groups gained traction and started organizing different “Wine Fairy branches”. So far, as many as 78,000 “Wine fairies” are running across the country every day, delivering wine and treats to people’s homes.
The deliveries aren’t accidental, however. Just like you first have to leave your tooth under your pillow for the Tooth Fairy to find it, you also need to leave your address to your local “Wine fairy coven” if you want to be gifted with a basket at a random time in the coming days.
And, of course, everything is done carefully and in adherence to the social distancing guidelines of the CDC.
Advertisement
Cara Rindell is one of the Wine Fairies and the one to bring the movement to Raleigh, North Carolina. She shares that “It’s all about bringing others happiness and making new relationships. It starts off as a random act of kindness to a stranger and becomes a friendship with the neighbor you didn’t know you had.”
So far, Rindell’s North Carolina chapter has over 51,000 members and several thousand more on the waiting list.
“It was supposed to be just the Raleigh area, but now we are in ten states, hoping to eventually launch into all 50 states,” said Rindell. “It is called the Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine, but the group is co-ed and it isn’t just about wine. We want to eventually include children all the way up to grandparents.”
Advertisement
Rindell is also trying to expand the movement by initiating the Brotherhood of Booze and Beer as well as a nonalcoholic version for children. She hopes that all three versions will be able to expand to greater social gatherings once the Covid-19 pandemic is under control.
“Cruise lines are reaching out to me, about even having a cruise for the sisterhood,” said Rindell. “This group started during COVID, but it’s not going to stop after COVID. I think we always need to be spreading kindness and cheer.”
Of course, once we stop giggling over how fun these initiatives are, one of the first questions to pop up is “Wait, alcohol is a bad idea during times of stress!” And that’s true, the science and statistics about it are undeniable.
Advertisement
However, people aren’t just buying booze by the gallon themselves – they are just being gifted a bottle from time to time by the benevolent Wine Fairies. So, unless you’re going out of your way to buy several additional bottles after each “fairy delivery”, things should be fine.
Everything in moderation, as the saying goes.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-29--Nursing Home Residents Combat Lockdown Boredom by Recreating Classic Album Covers

The Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown and quarantine have been hard on a lot of people in various ways .
Aside from the more horrible ones such as getting struck down by the virus or losing your job , other problems like boredom and anxiety have also crept up on us .
All these are especially troublesome for people in nursing and retirement homes .
Not only are they in the highest risk groups but they are also often prohibited from seeing their friends and family due to the quarantine .
Yet , the residents of the Sydmar Lodge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , UK have found ways to make the most out of a bad situation and have started recreating classic music album covers for fun – check out this glorious David Bowie cover , for example .
Robert Speker , tasked with keeping the nursing home residents ’ spirits up , first came up with the ingenious idea by putting his own photography skills to use .
“ As this situation is on-going it could be months before the situation changes for them and the need to keep them happy , entertained , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial , ” said the activities director at Sydmar Lodge Care in Edgware .
“ It ’ s been my job and privilege.
” Some of the other gems in the photoshoot included The Clash ’ s London Calling , Adele ’ s 21 , Springsteen ’ s Born in the USA , Taylor Swift ’ s 1989 , Michael Jackson ’ s Bad , and others .
The manager of the nursing home , Julia Davey , commented that Robert Speker is “ well-known locally ” for organizing activities that are “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Speker didn ’ t miss the opportunity to share the photoshoot on twitter after which it immediately went viral .
He also started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds here and he ’ s gotten over 3,000 pounds so far .
The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive .
One twitter user ’ s comment probably sums the whole photoshoot best : “ These are so moving .
Reminds me of my 97 year old grandmother telling me that on the inside she was still 18.
” , said JolieSumo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed in times like these .
Hopefully , Mr. Speker can keep providing us with hilarious photos and the folks at the Sydmar Lodge Care Home can keep having fun .
Even more important , however , would be for us to get through this crisis as soon as possible so such nursing home residents can finally be able to meet their loved ones in person again .

The Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown and quarantine have been hard on a lot of people in various ways. Aside from the more horrible ones such as getting struck down by the virus or losing your job, other problems like boredom and anxiety have also crept up on us.
Advertisement
All these are especially troublesome for people in nursing and retirement homes. Not only are they in the highest risk groups but they are also often prohibited from seeing their friends and family due to the quarantine. Yet, the residents of the Sydmar Lodge Care Home nursing home in north London, UK have found ways to make the most out of a bad situation and have started recreating classic music album covers for fun – check out this glorious David Bowie cover, for example.
Robert Speker, tasked with keeping the nursing home residents’ spirits up, first came up with the ingenious idea by putting his own photography skills to use.
Advertisement
“As this situation is on-going it could be months before the situation changes for them and the need to keep them happy, entertained, and full of spirit has never been more crucial,” said the activities director at Sydmar Lodge Care in Edgware. “It’s been my job and privilege.”
Some of the other gems in the photoshoot included The Clash’s London Calling, Adele’s 21, Springsteen’s Born in the USA, Taylor Swift’s 1989, Michael Jackson’s Bad, and others.
The manager of the nursing home, Julia Davey, commented that Robert Speker is “well-known locally” for organizing activities that are “outside of the box”.
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Naturally, Speker didn’t miss the opportunity to share the photoshoot on twitter after which it immediately went viral. He also started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds here and he’s gotten over 3,000 pounds so far.
The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. One twitter user’s comment probably sums the whole photoshoot best:
“These are so moving. Reminds me of my 97 year old grandmother telling me that on the inside she was still 18.”, said JolieSumo.
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Such fun, positive stories are definitely needed in times like these. Hopefully, Mr. Speker can keep providing us with hilarious photos and the folks at the Sydmar Lodge Care Home can keep having fun. Even more important, however, would be for us to get through this crisis as soon as possible so such nursing home residents can finally be able to meet their loved ones in person again.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-29--Seattle Police Chief Warns Businesses: We Have ‘No Ability To Safely Intercede’ To Protect You From

Seattle Police Chief Warns Businesses: We Have ‘No Ability To Safely Intercede’ To Protect You From ‘Violent’ Crowds

Even though the vast majority of the protests and demonstrations in the last months have been peaceful and after multiple pleas from the organizers to keep things from escalating , there have nevertheless been some riots and lootings .
That is unfortunate but not completely unexpected .
For years , rioters and looters have accompanied every crisis and disaster in the U.S. , from hurricanes to protests .
And when unidentifiable federal agents were sent to attack peaceful demonstrations , the situation kept escalating .
All this chaos has naturally put police departments in a rather uncomfortable situation .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace amid the mass protests , but they are also the ones protested against .
They are tasked to deal with the occasional riots as well as with the regular instances of crime that naturally haven ’ t stopped either .
In the middle of all this chaos , The Seattle city ’ s council passed a measure barring cops from using non-lethal crowd control methods such as tear gas , pepper spray , and blast balls .
This was widely applauded by the general public as tear gas has been banned as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapon during war time under the Geneva Protocol of 1925 .
On the other side of the coin , however , is that police departments have now become less capable of controlling the chaos when it does go out of hand .
This prompted the Seattle PD police chief Carmen Best to issue a memo saying that “ police officers would not be able to safely intercede in the event that homes and businesses were targeted during expected protests.
” This has made business owners quite uneasy that their property won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn violent .
“ Please know that the Seattle Police Department is committed to addressing life safety incidents and calls for service , and responding to ongoing demonstrations and unrest in the city , ” the chief ’ s memo reads .
“ Please also know that the City Council Ordinance 119805 Crowd Control Tool goes into effect this weekend on Sunday , July 26 , 2020 .
This ordinance bans Seattle Police officers the use of less-lethal tools , including pepper spray that is commonly used to disperse crowds that have turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives officers no ability to safely intercede to preserve property in the midst of a large , violent crowd.
” “ For these reasons , ” Best continued , “ Seattle Police will have an adjusted deployment in response to any demonstrations this weekend – as I will never ask our officers to risk their personal safety to protect property without the tools to do so in a safe way.
” Best also added that she has expressed her concerns to the city officials but that their ruling still stands .
Seattle ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the issue and said that “ the new law would conflict with an eight-year-old settlement on a policing-overhaul agreement struck between the Seattle Police Department and the U.S. Justice Department.
” During the planned protests in the following weekend , there were 47 protesters arrested for assaulting officers .
There were also some light injuries such as bruises and burns to 59 of the Seattle PD police officers – most of them were able to return to duty immediately with only one officer being hospitalized with a leg injury .
Opponents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the banning of tear gas was a bad idea .
At the same time , however , there ’ s been no reported uptake on property damage during the demonstrations and no peaceful protesters have been needlessly tear-gassed by the police .
All in all , the public remains split on the issue and the mass protests and demonstrations don ’ t seem to be simmering down .
However things progress the violence from both sides will hopefully be kept to a minimum .

Even though the vast majority of the protests and demonstrations in the last months have been peaceful and after multiple pleas from the organizers to keep things from escalating, there have nevertheless been some riots and lootings. That is unfortunate but not completely unexpected.
Advertisement
For years, rioters and looters have accompanied every crisis and disaster in the U.S., from hurricanes to protests. And when unidentifiable federal agents were sent to attack peaceful demonstrations, the situation kept escalating.
All this chaos has naturally put police departments in a rather uncomfortable situation. Not only are they tasked with keeping the peace amid the mass protests, but they are also the ones protested against. They are tasked to deal with the occasional riots as well as with the regular instances of crime that naturally haven’t stopped either.
Advertisement
In the middle of all this chaos, The Seattle city’s council passed a measure barring cops from using non-lethal crowd control methods such as tear gas, pepper spray, and blast balls. This was widely applauded by the general public as tear gas has been banned as an “illegal and immoral” chemical weapon during war time under the Geneva Protocol of 1925.
On the other side of the coin, however, is that police departments have now become less capable of controlling the chaos when it does go out of hand. This prompted the Seattle PD police chief Carmen Best to issue a memo saying that “police officers would not be able to safely intercede in the event that homes and businesses were targeted during expected protests.”
This has made business owners quite uneasy that their property won’t be protected should the planned peaceful protests turn violent.
Advertisement
“Please know that the Seattle Police Department is committed to addressing life safety incidents and calls for service, and responding to ongoing demonstrations and unrest in the city,” the chief’s memo reads. “Please also know that the City Council Ordinance 119805 Crowd Control Tool goes into effect this weekend on Sunday, July 26, 2020. This ordinance bans Seattle Police officers the use of less-lethal tools, including pepper spray that is commonly used to disperse crowds that have turned violent. Simply put, the legislation gives officers no ability to safely intercede to preserve property in the midst of a large, violent crowd.”
“For these reasons,” Best continued, “Seattle Police will have an adjusted deployment in response to any demonstrations this weekend – as I will never ask our officers to risk their personal safety to protect property without the tools to do so in a safe way.”
Best also added that she has expressed her concerns to the city officials but that their ruling still stands.
Advertisement
Seattle’s mayor Jenny Durkan sided with Best on the issue and said that “the new law would conflict with an eight-year-old settlement on a policing-overhaul agreement struck between the Seattle Police Department and the U.S. Justice Department.”
During the planned protests in the following weekend, there were 47 protesters arrested for assaulting officers. There were also some light injuries such as bruises and burns to 59 of the Seattle PD police officers – most of them were able to return to duty immediately with only one officer being hospitalized with a leg injury.
Opponents of the new law view this as proof that the banning of tear gas was a bad idea. At the same time, however, there’s been no reported uptake on property damage during the demonstrations and no peaceful protesters have been needlessly tear-gassed by the police.
Advertisement
All in all, the public remains split on the issue and the mass protests and demonstrations don’t seem to be simmering down. However things progress the violence from both sides will hopefully be kept to a minimum.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-30--Trump Issues Executive Orders, Claims It’ll Drop Price of Insulin Down To ‘Pennies a Day’

President Trump has been under a lot of fire in recent months on multiple fronts but last Friday , July 24 , he signed four executive orders that a lot of Americans ought to be grateful for , regardless of political affiliations .
In those four orders , the president slashed the prescription prices of insulin and epinephrine and took measures against “ shadowy middlemen kickbacks ” of the prices .
During the signing ceremony the president noted that the high prices of both insulin and EpiPens have made it impossible for a lot of “ desperate ” low-income people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The four orders I ’ m signing today will be on the prescription drug market in terms of pricing and everything else to make these medications affordable and accessible for all Americans , ” said Trump during the White House briefing .
“ The first order will require federal community health centers to pass the giant discounts they received from drug companies on insulin and EpiPens directly to their patients .
You know insulin became so expensive people weren ’ t able to use it .
They desperately needed it.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re not going to believe .
EpiPens — likewise you have been hearing horrible stories about EpiPens over the last six or seven years , horrible , horrible , horrible increases for where they went to almost nothing to massive amounts of money .
We ’ re changing that right now , ” he added .
“ Under this order , the price of insulin for affected patients will come down to just pennies a day , pennies a day from numbers that you weren ’ t even able to think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost savings.
” Trump also said providers “ should not be receiving discounts for themselves while charging their poorest patients massive full prices.
” The president ’ s move does come “ out of left field ” for a lot of people given that it ’ s a bit uncharacteristic for his administration .
Just last year , Trump took some drastic measures against Obamacare , leaving millions of Americans without health insurance , earning him a lot of ire from his Democratic opposition .
Last month he also rolled back transgender health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic and on the very day of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting anniversary .
Uncharacteristic or not , however , the president ’ s most recent executive orders should prove life-saving for millions of Americans .
Along with the order against “ shadowy system of kickbacks by middlemen , ” another of the four orders allows pharmacies , states , and wholesalers to offer “ safe and legal importation of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries where the price for the identical drug is incredibly lower ” He also pointed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quality or quantity of the drugs .
“ It is a difference like you would not believe — 70 % , 80 % , 90 % , 30 % — but massively lower than the identical drug made in the same plant , same factory .
Same exact drug , same everything , same box , same pill , and yet , it ’ s 50 , 60 , 70 % lower.
” As for the fourth of the executive orders , Trump dubbed it the “ granddaddy of them all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backs of American patients and American seniors.
” “ For decades our citizens have paid the highest prices for drugs , prescription drugs , anywhere in the world , and it is not even close , ” he said .
“ Foreign nations have paid vastly less for the exact same drug again and the exact same box from the exact same plant , from the exact same company .
They would pay 10 % , 20 % , 30 % .
What our people are paying a pill that would sell for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see more details on the HHS website but here are the directives as ordered by Trump : • End a shadowy system of kickbacks by middlemen that lurks behind the high out-of-pocket costs many Americans face at the pharmacy counter .
Under this action , American seniors will directly receive these kickback as discounts in Medicare Part D. In 2018 , these Part D discounts totaled more than $ 30 billion , representing an average discount of 26 to 30 percent .
• Require federally qualified health centers who purchase insulins and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the savings from discounted drug prices directly on to medically underserved patients .
This will increase access to life-saving insulin and epinephrine for the patients who face especially high costs among the 28 million patients who visit FQHCs every year , over six million of whom are uninsured .
• Finalize a rule allowing states to develop safe importation plans for certain prescription drugs .
• Authorize the re-importation of insulin products made in the United States if the Secretary finds re-importation is required for emergency medical care pursuant to section 801 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Cosmetic Act .
• Create a pathway for safe personal importation through the use of individual waivers to purchase drugs at lower cost from pre-authorized U.S. pharmacies .
• Take action to ensure that the Medicare program and seniors pay no more for the most costly Medicare Part B drugs than any economically comparable OECD country , ending foreign countries ’ free loading off the backs of American taxpayers and pharmaceutical investments .
This order takes effect in 30 days unless Congress acts .

President Trump has been under a lot of fire in recent months on multiple fronts but last Friday, July 24, he signed four executive orders that a lot of Americans ought to be grateful for, regardless of political affiliations. In those four orders, the president slashed the prescription prices of insulin and epinephrine and took measures against “shadowy middlemen kickbacks” of the prices.
Advertisement
During the signing ceremony the president noted that the high prices of both insulin and EpiPens have made it impossible for a lot of “desperate” low-income people to get the treatments they needed.
“The four orders I’m signing today will be on the prescription drug market in terms of pricing and everything else to make these medications affordable and accessible for all Americans,” said Trump during the White House briefing. “The first order will require federal community health centers to pass the giant discounts they received from drug companies on insulin and EpiPens directly to their patients. You know insulin became so expensive people weren’t able to use it. They desperately needed it.”
Advertisement
“We have it to a level that you’re not going to believe. EpiPens — likewise you have been hearing horrible stories about EpiPens over the last six or seven years, horrible, horrible, horrible increases for where they went to almost nothing to massive amounts of money. We’re changing that right now,” he added. “Under this order, the price of insulin for affected patients will come down to just pennies a day, pennies a day from numbers that you weren’t even able to think about. It’s a massive cost savings.”
Trump also said providers “should not be receiving discounts for themselves while charging their poorest patients massive full prices.”
The president’s move does come “out of left field” for a lot of people given that it’s a bit uncharacteristic for his administration. Just last year, Trump took some drastic measures against Obamacare, leaving millions of Americans without health insurance, earning him a lot of ire from his Democratic opposition. Last month he also rolled back transgender health care protections both in the middle of a pandemic and on the very day of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting anniversary.
Advertisement
Uncharacteristic or not, however, the president’s most recent executive orders should prove life-saving for millions of Americans. Along with the order against “shadowy system of kickbacks by middlemen,” another of the four orders allows pharmacies, states, and wholesalers to offer “safe and legal importation of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries where the price for the identical drug is incredibly lower”
He also pointed out that there will be no change to the quality or quantity of the drugs. “It is a difference like you would not believe — 70%, 80%, 90%, 30% — but massively lower than the identical drug made in the same plant, same factory. Same exact drug, same everything, same box, same pill, and yet, it’s 50, 60, 70% lower.”
As for the fourth of the executive orders, Trump dubbed it the “granddaddy of them all,” ending “global freeloading on the backs of American patients and American seniors.”
Advertisement
“For decades our citizens have paid the highest prices for drugs, prescription drugs, anywhere in the world, and it is not even close,” he said. “Foreign nations have paid vastly less for the exact same drug again and the exact same box from the exact same plant, from the exact same company. They would pay 10%, 20%, 30%. What our people are paying a pill that would sell for one dollar in certain countries.”
You can see more details on the HHS website but here are the directives as ordered by Trump:
End a shadowy system of kickbacks by middlemen that lurks behind the high out-of-pocket costs many Americans face at the pharmacy counter. Under this action, American seniors will directly receive these kickback as discounts in Medicare Part D. In 2018, these Part D discounts totaled more than $30 billion, representing an average discount of 26 to 30 percent.
Require federally qualified health centers who purchase insulins and epinephrine in the 340B program to pass the savings from discounted drug prices directly on to medically underserved patients. This will increase access to life-saving insulin and epinephrine for the patients who face especially high costs among the 28 million patients who visit FQHCs every year, over six million of whom are uninsured.
Finalize a rule allowing states to develop safe importation plans for certain prescription drugs.
Authorize the re-importation of insulin products made in the United States if the Secretary finds re-importation is required for emergency medical care pursuant to section 801(d) of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Create a pathway for safe personal importation through the use of individual waivers to purchase drugs at lower cost from pre-authorized U.S. pharmacies.
Take action to ensure that the Medicare program and seniors pay no more for the most costly Medicare Part B drugs than any economically comparable OECD country, ending foreign countries’ free loading off the backs of American taxpayers and pharmaceutical investments. This order takes effect in 30 days unless Congress acts.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-30--Earth’s Ozone Layer Is Healing, Bringing Some Good News on Global Wind Movement

For a bit of good news in 2020 , reports from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) claim that the ozone layer above Antarctica has recovered significantly .
This has led to a lot of positive changes in the Southern Hemisphere ’ s atmosphere and its air currents .
According to the report , the cause of this change can be traced back to the Montreal Protocol – a 1987 international agreement to cease the production of ozone depleting substances ( ODSs ) .
This is especially good for the rainfall patterns in the Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last several decades had driven the upper atmosphere ’ s air current or “ jet streams ” too much to the south .
The scientists from NASA and NOAA used various computer simulations and models to determine the cause behind the ozone layer ’ s apparent healing and the subsequent steadying of the air currents .
They have determined that the change is due to more than just the natural shifts in winds and the Montreal Protocol deserved a big part of the credit .
What does this mean ?
The rapid depletion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last several decades has had a lot of negative consequences over the climate in the Southern Hemisphere .
One such example is the regional rainfall decline in Australia which has harmed the country ’ s climate and agricultural capabilities .
If the “ healing ” of the ozone layer continues , rainfalls in Australia can be even expected to return .
Ian Rae , an organic chemist from the University of Melbourne commented that “ The ‘ weather bands ’ that bring our cold fronts have been narrowing towards the south pole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia has experienced decreasing rainfall over the last thirty years or so .
If the ozone layer is recovering , and the circulation is moving north , that ’ s good news on two fronts ( pun not intended ) .
” This is far from a definitive victory There is a reason why scientists are using the word “ pause ” – this positive change may easily end up being temporary .
Even though last year the Antarctic ozone hole hit its smallest annual peak since 1982 due to the reduction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem that needs solving .
One of the biggest issues in recent years is the overuse of certain ozone-depleting chemicals , particularly from China ’ s industrial regions in the north-eastern parts of the country .
Atmospheric chemist Antara Banerjee from the University of Colorado Boulder explained it like this : “ We term this a ‘ pause ’ because the poleward circulation trends might resume , stay flat , or reverse .
It ’ s the tug of war between the opposing effects of ozone recovery and rising greenhouse gases that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year like 2020 , we ’ ll take “ a win ” wherever we can .
The current pause and healing of the Antarctic ozone layer is great news and proof that the Montreal Protocol is working .
If we can retain this progress and even build on it , the atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere can continue improving .
This can have amazing benefits to the climate , weather , agriculture , and economics of dozens of countries and regions in Africa , South America , and Australia which are currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other problems such as this year ’ s abnormal locust swarms .

For a bit of good news in 2020, reports from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) claim that the ozone layer above Antarctica has recovered significantly. This has led to a lot of positive changes in the Southern Hemisphere’s atmosphere and its air currents.
Advertisement
According to the report, the cause of this change can be traced back to the Montreal Protocol – a 1987 international agreement to cease the production of ozone depleting substances (ODSs). This is especially good for the rainfall patterns in the Southern Hemisphere as the ozone depletion in the last several decades had driven the upper atmosphere’s air current or “jet streams” too much to the south.
The scientists from NASA and NOAA used various computer simulations and models to determine the cause behind the ozone layer’s apparent healing and the subsequent steadying of the air currents. They have determined that the change is due to more than just the natural shifts in winds and the Montreal Protocol deserved a big part of the credit.
Advertisement
What does this mean?
The rapid depletion of the ozone layer over Antarctica in the last several decades has had a lot of negative consequences over the climate in the Southern Hemisphere. One such example is the regional rainfall decline in Australia which has harmed the country’s climate and agricultural capabilities. If the “healing” of the ozone layer continues, rainfalls in Australia can be even expected to return.
Ian Rae, an organic chemist from the University of Melbourne commented that “The ‘weather bands’ that bring our cold fronts have been narrowing towards the south pole, and that’s why southern Australia has experienced decreasing rainfall over the last thirty years or so. If the ozone layer is recovering, and the circulation is moving north, that’s good news on two fronts (pun not intended).”
This is far from a definitive victory
There is a reason why scientists are using the word “pause” – this positive change may easily end up being temporary. Even though last year the Antarctic ozone hole hit its smallest annual peak since 1982 due to the reduction of ODSs, those are not the only problem that needs solving.
Advertisement
One of the biggest issues in recent years is the overuse of certain ozone-depleting chemicals, particularly from China’s industrial regions in the north-eastern parts of the country.
Atmospheric chemist Antara Banerjee from the University of Colorado Boulder explained it like this: “We term this a ‘pause’ because the poleward circulation trends might resume, stay flat, or reverse. It’s the tug of war between the opposing effects of ozone recovery and rising greenhouse gases that will determine future trends.”
Nevertheless, in a year like 2020, we’ll take “a win” wherever we can. The current pause and healing of the Antarctic ozone layer is great news and proof that the Montreal Protocol is working. If we can retain this progress and even build on it, the atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere can continue improving.
Advertisement
This can have amazing benefits to the climate, weather, agriculture, and economics of dozens of countries and regions in Africa, South America, and Australia which are currently hit by droughts untimely storms, and other problems such as this year’s abnormal locust swarms.
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