theheartysoul--2020-07-23--‘Adulting 101’ The High School Class That Teaches Real-World Survival Skills That’s Going Viral

“ Adulting is hard.
” This is a phrase you commonly hear among college students and those new to the workforce , and you know what ?
They ’ re right .
Being an adult is hard , but it is especially challenging when you don ’ t have much of the basic skills and knowledge that generations prior to the millennials and generation Z-ers have .
This is why a teacher in Louisville , Kentucky has created a three-day course for high school seniors to teach them the ins and outs of life in the real world .
College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sara Wilson-Abell was dismayed when she realized that while her graduation seniors understood quadratic equations and could write an essay about the symbolism in The Lord of the Flies , they knew very little about basic life skills .
( 1 ) How were these kids going to manage to live on their own in college or out in the working world if they didn ’ t know how to do laundry , check their oil , cook a healthy meal , or manage their finances ?
This inspired her to create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teaches them all of those things and more , effectively called Adulting 101 .
( 1 ) The inaugural class to complete the course was the 2019 graduates , who considered it an all-around success .
Lilly Farmer , who was among the students in the first rendition of the course , said it was very helpful for many home skills , primarily laundry .
( 2 ) Read : Why People Who Marry Teachers End Up The Happiest Wilson-Abell built the course based on suggestions from alumni and community members about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her Facebook account , she posted this : The community came through and gave her plenty of ideas of all the things that they wished they ’ d learned in school before going to college and going into the “ real world ” .
The course is spread over three days , each with its own theme ( 1 ) : On the first day , students learned about money management , basic banking and loans , leases , renting vs. buying , and about saving for retirement .
Students were able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and could even win prizes like microwaves and mini-fridges .
( 1 ) Day two the students learned about the basics of cooking and how to prepare healthy meals .
They had a special bit particularly focused on cooking in a microwave because many of the students will be living in dorms with only a microwave to cook with .
Other home tips were included , such as basic plumbing , how to fix a toilet and other household repairs .
Part of day two was dedicated to taking care of their mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed .
( 1 ) The final day was focused on professionalism .
Students took part in resume workshops , interview prep , and what employers are looking for when hiring .
( 1 ) Members of the community , such as mechanics , plumbers , and financial professionals came in to give talks and demonstrations .
Students learned how to change a tire and how to manage credit card financing .
( 1 ) Read : Teen is using social media to tutor a generation of out-of-school students in math Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 101 course were a bit different this year .
With the coronavirus pandemic closing all of the schools , the students were unable to participate in in-person programming this year .
Wilson-Abell was not going to let this year ’ s seniors miss out on this critical part of their education .
( 3 ) With help from a couple of other teachers at the school , she set up an Adulting 101 YouTube Channel , where she uploaded videos to teach all of the different skills that students would have learned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After that , her husband , who is also a teacher at the school , helped her to build an Adulting 101 Website to act as a sort of library for all the videos .
( 3 ) Though she hopes to be able to teach the course in-person again next year , the website will continue regardless .
( 3 ) The channel and website have really taken off , and students from all over are benefiting from the lessons that they are teaching .
( 3 ) Fern Creek High isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented basic life skills education .
Bullitt Central Highschool in Shepherdsville , KY has an “ adulting day ” organized by the director of the BCHS Family Resources and Youth Services Center Christy Hardin .
Supported by various members of the community , the seniors learn about taxes , cooking , how to conduct themselves during a traffic stop , and about homesickness and what signs to watch out for that may indicate a more serious mental health struggle .
( 4 ) Lumpkin County High School in Georgia has an “ adulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything from ironing to basic plumbing , resuscitation to car maintenance , and everything in between .
Clearly this is a gap in education that needs filling in every school .
Hopefully , other schools , districts , and school boards will take notice of not just the need for these programs , but the desire from students to be taught these things .
Keep Reading : Fed-Up Mother Writes ‘ Tough Love ’ Letter To Her 13-Year-Old Son – Parents Everywhere Applaud Her

“Adulting is hard.” This is a phrase you commonly hear among college students and those new to the workforce, and you know what? They’re right. Being an adult is hard, but it is especially challenging when you don’t have much of the basic skills and knowledge that generations prior to the millennials and generation Z-ers have. This is why a teacher in Louisville, Kentucky has created a three-day course for high school seniors to teach them the ins and outs of life in the real world.
Adulting 101
College Access Resources teacher at Fern Creek Highschool Sara Wilson-Abell was dismayed when she realized that while her graduation seniors understood quadratic equations and could write an essay about the symbolism in The Lord of the Flies, they knew very little about basic life skills. (1)
How were these kids going to manage to live on their own in college or out in the working world if they didn’t know how to do laundry, check their oil, cook a healthy meal, or manage their finances? This inspired her to create a three-day course for high school seniors that teaches them all of those things and more, effectively called Adulting 101. (1)
The inaugural class to complete the course was the 2019 graduates, who considered it an all-around success. Lilly Farmer, who was among the students in the first rendition of the course, said it was very helpful for many home skills, primarily laundry. (2)
“I learned a lot about my laundry…I knew, like, some aspects of it but I never sorted my clothes or anything like that. Now I know it’s very important to do.” (2)
Read More: Remembering Typing Class: The Class That Actually Mattered In The Long Run
The Inspiration
Wilson-Abell built the course based on suggestions from alumni and community members about what “adulting” consisted of. On her Facebook account, she posted this:
“If you could choose one real-world concept/skill that you wish you learned in HS, what would it be?” (1)
The community came through and gave her plenty of ideas of all the things that they wished they’d learned in school before going to college and going into the “real world”.
Course Layout
The course is spread over three days, each with its own theme (1):
Day 1: Money and Wealth Management
Day 2: Home and Health
Day 3: Professionalism
Day 1
On the first day, students learned about money management, basic banking and loans, leases, renting vs. buying, and about saving for retirement. Students were able to have all of their financial questions answered and could even win prizes like microwaves and mini-fridges. (1)
Day 2
Day two the students learned about the basics of cooking and how to prepare healthy meals. They had a special bit particularly focused on cooking in a microwave because many of the students will be living in dorms with only a microwave to cook with. Other home tips were included, such as basic plumbing, how to fix a toilet and other household repairs. Part of day two was dedicated to taking care of their mental health and how to seek help if needed. (1)
Day 3
The final day was focused on professionalism. Students took part in resume workshops, interview prep, and what employers are looking for when hiring. (1)
A Community Effort
Members of the community, such as mechanics, plumbers, and financial professionals came in to give talks and demonstrations. Students learned how to change a tire and how to manage credit card financing. (1)
“Our job as educators is to ensure our students are prepared for life after high school. Knowing some of our students felt they lacked some of these basic life skills made me want to provide every opportunity possible for our students to be as prepared as possible,” Wilson-Abell said. (3)
Adulting 101 During COVID-19
Of course, things for the second annual Adulting 101 course were a bit different this year. With the coronavirus pandemic closing all of the schools, the students were unable to participate in in-person programming this year. Wilson-Abell was not going to let this year’s seniors miss out on this critical part of their education. (3)
With help from a couple of other teachers at the school, she set up an Adulting 101 YouTube Channel, where she uploaded videos to teach all of the different skills that students would have learned in the in-class program. (3)
After that, her husband, who is also a teacher at the school, helped her to build an Adulting 101 Website to act as a sort of library for all the videos. (3)
“I didn’t want this year’s class, who has already been stripped of so many staple senior activities, to miss out on this. So as soon as I knew we would not be coming back to school, I started to come up with the alternative option: doing it all online,” she said. (3)
Though she hopes to be able to teach the course in-person again next year, the website will continue regardless. (3)
“The students are sad about missing out on the in-person interaction but now they have this website to refer to for years to come,” she said. “I have even had alumni reach back to me to tell me that they’ve been watching some of the videos, too, so it’s not only impacting our current seniors, but really all of our students.” (3)
The channel and website have really taken off, and students from all over are benefiting from the lessons that they are teaching. (3)
Programs in Other Schools
Fern Creek High isn’t the only school to have implemented basic life skills education.
Bullitt Central Highschool in Shepherdsville, KY has an “adulting day” organized by the director of the BCHS Family Resources and Youth Services Center Christy Hardin. Supported by various members of the community, the seniors learn about taxes, cooking, how to conduct themselves during a traffic stop, and about homesickness and what signs to watch out for that may indicate a more serious mental health struggle. (4)
Lumpkin County High School in Georgia has an “adulting day” as well. Students learn everything from ironing to basic plumbing, resuscitation to car maintenance, and everything in between.
Clearly this is a gap in education that needs filling in every school. Hopefully, other schools, districts, and school boards will take notice of not just the need for these programs, but the desire from students to be taught these things.
Keep Reading: Alaska High School Teacher Hunted a Moose and had his Students Butcher the Animal to Learn Life Skills


theheartysoul--2020-07-23--One Of The Few Known Intact Pyramid Capstones In Existence

The pyramids of Ancient Egypt have fascinated both archaeologists and citizens alike for centuries .
The magnificent structures , which have been shrouded in mystery for much of their existence , have been the backdrop for countless books , movies , and television shows , and their mummified inhabitants have inspired stories and legends of ancient Kings coming back from the dead to seek their revenge .
Despite the decades of research that has been poured into them , archaeologists still have many unanswered questions about the pyramids of Egypt .
One of these questions zeros in on one small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capstone .
The pyramid capstone is arguably the most mysterious part of the entire structure .
Also called the pyramidion , it is the uppermost piece that was placed on the top of pyramids and obelisks [ 1 ] .
In Ancient Egypt , the pyramidion was called the benbenet .
It was given this name in order to associate the entire structure to the sacred Benben stone .
According to the Heliopolitan form of ancient Egyptian religion , Benben was the mound that arose from the primordial waters of Nu , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was also known as Atom-Ra , then Ra , the Sun God ) shaped the world [ 2 ] .
This makes the Benben one of the most important and sacred parts of the pyramid .
What makes these capstones so mysterious , however , is their distinct absence from so many of the pyramids throughout Egypt , most notably the pyramid of Giza .
For this reason there is significant debate as to whether or not early pyramids had one at all .
Despite the apparent importance of the pyramidion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Khafre , Sneferu , and many others do not have one .
Without its capstone , the pyramid is incomplete .
This has led to many questions , including what happened to the capstone of the pyramids ?
Did it ever exist ?
If so , what was it made of ?
Was it Gold ?
Was it destroyed in ancient times ?
Or was it looted , like many of the pyramids were [ 1 ] ?
Read : School Stumbles Upon Chalkboards From 1917 During Renovation , Perfectly Preserved Lessons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the few known capstones in existence is that of the Black Pyramid .
The Black Pyramid was built by Amenemhat III , pharaoh of the twelfth dynasty of ancient Egypt , who ruled from 1860 BC to 1814 BC .
Its original name was “ Amenemhat is mighty and perfect ” , however , the pyramid itself is anything but .
The Pyramid began crumbling almost as soon as it was built and looks nothing like the great pyramids of Giza we can see today .
It was made out of dark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unstable ground too close to the Nile , causing it to flood soon after it was finished .
It also lacks the stone framework seen on most other pyramids that help to stabilize the structure .
Its unusual shape , then , is likely due to damage caused by bad weather , as well as robbers attempting to steal the treasures held within its walls [ 3 ] .
The capstone , however , is in remarkably good condition , leading many researchers to believe that the stone may not have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hieroglyphics are inscribed on the stone , and they read as follows : “ Son of Ra , Amenemhat , given life forever .
King of Upper and Lower Egypt , Nimaatre , given life forever .
May the face of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt , Nimaatre , be opened so that he may see the Lord of the Horizon ( Horakhty , Horus of the Horizon ) when he crosses the sky ; may the Lord of the Horizon cause the Son of Ra , Amenemhat , to shine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and indestructible .
The Lord of the Horizon has said : ‘ I have given the beautiful horizon to He of the Two Ladies ( Nebty ) , Itjijautawy ( He who inherited the Two Lands ) , so that you may unite with the horizon ’ ; the horizon has said that you rest upon it , which pleases me.
” [ 4 ] Due to the unstable nature of the Black Pyramid , Amenemhat actually constructed a second pyramid at a higher elevation in which he would be buried .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other royal women [ 4 ] .
The capstone can currently be viewed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo .
Keep Reading : There are Ancient Ruins Older Than The Pyramids In Canada

The pyramids of Ancient Egypt have fascinated both archaeologists and citizens alike for centuries. The magnificent structures, which have been shrouded in mystery for much of their existence, have been the backdrop for countless books, movies, and television shows, and their mummified inhabitants have inspired stories and legends of ancient Kings coming back from the dead to seek their revenge.
Despite the decades of research that has been poured into them, archaeologists still have many unanswered questions about the pyramids of Egypt. One of these questions zeros in on one small but very important part of the pyramid- the capstone.
Read: Perfectly preserved ancient Roman mosaic floor discovered in Italy
Pyramid Capstones
The pyramid capstone is arguably the most mysterious part of the entire structure. Also called the pyramidion, it is the uppermost piece that was placed on the top of pyramids and obelisks [1].
In Ancient Egypt, the pyramidion was called the benbenet. It was given this name in order to associate the entire structure to the sacred Benben stone. According to the Heliopolitan form of ancient Egyptian religion, Benben was the mound that arose from the primordial waters of Nu, in which the creator god Atom (who was also known as Atom-Ra, then Ra, the Sun God) shaped the world [2].
This makes the Benben one of the most important and sacred parts of the pyramid.
What makes these capstones so mysterious, however, is their distinct absence from so many of the pyramids throughout Egypt, most notably the pyramid of Giza. For this reason there is significant debate as to whether or not early pyramids had one at all.
Despite the apparent importance of the pyramidion, or capstone, the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, Sneferu, and many others do not have one. Without its capstone, the pyramid is incomplete. This has led to many questions, including what happened to the capstone of the pyramids? Did it ever exist? If so, what was it made of? Was it Gold? Was it destroyed in ancient times? Or was it looted, like many of the pyramids were [1]?
Read: School Stumbles Upon Chalkboards From 1917 During Renovation, Perfectly Preserved Lessons Provide Rare Look Into Past.
The Black Pyramid
One of the few known capstones in existence is that of the Black Pyramid.
The Black Pyramid was built by Amenemhat III, pharaoh of the twelfth dynasty of ancient Egypt, who ruled from 1860 BC to 1814 BC. Its original name was “Amenemhat is mighty and perfect”, however, the pyramid itself is anything but.
The Pyramid began crumbling almost as soon as it was built and looks nothing like the great pyramids of Giza we can see today. It was made out of dark mudbrick and clay and was built on the unstable ground too close to the Nile, causing it to flood soon after it was finished.
It also lacks the stone framework seen on most other pyramids that help to stabilize the structure. Its unusual shape, then, is likely due to damage caused by bad weather, as well as robbers attempting to steal the treasures held within its walls [3].
The capstone, however, is in remarkably good condition, leading many researchers to believe that the stone may not have been left on top of the pyramid. Hieroglyphics are inscribed on the stone, and they read as follows:
“Son of Ra, Amenemhat, given life forever. King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nimaatre, given life forever. May the face of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nimaatre, be opened so that he may see the Lord of the Horizon (Horakhty, Horus of the Horizon) when he crosses the sky; may the Lord of the Horizon cause the Son of Ra, Amenemhat, to shine as a god, lord of eternity and indestructible. The Lord of the Horizon has said: ‘I have given the beautiful horizon to He of the Two Ladies (Nebty), Itjijautawy (He who inherited the Two Lands), so that you may unite with the horizon’; the horizon has said that you rest upon it, which pleases me.” [4]
Due to the unstable nature of the Black Pyramid, Amenemhat actually constructed a second pyramid at a higher elevation in which he would be buried. The pyramid was instead used to bury several other royal women [4].
The capstone can currently be viewed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Keep Reading: There are Ancient Ruins Older Than The Pyramids In Canada


theheartysoul--2020-07-23--Mom Tells Her Sons to Keep Feminine Products in their Backpacks

Menstruation is a normal and healthy part of life , with 26 % of the global population ( about half of the female population ) are in the reproductive stage of life .
Still , menstruation is stigmatized all over the world , leading to damaging misconceptions and even discrimination .
Although many educate girls on the topic , boys are very often left out of the equation , which can increase the stress and shame girls may experience as they reach adolescence .
[ 1 ] One mom decided to break the taboo of periods with her teenage sons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their backpacks .
Tara Ahrens has three children , Elijah , 16 , Micah , 15 , and a 10-year-old daughter .
She decided to break the stigma of female development , not only by talking about it openly , but by including her sons when appropriate .
When they all went back-to-school shopping , this included purchasing the daughter ’ s first bra .
Tara snapped a picture of the boys and posted it on Facebook with a caption that said , “ My teenage boys helped me shop today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s first bras … because breasts happen.
” She added that “ both boys carry a tampon and a pad in their backpacks in case one of their friends needs one .
Just a mom out here , trying to erase gender taboo !
!
” The post received thousands and likes and comments , mostly positive .
It prompted many middle-aged women to recount their own period horror stories , when they were stuck without any feminine products in an embarrassing situation .
One woman shared that she bled through her clothes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave her his sweatshirt to tie around her waist .
She always remembered that kindness .
Most of the stories , however , were full of shame , helplessness , and humiliation .
Many women shared stories of husbands and fathers who “ would NEVER have gone to the store to buy me period supplies.
” “ Some people were downright offended that I was attempting to change the age-old ways we ’ ve handled periods , ” writes Tara in her blog post on Café Mom .
“ One thing is clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taboo that we have not let go of—but I ’ m doing my best to raise men who see past it.
” She explained to her sons that bleed-throughs happen and how embarrassing and traumatizing they could be .
A little kindness in that situation can go a long way .
She encouraged her sons to be that kind person .
After all , menstruation is a healthy sign for female bodies .
There ’ s no reason to be embarrassed by it .
Read : Are Tampons Safe ?
The Risks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sons Keep Tampons and Pads in Their Schoolbags Tara suggested her sons keep feminine products in their bags after reading an article where a woman on the Appalachian Trail got a tampon from a male hiker .
He said , “ It ’ s not a big deal ; I grew up with a mom and sisters… ” After that , she nonchalantly said her sons should keep a tampon in their backpacks in case one of their female friends need it .
Being teenagers , they didn ’ t respond .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Elijah ’ s friends had a bleed-through .
Her friends offered her tampons , but she only used pads , perhaps for religious reasons .
After that , Elijah made sure that he and Micah had pads in their bags .
The boys ’ high school do not offer or sell pads or tampons , which can be problematic with a 60 % female population .
Micah told all of his close female friends that he always kept a sweatshirt in his locker and tampon in his schoolbag .
“ You know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said to them .
“ My mom wanted you to be covered.
” He reported that the girls acted a little embarrassed but accepted it .
Elijah took it one step further .
He informed all his friends , the girls and the boys .
A few male friends mocked him , but most were cool with it .
His female friends were more encouraging ; some told him he should keep some products in his car too .
Tara explains that she teaches her teenagers what is a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being aware of your environment—and things that are not—like periods and bleed –throughs .
“ As you normalize these things in your own family by regularly discussing them , they become normal to your kids , too , ” writes Tara .
“ It ’ s my hope that kids of all genders , including transgender kids , know that my boys are a safe place to get period supplies , should they ever need them .
But it is an even bigger hope of mine that these small actions change the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view the whole subject.
” [ 2 ] Tara Ahrens and her husband , Lucas , were interviewed on the Kelly Clarkson show about her post .
[ 3 ] Lucas is supportive of his wife ’ s approach and is confused by the negative feedback her post received .
He says “ if someone needs help , you help them ; that ’ s just being a good human.
” [ 4 ] Read : One Woman ’ s First Experience Using a Menstrual Cup ( Pros and Cons ) Some boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their female friends , but that doesn ’ t mean they can ’ t be educated on the subject .
This is just one small example of teaching young boys to become caring men .
Michael Kimmel on the Cut asked thousands of young men and boys around the world , “ What does it mean to be a good man ?
” The answers varied but this was the consensus : • Doing the right thing • Standing up for the little guy Then Kimmel asked “ if any of those ideas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I say , ‘ Man the f*** up !
Be a real man !
’ ” All the boys declared that completely different .
Their definition of being a “ real ” man was as follows : Most people would agree that the first list sounds a lot healthier and how they would want their sons to act .
Then we should encourage them to act that way .
Boys usually learn these traits from their fathers , their coaches , their brothers , and from their male friends .
[ 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of telling them they shouldn ’ t cry , and teach them to identify different emotions .
Tell them it ’ s okay to feel afraid .
Don ’ t classify his interests by manliness .
Support his goals , even if it ’ s not something you personally enjoyed when you were at that age .
Don ’ t let misbehavior go unchallenged .
Use these opportunities to teach them empathy ; don ’ t let it pass because “ boys will be boys.
” And while you ’ re at it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those they interact with and for themselves .
Boys can be victims too .
Hug them as much as you hug your daughters , even when they are older .
Boys often feel like they need to push away affection for the sake of “ manliness ” but the truth is , they need human touch as much as anyone .
They need to know that they have your unconditional love and that you will be there for them when they need you .
[ 6 ] Keep Reading : Doctors Have Say @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Menstruation is a normal and healthy part of life, with 26% of the global population (about half of the female population) are in the reproductive stage of life. Still, menstruation is stigmatized all over the world, leading to damaging misconceptions and even discrimination. Although many educate girls on the topic, boys are very often left out of the equation, which can increase the stress and shame girls may experience as they reach adolescence. [1] One mom decided to break the taboo of periods with her teenage sons by having them keep emergency period supplies in their backpacks.
Mom Breaks the Stigma of Periods
Tara Ahrens has three children, Elijah, 16, Micah, 15, and a 10-year-old daughter. She decided to break the stigma of female development, not only by talking about it openly, but by including her sons when appropriate.
When they all went back-to-school shopping, this included purchasing the daughter’s first bra. Tara snapped a picture of the boys and posted it on Facebook with a caption that said, “My teenage boys helped me shop today, which included buying their little sister’s first bras … because breasts happen.”
She added that “both boys carry a tampon and a pad in their backpacks in case one of their friends needs one. Just a mom out here, trying to erase gender taboo!!”
The post received thousands and likes and comments, mostly positive.
It prompted many middle-aged women to recount their own period horror stories, when they were stuck without any feminine products in an embarrassing situation. One woman shared that she bled through her clothes in her youth and a male friend gave her his sweatshirt to tie around her waist. She always remembered that kindness. Most of the stories, however, were full of shame, helplessness, and humiliation.
Many women shared stories of husbands and fathers who “would NEVER have gone to the store to buy me period supplies.”
“Some people were downright offended that I was attempting to change the age-old ways we’ve handled periods,” writes Tara in her blog post on Café Mom. “One thing is clear: Menstruation is still a major gender taboo that we have not let go of—but I’m doing my best to raise men who see past it.”
She explained to her sons that bleed-throughs happen and how embarrassing and traumatizing they could be. A little kindness in that situation can go a long way. She encouraged her sons to be that kind person.
After all, menstruation is a healthy sign for female bodies. There’s no reason to be embarrassed by it.
Her Sons Keep Tampons and Pads in Their Schoolbags
Tara suggested her sons keep feminine products in their bags after reading an article where a woman on the Appalachian Trail got a tampon from a male hiker. He said, “It’s not a big deal; I grew up with a mom and sisters…” After that, she nonchalantly said her sons should keep a tampon in their backpacks in case one of their female friends need it. Being teenagers, they didn’t respond.
However, they changed their minds after one of Elijah’s friends had a bleed-through. Her friends offered her tampons, but she only used pads, perhaps for religious reasons. After that, Elijah made sure that he and Micah had pads in their bags.
The boys’ high school do not offer or sell pads or tampons, which can be problematic with a 60% female population.
Micah told all of his close female friends that he always kept a sweatshirt in his locker and tampon in his schoolbag. “You know, in case you have an emergency,” he said to them. “My mom wanted you to be covered.” He reported that the girls acted a little embarrassed but accepted it.
Elijah took it one step further. He informed all his friends, the girls and the boys. A few male friends mocked him, but most were cool with it. His female friends were more encouraging; some told him he should keep some products in his car too.
Tara explains that she teaches her teenagers what is a big deal—like keeping friends safe at parties and being aware of your environment—and things that are not—like periods and bleed –throughs.
“As you normalize these things in your own family by regularly discussing them, they become normal to your kids, too,” writes Tara. “It’s my hope that kids of all genders, including transgender kids, know that my boys are a safe place to get period supplies, should they ever need them. But it is an even bigger hope of mine that these small actions change the way kids in our high school handle and view the whole subject.” [2]
Tara Ahrens and her husband, Lucas, were interviewed on the Kelly Clarkson show about her post. [3] Lucas is supportive of his wife’s approach and is confused by the negative feedback her post received. He says “if someone needs help, you help them; that’s just being a good human.” [4]
Raising Boys to Become Good Men
Some boys are too shy to offer products to their female friends, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be educated on the subject. This is just one small example of teaching young boys to become caring men.
Michael Kimmel on the Cut asked thousands of young men and boys around the world, “What does it mean to be a good man?”
The answers varied but this was the consensus:
Integrity
Honor
Being responsible
Being a good provider, protector
Doing the right thing
Putting others first, sacrifice
Caring
Standing up for the little guy
Then Kimmel asked “if any of those ideas or words or phrases occur to you when I say, ‘Man the f*** up! Be a real man!’” All the boys declared that completely different. Their definition of being a “real” man was as follows:
Never cry
Be strong
Don’t show your feelings
Play through pain
Suck it up
Power
Aggression
Win at all costs
Be aggressive
Get rich
Get laid
Most people would agree that the first list sounds a lot healthier and how they would want their sons to act. Then we should encourage them to act that way. Boys usually learn these traits from their fathers, their coaches, their brothers, and from their male friends. [5]
Help them through difficult feelings instead of telling them they shouldn’t cry, and teach them to identify different emotions. Tell them it’s okay to feel afraid.
Don’t classify his interests by manliness. Support his goals, even if it’s not something you personally enjoyed when you were at that age.
Don’t let misbehavior go unchallenged. Use these opportunities to teach them empathy; don’t let it pass because “boys will be boys.” And while you’re at it, teach them about consent — for those they interact with and for themselves. Boys can be victims too.
Hug them as much as you hug your daughters, even when they are older. Boys often feel like they need to push away affection for the sake of “manliness” but the truth is, they need human touch as much as anyone. They need to know that they have your unconditional love and that you will be there for them when they need you. [6]


theheartysoul--2020-07-23--Herd of ‘grieving’ ponies keep all-night roadside vigil after motorist kills one of the family

Grief is often regarded as more of a human emotion , but there have been many examples of animals in the wild- like elephants , monkeys , and whales- who appear to be mourning the death of one of their family members .
There is debate among scientists as to whether or not animals actually experience grief the way humans do , but many animal lovers will argue that animals do understand death , and are impacted emotionally by it .
Sarah Simmons of the UK believes they do , and shared a heartbreaking video in 2018 of a herd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members was struck and killed by a passing vehicle .
Read : When Animals Fight Back , The Hunters Become The Hunted .
Sarah Simmons shared images of the family of horses to Facebook in January 2018 .
The scene took place in New Forest , England , where ponies are allowed to roam freely .
The pony that died was named Hazelhill Scrap , and was part of a very tight-knit herd .
The pony ’ s owner , Cathay Stride , said that they were unable to remove the dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark , so they had to wait until the following morning .
The rest of the herd then stood vigil all night long , including Hazelhill ’ s mother and half-sister .
The animals were definitely showing signs of distress .
Barbara King , emerita professor in anthropology at the College of William & Mary in Virginia , and author of How Animals Grieve , said that Stride was correct in believing that the herd was in distress .
King explained that horses feel both joy and grief , and that they think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third of Stride ’ s ponies to be killed on the same road , and she and Simmons hoped that the images and videos shared would serve as a reminder to drivers to slow down when they are driving on forest roads .
Read : 5 Myths About Dying That Too Many People Believe If you ask Stride , Simmons , or King , the answer is yes , but the scientific community doesn ’ t agree quite so readily .
There is a growing number of examples of animals in the wild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as the mother orca who carried her dead infant with her for seventeen days , or the group of chimpanzees who cleaned the fur of one of their members who had died , and then refused to return to the place where she had died for several days [ 2 ] .
Elephants have also shown to mourn the death of a group member , as have magpies , wild pigs , and even crows [ 2 ] .
Not all scientists are convinced that these displays are a sign that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoologist Jules Howard , for instance , does not believe that the mother orca , known to scientists as J35 , was carrying her dead calf around as a type of mourning ritual .
The truth is , scientists don ’ t know much about death-related behaviours , including grief , in animals , and very few of them have explored how animals might think or feel about either their own death or the death of others .
Bioethicist Jessica Pierce refers to this as “ comparative thanatology ” .
Thanatology is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it includes biological , medical , forensic , psychological and social perspectives on the end of individuals ’ lives [ 3 ] .
Thanatology has often been restricted to the study of humans , but there is growing interest in the scientific community on the effect death has on the emotions and behaviours of other animals .
Some are now asking the following questions : • How do other animals respond behaviorally and psychologically to dead or dying individuals ?
• How are their responses influenced by the identity of the individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a relative — or by the cause of death ?
• To what extent do other species share aspects of humans ’ concept of death ?
All of these questions fall under the umbrella of comparative thanatology .
While not all topics of thanatology apply to non-human species , such as post-death rituals like washing and adornment , or religious observances , there is an increasing amount of evidence demonstrating that many animals do , in fact , have a concept of death [ 3 ] .
Read : Study : Horses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason why it is so difficult to understand animals ’ understanding of death is because there is a communication barrier .
In humans , researchers can ask questions and people can respond and explain .
We can not , of course , communicate in the same way with animals , so we must rely on physical ques and body language .
This leaves the idea that animals have a human-like concept of death up to interpretation , which for many scientists , is not strong enough evidence .
Skeptics argue that assuming the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grief is simply us projecting human-like emotions onto them .
Kacelnik was speaking in response to a study in which researchers claimed that rats showed empathy toward each other by helping each other escape from cages [ 5 ] .
Basically , those who are skeptical of the research say that science can observe animal behaviour , but that it is nearly impossible to determine what motivated that behaviour .
For this reason , some scientists insist that we should not label these behaviours with human emotions like grief or mourning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s exactly what it is .
Pierce believes that this uncertainty simply points out that humans have a lot to learn about animal behaviour .
She argues that the question is not “ do animals grieve ?
” but instead “ how do animals grieve ?
” Keep Reading : “ Keeping My Son ’ s Memory Alive Helps Me Grieve ”

Grief is often regarded as more of a human emotion, but there have been many examples of animals in the wild- like elephants, monkeys, and whales- who appear to be mourning the death of one of their family members. There is debate among scientists as to whether or not animals actually experience grief the way humans do, but many animal lovers will argue that animals do understand death, and are impacted emotionally by it.Sarah Simmons of the UK believes they do, and shared a heartbreaking video in 2018 of a herd of grieving ponies after one of their family members was struck and killed by a passing vehicle.
Grieving Ponies
Sarah Simmons shared images of the family of horses to Facebook in January 2018. The scene took place in New Forest, England, where ponies are allowed to roam freely.
“Broke my heart this morning seeing another pony killed on the Forest Road. Even more that her friends were looking on,” she wrote [1].
The pony that died was named Hazelhill Scrap and was part of a very tight-knit herd. The pony’s owner, Cathay Stride, said that they were unable to remove the dead animal that night because it was too dark, so they had to wait until the following morning. The rest of the herd then stood vigil all night long, including Hazelhill’s mother and half-sister. The animals were definitely showing signs of distress.
Credit: Facebook/sarahsimmons
“That photograph shows those ponies weeping for their companion to get up and come with them,” said Stride [1].
Barbara King, emerita professor in anthropology at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, and author of How Animals Grieve, said that Stride was correct in believing that the herd was in distress.
“In this case, Hazelhill’s mother and stepsister stood especially close vigil, and that makes sense as they were quite likely to have been emotionally close to Hazelhill,” she explained [1].
King explained that horses feel both joy and grief, and that they think about their lives.
Hazelhill Scarp
Credit: Facebook/sarahsimmons
Hazelhill was the third of Stride’s ponies to be killed on the same road, and she and Simmons hoped that the images and videos shared would serve as a reminder to drivers to slow down when they are driving on forest roads.
“I don’t know what the answer is apart from to keep trying to educate the drivers,” Ms Stride said, adding: “They do grieve, and maybe that might make the drivers think.” [1]
Do Animals Experience Grief?
If you ask Stride, Simmons, or King, the answer is yes, but the scientific community doesn’t agree quite so readily.
There is a growing number of examples of animals in the wild grieving over the loss of a companion, such as the mother orca who carried her dead infant with her for seventeen days, or the group of chimpanzees who cleaned the fur of one of their members who had died, and then refused to return to the place where she had died for several days [2].
Elephants have also shown to mourn the death of a group member, as have magpies, wild pigs, and even crows [2].
Not all scientists are convinced that these displays are a sign that the animals are actually experiencing grief. Zoologist Jules Howard, for instance, does not believe that the mother orca, known to scientists as J35, was carrying her dead calf around as a type of mourning ritual.
“If you believe J35 was displaying evidence of mourning or grief, you are making a case that rests on faith, not on scientific endeavor,” he said [2].
The truth is, scientists don’t know much about death-related behaviours, including grief, in animals, and very few of them have explored how animals might think or feel about either their own death or the death of others.
Bioethicist Jessica Pierce refers to this as “comparative thanatology”. Thanatology is the scientific study of death and dying, and it includes biological, medical, forensic, psychological and social perspectives on the end of individuals’ lives [3].
Thanatology has often been restricted to the study of humans, but there is growing interest in the scientific community on the effect death has on the emotions and behaviours of other animals. Some are now asking the following questions:
How do other animals respond behaviorally and psychologically to dead or dying individuals?
How are their responses influenced by the identity of the individual — for example, a same group-member or a relative — or by the cause of death?
To what extent do other species share aspects of humans’ concept of death?
Do they grieve?
All of these questions fall under the umbrella of comparative thanatology. While not all topics of thanatology apply to non-human species, such as post-death rituals like washing and adornment, or religious observances, there is an increasing amount of evidence demonstrating that many animals do, in fact, have a concept of death [3].
One reason why it is so difficult to understand animals’ understanding of death is because there is a communication barrier. In humans, researchers can ask questions and people can respond and explain. We cannot, of course, communicate in the same way with animals, so we must rely on physical ques and body language.
This leaves the idea that animals have a human-like concept of death up to interpretation, which for many scientists, is not strong enough evidence. Skeptics argue that assuming the behavior we see in animals is due to grief is simply us projecting human-like emotions onto them.
“We don’t have evidence that there is an internal first-person experience that leads the animal to do it,” said Alex Kacelnik, a behavioral ecologist. “Do they experience any emotion when helping a partner? It may as well be, but we don’t know” [4].
Kacelnik was speaking in response to a study in which researchers claimed that rats showed empathy toward each other by helping each other escape from cages [5].
Basically, those who are skeptical of the research say that science can observe animal behaviour, but that it is nearly impossible to determine what motivated that behaviour. For this reason, some scientists insist that we should not label these behaviours with human emotions like grief or mourning, because we don’t know if that’s exactly what it is.
We’re Asking the Wrong Question
Pierce believes that this uncertainty simply points out that humans have a lot to learn about animal behaviour. She argues that the question is not “do animals grieve?” but instead “how do animals grieve?”
Keep Reading: Trial Looking To Bring Clinically Dead ‘Back To Life’
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-07-23--Tesla converted an entire island from 100% diesel to 100% solar energy

Non-renewable fossil fuels , which include coal , oil , and natural gas , supply approximately eighty percent of the world ’ s energy .
We use them for things like electricity , heat , and transportation , as well as for making products like steel and plastics [ 1 ] .
These fuels come at a cost , however , and that cost is climate change .
When fossil fuels are burned , they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses , which get trapped in our atmosphere and contribute to the warming of the panet [ 1 ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels .
Much of the effort in this area is being put toward finding alternative renewable energy sources , as well as increasing energy efficiency .
Solar power has , for several years , been regarded as one of the best renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels , and an enormous amount of research has gone into developing solar energy technology .
Tesla has been at the forefront of innovation in the area of solar energy and has developed some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the Tesla Solar Island in 2016 .
Ta ‘ ū is one of five islands in the American Samoa , a territory of the United States located four thousand miles off the West Coast in the Pacific Ocean .
For generations , the island ’ s six hundred inhabitants had relied on diesel generators to power their homes , shops , water pumps , and harbour .
One hundred thousand gallons of fuel had to be imported every year , with a significant portion of that fuel being reserved for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel was delivered by boat , and several times there would be a delay , leaving the entire island without power .
Keith Ahsoon , a local resident , described a time when the boat was delayed for two months .
He explained that the water systems on the island use pumps , and everyone in the village depends upon them , but they require fuel to work .
In 2016 , however , Tesla partnered with SolarCity , one of the biggest residential solar energy contractors in the United States , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuels to solar energy .
Using a 1.4 megawatt solar array and sixty Tesla Powerpacks , the new system can supply the entire island with power for up to three days if the panels are cut off .
Ahsoon feels a lot more at ease knowing that his community ’ s power is coming from the sun , and not an unreliable boat .
Another Samoan resident spoke about the effects of climate change that the island ’ s residents are noticing , such as beach erosion .
Going Off the Grid with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the only example of a successful solar energy strategy .
The following is a roundup of just a few other incredible innovations that have taken place over the last few years .
2016 was a big year for Tesla .
Another successful outcome from Tesla ’ s merger with SolarCity , the Tesla Solar Roof claims to cost less than a new roof with added solar panels , and is three times stronger than standard roofing tiles [ 3 ] .
The company says that the price of the roof is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roof when accounting for energy generation ” , which means that it costs less than a regular roof when you account for the savings on your electricity bill [ 4 ] .
There are four different versions of the product , and the end price to the consumer will vary depending on the price of the house and the difficulty of installation .
Read : First Floating Ocean Hybrid Platform Can Generate Power From Waves , Wind And Solar In July 2019 , officials in Los Angeles , California approved a deal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the world ’ s largest batteries .
Starting in 2023 , the farm is supposed to provide seven percent of the city ’ s electricity , at a cheaper rate than any power generated by fossil fuels [ 5 ] .
The project is expected to create a 400-megawatt solar array , generating roughly 876,000-megawatt hours ( MWh ) of electricity annually , enough to power more than 65,000 homes during daylight hours .
An 800-MWh battery will store electricity for after the sun sets , which will reduce the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Marlenique , a fruit farm and wedding venue in South Africa , came up with a plan in 2019 to get off the national power grid completely , using the continent ’ s first commercially-operated floating solar system [ 6 ] .
The project will be completed in the following two phases : • Phase one includes a floating solar PV system , as well as a land-based solar installation on the farm , which will allow it to run 90 percent of its cold storage , irrigation , and wedding venue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Phase two will include the installation of battery packs , which will take the farm off the grid completely .
Related : Enormous Floating Solar Farms Can Extract Carbon Dioxide from Seawater to Replace Fossil Fuels The Pros and Cons of Solar Energy Solar energy is an excellent alternative to fossil fuels because it is renewable , it reduces electricity bills , it can be used in diverse settings , the maintenance costs are low , and it is a constantly developing technology that will continue to improve as more innovations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are that solar systems can be costly to install , it requires a lot of space , it is highly weather dependent , and storing solar energy is difficult and expensive [ 7 ] .
As more companies and governments allocate resources toward solar technology development , however , many of these problems can be overcome .
Not only is it beneficial for the environment , but solar energy provides individuals and families the opportunity to become more self-sufficient in terms of energy generation , as opposed to relying on the local power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies like Tesla are constantly working toward more efficient , cost-effective solar energy strategies , with the hope that one day , we will be able to abandon fossil fuels altogether .
Keep Reading : ‘ Anti-Solar ’ Cells Could Keep the Power Going at Night

Non-renewable fossil fuels, which include coal, oil, and natural gas, supply approximately eighty percent of the world’s energy. We use them for things like electricity, heat, and transportation, as well as for making products like steel and plastics [1].
These fuels come at a cost, however, and that cost is climate change. When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses, which get trapped in our atmosphere and contribute to the warming of the panet [1].
Because of this, governments around the world have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. Much of the effort in this area is being put toward finding alternative renewable energy sources, as well as increasing energy efficiency.
Solar power has, for several years, been regarded as one of the best renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels, and an enormous amount of research has gone into developing solar energy technology.
Tesla has been at the forefront of innovation in the area of solar energy and has developed some of the leading technologies and advancements in solar power, including the Tesla Solar Island in 2016.
The Tesla Solar Island
Ta‘ū is one of five islands in the American Samoa, a territory of the United States located four thousand miles off the West Coast in the Pacific Ocean. For generations, the island’s six hundred inhabitants had relied on diesel generators to power their homes, shops, water pumps, and harbour.
One hundred thousand gallons of fuel had to be imported every year, with a significant portion of that fuel being reserved for the transportation of the fuels itself. The fuel was delivered by boat, and several times there would be a delay, leaving the entire island without power.
Keith Ahsoon, a local resident, described a time when the boat was delayed for two months. He explained that the water systems on the island use pumps, and everyone in the village depends upon them, but they require fuel to work.
“We rely on that boat for everything, including importing diesel for the generators for all of our electricity,” he said. “Once diesel gets low, we try to save it by using it only for mornings and afternoons” [2].
In 2016, however, Tesla partnered with SolarCity, one of the biggest residential solar energy contractors in the United States, to switch the entire island from using fossil fuels to solar energy.
Using a 1.4 megawatt solar array and sixty Tesla Powerpacks, the new system can supply the entire island with power for up to three days if the panels are cut off. Ahsoon feels a lot more at ease knowing that his community’s power is coming from the sun, and not an unreliable boat.
Another Samoan resident spoke about the effects of climate change that the island’s residents are noticing, such as beach erosion.
“This is part of making history. This project will help lessen the carbon footprint of the world. Living on an island, you experience global warming firsthand,” they said. “It’s a serious problem, and this project will hopefully set a good example for everyone else to follow” [2].
Read: Secretive Energy Startup Backed by Bill Gates Achieves Solar Breakthrough.
Going Off the Grid with Solar
Tesla’s solar island is not the only example of a successful solar energy strategy. The following is a roundup of just a few other incredible innovations that have taken place over the last few years.
The Tesla Solar Roof
2016 was a big year for Tesla. Another successful outcome from Tesla’s merger with SolarCity, the Tesla Solar Roof claims to cost less than a new roof with added solar panels, and is three times stronger than standard roofing tiles [3].
The company says that the price of the roof is “less than the price of a regular roof when accounting for energy generation”, which means that it costs less than a regular roof when you account for the savings on your electricity bill [4].
There are four different versions of the product, and the end price to the consumer will vary depending on the price of the house and the difficulty of installation.
Read: First Floating Ocean Hybrid Platform Can Generate Power From Waves, Wind And Solar
Solar Batteries
In July 2019, officials in Los Angeles, California approved a deal for a massive solar farm backed up by one of the world’s largest batteries. Starting in 2023, the farm is supposed to provide seven percent of the city’s electricity, at a cheaper rate than any power generated by fossil fuels [5].
The project is expected to create a 400-megawatt solar array, generating roughly 876,000-megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually, enough to power more than 65,000 homes during daylight hours. An 800-MWh battery will store electricity for after the sun sets, which will reduce the need for natural gas-fired generators [5].
A Floating Solar Plant
Marlenique, a fruit farm and wedding venue in South Africa, came up with a plan in 2019 to get off the national power grid completely, using the continent’s first commercially-operated floating solar system [6].
The project will be completed in the following two phases:
Phase one includes a floating solar PV system, as well as a land-based solar installation on the farm, which will allow it to run 90 percent of its cold storage, irrigation, and wedding venue facilities off of the traditional electricity grid. Phase two will include the installation of battery packs, which will take the farm off the grid completely.
“The knock-on effect is that the business will save money in the long run, and create a business that is not only environmentally sustainable but financially sustainable as well,” said the Western Cape’s Beverley Schäfer. “As the Western Cape Government, we have been urging businesses to take up solar PV as an alternative energy source” [6].
Related: Enormous Floating Solar Farms Can Extract Carbon Dioxide from Seawater to Replace Fossil Fuels
The Pros and Cons of Solar Energy
Solar energy is an excellent alternative to fossil fuels because it is renewable, it reduces electricity bills, it can be used in diverse settings, the maintenance costs are low, and it is a constantly developing technology that will continue to improve as more innovations happen.
The drawbacks, however, are that solar systems can be costly to install, it requires a lot of space, it is highly weather dependent, and storing solar energy is difficult and expensive [7].
As more companies and governments allocate resources toward solar technology development, however, many of these problems can be overcome. Not only is it beneficial for the environment, but solar energy provides individuals and families the opportunity to become more self-sufficient in terms of energy generation, as opposed to relying on the local power grid to power their homes.
Innovative companies like Tesla are constantly working toward more efficient, cost-effective solar energy strategies, with the hope that one day, we will be able to abandon fossil fuels altogether.
Keep Reading: ‘Anti-Solar’ Cells Could Keep the Power Going at Night


theheartysoul--2020-07-25--Man’s Magnet Battle With Electric Company Is One For The Books

Most of us do our best to keep our electricity bill as low as possible every month by turning off lights when they ’ re not needed , using more efficient light bulbs , or using a programmable thermostat .
One man accidentally found out a neat “ hack ” for reducing your electricity bill , and got in a whole lot of trouble for it .
Now , he ’ s furious with his electricity provider , and he wants everyone on the internet to know it .
In a 2014 YouTube video entitled “ How to lower your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really !
” , the man in question expressed his rage at his electricity provider , Oncore , for slapping him with a 340 dollar fine for allegedly tampering with the electricity meter on the side of his house .
The man collects scrap metal and uses magnets to determine whether or not what he ’ s found is metal or some other material .
As it turns out , he liked to store one of his magnets stuck to the side of his electricity meter , because , quite simply , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
’ When workers from Oncor came to have a look at his meter , he initially thought nothing of it .
That is until he received a notice in the mail stating that he was being charged a fine for keeping the magnet on his meter , and was accused of meter tampering .
As if that wasn ’ t bad enough , when the already-furious Oncor customer went out to have a look at his meter , he found out that they had taken his magnet .
Now , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took to YouTube to express his frustration and anger , saying : He continued to mock the company , and vent his anger to viewers : This man , at the very least , is one extremely unhappy customer [ 1 ] .
While this story is on the older side , it still seems to be making the rounds , even in 2020 .
It begs the question , can you actually steal electricity and use a magnet to do it ?
Read : Tesla converted an entire island from 100 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this video is quite comical , electricity theft and meter tampering are serious issues .
According to estimates , electricity theft costs the industry as much as six billion dollars every year in the United States [ 2 ] .
There are a few ways that someone could steal electricity .
One is direct hooking from the line , which is when the user taps directly into the power line from a point ahead of the meter so that the meter itself can ’ t register any power and the utility provider can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type of theft accounts for approximately eighty percent of theft worldwide [ 2 ] .
The other method for stealing electricity is tampering with the meter itself .
There is more than one way to do this , but typically it involves placing a foreign object or element , often a magnet , on the outside of the meter , which causes a failure or slower registration of power flow through the meter [ 2,3 ] .
This , of course , is what was happening in the case of our scrap metal-collecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he was doing , but it is actually against the law .
You can also bypass the meter , which involves short circuiting the input and output terminal , preventing energy from registering in the meter [ 2 ] .
Read : How To Make A Self-Feeding Fire – Lasts For A Whopping 14 Hours Over the last several years , advancements have been made in electricity meters to prevent theft from happening .
Using precision converters and chip-scale transformers , new meters are now able to detect when they are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tampering using a magnet , and not other types of theft , they are effective at decreasing the rate of electricity theft somewhat [ 4 ] .
If it seems like the only victims of this type of crime are the large electricity companies that seem to be continuously increasing the cost of electricity in your home , you ’ d be mistaken .
If you pay your proper bill every month , you are also a victim of this type of crime .
According to Williams , this lost revenue is actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which eventually makes its way back through the system and is reflected on a higher bill for the rest of us .
The moral of the story is , if a scrap-metal collecting man in a ball cap tried to sell you a magnet to stick to your meter , politely decline .
Keep Reading : How To Undo Zip Ties With a Broken Bobby Pin

Most of us do our best to keep our electricity bill as low as possible every month by turning off lights when they’re not needed, using more efficient light bulbs, or using a programmable thermostat. One man accidentally found out a neat “hack” for reducing your electricity bill and got in a whole lot of trouble for it. Now, he was furious with his electricity provider, and he wants everyone on the internet to know it.
A Handy Magnet
In a 2014 YouTube video entitled “How to lower your electric bill…Oncore said I was meter tampering really!”, the man in question expressed his rage at his electricity provider, Oncore, for slapping him with a 340 dollar fine for allegedly tampering with the electricity meter on the side of his house.
The man collects scrap metal and uses magnets to determine whether or not what he’s found is metal or some other material. As it turns out, he liked to store one of his magnets stuck to the side of his electricity meter, because, quite simply, it was a ‘handy place to keep it.’
When workers from Oncor came to have a look at his meter, he initially thought nothing of it. That is until he received a notice in the mail stating that he was being charged a fine for keeping the magnet on his meter, and was accused of meter tampering. As if that wasn’t bad enough, when the already-furious Oncor customer went out to have a look at his meter, he found out that they had taken his magnet. Let the magnet battle begin.
Taking the Magnet Battle to YouTube
Now, he was in a complete rage. The man took to YouTube to express his frustration and anger, saying:
“If [that magnet] right there- if that, stuck anywhere on that meter, changes your electricity bill, I’m selling one of these to everybody on my block.” He continued to mock the company, and vent his anger to viewers: “I’ve figured it out now… I’m gonna be rich right. See if my electricity bill changes Mr. Oncor! You’re gonna charge me 340 bucks for a magnet that I clean scrap with? Cause I kept it right there? Are you serious? Really?”
This man, at the very least, is one extremely unhappy customer [1]. While this story is on the older side, it still seems to be making the rounds, even in 2021. It begs the question, can you actually steal electricity and use a magnet to do it?
Read: For the Cost of an iPhone, You Can Now Buy a Wind Turbine That Can Power Your Entire Home for a Lifetime
Electricity Theft
While this video is quite comical, electricity theft and meter tampering are serious issues. According to estimates, electricity theft costs the industry as much as six billion dollars every year in the United States [2].
There are a few ways that someone could steal electricity. One is direct hooking from the line, which is when the user taps directly into the power line from a point ahead of the meter so that the meter itself can’t register any power and the utility provider can’t bill for it. This type of theft accounts for approximately eighty percent of theft worldwide [2].
The other method for stealing electricity is tampering with the meter itself. There is more than one way to do this, but typically it involves placing a foreign object or element, often a magnet, on the outside of the meter, which causes a failure or slower registration of power flow through the meter [2,3].
This, of course, is what was happening in the case of our scrap metal-collecting friend. He may not have realized what he was doing, but it is actually against the law.
You can also bypass the meter, which involves short-circuiting the input and output terminal, preventing energy from registering in the meter [2].
Theft Prevention
Over the last several years, advancements have been made in electricity meters to prevent theft from happening. Using precision converters and chip-scale transformers, new meters are now able to detect when they are being tampered with. While this only prevents tampering using a magnet, and not other types of theft, they are effective at decreasing the rate of electricity theft somewhat [4].
Not a Victimless Crime
If it seems like the only victims of this type of crime are the large electricity companies that seem to be continuously increasing the cost of electricity in your home, you’d be mistaken. Even if you pay your proper bill every month, you are also a victim of this type of crime.
“If a consumer steals energy, the cost of that theft is picked up by honest consumers who do pay their bills,” says Richard Williams, head of energy at the Northern Ireland Consumer Council where meter theft is also an issue [5].
According to Williams, this lost revenue is actually worked into the cost of the supplier, which eventually makes its way back through the system and is reflected on a higher bill for the rest of us.
The moral of the story is, if a scrap-metal collecting man in a ball cap tried to sell you a magnet to stick to your meter, politely decline. No one needs a magnet battle like this one on their hands.
Keep Reading: Man Who Uses Solar Panels to Generate His Own Solar Energy Is Still Being Charged Tax in Canada
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-07-25--After Noticing Lack of Good Sticks At Park, Dad Turns Old Tree Branches into ‘Stick Library’ for Nei

After Noticing Lack of Good Sticks At Park, Dad Turns Old Tree Branches into ‘Stick Library’ for Neighborhood Dogs

Every dog owner at some point has gone on the “ good stick ” hunt while at the park with their dog .
Sometimes you find a real gem , but often the options for sticks to play fetch with aren ’ t that great .
This is where “ The Stick Library ” comes in – and it ’ s amazing .
59-year-old Andrew Taylor noticed that there was a real lack of good sticks at his local park to play fetch with his dog .
He had been cutting off some excess branches from some trees in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a little help , these would make great fetching sticks.
” ( 1 ) He decided that good sticks were meant to be shared , so he built a box with the words “ stick library , please return ” and brought it to the park , full of sticks .
( 1 ) Read : Animal Shelter Creates ‘ Real-Life ’ Living Room for Dogs to Show off Their Personalities A good fetching stick has to be not too long but not too short , either .
Preferably somewhat smooth without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , the sticks have to be easy enough for dogs of all sizes to carry them , and of course for owners to throw them .
( 1 ) Andrew took the branches that he had removed from the trees , chopped them up to be the right length , and then sanded them down to remove any large bumps and twigs .
( 1 ) He then built the box , carved in the name , filled it up , and brought it to the park .
( 1 ) On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in operation , Andrew and his daughter threw a party for its opening day .
Since then , more than 50 dogs have had fun playing fetch in the park with a stick from the stick library .
( 1 ) Read : Science Says Dogs Can Sniff Out Untrustworthy People If you ’ re thinking that this sounds like something you need in your local dog park , then make one .
It ’ s easy enough to do : all you need is a box or bin of some kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explaining what it is and reminding owners to return the sticks before they leave , and a bunch of good sticks .
You can even go one step further and do what Andrew did , which was find some not-so-good sticks , give them a little TLC , and then fill up your box .
Keep Reading : 8 Things Good Dog Owners Do to Build an Unbreakable Bond

Every dog owner at some point has gone on the “good stick” hunt while at the park with their dog. Sometimes you find a real gem, but often the options for sticks to play fetch with aren’t that great. This is where “The Stick Library” comes in – and it’s amazing.
The Stick Library
59-year-old Andrew Taylor noticed that there was a real lack of good sticks at his local park to play fetch with his dog. He had been cutting off some excess branches from some trees in his yard when he thought “hey, with a little help, these would make great fetching sticks.” (1)
He decided that good sticks were meant to be shared, so he built a box with the words “stick library, please return” and brought it to the park, full of sticks. (1)
Read: Animal Shelter Creates ‘Real-Life’ Living Room for Dogs to Show off Their Personalities
What Makes a Good Fetching Stick?
A good fetching stick has to be not too long but not too short, either. Preferably somewhat smooth without any extra branches or large bends in it, the sticks have to be easy enough for dogs of all sizes to carry them, and of course for owners to throw them. (1)
Andrew took the branches that he had removed from the trees, chopped them up to be the right length, and then sanded them down to remove any large bumps and twigs. (1)
He then built the box, carved in the name, filled it up, and brought it to the park. (1)
The Grand Opening
On the first day that the stick library was in operation, Andrew and his daughter threw a party for its opening day. Since then, more than 50 dogs have had fun playing fetch in the park with a stick from the stick library. (1)
Create a Stick Library in Your Neighborhood
If you’re thinking that this sounds like something you need in your local dog park, then make one. It’s easy enough to do: all you need is a box or bin of some kind that fits the sticks, a sign explaining what it is and reminding owners to return the sticks before they leave, and a bunch of good sticks.
You can even go one step further and do what Andrew did, which was find some not-so-good sticks, give them a little TLC, and then fill up your box.
Happy fetching!
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/dad-turns-tree-branches-into-stick-library-for-dogs/


theheartysoul--2020-07-25--There’s a museum in Japan that honors rocks which resemble human faces

For some of us , a geology museum doesn ’ t sound all that interesting ( or maybe it does ? )
.
But , a geology museum with a hall of rocks that resemble famous people ?
Now that ’ s something to see !
The Hall of Curious Rocks in the Chinsekikan museum near Tokyo has just that , and it ’ s as entertaining as you can imagine .
It has more than 1700 interesting looking rocks and 900 that resemble famous people and characters , this sounds like a good kind of weird .
The museum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been collecting these rocks for fifty years .
After his passing in 2010 , his wife Yoshiko has been running the museum .
( 1 ) There a number of famous peoples and characters represented at Chinsekikan , including ( 1 ) : Though some are more striking than others , all are both impressive and hilarious .
Chinsekikan has been featured on several popular TV shows in Japan .
( 1 ) Read : One Of The Few Known Intact Pyramid Capstones In Existence How the Rocks Are Formed Just like most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocks were given their unique features over time due to erosion and mineral imperfections .
Weathering and cracking frequently occur in rocks , particularly in a sedimentary layer or a point of weakness in the rock .
( 1 ) Some minerals are more affected by the elements than others .
Some are delicate and are more likely to erode , while others are more likely to endure .
Silicate minerals like micas tend to be more delicate , while others , like quartz , are much more durable .
One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural carvings is flowing water .
( 1 ) Read : If You Have These 10+ Characteristics , You Belong to the World ’ s Rarest Personality Type Though the inspiration to start this museum isn ’ t quite clear , it is thought that Shozo had a certain degree of pareidolia .
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary , this is defined as : Essentially , he would look at the shape of and etchings in rocks and see faces and patterns that other people wouldn ’ t necessarily see unless prompted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ eyes have to send messages to our brain .
Your brain then processes that information to understand what you are looking at .
Different parts of the brain are responsible for different stimuli , and they all work together to “ decode ” the messages they are receiving from your eyes .
( 3 ) Usually , at first , we see what we want to see or what we think is there , which doesn ’ t always end up being the reality .
This is known as Top-down Processing .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brains tend to search for faces , or familiar features , in other objects .
( 3 ) Face pareidolia is , as you guessed , specifically when we tend to see faces in objects that don ’ t actually have them .
This process is as follows ( 3 ) : • The eyes send a message to the brain about what you are seeing .
• This message is sent to the occipital lobe at the back of the brain that is responsible for vision .
• When the message first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is somewhat jumbled up into patterns of light , dark , and edges .
• The brain creates a sort of assembly line that orders these patterns to build a face .
• These parts of faces that have been assembled in the occipital lobe then travel to the temporal lobes behind the ears .
• Here , the information is put together to form one complete package , and your brain then registers that pattern as a face .
The area of the temporal lobe where this all happens is the fusiform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that for people who experience face pareidolia , the FFA is active even when they look at a fuzzy or busy picture that they think they see a face in .
( 3 ) If you find yourself seeing faces in random objects , don ’ t worry , you ’ re not a weirdo .
It is actually quite common and perfectly normal to do this .
Right from infancy , we learn to recognize and are drawn by faces .
This is an evolutionary thing : our ability to spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemies or threats before it was too late .
( 3 ) Whether you tend to see faces in non-human objects or not , you will find the Chinsekikan museum amusing at a minimum .
The next time you ’ re in Japan , take some time to explore a bit outside of the big city and be sure to stop at this unique place .
Keep Reading : A scientific study claims that your age affects how you see this famous optical illusion

For some of us, a geology museum doesn’t sound all that interesting (or maybe it does?). But, a geology museum with a hall of rocks that resemble famous people? Now that’s something to see! The Hall of Curious Rocks in the Chinsekikan museum near Tokyo has just that, and it’s as entertaining as you can imagine.
Chinsekikan Hall of Curious Rocks
It has more than 1700 interesting looking rocks and 900 that resemble famous people and characters, this sounds like a good kind of weird. The museum was founded by Shozo Hayam who had been collecting these rocks for fifty years. After his passing in 2010, his wife Yoshiko has been running the museum. (1)
There a number of famous peoples and characters represented at Chinsekikan, including (1):
Boris Yeltsin
Mickey Mouse
Elvis Presley
Donkey Kong
Nemo
E.T.
Jesus Christ
A choir of singers
Though some are more striking than others, all are both impressive and hilarious. Chinsekikan has been featured on several popular TV shows in Japan. (1)
Read: One Of The Few Known Intact Pyramid Capstones In Existence
How the Rocks Are Formed
Just like most things in nature are formed, the rocks were given their unique features over time due to erosion and mineral imperfections. Weathering and cracking frequently occur in rocks, particularly in a sedimentary layer or a point of weakness in the rock. (1)
Some minerals are more affected by the elements than others. Some are delicate and are more likely to erode, while others are more likely to endure. Silicate minerals like micas tend to be more delicate, while others, like quartz, are much more durable. One of the most common causes of rock erosion and natural carvings is flowing water. (1)
Pareidolia
Though the inspiration to start this museum isn’t quite clear, it is thought that Shozo had a certain degree of pareidolia. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, this is defined as:
“the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern” (2)
Essentially, he would look at the shape of and etchings in rocks and see faces and patterns that other people wouldn’t necessarily see unless prompted.
The Science of Pareidolia
In order to see things, our eyes have to send messages to our brain. Your brain then processes that information to understand what you are looking at. Different parts of the brain are responsible for different stimuli, and they all work together to “decode” the messages they are receiving from your eyes. (3)
Usually, at first, we see what we want to see or what we think is there, which doesn’t always end up being the reality. This is known as Top-down Processing. This is important because it is why our brains tend to search for faces, or familiar features, in other objects. (3)
Face pareidolia is, as you guessed, specifically when we tend to see faces in objects that don’t actually have them. This process is as follows (3):
The eyes send a message to the brain about what you are seeing.
This message is sent to the occipital lobe at the back of the brain that is responsible for vision.
When the message first arrives in the occipital lobe, it is somewhat jumbled up into patterns of light, dark, and edges.
The brain creates a sort of assembly line that orders these patterns to build a face.
These parts of faces that have been assembled in the occipital lobe then travel to the temporal lobes behind the ears.
Here, the information is put together to form one complete package, and your brain then registers that pattern as a face.
The area of the temporal lobe where this all happens is the fusiform face area (FFA). Scientists found that for people who experience face pareidolia, the FFA is active even when they look at a fuzzy or busy picture that they think they see a face in. (3)
Read: Miner to millionaire: Man sells largest-ever Tanzanite gems for $3.3M
Normal or Not?
If you find yourself seeing faces in random objects, don’t worry, you’re not a weirdo. It is actually quite common and perfectly normal to do this. Right from infancy, we learn to recognize and are drawn by faces. This is an evolutionary thing: our ability to spot face-like images helped our ancestors see potential enemies or threats before it was too late. (3)
The Hall of Curious Rocks
Whether you tend to see faces in non-human objects or not, you will find the Chinsekikan museum amusing at a minimum. The next time you’re in Japan, take some time to explore a bit outside of the big city and be sure to stop at this unique place.


theheartysoul--2020-07-25--Pentagon to publicly release findings after ex-official says ‘off-world vehicle’ found

For decades , humans have been fascinated by the possibility of the existence of UFOs and aliens .
For that reason , American citizens have always been both curious and suspicious about what kind of information the Pentagon has about extraterrestrial life coming in contact with our planet .
For more than ten years , the Pentagon ’ s U.F.O .
unit has kept all their information highly classified .
Now , however , things are changing , and a new bill passed by the Senate will require the Pentagon to share the information it has with regards to other-worldly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an astrophysicist who worked as a subcontractor and then a consultant for the Advanced Aerospace Identification Programme .
The program , which operated under the Defense Intelligence Agency , was reportedly disbanded in 2012 .
Davis said that while he worked in the department , he examined materials which he concluded could not be made on this planet [ 1 ] .
The programme , as it turns out , was not actually disbanded , but has continued to operate within a different department under a different name .
The new program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force and operates under the Office of Naval Intelligence .
It investigates unidentified aerial objects but has always kept all the information classified .
Earlier this year , however , the Pentagon released videos of “ unidentified aerial phenomena ” .
The US Senate Intelligence Committee is now putting pressure on the Pentagon to reveal some of its findings every six months , despite the fact that officials in the Pentagon are currently not permitted to discuss the programme .
This information will be shared in accordance with the 2021 intelligence authorization bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Programme According to a Senate committee report , the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force is meant to “ standardize collection and reporting ” about sightings of unexplained aerial vehicles .
It also must share at least some of its findings with the public no more than 180 days after the new bill is passed [ 2 ] .
Many officials are hoping that the programme will seek evidence of vehicles from other worlds , but the main focus of the program is to determine if another nation , particularly a potential adversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could threaten the United States .
Senator Marco Rubio , who is the current chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence , says that his primary concern is reports of unidentified aircraft over American military bases .
The senator believes that it is in the government ’ s interest to identify these aircraft , citing concerns that China or Russia may have made a technological leap that could give them an advantage .
He says that some of the vehicles that have been seen flying over some military bases appear to exhibit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US , and acknowledges that the explanation could be something completely mundane .
Read : One Of The Few Known Intact Pyramid Capstones In Existence Luis Elizondo , a former military intelligence official , was the former director of the Pentagon program , but resigned in October 2017 .
He says that the new program , which evolved from the previous advanced aerospace program , will now have a new transparency .
Elizondo , along with a small group of former government officials and scientists , is convinced that objects of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have not , as of yet , presented any physical proof of this .
In some cases , earthly explanations have been found for some of these unexplained incidents , but many astrophysicists argue that even without a plausible terrestrial explanation , something extraterrestrial is still not the most likely the culprit .
Harry Reid , the former Senate majority leader , was one of the officials who pushed for funding of the original U.F.O .
program , because he believed that objects of unknown origin may have crashed into earth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been no artifacts from crashes that have been publicly produced for independent verification , however there have been some unusual metallic fragments that have been identified in laboratories as being man made .
In some cases , the source for some of these materials has not yet been determined , which is why Davis has concluded that “ we couldn ’ t make [ these materials ] ourselves ” [ 2 ] .
Davis says that he has given classified briefings to both a Defence Department Agency as well as to staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and of the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding “ off-world vehicles not made on this earth ” and unexplained objects [ 2 ] .
This Information Should be Made Public Reid believes that more information should be made public in order to clarify what is known and what is not .
Keep Reading : A Mysterious Deep Space Radio Burst is Reaching Earth Every 16 Days

For decades, humans have been fascinated by the possibility of the existence of UFOs and aliens. For that reason, American citizens have always been both curious and suspicious about what kind of information the Pentagon has about extraterrestrial life coming in contact with our planet.
For more than ten years, the Pentagon’s U.F.O. unit has kept all their information highly classified. Now, however, things are changing, and a new bill passed by the Senate will require the Pentagon to share the information it has with regards to other-worldly or unidentified vehicles.
The Advanced Aerospace Identification Programme
Eric W. Davis is an astrophysicist who worked as a subcontractor and then a consultant for the Advanced Aerospace Identification Programme. The program, which operated under the Defense Intelligence Agency, was reportedly disbanded in 2012.
Davis said that while he worked in the department, he examined materials which he concluded could not be made on this planet [1].
The programme, as it turns out, was not actually disbanded, but has continued to operate within a different department under a different name.
The new program is called the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force and operates under the Office of Naval Intelligence. It investigates unidentified aerial objects but has always kept all the information classified. Earlier this year, however, the Pentagon released videos of “unidentified aerial phenomena”.
The US Senate Intelligence Committee is now putting pressure on the Pentagon to reveal some of its findings every six months, despite the fact that officials in the Pentagon are currently not permitted to discuss the programme. This information will be shared in accordance with the 2021 intelligence authorization bill [1].
Read: Secretive Energy Startup Backed by Bill Gates Achieves Solar Breakthrough.
The Goals of the Programme
According to a Senate committee report, the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force is meant to “standardize collection and reporting” about sightings of unexplained aerial vehicles. It also must share at least some of its findings with the public no more than 180 days after the new bill is passed [2].
Many officials are hoping that the programme will seek evidence of vehicles from other worlds, but the main focus of the program is to determine if another nation, particularly a potential adversary, is using breakout aviation technology that could threaten the United States.
Senator Marco Rubio, who is the current chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, says that his primary concern is reports of unidentified aircraft over American military bases.
The senator believes that it is in the government’s interest to identify these aircraft, citing concerns that China or Russia may have made a technological leap that could give them an advantage. He says that some of the vehicles that have been seen flying over some military bases appear to exhibit technology that is beyond what we have in the US, and acknowledges that the explanation could be something completely mundane.
“Maybe there is a completely, sort of, boring explanation for it,” he said. “But we need to find out.” [2]
Read: One Of The Few Known Intact Pyramid Capstones In Existence
UFOs: Vehicles Not Made on Earth
Luis Elizondo, a former military intelligence official, was the former director of the Pentagon program, but resigned in October 2017. He says that the new program, which evolved from the previous advanced aerospace program, will now have a new transparency.
“It no longer has to hide in the shadows,” he said [2].
Elizondo, along with a small group of former government officials and scientists, is convinced that objects of unknown origin have crashed on earth. They have not, as of yet, presented any physical proof of this.
In some cases, earthly explanations have been found for some of these unexplained incidents, but many astrophysicists argue that even without a plausible terrestrial explanation, something extraterrestrial is still not the most likely the culprit.
Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader, was one of the officials who pushed for funding of the original U.F.O. program, because he believed that objects of unknown origin may have crashed into earth and their materials should be studied.
“After looking into this, I came to the conclusion that there were reports — some were substantive, some not so substantive — that there were actual materials that the government and the private sector had in their possession,” he said [2].
There have been no artifacts from crashes that have been publicly produced for independent verification, however there have been some unusual metallic fragments that have been identified in laboratories as being man made.
In some cases, the source for some of these materials has not yet been determined, which is why Davis has concluded that “we couldn’t make [these materials] ourselves” [2].
Davis says that he has given classified briefings to both a Defence Department Agency as well as to staff members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and of the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding “off-world vehicles not made on this earth” and unexplained objects [2].
This Information Should be Made Public
Reid believes that more information should be made public in order to clarify what is known and what is not.