Thursday, April 25

TOP FOUR

Aquarius Season What’s In The Cards
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ASTROLOGY, TOP FOUR

Aquarius Season What’s In The Cards

Sun in Aquarius In the deep mid-winter, Aquarius' sun sign comes to life. Their planet is Uranus, their element is Air, and they are at home in the Eleventh House of the Zodiac. People born between January 20 and February 18 are represented by the Water Bearer, a symbol of the power of humanity to nourish the parched Earth with life-giving, purifying knowledge. Often represented as a kneeling figure pouring a jug of water, this symbol represents being of service to the common good, for Aquarius is called to be a leader who humbly serves the community or even the world. Simply put, Aquarius strives to leave the world in a better place and uses a brilliant intellect to do so. Aquarians are naturally eclectic, exuberant people. They are assertive, independent, positive thinkers with strong op...
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The Latest Symbol Of Overconsumption: The Stanley Cup Craze
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CULTURE, TOP FOUR

The Latest Symbol Of Overconsumption: The Stanley Cup Craze

The Stanley craze: How a reusable cup became the latest symbol of overconsumption. A dad and his daughter recently staked out a Target overnight, hoping to score the limited-edition reusable Starbucks x Stanley cup. As the dad documented on TikTok, they were able to secure one of just 40 cups released that day after leading a line that stretched the length of the store when doors opened. At other Targets across the United States, the scenes were more chaotic, with women rushing displays to grab the special Stanley produced with the coffee chain in what have been dubbed Stanley “stampedes.” Another such stampede recently ensued over limited-edition Valentine’s Day Stanley cups. The tumblers, known as the Stanley Quencher and first released in 2016, aren't much different from the myriad reu...
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Congressional Hearing Or Real Housewives
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POLITICS, TOP FOUR

Congressional Hearing Or Real Housewives

A ‘Real Housewives’ speech was quoted word-for-word at a congressional hearing. It’s not often that Bravo fan accounts post on Instagram about congressional hearings. But then again — it’s not every day that a congressional hearing features a lawmaker quoting directly from the Real Housewives. This is in fact exactly what happened Wednesday when Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California, recited part of Heather Gay’s now-iconic monologue from the finale of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” during a House Oversight Committee hearing. The hearing was called by House Republicans to discuss Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings — an occasion quickly seized upon by their Democratic colleagues to pivot the conversation to former President Donald Trump’s record while in the White House...
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Even If You Are Not Rich You Can Be A Cruise Ship Owner
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Journalism, TOP FOUR

Even If You Are Not Rich You Can Be A Cruise Ship Owner

You Can Be a Cruise Ship Owner Even If You Are Not Rich. Unlike fractional ownership of aircraft and houseboats, fractional owners of a cruise ship can all use the ship simultaneously. There is plenty of room for you and the other owners to live on the ship any time you want, or all the time. You can use it as a full-time residence, and so can the other co-owners. The first obvious benefit of shared ownership is acquisition cost. There are many cruise ships on the market in all price ranges, sizes, ages, and conditions. There are many smaller and older cruise ships available for less than one million dollars. At the lower end, some smaller cruise ships in fair condition can be acquired for about $250,000. At the highest end, the biggest new mega cruise ships now cost about $500 millio...
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The Most Recent Crop Of Terms Added To The Dictionary
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Journalism, TOP FOUR

The Most Recent Crop Of Terms Added To The Dictionary

‘Thirst trap’ and ‘edgelord’ were recently added to the dictionary – so why hasn’t ‘nibling’ made the cut? A student in my graduate seminar recently mentioned seeing her “niblings” at Thanksgiving. Some of the students in my class were clearly familiar with the term. But others frowned, suggesting that they hadn’t heard the term before, or didn’t know what it meant. A nibling is the child of one’s brothers or sisters. The word is a blend of the “n” in “niece” and “nephew” with “sibling,” and it was coined in the early 1950s by linguist Samuel Martin. But even though it’s been around for over 70 years, the word isn’t included in the online Merriam-Webster dictionary. The most recent crop of terms added to the dictionary includes words like edgelord – a person who makes provocative statement...
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Exploring Cardio And Weights First: A Kinesiologist’s Perspective
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, LIFESTYLE, TOP FOUR

Exploring Cardio And Weights First: A Kinesiologist’s Perspective

Cardio or weights first? A kinesiologist explains how to optimize the order of your exercise routine. When you enter the gym, which way should you head first? Toward the treadmills and spin studio to get your sweat on with a cardio session? Or toward the free weights and strength-training machines to do some resistance training? The American College of Sports Medicine suggests doing both types of exercise to take advantage of their unique benefits for improving health and daily functioning and reducing chronic disease risk. But what is the optimal sequence to get the best results? The answer to this question is … it depends. I’m an exercise physiologist. Recently in my lab we have been studying the effects of combinations of aerobic and resistance training on improving health-related fitne...
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A New Study Finds Online Stores Are Still Selling Flavored E-Cigarettes, Even To Kids — Despite California’s Ban In 2022
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, TOP FOUR, VIDEO REELS

A New Study Finds Online Stores Are Still Selling Flavored E-Cigarettes, Even To Kids — Despite California’s Ban In 2022

California banned sales of flavored e-cigarettes in 2022 − but a new study finds online stores are still selling them, even to kids. Californians – including minors – are still able to buy flavored electronic cigarettes online, even after the state’s much-publicized ban went into effect. That’s the key finding of my team’s new study, published in JAMA Network Open. On Dec. 21, 2022, California enacted Senate Bill 793, which prohibited the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to people of all ages. Hookahs, premium cigars and loose-leaf tobacco were exempted from the legislation. The ban was motivated, in large part, by a desire to reduce to reduce consumption of tobacco among young people – who are particularly attracted to the flavors in e-cigarettes, such as ma...
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A Closer Look At Britain’s Obsession With The Hot Water Bottle
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CULTURE, TOP FOUR

A Closer Look At Britain’s Obsession With The Hot Water Bottle

A brief history of Britain’s obsession with the hot water bottle. Last winter, UK retailers reported record sales of water bottles as consumers look to cut their heating costs as the average household energy bills soared. Boiling a kettle to fill a hot water bottle uses less energy than an electric blanket or turning on the heating and so is the cheapest option to keep you warm, according to consumer insights publication Which?. This year, bottles have been spotted on the London runway as even luxury brands are cashing in on their popularity. Feeling the chill ourselves, we have dug into the history of the hot water bottle as part of a large research project on the global history of Boots The Chemists. The first hot water bottles Hot water bottles have been around in various forms for ce...
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The Strange And Unusual Effects Of Alcohol On Your Poo
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, TOP FOUR

The Strange And Unusual Effects Of Alcohol On Your Poo

Why does alcohol make my poo go weird? As we enter the festive season it’s a good time to think about what all those celebratory alcoholic drinks can do to your gut. Alcohol can interfere with the time it takes for food to go through your gut (also known as the “transit time”). In particular, it can affect the muscles of the stomach and the small bowel (also known as the small intestine). So, how and why does alcohol make your poos goes weird? Here’s what you need to know. Diarrhoea and the ‘transit time’ Alcohol’s effect on stomach transit time depends on the alcohol concentration. In general, alcoholic beverages such as whisky and vodka with high alcohol concentrations (above 15%) slow down the movement of food in the stomach. Beverages with comparatively low alcohol concentrations (su...
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The Holidays Can Be A Time To Reflect And Find Meaning In Loss For Those Suffering With Prolonged Grief
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HEALTH & WELLNESS, SELF, TOP FOUR, VIDEO REELS

The Holidays Can Be A Time To Reflect And Find Meaning In Loss For Those Suffering With Prolonged Grief

For many who are suffering with prolonged grief, the holidays can be a time to reflect and find meaning in loss. The holiday season is meant to be filled with joy, connection and celebration of rituals. Many people, however, are starkly reminded of their grief this time of year and of whom – or what – they have lost. The added stress of the holiday season doesn’t help. Studies show that the holidays negatively affect many people’s mental health. While COVID-19-related stressors may have lessened, the grief from change and loss that so many endured during the pandemic persists. This can cause difficult emotions to resurface when they are least expected. I am a licensed therapist and trauma-sensitive yoga instructor. For the last 12 years, I’ve helped clients and families manage grief, depr...
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