Myunixhosting

Soft Drink Alert: Dangers of Benzene

Losing weight is a real major health concern for at least two-thirds of the American population. Many adults and children drink themselves into being overweight or obesity. Beyond those nutritionally empty calories that soft drinks have and the number one source of calories in a typical American diet, a long known about threat in soft drinks, benzene, has health officials concerned again.

Benzene is a known human carcinogen (cancer causing agent) that has been linked to leukemia. It can form in soft drinks that contain both vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and either or, sodium benzoate, or potassium benzoate. Many soft drinks use sodium benzoate to stop bacteria growth and spoilage. Vitamin C can be present because the manufacturer added it or it can occur naturally from fruit concentrates used in the beverage. Soft drink manufacturers do not add benzene to the drinks directly, rather the compound is formed by a reaction to (ascorbic acid) and the preservatives that are added to the drink, in the presence of heat and light.

Believe it or not the FDA has known about this carcinogen threat for over fifteen years, and let the soft drink industry to voluntarily police themselves on how to best lower the benzene levels in their soft drinks. Presently the FDA is still hiding benzene data that they feel would be “confusing” to the consumers of soft drinks. I wonder if they think people will be “confused” as to why the FDA did not blow the whistle on this threat a decade and a half ago?

Because children may be especially sensitive to benzene, as their bone marrow cells are highly active, all soft drinks should be eliminated in schools immediately until they can be proven safe and free of all their harmful effects.

Being overweight or obese is just the first stage for many, of life long battles with so many other related ill health issues. Drinking yourself into a state of disease is a physical choice that you can have control over! If you are a parent, you can be the most important role model for your children. Surveys have found that parents are more of an influence on how their children eat and drink, than their peers.

While making the decision to eat more healthier foods is a wonderful thing, people are seriously underestimating the most powerful disease control weapon in their diet is in choosing more wisely on what to drink, and what to avoid.

Your body substance is made up mostly of 75% water. As a safe thirst quencher, water is hard to beat! Shelf-stable juices and single serve milks can be added as some healthy alternatives to break up the daily routine of consuming water. Try adding a squirt of real lemon or lime juice to water for an added citrus flavor.

From my perspective one of the most important and easiest changes you can make to improve your health, is to eliminate soft drinks from your daily diet. While an occasional soda is not going to harm anyone, daily consumption of them is simply a disease just waiting to happen.

What Do Turtles Eat and Drink – What Everyone Should Know About Turtle’s Diets

Most people know what turtles are. Little shell backed reptiles that often live in lakes, streams and dank vegetation. When asked what do turtles eat and drink these same people are far less knowledgeable.

Turtles are kind of an exotic pet. They are not as widely understood as dogs, cats and other more common house pets. Turtles eat different kinds of foods than the main stream pets, but they require a balanced diet none the less.

What Do Turtles Eat?

For proteins turtles will eat just about anything they can catch and subdue. Good examples are insects, like worms, slugs, certain spiders and flying insects.

Depending on the size of the turtle it may even go for larger prey. Some land turtles have been known to eat small mice and frogs. Turtles will eat just about anything that is edible.

Most turtles prefer to eat in water. This is not only because they feel more at home, but the water aids their oral digestion. Turtles do not produce saliva, so the water acts as a way of breaking food up easier for digestion.

Aquatics are often known to hunt small fish. Minnows, crayfish, goldfish and anything else in the “feeder fish” section of the pet store make tasty protein packed turtle treats.

All turtles need a lot of vegetation for essential vitamins and minerals. With the exception of baby turtles most adults have at least 60% of their diet as plant life. Adolescent turtles are mostly carnivorous. It is believed that they are stock piling protein for growth production and shell development.

Most people who own pet turtles feed them a variety of vegetables. These include carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, collard greens, green beans and most other vegetables.

Fruits such as bananas, apples, berries and peaches can make great snacks. These should only be served as treats due to the high levels of natural sugar. Stick to a high vegetable diet.

What Do turtles drink?

Turtles drink the very water they swim in. While swimming or wading they simply drink in a gulp. In nature, all the good bacteria in the water naturally filters out most toxins produced by animal waste. However, in a home tank, a turtle owner must make sure the water is cleaned regularly.

Even if you only own one turtle in a large tank, turtles make a mess with their waste. They usually defecate while eating and they eat in the water. This means that they are defecating in their water frequently.

Once feces and urine are broken down in water they create ammonia, a toxic substance that can cause skin irritation, illness and even death. If the water is not changed a few times a week this could have your pet drinking and swimming in toxic waste.

This is a very broad outline. Turtles are rather versatile animals as far as their diet is concerned. The simplest answer to what do turtles eat and drink would be what ever is around them. In nature turtles can turn just about anything edible into a meal. As a pet a turtle must be provided the same varied diet they would find in nature.

Source by Max Fowler

The Volkswagen Polo – Don’t Leave it on the Shelf

In many ways, the Volkswagen Polo is like a sodastream machine, or a toasted cheese sandwich maker. I make this comparison completely aware of how daft that sounds, but let me explain myself. Every household owns a kitchen appliance that has long since been forgotten about, left on a shelf or at the back of the cupboard, doomed to gathering dust for the foreseeable future. You know however, that one day you’ll get the urge to have a toasted cheese sandwich, or a sodastream drink and for a while you will fall madly in love with that appliance all over again, even if just for the briefest of times. The Volkswagen Golf reminds me of a forgotten appliance; it is always capable of putting a smile on your face, but for some inexplicable reason you’ve forgotten about it.

The VW Polo has a magnificent pedigree and each edition has continued to live up to the successful legacy that began way back in 1975. Recently though, there have been a few distractions if you were in the market for a hot new hatchback. The New Ford Fiesta has been making waves in the industry and the Vauxhall Corsa is taking its fair share of the supermini market. Amongst others there are the Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo, Suzuki Splash, Mitsubishi Colt and the Seat Ibiza, all making valid cases for their existence. All of a sudden, everybody seems to have forgotten about the Polo. That is until you drive one again.

The distinctive feel of the VW Polo has remained throughout its 30+ year tenure, except now there is pin-point steering, a great choice of diesel and petrol engines and the reliability rarely afforded to motorists; the kind of reliability the Volkswagen owners are used to. The precision engineering has won Volkswagen the enviable reputation for their economical and ecological engines, all of which aren’t exactly short on performance either.

The Polo is also a pleasant place to find yourself; the firm but comfortable seats, the excellent driving position and all the mod cons you will expect from a quality firm like Volkswagen. For a while you will be cursing yourself that you ever forgot about the driving experience the Polo provides. Alas, this feeling will eventually come to an end and you will again be distracted by the Fiestas, Corsas and the Aygos of the world. The Polo will begin to gather dust again. So why does this happen?

It can be explained simply as the ‘Wow Factor’. The Fiesta’s sexy new looks are bound to attract loads of supermini customers and the Corsa’s sporty looks will perform equally well for Vauxhall. Both of the aforementioned cars have a bit of pizzazz about them that continues to attract the punters. The Polo, well…erm…doesn’t.

This is the only area where the Polo falls down and although essentially it is only a cosmetic issue and the car buying public should perhaps not be so shallow, it may contribute to the Polo being overlooked as a viable option. The reliable German engineering and smooth ride hardly screams excitement, but long after the Fiesta’s snazzy new metallic paintwork has peeled off, the Polo will be providing reliable, powerful, hassle-free motoring.

The sodastream may be in the cupboard at the moment, but I get the feeling it’s due a revival.

Source by Pete J Ridgard

CHI Ceramic Hair Dryer – A Name Synonymous With the Fashion Industry

If you’ve regularly read magazines like Allure, InStyle and Vogue you’re bound to have seen and read articles about CHI hair dryers. Many of the best stylists in the fashion industry, from Hollywood to the catwalks of Milan use a CHI blow dryer. But why do many top stylists use this company’s styling tools?

The answer is simple when you realize that the company that makes them was founded by Farouk Shami, a stylist himself who wanted to make the best tools available to those in the industry. Each product released from this company is driven by this ideal.

The CHI ceramic dryer employs the latest technology to ensure the best styling results. Ceramic has been used in the best hair dryers for a while now because it produces something called negative ions. These tiny, negatively ions breakdown water drops into microscopic particles that can then be absorbed into the shaft of each hair. This helps to hydrate each and every hair, making it shiny and healthy. Breaking down water droplets into smaller ones also speeds up drying time, so less heat damaged is incurred.

Nano Silver technology is a new technological advance. Nano silver is infused into various parts of the dryer to sterilize and kill bacteria, therefore making the tool self-cleaning. The elimination of bacteria also keeps hair cleaner, which in turn, means hair holds its shape better. Only a few of the leading manufacturers like Andis and BaByliss makes dryers that incorporate this new technology.

Both of these technologies are used in CHI ceramic hair dryers.

The use of this technology, along with powerful motors, is why top stylists like to use this company’s products and why so many of today’s superstars endorse them.

But does that mean you should buy one?

Well, they are a very good product but I would like to see some of the ceramic parts infused with tourmaline. Tourmaline further increases the output of negative ions and is of great benefit for those with coarser hair types. But apart from this minor point I think that you should at least take a look at the different models of CHI hair dryers. The Rocket is my favorite model, but you may prefer the Pink Ceramic Ionic dryer or the Nano Silver (I forgot to mention, this model also comes with built in dryer stand).

Being founded and run by an ex-stylist it’s easy to understand why a CHI ceramic hair dryer is the preferred choice by some of the world’s top stylists.

Source by Robin Cassidy

Satirical New Book Holds Mirror Up to Creative Industries Socio-economic Diversity Problem To Drive Change

London, Tuesday May 16, 2023 – Creative Mentor Network (CMN) the UK charity with a mission to make the creative industries more socio-economically diverse and inclusive, has partnered with creative agency AnalogFolk to launch Making It In The Creative Industry: A Practical Guide, a 60-page satirical manual highlighting the multiple barriers that young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds face when trying to get a job and succeed in the creative industry. The book’s tongue-in-cheek advice is accompanied by hard-hitting statistics and illustrations by award-winning artist Toby Leigh (Tobatron), with a clear CTA to help drive change through mentorship.

The proportion of people from lower socio-economic backgrounds working in the creative industry has more than halved since the 1970s, falling from 16.4% to just 7.9%¹.

Creative Mentor Network has published the book to hold a mirror up to the creative industry – inclusive of all sectors² – addressing the sad reality of how a certain section of society have been able to get their foot in the door and make their way, while other young people have been prevented. Creative Mentor Network is working to change this, so it’s simply a person’s talent that matters rather than who they know, where they live and the privileges they can afford.

Making It In The Creative Industry: A Practical Guide is a call-to-arms for the creative industry to become more accessible and inclusive and provides a way to do so. Through its mentoring programmes, Creative Mentor Network pairs creative professionals with young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds looking to get into the creative industry. The organisation has distributed 250 limited edition copies of the book to key figures across the creative industry to encourage them to become Creative Mentor Network mentors.

The tongue-in-cheek book includes ingrained practices and attitudes such as:

In the unlikely event that you have the same regional accent as someone else in the office, pick a different one. A ‘normal’ one. There can’t be two, ‘the northern ones’. It just doesn’t work. Accompanied by the fact; in a study, 76% of employers admitted discriminating against candidates based on their accent due to class-based assumptions.

Every word, every image and every thought is at least 20% more creative by virtue of having been created on a Mac. So take out a small-to-medium loan at a competitive interest rate and get yourself one*. If you use a PC, people will spit on your shoes. And rightly so. ^{*Ensure that it’s updated to the latest operating system – macOS Cannes.}

There is a good reason why imposter syndrome is so common among people from lower socio-economic backgrounds: the creative industry is silly and everything is made up. Literally no-one knows what they’re doing, but some people are more comfortable pretending they do. To fit in, live with debilitating self-doubt inwardly, but emit boisterous arrogance outwardly. Accompanied by the fact University students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are often the first in their families to attend university. They often feel out of place and lack the time and money to engage with other students.

Katie Thomson-Greene, Managing Director, Creative Mentor Network says: “Whilst some people may be able to laugh at themselves, we understand this book may challenge people’s perspectives and make them feel uncomfortable. If that’s the case, it highlights that change needs to happen more. For too long, the industry has been dominated by people from higher socioeconomic backgrounds who have not faced the same barriers as those from less privileged backgrounds. From unpaid internships, network-driven recruitment and even awareness of the jobs that exist, there are too many invisible barriers that many people don’t think about but are making it even harder for the young creatives in our community. Our hope is that this book will shed light on these barriers and inspire individuals and businesses to take action towards creating a more diverse and inclusive industry. We envision an industry that values individuality, creativity, and skill above nepotism and homogeneity. This book is a call to action for anyone who shares that vision.”

Colin Byrne, Regional Executive Creative Director, Europe at digital creative agency AnalogFolk says: “Creative industries can and should reflect our cultural landscape and the communities we live in. There’s a hotbed of undiscovered talent out there that’s not getting a look in or being considered properly. The talent is losing out, the creative community is losing out and we are doing a disservice to the people we’re creating for. That’s why we’re so proud to work with Creative Mentor Network to highlight the importance of driving change and creating a more inclusive and accessible industry for everyone.”

Trevor Johnson, Head of Marketing, GBS, EUI at TikTok says: “This book is a helpful step towards breaking down the barriers that have hindered the progress of aspiring young talents from low socio-economic backgrounds. Working with Creative Mentor Network in the past, I’ve seen the incredible impact their mentoring programs have had on young creatives. By providing guidance and support, we have the power to unlock the untapped potential of these aspiring artists, designers, and innovators. It’s not just about changing lives; it’s about transforming our industry for the better.”

See notes to editors for more quotes about CMN’s mentor programme.

Creative Mentor Network currently work with a range of partners across the creative industry, including advertising companies like AnalogFolk, MullenLowe and Bulletproof, media companies like Sony Music UK, amazon Prime Video and The Jamie Oliver Group, to broader areas like Soho House, The APA and Meta.

The book Making It In The Creative Industry: A Practical Guide is available for purchase on the Creative Mentor Network website, along with more information, from Tuesday 16th May. Creative Mentor Network will be running a limited edition giveaway of the book across their social channels. Visit www.creativementornetwork.org to learn more and to sign up for a mentoring program.

ENDS

Notes to editors

¹https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/lack-of-social-mobility-in-creative-jobs-has-remained-the-same-since-the-1970s-in-the-uk-this-has-serious-implications-for-the-future-of-the-creative-industries/

²Creative industries include advertising and marketing; fashion and textiles; music; film and tv; tech and digital; architecture and design; art and culture; journalism and broadcasting; and publishing.

Quotes

“All of the training was really informative and I loved taking part. I learnt so much and a lot was really eye opening. It’s made me want to make a conscious decision to be more inclusive whenever possible and to try and encourage others to do the same.” (Tim Fellowes, Designer, Google Creative Lab)

“What sets this programme apart are the mentees – they truly are the future of the creative industry and we need to do our part to guide and coach them to help boost their confidence and further drive their goals and passion for the industry.” (Lisa Lugo, SVP, Marketing & Creative Solutions, Live Nation UK)

“I felt incredibly supported by Creative Mentor Network. The training and mentoring was very well run and I was really well matched to my mentee.” (Daisy Clayton, Artist)

Contact:

Creative Mentor Network: Miles Zilesnick / miles@creativementornetwork.org / 07792 126 482

AnalogFolk: Natalie Melder-Smith natalie.melder-smith@analogfolk.com / 07818 457 635

About Creative Mentor Network

Creative Mentor Network is a UK charity founded in 2014. Our vision is for a day when the creative industries are more accessible and inclusive so that a person’s socioeconomic background doesn’t hold them back.

Creative Mentor Network run mentoring programmes, matching young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds with creatives already within the industry. Mentors receive a minimum of 8 hours of training to ensure they are set up to support the young people they are matched with, and to provide them with the necessary skills to be an inclusive mentor, coach and leader.

Over the last nine years, Creative Mentor Network has matched over 1,500 mentoring pairs and worked with companies from across the creative industries. They were recently nominated for a Business Charity Award with their partner Sony Music UK for their Positive Influence mentoring programme.

For more information visit www.creativementornetwork.org, follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn @creativementornetwork, or on Twitter @CMNetwork_

Creative Mentor Network is a Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1178144.

About AnalogFolk

AnalogFolk is a global digital creative agency that’s been independently owned since 2008.

Our mission is to use digital technology to make the analog world better. AnalogFolk’s AI tool BigUp.Ai is a Fast Company World Changing Idea Honouree. The not-for-profit tool encourages women to self-promote with confidence by using more impactful language. In 2022 AnalogFolk launched multi award-winning The Truth, Undressed, the UK iteration of Vagina Academy, the global boundary-pushing education at scale brand purpose platform created in partnership with Canesten, Bayer Consumer Health. In 2022, AnalogFolk was recognised as Contagious Pioneers ’Best and Bravest Agencies on the Planet’; and in 2020 was awarded Global Digital Innovation Agency of the Year by Campaign magazine.

AnalogFolk has offices in London, Amsterdam, New York, Hong Kong and Sydney partnering with brands including HSBC, Nike, Diageo, Beats by Dre, Foot Locker, Unilever, L’Oreal, Bayer and Netflix.

For more information, visit us at www.analogfolk.com or follow AnalogFolk on Twitter,

Instagram or LinkedIn @AnalogFolk.

AnalogFolk is a part of AnalogFolk Group (AFG)

Source link