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2 Veterans Were Together For 45 Years. After 1 Died, The Other Was Told The Marriage Was Fake.
When you're missing the love of your life, you really shouldn't have to put up with this bull.
09.22.14
30 dump truck loads and two years later, the forest looks totally different.
One of the biggest problems with coffee production is that it generates an incredible amount of waste. Once coffee beans are separated from cherries, about 45% of the entire biomass is discarded.
So for every pound of roasted coffee we enjoy, an equivalent amount of coffee pulp is discarded into massive landfills across the globe. That means that approximately 10 million tons of coffee pulp is discarded into the environment every year.
When disposed of improperly, the waste can cause serious damage soil and water sources.
However, a new study published in the British Ecological Society journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence has found that coffee pulp isn't just a nuisance to be discarded. It can have an incredibly positive impact on regrowing deforested areas of the planet.
via British Ecological Society
In 2018, researchers from ETH-Zurich and the University of Hawaii spread 30 dump trucks worth of coffee pulp over a roughly 100' x 130' area of degraded land in Costa Rica. The experiment took place on a former coffee farm that underwent rapid deforestation in the 1950s.
The coffee pulp was spread three-feet thick over the entire area.
Another plot of land near the coffee pulp dump was left alone to act as a control for the experiment.
"The results were dramatic." Dr. Rebecca Cole, lead author of the study, said. "The area treated with a thick layer of coffee pulp turned into a small forest in only two years while the control plot remained dominated by non-native pasture grasses."
In just two years, the area treated with coffee pulp had an 80% canopy cover, compared to just 20% of the control area. So, the coffee-pulp-treated area grew four times more rapidly. Like a jolt of caffeine, it reinvigorated biological activity in the area.
The canopy was also four times taller than that of the control.
The coffee-treated area also eliminated an invasive species of grass that took over the land and prevented forest succession. Its elimination allowed for other native species to take over and recolonize the area.
"This case study suggests that agricultural by-products can be used to speed up forest recovery on degraded tropical lands. In situations where processing these by-products incurs a cost to agricultural industries, using them for restoration to meet global reforestation objectives can represent a 'win-win' scenario," Dr. Cole said.
If the results are repeatable it's a win-win for coffee drinkers and the environment.
Researchers believe that coffee treatments can be a cost-effective way to reforest degraded land. They may also work to reverse the effects of climate change by supporting the growth of forests across the globe.
The 2016 Paris Agreement made reforestation an important part of the fight against climate change. The agreement incentivizes developing countries to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, promote forest conservation and sustainable management, and enhance forest carbon stocks in developing countries.
"We hope our study is a jumping off point for other researchers and industries to take a look at how they might make their production more efficient by creating links to the global restoration movement," Dr. Cole said.
This article originally appeared on 03.29.21
Okay, these are so freakin' cute.
We all need those adorable hats and loafers.
July is almost over, which means that a return to school is just around the corner. That also means that back-to-school shopping has begun.
But what might that look like in other parts of the world? Thanks to the internet, we need not wonder.
Moriah is an American mom who began living in Okinawa, Japan, in January 2024 after her husband got stationed there. She regularly posts videos showing just how different daily life is in her new home, not least of which being her sonâs school.
In a now viral TikTok clip, Moriah shared her sonâs latest school supply haul. And letâs just sayâŠit looks a little different than what we normally see in the U.S.
Moriah began her clip by saying that everything cost 65,000 yen, which roughly amounts to $420. Thatâs a pretty hefty price for just one kid, but wait til you hear what was purchased.
For the first item, prepare to be overwhelmed by cute kid fashion. Moriah showed off an adorable black and white âsummer hat,â to match his summer uniform. In winter, heâll have a different uniform, and a different matching hat. Plus an outside hatâŠJapan has their hat game down pat.
But wait, thereâs more! Moriahâs son also gets a name tag that looks like it was plucked right out of a wholesome anime, which will be pinned onto his uniform each day, in addition to two gym shirts with his name in Japanese sewed onto the front, three pairs of gym shorts, two sets of the blue short overalls, two of the button-up shirts, an art smock and last but not leastâŠa bow tie.
âThey wear this during formal events,â Moriah explained.
Of course, the boy needs matching shoes for all these outfits, which are also part of the supply haul. Then his school outfit will be complete with an âitty-bittyâ backpack.
And now, we get to the actual supplies.
@momentswithmoriah Japanese school supplies đ€© #okinawa #okinawajapan #japanese #japaneseculture #shoppinghaul ⏠sonido original - SONIDOS LARGOS
First up: a pianika, which is a small, portable breath-powered keyboard thatâs standard for most Japanese elementary schools.
âAll of the kids get these and learn how to play them and then they'll have a school event where we get to watch and see what they've learned,â Moriah explains before playing a couple of notes.
Then thereâs the drawing pad, a jump rope, art supplies like scissors, glue pastels, markers and clay, all of which fit into a nifty supply box thatâs top also acts as a mold for the clay that they use. Thereâs even a pouch that holds onto all âcommunications for the parents.â
Because organization is clearly a priority, Moriah says that she has to label each and all of these supplies. But she luckily has her kidâs name in Japanese on a stamp to make that task a little easier.
And thatâs it! At least, for brand-specific school supplies. Moriah said her family would later go out to stores to get things like her sonâs lunch mat and water bottle, which could allow for a little more personal flair.
The mom then shared that when she first attempted this three months ago, it felt really âdaunting.â But now with a bit more experience under her belt, sheâs âactually excited to get everything organized and ready for the start of the school year in September.â
Though Moriah and her family might only be in Japan for 3-6 years (according to her follow-up video), sheâll certainly have racked up quite a few memories while there, in addition to fun videos for us! Itâs always cool to see how different cultures navigate life. Granted, even within Japan, different schools are bound to operate differently, but still, this is a prime example of how the internet is a great way to celebrate and explore differences.
To follow along on more of Moriahâs Japan journey, follow her on TikTok and Instagram.
With twins, all the regular pressures of having a baby are doubled, including choosing a name.
Are you in favor of rhyming twin names? Or is it too cutesy?
Having twins means double the fun, and double the pressure. Itâs a fairly known rule to name twins in a way that honors their unique bond, but that can lead to overly cutesy pairings that feel more appropriate for nursery rhyme characters than actual people. Plus, itâs equally important for the names to acknowledge each twinâs individuality. Again, these are peopleânot a matching set of dolls. Finding the twin baby name balance is easier said than done, for sure.
Luckily, there are several ways to do this. Names can be linked by style, sound or meaning, according to the baby name website Nameberry. For example, two names that share a classic style would be Elizabeth and Edward, whereas Ione and Lionel share a similar rhythm. And Frederica and Milo seem to share nothing in common, but both mean âpeaceful.â
Over on the /NameNerds subreddit, one person asked folks to share their favorite twin name pairings, and the answers did not disappoint.
One person wrote âHonestly, for me itâs hard to beat the Rugrats combo of Phillip and Lillian (Phil and Lil) đâ
A few parents who gave their twinâs names that didnât inherently rhyme until nicknames got involved:
"It's the perfect way! Christmas cards can be signed cutely with matching names, but when they act out you can still use their full name without getting tripped up.đ"
"The parents of a good friend of mine did this: her name is Allison and her sister is Callie. Their names donât match on the surface, but they were Alli and Callie at home."
âAlice and Celia, because theyâre anagrams! Sound super different but have a not-so-obvious implicit connection.â
This incited an avalanche of other anagram ideas: Aidan and Nadia, Lucas and Claus, Liam and Mila, Noel and Leon, Ira and Ria, Amy and May, Ira and Ari, Cole and CleoâŠeven Alice, Celia, and Lacie for triplets.
Others remembered name pairs that managed to sound lovely together without going into cutesy territory.
These matching bunny ears though. Photo credit: Canva
âI know twin toddler boys named Charlie and Archie and they go so well together,â one person commented.
Another wrote, âTamia and Aziza. I love how they follow the same sound pattern with the syllable endings (-uh, -ee, -uh) without being obnoxiously matchy matchy.â
Still another said, âLucy and Logan, fraternal girl/boy twins. I think the names sound so nice together, and definitely have the same 'vibe' and even though they have the same first letter they aren't too matchy-matchy.â
Other honorable mentions included: Colton and Calista, Caitlin and Carson, Amaya and Ameera, Alora and Luella, River and Rosie, and Eleanor and Elias.
One person cast a vote for shared style names, saying, âIf I had twins, I would honestly just pick two different names that I like separately. I tend to like classic names, so Iâd probably pick Daniel and Benjamin for boys. For girls my two favorites right now are Valerie and Tessa. I think Val and Tess would be cute together!â
Overall though, it seems that most folks were fans of names that focused on shared meaning over shared sound. Even better if thereâs a literary or movie reference thrown in there.
Many adult twins regret that their names are so closely linked together. Photo credit: Canva
âMy mom works in insurance, so I asked her. Sheâs seen a lot of unique ones, but the only twins she remembers are Gwenivere [sic] and Lancelot... bonus points... little brother was Merlin,â one person recalled.
Another shared, âIf I had twin girls, I would name them Ada and Hedy for Ada Lovelace and Hedy Lamarr, both very early computer/tech pioneers. Not that Iâm that into tech, I just thought it was a brilliant combination.â
Other great ones: Susan and Sharon (think the original âParent Trapâ), Clementine and Cara (types of oranges), Esme and Etienne (French descent), Luna and Stella (moon and stars), Dawn and Eve, plus various plant pairings like Lily and Fern, Heather and Holly, and Juniper and Laurel.
Perhaps the cleverest name pairing goes to âAubrey and Zoe,â sinceâŠwait for it⊠âtheyâre A to Z.â
Itâs easy to see how naming twins really is a cool opportunity for parents to get creative and intentional with their baby naming. It might be a challenge, sure, but the potential reward is having the most iconic set of twins ever. Totally worth it!
They reached whole new levels of spicy silliness.
Watching Reynolds keep a brave face while Jackman hopelessly struggles is everything.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman ended their promotional journey for âDeadpool and Wolverineâ truly in the spiciest way possible.
The superhero duo appeared in the latest episode of âHot Ones,â the internetâs favorite interview series where guests eat increasingly spicier hot wings while answering burning questions. And boy, torture never looked so good.
At first, each held their own as they discussed how the movie actually began as a fake-out plan.
âThe original idea with this movie was to shoot a fake movie called 'Alpha Cop,' that was intentionally bad⊠It was about two guys that were sharing one brain and together they make the perfect copâŠand the poster says âAlpha Cop: two cops, one brain, all balls,ââ Reynolds explained to âHot Onesâ host Sean Evans.
âAnd it was meant to be kind of like horrible. Like 10 people in America would go to see this movie on opening weekend and five minutes into the movie the Marvel logo would flip up and it would actually be âDeadpool & Wolverine.ââ
There was also a chat about former jobs, where Jackman (already beginning to tear up from the heat) recalled being a clown-for-hire.
âI literally rented a clown outfitâŠand we had no skills, literally no skillsâŠI broke my rule and I did an 8-year-oldâs party. I always knew they were going to find me out and he found me out and this kid yelled to his mom, âMom, this clown is crap.' And Iâm like âShut up, kid.'â
Then around the halfway point, hilarious chaos ensued. Though both suffered through the latter rounds, poor Jackman was clearly more victimized. Poor fella goes though all the stages of spice griefâtears, sweat, uncontrollable shimmies, delirious laughterâŠeven bargaining.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Go Claws Out While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Oneswww.youtube.com
"It tastes angry," Jackman said of the sixth hot sauce. "You know what I'm gonna eat? A bag of rusty razors that's what I'm gonna eat."
Reynolds, on the other hand, was doing far better at keeping his cool. As well as his sarcasm.
"Hugh has never felt physical pain so for him as a pampered starlet, this is important, an important rite of passage," he quipped.
This dynamic was, undoubtedly, everybodyâs favorite aspect of the interview.
âThe funniest part is watching Ryan provide deep, in-depth responses to Sean's questions and Hugh just fighting for his life in the background,â one viewer said.
Another echoed, âRyan cracking jokes and Hugh just fighting to survive is funnier than it has any right to be. This is one of my favorite ones to date.â
Some else astutely wrote, âYou know the friendship is real by how much they enjoy seeing each other suffer. Like brothers, really.â
But of course, even though Reynolds and Jackman have projected animosity toward each other for laughs, underneath all those jabs is a true friendship.
"Most of our conversations are very vulnerable,â Reynolds revealed.
Jackman even praised Reynolds as a âgreat father, great family, great family, loves his job, loves his work.â
He continued, âand I don't have anything -- apart from making me do this and he said if you don't I'm gonna just disparage you and make fun of you and tell all of Australia that you just didn't have the guts and Canada is better -- but apart from that, I have nothing. There's nothing [bad to say]."
As Evans put it, they bravely âclimbed the hot sauce mountain together,â and we love them all the more for it.
She began by laughing hysterically.
An anry wife shares her thoughts with her husband.
A husband invited some new coworkers over for dinner and instead of properly introducing his wife, he made a sexist joke that she felt was belittling. The wife, who goes by the name Sadie on Reddit, shared the story on the AITA forum to ask if she responded correctly.
Spoiler alert: Yes, she did.
âMy husband invited his new coworkers over for dinner. When they arrived, he introduced me by gesturing at me and saying, âThis is Mrs. Smith (he didn't even say my name)...the housewife!'" Sadie revealed.
âI looked at him for a second, then I started laughing hysterically,â Sadie continued. âI then told said, âNo, honey, I work full time, and YES I still act like a housewife when I'm home because you simply can't bother to help.ââ After Sadieâs remark, the guests stared at the husband, who tried to laugh it off and then changed the subject by asking them if they wanted a drink.
The rest of the dinner was awkward, with the husband and wife exchanging angry glances. After the guests left, the husband blew up at Sadie, saying that she laughed like a âlunaticâ and that she ruined âhis image.â
âI told him he was wrong to lie about my status and deny my degree, to begin with,â Sadie continued. He said I could've talked to him about it privately later but not like this, and making his coworkers think he's useless.â Sadie asked the online forum if she was out of line, and they responded with a collective no.
People overwhelmingly supported the wife, raising an issue far beyond the fact that her husband was seriously inconsiderate. Itâs a big red flag in a relationship when one spouse diminishes or belittles the other in public or private.
âMen who diminish their partners to look better at the office are gross. He only seemed to care about his embarrassment and not yours. I'd be mortified if my husband used a lie that robbed me of my success and accomplishments to prop himself up," Geranium27 wrote.
âIt's a red flag for the relationship. He doesn't want a partner who is an equal. He wants a dependent woman who he can provide for completely so he can feel like a man," RedWanderingLizard added.
Some also noted that it was wrong of him to disparage homemakers.
"He diminished (being a housewife is not a âlowâ role, but he meant it that way) you in public, you corrected him. In public. As he deserved,â LetThemEatHay wrote.
The viral post received over 24,000 comments, highlighting the idea that belittling your partner is a serious sign of a dysfunctional relationship that should not be ignored.
According to Psychology Today, backhanded compliments, digs and subtle put-downs are attempts by one partner to make the other feel small and themselves feel big. âAlthough cleverly disguised as a joke or a compliment, these comments may qualify as âtoxicâ if they sting, cause confusion, and replay in a personâs mind for days, disrupting their peace,â Erin Leonard, Ph.D. writes.
Ultimately, commenters overwhelmingly agreed that Sadie was right not to let her husband's belittling compliment go unnoticed. By sharing it online, she opened up a meaningful discussion about appropriate humor in relationships. Studies show that itâs healthy for partners to joke around with one another, but when the comments are thinly veiled put-downs and backhanded compliments, itâs no laughing matter.
This article originally appeared on 5.9.24