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How to help your eyes in a world that makes you stare at a screen all day

True

Innovation is awesome, right? I mean, it gave us the internet!

However, there is always a price to pay for modernization, and in this case, it’s in the form of digital eye strain, a group of vision problems that can pop up after as little as two hours of looking at a screen. Some of the symptoms are tired and/or dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and neck and shoulder pain¹. Ouch!

Eye strain from staring at devices is a widespread issue. Most people work, play, and maintain relationships through screens, which averages out to 6 hours and 35 minutes per day (and that’s in addition to work or school)! That translates to 46 hours and 5 minutes per week, or 2,402 hours and 55 minutes per year.²

With numbers like these, attention to eye health is more important now than ever; our dependence on technology certainly isn’t going anywhere. And just like innovation brought us technology, innovation also holds the key to combating the effects it has on our bodies. Here are some key suggestions from eye care professionals to help reduce common symptoms of digital eye strain. Spoiler alert: none of them involve wearing glasses!

Follow the 20-20-20 rule.

You can find some relief by taking a 20-20-20 break: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It’s easy to remember because we all want 20/20 vision, and it’s a good excuse to look out the window.

Adjust your workspace screen to be slightly below eye level and about an arm’s length away.

This simple tweak to your work area can really improve your posture, as well as the amount of strain on your eyes. A win-win!

Adjust the brightness of your device.

Brightness levels also play into how hard our eyes have to work. Our screen brightness should match our surroundings, especially during the evening hours.

Say hello to Biofinity Energys^® contact lenses!

These contact lenses are specifically made to address eye dryness and tiredness caused by digital devices. Digital Zone Optics^® lens design and Aquaform^® Technology are two innovations that when combined help with the tiredness and dryness that can be caused by digital eye fatigue.

Additionally, Biofinity Energys^® monthly replacement contact lenses are designed to help our eyes better adapt for a more comfortable wearing experience³. This part is tricky because contacts can be hard to adjust to, and trust me—no one wants what feels like gritty sandpaper in there. Comfort is key!

If you’re sick of wearing glasses all the time and feel ready to do something new, visit biofinityenergys.com to learn more and to get your free trial certificate.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6020759/
Asurion-sponsored survey by Market Research Firm Solidea Solutions conducted August 18-20, 2019 of 1,998 U.S. smartphone users, compared to an Asurion-sponsored survey conducted by market research company OnePoll between Sept. 11 – 19, 2017 of 2000 U.S. adults with a smartphone.
Biofinityenergys.com

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CooperVision

Finally, a contact lens for a digital lifestyle

All photos courtesy of Biofinity Energys®

True

The human eye reveals so much about who we are. One look can convey love, annoyance, exhaustion, or wisdom.

Our eyes tell the world if we are getting enough sleep, if we’ve been crying, or whether we are truly happy (or just faking it). When looking at the face, the eyes dominate emotional communication—after all, they’ve long been known as the “window to the soul.”

While humans can look each other in the eye and learn quite a bit with just a glance, our eyes also let us know when they’re tired of scrolling through Instagram or texting GIFS to our best friend…even if our brains are not (because let’s be honest, a well-placed GIF never gets old).

When our eyes are strained from looking at a digital device, they usually begin feeling dry, tired, and/or irritated.¹ This is known as “digital eye strain²,” something that can start to happen after only a few hours of looking at screens. Unfortunately, we can’t always stop what we’re doing—especially if we’re in the middle of teaching a class or giving a big presentation at work.

It’s a conundrum: our lives literally revolve around digital screens because we use technology for almost everything: work, school, play, communication, travel, banking, and news. But also, screens are taking a major toll on our eyes.

So what happens when our eyes have had enough, but there are still a lot of hours left in the day? There are several options recommended by eye care professionals, ranging from wearing blue light glasses to taking regular breaks and keeping your screen at the same level of brightness as your surroundings.

Another solution is Biofinity Energys^® contact lenses. These contact lenses are designed for all-day wear, helping people's eyes better adapt so they can seamlessly and continuously shift focus between digital devices and offline activities. They are engineered with special Aquaform^®Technology to lock in moisture, helping your eyes feel less dry. They’re also designed to help with eye tiredness (but you still need to take breaks!).

These monthly replacement contact lenses correct farsightedness or nearsightedness while simultaneously helping to reduce symptoms associated with digital eye strain, which is great for people like me who feel like they have to choose between blue light glasses or vision-correcting contacts just to get through a day at work!

Our eyes are obviously a very important part of our bodies, and we have to take care of them. If you’re interested in learning more about how these contact lenses can help your eyes feel less tired due to digital eye strain, head over to biofinityenergys.com to get your free trial certificate.

References

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Design

Holy moly, these handmade miniature film and TV sets are incredible

Instagram

Looks real, doesn't it?

There truly is no limit to the amount of creative brilliance in the world. And sometimes seeing the works of talented humans is all you need to have your faith restored, or at least to brighten your day a bit.

Los Angeles based artist Bridget McCarty creates incredibly lifelike, yet nonetheless tiny rooms with remarkable craftsmanship.

Her Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are chock-full of these intricate, elaborate mini-masterpieces, and even some amazing how-to videos that can help get your own creative juices flowing.

Taking a look at these creations, it’s easy to forget that these models are in fact only inches tall.

See on Instagram

…that is, until you notice a “giant” hand in the frame.

The amount of serenity I received from seeing this tiny sushi restaurant cannot be expressed by mere words.

See on Instagram

Just when you thought apartments in New York couldn’t get any tinier.

See on Instagram

McCarty also takes iconic sets from well-known movies and televisions shows, and recreates them—with exact detail—as miniature models.

When I say exact detail, I mean it.

"Seinfeld," but make it small. Like, really small.

See on Instagram

In this recreation of Jerry’s apartment from “Seinfeld,” McCarty offers a little hack for making teeny tiny potato chips … by using bell pepper seeds! How genius is that?

A "Jurassic Park" that could fit in your pocket.

See on Instagram

Pro tip from McCarty’s behind-the-scenes video: If doing this at home, don’t forget you have to break the tiny fence open, so that the tiny dinosaur can get out and cause tiny mayhem.

The not so "Big Bang Theory."

See on Instagram

I think even cynical Sheldon would approve of this recreation of the popular sitcom’s Comic Center of Pasadena.

Enter a fun-sized "Friends."

See on Instagram

Behold, a 1:12 scale model of Monica’s kitchen. Could this BE any cooler?

Harry Potter and the magical miniscule model.

See on Instagram

Looking at McCarty’s handcrafted Flourish and Blotts, the wizarding world’s beloved bookstore found on Diagon Alley, is making me feel like a muggle.

"Star Wars" fans rejoice at this itty-bitty baby Yoda.

See on Instagram

… aka Grogu, for "Mandalorian" purists.

Scaled-down spookiness.

See on Instagram

The Haunted Mansion fans were baffled by McCarty’s Haunted Ballroom, complete with ghostly pipe organ and glowing chandelier. Actually, according to her website, McCarty is a huge Disney aficionado and even supplies art to Disney Parks galleries.

@bridgetmccartyminis Who has been baking in my kitchen?! #ShowYourGlow #36SecondsOfLightWork #fyp #halloween #baking #wow #amazing #lol #foryoupage ♬ Who Ya Gonna Call (From "Ghostbusters") - Karaoke Version - Urock Karaoke

And I mean, who you gonna call when you need some compact "Ghostbusters" nostalgia? McCarty, clearly.

See on Instagram

McCarty found this seven-inch house at a Michael’s craft store, and decided it would be the perfect home for a tiny Gizmo.

Many of McCarty’s pieces have itty-bitty working TVs (like, you can change the channel on them and everything), which can be found at Walmart. Who knew?

See on Instagram

Though currently on hiatus from Etsy, McCarty also creates the most adorable custom pet miniatures. Like this doggo.

See on Instagram

Look at the awe on this fella’s face!

A coin-sized kitty is also available and adorable.

See on Instagram

Personally, I’d like 500 of these.

McCarty’s designs might be small, but they’re certainly making a big splash on social media. On TikTok alone, she has 110,000 followers.

Her art is already so clever and creative, but seeing someone authentically live their passion makes it all the more inspiring.

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Culture

You can automatically turn Wordle results into a cool 'townscape' because humans are awesome

@DanDanikov/Twitter

Transform your Wordle results into a cute "townscape" with a simple tool.

If you haven't checked out Wordle, I'm sorry to tell you you're missing out on a delightful cultural phenomenon. You don't have to play it to appreciate it—word games aren't everyone's cup of tea—but you should at least know why you keep seeing these weird rows of gray, yellow and green boxes filling up your social media feeds.

First of all, Wordle itself is fun. The play is easy, but the puzzle can be challenging. The basic gist is you have six tries to guess the day's five-letter word. With each try, you're told which of your letters are correct and if any of those correct letters are in the correct spot. After you play, you can share your results without giving away the word at all.

But the gameplay isn't actually the most appealing thing about it.

Wordle is simple in all the best ways. There's no app. No ads. No purchases. No registrations or logins. No leveling up. You can only play once a day, and it takes just a few minutes. The game doesn't even have its own dedicated domain—it's just a page on a guy's personal website.

It was created by a software engineer named Josh Wardle for his partner who loves word games, and he decided to make it public a few months ago. He's not trying to make money off of it. He even decided not to put a link to the game in the results sharing function because it looked cluttery. The wholesome simplicity is refreshing, and the capitalismlessness of it is a big part of its appeal.

Wordle results sharing is actually one of the best things about it.

Wordle 221 4/6
— Annie Reneau (@Annie Reneau) 1643227141

Some people have poked fun at—or expressed annoyance with—everyone sharing their Wordle results. But hear me out—we all want this. We really do.

It's exceedingly rare that we all get to enjoy something together that isn't pushed by some big corporation or doesn't have the purpose of plucking away our pennies. The organic growth of the game's popularity is simply delightful, as is the fact that there's this unspoken social contract that people don't give away the day's Wordle word.

For the most part, people are miraculously on the same page here. Don't ruin the game for anyone else by sharing the actual answer. You can share your results, but not the answer. A Wordle spoiler trollbot tried to ruin the fun, but that account was met with utter derision. In a world where everything feels increasingly complicated and chaotic, people want this nice thing.

One of the great things about humans is that, despite a handful of miserable folks who want to ruin things, there are lots of people who want to make good things just for the sake of making good things. In that vein, some people have figured out a way to make Wordle results sharing even more fun.

A couple of people started sharing their Wordle results in the form of townscapes from the Chrome browser version of Townscaper by Oskar Stalberg, which end up looking like this:

Wordle 211 x #Townscaperpic.twitter.com/7eLB7Vggve
— Danikov (@Danikov) 1642335331

Delightful, right?

Then, someone else created a tool that automatically transforms your results into one of these townscapes, with options that allow you to create four different townscape styles.

There are now 2 options, so the same Wordle result can produce 4 different Townscaper buildings.pic.twitter.com/fgbZ2ILOur
— Tarm\u26aabyte (@Tarm\u26aabyte) 1642463150

You can create the townscape by going to this link in a Chrome browser and pasting either a tweet with Wordle results in it or pasting your actual Wordle results (which are copied to your clipboard when you click "share" from the Wordle site) directly into the box. Click "Parse," then "Generate," then see the link at the bottom to view your townscape. You can alter the results by clicking one or both of the boxes that say "Fill gaps on walls" and "Remove gaps on ground."

Fair warning: Townscaper is a time trap.

I feel the need to add a word of warning here. One of the great things about Wordle is that it doesn't suck away your time like many games do, because you can only play once a day. But if you put your results into the Townscaper tool, there's nothing to prevent you from embellishing it with some fun add-ons. It's ridiculously easy to do and it makes a satisfying plunking noise when you add things, which can get a little addicting.

Here's a screenshot of my Wordle results from this morning with a few add-ons, which only took about 30 seconds. So. Fun.

OskarStalberg/Townscaper

Well done, awesome people. Maybe if we channel this same creative energy and desire for simple, wholesome goodness into more areas of human existence, we could solve more of the problems that plague us.

In the meantime, keep Wordling and sharing, folks. Let's lean into this good thing while it lasts.

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Photographer captures water droplets—'liquid sculptures'—that look like they're alive

Ronny Tertnes/Facebook

Ronny Tertnes' "liquid sculptures" are otherworldly.

Human beings have sculpted artwork out of all kinds of materials throughout history, from clay to concrete to bronze. Some sculpt with water in the form of ice, but what if you could create sculptures with small drops of liquid?

Norwegian artist Ronny Tertnes does just that. His "liquid sculptures" look like something from another planet or another dimension, while at the same time are entirely recognizable as water droplets.

I mean, check this out:

According to SLR Lounge, Tertnes uses ultra high-speed photography, flash rigs, smoke and different types of liquids to create and capture his colorful split-second sculptures. He mixes water with various substances to create texture, color and movement in his photos, and the effect is otherworldly. He does some editing in Photoshop as well. The form in his photographs comes from the unique movement of a single droplet, which can end up looking like a human, a flower, an alien or an abstract glass sculpture. Sometimes they look like people dancing. Just incredible.

Tertnes has shared many of his photos on Facebook and on his website, where you can purchase prints, calendars and more featuring these beauties:

It's fun to ask what other people see when they look at these images.

Amazingly enough, Tertnes has described himself as a "hobby photographer."

Sometimes he creates mirror images that end up looking like animals or alien creatures.

If you're into (or have a marginal understanding of and interest in) NFTs, Tertnes has a Liquid Sculptures NFT store as well.

And finally, here's a slideshow where you can hear him play the guitar and look at his beautiful liquid sculptures. Enjoy.

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Innovation

Formerly homeless man now decks out his house with 17,500 Christmas lights for charity

Facebook

Photo from Mark Abbott's Facebook

Looking for an authentic holiday feel-good story?

Mark Abbott has now been dubbed "Mr. Christmas" after transforming his home into an absolutely mesmerizing winter wonderland.

We’re talking illuminated reindeer (all nine of them), a glowing blue tunnel of light leading up to the front door, a candy cane forest, a snow machine, some outdoor music and an eight-foot-long sleigh. If that’s not enough seasonal spectacle, I don’t know what is.

But how and why this dazzlingly decorated Christmas house came to be is the real heartwarming tale.

Fifteen years ago, Abbott was registered as homeless. He shared with The Big Issue that he had been juggling three jobs to make ends meet. Then he lost his home after an expensive bill racked up for work on his car. The one he used to get to all three of his jobs. Needlessly to say, it was a difficult time in his life.

Abbott had been couch surfing and sleeping in his car before getting help at St. Martins in Norwich, in the east of England.

St. Martins describes its mission as “enhancing understanding and compassion towards homeless people in our community through education and advocacy.” It provides residential care for those with mental health and substance abuse related issues, housing care for the elderly and a "direct access hostel," where Abbott stayed at for the next nine months.

While there, he saved up enough money to get on a housing register. And now, according to The Big Issue, Abbott is a proud father of three and has turned his passion into a business running a children’s dance company.

Not to mention, Abbott spares no expense for gorgeous Christmas lights each year.

“I’ve always liked Christmas lights, they’re so pretty. And I’ve always liked the festive thing, even the cold weather,” he told The Big Issue, adding “I do really love it when I see kids’ faces. The biggest thing for me is that it’s bringing people together.”

He certainly succeeds in that department, as families flock from miles away to glance at the breathtaking scene.

This year, two onlookers suggested that Abbott should use his festive display for charity, and having never forgotten the support he received from St. Martins, he knew exactly who to raise money for. He told BBC News “With the pandemic you hear stories of families being made homeless. I've got three kids now and I couldn't imagine being homeless with children.”

With around 17,500 lights and 4,000 feet of wires, Abbott is giving back to the institution that once helped him all those years ago. Which means running more than 50 sockets to power the lights. But that cost is being covered by a friend Abbott made while he was homeless. Gratitude and generosity really are the gifts that keep on giving.

If you’d like to donate to St. Martins, you can do so here.

Alternatively, there are many ways you can help make a difference for those experiencing homelessness this season. The Independent has a short-but-sweet list of ideas that you can find here.

If Abbott’s "Christmas comeback" is any indication, you never know how a little kindness can help turn around someone’s life in a major way.

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Science & Technology

People can't get enough of Keanu Reeves cracking up at a question about NFTs

via Anna Hanks/Flickr

Keanu Reeves "John Wick" red carpet, Fantastic Fest 2014 Austin, Texas

A recent NFT (non-fungible token) boom has a lot of people scratching their heads over why someone would pay over a million dollars for a digital art file that can be easily replicated by right-clicking “Save as.” But NFT enthusiasts are willing to pay ridiculous amounts for the artwork because they have a certificate of digital ownership that cannot be replicated.

Much like a piece of physical artwork such as painting, you can create a replica of an NFT but there are a limited number of originals. This has ushered in a new era where digital assets can now possess the type of scarcity usually attributed to physical objects.

This new form of manufactured scarcity seems to many as another way for powerful people to claim ownership over things that are shared by the general public.

“Sure, you can enjoy this drawing of an ape,” the NFT owner proudly states. “But I own the ape! It says so on the blockchain.”

In a recent interview with The Verge about how the digital world is slowly encroaching upon real life, “Matrix Resurrections” stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss were asked by Alex Heath about the notion of digital scarcity. The question made Reeves lose composure and he let out a large cackle, exclaiming “They’re easily reproduced.”

Keanu Reeves laughing at the concept of NFT\u2019s makes me like him that much more.pic.twitter.com/qHWd2EKSTn
— SPENCE, TODD (@SPENCE, TODD) 1639189501

Reeve’s outburst inspired Heath to push back, claiming “But it's not the same."

“The Matrix” star's outburst was cathartic to many people who think that NFTs are nothing but an elitist scam. The clip quickly went viral on social media, earning a lot of hilarious and thoughtful responses.

This is how NFTs work pic.twitter.com/WWymNTsBj5
— Greedo - Master of Scum, Harbinger of Filth (@KingGidruh) December 11, 2021

I own this ticket. Not the artist. There’s only 10 of them in existence. You can’t “right click-save” this physical ticket.

With NFTs, you don’t own ANYTHING but a picture. You can’t even make a physical copy without it infringing on the artist’s copyright.

What good is that? pic.twitter.com/1DBHO8einR
— SGC Finest (@SGCFinests) December 11, 2021

NFTs are proof that capitalists will try to restrict the supply of anything to try to make it profitable
— Milly🎲 (@Hoodie_Milly) December 11, 2021

Mah dude was like "but but here's why copy/paste or right-click/save-as is uh...wait a minute".
— Please get the vaxx (っ◕‿◕)っ (@TheyCallMeTarz) December 11, 2021

The guy gives these vibes pic.twitter.com/aHAMvWYZJL
— Suns Bob (@Robydraco) December 11, 2021

"BuT iT's NoT tHe SaMe" It is, actually. When i right click and save an nft, I have experienced the nft in the same way that the "owner" has and i didn't pay a dime.
— FrysauceMccrust (@FMccrust) December 13, 2021

pic.twitter.com/siKETTpHv7
— Kenny ツ 🥅🏒 🎛🎧 (@kdriley05) December 11, 2021

Why people trying so hard to make virtual worlds as greedy as the real world?
— The Truth (@udemeeebong) December 11, 2021

The purpose of art is to be experienced, not owned. A bunch of bros mistaking art for investment doesn't change that
— Stomponato (@Stomponato) December 11, 2021

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Design

How to help your eyes in a world that makes you stare at a screen all day

Finally, a contact lens for a digital lifestyle

Holy moly, these handmade miniature film and TV sets are incredible

Taking a look at these creations, it’s easy to forget that these models are in fact only inches tall.

The amount of serenity I received from seeing this tiny sushi restaurant cannot be expressed by mere words.

Just when you thought apartments in New York couldn’t get any tinier.

"Seinfeld," but make it small. Like, really small.

A "Jurassic Park" that could fit in your pocket.

The not so "Big Bang Theory."

Enter a fun-sized "Friends."

Harry Potter and the magical miniscule model.

"Star Wars" fans rejoice at this itty-bitty baby Yoda.

Scaled-down spookiness.

Many of McCarty’s pieces have itty-bitty working TVs (like, you can change the channel on them and everything), which can be found at Walmart. Who knew?

Though currently on hiatus from Etsy, McCarty also creates the most adorable custom pet miniatures. Like this doggo.

A coin-sized kitty is also available and adorable.

Wordle results sharing is actually one of the best things about it.

Fair warning: Townscaper is a time trap.

Photographer captures water droplets—'liquid sculptures'—that look like they're alive

People can't get enough of Keanu Reeves cracking up at a question about NFTs

'90s kid shares the 10 lies that everyone's parent told them

Steve Martin has the best response to hearing that his book was banned in Florida

Little boy mistakes multimillionaire for homeless man and they end becoming good friends

A letter to my mother-in-law who spoiled my sons

Boomer dad plays song to comfort his daughter going through divorce and it's simply perfect

What will Earth look like if all its land ice melts? Here's your answer.