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Dr Mosley shares writing could help boost your immune system – it’s ‘free, fast, easy’

by www.express.co.uk Leave a Comment

Expressive writing could help boost immune system.

Expressive writing could help boost immune system. (Image: GETTY)

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Between masks and social distancing, the Covid pandemic has taken a toll on immunity. Without any restrictions in place, many people are now easily falling ill with various bugs and viruses. From vitamin C to a healthy diet , there are many ways to boost your immune system, but Dr Michael Mosley has proposed a completely “free” practice that could help.

Speaking on his podcast Just One Thing , the doctor said: “I do love writing in my day job as a journalist and an author.

“But today, sitting at my computer, I’m going to try something very different.

“What I’m writing now is not for publication, or for sharing with anyone else. It’s called expressive writing.”

While this technique is hidden behind a fancy name, it just requires pen and paper or your computer.

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“Write about your deepest emotions and the thoughts you have about things that are keeping you up.” (Image: GETTY)

“The idea is you put aside 15 minutes to write about your deepest emotions and the thoughts you have about things that are keeping you up at night,” the doctor explained.

This “free, fast, easy” practice could not only make you feel less worried but also benefit your immune system.

Recent research has shown some “surprising” benefits of this practice on physical health .

Dr Mosley said: “Researchers in New Zealand, for example, asked a group of medical students to write about personal traumatic events the day before they were vaccinated .

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“Amazingly, six months after receiving the vaccine, these students had a stronger immune response and far higher antibody levels than a control group, who merely had the vaccine.”

Speaking on the podcast, Professor James Pennebaker, from the University of Texas, Austin, also backed the effects of expressive writing on immunity.

“When a person writes about an upsetting experience, you find certain enhancements in immune activity, [showing] that the immune system is working more efficiently,” the guest expert said.

The professor shared that on the flip side, being stressed and obsessing about things can make your heart beat faster and suppress your immune system .

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Dr Mosley shared that expressive writing could also benefit your relationships.

Dr Mosley shared that expressive writing could also benefit your relationships. (Image: GETTY)

This could explain how a practice designed to make your worry less could be beneficial for immunity .

What’s more, expressive writing should be quite easy to incorporate to your daily routine.

All you need to do is set aside three or four days a week to sit down and write for about 10 minutes.

Professor Pennebaker added: “The only rule I have is to write continuously. Don’t worry about grammar, or sentence structure, or spelling.

“Experiment and see what works best for you.”

If you find a few minutes in your day but don’t have anything you could use for writing, you could give “finger writing” a try.

The professor explained that this is just writing with your finger in the air, which could also work “quite well”.

Dr Mosley concluded that trying this practice could benefit your brain , relationships, as well as your physical health.

Busting That Chinese Spy Balloon Is Harder Than You Think (Updated: ‘Well That Was Easy’)

by www.forbes.com Leave a Comment

The Pentagon has been tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon which flew over sensitive areas in Montana in recent days, apparently the latest of several such incursions. President Biden reportedly proposed that the intruder be shot down , but the Pentagon opposed this action, citing the risk of civilian casualties.

In fact, bringing down this type of balloon may be extremely difficult, as it is likely to be highly resistant to the available weapons. It may look fragile, but the sheer size and construction of a stratospheric balloon makes it all but invulnerable.

There is also the problem of getting to it. Such balloons ride high in the stratosphere , far above the airliners. They do this to take advantage of the change in wind direction with altitude to steer themselves to where they are needed like sailing ships, then circling above a point of interest. The U.S. military has its own stratospheric spy balloon program with project like COLD STAR – short for COvert Long Dwell STratospheric ARchitecture, designed to lurk undetected in enemy airspace.

Such balloons typically fly at 80,000 feet or more – NASA’s version cruises at 120,000 feet .. The U.S. Air Force’s F-15 Eagle and F-22 Raptor both have a stated operating altitude of around 65,000 feet. While they might be able to get close enough to fire a missile, the balloon may be too high for them to shoot.

When people think of military balloons they probably think of the WW1 German Zeppelin raids , and the balloon-busting biplane pilots who brought them crashing down in flames . The giant German airships were filled with highly flammable hydrogen gas, and could be ignited with a few bursts of incendiary bullets, creating an the same effect as the Hindenburg Disaster . However, in this case the balloon is filled with non-flammable helium rather than hydrogen.

You might still think that simply puncturing the balloon envelope would be enough. It might not pop like a toy balloon, but letting the gas out should be enough to bring the balloon down.

The problem though is one of scale. Stratospheric balloons are colossal. NASA’s standard balloons are 40 million cubic feet , a volume equivalent to more than 195 Goodyear GT blimps: you could fit en entire football stadium inside one. The balloon envelope is made of plastic material no thicker than sandwich wrap, and the pressure difference between the inside and outside is small. Attempting to let the air out by punching a few holes is like expecting to ventilate an entire warehouse with fresh air by opening one small window.

We know that large balloons are hard to shoot down from previous experience. In 1998 a rogue Canadian weather balloon drifted towards Russian airspace . Fighter jets from Canada, Norway and Sweden attempted to bring it down without success. Two Canadian air force CF-18 fighters hit the balloon with more than 1,000 rounds of 20mm cannon fire off the coast of Newfoundland, riddling it with holes. This was not enough to let a significant amount of gas out, and the balloon continued drifting.

A volley of 2.75” rockets was equally ineffective, as the high-explosive rockets simply flew though the balloon without detonating. This may be the Air Force’s real concern with intercepting the Chinese balloon: any missile fired at it may be a much greater hazard to civilians below than the balloon itself, which is likely to descend slowly if at all. (The Canadian balloon drifted into Russian territory and is believed to have come down in the Arctic Sea ).

Interceptor aircraft may in principle be able to get a missile lock and hit the balloon’s small gondola, the suspended capsule containing its cameras, control systems and radio communications. Destroying this would put the balloon out of action and prevent it from carrying out espionage. However the balloon would continue to drift over U.S. territory and claiming a ‘kill’ would be difficult. Worse, a failed attempt to bring it down would be a public relations disaster.

This is not the first time balloons have been used for spying. Back in the 1950s, before they had satellites, the CIA’s Genetrix program sent ‘weather balloons’ to drift at random over the Soviet Union taking pictures. The project was not a success, but caused considerable alarm in Russia, which even developed a ‘balloon destroyer’ version of its M-17 Mystic high-altitude aircraft .

The modern balloon spies are far more effective . New control algorithms and an understanding of stratospheric winds means they are steerable and can go anywhere at will, with solar panels providing indefinite flight duration. Unlike satellites, they can remain over a site of interest for a prolonged period — but being inside foreign airspace rather than in the international territory of space means they can be downed.

Dealing with such spies is a new challenge for the 21 st century. The fact that the U.S. has not attempted to bring down previous intruders suggests it may be a tough one. A new and surprising chapter in the history of aerial warfare is about to begin.

UPDATE 9:30am 3rd Feb : C hina is now claiming that the balloon is “a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes” and that it has “eviated far from its planned course.” Which is exactly the same excuse that the U.S. gave for the ‘weather balloons’ in its spying program in the 1950s.

UPDATE 5th February : “Well, that was easy…”

“Well, that was easy…”

In the end, the Chinese balloon was shot down with ease : a single missile ruptured the entire balloon envelope and send the gondola plunging into the sea below. The video of the event gives some clues as to why it was so much more straightforward than it might have been.

Altitude was one factor; F-22s circling the balloon show that it was well within their operating ceiling, and not at the 80,000+ feet that larger balloons can achieve. This also meant that the balloon could be hit with an AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range missile.

The choice of weapon initially looks surprising. The AIM-9X is infra-red guided and normally locks on to the heat of a jet engine. It is not clear how a lock was achieved in this case, as the balloon gondola would likely have been at a similar temperature to the surroundings. The same issue applies to fusing: the usually problem with balloons is that projectiles pass right through without detonating, but in this case the warhead was detonated at exactly the right instant to achieve maximum effect. Was the fusing system tweaked for this particular mission?

The AIM-9X with a 20-pound warhead is far smaller than the F-22s main weapon, the radar-guided AIM-120 AMRAAM missile which carries a 50-pound warhead, and this highlights the other aspect of the shootdown: the size of the target.

The rate of fall of the balloon in the video gives an indication of its diameter, showing how small the Chinse was compared to the behemoths flown by NASA and the USAF. The problem of scale mentioned above did not arise, as the entire balloon was small enough to be damaged by the shockwave and fragment field from the warhead, perhaps no more than 100 feet across.

The interception was not carried out until the balloon was over water, and appears to have involved at least three F-22 jets (and possibly support aircraft nearby), which both suggest an abundance of caution. However, in this case, it appears that everything went to plan and the first missile fired did the job.

Sometimes our best efforts do not go amiss and things turn out better than you think. Score one for the USAF.

Money saving tips: 17 easy ways to stash more cash

by www.sfgate.com Leave a Comment

Benjamin Franklin was onto something when he said, “Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” Of course, large expenses can sink the ship, too, but the small, everyday purchases often sneak up and wreck your budget — and your ability to save.

Most people struggle to save money. According to a Bankrate survey , 49% of U.S. adults have less savings (39%) or no savings (10%) compared to a year ago. And more than two-thirds (68%) say they couldn’t cover their living expenses for just one month if they lost their primary income source.

The good news is that you can ramp up your savings by tweaking your spending habits. If you’re wondering how to save money, check out these 17 money-saving tips to help you get (and stay) on track.

Saving is exponentially more challenging if you don’t know where your money goes. Make a budget so you know what comes in each month, how much goes out, and what you could do differently (like minimizing restaurant spending). Cancel subscriptions and memberships you no longer use, and watch out for free trials that have rolled into monthly charges. In the future, set reminders to cancel those trials on time.

One of the best ways to save money is to set short-term and long-term savings goals. Common short-term goals include travel funds, car down payments , and emergency funds (three to nine months of living expenses). Long-term goals might be a home down payment , remodeling project, college fund, or retirement savings . Estimate how much you’ll need for each goal and build it into your budget.

Saving can feel like a burden, but there are ways to make it less painful. A money-saving challenge gamifies the task — it can also unleash your competitive spirit and boost your motivation along the way. Some challenges focus on stashing money, while others take a limit-your-spending approach. Either way, a challenge can be a fun (and effective) way to boost your savings.

Needs are things required to survive, like food, shelter, and essential clothing (many experts also consider an emergency fund a need). Wants are items or experiences you’d like to have but don’t need for survival. Your needs should always get top priority in your budget; plan accordingly to avoid overspending on wants.

Here’s a trick for avoiding impulse spending . Instead of buying something on the spot, wait a few days (or so) and revisit the idea. If you no longer feel passionate about the item or haven’t even thought about it in days, odds are you can do without it.

Interest charges can cost hundreds of dollars a month, so it pays to tackle your debt ASAP . One option is the avalanche method , where you pay off your highest-interest debts first. Alternatively, the snowball method prioritizes your smallest debts. Either way, the sooner you pay down your debt, the more cash you’ll have in your budget to spend, save, or invest.

One of the best tips for saving money is to make it automatic. Set up direct deposit to transfer part of your paycheck into your savings account or IRA — or automate regular transfers from your checking account into your savings. If you have a workplace retirement saving plan, contribute enough to take full advantage of your employer’s match (aka free money).

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a time deposit that pays a fixed interest rate for a set period (aka the “term”). CDs offer some of the highest interest rates for savings products, but you have to be willing to park your cash for several months to several years: A potentially steep penalty applies to early withdrawals. You can find the best rates at online banks and credit unions.

Late payments can trigger late fees and penalty (higher) interest rates, driving up your costs. Automating your payments helps you avoid these fees and keeps you from stressing about deadlines. Another bonus: A history of on-time payments helps boost your credit score, which helps qualify you for lower interest rates and better terms — both of which can save you money.

Most adults have stacks of monthly bills for cell phone and home phone service, internet service , cable or satellite TV, gym memberships, and the like — and there’s a good chance you’re overpaying. Call each provider and explain (nicely) that you’re considering canceling your service, then ask something like, “What can you do to lower my monthly bill?” Negotiating takes time, but it can be well worth the effort.

According to Bankrate , the average monthly cost for car insurance is $168 for full coverage and $52 for minimum coverage. You can save by taking advantage of insurance discounts, such as claims-free, good student, bundling, and safe driving discounts. Each auto insurer sets its rates, so the same coverage can cost more or less from another provider. Compare quotes from at least three companies to find the lowest price for the coverage you need.

Refinancing can help you lock in a lower rate , lower your monthly payment, or repay your loan sooner. It’s generally a good idea if you can lower your rate by at least 0.75%. Another money-saving option is to make biweekly mortgage payments (where you make half your monthly payment every two weeks). You’ll end up paying an extra month each year, so you’ll pay off your mortgage faster and pay less interest over the life of the loan.

Tax credits reduce the amount of tax you owe or increase your refund, while tax deductions lower your taxable income. Both can lead to significant savings at tax time, so claim the credits and deductions you’re entitled to. Hire a tax preparer if you’re unsure what to claim; the expense can more than pay for itself.

Shopping during seasonal sales can save you money on appliances, cars, electronics, furniture, and more. For example, you can get the best deals on TVs right before the Super Bowl, while appliance sales tend to coincide with holiday weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day. School supplies and laptops usually go on sale during August — when you can also take advantage of tax-free weekends.

A little prep work can help you save money at the grocery store. Plan out your meals, check your pantry to see what you already have, and then make a list — and stick to it. Consider using a coupon app (like Flipp ) to find money-saving coupons by ZIP code. Be sure to take advantage of your store’s loyalty program for in-store discounts and savings at the fuel pump.

The average paperback novel costs about $14 to $18, which adds up if you’re an avid reader. Before buying a new book, visit your local library or used bookstore. Another option is to download a free library app (such as Libby ), which lets you borrow from a vast selection of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more from your local library.

No matter how you trim your budget, consider where to stash those savings. A savings account pays interest and provides a safe place to park your cash (deposits at FDIC-member banks and NCUA-member credit unions are insured up to $250,000). Another bonus: Your deposits are less accessible than your checking account (no ATM card, debit card, or checks), so you may be less tempted to spend.

Choose a high-yield savings account (offered by online banks and credit unions) for the best interest rates and lowest fees. Savings account interest rates are the highest in years , so now is an excellent time to stash your cash in a high-yield savings account.

Editorial Disclosure: All articles are prepared by editorial staff and contributors. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the editorial team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in this article is accurate as of the date of the publish. Check the lender’s website for the most current information.

This article was originally published on SFGate.com and reviewed by Lauren Williamson, who serves as Financial and Home Services Editor for the Hearst E-Commerce team. Email her at [email protected] .

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Man sparks disgust by putting toilet seat in dishwasher for ‘easy cleaning’ – with dirty plates

by www.mirror.co.uk Leave a Comment

A man has sparked outrage after revealing how he washes his toilet seat in the dishwasher alongside his dirty plates and cutlery. TikTok user Alison Koroly has shared a video of what appears to be her husband removing their toilet seat before loading it into the dishwasher for a quick rinse.

The 12-second clip has racked up almost two million views in three days – with viewers not knowing whether to believe it’s true as she describes her content as “short films and comedy sketches”. Commenting on the clip, one user said: “You can’t eat at anyone’s house…”

Another user added: “Yep, just throw the toilet seat in next to the plates.”

A third user said: “I’m never buying a second hand dishwasher.”

One more user added: “Not with dishes in it already – please God no.”

Helping to put her viewers’ minds at ease, Alison told the New York Post: “Our goal is to create entertaining content that people would laugh at and find fun and funny, and lighthearted.”

Although it shouldn’t need to be said, Dr. Brian Mangum, associate professor of medicine and epidemiologist at University of Health Sciences Antigua, has strongly urged people against washing their loo seat in the dishwasher.

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He said: “The bigger issue, though, is what happens after you remove the toilet seat from the dishwasher.

“Consider the fact that your toilet seat is already full of germs, and you have now potentially transferred those germs to the same dishwasher where you will wash your children’s plates after pizza night

“Would you eat pizza off the toilet seat, even if you had cleaned it first? Probably not.

“You would be much better off just using bleach or other commercial products designed to kill germs.”

Jumping on Alison’s joke, one user commented: “I wash my dishes with my toothbrush – shame to waste that excess toothpaste.”

Another user added: “I put my dishes in the toilet and flush. Much faster.”

One more user said: “Don’t forget to put the toilet brush in the dishwasher as well!”

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4 ‘fast’ steps to paint walls for ‘flawless finish every time’ – don’t miss ‘crucial step’

by www.express.co.uk Leave a Comment

TikTok: Man shares technique to paint wall in under 30 seconds

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a wall is one of the easiest and most affordable ways of updating any room. What’s more, don’t have to get professionals in to do an aesthetically pleasing job of it. Phillipa Pawson, marketing director of Harris Brushes has shared how to get “better results” yourself in just four “easy” steps.

She said: “When tackling the daunting yet exciting task of redecorating the home, the walls naturally become a key focus and can have a huge impact on the overall aesthetic of your room.

“Here’s how to paint a wall smoothly and efficiently to deliver better results than you ever thought possible.

“These easy-to-follow wall painting tips will ensure a flawless finish for your walls every time.”

Step one: Prepare the area

When it comes to painting or repainting walls, preparation is key. Be sure to remove all furniture from the room and lay down a dust sheet to ensure the room is suitably protected.

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Painting and decorating a room

Remove all furniture and lay down a dust sheet to ensure the room is suitably protected (Image: Getty)

The expert said: “We always recommend taping the dust sheet down with some masking tape to guarantee secure coverage.”

Step two: Assess and fix any wall damages

Once the floor is protected, households need to assess the walls for damage, in order to paint the wall “smoothly and effortlessly”, claimed Phillipa.

She said: “One of the most crucial steps in wall painting tips in our guide is to fix any cracks or holes you may find by sanding and cleaning imperfections with sugar soap to make sure your paint applies beautifully.”

Now that the surface is prepared, tape can be applied to mask off areas of detail such as skirting boards, door frames, window sills or architraves.

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Step three: Paint the edges of the wall using “cutting in method”

“Cutting in” is a well-known term, often used by professional decorators. It refers to the action of painting around the edges of a room, a light switch, a skirting board and more with high accuracy.

The expert said: “Begin by shaking a new unopened paint tin, then open and stir the paint if necessary.

“Be sure to use the correct amount of paint and don’t over-saturate your brush to avoid unwanted dripping.

“When you start to paint around the edges of your wall, we recommend working in one metre segments to ensure seamless results.”

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Paint the edges of the wall using ‘cutting in method’ (Image: Getty)

Start with the smallest paintbrush you have to make precision painting easier than ever. These tend to have a very fine wide tip, perfect for cutting in and projects that require more intricacy.

Place the tip with the long edge against the narrow area you’d like to paint and pull the paint along that area, then paint a little higher using the brush as normal.

Aim to have about a five to 10cm painted area around the edge that’s being cut in to prevent time-consuming mistakes. Once confident with this technique households can cut in without using any masking tape, or you can switch to a bigger paint brush for faster painting.

Once a one metre segment has been cut in, switch to a roller. Load the roller with paint and place it on the wall about a foot away from the section that’s just been cut in.

Man painting wall using roller

Now it’s time to paint the wall using a roller for “fast, powerful coverage” (Image: Getty)

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Phillipa instructed: “Roll in a light W motion towards the painted area, overlapping with the brushed area as much as possible without touching any edges. This will give you a very fine rolled finish to the edge of your wall, removing the framing effect.”

Step four: Paint the wall

Now it’s time to paint the wall using a roller for “fast, powerful coverage”. The expert said: “Its large surface area and soft fluffy roller material is ideal for painting large areas quickly.”

Load the roller and place it on the wall about one meter away from the nearest painted edge and roll towards the painted edge and back again in a slight W motion, using the pole to cover a larger segment of the wall without the need to bend and stretch.

Repeat this process of loading the roller, placing one metre away and rolling into the area you have painted. Phillips added: “Known as the wet edge technique, this method allows you to paint faster while saving paint and providing an enviable finish.”