NOVEMBER 1, 2022
Don't Throw Away The Halloween Pumpkins — Recycle Them!
Every fall, families across the Northern Hemisphere rush to pumpkin patches in search of the perfect gourds. Some use them to carve out scary jack-o'-lanterns. Others place the fruits outside their homes as decor. But the fascination with pumpkins ends after Halloween, and most end up in the trash.
London-based non-profit Hubbub estimates that in Britain, about 22 million of 39.9 million pumpkins bought this Halloween will go to waste. In the US, about two billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills annually. In addition to the massive amount of food waste generated, the rotting fruit also emits large amounts of methane. The greenhouse gas is about 25 percent stronger than carbon dioxide. It is a big contributor to climate change.
The scary truth about pumpkins
Each year millions of Halloween pumpkins are bought for decorating
39.9 million to be exact!
Yet many pumpkins will be carved, and not cooked-
Only 1 in 9 always cook their pumpkin
22 million pumpkins will go to waste this year
That's around £32 million worth of edible food!
But there's gourd news...
3 in 5 know you can eat your carving pumpkin.
Pumpkins are cheap, nutritious and delicious and can be cooked in a variety of ways.
Stalk
Don't eat this!
Skin
Edible in small varieties like gem squash.
Seeds
Delicious when roasted.
Flesh
Smaller pumpkins are great for pies and breads. Larger pumpkins for soups and curries.
Guts
Makes a great base for broth and mulled wine.
#Eat Your Pumpkin
Fortunately, this pollution problem has an easy fix. If you used the fruits for decor, extract the edible portions. Roasted pumpkin seeds make a nutritious snack. The flesh can be used to create a delicious soup, a tasty puree, or a lip-smacking pie.
Drop off your sagging jack-o'-lanterns or hollowed-out pumpkins at a local compost collection center. Better still, seek out an organized pumpkin-smashing event and have fun tossing yours on the ground. The remains will be collected and composted once the event is over.
You can also fill pumpkin shells with grains and leave them in the yard or hanging from a tree. The birds, squirrels, and other garden critters will thank you for the treat. If your pumpkin is too far gone to salvage, bury the gourd in your backyard. It will naturally decompose while enriching the soil.
Resources: healtheplanet.com, Hubbub.com, Yahoo.com
NOVEMBER 3, 2022
It's Time To "Fall Back!" Daylight Saving Time Ends On November 6th
On November 6, 2022, most North Americans will mark the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) by moving the clocks back an hour. The simple action will help shift daylight back into the morning during the shorter winter days. It will also add an extra 60 minutes to the weekend!
The German Empire was the first to manipulate the clocks in 1916. The army wanted to conserve the fuel needed to produce weapons and bombs for World War I. The US and Britain adopted the practice shortly after. All the countries reverted to Standard Time once the war ended, only to reinstate DST again during World War II. US officials repealed DST nationally when the war ended in 1945. But states and districts were allowed to continue the tradition and even select their own start and stop DST dates.
This resulted in what Time Magazine called a "chaos of clocks." By 1965, Iowa had 23 different pairs of DST start and end dates. St. Paul, Minnesota, began daylight saving two weeks earlier than its twin city Minneapolis, Minnesota, just nine miles away. Meanwhile, passengers on a 35-mile bus ride from Steubenville, Ohio, to Moundsville, West Virginia, passed through seven time changes!
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 ended the confusion by setting the same "spring forward" and "fall back" dates for the entire nation. But the law was not compulsory. Hawaii, most of Arizona, and the US territories — Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands — did not adopt DST.
The DST dates were initially set for the last Sundays in April and October. However, in 1986, US president Ronald Reagan changed the DST start date to the first Sunday in April. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 moved up the DST start date further to the second Sunday in March. It also extended out the "fall back" date to the first Sunday in November.
The clock manipulation is not very popular. Many people believe the disruption in sleep patterns caused by the time change harms the elderly or those with serious illnesses. Studies have found a slight increase in heart attacks on the "spring forward" Sunday when we "lose" an hour. The time change is also believed to cause more driving and workplace accidents.
In 2019, the European Union voted to permanently remove the age-old custom of changing clocks. But the law has yet to be implemented. In March 2022, the US Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make DST permanent. The bill is currently being debated by the House of Representatives. If passed, the last clock change in the US will occur with a "spring forward" in March 2023.
Happy "Fall Back!"
Resources: Wikipedia.org, History.com, Nationalgeographic.com
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NOVEMBER 11, 2022
Flying Cars May Finally Become A Reality!
If Chinese automobile company Xpeng AeroHT has its way, we may soon be commuting on flying cars. The electric car manufacturer recently unveiled two radical flying vehicle models.
On October 10, 2022, the Xpeng X2 successfully completed its first public test flight in Dubai. The unmanned two-seater lifted off from Skydive Dubai on the opening day of the Gitex Global Technology Expo. X2's inaugural flight lasted just 90 seconds. It was witnessed by 150 conference attendees and officials.
The "teardrop-shaped" X2 is fitted with an electric engine and produces no carbon emissions. It is programmed to fly autonomously and can go up to 80 miles per hour (129km/h). X2's eight propellers — two at each corner of the vehicle — allow for vertical take-off and landing.
Shortly after X2's public debut, Xpeng AeroHT introduced a second flying car prototype. The Xpeng X3, unveiled in a video on October 24, 2022, is essentially a sports car with "wings." The company asserts that the X3 drives like a regular car in "ground mode." When the owner needs to fly, all they have to do is shift to "flight mode." The X3 will take off vertically. Once in the air, the "aircraft" can be piloted using the steering wheel and a right-hand gear lever.
Xpeng AeroHT is not the only car company developing flying cars. Over 500 companies are working on the endeavor. Even better, about two dozen models are currently in testing phases! At this rate, the future of flying vehicles certainly looks promising.
Resources: Businessinsider.com, CNN.com, Foxbusiness.com
NOVEMBER 16, 2022
Your Favorite Thanksgiving Traditions, Explained
On Thursday, November 24, 2022, Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving. The annual tradition is credited to an autumn harvest feast shared by the early European settlers and the Native Americans in 1621. The holiday centers around delicious food and has many fun traditions. Here is a brief history of how some of the customs began.
Why a Thursday in November?
Thanksgiving is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November. The month was chosen because that is when the first feast is believed to have been held. November also falls right after traditional harvest time. But there is no real reason for the holiday to be celebrated on a Thursday. The day seems to have stuck since President Lincoln first made Thanksgiving a holiday in 1863.
Turkey
The inaugural feast is believed to have featured geese. However, present-day Thanksgiving dinners center around turkey. Some experts believe the birds were selected because they were cheaper than geese or chickens. They were also easier to raise.
Others credit the bird's inclusion to Sarah Josepha Hale. The well-known writer suggested it in her petitions to convince US officials to make Thanksgiving an official holiday. Since President Abraham Lincoln loved roasted turkey, he was happy to add the bird to his Thanksgiving menu.
Turkey Trots
Many Americans wake up early on Thanksgiving morning to participate in fun runs known as "turkey trots." The inaugural race, started by six friends in Buffalo, New York, in 1896, is now in its 127th year. It is North America's oldest consecutive footrace. The 8-kilometer (4.97-mile) race doubles as a fundraiser and attracts over 14,000 runners annually.
Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
Macy's first parade was held on Thanksgiving morning in 1924. It was meant to be a one-time event to showcase the opening of the company's new store in New York City. But the parade was so popular that the retailer made it an annual occasion. The beloved tradition now attracts over 3.5 million people in person and over 50 million television viewers worldwide.
Football
Thanksgiving football games were started by the American Intercollegiate Football Association (IFA) in 1876. The organization was trying to increase the popularity of the still-nascent sport. In 1934, the National Football League's (NFL) Detroit Lions took over the tradition to attract more local fans to live games. Their first match against the Chicago Bears was sold out two weeks before the event. Since then, the team has played almost every Thanksgiving! The Dallas Cowboys joined the tradition in 1966. The two games have become a popular holiday ritual since.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Resources: History.com, Wikipedia.org, Businessinsider.com
NOVEMBER 15, 2022
World's Tallest Woman Takes Her First Ever Flight
Rumeysa Gelgi has held the record for the "world's tallest living woman" since 2021. The 25-year-old, who stands just over seven feet tall, frequently travels to share her story. But never on an airplane! She is too tall to fit in a standard airplane seat! Gelgi also suffers from a spinal condition and cannot sit for long periods of time. But thanks to Turkish Airlines, she has finally experienced the magic of soaring high above the clouds.
The historic 13-hour journey from Istanbul, Turkey, to San Francisco, California, occurred in September 2022. Turkish Airlines removed six economy seats to fit Gelgi's custom stretcher. In the photos posted on Instagram, Gelgi is seen chatting with the airline staff and enjoying a delicious chocolate cake.
"This was my first plane ride," she said. "But it certainly won't be my last."
The Turkish resident's first brush with fame came in 2014 when she was named the "world's tallest living teenager." Gelgi broke the record for the "world's tallest living woman" in October 2021. She collected three more records in February 2022. They include the "largest hands on a female person," the "longest finger on a female person," and the "longest back on a female person."
Gelgi's remarkable physique is caused by a rare genetic disorder called Weaver syndrome. People with the condition are usually very tall and have unique facial features. Other symptoms include limited mobility of the joints (such as elbows and ankles). They are also prone to falling. Due to her condition, Gelgi primarily relies on a wheelchair to get around.
Gelgi often receives hurtful comments about her unusual appearance. But the 24-year-old has learned to be proud of her differences. She says, "Every disadvantage can be turned into an advantage for yourself so accept yourself for who you are, be aware of your potential and do your best."
Resources: CNN.com, Guinness World Records, Traveller.com.au, Newsweek.com
NOVEMBER 17, 2022
Norway Will Be Home To The World's First Energy Positive Hotel
Norway is a global leader in sustainability. The Nordic country's approximately 5.4 million residents do everything possible to reduce their environmental impact. Hence, it should come as no surprise that it was the venue of choice for the world's first energy-positive hotel.
The Svart Hotel is scheduled to open in 2024. It is being built at the base of the Svartisen glacier just above the Arctic Circle. The structure will sit on stilt-like poles high above the pristine waters of the Holandsfjorden fjord. This will ensure minimal land impact and seabed disruption. The energy-efficient luxury resort expects to harvest enough solar power to fulfill the hotel's daily needs. It will also provide the energy needed to construct the building.
The hotel's ring-like shape will ensure guests stunning views of the nearby glacier. It will also bring them closer to nature. Winter visitors will be treated to the beautiful "Northern Lights."
The hotel's interior will be housed with furnishings made using eco-friendly, organic materials. Its four restaurants will serve locally-inspired menus. Many items will use produce from the farm onsite. The drinking water will be filtered and bottled on the premises. The hotel will also have its own waste recycling and water management capability.
Ivaylo Lefterov, the project's manager, says, "The vision for Svart is so much bigger than the project itself; we are trying to use it as a showcase of what can be achieved in terms of sustainability and energy solutions."
Resources: the reviewmag.com, reuters.com, hoteldesigns.net
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