Everything You Need to Know if Your Zodiac Sign Is Libra

Welcome to Libra season, lovers. Now’s the time to restore balance in our lives and take stock of the things and people we find most valuable. It’s no coincidence that Libra season is at the beginning of fall, either. While Virgo season was about buckling down, being productive, and getting sh*t done, the sun entering Libra symbolizes a more laid-back, lighter shift in your day-to-day routine and mood.

HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP?

One of the most popular candy commercials of all time asks: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? There have been several experiments trying to nail down this sweet mystery. A group of engineering students at Purdue University made a licking machine that measured it took 364 licks, however, student volunteers only took 252. Meanwhile, students at the University of Michigan measured 411 licks on their licking machine. So the jury is still out on this question.

Why Do Dogs Chase Cats?

It's a relationship that you probably just think of as the natural order of things, established in everything from books to cartoons: Dogs chase cats, and cats and dogs hate each other. It's somewhat of a given of the animal kingdom...or is it? After all, there are plenty of multi-pet households that have a dog and a cat that get along, not to mention all of these adorable photos of dogs and cats being best friends. So what's the story here? Why do dogs chase cats? Is it because of dogs' natural instincts, and, if so, how can you prevent it?

Enough of this BS crazy stuff-We need to take back control of our cities now!

Who cares if people think the police are to abusive, they don't know the whole story when trying to control a fleeing suspect. so shut the heck up. We need to take back our cities from people who have no respect for our country. History is history and it is here to helps us learn from our past mistakes. Authority do whatever it takes to take back your city or we will elect people who will not be afraid to get it done.

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How to Pickle Vegetables at Home It’s Really Simple

I’ve never met a pickle I didn’t like. But there’s a lot more to sink your teeth into than just cucumbers, you can pickle anything from onions to carrots to Brussels sprouts. Ready to try it out at home? Here’s how to pickle vegetables.

Orange juice isn't as healthy as it seems, and experts say it shouldn't be considered a health food-here's why

Orange juice is the most popular fruit juice sold in the US and has been advertised as a staple in a healthy diet. Some experts warn, however, that orange juice doesn't live up to marketers' claims and may actually be bad for your health. Here's what you need to know about whether or not orange juice is a healthy addition to your diet.

How your drinks will look totally different after coronavirus

When you order a vodka sprite or gin and tonic, you probably expect it to come with a lime wedge. The same goes for a slice of a pineapple with a piña colada, cherries in a shirley temple and a lemon slice for water or a Diet Coke. Fruit garnishes are a part of drink culture, but after the coronavirus outbreak, establiments might opt to have them served upon request only, on the side or not at all.

June 14 2020

It's time to talk about the protest, riots, and defunding the police departments, last but not least the pandemic. 

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So Crispy you’ll think you’re in heaven! Crispy Puffy Prawn Omelette • T...

Necco Wafers Are Coming Back This Summer After a 2-Year Hiatus

📌 Even now I still love these candies putting my two cents in before the article

Necco Wafers first came out in 1847, making them one of the oldest candy brands in existence, according to the Spangler Candy Company. They were discontinued in 2018, but they just couldn’t stay away, because the candies are coming back this summer.

Pirate radio station helps older adults deal with loneliness

From the government to nonprofits and individuals, there are so many people helping older adults dealing with isolation and loneliness right now.

20 Surprising Things That Cause People To Fart

Fart, toot, flatulence, or a bit of wind. No matter what you call it, it’s embarrassing when foul-smelling gas slips out in public. Some people wonder why this happens. So, what are 20 things that cause you to fart?

One-Pot, One-Pan Dinners that will Free Up Your Weeknigh

Garlic Butter Creamed Spinach Salmon

This simple and delicious salmon dish is ready in less than 30 minutes, so even if you decide on dinner last minute, you'll still be eating right on time. Perfectly cooked salmon is paired with creamy spinach for a simple yet satisfying meal. Read on for the recipes

Is it safe to try on clothes at a store?

When it comes to clothes shopping, nothing can replace the in-person experience of trying on an item in the changing room. But are fitting rooms safe in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? Some major retailers, including Nordstrom and Macy's, have released details on how they will keep fitting rooms safe and clean as they slowly reopen.

Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Notes

Prep and assemble the pie up to 24 hours ahead of baking. Stash covered, in the refrigerator and plan to bake it a 5 to 8 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean since it will be chilled.

This recipe has been on the Bisquick  mix box for years, and it is still one of the most-requested Impossibly Easy Pie recipes of all time.

Let a straight-forward cheeseburger pie can be the beginning for a diner-inspired dinner: top the pie with crumbled bacon and sliced avocado, fried onions and mushrooms, a California-style shredded lettuce and tomato, dill pickle chips, or pickled red onions! The sky’s the limit

Use a wire whisk to beat up a baking mix batter and make it lump-free it works like a charm.

Injured Turkey Is Taking His First Steps Thanks to Custom Wheelchair - the First of Its Kind!

Bill the turkey is on the road to recovery, thanks to his one-of-a-kind wheelchair!

You've Been Storing Cheese Wrong Your Whole Life 🧀

Do you make a beeline to the charcuterie board at parties? Are you always the first person to schedule wine and cheese nights? Do you drool over videos of ooey, gooey, stretched cheese? Then it's confirmed: you're a cheese fanatic. But despite your love of all things cheese, we're sorry to tell you that you've probably been storing cheese wrong your entire life. The good news is that it's not a big deal, because I’m about to teach you how to store cheese properly so it lasts longer, maintains flavor, and doesn't have to end up molded in the garbage.

5 Side Effects of Drinking Too Much Coffee

For many people, their morning cup (or three) of coffee is prime motivation to get out of bed—it gives you an energy boost, it tastes good, and the ritual of sipping from your favorite mug sets the tone for the day. But then you make another cup, and soon enough, it's time for your afternoon Starbucks to ward off the 4 p.m. yawns…
If that sounds familiar, 85 percent of Americans are right there with you enjoying their caffeine. Even though drinking coffee isn't necessarily bad for you—in fact, it has some health benefits—there is such a thing as sipping too much java. Caffeine is still a drug, and over-consuming can trigger adverse reactions in your body.
Kelli McGrane RD, for the calorie counting app Lose It!, reveals five signs of excessive coffee consumption. If you're experiencing them, consider this your wakeup call that maybe it's time to cut back. And, to keep the rest of your habits in check.

The new takeout rules you need to know

A guide to ordering food during a pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has given everyone a lot of food for thought on whether or not it's safe to order food for takeout, delivery or pick-up. The short answer is yes, it's safe – but it's better to take a few extra steps to be sure. From the best way to order and tipping to proper packaging handling, here is a list of practices to follow.

7 Myths About Reopening You Need to Stop Believing

Myths about the coronavirus have been circulating since it first emerged. And as states start to reopen and lockdown orders begin to lift, more myths and misconceptions are coming to light. Are things just going to go back to exactly how they were before quarantine? Will everything reopen at once? Can businesses or states be forced to reopen? This is the truth behind the reopening myths you need to stop believing. And for more things you should expect as places reopen.

1. Everything will go back to normal immediately.

According to an April Azurite Consulting survey, while some industries may rebound pretty quickly, it is not expected that business conditions will return to the same level they were at in Dec. 2019 any time soon. In fact, there are some things many Americans say they won't do, even as reopening starts, until there is a coronavirus vaccine. In the survey, 41 percent said they won't go to a theater, opera, or concert until there is a vaccine; 28 percent of frequent gym-goers said they would wait for a vaccine; and 24 percent of Americans said they won't return to a sit-down restaurant before a vaccine is available. And for more changes to prepare for, check out these 7 Things You Won't See at Retail Stores Ever Again After Coronavirus.

2. Prices will be the same as they were before.

If restaurants open up in your state, your dining experience won't be the only thing that might change. That is, don't expect the prices at your favorite restaurant to be the same. Delish reported that while this will vary by restaurant, many establishments are adding a temporary fee (around 5 perfect) to help offset rising food prices and limited seating capacity. Others are simply "adding" the tax into increased menu prices. And as long as it's disclosed to customers before.

3. Everything will reopen at the same time in your area.

Just because your state has reopened some businesses doesn't mean they're all open. Most states are reopening in phases, or just reopening partially. However, many people expect that if they can go to one business in their area, they can go to them all. According to The New York Times, Idaho's stay-at-home order started lifting May 1, but nightclubs and movie theaters remained closed. And Massachusetts reportedly opened houses of worship and golf courses on May 18, but won't allow hair salons or beaches to open until May 25. And for places to avoid when things reopen, learn which 7 Places You Shouldn't Visit Even If They're Open.

4. The federal government can force states to reopen.

It's confusing to know exactly who is in charge of lifting lockdowns. Can the federal government just come out and say that everyone has to reopen? As David Swindell, an associate professor of public affairs at Arizona State University, wrote for The Conversation, that can't happen. State and local governments are responsible for regulating the businesses within their borders, and the federal government can't order them to reopen their businesses, he says. However, the federal government can decide to give more federal money which goes to a variety of programs, like criminal justice, education, and highways to those that follow federal requests, and potentially cut funding for states that don't, so they do have a significant influence.

5. Businesses can defy ongoing shutdown orders.

Businesses also can't just decide to reopen for themselves. If their state governments still have shutdown orders, they have to follow suit. According to Snopes, there was a rumor that citizens and businesses could defy shutdown orders and win damages in court if they were arrested for defying, on the premise that the Constitution supersedes lockdown orders. However, on May 6, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Pennsylvania's shutdown order, refusing to lift the order for businesses (which included a golf course, laundromat, timber company, real-estate agent, and political committee) that claimed their constitutional rights were being violated by the shutdown order. And for more intel on life after lockdown, check out these 10 Weird Ways Life Will Be Different After the Coronavirus Lockdown.

6. Public hand dryers can kill the coronavirus.

As businesses reopen, the rumor that the automatic hand dryers in public restrooms will kill the coronavirus has surfaced. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls this a myth. According to the organization, hand dryers do not kill the coronavirus, and people should still be frequently washing their hands with soap and water.

7. Wearing a face mask will prevent you from catching the coronavirus.

While many reopened businesses are recommending or requiring that people wear face masks to enter, the face mask isn't preventing you from catching the coronavirus. Instead, it's keeping everyone safe from you. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cloth face coverings prevent the person wearing them from spreading droplets when they talk, sneeze, or cough. And even if you don't think you have the virus, you could be asymptomatic (not showing symptoms) and spread it without realizing. When people in a business wear face masks, they're helping protect everyone else in the building. And for more tips on staying safe, make sure to avoid these 9 Mistakes You Shouldn't Make During Reopening.

Rare white squirrel seen hopping around backyard in Bloomfield Twp.

Squirrel in my back yard

 Before I start this article let me first show you what was living in my back yard in south east Texas, not albino because the eyes was not red. This squirrel came every day to get acorns on the ground so I know it lived near by. I would go out back each day just to check on the little squirrel because there was many stray cats that would get in my yard to hunt lizards, the little squirrel I suppose is still living there even though I sold the property last year.

Here is the article by: The Free Press

Squirrel in Bloomfield township

A woman in Bloomfield Township just found a fresh upside for sheltering in place: getting to know who’s in your backyard. In her case? A white squirrel. Like the occasional white deer, they're rare. Meredith Meyer said the comely creature was easy to spot.
“I was taking my dog out in my yard and I caught a glimpse of it. It’s really noticeable because it’s really white. I took my dog inside because I wanted to grab my new camera. It had relocated to another tree but I spotted it right away,” Meyer said.

“I’d be interested to know if anybody else has seen one of these. He was really, really cool. Just for the record, I did not use Clairol on it,” she said, chuckling.

The Free Press is sending Meyer to the white-squirrel pages of UntamedScience.com, in case she wants to report her sighting. The website tracks sightings around North America. A map shows several sightings around metro Detroit and also half a dozen towns in eastern and central U.S. where white squirrels are downright numerous. But their closest haven to Detroit is Exeter, Ontario, northeast of Port Huron, which bills itself “home of the white squirrel”  at least in Canada.

The website echoes just what Meyer said: That her squirrel, because it has dark eyes, is not an albino, which is even rarer and possesses red eyes. Instead, hers is a “white morph.” Both morphs and albinos are freaks of nature but they're natural mutations, according to wildlife experts.  
Meyer said she spotted her backyard visitor at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“I trespassed into my neighbors’ yard, in my pajamas, because I wanted to catch it” on her camera  a recent gift.

“I think during quarantine, I’ve seen so many of my friends posting pictures of wildlife. We’re all spending more time at home. We’re enjoying our homes a lot more. That’s why my family bought the camera for Mother’s Day. I would not have gotten those pictures with my cell phone," she said.
She hasn’t seen the white squirrel since, even after planting herself on her patio. No one else in the neighborhood has either  at last, none chimed in on Facebook about it. She’s hoping the furry newcomer is safe in woods at the back of the family’s big yard.

“My only worry is, we have had a coyote sighting, and because he’s white, they say the white animals are more vulnerable to predators,” she said.

More: Rare white deer roams Kensington Metropark near Milford
According to online nature sites, white squirrels are an easy target for hawks as well.

How to Incorporate Fresh Garden Herbs Into Cocktails

We’ve always been big fans of cocktails. But without bars and restaurants to lean on for our fix, our appreciation for quality homemade mixed drinks has increased exponentially in the past who-knows-how-many-weeks.

Can Dogs Eat Cat Food?

Dogs will eat any food they can find. Whether it's dog food, cat food, something you dropped on the ground while eating dinner, or garbage they find on their walk, they don't discriminate. We can assume that the garbage your dog finds on the road isn't healthy for him, but is it bad if your dog occasionally eats the leftovers your cat left in her bowl? Can dogs eat cat food? If your cat is the pet in your house that loves to eat, learn if cats can eat dog food.

What is a good summary of the entire series of Lost?

During my downtime I re-watched this all time popular series for things I had maybe missed the first time I watched Lost, if you have not ever watched Lost you can binge watch every season on Amazon Prime, but it is worth watching a second time too. I recommend this series

The show contains elements of supernatural and science fiction, and follows the survivors of a commercial jet airliner flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, after the plane crashes on a mysterious island somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean. The story is told in a heavily serialized manner.
First episode date: September 22, 2004
Final episode date: May 23, 2010
Writer: Abrams, J.J., Adam Horowitz
Genre: Drama

How to Tell If Potatoes Are Bad (and How to Keep Them Fresh in the First Place)

Whoever dubbed it the “humble” potato forgot how versatile, not to mention delicious,the spud can be. And when you consider that potatoes can last in storage for months (months!), they’re basically a pantry hero. Still, if you bought a bag weeks ago and now you think they might be past their prime, it can be a little murky. Here’s how to tell if potatoes are bad, plus how to keep them fresh in the first place.

What Every Gardener Should Know About Topsoil

What Exactly Is Topsoil?

Topsoil is the top portion of the soil consisting of minerals, organic matter and microorganisms. It can range from a few inches deep in some areas to a few feet deep in the Corn Belt. Topsoil has accumulated over millennia, but erosion is a serious problem. Erosion can deplete topsoil quickly, which is why it is important to cover bare soil with mulch or a ground cover plant.

What's in Topsoil?

Topsoil is made up of sand, clay and silt. The proportions vary. An ideal topsoil, called loam, is soft and crumbly and has roughly equal parts sand, clay and silt (a fine, dust-like sediment of rock and mineral particles). However, many gardeners struggle with less-than-ideal topsoil that tilts towards heavy clay (slow draining and less oxygen available to plant roots) or sand (fast draining but less able to hold moisture and nutrients). Surprisingly, compost can improve clay and sandy soils.

Topsoil vs. Dirt

Topsoil is for growing things. Dirt is for filling, which is why it's often called fill dirt. Some people erroneously use "dirt" interchangeably with "soil."

Topsoil vs. Garden Soil

Available in bags at your favorite nursery or big box store, garden soil is a topsoil that's been screened and amended with compost. It's too heavy for use in pots, but it's well-suited for garden beds and lawns ready to be reseeded.

Topsoil vs. Potting Soil

Topsoil is used for planting in the garden, potting soil (also called potting mix) is used in containers. It is a lightweight, soil-less mixture of peat moss and perlite. Some mixes also contain wetting agents to help the peat moss absorb moisture, as well as slow-release fertilizer and moisture-holding crystals.

Potting Soil vs. Raised-Bed Soil

With the popularity of raised-bed gardening, suppliers have introduced raised-bed soil. It is lighter than topsoil but heavier than potting soil/potting mix and may contain compost and wood fines (small pieces of wood that are already composted).

How Can I Improve Topsoil?

Amend topsoil regularly by digging compost into the top six or eight inches. Compost supplies nutrients and beneficial microorganisms to create a "living soil" that is better for plant growth and health. Sound like too much work? Then start mulching with shredded leaves. They will be food for earthworms, who will aerate the soil with their tunneling and add to its fertility with their castings (waste).

How to Clean Reusable Grocery Bags

Reusable grocery bags are a great way to go green, and they're often your only option in states and cities that banned plastic bags. Yet many people neglect to properly wash them often enough, or at all! Here's everything you need to know about how to clean reusable grocery bags.

Turns Out That Whole Opposites Attract Thing Is Actually Something Else At Play

You’ve heard it a zillion times: opposites attract. Heck, we were all raised on Disney-ified versions of this (I'm looking at you, Belle and Beast, and Anna and Kristoff), so it's kind of hard not to buy into this concept.

How to turn your eggs into clouds | recipe included at the end

Everyone  even celebrity chefs  has their opinion on how to best scramble an egg. But scrambled or fried are far from the only ways to cook eggs. There are in dozens of ways to prepare this staple item, including making cloud eggs. Yes, cloud eggs,  a playful and fluffy sort of egg perfect for spring or summer.

Hanging Plants for Your Patio, Parlor, and Everywhere in Between

Are you excited to start gardening this spring? We can’t wait! With more time spent at home, we’re looking forward to stepping up our gardening game by working on some new projects. Whether you’re brand new to the gardening world or have been a pro for years, we’ve got you covered with gardening ideas that will make your beds bloom.

WHICH 'SMART' ASSISTANT IS ACTUALLY SMARTER—AMAZON'S ALEXA OR GOOGLE ASSISTANT?

Does one really know more than the other?
These days, just about every smart home gadget works with Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa. And, for the most part, Google Assistant and Alexa can do many of the same things—like give you the weather forecast, play music, read the news, and so much more.
But, when you compare Alexa and Google Assistant head to head, which intelligent personal assistant is smarter? We took a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of both Alexa and Google Assistant to find out which smart assistant knows—and can do—more.

Can Your Relationship Survive the Coronavirus?

There are things that would be annoying to each other on a regular day, but lock us in a house together with our kids and a “Stay at Home” order and it’s the most annoying thing that has ever happened. Like many couples, we’ve joked about how we’ll be filing for divorce when this pandemic is over. But for some couples staying at home together with kids is a challenge they may feel they can’t overcome.

How Much Longer Will Your Toilet Paper Supply Last?

Long before starving rats emerge from the American sewer to gnaw humanity to pieces in a bid for post-apocalyptic control, we the people have much bigger problems to contend with. Of course, first and foremost, there is finding an effective solution for taming this despicable varmint that is presently crippling the nation. Then, as much as all of us are enjoying these drunken lockdowns, the unconventional path to liver failure and Alcoholics Anonymous, there is also the concern of getting the nation back to work so we can start rebuilding the godforsaken economy.

10 Mistakes You're Making With Hand Sanitizer

10 Mistakes You're Making With Hand Sanitizer

Following official guidance, many of us stocked up on hand sanitizer to keep our hands clean and avoid being infected with coronavirus. But what you may not realize is, just as with soap and water, there are right ways and wrong ways to use it. (Before COVID-19, how many of us washed our hands for a full 20 seconds?) We asked experts to tell us the most common mistakes people make when using hand sanitizer.

April 7 2020

More ranting and opinions, I talk about how to keep yourself safe and how to keep others safe from you.

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Let's all stay safe

Short message about take out food or drive through and how some people may not be as safe in food prep. Walmart people are stupid as ever I might add

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This online calculator tells you exactly how much toilet paper you actually need to buy

• A London web developer has created a calculator which tells you how much toilet roll you actually need, so you can stop panic-buying.
• Dave Stewart wanted to provide people with a bit of humor during the coronavirus pandemic while also attempting to solve a human problem.
• Free online and mobile app Got Paper? asks a number of simple questions - such as "poops per day" or "pees per day" - in order to deliver a number of required rolls for each person.
• It will be translated into several more languages, including Italian and Chinese, within the coming days.

If you're one of the many people around the world who have panic-bought toilet paper over the past few weeks, it may be time to stop - or share some with your neighbors.

Restaurants closing, but is take out safe?

 Here are questions we need to ask ourselves, who is cooking the food? is all cooking utensils sanitized? has the cook and staff been tested and cleared for the corvid 19? is all the staff at the restaurant dressed in protective gear to help prevent the spread of any possible virus and bacteria?  If your a person who does drive through or home delivery can you really trust that it’s safe? for that matter is any package you get from US mail, UPS or FedEx free of the virus. This corvid 19 started with travelers who returned home or kept traveling to even more countries or cruise ships that land in various countries for a brief time so passengers can browse and shop, but now those people have exposed others.

Coffee & Walnut cake

Why Writing-Not Typing-Will Make You Smarter

Handwriting is quickly becoming a dying art. Few businesses can run nowadays without computers. Most college students type virtually everything, to the point where the phrase "writing a paper" is basically obsolete in the literal sense. Elementary and high schools across the country now view typing courses as essential to their curricula, to say nothing for the fact that cursive writing is all but gone. But what are we losing as handwriting loses its significance in society?
Brain power, according to science.

Creative Uses For Salt That You Never Realized

It’s fair to assume that everyone has salt in their kitchen. As a staple spice, salt can be used to season nearly any food. But this popular spice has several other uses that most people don’t know about. For instance, have you ever thought of using salt to clean your coffee maker? According to Food Microbiology, salt is a powerful antibacterial and antiseptic. You can use regular table salt to clean many of your belongings and even to help out your hair. Read on for some amazing and incredible ways you can use salt.

Scrub Away Pan Grease

Salt is both a scouring agent and a catalyst for other ingredients. By tossing it into cleaning recipes, salt boosts the deodorizing action of dishwasher soaps. Sprinkle some onto your grease-coated pan and scrub. The thicker the salt, the better it’ll clean. If you have an old cast iron skillet, try this trick without the soap. Coat the skillet with salt and leave it for about ten minutes. Then, grab a damp towel, sponge, or other cleaning tool and have at it. The salt should scrub away the grime.

Clean Your Iron With Salt

If you run your clothing iron over a stain, you may end up with gunk on your tool. Don’t transfer this mess onto your next shirt — clean it off with salt. Even if salt goes on the hot iron, it won’t melt. Salt has a melting point of 1,473°F, whereas clothing irons usually go up to 445 °F at the hottest. Because the salt won’t melt, it’ll scrub off any lingering residue. Sprinkle a sheet of paper with salt and rub your warm iron over it. After you run it a couple of times, turn off the heat, and once it’s cooled, wipe off the residue with a soft cloth.

Salt Alleviates Bug Bites

According to a 2006 study in Food Microbiology, salt is an antimicrobial that reduces bacteria. This property makes salt perfect for bug bites, especially mosquito bites. If your bug bite is itching like crazy, try this hack. Mix salt with a small amount of water. When we say small, we mean small; you want to mix the saltwater into a paste. Rub the mixture onto your bite. Alternatively, you can dampen the bug bite and gently rub salt over it. If you choose this method, opt for a fine salt that won’t irritate the bug bite further.

Clean Your Coffee Maker

The National Sanitation Foundation determined that coffee makers are the fifth filthiest item in a person’s home. Not only are they rarely cleaned, but they also attract bacteria by remaining moist and warm for long periods of time. For an easy clean, run saltwater through the machine. Fill the coffee pot with water and add four tablespoons of salt. Then run the coffee pot as usual. The salt will kill much of the bacteria, and it’ll remove the bitterness left from previous coffee batches. To eliminate the saltiness, run pure water through the coffee maker.

Save Your Bitter Drinks With Salt

Chef and author Alton Brown recommends a peculiar method to neutralize the bitterness of coffee. Before you brew your cup of joe, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the grounds. This will lower the acidity in your coffee and make it taste sweeter. This trick has a biochemical basis. Salt’s ion Na+ interferes with the chemical that causes the bitter taste. You can use this same trick on a cup of hot chocolate or bitter tea. And if you end up with coffee stains on your mug, brush it off with saltwater.

Save Your Sponges From A Grimy Death

If your kitchen sponge has become dirty and gross, don’t throw it away just yet. Fill a bowl with salt water–about 1/4 cup of salt per two cups of cold water. Toss the sponge in and let it soak overnight. By morning, you should be able to remove most of the gunk. The salt should slowly replace all the space in the sponge, which pushes the dirt out. This trick may not work with some artificial sponges if they have large holes. If this is the case, run your sponge through the dishwasher instead.

Exfoliate Dandruff

Have you ever tried Epsom salt treatments? They work because salt is a natural exfoliator. And if you have dandruff, you need an exfoliator. Rub some Epsom salt through your hair and scalp to clear away the dead skin. Before washing, massage salt granulates into your dry or slightly damp hair. Rub it in for two to three minutes to thoroughly rub away the dead skin. Once you’re done, you can shampoo and rinse as normal. Depending on the severity of the dandruff, you can use this treatment two to three times a week.

Make A Natural Probiotic

Did you know that fermented cabbage (sauerkraut) is an excellent probiotic? It’s also very easy to make it at home. Here’s how to do it. First, take a head of cabbage and carefully cut the core out. Set the core aside. Next, pour about a tablespoon of finely ground salt into the hole. It will mix with the cabbage’s juices and start to ferment. Submerge the cabbage in water and leave it at room temperature for at least one month and up to six months. Once it suits your tastes, shred the cabbage and store in mason jars.

Salty Water Chills Your Drinks In No Time

If you want to chill your beer quickly, try this: fill a cooler with water, ice cubes, and salt. Don’t worry about overdoing the salt. Without shoving them too close together, place your beer bottles into the solution. They should chill within five minutes. If you want the science behind this hack, here it is. Every liquid has a “freezing point depression,” or a minimum temperature in which it freezes. Typically, water freezes at 32°F. But if you mix salt in water, it lowers the water’s freezing point. This is because salt’s ions prevent the molecules from crystallizing easily.

Extend The Life Of Dairy Products

As weird as it sounds, salt is an ideal dairy preservative. Salt soaks up excess moisture and prevents mold from forming. To help your cheese last longer, soak a napkin in saltwater and cover the cheese with it. You can also keep milk fresh by adding a pinch of salt to its contents. The amount of salt is so small that you won’t taste it, although it should keep the carton fresh for about a week past its expiration date.

Keep Lettuce Crisp

Nobody likes soggy lettuce. If you want to keep your salad crisp, sprinkle some salt on top of the greens. It’ll flavor the salad and preserve your lettuce for a little while. After all, salt has preserved food for years. Here’s the scientific explanation: Salt draws water out of cells through osmosis. A little bit of salt will draw out enough water to keep your lettuce crunchy. If you add too much, though, it’ll remove too much water from the cells to keep them alive. This is how salt kills certain bacteria.

Prevent Cut Fruit From Going Brown

When fruit slices come into contact with oxygen, they gradually turn brown. You can preserve fruit’s color by submerging it in water, although this process alone opens your food up to bacteria. Fortunately, salt’s antibacterial properties make it very difficult for organisms to survive. If you want to prolong the life of your cut fruit, place the food in a large bowl, and submerge them in water. Add some salt and let it soak. You may notice the salt depositing into your fruit, which indicates that it’s re-saturated. Remove the fruit after five to ten minutes.

Salt Removes Red Wine Stains

Salt promptly absorbs water, which makes it great for soaking up stains. If you spill red wine onto the carpet, dump salt onto the wet stain and wait for 10 to 15 minutes. Then vacuum it up. Unlike other home solutions such as white wine, salt fully lifts the stain.  For clothing stains, sprinkle salt onto the red spot and wait at least three minutes. Rinse it with cold water. If the stain is still there, repeat the process until the redness disappears, then launder your clothes as usual.

Restore Stained And Yellowed Towels

After months of use, our linens can appear blotchy or even yellowed. Regular detergent doesn’t restore the color much. Salt can brighten the colors on fabrics, but only use this method for single-colored linens such as towels. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of salt into 1/2 gallon of water. Boil the towels in this mixture for one hour. Repeat until the linens look better. Alternatively, you can pour 1/4 cup of salt into one gallon of hot water and leave the towels in there for 48 hours. Rinse thoroughly and dry as usual.

Remove Lipstick Stains From Glassware

Lipstick stains are hard to remove from glassware. Because lipsticks contain emollients that are designed to stay on your lips, they’re hard to wash off of cups. A casual run through the dishwasher may not help, but salt should. Before you run these glasses through the wash, rub off the lipstick stains. Sprinkle some salt on a damp washcloth and use it to rub away the stain. If the spot remains, you can try the same method with rubbing alcohol. Then wash your cup in the dishwasher as usual.

This Is What Your Heartburn Really Means

Whether you're 17 or 71, odds are that you've experienced heartburn at least once in your life, if not more. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, and an estimated 15 million Americans deal with the painful symptom on a daily basis.

Should you be eating organs?

I recently came across this article evaluating the health of organ meats, but when I read the article I was surprised. Whether or not someone finds organ meats appealing really depends on their cultural background. In many countries, heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, and brains are part of a regular diet. The inclusion of organ meats in traditional diets results from an admirable desire to use the entire animal.

11 House Sounds You Should Never Ignore

Thumps, bumps, and squeaks

We've all been there. Your clothes washer thumps and you wonder if that's normal, or your bedroom floor squeaks but you figure that just happens in old houses. "Most homeowners have a spidey sense when they hear something that's not right," says Ed Padilla, founder and director of the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals. Some people address such problems promptly while others put them off, but there's a certain kind of homeowner who's especially good at resolving issues. While there are some things you can fix yourself, you should never try to DIY these home improvements.

'A scarlet letter': Veterans help their fellows overturn bad military discharges

Activist veterans are helping their comrades seek upgrades to so-called "bad paper" military discharges that disqualify them from key benefits that help them re-enter civilian life.

What is a slugburger, and why do Mississippians love it?

Slug burger

Northern Mississippi is obsessed with the slugburger; entire festivals and eating contests are devoted to this regional dish. There, if you want something other than a slugburger, you have to specify you want an "all-meat burger" instead. Otherwise, one of these humble burgers will arrive on your plate.

The Bread to Eat When Cutting Carbs

Are you trying to limit your carbohydrates, but have a love for bread? The Doctors have a helpful food tip that can help you curb your carbs while still enjoying wonderful bread.
If you are going to have bread, ER physician expert Dr. Travis Stork suggests you opt for whole wheat sourdough, which contains wild yeast and the probiotic Lactobacillus, both of which make the bread easier to digest. This type of bread is made from whole grains, which helps to maintain the food's nutrient profile and fiber.

Baby boomer baby names that have gone out of style

Some names seem so ubiquitous that it is hard to imagine that they will ever be anything other than everywhere in the popular consciousness. However, a look at the history of popular names goes to show that such enduring popularity is far from given.