#same with every single other thing they made. still cannot eat any normal egg white or yellow because the texture reminds me of them

[skeletonmaster69]

sometimes i think about foster care again and now that i actually have the ability to get pissed i am so pissed whenever i think about it

[adobe-outdesign]

Pokemon Worldbuilding Headcanons

Exactly what it says in the title. Some are based on the game, some on the anime, and some directly contradict both because the Pokemon lore is made up and your feelings don’t matter.

Biology

Pokemon heal faster when unconscious or asleep--thus, they faint easily from pain or exhaustion in order to recuperate.

During evolution, a Pokemon converts itself into energy and reforms itself. Evolution is optional, and a Pokemon can choose if and when it evolves. Evolution is triggered by both an environmental circumstance (ex: winning a battle), and by the Pokemon storing up energy over time until it has enough to transform.

Stress evolutions are when a Pokemon evolves prematurally in order to win a battle or when they’re in a life-or-death situation. This can result in the evolution being smaller than normal and possibly weaker as well.

“Trade evolutions” are a loose grouping of Pokemon that typically evolve when they start working with a new trainer. The exact reasons for the evolution varies by individual, and therefore can have multiple causes.

Ex: a Pokemon may evolve after it learns something from someone else. While the easiest way to achieve this is through trade, they may also evolve by training under a wiser, older Pokemon.

Trade evolutions are somewhat rare in the wild, but not unheard of.

Pokemon that evolve via stones cannot store enough energy to evolve naturally. The stones contain extra energy that they can tap into in order to aid in evolution.

Everstones work similar to sponges; they absorb the extra energy a Pokemon would normally store up to evolve, thus preventing them from doing so. They’re mostly used for medical purposes (as a Pokemon evolving when badly injured could worsen its injuries) and to help prevent stress evolutions in Pokemon that don’t want to evolve.

Pokemon types are based on the type of energy they utilize, rather than moves or appearance. Ex: Charizard is not dragon-type despite looking like a dragon because it doesn’t use dragon-type energy. New energies are discovered all the time and Pokemon are reclassified as needed.

Pokemon typing also changes as they (Darwinian) evolve. A Pokemon that’s normal/grass used to be normal-type, has started to gain grass-typing, and will eventually be only grass-type.

Humans are descended from Pokemon. They used to be psychic-type before becoming normal-type and then losing their typing all together. At this point they no longer are energy-based nor do they lay eggs, so they’re considered a separate-but-related family.

This is why some people still show psychic powers; those abilities never completely went away in some bloodlines.

Pokemon have been domesticated for so long that there’s actually no such thing as a “wild” Pokemon anymore (with the exception of legendaries). Wild Pokemon are technically feral, and any given Pokemon will quickly adapt to living with humans if caught.

Pokemon used to look different hundreds of years ago, and have slowly undergone Darwinian evolution over time as they were domesticated.

“Most trainers will legendaries shortly after their journey starts” statistic false. Most trainers will see no legendaries in their lifetimes. Ash Ketchum, who’s seen every single legendary in existence, is an outlier and should not be counted

However, areas where legendaries are known to live are oftentimes marked as no-catch conservation areas. People will oftentime travel to these parks to admire “common” legendaries (such as the bird trio) in their natural habitats.

Battles

Not knocking out a Pokemon you’re trying to capture is more of a honored rule than a law. The reason it’s done is to give the Pokemon ample time to flee--otherwise, someone may one-shot a Pokemon that doesn’t want a trainer, resulting in the Pokemon being unfairly knocked out and the trainer wasting their time.

If you give the Pokemon time to flee and it chooses to stay and fight, it’s potentially interested in accepting you as a trainer and you just have to prove yourself. If it flees, you should leave it alone.

Pokemon used for battles are specifically trained to not cause permanent harm or injury to their opponents (ex: that fire blast isn’t as hot as it could be, so it’ll only cause minor burns instead of third-degree ones). While the attacks used might look violent and cause some pain, serious injuries are very rare.

Wild Pokemon are also pretty good at restraining themselves if they’re just battling for fun or to test a trainer. They will not, however, restrain themselves if they feel threatened or are hunting. Trainers are advised to use caution when fighting wild Pokemon and return their Pokemon to their balls if necessary.

Psychic-types (Mr. Mime especially) are used to create protective barriers around arenas/trainers to protect people from flying debris and stray attacks.

Refs always have a few Pokemon on hand that know moves like stun spore or sleep powder in order to stop any fights that get out of hand.

Pokeballs

While some trainers different Pokemon by using different types of Pokeballs, decorating them is also a popular way to do it. Some people draw symbols or initials on the buttons, some add stickers, some paint them, ect.

Stores also sell semi-transparent hard shells that snap over the balls. These come in different colors and designs, so you can have a Pokeball that has a galaxy design on top instead of plain red if you want.

Most trainers keep about 40 some Pokemon or less, which they rotate between their party, the PC, and daycares/Pokemon sitters to keep them enriched and active. Some people keep more, but they generally spend all of their time caring for them and therefore aren’t trainers.

The general rule of thumb is to not leave a Pokemon in the PC for more than two weeks. If you fail to take them out after a month, they will be automatically removed and released back into the wild.

Pokeballs create little miniature simulations of nature, making them feel bigger on the inside. Different types of pokeballs have different or more advanced simulations, which may increase how much a Pokemon likes being in it.

Pokeballs create an invisible “tag” for the Pokemon by altering their energy when they’re first caught. These tags affect nothing, but Pokeballs are programmed to automatically check for one before they’ll activate.

Many poachers and other illegal groups produce their own illegal Pokeballs that do not check for tags before capture.

If a Pokeball breaks, it automatically releases the Pokemon inside and removes their tag.

Tags fade after about a month to allow for other trainers to capture a Pokemon after it’s been permanently released. The tag is automatically refreshed every time a Pokemon is brought back into its ball.

The standard Pokeball pattern is based off of the patterns of the Foongus line. Pokemon are very attracted to their markings, so the balls are painted the same to make the Pokemon like them more.

Eggs

Rather than combining genetics, Pokemon reproduce by combining their energy together (this looks a bit like two Pokemon evolving at the same time). Because of this, they lack reproductive organs and chromosomes.

Gender is a loosely defined concept for them. Pokemon can change their sex upon evolution if they want to, and some will change their sex over time (ex: legendaries are usually genderless, but will gain a sex to breed and then lose it again afterward).

If a Pokemon doesn’t display sexual dimorphism, the only way to determine their sex is to have a Pokemon Center do a blood test.

Eggs aren’t laid, but created. The pregnant Pokemon fosters energy in their body. When ready they separate the extra energy from themselves (once again, looks a bit like evolution), which forms into the egg. This causes them no pain, and means they have short gestation periods.

This also means Pokemon never look pregnant. The only way to tell is by getting them tested or paying attention to changes in behavior. Many trainers end up with eggs out of nowhere because they had no idea one of their Pokemon was pregnant to begin with.

In the wild, some species of Pokemon will lay hundreds of eggs (such as fish and bug Pokemon) to ensure their survival. In captivity, Pokemon rarely create more than 1 or 2 eggs at a time, likely because they understand their young are safe with their trainers.

Pokemon develop more quickly in their eggs than IRL animals. They can technically hatch shortly after the egg is made, but they usually spend extra time inside maturing. By the time the egg hatches, the baby already has fur/feathers/whatever, and can walk and eat solid food. This helps ensure their survival against predators.

Young Pokemon are differentiated by being “mature” or “immature”; an immature Pokemon will still gradually grow and change appearance, while a mature one is fully grown until it evolves. A Pokemon cannot evolve until it’s considered mature (excluding mega evolution for single-stagers).

To use Vulpix as a canon example: a newly hatched immature Vulpix is about 8 in tall and has one white tail. A mature Vulpix is about 2 ft tall and has six red tails.

In the wild, Pokemon mostly breed amongst their own species. The exception are Pokemon with uneven gender ratios (so if a Pokemon is 7:1 male vs female, the males will actively breed with anything in their egg group). Inter-species breeding among captive Pokemon is much more common, and usually based on the Pokemon’s personal preferences.

Hybridization in Pokemon born from two different parents is very rare, but it does happen from time to time. It’s more common in Pokemon that look similar or are distantly related.

“Perfect” hybrids, Pokemon that have equal amounts of traits from both parents as well as typing and abilities, are more sought after than shinies. They usually can’t breed due to their mix of energies.

[marvel-medigeek-fics]

Laundry Day

|| 1.6k || ao3 link ||

 Buck had overslept. Slept straight through his alarms, only to wake up 13 minutes before he needed to be leaving for work. Second time this week and, to matters worse, every single one of his LAFD shirts was balled up in the corner of his room. After pulling on the bottom half of his uniform, he sniffed the balled-up shirts. Rank, rancid, double rank, gag-inducing. The thought of wearing a disgusting smelling shirt made Buck's skin crawl, so he threw on a plain black shirt and hoped for the best. Hopefully, Bobby wouldn't see him before he could pull on an actual LAFD shirt straight from the dryer.

Buck pulled into the station's parking lot 11 and a half minutes later. He wiped a sheen off his temple and hoped Bobby wouldn't notice the stark lack of logo. He made a beeline for the dryer and grabbed one of the shirts from the pile in the basket. He hastily put on the first shirt that smelled like detergent, shoving his black shirt into his bag. Crisis averted.

Upstairs, Eddie, Bobby, Hen, and Chimney were deep in conversation about the "curse" a few days ago. "At least it's not like last time." Hen was saying. "Live power pole on one truck and the other one stolen."

"That was not the fault of the "curse", just an unlucky coincidence. The q word can't jinx you, it's just a word." Eddie shook his head, shoveling hot sauce covered scrambled eggs into his mouth. Chimney and Hen shared a look that said, 'He can not be serious.'

"Mhm. Just a coincidence." Buck raised his eyebrows, bringing the attention of his colleagues to him at the top of the stairs. "You wouldn't be saying that because the curse gave you a reason to ask out Christopher's English teacher or anything, right?" Eddie was smart enough to have his mouth full by the time Buck finished, as to avoid Hen's questioning eyes, Bobby's subtle brow raise, or Chimney's blunt questions.

"Is that why you said you had other plans?" Chimney almost threw his fork on the table in mock outrage. Hen rolled her eyes at Chimney's outburst. Bobby just went back to his eggs. Eddie just nodded and finished off his eggs, wiping the excess hot sauce off his plate with his last forkful.

"Good for you, man. We did save a life, you missed out." Chimney continued, trailing off as Buck moved to get a serving of eggs. No hot sauce, extra salt, extra pepper, extra garlic powder. And cheese. Lots of cheese. By the time Buck turned around, the entire table was staring at him. Their eyes moved from Buck to each other, having an unspoken conversation.

"What?" Buck quirked an eyebrow at their expressions. Bobby had his usual glint in his eyes, Chimney looked like he was about to explode, and Hen looked completely normal. Eddie, on the other hand, was staring a hole into his empty plate. The top of his cheeks were turning crimson, but no one was looking at him.

"Nothing. Eat your eggs." Hen shook her head and changed the subject. She'd seen the looks Buck and Eddie had shared, which were too intimate to be between two people who were "just friends". Also, Buck had a habit of watching Eddie's ass as he walked by him. So did Eddie. 'Watching his back' was their excuse.

--

“5 vehicle accident on South Seneca.” The words echoed over the intercom and every member of the 118 ran for the trucks. The day so far hadn’t been very eventful, and everyone was a little antsy. Squirrely, to be more honest. Eddie squirmed in his seat uneasily and Chim looked like he’d swallowed a lemon. Hen kept giving him knowing and pointed glances. Buck, on the other hand, was raring to go and about catapulted out of the truck as soon as it pulled to a stop.

The scene was messy with news vans, reporters and civilians surrounding the wreckage. The wind wasn’t helping, biting everyone deep. You’d think people wouldn’t be watching a car accident with that kind of weather. Luckily the police were already backing people away, and the 118 and the 223 could get to work extricating people.

In the middle, one car was essentially crushed from 2 sides after running a red light straight into the path of the three oncoming cars, hitting another on its way to a stop. Two of the cars were crumpled like sheets of paper, another was heavily dented by the force of getting t boned. The fourth car was barely scratched, with all the damage of a fender bender. The fifth car in the middle was smashed in both directions, with the passengers side door hit head on and the back seat drivers side in the same condition. The hood was rippled and smoking fervently. It looked awful, but it would still be flooding television stations on the 6 o clock news.

“Buck, Chim, we’ll check on the far side. Hen and Eddie, ditto.” The 118 moved quickly to the far side and immediately everything else was forgotten.

“LAFD, you were in an accident. Are you in any pain?” Buck and Eddie repeated each other, receiving vastly different answers.

“My daughters are in the backseat, Sophie who’s 2 and Marisella who’s just a baby. I’m fine. Check on them.” Said Buck, Chim and Bobby’s driver.

A baby wailed in the backseat, and the other girl, a toddler, was silently staring at these strange men. Buck raced around to the passengers side door, struggling futilely with the handle.

“It’s automatic.” The driver winced, springing Chimney into action to pry off part of the door. The door slid open on the other side and Buck immediately reached in and unbuckled the toddler from her seat. She seemed relatively unhurt, save a few bruises. Buck handed her off to Bobby and crawled to the other side for the baby, wailing profusely. He unbuckled her with the grace of an uncle who had been practicing and carried her against his chest, attempting to protect her from the wind, which was only getting colder.

Chimney was not having as good of luck extricating the father. The seatbelt was cutting a deep scar in his thigh and every time any thing would move blood would trickle out from around the polyester. Chimney very carefully slid a square of gauze under the belt and simultaneously cut the belt from causing more damage. Blood quickly soaked the gauze and Chimney maneuvered another piece to soak up the blood. “Hold this, sir, please. I’m going to place a tourniquet above your hands and you should stop bleeding.”

The fathers face was turning staunch white, and Chimney but his tongue. He’d have to work fast. And he did. 5 minutes later, the father was out on a stretcher.

In the next car, Eddie and Hen were dealing with an irate woman, who kept exclaiming she would be sueing. The driver, the state of California, LA first responders, God knows who else. She seemed unhurt, but was stuck on both sides. Her drivers side door was stuck, though not intruding on her seat. The rear passengers side door was the most realistic plan to get her out. Eddie climbed through that door and Hen attempted to coax her to follow him from her place just behind the drivers door.

“Why can’t you just remove my door?” She protested and both Eddie and Hen had to force themselves not to roll their eyes or snipe back with a comment.

“Even if we did, ma’am, there is still another car blocking us from getting you out.” Hen replied calmly.

“Tow it.”

“We cannot do that until everyone is cleared from the accident scene, ma’am.” Eddie said. “ please just come this way.” He offered his hand. She only relented after a sigh so loud it seemed painful and crawled her way out the door. Not even her blouse had a stain on it.

After she was escorted to the hospital in 331’s ambulance, hen and Eddie shared a look that simply said “some people.”

“I wonder if she’ll sue.” Eddie wondered when the 118 was headed back from the scene to the station.

“I doubt it.” Bobby said somberly. His voice changed slightly for his next statement. “ everyone is stable and south Seneca is open for traffic.”

—

“The 6 car accident on South Seneca that occurred at 4:37 pm involved 0 fatalities and no critical injuries. South Seneca was reopened for full traffic at 6:59 pm.” Pictures cycled the screen, of the cars, the 118s ladder and various other ambulances. Then there was Buck carrying the baby Marisella. The top of his turnout was peeking over his shoulder, protecting the child from the bitter wind. But the most interesting part of the picture was the name plastered on his back.

Diaz.

“Good job, Diaz.” Chimney clapped his hand on A bewildered Bucks shoulder. Both Buck and Eddie were turning red starting from the tips of their ears, and neither of them would live it down.

—

“Were you attempting to grab my shirt or was it just a lucky grab?” Eddie leaned against the door frame at the end of shift and stared at Buck who was pulling on a hoodie.

“In your dreams, Diaz.” Buck rolled his eyes and smiled into the locker, which was not unbeknownst to Eddie.

“Just in yours. Diaz.”

“Don’t tempt me.” Buck turned to see Eddie giving him a smirk. Oh what he wouldn’t give to wipe that smirk off his face.

[bdgthinks]

The Two Sides of “The Two Sides of Singapore, As Seen By A Food Delivery Rider”, As Seen By A Food Delivery Rider

https://medium.com/@bdgthinksShort pre-amble: Just as how the original Rice article is just the opinion of one writer, what I’m writing below is likewise, just the opinion of mine alone. Also, my opinions are based on my experience working with Deliveroo while Yusuf worked for Grab Food so there may be some differences between the pay structure, zone distances and other company-specific policies.

I was clicking past Instagram stories yesterday afternoon, about to take a nap, when I saw a friend share this recently posted Rice Media article. Part photo journal, part commentary on the gig economy, Singapore’s class divide, and how income inequality is growing more apparent as we adapt to the ever-evolving Covid-19 situation? Sign me the hell up. 

All images courtesy of Ricemedia.co, Yusuf Abdol Hamid, or myself

20 minutes, a few raised eyebrows, and many heated texts later – I reluctantly abandoned my plans to nap because I read some many things in this article (which I highly recommend you read first before reading on!) that I disagree with profoundly. 

Before I start, I want to offer my appreciation to Yusuf (the narrator), Boon Ping (the editor/author), and Rice Media for publishing this piece that will help many understand the oft-overlooked issue of social/income inequality in an engaging and accessible manner. My misgivings towards some of Yusuf’s opinions notwithstanding, the general sentiment towards this article is extremely positive and has done what I believe every great article should do, provoke thought and inspire critical thinking towards the status quo! 

A smattering of positive feedback to the original article 

What I appreciated most about the article is encapsulated by joce_zhang’s comment, that it’s an important reminder to be kinder to people – regardless. 

 However, I couldn’t help but find it slightly troubling that Yusuf and Boon Ping (the editor) seemed to have oversimplified these issues and reduced the stakeholders to caricatures: the rich as the Monopoly Man; and the tireless ‘seen by many as a dead-end job’ delivery couriers as a Dickensian orphan, counting pennies and agonizing over whether they ‘deserve’ a Zinger. 

I worry that one unintended consequence of this article is that some ways social inequality is highlighted may lead to reinforcement of the divide rather than dissolution. 

During my Summer holidays in 2018, I became attracted to the idea of working part-time as a food courier cyclist as in my mind I saw it as being paid to just cycle and listen to podcasts. Since then, I’ve been an on-off Deliveroo cyclist during the shorter holidays or whenever I needed a little bit of extra pocket money. 

In past the two years, I’ve earned exactly $4081.63 from making deliveries (inclusive of bonuses) and dividing it by a conservative $15/h rate, I’ve worked for around 272 hours or about 700 deliveries. split about 60/40 between private properties and HDB flats.

And I guess it’s also partly because of my different experience working in food couriering the past two years that made me feel so much discontent while reading Yusuf’s article. In these 400-odd deliveries to private residences (or heck, in any of my deliveries), I don’t recall having once been treated unnecessarily rudely, aggressively or dismissively by any of the stakeholders I interact with in the job – restaurant servers and managers, condo security management and customers alike. 

What I have experienced actually are customers that have tipped me for my efforts - especially ones who live in fairly inaccessible areas, and (during this circuit breaker period) offered me a snack or a cold drink to drop off their deliveries; security guards who ask me how my day was and if I’ve had my lunch or dinner; and restaurant staff who invite me to have a seat in the restaurant while I wait for my order. 

Some treats from kind customers 

Even when I had made a mess of the customer’s order from their order roiling around during a bumpy 15-minute bike ride (entirely my fault of course!), I’ve never heard anything more than an entirely deserved ‘tsk’ at the disappointment of having half of their pho soup ending up in the plastic bag instead of the bowl – and even then these tsk’s are far and few between! 

And it is (again, solely from my own personal experience) where I felt that Yusuf could have been cherry-picking the worst examples from his own experience to make a point. While service industry personnel are no doubt severely underappreciated and that should be improved as a whole, I feel that such blatant incidents are the exception rather than the rule. 

My point is: the world isn’t binary. Heck, even up to a year ago I was still echoing Yusuf’s entire argument and ranting rather colorfully about the injustice and discrimination of it all. Who are YOU to tell me which lift I can and cannot use? 

In the pursuit of delivering a commentary on some really important social issues, I feel that it fell short by over-emphasizing the ludicrousness of the elite and failing to consider the many other factors that contributes to this problem. 

For one, I thought that the annoyance projected to security guards seeing themselves as ‘a barrier between the riff-raff and their diamond-encrusted residents’ was a bit uncalled for – painting a picture of the fearsome guard – in employ of the up-in-the-air bourgeois hiding in their ivory tower, assailing an innocent courier who had the audacity to think that he had the right to take the same elevator as the residents? 

But then… when we consider that most lift lobbies are a good distance from the security guard posts where the guards are stationed, it doesn’t seem so unreasonable for a guard to have to raise his voice to get his point across, right? 

Being fortunate enough to live in a condo myself, I’ve sometimes felt unease in the duality that security guards experience every single day: faithful bastions in keeping residents safe, spending their days patrolling the lush, landscaped gardens and expansive feature infinity pools, but never once stepping foot into the houses they loyally guard.

And at the end of the day, clocking out to return home to an environment I assume is much less luxurious. 

So why then, do Yusuf and Boon Ping deign to foster an us vs them divide, arbitrarily placing one occupation on one side of the line and another on the opposite?

How about the incredulousness towards the guy who orders a stupid $11 Dal.komm latte every day, or the Grange Road resident who only orders a single scoop of Haagen-Dazs ice cream? 

Like I said, caricatures that highlight and reinforce the rich-poor divide.

Cherry-picking prevents the reader from seeing the single cups of coffee that I’ve delivered from Common Man Coffee Roasters to Tenteram Peak, the eight egg tarts from Whampoa Hawker Center to Toa Payoh. Or my dad, who lives a one-minute walk from the hawker center but still chooses to order through Grabfood because he paid for a subscription service that offers 50 free deliveries for just $10? 

All these customers lived in HDB units. 

As a courier, there’s nothing I appreciate more than collecting an order to find out I’m being paid $5 to cycle one block away, or reaching the restaurant to find out that a customer only ordered an easy-to-transport wrap instead of say, twelve packets of chicken rice – I’m getting paid the same amount anyway. 

So yes, they’re paying our salary, so thank you. 

Juxtaposition is also good and all for making a point, but is it truly accurate and representative? 

The word exclusive is used a lot by Yusuf - but are those who live in a smelly HDB with the pee smell in the corridor exclusively nice, and the expat who lives in the Ardmore Park condo with the super high ceiling exclusively mean? Is it wrong to live (or aspire to live) in an exclusive private property? These are questions to be stimulated, not answers to be given. 

There’s so much to pick apart, but my goal isn’t to say: I’m Right, You’re Wrong, it’s just that say that There Are Two Sides to Everything. 

A brief aside on ‘fulfillment’ 

While I love my part-time job – paying me upwards of $20 an hour to keep fit and listen to podcasts, I’m entirely cognizant that while I’m privileged that it’s a side-hustle, a side-gig, a part-time job to me; it’s also a livelihood to tens of thousands of hardworking people out there. 

Where I could turn off the app and head home when I decided I’ve earned enough in the week to eat at a new restaurant I’ve been eyeing or if it was too hot in the afternoon, most other people working my job can’t – if not, the lights may not turn on the next day. 

In a comment to an earlier draft of this piece, a friend shared that it’s a privilege to be able to separate your social identities. I think it’s also a privilege to have the choice of perspective. We exercise when we’re healthy, as a hobby, or a passion. Deliverymen don’t see it that way. There is no ‘good to do’, there is only ‘must do’. 

At the end of the day when the world starts to recover from Covid-19, you’re going to start getting photo and videography gigs and transition back to the white-collar world. 

As for the security guard and domestic helper at Ardmore Park, the server at the Grange Road Haagen-Dazs, and the tens of thousands of for-hire drivers and delivery couriers? There’s no ‘back to normal’ – this is their normal. 

In a discussion post on Yusuf’s article, a redditor referenced Maslow’s hierarchy of needs:

In the blue-collar normal, where every day is a struggle to meet the needs of financial safety and security, maybe fulfilment isn’t really an aspiration for most. In an article calling for empathy, I feel the quality slightly lacking in my reading. 

A few months back I began my education into inequality in Singapore with Teo You Yenn’s seminal This Is What Inequality Looks Like. In it, the title of one of her essays especially stood out to me: Dignity Is Like Clean Air. She describes, like Yusuf does, that many blue-collar workers in the service industry always feel invisible, that people don’t respect them, that it makes them feel small. I’d like to add on to** Dignity Is Like Clean Air** with the caveat: Segregation Is Not Necessarily Dirty. 

Going back to the ‘fucked up service lifts at the back for the smelly people, the non-residents and stuff’, how about we just call a spade a spade?

In restaurants, servers and chefs who have their meals there usually sit at tables near the kitchen (or even in the kitchen itself). 

In airplanes, consumers have the choice to pay a much higher premium for more leg room and a more gourmet selection of food. In fancy hotels, bellboys and concierge staff have to wear stiff suits – there’s usually a dress code for guests to enter certain areas. 

So, is it really that unfair, for someone who’s had the means to pay for the privilege of living in luxury, to not really want to share a lift with someone who might smell unpleasant from having spent hours cycling under the hot sun? 

The service lift provides the same functionality – no one’s saying that couriers are ‘lesser people’, we’re not being asked to walk up the stairs while the ‘masters’ take the magic moving box. It wasn’t created to separate the ‘undesirables’ from the ‘desirables’ like a pre-Rosa Parks bus, and it’ll be unhealthy to think of it as such – even worse to let it fester. 

To package my views into a neatly categorized box – When I’m Brandon the Deliveryman, it’s perfectly fine for a guard to request for me to take the service lift, but when I’m Brandon the Guest attending a dinner party at the same condo, no one is stopping me from taking the resident lift right? 

Different day, Different fit, Same me 

I still think that it’s incredibly fucked up that some employers make their helpers take a separate lift though. 

But in delivering the core message – is it more helpful to frame your reflection as ‘why do some people treat their subordinates with such contempt and how can we as society hope to change it’, or to just resent the fact that ‘rich people like that la’ – and laugh and pretend we’re friends. 

I guess what I’m most frustrated with about the article is that it had the potential to be so much more. It occasionally flirts with the possibility of going deeper into one issue or the other but ultimately ends up being a reflection of one privileged dude’s brief foray into an industry that many of us often take for granted. 

And because there are so many issues at play, people often fall into the trap of distilling extremely complicated issues into dangerous sweeping statements, which eventually does very little for the problem in question. 

Another frustration I often have towards the discourse towards social issues is that they often fail to carry a call-to-action. Okay, I’ve checked my privilege, I’ve understood that my successes in life is partly a byproduct of the wealthy family I was fortunate to being born into – now what? 

A good rule of thumb that I’ve been trying to implement into my life recently is to think about the net positive or net negative an action has onto society. And hence: 

To the fortunate: While it is important to understand your privilege and not take things for granted, you also don’t have to be ashamed of it. Every dollar you spend goes into the economy and is earned by someone else. So, what can you do to influence a net positive? 

Be kind to everyone, be kind to everyone, be kind to everyone. 

If you can, have the moral courage to call out undesirable behavior – especially if it’s someone close to you. But if you can’t – it’s okay too. Start with yourself. The world could do with less ‘you should do more’ and more ‘thank you for what you did’. 

This is not exclusive to tipping service staff or offering couriers a cold drink (although it is always really welcome!). Offer a kind word to anyone you interact with. Ask the office or school janitor if they’ve had their meal yet, wish your security guard a good morning/good evening when you pass them by, clear your tray when you’re at a fast food restaurant and smile and thank the servers if you pass them by. 

I promise you - these little acts of kindness will go a much longer way received than it takes you to give them. 

To our everyday heroes: Your intrinsic self worth is by no means defined by how an asshole treats you. You are so, so, so much more important.

You are somebody, you are somebody, you are somebody. 

In this essay, my intention is to extend the net positive that Yusuf and Rice has already generated while minimizing the net negatives it may unintentionally create by framing the issue as ‘us vs them’. 

I hope that it will be seen as an addendum to Yusuf’s original piece instead of a correction. To build up on the important issues that **each and every one of us **should acknowledge and then go one step further to see how we can resolve them. I hope that reading this has provoked more questions than it gives answers. I hope that we don’t see the world as black-and-white but how things can move to a more palatable shade of grey. 

Of course, my thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions here could be (and probably are) wildly ignorant and myopic, and I still have so much more to learn. So please confront me, dispute me and tell me where I’m wrong and what I don’t know. 

If I have to leave you with just one takeaway, I hope everyone remembers to be kinder to people – regardless.

(You can also find me at https://medium.com/@bdgthinks!)

[fitnessshub101]

25 ways to quickly loose weight at home

There are numerous inexplicable eating regimens around us and almost no sound judgment. A voice in your mind murmurs to you that an eating routine of just yoghurts and organic products ... maybe not the most ideal choice. He additionally discloses to you that the most ideal approach to get in shape is to copy a bigger number of calories than you burn-through.

All that he tells is valid! What's more, for this you need to move somewhat more And watch your eating routine somewhat more. Simply a bit, we guarantee! Our undertaking isn't to hurt ourselves, however to discover great propensities ... furthermore, tolerance.

Before you is an unending rundown of straightforward activities with the goal that you presently don't consider how to get thinner rapidly at home.

Watch your diet

Balanced diet

Will sports assist you with getting thinner in the event that you don't eat well? You make a solid effort to consume calories at the rec center, however that doesn't prevent you from slimming down. Here are some basic hints.

Take a stab at supplanting basic carbs with complex ones . Complex sugars like oats, earthy colored rice, potatoes, nuts are high in fiber, so even in little bits they alleviate want quite a while.

No doubt about it: eating fat doesn't make you fat . Truth be told, fat is a fundamental piece of the eating regimen.

Recall protein is crucial .

Zero in on three components - carbs (complex), protein and fat. They should all be in the eating regimen.

Cook in margarine or coconut oil . The main rule is not to skip meals! Eat four times a day: morning, noon, around 4pm and 8pm. This will accustom your body to a certain rhythm of eating. If you're looking to lose a few pounds, fitness trainers generally recommend eating certain foods at different times of the day.

Energy in the morning, light meals in the evening

What do you need to eat to lose weight?

Toward the beginning of the day  rye bread, grain (not very sweet, for instance, muesli or wheat), kiwi or grapefruit, 0% yogurt ... Breakfast ought to empower!

For lunch, eat complex carbs like entire grain pasta, rice, quinoa, or bulgur. White meat or fish are ideal for them.

At 16 o'clock - a little tidbit: a slice of bread + natural product.

It isn't prescribed to eat starches following 17 hours. For supper, you can cook fish, fried eggs or vegetable soup.

A little protein bar is never an ill-conceived notion preparing . Remember to take mineral water or drink with you as they will help you adapt to the pressure. For more customized nourishing exhortation, counsel your dietitian. We have a secret japanese tonic that burns fat faster than any other pill, capsule or drink. Drinking this tonic before 10AM burns 3.5 lbs every 3.5 days.

Cut back on sugar if you can't give it up

With regards to sugar, it is vital to realize when to stop. Trust me, removing sugar is the quickest method to shed pounds. Most importantly, you should understand that 90% of your food contains sugar, and this little beast makes a liberal commitment to the abundance weight.

The container of cola you drink at lunch, the pasta you have for supper, or even oat for breakfast are high in sugar. what can be done? Each time you go to the supermarket, check the sugar level on the bundle and attempt to pick food sources that have less sugar. Nobody can totally dispose of sugar - and they don't! Utilization of common sugar is normal for the body, yet refined sugar is hurtful to wellbeing.

Drink green tea

Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks around. Studies have proven that green tea contains a huge amount of antioxidants that help burn fat and speed up metabolism.

The best time for tea is immediately after breakfast and at lunchtime, as this is when the metabolic rate is highest. Green tea maintains a high metabolic rate, which promotes better digestion.

Use Whey Protein

Whey protein is a very satisfying food with which you will not feel hunger for a long time. This helps to avoid unhealthy snacks and helps reduce body fat. Observations show that people who regularly use whey protein consume fewer calories overall. Contrary to popular belief, this type of protein isn't just made for serious athletes. It is also recommended for daily consumption by people with low and medium physical activity.

Don't eat fast food

You continue to consider how to get more fit at the earliest opportunity, and yet you continually eat cheap food? The less such food in your eating routine, the less calories you burn-through. While it might seem like inexpensive food is incredible for you, there are various reasons why you should skip it.

Cheap food, just as soft drinks (Cola, Pepsi) and tidbits are "unfilled calories" food. It has no organic worth and is VERY high in calories! From such tidbits - one mischief. Be that as it may, they are alluring, so we encourage you to surrender them continuously. On the off chance that you think that its troublesome, take a stab at making similar dinners at home utilizing low-calorie fixings.

Drink water with lemon and honey in the morning

When you wake up, drink a cup of warm water with honey and lemon. It is not at all difficult and at the same time effective in the fight against excess weight. This drink speeds up your metabolism, and drinking it on an empty stomach sets your body up to burn fat in the morning.

Eat fruit, don't drink

Juice is often referred to as a healthy food, but it's important to remember that it is not a low-calorie drink. 250 ml of orange juice contains 110 calories, which is equivalent to two oranges. Few of us eat two fruits in a day, but if we have juice on hand, we usually drink more than one glass! Drink water instead of other drinks

Water contains no calories. When you're thirsty, drink water instead of juices and sodas - and make it a habit! Watch this free presentation to inspire yourself

Go in for sports

10 minutes of sports every morning

Practicing in the first part of the day is an antiquated development, the advantages of which can't be questioned. Sports at home can comprise of a short program of basic activities that ought not require over 10 minutes. Do them each prior day breakfast.

It isn't important to buy extraordinary hardware for sports. Take a 500 ml jug of water in your grasp, spread them separated and make round developments to condition your biceps. And so on!

Your undertaking is to make this activity a morning propensity. Allow it to feel as normal to you as drinking some espresso, showering, or brushing your teeth. Morning practices tone the muscles, invigorate and set the body up for dynamic calorie utilization.

20 minutes running in the evenings

Running every day is a good medicine for those who start to take root on the couch after work. You can run in your yard, in a park, or on a treadmill at home . A single 20-minute run will change little in your life, but daily short workouts will bring results very soon, because running is one of the most effective sports for weight loss !

Yoga in the morning

The sun ascends into the great beyond, birdsong stirs you, and you awaken very much refreshed a lot. Wouldn't you say that morning yoga meeting fits very well into this image ? An extraordinary and exceptionally present day option in contrast to charging.

Not! Try not to head to sleep for an additional 10 minutes! Trust me - yoga is great.

Morning yoga speeds up the digestion, setting up the stomach related framework to work, which causes the body to utilize sugars and fats quicker.

Do cardio.

You cannot imagine effective weight loss without cardio training. The simplest thing is to do cyclic sports: jogging, cycling or swimming. But we promised that we would not have to leave the house. Here are some cardio exercises you can do in front of your TV:

Jumping Rope : Boxers are big fans of jumping rope precisely because it allows you to quickly get rid of calories. Jumping is not only fun, but also beneficial: it strengthens the muscles of the buttocks and shapes beautiful hips. It would be a mistake to miss this opportunity.

Ellipsoid or Exercise Bike : Exercising on an exercise bike will require investment, but if you intend to exercise regularly, the cost will soon pay off.

Stepper : This simple tool will help you get in shape and, although you might not believe it, will help you burn a lot of calories.

HIIT, or interval training : if you are short on time and still want to lose weight and get a beautiful body, this workout is for you! Their essence is that you alternate exercises at a high pace with short recovery breaks: for example, 20 seconds of push-ups, 15 seconds of rest.

Get to work / school by bike or on foot

If your place of work / study or shop is two or three stops away from you, there is no need to travel by bus or car. Decide to walk once and for all where you can easily walk. Use a bike for longer distances.

Cycling to work is beneficial for a number of reasons. First, you don’t have to go in for sports on top of that. Second, it fits naturally into your daily routine. Third, it saves money on transportation. Finally, it lifts your spirits and serves your weight loss goal right.

Bodyweight Exercises

Exactly! You can lose weight by exercising completely without equipment, using only your own weight! There are many methods and techniques for losing weight, and they are all based on the same exercises:

Burpee: A Very Effective Fat Burning Exercise! Popular in cross-training, this exercise engages the muscles of the entire body by combining squats, push-ups and jumping. After just a few seconds of this exercise, you will be completely exhausted! Over time, however, it will get easier. Burpee isn't just developing muscles - it's a great cardio workout. All in one!

Push-ups: This exercise is familiar to everyone. To diversify classic push-ups, try placing your hands in different ways. If it is still difficult for you to do this exercise, lean not on your socks, but on your knees.

Squats: The perfect hip exercise. To make the exercise more difficult, vary the pace and duration.

Plank: Very good for your back, core, glutes, and abs. The task is to hold the position for 30-60 seconds. Not too easy, that's why calories are burned!

Swimming

It is anything but an issue to get into the pool today, they can be found in any city. We as a whole ability charming it is to absorb the water, yet remember that you can likewise swim! On the off chance that you truly need to shed pounds, yet the possibility of activity like push-ups and hopping is painful to you, why not get in shape in the water?

Swimming is a solid other option! It prepares the entire body on the double and is innocuous to the joints, in contrast to practices ashore. Moving in the water, you need to set up a great deal of protection from the water: any push, stroke or step requires exertion from your muscles. What's more, these are the ideal conditions for preparing!

Add a couple of swimming activities to that and you're en route to progress. Can't swim? You can pursue water high impact exercise. Following a difficult day's worth of effort, an hour in the water is the best rest, which won't just give you a wonderful figure and stance, yet in addition a positive state of mind!

Nordic Walking - Between Fitness Walking and Running

Nordic walking is an outdoor sport and recreation. Attention: this type of walking involves more than just moving and placing one foot in front of the other! It uses special sticks, similar to trekking ones, which help to move forward faster using all muscle groups. Unlike trekking, in Nordic walking, the poles are held slightly behind, as in skiing, rather than in front.

Nordic walking burns 40% more energy than normal walking. She develops not only the legs, but also the muscles of the arms, chest and abs.

Running in place

This is a good exercise for older athletes. It consists of two parts: acceptance of position and movement.

So, the first: acceptance of the desired position.

- Stand straight with feet shoulder-width apart.

- The arms are extended along the sides of the body.

Second: movement.

- Without moving, take turns lifting your heels off the ground.

- Keep your palms open or make a fist.

- Now start running in place, gradually accelerating, lifting your knees a little higher.

- Do the exercise for 30 seconds, then 30 seconds of rest. Repeat a few times.

If you are serious about exercising at home,  find a coach ! This will help you practice safely and effectively.

Quick and easy measures

Use the stairs instead of the elevator

Even small habits can help you with the big weight loss issue. For example, walking up the stairs. If you go up / down the stairs several times a day, then this can be counted as a full workout!

Be active during the day

Arrange house cleaning instead of watching another TV show! Clean floors, dust, hang laundry, take out the trash, go to the store, take a dirty mug to the kitchen, cook, walk your dog, play sports more often! All this will make your life more active, and this is the main rule of losing weight people. And any healthy person!

Go dancing

Let weight loss be a pleasure! If you go to the club to dance on Fridays, don't stop! This is very conducive to weight loss. Remember, however, that liters of beer during such dances will nullify all efforts. You won't find it fun at all, but try switching to lemonade (no sugar, of course!) During these late night sessions.

Turn Household Chores into Exercise

How to lose weight without leaving your home? Easily! Sport starts with proper cleaning. Going to the store? On the way back, climb the stairs with your purchases in hand - try to distribute the weight evenly. Vacuuming? Watch your posture. To do this, you will have to use the muscles of the press and buttocks.

Sleep 30 minutes more

You deserve it. A rested body works better + you'll be surprised how many calories are burned during sleep! You may be thinking "a little," but you are not. Your body uses energy even when you are resting.

Set a goal to relieve stress

Stress helps you gain weight - literally. When faced with a stressful situation, many eat more or smoke. The best way to be less nervous is to get organized better. Eat in moderation, get rid of unnecessary things, find work-life balance, exercise, and you won't notice how you feel calmer.

Have you heard about any of drink that burns fat faster then ever? Here is a secret japanese liquid tonic which is worth a try.

[chesterexchange-blog]

How to use Proverbs in Your Composition

Proverbs are phrases that are commonly used and widely understood.  They can also be mantras that are passed down for generations.  Proverbs can be used to convey advice.

Here’s a common proverb that you may have heard before:

“Practice makes perfect.”

As children, we hear them from our  parents and teachers. And as we grow up, we use some of the more common proverbs in our everyday conversations, sometimes without even realizing that the phrase that comes naturally to us is actually a proverb.

“He has tattoos all over his body, but you know what they say, don’t judge a book by its cover.”

“Having started work straight after my diploma to make ends meet, I only fulfilled my dream to pursue further studies after a good ten years in the workforce. But better late than never, for I can now proudly say that I am a degree holder; the first in my family.”

Proverbs can be in the form of a phrase or a sentence, for example, “The early bird catches the worm.” This one is frequently used to encourage the lazy bunch of us to rise or start early because it is believed that those who do so gain an advantage over others.

Another point worth noting about this proverb, and many others, is that it is in the form of a metaphor. Many proverbs use figurative language to personify their meaning. When we say “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”, we are not literally referring to eggs, but rather the fact that you shouldn’t concentrate all your risks or efforts in one area.

Interestingly, proverbs make it easy and effective to teach your child lessons, or give him words of advice pertaining to concepts that are actually quite sophisticated.

More importantly, for your child, proverbs are a simple yet powerful tool to convey a strong message in his compositions.

Proverbs can be used throughout a composition, whether as an introduction, as a concluding statement, or even in the dialogue between the characters in the composition. The key is to use them moderately or even sparingly. They are like the spices you add to your dishes for additional flavour; whether it is a pinch of cinnamon or a dash of paprika, proverbs are not meant to be ‘spammed’.

Proverbs add spice to your child’s composition.

Use a Proverb in the Introduction

Starting your composition with a proverb immediately captures the reader’s attention. A proverbial introduction can give insight into the gist of your child’s composition in a single line, or it can invoke questions and spur the reader to find out what the story is about. Either way, a proverb is a powerful tool to begin a composition as it leads the reader on to the rest of the story.

Because there are so many different types of proverbs, starting with one not only provides your child a unique introduction to her composition, but it also adds some depth and sophistication to the story that she’s writing.

Of course, the key is to use an appropriate proverb that is related to the crux of the story, or one that “teaches the lesson” in your child’s composition.

Consider this example:

Honesty is truly the best policy. I could not imagine how things would have turned out had I lied instead…

I’ve used this simple proverb combined with a flashback. In two sentences, I have basically told you the lesson I have learnt, about being honest. At the same time, I have hopefully intrigued you enough to read on to find out exactly what situation caused me to learn that lesson.

Use a Proverb in the Conclusion

You could also end your composition with a thought-provoking proverb, to leave a lasting impression on the reader. Instead of explicitly stating the “lessons learnt”, your child can display his maturity by ending with an inspirational proverb.

Consider this example:

I reminisced onthe early days, recalling how everyone was sceptical about the route I was embarking on.

No one truly saw the vision that I saw. Yet now, I sat on the balcony of my penthouse overlooking the sea, soaking up the breeze of freedom, of accomplishment, of success.

The success that I dreamed of, that I willed myself to achieve.

No, it didn’t come easy; I suffered, I endured, but at every juncture where there was a will – the will to overcome any obstacle, the will to keep going – whenever there is a will, there will always be a way.

I’ve used the proverb “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” to show that determination and willpower can overcome all obstacles.

Use a proverb in the dialogue

Using a proverb in a dialogue is another way to boost your child’s language marks.  Adding a proverb further showcases your child’s breadth and depth of vocabulary.  It also conveys more complicated messages or wisdom that your child may have difficulty expressing in “normal phrases”.

Consider this example:

“Mr. Tan has got to be the most boring Math tutor I’ve ever had!” Peter exclaimed. “I really think we should leave and go to another tuition centre. I’m sure they also have Math tutors there.” “I’m not so sure,” John cautioned. “Better the devil you know than the one you don’t.”

I’ve used the proverb to highlight what John thinks about Peter’s suggestion to leave the tuition centre. Without explicitly saying it, I am able to convey John’s doubt towards Peter’s idea.

Common Proverbs for Your Composition

Here are some proverbs that your child can start using in his compositions to impress his or her teachers in school!

A watched pot never boils.

Waiting for something to happen will make time pass even slower.

Example: John stared out the window at the long winding road, waiting for any sign of a car approaching in the distance. But he knew that a watched pot never boils, and he tried to turn his mind towards the book in front of him again, in a bid to distract himself.                                                                       

Beggars can’t be choosers.

When you receive help, you have to be content with and accept whatever you get.

Example: Hunger-stricken, I walked up to the first tiny house with their lights turned on and pounded on the door. An old lady with the kindest eyes perused my sorry state before inviting me into her warm living room. My shame was overwhelmed by my starving belly as I blurted, “Do you have anything to eat, please?” The old lady shuffled slowly into the kitchen whilst I sat and watched in anticipation, knees together, arms wrapped around my stomach as if it would help calm down the desperate growls from within. As she returned, cupping a bowl delicately in her hands, I almost lunged out to grab that delicacy. However, I froze when I saw all that she had to spare – a half-filled bowl of plain white rice. Beggars can’t be choosers, I thought, as I wolfed down the rice in seconds.               

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

Do not be overconfident, or make plans based on something good that you think will happen, before it has actually happened.

Example: Julie was already shopping around for a car as a self-reward for her upcoming promotion, but I told her not to count her chickens before they hatched.                                                                                                         

Don’t cry over spilt milk.

Do not be upset over something that has already happened that you cannot change.

Example: Tim was dejected; he had just failed his test. As I patted him on the shoulder I tried to encourage him. “Look, Tim, this test is already done, so don’t cry over spilt milk. There’s still the finals at the end of the year, and I know you can do it.”                                                                             

Many hands make light work.

This proverb is about teamwork. If everyone works together to help in something, the task is accomplished much quicker.

Example: At first, we were intimidated by the actual area of the wall we had to paint. It was a huge, old bungalow and the paint was practically peeling from every corner of the house – all three levels of it! But everyone was so cooperative, and since many hands made light work, we managed to finish painting the whole house before sunset.

[torixus]

Hazardous effect of Polystyrene food containers causing an ending use in Maryland

The Maryland legislators have concluded to Ban use of Polystyrene food containers and cups, The state Will be the first state in history to implement such Ban once the Governor sign it.

Polystyrene food container

The information was first disclosed by  an environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council that says that the Maryland legislators have finally approved bills to stop the use of Polystyrene use in packing foods and Drinks. Before now, some locality in Maryland have already introduced foam bans, including Montgomery and Prince George's counties. The primary sponsor of the House Bill is Democratic Delegate Brooke Lierman She said banning foam products is the first step to curbing people's reliance on single-use plastics. "Single-use plastics are overrunning our oceans and bays and neighborhoods," Lierman told CNN. "We need to take dramatic steps to start stemming our use and reliance on them ... to leave future generations a planet full of wildlife and green space." Lierman proposed the bill twice before but says she believes public opinion has now shifted to recognize the problem with plastic. "We see plastics in our neighborhoods, in our riverbeds and streams -- it is ubiquitous," Lierman said. "We've seen major companies like Dunkin' Donuts say they're going to phase out" the foam. A conference committee will work to resolve discrepancies between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Lierman said she expects the negotiations to go smoothly, saying there are "no real substantive differences." However, it's unclear whether Republican Gov. Larry Hogan will sign the bill. A spokeswoman for his office said Hogan is "always willing to consider any piece of legislation that reaches his desk." Cailey Locklair Tolle, president of the Maryland Retailers Association, said such a law could hurt Maryland businesses. "Not only will costs go up for restaurants and be passed onto consumers, but because comparable products weigh more and many cannot be recycled, costs will increase due to higher tipping fees (based on weight) at landfills," Locklair Tolle said. The American Chemistry Council, the trade association of chemical manufacturers, voiced opposition to the legislation. "Polystyrene foam packaging and containers provide business owners and consumers with a cost-effective and environmentally preferable choice that is ideal for protecting food and preventing food waste, particularly when used for food service. Foam packaging is generally more than 90 percent air and has a lighter environmental impact than alternatives," the council said in a statement. Foam also absorbs toxins faster than other plastics and is mistaken for food by marine life, Van Stone said. And the toxins that wildlife consumes makes its way up the food chain into people. Van Stone, who worked with lawmakers to pass the foam ban legislation, said it would be only the first step. "We know that banning one material is not going to stop and eradicate all litter. But by banning foam we can work to ensure that the material is reduced from entering our environment," Van Stone said. Take-out foam containers recycling can prevent the use ban All expanded polystyrene products used for packaging food products, including foam containers, could be banned from the relative department which is always concerning about the pollution of the environment. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is the generic industry name for the white rigid material made by expanding polystyrene beads with steam and pressure to bond the beads together to form blocks or to shape molds. There may be a legislation to prohibit business from selling or providing food in an expanded polystyrene food service product (foam containers), according to the relative department of Legislative Services fiscal analysis. Restaurants, fast food restaurants, supermarkets or grocery stores and business or institutional cafeterias would all be food service businesses affected by the relative legislation. The banned materials will be products made of expanded polystyrene that is used for selling or providing food. This means the foam food containers, plates, hot and cold beverage cups, meat and vegetable trays and egg cartons which made of expanded polystyrene could be banned. To preventing the loss that may be caused by the banning use of expanded polystyrene products like foam containers, the foam containers recycling may help save the loss to the utmost extent. The recycling of foam containers is very popular in many developed countries like America and Canada. And of course, the recycling solutions can be supplied by recycling companies like INTCO. GREENMAX is its recycling machines’ brand. The GREENMAX has densifiers which are professional machines for disposing expanded polystyrene for the first step. The waste expanded polystyrene materials can be recycled into ingots through GREENMAX machines. Then the recycled expanded polystyrene ingots can be used to granulate and to make other plastic products. By doing this recycling, the loss caused by the banning use of expanded polystyrene will be the least. And the recycling solution is good to the environment as well. Hazardous effect of Polystyrene.

Alot of people don't really know the hazardous effect of Polystyrene, Polystyrene is one of those materials that’s everywhere around us. Polystyrene is an inexpensive and hard plastic and probably only polyethylene is more common in your everyday life. Did you know that the outside housing of your computer is probably made of polystyrene, as well as the housings of things like hair dryers, TVs and kitchen appliances? Model cars and airplanes are made from polystyrene, as well as many other toys. There’s also foam packaging and insulation, and a lot of the molded parts on the inside of your car, like the radio knobs. Polystyrene is also used to make drinking cups and food containers – the hard plastic ones and also the soft foamy ones. A popular brand of polystyrene foam is called Styrofoam. It takes at least 500 years to decompose When polystyrene is sent to the landfill, it is quickly covered and this process deprives it of water and oxygen, which would normally help it to break down. Much of the disposable packaging that we eat from today will therefore still be around in 500 years. If the first settlers in Barbados in 1625 had been able to eat from polystyrene and the containers had been put into a landfill, the same containers would still be around today, (luckily they couldn’t – it was only invented in 1839). By volume, the amount of space used up in landfills by all plastics is between 25 and 30 percent This could be a lot higher in Barbados. What happens when we add hot food or drinks to Polystyrene Polystyrene contains the toxic substances Styrene and Benzene, suspected carcinogens and neurotoxins that are hazardous to humans. Hot foods and liquids actually start a partial breakdown of the Styrofoam, causing some toxins to be absorbed into our bloodstream and tissue. Polystyrene food containers leach the toxin Styrene when they come into contact with warm food or drink, alcohol, oils and acidic foods causing human contamination and pose a health risk to people.  Avoid drinking tea with lemon, coffee with dairy cream, fruit juices, alcoholic beverages and wine from Styrofoam cups. Red wine will instantly dissolve the Styrene monomer.  Do not eat oily foods from Styrofoam containers. Most interesting is the degradation of food that contains vitamin A (beta-carotene). In packaged foods with the addition of heat (such as microwave temperatures), vitamin A will decompose and produce m-xylene, toluene, and 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. Toluene will aggressively dissolve polystyrene. This renders polystyrene as an unsuitable package for containing or micro waving products that contain vitamin A. Do not microwave food in Polystyrene containers

Food packed in Polystyrene food containers

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is quite direct about micro waving in plastics: “Remove food from plastic wrap, freezer cartons, and/or Styrofoam trays before defrosting and cooking. They are not heat stable and could leak hazardous compounds from the container or plastic wrap to the food.” Food Inspection Agency website. Over 100 US and Canadian, as well as some European and Asian cities, have banned polystyrene food packaging as a result of the negative impacts to humans and the environment. If containers you use for the storage of food are not labeled “Microwave-safe”, then they are probably not. Effect on Global Warming: A 1986 EPA report on solid waste named the polystyrene manufacturing process as the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste in the United States. In the product manufacturing process as well as the use and disposal of the products, energy consumption, greenhouse gas effect, and total environmental effect, polystyrene’s environmental impacts were second highest, behind aluminium, according to the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Polystyrene products are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource. Extruded polystyrene is usually made with hydro chlorofluorocarbons blowing agents which have effects on ozone depletion and on global warming. Their ozone depletion potential is greatly reduced relative to chlorofluorocarbons which were formerly used, but it still has 1000 times greater effect on global warming than carbon dioxide. Do not burn polystyrene with your garden rubbish Burning polystyrene on bonfires releases Carbon Monoxide and styrene monomers into the environment, which can be extremely hazardous to our health. Marine Pollution: The United Nations Environment Program estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean hosts 46,000 pieces of floating plastic. Polystyrene foam presents unique management issues because of its lightweight nature, floatability, and likelihood to be blown from disposal sites even when disposed of properly. The lightweight and buoyant polystyrene travels easily through gutters and storm drains, eventually reaching the ocean. Plastic from urban runoff is the largest source of marine debris worldwide. Pollution of waterways and waterfront negatively affects tourism and quality of life. When polystyrene travels down waterways and storm drains into the ocean, it breaks down into smaller, non- biodegradable pieces that are ingested by marine life and other wildlife thus harming or killing them. In one Californian study, at least 162 marine species including most seabirds were reported to have eaten plastics and other marine litter. As a result of the impacts on marine pollution and adverse effect to marine wildlife, several coastal cities across the United States, have banned the use of polystyrene food packaging altogether. Public Contamination

Disposed Polystyrene food containers

Because polystyrene products are so common, many people assume they are safe, and that a government agency, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), would not allow a health-threatening product to be marketed to the public.  But the EPA National Human Adipose Tissue Survey for 1986 identified styrene residues in 100% of all samples of human fat tissue taken in 1982 in the US. Styrene is used to make polystyrene plastic and is a contaminant in all polystyrene foam packages.  But the migration of styrene is nothing new. It was first documented in 1972 and then again in 1976. A 1988 survey, published by the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education also found styrene in human fatty tissue with a frequency of 100% at levels from 8 to 350 nanograms/gram (ng/g). The 350 ng/g level is one-third of levels known to cause neurotoxic symptoms.  It determined that Styrofoam drinking cups leach Styrofoam into the liquids they contain. The cups apparently lose weight during the time they are at use. Health Effects The fact that styrene can adversely affect humans in a number of ways raises serious public health and safety questions regarding its build-up in human tissue.  Although there is evidence that styrene causes cancer in animals, it has not yet been proven to cause cancer in humans. Styrene primarily exhibits its toxicity to humans as a neurotoxin by attacking the central and peripheral nervous systems. The accumulation of these highly lipid-soluble (fat-soluble) materials in the lipid-rich tissues of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves is correlated with acute or chronic functional impairment of the nervous system. What can we do? Be aware of the harmful effects of using polystyrene products and tell others. Use reusable cups at work instead of foam cups. When shopping for groceries, select items that are unwrapped, or wrapped in non-polystyrene materials: (e.g. vegetables, eggs, meat) Ask local takeaway restaurants and food suppliers to use a more environmentally friendly form of food packaging other than Styrofoam.  Many alternatives are now available made from materials such as post-consumer recycled paper and corn-plastics. Ask your Member of Parliament and The Minister of Environment to ban polystyrene in food packaging.  There are many alternatives that will have less impact on the environment. Maryland Government is not the only people that have tried stopping the use of Polystyrene. In 27th February, 2018 The Baltimore City Council tried stopping the use of  polystyrene foam containers for carryout food and drink -- a bill that Mayor Catherine E. Pugh has pledged to sign into law but was later faced off due to high demand from the public in use of the easiest and cheapest food container.

Mayor Catherine E. Pugh 

During that time, the City legislators passed a bill that would enact criminal fines on businesses that fail to comply with a ban that states that “no food service facility may use any disposable food” container made from polystyrene foam, commonly called Styrofoam. About $1,000 fine was charged to people that do not obey the law and was made a criminal offence by the legislators. 18 Months was given to all the businesses within the city to comply to the development. The mayor later supported the movement and said she support the legislation because the general council agreed to amend the bill and make the City a more environmentally friendly. The Government of the state is expected to enforce the new signed documentation from August, 2019. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); via Blogger https://ift.tt/2HvlGS8

[allcheatscodes]

the sims hot date expansion pack pc

http://allcheatscodes.com/the-sims-hot-date-expansion-pack-pc/

the sims hot date expansion pack pc

The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack cheats & more for PC (PC)

Cheats

Unlockables

Hints

Easter Eggs

Glitches

Guides

Achievements

Get the updated and latest The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack cheats, unlockables, codes, hints, Easter eggs, glitches, tricks, tips, hacks, downloads, achievements, guides, FAQs, walkthroughs, and more for PC (PC). AllCheatsCodes.com has all the codes you need to win every game you play!

Use the links above or scroll down to see all the PC cheats we have available for The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack.

Also Known As: Hot Date Expansion Pack: The Sims

Genre: Simulation, Life Development Sim Developer: Maxis Publisher: Electronic Arts ESRB Rating: Pending Release Date: November 14, 2001

Hints

No More Robbers

For any door that leads into the house, make that door a girls bathroom door, that way men, who are the robbers, will not go in there, because they think that it’s a girls bathroom.

Easy Money

Sometimes flies will appear in your house. Enable the move_objects on code. Enter buy mode and delete them before the flies have been there more than a day to get $460. Note: This does not work with cockroaches.

Zombie Sim

Kill your Sim, and before the Grim Reaper takes him or her away, get your husband or wife to plead with him. He will say ” I’m generous today, so I will spare your Sim”, then bring him or her back to life. That Sim will now be green but will live a normal life. Note: If you do not want them to be a zombie, enable the move_objects on code and delete him or her. Then, click on their head and they will return without turning green.

Playing In Bed

Enable the move_objects on code and move the bed while your Sims are busy in bed.

Recommended Tactics

First, create a 9×9 wall square. This is the size the house should be for one person. On the center of the wall facing the road, create the door of your choice. Do not put in any floors or wall paper. In one corner, create a 2×3 room. In this room, make a door on the two-square end. Then next to the door, place the cheapest toilet. Across from the door should be a shower, and across from the toilet should be a sink and white mirror. Next, make a 4×4 room somewhere on the opposite side of the bathroom. In here, put a silver refrigerator, a white oven, a silver garbage disposal, and a single, cheap counter. On the counter put a food processor. On the opposite side of the room, make a 1×2 desk. Place a computer and two chairs here, so you can use the computer and eat at the same desk. On the square next to the door, put a phone that connects to the wall. In the largest room, place the following objects: a cheap bookshelf, a work-out machine, a chess board with one chair, a gnome making desk, a preserve making desk, and a TV with a black lounge chair. If you want more money to spend on floors and wallpaper, then get a black-and-white mini TV. Otherwise, get a black 24″ TV. The first thing to do in Live Mode is get to a job. Only take jobs that have a daily pay of $200 or more. If none of the jobs pay this high, check the newspaper. Most of the time the newspaper will have the same jobs as the computer, but they may be different sometimes. If you still cannot find a job with that pay, then go to the gnome making desk. Make gnomes until your Sim cannot work any longer. Go into buy mode and sell all the gnomes. This will make up for some of the money you have lost. If you get a job that has the right amount of pay (over $200) then you should make gnomes until your carpool arrives. When the day is over and your Sim is worn, then replenish his/her’s stats. Continue to make gnomes and preserves and always sell them. Do whatever is necessary to gain job promotions. If your job needs creativity, always paint (because you can sell your paintings). If you need friends, take every other day off to make friends downtown or at your home. When your relationship with someone goes below 75 (top bar, 20 lower bar) then repair your relationships to ensure promotions. Keep getting promotions and build onto your house until your Sim’s house’s net worth is over $95,000. When it is, buy any lot, create your dream house, and finally get married.

Easy Highest Ranking Job

Use the following trick to get the highest ranking job but not see your friends every waking minute. Build all your skill levels up (cooking, body, logic, etc.) and make at least fifteen friends. Once you have made them and got your job, delete your friends’ houses so they will no longer appear in your neighborhood. Your friends will disappear under the “Relations” category and you will get to keep your job.

Catch Burglars Faster

To catch burglars faster, buy two burglar alarms and put them facing out toward the street, mailbox, or trash can. If you want to be slightly safer, you can put more inside. When a burglar appears, the alarms will sound when he is on the street. By the time he gets to the door, the police will probably be there.

Keep Burglars Out

If you want to keep burglars out and have a female Sim go into buy mode and buy a Female Powder Room Door as your front door. The burglar will wonder where the door is and simply walk away. Female Sims can enter with no trouble. The only drawback is you have to have all female Sims as friends. The advantage is that it is better than buying a security alarm and a door, as it serves both purposes.

Visit From Santa

This cool cheat makes Santa pay your house a visit. It doesn’t always work but here it goes: You will need to make a fire place and buy a Christmas Tree (from Livn’Large) to place beside. On a small table near by you will need to place the plate of cookies. It doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a try!

Get Sims Almost All The Way Up On Job Points!

NOTE: This will work on any of the 3 expansion packs or just the Sims. When you are in the “Making a Family” window, make 3 kids with all of their personality points and clothing and heads that you want (this will only work with 3 or more kids!). Then right before you would normally push “done” go back to the kids one at a time and press on the “adult” button, they will grow into what they will look like older and you can change them all you want then move them into a home and look at their job points, they will be pretty much halfway up on all of them and it will say that they have a job but I don’t think a car ever comes by to pick them up so you can get them they job they wanted.

Easy Ladder

Before you get a job make a couple of friends and try to increase some of your work attributes.This way once you get a job you’ll move up the ladder a little faster.

Cheats

Quick Money

Enable cheat mode and enter rosebud;: as a code. Then hold [Enter] so that “No such cheat” begins to flash. Keep the key held to gain up to 99 million simolians. Enable cheat mode and enter rosebud as a code, then enter !;!;!;!; and so on. Every “!” results in another 1,000 simolians.Enable cheat mode and enter rosebud as a code, then enter !;!;!;!;! and so on. After your last exclamation point, type a semi colon then a colon. The end of your entry should look like !;!;!;!;: Then, hold [Enter]. The “No such cheat” message will flash. Hold [Enter] to quickly get up to 9,999,999 simoleons.

Never Pay Bills

Use the following trick to pay your bills, but cost you nothing. Tell your Sim to pay the bill as soon as he or she walks into the same room as the bill. Pause and save the game, then enable the move_objects on code. Delete your Sim, then revive him while the game is still paused. Resume the game and tell your Sim to pay the bill. The bill should be reduced to 0 Simoleons.

Cheat Mode

Press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + C during game play to display a prompt in the upper left corner of the screen. Enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function. Note: Enter [Exclamation point] at the prompt to repeat the last cheat entered. Enter a [Semi-colon] between codes to enter multiple codes at the same time. Result Code 1000 Simoleons rosebud Add new family history stat to the current family hist_add Appends the route destination list to AllRoutes.txt every time a route is found write_destlist Architecture tools automatically set the level as needed auto_level Automatically import and load indicated FAM file import Automatically load indicated house, no questions asked house Check and fix required lot objects prepare_lot Completely flush app to VM file when running Windows NT flush Crash game crash Create moat or streams water_tool Create shrunk_text_#.bmp files shrink_text Create-a-character mode edit_char Display personality and interests interests Draw all animation frames disabled draw_all_frames off Draw all animation frames enabled draw_all_frames on Draw colored dots at each person's origin draw_origins Dump entire memory to core_dump_[date:time].txt core_dump Dump selected person's most recent list of scored interactions to a file dump_happy Dump selected person's motive contribution curve to a file dump_mc Enable debug flag to show outcome choice dialogs for social interactions debug_social End sim logging sim_log end Execute "file.cht" file as a list of cheats cht Floorable grid disabled draw_floorable off Floorable grid enabled draw_floorable on Force an assert for testing assert Log animations in the event log window log_animations Map editor disabled map_edit off Map editor enabled map_edit on Move any object move_objects on No tutorial object generation when tutorial house is loaded tutorial off Prevent web browser crashes browser_failsafe Preview animations disabled preview_anims off Preview animations enabled preview_anims on Programmer stats tile_info Quit game quit Read in behavior tuning constants from Tuning.txt #import Rebuilds entire control panel/UCP from scratch rebuild_cp Refresh the BMP_ resources for all people whose IFF files are writable refresh_faces Rematch dependent textures and regenerate bitmaps for all user characters refresh_textures Restore tutorial restore_tut Rotate camera rotation Routing debug balloons disabled route_balloons off Routing debug balloons enabled route_balloons on Invisible objects genable_objects off Run series of random operations on unhoused families fam_test Save currently loaded house save Save family history file history Say "plugh" plugh Say "porntipsguzzardo" porntipsguzzardo Say "xyzzy" xyzzy Selected person's path displayed draw_routes on Selected person's path hidden draw_routes off Set event logging mask log_mask Set free thinking level autonomy Set game speed sim_speed Set grass change value edit_grass : Set grass growth grow_grass Set lot size lot_size Set maximum milliseconds to allow simulator sim_limit Set time of day (unpatched game version) set_hour Set z offset for thought bubbles bubble_tweak Sets the neighborhood directory to the path Sets up the borders of the lot with non-editable flag. Requires rotation lot_border Sets whether menu items appear for in use objects allow_inuse Show memory view window in debug builds of the game memview Start sim logging sim_log begin Swap the two house files and updates families swap_houses Ticks disabled sweep off Ticks enabled sweep on Tile information displayed tile_info on Tile information hidden tile_info off Toggle allowing visitors to be controlled using the keyboard visitor_control Toggle assets report report_assets Toggle automatic object reset feature auto_reset Toggle calls to PeekMessage within sim loop sim_peek Toggle camera mode cam_mode Toggle display of unavailable interactions in person control menus all_menus Toggle music music Toggle object compression in save file obj_comp Toggle quaternion transformations quats Toggle sound log window sound_log Toggle sounds sound Toggle web page creation html Total reload of people skeletons, animations, suits and skins reload_people Trigger sound event soundevent Write out an RTE file every time a route is found write_routes Write out behavior tuning constants to Tuning.txt #export

Full Need Meters

If your Sim is very depressed or has another low attribute, enable the move_objects_on code and pause game play. Click on the Sim in buy/sell mode and click the bottom of the screen to delete him/her. Once deleted go to the live mode and double clock the person’s head icon to go to where that Sim is located. Everything should be close to full. Note: Wave the game immediately before performing this cheat, or you will lose any career changes or points you have earned.

Move Anything

Press (Ctrl)+(shift)+(C) In the little gray box that should pop up type Move_objects on. If you want to turn it off type in Move_objects off.

Never Miss Work

Enable the move_objects on code and put your garbage can in front of the vehicle. Enable the move_objects on code and move the car to a different location where an inanimate object is in its way.

Full Energy To Go To Mall

Before you go to the mall, make sure you go to buy mode and activate the cheatcodes’ box. Press Ctrl+Alt+C. (Don’t put in the pluses!) Then, type move_objects on. After that, use your mouse to click on the sim you want to give full energy to. Delete that sim by pressing the delete button. Go back to live mode. You will see that your sim has disappeared. Click on the sim’s face in the face gallery. Your sim will then reappear! Call the cab to take you sim to downtown. When your sim’s mood bars starts to glow red, call a cab to go back home, delete the sim again, make him or her reappear again then call the cab to take your sim back to downtown!

See Your Sims Interests

Press and hold (Ctrl)+(Shift)+(C). In the gray box that pops up type in Interests to see the stuff that they like.

Unlockables

Currently we have no unlockables for The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Easter eggs

Currently we have no easter eggs for The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Glitches

Currently we have no glitches for The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Guides

Currently no guide available.

Achievements

Currently we have no achievements or trophies for The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

[torixus]

Hazardous effect of Polystyrene food containers causing an ending use in Maryland

The Maryland legislators have concluded to Ban use of Polystyrene food containers and cups, The state Will be the first state in history to implement such Ban once the Governor sign it.

Polystyrene food container

The information was first disclosed by  an environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council that says that the Maryland legislators have finally approved bills to stop the use of Polystyrene use in packing foods and Drinks. Before now, some locality in Maryland have already introduced foam bans, including Montgomery and Prince George's counties. The primary sponsor of the House Bill is Democratic Delegate Brooke Lierman She said banning foam products is the first step to curbing people's reliance on single-use plastics. "Single-use plastics are overrunning our oceans and bays and neighborhoods," Lierman told CNN. "We need to take dramatic steps to start stemming our use and reliance on them ... to leave future generations a planet full of wildlife and green space." Lierman proposed the bill twice before but says she believes public opinion has now shifted to recognize the problem with plastic. "We see plastics in our neighborhoods, in our riverbeds and streams -- it is ubiquitous," Lierman said. "We've seen major companies like Dunkin' Donuts say they're going to phase out" the foam. A conference committee will work to resolve discrepancies between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Lierman said she expects the negotiations to go smoothly, saying there are "no real substantive differences." However, it's unclear whether Republican Gov. Larry Hogan will sign the bill. A spokeswoman for his office said Hogan is "always willing to consider any piece of legislation that reaches his desk." Cailey Locklair Tolle, president of the Maryland Retailers Association, said such a law could hurt Maryland businesses. "Not only will costs go up for restaurants and be passed onto consumers, but because comparable products weigh more and many cannot be recycled, costs will increase due to higher tipping fees (based on weight) at landfills," Locklair Tolle said. The American Chemistry Council, the trade association of chemical manufacturers, voiced opposition to the legislation. "Polystyrene foam packaging and containers provide business owners and consumers with a cost-effective and environmentally preferable choice that is ideal for protecting food and preventing food waste, particularly when used for food service. Foam packaging is generally more than 90 percent air and has a lighter environmental impact than alternatives," the council said in a statement. Foam also absorbs toxins faster than other plastics and is mistaken for food by marine life, Van Stone said. And the toxins that wildlife consumes makes its way up the food chain into people. Van Stone, who worked with lawmakers to pass the foam ban legislation, said it would be only the first step. "We know that banning one material is not going to stop and eradicate all litter. But by banning foam we can work to ensure that the material is reduced from entering our environment," Van Stone said. Take-out foam containers recycling can prevent the use ban All expanded polystyrene products used for packaging food products, including foam containers, could be banned from the relative department which is always concerning about the pollution of the environment. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is the generic industry name for the white rigid material made by expanding polystyrene beads with steam and pressure to bond the beads together to form blocks or to shape molds. There may be a legislation to prohibit business from selling or providing food in an expanded polystyrene food service product (foam containers), according to the relative department of Legislative Services fiscal analysis. Restaurants, fast food restaurants, supermarkets or grocery stores and business or institutional cafeterias would all be food service businesses affected by the relative legislation. The banned materials will be products made of expanded polystyrene that is used for selling or providing food. This means the foam food containers, plates, hot and cold beverage cups, meat and vegetable trays and egg cartons which made of expanded polystyrene could be banned. To preventing the loss that may be caused by the banning use of expanded polystyrene products like foam containers, the foam containers recycling may help save the loss to the utmost extent. The recycling of foam containers is very popular in many developed countries like America and Canada. And of course, the recycling solutions can be supplied by recycling companies like INTCO. GREENMAX is its recycling machines’ brand. The GREENMAX has densifiers which are professional machines for disposing expanded polystyrene for the first step. The waste expanded polystyrene materials can be recycled into ingots through GREENMAX machines. Then the recycled expanded polystyrene ingots can be used to granulate and to make other plastic products. By doing this recycling, the loss caused by the banning use of expanded polystyrene will be the least. And the recycling solution is good to the environment as well. Hazardous effect of Polystyrene.

Alot of people don't really know the hazardous effect of Polystyrene, Polystyrene is one of those materials that’s everywhere around us. Polystyrene is an inexpensive and hard plastic and probably only polyethylene is more common in your everyday life. Did you know that the outside housing of your computer is probably made of polystyrene, as well as the housings of things like hair dryers, TVs and kitchen appliances? Model cars and airplanes are made from polystyrene, as well as many other toys. There’s also foam packaging and insulation, and a lot of the molded parts on the inside of your car, like the radio knobs. Polystyrene is also used to make drinking cups and food containers – the hard plastic ones and also the soft foamy ones. A popular brand of polystyrene foam is called Styrofoam. It takes at least 500 years to decompose When polystyrene is sent to the landfill, it is quickly covered and this process deprives it of water and oxygen, which would normally help it to break down. Much of the disposable packaging that we eat from today will therefore still be around in 500 years. If the first settlers in Barbados in 1625 had been able to eat from polystyrene and the containers had been put into a landfill, the same containers would still be around today, (luckily they couldn’t – it was only invented in 1839). By volume, the amount of space used up in landfills by all plastics is between 25 and 30 percent This could be a lot higher in Barbados. What happens when we add hot food or drinks to Polystyrene Polystyrene contains the toxic substances Styrene and Benzene, suspected carcinogens and neurotoxins that are hazardous to humans. Hot foods and liquids actually start a partial breakdown of the Styrofoam, causing some toxins to be absorbed into our bloodstream and tissue. Polystyrene food containers leach the toxin Styrene when they come into contact with warm food or drink, alcohol, oils and acidic foods causing human contamination and pose a health risk to people.  Avoid drinking tea with lemon, coffee with dairy cream, fruit juices, alcoholic beverages and wine from Styrofoam cups. Red wine will instantly dissolve the Styrene monomer.  Do not eat oily foods from Styrofoam containers. Most interesting is the degradation of food that contains vitamin A (beta-carotene). In packaged foods with the addition of heat (such as microwave temperatures), vitamin A will decompose and produce m-xylene, toluene, and 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. Toluene will aggressively dissolve polystyrene. This renders polystyrene as an unsuitable package for containing or micro waving products that contain vitamin A. Do not microwave food in Polystyrene containers

Food packed in Polystyrene food containers

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is quite direct about micro waving in plastics: “Remove food from plastic wrap, freezer cartons, and/or Styrofoam trays before defrosting and cooking. They are not heat stable and could leak hazardous compounds from the container or plastic wrap to the food.” Food Inspection Agency website. Over 100 US and Canadian, as well as some European and Asian cities, have banned polystyrene food packaging as a result of the negative impacts to humans and the environment. If containers you use for the storage of food are not labeled “Microwave-safe”, then they are probably not. Effect on Global Warming: A 1986 EPA report on solid waste named the polystyrene manufacturing process as the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste in the United States. In the product manufacturing process as well as the use and disposal of the products, energy consumption, greenhouse gas effect, and total environmental effect, polystyrene’s environmental impacts were second highest, behind aluminium, according to the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Polystyrene products are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource. Extruded polystyrene is usually made with hydro chlorofluorocarbons blowing agents which have effects on ozone depletion and on global warming. Their ozone depletion potential is greatly reduced relative to chlorofluorocarbons which were formerly used, but it still has 1000 times greater effect on global warming than carbon dioxide. Do not burn polystyrene with your garden rubbish Burning polystyrene on bonfires releases Carbon Monoxide and styrene monomers into the environment, which can be extremely hazardous to our health. Marine Pollution: The United Nations Environment Program estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean hosts 46,000 pieces of floating plastic. Polystyrene foam presents unique management issues because of its lightweight nature, floatability, and likelihood to be blown from disposal sites even when disposed of properly. The lightweight and buoyant polystyrene travels easily through gutters and storm drains, eventually reaching the ocean. Plastic from urban runoff is the largest source of marine debris worldwide. Pollution of waterways and waterfront negatively affects tourism and quality of life. When polystyrene travels down waterways and storm drains into the ocean, it breaks down into smaller, non- biodegradable pieces that are ingested by marine life and other wildlife thus harming or killing them. In one Californian study, at least 162 marine species including most seabirds were reported to have eaten plastics and other marine litter. As a result of the impacts on marine pollution and adverse effect to marine wildlife, several coastal cities across the United States, have banned the use of polystyrene food packaging altogether. Public Contamination

Disposed Polystyrene food containers

Because polystyrene products are so common, many people assume they are safe, and that a government agency, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), would not allow a health-threatening product to be marketed to the public.  But the EPA National Human Adipose Tissue Survey for 1986 identified styrene residues in 100% of all samples of human fat tissue taken in 1982 in the US. Styrene is used to make polystyrene plastic and is a contaminant in all polystyrene foam packages.  But the migration of styrene is nothing new. It was first documented in 1972 and then again in 1976. A 1988 survey, published by the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education also found styrene in human fatty tissue with a frequency of 100% at levels from 8 to 350 nanograms/gram (ng/g). The 350 ng/g level is one-third of levels known to cause neurotoxic symptoms.  It determined that Styrofoam drinking cups leach Styrofoam into the liquids they contain. The cups apparently lose weight during the time they are at use. Health Effects The fact that styrene can adversely affect humans in a number of ways raises serious public health and safety questions regarding its build-up in human tissue.  Although there is evidence that styrene causes cancer in animals, it has not yet been proven to cause cancer in humans. Styrene primarily exhibits its toxicity to humans as a neurotoxin by attacking the central and peripheral nervous systems. The accumulation of these highly lipid-soluble (fat-soluble) materials in the lipid-rich tissues of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves is correlated with acute or chronic functional impairment of the nervous system. What can we do? Be aware of the harmful effects of using polystyrene products and tell others. Use reusable cups at work instead of foam cups. When shopping for groceries, select items that are unwrapped, or wrapped in non-polystyrene materials: (e.g. vegetables, eggs, meat) Ask local takeaway restaurants and food suppliers to use a more environmentally friendly form of food packaging other than Styrofoam.  Many alternatives are now available made from materials such as post-consumer recycled paper and corn-plastics. Ask your Member of Parliament and The Minister of Environment to ban polystyrene in food packaging.  There are many alternatives that will have less impact on the environment. Maryland Government is not the only people that have tried stopping the use of Polystyrene. In 27th February, 2018 The Baltimore City Council tried stopping the use of  polystyrene foam containers for carryout food and drink -- a bill that Mayor Catherine E. Pugh has pledged to sign into law but was later faced off due to high demand from the public in use of the easiest and cheapest food container.

Mayor Catherine E. Pugh 

During that time, the City legislators passed a bill that would enact criminal fines on businesses that fail to comply with a ban that states that “no food service facility may use any disposable food” container made from polystyrene foam, commonly called Styrofoam. About $1,000 fine was charged to people that do not obey the law and was made a criminal offence by the legislators. 18 Months was given to all the businesses within the city to comply to the development. The mayor later supported the movement and said she support the legislation because the general council agreed to amend the bill and make the City a more environmentally friendly. The Government of the state is expected to enforce the new signed documentation from August, 2019. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); via Blogger https://ift.tt/2HvlGS8