Page 217 – Green Prophet

Travel with a drone

Cities

Bhok Thompson

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April 25, 2018

Traveling is a time of discovering new places, new places in the world but also within yourself. It’s for sharing new experiences, and enjoying with your friends and family. It is the best way to make new friends and enjoy life. You are able to see amazing views and sights wherever you go. Traveling allows you to explore the world.

Freeze your unforgettable memories with a drone

Travelling creates unforgettable memories for you. It makes your life meaningful and richer. You feel happy about creating memories with your friends and family.

Discovering new perspectives and conquering your fears with your friends while traveling gives you the most unforgettable experiences of life.

You don’t want to miss the opportunity of capturing your memories in a picture while having the most wonderful time of your life.

Mutilated drones help you capture the most amazing experiences of your life in the pictures. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to use your drone camera. You can take spectacular pictures with this remarkable technology.

A drone is your best companion

We are living in a digital world where we are able to take our traveling experience to the next level by using mutilated drones for taking photographs of our most exotic memories. Drones are great companions for you while traveling.

Mutilated drones help you capture the most amazing experiences of your life in the pictures. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to use your drone camera. You can take spectacular pictures with this remarkable technology. Drones allow you to take pictures from various angles and positions, which you cannot even imagine taking with an ordinary or even an advanced digital camera.

Dragging a drone camera from one place to another is not easy, if you are new to this technology, you might find it confusing to operate it at first. But once you get a hang of it, you will find there is no better way to create images of your great memories.

Mutilated drones are shaping our world in a different way

Drones are changing the world we live in for the better. The use of drones is not for ware and target killing anymore. With the advancement of technology, drones are being used by everyone in the world.

This modern technology has a great impact on the business world. There are a number of industries using this device to gather visual information in the most efficient manner. They are able to get the images they want very quickly without much hassle. For them, it’s a cheap eye spy in the sky which helps them get the real-time information.

Drones are being used for many purposes all around the world. Just with a touch of a button and use of GPS technology, drones help you get the first aid you want if you have an emergency. Drones can save your life. You don’t have to wait for an ambulance or wait in traffic to reach the hospital when you get yourself injured. Drone aid is there for you to give you the proper aid.

Conclusion

Drone is a navigation equipment which is remotely operated. These devices are being used everywhere. Drones help you save lives and take pictures while traveling. They are being used all over the world for multiple purposes.

Drones are tremendously impacting the world we live in. People from all walks of life, whether they are militants or scientists or simply travelers, are using this device very meaningfully.

Hints and Tips for Baby Home Decoration Ideas

Cities

Bhok Thompson

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April 25, 2018

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When you plan for a theme for baby room decoration, the most efficient thing to do is to give much attention to detail. Select the motif that would be eye-catching to your visitors, appealing to you, and more importantly eco-friendly, comfortable to your baby. A well lighted room could be pretty provided it does not strain the eyes of your baby.

In terms of baby furniture, it consists of pieces which would make your baby feel comfortable in eating and sleeping. An ideal baby crib (formaldehyde-free) could supplement a comfortable and tranquil sleep, night stands which should be in one place, and changing tables and makeup furniture to set the baby. We all know that the most essential furniture for your baby room is the crib. It has to be durable and strong. It should withstand years of growing. It should not have any rough edges or protrusions that are not necessary. Another important parameter is the paint which should not be lead-based. Never. You have to ensure that no decorative items are present which could hurt its limbs, back and head. There are cribs which comprise of a one sided or double sided openings. You will also find cribs that are portable and convertible to beds. There are cribs which has a gentle rocking motion to emulate the rocking the baby.

On the other hand, the baby room décor should practically possess soothing color schemes and combinations which could blend or complement with your furniture. Non-toxic paint should be utilized. Plant based is best. It costs double, but there will no off-gassing. You should also think of getting interesting wallpapers and good hypoallergenic carpets. You can settle for vivid and vibrant wallpapers of you can select wallpapers which could catch attention of your baby’s eyes like animations or cartoon characters.

It is truly a pride for every parent to come up with a beautiful baby room décor. It is like supplying the most extravagant place for your baby. Not only you are designing it for your baby but you are also making it look lovely and special in similar manner. If tentative wallpapers are not in your mind because you might fancy new designs in the future, you could use solid colors on the walls.

On the other hand, you could also try removable wallpaper by which you have a freedom to change from time to time. You could also complement it with rugs or hardwood floor. Hardwood floors are not that messy because they are not really dust collector. You can easily replace your rugs in due time. Frames and lamps are added as a complement where you can put of your baby and your whole family.

Incorporate soft dolls and toys which are non-toxic. Purchase the best night lamps and stands so you can put your baby’s garments, bottles and what-nots. The night stand should have a color that can complement the room as a whole and should be near the bed and the changing table. The height of the table should be of the proper type. You also have to pay close attention to the windows. One excellent tip in baby room décor for windows would be maintaining that curtains ending at the window sill. If the blinds or curtains drop all the way down to the floor, there is a chance at it can cause accident for the baby especially during crawling period.

Baby room decoration ideas are not a complex job at all, You just have to regard your baby’s safety, space and the comfort needed for its movement. You have to put your heart in to it so that you can be able to put smile on your baby.

If you are a new parent in need of useful tips and suggestions, here are some recommendations you might find helpful:

Find out which crib mattresses are the best for your bundle of joy.
Learn how babies can learn music while sleeping.
Read about why babies like colors.

Make Your Own Sugar Scrub For Smooth, Glowing Skin

Health

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April 23, 2018

0

Sugar scrubs refresh and moisturize your skin, leaving a lovely fragrance behind. And why should you pay for a commercial product if you can make your own scrub at home? The ingredients are inexpensive, and you probably already have them in your pantry.

After all, a sugar scrub is only sugar, a good oil, and if you want, a natural fragrance like rosewater or a few drops of essential oil.

You can use just about any essential oil but please know that you must use ones that are safe and compatible for your skin. It’s worth reading this essential oils guide to make sure you are choosing the right oil for your skin. Skin is the body’s largest filter, the barrier that shields us from the outside environment. It makes sense to protect it for your health, and keep it supple and smooth for beauty. That’s where sugar helps. It exfoliates (gently rubs away dead skin cells and dirt) and leaves the skin moist and smooth. You can safely use a face and body sugar scrub once a week.

Here’s how you make a sugar scrub. It should take all of two minutes.

Ingredients: I cup sugar 1 cup good-quality oil For a body scrub: 2-3 drops essential oil or a tablespoon rosewater (optional, see notes below.) I wide-mouth glass jar for storage Mix the sugar and oil in the jar. Add the optional fragrance. Voilá. Store the sugar scrub, covered, in the refrigerator, up to two weeks or as long as the oil smells fresh.

Now that you have your sugar scrub, how do you use it?

That’s the luxurious part. Enter your shower and let warm water stream over you for 5 minutes, to soften and warm the skin. You can wash with soap in the usual way before applying the scrub. Take a small handful of sugar scrub into your palm and gently make circles with it on your skin, all over.

No need to scrub hard. It will feel wonderful. Take particular care with your hands and feet. Rinse off with warm, not hot, water. Pat yourself dry, leaving a film of moisture on your skin. And if you’ve made a batch of your own herbal moisturizer, this is the time to smooth it on. That’s it!

Notes:

White sugar works well, but brown sugar melts more easily.
Use any good oil: olive, almond, avocado and coconut are favorites.
Perfuming the oil is optional, but a nice way to spoil yourself. I suggest essential oils of lavender, rose geranium or chamomile, which aren’t expensive and are known to be skin-friendly. Or use rosewater: a drop of the concentrated, oily product or a tablespoon of the more watery kind. If you really want to splash out, essential oil of rose, jasmine or ylang-ylang are exquisite. Do not apply an essential oil to the skin unless you know that it’s mild and safe. Citrus oils are too rough to apply to the face, but work well for the feet.
The safest fragrance for a facial scrub is rosewater. Essential oils, and certainly commercial fragrances, are too strong to apply next to the eyes. Use them for body and feet scrubs.
You may halve the recipe quantity if you prefer to make a fresh scrub more often.

Caveats:

People with broken facial veins, sunburn, a rash or other skin irritation should not use a scrub. People with acne may scrub with plain brown sugar and warm water twice or even three times a week.

The floor of your shower will be slippery with the oil. Take the safety precaution of putting a small towel down on the shower floor for you to stand on.

If you shave your legs, shave on a day when you haven’t done a sugar scrub. Shaving just before or after a sugar scrub will feel prickly and irritated.

Photo of sugar scrub by Debra via Flickr.

True tea varieties for health

Food
Health

Karin Kloosterman

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April 21, 2018

0

There is tea and then there is tea. According to your friends you can pretty much make a tea from anything these days, from chaga mushrooms to Russian brick tea (made from actual bricks) to panda dung tea. But here we are only going to talk about true tea. The kind the Queen of England drinks. If you are more curious about coffee and its positive health effects, click here.

True tea is made from tea leaves. All “true” tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, an evergreen shrub native to Asia — although many tea varietals from black teas like English Breakfast and Earl Grey to Chinese and Japanese green teas and white teas, can be derived from this one plant depending on how the leaves are processed.

As you probably know tea is the the world’s most frequently sipped beverage worldwide after plain water. Typically cheaper than coffee, it’s as beneficial to your budget as it is for your health. Research shows tea can lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. It helps with glaucoma and cognitive decline, and is at once soothing and energizing.

But with more than 3,000 tea varieties on the market, which are the healthiest? Turns out, all of them.

What is the basic difference between black and white tea?

White tea and black tea are made the same way by infusing leaves of the same plant in hot water. What makes these teas so different from each other is the way the leaves are treated in the production process. White tea is only lightly processed while black tea leaves undergo a longer process known as oxidation.

White tea has the least caffeine, green the most, with black tea in the middle range.

Approximately 80 percent of Americans are tea drinkers, and that percentage is even higher for millennials. This story doesn’t cover herbal teas, or tisanes, which aren’t actually teas at all. Herbal teas such as chamomile or ginger are simply infusions of herbs and spices.

*Grow teas in your garden or front lawn.*

No-calorie true teas offer a way to up our intake of disease-fighting plant compounds, such as flavonoids – one of the antioxidants behind for many of tea’s health benefits.

“In the U.S., tea drinkers have the highest flavonoid intake,” says Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition at Tufts University. He suggests choosing a different tea to go with different meals or times of day, just like we do with wine and fruit juices.

Morocco, travel, Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel, photo essay, travel photos, Fez, Marrakech, Volubilis, Sahara Desert — *Mint tea service*

There’s no standard recommendation as to how much we should drink, although – as with other plant foods – more is generally a good thing. Typically having 2 to 3 cups per day produces health benefits.

Recently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a report on the safety of catechins from green tea, concluding that the catechins from green tea as a beverage are generally safe, even if you drink a lot of green tea. However the same does not apply to green tea extract supplements, which have been linked to liver damage. So skip the supplements, and grab a cuppa instead.

Tafline Laylin, nature, travel, photography, art, eco art, Earth Day, Swahili man, portrait, island, rasta man — *Omar is a Swahili man from Lamu. Here our writer Tafline pictures him drinking tea.*

What are the different varieties of tea?

White Tea is made by rapidly steaming and drying young tea buds to inactivate the enzymes that cause browning. White teas contain the most catechins, a type of flavonoid that may help keep blood vessels open and help the body break down fat.

Green Tea is made by immediately steaming fresh picked leaves so that they retain their green color. Green tea is a good source of plant compounds called catechins, which have been found to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and counter inflammation. Added bonus: squeeze lemon juice into green tea to help its beneficial compounds survive digestion.

Oolong tea, which is between a green and a black tea, is briefly exposed to oxygen before it is steamed.

Black Tea is made by rolling or crushing leaves, releasing an enzyme that oxidizes the catechins. The fermentation creates the brew’s rich flavor and dark color. Black brews may help strengthen your skeleton. Post-menopausal women who regularly drank black tea had higher bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and hip, according to a Japanese study that tracked 498 women over five years.

Further, a 2020 study on Chinese tea drinkers found strong evidence that black tea can help protect against heart attack.

black tea russian with flowers — *Black tea. Old fashioned, simple and good.*

Reconsider that splash of milk, however, as milk proteins can bind with some of the beneficial compounds in black tea, reducing your body’s ability to absorb them.

How to steep tea

Various tea types come with their own requirements for steeping. “White and green teas are best with cooler water and shorter steeping times,” explains Melanie Barbusci, customer engagement director for David’s Tea. She adds that if you don’t like green tea, you may be burning or over-steeping the delicate leaves. It should taste sweet and vegetal — not bitter. Black tea, on the other hand, can handle a hotter temperature and slightly longer steeping time.

Still, the average brewing time for tea is relatively short, but that’s not the case with tisanes. “While the perfect cup of tea might take two or three minutes to steep, an herbal infusion or tisane will take anywhere from four to 15 minutes,” explains Kristi Grotsch, a tea sommelier-in-training with the Shangri-La Toronto. “It takes time for the flavors to develop,” she says.

Another secret to a perfect tisane is using boiling water — and keeping your cup or teapot covered while it’s steeping to preserve the heat and prevent aromas from escaping.

chaga mushroom tea king chaga, ground And for maximum health rewards, avoid added flavorings and sugars. Don’t like the taste? Try making sunscreen from tea instead! (link here). And if cafeeinated black, white, or green tea is not your thing, try the latest health superfood, chaga tea. Here we explain how you can forage and prepare the perfect cup of king chaga mushroom tea for maximal antioxidant effects.

Jazz Your Breakfast Up With Avocado And Egg Toast Recipe

Health

Miriam Kresh

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April 20, 2018

1

If “breakfast” evokes a chilly bowl of cornflakes and a fast cup of coffee, it’s time you treated yourself better. It’s hard to say which meal is our favorite, but here are the reasons to make the day’s first meal a good one. For a quick, healthy breakfast, avocado is your ally.

Half a medium-large avocado will be enough for two slices of toast. Keep the pit inside the unused avocado half, wrap it in a clean, previously-used plastic bag (here’s why we never throw plastic bags out), and store it in the refrigerator for a snack or guacamole later on.

While the toast is toasting, cook the scrambled eggs, then assemble everything on a plate. The whole thing shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes.

Avocado and Egg Toast

Makes 2 slices of toast with toppings

Ingredients:

1-2 eggs

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

2 slices whole-grain toast

1/2 medium-large avocado

Salt, pepper, and paprika to taste

Sliced baby radish or other vegetable for garnish

A few coriander leaves or scallions

You’ll need 1-2 eggs, depending on the egg size and how loaded you like your toast.

Fry the chopped onion in the oil or butter until soft, but not browned.

Break the eggs into the skillet, reduce the heat, and cook, stirring, until the eggs are scrambled with the onions: about 2 minutes.

Season to taste.

Place the avocado half on a chopping block or flat plate. Cut 4-6 slices into the flesh, diagonally. With a large spoon, ease 2-3 slices right onto one slice of toast. Use a fork to gently smush the avocado slices onto the toast. Repeat with the second slice of toast. Salt the mashed avocado.

Spoon the scrambled eggs over the avocado. Sprinkle a little paprika over all. Garnish the toast with slices of baby radish, or a halves of cherry tomatoes, or a sliced cucumber, or a slice from a colorful bell pepper. Scatter the chopped cilantro or scallions over the plate. Remember to eat the garnish.

Not sure how to pick a good avocado? This video has great tips.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8zfhXG5YT8?rel=0]

Top Secrets of Successful Business

Bhok Thompson

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April 18, 2018

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UK Green Investment Bank and UAE’s Masdar hope agreement will deliver better solar future.

Organizational skills, effective scheme, and money can make you a successful businessperson. Majority of people think that they will open shop and customer are at the doorstep. It is a hard job to take the small business to great heights. Appropriate use of time, implementation of planning and proper investment of money are keys to success in the business world. Remember, you have to compete with the business tycoons to rise and prosper.

Take Your Business Out of the Crowd

You must be a creative person to attract and target the customer in the implementation of your business plan. If you are offering the traditional products, people don’t find any reason to buy your product. Your competitors have already won the customers’ trust. Uniqueness and quality can bring people to your doorstep. Consult with the professionals who have experience in the field. They may tell you about the new approaches, seek these new ideas and apply them.

Know the Risks and Rewards

No business can give you 100% guarantee of success. Business may collapse so you must understand the risks and rewards associated with the business. Demand and supply is the principle that plays the primary role in the success of a business. Don’t invest money in a business that is out of order. It is true that risk is necessary to grow, but you should take the calculated risk. Many businesses push to the wall only because their owners to take into consideration the business’ downsides.

Look for the Most Profiting Business

Always go for the profiting business. Don’t invest money in an industry that may collapse like a bubble. Investment in a real estate is a fascinating option. It gives enormous profit; that’s why it is called cash deposit business. Additionally, investment in stock markets can provide the massive advantage. You can give a physical form to your dreams. However, similar to other business, you may lose hard-earned money in stock markets. Get help from the professionals of different forums such Investors Hangout to mitigate the challenges and risks.

Learn from Your Competitors

Your competitors can be your teachers who teach how you can build a successful business. Analyze the companies that are ruling over the market. Study their tactics and apply them to your business. It is better to polish their schemes instead of copying them thoroughly. You must remember that success doesn’t come within few nights. Show your patience and work hard until reaching the wished destination. Your business logo will be a brand, but it will take time. Also, you must have excellent knowledge of the business. If you invest money without experience, you are going to flop; this is a rule of thumb. You can beat your competitors with knowledge and positive approach.

Get Advice from the Professionals

You must look for the sources of inspiration and intelligence. All of us have limitations so we can’t be the master of everything. Always learn from the professionals and seek experienced advice people who know how to run the business. There will be many well-wishers who want to take you a better place. Join the community of business people; it is a hub of new ideas. Follow the suggested provisions and enjoy the warmth of successful life.

Green is the Color: Your Guide to an Eco-Friendly Life

Cities

Bhok Thompson

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April 18, 2018

0

These days people seem to be much more preoccupied with living healthier lifestyles and embracing a greener way of life. This is great because it helps us ensure that we are doing more to look after the planet and protect the environment. You can make changes to your life that will help you to start becoming more environmentally friendly and putting Mother Earth first.

The great news is that it is easier than ever to be more eco-friendly nowadays, so there is no excuse. You must make sure you come up with changes in your life that can help you be greener. It’s important for you and your family to embrace this, and you will notice positive changes as a result. These are some of the great things you can to become more eco-friendly in your life.

Renewable Energy

More and more people each year are turning their attention toward the world of renewable energy. It’s so great that we can embrace things like wind energy and solar power these days, and you need to make sure you do more to integrate this into your life. For instance, you might decide to go for solar panels on your property as a way of enjoying free energy. Sure, there will be some outlay initially, but you’re going to be making a lot of savings as a result.

Recycling

Recycling needs to be much more of a focus in your life as well. Fortunately, this is something we are all generally pretty good at – but we could also probably do more. There are so many things that make recycling important, and it is essential for protecting animals and the environment. Make sure you recycle everything you possibly can as this will ensure that you do your bit to help protect the planet.

Change Your Skincare Products

We use so many cosmetics and skincare products on a daily basis, and we often don’t think about what they are doing to the environment. That’s why you need to make sure you change to products that are a little greener. This might involve educating yourself about cosmetics through places like the Ogle School in San Antonio or even researching individual products. Many of these are much less toxic and damaging than others and finding out which is which is really important.

Drive Less

Driving causes pollution which is harmful to the planet. We all know that, and yet many of us drive on a daily basis. You should try to cut down on your car usage in order to help protect the planet more. You could do a car share with friends, use more public transport, or cycle and walk instead. Driving less is one of the most important factors when trying to reduce your carbon footprint and embrace a greener way of life.

Going green is the first step toward making the planet a better and healthier place once again. There are a lot of options when it comes to things you could do to be more eco-friendly. Start at home, and then try to incorporate a greener approach into other areas of your life.

Applying Mountain Thinking to Artificial Intelligence

Karin Kloosterman

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April 18, 2018

1

forest bathing, woman hipster contemplating nature in dark green forest

If a tree falls in the forest, does anyone hear? Does your artificial intelligence-driven software even ponder this philosophical paradox? With so much of our world out of whack these days, I mean, you know … you are reading the news. The ice caps are melting. The North Pole is warmer than Bucharest, and famines in Africa are so dire that it hurts to hear more about them. We can easily trace our planetary perils to humanity, a hungry species that has tipped the scales, and has created imbalance in resource allocation. And yet another agtech startup comes along, sometimes with hardware, sometimes with software — or both — claiming they have the answer to world hunger and that it’s called artificial intelligence.

How does that work? Artificial intelligence isn’t a plug and play solution that you can build in a bunker or basement at an MIT weekend hackathon or buy through the Google Play app store. It’s a distinctly specific thing that is architected from day 1 into the company business model and which should be superbly flexible, sophisticated and nuanced in design, application, deployment and oversight.

Now, hundreds of new agriculture companies are springing up building greenhouses, putting sensors into the ground or onto satellites. They are sending out drones and airplanes to collect scads of data from millions of IoT sensors. We know this pattern. It’s the same as what we have done in the past but only faster now. But as eloquent as the technical white papers may promise in these new companies, artificial intelligence is only as good as the people and values creating the rules. It is only as good as the players and stakeholders.

I am going to give you an example. AI is supposed to be a rule-based system. Define, let’s say, what success looks like on a farm, such as ample fertilizer to the tomatoes, quickly-remediated pest infestation, a harvest that’s bountiful, and red. And indeed those sound like reasonable goals. But today when we dream up what we want from or food system, we are setting them with human rules from the West, with our limited understanding of how people and nature behaves.

Developing Nations where most food is farmed is a black box. Nature, which presents infinite complexities is even more vexing. It represents the equivalent of billions of black boxes stacked like the (those Russian dolls…?). We are just beginning to learn how the vast communication networks in forests as species of the same even learn to communicate outside their species “caste” to other unrelated species about where nutrients, water and the sunshine lies. There is a notion that if the forests survives, we all survive. Read the book The Hidden Life of Trees for a primer.

In many ways the way of Nature is to think like a mountain, as famed American environmentalist Aldo Leopold put it. Decades ago, he witnessed the destruction of wild wolves on the mountains of Wisconsin and how their extinction there led to the overpopulation of deer which then destroyed all the trees on the mountain. The mountain was not happy and took decades to recover. Leopold coined the term “mountain thinking” to mean having a complete appreciation for the profound interconnectedness of the elements in our ecosystems. Think like a mountain, rather than an isolated individual.

Today, I see how simplistic the rule-based system is for artificial intelligence and I see who is building these systems: young guys drinking Soylent in Silicon Valley. They are often isolated individuals or worse, profit-only driven enterprises. And we know well how that story has been doing until now… (Psssst .. Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow, Dupont…)

So when we humans are building AI for a planet in peril and when we need to recalibrate our food system, we need to consider all the stakeholders, not just us. What about the trees, the wolves, the deer, the aspen trees, the mountains? The mycelium, the bees, the bacteria that should live in the soil had we not destroyed it by over fertilizing and over pesticiding it? Are they not stakeholders too?

Consider the barriers you as a parent, uncle or auntie might setup up for a toddler. You would just step over the baby gates, right? That’s about how easy it is for a far more intelligent AI than us to bypass the rules and morality we are putting in place. If we don’t think about this now, it might be too late and computers will try to do it for us. We aren’t alone, and we aren’t crazy.

We love Elon Musk, not because he sends cars in space, or builds Boring Companies, we love him mainly because he shares our concerns. That AI not built correctly, will be more dangerous that nuclear warheads in the hands of a Middle East dictator. We desperately need a coalition of bright minds, elders, scientists, naturalists; we need to understand the language of plants, of the wind and the soil, and only then can we begin to lay down the rules of how nature should be governed. Of how AI can be created for the planet.

We believe that using blockchain technologies we can connect billions of people to billions of data points, and together decide unanimously what is morality and what success should look like.

To continue a recent Musk quote at the SXSW 2018, “that AI should maximize the freedom of actions of humanity,” we’d like to add that AI should maximize the freedom of actions of humanity and the natural world. In short, to survive and thrive into the next 100 years we need to go back to a little more like mountain thinking.

—

Karin Kloosterman is the editor of Green Prophet and the founder of Flux, a hardware company putting agriculture on the blockchain.

Drinking Plastic, Every Day

Health

Miriam Kresh

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April 17, 2018

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In September of 2017, Orb Media, a non-profit digital newsroom based in Washington, released the results of the first scientific study on the presence of microplastics in tap water. The study tested water flowing from taps in 14 countries around the world. From New York to Uganda, microplastics were present in 83% of the samples. The challenge today is to reduce plastic pollution in water and the air. We’re not sure if installing a refrigerator water filter will do the job, but it might at least make you feel better.

What are microplastics? They’re minuscule particles of plastic that break free from all kinds of products in daily use, such as fabrics based on synthetic fibers, and from industrial waste. These particles continue splitting off into ever smaller pieces by ordinary friction – for example, in the rub and tumble of polyester-based clothes in your washer and dryer. That’s a major contributor to microplastic pollution. Or the tides grinding plastic bags against the ocean’s rocks and sand.

Microplastics originating in homes and factories get rinsed away into the water system, or are released into the air. Such as tire dust, the dust rubbed off tires in use. It enters water ways via sewers when rain rinses streets and highways. House paint and paint for industrial use erode, and their dust drifts into the atmosphere to settle on the surface of the ocean.

Plastic never goes away, it just keeps breaking down. That’s how it can enter the human body. According to the Orbs report, microplastics may erode into particles minute enough to pass through the intestinal wall and travel through the body to settle in the lymph nodes and organs.

Consider lymph nodes, those body filters that fight invading viruses and microbes. How well can they function when clogged with plastic sludge? According to the National Cancer Institute, the number of cancer cases will grow to 22 million in the next 20 years. Can it be said that microplastics in our bodies are one more factor raising today’s rampant cancer statistics?

Molly Bibngham, founder of Orb Media, says, “Scientists say they don’t really know how these microplastics reach our taps or what the health risks might be. But microplastics have been shown to absorb toxic chemicals from the marine environment, and then release them when consumed by fish and mammals.”

In other words, microplastics are like sponges for toxins from sewage, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and other pollutants in the oceans. Fish absorbing the toxin-laden microplastic particles pass them back to us when we eat the fish. This news isn’t new. Studies have been conducted on the topic for years, such as this one, published in 2013. We reported on deaths of marine creatures from plastic pollution back in 2011.

What about meat from animals who drank water polluted with microplastics? Or even vegetables irrigated with such water? And ultimately, how is plastic already affecting the billions of adults and children who absorb the invisible particles in their drinking water – inhale them with every breath?

The scenario looks dire, but there’s hope. The Orb Media investigation has raised red flags with environmental scientists around the world. Movements such as The Story of Stuff Project got microbeads banned from consumer products in the US in 2015. You can do your bit too.

Examine labels on cosmetic products – if they contain polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polymethyl methacrylate, they contain plastic. If you can, buy clothes made from natural cotton, wool, hemp, linen and silk fabrics. Wash laundry less often (use your bath towel at least twice, for example).

Take the plastic supermarket bags you already have to the store and re-use them, instead of putting your purchases into new ones. Never mind looking like an eco-nut; soon recycling bags at the store will be mainstream.Take your own mug or drinking glass to work or school, instead of using disposable cups. Buy a metal straw or two so you won’t be tempted to pull out a plastic one out when you buy a drink.

You get the idea. Choose the natural over the synthetic; reuse what plastics you have. It would take an unprecedented, globally coordinated effort for individuals to make a difference, but at least, you’ll be setting an example. The best thing you can do is educate yourself and make your voice heard via petitions and trustworthy bodies dedicated to reducing plastic pollution. Spread the word.

Guide: Writing a Research Paper on Solar Energy

Energy

Bhok Thompson

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April 17, 2018

0

You already know how to deal with the research paper in general. Let us pay 2-minute attention to the basics just to freshen up your memory and then we will talk about the specific rules and ideas for writing on solar energy. You research paper should include:

Abstract. Short summary of your work, like the annotation in a book.
Introduction. Clear and precise thesis statement is a must.
Annotated bibliography/Materials. Sources of information you used to complete the research paper.
Methods/Methodology. Scientific methods you used to conduct a research and evaluate the results.
Results. What you have understood as a result of the research.
Discussion. The interpretation of your recent findings.
Summary/Conclusions. Summarize your findings and draw a conclusion. If the dilemma wasn’t solved, state what you think is needed to solve it.

You have this list in your course book, definitely, but most probably the description of each part is rather vague which might be rather confusing.

How to Write a Stellar Research Paper on Solar Energy

Idea #1. State the topicality

You should show that your research covers actual issues, relevant to the moment. Example. Solar energy was the fastest growing source of global energy in 2016, showing dynamics better than other types of energy production. Such data is contained in a recent report of the International Energy Agency, which is one of the most credible organization for quoting in your solar energy research paper. There are services that offer people to write my research paper for me.

Idea #2. Show the understanding of trends

Don’t just state something, explain it and show international correlations.

Example.The result is largely due to lower prices and a change in government policy that facilitates a departure from traditional energy sources such as coal. For example, China plays an important role in expanding the use of renewable energy sources. This country accounts for almost half of all new solar panels installed around the world.

Idea #3. Pay attention to negative sides and assumptions

Don’t make your paper too shallow — elaborate on side effects.

Example. Today, harmful substances are used, for the manufacture of solar cells, which in one way or another can harm nature. Already ready photocells contain poisonous elements, such as lead, cadmium, gallium, arsenide. The service life of solar batteries is 30 – 50 years, so the problem f the subsequent processing of modules arises, and the solution of the issue of their utilization has not been found so far. A significant drawback of the process of obtaining solar energy is the so-called impermanence. Solar systems are not able to work at night, and in the evening the efficiency of stations significantly decreases. Just as the absence of sunlight and its excessive radiation reduces the efficiency of the system as a whole, it is necessary to provide for the cooling of the modules additionally.

Idea #4. Give illustrative real-life examples

Solar power may have been on the verge of breaking in the MENA region, but it appears back on track.

To make the results of your research more descriptive, use engaging examples.

Example. In 2016 Tesla, Inc. joined by the company SolarCity, which creates solutions for the transition of homes to solar energy. One of their first joint projects was the almost 100 percent conversion of the Pacific island of Tau to “green” energy. The new “goal” of Tesla was the island of Kauai, which is part of the Hawaiian archipelago. Enjoying a year-round abundance of sunshine, this US state practiced “green” energy before the arrival of Tesla. Nevertheless, the solutions on the island could not solve the problem of electricity consumption at night, since solar panels generating energy without saving it. The new system installed by the company is equipped with 52 MWh Powerpack 2 accumulators assembled at the Tesla factory in the United States, and the power of the solar farm itself is 13 MW. Now the Hawaiian Islands have the opportunity to increase the share of solar energy consumption up to 100, what they intend to achieve by 2045.

Idea #5. Show the ability of big-picture thinking

Show that you understand the market’s perspectives.

Example. Many experts note that the “new era” of solar electricity has come, expecting that the growth of solar electric power will be higher than any other types of renewable energy sources up to 2022. In fact, the agency’s experts admitted that they underestimated how fast green energy is growing, noting that many countries will be in the center of the solar boom in the coming years. For instance, it is expected that the renewable energy potential in India will double by 2022, outstripping the EU. However, representatives of the International Energy Agency said that, despite these encouraging figures, there is still uncertainty ahead. This is due to Donald Trump’s plans to revive the coal industry.

Writing on solar energy don’t forget that it is a speedy growing field and you should use only the most recent case study and reports. Otherwise you can hire professional research paper writers online who provide academic writing services for students. Good luck!

Saudi Arabia wants to be the new Ibiza

Karin Kloosterman

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April 17, 2018

0

You can get thrown in jail in Saudi Arabia for making out on the beach, but with its new leader’s mission to modernize the ultra-conservative Islamic society, Saudi Arabia may become one of the top 10 beach destinations in the world. Maybe even topless? Well, let’s not go that far. But it is located on one of the world’s most gorgeous seas and geographies, on the Red Sea below Jordan and Israel and opposite Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. A new project is underway to make the Red Sea a western friendly destination: hijab optional, kissing encouraged.

Saudi Arabia hosts several million foreigners every year, but it’s limiting religious and social codes are a major turnoff for tourists who want to have fun, western style: drinking a beer, holding hands, sunbathing.

Saudi Arabia is beautiful but many westerners find the restrictive Islamic laws fundamentally not that “fun”

The whole move is part of Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s social movement known as “Vision 2030,” and to fulfil it a tourist zone will be built around the 50 islands of the Red Sea – a location where visa restrictions for tourists will be more relaxed. And this is specifically, for women who are shamed for wearing western style clothing.

Today Saudi Arabia is one of the only Muslim-majority countries that legally imposes a dress code. Regardless of their religion practice, Muslim women must wear a loose-fitting robes known as an “abayas” in public, along with a headscarf if they are Muslim. This is also true in Iran, Saudi Arabia’s enemy #1.

Rules are loosening so that women can drive, yet in practice they still need a man to accompany them wherever they go. Obviously all these rules can be a big downer for tourists, but also for anyone who wants to come to work in Saudi Arabia. A friend of mine teaching English said he felt choked over there and would never go back again.

As for tourists, if you don’t want to stay in a Bedouin tent in Sinai, Saudi Arabia is reserving about 150 miles of coastline just for you. Future travellers can expect to see protected coral reefs, volcanoes, and a nature reserve inhabited by rare wildlife like Arabian leopards and falcons. We do caution however that if environmentalists aren’t brought in soon there will probably be no reefs or leopoards or falcons left to see.

Among the Red Sea attractions are the ancient ruins of Madain Saleh, a Unesco World Heritage site. Try also parachuting, trekking and rock climbing. Or just enjoying the vista — across the Red Sea is God’s Mountain and all the spiritual stories from the bible.

Image of Saudi Arabian Petra, by Richard Wilding

Expect construction of the new resorts to start in 2019. The first phase will include building a new airport, luxury hotels and accommodation and is expected to be complete in 2022. If you are a LEED-certified or Estidama-certified architect get yourself to Saudi Arabia immediately for new work. The region needs you.

Ending human trafficking, one stitch at a time

Faisal O'Keefe

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April 15, 2018

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A holiday trip to Southeast Asia introduced an American tourist to a rich culture, delectable cuisine, and spectacular architecture. It also gave her a window into a darker side of India. Others may sleepwalk past realities that – if consciously observed – would ruin a holiday buzz. Shannon Keith chose to take notice, and more critically – take action.

Continue

How Much More Expensive are Electric Cars?

Cities

Bhok Thompson

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April 13, 2018

0

How Much More Expensive are Electric Cars?

Electric cars are enjoying a surge in popularity right now and becoming an increasingly common sight on the roads. This is largely due to the Government’s clean air plans and the planned 2040 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars, but also the wide range of excellent electric vehicles available and the various incentives for making the switch.

While more and more motorists are starting to make the switch and join the electric car revolution, there are also those that remain hesitant. One of the main reasons for this is the perceived cost of buying electric and how much more expensive they are than regular cars.

Electric Cost

Much like regular cars, the cost will vary drastically depending on the manufacturer, model etc. The cheapest can be found for around £14,000, whilst a top of the range Tesla will cost over £100,000. The best selling electric car, the Nissan Leaf, starts at around £21,000.

Comparing BMW Models

The best way to gauge how much more expensive these cars are is to compare electric and non-electric models from one manufacturer. As an example, BMW’s highly rated i3 is a subcompact available from £33,340. The subcompact 1 Series is the obvious comparison, with this car available from £21,460 when you buy new. Other BMW models that are cheaper than the i3 include the 2 Series (sports car), X1 (SUV) and 3 Series (mid-size) amongst a few other popular models of various sizes. These are all to buy new and will be cheaper to buy used, but you will also need an extended warranty from a specialist like ALA.

Savings with Electric

It is clear then that it is much cheaper to buy a regular car and even when purchased new. However, this can be misleading because they can actually be much more cost efficient in the long run. You are exempt from road tax when you purchase an all-electric, you can avoid charges like the Congestion Charge (which are becoming more common in major cities) and the running costs are significantly lower – you will pay about a quarter of the cost per mile as charging is so cheap compared to fuel. In addition to this, you can also receive a Government grant of up to £4,500 to buy electric.

While it is true that it can cost a lot more to buy an electric car than a regular car (particularly when it is in a similar class), the savings that you can make in the long run make them the smarter financial investment and especially when you consider the upcoming 2040 ban and increasing number of charges on polluting vehicles.

Methods to make coconut oil at home

Beauty

Bhok Thompson

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April 13, 2018

0

Coconut oil is an important component of numerous hair and body beauty care goods, but you can also use it for your food cooking purposes. You can buy this oil everywhere, yet, what if you could make it on your own, in the comfort of your home and without heat? Here it is – a useful guide to making virgin coconut oil without heat!

Coconut oil – what is it?

Coconut oil is one of the most popular vegetable oils, which is squeezed out of copra (a name for dried coconut kernel). The oil has a rich chemical composition and contains plenty of useful elements. There’s an opinion that the oil is dangerous for health, but it’s not true if you take only a little of it. Below, you will find more about the possible uses of coconut oil.

Now, let’s find out how to make coconut oil and what you may need for it. The first method involves a hot press that squeezes the oil out of the freshly dried kernel. The second one requires the use of cold pressure.

The first method is much more effective because it allows squeezing practically the entire amount of oil that’s in the kernel. At the same time, it destroys plenty of useful elements in the oil. The cold method is way less effective, bringing only 10% of the oil that’s there in the kernel but the usefulness of the oil is not ruined. This is why the cold-pressed coconut oil is so expensive.

Cold-pressing coconut oil at home

As it was mentioned before, the cold pressing is quite costly so prepare your wallet for the parting with a significant amount of money. Besides that, be prepared for three whole days of waiting until the oil is done. The preparation will only take you several hours while the rest of the time is purely waiting.

Your materials and tools:

Ripe coconuts – 3 items
A hammer and a screwdriver
One tea towel
A big bowl and two smaller ones
A small but sharp knife
A device for peeling vegetables
A blender or a food processor
3 cups of clean non-chlorinated water (1 cup per each coconut)
A piece of cheesecloth
A sieve
A ladle
A sterilized glass jar to store the oil (big enough to contain about ½ cup of coconut oa il)

Your steps:

Step 1: Make 2 or 3 holes in each coconut and drain the water into one of the prepared bowls. You can use a drill or a screwdriver with a hammer, whatever you like.

Step 2: Open the coconuts by wrapping them one by one in a towel and smashing with a hammer. Several powerful hits will be enough to open the shell and discover the white kernel pulp.

Step 3: With the help of the small knife, start separating the pulp from the husk. Then, use the peeler to remove the thin brown film. In the end, there will remain the empty husk, the white pulp, and the bowl of coconut water. Husk is out of use now, so you can throw it away.

Step 4: Wash the pulp with clean water and put it in your blender together with the coconut water. Then, blend all this finely on very high speed until you can see that the texture is even and smooth.

Step 5: Put the blended mass into a large bowl and add the prepared non-chlorinated water. Wash your hands thoroughly and prepare for the most interesting. Grab the coconut mash into your fists and squeeze as hard as you can. Keep doing it until the water resembles milk with its whiteness. Allow it for a few hours.

Step 6: With the help of the ladle, scoop the coconut into a sieve that’s additionally covered with the cheesecloth. When you have everything in, squeeze the cloth so that the coconut flakes are almost dry. The flakes are now out of play, but you can use them for cooking purposes or so.

Step 7: Find a suitable lid and cover the coconut milk in the bowl. It will need one or two days before you can proceed. At best, leave it in a fridge.

Step 8: In some time, you will notice how the liquid separates into three layers. A cloudy one closer to the bottom, the layer of the oil in the middle, and some cream on top of all this.

Step 9: Remove the cream, which can be used for cooking purposes. Use the cheesecloth to filter the rest of the liquid.

Step 10: Place the oil into a glass jar, and here it is, ready for being used!

Possible uses for coconut oil

There are many ways to use the coconut oil you have just prepared on your own. It’s really impossible to list all of them here.

You can add it to your tea and feel the boost of energy.
You can use it as a base for a body scrub with sugar and the same leftover flakes of the coconut pulp
You can use it on your skin as a sunscreen or treat the existing sunburns
You can add some baking soda and brush your teeth with this natural toothpaste
You can use it as a shaving means that soothes you skin
You can apply it to your hair to style it and to make it grow strong and healthy

Now, when you know how to make this oil, you can have it easily and find a number of uses for it without problems. Give the method a try, share it with friends, and enjoy the positive effect of the cold-pressed virgin coconut oil.

Recipe: Roasted Parmesan Butternut Squash

Health

Miriam Kresh

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April 13, 2018

0

It’s springtime in the Middle East. Afternoons are warm, but chilly evenings still make oven-roasted vegetables an enjoyable option for dinner. Butternut, and other hard-skinned squashes, are in season, and will be for at least another month. Here’s April’s seasonal produce, all detailed out for you. I picked up a medium-sized butternut squash to make this easy recipe, in which the cubed squash is caramelized in the oven together with red onions and Parmesan cheese. Aged Kashkeval cheese is also very good.

This makes a lovely vegetarian main dish; I like to serve it with rice and a good mixed salad for family dinners. Here’s a delicious and quickly made rice-and-vermicelli recipe. You can easily make this recipe vegan by omitting the cheese and adding 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar to the olive oil indicated in the recipe.

Peeling and chopping the squash is the biggest part of the preparation. If you think you’ll be pressed for time in the evening, you can get the knife work out of the way earlier and stash the prepared cubes in the refrigerator, covered tightly. While you’re at it, peel and chop the red onion too. Refrigerate the onion with the butternut cubes. The next steps will take only 10 minutes, and then you can just slide the whole thing into the oven and forget about it for the next half hour or so, while you put the rest of dinner together.

And by the way, some prefer to eat butternut squash with the peel on. It’s perfectly edible, with a crisp/tender texture.

Roasted Parmesan Butternut Squash

Serves 6

Ingredients:

4 cups butternut squash, peeled and chopped into 1″ cubes

1 large red onion, peeled and cut into medium-sized chunks

3/4 cup white flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon finely chopped dried rosemary

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/3 cup grated Parmesan or other aged cheese

2 garlic cloves

1/3 cup olive oil

Preheat oven to 400° F (200° C).

Put the flour and dry seasonings (but not the cheese) in a large bowl.

Dredge the vegetables in the flour/seasoning mixture. Place the pieces on a parchment- lined baking sheet, leaving a little space in between the pieces.

Sprinkle the cheese over the vegetables.

Crush the garlic. Scrape it into a bowl with the oil (and the Balsamic vinegar, if doing this vegan). Drizzle the garlicky oil over the vegetables.

Bake for 30-40 minutes. The butternut squash should be soft and caramelizing slightly.

Enjoy!

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How to Write a Stellar Research Paper on Solar Energy

Idea #1. State the topicality

Idea #2. Show the understanding of trends

Idea #3. Pay attention to negative sides and assumptions

Idea #4. Give illustrative real-life examples

Idea #5. Show the ability of big-picture thinking

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