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BY THE NUMBERS » CHOPSTICKS
.33 Percentage of the world population that uses chopsticks each day, almost as many people who use a fork and knife. Chopsticks can be made of a variety of materials, including bamboo, plastic, bone, steal, jade and ivory. In the past, the royal family of China would use silver chopsticks, not just for regal opulence but also to test the toxicity of foods. It was thought if the silver turned black, the food was poisoned. Unfortunately, science has proven that silver does not react to arsenic or cyanide, but it does change color when exposed to hydrogen sulfide, a compound found in garlic and onions. Must have led to a few deadly misunderstandings.
5K The estimated number of years chopsticks have been in existence. Originating in China, folklore has the Chinese philosopher Confucius championing the use of chopsticks over other utensils because of his non-violent views. He believed in removing all eating instruments associated with violence, like knives, from the dinner table. As Confucius notes, “The honorable and upright man keeps well away from both the slaughterhouse and the kitchen. And he allows no knives on his table.” 4Number of chopstick styles. The Chinese use a long chopstick with a blunt end; the Japanese a short, wooden style with a pointy end (7 inches for women; 8 inches for men); the Koreans use a shorter chopstick that can be metallic, wood or plastic; and the Vietnamese use a longer chopstick similar to the Chinese version. A fear of chopsticks, by the way, is called consecotaleophobia.
50The number of muscles engaged when using chopsticks. Users also use 30 joints. From your fingers and wrists to your arm and shoulder, studies have shown that regular use of chopsticks can decrease the risk in osteoarthritis in the hands.
90BNumber, in billions, of disposable chopsticks used in China each year. The Chinese use so many disposable chopsticks, the government imposed a 5 percent tax on them to reduce their use. The Japanese use about 50 billion disposable chopsticks a year, which equals about 200 pairs of chopsticks per person in the country.
139K Amount, in dollars, of the most expensive pair of chopsticks. The 18-carat gold pair was crafted in Australia.
LOOK, LISTEN & LEARN OUTER SANDBOX
When Diana Met
This podcast, hosted by selfproclaimed Princess Diana superfan Aminatou Sow, goes behind the scenes with royal biographer Andrew Morton to explore notable meetings the Princess of Wales had with celebrities (like John Travolta), politicians, dignitaries and public figures. Together they examine what those memorable and iconic connections teach us about gender, power and control.
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
If you’re like us, you’ve already burned through Season 6 of Queer Eye and are desperately in need of a dose of JVN fabulousness. On their new Netflix series (inspired by their podcast of the same name) everyone’s favorite hair stylist turned life coach embarks on a new journey of learning more and delves into diverse and entertaining topics like figure skating, insects, construction and the science of snacking. We can’t wait to binge watch it, honey!
Five Minute Journal
We love buying new journals and fresh notebooks, but the idea of sullying the pristine pages with our doodles and daydreams gives us MAJOR anxiety! We decided to try the free 5 Minute Journal app and really enjoyed the daily writing prompts that encourage us to begin each day with gratitude and mindfulness right on our phone. Another feature is the ability to upload various photos and track our moods. We’re almost ready to take a Sharpie to a crisp sheet in one of our many Moleskin journals, but until then this digital journal is convenient and stress free.
ROAD TRIP!
Road trip! Beyond the boundaries of our little sandbox, there is much to see. Here are a few events worth checking out. For events with a more local flavor, check out moorechoices.net. And check with locales before heading out!
FEBRUARY 5 MLK/Black History Month Parade & Block Party Durham | discoverdurham.com
The 19th annual event is billed as North Carolina’s largest Black History Month celebration. Everyone is invited to enjoy the free entertainment in the form of marching bands, step/dance/drill teams, mascots, cars and cartoon characters. Promoters work hard each year to ensure there is fun to be had by the entire family.
FEBRUARY 12–13 Carolina Alpaca Celebration Concord | carolinaalpacafarms.org
We are ready to al-pack-a bag and head to the Southeast’s largest alpaca event. This unique celebration includes halter shows, educational seminars, fiber arts and vendors selling all things alpaca-related. We’re most excited for the selfie booths that let us get up close and Instagramable with the llama’s cutest cousin!
MARCH 25–27 Taste of the Beach Outer Banks | obxtasteofthebeach.com
Strap that plastic lobster bib around your neck and get ready to test the limits of your favorite stretchy pants! Each year, the Outer Banks Restaurant Association partners with various restaurants and wineries along the barrier islands of the North Carolina coast to offer tasting events, themed dining experiences and discounted prix fixe menus at some of North Carolina’s finest restaurants. Yum!
QUOTES
“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.”
– Joan Crawford
“There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships and may they ever be.”
– Irish Toast
Health Tips
Lend a hand
We’re all super busy these days, but making time to volunteer or do charity work whenever possible actually does more than just improve your karma. Studies show that volunteers often experience boosts in their mental health and they feel more satisfied overall
with their lives. Good news for seniors: Volunteering later in life has been shown to slow cognitive decline and boost cognitive function. The shot of oxytocin and dopamine that your brain releases when helping others is often referred to as “helpers high,” so if you need us we’ll be busy getting high on helping others!
Ditch the dairy for barley milk
Plant-based alternatives to dairy are pretty common these days and we’re all fairly familiar with alternatives to cow’s milk, like soy, oat, pea and almond. A new substitute to try is barley milk. Barley is an amazing source of dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins. Also, barley milk is a more environmentally friendly dairy alternative. When comparing water usage for crops, an entire field of barley needs just 171 gallons of water per pound compared to the 1,900 gallons of water per pound of nuts needed to grow a crop of almonds.
Book that colonscopy
It is estimated that more than 50,000 deaths will occur from colorectal
cancer this year. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. amongst both women and men. These numbers are especially staggering because colorectal cancers are highly treatable when detected early. Unfortunately, waiting until you have symptoms to book that dreaded colonoscopy may just be too late. If everyone 50 years or older had a colonoscopy screening, as many as 80 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented by detecting and removing small polyps before they become cancerous.
Live Lightly
Tips on living a more sustainable life
Nearly 40 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions are generated from office buildings and homes. Meaning that the road to living your most sustainable life starts at your front door.
We still have a while before the weather warms up a bit, so utilize this time in early spring to insulate your house and drought-proof all your windows and doors.
Turning off lights, unplugging electronics, setting your thermostat to 78 in the summer and 67 in the winter, and using cold water to wash clothes can also help toward reducing emissions.
You won’t just be saving money on your utility bills, you’ll be doing your part to reduce your household’s carbon emissions. SP
FEBRUARY 26 Mardi Gras Miles
Southern Pines 5k, 1m fun run runsignup.com
APRIL 16 Pinehurst Triathlon
Pinehurst 750-meter swim, 20k bike, 5K run runsignup.com
APRIL 29 Rock N' Run
Southern Pines 5K runsignup.com
Dr. A. Anthony Haro, III
Diplomate American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery Board Certified in Reconstructive Rearfoot / Ankle Surgery & Board Certified in Foot Surgery Fellow American College of Foot & Ankle Surgery Fellowship in Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgery
Dr. Amie L. Haracz
Diplomate American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery Board Qualified in Reconstructive Rearfoot / Ankle Surgery & Board Certified in Foot Surgery Fellow American College of Foot & Ankle Surgery
Dr. Kevin W. Schmidtke
Diplomate American Board of Podiatric Medicine Board Qualified in Foot Surgery Associate American College of Foot & Ankle Surgery
Specializing in Ankle/Foot Care & Surgery:
Ankle and foot disorders • Diabetic foot care • Arthritis Joint replacement • Bunions • Hammertoes Achilles & tendon injuries • Nerve pain Ingrown nails & nail problems • Ankle arthroscopy Sports injuries / fractures • Heel pain • Flat feet Corns & Calluses • Warts and wound care
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