Incidents of elder fraud and senior identity theft are on the rise. The number of adults over 65 who experienced at least one incident of fraud increased to 78% in 2022 from 69% in 2021, according to AARP.
Although some types of scams target seniors by definition (those involving Social Security or Medicare, for example), the reality is that older adults can fall victim to any type of fraud. What makes seniors truly more vulnerable to elder fraud is that they have so much to lose: Years of savings, retirement funds, home equity, pensions, and more.
KEY POINTS
•Incidents of elder fraud are on the rise, but being familiar with scams makes you less likely to fall for them.
•Many scams follow a pattern: Scammers rile up your emotions and then pressure you to share personal data or send money.
•To avoid losses: Stay calm, get help, and take your time before you act.
What makes seniors truly more vulnerable to elder fraud is that they have so much to lose
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When you factor in all types of scams (including estimates of crimes that go unreported), older adults lost about $28.3 billion in 2022, according to data analyzed by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and AARP.
Luckily, one of the most effective ways older adults—or anyone—can protect themselves from fraud is to become familiar with common scam scenarios. It sounds simple, but research shows that if you’ve heard about a particular scam, you are 80% less likely to engage with it— and even if you do engage, you’re 40% less likely to become a victim.
THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF SCAMS AND WHERE THEY OVERLAP
It’s impossible to detail every type of scam, fraud, con, hack, and cybercrime out there. Scams evolve.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of fraud involving stimulus checks increased.
As bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency became popular, crypto scams took off.
Over the holidays, gift card scams and package delivery crimes escalate.
Details vary from one con to the next, but most scams fall into two broad categories:
•Emotional manipulation. The scammer presents a fake scenario that provokes extreme fear or excitement (e.g., losing money or winning money). Next, the victim is coaxed to share personal data or send money to “solve” the problem or “win” a prize.
When you factor in all types of scams (including estimates of crimes that go unreported), ol der adults lost about $28.3 billion in 2022,
•Deception. These crimes are harder to detect because they involve deeper levels of deceit and disinformation. They include fraudulent emails, phone calls, websites, and social media posts that seem to come from a legitimate source, such as your real estate agent, boss, or bank. Ultimately, there’s a request for personal data or some kind of payment.
The best protection is to remain calm and cultivate a high degree of skepticism and caution. Always take the time to double-check phone numbers, email addresses, the spelling of an app or website, and any other identifiers that
could tip you off to potential fraud.
Learn more about keyways to protect yourself from scams, fraud, cybercrime, and identity theft.
5 COMMON SCAM CATEGORIES WITH EXAMPLES
So many scams go unreported that it’s difficult to tally the number and the cost of each type of fraud, but the data that is available shows just how varied and vast such crimes are.
1. INVESTMENT SCAMS
Investment scams were
among the most common and the most costly in 2022, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center. Investment fraud complaints increased to $3.31 billion in 2022 from $1.45 billion in 2021, a 127% increase.
•Crypto scams. These ploys may involve paying for real estate, gaining access to your crypto wallet, using hacked social media accounts to perpetrate fraudulent crypto investments, and even romance.
•Investment scams. These solicitations may come via standard mail, email, or
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According to the Federal Trade Commission, some 70,000 people reported romance scams in 2022
even a door-to-door salesperson. The hallmark of these scams is a complex, fast-talking pitch that promises some kind of jackpot.
Any account—such as a pension, 401(k), or Roth IRA— where you keep money for retirement or investment is a potential target for scams. Bad actors may impersonate administrators or set up fraudulent websites to trick you into divulging information or routing payments to them.
2. IMPOSTER SCAMS
The range of imposter scams knows no limit and includes:
•Government employees. Fraudsters posing as federal workers was the most reported scam by older adults from 2015–20, according to the Senate Spe-
cial Committee on Aging. These imposters claim to be contacting you from Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, the IRS, or another government agency and get you to share personal data.
•Family members. These scammers claim to be in trouble, or they impersonate a police officer claiming your loved one is in a crisis. Then they ask you to send money.
3. ROMANCE SCAMS
According to the Federal Trade Commission, some 70,000 people reported romance scams in 2022; losses hit $1.3 billion, with a median reported loss of $4,400.
Here a new love interest— often someone you met on a dating app—asks you for money. They may claim they
hacker” scams in the first six months of 2023 were over 60 years old—and accounted for 66% of total losses reported, about $357.7 million, according to the FBI.
5. SWEEPSTAKES AND LOTTERY SCAMS
These scams begin with an unsolicited call, text, or email that announces you’ve won a prize, but you need to take a few steps to collect it. Next, you’ll be prompted to divulge personal data or bank account information.
Scammers may impersonate well-known organizations, like Publishers Clearing House, or try to convince you that you recently entered a contest and forgot about it.
THE BOTTOM LINE
are sick or in jail and need help, or say they have an investment opportunity for you.
4. TECH SUPPORT HACKS
These hackers also rely on impersonation, but this type of crime deserves to be called out separately because it’s so insidious.
Typically, cybercriminals claim to be troubleshooting a tech problem and ask for remote access to your computer.
In other cases, there might be a pop-up alert on your phone or computer that urges you to click to prevent a security breach. Once the hacker accesses your device, they can steal your data, install malware, and more.
Fifty percent of those targeted by these “phantom
Although a growing number of older adults are targeted by scammers, younger adults fall for scams more often, according to the FBI.
But seniors are more vulnerable to elder fraud because their life savings can be wiped out and there is no recourse or restitution once that money is gone.
For that reason, sharing information about fraud is key because talking about such incidents can benefit others.
Simply becoming familiar with common tactics can prevent older adults—or anyone—from becoming victims of these crimes. ◙
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
1. CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE
Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:
•help you to build a sense of belonging and selfworth
•give you an opportunity to share positive experiences
•provide emotional support and allow you to support others
There are lots of things you could try to help build stronger and closer relationships:
DO
if possible, take time each day
There are lots of things you could try to help build stronger and closer relationships
to be with your family, for example, try arranging a fixed time to eat dinner together.
• arrange a day out with friends you have not seen for a while
• try switching off the TV to talk or play a game with your children, friends or family.
•have lunch with a colleague
•visit a friend or family member who needs support or company
•volunteer at a local school, hospital or community group. Find out how to volunteer on the GOV.UK website
•make the most of technology to stay in touch with friends and family. Video-chat apps like Skype and FaceTime are useful, especially if you live far apart.
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DON’T
do not rely on technology or social media alone to build relationships. It's easy to get into the habit of only ever texting, messaging or emailing people
2. BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
•raising your self-esteem
•helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
•causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood
Read about exercise guidelines and workouts to help improve your fitness and wellbeing
DO
•read about running and aerobic exercises to help get you moving and improve your fitness
•read about strength and flexibility exercises to increase muscle strength, improve balance and re-
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
duce joint pain
•if you're a wheelchair user, read fitness advice for wheelchair users
DON’T
•do not feel you have to spend hours in a gym. It's best to find activities you enjoy and make them a part of your life
3. LEARN NEW SKILLS
Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
•boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem
•helping you to build a sense of purpose
•helping you to connect with others
Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.
Some of the things you could try include:
DO
•try learning to cook something new. Find out about eating a healthy,
balanced diet
•try taking on a new responsibility at work, such as mentoring a junior staff member or improving your presentation skills
•work on a DIY project, such as fixing a broken bike, garden gate or something bigger. There are lots of free video tutorials online
•consider signing up for a course at a local college. You could try learning a new language or a practical skill such as plumbing
•try new hobbies that challenge you, such as writing a blog, taking up a new sport or learning to paint
DON’T
•do not feel you have to learn new qualifications or sit exams if this does not interest you. It's best to find activities you enjoy and make them a part of your life
4. GIVE TO OTHERS
Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:
•creating positive feelings
and a sense of reward
•giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
•helping you connect with other people
It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.
Some examples of the things you could try include:
•saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you
• asking friends, family or colleagues how they are and really listening to their answer
•spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company
•offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project
•volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home
5. PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRESENT MOMENT (MINDFULNESS)
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
Read more about mindfulness, including steps you can take to be more mindful in your everyday life. ◙
SOURCE: NHS/UK
Plants don’t enjoy losing their leaves to herbivores and have evolved a number of ingenious strategies to deter leaf predators.
Unfortunately for humans, several of these chemical defenses can cause painful skin reactions. Read on to discover some plants that could burn, blister, or otherwise irritate you!
MANCHINEEL
Manchineel (Hippomane mancinella) is an evergreen tree native to Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of Central
Plants don’t enjoy losing their leaves to herbivores and have evolved a number of ingenious strategies to deter leaf predators
and South America.
Its leaves and fruits resemble those of an apple, and it is sometimes known innocuously as “beach apple.” However, its Spanish name, manzanilla de la muerte (”little apple of death”), better reflects its dangerous properties.
The plant contains a number of toxins, and eating its fruits could possibly kill you and will most definitely blister your mouth and esophagus.
The milky sap of the leaves and bark contains an irritating chemical called phorbol, which generates a strong allergic skin reaction.
Raindrops falling through the tree can collect phorbol and burn a person standing underneath. Even touching the tree can cause the skin to blister.
Native peoples have long used the sap to poison arrows, and it is thought that the explorer Juan Ponce de
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León possibly died from such a weapon during his second trip to Florida.
POISON IVY
If you live in eastern North America, you likely know to watch out for poison ivy’s infamous “leaves of three.” Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and its close relatives poison sumac (T. vernix) and poison oak (T. diversilobum) all contain a chemical known as urushiol.
When touched, nearly all parts of these plants can trigger a severe, itchy, and painful inflammation of the skin known as contact dermatitis.
Even more frighteningly, urushiol can persist on clothing, shoes, tools, soil, or animals that have made contact with the plants, thus later poisoning an unsuspecting victim.
If you’ve been hiking through underbrush areas with these plants, be careful to remove your clothing in such a way that the outside does not touch your skin and to wash your clothing immediately.
The rash can last anywhere from less than one week to more than three weeks but does not usually require medical treatment.
STINGING NETTLE
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is found throughout Eurasia, North America, and northern Africa, and has been introduced to parts of South America.
The leaves and young stems of this herbaceous plant are fitted with stinging hairs tipped with formic acid and other irritants.
If touched, these needlelike hairs inject the stinging acid into the skin, triggering a burning, tingling sensation and an itchy rash.
Thankfully the symptoms usually do not persist longer than 24 hours. Interestingly, the cooked plant is safe to eat and is popular is some places
The two species of hogweed, the giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and the
common hogweed (H. sphondylium), are native to Europe and have naturalized in parts of the U.S.
The leaves and sap of these weedy wildflowers contain chemicals called furocoumarins and should be avoided. Contact can cause phytophotodermatitis, in which the skin erupts in severe blisters if exposed to sunlight.
Blindness can occur if the sap enters the eyes. Given that hogweeds are also similar in appearance to the deadly poisonous water hemlocks (Cicuta species), it’s probably a good rule of thumb to mostly avoid tall carrot-look ing plants with white flower
TREAD-SOFTLY
Tread-softly, also known as noseburn or finger-rot (Cnidoscolus stimulosus), is an attractive little herb native to the southeastern United States.
The plant and its flowers and fruits are covered in fierce stinging hairs that break off in the skin, releasing various irritant compounds.
Although contact causes intense stinging and itching, symptoms usually last less than an hour; some people may have skin discoloration for several days.
Definitely not a plant to step on with bare feet!
quite as aggressive as the gympie gympie (Dendrocnide moroides).
One of six stinging trees native to Australia (because of course) and also found in Indonesia, the gympie gympie is one of the most dangerous plants in the world.
The stinging leaves trigger an intense allergic reaction in its victims, sometimes even causing anaphylactic shock.
The sting can cause excruciating, debilitating pain for months; people have variously described it as feeling like they are being burned by acid, electrocuted, or squashed by giant hands.
Many people have reported flare-ups of the pain for many years afterward, and there are several accounts of horses, mad with pain, jumping off cliffs to their deaths after being stung.
Foresters and scientists working around the tree must wear respirators and thick protective clothing and are armed with antihistamine pills, just in case. ◙
SOURCE: ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
People have swallowed elixirs, inhaled vapors, and applied ointments in the name of healing for millennia. But only a small number of substances can be said to have fundamentally revolutionized medicine.
Seven of those drugs are listed here, along with some facts that may surprise you.
PAULESCU’S PANCREIN?
The discovery of insulin was no doubt a major breakthrough in medicine—prior to its discovery, diabetes sufferers often died at a young age. But while Canadian scientists
isolated a substance called “pancrein,” presumably insulin, in 1916
Sir Frederick G. Banting and Charles H. Best, along with their colleagues, often are credited with the hormone’s discovery and isolation, Romanian physiologist Nicolas C. Paulescu appears to have beaten them to it.
Paulescu isolated a substance called “pancrein,” presumably insulin, in 1916, but he was soon after recruited to serve in World War I.
He finally published his findings in 1921, though they were overshadowed by the release of the Canadians’ re
BAYER: TAKE TWO AND CALL US IN THE MORNING
In 1899 Farbenfabriken vor-
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mals Friedrich Bayer & Co. (later Bayer AG) introduced aspirin, a pain-reliever that would come to rank high among the world’s most com monly used drugs.
The company credits the syn thesis of pure acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin’s active ingredi ent, to Bayer chemist Felix Hoffmann.
However, decades after its introduction, former Bayer chemist Arthur Eichengrün cried foul, claiming to have invented the process of the compound’s synthesis him self, with Hoffmann merely carrying out the procedure.
Bayer holds by its claim that Hoffmann was the inventor.
EVERYBODY STAY CALM
ceptors provided insight into how impulses are passed from one neuron to the next in the brain, leading to major advances in scientists’ understanding of mental illness and
Nitrogen mustards were developed in the 1920s and ’30s as agents of chemical war-
The introduction of the tranquilizer chlorpromazine (also known as thorazine) in the 1950s represented a turning point in psychiatry, one that gave rise to the “psychopharmacological revolution.”
Indeed, not only was chlorpromazine successful—by 1964 some 50 million people had taken the drug—but its development also laid the groundwork for the later generation of agents used in the treatment of anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, the characterization of its effects on neurotransmitters and their re-
The company credits the synthesis of pure acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin’s active ingredient, to Bayer chemist Felix Hoffmann.
By the 1940s, however, it had become clear that at least one of these compounds, HN2, also known as mechlorethamine, was better suited for use in the fight against cancer, specifically against human lymphomas, than it was in the fight between Axis and Allied powers. In 1949 mechlorethamine became the first drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of cancer.
SO RETRO—THAT IS, ANTIRETROVIRAL
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval in 1987 of zidovudine, more widely known as AZT, was a
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breakthrough in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
While not able to cure the disease, the drug was found to prolong the lives of AIDS patients.
It also was the first of the so-called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, a group of antiretroviral drugs that became a cornerstone of HIV/AIDS therapy.
Owing to these drugs—and perhaps most significantly to increased access to these drugs in countries worldwide—the annual number of deaths from AIDS declined in
POPULATION CONTROL
In the early 1920s, Austrian scientist Ludwig Haberlandt published a paper suggesting that hormones could be used as an effective means of contraception in animals.
While it is unclear, he may have soon after tested a hormone preparation in clinical trials, despite heavy criticism from colleagues who considered contraception to be taboo.
Haberlandt’s work, however, came to an abrupt end with his suicide in 1932.
Two decades passed before further clinical trials of hormonal contraception were conducted in humans, and then largely at the urging of social activist Margaret Sanger.
The first birth control pill was
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval in 1987 of zidovudine, more widely known as AZT, was a breakthrough in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
approved in 1960, in the United States.
A LIFE-SAVING CONTAMINANT
In 1928 Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming was in the process of sterilizing bacterial culture plates that had become contaminated with mold when he noticed clear zones circling mold colonies.
The mold toxin responsible for killing the bacteria turned out to be penicillin, which Australian pathologist Howard Walter Florey and British biochemist Ernst Boris Chain
later successfully isolated and purified to produce what became arguably the world’s most effective live-saving antibiotic.
Incidentally, Fleming seemed to thrive on contamination— his other major discovery, of the antiseptic enzyme lysozyme in 1921, was made after he had accidentally contaminated a culture plate with his own cold germs. ◙
SOURCE: HTTPS:// STUDENTVIP.COM.AU
The etymology of words can be complicated.
In English many words derive from ancient languages such as Latin (candle) and Greek (biology) or are borrowed from other languages (guru, cigar, karaoke).
Some common words, how ever, actually derive their names from people, though that source is often lost to history. Here are just a few examples.
MESMERIZE
Franz Mesmer was an 18thcentury German physician who believed that the gravitational attraction of the plan-
In English many words derive from ancient languages such as Latin and Greek or are borrowed from other languages
ets influences human health. He later revised his theory and called it “animal magnetism,” suggesting that invisible fluid in the body reacts to the laws of magnetism.
He developed a number of treatments to improve health by instilling a more harmonious fluid flow, some of which involved putting his patients into a trance.
Physicians and other experts of the day labeled Mesmer a fraud, but from his name came the word mesmerize, meaning to captivate or hypnotize.
A decibel is, among other things, a unit for measuring the intensity of sound; the
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This popular musical instrument was patented in France in 1846 by Adolphe Sax, who left no formal account of its development
higher a decibel rating, the louder something is.
The bel in decibel comes from Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone.
MAVERICK
tle. Today it more commonly means a person who acts in dividually rather than with a group.
SAXOPHONE
Samuel A. Maverick was a 19th-century Texas lawyer who acquired a ranch with several hundred head of cattle.
Uninterested in being a rancher, Maverick left his cattle unbranded and pretty much let them roam free.
Over time maverick became a word for unbranded cat-
there to other countries.
MACADAMIA NUTS
This popular musical instrument was patented in France in 1846 by Adolphe Sax, who left no formal account of its development.
Sax created the saxophone for use by military bands and orchestras.
It was quickly adopted by the French army and spread from
Though commonly associated with Hawaii, the nut-bearing macadamia tree is actually indigenous to Australia.
In 1858 Dr. Ferdinand von Mueller, director of the Royal Botanical Gardens and National Herbarium of Victoria, named the genus of the tree after his good friend and colleague, John Macadam, a regarded chemist, medical teacher, and politician.
SHRAPNEL
Feared by war fighters throughout modern history, shrapnel is the collective projectiles, typically small shot but also fragments of shell casing, that are scattered by an explosive charge.
It is named after British artillery officer Henry Shrapnel, who invented the devastating antipersonnel weapon in the late 18th century.
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GRAHAM CRACKER
Sylvester Graham was a 19thcentury clergyman better known for promoting coarsely ground wheat flour to improve health.
In 1829 he invented the cracker that now bears his name, and which became a kitchen staple around the world.
Graham’s health regimen also included cold showers, hard mattresses, homemade bread, and absolutely no alcohol.
Home demonstration parties—a marketing device created by housewife Brownie Wise—changed that, and soon Tupperware could be found in kitchens throughout the country
NACHOS
In 1943 a group of military wives visiting Piedras Ne gras, a small Mexican city just across the border from Fort Duncan, in Eagle Pass, Texas, dropped by a local restaurant looking for a bite to eat.
The restaurant was closed, but maître d’ (or possibly chef, details vary) Ignacio Anaya García felt sorry for the group and decided to whip up a little something based on
what was still available in the kitchen.
He cut up and fried some tortillas, covered them with
with Viscoid, a subsidiary of DuPont, in 1937.
He left a year later to start his own business as a DuPont subcontractor, and eventually he developed a flexible, unbreakable plastic called polyethylene, which he used to manufacture lightweight containers with airtight lids similar to those found on
TUPPERWARE
Earl Tupper held numerous jobs before taking a position
In 1946 he formed the Tupperware Company to sell his containers, but sales were slow at first because customers didn’t understand how the containers worked.
Home demonstration parties—a marketing device created by housewife Brownie Wise—changed that, and soon Tupperware could be found in kitchens throughout the country. ◙
SOURCE: ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
It’s a widespread belief: If sharks stop swimming, they die. But is that actually true?
LET’S FIND OUT.
If you look at the nurse shark and the tiger shark, this belief is already proven false: these, and a few other shark species, can stop swimming whenever they want.
They breathe by way of buccal pumping, actively “inhaling” water by using cheek muscles to draw it into the mouth and over the gills.
This allows sharks to stop moving but continue breathing.
They can rest on the ocean floor without worry and can even partially bury themselves in the sand, using respiratory openings behind the eyes, called spiracles, to pull water through their gills when their mouths are covered.
Tiger Sharks can rest on the ocean floor without worry and can even partially bury themselves in the sand
But some shark species don’t have the luxury of buccal pumping.
For example, the great white shark, the whale shark, and the mako shark don’t have buccal muscles at all. Instead, these sharks rely on obligate ram ventilation, a way of breathing that requires sharks to swim with their mouths open.
The faster they swim, the more water is pushed through their gills. If they stop swimming, they stop receiving oxygen. They move or die.
Other shark species, such as the reef shark, breathe using a combination of buccal pumping and obligate ram ventilation.
When swimming slowly, they can use buccal pumping to supplement the amount of oxygen received from ventilation.
And if they choose to stop moving for a few minutes, they won’t risk their life, though they generally aren’t as adept at stillness as sharks that breathe by buccal pumping alone.
Of these three ways that sharks breathe, the combination of buccal pumping and obligate ram ventilation is by far the most common.
Most kinds of sharks, then, won’t die if they stop swimming.
SO WHY DO MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY WILL?
Sharks are often compared to bony fish, a class of fishes that breathe through obligate ram ventilation.
Since all bony fish are constant swimmers, many people assume that all sharks are too.
Even people who don’t make that connection may ask, “Have you ever seen a sleeping fish?”
Before we go, here’s another myth to be busted: all fish other than sharks die if they
The faster they swim, the more water is pushed through their gills. If they stop swimming, they stop receiving oxygen. They move or die.
stop swimming.
In reality, breathing in nonshark fish species is just as varied as it is in shark species.
Some fish sleep on the ocean floor just as some sharks do.
Maybe people who think otherwise simply haven’t visited those fish at bedtime.
FUN FACTS
•Sharks live all over the world, from warm, tropical lagoons to polar seas.
Some even inhabit freshwater lakes and rivers!
•Sharks are fishes. Like other fishes, sharks are cold-blooded, have fins, live in the water, and
breathe with gills. A shark's skeleton is made of cartilage.
•A shark's fusiform (rounded and tapering at both ends) body shape reduces drag and requires minimum energy to swim.
•Sharks eat far less than most people imagine. Cold-blooded animals have a much lower metabolism than warmblooded animals. In fact, in a zoological environment, a shark eats about 1-10% of its total body weight each week. Studies on sharks in the wild show similar food intake.
•Only 32 (of roughly 350)
shark species have ever been known to attack people. Like other wild animals, most sharks would rather avoid you. Sharks that have attacked probably mistook people for food or may have attacked to protect their territory.
•Unlike bony fish, sharks teeth are not anchored in their jaw and sharks often lose teeth, especially when feeding. Sharks are equipped with three or more rows of teeth, so when a tooth is lost another tooth quickly replaces it. A single shark may have as many as 30,000 teeth throughout the course of its life. ◙
SOURCE: BRITTANIA.COM
Every morning, millions of people around the world enjoy a cup of coffee to get a jump start on their day.
In doing so, they may not be aware of the specific locations that produced the beans used in their latte or "black" coffee.
TOP COFFEE GROWING AND EXPORTING REGIONS OF THE WORLD
Generally, there are three primary coffee growing and exporting areas throughout the world and all are in the equatorial region.
The specific areas are Central and South America, Africa and the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
National Geographic calls this area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn the "Bean Belt" as nearly all of the commercially grown coffee in the world comes out of these regions.
These are the supreme grow-
Generally, there are three primary coffee growing and exporting areas throughout the world and all are in the equatorial region
ing areas because the best beans produced are those grown at high altitudes, in a moist, tropical climate, with rich soils and temperatures around 70°F (21°C) -- all of which the tropics have to of-
Similar to fine wine growing regions, however, there are variations on each of the three different coffee growing regions as well, which affects the overall flavor of the
This makes each type of coffee distinct to its particular region and explains why Starbucks says, "Geography is a flavor," when describing the different growing regions around the world.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
Central and South America produce the most coffee out of the three growing locations, with Brazil and Colombia leading the way. Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama also play a role here.
In terms of flavor, these cof-
fees are considered mild, medium bodied, and aromatic.
Colombia is the most wellknown coffee producing country and is unique because of its exceptionally rugged landscape.
However, this allows small family farms to produce the coffee and, as a result, it is consistently ranked well.
Colombian Supremo is the highest grade.
AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
The most famous coffees from Africa and the Middle East originate in Kenya and the Arabian Peninsula.
Kenyan coffee is generally grown in the foothills of Mount Kenya and is full bodied and very fragrant, while the Arabian version tends to have a fruity flavor.
Ethiopia is also a famous place for coffee in this region and is where coffee originated around 800 C.E.
After being grown and harvested in each of these different locations, the coffee beans are then shipped to countries around the world where they are roasted and then distributed to consumers and cafes.
Even today, though, coffee is harvested there off of wild coffee trees. It mainly comes from Sidamo, Harer, or Kaffa -- the three growing regions within the country.
Ethiopian coffee is both full flavored and full bodied.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Southeast Asia is particularly popular for coffees from Indonesia and Vietnam.
The Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi are famous around the world for their rich, full-bodied coffees with "earthy flavors," whereas Vietnamese coffee is known for its medium bodied light flavor.
Additionally, Indonesia is known for its warehouse aged coffees that originated when farmers wanted to store the coffee and sell it at a later
date for a higher profit. It has since become highly valued for its unique flavor.
After being grown and harvested in each of these different locations, the coffee beans are then shipped to countries around the world where they are roasted and then distributed to consumers and cafes.
Some of the top coffee importing countries are the United States, Germany, Japan, France, and Italy.
Each of the aforementioned coffee exporting areas produce coffee that is distinctive of its climate, topography and even its growing practices.
All of them, however, grow coffees that are famous around the world for their individual tastes and millions of people enjoy them every day. ◙
SOURCE:
Some destinations are on everyone’s travel bucket list.
The Niagara Falls are such a destination, every traveler dreams to see them at least once.
For me, that was certainly the case. I had traveled the western parts of Canada before, but because of the Niagara Falls, I also really wanted to explore and travel to the eastern parts of Canada.
ARE THE NIAGARA FALLS IN CANADA OR THE USA?
The Niagara Falls are a special place, as their location is spread across two countries: Canada and the USA.
The Niagara Falls actually form the border between the USA and Canada, so they are located in both countries.
From both countries, the Niagara Falls are very easily accessible.
The Niagara Falls are a special place, as their location is spread across two countries: Canada and the USA
Toronto on the Canadian side is the closest city to the falls, it takes about two hours to drive from Toronto to the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls.
HOW FAR IS NIAGARA FALLS FROM NYC?
From NYC to the Niagara Falls take almost 7 hours. You can easily rent a car and drive up if you are up for a road trip.
The Niagara Falls are connected to many East Coast destinations, such as New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC via Amtrak train.
Be aware that the drive from these cities takes a bit longer on the American side than on the Canada side.
You can also fly from NYC to Buffalo which only takes 1,5 hours and then drive from Buffalo to the American side of the Niagara Falls in less than 30 minutes.
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If you want that famous view of the Niagara Falls, that classic photo view, you have to be at the Canadian side, this is where you’ll get the best view of the Niagara Falls
NIAGARA FALLS USA VS. NIAGARA FALLS CANADA
They share one thing, these amazing falls and the rather similar activities they both offer to experience these falls.
But other than that, these two destinations are completely different.
I visited both the Canadian side and the Niagara Falls USA side to check out which one I prefer the most.
If you want that famous view of the Niagara Falls, that postcard and classic photo view, you have to be at the Canadian side, this is where you’ll get the best view of the Niagara Falls.
Straight after crossing the bridge, and the border, you’ll see that the Canadian side is all about (souvenir) shops, restaurants, bars and attractions.
Clifton Hill is the world famous street of fun by the falls. It’s full of attractions and entertainment, like Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
Exploring the American side
of the falls, I immediately noticed how much more peaceful and quiet this side was.
Their Niagara Falls State Park is the center place of most of the Niagara Falls NY attractions.
It’s a large nature park where you can enjoy the falls and have a lovely walk around. Focused on nature’s beauty, that’s the way I like it.
Summed up, if you’re looking for entertainment and attractions, more dining options and shops, the Canadian side is your place to be.
It’s also the busiest side of the falls, so be prepared for the crowds.
NIAGARA FALLS USA DISCOVERY PASS
You’re probably not leaving the falls without doing at least one of the amazing and thrilling attractions Niagara Falls USA has to offer.
If you do so, and also want to save some money, consider the Niagara Falls USA Discovery Pass.
It is your perfect companion if you want to do it all, and
save some dollars at the same time.
Some of the Niagara Falls attractions included are the famous Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds.
But you can also visit the Niagara Adventure Theater and the Aquarium of Niagara, plus unlimited rides on the Scenic Trolley.
The Discovery Pass becomes valid each year when both famous Niagara Falls attractions Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist are back open and operating, mostly from June to October.
With the Niagara Falls USA Discovery Pass you’ll have one admission to each attraction, which doesn’t need to be used the day of purchase.
You can use this pass throughout your stay. Be aware however that all passes will expire at the end of the season.
MAID OF THE MIST
When visiting the Niagara Falls, this thing to do is probably the first to come to mind.
These are the boats that are on every photo, cruising pas-
sengers right into the falls. If time is limited, or for whatever reason you can only do one excursion while visiting Niagara Falls, it has to be this one!
Like they say on their website, ‘It’s the only way to experience one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders right here in the USA’.
The Maid of the Mist tours go every 15 minutes, and you’ll be on the boat for about 20 minutes.
Before entering the Maid of the Mist you’ll be provided with a poncho. And believe me, you absolutely need it!
Even though you’re provided with a poncho, you’re most likely to get wet or even soaked!
If you want to take photos or video, make sure to take a waterproof camera (GoPro is a great recommendation) with you, as it will get wet. ◙
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