Glowing bodies

Every single person’s body emits a small amount of light that you can’t see with the naked eye. This is caused by biochemical reactions happening during cellular respiration. However, this bioluminescence is about 1,000 times below what your eyes can detect.

It’s only with the help of ultra-sensitive cameras that we can see humans glow. The level of light emitted from your body changes throughout the day and reaches its peak in the late afternoon, around 4 PM.

Shrinking heights

When you wake up in the morning, you’re actually at your tallest height for the day. As you sleep at night, your body’s cartilage discs recharge by decompressing and taking in fluid, giving you more height.

As you go about your day walking and standing up, you’re adding pressure onto your spine, which compresses those discs back down. By the time you go to sleep at night, you could be up to a half-inch shorter than when you woke up.

Constant rhythm

Did you know your heart beats approximately 100,000 times every day? It works non-stop to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. The average heart will beat over 2.5 billion times in a lifetime and it does not take a single break. The heart is an amazing biological engine that works tirelessly to keep you alive.

Shedding skin

The human body continuously loses dead skin cells. We lose about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells per minute. In a lifetime, the average person will shed approximately 40-50 pounds of skin as dust onto their environment. In fact, most of the dust in your house comes from you.

Stomach acids

Did you know the acids inside your stomach could literally melt through a metal nail, a razor blade, or zinc coins? Your stomach constantly secretes so much hydrochloric acid that, without a thick layer of protective mucus to guard your stomach walls from digesting itself, you would suffer severe chemical burns.

Your body replaces your entire mucous stomach lining every few days just to prevent any damage from happening.

Brain energy

Your brain makes up only about two percent of your body weight but uses about twenty percent of your daily supply of oxygen and energy.

When you are wide awake, your brain produces close to 12 to 25 watts of electricity, powering the millions of neurons inside your skull. That’s enough juice to light up a low-wattage LED bulb.

Unique prints

It’s common knowledge that your fingerprints are one-of-a-kind. But did you know your tongue has that same level of uniqueness? Your tongue print is made up of countless swirling geometrics, taste buds, and muscle clefts that could not be duplicated on another person.

A forensic specialist could theoretically take a scanner of your tongue and use it as a near-perfect biometric identifier.

Vanishing bones

When you are born, you have about 300 bones that make up your little body. Some of those bones fuse as you mature through childhood. For example, your skull and spine have bones that fuse tightly together. When you become an adult, your skeleton ends up with a total of 206 bones.

Vessel lengths

If you stretched out and connected every blood vessel in an adult human body, you could wrap them around the Earth’s circumference more than twice. That’s right, your veins, arteries, and capillaries are over 60,000 miles long combined.

Eyeball muscles

Strangely enough, your eyeball muscles are the fastest muscles in your body and are constantly moving. They each make more than 100,000 tiny adjustments every day just to help your eyes focus on moving objects and adjust to changing light. You would have to walk 50 miles each day to work your leg muscles that much.

Cornea oxygen

Your cornea is the only part of the human body that is not supplied by even the smallest amount of blood flow. In order for you to have a clear vision, there can’t be blood cells getting in the way, so your cornea gets its oxygen directly from the air around you. The surface of your eye literally breathes the air in the room to remain alive.

Shedding tears

Humans are the only living creatures known to produce tears as an emotional response to sadness, stress, or happiness. Animals do shed tears to lubricate their eyes or cleanse debris, but those tears do not contain stress hormones like human emotional tears do. When you cry, you are unleashing pain-relieving chemicals, allowing your body to flush away physical stress.

Microbe world

We humans each carry trillions of bacteria on our skin and in our gut. These microbes are actually good for us; they keep our bodies functioning every day by assisting in digestion, educating the immune system, and fending off disease. Without these helpful organisms hard at work inside you, you couldn’t even digest food or fight off infection.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.

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15 misconceptions that have become modern-day ‘facts’

Some misconceptions can get so deeply ingrained in our culture that we unknowingly spout them as facts, even when evidence supports just the opposite.

15 misconceptions that have become modern-day ‘facts’

Strength training

Rather than simply going for a stroll, aging men who stay fit continue to lift weights. Our bodies are naturally programmed to lose muscle mass and become weaker as we age. Resistance training fools your body into maintaining strong bones, keeping your joints from aching, and lifting heavy groceries feels like no effort at all.

Moving all day

These men don’t work out for an hour and then sit on the couch for the rest of the day. They find ways to stay mobile all day long, whether it’s gardening, walking to the local grocer, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Staying constantly active with light movement improves circulation, keeps your joints flexible and lubricated, and prevents pain associated with sitting too much.

Eating enough protein

Fueling your muscles properly with protein (especially at breakfast and lunch) is essential for having lean, strong muscles. Our bodies have a more difficult time breaking down protein as we age to rebuild muscle tissue. Eating eggs, fish, chicken, or beans will help restore your body and keep you energized.

Better sleep habits

Instead of viewing sleep as optional, aging gracefully allows you to prioritize a good night’s rest. Healthy aging males have a set bedtime each night and ensure the bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Restorative sleep allows your brain and body to catch up on cellular repair, clear brain fog, and reboot energy levels for tomorrow.

Drinking water constantly

The natural urge to feel thirsty begins to diminish with age, so most elderly adults walk around chronically dehydrated without even knowing it. Aging males who maintain a high energy level and mental focus learn to make drinking water a regular habit. Staying hydrated allows your kidneys to function properly, avoids unexpected energy crashes, promotes healthy digestion, and can even prevent dry skin.

Trying new challenges

Rather than falling into a pattern of doing the same things every day while watching the same shows on TV, these men seek out new challenges. Activities like learning to play an instrument, practicing foreign languages, or solving puzzles force the brain to create new pathways. Continually challenging your brain is one of the best ways to improve memory.

Balance and core focus

Balance is honestly the best way to avoid serious trips and slips. Performing daily stretches or easy balancing exercises such as one-leg stands or beginner core exercises allows elderly men to stay mobile. It allows them to walk across rocky terrain or use stairs without worrying about a serious injury.

Staying close to friends

Loneliness or isolation is a serious, silent killer that can tear your body down over time. Those aging gracefully take time to keep in touch with friends, join community activities, or volunteer in their area. Talking regularly and sharing a laugh reduce stress and give a strong emotional uplift.

Taking care of skin

Healthy aging shows on your skin too. It’s as simple as moisturizing daily. A basic moisturizer protects skin from becoming thin and fragile. Sunscreen protects skin from harsh UV rays. Keeping skin healthy and robust means fewer wrinkles that are deep or sun spots.

Having a purpose

Men who retire or slow down their pace of life can sometimes feel a little empty. But the energetic elderly never seem to lack motivation because they always have something going. Working on a restoration project, helping with grandchildren, or mentoring others are all great ways to keep them focused on a goal.

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13 trending reasons why women in their 60s leave their husbands

Choosing divorce in your 60s is becoming more common as women decide they want to live their best life, prioritizing themselves.

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Worst: Catherine the Great & Peter III of Russia

Brokered in 1745 to cement the Russian succession, the relationship between German princess Sophie (aka Catherine) and Grand Duke Peter was doomed from the start. Peter emotionally neglected Catherine and liked playing with toy soldiers more than consummating the marriage.

Six months into her miserable reign in 1762, Catherine staged a coup d’etat with the military, imprisoned Peter, took the throne for herself as Empress Catherine, and Peter was quietly assassinated.

Sigismund of Luxembourg & Barbara of Cilli

Contracted when Barbara was still a teenager in 1405 to strengthen Sigismund’s claim to Hungary, the couple loathed each other almost instantly. Sigismund was constantly penniless, absent, and adulterous.

Barbara formed her own merciless political alliances and had openly known lovers. Toward the end of his life, Sigismund became so certain she was staging a coup against him that he had her imprisoned.

George I & Sophia Dorothea of Celle

George I & Sophia Dorothea of Celle Married in 1682 to bring together German lands, but theirs was a marriage fueled by hatred. George took mistresses publicly, leaving Sophia Dorothea alone and depressed enough to start an affair with a Swedish count.

After discovering the affair in 1694, her lover vanished (likely George had him killed). George then had Sophia Dorothea imprisoned in a remote castle for the next 32 years until her death.

Eleanor of Aquitaine & Louis VII of France

The high-spirited Eleanor was married to Louis VII of France in 1137 to bring rich Aquitaine under the French crown. Eleanor despised her exceedingly pious and monk-like husband. They fell apart as spouses during the Second Crusade due to constant bickering over differences in military strategy and alleged adultery.

Ultimately realizing that they would have no son, the couple annulled their marriage in 1152, after which Eleanor married Louis’ archrival, Henry II of England.

Philip the Handsome & Juana of Castile

Meant to unite Spain and the Habsburg lands when it was arranged in 1496, love turned sour between Philip and Juana due to his rampant infidelity and her resultant jealous temperament.

Upon Juana’s ascension to Castile, Philip declared her insane in order to claim her throne. When he died in 1506, her father and son imprisoned her in a convent where she stayed for the next 50 years.

Caroline of Brunswick & George IV

Contracted in 1795 to settle George IV’s debts, the couple loathed each other upon meeting and lived apart after having one child. Upon ascending to the throne in 1820, Caroline returned to London demanding her place as queen.

George put her on public trial in Parliament for adultery. The trial scandalized Britain by airing its dirtiest laundry in public via the press and ended with Caroline physically barred from entering his coronation.

Ingeborg of Denmark & Philip II of France

Married in 1193 to provide naval support against England, the alliance disappeared the day after the ceremony when Philip II took an immediate dislike to his eighteen-year-old bride, Ingeborg.

When she denied his request for an immediate annulment, he became enraged and imprisoned her in remote castles for close to two decades. Ingeborg repeatedly appealed to the Vatican, living in captivity until finally the Pope convinced Philip to recognize her as Queen once again in 1213.

King John & Isabella of Gloucester

Prince John married his cousin Isabella because she was extremely wealthy and owned much land. When John ascended to the throne of England in 1199, however, he no longer needed her land and desired a new political alliance with a foreign country.

He immediately cast her aside and had their marriage annulled, saying they were second cousins (something he conveniently overlooked at the time of marriage). He imprisoned her in the Tower of London for years and later sold her to the highest bidder.

The Best: Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal

Made to marry for political purposes when they were teenagers, their marriage blossomed into one of history’s great love stories. Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan’s most trusted political advisor, traveling with him during his military expeditions and keeper of the imperial seal.

Upon her death in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child, Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal constructed as her mausoleum and spent the next 20 years creating a testament to his sorrow.

Queen Victoria & Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Despite being organized by their mutual uncle, Leopold of Belgium, to benefit the Coburg family’s power, their 1840 marriage became a close personal and political union.

Albert became Victoria’s principal private secretary and political advisor, changing the course of the British monarchy’s involvement in social spheres. Victoria adored him, and after his death in 1861 she continued to wear black mourning clothes for the next 40 years of her life.

Queen Isabella I of Castile & King Ferdinand II of Aragon

Betrothed in secrecy in 1469, this union of rivals began the formation of modern-day Spain. Under constant political pressure and threats from rivalry, Isabella and Ferdinand became power-sharing equals who respected and depended on each other.

Together they finished the Reconquista, financed Columbus’ 1492 expedition, and established Spain as a world power.

Mary of Guelders & King James II of Scotland

Married in 1449 to secure an important trade and military alliance between Scotland and the Duchy of Burgundy, the match was particularly successful. Mary became adept at navigating Scottish politics and won the intense love and respect of James.

Upon his death by a freak accident from an exploding cannon while besieging a fortress in 1460, Mary became regent to her infant son and continued her husband’s military endeavors while steadying the kingdom.

Emperor Qianlong & Empress Xiaoxianchun

Married when he was a prince and she was a member of the Fuca clan in 1727, she brought stability to the Qing dynasty. The Empress was remembered as modest, wise, and soft-spoken, which allowed her to maintain control of the royal household.

Her death in 1748 at age 36 from sudden illness threw the Emperor into a depression and he wrote mournful poems for her for the remainder of his reign.

George V & Mary of Teck

Mary was initially engaged to George’s older brother, Prince Albert Victor. When he died of influenza in 1892, Queen Victoria insisted that George marry Mary to maintain the line of succession.

Married in 1893, they cultivated a strong, intensely loyal love for one another that lasted the rest of their lives. George had 42 years with Mary, and she became his most trusted confidante. She supported him through both the fall of European monarchies during World War I and the modernization of the British Crown.

King Edward I & Eleanor of Castile

Arranged in 1254 as part of a land dispute settlement between England and Spain, theirs became one of history’s most romantic medieval love stories. Eleanor accompanied Edward everywhere, including on a crusade to the Holy Land.

Upon Eleanor’s death in 1290, a heartbroken Edward commissioned twelve lavish stone monuments (known as the “Eleanor Crosses”) at every location where Eleanor’s funeral procession paused on its way to London.

Henry VII & Elizabeth of York

Negotiated in 1486 as a means to bring the feuding houses of Lancaster and York to peace, this dynastic marriage brought an end to the Wars of the Roses.

Initially arranged solely to strengthen Henry’s claim as king, theirs became a loving and truly devoted relationship. Henry broke with precedent and kept no royal mistress. Grief-stricken when Elizabeth died in 1503, Henry fell seriously ill, retired from public life, and remained a widower.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.

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5 royals who married for love & 5 with arranged marriages

Royal marriages throughout history have traditionally been made for political reasons, but every now and then, love managed to change the story.

5 royals who married for love & 5 with arranged marriages

Kitchen knives and can openers

Cheap stainless steel kitchen utensils bend under pressure, become dull after one use, and begin to rust after being washed only a few times. Cheap hand-operated can openers are also frustrating. Their inexpensive internal mechanisms will strip out or come loose from the can lip, gouge jagged metal shavings into your food, or snap in two after only several uses.

Batteries

Generic alkaline batteries may be cheap when compared by price per unit, but they contain only a small fraction of the power of name-brand alkaline or lithium batteries. Put them in a medium or high-drain battery-powered appliance such as an electronic clock, video game controller, or laptop mouse, and they’ll die after a few hours.

They are also susceptible to bursting open and leaking extremely corrosive acid onto the battery contacts inside your electronics, destroying them permanently.

Phone chargers and charging cables

Who doesn’t love a cheap charging cable? Especially when you need one right now. Well, unfortunately, those cheap cables tend to fray up and break or loosen within a few months of use. They may even charge your phone slower than the official ones.

Non-stick cookware

Cheap non-stick pans have thinner coatings that will scratch and deteriorate very quickly. When the coating starts flaking off, everything will stick, and it will be frustrating to use the pan. Cheap pans are also usually thin and heat poorly.

Power bars and extension cords

Low-cost power bars and extension cords may not be made of the same sturdy material or have surge protection as name-brand products do. If it’s just for everyday household use, that is okay. But don’t put your expensive electronics, like your computer or television, on the line. It just isn’t worth it.

Pet food

Dollar stores often sell pet food/treats for great prices. However, read the ingredient list closely. Some may have more fillers and less quality ingredients than higher brands. An occasional treat won’t hurt, but what your pet eats on a daily basis can affect its future health.

Plastic food storage containers

Inexpensive containers may appear to be nearly identical to high-priced versions, until after repeated use. They crack more easily, can stain from tomato sauce or other foods, and may bend after microwaving or dishwashing. Leaks and spills are common with low-cost containers that have imprecisely fitting lids.

Tools you’ll use regularly

Maybe you only need a screwdriver every couple of years. If that’s the case, then by all means get the cheap one. However, if you do your own home repairs, assembly projects or general DIY stuff around the house, you’ll find cheap tools just don’t last. Handles fall off, metal tips bend, joints that are supposed to move will give out.

Adhesive tape and glue

When it comes to tape and glue, not all are created equal. Cheap brands tend to have less adhesive quality that rips or dries out easily. This is incredibly annoying when you are wrapping presents or trying to repair something. Invest in a name brand and you will notice the difference in quality.

Cosmetics and makeup brushes

Dollar stores stock many beauty items. While some items can be great deals, quality can be hit or miss. Cheap makeup brushes tend to drop bristles, be scratchy on skin, or fall apart after one use in the washer. Others don’t apply as seamlessly or wear as long as other products throughout the day.

Children’s craft supplies

Cheap art supplies like dollar store markers, crayons, paints, and glue sticks will work okay if you only need them for something every once in a while. They tend to dry out quicker, have faded colors or break easily. If your kid loves to color all the time, you’ll be replacing them so much it’ll end up costing you more than if you’d bought quality stuff to begin with.

Reusable water bottles

Cheaper bottles may dent or crack, or get leaks with frequent use. Some bottles also hold smells or stains more easily than others, depending on what you use it for (i.e., flavored water). If you are taking a bottle to work/school/gym daily, investing in a good one will usually last significantly longer and make your drinking experiences much better.

Over-the-counter medications and vitamins

Name-brand OTC medications have strict controls, but dollar store supplements/bottled pain relievers are often at their sell-by dates. Also, unit pricing on low pill counts never beats the cost of bottles sold at drugstores or warehouse clubs.

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10 food products that are worth buying at the dollar store

Not all grocery products at the dollar store are steals, but most of these foods are worth stocking up on because they’re affordable without being low-quality.

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Daily Tim Hortons and Specialty coffee runs

Stopping for a $5 cup of coffee and breakfast snack each day doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it really adds up to more than $150 per month per person. In a year, it’s very easy for a couple to spend $3,000 on drive-thru convenience without even noticing.

Spending the extra time to brew coffee at home will free up that money instantly.

Food delivery apps

Ordering dinner using apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash might seem like a good idea on an exhausted weeknight. Fees, delivery costs, and tips add up to double what you spend on food.

That inexpensive $20 takeout order can turn into $40 before it reaches your door. Swapping to pick up your own meals or having convenient frozen meals stocked at home saves you hundreds each month.

Unused subscriptions

Streaming services, gym memberships you never use, and app subscriptions on auto-pay bleed money without you noticing. Since you’re spending $10-$25 here and there on different credit cards and different days, it seems harmless.

Go through your bank statements every few months and cancel unnecessary subscriptions. You’ll immediately free up consistent money.

High Canadian Bank and mutual fund fees

Canada charges some of the highest mutual fund fees in the developed world. These fees can devour 2% or more of your investment returns annually.

Paying $15-$30 monthly in checking account fees for not maintaining ultra-high minimum balances just rubs salt in the wound. Moving your money to fee-free digital banks and low-cost index ETFs allows far more of it to work for you.

Unplanned “Target-Style” trips to big-box stores

Going to Costco or Superstore for two things always ends up with a $250 bill for bulk snacks and household items. While buying in bulk can save you money, purchasing unnecessary items in bulk will just waste your money and food. Avoid small impulse buys by shopping with a predetermined, written list.

Small credit card balances month-to-month

It seems easy to carry a low balance on your credit card when you pay only the minimum due amount. But with Canadian interest rates hovering above 20%, even small balances can become long-term debt.

Before your next paycheck even arrives, interest is taking a silent bite out of your earnings. Use your credit cards like debit cards; pay your statement in full.

Upgrading smartphones on 24-month financing contracts

Contract phone plans from major Canadian carriers charge you an additional $30-$60/month for your device. It feels normal to pay upwards of $120/month per line because the price is packaged, but owning your paid-off phone cuts your bill in half. Families save thousands in a few years by switching to BYOD (bring-your-own-device) plans with discount carriers.

Name-brand groceries over house brands

Buying name-brand cereal, canned goods, and cleaning supplies instead of store brands such as No Name, Great Value, or Compliments silently costs you 20% to 30% more at the grocery store.

Ingredients for many pantry staples are exactly the same, but that extra percentage adds up by the end of the month. One of the simplest swaps to lower your food budget is trading brand names for store-brand versions.

Frequent gas station and convenience store pitstops

Gas stations or corner store stops for bottled beverages, energy cans, or junk food are extremely expensive compared to purchasing these items at your normal grocery store.

Spending $4 on one drink or $5 for a bag of chips several times a week can effortlessly leach away $50 or more per month. Bringing snacks and a reusable water bottle instead will allow you to keep that spare change.

“Buy Now, Pay Later” services for small purchases

Breaking up a $120 clothing or electronics bill into four small $30 installments tricks your brain into thinking you basically got it for free.

As various installment purchases get stacked on top of each other from paycheck to paycheck, they stealthily consume your future earnings and lead to surprising cash shortfalls. Be mindful of your little discretionary purchases and think of them as one-time deals.

Over-insuring older vehicles with low deductibles

Maintaining a low deductible on an older vehicle costs Canadians more than they need every month at the pump. Increasing your deductible just $250 to $1,000 could save you thousands on annual premiums and still cover you in case of serious accidents. An annual review of your policy with your broker can keep you from overpaying on coverages you don’t need.

Ignoring home heating efficiency in winter

Unsealed drafty windows, cranking up the thermostat, or otherwise ignoring heat loss will rapidly inflate your heating bills throughout the Canadian winter.

Low-cost solutions such as window insulation film and a programmable thermostat can net you savings of hundreds of dollars when it matters most. Seal up those small drafts around doors and windows to prevent your money from flowing out.

Buying lunch at work

It doesn’t seem like much. Paying $15 to $20 for lunch downtown three days each week is just part of working. But it adds up to over $200 per month per person.

Add stopping for coffee each morning, and daily food costs can exceed $3,000 per year. If you pack leftovers or make simple lunches at home, you’ll have that extra money for worthwhile savings or weekend activities.

Paying out-of-network ATM and transaction fees

Every time you use an out-of-network ATM or go over monthly transaction limits on bottom-of-the-line basic accounts, you’re charged $3-$7 in fees.

That $5 charge doesn’t seem like enough to sweat over when you make that decision, but several times a month adds up to more than $100 per year for absolutely no reason. Use your bank’s branded ATMs or get cash back at grocery stores instead.

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15 ways Canadians waste money without realizing it

Many Canadians lose money in small, everyday ways without noticing, but these habits can quietly add up over time.

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Love: Elizabeth Woodville & Edward IV

King Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville is possibly Britain’s most scandalous love story. Elizabeth was a beautiful widow with two children and had no royal status.

Edward fell madly in love with her and took her as his queen in secret in 1464, sabotaging a major political alliance with France, which his main adviser had been negotiating. His decision, made solely out of love and passion, infuriated many of the nobles and led to decades of ruinous rebellions against the English crown.

Love: King Edward VIII & Wallis Simpson

King Edward VIII caused one of the largest modern-day scandals when he gave up the British crown for the woman he loved. He fell in love with twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson, who, by British standards (and by Church of England rules), was completely unacceptable to become his queen.

Faced with an ultimatum to choose between his country or Mrs. Simpson, Edward chose love and signed the official document to abdicate the throne of England in 1936.

Love: Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth II fell in love with Prince Philip as a teenager and insisted on marrying him in 1947 despite concerns from establishment figures who viewed Philip as a foreigner with comparatively little money.

However, the couple enjoyed the longest royal marriage in British history, lasting over 73 years. Philip was by Queen Elizabeth’s side through decades of history as her partner and greatest supporter.

Love: Tsar Nicholas II & Tsarina Alexandra

Nicholas II of Russia refused to bow to intense family pressure to select a politically advantageous bride and instead chose to wed Princess Alix of Hesse. Both of Nicholas’s parents were adamantly opposed to the union, but none could deny the deep love between Nicholas and Alix that was expressed in the hundreds of loving, intimate letters they shared over the course of their lives.

Their love for one another would be their refuge and remained strong even as their world fell apart around them during the Russian Revolution.

Love: King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden met Silvia Sommerlath, a German-Brazilian woman working as an educational host, during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Since Scandinavian law prohibited royal princes from keeping their titles if they married non-royal commoners, Carl Gustaf could not marry Silvia until he ascended to the throne.

He married her in 1976, setting a new trend for modern European royals to follow by marrying commoners.

Arranged: King Henry VII & Elizabeth of York

Contracted purely to bring peace to England and conclude the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII’s marriage to Elizabeth of York (the eldest daughter of King Edward IV) aligned the houses of Lancaster and York under his newly established Tudor dynasty.

Although the marriage initially began as a political arrangement, the couple grew to become equals and true partners.

Arranged: King Louis XIV & Maria Theresa of Spain

The marriage of Maria Theresa and Louis XIV was purely political to end over 50 years of constant warfare between the nations of France and Spain.

The Spanish princess was married to the King of France to ratify the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1660. At the time of their arranged marriage, Louis was more interested in other ladies and spent most of his time away from Maria with royal mistresses.

Arranged: King George V & Queen Mary (1893)

The marriage of this prominent British royal couple was entirely orchestrated by Queen Victoria in order to continue the line of succession. Mary was initially engaged to George’s eldest brother, Prince Albert Victor. When he unexpectedly died of influenza, the royal family felt it only right for George to step in and marry his brother’s fiancée.

What began as a loveless marriage of political obligation blossomed into a deep respect and love that the couple shared for each other. They became the picture of stability for the British monarchy throughout WWI.

Arranged: Marie Louise & Napoleon Bonaparte

Marie Louise of Austria married Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810, forging an alliance meant to bring peace between France and Austria after years of war.

She was only 18 years old and had never met the famed general. Napoleon was rapidly building his empire and wanted an heir through marriage to solidify his dynasty. They did have a son together and their relationship was founded in state affairs rather than romance.

Arranged: Marie Antoinette & King Louis XVI

Fourteen-year-old Austrian Archduchess Marie Antoinette was sent to France to marry teenager Louis-Auguste, the future King of France, as part of a powerful political alliance meant to heal years of hostile tensions between Austria and France.

Both were ill-equipped to handle the pressures of life at the lavish royal court of Versailles. Their awkward arranged relationship took seven years to consummate, which led to vicious speculation that ruined both their reputations long before the French Revolution.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.

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15 foods, drinks you’ll never see on a British royal menu

The British royal family enjoys plenty of great food, but some everyday favourites are rarely, if ever, found on the royal menu.

15 foods, drinks you’ll never see on a British royal menu

Riga, Latvia

Latvia’s capital city of Riga has Europe’s highest percentage of women to men at about 126 women for every 100 men. Contributing factors to this major single-women population include Latvia’s high rates of women enrolling in universities, a huge life expectancy gap between genders, and emigration of Latvian men.

Porto, Portugal

Porto ranks among Western Europe’s largest cities with a majority female population of 122.7 women for every 100 men. Porto is home to a major university in the country, as well as a growing service and tourism industry.

Salamanca, Spain

Known throughout the world as a center for higher education, Salamanca has a female majority with 120.6 women for every 100 men. With tens of thousands of female university students attending Spain’s University of Salamanca, this city has a heavy influx of young single female professionals and students fueling an active social life.

Łódź, Poland

Although overshadowed by the capital city of Warsaw, the industrial city of Łódź (once a textile giant) has long had one of Central Europe’s most female-heavy populations. Currently, there are approximately 118.7 adult women for every 100 men living there. The presence of light industry along with schools and hospitals continues to ensure that there are large numbers of women living independently there.

Thessaloniki, Greece

Greece’s multicultural city boasts a substantial female majority of approximately 115 women to every 100 men. Host to Greece’s largest student population, single women fuel Salonica’s café culture and arts scene.

Lisbon, Portugal

Portugal’s capital reflects national demographic trends, holding a ratio of roughly 114 women for every 100 men. Lisbon attracts single working women from around Europe due to its high concentration of corporate headquarters, tech hubs, and government positions.

Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw has seen a consistent migration of young women leaving rural communities to attend university and work in corporate positions. Women outnumber men in every category of university degrees earned throughout Poland, which has left Warsaw’s city center populated with hundreds of thousands of single career women.

Budapest, Hungary

Similar to other Eastern European capitals, Budapest has high female life expectancy and urban career developments which result in a majority woman population. Budapest’s public transportation, walkable neighborhoods, and large university settings attract women living independently.

Paris, France

France overall has a relatively balanced ratio, but Paris consistently tops the country in female-only residencies. High housing density, excellent public transportation, and an enormous employment industry centered around fashion, media, and technology have resulted in a large percentage of Parisian women choosing to live on their own well into adulthood.

Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden places a lot of emphasis on being independent and living alone. Because public welfare is dependable, city spaces are safe to be in alone, and women have high career involvement, single occupancy is very common in Stockholm. The city frequently has one of the highest rates of unmarried women living alone in northern Europe.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.

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Did you know these 17 US cities changed their names

Some of the biggest cities in the United States had completely different names when they were first founded.

Did you know these 17 US cities changed their names

Vintage linens and handmade quilts

Stained, shredded quilts and embroidered tablecloths are discarded all the time, but to textile collectors and crafters, they’re priceless. Patchwork aficionados will pay good money for ratty old quilts if they can use them as cutter quilts to make upscale vintage jackets, pillows, and works of art.

Pre-1965 coins

Coins including the dime, quarter, and half-dollar were made of 90% solid silver until 1965 in the United States. Since they resemble today’s pocket change so closely, most people spend them at face value or toss them into change jars, not knowing that the melt value of the metal is worth many times face value.

Rusted cast iron cookware

Old, rusty skillets that have been sitting in an attic or shed for years are often thrown away as trash. Cast iron will practically never rust away; soaking it in vinegar and re-seasoning it will make those antique treasures by sought-after brands such as Griswold or Wagner, worth hundreds of dollars.

Old postcards and ephemera

Boxes of old letters, handwritten postcards, antique instruction manuals, and paper restaurant menus are among the most commonly discarded paper-based printed items during home spring-cleaning sales.

Ephemera collectors pay premium prices for vintage postcards depicting lost towns, early flight, bizarre ads, or notable moments in history.

Vintage VHS tapes and media

Ordinary blockbuster tapes are worthless, but copies of rare horror movies, cult films, local wrestling promos, and obscure/unreleased videos on VHS can go for hundreds or even thousands of dollars apiece. Since lots of these tapes have never been converted to digital media/DVD, there’s huge demand for these rare physical copies.

Incomplete board games and toys

Incomplete board games or damaged vintage toys often find their way into the trash can, while individual replacement parts such as original metal game pieces, orphan cards, funky dice, or vintage action figure accessories garner quick sales online to hobbyists trying to fill holes in their collection.

Vintage costume jewelry

Old, tarnished costume jewelry found in dusty boxes tends to be thought of as junk metal. Signed vintage costume by known makers such as Haskell, Trifari, or Boucher can actually be worth more than new fine jewelry. Even unmarked pieces usually hold real silver, gold fill, or vintage glass beads that are collectible.

Discontinued perfumes

When cleaning out bathrooms, we often dispose of half-empty bottles of old perfume. Since fragrance companies tend to reformulate or discontinue popular fragrances, older versions of beloved perfumes such as Chanel, Dior, or Avon are highly coveted by collectors who will pay top dollar.

First-edition books and vintage paperbacks

Library purges frequently include discarded hardcovers whose dust jackets are long gone, and worn paperbacks. Collectors are always searching for first printings, little-known sci-fi paperbacks with amazing covers, and early copies of classic literature that may be worth a lot of money even with cosmetic damage.

Broken electronics and power supplies

Defunct gaming consoles, stereo receivers, and obsolete computer towers routinely become e-waste when tossed aside. Inside their circuit boards are valuable gold, silver, and copper. Original OEM power adapters, rare cables, and guts are commonly sold as replacements.

Old camera lenses

Old analog camera bodies and manual focus lenses are often discarded, viewed as old technology. Many contemporary digital photographers purchase older manual focus lenses, particularly older M42 or Leica mounts, to mount on current mirrorless camera bodies for their unique vintage glass characteristics.

Mid-century modern hardware

People often throw away original mid-century drawer pulls, brass doorknob sets, light switches, and starburst backplates during renovations to make homes look more modern. However, restoration enthusiasts spend large sums of money on reproduction period hardware to update old homes with period-correct details.

Architectural salvage and old wood

Stained glass windows, reclaimed solid wood doors, wrought iron railings, old floorboards being stripped out during demolition all too often end up going directly to the landfill. But architectural salvage yards and custom home builders will pay premium prices for these vintage high-quality materials that are no longer made.

Vintage advertising tins and crates

Used rusty coffee cans, old oil tins, wooden fruit crates, and soda signs that sit in barns or basements aren’t treasures at first sight. However, people who collect “petroliana” and old Americana pay hundreds of dollars for original vintage advertising products with colorful graphics and intact logos.

Old video game consoles and cartridges

You might toss out classic gaming consoles and boxes of loose cartridges stored in your attic because you think no one uses physical media anymore. However, retro gaming prices have skyrocketed, and even beat-up consoles, boxes, original controllers, and loose cartridges from the 1980s and 1990s are worth quite a bit.

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Don’t save these 13 objects thinking they’ll be valuable one day

Collecting things with the intention that they’ll somehow cover your mortgage someday is easy to do, but most nostalgia collector markets for mass-produced items have crashed and burned.

Don’t save these 13 objects thinking they’ll be valuable one day

Hygiene risks

Clothing, linens, and shoes donated to thrift stores are rarely washed and placed directly on shelves for sale. Thus, your clothing purchases may include invisible bedbugs, scabies mites, skin fungi, or even bacteria left over from the original wearer.

The need to sanitize every item you buy will turn what should be a quick trip into hours of decontamination at home.

Hidden damage

Thrift store items are often discarded by their original owners for a reason. They may have structural damage that’s unbelievably difficult to spot when illuminated by harsh thrift store lighting.

It could have defective zippers, missing electronic parts, broken seams, or odors. Since thrift stores nearly always have a zero-tolerance policy on returns, you are stuck with the item once you buy it.

Gentrification pricing

Due to the influx of corporate resellers and viral trends online, thrift store prices have inflated far past their initial value. Prices at some chain thrift stores are now listing used fast fashion items for more than their brand-new price on clearance at retail stores.

This price-gouging takes advantage of the thrifting trend and pushes out low-income shoppers who need to thrift to survive.

Toxic chemicals

Vintage furniture, old toys, and antique plates from thrift store shelves often fall below today’s consumer safety regulations. Products made before the late 1900s are prone to containing excessive amounts of lead paint, asbestos, or toxic chemicals in their coatings that wear away with age.

You are unknowingly inviting these harmful toxins into your home and kitchen.

Extreme clutter

Cluttered racks and stacks and stacks of merchandise can assault your senses and cause severe decision fatigue. The sensory overload can lead to compulsive shopping.

You’ll find yourself buying cheap things you don’t need or even like just because of its perceived value. Before you know it, your house is stuffed with poor-quality thrift store junk, sabotaging any possibility of intentional and budget-conscious shopping.

Reseller culture

Professional resellers who clear out entire inventory racks to flip the best items online for an insane profit have ruined the organic thrifting experience.

It used to be relaxing digging through clothes at your local thrift store. Now you have people fighting you over nice vintage pieces, winter coats, and plus-sized clothing. They clear out the whole section within minutes of it coming in.

Expired safety

Infant car seats, bike helmets, cribs, and any electrical appliances should absolutely never be bought used. They have manufacturers’ guidelines for how long you can use them, and safety features that wear down with time or disaster (like an accident).

You have no way of knowing if a thrift store item has been in a car accident or recalled, so you’re literally gambling with your life and your family’s.

Fragility issues

Vintage clothing and antique furniture have been through decades of wear and tear already. Their structural integrity is already compromised.

That gorgeous mid-century dress hanging in your closet might look great but will shred itself from normal wear in the washing machine or from walking down the street. Spending money on delicate items that will need pricey maintenance will empty your pockets.

Sizing inconsistency

Thrifting for clothes can be inconvenient because sizing charts throughout history are different from how clothes are sized today. Also, clothes tend to shrink, stretch, or owners may have had clothes altered, which makes the size on the tag useless.

Trying on ill-fitting pieces for hours on end in small, dusty dressing rooms can be completely aggravating.

Time drain

Discovering one good-quality wearable or useful item at a thrift store takes dozens of hours and pounds of your physical strength. You’ve got to be prepared to travel to various places, sift through piles of unorganized hangers, and sort through row after row of damaged home goods.

Most professional people simply don’t have enough time to lose to justify saving a couple of bucks at a thrift store.

Ethical theft

When middle-and higher-income shoppers empty thrift stores of good items to create trendy aesthetic closets, they are taking resources from low-income people who then have limited access to interview clothes, durable coats, and school supplies for their kids.

By being part of this trend, you may be involuntarily upholding a system that steals from marginalized communities.

Counterfeit traps

Thrift stores are now inundated with near-perfect counterfeit designer clothing, fake luxury handbags, and knockoff electronics. Employees usually lack the expertise to identify quality replicas when pricing these goods. So you could end up accidentally overpaying for a completely fake product.

Internal rot

Pre-owned footwear and couches will always adapt to their previous owner’s unique body shape, stride pattern, and spinal alignment.

Secondhand shoes with compressed interior support will lead to crippling misalignments, foot aches, and chronic joint injuries. Secondhand mattresses and couches will often contain built-up interior odor, dead skin, and irreversible structural sagging.

Poor selection

Thrift stores are limited to whatever random assortment of goods happens to get donated by people in your town. You have absolutely no control or influence over this selection.

If you walk into a thrift store needing a certain item in a certain size or color, you are almost surely going to fail. You’ll end up spending hours searching for something that either doesn’t fit you right or isn’t the style you’re looking for.

Corporate greed

Some of the largest and most well-known thrift store chains are actually billion-dollar predatory for-profit corporations posing as friendly neighborhood charities.

They get all of their merchandise for free from generous people in our communities, pay disabled employees under-the-table salaries using legal loopholes, and spend millions of dollars on executive bonuses. When you shop at these stores, you are funding corporate greed.

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Don’t save these 13 objects thinking they’ll be valuable one day

Collecting things with the intention that they’ll somehow cover your mortgage someday is easy to do, but most nostalgia collector markets for mass-produced items have crashed and burned.

Don’t save these 13 objects thinking they’ll be valuable one day

Herb tithing

The ancient religious law required farmers to give God 10% of their grain, wine, and olive oil harvests. Religious teachers took this a step further by keeping track of every tenth leaf of less significant garden herbs such as mint, dill, and cumin.

Jesus criticized them for making such a big deal out of small matters when they completely neglected issues of greater importance like justice and mercy.

Showy robes

Religious leaders wore boxes full of Scripture on their foreheads and arms (phylacteries), along with extra-long strings hanging from their cloaks. They started making their boxes fancier and enlarging their fringes so they would appear more religious.

Jesus denounced such visual displays, calling them hollow showmanship performed for admiration and recognition.

VIP seating

During meals in ancient times, guests were seated according to rank, with honored guests sitting closest to the host. Religious leaders regularly pushed ahead to take the seats of honor because of their religious positions.

Jesus criticized them for their inflated self-righteousness and instructed that they should sit in the lowest place and show humility.

Temple commerce

People wanting to worship at the temple in Jerusalem had to purchase perfectly clean animals for sacrifice. They also had to exchange their Roman coins for currency approved by the temple.

The religious leaders eventually turned the temple forecourt into a profitable bazaar with inflated exchange rates, robbing unsuspecting poor travelers. Jesus became angry and overturned their tables, denouncing them for making a house of prayer into a den of robbers.

Performative fasting

Fasting was originally an ancient private practice done to take time to pray and reflect. Rather than keeping it private, many religious traditionalists made themselves look miserable, neglected personal hygiene, and smudged ashes on their faces so everyone would know they were fasting.

Jesus condemned them for being hypocrites. He told his disciples to wash their faces, and look perfectly normal while fasting, keeping the fast private.

Public praying

In the ancient world, there were prescribed times of the day when people would stop what they were doing and pray while standing. Some individuals would purposely schedule their day so that they would happen to be standing at major public street corners bustling with people when the prayer time came.

They would then say dramatic prayers aloud just to impress those passing by. Jesus denounced this practice, instructing people not to make a spectacle out of prayer but rather to pray to God in private.

Financial loopholes

The old law required children to care for their elderly parents. The Pharisees created a loophole for this. If a person said that his money was Corban (a gift promised to the temple that could never be used for anyone else’s needs), he was allowed to legally keep his money and ignore his elderly parent as they starved to death. Jesus was adamant about this kind of hypocrisy.

Tricky oaths

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day taught a very convoluted set of rules about swearing oaths. They said if you swore by the temple, you were off the hook, but if you swore by the gold in the temple, you were legally bound.

Jesus revealed their silly system was devised to allow people to swear, lie, and cheat without feeling guilty. Instead, he told them to simply let their “yes” be yes and their “no” be no.

Sabbath rest rules

Sabbath was created as a merciful gift so that exhausted workers, slaves, and even animals would have one day of rest each week. Unfortunately, religious leaders added hundreds of nitpicky restrictions to the basic principle.

It became unlawful to carry a mat or picnic blanket, pick grain or pluck herbs, or heal a chronic sickness on that day. Jesus challenged these absurd traditions. The Sabbath exists to lift people up, he taught, not keep them enslaved in suffering.

Ritual handwashing

Custom decreed that before eating, one must wash one’s hands ritually in an elaborate fashion to cleanse oneself of spiritual uncleanness. Jesus’ disciples were admonished by the religious leaders for not following this tradition, and Jesus justified his disciples by redefining uncleanness.

He said that it does not defile you when you eat with unwashed hands, but defilement comes from the evil thoughts, greediness, malice, and deceit that come from within man.

Toxic discipleship

The religious authorities of Jesus’ day were zealous missionaries, spreading their message across land and sea, trying to get outsiders to follow their particular religion.

Jesus criticized them because instead of bringing new converts into freedom, love, and transformation, they burdened them with the same old legalistic requirements. He cautioned that this toxic cycle only produced followers twice as judgmental and closed-minded as their masters.

Burdensome rules

The religious elite had engineered thousands of tertiary-level rules which they imposed upon the general population as ‘rules from God.’ Jesus criticized this practice since they took their religious leverage to burden people with tiresome, impossible demands, but were completely resistant to providing actual assistance, sympathy, or relief.

Honoring the dead

The religious leaders loved constructing magnificent edifices, decking tombs with finery, and exalting the great prophets of history who had died hundreds of years ago. But at the very same time, they were scheming to silence and kill anyone who threatened their present system of authority.

Jesus exposed the great hypocrisy of this tradition, explaining that it’s easy to honor a dead prophet who can no longer oppose you, but deny the truth right in front of your eyes.

Exploiting widows

Widows were some of the most vulnerable and impoverished members of society in the ancient world. They depended solely on the community for support. Far too often, however, religious leaders exploited these women; their prestigious positions allowed them to manipulate widows, seize their homes and possessions through unjust legal and financial tactics.

Jesus denounced this practice, stating that even lengthy, eloquent prayers will not cover up the sin of destroying the lives of the poor.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.

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11 moral warnings found in the Bible

Long before modern self-help books, the Bible had some strong words of advice about the choices we shouldn’t make.

11 moral warnings found in the Bible