March 17 FREE PREP

Shika’s Wellness
​
So I did a thing this weekend. I had a rough week emotionally nothing major just life. I just wanted to pout. So I turned my phone off. It made  me realize a few things.
One….how ADDICTIVE your phone can be. I never realized how MUCH I was mindlessly scrolling on my phone.

Two……it’s good to disconnect for a day and just FOCUS on WHAT you  NEED to DO. I got a fair amount accomplished around my place.

Three…..I was able to focus on my well being and by eliminating unnecessary distractions or negativity.

Now doing this may not be possible for everyone…..but try it at least for a few minutes each day.  


Today Is March 21
Act Happy Day
Camp Fire Girls Day
Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
Doctor-Patient Trust Day
Dribble to Work Day
National Wellderly Day
St. Patrick's Day
Submarine Day


March 17 Historical Events
On this day everyone is a little bit Irish- It’s Saint Patrick’s Day! 
First Saint Patrick’s Day parade in NYC.  (1762)
The rubber band was invented by Stephen Perry in London. Can you imagine life without them!?! (1845)
Golda Meir becomes the first female Prime Minister of Israel. (1969)


Fun Fact
People make searches on Google approximately 14 billion times per day. 

Trivia
Q: 40% of people admit they have cut vacation short because of THIS?
A: They wanted to beat the traffic!


Food For Thought
A person that truly loves you will never let you go, no matter how hard the situation is.


Tidbits
EWWWWWWWW

Expert reveals the surprising things you may find in food

1. Beaver butt secretion is used to flavor luxury desserts
2. Mucus membrane from the stomach of goats is used to make cheese
3. Heavy metal in tuna steaks


Gooo Goo Ga Ga

A baby is born on its predicted due date just 4% of the time.

You Like It??? Then I Like It

34% of daily users ages 13 and older have  purchased products based on a recommendation from an influencer or blogger on Instagram

Read all About It from OnePoll

A survey of adults found they go abroad an average of once a year, reading an average of 2.3 books each time.

Favourite genres when enjoying some downtime away include mysteries (30 per cent) and thrillers (29 per cent), with men more avid holiday readers than women.

AND

29 per cent would feel ashamed of being seen reading a romance book on public transport during their commute, 17 per cent are more confident about book choices when on holiday, reading subject matter they’d be too embarrassed to when at home.

Also

68 per cent of respondents are still faithful to good old-fashioned paper books, with only 17 per cent preferring e-readers.
Three quarters (76 per cent) would also be happy to donate a book they’d read and loved, so someone else could enjoy it

Don’t Do This is Front Of Mom
Cursing when in pain releases Enkephalin. This raises your pain tolerance causing you to hurt less.


Entertainment

In History
On this day in music, March 17, 2010, Big Star co-founder Alex Chilton passed away at the age of 59. The Memphis-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist was just 16 when he recorded “The Letter” with the Box Tops. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 and brought the group international fame but in 1970, Chilton quit to form Big Star, alongside Chris Bell, Andy Hummel, and Jody Stephens. While the band (who were some of the earliest purveyors of power pop) were largely ignored by the public during their heyday, Big Star eventually garnered a cult following and became a significant influence on the alt-rock scene of the 80s and 90s. In addition to his work with Big Star, Chilton also recorded several solo albums, including 1979’s highly regarded Like Flies On Sherbert.
In 1979, disco queen Gloria Gaynor began a month-long reign at the summit of the UK pop chart with her feminist anthem, “’I Will Survive.” The song, which also topped the Billboard Hot 100, began life as the B-side to a single called “Substitute.”
In 1997, singer Jermaine Stewart died of AIDS-related liver cancer at age 39. Born William Jermaine Stewart in Columbus, OH, Stewart began his career as a dancer on the 70s TV show, Soul Train. His most famous song was 1984’s “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off,” which reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 5 in the US.
In 2016, Adele topped the UK album chart for the third time with 25. Released in November 2015, the album debuted at No.1, selling 800,307 copies in its first week and eventually became the UK’s fastest-selling album of all time, surpassing the record previously held by Oasis for their 1997 album Be Here Now.
In 1979, The Bee Gees equaled a record set by The Beatles when their chart-topping 15th album, Spirits Having Flown, saw its first three tracks (“Tragedy,” “Too Much Heaven,” and “Love You Inside Out”) reach No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the group an unbroken run of six US pole-sitters.
In 1957, Elvis Presley bought Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, for $102,500. He purchased the 10,000-square-foot mansion, which was named after its builder’s daughter Grace Toof, from Mrs. Ruth Brown-Moore. Elvis died there in 1977 and five years later, Graceland opened as a museum.
In 1978, U2 won a talent contest held in Limerick whose prizes were £500 ($850) and a recording session for CBS Ireland.
BORN ON MARCH 17:
1919: Nat King Cole
1941: Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane)
1944: John Sebastian
1959: Mike Lindup (Level 42)
1962: Clare Grogan (Altered Images)
1967: Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins)
1972: Melissa Auf Der Maur (Hole)
1975: Justin Hawkins (The Darkness)
1990: Hozier

And Elsewhere:
Disney+ has announced it ordered a third season of its young-adult, demigod adventure series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Starring Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Charlie Bushnell, Dior Goodjohn and Daniel Diemer, the adaptation of Rick Riordan's best-selling novels aired in 2023, with Season 2 expected to premiere this December.
The book series was previously adapted as the films Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013).


Odd News

Virginia Zoo responds to gorilla escape rumors: 'we don't have those'


The Virginia Zoo responded to rumors of an escaped gorilla in Norfolk by confirming that not only were all of its animals accounted for, but the zoo doesn't even have gorillas.
Social media lit up with reports of a gorilla on the loose following a power outage Tuesday night in the Granby Street area, with several Facebook users claiming to have seen the large primate.
The Virginia Zoo put the rumors to rest, joking that the sightings were likely the facility's mascot, "ZooSquatch."
"We heard talk of an escaped gorilla, but we think it may have just been ZooSquatch spotted on his daily run. But don't worry he has made it back to the Zoo and our keepers want you to know that all of our animals are safe and accounted for (except for gorillas... because we don't have those)," the zoo said on Facebook.
Officials wrote that any real escape would have been accompanied by a swift statement from zoo officials.
"Just a friendly reminder, while these hoaxes can be silly, you can rest assured that the Virginia Zoo has extensive safety measures and protocols in place to keep our animals and community safe," the post said. "Should there ever be a real animal escape from our facility, a formal statement will be issued by our spokesperson to all local media, as well as on our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and website for the safety of our neighbors!"


Health
How Is Drinking Warm Water At Night Useful To Us?
 
It Fights Anxiety and Depression

Many studies indicate that lack of water in the body give a rise to stress levels and lead to depression. This is bound to negatively impact the sleep cycle. Sipping on some warm water at the end of the day will maintain the water level of the body and keep mood spoilers under check.

It Gets Rid Of Toxins

Hot water increases the internal body temperature and produces sweat, which leads to better blood circulation and gets rid of toxins in the body. Get a better beauty sleep by imbibing the great habit of consuming warm water before bed.

It Replenishes Lost Fluids

Our body is continually using and losing fluids by the process of sweating, urinating and bowel movement. Water replaces the lost water from our body to keep the essential systems of our body working, even during the night.

It Aids In Digestion

Hot water dissolves unwanted food in the digestive tract and leads to better digestion. As our digestive system in the weakest during the night, drinking warm water helps in faster and smoother digestion.

It Helps With Weight Loss

For the same reason that our digestion system is not at its best during the night, drinking warm water will break down food faster and help digest it faster, resulting in quicker weight loss


Lifestyle
Why can’t we resist checking our smartphones in the presence of others?

Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology identified three possible reasons people fidget with their smartphones in the presence of others.

The researchers found that one reason many use the phone in front of others is simply to check social media, email, or a text conversation with another person. Interruption like this would normally be considered as rudeness by the person physically present. However, they say that a quick explanation for the pause in conversation before use of the device was deemed as polite and acceptable.

The second reason people use their smartphone is to avoid conversation with another person. A person might whip out their phone to signal that they are busy or pretend they have a call to answer, although the phone is on silent.

Lastly, smartphones are brought out among others to share content, such as pictures or videos.


Two portions of mushrooms each week could 'HALVE risk of brain decline that leads to dementia in old age'

Eating two portions of mushrooms per week could halve your risk of abnormal brain decline in old age. Researchers found people who eat 300g or more of cooked mushrooms – about equal to a medium-sized punnet – have a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment. And even eating smaller amounts could still be beneficial, they said.


Knitting Could Be Your Solution To Anxiety And Better Health

According to new research by Knit For Peace, knitting could actually improve your health.  Health benefits were both physical and mental, and included lower blood pressure, reduced depression and anxiety, delayed onset of dementia. Knitting was deemed as relaxing as yoga, the researchers noted. The organization's research showed that 70 per cent of knitters reported that knitting improved their health. Plus, 82 per cent said the craft made them relax, 65 per cent reported knitting for others made them feel useful, and 92 per cent found knitting boosted their mood. Members knitted for an average of 13.5 hours a week — some reported they knit 35 hours a week, the study noted.

Dancing is good for masculinity, helps men understand their identity

It’s time for men to get footloose and bust a move. A new study finds dancing is good for masculinity and helps them better understand their own identity.

Academics in Finland set out to discover what impact dancing during childhood has on men in adulthood.

The research team conducted a survey of men who took part in boy’s dance groups between the 1990s and 2008. Interviewees said dancing was a good way of expressing themselves physically and made them more positive about their bodies. It also helped them grow more confident discussing life’s important questions.

The sport also made them more aware of their bodies and made them capable of reading other people’s body language. Additionally, a dancefloor session helped them understand the concept of being different and helped them co-operate with different kinds of people. One dancer adds the hobby “saved him” from having a narrow outlook on life.

Participants note they could express themselves in class, in an environment which allowed them to be very different from who they were as teenagers or in school. The participants also accepted rather than frowned upon the diversity of bodies in the class.


Men Are More Attracted to Women Dressed in Red

While blue might be men’s favorite color, red is what attracts them. A study conducted by two University of Rochester psychologists found that the color red made men more attracted to women. Among the experiments was one that asked male subjects to respond to photographs of women framed by different colors, with questions such as, “How pretty do you think this person is?” and another that digitally colored a woman’s shirt either blue or red. Across the board, the women wearing red were judged as more attractive.


Educated people follow heart-healthy diets, study says

When it comes to having good heart health, education matters, new findings say. College-educated adults are seven times more likely to follow a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet than those with just a high-school degree, according to new research published in the March issue of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Within the college-educated group, women are three times more likely than men to take on the heart-healthy diet, the researchers say.


Workdays are ending earlier
Americans are working shorter days compared to two years ago, Bloomberg reports, citing data from ActivTrak. While the average day wraps up at 4:39 p.m. – 36 minutes earlier – productivity is up by 2%, with employees working in focused 24-minute bursts. Weekend work is also becoming more popular as many welcome the flexibility to finish tasks later. ActivTrak recommends companies balance productivity with employee well-being as work habits continue to shift post-pandemic.
 
Older music dominates streaming
If you consistently find yourself ignoring the pop charts and dialing up nostalgic favorites on Spotify, you're not alone: According to data from Luminate, roughly half of the songs streamed in 2024 were at least five years old. The trend is particularly prevalent in genres like rock, where nearly three quarters of songs streamed last year were "deep catalog." Golden oldies haven't completely taken over the airwaves, however — songs from the 2010s represented nearly 30% of listening.

Nostalgic people better for friendships, mental health
Nostalgia might be met by eyerolls from some, as the emotion might inspire insipid images of rose-tinted glasses, gooey sentimentality and living in a time-lost past. But people prone to nostalgia have an edge when it comes to their health and well-being, a new study says. Nostalgic people have more close friends and put more effort into maintaining friendships and relationships than less sentimental sorts, researchers reported in the journal Cognition and Emotion.
Even teenagers can feel and benefit from nostalgia, researchers noted.



Lists
15 Ways to Get Protein Without Meat


1. Tofu
2. Tempeh
3. Edamame
4. Lentils
5. Chickpeas
6. Beans
7. Green Peas
8. Greek Yogurt
9. Nuts
10. Seeds
11. Cottage cheese
12. Quinoa
13. Eggs
14. Oats
15. Brown Rice


Stats

Americans are increasingly skeptical about AI's effects

A new YouGov survey explored how frequently Americans are interacting with AI tools and what impact AI will have in the future. Increasing shares of Americans are feeling skeptical about AI and expecting it to have a negative impact on society.

Most Americans (56%) use AI tools; 31% have never used them. 28% of Americans use AI tools at least weekly.

Adults under 30 are more likely than older Americans to ever use AI tools (76% vs. 51%). They are also more likely to use AI at least weekly (50% vs. 23%).
AI usage of weekly or more often is higher among people whose highest level of education is a college degree than among Americans without a college degree (37% vs. 24%).
Most Americans (58%) are very concerned about the possibility of AI resulting in the spread of misleading video and audio deep fakes — one of 15 possible sources of concern from AI asked about in the poll. Around half of Americans are very concerned about each of the following: the erosion of personal privacy (53%), the spread of political propaganda (52%), the replacement of human jobs (48%), and the manipulation of human behavior (48%).
Among people who use AI tools at least weekly, 56% think AI will have a positive impact on society; far fewer (17%) think it will have a negative impact. A majority (62%) of weekly AI users think it will have a positive impact on their own life while only 10% think it will have a negative impact on their own life. Among people who don't report weekly AI tool use, 19% expect a positive impact on society and 50% expect a negative one; 13% expect a positive impact on their own lives and 36% expect a negative one.


Did You Know?

For butterflies, looks matter when it comes to picking mates

Butterflies choose mates based on vision, not scent or chance. Heliconius cydno butterflies are biologically wired to prefer mates with matching wing colors, and this preference is driven by their visual system. When butterflies develop different visual-based mating preferences, they stop interbreeding with others, potentially leading to speciation over time.


Things of Interest 

Remote work continues to decline
Five years since the pandemic spurred organizations to experiment with a primarily remote workforce, there are signs that remote work's moment has passed. The incidence of the arrangement has been steadily declining in the U.S. since 2020, according to LinkedIn's latest Workforce Confidence survey — while hybrid and onsite arrangements are mostly on the rise. Among companies pushing for a return-to-office, one in three executives have said they would like their employees to be back onsite full time.


Looking Ahead
March 18
Awkward Moments Day
Forgive Mom and Dad Day
Goddess of Fertility Day
National Agriculture Day
National Biodiesel Day
National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day
National Sloppy Joe Day
Supreme Sacrifice Day
World Social Work Day


Contributors
Rachel Cromidas
Rob Sacks
Andrew Barker


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--
Shika Rebecca


Pepper Prep Creator

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