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How did global warming discussions end up hinging on what's happening with polar bears, unverifiable predictions of what will happen in a hundred years, and whether people are "climate deniers" or "global warming cultists?" If this is a scientific topic, why aren't we spending more time discussing the science involved? Why aren't we talking about the evidence and the actual data involved? Why aren't we looking at the predictions that were made and seeing if they match up to the results? If this is such an open and shut case, why are so many people who care about science skeptical? Many Americans have long since thought that the best scientific evidence available suggested that man wasn't causing any sort of global warming. However, now, we can go even further and suggest that the planet isn't warming at all.

1) There hasn't been any global warming since 1997: If nothing changes in the next year, we're going to have kids who graduate from high school who will have never seen any "global warming" during their lifetimes. That's right; the temperature of the planet has essentially been flat for 17 years. This isn't a controversial assertion either. Even the former Director of the Climate Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia, Phil Jones, admits that it's true. Since the planet was cooling from 1940-1975 and the upswing in temperature afterward only lasted 22 years, a 17 year pause is a big deal. It also begs an obvious question: How can we be experiencing global warming if there's no actual "global warming?"

2) There is no scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and caused by man: Questions are not decided by "consensus." In fact, many scientific theories that were once widely believed to be true were made irrelevant by new evidence. Just to name one of many, many examples, in the early seventies, scientists believed global cooling was occurring. However, once the planet started to warm up, they changed their minds. Yet, the primary "scientific" argument for global warming is that there is a "scientific consensus" that it's occurring. Setting aside the fact that's not a scientific argument, even if that ever was true (and it really wasn't), it's certainly not true anymore. Over 31,000 scientists have signed on to a petition saying humans aren't causing global warming. More than 1000 scientists signed on to another report saying there is no global warming at all. There are tens of thousands of well-educated, mainstream scientists who do not agree that global warming is occurring at all and people who share their opinion are taking a position grounded in science.

3) Arctic ice is up 50% since 2012: The loss of Arctic ice has been a big talking point for people who believe global warming is occurring. Some people have even predicted that all of the Arctic ice would melt by now because of global warming. Yet, Arctic ice is up 50% since 2012. How much Arctic ice really matters is an open question since the very limited evidence we have suggests that a few decades ago, there was less ice than there is today, but the same people who thought the drop in ice was noteworthy should at least agree that the increase is important as well.

4) Climate models showing global warming have been wrong over and over: These future projections of what global warming will do to the planet have been based on climate models. Essentially, scientists make assumptions about how much of an impact different factors will have; they guess how much of a change there will be and then they project changes over time. Unfortunately, almost all of these models showing huge temperature gains have turned out to be wrong.

Former NASA scientist Dr. Roy Spencer says that climate models used by government agencies to create policies "have failed miserably." Spencer analyzed 90 climate models against surface temperature and satellite temperature data, and found that more than 95 percent of the models "have over-forecast the warming trend since 1979, whether we use their own surface temperature dataset (HadCRUT4), or our satellite dataset of lower tropospheric temperatures (UAH)."

There's an old saying in programming that goes, "Garbage in, garbage out." In other words, if the assumptions and data you put into the models are faulty, then the results will be worthless. If the climate models that show a dire impact because of global warming aren't reliable -- and they're not -- then the long term projections they make are meaningless.

5) Predictions about the impact of global warming have already been proven wrong: The debate over global warming has been going on long enough that we've had time to see whether some of the predictions people made about it have panned out in the real world. For example, Al Gore predicted all the Arctic ice would be gone by 2013. In 2005, the Independent ran an article saying that the Artic had entered a death spiral.

Scientists fear that the Arctic has now entered an irreversible phase of warming which will accelerate the loss of the polar sea ice that has helped to keep the climate stable for thousands of years....The greatest fear is that the Arctic has reached a "tipping point" beyond which nothing can reverse the continual loss of sea ice and with it the massive land glaciers of Greenland, which will raise sea levels dramatically. Of course, the highway is still there.

Meanwhile, Arctic ice is up 50% since 2012. James Hansen of NASA fame predicted that the West Side Highway in New York would be under water by now because of global warming.

If the climate models and the predictions about global warming aren't even close to being correct, wouldn't it be more scientific to reject hasty action based on faulty data so that we can further study the issue and find out what's really going on?

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John Hawkins - 5 Scientific Reasons That Global Warming Isn't Happening

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How did global warming discussions end up hinging on what's happening with polar bears, unverifiable predictions of what will happen in a hundred years, and whether people are "climate deniers" or "global warming cultists?" If this is a scientific topic, why aren't we spending more time discussing the science involved?

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Wind is the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. In fact, wind exists because the sun unevenly heats the surface of the Earth. As hot air rises, cooler air moves in to fill the void. As long as the sun shines, the wind will blow. And wind has long served as a power source to humans.

Ancient mariners used sails to capture the wind. Farmers once used windmills to grind their grains and pump water. Today, more and more wind turbines wring electricity from the breeze. Over the past decade, wind turbine use has increased more than 25 percent per year. Still, it only provides a small fraction of the world's energy.

How it Works

Most wind energy comes from turbines that can be as tall as a 20-story building and have three 200-foot (60-meter)-long blades. The wind spins the blades, which turn a shaft connected to a generator that produces electricity.

The biggest wind turbines generate enough electricity in a year (about 12 megawatt-hours) to supply about 600 U.S. homes. Wind farms have tens and sometimes hundreds of these turbines lined up together in particularly windy spots. Smaller turbines erected in a backyard can produce enough electricity for a single home or small business.

The Booming Wind Energy Industry

Wind is a clean source of renewable energy that produces no air or water pollution. And since the wind is free, operational costs are nearly zero once a turbine is erected. Mass production and technology advances are making turbines cheaper, and many governments offer tax incentives to spur wind-energy development.

Drawbacks include complaints from locals that wind turbines are ugly and noisy. The slowly rotating blades can also kill birds and bats, but not nearly as many as cars, power lines, and high-rise buildings do. The wind is also variable: If it's not blowing, there's no electricity generated.

Nevertheless, the wind energy industry is booming. Thanks to global efforts to combat climate change, such as the Paris Agreement, renewable energy is seeing a boom in growth, with wind energy leading the way. From 2000 to 2015, cumulative wind capacity around the world increased from 17,000 megawatts to more than 430,000 megawatts. In 2015, China also surpassed the EU in the number of installed wind turbines and continues to lead installation efforts.

Industry experts predict that if this pace of growth continues, by 2050 one third of the world's electricity needs will be fulfilled by wind power.

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wind power wind energy alternative energy electrical power electricity windmill turbines renewable energy wind turbines greenhouse global warming carbon dioxide

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Wind is the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. In fact, wind exists because the sun unevenly heats the surface of the Earth. As hot air rises, cooler air moves in to fill the void. As long as the sun shines, the wind will blow.

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Stanford, CA-Using software tools developed by Near Zero, a research group hosted by the Carnegie Institution for Science's Department of Global Ecology, a team of researchers has completed the largest expert survey yet on any energy technology, in this case wind energy.

Near Zero conducts research and assessment of energy and climate issues, focusing on integrating quantitative analysis with expert judgment. In this way, they inform decision-making to accelerate the global transition to a near-zero emission energy system. To support this work, Near Zero has developed open-source software tools to examine where experts agree and disagree and why.

Using Near Zero's online expert survey platform, researchers were able to gather responses from 163 of the world's foremost experts on wind energy to forecast future costs for this energy source. The study, led by Ryan Wiser, Group Leader in the Electricity Markets and Policy Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is published in the September 12, 2016, advanced on-line publication of Nature Energy.

On average, the participants expected wind power costs to continue falling for the next several decades, for three major classes of wind turbines, both onshore and offshore, with prices falling by 24-30% by 2030, and 35-41% by 2050.

"The cost of wind power is a crucial issue, since aggressively cutting greenhouse gas emissions will likely involve scaling up wind power further," remarked Near Zero's leader Mike Mastrandrea.

To gauge how much wind power production might scale up, researchers often use energy system models, such as the International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook model, or the integrated assessment models used for generating scenarios assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The models' assumptions about future costs of wind energy have an important influence on modeling results for the future potential for wind energy, Wiser and colleagues argue.

Future costs of wind energy are often forecasted by looking at how past costs have fallen, following a "learning curve," and then extrapolating that curve into the future. Another method for estimating future costs is through bottom-up engineering assessments, looking at the costs of various parts of wind turbines.

Surveys of experts-known as expert elicitations-are an additional method for forecasting the future, which allows for more scope for experts to draw on technical knowledge as well as their informed opinion about future developments.

The new elicitation using Near Zero's platform asked experts to estimate future wind power costs under a range of scenarios-including a median scenario as well as "high cost" and "low cost" cases. This allowed the study to assign probabilities to the range of possible scenarios.

"The elicitation results will enable energy-system and integrated-assessment models to better explore these options," the paper argued.

The expert elicitation was conducted under the auspices of the IEA Wind Technology Collaboration Programme. The study was a collaboration between researchers Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Insight Decisions, LLC, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Image courtesy ANL -----------------------
Carnegie's Department of Global Ecology was established in 2002 to help build the scientific foundations for a sustainable future. The department is located on the campus of Stanford University, but is an independent research organization funded by the Carnegie Institution. Its scientists conduct basic research on a wide range of large-scale environmental issues, including climate change, ocean acidification, biological invasions, and changes in biodiversity.

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New Tools Assess the Future of Wind Power

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Using software tools developed by Near Zero, a research group hosted by the Carnegie Institution for Science's Department of Global Ecology, a team of researchers has completed the largest expert survey yet on any energy technology, in this case wind energy.

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Why do we buy sneakers?

When I first asked myself this question I thought, simple, because I like them. But then I began giving more thought into the actual reasons WHY I buy the shoes that I buy and it was much more deeper than just because I like them. I began thinking of all of the shoes that I own (which is not that many) and I thought of the reason(s) why I bought them.

The truth is, there's many reasons why we decide to buy a particular pair of kicks. Some of the reasons include because you love a particular silhouette, or maybe you're a fan of a certain colorway, or maybe because the shoe has some emotional significance to you. I don't want to give them all away so I'll let you read the rest of this article. Of course sometimes we make instinct purchases, but even those shoes have a valid reason as to why we bought them. Buying sneakers is not a cheap hobby, so the next time that you're about to buy a pair of shoes, ask yourself "Why am I buying this pair of shoes?" So without further ado, here are 10 Reasons Why We Buy Sneakers.

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10 Reasons Why We Buy Sneakers * KicksOnFire.com

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Why do we buy sneakers? When I first asked myself this question I thought, simple, because I like them. But then I began giving more thought into the actual reasons WHY I buy the shoes that I buy and it was much more deeper than just because I like them.

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by Bonnie Crowe

Whether you believe cell phones have a good affect on our society or not, the fact is that a growing number of children now have their own phones. In fact, a 2016 survey showed that ownership of cellphones among 18-year-olds in the U.S. is now a whopping 100 percent. If you're on the fence about getting your child a cell phone of her own, there are 10 solid reasons to justify getting your child a cell phone.

1. Practicality

Both kids and parents are busy these days, and it makes sense for parents to be able to call their kids and let them know they're running late when picking them up for school or activities. It also makes sense for children to be able to call their parents to tell them extra-curricular activities are running late or they will be late for dinner.

2. Safety

Earthquakes, fires, bad weather, traffic accidents - there are many things that can happen during the day after your children leave the house for school. Cell phones are a lifeline between a parent and their children, and cell phones also can be used to call emergency responders.

3. Necessity

If your child needs to get in touch with you because they're running late, or they decide to go to a movie at the mall, there are few pay phones left for them to use to call you.

4. Responsibility

A cell phone gives your child a way to be more responsible and let you know if they're going to be late. Cell phones are also important for teenagers, who could find themselves at a party without a sober ride home and need to call you to pick them up.

5. Trust

Cell phones aren't cheap. Giving your child a cell phone tells him that you trust him with something of value. You are also telling your child that you are trusting him to use his allocated minutes wisely.

6. Divorce

When parents are divorced, a cell phone is a good way for a child to keep in contact with both parents at all times, and it gives the parent who does not live in the same home as the child a good opportunity to stay involved.

7. Extended Family & Military Families

Cell phones are a good incentive for kids to keep in contact with long-distance relatives, like grandparents or aunts and uncles. Cell phones also enable kids to keep in touch with a parent who is overseas in the military, and who may have limited times when they can connect with a phone call.

8. Games

Cell phones come with many fun, inexpensive games that kids can play with to keep them busy while waiting in long lines or for a doctor or dentist appointment.

9. Reminders

Cell phones come with alarms, note-taking applications and all kinds of apps that will help keep your child organized and remind them of their next test or homework assignment.

10./ Social Communications

Cell phones are deeply woven into our social fabric. Teens use social media to text, tweet or post their feelings, detail their likes and dislikes, and basically help them feel connected to their peers and the world around them.

About the Author

Bonnie Crowe is a mother of two teenagers; a teacher and author of children's books, curriculum and articles on English grammar, literature, technology, art, parenting and career guides for high schoolers. She's a former director of AOL Parenting, a member of SCBWI, and a graduate from the University of California,Berkeley.

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Ten Reasons Why a Kid Should Have a Cell Phone

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by Bonnie Crowe Whether you believe cell phones have a good affect on our society or not, the fact is that a growing number of children now have their own phones. In fact, a 2016 survey showed that ownership of cellphones among 18-year-olds in the U.S. is now a whopping 100 percent.

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Why is it Important to Have a Cell Phone

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Often one of the biggest difficulties to someone becoming independent in their community is the worry about being safe. What if I get lost? What if I get hurt? What if the bus does not come? What if I am late? What if the community centre is closed when I get there?

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http://occupytheory.org/internet-censorship-pros-and-cons-list/

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http://brandongaille.com/the-pros-and-cons-internet-censorship/

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https://padlet.com/ISEPBCIT/Read533Presentations

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Pros/cons wind energy

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Like solar energy, wind energy is the fastest growing energy source in the world with the United States aiming to produce 20 percent of its electricity by wind power by 2030. There is no doubt from the fact that wind energy is going to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas in the coming decade, but to which extent can only be speculated in. It is renewable and clean source of energy that doesn't generate any greenhouse gases.

Wind doesn't cost anything and therefore operational costs are close to zero once a turbine starts running. Research efforts in the field of technology are going on to address the challenges to make wind power cheaper and viable alternative for individuals and businesses to generate power. On the other hand, many governments offer tax incentives to create growth for wind energy sector.

The fuel in the earth will be exhausted in a thousand or more years, and its mineral wealth, but man will find substitutes for these in the winds, the waves, the sun's heat, and so forth.
~ John Burroughs

If you are looking to get started with wind energy for your home, there are a lot of things that you need to consider. In this article, we're going to look at the pros and the cons for investing in wind energy for your home and/or business.

Pros of Wind Energy

1. Clean Source of Power

The production of wind energy is "clean". Unlike using coal or oil, creating energy from the wind doesn't pollute the air or require any destructive chemicals. As a result, wind energy lessens our reliance on fossil fuels from outside nations as well, which helps our national economy and offers a variety of other benefits as well.

2. Renewable Source

Wind is free. In the event that you live in a geological area that gets a lot of wind, it is ready and waiting. As a renewable asset, wind can never be drained like other regular, non-renewable assets. The expense of delivering wind energy has dropped fundamentally lately, and as it becomes more popular with the general population, it will just continue to be cheaper. You will recover the expense of obtaining and introducing your wind turbine over time.

Winds are caused by rotation of the earth, heating of the atmosphere by sun, and earth's surface irregularities. We can harness wind energy and use it to generate power as long as sun shines and wind blows.

3. Cost Effective

Wind turbines can give energy to numerous homes. You don't actually have to possess a wind turbine keeping in mind the end goal to harvest the profits; you can buy your power from a service organization that offers wind energy for a specific area. That means, you don't even necessarily have to invest any cash in order to reap the benefits of wind energy for your home or business.

4. Extra Savings for Land Owners

Land holders who rent area to wind homesteads can make a considerable amount of additional cash, and wind energy likewise makes new employments in this developing engineering field. Government organizations will also pay you if they can install wind turbines on your land. Also, in some cases, the electric company may wind up owing you. If you produce more power than you require from wind power, it may go into the general electric matrix, which in turn will make you some extra cash. A win all around!

5. Use of Modern Technology

Wind turbines are considered by some to be incredibly attractive. The newest models don't look like the clunky, rustic windmills of old. Instead, they are white, slick, and modern looking. That way, you don't have to worry about them becoming an eyesore on your land.

6. Rapid Growth and Huge Potential

Wind energy has seen enormous growth in last decade. According to U.S. department of energy, cumulative wind power capacity increased by an average of 30% per year. Wind energy accounts for about 2.5% of the total worldwide electricity production. Wind turbines are available in various sizes which means vast range of people and businesses can take advantage of it to produce power for their own use or sell it to utility to reap some profits.

7. Can be Built on Existing Farms

Wind turbines can be installed on existing farms or agricultural land in rural areas where it can be a source of earning for the farmers as wind plant owners make payment to farmers for use of their land for electricity generation. It doesn't occupy much space and farmers can continue to work on the land.

Cons of Wind Energy

1. Wind Reliability

Wind doesn't generally blow reliably, and turbines usually function at about 30% capacity or so. In the event that the weather is not going to support you, you may wind up without power (or at any rate you'll need to depend on the electric company to take care of you during those times). Serious storms or high winds may cause harm to your wind turbine, particularly when they are struck by lightning.

2. Threat to Wildlife

The edges of wind turbines can actually be unsafe to natural life, especially birds and other flying creatures that may be in the area. There isn't really a way to prevent this, but it's definitely something that you want to make sure that you are aware of be possible consequences that may come up as a result of it.

3. Noise and Visual Pollution

Wind turbines can be a total and complete pain to install and deal with on a regular basis. Wind turbines make a sound that can be between 50 and 60 decibels, and if you have to put it next to your home. Some individuals believe that wind turbines are ugly, so your neighbors may also complain about them.

While most people like how wind turbines look, few people like them but with NIMBY("not in my backyard") attitude, but for the rest, wind turbines remain unattractive as they have concern that it may tarnish the beauty of landscapes.

4. Expensive to Set Up

Wind turbines and other supplies needed to make wind energy could be extremely costly in advance, and relying upon where you live, it might be hard to find someone to sell them to you and somebody who can maintain it over time.

5. Safety of People

Severe storms and high winds can cause damage to the blades of wind turbine. The malfunctioned blade can be a safety hazard to the people working nearby. It may fall on them causing life term physical disability or death in certain cases.

6. Suitable to Certain Locations

Wind energy can only be harnessed at certain locations where speed of wind is high. Since they are mostly setup in remote areas, transmission lines have to be built to bring the power to the residential homes in the city which requires extra investment to set up the infrastructure.

7. Effect on Environment

It obliges a ton of open area to set up wind turbines, and chopping down trees kind of eliminates the whole green thing that you're trying to do with them. Places that may be good for it may be difficult to get to and use. Consistence with city codes and mandates may be irksome when you are attempting to install a wind turbine. Sometimes, height confinements may keep you from installing one on your property as well.

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7 Pros and Cons of Wind Energy - Conserve Energy Future

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Like solar energy, wind energy is the fastest growing energy source in the world with the United States aiming to produce 20 percent of its electricity by wind power by 2030. There is no doubt from the fact that wind energy is going to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas in the coming decade, but to which extent can only be speculated in.

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We've all heard the reasons video games are bad for you. They're full of violence and misogyny. They encourage people to sit on the couch all day eating Doritos and drinking Mt. Dew. They're nothing but time-wasting escapist fantasies.

And sure, depending on what games you look at, you can find truth in all of those points. But the video game industry is huge. It encompasses an incredible variety of experiences. You just have to look a little closer.

For every game that offers players nothing, you can find one that provides a great deal of value. Games can educate, they can help us get in shape, and they can put us in touch with other people who share our interests. Games can do a lot of good for the world.

Below are 5 reasons video games are great for you.

1. Getting in shape

Ever since the rise of motion controls, gamers have been getting off the couch in bigger numbers than ever before. Most recently we have Nintendo's remotes and balance board for Wii U, Sony's Move controllers for PlayStation 4, and Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox One, all of which are designed to transmit players' physical movements into video games.

If you want to get in shape through gaming, you have a wide array of options nowadays. Dance Central and Just Dance games offer fantastic aerobic workouts set to recent pop music. Workout games like Xbox Fitness and Wii Fit U can help you burn calories and even focus on particular muscle groups. For more games to help you get in shape, check out this list.

2. Learning something

In the old days, playing educational games was kind of like eating unseasoned vegetables. It might have been good for you, but it usually wasn't very enjoyable. These days, game makers have found much better ways to incorporate learning into the gaming experience.

In terms of brushing up for your school classes, Dragonbox Algebra is a terrific math game. It can teach kids algebra in such a sly way that they won't even realize they're learning formulas until they've already mastered them. Other games are less academic, like Rocksmith, which teaches people how to play the guitar using popular rock songs. Even games designed primarily to entertain can be treasure troves of information. Just look at the Assassin's Creed franchise.

Games can convey an incredible amount of information in enjoyable ways. You just have to know where to look.

3. Making friends

The Internet has made gaming more social than ever, enabling entire genres of games that rely on people working together. Massively multiplayer online games like World of Warcraft are full of "guilds" of players who log on regularly and band together to raid dungeons. Multiplayer online battle arena games (MOBAs) like League of Lengeds pit teams of players against each other, with each team working out strategies to emerge victorious. Even online shooters like Call of Duty are home to "clans" of players who get to know each other very well.

People have made best friends through online games, and even met their future spouses. Depending on the game, you're more or less likely to encounter your share of trash talkers. But on the flip side, online games just might help you forge a friendship that lasts a lifetime.

For more information on the social (and other) benefits, check out this study from American Psychologist.

4. Strategic thinking and problem solving

Thanks to its emphasis on strategy, problem solving, and forward thinking, chess is one of the most respected games out there. And wouldn't you know it, loads of video games have cropped up that work those same mental muscles. Strategy games like Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics play out very much like chess, with each character bound by a set of rules that determine their movement and combat abilities.

Even games that don't seem to have anything particularly brainy going on can offer complex problems for players to solve. When you enter one of the massive, ornate rooms in recent Prince of Persia games, your job is to reach the exit, which is usually very high up. To do so, you have to examine the layout of the room and find the path that will let your character jump, swing, and climb from point A to point B. This is complex puzzle solving, and it gets your brain firing on all cylinders. There's nothing stupid about solving these kinds of puzzles.

And the research backs it up. Just read this article in Psychology Today to see what other benefits video games have on your brain.

5. Career opportunities

Now more than ever, it's possible to make a living playing video games. Whether you're a Starcraft pro and you travel the world to participate in high-stakes tournaments, or you have a popular YouTube channel for your "Let's Play" videos, many people are making money hand-over-fist by playing games.

It's not easy, though. Becoming a tournament-level player takes a lot of dedication, and not everyone has the charisma or business sense to carve out a living streaming games online. But if you're smart and talented, you certainly have a shot. Plenty of people are doing it. Check out our lists of the top streamers and pro gamers to see the possibilities.

Follow Chris on Twitter @CheatSheetChris
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More from Tech Cheat Sheet

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5 Ways Video Games Can Be Good For You and Your Health

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We've all heard the reasons video games are bad for you. They're full of violence and misogyny. They encourage people to sit on the couch all day eating Doritos and drinking Mt. Dew. They're nothing but time-wasting escapist fantasies. And sure, depending on what games you look at, you can find truth in all of those points.

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Complex, challenging, and ambitious, video games have come a long way since the simple arcade titles of the 1970s-and evidence is mounting that the benefits of play go well beyond entertainment and improved hand-eye coordination. In honor of National Video Game Day (today), here are 15 ways games are programming better people.

1. Video games are producing better surgeons.

While you may think you want your surgeon reading up on the latest medical research instead of playing games, you might want to reconsider: a study of laparoscopic (small incision) specialists found that those who played for more than three hours per week made 32 percent fewer errors during practice procedures compared to their non-gaming counterparts.

2. Video games could help people overcome dyslexia.

Some research points to attention difficulties as being a key component of dyslexia. One study has shown dyslexics improved their reading comprehension following sessions of games heavy on action. The reason, researchers believe, is that the games have constantly changing environments that require intense focus.

3. Video games could improve your vision.

"Don't sit too close to the television" used to be a common parental refrain without a lot of science to back it up. Instead, scientists are discovering games in moderation may actually improve-not strain-your vision. In one study, 10 weeks of play was associated with a greater ability to discern between different shades of grey. Another had participants try to play games using only their "lazy" eye, with the "good" one obscured. Those players showed significant, sometimes normalized improvement in the affected eye.

4. Video games could help make you a better leader.

Because certain genres of games reward and encourage leadership traits-providing for "communities," securing their safety, etc.-researchers have noted that players can display a correlating motivation in their real-world career goals. Improvising in a game can also translate into being faster on your feet when an office crisis crops up.

5. Video games could pique your interest in history.

Many games use actual historical events to drive their stories. Those characters and places can then spark a child's interest in discovering more about the culture they're immersed in, according to researchers. Parents who have obtained books, maps, and other resources connected to games have reported their children are more engaged with learning, which can lead to a lifetime appreciation for history.

6. Video games can make kids more active.

While some games promote a whole-body level of interaction, even those requiring a simple handheld controller can lead to physical activity. Sports games that involve basketball, tennis, or even skateboarding can lead to children practicing those same skills outdoors.

7. Video games might slow down the aging process.

So-called "brain games" involving problem-solving, memory, and puzzle components have been shown to have a positive benefit on older players. In one study, just 10 hours of play led to increased cognitive functioning in participants 50 and older-improvement that lasted for several years.

8. Video games might help ease pain.

It's common to try to distract ourselves from pain by paying attention to something else or focusing on other body mechanisms, but that's not the only reason why games are a good post-injury prescription. Playing can actually produce an analgesic (pain-killing) response in our higher cortical systems. The more immersive, the better-which is why pending virtual reality systems may one day be as prevalent in hospitals as hand sanitizer.

9. Video games can help you make new social connections.

Gamers are sometimes stigmatized as being too insulated, but the opposite is actually true. The rise of multi-player experiences online has given way to a new form of socializing in which players work together to solve problems. But studies have shown games can also be the catalyst for friends to gather in person: roughly 70 percent of all players play with friends at least some of the time.

10. Video games can help improve balance in multiple sclerosis patients.

Since it is a disorder affecting multiple nerves, multiple sclerosis patients often have problems with their balance-and no medications have been conclusively proven to help. However, one study showed that MS patients who played games requiring physical interaction while standing on a balance board displayed improvement afterward.

11. They can help improve your decision-making skills.

We all know someone who seems to have a faster CPU than the rest of us, able to retrieve information or react in a split second. For some, that ability might be strengthened through gaming. Because new information is constantly being displayed during play, players are forced to adapt quickly. In one study, players who were immersed in fast-paced games were 25 percent faster in reacting to questions about an image they had just seen compared to non-players.

12. Video games can curb cravings.

Players preoccupied with indulging in overeating, smoking, or drinking might be best served by reaching for a controller instead. A university study revealed a 24 percent reduction in desire for their vice of choice after playing a puzzle game.

13. Video games can reduce stress.

While some games are thought to induce stress-especially when you see your character struck down for the umpteenth time-the opposite can be true. A major study that tracked players over six months and measured heart rate found that certain titles reduced the adrenaline response by over 50 percent.

14. Gamers might be less likely to bully.

Though the stance is controversial, some researchers have asserted that action games may reduce a bully's motivation to-well, bully. One study that had players assume the role of both the hero and villain showed that those controlling the bad guy's behaviors displayed a greater sense of remorse over their actions.

15. Video games can help address autism.

Gamers using systems that incorporate the entire body to control onscreen movement have been shown to be more engaged in celebrating victories with their peers, which runs counter to the lack of communication people with autism sometimes present. A study also showed that sharing space with multiple players can also lead to increased social interaction for those with the disorder.
This story originally ran in 2017.

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15 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games

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Complex, challenging, and ambitious, video games have come a long way since the simple arcade titles of the 1970s-and evidence is mounting that the benefits of play go well beyond entertainment and improved hand-eye coordination. In honor of National Video Game Day (today), here are 15 ways games are programming better people.

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Ottawa, January 6, 2016-The employment and fiscal benefits of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP) to the Canadian economy extend well beyond the construction and operations of the pipeline, according to a new report by The Conference Board of Canada.

The report, Who Benefits? A Summary of the Economic Impacts that Result from the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, estimates three new impacts associated with the project that would generate 678,000 person-years of employment and $18.5 billion in revenues for federal and provincial governments over the first 20 years of operations. That works out to an average of almost $1 billion in economic activity and nearly 34,000 jobs annually for 20 years.

Highlights

The vast majority of the economic and fiscal impacts for Canada and its regions occur after the project is built.

Most of the economic benefits of Trans Mountain Expansion Project are generated because producers would obtain world oil prices, the benefits of which would circulate through the economy into higher employment and tax revenues.

Alberta obtains the largest share of employment and fiscal benefits; however, B.C. also experiences significant benefits including 24 per cent of the employment impacts and 12 per cent of the fiscal impacts.

"What's more, these benefits can be added to those previously calculated by The Conference Board of Canada. In fact, the vast majority of the economic and fiscal impacts for Canada and its regions occur after the pipeline is built," said Michael Burt, Director, Industrial Economic Trends, The Conference Board of Canada.

Two of the three impacts estimated in the report are associated with how producers would spend the additional after-tax cash flows resulting from the higher prices that oil producers would receive as a result of the TMEP. In previous work, the Conference Board estimated that oil producers will obtain an additional $49.8 billion in after-tax profits between 2019 and 2038 as a result of higher netbacks.

We expect these dollars would be distributed in two forms: higher dividend payments and increased investment. In terms of dividends, 63,400 person-years of employment or an average of 3,200 jobs per year will be supported by higher dividend payments made to Canadians.

Additional investment by oil and gas companies would be expected to translate into 588,000 person-years of employment, or an average of 29,400 jobs per year. Sixty-eight per cent of these jobs would be located in Alberta, while 13.7 per cent would occur in British Columbia.

The report also estimates the economic and fiscal impact of additional tanker traffic in Port Metro Vancouver. Trans Mountain estimates that 348 additional "Aframax" size tankers will visit Port Metro Vancouver each year, which would result in $2.5 billion in additional spending over the first 20 years of operations. In total, the additional tanker traffic would support 26,800 person years of employment, or 1,300 jobs per year on average, most of them in British Columbia.

The economic benefits of the TMEP from dividend payments, oil and gas investment and tanker traffic, can be added to the impacts previously estimated by the Conference Board-from the construction and operations of the pipeline, as well as higher netbacks.

When these impacts are added together, the TMEP is expected to support 802,000 person-years of employment and $46.7 billion in government revenues between 2012 and 2038.

On a regional basis, Alberta obtains 55 per cent of the employment impacts and 41.5 per cent of the fiscal impacts. British Columbia accounts for 24 per cent of the employment impacts and 12 per cent of the fiscal benefits.

The research was commissioned by Trans Mountain and builds on previous work conducted by The Conference Board of Canada to estimate additional economic and fiscal benefits associated with the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.

On January 11 and 12 in Calgary, The Conference Board is hosting the Oil and Gas Summit 2016: What's Next? where experts will discuss developments worldwide and their impact on the Canadian industry.

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Economic Benefits of Trans Mountain Pipeline go Well Beyond Construction Period

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Ottawa, January 6, 2016-The employment and fiscal benefits of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP) to the Canadian economy extend well beyond the construction and operations of the pipeline, according to a new report by The Conference Board of Canada. The report, Who Benefits?

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The B.C. government says it can't support the proposed $6.8-billion expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby.

In a written brief to the National Energy Board, the B.C. government argues that the pipeline's proponent, Kinder Morgan, has not provided an adequate plan to prevent or respond to an oil spill.

"During the course of the NEB review, the company has not provided enough information around its proposed spill prevention and response for the province to determine if it would use a world-leading spills regime," a government statement said.

"Because of this the province is unable to support the project at this time, based on the evidence submitted."

If approved by the federal government, the Trans Mountain expansion project would twin the 60-year-old pipeline, which runs 1,150-kilometre from the Alberta oilsands to a marine terminal in Burnaby.

The expansion project would nearly triple the pipeline's carrying capacity.

In a release, the B.C. government noted that in 2012, it laid out five conditions the project would have to meet before it would be permitted in the province.

The expansion project failed to meet any of those conditions, Environment Minister Mary Polak noted on Monday morning.

"This is about the test that would allow this pipeline to go forward," Polak said.

"We're saying that at this time in the NEB process, they [Kinder Morgan] have not met it. It does not close the door on them meeting that test potentially in the future."

Can meet conditions, pipeline says

In a statement, Kinder Morgan said it's confident that it can meet B.C.'s five conditions. But in order to do that, it needs support from "multiple parties.

"​The conditions related to world-leading marine oil spill response, recovery and prevention, addressing Aboriginal treaty rights and B.C. receiving its "fair share" are all conditions that require multiple parties to come to the table and work together," the statement said.

The 2012 conditions included:

Successful completion of the environmental review process.

World-leading marine oil spill response, prevention and recovery systems for B.C.'s coastline and ocean to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy-oil pipelines and shipments.

World-leading practices for land oil spill prevention, response and recovery systems to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy-oil pipelines.

Legal requirements regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights are addressed, and First Nations are provided with the opportunities, information and resources necessary to participate in and benefit from a heavy-oil project.

British Columbia receives a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits of a proposed heavy-oil project that reflect the level, degree and nature of the risk borne by the province, the environment and taxpayers.

The project is awaiting approval from the National Energy Board, which expects to make a recommendation to the federal government by May.

Sparked protests

The proposed expansion has sparked protests on Burnaby Mountain where Trans Mountain has begun test drilling. The city of Vancouver, Burnaby and some First Nations groups have all opposed the project, saying they're concerned about the effects of a potential spill.

Monday's government announcement was applauded by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who described the decision as "very welcome news" in a statement.

"A seven-fold increase in oil tanker traffic through Vancouver's local waters is simply not worth the immense risks posed to our economy and environment in the event of a major oil spill," Robertson said.

The B.C.-based Living Oceans Society echoed Robertson, saying studies show it's difficult to remove bitumen that has been spilled in the water.

"We've been saying all along that the evidence indicates that diluted bitumen can submerge or sink, especially in fresh or brackish waters," said Karen Wristen, the society's executive director.

"Once it does that, it can't be confined or skimmed off the surface the way conventional spill response equipment works."

However, NDP MLA David Eby said the government has been inconsistent on the pipeline.

"Supporting it going forward, then not supporting it and now maybe supporting it," Eby said. "They have been incredibly inconsistent on this and that's no helpful."

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B.C. government 'unable to support' Trans Mountain pipeline expansion | CBC News

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The B.C. government says it can't support the proposed $6.8-billion expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby. In a written brief to the National Energy Board, the B.C. government argues that the pipeline's proponent, Kinder Morgan, has not provided an adequate plan to prevent or respond to an oil spill.

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Rachel Grice

Rachel Grice is a contributing fitness editor for Livestrong.com and a certified yoga instructor. Previously, she was the science section editor and titling associate for several other sections of Demand Media Studios, including fitness, nutrition and technology. She completed her undergrad education at the University of Southern California and has worked for Men's Health, FitPregnancy and People magazines.

Ask anyone why they have sex, and they're most likely to say they do it for fun. And while that's certainly a valid reason for a good romp between the sheets, sex has other physiological effects on the body.

Video of the Day

And yes, there are people who study this for a living.

Two of the most famous sex researchers were William Masters and Virginia Johnson. They studied what they termed the sexual-response cycle, which involves excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution.

Though each of those phases look different for each individual (and even sometimes each sexual encounter), sex has roughly the same effect on everyone. So if you really need another reason to have sex (or you're just curious about what's really going on in your brain and the rest of your body), keep reading for five ways having sex affects your body.

The chemicals your brain releases during sex can also help relieve pain and lower your stress levels. A 2010 Princeton study found that rats who were more sexually active were less anxious, as sex stimulated cell growth in the hippocampus (an area of the brain associated with anxiety regulation).

While there's not a one-to-one correlation between rats and humans, there's plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest this holds true for people (maybe you even have an anecdote of your own). And the endorphins released during sex act as natural painkillers. So Betty Dodson, PhD, a sex educator in private practice in New York City, recommends having sex or masturbating to help relieve menstrual cramps.

When you orgasm, your body releases oxytocin, a chemical responsible for those warm, fuzzy feelings and post-orgasm bliss. Oxytocin is also essential for creating a strong bond between sex partners. Basically, the couple that orgasms together, stays together (or has a higher likelihood of staying together). Just make sure you're not attaching yourself to a partner who's incompatible. Oxytocin doesn't distinguish between true love and a one night stand on it's own.

You already know that sex is exciting, but your brain and body know it (and show it), too. Sex causes your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate to elevate. Blood is routed to the penis, vagina and nipples, making them hyper-sensitive to sensory input.

The rest of your skin may also become more sensitive to touch as well, and your pupils will often dilate. And when you climax, muscle tension and blood-vessel engorgement reach a peak, too. Some orgasms also result in a grasping-type muscular reflex of the hands and feet.

Because your body (especially your heart) is working harder during sex than it would at rest, sex builds cardiac stamina. As your heart rate increases from about 70 beats per minute to 150, your heart is getting a great workout (see #5 for more). And not only is sex good for your heart, but studies have shown that it can also boost your immune system.

For example, a St. Joseph's University study from psychologists Carl Charnetski and Francis Brennan, Jr., found that students who had sex at once or twice a week had higher levels immunoglobulin A (IgA), which is one of the body's first immune responses against cold viruses.

All that activity between the sheets can help you burn excess calories and tone up some major muscle groups. Depending on length and intensity of the sex session, you can burn anywhere from 85 to 250 calories. It's certainly not enough to replace your daily workouts, but every little bit helps keep you active and your heart healthy.

And if you and your partner are adventurous enough, some of those more challenging positions can even help strengthen and sculpt your abs, thighs and arms.

So why do you have sex? For fun? Of course! But how many of these other reasons did you know? Does it change your view on sex at all? Have you heard of any other effects that sex has on the body? Share your suggestions, insights and questions in the comments section below!

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Rachel Grice Rachel Grice is a contributing fitness editor for Livestrong.com and a certified yoga instructor. Previously, she was the science section editor and titling associate for several other sections of Demand Media Studios, including fitness, nutrition and technology. She completed her undergrad education at the University of Southern California and has worked for Men's Health, FitPregnancy and People magazines.

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People like having sex. That much can be said for the majority of the population. But how, exactly, sex impacts mood is much more complicated. "People seem to write about sex as though it's this incredibly specific, very clear thing in the brain that we can point to and know when someone is sexually aroused," says Nicole Prause, associate research scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA. In reality, Prause says that areas of the brain that activate during sex are very similar to those that are active during other rewarding situations, like eating chocolate or playing with puppies.

Adding to the research hurdles, says Prause, is that fact that scientists in the U.S. are not permitted to research the positive effects of sex. She says that is why you don't see studies about the (probably obvious) impact of orgasm on insomnia. So, while all of us likely have solid ideas of what sex does to our mood, we'd be hard-pressed to find scientific back-up. "There is every reason to think that it has lots of positive mood effects and could be helpful, especially for depression, but we don't know that for sure," says Prause. "We haven't demonstrated it." If you have read about sex boosting mood, it is likely not a specific study but an assumption based on the release of hormones that occurs as a result of sexual activity.

The hormones at play are dopamine and oxytocin. Dopamine is released anytime something is pleasurable. Whether you enjoy sex, a good meal, or gambling, if it's something you want to do again, dopamine is involved. Oxytocin, often mistaken as a strictly romantic hormone, plays a big role in feelings of bonding and affection. This can, of course, involve romance but also applies to familial and friendship-related affections. Both of these feel-good hormones surge during sex and particularly after orgasm.

"There's not much that's more reinforcing than orgasm," says Rebecca Burch, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at SUNY Oswego. If it were only these hormones that determined how sex impacts us, then, yes, good sex would likely put us in a good mood.

RELATED: 9 Ways Orgasms May Benefit Your Health

Learning about sex hormones and mood inevitably brings up research (that Burch co-authored) that is so spectacularly popular that people still bring it up regularly, although it is over a decade old. This study dove into the intricacies of seminal fluid and found that vaginal exposure to seminal fluid was related to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Looking at various chemical compounds in seminal fluid, the researchers hypothesized that exposure to seminal fluid may have implications for fertility, such as bettering the mood of a potential mother, but also helping to improve the chances and maintenance of pregnancy. More research would be needed to confirm and expand upon these findings.

To be clear, Burch's research said nothing about oral exposure to seminal fluid, which is likely extremely different because of the route of exposure. It also does not advocate for unsafe sex. Even if seminal fluid can improve mood, that is no reason to ditch your condoms. "Pregnancy can be very depressing, if that's not what you want," says Burch. "Herpes is, of course, going to be very depressing."

We may not be able to say much that is definitive about the effects of sex on mood but we do know that mood is can definitely affect sex. Studies have shown that even strong physical stimuli - vibrators on genitals kind of strong - may not arouse people who are distracted. Men who were hooked up to vibrators and shown erotic imagery often have sexual responses but those responses are dulled if the men are, for instance, asked to solve a math problem at the same time. In the real world, this could relate to the difficulties in sexual dysfunction that some people experience when they are stressed or distracted by performance anxiety. Depression is also known to affect people's sex drive and functioning. For this reason, Prause suggests that people may need extra help getting aroused in situations where their mood is low or negative. "It may not always be as automatic as we thought," she says. "A little assistance may go a long way." Examples of things that may help include erotic imagery or videos, fantasizing, or trying to be intimate gradually.

No matter what kind of research is done, it is highly unlikely that sex will come out as a magic bullet mood booster. It just isn't that simple. Bad sex or sex for the wrong reasons is not going to improve someone's mood. Great sex with a partner who doesn't want a relationship but you do is probably not going to get you to a happy place either. Mediocre sex that still gives a needed ego boost, on the other hand, could improve a person's mood a lot. There is nothing wrong with sex making you happy but, in reality, it's more than just the sex, it's the context too.

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People like having sex. That much can be said for the majority of the population. But how, exactly, sex impacts mood is much more complicated. "People seem to write about sex as though it's this incredibly specific, very clear thing in the brain that we can point to and know when someone is sexually aroused," says Nicole Prause, associate research scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA.

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Why do we buy sneakers?

When I first asked myself this question I thought, simple, because I like them. But then I began giving more thought into the actual reasons WHY I buy the shoes that I buy and it was much more deeper than just because I like them. I began thinking of all of the shoes that I own (which is not that many) and I thought of the reason(s) why I bought them.

The truth is, there's many reasons why we decide to buy a particular pair of kicks. Some of the reasons include because you love a particular silhouette, or maybe you're a fan of a certain colorway, or maybe because the shoe has some emotional significance to you. I don't want to give them all away so I'll let you read the rest of this article. Of course sometimes we make instinct purchases, but even those shoes have a valid reason as to why we bought them. Buying sneakers is not a cheap hobby, so the next time that you're about to buy a pair of shoes, ask yourself "Why am I buying this pair of shoes?" So without further ado, here are 10 Reasons Why We Buy Sneakers.

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10 Reasons Why We Buy Sneakers * KicksOnFire.com

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Why do we buy sneakers? When I first asked myself this question I thought, simple, because I like them. But then I began giving more thought into the actual reasons WHY I buy the shoes that I buy and it was much more deeper than just because I like them.

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ALVAN FOWLER

in 1985, Nike launched Air Jordans, a shoe that would forever change the level of play on the basketball court-and in equal measure create a frenzy among non-players around the world clamoring to soar street-side like Michael Jordan did on the boards. This article, and others about the life and legacy of Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, are included in a new How and when did Jordan Heads start? Newsweek You coined "Jordan Head" in 2004 when you started making the movie, but do you think the subculture started immediately with the release of the Air Jordan 1 in 1985? Special Edition.
I started shooting in 2004. I got the idea while I was working at the Puma store in Manhattan. I noticed a lot of people wearing Jordans coming in. It was kind of odd that they were wearing brand new Jordans that were released in the '80s and '90s. I asked them, "How'd you get these sneakers because they haven't been out in so long?" I didn't know they were retroing all of these sneakers, putting them back out. Each person had a unique story-what they were wearing when they got arrested for the first time, what they were wearing when they got married. The myriad stories and randomness made me want to do this documentary. And given the history of Michael Jordan's shoes, I wanted to explore the consumer side, the historical side, the legacy side.

51
Is it more than the fact that Jordans are a great looking shoe?
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See all of the best photos of the week in these slideshows What makes Michael resonate so much?
They had peaks and valleys, but they're at their highest right now.
Where and how did you find Jordan Heads?
It's a combination of the shoe and the design. Each is very different because it relies on MJ's lifestyle. Whether it's the type of cigar he likes to smoke [or something else he's into, like motorcycles], they infuse his lifestyle into the shoe.
How did Executive Producer Michael Rapaport get involved?
That "go hard or go home" mentality. He won six championships, two three-peats. He involved his team in winning; it wasn't just all one guy.
What do you see most of the serious Jordan Heads doing with their sneakers-keeping them safe in a box, or wearing them?
First, I posted a website asking people if they were Jordan Heads. They sent me pictures, they sent me videos-my mailbox was flooded. I couldn't believe the overwhelming response. People I interviewed would tell me about someone else they knew who was even more extreme, even more of a Jordan Head. I have two or three terabytes of footage. There's so many more people, but you have to stop somewhere. I had to stop. I've talked to hundreds, all across the world, various economic backgrounds. I traveled from the suburbs of Orange County to the hood in South Central. I hung out in the Best Buy in Beverly Hills. [Being a Jordan Head] crosses all different boundaries. And even given the fact that this man hasn't played in X amount of years, his sneaker is still the most popular sneaker out there. And the reason is because of what he did on the court. If MJ hadn't done what he did, his sneakers wouldn't be selling the way they are. People pass down this information to their kids. Some people are in it just for the hype, but the reality is he did the work on that court.
If people put them away and don't wear them, how does the brand continue to be so important?
My cousin knew him from back in the day. Grew up together.
You've heard a lot of Air Jordan stories. What are some of the most memorable?
They're sealing them up in airtight containers, with a special type of box to wrap that up in. And then cellophane. They're not holding back on preserving these shoes. And they're smart. There's value in these shoes, and I don't see it stopping anytime soon. If you have the sneaker, the OG models, they're going to hold value.
In a culture that's so obsessed with the newest and most hi-tech, why would people want to wear the classic, low-tech Jordans-either OGs or Retros?
Not everyone's doing that. One of the people I interviewed was Kadeem Hardison. He had these really special sneakers just sitting in his closet. Just sitting in his closet! Game-worn, signed by Michael Jordan. Any other Jordan Head would have put them in a vault somewhere sealed tight with guards in front. This guy had them in the bottom of his closet with every other shoe. That's the mentality that he has. I told him he could buy another house with those-and he lives in Malibu. It really depends on the person and how they feel about the shoe. They might feel so proud to be wearing it and want to be seen in the shoe. There are various extremes of being a Jordan Head, if you will. We have a Kadeem Hardison who really doesn't care. He loves what he has, but he's keeping them where he wants to keep them. He might wear the shoe. Parents are also starting to understand the value of these shoes. A lot of kids are staying out of trouble by going to [Air Jordan] swap events-and they're also making a profit. There's a cool synergy taking place.
What do you think wearing Jordans signifies? What makes wearing them so special?
A young lady ate ramen noodles for a week to get a pair of Jordans that came out that Saturday. She met her goal. She essentially starved herself but she had the sneakers. A lot of people think people'll rob and steal-do anything to get these shoes-but Jordan Heads are like everybody else. Really cool people who just have this obsession with Michael Jordan's sneakers. It's not just sneakers: It's a lifestyle at the end of the day.
Which one's your favorite?
It's a subculture within the subculture. They're attached to a Michael Jordan who did things on the court that no one will be able to replicate. I mean, the guy played with a full-blown flu. He couldn't walk off the court. That drive and that ambition transfers into the sneakers as something tangible that we can hold and touch.
Has sneaker culture changed since that shoe came out 30 years ago?
It's aspirational. It makes people feel special, like when they put these on they're a part of history. It's history that they're documenting. It's history that you can wear on your feet. No other footwear has been able to do that-not a sneaker, that is. Me, personally, I wasn't able to get them as a kid. A lot of people didn't have a whole lot when they were kids. Their parents didn't have the money to get these shoes. Now they have jobs, they're financially stable, and they can buy them, and they can relive their childhood. It's very nostalgic. In my store in Brooklyn, I have people tearing up when they walk in the door. They have very special, fond memories.
What do you hope this movie does?
The Air Jordan I. It's just a very simple silhouette, beautiful colorway-the red and black, with a little bit of white-you can wear them with anything. That's mainly the reason I love the shoe. There's no need to think about coordinating colors, or matching. It is a very distinct looking shoe. And on top of that it's Michael Jordan's introduction into the NBA, so it's the alpha.

Most definitely. Sneaker culture was created in the streets. It was in the hood. The Internet didn't dictate what was cool and what was hot. It's something kids in the city created. It goes hand in hand with hip-hop. As hip-hop grew, sneaker culture grew. As people saw the sneakers on rappers' feet, they wanted to emulate their favorite rapper-wherever they were: Idaho, Iowa, overseas. It grew out of New York, and now we are where we are. The sad thing about it is the corporations have gotten wise and dictate what's cool now. The inner city kids no longer have that kind of power. Now the sneakers are coming out, and you gotta get 'em because they're limited-and if you don't get 'em now, you're not going to be able to get 'em again. I really wish we could go back to a time when you could go to your mom and pop shop and pick out anything you like and you can make it cool. The great thing about Jordans, then, is there are so many retros. One through 18-you can pick and choose, each model is very unique and individual.

I hope it helps to enlighten people about the consumer side. You see a lot of documentaries on sneaker culture and you see a lot of celebrities in them, and that's not what this film is about. It's about the consumer and their struggle. And their appreciation for the sneaker in general. Celebrities talk about their sneakers, and it's not fair-a lot of them don't go through what the average consumer goes through to get their sneakers. It really shows the passion for the shoe and the love for Air Jordans.

Air Jordans are so much a part of the day-to-day culture of the world. Just like Coca-Cola, NBC or Dove Soap, they're something you hear about and see to the point that a lot of times you don't even realize it. The sneakers and the style of it all have been part of my life on a daily basis on one level or another since they came out.

-Michael Rapaport, executive producer, Jordan Heads

This article appears in Newsweek's Special Commemorative Edition, Jordan: 30 Years Since MJ Changed The Game.

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in 1985, Nike launched Air Jordans, a shoe that would forever change the level of play on the basketball court-and in equal measure create a frenzy among non-players around the world clamoring to soar street-side like Michael Jordan did on the boards.

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Gyms That Make You Want to Exercise More

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Gyms That Make You Want to Exercise More: How gyms arrange their equipment affects how people work out; A new focus on data analysis shows common, if counterintuitive, mistakes like treadmills facing the windows

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Vetta/Getty Images

As much as we'd like to believe that chocolate cake and ice cream are the elixir for a long and healthy life, we know that's not the case. We also know that a regular exercise routine is one of the surest paths to a longer and healthier life.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise every week -- but less than half of all Americans do so. And for the millions of people who would like to do better, this is often the time of year to consider joining a gym. We can all find lots of excuses for not getting our bodies in motion, but there's an equally compelling list of reasons why we should do so.

Whether you want to lose weight, gain muscle, tone up or improve your overall health, new year's resolutions are the No. 1 reason people of all fitness levels pony up the bucks and decide to join a conveniently located gym. Here are nine reasons why a gym membership is a really good idea, starting with the most obvious one. (A companion post will provide you with reasons why you should skip the gym and find another way to exercise.)
1. Get Healthy
A gym encourages you to do a balanced program that includes both aerobic and strength training exercises. These promote heart health and weight loss, help prevent osteoporosis and improve muscle strength, balance and flexibility. If weight loss is a primary goal, consider the mantra of a friend who tells me "nothing tastes as good as getting in shape feels."
2. Find Support and Motivation
Some people really enjoy exercise; for others, it's a chore. If you fall into that latter group, being surrounded by other people who are in the same boat can provide the incentive you need to make exercise part of your regular routine. Your initial intention might be to drag yourself to the gym twice a week, but once you find your rhythm, you may end up going on a more regular basis, which will help make your goals more attainable.
3. Get Stress Relief
According to the Mayo Clinic, virtually any form of exercise can act as a stress reliever -- whether you're a serious athlete or an out of shape wannabe. Physical activity boosts the brain's production of endorphins, which simply makes us feel better physically and have a brighter emotional outlook. Exercise reduces tensions in both the body and the mind, which can improve your mood and the quality of your sleep. For many people, the gym becomes a bit of sanctuary where you can turn off the phone and forget all of the troubles at work or in your personal life.
4. Learn From the Pros
Many gyms now have professional trainers on staff -- often people with college degrees in sports science or other related fields, along with personal training certificates. They are trained to design exercise programs that fit your individual needs in a fun and safe way, showing you proper exercise techniques so that you don't hurt yourself and that you get the most out of each exercise routine.
5. Sample the Variety
One of the big advantages a gym has over your guest room/home gym is the wide array of weights, machines, exercise classes and other elements. This gives you the opportunity to try new exercise equipment and vary your routine. If you do the same workout day-in and day-out, your body builds a type of muscle memory and the gains you make are incrementally decreased. Fitness experts say that finding different ways to exercise the same muscles and muscle groups can improve the quality of your workout.
6. Learn From Each Other
Inevitably you'll see the people around you doing exercises that are new to you and may look sort of fun. You can certainly borrow and learn from others, but with this caveat: make sure you learn the proper technique so that you don't injure yourself. Just because someone else is doing something that looks interesting, doesn't mean that they know what they're doing. On the other hand, most people are happy to share the knowledge they've acquired. Ask them what that exercise is meant to accomplish and about the proper form to do it right.
7. Sweat Together
Many people find exercise classes to be the most efficient and fun way to get a full body workout. You can do everything from Aqua Arthritis (where there's a pool) to Zumba, and from kickboxing to yoga. There's usually a very energetic leader to help provide you with some extra energy and motivation. Many people do have to get over the hump initially of being the class newbie, where it seems like you're the only one who doesn't know the right steps or positions, or the only man in a class of a dozen women. (Granted, that's not necessarily a problem for all men) Don't worry though. They are concentrating on their own form and not watching yours.
8. Check out the Holiday Deals
This is often the best time of year to join a gym because many of them are offering steep price discounts and incentives to join now. According to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, a record 52.9-million Americans belonged to a health club last year, up more than 5 percent from the previous year. Most gyms offer a trial day or week to test out the gym. Take advantage of that to check out the atmosphere and the crowds. Most gyms also offer you a 30-day period during which you can change your mind and get out of the contract, but make sure you get that in writing. If you don't join just before or after the new year, June and July are often the best months to find good deals.
9. Get Going
If you're serious about losing weight and getting in better shape, there's no better time to start than right now. The longer you put it off, the more excuses you'll come up with. And if one of your goals is to rock the swim suit next summer, you're going to need three to six months to see the gains. It doesn't happen overnight.

If you do decide to take the plunge and join a gym, you may want to consult with your doctor, just to make sure that certain exercise programs are not going to do more harm than good. And don't try to keep up on the first day with the very buff looking person working out nearby. Go slow at the start to avoid injuries, which can discourage you from returning to the gym next week.

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9 Reasons Why You'll Benefit to Join a Gym Right Now

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As much as we'd like to believe that chocolate cake and ice cream are the elixir for a long and healthy life, we know that's not the case. We also know that a regular exercise routine is one of the surest paths to a longer and healthier life.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-sanbonmatsu/the-real-climate-change-hoax_b_8920048.html

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Image: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Breakfast around the clock is helping shake McDonald's out of its slump.

The world's biggest hamburger chain says the launch of an all-day breakfast menu and unseasonably warm weather helped lift sales by 5.7% in the U.S. for the final three months of the year.

It's the second straight quarter of domestic growth as McDonald's fights to win back customers, and the best showing for the company since early 2012.

Globally, sales rose 5% at established locations.

The stock market greeted the news with excitement: McDonald's shares headed for an all-time high before the market opened Monday.

McDonald's, which has more than 36,000 locations around the world, is working to turnaround its business under CEO Steve Easterbrook, who will mark one year on the job in March.

One of the biggest changes under Easterbrook was to make the Egg McMuffin and other select breakfast foods available past normal breakfast hours in the U.S. - an option many customers had long desired. The company also touted healthier options, including kale in some salads, cage-free eggs in the U.S. and Canada, and experiments with quinoa. The changes come after McDonald's executives conceded they failed to keep up with changing tastes and saw sales slide.

The company did keep some things the same: Easterbrook said Ronald McDonald's the fast-food chain's clown mascot, would never be fired, even as the company reinvigorated the Hamburglar as an attractive, bored dad living a second life of crime.

In 2015, guest counts at established McDonald's locations in the U.S. fell 3%. That followed a 4.1% drop the previous year. Guest counts declined globally as well during the period.

The latest sales jump in the U.S. marks the best showing since the first quarter of 2012, when comparable-stores sales rose 8.9%.

McDonald's did well overseas as well. Sales for the "International Lead" unit, which includes the United Kingdom and Canada, rose 4.2% during the period. In the high-growth markets unit, which includes Russia and China, sales climbed 3%.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, McDonald's Corp. earned $1.21 billion, or $1.31 per share. That beat Wall Street expectations for $1.23 per share, according to FactSet.

Total revenue was $6.34 billion, also topping the $6.24 billion analysts expected.

Shares of McDonald's rose almost 3% to $121.90.

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More people are eating at McDonald's thanks to healthier options

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Breakfast around the clock is helping shake McDonald's out of its slump. The world's biggest hamburger chain says the launch of an all-day breakfast menu and unseasonably warm weather helped lift sales by 5.7% in the U.S. for the final three months of the year.

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To the non-initiated, life spent on a farm - with its fresh air, physical labor and just-picked produce - may seem like the epitome of healthy living. But being a farmer today does remarkably little to ensure good eating. As it turns out, many of today's farmers face the deep irony of producing beautiful fruits and vegetables for consumers while subsisting on a diet that more closely resembles a McDonalds' menu than Old MacDonald's farm.

In theory, farmers should be poster children for the locavore movement. They have fridges and fields (or home gardens, in the case of some larger farms) stuffed with gorgeous produce. But such proximity to local food does not automatically translate to the plate. The evidence is perhaps most extreme in California's Central Valley, where a startling 80 percent of farm laborers - many of whom are recent immigrants living in low-income communities - are obese. But the disconnect impacts farmers of all kinds.

The primary source of the tension between what farmers grow and what they end up eating is time. During the planting and harvest seasons the days can get extreme, stretching as long as 12 to 16 hours. Farmers who host onsite CSA pickups or navigate through rush hour traffic to drop produce off in nearby cities have to cater to their customer's own hectic work schedules, which pushes off dinner prep (not to mention breakfast and lunch for the next day) until 8 or 9pm at the earliest.

"My breakfast is usually yogurt and granola. The yogurt could be healthy, but I end up with the sugary, non organic stuff rather than the homemade I would make if I had the time," says Jen Burt, 29, of Dismas Family Farm in Massachusetts. When things get really hectic, Burt finds herself snacking on Doritos, Peanut Butter M&Ms and ice cream during the 30-minute drive between the farm to her house. "I grew up in a family that ate a lot of junk food. Since then my appetite has changed, but when I'm most stressed, I often just want those familiar foods," she says.

'You see a lot of running to the gas station for chips, soda and coffee, which helps farmers stay awake during the crazy hours.'

Rachel Kaplan, 35, of Powisset Farm, a CSA farm in Massachusetts, shares a similar sentiment. "At the height of the season, it is a feat in and of itself to sustain the energy to work let alone come home and start preparing food." Even more to the point, she adds: "A lot of the times cooking comes at the expense of sleep."

Nick Hagen, 28, a fifth-generation farmer at Hagen Farm in North Dakota, says eating in the fields also poses logistical challenges. "Throughout our wheat or sugar beet harvests, there is no time to stop for lunch. I typically have one hand on the tractor's steering wheel all day, and fish around in my lunch box with the other." Hagen ends up eating a lot of one-palm foods like peeled hardboiled eggs and plain beans packaged in a container he can "hold and almost drink." Apples are in; oranges, which need to be peeled, are out. "I can occasionally manage a banana," he said.

Hagen, who has a gluten intolerance that forces him to be creative about his in-field meals, manages to eat fairly healthily, if not excitingly. But for many farmers, this lack of time translates into less-than-ideal food choices. "You see a lot of running to the gas station for chips, soda and coffee, which helps farmers stay awake during the crazy hours," Hagen says.

Bryan Austin, 53 of Dover Farm in Massachusetts, agrees. "Our bodies need energy and modern foods like potato chips (fat), coffee (caffeine) and cakes (glucose) give instant energy," he says. "Last year, I ate store muffins for breakfast, drank three cups of coffee a day and always had some candy as a snack - awful!" Bryn Bird, 29, a second-generation farmer at Bird's Haven Farms in Ohio, says, "The summer is the most unhealthy time for most of the farmers I am social with," she said. "My family lives on pizza all summer."

'The summer is the most unhealthy time for most of the farmers I am social with. My family lives on pizza all summer.

"I always laugh at cookbooks that include approximate cooking times for recipes," Kaplan says. "If you start with greens that still need to have the dirt and grit washed off of them, everything takes much longer!" According to Hagen, there is a greater awareness about health in the farming community than there once was. But when push comes to shove, a doughnut or a Snickers Bar win out by offering unparalleled convenience when farmers need it most.

Historically, the social ecology of a family farm included systems to accommodate the harvest season time-crunch. Some members of the family, traditionally the father and brothers, worked in the fields while others, typically the women, were tasked with preparing and, when necessary, packing up, breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also spent hours canning, pickling, preserving and otherwise stretching the life of the season's crop.

Some farms continue to work this way. "Where I live in North Dakota, most farmers have a mother or a wife making their food," says Hagen said. In his case, it's his mother and girlfriend. "Without that support, you begin to get into the junk food element."

But if a farm is set up so that the whole family works in the fields, or one spouse works a supplementary job, those systems can break down quickly. Brad Wilson, 60, of Fireweed Farm in Iowa, says falling crop prices over the last half-century have eroded the traditional family structure on many farms: "The wives had to get jobs in town, which takes away the home garden and vegetables at dinner. After my mom died, with my wife working in town, I asked my dad to bring out food for the workers. Instead of sandwiches, he went to town and bought high sugar, artificially flavored junk food in packages."

Meanwhile, today's growing crop of young farmers - the ones who left urban life in order to farm - often find themselves lacking that critical support network. "My friends sometimes joke that they wish they had a 'farm wife' or 'farm husband,'" says Kaplan.

Some farms have developed creative workarounds to the time management issue - like turning their fields into makeshift kitchens. Greg and Cari Horning, both 44, are 3rd generation potato and onion farmers at Horning Farms in Washington. They occasionally use their tractor as an oven. "I wrap a spud in foil, or just put it fresh from the ground onto the exhaust manifold," says Greg. "The manifold can be extremely hot, so it doesn't take long to cook." When he remembers, he even packs "a little butter or bacon to eat with it."

Other farms reimagine the traditional family farm structure by splitting up cooking responsibilities, coop-style, between workers. Kaplan's farm, meanwhile, is considering offering a food prep work share to their CSA members. Instead of volunteering at a CSA distribution or in the fields, the members would spend a few hours each week during the season preparing meals for the staff. These innovations help, but it still takes serious and surprising dedication to eat well as a farmer. "I am actually cooking as we talk right now, Kaplan told this reporter over the phone. "Multitasking is key."

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Why Many Farmers Eat Like Crap - Modern Farmer

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In theory, farmers should be poster children for the locavore movement. They have fridges and fields (or home gardens, in the case of some larger farms) stuffed with gorgeous produce. But such proximity to local food does not automatically translate to the plate.

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Imagine being able to see three times better than 20/20 vision without wearing glasses or contacts - even at age 100 or more - with the help of bionic lenses implanted in your eyes.

Dr. Garth Webb, an optometrist in British Columbia who invented the Ocumetics Bionic Lens, says patients would have perfect vision and that driving glasses, progressive lenses and contact lenses would become a dim memory as the eye-care industry is transformed.

Webb says people who have the specialized lenses surgically inserted would never get cataracts because their natural lenses, which decay over time, would have been replaced.

Perfect eyesight would result "no matter how crummy your eyes are," Webb says, adding the Bionic Lens would be an option for someone who depends on corrective lenses and is over about age 25, when the eye structures are fully developed.

"This is vision enhancement that the world has never seen before," he says, showing a Bionic Lens, which looks like a tiny button.

"If you can just barely see the clock at 10 feet, when you get the Bionic Lens you can see the clock at 30 feet away," says Webb, demonstrating how a custom-made lens that folded like a taco in a saline-filled syringe would be placed in an eye, where it would unravel itself within 10 seconds.

8-minute surgery

He says the painless procedure, identical to cataract surgery, would take about eight minutes and a patient's sight would be immediately corrected.

Webb, who is the CEO of Ocumetics Technology Corp., has spent the last eight years and about $3 million researching and developing the Bionic Lens, getting international patents and securing a biomedical manufacturing facility in Delta, B.C.

His mission is fuelled by the "obsession" he's had to free himself and others from corrective lenses since he was in Grade 2, when he was saddled with glasses.

"My heroes were cowboys, and cowboys just did not wear glasses," Webb says.

"At age 45 I had to struggle with reading glasses, which like most people, I found was a great insult. To this day I curse my progressive glasses. I also wear contact lenses, which I also curse just about every day."

Webb's efforts culminated in his recent presentation of the lens to 14 top ophthalmologists in San Diego the day before an annual gathering of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Dr. Vincent DeLuise, an ophthalmologist who teaches at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., and at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, says he arranged several meetings on April 17, when experts in various fields learned about the lens.

He says the surgeons, from Canada, the United States, Australia and the Dominican Republic, were impressed with what they heard and some will be involved in clinical trials for Webb's "very clever" invention.

"There's a lot of excitement about the Bionic Lens from very experienced surgeons who perhaps had some cynicism about this because they've seen things not work in the past. They think that this might actually work and they're eager enough that they all wish to be on the medical advisory board to help him on his journey," DeLuise says.

"I think this device is going to bring us closer to the holy grail of excellent vision at all ranges - distant, intermediate and near."

Clinical trials on animals, blind humans

Pending clinical trials on animals and then blind human eyes, the Bionic Lens could be available in Canada and elsewhere in about two years, depending on regulatory processes in various countries, Webb says.

As for laser surgery, which requires the burning away of healthy corneal tissue and includes potential problems with glare, the need for night-time driving glasses and later cataracts, Webb says the Bionic Lens may make that option obsolete.

Alongside his Bionic Lens venture, Webb has set up a foundation called the Celebration of Sight, which would donate money to organizations providing eye surgery in developing countries to improve people's quality of life.

"Perfect eyesight should be a human right," he says.

DeLuise, who has been asked to manage the foundation, says funds would also be funnelled to some of the world's best eye research institutes.

"He has the technology that may make all of this happen," he says, adding several companies have spent tens of millions of dollars trying to develop a similar lens, though none have come close.

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Implantable Bionic Lens could give you lasting, perfect eyesight | CBC News

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Imagine being able to see three times better than 20/20 vision without wearing glasses or contacts - even at age 100 or more - with the help of bionic lenses implanted in your eyes.