8 Real Political Animals

1. Duke, Mayor of Cormorant, Minnesota

He must be doing something right! Duke, a 9-year-old Great Pyrenees, has been elected to his third term as mayor of Cormorant, Minnesota. The pooch had no trouble scoring a landslide victory in the election, which was held during the 6th Annual Cormorant Daze Festival in August 2016. Residents are evidently satisfied with Duke's policies and overall job performance, as he ran unopposed this year. (Source | Photo)

2. Saucisse, Mayoral Candidate in Marseille, France

Saucisse had a double claim to fame — he was both the star of his own detective novels, as well as a candidate in the 2001 mayoral elections in Marseille, France.

The Dachshund had humble, if not tragic, beginnings. He was found in a pile of trash and was rescued by the Société Protectrice des Animaux (Society for the Protection of Animals). After a series of operations, he was adopted by L'Écailler du Sud, a Marseille publishing house which made him a hero of many novels. His fame grew, and in 2001, he ran for mayor during the municipal elections, with the slogan “For a more human sauciété” (a sausage pun on “society” and his name). He came in sixth with 4.5% of the votes. 

Saucisse remained popular in the region, and his owners used his celebrity status to bring light to injustices in the country. In 2009, he also starred as a housemate for a reality show called Secret Story (the French version of Big Brother) and all the money he won on it was donated to the rescue organization that found him. He lived to the ripe old age of 16 years. (Source | Photo)

3. Stubbs, Mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska

Politicians aren't immune to the occasional online death hoax, and Stubbs, the cat mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, is no exception. To whoever made up the story in May 2016, “you seriously have no life. He is perfectly fine sleeping right now. He's alive and well,” wrote Stephanie Enders, owner of Nagley's General Store, where the cat spends his days.

Stubbs has been the town's honorary mayor since 1997. After surviving a dog attack in 2013, his popularity surged — he currently has more than 35,000 followers on Facebook. The political kitty is believed to be 19 and, despite his advanced age, still runs things with an iron fist in Talkeetna — and his constituents couldn't be happier. (Source | Photo)

4. Clay Henry III, Mayor of Lajitas, Texas

In the 1980s, a joke race for mayor of Lajitas, Texas was held between a human and a goat named Clay Henry. The human won the first election, but must not have done enough for Lajitas — the goat took the second election in a landslide.

Clay Henry and family more or less became a political dynasty with all the influence of the Kennedys in the Texas town. Clay Henry's son, Clay Henry II, also became mayor but was killed by his son, and current goat mayor, Clay Henry III.

The Henry family is widely known for its love of beer. Clay Henry Sr. was known to drink as many as 35-40 beers a day. However, his offspring are said to have a lower tolerance. One of the current mayor's constituents was unhappy with his being fed beer on a Sunday — a day when state law forbids the sale of alcohol — and promptly castrated the goat. Ranchers sutured up the wound, and the man was charged with animal cruelty. Fortunately, Clay Henry III recovered quickly and was downing beers the very next day. (Source)

5. Pigasus, Yippie Presidential Candidate

At Chicago's Democratic National Convention in 1968, the Yippies (Youth International Party) nominated a pig for president, with the campaign pledge: “They nominate a president and he eats the people. We nominate a president and the people eat him.” 

The Yippies were protesting the war in Vietnam, the failure of racial integration, and a call for a break from the two-party system. They brought their point home by offering the pig as an alternative candidate, clearly dramatizing the unwholesome offerings of the time (Democratic nominee Hubert H. Humphrey, and his Republican opponent, Richard M. Nixon). 

Pigasus' candidacy was short-lived. Jerry Rubin had just begun the official introductions at his first press conference, when he, the pig, folksinger Phil Ochs, Stew Albert, and several others were arrested. The humans were bailed out later in the day, but Pigasus' ultimate end remains unknown. He was rumored to have ended up as dinner at the home of some Chicago police officers. (Source | Photo)

6. Lucy Lou, mayor of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky (and U.S. presidential candidate)

Can Lucy Lou do any worse than the leading candidates of 2016? Probably not. 

In 2009, the border collie was elected mayor of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. She's the first female to hold that position — albeit, the third dog. Now, she has set her sights even higher — Lucy Lou aspires to be the first canine president of the U.S.

The canine candidate is running as a member of the grassroots "Indepawdent Party" and has a saucy slogan — “The bitch you can really count on” — which she's been using since her successful 2008 mayoral campaign. She even has a well thought out platform — she stands for smaller government, lowering taxes, increased spending on mental health care, and is for liberal immigration. And she's a supporter of equal marriage rights for all — cats and dogs should be able to marry within their own species, without regard to sex or gender, she said. (Source | Photo)

7. Shunka, mayor of Divide, Colorado

Shunka, a wolf living at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, won the 2016 mayoral election in Divide, Colorado. 

The election is organized by the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter. Each animal mayor is elected to a two-year term. This is the fourth election the organization has held, but the first time a wolf has won. Each vote costs $1, and the money goes to help the shelter with their daily expenses. This year they brought in a whopping $38,000. (Source | Photo)

8. Bosco Ramos, Mayor of Sunol, California

Bosco Ramos, a Black Labrador and Rottweiler mix, defeated two humans to win the election as mayor of Sunol, California in 1981. His tongue-in-cheek election made international news after a newspaper in China denounced it as evidence of the failings of democracy. However, the puppy propaganda only cemented Bosco as a legend, and, today, more than two decades after his death in 1994, tourists still visit the quirky hamlet to hear his story. In 2008, Sunol placed a bronze statue of Bosco under the town clock, complete with his classic neckerchief. (Source)

SOURCE: Oddee

Elderly Dog, Dropped off at Shelter in a Garbage Bag, Learns to Love Again

Last week, Blackie's family wrapped their bleeding dog in a garbage bag, placed the bagged pet in a cardboard box, and brought her to a busy Southern California animal shelter.

Kelly Smíšek is founder of Frosted Faces Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 2014 that specializes in helping old dogs — the group rescues some 100 canines per year.

After learning that Blackie was in the shelter — in pain and in need of help — there was no way Smíšek was going to let her stay there.

Blackie was dropped off at a busy California shelter wrapped in a garbage bag. | Courtesy of Frosted Faces Foundation

"We rescue the senior animals whose love and lives are left behind and in jeopardy," she told TODAY in an email.

Blackie is about 10 years old, and a small girl — about the size of a corgi — with a white-streaked face that looks happy, despite what she's been through.

Even outside of the bleeding tumor, and the manner in which she was brought to the shelter, there are indications that during her first decade, Blackie hadn't been looked after so well.

Dr. Beth Gordon is a veterinarian at High Valley Veterinary Hospital, in Ramona, California, who examined Blackie after her rescue. Gordon said Blackie has a heart murmur, some scars on her body, one wonky eye and teeth that have been neglected.

ackie, before her surgery, with veterinary technician Deborah Whitman | Courtesy of Frosted Faces Foundation

Then, of course, there is the tumor, which was big, infected and "very painful" for Blackie, Gordon said. "Someone didn't take very good care of her at all."

That's changed now. Blackie is at Frosted Faces Foundation headquarters, near San Diego.

She is being tended to — and with a lot of love.

Blackie enjoys her spa treatment. | Courtesy of Frosted Faces Foundation

Blackie has quickly learned the pleasures of being clean, and of wearing a fresh new collar, eating plenty of good food and resting on soft beds.

Her teeth have been brushed, her nails trimmed and she rolls right over for belly rubs "if you give any indication of wanting to pet her," said Smíšek .

Blackie with Frosted Fraces Foundation volunteer Kelly Anne Honrath. | Courtesy of Frosted Faces Foundation

Blackie's had surgery to remove her tumor. And to be safe and make sure no cancer cells were left, most of her tail was also removed.

Biopsies showed that Blackie had been suffering from the sort of cancer that often spreads into a dog's lymph nodes and lungs.

"But diagnostics have proven that it had not yet," said Smíšek. "She has recovered well, the swelling has gone down and she is running around happily."

Blackie is all smiles now. | Courtesy of Frosted Faces Foundation

Soon, Blackie will be running around happily in a home.

Frosted Faces Foundation is sorting through the applications that have been placed by people who want to make sure that Blackie's next act is better than what came before.

Once her stitches come out, and she is medically cleared, Blackie will go to what's called a "forever foster" home. Frosted Faces covers these dogs' medical bills. The foster homes promise to love and care for the dogs for as much time as they've got left.

It's impossible to say how long that could be. Gordon believes Blackie could have another three or four years of life ahead.

SOURCE: Today

14 Heartwarming Stories That Prove There’s Nothing in the World Like the Mother-Daughter Bond

A new chapter

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“Goodbye,” she sang cheerily, skipping off to her new dorm after giving me a light peck on the cheek as though we were no more than acquaintances. A young woman. A college freshman. No longer my baby. Her casual parting stung me. Had she outgrown me? As I walked away I was arrested by a child’s voice shouting “Mommy!” (A word I hadn’t heard in years.) Before I could turn around she was in my arms, her face buried in my neck. She didn’t need to say anything in that moment. I knew then that she’d always my little girl. --Jamie Larson, Atlanta, Georgia

The scent of love
In the recesses of my closet, there is a bin filled with clothes. For years, I’ve been haunted by it, using that size as a weight-loss goal. One day, my 13-year-old daughter begged to raid it. Excited to save money on back-to-school outfits, I told her to pick a few pieces. She pulled out an old jacket and put it on. It was too big. I was just about to comment when she buried her face in the fabric and inhaled deeply. “It smells like you," she said. I no longer care if I ever fit into those clothes again. --Alyssa Mayley, Dover, Ohio

Emergency!

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After moving to the country, my three-year-old daughter and I were often alone in our house. Because we lived in a rural area with no close neighbors, I wanted to make sure my daughter would be able to call 911 in the event that something happened to me. After instructing her, I decided to test her: "Okay, what would you do if you found me on the floor and you couldn't wake me up?" I could see her little brain working and to my surprise she said, "I would go into the kitchen and eat anything I want." --Laura Albrecht, California, Kentucky

The power of perfume

My daughter Anne’s September departure involved a flurry of all things new and two cars full of her anticipation of college life two hundred miles away. Our house became strangely quiet, but phone calls but email kept her close. However, in late October a student wearing Anne’s favorite perfume came into my office at the college where I work. When she left, I had tears in my eyes. Until that moment I hadn’t realized just how much I missed my daughter. Twenty years later, a whiff of that special scent brings back that special autumn and Anne. --Kay Mills, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

Reunited by Mom

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While shopping, I noticed a credit card on the floor. I picked it up, went to the courtesy desk and asked them to page the owner. I waited. No one came. They said that her cart was still there and she had gone to her car to look for her card. When she came back, I asked if she had lost something. I asked her name and established that it matched the card, which I then gave her. She said she had prayed to her mother, who had passed away recently, to help her find the card. We talked and I introduced myself. "My name is Claire," I said. She responded, "My mother's name was Claire." --Claire Salem, New City, New York

Who’s the tooth fairy?

My favorite moment raising my children happened while tucking my daughter into bed. Jeanne told me she went to the nurse's office that day with a classmate who had just lost a tooth. Unfortunately, the nurse said, "You know, your mother is really the tooth fairy." My daughter looked up at me and asked if that was true. I said, "Yes." Then, ever so innocently, she asked, "How do you fly around to all the houses?" --Maryann Zacchea, Sandy Hook, Connecticut

The rhythm of life

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It was the first anniversary of our only daughter's death. Jillian had died of cancer at three-years-old after a grueling series of treatments. My husband and I had decided to spend the weekend at a bed and breakfast because it was too painful to stay at home. I awoke to the sensation of being shoved out of bed. The message in my head, “Take a pregnancy test. You’re pregnant with my sister.” I did. I was. We named her Cadence to remind us to return to the rhythm of life. Name --Sylvia Johnson, Tampa, Florida

A trip from Mom

We were feeling gloomy a week after my mom’s funeral. She’d passed away from Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Suddenly, the phone rang; it was our priest. “You’ve won our raffle - a vacation to St. Maarten!” Suddenly, I remembered that a few days after Mom’s passing, I found an envelope on her desk. In her beautiful handwriting, it said, “Return to church by November 17th.” Inside were tickets for the church raffle. Honoring Mom’s wish, my father and I dropped them off at church the next day. I told Father this. He hesitated and said, “It’s a gift from your mom.” --Sharon Bette, Southbury, Connecticut

Dress shopping

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We went looking for a wedding dress on Sunday. Laughing, we made for the door of a bridal shop. This would surely be the first of many stores before we found the perfect gown. Having witnessed other brides and their mothers, we vowed to be happy in these moments. Unexpectedly, my mind went back to the day we brought her home some 27 years ago. I said a silent thank-you to the young mother who, by letting her go, allowed her to be mine at this precious time. Two hours later, there she stood, in the dress of her dreams. My beautiful girl. --Marybob Straub, Smyrna, Georgia

Lessons in motherhood

Don’t let her sleep in your bed.” That’s what I heard over and over after my daughter was born. So I didn’t, unless she was sick. Now my baby is almost six, and every night, after we read and sing songs and turn off the light, I lie down with her before she falls asleep. We whisper to each other, and I watch her eyelids start to flutter. I smell her hair and kiss her forehead. And I wish I had done this every night. --Suzanne Cifarelli, Albany, New York

Pennies for candles

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When I was a child, during the Great Depression, my mother sent me to the store to buy candles because our electricity had been turned off. I gave the clerk in the store my pennies for the candles, and he sarcastically said, “Didn’t pay the electric bill?” I held my head up high and replied, “Of course we did, but we want to have dinner by candlelight tonight.” I still laugh when I recall our “candlelight” dinner and the look on the clerk’s face after my retort. We didn’t have much money, but we had pride. --Jean Smidt, West Milford, New Jersey

A stand up woman

My mom had a great sense of humor and a knack for making everything fun. One thing that resonated with me, even as a small child, was how much she seemed to enjoy her own company and found ways to entertain herself. As a kid, I remember her giggling while paying bills. What was so funny about bill paying? She would put humorous notes in the reference section of the check: For the electric bill, she might put “You light up my life,” and for the mortgage she’d write “Four shingles closer to owning it all.” --Robin Hynes, Slingerland, New York

Memories in verse

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The day I was dreading had arrived—it was inevitable. I had seen it coming but had chosen to ignore it for as long as possible. My very capable, intelligent mom had started forgetting to pay her bills, and it was time to take over her finances. As I looked through her wallet, I made a remarkable discovery. Tucked away in a tiny compartment were four Mother’s Day poems I’d written for her in the 1960s. She had saved and cherished those simple gifts for 50 years. What a happy surprise! --Pat Witty, Fairmont, Minnesota

Just one question
“I was chosen to be your mama,” I tell my four-year-old daughter as my younger boys pull at my clothes. She looks at me tearfully and asks, “Why couldn’t I grow in your tummy like my brothers?” “Well,” I tell her, choking back my own tears, “The doctor said I couldn’t grow a baby in my tummy, so your daddy and I decided to adopt a baby. That baby was you.” I hold my breath and wait for a more difficult question. “Can I have some ice cream?” she asks. “Yes!” I say, thankful for her innocence. --Katina Brown, West Monroe, Louisiana

SOURCE: RD

Pinky-Sized Marine Animal Breaks Record for Ocean Filtration

A small marine creature just broke the world record for ocean filtration and is a newly named champion in the fight against climate change.

Giant larvaceans, marine animals the size of a human pinky, are so fragile that nets destroy them. Scientists have therefore desired to study them in the wild, but only recently achieved the feat using a remotely operated vehicle that launched a high-tech laser and optics gadget, DeepPIV, which looks like something out of a James Bond film. Kakani Katija, who led the effort from aboard the surface vessel Rachel Carson in Monterey Bay, described what happened next.

“When we turned off the white lights and turned on the laser, there was a collective gasp in the room — we couldn’t believe what we were seeing,” said Katija, who is the principal engineer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

“We could see the larvacean pumping its tail,” she continued. “We could see the interior chambers of the filters. We could see the motion of fluid in and through the house (the animal’s filtration system).”

It was then that her colleague, senior scientist Bruce Robison, shouted, “Wow! We’re pulling back the veil of ignorance.”

Doing so revealed that a giant larvacean known as blue-tailed Bathochordaeus filters particles out of water faster than any other marine creature. It beats the prior record holder, plankton called salps. The findings are reported in the journal Science Advances.

MBARI’s MiniROV with its DeepPIV system undergoing trials in a test tank. Bubbles in the water in front of the ROV are illuminated by a sheet of light from the laser at lower left. | Paul McGill/MBARI

Giant larvaceans, a type of zooplankton, are the key to the so-called biological pump. This is a process whereby organisms in the ocean transport carbon from the atmosphere into the deep sea, where some of that carbon is sequestered.

Capturing and sequestering carbon help to mitigate global climate change, so we and every other species on the planet benefit from the ocean filtration talents of these tiny creatures every day of our lives.

“We have estimated that as much as a quarter of the organic carbon transported to the deep bottom of Monterey Bay comes from discarded giant larvacean houses,” Robison said, adding that giant larvaceans are also located in oceans across the world.

He and Katija explained that giant larvaceans first make the rudimentary filtration “house” by excreting mucus from a series of cells located on its head.

“At some point in the build process, the larvacean starts moving its tail in a specific fashion, where we suspect the animal is forcing fluid through the house rudiment, and effectively blows up the rudiment like a balloon,” Katija said.

The house is then ready for action, filtering phytoplankton and other organic particles. These materials stick in the mucus house for digestion. When the filtration system fills up with waste matter, the entire nutrient-rich house is discarded and sinks to the sea floor. There, it provides a source of food for deep-sea animals. Giant larvaceans at that point may swim to another location, prior to building another house, in order to start the process all over again.

The animals have such an effective filtration system that researchers have even considered adding them to the ocean to do more good work. That idea was shut down quickly, however, due to concerns over unintended consequences, such as disruption of the marine ecosystem.

Robison said scientists of the past learned hard lessons about unintended consequences. He then listed some of the colossal failures: bringing mongooses to Hawaii to control rats in sugar cane fields (mongooses became an invasive species there); dumping radioactive waste in the ocean (causing pollution and hurting marine life); and bringing kudzu plants from Japan into the states to feed livestock (kudzu became an invasive species).

“The list goes on and on,” he added. “Upsetting the balance of nature can be a tricky business, especially when dealing with an ecosystem as poorly known as the deep sea.”

The researchers, however, hope to further study larvaceans. They also plan to use DeepPIV to obtain more accurate measurements of carbon removal by other deep-water organisms.

“Who knows what else is out there?” Robison asked. “The deep ocean is the least explored habitat on Earth, and we are only beginning to learn who is out there and how it all works.”

SOURCE: Seeker

9 Most Deadly Lightning Strikes

1. 323 reindeer killed in Norway

Lightning killed More than 300 wild reindeer in central Norway in August 2016. The Norwegian Environment Agency released eerie images showing a jumble of reindeer carcasses scattered across a small area on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. The agency says 323 animals were killed, including 70 calves, in a lightning storm.

It's not uncommon for reindeer or other wildlife to be killed by lightning strikes but this was an unusually deadly event. Reindeer tend to stay very close to each other in bad weather, which could explain how so many were killed at once. (Source)

2. 300 people dead in one of the most deadly lightning strikes in history

On June 26, 1807, lightning hit a gunpowder factory in the small European country of Luxembourg and killed more than 300 people. The disaster is one of the most deadly lightning strikes in history.

That year, Luxembourg was occupied by Napoleon's army. The French dictator used the small country to stockpile weapons and ammunition. Many underground bunkers were built for this purpose. In Kirchberg, a fortress built in 1732 was used as an armory. When lightning struck it, the ammunition housed within ignited on contact, causing a massive explosion. Two entire city blocks were thoroughly razed by the blast, which caused several other fires to rage nearby. The London Times later reported, “This city has been plunged into the greatest consternation and distress.” (Source)

3. Lightning strike kills an entire soccer team

In 1998, all 11 members of a football team were killed by a bolt of lightning which left the other team unhurt. Thirty more people received burns at the match in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Locals, known to believe in charms and spells, were divided over whether someone had cursed the team. The two sides were drawing 1-1 in the match in eastern Kasai Province when the lightning struck the visiting team. The athletes from [the home team] Basanga came out of this catastrophe unscathed. (Source)

4. 19 cows killed in lightning strike as they shelter under tree

A single bolt of lightning striking a tree was all it took to kill 19 cows who were sheltering during a storm in August 2016 in Hallsville, Texas. Their owner, Ashley Anderson, said she and her husband had never seen anything like it, and called it a freak incident. (Source)

5. 33 people zapped by lightning strike at music festival

Two lightning strikes hit the 2015 Rock am Ring festival in the town of Mendig. Eight people from production teams were injured when the first strike hit the backstage area. Organizers later halted the concerts and offered visitors shelter in lightning-proof tents. Shortly before 4 am, lightning hit the festival's camping area, and another 25 people were injured. All of those injured had been taken to hospitals for observation and were in good health. None suffered a direct hit by lightning. (Source)

6. 3 people killed on an Argentine beach by a lightning strike

In 2014, a lightning strike killed three people on a beach in Argentina and injured 22 others. "We were hiding in a tent to take shelter from the storm when we felt an explosion, and then I saw my friend thrown to the ground," Rafael Viñuela claimed. He ran to find a doctor after seeing that his friend's arm was burned. "When they arrived, they told us that he had died."

Another victim, a 17-year-old, was playing soccer on the beach when the lightning hit, killing him and injuring several members of his family. The storm struck the seaside community of Villa Gesell, located about 230 miles (375 km) southeast of the country's capital. The injured victims included 16 adults and six children. (Source)

7. 3,000 people dead after lightning strike causes an explosion

A particularly deadly lightning incident occurred in Brescia, Italy in 1769. Lightning struck the Church of St. Nazaire, igniting the 90 tons of gunpowder in its vaults; the resulting explosion killed 3,000 people and destroyed a sixth of the city. (Source)

8. Lightning kills three men who were playing soccer

In 2008, a lightning bolt killed three Cambodian soccer players and put three others in hospital in a match played during a monsoon season thunderstorm. The victims, all in their 20s, were taking part in a tournament organized by the government to introduce the game to youngsters and ultimately to improve the strength of the national side. (Source)

9.  18 children died while at school in Uganda after lightning strike

In 2011, a lightning strike at a primary school in western Uganda killed 18 students and injured 50. Lightning hit Runyanya primary school in Kiryandongo district, about 225 km (135 miles) northwest of Kampala.  Local media reported that a further 21 pupils were burned after lightning struck at second school in the Zombo district, around 380 km north of Kampala. 
(Source)

SOURCE: Oddee

Warning: These Everyday Habits Seriously Up Your Dementia Risk!

The biggest dementia risk factors—age and family history—can't be changed, but scientists have identified others that can be changed or modified to reduce risk of cognitive decline or dementia.

Eating a poor diet

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You already know a nutritional, well-balanced diet is essential to your heart and weight. But food's benefits for the brain are sometimes overlooked. "The brain needs healthy fats, lean proteins, vitamins and minerals to function properly," says Howard Fillit, MD, founding executive director and chief scientist of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and the ADDF's Cognitive Vitality Program. Also, research shows that people who have a diet high in saturated fats are more likely to develop dementia. The best nutrition you can give your brain is a diet full of fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. Replace butter with healthy fats, such as olive oil, and limit your intake of red meat, instead opting for other lean protein sources including chicken and fish. Here's a guide to the best brain food.

Ignoring chronic illness

Untreated hypertension and diabetes are two of the greatest risk factors for dementia such as Alzheimer's disease, explains Dr. Fillit. "Diabetics have up to 73 percent increased risk of dementia and a an even higher risk of developing vascular dementia than non-diabetics," he says. "Having hypertension in middle age also increases the risk of both Alzheimer's and vascular dementia." For both diseases, managing them with medication, diet and exercise can lower dementia risk significantly. To manage—or ideally, avoid—chronic illness, be sure to keep up with your doctor's appointments. "Patients who visit doctors are less likely to get dementia, as high blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension all can be modified when they're under a physician's surveillance," says Clifford Segil, DO, neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Drinking alcohol in excess

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Hitting the bottle too hard can increase your risk for many health issues, including high blood pressure, stroke, liver disease, in addition to dementia. "Drinking too much can make people's brains atrophy or get pickled, causing early onset memory loss," says Dr. Segil. "Multiple studies have shown a correlation between prolonged alcohol use and cognitive complaints." In addition, years of drinking alcohol can cause rare forms or memory loss that lead to confusion, known as Wenicke-Korsakoff syndrome. It is safe for your health to drink in moderation—one drink a day for women and two for men. In fact, doing so (especially red wine) may be good for your brain health, as the flavonoids in red wine are linked to a lowered risk of dementia in older people.

Smoking

igarettes and cigarette smoke contain more than 4,700 chemical compounds, including some that are highly toxic, says Dr. Fillit. In addition, studies have shown that people who smoke are at higher risk of developing all types of dementia, and a much higher risk (up to 79 percent) for Alzheimer's disease, specifically. The good news is that former smokers have a much lower dementia risk than current smokers, so the sooner you quit the better. Here are 15 more benefits to kicking the habit.

Living a sedentary lifestyle

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More than a million cases of Alzheimer's disease in the United States can been attributed to a lack of exercise, and yet nearly one-third of Americans remain physically inactive. "Strong research shows that exercise benefits the brain and can reduce your risk of falls, age-related diseases and even death," says Dr. Fillit. When exercise is pumping oxygen and blood to your heart and muscles, your brain is benefitting too. The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity (or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity) aerobic exercise every week, which equates to working out 30 minutes a day around five times a week.

Lack of mental stimulation


Just as it's important to exercise your body, it's equally important to exercise your mind. Spending too much time glued to your couch, passively cycling through your Netflix queue instead of actively engaging your brain may increase your risk for dementia. "Research suggests that keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build its reserves of brain cells and connections," Heather Snyder, senior director of medical and scientific operations for the Alzheimer's Association, says. Tapping these benefits is easy, too: "Complete a jigsaw or crossword puzzle, play games which require strategic thinking like chess or bridge or take a class online or at your local community college," Synder suggests. Learn more about brain exercises here.

Being a loner

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Last year, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital published a study finding an association between feeling of loneliness and social isolation and build up of beta-amyloid—a protein in the brain linked to Alzheimer's. "This corresponds to earlier research that lonely people had double the risk of Alzheimer's than their more social peers," says Dr. Fillit. Even if you're more of an introvert and enjoy your alone time, try to put more effort into pursuing social activities, for example joining a book club, volunteering at an animal shelter or participating in community sports.

Not getting enough sleep

Dr. Fillit points to research linking sleep problems—such as insomnia and sleep apnea—with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. "In addition, a recent study estimates that 15 percent of Alzheimer's disease cases may be attributable to sleep problems." Other recent research published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia involving nearly 7,500 women found that averaging less than six hours a night of sleep raised risk of dementia by 36 percent. To lower your risk, Dr. Fillit suggests establishing a bedtime routine, maintaining a regular sleep schedule and treating sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. It's also a good idea not to exercise or eat within two to three hours before bedtime, as both can impair sleep. 

Getting too much sleep

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It's natural for sleep patterns to change as you age. For example, parents caring for a newborn baby might average three to four hours, while a 60-something who recently retired might be able to manage nine a night. In the same study of 7,500 women, the researchers found that sleeping more than eight hours a night increased risk of dementia by 35 percent. Using certain types of sleep aids to get enough sleep may also be a problem: "I often see patients with insomnia or other sleeping problems resolving their issues with medications," says Dr. Segil. "One type of sleeping pill often used is Benadryl, which is an antihistamine. These medications decrease the same chemicals in the brain that one family of Alzheimer's medications is designed to increase." Talk with your doctor and make sure if you're going to take sleeping pills other behavioral things have been tried like improving your sleep hygiene. There are more hazards to getting too much sleep.

SOURCE: RD

Sweet, Sweet Syria: Refugee Mom Finds Support, Success in Cookie-Baking Business

It's a sweet success story: a refugee family finds a safe place and a supportive community in the U.S. and a Syrian woman uses a family recipe to start her own business in a new country.

Ruwaida G, who asked that her last name and face be withheld due to concerns for the safety of family members who remain in Syria, fled the country in 2012 with her husband, Khaled, and her two children, daughter, Zainab, 12, and son, Mohamad, 9.

Ruwaida's cookies are hand-molded using a wooden mold she received from her own mother. | Amanda Avutu

After applying for asylum in Jordan, the family arrived in the U.S. in 2016, settling in Georgia with the assistance of New American Pathways, an organization that helps refugees get settled in the Atlanta area, and Holy Trinity Parish, a church that co-sponsored the family.

"We decided to leave Syria because we feared for our lives and for our children's lives," Ruwaida told TODAY Parents with the help of an Arabic-speaking translator. In Syria, Khaled was a small business owner with a few electronics stores. Ruwaida was a homemaker. "There was no safety in Syria wherever we went, and we needed to leave if we wanted to survive," Ruwaida said.

Brian Bollinger is executive director of Friends of Refugees and says Ruwadia and her family have official refugee status in the U.S., describing their situation as "a type of indefinite residency" that allows them to work, apply for a social security card and state identification card or driver's license, and, after a full year, apply for a green card for permanent residency.

"Refugees come to the United States at the specific invitation of the U.S. government, after passing the most rigorous vetting processes in existence for immigrants," explained Bollinger.

One of the limited items Ruwaida carried with her on her journey was a wooden mold that her mother used to teach her to make traditional, Syrian cookies. Ruwaida had no idea as she packed the family heirlooms that the cookie mold would hold the key to her earning a living in the U.S.

Amanda Avutu met Ruwaida and her family shortly after their arrival in Georgia, after seeing a Facebook post soliciting volunteers to help set up the family's new apartment.

"As I started visiting with the family and getting to know them more," said Avutu. "we would go to their house and they would make us coffee and she started serving us cookies. We were going there focused on helping her husband find a job, but then found that she was literally serving us up an opportunity."

Upon making new friends in the U.S., Ruwaida served them her cookies, leading them to encourage her to start her own business. | Amanda Avutu

Ruwadia's cookies are hand-molded, and made with a 10-step process.

"They're amazing," said Avutu. "We joke about how a human needs eight loving touches a day to feel loved, and each one of Ruwaida's cookies gets 10."

Avutu says she and her friends approached Ruwaida about selling her cookies for profit. Although the mom-of-two was surprised by the suggestion, she was willing to give it a try, and baked 45 dozen cookies to sell at a table at a local music festival.

At the urging of her friends, Ruwaida baked 45 dozen cookies to sell at a local music festival. Her cookies sold out before the first band played. | Amanda Avutu

"She sold out before the first band played," said Avutu.


Soon after, Ruwaida and her husband, with the help of five friends who call themselves "the advisers," created Sweet, Sweet Syria — a cookie business that Ruwaida hopes will grow into a successful family endeavor.

"I learned how to make these traditional, Syrian cookies from my mother, who learned it from her mother, and so on," said Ruwaida. "It is a family recipe. I learned how to make them when I was 14 years old when my mother taught me to perfect them, and I have been making them ever since."

Avutu, who serves as one of Ruwaida's advisers, says she served as co-applicant with the family to a business accelerator course, moving through a 14-week program with Ruwaida that taught the woman about business ownership. Ruwaida then signed a lease on a commercial kitchen space, where she will soon begin making cookies to be sold at local coffee shops, restaurants and specialty grocery stores. Sweet, Sweet Syria will soon also expand to accept online orders.

Ruwaida says she enjoys seeing people eat her cookies and experience her family's special recipe. | Amanda Avutu

Avutu says Ruwaida's husband, Khaled, who works as an assistant chef, is her fiercest supporter.

"They are very much partners in this business," said Avutu. "She was a homemaker previously...and he's been immensely supportive of her having this opportunity to work. Previously, they hadn't really thought about that."

Avutu describes the emotion and pride she witnessed when accompanying the couple to sign the lease for their commercial kitchen.

Friends of the couple say Ruwaida's husband, Khaled, is her fiercest supporter. | Amanda Avutu

"Only one of them could sign the papers, and Khaled said, 'You sign it, of course,'" Avutu recalled. "You could tell she was thinking, 'Why me? I'm just a woman.' And he said, 'Just a woman? You're stronger than three men...and you're in America now.'"

Ruwaida says her husband shares her vision for Sweet, Sweet Syria, and hopes to see the cookie business expand into a restaurant that features traditional, Syrian food.

"He believes our success will help our children succeed in their life," said Ruwaida, adding that her daughter hopes to become a pediatrician and her son has aspirations of serving in the U.S. Army and pursuing a career in law enforcement.

"On the day signing the papers, Khaled said signing the papers is our first step to success." Ruwaida recalled. "He encouraged me saying, 'You're doing a good job. You are making the whole family succeed.' He encouraged me and said that I am a strong woman and that is a great thing for our family."

Amanda Avutu with Khaled G.

To ensure Ruwaida's success, her advisers have started a GoFundMe to raise money to cover her first year of rent in the commercial kitchen, and to eventually help the couple achieve their dream of opening their own brick and mortar store, where people new to the U.S. and long-time U.S. citizens can gather to share their commonalities.

As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Avutu says the refugee crisis is close to her heart.

"I couldn't imagine not doing anything and everything in my power to make sure that they're not only surviving, but thriving here," said Avutu.

To date, the GoFundMe has raised more than $18,000 of the $30,000 goal.

Bobby Whithorne is the director of strategic communications for GoFundMe, and says the platform has seen more and more campaigns in recent months started by people who want to help refugee families in need.

"It's touching to see the kindness and generosity of everyday people who want to make things better for these families, and we hope others are inspired to help refugees around the world," said Whithorne.

uwaida's cookies take a 10-step process to complete.

Ruwaida says she feels happy every time someone takes a bite of her cookies and enjoys her family recipe that has been handed down for generations.

"I am lucky to have a group of dear friends...I couldn't have made it without them," said Ruwaida. "I hope that people who read (my story) see that we had a life before, and because of war we were forced to leave and rebuild our lives in a new country."

"I want them to know that we are thankful for the generosity of people and their willingness to see us and treat us as fellow human beings."

SOURCE:  Today

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SOURCE: Oddee