Category Archives: Life

Daters, Meet “Pebbling” ― The Penguin-Based Dating Trend Social Media Loves

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We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about “tolyamory,” where one or both partners silently permits the infidelity of another without ever explicitly addressing it.

We’ve covered the “orange peel” and “Dorito” dating tests, too. But what’s “pebbling” ― a penguin-inspired dating trend I keep seeing on my For You Page?

A viral TikTok from @jakeyboiarts describes it as giving “someone a bunch of something because you’re thinking about them, for example, a penguin that gives a pebble to another penguin they love.”

The video, which has earned over 640k views as of the time of writing, explained that “pebbling online is like someone who gets videos, memes, whatever, and you send them to someone.”

What’s that got to do with dating?

It doesn’t have to. Another TikTok video by autism-specialising therapist @myautistictherapist suggested that “the way [many autistic people] share love is through giving information” ― “pebbling” facts, as it were.

And that love can be for friends and family as well as partners. “A lot of the autistic people on this app are showing the world love by sharing what they know,” the therapist said; of course, the same goes for anyone else. It’s a little gift for those you love.

But seeing as the Gentoo penguin-based habit it’s based on is used for amorous avian couples, the trend has taken on a romantic hue on social media ― and the pros seem to approve.

Older forms of “pebbling,” like giving someone a gift, bringing them home a snack, or even telling them about a part of your day that made you think of them have existed for as long as love has, Psychology Today points out.

But relationship expert Gigi Engle told Metro.co.uk that the newer, online application is great for couples; “I think it’s the cutest thing ever because memes are a love language these days,” she said.

“Pebbling started with the advent of meme sending as a form of creating a connection with people… It can definitely strengthen a relationship because it’s similar to sending a message saying, ‘I saw this and thought of you,’” the romance expert added.

So… it’s always good?

As with anything else, you can have too much of a cute thing.

App user @jakeyboiarts’ TikTok references opening your phone to “hundreds” of notifications ― that might be overwhelming to some (it’s me, I’m ‘some’).

Engle also told Metro that, “Pebbling does have the potential to set an expectation of communication you’re going to have throughout your relationship, so that’s something to keep in mind.” Your partner may feel hurt if you’re unable to keep up the pebble pace for long.

And in the same article, dating expert Drew Wyllie of Pure dating app, advised that “What is deemed sweet and thoughtful for someone, may be irrelevant for someone else” and suggested pebblers “make a mental note of your partner’s likes and dislikes as well as their daily behaviours so you can make your presents more relevant.”

“Pebbling alone is not going to get you far,” Psychology Today adds, stating that the memes should be a jumping-off point for deeper connections and not your main romantic meeting point.

Still, though, if you are your beau have a sweet meme exchange going, then take it from the Gentoo gents and keep it rolling.

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The Strange Reason Behind Why Pilots Are Almost Always Clean-Shaven

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Have you ever wondered why pilots don’t tend to have beards? Well, me neither, but when you think about it, have you ever seen a pilot sporting a big bushy beard?

Weird, right?

It’ll differ from airline to airline but for the UK’s biggest airline, British Airways, this is the rule pertaining to hair: “Men’s hair must meet a conventional style which is appropriate for a professional environment; shaven or sculptured styles and long hair are not permitted.

“Dyed hair must be of a natural colour for both men and women.”

Of course, this is in part due to appearance, especially on an airline as prestigious as British Airways but according to experts, it’s also a crucial matter of safety.

Why pilots do not tend to have beards

According to Wayman Aviation Academy, the most crucial thing on airlines is passenger and staff safety, which isn’t all that surprising.

What is surprising, though, is that beards can actually compromise the safety of pilots in the instance of an emergency.

Wayman Aviation explained: “In emergency situations, pilots must don oxygen masks quickly and efficiently. Facial hair can disrupt the tight seal necessary between the mask and the face, potentially compromising the flow of oxygen.

“This is critical at high altitudes where oxygen levels are low. Ensuring a proper seal can be the difference between life and death, making the clean-shaven rule a non-negotiable aspect of airline safety protocols.”

Additionally, in a 1987 safety review of masks and facial hair found that facial hair really can impact the efficacy of masks.

The report read: “The data resulting from these tests indicated that decrement in performance does occur when facial hair is present along the sealing surface of crew oxygen masks.

“This decrement is proportional to the amount of facial hair present, the type mask worn, the suspension system associated with the mask, and the exercise level to which the individual is subjected.”

It’s probably not worth it, to be honest.

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I Just Learned How Much Water Italians Use To Cook Pasta, And I Have Been Doing It Wrong

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These days, I’m a great cook, but until maybe around 5-10 years ago, I was a bad cook who could throw together a pasta dish no problem. If there’s one thing I’ve always been able to do, it’s fire up a pasta dinner.

It’s simple, right? Bit of water, boil it, put some olive oil in, put some pasta in and cook for around 12 minutes until it’s soft, done. Right?!

Well, the fact that I’ve never been to Italy has never been quite as evident as when I recently learned that actually, no, my process is all wrong and I’ve been serving up what I can only describe as an offence to Italians and food-lovers alike.

For starters, did you know there’s a real science to how much water you should use to boil pasta and it isn’t just measured on vibes alone?

How to cook pasta the Italian way

According to the Italian cuisine experts at Eataly, you should use about 4 pints of water for every 450g of pasta. They added: “In general, the more pasta you are cooking, the more water you should use to prevent the pasta from clumping up too much in the pot.”

Additionally, you shouldn’t boil water before adding it to the pasta. Which I definitely wasn’t doing. Ahem.

The experts said: “While warm or hot water will boil faster, it may contain more dissolved minerals from your pipes, giving the water – and anything boiled in it–- a slightly metallic taste.”

As for the hotly-debated subject of adding salt or oil to the water, the experts recommend adding 1-2 teaspoons to the water once it’s boiled. As for adding oil? That’s a big no-no.

Eataly said: “You should never add olive oil to the water or to the pasta after draining. While it might help the pasta strands from sticking to each other, olive oil will also block other sauces from sticking to the pasta.”

Lesson learned.

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Honey Bees Can Sniff Out This Kind Of Cancer, And I Am In Awe

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New research from Michigan State University has found that honey bees can detect biomarkers or chemical concentrations associated with lung cancer just by smelling human breath.

Not only that, but these clever little bugs can distinguish between different lung cancer cell types using the smell of the cultures.

Researchers hope that these findings will be used as a model for developing new tests for diagnosing lung cancer earlier.

Debajit Saha, an assistant professor in the Michigan State University College of Engineering and the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering said that the honey bees have an incredible sense of smell, meaning they can find just a small sample of the cancer.

Saha said: “The honey bees detected very small concentrations; it was a very strong result. Bees can differentiate between minute changes in the chemical concentrations of the breath mixture which is in the parts per 1 billion range.”

This research was done by attaching a 3D-printed harness to a live honey bee while a tiny electrode was attached to the bee’s brain to measure changes in the bee’s brain signals.

Incredible.

What this means for the future of cancer diagnoses

Researcher Autumn McLane-Svoboba said: “What’s amazing is the honey bees ability to not only detect cancer cells, but also distinguish between cell lines of various types of lung cancer.

“The future implications for this are huge as our sensor could allow for patients to receive specific cancer diagnoses quickly which is imperative for correct treatment routes.”

Saha and his team hope that this work will open the door for more scent-based disease detection technologies.

The team plan to develop a noninvasive test which will only require patients to breathe into a device and the sensor inside, based on honey bee brains, would analyse and report on the breath in real time.

How unbelievably exciting.

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The ‘Loud Budgeting’ Hack That’s Actually Helping People Save Money

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If, like me, you struggle to stick to budgeting plans because you simply cannot turn down going out with friends, you might want to consider ‘loud budgeting’.

Yes, instead of quietly trying to stick to budgeting goals and making excuses for not socialising as much, loud budgeting is all about being honest about your financial plans and your need to stick to them.

HuffPost UK spoke with financial expert Adrian Murphy, CEO of Murphy Wealth to learn more about loud budgeting and how we can implement it in our everyday lives.

What loud budgeting is, and how to do it

Murphy explained: ” A big part of embarking on your savings journey is accountability. When you are thinking about your long term goals and objectives, it helps if there’s someone who keeps you accountable to your life plan – perhaps a partner or family member.

“If you don’t have that, there’s not someone to give you a nudge and you are relying on your own personal motivation – which is harder!”

This is where this budgeting trend comes in. Murphy said that if your intention is to save is out there, you’re more likely to stick to it.

However, Murphy admits that for some people, loud budgeting may be extreme and said for them: “A better way to look at it could be to find friends who will help you be accountable.

“You’ve already made a conscious choice not to spend or go out, so perhaps you should look at your reasons why? If you’re regularly defending your right to not spend in your social circles, it might be worth looking at your circle of friends. It might suggest you don’t have a supportive network.”

That being said, don’t feel that you need to stop socialising entirely.

Murphy urged: “With money there’s always a balance to be had. Money spent on socialising and experiences is important for mental health and wellness.

“We’re social animals, and not everything can be about tomorrow. Saving is important, but not if you’re watching the world go by to do so.”

How do you know if loud budgeting is right for you?

So, how do you know if it’s right for you?

Murphy answered: ”‘Loud budgeting’ highlights a cross generational issue. Money and relationships are, by far, the two most difficult topics to talk about. Everything in your life somehow tracks back to money and it can be such an emotive topic, one where tough decisions need to be made.

“We should encourage better conversations about money, especially if it can stop you making detrimental decisions. If saying ‘no, I’m not going for a coffee because my savings need to be prioritised’ helps you save and talk about money, I don’t see a problem.”

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UK Travellers Urged To Avoid Doing 1 Very Common Departure Lounge Habit

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Departure lounges in airports are, at the best of times, incredibly dull and if your flight is delayed, you may find yourself cycling through apps on your phone, grasping at straws for entertainment and distraction.

Of course, this drains your battery and what is the first thing you do when you see that all-important battery running down? Look for an outlet to plug your phone into.

Now, personally, I never travel without at least two charged battery packs but less anxious people tend to find USB ports in airport lounges which may seem handy but according to multiple UK airlines, you shouldn’t be so readily using these outlets.

Why you should never charge your phone in the airport

Travel expert Megan who shares travel tips on advice on her YouTube channel Portable Professional said: “Using an airport USB to charge your devices can expose you to a scam called ‘juice jacking’. This happens when public USB ports are manipulated to steal data from your devices that are connected to them.”

Cool, cool, cool.

Instead, Megan advises using a travel adapter for your plugs.

She said: “Using an adapter allows you to safely connect to outlets. Unlike USB ports, AC outlets are purely for power and they don’t transfer data, ensuring there is no risk to your personal information while it’s charging.

“Navigating airport layovers with multiple devices can be tricky, and a big mistake that travellers make is not having a plan to keep all of their devices charged.”

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Pay special attention to #8 if you are checking a bag at the airport or taking an international flight. \n\nDon’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for weekly tips & hacks: https://bit.ly/subscribe-travel-hacks\n\nMy Recommended TSA-FRIENDLY Snacks for the Plane: https://bit.ly/AirportSnacks-PP\n\n✈️ TRAVEL RESOURCES\nBest Travel Insurance for Seniors: https://bit.ly/Travel-coverage\nTop rated VPN for Travel (only $3!): https://bit.ly/PP-nordvpn\nBest Value Luggage (discount code: Megan15): https://bit.ly/level8-1\nIncredible Tour Deals: https://bit.ly/3sok4mt\nMost Affordable Travel Insurance: http://bit.ly/PortableProfessional-Insurance\nTop-rated E-Sim to Use Phone Internationally: https://bit.ly/PP-holafly\nMy Go-To Travel Clothing: https://bit.ly/PP-Merino\nMy Most-Loved Travel Gear on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/megan.gougeon\nFree Travel Hack Newsletter: https://bit.ly/PP-travelnewsletter\nFree eBook with my Top Travel Hacks: https://bit.ly/PP-TravelHacks\n\n🌎 WATCH NEXT\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O5in_2Pz-A&t=233s&list=UULF5XIgzc2Qm7BhWl1vjyQoQQ\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds-CWngjItU&list=UULF5XIgzc2Qm7BhWl1vjyQoQQ&feature=youtu.be\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBQIlgCTiew&list=UULF5XIgzc2Qm7BhWl1vjyQoQQ\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VslV_lj9-SM&list=UULF5XIgzc2Qm7BhWl1vjyQoQQ\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud-2dsFd5zI&list=UULF5XIgzc2Qm7BhWl1vjyQoQQ&feature=youtu.be\n\nWelcome to Portable Professional, where I, Megan, use my experience from over 300 flights to offer you simple, practical and game-changing travel tips and hacks. 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How to keep your information safe when travelling

According to the National Security Alliance, these are the steps we must take to keep our information safe while travelling: “Back up your data and make sure your software is updated.

“Use complex, unique, and long passwords for every account, along with multi-factor authentication (MFA). Use a password manager to generate, maintain, and store your strong passwords! Secure every device with a password and MFA.”

Stay safe out there!

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