Peculiarities Of Queues In Thailand (3 pics)

Angels Flight: The World’s Shortest Railway

Angels Flight is a historic narrow gauge funicular railway located in the Bunker Hill district of downtown Los Angeles, California. Dubbed the “shortest railway in the world”, Angels Flight opened in 1901 in what was one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in the city. Its two funicular cars named Sinai and Olivet ferried prominent citizens up and down the steep slope between Hill and Olive streets. Though the journey was short —only 315 feet— and lasted only one minute, it is believed that Angels Flight carried more passengers per mile than any other railway in the world. Over a hundred million passengers rode the cars in its first fifty years.

Angels Flight suffered its first setback in 1969 when the Bunker Hill area underwent major urbanization with old houses getting razed and replaced by high-rise commercial buildings. The funicular was dismantled and its cars were hauled off to storage for what everyone believed would be “a few” years before the railway reopens. But the two cars sat in a dark warehouse for the next twenty seven years. Finally, after a lot of local effort and bureaucratic hassles, Angels Flight was reopened in 1996, now half a block from the original site.

Angels Flight suffered its second setback in 2001, this time due to an accident resulting in the death of a passenger and injury to several others. Operation of the funicular was suspended on grounds of improper design, nonconformance to safety standards and poor maintenance. The funicular remained closed for the next nine years while it was repaired and the old drive and safety system was replaced. It went back into operation in 2010.

In 2013, there was another accident where one car derailed. Although there were no injuries, state regulators are now reluctant to allow Angels Flight to reopen until all safety issues are resolved, including the building of an evacuation walkway adjacent to the tracks should the cars stall halfway up. The board also wants the operators to submit a plan detailing how they will keep passengers safe.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s requirements have not been implemented yet, and as such, the future of Angels Flight is currently uncertain. Today, the orange-and-black cars of Angels Flight sits motionless halfway up the funicular’s ramp covered with trash and graffiti.

4 Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking Pickle Juice

In order to perform at your prime, start pumping your body with juice. No we don’t mean steroids, or even your kale and spinach blend — we’re talking about pickle juice! You’ve probably never considered that the juice you generally discard (except those rare occasions when you get persuaded to take a ‘pickleback’ shot) could actually be beneficial to your health. However, this juice boasts many functions besides a chaser to your whiskey. Read the surprising ways this green juice can keep you from getting into a pickle with your health.

1. Pre-workout enhancer 

While pickle juice may not be the obvious choice for a go-to fitness beverage, many athletes swear by its performance-enhancing effects. According to the The National Institute of Health, ingesting high-sodium drinks like pickle juice can enhance thermoregulation and athletic performance. To avoid any possible stomach irritation, make sure you drink this a few hours before your workout, and balance it with plenty of water.

2. Post-workout recovery 

Trainers and athletes have long relied on this post-exercise pick-me-up. Since pickle juice is packed with sodium, potassium, and magnesium, it’s a better option for replenishing electrolytes than any sports drink on the shelves, reports The Huffington Post. Not only is it the ideal way to refuel after a tough workout, but it can alsoreduce muscle cramping. One study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that men who downed pickle juice were able to stop their muscle cramps 37% faster than drinking water, and 45% quicker than with no liquid at all. Some scientists believe the secret lies with the vinegar, which could potentially signal nerve reflexes that stop the cramping. Whatever the reason, it couldn’t hurt to add some extra green juice to your diet.

3. Heartburn relief

While this one may seem counter-intuitive considering vinegar can actually cause heartburn for some people, pickle juice can also be a great way to relieve acid reflux, according to the People’s Pharmacy. While this folk remedy isn’t backed by any major scientific research, vinegar has been shown to help reduce the negative effects of heartburn. So if you’re looking for an at-home fix, give dill juice a shot.

4. Hangover cure 

You know the feeling. Those morning when you wake up seriously regretting all of those extra drinks your buddies convinced you to chug. Head pounding, stomach churning, the works. The hangover feeling is generally caused by serious dehydration that results from over-doing the alcohol. To remedy the post-booze blues, your body needs a ton of liquids and a way to retain them. That’s where your new friend Mr. Dill steps in. Downing some pickle juice after a night of downing drinks will help your body replenish its reduced sodium levels. Combining this with water will help you get hydrated quicker and get on with your day sooner.

7 Secret Sodium Shockers

You already watch your fats and sugars, and now you set out to watch your sodium. So, you avoid things like broths and processed meats; you’re pretty proud of yourself. Hold the salt shaker! You may not be doing as well as you think.

There is sodium all around you, hidden in foods you may not think about. What are the biggest culprits how can you shop smart?

Pass the bread … to the other side of the table!


If you’re not on the whole ‘no carb’ kick, you may partake in a good old-fashioned sandwich or down dinner roll now and then. What you may not realize is that you may be swimming in salt. A single slice of white bread contains 10% of the daily recommended allowance of sodium and a cup of cereal contains a little more than 10%. Trust us, it really adds up. And, a study in the UK found that kids get more than a third (36%) of their daily salt intake from breads and cereals. Pretty shocking since the carbs don’t taste salty. Nutrition expert Erin Palinski, RD, CDE,LDN,CPT confirms the numbers and says, “Look for breads labeled as low sodium or reduced sodium when possible.

 To further reduce your sodium intake, watch out for sodium in what you add to bread. If you add cold cuts, choose low sodium varieties. If you use butter, select an unsalted option.’

Nutritionist Elisa Zied, MS, RDN, CDN says the key is to stick to guidelines of a single portion of bread and not more than ½ -1 cup of cereal. She adds, “Choose mostly whole grain bread and cereal options, and look for hot and cold whole grain cereals with more fiber and less sodium (shredded wheat and plain oats/oatmeal are some options that contain very little sodium). “

Don’t be fooled by the veggies

Vegetable juice is packed full of vitamins and antioxidants, but one serving can also contain more than 20% of your total daily intake in sodium. Zied is a fan of going to the original source here. “I recommend limiting the amount of fruit or veggie juice you drink and to instead emphasize whole fruits and veggies because they tend to pack in more fiber and fill you up better than juice.” If you go for juice, there are low sodium options available.

Watch out for the protein!
Raw chicken breasts are often injected with high sodium flavoring solutions. Look for varieties labeled ‘non-enhanced’.

 Listen up Veggie Burger Lovers!


Vegetarians or those cutting back on beef tend to turn to veggie burgers when everyone’s grilling up their traditional burger concoctions. But, you may not be skipping the salt. Palinski says, “Veggie burgers are processed and in the processing sodium in added for flavor as well as preservation.”

She isn’t saying to nix the veggie meat alternative, however. “Although vegetable burgers can be higher in sodium than a beef burger, the reduction in calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol can be beneficial.” The key is to watch the sodium in any condiment and to use a low sodium bun.

 Don’t get nutty!


Dry roasted and salted nuts can contain up to 10% of the daily sodium recommendations per serving. Opt for raw or unsalted options instead.

 Read your labels

This is key. You may go for ‘reduced sodium” items, but do you even know how low that goes? “A food labeled as ‘reduced sodium’ just means it has 25% less sodiumthan the original product, which means it may still contain a large amount of sodium,” according to Palinski. She adds that whenever a food says ‘reduced’ or ‘no salt added’, you need to read the Fact Panel to see exactly how much sodium you are actually getting.

 Forget the “cool” diets


Frozen diet meals may be convenient, but “they tend to be sodium bombs, so look for small portions and for items that aren’t breaded or cheesy or saucy,”  says Zied. Remember, low calorie doesn’t always equal healthy.

What Successful People Eat for Lunch

There is a lot of information out there about great morning routines, including numerous articles about the breakfast habits of the rich and famous.

And while those stories can be interesting and helpful, I personally have been more in need of mid-day recommendations. Anybody who knows me is well aware that I make a Starbucks run for a caffeine fix just about every afternoon.

I typically feel great and am at my best in the morning, only to have my energy and productivity dip precipitously right after lunch.

Of course this is common — we’re wired to become sleepy between 1pm and 3pm, when our core body temperature drops and the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin is released. This is a natural part of our body’s circadian rhythm.

But I also know that what we eat for lunch plays a big role in how we feel for the remainder of the day. As best-selling author Tom Rath says, “What you do at lunch can either make or break the rest of your day.”

So I have been on the lookout for lunch options that will keep me mentally sharp through the end of the work day.

As part of my research, I looked for inspiration from some highly-successful people. Although there seems to be far less information out there about the lunch foods of successful people relative to what they eat for breakfast, I was able to uncover the following:

• Entrepreneur, author, and productivity guru Tim Ferriss recommends eating the same thing for lunch almost every day, which for him consists of organic beef, mixed vegetables, pinto beans, and guacamole.
• First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama has been known to eat fish and stir-fried vegetables for lunch, and occasionally brown rice or a potato. One of her lunchtime favorites is also veggie pizza on whole wheat bread, loaded with vegetables, cheese, and tomato sauce.
• Editor-In-Chief of Vogue Magazine Anna Wintour opts for a high-protein lunch, usually consisting of a steak or hamburger without the bun.
• Actor Mark Wahlberg (and co-owner of the burger restaurant chain Wahlburgers) typically eats a salad, turkey burger, and sweet potato for lunch.
• And then there is CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who eats the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for months in a row. At times this has meant just scrambled egg whites three times a day, or baked potatoes, or oatmeal raisin bars, or veggie burgers for every meal, month after month. Wow.

Interesting information for sure, but next I needed to turn to the experts to see what they recommend.

According to Karen Ansel, Registered Dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the ultimate lunch for a productivity boost is chickpeas and iced green tea.

Chickpeas provide the perfect blend of protein and complex carbs to power the brain, and apparently adding some balsamic vinegar is icing on the cake because it slows down carbohydrate digestion to sustain energy even longer. Washing it down with green tea sharpens concentration and focus thanks to the drink’s combo of a key amino acid plus a small amount of caffeine.

Research also shows that eating fruits and vegetables throughout the day is as beneficial for the mind as it is for the body. A recent study found that the more fruits and vegetables people ate, the happier, more engaged, and more creative they became.

Other great lunchtime options include lean meats (such as grilled chicken), fresh fish, healthy fats (such as avocado and nuts), and drinking plenty of water.

It’s no surprise that foods to avoid at lunch are anything high in sugar such as cookies, candy, and soda. And best to stay away from refined carbs such as white pasta and bread, which release their glucose quickly producing an energy spike followed by a slump.

With healthy lunch options now in the bag, here are some other energizing habits to consider incorporating into your lunch break:

• Leave your desk and get outside, even for as short as 10 minutes
• Eat with friends or co-workers to socialize and build relationships
• Listen to music to release tension and stress
• Exercise to boost afternoon energy levels and productivity
• Unplug and recharge by shutting off your devices during your lunch hour

If your energy does happen to dip in the afternoon, here are some brain-boosting snack ideas to power you through the end of the day, including almonds, walnuts, carrots, raisins, yogurt, berries, and even some dark chocolate.

Death in a Can: What’s Really in Red Bull

Developed in Austria, Red Bull’s marketing slogan promises that it will “gives you wings.” According to Red Bull, all of the ingredients are syn- thetically produced by pharmaceutical companies, which “guarantees the highest quality” of ingredients. 

 

So what’s really in Red Bull that can “give us wings?” Each 250 ml (8.3 oz) can of Red Bull contains the following: 1000 mg of taurine, 600mg of glucuronolactone, 80 mg of caffeine, 18 mg of niacin (niacinamide), 6 mg of panto- thenic acid (calcium d-pantothenate), 2 mg of vitamin B6 (pyridoxide HCI), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamine), inositol, and nonmedicinal ingredients: carbonated water, sucrose, glucose (27 grams of sugar), citric acid, flavors, and caramel.

Did you know that FRANCE and DENMARK have just prohibited it as a cocktail of death, due to its vitamin components mixed with GLUCURONOLACTONE ‘ – a highly-dangerous chemical.

Sucrose and glucose: Simple sugars.One 16-ounce energy drink may contain 54 grams of sugar, the approximate equivalent of 14 teaspoons. They are metabolised quickly by the body and produce a quick energy burst, followed by a deep energy deficit. High intake of sugar raises blood fat levels and leeches essential minerals such as copper, chromium and zinc from the body, leading to deficiency diseases, immune system impairment and even insulin resistance. 

Taurine: Amino acid. According to some studies on rats and guinea pigs, high intake is associated with liver dysfunction. And it can also enhance the toxicity of industrial pollutants such as carbon tetrachloride.

Vitamin B6

Intake of in excess of 1 gram per day of Vitamin B6 can result in nerve damage known as peripheral sensory neuropathy, caused by damage to the outer wrapping of nerves and degeneration of nerves. The daily requirement for this vitamin is about 1.2 to 2.0 mg per day, Red Bull supplies 250% of this.

Flavorings:  Red Bull contains synthetic flavorings which are essentially the same chemicals as perfumes and can thus be considered to be neurotoxins, allergens and potential carcinogens.

Caramel:  This type of caramel produced by ammonia process is a common food coloring. It has been associated with blood toxicity in rats. It’s been linked to damaged genes, slow growth. It can cause enlargement of the intestines and kidneys, destroy vitamin B and cause hyperactivity.

Additionally…

‘Red Bull has a pH of 3.3 – the same as vinegar. Combined with sugar, they are perfect for eroding the enamel on teeth, and causing a lifetime of dental problems.

In conclusion, Red Bull doesn’t do anything to nourish the body or replenish it after physical exertion. In fact, because of the drink’s high caffeine content, it can be very dehydrating and dangerous to your health.

Would You Say That This Is Going On In Syria? (5 pics)

Syria is torn by the civil war which started in 2011 during the Arab Spring protests that escalated to multi-sided armed conflict with international interventions. But these pictures show the youth partying on the beach and having a good time just 100 miles from under-siege Aleppo and the fighting. It makes them think about something else than the war even if it’s just for several hours.