This past week, Canada faced many wildfires that caused horrible air quality in the United States. One of the cities that received horrible air quality was New York City. The skies turned orange, and there was thick smog and high pollutant levels. All throughout the Northeast of the country, people were recommended to wear face masks, especially those who have respiratory issues because of the high levels of pollutants and the dangerous levels of air quality the cities got. It was also recommended to reduce the number of vehicles being used, conserve electricity, and reduce the use of air conditioning.
About 36% of Canada is forests and an average of 6,000 acres burn a year. The high levels of wildfires they have been facing and the wind patterns are the reason why the US also faced the consequences.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
While extraordinary people are born every day, few ever reach the level of fame and recognition that puts them in textbooks and creates a lifelong legacy. One of these men is Emil Krebs, who I like to think of as the Albert Einstein of linguistics. He is known as one of the most accomplished hyperpolyglots and was said to have mastered between 65-69 languages. This doesn’t include the other 40+ languages he dabbled in over the years.
His interest in languages started when he found a French newspaper at four years old. After a few weeks of tutoring and studying a French dictionary, he could speak the language perfectly. By the end of high school, he is rumored to have spoken 12 languages. After law school, he learned Mandarin Chinese, which landed him a job as the Chief Interpreter in China for Germany.
He was born in 1867 and died in 1930. His talent allowed him to be a diplomat for his homeland, Germany, and he spent his days in his library studying. However, what makes Krebs credible is the multiple firsthand descriptions of his talent and the study of his brain done by German neuroscientists Karl Zilles and Katrin Amunts in 2002. They found that his Broca’s region, an area of the frontal lobe important for speech production, was drastically different in ways that made his brain more adept for understanding linguistic patterns.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
This year, I’ve been working to gradually build my distance and pace to run a 5K with my dog at the end of the summer. I’m not (at all, by any definition) a runner, so this challenge was an exciting way to get out of my normal gym routine. As I’m preparing to run with Beesley (my 6-year-old pup), I realized we may need to spend some time training together. Luckily, Runthatmutt.com has a great how-to guide! If your pup has any health issues or if you have any concerns about running a 5K with your dog, check with their vet first to make sure they’re clear to run.
I’m lucky to live in an area where running and biking trails are everywhere. Whether you have a dog who loves to run next to your bike or a dog that prefers a basket or cart, biking with dogs alone or with community groups is a great way to meet new people and spend quality time outside.
The most important thing when hiking with a dog is to check a website (like Alltrails, Google, or BringFido linked above) to make sure the hike is dog friendly. Bringing dogs on hikes that aren’t dog friendly can be extremely dangerous for you, your dog, and the local wildlife. Once you’re sure the hike is dog-friendly, check conditions to ensure the air quality in the area is safe for your pup, your dog has all the needed equipment (a leash, gps collar, boots, water, etc.), and is ready to go! Hiking with your dog is such a wonderful way to spend a day; just make sure to clean up after yourself and leave no trace!
As stated in the section on hikes, make sure the camping area is dog friendly and you’re prepared with all necessary equipment before embarking on your next pawesome adventure. Packing extra for a dog may seem like a hassle, but it makes the camping experience even better. Whether you’re a glamper or a camper, I would recommend using HipCamp.com to locate a dog-friendly stay near you!
My dog loves a new chew toy but loses interest very rapidly…because of this, most of her snuffle mats and puzzle toys are homemade! The linked site has some fantastic ideas for easy DIY toys to keep your pup busy between (or during) outdoor adventures!
There’s no telling what will be in or out for a certain season fashion wise. We can only make predictions on what people will be wearing this summer. Here’s a forecast of what will likely be in this upcoming summer.
Not just a pair of denim jeans or a denim jacket, but denim everything will be in. Think denim maxi skirts, denim halter tops, denim rompers, denim jumpsuits, and denim corset tops. They’re all seeing a rise. It’s not completely new, as it is somewhat of a callback to a similar trend in the 2000s, think of that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake red carpet moment. However, it is innovative enough as it’s denim in ways we’re not used to seeing. If some of this sounds too “out there” for you, another denim trend you can try is long, wide leg jeans, also in this summer.
A more interesting trend we’re seeing is the rise of ‘mermaidcore.’ Shimmery silvers, cool, ocean-inspired tones, drapey silhouettes, seashell inspired jewelry, net and crochet dresses and tops. In fact, we can’t help but wonder how much of an impact Disney’s live action remake of The Little Mermaid had something to do with this boost. Kate Spade recently launched a seashell/ocean/siren themed jewelry line. Glitter, sequined, aqua and sea green colored pieces, blue eyeshadow, go all out.
A unique trend that I’m barely hearing about but that has plenty of potential is 3D florals. Think of a 3D rosette accent on the strap of a tank or halter top. These “in your face” floral effects include “highly saturated and busy prints, blown out blooms and other designs like palm-shaped tops and sleeves or skirts that resemble petals.” They’ve even extended themselves to heels now being embellished and adorned with rosettes and camelias. Sculptural flowers are a new take on traditional floral which seemingly has never gone out of style. This trend is not all over the place yet, so if you want to hop on it early, now’s the time.
It seems like live action remakes of previous, beloved animated movies have been all Disney has put out in the last few years. Indeed, Disney has produced fourteen live action adaptations of their animated films in the last seven years. The most memorable ones include The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan, and most recently, The Little Mermaid. That’s not to mention the upcoming live action remakes Disney has planned, including Snow White, Lilo & Stitch, and Moana. While such films are not unpopular, live action remakes have not come without criticism.
The rise of live action adaptations has made people forget that animation is a medium and art style in its own right and deserves to be appreciated for what it is. These movies were animated for a reason, it’s what the original creators chose. Simply put, animation is more visually captivating. It’s what defines so many of our favorite classics, like Toy Story or The Lion King. These stories are more “easily displayed in animated visuals,” things live action can’t do and is limited in. There is unlimited potential, imagination, and creativity within the animation genre.
These live action adaptations are highly profitable as they bring in the big bucks at the box office. There are several reasons why Disney keeps producing live action remakes and why so many people go to see them. One of the biggest is that Disney is banking on nostalgia, it’s a nostalgic cash grab. Some claim that such remakes are unnecessary and that Disney should prioritize original and creative stories. The charm and magic that is the very essence of Disney is lost. Additionally, most often a live action remake will have a worse Rotten Tomatoes score than its animated counterpart. A lot of the critique of these remakes has to do with the CGI and color palette which is more difficult to get right in live action versus animation. Disney is now producing quantity over quality. There are plenty of new stories that deserve to be told over Disney relying on previous success to harbor new success.
On June 1st, immigrants living in Florida went out and protested against Governor Ron de Santis Anti-Immigration law. SB 1718 was signed by Governor De Santis in May and this bill has penalties for undocumented people in the State of Florida and also has felony charges for people who are transporting undocumented immigrants across state lines. Florida has thousands of immigrants and many who are undocumented. These immigrants did not go to work on June 1st to protest against the bill to show the govenor they are the ones that do the jobs the documented people in Florida don’t want to do.
Many undocumented immigrants and their families have already been seen leaving Florida to avoid getting charged or risk being sent back to their home country which has led to many construction sites and fields being abandoned. Business owners who hire immigrants are starting to get worried because they can face felony charges for hiring undocumented workers and have already lost many of their workers that have fled the state already. Those who are documented have also joined the protesting considering they were in those shoes at one point.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
Over the past few decades, minimalist designs have become more popular in home decor, art, and public infrastructure. While minimalism has existed for centuries (look at Buddhist minimalism or the legacy of Greek philosopher Diogenes), it was not recognized as an official art movement until the 1960s. Minimalism emerged in art, music, and design as a way to remove everything that could distract from the main focus of a piece. This ‘less is more’ philosophy became prominent in interior design and more buildings adopted clean lines, limited ornamentation, a neutral color scheme, and natural materials. Minimalism means many things to many people. For some, minimalism is a way to fight back against capitalism and consumerism. For others, minimalism is simply visually appealing. Historically, minimalism has been a default design choice due to poverty.
For the most part, minimalist designs have been associated with the words ‘beige’, ‘boring’, and ‘sad’. Jokes about minimalist celebrity houses looking like museums and being void of color, as well as jokes about ‘sad beige babies’ are what many think of when they hear the word ‘minimalism’.
It seems like modern interpretations of minimalism have pushed the majority of people way from simplistic designs. In 2021, Forbes reported that interior design trends like ‘all white kitchens’, ‘single space areas’, ‘open floor plans’, and ‘neutral colors’ were being swapped for maximalist designs. Many new homeowners and renters have taken inspiration from themes such as ’80s Retro’ and ‘Cottage Core’. Moreover, many minimalists have gravitated towards ‘relaxed minimalism‘. This style trades out beige for similar neutrals such as dark green and swaps out all white throw pillows for ones with patterns and colors.
However, maximalists need to be concerned about how their bright, patterned wallpaper and DIY home improvements will affect the value of their property. For many, hyper-personalization is not appealing when it comes to buying or renting.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
If anything proves the importance of conservation efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats, it’s the International Union for Conservation of Nature‘s Red List. According to their research, more than 42,100 species are threatened with extinction–that’s about 28% of all assessed species–and humans are at the heart of the issue. Displacement and eradication of species due to habitat destruction, climate change, overfishing, and poaching are leading to this increased risk to creatures all over the world, and have immense consequences for the health and stability of the whole ecosystem.
According to The Wilderness Society, the extinction crisis affects everyone and, like all facets of climate change, disproportionately impacts communities of color and low-income people. Nature loss has a heavy negative impact on health, water and air quality, and food access, and increases the issues of extreme weather while weakening our ability to combat climate change.
So, how can we help? Getting involved in conservation can be an incredible opportunity to make a big difference in the world! Here is a list of links to help you get involved:
To learn more about IUCN’s work with supporting conservation action, click HERE.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
A few weeks ago, the United States realized they might run out of cash by June 1st. Hearing this news from economists, President Joe Biden had a meeting with lawmakers to come up with an agreement to avoid this from happening. This week, President Biden and the House of Republicans were able to come to an agreement with fixing this crisis. One of the options to avoid this crisis from happening is to raise the debt limit.
Not much information has been released yet, but the main decision that everyone was able to vote and agree on is to raise the debt limit for two years. This agreement will also limit the growth in spending by 1% and have many requirements with food stamps, student loans, and etc. There is still a lot of information missing for this new bill and agreement.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
Everyone wants luminous skin and lustrous hair. While most would turn to products to achieve this, it can also come from within, meaning that the foods we eat can have just as much an impact. Our skin and hair can be very telling of our health. A well balanced diet can encourage healthier skin and hair.
Starting with fish; salmon, halibut, and other fatty fish contain protein, essential omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and vitamin B12. Omega 3 fatty acids can help protect the skin from sun damage and support scalp health. Protein also helps ward off hair loss. Further, iron and vitamin B12 can make hair color more vibrant. Eggs are another food item with vitamin B12, in addition to vitamin A, vitamin E, and iron.
Oatmeal contains zinc, a powerful tool for fighting against acne. It reduces inflammation and kills acne-borne bacteria. Moreover, low fat dairy or skim milk is a great source of calcium and vitamin D, which promotes hair growth. Beans and legumes are high in fiber, protein, zinc, and antioxidants which boosts collagen production, giving the skin elasticity.
Moving onto fruits and vegetables, carrots are rich in beta-carotene which turns into vitamin A which has anti-aging properties. Interestingly, the same properties that make tomatoes red prevent you from getting red. Vitamin C, carotenoids, lycopene, and beta-carotene help protect your skin from sunburn. Finally, blueberries are extremely high in antioxidants, decreasing free radicals and aging influences.
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