Traces of the RoundUp herbicide were discovered in popular beers and wines, according to a report from the U.S. Public Research Group (USPIRG) Education Fund.

RoundUp, a popular weed-killer that uses glyphosate, was bought by Germany’s Bayer AG. It was previously owned by U.S. agriculture firm Monsanto.

The USPIRG tested 15 beers and five wines and found glyphosate, a carcinogen, in 19 of them.

That includes Budweiser, Coors, Miller Lite, Sam Adams, Corona, Heineken, Guinness, Stella Artois, New Belgium, and Samuel Smith Organic. Wines include Beringer, Barefoot, and Sutter Home, according to the study.

The highest levels of the chemical were discovered in St. Helena wine, which had 51 parts per billion, according to the report. The brand is sold at places like Walmart, Target, and other popular chains.

Among beers, Tsingtao, China’s largest beermaker, had the highest levels at 49.7 parts per billion, USA Today reported.

“The levels of glyphosate we found are not necessarily dangerous but are still concerning given the potential health risks,” USPIRG wrote.

A representative for the Beer Institute industry group said the report acknowledged that glyphosate levels are below the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) risk for beverages.

“Our members work with farmers who go to great lengths to raise their crops sustainably and safely. … The results of the most recent federal testing showed farmers’ use of glyphosate falls well below federal limits,” said the spokesperson, USA Today reported.

“An adult would have to drink more than 140 glasses of wine a day containing the highest glyphosate level measured just to reach the level that California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has identified as ‘No Significant Risk Level,’” a spokesperson for the Wine Institute told the newspaper

But the USPIRG said in its report that low levels of RoundUp can be problematic.

“While these levels of glyphosate are below EPA risk tolerances for beverages, it is possible that even low levels of glyphosate can be problematic. For example, in one study, scientists found that 1 part per trillion of glyphosate has the potential to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells and disrupt the endocrine system,” according to its report.

USPIRG concluded that the use of glyphosate in the United States should be banned until further notice.

A number of firms named in the study contesting USPIRG’s findings and its overall accuracy.

Organic winery Frey Vineyards said that no herbicides “have ever been used” to produce its products, but it noted “glyphosate in trace amounts is now found in rainwater because of its application to conventionally farmed agricultural land. Glyphosate in trace amounts can be found in many food products across the United States. We urge consumers to speak up to ban all use of glyphosate,” USA Today reported.

Meanwhile, an official with Bayer blasted USPIRG for publishing misleading information.

“Assuming the greatest value reported, 51.4 ppb, is correct, a 125-pound adult would have to consume 308 gallons of wine per day, every day for life to reach the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s glyphosate exposure limit for humans,” William Reeves, a toxicologist for Bayer, told USA Today. “To put 308 gallons into context, that would be more than a bottle of wine every minute, for life, without sleeping.”

There is a homeless man in Rio do Sul in south Brazil who often sacrifices his own food to feed the stray dogs around him. At a time when he suddenly required emergency treatment, his kindness came back to him like a boomerang, for the faithful canines he had been feeding made sure he wasn’t alone in his time of need.

The stray dogs’ incredible loyalty was witnessed by nurse Cris Mamprim and her colleagues shortly after the homeless man, known only as César, arrived at the emergency room of Hospital Regional Alto Vale in Rio do Sul, Brazil, on Dec. 9, 2018, at about 3 a.m. to seek treatment and medication for a pre-existing health condition he had been battling.

It was César’s first time to go to Hospital Regional Alto Vale for treatment, as he normally goes to another health facility in town. Thus, Mamprim and her colleagues had no idea about César’s condition, nor his background.

But not before long, they realized that he had a gang of canines accompanying him.

Four concerned strays had showed up at the entrance of the hospital and were waiting for César.

They were most concerned about their homeless master, who the nurses soon learned had been for some time forgoing his own meals to feed these strays.

Mamprim snapped a photo of the touching scene and later posted it on Facebook, writing in Portuguese: “I came across this scene today. At the hospital where I work, at 3 a.m., while their owner (who lives on the street) was being treated, his companions waited at the door.”

“A simple person, without luxury, who depends on help to overcome the hunger, the cold, the pain, the evils of the world, has by his side the best companions, and the exchange is reciprocal.”

“An exchange of love, affection, warmth, understanding. A person who confessed to us that he stops eating to feed them,” Mamprim continued.Speaking to The Dodo, Mamprim said, “They are all well taken care of and chubby.”

The faithful canines were anxiously anticipating César’s safe return. Fortunately, the animals reunited with their owner in no time.

Not wanting to keep César and his companions apart, the staff let the dogs inside after giving the homeless man the medication he needed. They even offered some food to César.

“Believe me, he ate some and saved a bit to give the dogs later,” Mamprim recalled.

An hour later, César left the hospital with the four dogs trailing behind, happily wagging their tails.

“I do not know what his life is like, or why he’s on the street, but I admire the respect and love he has for his little animals,” Mamprim concluded. “Seeing them like this, waiting at the door, just shows how much they are well cared for and loved. Oh if everyone was like this…. if there was no evil, mistreatment.”

Mamprim’s post tugged at the heartstrings of many, racking up more than 136,000 reactions and over 24,000 comments.

“Most beautiful thing!!” one user wrote.

Another commented, “Thank you for taking care of them.”

Even though César has little material possessions and likely has no kin to turn to, he is never alone because he has a warm, loving heart.

Meadow Rain Walker was only 13 years old when  her father, Fast & Furiousstar Paul Walker,  was killed in a fatal car accident. In the almost seven years that have followed, Meadow has grown up, and she’s barely recognizable. The stunning 20-year-old (who was also adorable as a little girl, we should add!) is now a model.

Meadow occasionally shares snippets from her life on social media, and we can’t get enough.

The death of a parent at a young age can be a devastating event for a child. But only child Meadow, who grew close to her father before his passing, has harnessed an amazing inner strength for such a young woman and has put her talent and ambition to extremely good use. Meadow lived with her mother in Hawaii as a child but moved to California to live with Walker in 2011, two years before his death. The father and daughter developed a wonderful relationship.

Meadow is now causing a stir on Instagram with her ethereal good looks, and in the fashion industry with a burgeoning modeling career.

But the achievements don’t stop there. In 2015, Meadow started The Paul Walker Foundation in honor of one of her father’s greatest passions: marine biology. And it wasn’t just a passive interest. Walker joined the board of directors of The Billfish Foundation in 2006 and even starred in a National Geographic Channel series called Expedition Great White four years later. Walker spent a week and a half as part of the boat’s crew, who caught and tagged seven great white sharks off the coast of Mexico. It was a dream fulfilled for the young actor.

Walker was also part of a humanitarian aid team, Reach Out Worldwide. Incidentally, it was this charity’s fundraiser that Walker attended immediately before driving away in his Carrera GT Porsche and suffering the now infamous car accident that killed him. Walker was very active with ROWW, even traveling to Haiti after the earthquake of 2010 to help victims of the devastating aftermath.

The Paul Walker Foundation’s manifesto claims to “serve as an enduring light of Paul’s unique spirit.” Meadow herself explained on Instagram: “I found myself reflecting on his passions. His passion for the ocean, his passion for rescuing animals, his passion for helping people and his passion for spontaneous goodwill.” Among other projects, the foundation offers grants and scholarships to researchers working on advancements in the field of marine conservation.

Walker’s loyal daughter went on to explain that she wanted to share her father’s passion with the world: “I want to share that part of him with others,” she wrote.

In a documentary about Walker’s life, I Am Paul Walker, Walker’s brother Cody recognized the tight father-daughter bond between Walker and Meadow: “He loved being a dad. He was so proud of her,” Cody said.

Meadow is making a name for herself, not only with her stunning good looks, but also with her huge heart and loyalty to her beloved late father. She wears the Walker name as a badge of pride, and she certainly wears it well.

The ties that bind us together are stronger than those that would tear us apart. Show your enduring love for Paul Walker by sharing this article!

Whenever you see puzzles like these, you just know there’s more to it than first meets the eye. Don’t be tricked into jumping to conclusions by shouting out the first answer that comes to mind! There’s usually a trick hidden in the puzzle, and that’s why they are called mind benders; they force you to think a little differently. The whole point of brainteasers like this one is to challenge your brain. So, try thinking outside the box!

Here is a geometric problem that not everyone is able to resolve successfully. So, just imagine the bragging rights you’ll gain by becoming one of the few! You’ll be able to share the puzzle with all your friends and come out looking pretty smart if they can’t get it while you can.

I’ll be honest with you: my first answer missed the mark when I tried this one! You might hit the bull’s eye, though, so let’s see how you do.

Instructions:

The puzzle consists of several straight arrows (of equal length) arranged in square shapes. There’s more than one square—smaller ones inside larger ones. That’s about all we’ll tell you, though. It’s up to you to count all the squares that are in this arrangement of arrows. They have to be square, mind you; rectangles don’t count.

How many squares can you find?

Look carefully. If you need a hint, check down below. Or, if you’re absolutely sure you’ve found them all (or if you’re helplessly stumped), then scroll down to the bottom to check the answer.

Need a Hint?

Probably most of us will have counted the big square perimeter. But it starts to get trickier when picking out all the smaller squares within the larger ones. There are the 4 quadrants, of course, and the 9 little (eighth-sized) squares, which are easy enough to spot. That totals 14 so far. But are there any more squares that could be hidden in between these ones?

Well, did you catch the quadrant-sized square in the very center? If you did, good for you! So did I! That’s 15 squares, and that is as far as I got. It may look like it’s all of them … but it isn’t!

Need another Hint?

Think ¾. Think odd-sized.

Find it yet?

The answer is: 16!

If you found them all, well done! You are a true marksman!

Photo Credit: Illustration – The Epoch Times

Now some of you skeptics might be looking at this mind-bender and thinking: “The answer is 19. It makes no difference that two of the previous equations are wrong.” And as far as we’re concerned, you’re correct in thinking that! If you declare 19 to be your answer, we’ll take it. That’s thinking outside of the box!

But for those who who really want to test their metal, this mind-bender has a few more tricks up its sleeve, as you’ll see.

There are a couple of hidden patterns in the sequence of equations that ties it all together and gives you the real answer. But you’ll have to figure out that pattern and solve it mathematically. Are you up for it?

Let’s take another look:

Take a moment to consider what patterns are at work. Hint: there are two possible solutions (besides the aforementioned trick answer of 19). Try to come up with both solutions before you scroll down to see the answers below.

Solution 1 Answer:

The first equation makes plain sense: 1 + 4 = 5 , naturally. But that’s where the logic seems to end. The second and third equations, 2 + 5 = 12 and 3 + 6 = 21, do not equate unless there is a larger pattern or hidden rule that we aren’t given in the sequence. If we can determine what that is, we may be able to solve the last equation.

The Pattern:

Add the left side of any given equation to the answer of the previous equation (as per the illustration below). In the case of the first equation, there is no previous equation, and so you would add zero to the left side of the equation (0 + 1 + 4), which gives you 5. The same pattern works for the second and third equations, and so we know it’s correct. Apply this rule to the last equation, and we get the solution.

The answer for Solution 1 is 40.

Following this pattern, we can solve the final equation by adding the previous answer (21) to the left side of the said equation (8 + 11) which gives us 40.

Solution 2 Answer:

You might have thought that that is all there is to it, but in fact, as some of you may have noticed, there is a another pattern hidden in the sequence, and it gives a second solution that also works. It uses the first pattern but results in a different, yet perfectly valid, answer.

The Second Pattern:

Observe how the first number from each of the first three equations create a consecutive sequence: 1, 2, 3; and how the second number from each of the first three equations create another consecutive sequence: 4, 5, 6.

The last equation may seem to break this consecutive pattern, but in fact, it fits into the sequence if you grant that parts of that sequence exist but are omitted from view, as per the illustration below:

And since the entire sequence has now changed—including the second-last equation in particular—and supposing we use the same rule as Solution 1 to solve the last equation, we will get a different answer, as you can see from the illustration below:

And the answer for Solution 2 is 96!

Photo Credit: Illustration – The Epoch Times

Almost every household in America probably has a box of baking soda sitting somewhere in their closet or pantry. It’s used in baking, causing dough to rise and helping to properly churn out cakes and loaves of bread.

You don’t have to be an avid baker to find the household chemical useful, though. For generations, baking soda has been used for more than just kitchen endeavors—and as an inexpensive and easy-to-find purchase, it’s worth keeping a box of the stuff around to help you out in your own home.

So what are some of the most useful—if unexpected—reasons to keep baking soda around?

1. Dental Health

If you look at the ingredient list on your toothpaste, chances are you’ll see sodium bicarbonate—which is the chemical name for baking soda. If you’re looking to cut some costs at home, you can cut out buying regular toothpaste altogether; in theory, baking soda alone works just fine.

It may not have the same super minty-fresh taste of a typical toothpaste, but baking soda works wonders. It not only can work to whiten your teeth, attracting some of the plaque that can cause bad breath and yellowing of the enamel, but it can keep your teeth healthier, too. The chemical properties of baking soda work to neutralize the acids that can eat away at your teeth, keeping them healthy for longer.

The only thing to look out for is sensitivity. If you use pure baking soda too often, especially if you mix it with either lemon or hydrogen peroxide, it can cause your teeth and gums to feel more sensitive.

2. Soothing Itches and Burns

If your kids love to spend time outdoors, chances are they’ve come inside with a massive sunburn or legs full of mosquito bites at some point or another.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to soothe the itching and pain that bites and burns can cause is to make up a baking soda bath. It can relieve diaper rash in babies and work to soothe acne, to boot.

A little bit goes a long way, so don’t overdo it; all you need is a spoonful in the bathwater to let the chemical compound work its magic.

Like with your teeth, though, make sure not to overdo it. Too much skin exposure to baking soda can cause irritation, meaning that you should always keep an eye on your children or babies if you try using baking soda as a home remedy for a skin problem.

3. Keep the Air Fresh

If you’ve ever opened up your mom’s fridge and seen an already-opened box of baking soda sitting toward the back of a shelf, chances are she didn’t just forget to shut it properly—she’s using it to keep odors from leftovers and other pungent plates from permeating the space.

Baking soda neutralizes odors well because it doesn’t just mask them—it absorbs them. The compound attracts the bacteria that cause the smells and “eliminates” them, leaving your fridge free from the weird clash of scents and flavors that you can end up with.

In order for this to work, though, you have to provide a wide and exposed surface area of baking soda. So while you may think that just opening up the corner of the box will do the trick, you’re better suited to spread baking soda on a plate or open up the entire top of the box.

4. Restore Shine to Jewelry

You won’t want to use baking soda on diamonds or other precious gems, because it can damage the stones. But if you’re looking to clean basic sterling silver or other metal-based jewelry without having to take it in to a cleaner, baking soda is a great option.

Soak your jewelry in a boiling pot of baking soda, salt, and water, then remove it with tongs after a few minutes. When you pat it dry, it should have returned to its original level of shine—and all without forking over tons of cash.

5. Whiten Laundry

Nowadays, it seems like there are hundreds of products on the market that can take even a red wine-stained shirt and leave it perfectly clean and crisp once again.

A lot of these products are plenty effective, but you pay the price for their efficacy; they tend to require that you shell out a good bit of cash to pick them up, and they can often come with extra scents and chemicals that aren’t usually so good for your skin.

Some recommend simply using bleach to get out tough stains, but baking soda is a more gentle, universal option to use. It can both clean and whiten your clothes, eliminating lingering odors in the process and even cleaning your washing machine.

To use it, just add a cup of baking soda when you put in your detergent before starting a load of laundry. It isn’t going to kill germs in the same way that bleach would, but it’s a more universal option—so you can add it every time you do a load to keep everything fresh and nice.

6. Clean Your Kitchen

If the household cleaner aisle has started to look a little overwhelming, you can always just head straight for a box of baking soda—and like your clothes, your body, and your fridge, you can get rid of odors and stains.

You’ll want to wipe away big piles of crumbs or dirt before trying to use baking soda to clean up, but you can get rid of stains on your counters and permeating odors just by mixing some baking soda with water and scrubbing away with a rag or sponge. The best part is that there’s nothing dangerous about ingesting baking soda—so your kids and your pets won’t be at risk if there’s still some residue left on the floors or counters after you’re finished tidying up.

7. Improve Your Health

We’ve already mentioned that baking soda can neutralize acid in your mouth to protect your teeth—but if you have an upset stomach, it can provide the same kind of relief inside your body.

Ingesting baking soda can soothe indigestion, neutralizing the acid in your stomach to settle your insides. That same acid-neutralizing quality can work to aid with certain types of chemotherapy, which become toxic in the presence of too much acid, and can even help your body neutralize acid if you’re dealing with kidney disease and the organ no longer removes the acid from your blood on its own.

8. Prep Vegetables

Most people think of baking as the primary kitchen use for baking soda—hence the name—but if you’re looking to soften your veggies and even remove pesticides, baking soda is great for prepping those healthy snacks, too.

A recent study conducted revealed that baking soda seems to work to eliminate certain pesticides, which could revolutionize the way that health-conscious families avoid the chemicals without breaking the bank. Just mix baking soda with water, and let the veggies soak for 10–15 minutes before cooking. It should do the trick!

9. Fight Kitchen Fires

Chances are, anyone who has ever tried to get a little adventurous in the kitchen has started a fire of some sort. Even the best of us have sparked small grease fires—which can be scary and tough to put out.

Baking soda releases carbon dioxide, which smothers oxygen-starved flames. So pouring some of the fine powder over a small grease fire can be an easy way to put it out without having to bust out the big guns.

Of course, it’s important to remember that you need to fully smother a fire to put it out, so you’ll need a lot of baking soda to cover the surface of the flames. This means that unless you’re keeping buckets full of the stuff in your pantry, it’s really only an effective option if you’re dealing with a small fire; if you’re dealing with a legit blaze in the kitchen, get out the fire extinguisher after you call 911! Even if you keep baking soda in your house to fight the little stuff, it’s important to keep a more heavyweight option around the house just in case.

10. Replace Deodorant

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that baking soda is a great option for eliminating odors. That doesn’t just have to be for clothes and the air, though—you can technically use sodium bicarbonate to keep your own body from offending those around you.

There are recipes for homemade baking soda deodorant, which take just seconds to make. All you have to do is sprinkle baking soda on a washcloth and swipe it under your arms—but if you want some scent to it, just add some cornstarch to help it last on the shelf and add a few drops of your favorite scent or essential oil. Store it in a jar or airtight container and voila; you’ve managed to keep your body smelling nice without buying aluminum-filled products.

After a mother posted pictures of her identical twins on Instagram, the adorable duo become stars almost overnight. The beautiful girls have since signed up with two modeling agencies and have won dozens of contracts. Plus, they did up to six jobs during the week just before Christmas in 2017.

Known as The Clements Twins, Leah Rose and Ava Marie, now 8 years old, have more than 1.2 million followers since their mom, Jaqi Clements, started an Instagram account for them in July 2017.

The then-7-year-old twins’ pictures immediately won the hearts of Instagram users. Some among the girls’ fans have described them as “so beautiful,” “really truly gorgeous girls,” “absolutely stunning.” Some even dubbed them as “the most beautiful girls in the world.”

The girls, based in LA and Orange County, have won contracts with children’s clothing brands and magazines.

Prior to signing the contracts, their mother had asked them if they wanted to try modeling.

“I presented my idea to the girls that if they were up for it, in addition to their dance classes and swim team practices they had every week, they could give modeling a try,” the mom wrote in a blog post.

“I was not surprised at all when they started jumping up and down and couldn’t wait to begin.”

It proved that the young girls really love the attention models get. Even though they had up to six jobs in a week before Christmas in 2017, they were “lovin’ every minute!” as Jaqi described it.

Jaqi started posting her daughters’ images when they turned 7.

“This year was different. The girls were different,” she wrote in a blog post.

“They finally had a personality of their own. They loved to perform their dance routines in front of an audience, any audience. They loved to be the center of attention.

“Knowing their personalities now it makes total sense that they would show up early, unannounced, and ready to take on anything.”

In addition, as the girls were born on 7/7/2010, she took their seventh birthday, 7/7/2017, as a sign for starting something different.

“Aside from the fact that I’m a huge believer in signs and have been told by almost everyone that 7 is a lucky number, I just had a feeling that this year was going to be a fun and exciting year for them,” she wrote.

The twin sisters are not the only models in their family. Their brother, Chase Robert, two years older than the girls, is also signed on to the same modeling agencies as his sisters.

The family has made traveling the world their full-time job. That can’t be that bad, can it? Seems like a pretty good deal.

Charlie and Milo McConnel are two amazing boys. Yet, some might find it unconventional that their parents, Dan and Julie are so happy to share their sons’ photos online.

The twins can often be found in pictures or videos, just getting on with their daily lives—yet what’s normal and every day for them has been inspiring people worldwide. They’ve garnered a lot of that attention and even turned viral because the twins were born with Down’s Syndrome.

Down’s is hereditary, a condition which often leads to slower brain and physical development. Parents who have kids with Down’s often face a range of additional challenges when raising their children, especially as the condition often comes with complications. These may include learning difficulties and health complications in their kids, such as heart disorders and poor vision.

Dan and Julie have allowed us an insider’s glimpse into the beautiful, much-overlooked side of raising kids who have Down’s. There are, of course, a fair few difficulties involved when you’re raising children with adaptive needs, but the joys and blessings are plentiful.

It’s why Julie and Dan aim to counter the bad rap around Down’s Syndrome; through photos and videos that are filled with joy and hope.

“My hope is to attract families that are receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome for their child because that can be really scary. I hope that people will find us, and see that this is what life can be like,” the twins’ mom shared with reporters. “It can be fun, it’s full of love, it’s not scary. We have no regrets, and there is so much joy in our lives, and I hope that people will see that.”

Society is much better progressed than it used to be when it comes to understanding how Down’s works. However, fear of the unknown still leads many in doubt about how they might raise a kid with the condition. While society is more educated and welcoming of diversity, people who have Down’s still sometimes need to navigate age-old barriers when it comes to employment, getting hitched, and raising a family.

The McConnels hope to create an online space where parents can learn more about what Down’s Syndrome involves. Where they can come to make more sense of diagnoses and discover the upsides of the condition.

Like Julie McConnel wrote, she discovered an online, social media network that helped her when she and Dan got the twins’ diagnoses. It gave her the drive to create the very same so that other moms and dads had somewhere to turn.

Charlie and Milo: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

“It takes them a little longer to meet milestones, but when they meet goals we celebrate like no other parents alive,” mentioned Julie. “We throw a party and we’re so excited for them when they accomplish those things.”

Milo and Charlie are non-identical twins—it’s statistically very rare that both were born with Down’s. In fact, the odds of this occurring are thought to be one in fourteen million. And Julie and Dan are overjoyed when they can offer comfort and knowledge to help other moms and dads going through what they went through.

Dan, the twins’ Dad, said: “It’s big to show everyone else that we are here, and there are all these kids in our community, and we hope that they will see us and remember us and that things will continue to change in our communities with lots of acceptance.”

Charlie and Milo: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Julie added: “We’re standing on the shoulders of other parents that have paved the way for all these things to happen and it’s an exciting time to have a child with Down syndrome…I want to see them grow up and do whatever they want to do.”[Source]