Think... Coffee ☕

As he wound his way through, 
the seductive scent of coffee 

reached out and 

hooked him.

Ian MacGregor 

@

MacGregor Grooms 

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User:Salimfadhley [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]

Simply Thinking About Coffee Gives Your Brain A Boost, Study Suggests

For millions of us, the day begins with at least one cup of coffee to jump-start our brains into productivity. We think clearer, move faster, and interact with coworkers (also drinking coffee) like we’re meant to work together – at least for a little while.

What if we could benefit from some of those effects by simply experiencing cues that make us think of coffee?  That’s the topic of a new study, the latest in the ongoing scientific fascination with our favorite legal drug.

FORBES

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Smiling sweetly, Whitney set the pot to heat and 
drew in the scent of coffee. 

The cave, full of dung and damp, 

was immediately civilized.

Hot Ice

Happy in marriage?

“I’m telling you this so you understand my basic genetic makeup. My mother,

while satisfied with me on the whole, never loved me or wished to. She never

accepted I might have my own goals or desires or plans. Hers, for me, were

again very specific and detailed. For a very long time I thought she didn’t love

me because I was lacking in some area, but I came to understand she simply

didn’t love. She has no capacity or aptitude for love, and no skills at displaying

affection. Factoring genetics and environment, I also lack the capacity. I may not

have the skills for relationships, but I understand emotions and affection are

primary needs in developing and maintaining them.”

Brooks thought, What a load of crap. But he structured his response more

carefully. “Let me get this straight. Because your mother’s cold, selfish and

appears to have all the finer feelings of a sand flea, you’re genetically

predestined to be the same.”

The Witness

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PEAK99 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

People fall in love for many reasons — similar interests, physical attraction, and shared values among them. But if they marry and stay together, their long-term happiness may depend on their individual genes or those of their spouse, says a new study led by Yale School of Public Health researchers. 

YaleNews

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“Is he still married?”

“Yes.”

“So he can develop and maintain a relationship. You’ve got his genes, too.”

For a moment, a long moment, she watched the flight of the hummingbird—

that sapphire blur—until it whizzed out of sight.

“Why would you want to be with someone whose skills and aptitude for

personal connections are stunted?”

“Maybe I like the idea of watching them grow, and being part of it.”

The Witness

Chicken Soup for the Soul

"Don't you get up, you poor thing. I brought you some of my chicken soup."

"Oh, Penny, that's so thoughtful!" Patty sprang up to take the flowers. "I never thought of food, 

or flowers. I never thought-"

"Of course you didn't. How could you, with so much on your mind? 

Cilla, I'm going to heat you up a bowl right now. 

My chicken soup's good for anything. Colds, flu, bumps, bruises, 

lovers' spats and rainy days."

Tribute

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When you're sick, there are few things more nourishing than a warm, savory bowl of chicken soup. Though soup recipes vary, chicken broth is a remedy for cold and flu symptoms utilized around the world; its magic is recognized almost ubiquitously.

Mother Nature Network

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He lifted a thick white mug. 

“Cup-a-Soup. Can’t taste a damn thing, but my ma always

 says you  down chicken soup for a cold. I’m downing.”

Black Hills

8 things to know about the winter solstice

“Midnight approaches.” 

She turned her head against Rhiann’s bracing shoulder. 

“The solstice. The darkest hour of the darkest day.”

Witching Hour

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From when it happens to why, 

here's your crash course 

on the shortest day of the year.

Mother Nature Network

Why does snow make the world so quiet?

"I guess the quiet woke me. It's odd, don't you think, how quiet it is?"

"The snow always makes it quiet."

The Return of Rafe MacKade

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By Stulli - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3834213

Hush. It's snowing outside.

At least, doesn't it feel like that when snowflakes make their grand entrance, pirouetting from the sky like tiny, twirling ballerinas?

And we're pressed up against windows, eyes wide open. Or outside, all giddy smiles with tongues eagerly outstretched.

Snowflakes look good. They even taste good. But they sound like … nothing.

mother nature network

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On impulse, she bundled herself in her boots and coat and stepped out onto the porch.

Though Gabe had shoveled it off twice during the day, the snow came almost to her knees. Her boots sank in 
and disappeared. She had the sensation of being swallowed up by a soft, benign cloud. 
She wrapped her arms around her chest and breathed in the thin, cold air.

There were no stars. There was no moon. The porch light tossed its glow only a few feet. 
All she could see was white. 
All she could hear was silence.

Gabriel's Angel 

The Crying Game

Tears came along with the breath, so she pressed her face to the wood.

“You want me on my knees, that’s the way to do it.” 
Rubbing his hands over his face, Brooks dug for composure.

The Witness

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By RIA Novosti archive, image #346 / Ozersky / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15579375

Women’s Tears Dial Down Testosterone

Men tend to hate it when women cry — for reasons that they often have difficulty articulating. Now, new research suggests why — men may be biologically primed to react to a woman’s tears. 

TIME

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Now her eyes glimmered with tears, and Fox quite simply wanted to step into the

street into the path of a passing truck.

Blood Brothers

'Blood moon' eclipse will be century's longest

If there was a red haze over the moon, it was due to some atmospheric quirk and had nothing to do with her.

She would leave the omens and portents to Mia since she enjoyed them so much. 

Dance Upon the Air

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By Marcel Oosterwijk from Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 

Super Blood Moon over Amsterdam I, CC BY-SA 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69664064

If you happen to be in Europe, Africa, Australia or anywhere else in the Eastern Hemisphere on July 27, you just might find yourself standing under this century's longest lunar eclipse.

mother nature network

Those outside the viewing area for July's eclipse won't have to wait long for their own chance to peer up at a full blood moon. The next total eclipse, visible over northwest Africa, Europe and the Americas, will take place on Jan. 21, 2019.

Birds are wicked smart, despite their small brains

Seconds later, a shrill wolf whistle sounded from inside, followed by a muffled scream. 

He was grinning by the time Bird squawked out his invitation: “Hey, sugar, buy you a drink? Here's looking at you, kid.” When Bird began to sing a chorus of “There Is Nothing like a Dame,” the children collapsed into fits of laughter.

A few minutes later, Megan carried out a tray of drinks. Bird's voice followed her. “'Give me a kiss, and to that kiss a score!'“

She arched a brow as she set the tray on the deck. “Bogart, show tunes and poetry. That's quite a bird.” 

Megan's Mate

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By pionetes - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3454725

Crows and ravens are really smart. Parrots and cockatoos are very intelligent. Magpies, macaws, jays and parakeets ... all brilliant birds. But how is it that these avian animals are so clever when their brains are relatively small? After all, isn't it our big brains relative to our body size that makes us humans so amazingly smart? Turns out, not necessarily.

mother nature network

Is Love at First Sight Real?

“You don’t believe in love at first sight, do you?”

“Sure I do. It’s all chemicals and stuff. There was this whole program on it on PBS. I think it was PBS. Maybe it was The Learning Channel. Anyway.” She waved that part aside. “They’ve done all these studies on attraction and sex and relationships. Mostly, it boils down to chemicals, instincts, pheromones, then building on that. Besides, you know Vince and I met when I was in first grade. I went right home from school and told my mom that I was going to marry Vince Burger. Took us a while to get there. State law’s pretty firm about six-year-olds getting hitched. But it sure was the right mix of chemicals from day one.” 

Remember When

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By Garry Knight from Bromley, Kent, England (In Love) [CC BY-SA 2.0 

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

A compelling idea, but is there scientific evidence to support it?

Love at first sight: Is it possible? Do people really meet and in moments simply know they're meant to be? New evidence suggests that yes, they do.

Psychology Today

Give Someone’s Hand A Squeeze

“This will sting a bit.”

“What will?” Automatically Ben shot out a hand to grab the doctor’s wrist.

“Just a little tetanus shot,” John said soothingly. “After all, we don’t know where that knife has been. Come on now, bite the bullet.”

He started to protest again, but Tess took his hand. The sting in his arm came, then dulled. 

Sacred Sins

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By Daniel Sone (Photographer) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A new study, though, says that squeezing someone’s hand might be more than just a morale booster. 

It might actually be a painkiller.

MSN

Horses have a memory for emotion

Iona checked the ring, then what Boyle called his office, backtracked, circled, and found him
outside in the paddock having a stare-down with Alastar.
“He doesn’t think you like him.”
Boyle glanced back. “Then he’s an intuitive bastard.” 


Dark Witch

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By muffinn from Worcester, UK - Horse looking over a wall, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34090823

Horses Can Read and Remember People's Emotions

Scientists discovered that the animals can not only recognize humans, but remember their expressions.

Popular Mechanics

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He said nothing as Alastar wandered over, oh so casually, and ignoring him, went all but nose to
nose with Iona. 
The horse, Boyle thought, looked at the woman as if she knew every answer.
“We had a good day, didn’t we?” She stroked the smooth cheek, down the strong line of throat.
“It’s a good place here. Just takes some getting used to.”
Then, the horse, who only that morning had left a welt the size of a man’s fist on his veteran
groom’s biceps, seemed to sigh as well. And stepped in, all but laying his head on Iona’s shoulder so she could glide her hands over his long neck.


Dark Witch

TESS

"I always feel so cut off here, more so than when I'm in the field hundreds of miles away. 

I imagine we could establish a colony on Mars and I wouldn't hear about it until it was all over."

"A colony on Mars," he murmured, feeling his stomach sink as he glanced at the paper again. "I think you've got about a hundred years to go."

"Sorry I'll miss it."

Time Was

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By ESO/S. Brunier - http://www.eso.org/public/images/eso0932a/, CC BY 4.0, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9559670

"I have been blessed to have been a professional astronomer during the period of time that started with—'well there probably are planets around other stars, but boy, they're just too hard to find and we'll never know'—to where we are today, which is we know there are planets around almost every star," says Paul Hertz, the Director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA. "In just 25 years, this field of science has gone from theoretical to very, very applied and very, very data-driven."

Popular Mechanics

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"Sure. I probably would have gone on being happy here, but I discovered the world. 
What do you think of the world, J.T.?"

"Which one?"

With a laugh, she gave the popper an extra shake. "I should have known better 
than to ask an astro-whatever. Your mind's probably in space half the time."

Times Change

Smelling Your Partner’s Stinky Shirt Makes You Feel Better

But he started to hold her back when she would have moved into him. 

“Let me rinse some of this sweat off first.”

“I don’t mind it. It’s basic and natural, and …” 

She pressed her lips to the side of his throat. “Salty.”

The Witness

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By Pablo Heimplatz pabloheimplatz - 

https://unsplash.com/photos/M1doNY5gdZs, CC0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61706844

Researchers out of the University of British Columbia say that smelling your partner’s scent can help lower stress levels.  

MSN

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Twilight deepened, cooling the air, but she felt only the heat from his body 

as she pressed against him. He smelled of horses and leather. 

Dazed, she thought that the scent must be part of some deeply buried fantasy.

The Name of the Game 

Helpful Infographics Visualize Complex Branches

“Wait. Wait. Mackensie? The redhead you had a crush on in high school?”

Defeated, Carter rubbed the spot between his eyebrows again. “I should never have told you about that. This is why I rarely drink.”

“But, Cart, this is like kismet.” Excitement rushed through the words. “It’s like return of the nerd. It’s the big chance to follow up on a lost opportunity.”

“It’s coffee,” Carter muttered.

Flushed with enthusiasm, Bob jumped up, grabbed a piece of chalk. On the board he drew a circle. “Obvious, the circle. You’re completing one, and completing it just means taking point A and point B—” Within the circle he made two dots, connected them horizontally. “Up to point C.” He drew another dot at the apex, then joined it with the other points with two diagonal lines. “See?”

“Yes, I see a triangle inside a circle. I’ve got to go.”

“It’s the triangle of fate inside the circle of life!”

Carter hefted his briefcase. “Go home, Bob.”

“You can’t argue with math, Carter. You’ll always lose.”

Vision in White

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MY MODERN MET

In praise of curiosity

“What Sylbie said about curiosity’s true. It’s a natural thing.”

The Witness

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By ☻☺ - Flickr: smelling the roses, CC BY-SA 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29962572

Einstein even went so far as to say, 

"I have no special talents. 

I am only passionately curious."

mother nature network

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“You ask too many questions. Answering them is annoying and tiresome.”

“Damn that curiosity. Jesus, Abigail, did you smile?”

The Witness