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In 1779, a prison reform act named the Penitentiary Act passed through the British Parliament, and in this act, the goal was to instill forced labor on prisoners over the age of 16 with hopes of this treacherous torture method leading to deter any convicts from reoffending.  A gentleman by the name of Sir William Cubitt came up with an apparatus that would suit these new needs, the treadwheel. The treadwheel was a device that is more similar to a stair stepper as we know it today but served a purpose much darker than using one for overall health improvement. 

These methods began in England and then slowly gained traction across the pond in the United States too where prisoners were forced to walk on these large wheeled machines for usually 6 - 8 hours a day. Some of the machines had a true purpose like pump water (where the name treadmill came from) or grinding grain otherwise, they were used as a method of sheer punishment. Each prison had its own timekeeping, but a common strategy was to walk for 15 minutes and rest for minutes before starting again. They were so common that patrons could and would even go to watch or mock those who were being tortured. This method was eventually deemed too cruel as a form of punishment and was then formally abolished in 1902. 11 years later Claude Lauarain Hagen filed a patent for a training machine that used the treadmill belt and then we saw the first mass-produced treadmill in the 1960s. 

Works Cited:

Eschner, Kat. “In the 19th Century, You Wouldn't Want to Be Put on the Treadmill.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 7 Sept. 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/19th-century-you-wouldnt-want-be-put-treadmill-180964716/.

Henry, Mayhew. “The Criminal Prisons of London, and Scenes of Prison Life : Mayhew, Henry, 1812-1887 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, London : Griffin, Bohn, 1 Jan. 1862, https://archive.org/details/cu31924024894481/page/342/mode/2up?q=1818.

Protin, Corey, and Matthew Stuart. “Treadmills Were Originally Used as Torture Devices for Prisoners.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 14 Apr. 2017, https://www.businessinsider.com/treadmills-torture-device-prisoners-treadwheel-victorian-britian-crime-prison-2017-4.

The daily unscheduled coffee or tea break most people take on a daily basis to step away from their work and decompress for a bit has a bit of history behind it. It started in Buffalo, New York in 1902 when a metal products manufacturer named Barcolo Manufacturing offered their employees two breaks a day and offered free coffee during that time. Once these breaks were implemented and taken advantage of regularly, those same workers were then able to increase their productivity once they got back to their work. It has now evolved into a regular occurrence in most of our lives regardless of the setting and once upon a time, they were used as a tactic for company owners to get the most out of their employees. Some might say consuming caffeine in any fashion is the secret to working happily. 

Works Cited:

Cooper, Ross. “The Origins of the Coffee Break Dates Back over 100 Years.” The Origins of the Coffee Break Dates Back Over 100 Years, My 105.2 WJLT, 7 July 2021, https://my1053wjlt.com/the-origins-of-the-coffee-break-dates-back-over-100-years/.

Frania, Lisa. “History of the Coffee Break.” History of the Coffee Break, Death Wish Coffee Company, 17 Jan. 2023, https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/blogs/lifestyle/history-of-the-coffee-break.

I for one like to use mouthwash before I brush my teeth while others find it more routine to use after they brush their teeth. Both seem beneficial because we are already taking the extra step past the general toothbrushing. But is there a best-practiced method to get the most out of your toothpaste and mouthwash usage? Turns out there is! According to the National Health Service (NHS, 2018) they recommend, “choose a different time to use mouthwash, such as after lunch.” This is fascinating because I know for one that I have been going about my teeth cleaning routine all wrong. Using toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride are both great but when using them back-to-back it is counterproductive because you are just replacing one with the other compared to using it at a different time allowing you to get the maximum benefit from both.

Works Cited:

NHS. “How to Keep Your Teeth Clean.” NHS Choices, NHS, 15 Feb. 2022, https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/how-to-keep-your-teeth-clean/.

I for one am a caffeine junky. When I wake up, I always look forward to the first sip of a warm cup of coffee. For those who do not know, caffeine is a stimulant which means it is considered a drug that which in my opinion a lot of people are not aware of and is certainly not treated that way. Today, it is treated as any other liquid which is okay to a point, but it is always important to be conscious of your relationship with your source of caffeine to make sure you are not overdoing it and thus becoming dependent on it.

When it comes to consuming your daily source of caffeine of choice it may seem as soon as you take a sip your worries are gone, your outlook automatically changes which is more placebo than the stimulant kicking in. On average, “the effects of caffeine can be felt as soon as 15 minutes after it is consumed. The level of caffeine in your blood peaks about one hour later and stays at this level for several hours for most people. Six hours after caffeine is consumed, half of it is still in your body. It can take up to 10 hours to completely clear caffeine from your bloodstream” (Cleveland Clinic, 2020). So, even though your mood suddenly changes from that first sip it is likely just the placebo taking place. So, next time you go for that warm cup of coffee be aware that it may take at least fifteen minutes or even an hour for the caffeine to fully take effect.

Works Cited:

“Caffeine: How Long It Lasts, How Much & Withdrawals.” Caffeine: How to Hack It and How to Quit It, Cleveland Clinic, 23 Dec. 2020, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15496-caffeine-how-to-hack-it-and-how-to-quit-it#:~:text=The%20effects%20of%20caffeine%20can,is%20still%20in%20your%20body.

During college, professors tend to focus on what you are going to do and how you are going to accomplish it at the professional level. During classes, there is the assumption that we are all going to land a job which is great to have that expectation but there is never a timeline talked about. In my experience, the key component in this job search process is how long it can take to get an interview and or a job offer. I hope this brings you peace in knowing more about how long seeking employment can take.

On the company side, according to a Forbes report written by Jacquelyn Smith 7ThingInterviewSuccessFormula.com has consolidated a list of stats that can be found during the job search process, “on average there are 118 people who apply to any given job. Among those 118 applications, only 20% or 24 people will land an interview.” You are not alone when feeling like you have applied to dozens of jobs and continue not to hear back. Especially in the after-college job market, you are competing with other recent graduates as well as older individuals who all have a variety of backgrounds and experiences. But there is hope! For the individual scope, “according to a Zippa report, on average it can take 21 to 80 job applications to get one job offer.” Applying to jobs can be considered a full a time job knowing you may need to apply to 80 jobs just to land one job offer. It is okay to be picky when going through this process but understand the pickier you are, the longer it will most likely take to get to that threshold of 21 to 80 applications. Randstad interviewed 2,000 Americans and they found that “modern-day job hunters take five months on average to finally land a position.”

Of course, it is easier said than done but do not forget to find enjoyment in this process. It is meant for you to find the best fit but also for the company to find the most suitable candidate for them as well. It is going to be okay! 

Works Cited:

Kolmer, Chris. “How Many Applications Does It Take to Get a Job? [2023].” Zippia How Many Applications Does It Take To Get A Job 2023 Comments, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.zippia.com/advice/how-many-applications-does-it-take-to-get-a-job/#applications_per_job_by_demographics.

Smith, Jacquelyn. “7 Things You Probably Didn't Know about Your Job Search.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 17 Apr. 2013, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/04/17/7-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-your-job-search/?sh=2d0eda813811.

DigitalHubUSA, Randstad. “Home.” Digitalhub US, 29 Mar. 2022, https://swnsdigital.com/.

The short answer to this is yes. Animals do have a paw preference with an abundance of factors that contribute to this decision. Starting with an overarching question, what are they trying to accomplish? Is there a side of their body that has an advantage in that specific situation? These questions can lead to them choosing one paw over the other, but at times this may not be their preferred paw. This is also known as task dividing. It would be seen as more of a comfort level between one paw or the other in that isolated situation. In this article written by Lesley J. Rogers, countless tests were conducted on various animals that all fell into the primate family. Our hand preference comes from the result of consistent behavior that we have trained ourselves to be accustomed to. So, when completing a simple task, we become dependent on the hand that we have more familiarity with but when we are trying to accomplish more intricate tasks, we become dependent on one side or the other of our brain. It was found that each hemisphere is also correlated to hand preference. In situations where you are acting in fear or reacting you are likely to use your left hand which is related to your right hemisphere while when acting proactively you are likely to use your right hand controlled to be your left hemisphere. This is for the right-hand dominated population so for a left-handed dominated induvial this will be the opposite. If you are a right-handed person your left hemisphere is the dominant side of the brain and vice versa for left-hand individuals. Knowing that dogs and cats are not primates some similarities can be found between primates, Felidae, and Canidae families. In most cases with Canidae and Felidae families, it is possible the paw use can be related to their sex. According to The National Geographic, “These preferences also differ by sex – males tend to prefer their left paws, whereas females were more likely to be righties.” However, this is still very unclear if house animals have a dominant paw but what is clear is that it depends on what the animal is trying to accomplish which will determine which side of their body they will use. If it’s a mindless task they can use either side but in more intricate situations they will use whichever is superior in that standalone situation.

Works Cited:

Arnold, Carrie. “Is Your Cat Left-Handed? Here's How to Tell.” Animals, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/animals-pets-cats-right-handed#:~:text=Scientists%20have%20discovered%20that%20many,more%20likely%20to%20be%20righties.

Rogers, Lesley J. “Hand and Paw Preferences in Relation to the Lateralized Brain.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 Apr. 2009, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2666076/.

 Butternut squash is a type of winter squash that falls under the umbrella of the Cucurbitaceae family that is one of the oldest vegetables that can be dated back to nearly 10,000 years ago. The name is derived from the Native American word askutasquash which means uncooked or eaten raw. 

The serving size for butternut squash is one cup and within that cup, there are numerous health benefits that will help you achieve your recommended daily vitamin and mineral intake goals. It has 100% of Vitamin A that is beneficial for your immune system and can even help protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays. 40% of Vitamin C which helps build and repair tissues throughout the entire body. 18% of Potassium is important for the normal function of all cells. 15% of Magnesium is useful to maintain a healthy heart plus bone and muscle function. On top of all of that, butternut squash is 87% water which is a great source of hydration. 

Overall, butternut squash is a great addition to any diet! 

Works Cited:

Harvard T.H. Chan. “Winter Squash.” The Nutrition Source, 6 July 2021, https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/winter-squash/.

Science Reference Section, Library of Congress. “How Did the Squash Get Its Name?” The Library of Congress, 19 Nov. 2019, https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/agriculture/item/how-did-squash-get-its-name/.

Zelman, RD, LD, MPH, Kathleen M. “Health Benefits of Butternut Squash.” WebMD, WebMD, 13 May 2021, https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/butternut-squash-health-benefits.