Culligan Water of the Low Country - August 2021

Culligan Water of the Low Country - August 2021

WATER WISE OF THE LOW COUNTRY

2021 AUGUST

August Is National Water Quality Month WHAT’S IN YOUR TAP WATER?

Tap water is probably not something you think a lot about. You go to your sink, turn it on, and fill up a glass. It’s easy to take for granted because it flows freely from your tap and looks clean. But lately, there’s been a lot of discussion about the quality of tap water in the U.S. In recent years, reports of the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, have made many people wonder about the water that’s coming out of their own tap at home. Water is an amazing substance. It’s a universal solvent, so it can dissolve anything it comes into contact with. That’s a useful property in many instances but not when it comes to drinking water. Contaminants, toxins, and other industrial waste can be dissolved into the drinking water if proper regulations aren’t in place. It may surprise you to learn that the two major congressional acts relating to water quality weren’t passed until the 1970s. The Safe Drinking Water Act, which focuses on protecting the public water systems and groundwater sources, wasn’t passed until 1974. While these strides are important, more must be done to ensure that we are drinking safe, high-quality water. As individuals, there’s a lot we can do to find out more about what’s in our water and to address any issues we might find with our local water source. Start by visiting EWG.org/ tapwater and entering your zip code to learn more about what’s in your tap water. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has stricter standards for drinking water than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) whose standards are changing all the time. If you saw the movie “Erin Brockovich,” you know a little bit about the woman who helped get the EWG started. As she and the case in Flint show, water quality varies greatly in different communities. (This is even more true of different countries.)

We recommend that everyone gets their water tested. Once you know what’s in your water, you can decide on a filter to remove any contaminants. While the basic pitcher-type filters do remove some contaminants, they don’t go far enough. Many people turn to us here at Culligan Water of the Low Country because of our filtration process, which filters out lead, nitrates, sodium, fluoride, and pharmaceuticals. (Yes, there are pharmaceuticals in water because people improperly dispose of old pills by flushing them down the toilet.) Our reverse osmosis system triple filters your water, which means at the end of the process, all you have is H2O. It also means you’ll have amazing tasting water that is free from strange odors as well as contaminants. Often, bad- tasting water or water with a strange odor is what prompts people to call us. But as I said, that’s often just a hint that something else is going on. Outside the realm of drinking water, hard water is another issue our customers contact us to solve. We like to say that our water softeners are a product that pays for itself! That’s because hard water buildup makes your water heater run less efficiently. Softeners, by contrast, can save you 30% on heating your water! Plus you’ll use less detergent and have no need for spot-free rinses, which all cost money. If you’re seeing buildup or spots due to hard water, we can help. At the end of the day, we’re happy there’s been progress in improving water quality, but we still have a ways to go. If you want to make sure you’re drinking the best quality and best tasting water possible, we’re just a phone call away. –Chris Lane

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WILL A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES CHANGE FOREVER?

Movie Theaters in Post-Pandemic Times

Out of all the businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, few were affected more than movie theaters. For the past year, as movies have debuted on streaming services rather than in theaters, many industry leaders, critics, and theatergoers alike have raised the alarming question: Did COVID-19 kill the movie theater industry? In short? No. Not by a long shot. Though the past year has left the industry somewhat beleaguered (AMC closed 60 theaters permanently, Cineworld reported losses totaling $2 billion, and the Alamo furloughed more than 5,000 employees). Yet, despite all of this, a night at the movies is here to stay. When a Vox reporter reached out to various moviegoers about whether they would attend theaters once the pandemic ends, many of them said yes because streaming a film in their living room just can’t provide the same experience. Watching a movie in a theater completely immerses one in the experience — you can’t pause the film to watch later or do chores. And you’re in it with the whole theater. Comedies are funnier when you laugh with others. A hero’s triumphs are more spectacular when you cheer them on together. (Who didn’t go nuts when Captain America caught Thor’s hammer in “Avengers: Endgame”?) When you leave the theater, you feel a little closer to the strangers around you, and having been immersed in the movie alongside your friends, you can discuss how you liked the movie on the way home. Of course, movie theaters will still change as a result of the pandemic. Theaters are working to become more digital, some even moving to eliminate paper tickets and creating options to order concessions before your arrival. More theaters may promote private viewings of movies so people can be more careful about whom they watch movies with. Some theaters are also trying to create more of an “experience” for moviegoers by offering a wider array of food and even comfier seats.

A few months ago, USA Today ran an article titled “Leni Klum, Lori Harvey, Lourdes Leon, and more celebrity kids becoming fashion trendsetters.” The article shared how the Gen Z children of big-name celebrities such as Steve Harvey, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and Madonna have sought to create their own fame through their fashion choices. Children of celebrities often have to work hard to leave their parents’ shadows, and in the age of social media, that means a lot of posts, tweets, snaps, and videos. None of that may shock you. Members of Gen Z are on their phones and other electronic devices watching videos, viewing posts, and commenting on and discussing the ones they like and don’t like. Why wouldn’t Gen Z celebrities’ main avenue for bolstering their fame be their social media accounts? Still, that phenomenon has downsides. The pressure of fame has been exacerbated by social media, especially among minors. Today, one of the most popular answers to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” among children ages 7–14 is to be an influencer, a comedian, a vlogger, or an entertainer. As more young people make money (some enough to live quite lavishly) by posting pictures and videos online, more of their viewers aspire to do the same without understanding the pressures or consequences that can come with that lifestyle. The more public you make your life, the more public your mistakes and flaws become along with it. Just as many children of celebrities are starting to come into their own fame, many other celebrities have kept their children out of social media, at least until they themselves consent to be on it. Celebrities like Ryan Gosling, Ashton Kutcher, and Adele understand better than most the pitfalls of a social media presence, especially when famous, which is why they’ve all elected to keep their kids off it for as long as they can. Perhaps many other parents and children would do well to follow suit. In a world where avenues to becoming famous are multiplying online, it’s best to understand the pressures of internet fame before pursuing it. WHATWE CAN LEARN FROM CELEBRITY CHILDREN The Pressures of Internet Fame

However, these changes, especially given the circumstances of the past year, are hardly surprising. The movie theater industry has been evolving for over

100 years, and it certainly won’t stop evolving now.

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We all know caffeine is the stimulant in our morning cup of coffee that energizes us for the day. But could it also leave your skin looking and feeling refreshed? Most Americans (62%, in fact) would agree that a cup of coffee a day keeps the drowsiness away. According to some dermatologists, though, the caffeine that keeps us awake may also liven up our skin as part of our daily skin care routine — but how? As it turns out, caffeine can help keep your skin healthy in a number of ways. For one, it has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can destabilize cells in the bodies, leading to illness and aging. Free radicals cause wrinkles, so using skin care products with caffeine in them can minimize the amount of wrinkles on your face. Secondly, caffeine can reduce eye puffiness because it increases circulation in the blood vessels just below the skin. However, it should be noted that this effect doesn’t last long, so you should apply the right caffeinated skin care products daily to maximize this benefit. CAFFEINE: THE SKIN CARE STIMULANT? How This Coffee Ingredient Could Energize Your Skin Care Routine

Caffeine can also get rid of subdermal fat and cellulite by metabolizing fatty acids as well as aid in the production of collagen (the most abundant protein in the body, aka what’s literally holding you together). However, before you start applying skin care products with caffeine to your face and expecting all of the above results, you should know that not all dermatologists agree on the extent of these purported benefits. Paula Begoun of Paula’s Choice skin care products says that caffeine “doesn’t work well” for puffy eyes or cellulite. On the other hand, Jennifer L. MacGregor, MD of Schweiger Dermatology Group, insists that caffeine is best for brightening puffy eyes. In any case, the potential benefits of adding caffeine to your daily skin care regimen far outweigh any possible drawbacks. So, what are you waiting for? Energize your skin with a little caffeine!

SUMMER VEGETABLE GREEK SALAD

TAKE A BREAK

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled • Optional protein choices: 1 cup cooked chickpeas or 6 oz Genoa salami

For the vinaigrette: • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

Directions

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1/2 tsp honey • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil For the salad: • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved • 1 small cucumber, seeded and chopped • 1 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped • 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, garlic, oregano, honey, and salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking until well combined. 2. In a large serving bowl, toss together the romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, olives, and feta (as well as the chickpeas or salami, if desired). 3. If you plan to serve all the salad at once, drizzle the dressing over the salad to lightly coat, then toss to combine. Otherwise, store the vinaigrette and salad separately, then dress each portion before serving.

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OF THE LOW COUNTRY

INSIDE

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What’s in Your Water?

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Internet Fame and Lessons From Celebrity Children

Will a Night at the Movies Change Forever?

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How Caffeine Could Energize Your Skin Care Routine

Summer Vegetable Greek Salad

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Why Are So Many Young People Lonely?

WHY SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LONELY And How to Stop It

The Post-Dorm Friendship Drought Even before the advent of social media, people moved away from the conditions that created friendships when they left their college dorms. According to sociologists in a 1978 study, there are three conditions that lead to making friends: “proximity, repeated and unplanned interactions, and settings that encourage people to let their guard down.” Young people are much less likely to come across these conditions in their lives after college.

Given the choice between an elderly person living alone in the countryside and a young recent college graduate living in a major metro area, who do you think would have a greater chance of experiencing loneliness? While many seniors do suffer from loneliness, you may be surprised to learn that people in their 20s and 30s experience loneliness today more than any other age group. In fact, the post-college years are when loneliness peaks despite opportunities to interact with others in the workplace or other social environments.

How to Fix It Loneliness isn’t easy to tackle. It takes time and effort to alleviate, and it starts with actively looking for opportunities to form relationships with other people. It can be scary putting yourself out

A Front Row Seat to Everyone’s Highlight Reel When you view someone’s social media, chances are you’re seeing a “highlight reel” of their life. When you compare

your behind-the-scenes footage to that highlight reel, it can leave you feeling unaccomplished and isolated, which further leads to loneliness. Given that millennials are very involved with social media, it’s no wonder their age group is lonelier.

there, but you might be surprised by how accepting other people can be. Rejection is always a possibility, but so is the remedy to your loneliness. You’ll never know how many future friends you may have until you get out and look around for them!

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