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The Ghosts of Christmas Trees Past: Seven Sidewalk Disposal Styles

Will Etling takes us on a visual tour of the funniest, saddest, and most inventive methods of Christmas tree disposal on Southland sidewalks.

By Patrick James,
Patrick James
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Will Etling
Will Etling
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Jan 18, 2011

All photos and captions by Will Etling.

trashartphotographychristmasconsumptioncitieschristmas treeswill etlingpollution and waste

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old people, happiness, unexpected things, good, joy, mental health, experience, wisdom

20 unexpected and simple things older people say bring them happiness

Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, WOMAD, 1982 reunion, Six of the Best, progressive rock, Steve Hackett, music history, Tony Banks
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The unbelievable 1982 Genesis reunion with Peter Gabriel was to save him from crushing debt

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She surrendered her dog but wrote the shelter every day. Community rallied to help them reunite.

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music, brain, opioids, music therapy, scientific discovery

Scientists have found the physical reason why music feels good.

Photo credit: Canva

Neuroscientists find that those who think music is 'like a drug' are actually right

They say music soothes the soul, but many people feel music in their bodies. Not just through dancing, but by people literally feeling good and getting chills listening to their favorite songs. Your heart beats differently, the skin on your arm bubbles with goosebumps, and whatever is troubling you seems to melt away. Listening to some songs can feel like a drug going through your system. Well, it turns out a recent Finnish university study shows that comparing music to a drug isn’t too far off.

A long-held scientific mystery is that music doesn’t appear to offer any true survival benefit, such as physical protection from predators or storing of calories, yet it is a part of every studied culture. Findings from research on music’s connection to the brain from Turku PET Centre and the University of Turku in Finland show through brain imaging that music activates the same natural opioid system that gives pleasurable feelings when eating delicious food or bonding with someone. For centuries, people reported feeling euphoric and pleasurable chills when listening to their favorite music, but now this study is zeroing in on the physical reasons why such feelings occur.

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Robin Williams performs at the 2008 USO World Gala in Washington, D.C.

Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy via Wikimedia Commons

7 beautiful quotes about depression from the great Robin Williams

It has been over a decade since the world lost Robin Williams, a comedic force of nature whose energy seemed inexhaustible. When he took his own life in 2014 after battles with depression and Lewy body dementia, the silence that followed was deafening. How could the man who brought us the Genie, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Mork be in such pain?

But looking back at his vast body of work—from his frantic stand-up sets to his tender dramatic roles—it is clear that Williams possessed a profound understanding of the human condition. He didn't just make us laugh; he made us feel seen, especially those of us who have struggled with our own darkness.

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Sky diving and volunteering at a food bank.

Photo credit Canva

People share the 5 things they say are actually more valuable than time or money

Many people consider money to be the most important ingredient for finding happiness. As we age, the power of time is discussed as possibly being even more important. However, what happens when people are asked to uncover the things that matter most if you take money and time off the table?

In a recent r/AskReddit thread, a valuable question was offered, "Except for time and money, what is the #1 thing you wish you had more?" The responses were rather insightful and reveal a great deal about what brings people happiness—and what they feel is lacking in their lives.

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People say these small social rules are "impossible" to follow.

Photo credit: Canva, Africa images (main image) / anlomaja (black box)

The super small social rules that people say are 'absolutely impossible' to follow

I suffer from situational awkwardness—a self-diagnosis, mind you, but one I feel pretty confident about, given the evidence. My ability to follow social norms fluctuates depending on the setting: the ages of the people I’m around, the general vibe of the people I’m around, how well we know each other, even the physical environment. (Is this a home game or an away game?) Basically, if I’m visiting a stranger’s house and meeting their rowdy kids for the first time, I will probably be a different person than if I’m hanging around my parents at a restaurant. I envy people who always seem comfortable in their own skin.

It’s probably no shock, then, that I find it difficult to follow certain social rules. (This also extends to the concept of unwritten rules—let’s all get on the same page so I can know exactly whom and how much I should be tipping, okay?) At least I’m not the only one who gets tripped up every once in a while. In a recent thread, strangers shared the seemingly minor situations that they find challenging.

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Kola Superdeep Borehole, deepest hole on Earth, Russia, geology, drilling, Mariana Trench, sounds of hell, Earth's crust, science mystery, China drilling

A large hole in the ground

Canva

Terrifying sounds captured from below the Earth as scientists were digging the deepest hole ever

It remains one of the most ambitious—and eerie—scientific projects in human history. While space agencies were racing to the moon, Soviet scientists were racing in the opposite direction: straight down.

The project, known as the Kola Superdeep Borehole SG-3, began in 1970 in the Pechengsky District of Russia, near the Norwegian border. The goal was simple yet massive: drill as deep into the Earth’s crust as technology would allow. By 1989, they had reached a staggering depth of 12,262 meters (40,230 feet).

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curiosity, conflict, conflict resolution, winning arguments, communication tips

A curious approach is a winning approach.

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Psychology and business experts agree on one 'curious' key to winning arguments

Conflict happens whether we want it to or not—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Some issues need to be addressed, yet many people struggle with how to do it. Depending on the situation, directly refuting or criticizing someone can escalate tensions, trigger defensiveness, or cause the other person to clam up entirely. However, beating around the bush won’t get the results you want either.

Many therapists, lawyers, and even hostage negotiators recommend one key strategy the next time you’re in that kind of situation: stay curious.

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aaron paul, smartphones, cell phone usage, technology, cell phones and kids

Aaron Paul recalls how his daughter made him rethink his smartphone use.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

Aaron Paul recalls heartbreaking exchange with his daughter that made him rethink smartphone use

If you own a smartphone and aren’t addicted to it, I sincerely salute you from afar. It’s so easy to grow obsessed with the passive dopamine rush of browsing internet headlines and scrolling our social feeds.

In any brief moment of everyday silence—sitting in the dentist’s waiting room, riding in the passenger seat during an argument with my wife, even waiting for commercials to end during a TV show—I find my hand unconsciously reaching for my pocket. That feels…not normal, and I often think about the effect it must have on my relationships with friends and family. It’s not like magically rewinding the clock to the dial-up era would fix everything, but maybe certain situations call for leaving our phones undisturbed.

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studying tip, kindergartener, explain like I'm five, interview tip, knowledge

Explain it like they're five.

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Big tech geniuses say the best way to learn complex subjects is to think like a kindergartner

Getting your mind ready for a presentation, job interview, or a test can be daunting, especially if you’re trying to master complex subjects. You want to showcase your knowledge and make sure that there aren’t any cracks or weak points. Well, business leaders, big tech companies, teachers, and everyday folks are saying the best way to see if you’re ready is to talk to a five-year-old.

“Explain like I’m 5” isn’t just a Reddit thread, but a great method to determine whether you actually know what you’re talking about. The studying technique dubbed “ELI5” allows your brain to break down complex topics into everyday comparisons and simple words. When you explain a subject out loud as if you’re teaching it to a kindergarten class, your brain naturally breaks the material into simplified steps, removes jargon, eliminates fluff, and fills in any gaps in logic. If you find yourself getting stuck at certain points in your translation of the topic, you’ll see the parts of the subject matter that you still don’t quite fully understand.

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