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The Disability DIGEST
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November 2023
I Used to Hate My Summer Birthday! WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CELEBRATE YOUR SPECIAL DAY
My sister’s birthday falls around Thanksgiving. Growing up, I was always jealous of that because my birthday was in the summer. If I wanted to do something with my friends, it was always a fiasco trying to plan around everyone’s busy schedules! One friend is on vacation with his family, while another is at camp. It always frustrated me that I could never get everyone under one roof to celebrate. Then there’s my sister — she was always around family during her birthday since it was near a holiday. I remember my blood boiling as she thanked them for her presents. However, as I got older, I quickly realized that having a summer birthday wasn’t so bad. When you have a birthday around Thanksgiving or Christmas, family members often make your birthday gift your present for the holidays. And for some reason, all of my sister’s birthday presents were Christmas-themed! The look on her face when she would pull out another shirt or earrings with Santa, elves, or trees on it remains in my memory to this day. She used to have a dresser drawer overflowing with Christmas attire she never wore. It was hilarious watching her shove more and more stuff in the drawer and then try to close it! I’m happy I’ve come to love my summer birthday because one of my kids is now in the same boat as me. My daughter is at the age where she’s realizing many other friends have summer vacation plans that fall around her birthday. It’s heartbreaking to see the disappointment on her face, but I sympathize with her, and I allow her to share her feelings with me — I’ve been there! Even though my daughter gets bummed her friends aren’t able to celebrate her birthday with her, I do anything I can to make it the best day ever for her. Whatever she wants to do, I will make it happen and do it with her. No matter how
old you are, when it’s your birthday, all you want is to feel special. So, I will stop whatever I’m doing to spend time with my girl. Now, I know celebrating your birthday and turning one year older can be daunting as you age. While it may not be as exciting as your birthday celebrations in your youth, don’t let it stop you from practicing gratitude! Getting older is something we should celebrate because some people won’t be able to say they saw that year. So, no matter what age you’re turning, cherish it! Reflect on all the milestones you’ve accomplished and the experience you got to pursue. Focusing on the positives can change your perspective for the better and encourage you to embrace the life phase you’re currently in.
Here’s to you and everything you’ve accomplished in life!
–Joel Thrift
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The Disappearance of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
You may have heard of “the seven wonders of the world,” but what you may not know is that the seven we know today are actually considered the “new” wonders of the world, replacements for their ancient predecessors, aptly named “the seven wonders of the ancient world.”
So, you’re probably wondering, “Well, what happened to those ancient wonders?” The unfortunate answer is that all but one — the Great Pyramid of Giza — have been destroyed. Here’s what happened to the other six. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Bodrum, Turkey An earthquake sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries reduced the Mausoleum to rubble. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Western Turkey A man named Herostratus burned the temple down, hoping to become famous in history as a result. Hanging Gardens of Babylon Hillah, Iraq Unfortunately, this ancient wonder never existed in any actual Babylonian
records. It was likely a myth created by Roman and Greek authors. Statue of Zeus at Olympia Olympia, Greece After the statue was dismantled and moved to Constantinople, a fire destroyed it in the 5th century. Colossus of Rhodes Rhodes, Greece An earthquake around the year 225 B.C.E. toppled the statue, and in 654, when Arabs invaded Rhodes, they destroyed it and sold the metal for scraps. Lighthouse of Alexandria Alexandria, Egypt This ancient wonder was yet another destroyed by a series of earthquakes between 956 and 1323.
SURPRISING ANIMAL FACTS FROM YOUR FAVORITE HOLLYWOOD MOVIES
No. 2: Peanut butter is the key to talking animals. Trainers will actually give them peanut butter before filming, and the movement of their mouths mimics talking. No. 3: Animals have doubles, too! In many movies, one animal actor can have dozens of doubles take their place. For example, in the film “Babe,” 48 different piglets played the role!
Part of the reason we love movies so much is because things that seem improbable or downright impossible happen without a second thought on the big screen. Like, for example, when animals act on cue! A lot of movies enlist cats, dogs, pigs, horses, monkeys, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) as part of their cast, and when the director yells “Action!” they somehow nail their roles. However, many things you see involve a little movie
magic. Here are four facts about animals in movies to show you what we mean. No. 1: Most dogs in movies have CGI tails. Canine actors just have too much fun and wag their tails nonstop while filming. So, many movies add a computer-generated tail that wags less enthusiastically.
No. 4: The sounds animals make may be from a different species. Sometimes, movie crews substitute animal sounds from different species that resemble the original. For instance, in “Flipper,” they used kookaburra bird calls instead of actual dolphin noises!
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TAKE A BREAK
There have probably been instances in your life where you sat down to complete a task, only to think about anything other than what you should be doing. While this can be extremely frustrating, it’s completely normal, especially if you’ve never explicitly taught your brain how to focus. Believe it or not, focusing our mental attention on one task does not come naturally; it’s a skill that requires practice and patience, especially in today’s world of constant stimulation. Luckily, training your focus only takes a few minutes a day, and you can start seeing results as quickly as you begin learning. How to Train Your Focus Step No. 1: Put your phone in another room — literally. No exceptions! Step No. 2: Pick a point. Once you’re in the room where you want to train (without your phone), sit on the floor facing a wall. Then, pick a point on that wall to stare at. Step No. 3: Stare at that point for 120 seconds. It’s important to keep your body relaxed and maintain visual focus on the spot for the full 120 seconds. You’ll probably find this training incredibly boring and mentally agitating — and that’s the point . Tasks that require attention are not typically stimulating, but you must focus on them nonetheless. By teaching your brain how to focus, you’ll have an easier time completing any task that comes your way! RECLAIM YOUR CONCENTRATION! How to Train Your Brain to Focus Like a Pro
Ballot Cornucopia Cranberry Districts Maize Pilgrim Politics Raking Shopping Stuffing Thanksgiving Veteran
TASTY APPLE PIE
Just like Grandma made!
Ingredients
• 2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts • 6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour • 2 tbsp butter
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Place 1 pie crust in a 9-inch pie plate.
3. In a large bowl, combine apples, cinnamon, sugar, and flour. 4. Spoon mixture into pastry-lined pie plate and dot with butter. 5. Cut remaining crust into 1/2-inch-wide strips, then arrange strips in a lattice design over top of pie. 6. Trim, seal, and flute edges. 7. Bake for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Don’t Let Turning a Year Older Get You Down! What Happened to the Original 7 Wonders of the World?
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The Secrets of Animal Stars: Behind-the-Scenes Magic
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Tasty Apple Pie Raise Your Game With Laser-Like Focus
Maximize Your E-Reading Pleasure
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Believe it or not, Americans still love to read. But how we read is changing, with 52% of people reporting they enjoy their literature on an e-reader. Unlike traditional paper books, digital readers offer users a variety of accessories to enhance their reading experience, which makes them more appealing than paper. So, we wanted to share a few accessories for your device that take your reading to the next level! Anti-Dust Plugs These are little rubber stoppers you can pop into the micro-USB or USB-C port to prevent dust or debris from entering and damaging your device. Some even have charms on the end so they look cute while protecting your reader! Suction or Stick-on Grips These tiny knobs (like the ones you can put on your phone) make holding your device with one hand a lot easier. They attach to the back of the device using suction, a light adhesive, or even magnetism. You can slip the knob between your fingers, so you don’t need to worry about losing your grip! An E-Reader Stand This accessory will keep your e-reader upright, so you can look straight ahead and read hands-free without craning your neck downward. To learn more about these accessories, search online using your e-reader’s name and the accessory type you’re looking for!
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