On the domestic front, a few years ago I visited a depression era glass museum in Lancaster, Ohio. I thought that special, but it turns out there are 232 glass museums just in the United States and Canada! And as for my other “unusual museum” experiences? They are far from unique. Torture museums: at least 25, including 4 in North America. Sex museums: at least 33 (7 of them in North America), plus 2 virtual ones. Even leprosy has 8 museums across the globe.
What Makes a Museum?
Humans have been curating and displaying interesting collections for thousands of years.
Among the displays at the Icelandic Phallological Museum are specimens from elves and trolls. However, because elves and trolls are invisible, those display cases appear empty.
In Greek mythology, the Muses were sister goddesses who inspired science, literature, and the arts. The first museums (mouseion) were shrines to these divine sources of inspiration.
In the 6th century BCE, Princess Ennigaldi of the Neo-Babylonian Empire curated a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts with origins spanning 1,500 years. The Capitoline Museums in Rome have housed Roman art and antiquities since 1471. Alongside collections of Mauritian art and history, the Blue Penny Museum in Port Louis, Mauritius, showcases the Blue Penny and Red Penny, two of the rarest and most valuable stamps in the world.
Some museums exist entirely in the cyberworld. Rock harpist Deborah Henson-Conant proudly curates an online Burnt Food Museum, showcasing her own culinary disasters. Minecraft players have created several replicas of real-world museums in online servers, making them accessible to players around the globe.
Strangest Museums
Recently, The Wall Street Journal (8-28-25) featured an article about a jellyfish museum in Kyiv, Ukraine. And that led to an online search for off-beat museums around the world. Here is a non-comprehensive list of those I found. Feel free to explore any of these:
The Baku Museum of Miniature Books began as the personal collection of Zarifa Salahova and has grown to more than 6,500 tiny tomes in the heart of Azerbaijan.
Railroads (Too many to count! So far as I can tell, Antarctica is the only continent without a railroad museum.)
And then I came across 1160 Unusual Museums in the United States – Atlas Obscura Discover 1160 unusual museums in the United States. · The Whale Museum · Karpeles Manuscript Library Mini Museum · The Lagoda · Dauer Museum of Classic Cars.
Clearly there are more weird museums that I can list here!
Bottom Line: If you’re interested in it, there’s no doubt a museum for it somewhere!
One of my favorite books is Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) and in one famous scene, Sir William is extolling dance as an exemplar of culture and elegance. Darcy observes that every savage can dance.
10,000 year old painting of dancers, Bhimbetka, India
To put it more elegantly: Dancing has always been a part of human culture, rituals, and celebrations. It promotes creativity, as well as healthy minds and bodies.
Many belly dancers perform in restaurants and at parties.
According to a friend of mine who belly dances, that form of dancing does all of the above. “Belly dancing has historic roots in fertility rites or celebrations in some areas. I’ve performed at baby showers and bachelorette parties. It’s so much fun, and I’ve met so many friends through dancing. It also helps me stay in shape and keep flexible. I get to design costumes, learn music, and create choreography while learning this amazing art form!”
Obviously, any given dance might serve multiple purposes. For this blog, I’ll focus on three categories.
Ceremonial Dance
Since humans formed societies, social groups have created or performed ceremonial dances for rituals or celebrations. People use ceremonial dances all over the world for worship, or to celebrate life events. The unique British tradition of Morris dancing, for example, is performed at seasonal festivals and holidays to banish the dark of winter, celebrate the warmth and fertility of summer, and bring in autumn’s golden harvest. The category of ceremonial dance also includes classical Indian dances, war dances, corroboree, Căluşari, and dances of Native American and West African culture.
Adumu, the Maasai jumping dance, forms an important part of coming of age ceremonies, weddings, and celebration rituals. Participants dress in colorful garments and traditional jewelry and often carry spears. Individual dancers compete with each other to jump as high as possible while maintaining a straight and upright posture. Dancers are judged on the height of their jumps as well as their grace.
Marinera Paso is a Mestizo dance that mimics courtship rituals in Peru. The female dancer, accompanied by Spanish, African, and Creole instruments, marks the rhythm and leads her partner on horseback.
Dancing the Haka involves a combination of stamping, chanting, showing the whites of the eyes, and rhythmically slapping body parts with the hands. Maori people perform various Haka forms to welcome guests, issue challenges, and mourn loved ones. Recently, the Te Pāti Māori party went viral for performing a Haka in the New Zealand Parliament to express their opposition to a proposed bill.
Young women in Bali perform the Rejang Adat to welcome the gods during Kunnigan. They do not train or practice before the ceremony. Instead, they rely on their ngayah (dedication) to allow the gods to inspire their movement and harmony.
Rain Dances
Many agricultural societies have a tradition of rain dances. These dances ask the gods or spirits to send water for crops during the planting season. Other rain dances ask for rain during long periods of dry, hot weather. In Romania and Moldova, a young girl dresses in a skirt made of corn husks and dances through the village streets while people splash water on her. In 2022, the Dumagat tribe performed a rain dance during a drought in the Philippines. They claimed success as it rained three days later.
In the Southwestern United States, many tribes, including the Pueblo, Hopi, Zuni, and Apache, have elaborate rain dance traditions. The specifics of the dances vary from tribe to tribe. Most tribes have unique rituals and costumes, with some tribes wearing headdresses and others wearing masks.
In the early 19th century, the United States government banned certain ceremonial dances. To bypass these strict laws, tribal members would mask their ceremonial performances as “rain dances.”
Dance for Recreation and Community
This is any form of dancing that is for entertainment, fitness, fun, or strengthening community ties. Also known as social dancing, it uses dance without too much structure, as a way to let loose and express one’s own individual personality. Dancers focus less on form and technique and more on the joy they feel from dancing. Examples of recreational dancing include ballroom, line dancing, aerobic dance, or dance as a hobby.
Gumboot Dance evolved from mines in South Africa.Workers unable to communicate verbally developed a system of stomping signals to pass messages.
Ballroom Dance
Like many forms of dance, dancesport has been adapted for a range of abilities.
Historians trace the history of ballroom dance back to the 16th century in Europe, where it was primarily a social activity for the upper classes. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that participants began to formalize and standardize ballroom.
Commonly used as shorthand for any partner dance, ballroom has today evolved into two main sub-genres: standard/smooth and Latin/rhythm. Dances within these categories include the waltz, tango and foxtrot, and the pasodoble, bolero, and samba.
Ballroom is a popular form of competitive dance, or dancesport, with dancers participating in competitions all over the world.
Who can think of ballroom dancing without envisioning Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers? Well, certainly not people of a certain age or old movie buffs.
The duo made 10 movies together in the 1930s and ‘40s. Their unique style was graceful and complex, while looking effortless. Perhaps the clearest legacy today are Fred Astaire Dance Studios, such as this one near Richmond, VA.
Community dancing often requires no formal training, choreography, or practice. It is sometimes completely spontaneous, such as mosh pits at rock and heavy metal concerts. Though communities often dance together at celebrations, such as weddings or birthdays, the dancing is not necessarily part of the ceremony.
There are many benefits to dancing in a group. Dancing together creates the same sense of group identity as singing or chanting in unison. Participants experience a reduction in stress and a release of endorphins.
In some instances, a Master of Ceremonies calls out steps for the group to follow. A dancemaster sometimes calls Irish céilí steps at social dances. The Electric Slide and the Cha-Cha Slide, popular at American weddings, feature a singer directing the participants in a simple choreography.
Some dances, like the Macarena, permeate society so thoroughly that it seems everyone knows the choreography. Other dances, like Armenian group dances, are simple and repetitive enough for beginners to follow the steps of more experiences dancers.
At Drag On Ball, 2018
Within marginalized communities, dancing is often a way of finding community and demonstrating belonging. Ballroom culture (not to be confused with ballroom dancing) in the United States grew from the gatherings of LGBT+ African Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Participants combine recreational, community dancing with dancing for artistic expression. Dancers vogue, strut, and catwalk in elaborate choreographies and costumes to represent their “houses” and found families. Depending on one’s definition of ceremony and ritual, participating in these events could also be seen as modern cultural rites for people who have been denied acceptance in the cultures they were born into.
Dance for Artistic Expression
Shosagatsu, a form of Japanese Kabuki, blurs the line between dance and narrative theater.
Many artists dance with the primary intent to express or communicate emotion, feelings, and/or ideas. These dancers, including ballet, tap, and modern dancers, often perform in a concert or theatrical setting to an audience. Using rhythmic, patterned, or improvised body movement, it’s one of the oldest art forms found in every culture around the world.
For many people, artistic expression conjures images of ballet. Ballet developed during the Italian Renaissance, before evolving in France and Russia into concert dancing meant for public performance. Ballet choreographers often use classical music.
Harlequin Floors—a purveyor of dance floors—lists what they call popular types of dance on their blog. Ballroom and ballet are perennial favorites, but dancing doesn’t stop there!
Contemporary Dance
Developed during the mid-twentieth century, contemporary dance is now one of the most popular and technical forms of dancing studied and performed professionally, especially in the US and Europe. Drawing on classical, modern and jazz dance styles, contemporary dance has evolved to incorporate many characteristics of a broader range of dance forms. Known for its emphasis on strong torso and legwork, contract and release, fall and recovery, and floor work, it often features unpredictable and disordered changes in speed and rhythm throughout a performance.
As a cultural ambassador, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater showcases a blend of American and traditional dance styles to audiences worldwide.
Hip Hop Dance
B-Boys and B-Girls combine hip hop dancing with acrobatics and rhythmic freezes, as demonstrated by this breakdancer in Union Square.
Hip-hop dancing refers to a range of street dances that developed in relation to hip hop music and culture. Hip-hop dancing dates back to the early 1970s in New York and California, evolving out of Funk and the development of break beat. Main styles of hip-hop dancing include Breaking, Locking and Popping, with derivative styles emerging out of these including Memphis Jookin’, Turfing, Jerkin’ and Krumping. These were often popularized and made mainstream after being featured in music videos of the time.
Today, hip-hop is performed in outdoor spaces, in dance studios, and competitively. Unlike many competitive dance styles, hip-hop is often improvisational with dance crews challenging each other to dance battles.
Jazz
Bollywood dancing (the style often showcased in Bollywood movies) feature a combination of Indian classical and jazz styles to create a uniquely recognizable form.
Jazz dancing has its roots in seventeenth-century African traditions. People brought to the Americas via the Atlantic slave trade continued dancing traditions in Brazil, the US, and elsewhere in North and South America. Known for its improvisational and dramatic body movements, jazz dancing grew in popularity in early twentieth-century jazz clubs.
Today, jazz dancing builds on African American vernacular dance styles that emerged along with jazz music in the United States. Swing, the Lindy Hop, the Shimmy, and the Charleston are popular kinds of jazz dances.
Tap
Zapateado dancers in Mexico combine Spanish and Indigenous South American dance elements with percussive shoe rhythms.
Tap dancing is a type of percussive dance characterized by the “tap” of shoes hitting the floor as the person dances. Tap dancers often wear metal “taps” on the heel and toe of a shoe to accentuate the sound. Frequently performed as part of musical theater, tap dancing often focuses on choreography and formations, with more than one tap dancer performing at once.
Tap dancing characterizes a range of dances including flamenco, rhythm, classical, Broadway, and postmodern tap.
Folk
Modern Samoan knife dancers often wrap their knives in burning cloth for extra pizzazz when performing Siva Afi, the traditional victory dance.
Folk dancing is celebrated worldwide. People of different cultures and religions use various forms of folk dance to portray emotions, stories, historical events or even aspects of daily life. Some well known types of folk dance include: Bharatanatyam (India), Samba (Brazil) and Hula (Hawaii). Some cultures may even perform multiple variations of folk dances, with countries like South Korea performing individual dances for key events such as victories in war, farming, music and religion. Folk dances are commonly held at public events, where people can participate regardless of whether they are professional or complete beginners. Such dances are often accompanied by traditional music to further enhance the cultural experience.
Irish
Irish dancing features jumps and leaps so high that dancers seem to have the temporary ability to ignore gravity.
Traditional Irish folk dance has been popular for hundreds of years amongst Irish people and other countries worldwide. The first recording of the rinnce fada (long dance) in Ireland was in 1689, when James II first came to Ireland. Popularized by shows such as Riverdance, Irish dancing is famously known for its fabulous display of footwork and dance formations. Most Irish dancing events are traditionally accompanied by signing and music. During festivals, dancers compete for trophies or medals to showcase their talents. While most people may recognize Irish dancing as being a group performance, there are many well-known forms of solo Irish dances, such as the stepdance.
Modern
Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” was such a departure from the formal ballets of the time that it caused a riot in the audience at its premiere in 1913.
Modern dance, a broad genre of dance, primarily arose from western countries such as the USA and Germany during the late 1900s. While most forms of dance feature set steps and formalized structure, the purpose of modern dance is to rely on the dancer’s interpretation of the music and feeling to guide movements. Modern dance was initially born out of dislike for the limitations of traditional dances such as ballet, which enforced rigid rules and techniques. Currently, modern dance is enjoyed across the world with participants having the ability to practice ballet-like dancing without having to place strict focus on their techniques or turnout. Instead, dancers can choose a piece of music and use unconventional movements to convey emotions or to tell a meaningful story.
Swing
“Jitterbug” was originally a derogatory term for a swing dancer, in the 1930s. As Big Band music and swing dancing became more popular, people came to use jitterbug interchangeably with swing dancing and Lindy Hop.
Swing is a variation of jazz dance. It developed during the 1920s to the 1940s as a response to the growing popularity of swing jazz music in America, encouraging faster, more rigorous movements. The Lindy Hop was the first form of swing, stemming from variations of the Charleston perfected by Black dancers in Harlem. Other popular forms of swing dance include the Lindy Charleston, the Jitterbug, and the Balboa, many of which are still performed today. Big Band music, whether live or on a recording, commonly accompanied swing dancing events.
Swing dance gained huge popularity in England thanks to the influence of American servicemen stationed there during World War II.
Pacu Jalur
And then there’s an annual dance event reported on in the Wall Street Journal (8/19/25). Where would you include this dance?
Team Panglima Rimbo Piako
Kuantan Singingi, Indonesia holds an annual boat race, called Pacu Jalur, dating back to a 17th century celebration commemorating Queen Wilhelmina’s birthday during the Dutch rule. Today, it coincides with Indonesia’s Independence Day. Some 200 boats compete in a series of races, culminating in the main event, six-tenths of a mile long and lasting approximately two minutes. The hull of the jalur (boat) is usually 100 feet long, made from a single tree. Each boat is powered by 40 to 75 male rowers.
So where does the dancing come in? Each boat also has one dancer (anak joki)—always a boy for minimal weight and ability to balance while dancing on the bow, which is less than 1 foot wide! He wears traditional Malay outfits, cheers on the rowers, and performs 20-second dances to signal to bystanders when his boat is ahead. Each boat dancer has his own routine.
Today the most famous dancer is Dikha, whose dance—appearing effortlessly cool, smooth, and easy to copy—has been mimicked in celebratory dances by a football star, a soccer player, an F1 driver, as well as miscellaneous people at the office, on their cars, and inside Costco. Dikha’s dance mimics fanning air, flying, and shooting guns.
Bottom Line: “Dance”—for a plethora of reasons—has always been with us. Dare I predict it always will be? Enjoy!
Doesn’t everyone have favorite brands? Speaking for myself, I’ve never really thought about the “parents” of brands I prefer or brands I avoid. But, lo and behold! It turns out that just a few companies control almost every major food and beverage brand worldwide.
Nestlé’s Brands
“N-e-s-t-l-e-s, Nestlé’s makes the very best chocolate” or so the old jingle goes. Nestlé is chocolate, right? Think again. The Nestlé company makes more than 2,000 brands, from global icons to local favorites. Among the ones I think most familiar to Americans:
Nescafe coffee
Coffee Mate
Nesquik
Starbucks Coffee at home
Purina pet food
Alpo
Beneful
Beggin’ dog treats
Fancy Feast
Tidy Cat
Nature’s Bounty nutritionals
Osteo-Biflex supplements
Puritan’s Pride supplements
Perrier
San Pellegrino
DiGiorno
Häagen-Dazs
Carnation
Cheerios
Trix
Gerber
Heinz
Maggi seasonings
Hot Pockets
Lean Cuisine
Stauffers
KitKat
Toll House
Mars Brands
The Nestlé company isn’t alone in product diversity. Mars, more than 100 years old and still family owned, for example, makes one think candy, but think again! Their products include many candies, of course, such as:
3 Musketeers
American Heritage Chocolate
Dove
Dove Bar
Kudos
M-Azing
M&M’s
M&M’s World
Mars
Milky Way
My M&M’s
Snickers
Twix
Wrigley
The Wrigley Company brands (Mars being the parent company) include:
Quaker Oats registered the first trademark for a breakfast cereal in 1877, and since then, Quaker means oats, right? Well, yes. But it also means so much more now!
Although you might think of Quaker Oats Company as a stand-alone, think again! It was actually acquired by PepsiCo in 200l, primarily to gain control of Gatorade. So now one umbrella company also produces these, among others:
Pepsi
Lay’s
Mtn Dew
Doritos
Gatorade
Ruffles
Cheetos
Brisk
Propel
Pasta Roni
Sabra
Simply Baked
Rice A Roni
SunChips
Jack Link’s
So, what’s my point? There isn’t one, really, just my shock and awe that when it comes to commercial brands, earlobes are connected to elbows—i.e., bodies of products that seem to have no relation to each other.
Bottom Line: It seems multi-national companies are “all over the map” when it comes to diversifying product lines. And does it matter?
Being a Wall Street Journal story, of course it had a commercial slant. The essence of the article is that Mars (makers of Whiskas food and Temptations treats) is hoping to benefit from the rise in cat ownership in Gen Z households. They initiated an internal program called “Cattitude” to get their dog-loving employees on board with this new cat emphasis.
Buying Love with Treats
Their research revealed that, compared to cat-only owners, dog-only owners were 32% more likely to give daily treats.
Products and cats connect through people. So Mars also investigated cat owners’ concerns, and cited their findings from typing “does my cat…” into a Google search: the top two results were “love me” and “know I love her.” I did the same search with DuckDuckGo and found that, among the top eight searches that came up, four questioned owner-cat love and one “does my cat hate me.”
So, my search confirmed the WSJ conclusion that cat owners often suffer from “feline insecurity.” The Mars solution is to produce foods and treats that cats like better, often with a new twist. For example, lickable spoons to be hand held “to create what the company calls an ‘enhanced bonding moment.’”
Giving Love, Getting Cattitude
So do cat owners know love when they see it?
Cats show their love in many quirky and subtle ways. According to a veterinarian, weird things cats do when they love you include slow blinking, kneading, bringing gifts, head bunting, wrapping their tails around you, and showing their belly. Other signs are purring, grooming, sitting next to you, following you around, and even mooning you as a sign of trust (YouTube.) Animal Wellness Magazine published an article explaining ten sometimes-confusing ways cats show affection for their humans.
And cats communicate lots more than affection through their behaviors. For example, chattering when they see prey indicates excitement or frustration, while rubbing their head on you (bunting) shows marking territory as well as affection. Kneading reflects contentment or stress relief, and sleeping in small spaces like boxes makes them feel safe. Eye contact, slow blinking, and tail wagging can signal trust, affection, or alertness. When they bring gifts, it’s a sign of sharing their hunting success and affection. Understanding these behaviors helps strengthen your bond with your cat.
Problematic Cattitude
Of course, not every feline oddity signals pleasant feelings. Worrisome cat behaviors may indicate health or stress problems.
Aggression
Litter box issues
Excessive scratching
Sudden changes in eating, drinking, or activity levels
House-soiling
Increased vocalization
Over-grooming
These signs should prompt a vet visit, as they could signal medical or behavioral issues (PetMD, MedVet, Brookside Vet).
Bottom Line: To make the most of cat ownership, “listen” to what your cat is telling you.
The Wall Street Journal recently (7/2/25) featured a story about rich people in Sǎo Paulo, Brazil who pay up to $200 per hour for an off-duty police officer and his scent hound to find lost pets. Sometimes the cost of flights to and from far parts of the country were added to the bill to find the missing pet. I may be in the minority here, but that seemed truly shocking to me.
Cost of Finding a Lost Pet
So of course I searched online for more info. Several options came up immediately.
(Please note: the citations in this article are informational examples and imply no endorsement or recommendation!)
“Lost pet? Don’t panic. We’re here every step of the way – 24/7 support and guidance. Find Your Lost Pet in Your City. 8000+ Pets Found. Start now! Start in 1 Minute. 5 Stars on Google & FB. 100% Satisfied Guarantee. 24/7 Direct Help. Not satisfied? Money Back. 68% Gets Found.”
“Find Your Lost Pet And Alert Local People on Facebook & Notify the Rescue Squad™, For Free. Put Out a Free Alert! We Have Over 4 Million Pet Lovers in Our Alert Network. Boost Recovery Chances. Post A PawBoost Alert. Email Shelters For Free. Notify Thousands Nearby.”
Pet Detectives
The Pet Detectives is a company that has established itself as a market leader in the investigation of animal theft and the recovery of stolen and missing cats… This company is located in the UK, and has a TV show Pet Detectives.
As in most other professions, there are specialists. For example:
12 Years of Pet Detective Experience After thousands of lost cat cases all over the world, I’ve learned there is no “cookie-cutter advice” for every lost cat case. What does work is tailoring your strategy to your situation (indoor-only cat or outdoor access) with methods curated for each cat’s personality.
According to the Brazilian pet detective in the WSJ article, dogs want to be found but cats, not so much.
But even if your pet never leaves home, pet love can be pricey! The rest of this article will focus on cats and dogs because they are the most common pets in the U.S.
The Cost of Acquiring a Pet
American Curl
As a cat owner for more than twenty years, I was aware primarily of relatively small veterinary bills. The cats had come free, one from a shelter, the other from a farmer’s barn. I was completely unaware that people actually pay for cats, sometimes a lot. I found one listing that said buying an American Curl, for example, costs $1000 to $2000. They are really cute, but still…
Cats
A 2019 Yahoo article, “The Most and Least Expensive Cat Breeds in the World,” quotes what it calls “sometimes staggeringly high prices” for 15 cat breeds. Here are the acquisition cost estimates the article listed for the world’s most expensive breeds:
An article at Brownsburg Animal Clinic compared purchase prices for popular purebred and crossbred dogs, finding (not surprising to me) that purebreds are more expensive than crossbred dogs.
French Bulldog
Labrador Retriever $650 to $4,000
French Bulldog $3,000 to $10,000
Golden Retriever $750 to $5,000
German Shepherd $300 to $3,200
Standard Poodle $300 to $3,000
Average purebred price $1,000 to $5,040
Despite these purebred costs, cats are generally cheaper than dogs due to lower adoption fees, and because they require less maintenance and fewer resources.
How much do animal shelters typically charge for adoption fees? A discussion on Quora provided a few examples (Jun 15, 2023): “At my shelter puppies are the most expensive. Cost depends on age. Dogs range from $450 to $100. Kittens are $125. Cats $40 to $20.”
The Animal Humane Society of Minnesota uses a sliding scale to determine adoption fees. Pets with special needs or who have been in the shelter longer can be adopted at a lower cost than others. They also have an option to delay the decision. If you need more time to complete an adoption, you can place an animal “on hold” for 24 hours for a fee of $30 for dogs and cats, or $10 for all other animals.
But back to veterinary bills: Of course the cost of veterinary bills varies depending on the type of visit, the location, and the specific needs of the pet. Routine vet visits in 2025 can range from $70 to $174 for dogs and $53 to $124 for cats. Emergency vet visits can be significantly more expensive, potentially ranging from $200 to $10,000.
Besides emergency care, modern veterinary hospitals provide virtually all the types of care that human hospitals do. Veterinarians help owners keep pets healthy as well as treating infections and injuries. Many veterinary services treat chronic medical conditions, including arthritis, cancer, physical therapy, cardio-pulmonary services, etc.
Cost of Online Pet Doctors
Just like human healthcare providers, many veterinarians are now offering services online. Virtual appointments offer pets the same convenience and accessibility as their owners. Additionally, they allow pets who become anxious or volatile in a vet’s office to see their doctors in a calm, familiar environment.
However, most online veterinarians cannot diagnose pets or prescribe medications over the internet.
Cost of Pet Insurance
No wonder so many people opt for pet insurance! This, too, is a big market. Pet insurance typically comes in three options: accident-only, accident and illness, and wellness. According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, the average monthly pet insurance premium for accident and illness coverage is $56.30 for dogs and $31.94 for cats. However, there are plans for as little as $16 a month for dogs and $10 a month for cats.
Owners can even get a credit card specifically for pet health care—though why one would not use any regular credit card is a mystery to me. Some companies, such as All Pet or CareCredit, offer special rates and cashback options for healthcare spending.
Cost of Routine Maintenance
The annual cost of cat ownership can range widely, but generally falls between $340 and $4000. It depends on factors like food and litter choices, veterinary care needs, and whether the cat requires ongoing medical treatment.
For dogs, a recent survey gives an average annual cost of $4,512. These costs also vary widely, depending on the same factors as for cats.
Food alone is notable: the annual cost of dog food can range from $250 to $700. The annual cost of cat food can range from $225 to $1,980, depending on the brand, type of food, and frequency of feeding.
No doubt you are aware of what I call TV advertised convenience: Fresh Pet and Chewy will deliver to your door—for a fee.
Bottom Line: Consider the above factors when you think of pet ownership (whether cat, dog, or something else entirely), consider your personality and finances, and then decide the price you will pay for pet love.
This blog is intended to make you think. What are your expectations about people who do these various things?
Card Games
I’ll start with three well-known card games.
Euchre
Euchre is played in Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Upstate New York, and the Midwestern United States. It is often associated with blue-collar culture, particularly in the Midwestern United States, where it has long been popular among families and friend groups. Its roots are in working-class communities and its role in bringing people together for social interaction contribute to this perception.
I found no data on the ratio of male to female players, so assume it is roughly equal, given that it is often a family or couples game.
Bridge
Bridge players are often stereotyped. Common stereotypes include: a tendency towards higher education, and the game attracting a relatively high proportion of atypical individuals. (Bridgebase.com, macewan.ca) Bridge was initially a game for the upper class, but later gained popularity among other social classes.
A common stereotype is that bridge is an old person’s game. In 2019, the World Bridge Federation used Survey Monkey to gather data about American bridge players. They limited the survey to people 45+ with some college education because, “We are confident that the vast majority of bridge players fall into this category…” About 16M (out of 75M)—i.e., about 20%—reported that they know how to play bridge. 10M+ have not played in a long time, 3M+ play a few times a year, 2M+ play regularly (monthly/weekly/weekly+).
Poker is a man’s game—at least at the professional level. According to recent statistics, around 95% of professional poker players are men. However, among online poker players, research shows that nearly a third of new player buy-ins are female players. This makes one ask why male players still dominate traditional tournaments. One explanation posited is that because it’s male dominated, there’s likely an intimidation factor in in-person play.
Many historical factors have shaped modern poker: cultural expectations and gender norms, targeted advertising, and marketing campaigns. There’s nothing masculine or feminine about the game itself. Medium and Personality-Psychology have published some poker stereotypes based on players’ tendencies:
NITs (tight players)
TAGs (tight-aggressive players)
LAGs (loose-aggressive players)
Loose passive players
Calling machines
Maniacs
Other Table-Top Games
Of course, cards aren’t the only games people play around the table.
SCRABBLE
Most competitive SCRABBLE players are women. Indeed, when regular people are asked about whether they would expect more male or female SCRABBLE champions, the intuition seems to be that women should be more common. As it turns out, within the highest-performing competitive SCRABBLE divisions, 86% of the players are male, while only 31% of the players in the lowest-performing divisions are. In fact all 10 of the last world champions have been male. Psychology Today has a lengthy article trying to determine why this might be.
FYI: Nigel Richards is the widely acknowledged GOAT for SCRABBLE. Originally from New Zealand and now based in Malaysia, he has won the World Scrabble Championship five times. No other player has won more than once. His national-level titles include five in North America, twelve in Singapore, fifteen in Thailand, and many others around the world.
Monopoly
As of 2015, the game had sold approximately 275 million copies worldwide. Clearly, lots of people play Monopoly, but I found virtually no information about them. Lots of information about its history, racism, whether it’s detrimental to family relationships, but otherwise…
One tidbit: Monopoly game token choice can reveal aspects of a player’s personality. For example, players who choose the car are often male and passionate, while those who choose the hat may be introverted but strategic in the game.
Mah Jongg – a Chinese tile game of skill, strategy, and calculation similar to rummy—was developed in the 19th century in China. It has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. Rules vary by location. In China and Japan in particular, it is a gambling game, often played by men in Mah Jongg parlors.
Travelers first brought mahjong to the United States in the early 1920s. It was an instant hit among white Americans. People in the U.S. soon came to think of it as a game for women.
At least the perception of mahjong as a women’s game is founded in reality: American mahjong players are at least 95% female. Male players likely comprise less than 5%.
In my opinion, there are two bits of history that contribute to this.
The first was the Wright-Patterson approach, started by spouses of Air Force officers stationed at Wright Field in Ohio. The Wright Patterson method was intended to regularize rules so that when military men were transferred, their wives wouldn’t have to learn new rules for every place.
In 1937 a small group of Jewish women in New York City standardized the rules for the game. Generally referred to as American Mahjong, today it is the most common version played in the U.S., and has spread worldwide. In the U.S., one stereotype is that mahjong players are often older Jewish women.
Games of Sport
Some games are more physical than cards and table-tops.
Golf
Golf is subject to various stereotypes. For example, that golf is an elite sport, a game of cliques, or a sport for older people. Other stereotypes suggest that golf is expensive, complicated, or only enjoyable in the summer. (Golfshake.com).
Since the pandemic, more than 800,000 women have taken up golf. According to the National Golf Foundation, 3.7 million juniors played golf on a course in 2024, more than in any year since 2006. Thirty five percent of these were girls. This young segment is more diverse than the overall golf population and has seen a 48% increase since 2019, the largest gains of any age group.
The NGF also reports that 41% of off-course golfers are women. (Off-course golfers participate in golf-related activities that occur outside of a traditional golf course. This includes activities like driving ranges, golf simulators, mini-golf, and entertainment venues such as Topgolf. (LightSpeedHQ, NGF ))
Basketball
Basketball is the opposite of golf on many dimensions. Stereotypes include the assumption that players are tall, and that the sport is mainly for men. Some also believe that basketball is an African American-dominated sport. (gunnoracle.com) Additionally, the ‘jock’ stereotype portrays athletes as unintelligent, but physically well-endowed.
Basketball is perhaps the sport most available for pick-up games. It requires minimal equipment, equipment is inexpensive, and hoops are everywhere from driveways to public parks.
Expensive Games
Many sports require substantial monetary investments for the equipment, training, and space to practice. Utopia.org broke down the costs of the most expensive sports today.
The cars alone can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Rather than competing individually, racers usually compete under the sponsorship of corporations. Over $1000 is typically spent on fuel for each car per race.
Racing is also environmentally expensive. F1 racing generates 256,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, with 72.7% of those emissions resulting from transporting equipment and personnel.
Sailing
Sailing is one of the most expensive sports globally. It requires a lot of equipment such as life jackets, grippy shoes, and weatherproof sunglasses—not to mention the cost of the boat itself. A trailer is necessary to transport it to the water, unless you rent a slip at a marina or live on water and have your own dock, etc. Even smaller sailing boats, such as the single-person Laser, have a starting price of around $2000 for a used model. For many, there are additional sailing club membership fees and lessons.
Bobsledding
Bobsleds are expensive, starting at around $30,000, so teams often rely on corporate sponsorship to pay for the sled, protective gear, training, and track rental. Bobsledding also carries significant risks; “sled head,” or concussion in bobsledders, affects 13-18% of participants, making it one of the most dangerous Olympic sports.
Tennis
At first glance, tennis requires only a racket, ball, net, and a partner. However, tennis ranks among the most expensive sports, primarily due to the fees associated with renting tennis courts, which can range from $50 to $100 per hour. Additional expenses may include competition entry fees, lessons, and specialized shoes and clothing.
Pentathlon
The pentathlon, which includes running, swimming, horseback riding, shooting, and fencing, is among the most expensive sports primarily due to the extensive equipment requirements. There may be additional costs for lessons or classes in each discipline.
Equestrian Games
Polo, known as an elite sport (participants include members of the British Royal Family), is quite expensive. Any sport involving horses requires substantial funds, but playing polo also involves club and tournament fees on top of the costs of training and keeping horses. Nevertheless, equestrian events— show jumping, dressage and eventing—are all expensive. Owning a horse is expensive in and of itself, including costs for feed, shelter, winter care, shoeing, and veterinary bills. If you don’t own a horse, you can expect “rent” payments as well as covering many of the expenses listed above.
Additionally, equestrian competitions involve the costs of equipment for both the horse and rider, transportation (such as a horsebox), and riding lessons. Sports involving horses are universally expensive.
Swimming
Swimming is a favorite sport for many, and for most people it isn’t particularly expensive. But competitive swimming can be costly. Large pool rental costs per week add up, in addition to training, gym sessions, specialized diet, and even hair removal to maintain the sleekest body.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey expenses include the cost of gear and ice rink rentals, which can be around $250 per hour. In addition, ice hockey players often suffer injuries, leading to substantial healthcare expenses. Altogether, the annual costs of playing ice hockey run in the thousands.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is more expensive than it looks at first glance. Competitive gymnasts often start training as very young children, taking regular classes for years. Those pursuing a professional career may also invest in private coaching, space in a dedicated gym, and travel to train and compete. Specialized equipment, such as vaults, balance beams, and climbing ropes, can quickly add up to serious costs.
Please note: Utopia.org includes more details and suggests less expensive alternatives for these expensive sports.
Not surprisingly, how people spend time, and the places they frequent, imply a lot about personality, lifestyle, and values. Sport are no exception. Knowing a person’s sport and game choices—both the activity and the level of involvement—often sets others up to make inferences about socio-economic standing, level of education, and more, as well as traits like openness and extraversion, competitiveness, work ethic, organization, and motivation.
Bottom Line: Sports and other games definitely play a role in how people are perceived. What do your hobbies say about you?
Black Stone of Mecca: Muslim object of veneration, part of the Kaʿbah within the Great Mosque
Stones for Power and Beauty
If visiting stones is good for you, why not just wear them? Many people wear precious and semiprecious stones for more than just eye appeal.
Whenever I am in Corolla, NC, I always visit The Mystic Jewel. (They also have a store in Duck and sell online.) Each purchase has been accompanied by a card. Based on these cards and information in a stone “bible” by Simmons and Ahsian, I venture to assert that there are no bad stones!
For example, one of my favorites (because it coordinates with my go-to black pants or jeans) is black onyx. (Fyi, onyx can be red, green, or several other colors.)
According to Ahsian, “Black Onyx teaches the appropriate use of power and the focusing of energy into positive force. It is excellent for those who are working to develop their telekinetic abilities.” And physically, “Black Onyx can be used to help stimulate the connection between the feet and the first chakra. This can be helpful for those suffering from weak legs, or who have difficulty grounding or eliminating bodily waste or excess energy.”
You can research virtually any stone for its purported spiritual, emotional, and physical qualities, and any astrological connections as well.
Chakras
Millions of people worldwide wear chakra jewelry for such reasons. Chakra means wheel in Sanskrit. The basic belief is that the body has seven main energy centers that look like spinning wheels or Chakras. They permit energy to flow from one part of the body to another. When these Chakras are aligned and functioning properly, we feel a sense of balance on all levels—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Gemstones are often used to strengthen and balance the Chakras.
The concept of the chakra arose in Hinduism. Beliefs differ between the Indian religions: Buddhist texts mention four or five chakras, while Hindu sources often have six or seven. The modern “Western chakra system” arose from multiple sources, starting in the 1880s.
Chakra Stones
Crown
7th chakra
Center of wisdom and knowledge
White stones (quartz, selenite, or moonstone)
Brow or Third Eye
6th chakra
Center of insight and intuitive powers
Purple stones (quartz, amethyst)
Throat
5th chakra
Center for communication and creative expression
Blue stones (turquoise, sodalite, or lapis)
Heart
4th chakra
Energize love, compassion, and forgiveness
Pink or green stones (rose quartz, aventurine)
Solar Plexus
3rd chakra
Center of energy and emotion
Yellow stones (citrine, tiger eye, calcite)
Spleen
2nd chakra
Center of creativity and social interaction
Orange stones (carnelian and amber)
Root or Base
1st chakra
Center of safety, stability, and grounding
Red or black stones (garnet, hematite, black tourmaline)
All sorts of jewelry—rings, bracelets, pendant, earrings—featuring stones for all seven chakras, in order, is readily available. If you search for chakra jewelry, for example on eBay or Etsy, the seven-gem option will come up as a “best match” although jewelry designs featuring a single stone are touted as well.
Bottom Line: Wear, touch, seek out, and treasure stones, whether for esthetic, fashion, or other reasons. Even if they don’t actually help, they won’t hurt!
Sugar here, Sugar there, Sugar in your pasta sauce Sugar from your pear. Sugar on your cereal And in your bakery treat. The more sweetness you enjoy The more you want to eat!
According to Anna Taylor, RD, LD, “The average American eats about 68 grams [~16.3 teaspoons] of sugar per day. That can add up to as much as 28 pounds of body fat per year.”
Too Sweet
But it’s even worse than getting fat. According to the AARP Bulletin, May/June 2025, eating a lot of sugar causes your body to age at seven times its natural rate. It ages you in several ways:
Magazine ad for GW sugar from 1930s
Raising dementia risk by increasing inflammation and weakening the blood-brain barrier.
Making your belly bigger, which indicates that your liver is storing fat, which can lead to higher cholesterol, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
Storing fat in the liver can also lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Making it less likely you’ll eat enough healthful foods.
Increases risk of diabetes.
Worsens menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes.
Promotes tooth loss by damaging tooth enamel and creating gum inflammation.
Hidden Sugars
The Cleveland Clinic and the American Heart Association strongly support limiting table sugar. It’s high in calories and offers no nutritional benefit. Besides which, it’s hiding in some favorite foods:
Condiments such as ketchup and salad dressings
Pasta and barbecue sauces
Flavored yogurt, especially low-fat ones
Granola, instant oatmeal, and other breakfast cereals
Nut butters, both peanut butter and others
Drinks, which can contain more than three tablespoons of added sugar per serving
Check your food labels for hidden ingredients. Added sugars now must be specifically listed. Especially look for fructose, glucose, and sucrose.
Peanut ButterSalad DressingPasta Sauce
The good news is that whiskey has no added sugar! The bad news is that it’s still empty calories and is otherwise hazardous to your health.
Naturally Sweet
The best way to sweeten food and drinks is with fresh or frozen fruit, which provide nutritional benefits such as fiber, vitamins, potassium, and antioxidants.
The good news is that some natural sweeteners provide a few more nutrients than table sugar. Raw honey and pure maple syrup both help feed gut flora, keeping your digestion on track.
Agave nectar, although natural, provides fewer nutrients than raw honey or pure maple syrup. It contains as many carbs and calories as table sugar. However, it tastes very sweet and so you might use less.
The bad news? They’re all still forms of sugar, high in calories. All natural sugar should be counted toward your daily sugar intake.
(Beware:Honey shouldn’t be given to infants under the age of 1 because of possible botulism bacteria spores.)
Artificially Sweet
So, just switch to artificial sweeteners? Problem solved? NO! Common artificial sweeteners, including saccharin (Sweet n’ Low®), aspartame (Equal®), and sucralose (Splenda®), come with concerns of their own.
According to The Cleveland Clinic, “Just as with sugar, artificial sweeteners may cause you to crave more sweet and sugary foods. Artificial sweeteners often include sugar alcohols. One sugar alcohol commonly used in artificial sweeteners, erythritol, has been linked to increased risk for heart attack and stroke.”
Fun fact: About 95% of your total skin area is covered in hair. Who knew you were so, well, hairy?! (wella.com)
But when speaking of someone’s “hair” the usual meaning is hair growing from the scalp, although less frequently facial, pubic, and other body hair. This blog will focus on head hair.
Hair care routines differ according to an individual’s culture and the physical characteristics of one’s hair. In the United States, my search for “ethnic hairstyles” turned up only Black hairstyles. Here are a few examples:
Shamefully (in my opinion) these and many other distinctive hairstyles have been forbidden in schools and work settings—historically, but still today. Even when not dealing with outright bans, people wearing these hairstyles often still face discrimination at work, when seeking medical care, at school, while shopping, even while seeking housing.
Although Black people, especially women, are aware of hair styles as part of their self-concepts, I venture to suggest that many women (and some men) are deeply committed to their hair as an expression of their unique identities.
Hairy Length
Some people don’t ever cut their hair, for religious, fashion, or cultural reasons.
One of the most obvious and most noticeable hair variations is length.
Fun fact: According to Wella, when you add up how much each hair on your head grows over a year’s time, you get 10 miles worth of hair!
Hair can be any length, of course. For the average person, growing waist-length hair would take about 7 years, 3 years to grow to your shoulders.
As of 2024, the Guiness record for hair length is 8 ft. 5.3 in. (257.33 cm) in length, officially the longest hair on a living person (female). The record holder is Aliia Nasyrova of Ukraine.
The Beatles illustrating several hair lengths (Valisk)
Shaved – hair that is completely shaved down to the scalp Buzz – hair that is extremely short and hardly there Cropped – hair that is a little longer than a buzz Short back and sides – hair that is longer than a crop, but does not yet hit the ears, with the top being left longer Ear-length – hair reaching one’s ears Bob – reaching to one’s chin Shoulder-length – brushing the tops of one’s shoulders Princess-length – reaching between the shoulder blades and the tailbone, depending on the speaker
In short, anything goes for hair cuts, but by and large, it seems to me that the longer the hair, the more time, effort, and possibly money go into taking care of it.
A 2024 CNN report found the average cost of a women’s haircut ranging between $45 and $75 across the country, while men’s toggled between $25 and $50. Besides sexism, what might account for this?
Enhancing Nature’s Hairy Bounty
If you are naturally less hairy or differently hairy than you would like, fear not! There are a variety of ways you can change the appearance of the hair on your head.
Wigs
Hair pieces
Extensions
Dyes
Texture changes (straightening or curling)
Transplants
Removal
Changing Color
Specialized colorists can achieve pretty amazing results!
Fun fact: According to Wella, in 1950, about 7% of American women dyed their hair. Today, 60% of American women dye their hair.
Hair coloring, technically, can be either adding pigment to or removing pigment from the hair shaft, commonly referred to as coloring or bleaching, respectively.
—Among the best-known products for men are Just For Men shampoos and comb in color to cover gray hair or beard.
—Temporary hair tints simply coat the shaft with pigments that later wash off.
—Most permanent color changes require that the hair shaft be opened so the color change can take place within. This process can leave hair dry, weak, prone to breakage, or coarse, or cause an accelerated loss of pigment. Generally, the lighter the chosen color from one’s initial hair color, the more damaging the process may be.
—Other options for applying color to hair besides chemical dyes include the use of such herbs as henna and indigo, or choosing ammonia-free solutions.
There is growing demand for natural and non-toxic hair dyes. Various natural pigments, like melanin in animals and curcumin in plants, are used for coloring and dyeing. These alternatives to conventional dyes are bio-friendly and less irritating. Despite the proposed benefits of these dyes, such as antistatic, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, their complex pigmentation mechanisms remain largely unexplored.
Curling and Straightening
Before and after a chemical perm
You can temporarily change the texture of your hair with curling irons, foam rollers, blow dryers, flat irons, hot combs, and many other implements of heat and pressure. However, time and moisture will return hair to its natural state.
Perms (curling) and relaxing (straightening) using relaxer or thermal reconditioning involve chemical alteration of the internal structure of the hair in order to affect its curliness or straightness. Hair that has been subjected to the use of a permanent is weaker due to the application of chemicals and should be treated gently and with greater care than hair that isn’t chemically altered.
Research shows that hair becomes drier with age. This makes it less able to take and maintain a change in shape.
Hair Transplants
Sew-in hair extensions
Those who are not hairy enough for their personal tastes have a variety of options, some more permanent than others.
One can purchase clip-in hair extensions for a quick boost of hirsute-ness. They need to be taken out before sleeping, washing, or restyling.
For a longer solution, one can visit a hairdresser to have someone else’s hair taped, glued, or sewn onto one’s own tresses. These hair extensions can last from a few weeks to several months, depending on type and care.
For a more permanent change, one might turn to a surgical hair transplant. In this procedure, a doctor surgically moves bits of skin or individual follicles from a hairy area of the head (typically the back or sides) to a less hairy area of the head (typically the top or front). After a few weeks of healing, the newly located hair follicles should behave like any other follicles, giving the patient the appearance of a full head of hair.
Hair Removal
Threading to shape eyebrows
Alternatively, one may feel too hairy. In that case, a variety of methods can help remove unwanted hair.
Hair may be shaved, plucked, or otherwise removed with treatments such as waxing, sugaring, or threading.
Laser hair removal and electrolysis are also available, though these are provided (in the US) by licensed professionals in medical offices or specialty spas.
Hair Loss
Alopecia (baldness) on a man
Alopecia is the blanket term for a range of conditions that cause hair to fall out in up to half of all Americans. It may be temporary or permanent and can have a range of causes, including autoimmune disorder, genetics, and medical treatments.
For it to be apparent that you’re balding, you would have to lose 50% of your hair, according to dermatologists. Most of the factual information in this section comes from The Cleveland Clinic.
On average, you can expect to lose between 50 and 150 hairs daily. On the other hand, you have around 100,000 (or more) hair follicles on your head. So, routine hair shedding is just a drop in the bucket. (This will also depend on the length and thickness of your hair. For example, you’ll appear to shed less if you have shorter or thinner hair.)
Things like stress, heated styling and other health conditions or treatments may cause you to lose more hair than normal. Everyone is aware that chemotherapy often leads to hair loss, but other medications, such as some antidepressants or anticoagulants (blood thinners), might have a side effect of hair loss.
Men vs. Women
Female pattern baldness
“Studies have shown that, in general, men are more likely to experience hair loss than women. On the other hand, women are more likely to experience higher levels of shedding during pregnancy and menopause. Over half of all women will experience noticeable hair loss over time.”
In addition, a study in 2017 showed that women tend to shed more hair due to styling practices. Anyone who uses heavy styling or tight hairstyles can experience increased shedding, which can lead to permanent hair loss if it becomes chronic (called traction alopecia).
The Norwood-Hamilton scale illustrating types of male pattern baldness
Relatively few men are totally bald –i.e., have no hair at all on their heads. Male pattern baldness is common worldwide. However, rates vary by country; in the U.S., the percentage is 42.69, number four after Spain, Italy, and France. According to World Population, Indonesia is the country with the lowest percentage on the list with 26.96%.
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) affects approximately 40% of women by age 50. Estrogen is related to hair growth and hair loss for women. When estrogen levels are high, hair appears thicker and healthier.
Growing, tending, and arranging hair often strengthens community bonds
Fun fact: According to Wella, in the 16th century, a doctor claimed applying a blend of boiled slugs, olive oil, honey, saffron, soap, and cumin on the scalp could restore hair.
Today, one common treatment to regrow hair is Minoxidil. It is available OTC as liquid or foam to be massaged into the scalp. Tablets in various strengths are available by prescription.
In addition, you can find various nutritional supplements, shampoos, and topical applications on line and in drugstores. Recently, I’ve noticed lots of TV commercials for Nutripol.
And then there is regrowth equipment featuring laser treatments. You can easily find $199 lasercombs or a laser hair growth helmet $995.
Hairstyling Equipment
I didn’t find statistics on the most used hair equipment, but the most popular tools seem to be hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, and hair brushes. (Good Morning America, missamericanmade.com) Below is a more comprehensive list, although certainly not exhaustive. How many do you use? Others in your household?
“Daenggi” and “Binyeo” used to create traditional Korean “Jjok” hairstyle (by Glimja)
Dryer Brushes Clips Combs Ornamental combs Curling/straightening iron Rollers Clippers Pins and barrettes Beads Headbands Kanzashi (hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles) Ribbons Hair ties Scissors Shower cap Sleeping cap
In 2022, American consumers spent around $85.53 on hair care products. (Statista) The average spending per month on hair products is $31, according to Advanced Dermatology. Frankly, I’m surprised it isn’t more, given all the products in use:
Spikes this high require glue rather than gel
Coloring agents
Conditioners
Gel
Glue
Mask
Mousse
Scalp scrubs
Serum
Spray
Sonic
Wax
Pomade
Shampoo
As of Feb 22, 2025, according to Brainly, the number of shampoo options available to Americans is estimated to be at least 600 different products.
Looking at the big picture, “Hair care boasts one of the largest shares in the global beauty market, about 22 percent as of 2022, second only to the skin care segment. In the United States, forecasts show that revenues for hair care will increase up to 14.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2028.” (Statista)
Assorted Hairy Information
A geisha chooses every element of her hair style and hair ornaments very carefully to indicate her rank, age, mentor, and specialties as well as to complement her outfit and the season.
And to end this blog, a few fun facts from Wella that don’t fit anywhere else:
A single strand of hair can support up to 6.5 pounds of weight. That means a whole head of hair can support up to 2 tons (though the owner’s neck and spine might protest)!
The major cause of dandruff is a fungus called Malassezia globosa, which pushes dead skin cells to the surface quicker than normal.
Believe it or not, humans have the same amount of hair follicles per square inch as a chimpanzee!
Less than 4% of the world’s population has natural red hair.
The color of hair depends on how much melanin each strand has. Or which hair dye you use!
Someone purchased a lock of Elvis’ hair at an auction for $15,000.
Stories have circulated for generations that women encoded secret messages or escape maps in the patterns of their braids or cornrows. Alternatively, people have claimed Black women may have been able to smuggle gold, seeds, keys, or other small items in their hair. Though there is little concrete evidence to support these claims, they illustrate the versatility and cultural importance of hair.
Bottom Line: Hair is virtually everywhere, and hair issues are virtually innumerable.
Studies suggest that about 10% of one’s nervous system is dedicated to sensing pain. Given what else the nervous system does—sight, smell, taste, hearing, thinking, moving, digestion, etc., etc., etc.—that’s a lot!
Why so much attention to pain? As it turns out, there are benefits to feeling poorly.
Pain for Gain
Foremost is survival: without unpleasant sensations, we wouldn’t know to avoid fire, allow injuries to heal, attend wounds such as broken bones or cuts, etc.
There are additional ways in which negative feelings lead to have positive consequences.
Pain facilitates pleasure by providing an important contrast for pleasurable experiences, increasing sensitivity to sensory input, and facilitating self-rewarding behavior.
In many communities, the ability to withstand pain or physical endurance marks a child’s elevation to adult status.
Pain augments self-regulation and enhancement by increasing cognitive control, reducing rumination, and demonstrating virtue.
Pain promotes affiliation by arousing empathy from others, motivating social connection, and enhancing group formation.
Pain Reduction
Mesopotamian goddess Nisaba, with opium poppies growing from her shoulders. c 2430 BCE
But for all of that, we try to avoid or minimize feeling bad. Indeed, pain is the most common reason why people seek medical care. Seeking relief is not a new phenomenon, but getting it is.
Surgeons have been using general anesthesia in the Islamic world for nearly two thousand years. In the 1600s, many European doctors gave their patients opium to relieve pain.
The earliest European surgeons operated while keeping patients wide awake and physically restrained. By the 1800s, the nicest surgeons introduced ether and chloroform anesthetics for surgery. And why was this controversial?
Several major religions view physical suffering as intrinsically linked with atonement or moral goodness. Some, such as Buddhism and Taoism, hold that it is caused by an imbalance within the individual and can only be resolved through personal effort. Others, such as Christianity, have historically believed that suffering brings one closer to an ideal spiritual state.
Surgeons operating on patient under ether anesthesia, 1847
Some doctors questioned the ethics of operating on unconscious patients. Others were concerned that relieving pain might hamper healing. “But the surgeons could not long resist their new power to perform longer and more complex procedures, and most patients thought anesthesia a divine blessing,” wrote Marcia Meldrum, an associate researcher in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles.
By the 1900s, people were using morphine and heroin as pain medications. At first, doctors thought these “safe.” However, over time, it became clear that these treatments also made people vulnerable to addictions.
Until this time, the medical field considered pain to be primarily a problem to manage in acute care (related to injury, for example, or surgery) or during a painful death from cancer.
“Flavors” of Pain
Acute pain is what you feel when you become hurt or injured. You may have experienced acute pain from an injury such as a cut or a broken limb or from disease or inflammation in the body. Acute pain can be intense and severe, but it typically resolves as your body heals from whatever caused it.
Nociceptive pain is caused by tissue damage. Most acute pain is nociceptive.
According to NIH, chronic pain is a sensation that lasts much longer than acute pain―usually months and sometimes years. Chronic pain sometimes has a clear cause, such as an acute injury, a long illness, or damage to and dysfunction of your nervous system. However, it sometimes happens without any obvious reason. Medical providers have often assumed that patients complaining of on-going pain are delusional, hypchrondiacal, malingering, or addicts. Patients often turn to psychotherapy, or sometimes neurosurgery.
Neuropathic pain is caused by nerve damage or dysfunction. You can experience neuropathic pain from injuries or illness that affect the spinal cord and brain (for example, a slipped disc in your spine) or the peripheral nervous system (the nerves throughout the rest of your body). This kind of discomfort often feels similar to burning, shooting, or stabbing.
Inflammatory pain happens when your immune system activates in response to injury or infection. In addition to causing redness or swelling, it can also make you more sensitive to feelings of pain.
Everyone’s pain feels differently, and the only way to know whether someone is hurting is to ask. Has a medical practitioner asked you to rate your discomfort on a scale from 1 to 10? They may also ask you to describe what you feel: dull, throbbing, aching, shooting, stabbing, etc.
Just as there isn’t a way to measure it objectively, there isn’t one single treatment that will work for everyone. It often involves a combination of treatments, which may include:
Over-the-counter and prescription medications (such as pain relievers and drugs that reduce inflammation)
More than 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience chronic pain. Chronic conditions, such as low back pain and migraine, are the leading causes of disability around the world.
Not surprisingly, rates of chronic pain, including conditions that severely limit work or life activities, are highest among adults ages 65 and older.
Advertisement for treatment to cure morphine addiction, c 1900
In the 1980s, several prominent pain specialists suggested that opiods had a “low incidence of addictive behavior.” They pushed for increased use of the drugs to treat long-term, non-cancer pain, as Meldrum noted in her paper “The Ongoing Opioid Prescription Epidemic: Historical Context.” Today we all know how wrong they were, and we are still trying to undo the opioid crisis.
Where Does Aspirin Come From?
1923 advertisement
Apart from prescription medications, over-the-counter options are popular. Aspirin, as it is known today, was first developed in 1895 in Germany. By 1915, Bayer Pharmaceuticals developed the first tablet form, which they then sold throughout the world as a medicine.
The active ingredient in aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, which is formed by the acetylation of salicylic acid, which is derived from natural plant sources such as jasmine, willow and poplar trees, as well as certain species of legumes.
This gives credence to the efficacy of willow bark tea for minor aches and pains, as long claimed by folk medicine practitioners.
Aspirin molecule, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
However, aspirin is no longer made from willow bark. Today, pharmaceutical companies derive aspirin from plants of the Spiraea genus. Compounders then convert the salicylic acid into acetylsalicylic acid via acetylation.
Aspirin is very useful in many ways besides pain relief. Indeed, doctors use it as a blood thinner to treat clots. At a daily dose of 81mg, it is helpful in preventing future heart attacks.
But beware: You should not use aspirin if you have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding, or if you are allergic to an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others.
OTC Alternatives
A common alternative to aspirin is Tylenol. Acetaminophen, commonly sold under this brand name, is a non-opioid analgesic that relieves pain and reduces fever. Acetaminophen regulates the body’s temperature and alters its perception of pain.
Tylenol is generally safe at recommended doses. For adults weighing more than 110 pounds (50 kg), the recommended acetaminophen dosage is 1000 mg every six hours or 650 mg every four hours.
Risks
However, elderly individuals may face higher risks of certain side effects due to physiological changes, including:
Liver Damage: Aging decreases liver efficiency. This raises the risk of liver damage from acetaminophen, especially if taken in high doses or with alcohol.
Kidney Damage: As kidney function naturally declines with age, long-term or high-dose use of acetaminophen may lead to kidney damage in the elderly, particularly if their kidneys are already compromised.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Although Tylenol is easier on the stomach than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), it can still cause gastrointestinal discomfort. This may include nausea, constipation, or diarrhea.
Acetaminophen toxicity occurs when a person takes more than the recommended dosage of this medicine. Tylenol overdose leads to 56,000 emergency department visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths each year in the United States, making it one of the most common poisonings. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing!
Apart from any hedonistic motives to “just feel good,” pain is an economic drain: the estimated yearly national cost of pain, including medical treatments, disability, and lost productivity, is $560 billion to $635 billion in the U.S. alone!
Bottom Line: Pain is universal, and treating it is only human. But proceed with caution!
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