Month: July 2019

12 Bugs You Should Never Kill

Roll out the welcome mat for these beneficial insects that will get on your gardens good side. 

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(This is not an alien creature)

Praying Mantises

Praying mantises are like bug-eating bouncers for the garden. They devour dozens of difficult plant-eating pests. DIY picklers may run across them most often, because they have a particular penchant for the scent of dill. So, plant some dill yourself to turn your garden into a hot property for praying mantises.

 

Lady Bug

Ladybugs

An insect best think twice before asking a ladybug out to dinner. The suitor could end up as the meal, as could a lot of those other bad bugs lurking in your garden. Get on a ladybug’s good side by adding some cilantro, dill, or fennel to your garden mix. Soon enough, a few of these colorful omnivores will head on over to keep the bad bugs at bay.

 

 

Butterflies

The mere presence of butterflies adds a heavenly vibe to any garden, but these graceful insects also help beautify plants by pollinating them. One of the best ways to attract a few of these magnificent creatures is by planting liatris, spiky flowers that some butterflies find very appealing.

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Green Lacewings

The larvae of the green lacewing are nicknamed “aphid lions” because of their fearsome appetite for aphids. They are one surefire way keep your garden free from those pesky pests. You can attract adult green lacewings—and ultimately their larvae—with marigolds, which have a tasty nectar they find delectable.

Minute Pirate Bugs

Adults and nymphs feed through needlelike mouthparts, sucking the body fluids of their prey. Preferred prey include spider mites and thrips. Minute pirate bugs also feed on aphids, psyllids, small caterpillars, whiteflies, and insect and mite eggs. They feed harmlessly on pollen and plant juices and are not plant pests.
 

Hoverflies

Hoverflies may look like bees, but they’re actually more like humans in that they eat both meat and plants. That means they offer up a one-two punch of pollination and pest annihilation. Orchid flowers will draw these big-time beneficial bugs to your garden.

Dragonflies

No insect detrimental to your garden will be safe from the mighty dragonfly, with its very broad taste in insects. Adding a pond with plant vegetation to your garden is the best way to get them to swoop down. Don’t worry about mosquitoes setting up shop. Dragonflies devour them too.

Moths

Moths are yet another winged creature that plays a big role in pollinating plants. They also serve as food for your other beneficial bugs. Plant some nettle plants to attract them, and before long they’ll join the good-guy army of butterflies, hoverflies, and dragonflies in your garden.

Bees

Bees aren’t just a good thing for the garden, they’re crucial for the environment. While they’ve earned a bad rap amongst humans who are afraid of being stung, the truth is they’re too preoccupied pollinating flowers to care about stinging anybody. Lavender, chives, and coneflowers are just a few types of plants that will attract the buzzers.

Aphid Midges

Never fear aphid midges are here if your garden has been invaded by aphids. Larvae from the female alpha midges poison the aphids and feed on them for a few days. If the midges don’t appear on their own when you face an aphid infestation, you can purchase them to get rid of the pests.

Ground Beetles

Spotting a ground beetle in the garden is a happy discovery! The nocturnal critter eats ants, aphids, caterpillars, maggots, and slugs—plus a few species even eat the seeds of invasive weeds. The next time you discover a beetle just let it be.

Predatory Wasps

You may not want to encounter a wasp and its stinger, but predatory wasps in the garden are actually a good thing. These feisty stingers not only pollinate flowers, but they attack the crawlers that infest your garden. Braconid wasps are useful for controlling caterpillars, while tiphiid and scoliid wasps prey on Japanese beetles and June bugs.

Story by Daniel Mintz for Bob Villa


All Photos by istockphotos.com

Related:  Good Bugs, Bad Bugs – TUTORING YOU

 

Want to Live Longer? Science Says to Do These 5 Things

 

When it comes to staying healthy, most people have the same motivation: living as long and fulfilling a life as possible. And while science has yet to find a true fountain of youth, researchers have identified certain behaviors that can increase longevity.

One study, published in the journal Circulation last year, even argued that adhering to just five healthy habits could extend your lifespan by roughly a decade. Here’s what they are, and what research to date says about living your longest life.

Eating a healthy diet

Diet is strongly linked to longevity. Research has long suggested that people follow a Mediterranean diet.  That includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and healthy fats, and not much sugar, red meat or processed food.  That brings a host of health benefits, including a longer life.

Some of the specific foods included in a Mediterranean diet have been found to increase longevity benefits.  Foods such as whole grains, fiber, fish, plant-based proteins and healthy fats. Undeniably, processed snacks and meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages have been linked to higher risks of chronic disease and death.

Even if your diet isn’t perfect, research suggests that making smart changes can add up to sizable benefits. One paper published in 2017 concluded that eating more healthy foods could decreased the risk of early death.

Exercising regularly

Working out regularly is a boon for both your physical and mental health.  It boosts everything from cardiovascular fitness to mood and energy.  It’s no surprise that it can also extend your life. Federal physical activity guidelines recommend aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week.  In addition, adding twice-weekly muscle-strengthening sessions, will reap health and longevity benefits.

But you don’t have to go overboard. Even short bouts of light physical activity, walking and cleaning, increased the lifespans of older men and women.   And a study published in January found that simply moving for 30 minutes each day could reduce early death risk by 17%.

If you do opt for a more vigorous workout, some research suggests that team sports like tennis and soccer are best for longevity.  The added benefit of social interaction as well as the exercise.

And it’s not too late to begin to exercise.  A recent study found longevity benefits associated with both life-long and later-in-life exercise.

Maintaining a healthy body weight

Diet and exercise habits help people maintain a healthy body weight.  A Circulation study defined it as a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9. Obesity is associated with chronic conditions including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. A 2018 study found that widespread obesity shaved a year off the U.S. life expectancy and is responsible for up to 186,000 deaths per year.

Drinking only in moderation

For years, moderate drinking was touted as a harmless — and maybe even healthy — habit. But recently, scientific opinion has begun to shift toward a more cautious stance on alcohol.

Last year, a large meta-analysis of prior alcohol studies concluded that there is no safe amount of drinking.  Whereas the net risks to a population outweigh any potential benefits, such as improved cardiovascular and cognitive health. And while each person’s risk-benefit analysis depends on his or her family and medical history, research is increasingly supporting the idea that people should limit their alcohol consumption to avoid health problems and increase longevity.

Moderate drinking, according to federal dietary guidelines, means that women should have no more than a drink per day, and men should have no more than two per day.

Not smoking

In addition to causing lung cancer, cigarette-smoking is associated with serious health problems.  Those include heart attack, stroke and mouth and throat cancers, making it a significant threat to longevity. The best way to reduce your risk, of course, is never to smoke at all — but if you do, experts advise quitting as soon as possible to minimize threats to your health.

Source:  Barrons©

Related:  Hobbies That Can Help You Live Longer – TUTORING YOU

Agent Smith’ Android Malware Infected 25M Devices

A new strain of Android malware has infected 25 million devices and modified legitimate apps with a malicious ads module, according to a report by the security company Check Point.

The malware was disguised as Google-related updaters and “vending modules,” which hid its own app icons and automatically replaced already-installed legitimate apps with its own version without the user knowing. This lead the researchers to name the malware “Agent Smith” because its behavior is similar to the character in the film The Matrix of the same name.

 

The malware first appeared in popular third-party app store 9Apps and targeted mostly Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi users. However, of the 25 million affected devices, 303,000 infections were detected in the US, and 137,000 in the UK.

Apps that were modified include WhatsApp, Opera Mini, Flipkart, as well as software from Lenovo and Swiftkey. The malware detected which apps were installed, patched them with a malicious ads modules, and then re-installed them on the device. For the user, it simply looks like the app is being updated as expected. Once the update is complete, the owner of the malware can then profit from the newly included ads.

The security firm says they submitted data to Google and law enforcement agencies, and as of publishing no malicious apps remain on the Play Store. Nevertheless, the malware managed to survive for as long as it did because, despite the original vulnerability Agent Smith was based on being patched in Android years ago, developers did not sufficiently update their applications.

Source:  pcmag.com©

Happy Bastille Day

Bastille Day in France showcases European military cooperation

The flags of 10 countries of the European Intervention Initiative, a joint military pact created last year, led Sunday’s military parade down the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris.

 

In a message to the French people before the parade, President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the importance of France’s commitment to boost European security.

Some 4,300 soldiers, around 200 vehicles and over 100 aircraft, some from other European countries, were taking part in the parade that was opened by Spanish troops, according to Reuters.

The biggest crowd-pleaser on the display appeared to be a man rocketing through the air on a flyboard device — the invention of French former jet-skiing champion Franky Zapata.

Source:  msn.com

Image: etsy.com

5 golden rules for using public Wi-Fi Networks

 

Mobile technologies have made it possible to check email, bank or shop online, and stay connected from just about anywhere. When you’re traveling, catching up on social media at your favorite cafe, or searching for information on the go, public Wi-Fi has become convenient enough to support you wherever you are.

These “free” networks can come with a hidden cost, however.

Free public Wi-Fi has become fertile ground for cybercriminals looking to take advantage of unsecured devices.

Understanding the dangers of public networks — and how to avoid them — is the first step toward protecting yourself and your family from today’s Wi-Fi threats. To help you get the most out of your mobile devices without risking your digital security, follow these five dos and don’ts for using public Wi-Fi networks safely:

1. DON’T log onto a network that isn’t secure.

Cybercriminals can use sniffing tools to access and view all your online activity while you are browsing on unsecured public networks.

The software monitors, or sniffs, network traffic in search of usernames and passwords you may be typing, or other personally identifiable information to steal. This information can then be used to hijack your personal accounts, or to transmit viruses to your mobile device or laptop.

You may think a public Wi-Fi network that requires a password will protect your connection, but there can be little distinction between password protected free Wi-Fi and a free Wi-Fi network that doesn’t require a password. After all, no one using the network is protected if everyone on the network is given the same password.

2. DON’T use public Wi-Fi to access webpages containing sensitive information.

Never access your online banking or credit card company websites from a public wireless network. The same goes for any websites that contain information about your health records or your Social Security number. It could only take seconds for malicious software to access and view what you are doing online. These types of websites contain everything hackers need to steal critical pieces of information that could be used for identity theft. This kind of attack can cause long-term damage that can take months or years to fully recover from.

3. DO be aware of malicious hotspots by carefully checking the network name before logging on.

Hackers use malicious hotspots to intentionally confuse you by creating a SSID that looks very similar to the legitimate network you think you’re logging onto. Pay close attention to the spelling of the network name provided by the business offering free access.

4. DO consider using an alternate browser reserved specifically for use on public Wi-Fi networks.

Using a browser that’s reserved for use on public Wi-Fi networks is a great way to limit your exposure to attacks. We often keep sensitive information stored in our everyday browsers, like our saved payment accounts, emails, and shipping addresses for autofill forms that make online shopping fast and convenient. By using a different browser that has no stored information, you may be able to ward off any potential attacks.

5. DO use a virtual private network service, which provides the ultimate level of security and protection from cyberattacks on public Wi-Fi networks.

A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the smartest ways to protect your online privacy.

A VPN creates an encrypted data tunnel that allows you to connect to public Wi-Fi networks as securely as if you were using your own private network at home. Using a VPN helps to prevent cybercriminals from intercepting the data you are sending and receiving from your computer or mobile device.

Written for Symantec

Hey…Happy Friday

. . (courtesy of @Pinstamatic http://pinstamatic.com)

Whatcha doin’ this weekend, huh?

A little readin’, writin’, coffee drinkin’?

OK, OK, just NOT this:

Follow Your Dreams-Cancelled-Banksy- 24X36 Canvas Art

I want you to hang in there and follow those dreams, wherever they may take you.

And just chill like my friend here.

Alaskan Coastal Brown Bear by Alan Vernon - Favorite Photoz

Dat’s right.  Chill and do what you love.  Dat’s what it’s all about!

We're not saying to try this at home... we're just saying you need some amazing core strength to be able to do it! Inspiration from @bar_brothers_worldwide_ Find our 15-minute core workout app by clicking on our profile link @core15.co #core15app #fitness

Ah…no.  Maybe not this.