Friday, January 4, 2019

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Dental sedation covers a variety of techniques used to either calm a patient before and during a dental procedure or to make patients more comfortable during long procedures. You’re probably familiar with laughing gas, which many people receive before dental procedures such as getting crowns or root canals. However, dental sedation is a more varied and complex field than just laughing gas, with lots of options for patients who feel anxiety or even fear at the thought of going to the dentist’s office.
Dental sedation is not part of the pain management your dentist will give you. Numbing agents and shots cover that part of the procedure. However, if getting a shot in your gums is frightening to you, dental sedation can calm you to a point where you can handle receiving that shot. With certain types of sedation, you may not even remember receiving the procedure, even though you’re awake for it.

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When people have anxiety about pain or about the dentist in general, they often opt for what is sometimes called sleep dentistry. The different styles of dental sedation are what make sleep dentistry possible, although not all sedation dentistry involves actual sleep, but some do. Find out about the options, then talk with your dentist about the right dental sedation for your next procedure.

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As the popularity around the events at Gobbler’s Knob has continued, the famous Phil has been used in various ways to make everything from social statements to celebrating solidarity during difficult times. Some of the special commemorations that have occurred during the Groundhog Day observance include:
  • A statement by the groundhog during the Prohibition era observance, where he proclaimed he would order 60 more weeks of winter unless he were allowed to imbibe.
  • In a show of support for the United States bringing home the Iranian hostages, Phil emerged wearing a yellow ribbon on February 2, 1981.
  • Along with Groundhog president Jim Means, Bill Null, and Al Anthony, Punxsutawney Phil made his first trip to Washington to meet President Ronald Reagan in 1986.
  • In 1995, Phil made a guest television appearance on an episode of “Oprah.”
  • After the 1993 movie, “Groundhog Day,” visitation during the celebration reached an all-time high of over 30,000 visitors.
  • With advancing technology, Phil made his first debut in New York City’s Times Square on the Jumbotron, where Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell marked the first attendance of the state’s governor to the celebration.
  • Members of the Inner Circle, along with Phil, traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, to participate in the college basketball March Madness activities.
  • Phil traveled to New York for the filming of the coin toss, which he and his handler administered during the XIII Annual Puppy Bowl put on by Animal Planet.
  • In 2016, a special documentary was created and aired on Groundhog Day where the origins and the story of the Groundhog Day celebration were discussed.
Whether you are hoping an early spring season is on the horizon, or you are a winter fan and want the season to stay its longest, the dueling predictions from today’s groundhog observations let you choose which you prefer to believe.
If you enjoyed this, you may like to read about some common myths about Groundhog Day.

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It was The Punxsutawney Spirit, a local newspaper in the Pennsylvania area that help set the roots for what the United States observes as Groundhog Day today. The observance was first announced in 1886, and the following year, a celebration was in full swing as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club began their official celebration at Gobbler’s Knob, where the first famous Punxsutawney Phil made his debut as the United States premier rodent meteorologist.
The original event and celebration started as a local gathering at area farms, but it has grown today to an event where thousands wait for the emergence of Punxsutawney Phil’s offspring to come out and make the famed weather prediction each year. With celebrations growing each year, the annual tradition has now turned into a celebrity-studded event that makes Groundhog Day a much-anticipated event in Punxsutawney.

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As settlers began to travel to seek a new life in the New World, the area of Pennsylvania saw a large influx of German settlers during the late 19th century. The new residents brought with them the old traditions, though with a lack of hedgehogs in the area. The new tradition was switched to a groundhog, an animal they were more likely to find in their new home.

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An old Christian celebration that marked the midway point between the winter solstice and the summer equinox, Candlemas was a European tradition dating back to long before the 1886 official observance date. During this celebration, local clergy members would bless candles that were much needed by their parishioners to get them through the dark winter months. Then, they distributed the candles to get them through the rest of the season.
Superstition began to follow this tradition, and it was believed that if the distribution and the celebration would occur on a clear and sunny day, the rest of the winter could be expected to be unpleasant, rough, and longer in duration. However, if the weather was warmer and the skies cloudy, it was believed that spring was just around the corner. Around the time of the event, young children would sing English rhymes regarding the celebration:
“If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.”
The German tradition added its own little twist to the superstition revolving around the celebration, which was believed to have been passed down to the German people by Roman conquerors. They would present a hedgehog to help determine the weather conditions. If the day was clear and sunny, the hedgehog would emerge to find his shadow and the prediction of a long or secondary winter would be proclaimed. However, if the hedgehog emerged for the celebration on a cloudy day, he would not see his shadow, and the prediction would be that spring would come soon.

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By the time you’re reading this, you may already know that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today, thereby warning residents of Pennsylvania to expect 6 more weeks of winter. Here in Canada, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam did not see his shadow, nor did Alberta’s Balzac Billy, giving us some hope that winter’s end is around the corner. But Ontario’s Wiarton Willie swung the prognosticating rodent pendulum back to the middle by concurring with Punxsutawney Phil and predicting 6 more weeks.
It’s fun to entertain these superstitious notions, but you may be wondering, where do they originate? Read on to learn about the history of Groundhog Day in North America.
Since at least 1886, people in the United States and some parts of Canada have anxiously awaited the emergence of a rodent to determine whether they will have to endure six more weeks of winter or whether spring is officially upon them. While the act has become a little bit of superstition mixed with a lot of fun and fanfare, the tradition of Groundhog Day has its roots going back well before Canadians and Americans began to observe it.


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If you’re privileged to have the day off and your children don’t have to go to school, Family Day is a wonderful opportunity to explore British Columbia’s beautiful and fun activities. Some recommendations include:
  • Make a day trip to Vancouver Island: If you live close enough for an easy day trip, go explore Vancouver Island. It has incredibly lush terrain packed with spots for hiking and camping.
  • Take advantage of free skating on Family Day: Some local rinks in British Columbia will host a free skating day to celebrate the holiday. Many other free activities typically occur on the holiday.
  • Visit a museum, gallery, or public attraction: Many public attractions stay open on Family Day, meaning it’s the perfect opportunity to go to a park or museum. Try the Royal BC Museum or the Museum of Anthropology.
  • Go to Whistler Blackcomb: This ski resort in Whistler is offering 50 percent off the cost of full-day lift tickets for British Columbia residents on Family Day.
In addition to these family-focused activities, there are also plenty of official Family Day community events that will take place throughout British Columbia. Consider attending one of these this year:
  • Family Day Geocache Hunt in Surrey: If you’ve never tried geocaching, now’s the time to see why it’s so popular. Attend the GPS-led treasure hunt in Surrey — you just need to register your family for the event.
  • Family Day Scavenger Hunt at Langley Centennial Museum: If you like the idea of a treasure hunt but Surrey is too far away, try this event in Aldergrove. The treasure hunt takes place throughout the museum, so your children will learn lots about the area’s history while they explore. Snacks will be available, and some family-themed arts and crafts are also planned.
  • Family Day at The Port Moody Museum: Port Moody Museum is hosting a “working on the railroad” event from 10 to 2 p.m. Before or after this event, you can check out the museum’s many exhibits celebrating the heritage and history of British Columbia.
  • Family Day at The ACT Theatre in Maple Ridge: Children’s entertainer Rick Scott will host a performance that combines music, storytelling, and humor. If you have young kids, they’ll love the show and the other free events at The ACT Theatre that are scheduled from 11 to 3 p.m.
Take advantage of this wonderful time of year to reinforce your family bonds. With so many free community events and spots to visit, you should have no trouble filling out your Family Day itinerary.

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Family Day got its start in Alberta when Helen Hunley — the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta — passed the Family Day Act in 1990. This officially established the third Monday of every February as Alberta Family Day. Other Provinces adopted the holiday over the next two decades. Saskatchewan founded “Family Days” in 2007, and Ontario followed suit in 2008 and British Columbia in 2013. British Columbia is the only Province that celebrates the event on the second Monday of the month instead of the third.
New Brunswick and Manitoba have similar events — Islander Day on Prince Edward Island and Louis Riel Day in Manitoba — and Yukon and Nova Scotia both have a respective Heritage Day. All of these celebrations are held on the third Monday of February. Though the remaining Provinces don’t celebrate the event, it’s widely acknowledged in Canada and could become a public holiday in the future.
Though some parts of Canada only give non-federal employees the day off, government workers in a few Provinces are entitled to take the day to spend with their families. Per the Employment Standards Act, for example, qualifying Ontarians can enjoy a minimum of nine public holidays with public holiday pay per year.

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Family Day is a time set aside to focus on getting closer to your loved ones. It was scheduled to fall between New Year’s Day and Good Friday in order to grant another day off between these celebrations. In Ontario, the government established Family Day in order to give hard-working individuals more time with their loved ones. Though only a few Provinces formally celebrate it and only non-federal employees usually get the day off, it’s a wonderful bonding time for families in participating areas.

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Family Day is celebrated on the second or third Monday of every February, depending on the province in which you live. Though not an official national holiday, the event is celebrated far and wide across the country, with dozens of family festivals and things to do organized each year in the provinces where it’s observed: New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
The holiday has become a staple in areas across Canada, but when exactly did it begin — and why do we celebrate it now? Take a closer look at how Family Day got started in Canada, and see our suggestions for a fun celebration with your family this year.

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Chocolate is so ubiquitous with human history, past and present, that it’s hard to imagine a world without this sweet. But it could happen — in fact, the world is presently running out of chocolate, with predictions of a shortage calculated as occurring as soon as 2020. Prices of chocolate are already rising and will continue to do so in the face of this shortage. Though prices for chocolate are still affordable in Canada and most parts of the world, this reality could change very soon.
Chocolate has an interesting history, and it plays a significant role — both good and bad — on human health today. If you enjoy this delicious treat, aim to snack in moderation and visit your dentist regularly.

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If you eat chocolate in moderation and follow normal teeth cleaning practices, you can avoid many of the detrimental oral effects associated with this dessert. If flossing isn’t part of your routine and you regularly eat chocolate, start flossing today. Use waxed floss if there’s not much space between your space, braided floss if you have some spacing, and unwaxed floss if you have normal spacing.
Another tip is to not brush your teeth immediately after eating chocolate. Instead, wait a minute — the chocolate has made your mouth acidic, so your teeth are particularly vulnerable. It’ll take about 30 minutes after eating chocolate for your mouth’s alkaline levels to reset. After that, you can brush your teeth without causing damage.
Finally, make sure you’re visiting your dentist routinely. Bi-annual visits have long been recommended, but if you’re a regular chocoholic, you should consider more appointments.

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Though chocolate is associated with some health benefits, it’s also got some risks. Candy bars with sweet or semisweet chocolate have a high sugar content, which is associated with problems like weight gain, heart disease, cavities and tooth decay, and diabetes. And even dark chocolate, which is a healthier option, contains a high amount of caffeine.
A moderate amount of caffeine is fine, but you usually get enough from your morning cup of coffee. If you indulge in dark chocolate (which has a higher content of cocoa solids), account for the sugar intake and the caffeine intake. Also try to avoid it within six hours of bedtime, as the caffeine can decrease your sleep quality and lead to a slew of other health complications.