MORE TOWNS TO BUY AND MAYBE BECOME MAYOR
I think finding abandoned towns is going to be my new hobby. I find it all very interesting.
Swett, SD
Swett is an unincorporated former town of Bennett County, South Dakota. It was put up for sale as a ghost town in June 2014 for just $250,000, and, as of December 2020, had not found a buyer. Described as a six-acre unincorporated hamlet, Swett consists of an average-size house, a tavern, and a bar that was at one time frequented by pheasant hunters. Locals believe that the tavern is haunted.
Garryowen, MT
History buffs might drool over this one. Garryowen in Montana is the site of the Sioux War's Battle of Little Bighorn. The town was first put on the market for $250,000 in 2012, but an auction in August of that year was canceled after no one registered to bid. Garryowen was founded in 1895 with the construction of a train station. In 1926, a ceremony called "Bury the Hatchet" took place in the town. It involved a peace settlement and was performed and represented by two individuals (from both sides) who survived the Battle of Little Bighorn. A monument was erected for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and this is the only monument of its type to exist outside Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. The town later built a Conoco gas station and a Subway shop.
Millican, Oregon
Price: $1,499,000 Right off Highway 20 in the center of Oregon lies the ghost town of Millican. Current population is zero, which is down from the single resident the town claimed in 1940.
The 74-acre parcel includes the remnants of the Millican Store, and most of the land is zoned for commercial use. The listing suggests an RV park would be a hit next to a resurrected general store.
Saint Elmo, CO
Price: $89,500
You might need oxygen to bring this ghost town back to life. Located at 9,000 feet in the Gunnison National Forest, the elevation alone might provide a tingling sensation. There's an old mine on this 4-acre parcel, along with remnants of a tram line. We can't promise any valuable gems, but a buyer will surely find a historic hideout.
Helper, UT
Price: $225,000 The former Maple Creek Mine is a scary bargain. A buyer can acquire the 154 acres, including remnants of dozens of buildings and plenty of artifacts on the ground.
"It's wonderfully peaceful," the listing agent told me last week.
Dakota Mountain, Black Hawk, CO
Price: $2,900,000
The price alone will give a fright to plenty of potential buyers. In addition to the historic ghost town of Apex, a buyer can also lay claim to a 400-acre parcel. About 45 minutes outside of Denver, this mountainous property is a developer's dream, according to the listing. Resurrect a ghost town and develop a new ski resort? There's nothing dreadful about that!
SAGA CRUISES IS THE FIRST CRUISE LINE TO REQUIRE PASSENGERS 50+ TO REQUIRE COVID 19-VACCINES-PRIOR TO CRUISING/IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THERE!
Saga Cruises, a cruise line that caters to passengers aged 50 and older, announced this week that it will require guests to be fully vaccinated before boarding — the first cruise line to require guests' vaccination.
When cruises resume later this year, all passengers will be required to be "fully vaccinated against COVID‑19 at least 14 days before sailing with us," the cruise line announced in a letter to passengers.
Saga also pushed back the resumption of its cruises from April 3 until May 4, "in order to allow our guests sufficient time to be fully vaccinated."
"This means that all cruises prior to this will no longer go ahead as planned which I am sure will come as a huge disappointment to you, but I also know that you will understand our reasons behind this," the letter from Nigel Blanks, CEO of Saga Cruises, read.
Passengers will be required to present proof of vaccination and undergo a COVID-19 test before boarding their ship. Those who are not able to complete both round of vaccination before their intended departure will be able to rebook their cruise for a different departure date or receive a full refund.
The cruise line is based in the UK, where the plan is to have most of the population of those older than 50 vaccinated by the spring, according to The BBC.
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Does Stress Affect Your Nails?
This past year has been a taxing time for us all, and it's fair to say that we've all been a little stressed at one point or another. While we can easily recognize the emotional signs of stress, the physical signs are not always as obvious. We know that thinning hair and increased acne can be caused by the hormones released when we're stressed, but now we have a new issue to deal with: Our nails are being damaged, too.
When you're feeling stressed, the last thing you want to be told is to "just relax," so we spoke to a board-certified dermatologist and a medical pedicurist to find out how else you can help improve the health of your nails.
What are the visible signs of stressed nails?
"When we are stressed, our nails tend to look weak, brittle, and dull. Weakened and thin nails are prone to breaking, and stress can also cause slow nail growth," explains Marcela Correa, founder of Medi Pedi NYC.
Many people also develop a tic when they are feeling stressed, such as biting their nails or pulling at their cuticles. Not only will this leave the skin around the nails red and sore, it can also cause the nails to become thin or deformed. "Nails typically take about four weeks to grow just one millimeter. The constant biting will stop you from seeing significant growth over time," Correa adds.
Why do we need to stop biting our nails?
Biting your nails can have negative long-term effects. "Having your fingers in your mouth increases the risk of a cold or infection by spreading germs from your hands to your mouth. Constantly pulling and tearing at the skin around your nail beds can also create portals of entry for your nails to become infected," explains Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Shafer Clinic in New York City.
However, it's not just the bacteria we have to look out for. "For those who bite down very deeply, it can affect nail growth and cause nail dystrophy," she says. Dystrophy is the distortion of the nail plate from excessive trauma, a common condition that usually heals on its own if the nail is left alone.
Why do nails react to stress?
Dr. Engelman says that our nails respond to physical and emotional stress in the same way our skin and hair do, explaining that the additional hormones and chemicals released—such as cortisol—can cause our body to react in many different ways.
When we are stressed, we go into 'fight or flight' mode, which causes our body to go into a state of temporary overdrive. "Our nails need nutrients like biotin, zinc, and iron to maintain their health and strength. When this mode happens, it becomes nearly impossible to allow our gut to absorb the nutrients it needs," Correa explains.
Should we stop getting manicures when our nails are showing signs of stress?
Most definitely, says Correa. "Manicures and pedicures focus a lot on filing, cutting, and buffing the nails, which can lead to more breakage, especially when soaking your nails for a long period." Instead, she suggests trying gentle DIY manis at home, avoiding filing, and only cutting nails when needed.
Dr. Engelman agrees; however, the last thing she recommends is ignoring damaged nails. Instead, we should keep our nail beds and cuticles healthy whilst also supporting the skin in the surrounding area. "Skin on hands is thin and fragile. With repeated exposure to the environment and a lack of attention to hand care, this can upset the skin barrier function on hands," she tells us.
What products can help repair stressed-out nails?
Dr. Engelman suggests Isdin's SI Nail Serum for strengthening nails, eliminating breakage, and aiding nail growth. The serum contains silanediol salicylate, which has skin regeneration and soothing properties.
Additionally, Correa recommends an easy DIY treatment: mix extra virgin olive oil with chopped garlic to make a paste, then use once a week. "Garlic contains selenium, which promotes nail growth and strength, as well as vitamin E for moisture," she explains. Plus, she says that the smell and taste of garlic can also help turn you off from biting your nails. by Emily Weatherill
HOW TO REMOVE A POPCORN CEILING!
You won't need a lot of tools to remove this ceiling finish yourself, says Docia Boylen, the owner and general manager of Handyman Connection of Golden. For the best results, she recommends using a scraper (think a four- or six-inch mud knife), a ladder or scaffolding, and a spray bottle filled with water. The hard part comes after the removal process, when you have to manage the debris you've scraped off. "The problem with doing this is the mess that it creates," she explains. Boylen suggests covering the entire area of the room you're working on with plastic sheeting to catch as much of the "popcorn" as you can. "Also, make sure you turn off the furnace [or] air conditioning system so you do not circulate the mess around your home," she notes.
To get started, Boylen says you should spray a two-foot by two-foot section with water and let it soak before going in with your scraper. "To make the process go faster, you can spray the next area before scraping—then that section is ready when you are done scraping the first." Her best piece of advice? Wear protective goggles, a face mask (something we all have readily available these days), and old clothes you can toss out as soon as you are done. "After you finish scraping you can sand, texture (it is perfectly acceptable to not texture the ceiling—it just helps hide imperfections), prime, and paint," she says. "Any damage can be quickly repaired with drywall tape and joint compound before sanding."
Another important step is to check for asbestos before you begin the removal process, especially if your home was built before 1980, suggests Liz Walton, an interior designer and the owner of Philadelphia's premier design studio Liz Walton Home and The Interior Design Blueprint. "First, do a test to make sure there is no asbestos, an ingredient that was popular for these types of ceilings prior to 1980," she says, noting that you can order a home testing kit online. Additionally, you'll want to make sure you have your windows open for proper ventilation during removal: Even without asbestos, there are plenty of toxic materials and small particles that you want to avoid breathing in while you work.
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