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Today you will learn a lot of interesting hacks! For example, did you know that some smells in your house could mean more than you think? What is Dopamine Detox? And why you shouldn't make angry faces to dogs in Oklahoma and other strange laws.
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00:00When you order a drink that isn't supposed to have cinnamon in it, but it smells like it, don't even
00:05try it.
00:06Chances are that someone has messed with your drink and tried adding some ingredients that really shouldn't be in there.
00:11Cinnamon has the superpower of covering up the smell and taste of other substances.
00:16So, the best you can do is never leave your drink alone and always sniff it before drinking.
00:23In case you can clearly smell a dirty wet dog in your pet free house, you might have some uninvited
00:29guests.
00:30Check your attic for rodents, raccoons, or squirrels.
00:33All those animals can use your rafters as their bathroom.
00:37If you find leftovers of their activities, don't play cool and take it all out yourself.
00:41Call pest control instead.
00:44If your house suddenly starts smelling like rotten eggs, I have some bad news for you.
00:49It might be a natural gas leak, so you should get your family out of the house.
00:53The gas itself doesn't smell like anything, but they add a sulfur-like scent to it to detect leaks easier.
01:00Leave the door and windows open to let the gas escape.
01:03Call the local gas company to inform them about the problem.
01:07They should give you instructions on what to do next.
01:09If you only get this smell when your hot water is running, there's probably some sulfur bacteria in the water
01:15itself.
01:15They feed on decomposing organic matter and produce hydrogen sulfide gas in the plumbing system.
01:21Call a plumber and ask them to shut the water line and drain the tank to refill it with clean
01:26water.
01:28You wake up to the smell of seafood.
01:31Mmm, fish stew.
01:32But wait, you don't remember buying or cooking any seafood lately.
01:37A fishy smell could be a sign some electrical fixture in your house is overheating and melting its insulating rubber
01:43or plastic.
01:44It's most likely the dishwasher, your washing machine, or an air conditioner.
01:49If you just ignore the problem and enjoy that smell for longer, it can cause you some serious trouble, such
01:55as a fire.
01:56Sniff near all the appliances in the house to identify the source of the smell.
02:00When you find the source, call a repair expert or get a replacement if that dishwasher is 40 years old.
02:07If you believe an outlet or switch is the source, shut off your circuit breaker and invite an electrician to
02:12take care of it.
02:14If you're smelling burnt toast, although nobody is making it as you live alone, it could be an electrical wiring
02:20issue.
02:20Check your wall outlets and all extension cords to see if they're overheated.
02:25Open the electrical panel box.
02:27If it turns out to be the source of the smell, call an electrician for help.
02:33If the tap water in your house suddenly tastes like metal, you should most likely blame it on your good
02:38old piping.
02:39Looks like it's been slowly dripping into the water, adding some zinc, iron, and copper to it.
02:44It's normal if you've been using the system for years, but in really old houses, it could add dangerous lead
02:50to the mix.
02:51It could also mean your water is acidic, and it could erode the plumbing.
02:55The best you can do is use a water softener or a neutralizing filter to balance the water you're going
03:00to drink back to a normal pH level.
03:04Pencil shavings are a pretty toxic smell for tap water, but it happens when the vital liquid is going through
03:09plastic pipes.
03:11The reason is the antioxidants found in those pipes.
03:14So the only way to get rid of the smell is to get new plumbing.
03:18In case there's a musty odor coming from a fireplace you never use, the first thing you have to do
03:23is check the chimney dampers are closed.
03:26If they're perfectly sealed, try vacuuming and scrubbing the firebox.
03:30That's the area at the base of the chimney where the fire is.
03:33If none of that helps, you'll need to call a chimney sweeper to take care of your chimney.
03:38There might be water inside of it, so a professional should help you seal it for good.
03:43Does the water in your house smell like a swimming pool?
03:47Yikes! It's most likely full of chlorine.
03:49It's a disinfectant people have used in cities for over a century.
03:53So if you get water from your municipality, that's pretty normal.
03:57Chlorine is the worst nightmare for bacteria and parasites, but is safe for humans, mammals, and birds when in reasonable
04:03amounts.
04:04If you have amphibians or aquatic pets at home, though, you gotta make sure they don't drink it.
04:10If you want to get rid of that smell, try getting a carbon filtration system for your home.
04:15Does your house smell like the gym locker?
04:18First, check if you have any sweaty socks or t-shirts hiding somewhere.
04:22They like to hide under the bed or behind the couch.
04:24If that doesn't work, there might be some bacteria growing in your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.
04:31Seasons like spring and fall, when temperatures change and there's more condensation than usual, are the perfect time for those
04:38bacteria to thrive.
04:39You can either try to solve the problem with specialized cleaning products or call a professional for help.
04:45The opposite of the gym locker is that nice all-new smell in the house.
04:50It's okay when you've just finished painting the walls, got some new furniture, carpeting, or floors.
04:55But if the smell is super strong or stays after a while, it means some organic compounds are in the
05:01air.
05:02They aren't exactly healthy to breathe in.
05:05Open all windows and run fans to make the air move around for at least an hour.
05:10Keep repeating it with breaks during the entire day.
05:12Next time you want to renovate the house, make sure to remove new pressed wood furniture or carpeting from their
05:18packaging and leave them overnight in the garage.
05:20All the dangerous substances should air out by the time you bring your purchases inside.
05:25If the new smell doesn't go away after a month, ask for a replacement.
05:31Unless you like drinking lake water, you won't be happy if the liquid coming from your tap suddenly smells fishy.
05:37Just like with lake water, it means there are some bacteria in the system, and organic matter like decaying leaves
05:43or plants could be to blame.
05:45There isn't much you can do with your internal plumbing system, but you can try contacting your water provider and
05:51informing them of the problem.
05:53It's their task to monitor the levels of organic compounds in the water.
05:58When you turn on the heat after the warm season and feel the burning smell around the house, don't worry.
06:04The dust that was accumulating in the system over the summer just has to burn away.
06:08The smell should disappear after a couple of hours of the heating working again.
06:12You might want to replace the filter in the heating system at least once in a couple of years though.
06:18Your front load washer might smell like sewage and mold because it's in constant contact with water.
06:24Every time you open and close the dishwasher, moisture from its hard work stays in the seal.
06:30That's the perfect environment for smelly bacteria.
06:33If you want to stop their breeding, leave the washer door and the detergent drawer open for a couple of
06:39hours after every load.
06:40If you see mold in there, try mixing white vinegar and baking soda one-to-one to wipe the mold
06:46off.
06:47The terrible metallic smell in your house that feels like ammonia is actually ammonia.
06:52If you clean with ammonia or use a coolant based on ammonia, it could be leaking from somewhere.
06:58Check out the household appliances that use coolant.
07:00If you don't have any, the smell of ammonia could come from mold that's hiding somewhere in your house.
07:05Or a rodent that ended its life inside your walls.
07:09In any case, don't ignore this smell as it won't just go away.
07:13Well, watch out in Arizona.
07:15Make sure you don't have a sleeping donkey in your bathtub any time after 7 p.m.
07:21This is a law made in 1924, after an incident that occurred during a flood.
07:27One merchant wasn't allowed his donkey to sleep in his bathtub.
07:30This was before they weren't attached to the floor and could easily be moved.
07:34When the town flooded on a fateful night, the sleeping donkey was carried away by the torrent.
07:40It sailed through the town and ended up in a valley one mile away.
07:44The donkey was stranded in the tub, floating helplessly.
07:48The town gathered and eventually saved the poor guy.
07:51But it took a lot of effort and resources during the rescue.
07:55They quickly made a new decree there will be no more donkeys sleeping in bathtubs.
08:00So there.
08:01Now in Samoa, if a husband forgets his wife's birthday, he can be reported to the authorities by his partner.
08:08After the first incident occurs, a formal warning is issued.
08:13It would not be expected that he would set enough reminders for the following year not to forget.
08:18But if he does disregard the date again, he must go through a series of intense interviews
08:24to determine why he could forget such an important date.
08:28Depending on the defense of his forgetfulness, he can even face serious consequences.
08:34Just wait till it gets home.
08:35All right, going back to Arizona.
08:38Here, you need a special permit if you want a saguaro cactus removed from your property.
08:44Taking it away without authorization could find you behind bars for up to three years.
08:50These cacti can live up to 200 years.
08:53And the reason why such strict conservation efforts are in place is that it can only produce seeds at the
08:59age of 35.
09:01Ah, you find yourself along a beautiful beach in Italy.
09:04Along the coastal town of Araclia.
09:07And, of course, you've brought a bucket.
09:09Just don't make any sandcastles with it.
09:12They've been declared a dangerous trip hazard along the beach.
09:15So, on this beach, leave your bucket at home.
09:19Otherwise, you could face paying a fine of up to 250 bucks.
09:24When you're driving along the road or hiking through the woods in the USA, you might see a strange purple
09:30mark painted on a fence, pole, or even a tree.
09:33Throughout several states, these markers are advising not to trespass on private property.
09:39They're using the paint instead of the normal warning signs, as it's a cheaper alternative that lasts longer.
09:45It's been implemented at different times over the past decade in 15 states.
09:50And it's expected to continue to spread to others.
09:53So, be sure to keep a sharp eye out for these markers.
09:56One day, the authorities of Singapore noticed that about $150,000 a year are spent to clean chewing gum.
10:04And it wasn't only under chairs and tables.
10:07They found it in critical areas on subway trains, which affected their sensors, causing delays.
10:13So, in 1992, gum was officially banned.
10:17The law has become more lenient toward tourists, with only small amounts allowed into the country.
10:23And dentists can also prescribe it to their patients for dental hygiene.
10:27There was also another issue in Singapore regarding cleanliness in public toilets.
10:33The authorities realized there were way too many messy public toilets throughout the country.
10:38This could no doubt put a stain on their reputation as one of the cleanest countries in the world.
10:43They enforced a monitoring system involving toilet agents.
10:48These guys monitor the toilets, making sure there are only clean ones.
10:53Business owners who fail to meet hygiene standards are reported.
10:57You're walking down a busy street in Thailand.
11:00You've dropped a money bill.
11:02The wind picks up and blows it away, and you chase it frantically.
11:06You get close enough to stop it, but make sure you don't use your foot.
11:10It's considered a great offense to step on the bill.
11:14Feet are considered low and dirty in Thailand.
11:17So, you cannot step on the Thai money, since the bills have portraits of important people.
11:23No matter how great the value of your note is, don't tread on it.
11:27Otherwise, you'll find yourself locked up.
11:30Now, you speed your car along the Autobahn in Germany.
11:34It's one of the last places you can drive as fast as you like.
11:38But as you travel along, the fuel gauge shows the gas tank is empty.
11:42You'll pull over and stop.
11:44Not a big deal anywhere else, but here, it's considered as an avoidable risk.
11:50You will have to pay a fine of $80 for not having the foresight to fill up when you had
11:55the chance.
11:56Further rules on the Autobahn include no parking, reversing, or even making a U-turn.
12:02Now, back in the 40s, a pair of pickle packers were selling their wares in Connecticut.
12:08Their pickles weren't exactly edible, but they still tried to sell their out-of-date goods.
12:13They were soon caught, and a new law was put in place to avoid this problem in the future.
12:18The new requirement was made that for a pickle to be sold, it would have to bounce.
12:23This was the best way to check if they were safe to eat at the time,
12:27as preservation methods advanced the law was forgotten.
12:31But it's still in place today.
12:33It's late night in New York City, and you quickly run to the store.
12:37There's no point putting your shoes on.
12:39Too much effort for such a short trip.
12:42But as you cross the road, you're suddenly stopped by the police.
12:46You're confused because you did nothing wrong.
12:48But they quickly arrest you for the offense of wearing slippers past 10 p.m.
12:54This rule is in place, as it's believed the smelly slippers attract rats and other vermin.
12:59Still, wearing your pajamas in public is fine.
13:03You're driving across the dry, sandy roads of Western Australia.
13:06You're hiding something suspicious inside your vehicle.
13:10Hesitant as you go, hoping not to draw attention to yourself.
13:13Suddenly, you grow concerned as you're being pulled over by the Potato Marketing Authority.
13:20They search your vehicle and find that you're carrying more than 110 pounds of potatoes.
13:26This law was put in place in 1946 to protect commercial activities during a time of serious rationing.
13:33Although the law has since been removed, it wasn't until 2016.
13:38If you're planning a trip to the English House of Parliament, make sure you left your suit of armor at
13:44home.
13:44In the year 1313, it was declared that no one can enter fully knitted in their metal suits.
13:51It was made for safety reasons.
13:52It took a few years to take effect.
13:55At first, this new ruling was ignored by the Earl of Lancaster.
13:58But following his persecution for ignoring this law, there hasn't been any armor in Parliament since 1319.
14:06And the law remains in place to this day.
14:10So Greece has had many historical monuments that have stood the test of time.
14:15But the biggest concern to their ongoing stability is tourism.
14:19A law to counter this was to ban wearing high heels at any historical monuments.
14:25The Odeon, a theater made from stone, was built in 161 AD.
14:30Today, it has distinct damage caused by walking.
14:33Amongst the damage, they also found 60 pounds of chewing gum between the crevices.
14:39So, food and drink are also banned, along with pointy shoes.
14:44You're flying a kite in the state of Victoria in Australia.
14:47A seemingly harmless activity.
14:50But don't be surprised if the police suddenly show up.
14:53A law was made in 1966, stating that if you flew a kite at the cost of annoying someone nearby,
15:01then you can be fined.
15:02And trust me, it's a pretty penny.
15:04But given the size of Australia, it should be pretty easy to find somewhere to fly a kite without anyone
15:11around.
15:12In Oklahoma, caring for dogs' well-being is valued highly.
15:16So much so, that it's illegal to make strange faces toward a dog.
15:21You could be fined for doing this act, and possibly face some serious punishment.
15:26Now, although strange, this one should definitely be made a universal rule.
15:30Unless, the dog makes a face right back.
15:36Hey guys.
15:37So, I just learned about this cool new method to really get the most out of your life,
15:42and to be your own boss.
15:44It's called...
15:46Wait...
15:46Sorry, sorry guys, just a second.
15:50Hmm.
15:51Oh wow!
15:53Looks like my new video just went viral.
15:55Eh.
15:57Alright, what was I saying?
15:58Oh yeah, right.
15:59So, there's this new cool method to get the most out of your life.
16:02What?
16:05Huh?
16:05Huh.
16:07Looks like a new episode of my favorite show just came out.
16:11Might have to cancel my 5 o'clock workout just to watch it.
16:15Okay, sorry everyone.
16:17Now, seriously, let me tell you about this cool new dopamine detox method.
16:21California psychiatrist Dr. Cameron Seppa is the inventor of this idea.
16:25Another name for it is dopamine fasting.
16:28According to Dr. Seppa himself, it's an evidence-based technique to manage addictive behaviors.
16:34The idea is to help stop compulsive behaviors and control the harmful stimuli that cause it.
16:39They can differ from person to person, social media, junk food, online shopping.
16:45And everyone's got advice.
16:48Not that there's anything wrong with any of those on their own.
16:51Doing all those things is perfectly normal.
16:53As long as you don't let them take over your life.
16:57Dr. Seppa recommends dopamine detox only to those who feel that these habits negatively affect their personal life, health, or
17:04career.
17:05And you should only try it if other methods haven't worked out.
17:09So I keep saying dopamine.
17:12But what actually is it?
17:14It's a chemical in the brain associated with pleasure, reward, and motivation.
17:19For example, when you eat chocolate, your brain releases dopamine so you feel happy and crave more and more.
17:26And more.
17:27It's the same with social media.
17:29You get your first 1,000 likes, you feel loved and appreciated, and start craving more and more of that
17:35attention.
17:36The brain remembers what triggered those positive emotions and makes you turn the activities into a habit.
17:44Over time, your brain learns to release dopamine even before you give it what it loves.
17:48You can arrive at the shopping mall and actually feel good and motivated before you actually start shopping.
17:55And that is how you get hooked to it.
17:57The anticipation of the reward.
18:00But hey, to be fair, dopamine isn't bad.
18:04It's also the reason why you develop healthy habits, like going to the gym, reading good books, or learning foreign
18:11languages.
18:12So it has more to do with motivation than simple pleasure.
18:16The idea behind dopamine detox is to exclude all of the unhealthy habits from your life altogether, all at once.
18:24You're supposed to learn to resist and live through your uncomfortable feelings like boredom or loneliness.
18:33Instead of reaching out for a fast solution like scrolling through your phone or putting on some loud music in
18:38your headphones.
18:40Okay, so I do feel like there are some things that distract me and slow me down, like Netflix and
18:47social media.
18:49I guess I could be a lot more productive if I gave those up.
18:53At least for a week.
18:55Let's see how it goes.
18:57So on the first day of my dopamine detox, I woke up and my hand automatically reached for my phone.
19:04But thankfully, I caught myself in the act and left the phone alone because I'm detoxing, right?
19:09So instead, I immediately got up, took a shower, and ate breakfast.
19:15And this time I was careful about what I was eating for breakfast.
19:17I even tried out a new omelet recipe that I saw on Instagram long ago.
19:22On my way to work, I listened to an audiobook instead of music.
19:26I actually enjoyed that quite a lot.
19:28I also enjoyed working with no distractions for once.
19:32Let's be honest, who doesn't like to get their mind off of things at the office every now and then?
19:37You think you're just going to scroll for five minutes and before you know it, it's one hour later and
19:42you've got nothing done.
19:44So this time, I forced myself to be super productive.
19:48I think my boss will really appreciate this dopamine detox idea.
19:52After returning home, my first thought was to check out the new episode of my favorite show, but I decided
19:57against it.
19:58And thus, ended up with some unexpected free time.
20:01So I went for a run without my phone.
20:06Did you know the sunset is actually orange and purple?
20:10What a beautiful view.
20:12I still had time before bed, so imagine this.
20:15I actually took a physical book off the shelf.
20:19It smelled so good.
20:21I read it for a little while and then fell asleep.
20:25On the second day of my detox, I woke up feeling refreshed.
20:29I guess it's because I didn't fall asleep with my phone in my hands after two hours of scrolling as
20:34I normally do.
20:35My brain was craving some dopamine and I was about to reward it with some chocolate.
20:40But then I realized that would be cheating.
20:43So I put the chocolate bar back into the fridge.
20:47Painful, I know.
20:49It was one of my days off, so I had to try a little harder than the previous day to
20:53spend the time.
20:54So I did my research.
20:56Yeah, I actually googled what to do instead of social media.
21:00And I found a lot of things to choose from.
21:03Bike rides, hikes, yoga, meditation, kayaking, geocaching, exploring your own neighborhood, spending time with your friends or your pet,
21:10swimming, fishing, stargazing, camping, or taking a tour of your own city.
21:14Wow, it's amazing how none of those activities have ever crossed my mind before.
21:20So I decided to do a little exploring in my own neighborhood for the evening.
21:25Now I know that there's a lovely coffee shop in my area and a green market that sells some excellent
21:31tomatoes.
21:32I decided to spend day three with my friends.
21:36Of course, it was not easy getting them all together because not everyone was dopamine detoxing like me, but we
21:42still had a pretty good time.
21:43At one point, I mentioned my detox experiment, and they all admitted to each having their own habits that they
21:49wanted to get rid of.
21:50One of them said they couldn't survive a minute without some music playing on their headphones.
21:55Another said that they live on junk food, which had become a real problem.
22:00So I guess soon I'll be adding a few more to my detox team.
22:05The following day of the experiment wasn't Monday, so I had to go back to work.
22:09Believe it or not, I was actually enthusiastic about it.
22:12That weekend, spent outside and talking to the people that I love charged up my batteries.
22:18Now, I have been honestly following the detox routine.
22:21I promise.
22:23So I happened to keep it up on my social networks, and I gotta tell you, it felt so liberating.
22:29I did feel a little bit uneasy when I realized that I'd be missing the new episode of the show
22:32that I like so much.
22:34But then I discovered that real life can be just as entertaining, if not more.
22:39Day five and six of my experiment went pretty well, too.
22:42I no longer felt the urge to scroll through everyone's updates right in before bed.
22:47Of course, I still use the internet at work, so I wasn't completely off the grid.
22:51Evening walks had become part of my daily routine, and I do intend to keep going on them after the
22:56detox as well.
22:57Well, today is the final day of my experiment.
23:02And I gotta say, living without social media actually turned out easier than I thought.
23:07But I guess it can be different for different people.
23:10A friend of mine who's tried it, too, said that she felt lonely and scared when she went off the
23:15grid.
23:16That makes sense.
23:16Humans are social beings.
23:18And for many of us, limited social stimulation is a big red flag for the nervous system.
23:23So I guess the safest you can go is not to cut off dopamine altogether for a whole week and
23:28then jump right back in,
23:29but instead to cut it off in smaller intervals, like let's say a couple hours every day or one day
23:36out of the weekend.
23:38And since we now know dopamine can be good sometimes, and you actually do need it in your system,
23:43there is one magical detox method that works all the time.
23:47It's called a vacation.
23:49I don't know about you, but I'm going to take a look at some travel plans soon.
23:53As always, the key is moderation.
23:56Take care of yourselves.
23:57Take care of yourselves.